This month I started a new job in a brand new field, and whilst it’s been great, it’s also been stressful. So whilst I haven’t had as much time as I’d have liked to write and use my pens this month, when I have had the time, it’s truly felt like my safe haven.

So what have I been using the most in October? 

At this point I feel like I don’t need to mention my trusty Platinum #3776. It’s my favourite pen, and the only one I use in my journal, so it’s never out of rotation. 

A pen I’ve just put back into rotation this month after quite a break, however, is my Ferris Wheel Press Carousel pen in Poison Envy. I’ve only had this pen inked once since I got it, because to be honest, it isn’t my favourite. Re-inking this pen has prompted me to finally remember to review it though, so I’ll leave the specifics of why I don’t love this pen until then, as I intend to post about it this week. It’ll be staying in my collection though, mostly because I like the colour, and it handles shimmer inks well (it’s currently inked with Diamine Moondust). 

A pen I do love that’s been in this month’s rotation is my Kaweco Al-Sport in Vibrant Violet. I have it inked up with Graf von Faber Castell Violet Blue, which is an ink I love, but it’s maybe a little dry in this pen? 

I’ve also been using my Platinum Preppy Yanagi ni Kournori a lot this month, as I’m delighted to finally have a reliable Preppy, after my previous terrible Preppy luck! I have it inked up with either Diamine Sepia, or Diamine Golden Brown, and I’m loving the combination, so I wish I could remember which it is! Does that ever happen to you when you have a lot of pens inked? You can’t remember what ink you have in each pen? Maybe it’s a sign I just need to keep less pens inked, or maybe stop buying inks that are so similar you can’t tell them apart! 

And the last pen I’ve been using a lot in October is another Platinum: my Cinnamoroll Platinum Meteor, inked with Platinum Carbon Black. I’ve been trying to get more into watercolour and so I’ve been using this pen and ink combination in my attempts at artistry. I’m still not much of an artist, but I’ve been enjoying having a go! 

The Empty Notebook Project

This month is only the second month of the Empty Notebook Project, and it’s already going poorly. I may have assigned jobs to a couple of notebooks, but I also disobeyed the first rule of the project: don’t buy any more notebooks!

As I discussed in my Hobonichi haul post, I got one notebook free with my HON, but I did also buy a notebook with my order because I was excited that Hobonichi was finally offering a lined notebook. 

So I’m now up from last month’s total of 45 unused notebooks to 47…which is not the direction I want to be heading in! 

So how has your October been? What pens and inks have you been using the most?