Uni-ball Signo Limited Edition Hello Kitty Gel Ink Pen Review

I have a Hello Kitty pen, and I'm not afraid to use it.

I mean look at this pen - it's amazingly well done. I wouldn't expect anything less from Uni-ball, especially with their premier gel ink pen lineup in the UM-153. And including one of Japan's most timeless characters in Hello Kitty they had to get this right. And they did.

The Uni-ball Signo UM-151, also know as the DX, is the best gel ink pen on the market, especially in the sub-0.5mm range. It has been atop the rankings in my Top 5 Pens list for ages, and is a joy to use. Pilot Hi-Tec-C owners may want to challenge you to a duel over statements like these, but their pen will likely misfire when challenging you, leaving you to walk away unscathed. I should know, I used to be one of those people.

What makes the DX so good is the consistency and sharpness of the line. It is always ready to write, and when it does, it does so perfectly. The colors are brilliant too. Uni-ball has the best non-standard colors in my opinion, just like the orange seen here.

In a non-surprising twist, the Hello Kitty Signo DX is fyling off the shelves at JetPens. Five of the eight colors are out of stock, and being a limited edition, I don't know if and when they will be back. If you are interested in picking one, or several, up keep your eyes peeled.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Pen Reviews, Signo DX, Uni-Ball.

Three Questions With Scott Fuller

I talk often about how the people I meet are the best thing that has come from this blog, and meeting them in person is even better. Resident ATL-ien Scott Fuller is the man behind The Studio Temporary and maker of some of the coolest designs on the planet. My thanks to Scott for answering Three Questions.

1. What role do analog tools such as pens, pencils, and paper play in your day to day life?

Oh, a huge part! Every day, project or list starts with these tools. I'll usually map out my day in my Field Notes (currently using an American Tradesman) and carry it with me wherever I go. Never leave home without your tools, right? My pen (a basic BIC) is always at the ready. With the amount of illustrations, logos and ideas I have running through my head, you never know when inspiration will strike!

There's a freedom with pencil/pen and paper that you don't get on a computer. And I would know; as much time as I spend sitting in front of that screen. I can erase sketches, fix angles and write things that only I can read. There's no default settings in a notebook. It's MINE.

I've heard it said before, but you really can chart your life with these tools. Looking through old design school sketchbooks, I could tell you EXACTLY what was happening in my life at that time. Granted, I don't have to look back as far as most...

2. What are your favorite products you are currently using?

Gotta give a shout out to the good folks at Field Notes; they really do make the best product on the market. As far as new tools go, I've started using old bullet pencils on a consistent basis. A few of them caught my eye during my latest junking excursion, and now I'm obsessed. My favorite so far is this little guy from Brunson Hardware. I mean, just look at that type! And portable like no other pencil I've ever used.

For all you EDC folks out there, I tote all my gear around in a Booq Boa backpack. A real workhorse! I've had that bag for 4 years, but you'd think it was brand new. Those guys really know quality.

But where to store all these tools? My pocket, when I'm on the go, but Mike Dudek solved my desk storage problem with this beautiful block of mahogany and maple we recently collaborated on. That's my USA logo on the front! Thanks, Mike!

3. What creation or design of yours are you most proud of?

Can I choose two? Ok, cool. I have to say the Fountain Pen Day logo has been the biggest surprise of all. I didn't know that world even existed, and now my little logo I designed with Cary Yeager represents the movement? Crazy. And it opened the door to all you guys, so there's that, too.

But my favorite has to be the logo I recently designed for my dad's CNC machine shop: Canon Machine Services, Inc. Back in 1992, dad got to chose a logo from Office Depot, as a bonus for printing X amount of invoices or something. A micrometer for precision; that was always his m/o. And I couldn't save him from that design until now. The lessons dad taught me in my years there will last a lifetime, and now, so will his logo. Love you, dad!

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Three Questions.

Midori Color Paper Notebook A5 Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

The Midori Color Paper Notebook is a 28-sheet (56 pages front and back) staple-bound, soft-cover notebook in A5 (8x6 inches). The series, which comes in several colors, including pink, blue-green, purple, yellow, brown, and yellow-green, is meant to evoke French macaron's, with darker colors on the outside and softer colors on the inside.

Each notebook has an oval heading area on the cover outlined in gold (this shape is based on the macaron). The pages inside are lined in gray ink with 6.5mm spacing. The paper weight is not indicated on the notebook, the JetPens website, or the Midori website, but it is heavy enough to handle fountain pens (see below).

The notebook offers plenty of lines per page for writing substantial thoughts, but it is small enough to fit in a larger notebook or a purse. These notebooks stand out from other Midori notebooks because of their bright covers and pastel interiors. They are well made, but they won't hold up to heavy abuse. The card stock cover is fairly light and bends easily. Pages are not perforated so if you want to remove one, you'll have to tear it out carefully. The notebook does not lie flat on its own, though you could probably bend the cover backwards to help it stay open.

The paper holds up well to different pens and inks. I tested it with most of my fountain pens, each with a different color of ink, as well as a few other kinds of pens.

Although in my first test, the Pelikan Jade ink in my Omas bled and feathered, I think this is because I had just refilled the pen.

When I re-tested that particular ink and pen, the paper handled it fine.

Even my broadest, wettest nib (a Nakaya music nib inked with Sailor Yama-Dori) did not bleed through or feather.

There was, however, some show-through with several of the inks. Thus, if you plan on using fountain pens, you might want to use only one side of the pages, which means you'll only get 28 pages per notebook.

Although the Midori Color Notebook is nicely made, it is not something I would likely use. For journaling, I prefer notebooks with more pages that can be put in a refillable cover. For people who like to have multiple notebooks for different tasks, however, these might be quite useful. For example, a student could use a different color notebook for each class (though he/she wouldn't be able to take copious notes). A person who keeps a gratitude journal could use a different color each month and rotate them. They would make beautiful guest books for baby or bridal showers. I suspect these notebooks will be popular with many people.