Shachihata Daily Log Stamp Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available for pre-order!)

You may already know this about me, but I sure do like books. My job is books. My hobby is books. And when I'm not busy with books, I like to relax with a good book. So when my love for books and my love of stationery combine, it is pure joy.

As an avid reader and multi-book club participant, I keep a reading journal to track what books I read and when. Mine is very simple--just a printed image of the book, the date I started and finished, the format, and a star rating. Sometimes I jot a note, if I feel it's necessary, but usually not. In the past, I've printed out a star graphic that I paste into my journal and write in the info I need. But now? LOOK AT THIS STAMP!

The Shachihata Daily Log Stamp does all the work for me! It has the stars, an adjustable date line, and room for a format note. All in one quick press, so I can get back to reading faster!

The stamp itself is made out of rubber with a tall plastic handle that makes it easy to hold. It takes up more space than a flat wooden-rubber stamp, but inside the handle are the mechanisms for rotating the dates that appear on the stamp. Each number has its own turning wheel with toothlike gears that make it easy to turn. You can also retract the date part of the stamp if you don't want to include it at all.

The image is nice and clear when stamped. You'll need an ink pad (this stamp does not store its own ink), but that opens up a lot of options for colors and formulas. I could see my reading log with a bit of glitter ink, at some point.

Maybe your hobby isn't reading (what???) or you have a different entry in your journal that could use some stamp help. They also have versions of this stamp for the weather, sleep log, exercise log, menu, to do lists, etc. Really, you could lay out a whole planner with these stamps in a blank book. The stamp faces are about 2.7cm square, so fairly small. 

They're a bit pricey, as far as stamps go. The adjustable dates likely add most of this cost, but each stamp runs around $26.50. It's a bit more than I'd expect to pay, but at least it's something that can be reused indefinitely. Which is good, because I've got a lot of reading to do.

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Shachihata Artline Blox Pen Review

Sometimes a pen is more than a pen. The Shachihata Artline Blox is of course a pen, first and foremost, but with the addition of Lego-style attachments to the barrel, this pen is a great desk toy as well.

I'm a fidgeter by nature, and sometimes that doesn't bode well for the pens around me. Constant knock clicking, twirling, tapping are all things I do frequently, especially when stuck on a call at work. The Artline Blox lets me attach the pen bodies and caps together for even more mindless fun! The only catch is you need more than one to really build up the pen connections.

When it comes time to stop playing and start writing, the Blox does an excellent job as well. The felt tip reminds me of the Stabilo Point 88 in line width and colors, although you will pay more than twice as much for the Artline. Is it worth it? From a purely writing perspective, no. From a fun perspective? You be the judge.

I grabbed the black, orange, and light blue models from JetPens and have enjoyed them laying around the desk. Even if I am using other pens, the Blox hang out nearby for me to play around with. I may have to add a few more colors to the mix so I can complete a six pen circle of life!

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

Shachihata Artline Ergoline Roller Ball Pen Review

The Shachihata Artline Ergoline Roller Ball is a good pen. It's not a great pen. It's not a bad pen. It's a good pen. Many roller ball pens fall into this category for me. I'm not going to reach for it and use it all day every day, but when I do I know it is going to work well.

In the written review I liken this pen to two pens I have enjoyed in the past: The Sakura Grosso/Sumo and the Pilot Explorer. The larger barrel size is nearly identical in size and weight to the Grosso, which is lighter than you would expect by looking at it in the pictures. The molded grip is close to the Pilot Explorer. While some people may not like that, for those that do it is comfortable to hold. It's like a perfect mashup between these two pen.

When ink hits the page the Artline Ergoline is not as good as the best roller ball ink pens, such as most anything from Pilot or Uni-ball. The line is not as sharp or defined as I would like. It performs more like a Stabilo roller ball if you have used any of thier products before. Side by side there is a difference between the Shachihata and the big boys, which keeps this pen in the good range rather than great.

If you are happy with your current roller ball pen the Artline Ergoline is not likely to trump it. But if you find that a slightly larger pen works better in your hands it is worth checking out.

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)