tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78311422067100361452024-02-18T22:35:47.104-05:00Heart of Sock(In which Count Sockula Meets Dr. Inkenstein!)JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-75641998917980665572021-01-14T11:55:00.000-05:002021-01-14T11:55:30.478-05:00SUNDAY STITCHERY: In Which Bags Occur<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">I am currently obssessed with making bags. Usually, I crochet them. Faster, but uses more yarn. I wanted to try knitting bags.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">This isn't exactly a pattern, so it's not going to be written like one, but it's adapted from a knit market bag I found online.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">And it's long, so grab a cup of coffee.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">It's based on a simple lace stitch of K1, 2 YO, K 2 TOG, repeat, done on big needles. My adaptation is also worked from the top down.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/4116/1064/2604/Knit_Bags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/4116/1064/2604/Knit_Bags.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">(The pattern was originally written to be worked in the round on circular needles, but wrangling circs drove me bats, so I changed the pattern for working in rows.)</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">Above are two of the bags I did. The yellow/orange bag is worked in cotton thread (#10) on #10 1/2 needles, and the pink/green in DK weight cotton on #13 needles. I didn't even work in the ends on the pink/green yet...</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">Cast on an uneven number of stitches. I did 49 for these mini bags. Too small for the DK weight bag.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">Then I knit a couple, three of rows of garter stitch before starting the pattern, to make a neat top of the bag. I found it best to work these bags from the top down, then, working again in garter stitch, decrease and cinch those stitches to form the bag bottom, and leave a long yarn tail to sew up the side of the bag.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">Pattern:</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">Row 1: K 1, YO 2x, K 2 tog, repeat.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">Row 2: decide if you want to K or P. Since I worked this in rows rather than rounds, I purled for a smoother look. But K (or P) 1, drop the first YO, and just K (or P) the second YO. Repeat the drop 1st YO, K through second, around.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">When the bag is long enough for you, switch to garter stitch rows. Work one or two rows without decreasing, then dec as needed until you have 6 st. Bind off and cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Weave the tail through the bound-off stitches and cinch them. Use the tail to sew up the side seams.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">Handles are worked separately in crochet, then sewn or crocheted on. I used a SC foundation chain for mine. I suppose you could knit the handles, too.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></p><p><span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 17pt;">I'm now working a DK bag in only YO, K 2 tog. Just to see how it comes out. </span><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".AppleColorEmojiUI"; font-size: 17pt;">😜</span> </p>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-37279095511740362892020-06-18T17:52:00.002-04:002020-06-18T17:52:09.864-04:00Guest Bloggage: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Hands It OverJust putting in some links of note, for your enjoyment.<br />
<br />
A New Blog:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://cinematica.ourpatioparty.com/" target="_blank">About Silent Films.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outsiders-1-Skeleton-K-Stuart-ebook/dp/B0852QHY3F" target="_blank">A New eBook, Outsiders V. 1: Skeleton Key</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://busterverse.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">A Buster Keaton-themed Tumblr</a><br />
<br />
See you next time. Have a good summer.<br />
<br />
<br />
----Guest Blogger Nearly Nonchalant<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58bh1qhP8yDmFg0JQVZN9Ytn8rQxwlD7oyCt1clv0n3Tg8bfFeZGA7U08fw7kdDdFzIyi6fF7lKfBJWdTEHAI6bIDqLdSan0irGgl7QfCessToDmBhRrQNgOW5DMCRE53Pg6ND2Pzlq8/s1600/Banner1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58bh1qhP8yDmFg0JQVZN9Ytn8rQxwlD7oyCt1clv0n3Tg8bfFeZGA7U08fw7kdDdFzIyi6fF7lKfBJWdTEHAI6bIDqLdSan0irGgl7QfCessToDmBhRrQNgOW5DMCRE53Pg6ND2Pzlq8/s1600/Banner1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-3461218842314635892020-04-30T10:56:00.002-04:002020-04-30T10:56:51.354-04:00Not Quite Undead: In Which Count Sockula Has a Ball...<div abp="1499">
...Or maybe a cake. Muahahaaa. </div>
<div abp="1500">
<br abp="1501" /></div>
<div abp="1502">
For some reason Count Sockula has gone self-striping yarn cake crazy and dragged out nearly all of them in my extensive collection. Then in a frantic burst of energy I crocheted four new shawls.</div>
<div abp="1503">
<br abp="1504" /></div>
<div abp="1505">
This one is done with Premiere Sweet Roll, in Cheesecake, Spearmint and Butterscotch.</div>
<div abp="1505">
</div>
<div abp="1505">
</div>
<div abp="1667" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1668" href="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/2515/8549/4311/Yarn_Project-640p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1669" border="0" src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/2515/8549/4311/Yarn_Project-640p.jpg" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="507" height="400" width="316" /></a></div>
<div abp="1506">
<br abp="1512" /> </div>
<div abp="1513">
<br abp="1514" /></div>
<div abp="1515">
The tumbled one in warm colors is a Caron Cake. </div>
<div abp="1515">
</div>
<div abp="1515">
Adapted from a knitting pattern, this shawl is meant to work up fast. It's worked back and forth as a square, from the center out, BUT with one open side, so it drapes like a cape. (Count Sockula and capes just go together.)</div>
<div abp="1516">
<br abp="1517" /></div>
<div abp="1518">
Count Sockula's Stitch of Choice for these shawls is the Extended Single Crochet (esc): start as if to make a regular SC: pull up loop, yo, pull through one lp on hk, yo, pull through both loops on hk. </div>
<div abp="1519">
<br abp="1520" /></div>
<div abp="1521">
This creates a soft airy stitch, almost like thick lace, especially if you're using BIG hooks, such as K/10. Or all the way up through P. You know...the higher 'alphabet' hooks. Haven't had the courage yet to try a Q.</div>
<div abp="1522">
<br abp="1523" /></div>
<div abp="1524">
But you could work the entire shawl in sc, esc, hdc, or really any stitch.</div>
<div abp="1525">
<br abp="1526" /></div>
<div abp="1527">
This pattern is a multiple of 4, plus 2 (counting the ch-1 turning stitch for sc or esc).</div>
<div abp="1528">
<br abp="1529" /></div>
<div abp="1530">
There are five increases (one at each 'point' of the square). Start on 17 stitches. With one increase at each open end of the square, there will be three stitches between increases.</div>
<div abp="1531">
<br abp="1532" /></div>
<div abp="1533">
Work one row of sc without increasing: 17 sts.</div>
<div abp="1534">
<br abp="1535" /></div>
<div abp="1536">
Now switch to Extended Single Crochet. The end increase is two esc, every OTHER row. The 'inside' increase is esc, ch 2, esc, all in the same stitch. </div>
<div abp="1537">
<br abp="1538" /></div>
<div abp="1539">
Each 'leg' of the square should be the same size/number of stitches between increase points.</div>
<div abp="1540">
<br abp="1541" /></div>
<div abp="1542">
This sounds far more complicated than it actually is, so just keep working and trying it on until it's as big as you want. It will make a mini-shawl or an enormous drapey thing. Your choice.</div>
<div abp="1543">
<br abp="1544" /> </div>
<div abp="1547">
Some brands I have used:</div>
<div abp="1548">
<br abp="1549" /></div>
<div abp="1550">
Bernat Pop: 5 colors in each cake. Acrylic, thick, soft, and lofty. About 5 oz. Tends to run thick and thin where it shouldn’t.</div>
<div abp="1551">
<br abp="1552" /></div>
<div abp="1553">
Premier Sweet Roll: 3 colors. Tighter, sleeker. Bouncy. About 5 oz.</div>
<div abp="1554">
<br abp="1555" /></div>
<div abp="1556">
Caron Cakes: 5 colors. Hairy like a werewolf! Good loft, with some wool content. About 7 oz.</div>
<div abp="1557">
<br abp="1558" /></div>
<div abp="1559">
Lion Brand Mandala: 6 colors. Hairiest of all, but hard and thin, a #3 as opposed to the #4 of the others. A starving werewolf? Nice colors, though. About 5 oz.</div>
<div abp="1560">
<br abp="1561" /></div>
<div abp="1562">
This has been mentioned in many other places: Both the Bernat and Sweet Roll were riddled with KNOTS, tying one color to the next, or else really cheap-looking, badly-done Russian Joins (Good thing I learned how to do my own Russian joins), forcing Count Sockula to cut and join many times. </div>
<div abp="1563">
<br abp="1564" /></div>
<div abp="1565">
(Another approach is to work up three big granny squares of the same size, then stitch them together, one in the middle, one on opposite ends of the middle square, to form a giant triangle. It was a 70s thing.)</div>
<div abp="1566">
<br abp="1567" /></div>
<div abp="1568">
One of any above cakes will make a small shawl. If it's Caron it will make a larger size. Two cakes will make an enormous one. It's fun and fast. You might have time now. Carry on.</div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-81306472386080960022019-06-12T18:33:00.000-04:002019-06-12T18:33:31.879-04:00Night Vision: In Which We Post Another Fanfic<div abp="140">
Disclaimer: Kenshin does not own the Yuu Yuu Hakusho characters (they are the property of Togashi Yoshihiro et al), and does not make any money from said characters. Don't sue.</div>
<div abp="141">
</div>
<div abp="142">
What Kenshin does own, however, are all the original characters in this work. Any attempt to "borrow" these characters will be met with the katana, or worse.</div>
<div abp="143">
</div>
<div abp="144">
The events in Idiot Beloved take place shortly after the Dark Tournament; Firebird Sweet directly follows that timeline. This story is set many, many years after that.</div>
<div abp="145">
</div>
<div abp="146">
Title: Night Vision</div>
<div abp="147">
Author: JaganshiKenshin</div>
<div abp="148">
Genre: General</div>
<div abp="149">
Rating: K</div>
<div abp="150">
</div>
<div abp="151">
Summary: A foggy, lonely night, and someone is stalking Hiei.</div>
<div abp="152">
</div>
<div abp="153">
A/N: Set many years after the Dark Tournament, this story's one of Hiei's shortest, and as close as Hiei will ever come to experiencing 'angst.'</div>
<div abp="154">
</div>
<div abp="155">
Thanks for reading this, and Hiei appreciates your reviews!</div>
<div abp="156">
</div>
<div abp="157">
"It's rude to hide your aura."</div>
<div abp="56" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="56" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="56" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="236" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="237" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIoK6enCK6X7R9EKJo7_JyLxeiMAF7Isjv2ktBI798nM7A_yQ-AUBkJWO9ajAZpfRJBD4mdivjq-m2tl5kh6NW13s4pD_xT-SR1FRI41-vwVhn51WoOery1a3GIzBPh28ZkKC4d7Y53U/s1600/CM-Hiei_Sword.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="238" border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1392" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIoK6enCK6X7R9EKJo7_JyLxeiMAF7Isjv2ktBI798nM7A_yQ-AUBkJWO9ajAZpfRJBD4mdivjq-m2tl5kh6NW13s4pD_xT-SR1FRI41-vwVhn51WoOery1a3GIzBPh28ZkKC4d7Y53U/s320/CM-Hiei_Sword.JPG" width="290" /></a></div>
<div abp="56" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="56" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="56" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="56" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
Night Vision</div>
<div abp="57" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
by</div>
<div abp="58" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
Kenshin</div>
<div abp="59">
Night falls early in November.</div>
<div abp="60">
</div>
<div abp="61">
The chill Tokyo air smelt of death, soaking into Hiei's bones. It was a place in which to hide, to forget every blessing ever bestowed, bleak as an endless desert.</div>
<div abp="62">
</div>
<div abp="63">
Compact and muscled, with bristling black hair, and not exactly human, Hiei trudged a lesser downtown avenue.</div>
<div abp="64">
</div>
<div abp="65">
A few stores were still open, throwing swaths of light onto the pavement, but no one was buying.</div>
<div abp="66">
Luminous fog hung in curtains that kept passersby hidden, and though no one was in sight now, Hiei knew was being hunted. <em abp="67">And I'm too tired for a fight, too down.</em></div>
<div abp="68">
</div>
<div abp="69">
Yet when footsteps echoed behind him, he ducked down a cross street, sliding from self-pity to Yellow Alert in an eyeblink</div>
<div abp="70">
</div>
<div abp="71">
Read The Rest:</div>
<div abp="72">
</div>
<div abp="73">
<a abp="75" href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13224816/1/" target="_blank">Here.</a></div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-71753854731153075092019-06-02T11:15:00.001-04:002019-06-02T11:15:06.548-04:00Mystery Ink 25: In Which We Desperately Play Catch-Up<div class="postrow has_after_content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px 4em; overflow: auto; "><h2 class="title icon" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 10px 10px 5px 0px; font-weight: bold; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(200, 200, 200); "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Dr. Inkenstein has gone on a ledge and is using....</span></h2><div class="content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; "><div id="post_message_264029" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; "><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Clairefontaine paper without a net!<br><br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/3415/5727/5202/Mystery_Ink_025-640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "> <br><br><br><br>The paper towel flower shows bright turquoise as well as muted slate and bilberry. I like it.<br><br><br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/9115/5727/5203/Mystery_Ink_Chroma_025-640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "><br><br><br>This is a really, really nice ink. I didn't see sheen, though....maybe I'm looking at it wrong, or my nib isn't wide enough.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The sheen DID show up later, on Kokuyo Campus Notebook paper. As the ink dried and concentrated in the little Dollar Demonstrator, the sheen thickened.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Turns out, this is Dr. Inkenstein's first-ever Robert Oster Ink: Carbon Fire. It's really reallyreally nice. And many thanks to AZK for carrying on the Mysterious Inkage.</span></blockquote></div></div></div><div class="after_content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 669px; clear: both; "><blockquote class="signature restore" style="margin: 1em 0px 0px; padding: 1em 10px 0px; overflow: hidden; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); "></blockquote></div>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-21938481579373766492019-06-02T11:09:00.001-04:002019-06-02T11:09:15.261-04:00Mysteriously Exploded: In Which It Looks Like A Crime Scene<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dr. Inkenstein had a sad....for this edition of Mystery Ink arrived in a pitiful condition. Some had leaked, due to atmospheric pressures or some such. Food gloves are my friend!<br><br>A nice burgundy-looking ink:<br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/2815/5207/1947/Mystery_Ink_024-640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "> <br><br>There was ink to mop up, so I did my usual paper towel 'flower.' Does there appear to be a sort of neon-pink halo here?<br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/6615/5207/1947/Mystery_Ink_Chroma_024-640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "></span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This was an ink Dr. I had never heard of, much less used before. And I liked it so much I bought a bottle.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5280 Vineyard Burgundy. Still to be found on Fleabay. Under eight bucks. Supply your own label. It's part of the fun.</span></div>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-45025295922448352102019-06-02T11:02:00.001-04:002019-06-02T11:02:49.184-04:00MI 22: In Which Agent Smith Appears<div class="postrow has_after_content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px 4em; overflow: auto; "><h2 class="title icon" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 10px 10px 5px 0px; font-weight: bold; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(200, 200, 200); "><br></h2><div class="content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; "><div id="post_message_252730" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; "><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Over at FPG, the Mysteries continue. (Thanks, Scooby, for letting me try 22.) It was late when I got the sample, the loaded pen didn't want to write, so I let it sit overnight in hopes that it would be an easier start the next day.<br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/4115/4250/2893/Mystery_Ink_022-640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "> <br><br>The paper-towel chroma went down flat, but when dry, it developed a fascinating, chalky, gun-blue center.<br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/6415/4249/3778/Mystery_Ink_Chroma_022-640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "> <br><br>Test it on other papers and it appeared a much lighter gray when applied to Staples Bagasse. Hmm. And, the revelation.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ink: Montblanc 90 Years Permanent Gray. Now Unobtainium. </span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What fun! </span></blockquote></div></div></div><div class="after_content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 669px; clear: both; "><blockquote class="signature restore" style="margin: 1em 0px 0px; padding: 1em 10px 0px; overflow: hidden; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); "></blockquote></div>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-19234470274759228182019-02-23T17:05:00.000-05:002019-02-23T17:05:13.322-05:00Walking To Siberia: A Yuu Yuu Hakusho Fanfic<div abp="56">
</div>
<div abp="198" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="199" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqFn5s6-L8WZIn7P0Znsy6dGTcXOZEnFP1_d61vgmc7HwaFfBUqmy_QCrIOptj90CfnThZp5G_L0ia0VcLn7hUxSZnmWpSTDwUU7zaIIDvr1Gj2ubQVqrrufQpu8Ns167Z1-tsP7hnBY/s1600/Watercolor_Mono_Kurama_Hiei.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="200" border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="848" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqFn5s6-L8WZIn7P0Znsy6dGTcXOZEnFP1_d61vgmc7HwaFfBUqmy_QCrIOptj90CfnThZp5G_L0ia0VcLn7hUxSZnmWpSTDwUU7zaIIDvr1Gj2ubQVqrrufQpu8Ns167Z1-tsP7hnBY/s320/Watercolor_Mono_Kurama_Hiei.JPG" width="311" /></a></div>
<div abp="56">
</div>
<div abp="56">
</div>
<div abp="56">
Disclaimer: Kenshin does not own the Yuu Yuu Hakusho characters (they are the property of Togashi Yoshihiro et al), and makes no money from said characters.</div>
<div abp="57">
What Kenshin <strong abp="58">does</strong> own, however, are all the original characters in this work. Any attempt to "borrow" these characters will be met with the katana, or worse.</div>
<div abp="59">
<em abp="60">Idiot Beloved</em> takes place shortly after the Dark Tournament; <em abp="61">Firebird Sweet</em> directly follows.</div>
<div abp="62">
Title: Walking To Siberia</div>
<div abp="63">
Author: JaganshiKenshin</div>
<div abp="64">
Genre: General</div>
<div abp="65">
Rating: K+/PG-13</div>
<div abp="66">
Summary: Why is Hiei on a tiger to "Siberia?"</div>
<div abp="67">
A/N: As always, thanks for your reviews and faves.</div>
<div abp="68">
"Come to the summit if you want her back alive!"</div>
<div abp="69" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="70" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
Walking to Siberia</div>
<div abp="71" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
by</div>
<div abp="72" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
JaganshiKenshin</div>
<div abp="73" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="74">
<strong abp="75">'He who rides the tiger cannot easily dismount.'</strong></div>
<div abp="76">
<strong abp="77"></strong> </div>
<div abp="78">
Said someone or other, somewhere. Hiei realized this was true; the great beast's powerful shoulders shifted beneath his clutching knees with each step. To dismount before they reached the summit could prove fatal.</div>
<div abp="79">
</div>
<div abp="80">
Shafts of light pierced the dense forest, igniting the tiger's fur to gold. A Siberian with flaring ruff, the beast dwarfed the narrow trail. On either side loomed pine, fir, larch, and spruce, heavy with resin, glistening with dew.</div>
<div abp="81">
</div>
<div abp="82">
"Are we there yet?" The tiger spoke in a semi-comical whine. For a wild creature just given his freedom, the tiger seemed lazy and ungrateful.</div>
<div abp="83">
</div>
<div abp="84">
"No." A pine branch smacked Hiei's face. "Siberia's at the top of this hill."</div>
<div abp="85">
</div>
<div abp="86">
Except that this was Montana, and the hill was a mountain.</div>
<div abp="87">
</div>
<div abp="88">
Hiei was compact, tough, a born fighter with bristling black hair decorated by a white halo, and, though he could pass for human easily enough, he was not. He was a <em abp="89">youkai,</em> with powers some might see as magic.</div>
<div abp="90">
</div>
<div abp="91">
'With great freedom comes great responsibility.' Who had said that one? On this particular day, Hiei had more responsibility than he wanted, and if he let himself dwell on what had brought him here-</div>
<div abp="92">
This was different from riding a horse, closer to the ground, the back long and dangerously flexible. Horses might stomp, bite, and toss you, but they weren't equipped with fangs like butcher knives and claws like grappling hooks.</div>
<div abp="93">
</div>
<div abp="94">
It all started with that miserable crow.</div>
<div abp="95">
</div>
<div abp="96">
Which was actually a jaki-one of those small <em abp="97">youkai</em> that often act as messengers. It had startled Hiei as he strolled the grounds of the Kidd's California estate. This jaki very much resembled a crow, if you ignored the three yellow eyes lined up in a row above its blood-red beak.</div>
<div abp="98">
</div>
<div abp="99">
Alighting on a branch just beyond Hiei's reach, the creature delivered an imperative: "We have your Firebird. If you want to see her alive again, come to the summit riding a tiger."</div>
<div abp="100">
</div>
<div abp="101">
</div>
<div abp="102">
<a abp="104" href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13115004/1/" target="_blank">Continue reading here.</a></div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-38354479950708299052018-12-03T16:16:00.001-05:002018-12-03T16:16:10.994-05:00MI # 21: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Has The Gall<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dr. I does not know what to make of this Iron Gall ink yet...but loaded a Safari and plunged 'write' in. <br><br>In the vial and the chroma, it's a cerise/fuschia color. But it dries dark. I believe it will flow better once it settles in to the pen.<br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/8815/3791/7140/Mystery_Ink_021_-_640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "> <br><br>Not very complex flower chroma, but interesting in that it retains the brighter color element:<br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/5515/3791/7141/Mystery_Ink_Chroma_021_-_640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "> <br><br>The ink was very unhappy when Dr. Inkenstein wrote to a pen pal using Clairefontaine paper. It writes better on Rhodia Ice. Which hardly even makes sense.<br><br>In any case, I love doing Mystery Inks; this one turned out to be Platinum Lavender Black. Thanks, Scooby!</span>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-59310497613750014492018-10-08T10:43:00.001-04:002018-10-08T10:44:26.491-04:00Dimensions: A Yuu Yuu Hakusho Fanfic<div abp="57">
</div>
<div abp="148" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="149" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCIJ5ljnpRmvTRcNbToHhHKn1rfqz9xdH2938fIf7p6ciEigPLBjOboQuhDCS14PyMVnbh2q5O3jOcuR-XS5tWxkZllyBpFVx3dbEmjQdKvES0Og1u1psIwt-D0kVsB0L7Ylz44jUEbA/s1600/Firebird-large.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="150" border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="1220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCIJ5ljnpRmvTRcNbToHhHKn1rfqz9xdH2938fIf7p6ciEigPLBjOboQuhDCS14PyMVnbh2q5O3jOcuR-XS5tWxkZllyBpFVx3dbEmjQdKvES0Og1u1psIwt-D0kVsB0L7Ylz44jUEbA/s320/Firebird-large.JPG" width="305" /></a></div>
<div abp="58">
</div>
<div abp="61">
</div>
<div abp="62">
</div>
<div abp="63">
</div>
<div abp="64">
</div>
<div abp="65">
This particular tale casts Shayla Kidd in the role of detective.</div>
<div abp="66">
Title: Dimensions: A Shayla Kidd Mystery</div>
<div abp="67">
Author: JaganshiKenshin</div>
<div abp="68">
Genre: Action/Adventure, Mystery</div>
<div abp="69">
Rating: K+/PG-13</div>
<div abp="70">
Summary: A house of horrors, and Shayla Kidd walks into it.</div>
<div abp="71">
When a black cat crosses her path, the nightmare begins</div>
<div abp="17" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="17" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="17" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="17" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="17" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="17" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
Dimensions: A Shayla Kidd Mystery</div>
<div abp="18" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
by</div>
<div abp="19" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
Kenshin</div>
<div abp="20" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="21" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="22" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="23" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="25">
"Are you alone?"</div>
<div abp="26">
</div>
<div abp="27">
The girl plucked at her sleeve, a jerky, nervous gesture. "For now," she murmured.</div>
<div abp="28">
</div>
<div abp="29">
<em abp="30">But why,</em> she wondered, <em abp="31">would the girl's captors leave her alone in the house, even for a few minutes?</em> "Then... could I please impose on you for another favor?"</div>
<div abp="32">
</div>
<div abp="33">
"Certainly." A refined girl, Shayla estimated, of good background, innocent, but fallen into evil hands?</div>
<div abp="33">
</div>
<div abp="34">
"I'm very thirsty. Would you...?"</div>
<div abp="34">
</div>
<div abp="35">
"Oh," said the wan girl. "Please help yourself. The kitchen is down the hall, then again to the right."</div>
<div abp="35">
</div>
<div abp="36">
Shayla Kidd went into the kitchen, glanced at the bare kitchen counters, then rifled through the cabinets. Nothing that screamed human trafficking, just a dreary assortment of rice crackers and ramen packets.</div>
<div abp="36">
</div>
<div abp="37">
<em abp="38">Been here too long already.</em> She opened a base cabinet, balanced on one knee.</div>
<div abp="39">
<em abp="40">Youki!</em> Faint, but-</div>
<div abp="39">
</div>
<div abp="41">
<em abp="42">Better get out now, take the girl with me, bring her somewhere safe. Say something along the lines of, 'I know we're in the same boat, we can flee together.'</em></div>
<div abp="41">
<em></em> </div>
<div abp="43">
A touch startled her; she almost yelped, then breathed out in relief. It was only the small black cat from outside, at her elbow. <em abp="44">Nice kitty. Go away.</em></div>
<div abp="43">
</div>
<div abp="45">
She reached out toward the silent, urgent cat, trying to brush it aside, but it disappeared from under her hand-</div>
<div abp="45">
</div>
<div abp="46">
Shayla Kidd lost her balance, slipped forward, sensed a faint whistle of air. The blow connected with the back of her head. Stars exploded before her eyes. Then darkness.</div>
<div abp="46">
</div>
<div abp="46">
</div>
<div abp="46">
Read the rest <a abp="228" href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13041267/1/" target="_blank">HERE.</a></div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-65705718999352568182018-08-20T17:11:00.001-04:002018-09-03T10:07:39.530-04:00MI #20: In Which We Discover Green<div class="postrow has_after_content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px 4em; overflow: auto; "><h2 class="title icon" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 10px 10px 5px 0px; font-weight: bold; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(200, 200, 200); "><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">We give you...Mystery Ink # 20.</span></h2><div class="content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; "><div id="post_message_246640" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; "><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>Green is the opposite of dry, right? Green fields, green leaves, mint-green liquor drinks with green umbrellas and a pineapple spear.<br><br>This is green. This is dry. <br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/3215/3437/4007/Mystery_Ink_20-640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "> <br><br>Ink flower chroma:<br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/1315/3437/4007/Mystery_Ink_Chroma__20-640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "> <br><br><i>Hana no inku </i>shows a teeny bit of a yellow halo. And maybe even a hint of red center? I like it.<br><br>Paper was Rhodia Ice. <br><br>Shading? Maybe the nib wasn't broad enough. And Dr. Inkenstein keeps waiting for the ink to get dark. Because in the bottle, it looked dark. </span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Changing the ink cart to a UPS-logo pen of uncertain ancestry did not change the dry-itude. But it has grown on me, and the UPS pen was refilled when it ran low.<br><br>As to guessing the brand and color.... NO idea. But it was revealed as...another Colorverse ink! Sea of Tranquility, to be exact. </span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote><blockquote class="postcontent restore " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mystery Inking is so much fun.</span></blockquote></div></div></div><div class="after_content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 669px; clear: both; "><blockquote class="signature restore" style="margin: 1em 0px 0px; padding: 1em 10px 0px; overflow: hidden; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); "></blockquote></div>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-14559713671479500622018-07-23T09:30:00.001-04:002018-08-14T09:53:52.520-04:00The 19th Mystery: In Which etc. And So Forth<div abp="1487">
<div abp="1488">
<span abp="1489" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahhhh! One of Dr. Inkenstein's favorite color families, judging from the approximately one million turquoise inks in my possession, and this is timely, because in the summer I always have one turquoise-loaded pen, and it just got cleaned.<br abp="1490" /><br abp="1491" />MI #19 was tested in a Parker Reflex and on Rhodia grid. I just happened to have a turquoise Pilot Varsity on the desk, and grabbed that for comparison's sake. They look vewy, vewy similar.<br abp="1492" /><br abp="1493" /><img abp="1494" alt="" border="0" src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/5115/3131/0934/Mystery_Ink_19-640p.jpg" style="border: 0px currentColor; max-width: 100%;" /><br abp="1495" /><br abp="1496" />I also ran a paper towel chroma on both MI #19 and the Varsity. Even this is quite similar.<br abp="1497" /><br abp="1498" /><img abp="1499" alt="" border="0" src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/9515/3131/0934/Mystery_Ink_19_-_chromo-640p.jpg" style="border: 0px currentColor; max-width: 100%;" /><br abp="1500" /><br abp="1501" />So far, no hard starts, no southpaw smearing, but mayyybeeee a touch of sheen? Judging by the amount on the Reflex's feed....</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1502">
<span abp="1503" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br /></div>
<div abp="1504">
<div abp="1505">
<span abp="1506" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span abp="1507" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br abp="1508" /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1509">
<span abp="1510" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">MI #19 started to run dry in its Parker Reflex and needed dipping to start. Dr. Inkenstein believes this to be a converter problem. After advancing the ink, it seemed to flow again. And as another bonus, we discovered that the Parker Reflex takes Lamy carts just fine.</span></div>
<div abp="1511">
<div abp="1512">
<span abp="1513" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br abp="1514" /></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1515">
<div abp="1516">
<span abp="1517" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Just when it was decided that this is a good ink, MI #19 was revealed as 'Special Edition ink' Lamy Pacific Blue. Which, it turns out, is the same ink as Lamy Turquoise. Which Dr. Inkenstein already has. </span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1518">
<div abp="1519">
<span abp="1520" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br abp="1521" /></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1522">
<div abp="1523">
<span abp="1524" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Win! </span></div>
</div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-6920181317455234212018-07-02T14:28:00.001-04:002018-07-12T13:10:21.939-04:00Number 18: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Is Baffled, Though Pleasantly
Surprised<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dr. Inkenstein is by no means a Poiple Ink lover, but some of them do appeal to me. This ink is one of them (the other, not suprisingly, is also a MI, but an earlier one, with 'Aubergine' in its name.)<br><br>The chroma showed no complexity, and I saw no shading or sheen, but it DOES go down with a reddish tint that vanishes almost on contact, leaving a sort of periwinkle tone very similar to those Rhodia dots.<br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/1315/2863/5532/Mystery_Ink_18-640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "></span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">No guesses this time...but the ink was revealed as Akkerman (coolest inke bottles ever) Parkpop Purpur. And continued thanks to FPG Scooby for letting us in on the fun.</span></div>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-11756588647103057882018-06-11T10:49:00.001-04:002018-07-02T14:20:17.634-04:00The 16th Mystery: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Misses the Guess Yet Again<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Can this be true? Is Dr. Inkenstein the first one to get MI # 16 in the mail this time? Woohoo!)<br><br>Here we go, then, live, as it happened. Over to you!</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In any case...I like this ink! It's a slightly green-leaning blue with excellent behavior. NO hard starts at all at first, but when it lay in the pen awhile, alas, yes.</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Plus, it looks pretty in that Dollar demonstrator.<br><br>Here it is also compared it in color to a couple of similar-looking inks.<br><br><img src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/3015/2319/1812/Mystery_Ink_16-640p.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "></span></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The guesses which were wrong: Monteverde Horizon Blue, Iroshizuku Kon-Peki. Actual Mystery Ink was Colorverse Crystal Blue Persuasion, I mean, Crystal Planet. No chroma this time. Dr. Inkenstein pleads forgetfulness....and more Mysteries to come.</span></div>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-64999878200622419262018-04-13T09:45:00.001-04:002018-06-11T10:37:24.244-04:00Mysteries Continue: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Is Wrong Again<div abp="1487">
<span abp="1488" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">More Mysteries at hand for Dr. Inkenstein in....</span></div>
<div abp="1489">
<div abp="1490">
<span abp="1491" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br abp="1492" /></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1493">
<div abp="1494">
<span abp="1495" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">...The snow report! This was kind of a rush job...snowstorm (that is, when this was first composed!), power loss (no heat, light, or innerwebz)....got power back today, got ink a couple hours ago.<br abp="1496" /><br abp="1497" />Loaded directly into a Sheaffer No Nonsense, which doesn't get on very well with the ink, though I thought it would. But I wanted to use a cartridge pen this time, ratherthan the Dollar piston-filler. I might swap the cart into a slightly better Sheaffer.<br abp="1498" /><br abp="1499" />A light, bright springlike (and we could use some spring!) ink. Lighter than both the MB Irish and the JH Lierre Sauvage. No sheen for me, hardly any shading. I see a turquoise halo in the chroma, which may not show up in this scan. <br abp="1500" /><br abp="1501" /><img abp="1502" alt="" border="0" src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/3515/2055/9152/Mystery_Ink_15-640p.jpg" style="border: 0px currentColor; max-width: 100%;" /></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1503">
<div abp="1504">
<span abp="1505" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br abp="1506" /></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1507">
<div abp="1508">
<span abp="1509" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br abp="1510" /></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1511">
<div abp="1512">
<span abp="1513" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You'd think Dr. Inkenstein woukd have guessed correctly this time. Especially since the MI in question was ALSO one I own, and RIGHT THERE ON THE PAGE AS A COMPARISON.</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1514">
<div abp="1515">
<span abp="1516" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br abp="1517" /></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1518">
<div abp="1519">
<span abp="1520" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hint: it wasn't MB Irish Green. Mystery Ink # 15 was JHerbin Lierre Sauvage. Which I own. And had loaded. Will I ever get one right? Tune in next time. The Ink Mysteries continue.....</span></div>
</div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-11230356209313036492018-04-13T09:35:00.001-04:002018-04-13T09:38:03.605-04:00The Department of Mysteries: In Which Favorites Are Revisited<div abp="2253" class="postrow has_after_content" style="margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 5px 10px 4em;">
<h2 abp="2254" class="title icon" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(200, 200, 200); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 10px 10px 5px 0px;">
<br abp="2255" /></h2>
<div abp="2256" class="content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div abp="2257" id="post_message_232284" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<blockquote abp="2258" class="postcontent restore " style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<div abp="2259">
<span abp="2260" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Long time no ink. But a kind soul (this means you, Scooby!) at Fountain Pen Geeks has revived the Great Mystery Ink Extravaganza, and I was lucky enough to get on board. MI 14 turned out to be blue. This was fortunate. Dr. Inkenstein likes blue.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote abp="2261" class="postcontent restore " style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<div abp="2262">
<span abp="2263" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br abp="2264" /></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote abp="2265" class="postcontent restore " style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<div abp="2266">
<span abp="2267" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ur scribblz, I haz demz:<br abp="2268" /><br abp="2269" /><img abp="2270" alt="" border="0" src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/9115/1881/6394/Mystery_Ink_14-640p.jpg" style="border: 0px currentColor; max-width: 100%;" /> <br abp="2271" /><br abp="2272" />This was Rhodia paper, and the ink delivery system was a Dollar Demonstrator used for countless ink tests. </span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote abp="2273" class="postcontent restore " style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<div abp="2274">
<span abp="2275" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br abp="2276" /></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote abp="2277" class="postcontent restore " style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<div abp="2278">
<span abp="2279" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This particular ink seemed to start hard after I had loaded and left it on its side for a couple of hours, but it wrote with a fairly suave and slinky manner.<br abp="2280" /><br abp="2281" />I started to guess: Sailor Jentle Blue also has red sheen, but MI 14 probably isn't this; I have JB in a JinFari at the moment, and the Jentle ink looks darker. This is a bright blue that looks denim-y in heavier application.<br abp="2282" /><br abp="2283" />Is it a Robert Oster ink? I'm pretty unfamiliar with the line, apart from some pen pal letters.<br abp="2284" /><br abp="2285" />Diamine Blue Velvet got on my fingers, too, every time I used it. Clearly, though I loved its properies and color, that ink hated me.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote abp="2286" class="postcontent restore " style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<div abp="2287">
<span abp="2288" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br abp="2289" /></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote abp="2290" class="postcontent restore " style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<div abp="2291">
<span abp="2292" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mystery Ink 14 turned out to be.....Akkerman Shocking Blue. Which I already had. So why couldn't I guess right?</span></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="2293" class="after_content" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 669px;">
<blockquote abp="2294" class="signature restore" style="border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin: 1em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 1em 10px 0px;">
</blockquote>
</div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-45095247053014934122017-05-14T08:50:00.001-04:002017-06-19T14:10:04.131-04:00Shootout! In Which Jinhao and Delike Go Toe-to-Toe<div itemprop="commentText" class="post entry-content " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; min-height: 100px !important; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Of the Jinhao 992 and the Delike New Moon...I use them and enjoy them both. Maybe it's the ink, but the 992 lays down a wetter, heavier line. (Not to mention the jewel-cracking issue....the pen with a glass jaw?)</span></div><div itemprop="commentText" class="post entry-content " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; min-height: 100px !important; word-wrap: break-word; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> The New Moon cost more, but as a Sapporo homage, it does the job (as does the Pilot Prera, or so I think, and the NM is half the Prera's price).<br><br>The finer, slightly drier Delike would be better for sketching and liner notes. I can feel the difference writing, even though that may not show well on the image. <br><br><br><span rel="lightbox"><img class="bbc_img" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4160/33607862064_3cb75304f0_z.jpg" alt="33607862064_3cb75304f0_z.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; cursor: pointer; max-width: 100%; "></span> <br></span></div><div class="signature" data-memberid="13111" style="margin: 6px 0px 4px; padding: 10px 0px; clear: right; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); position: relative; "></div>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-37415743964846305652017-05-04T17:44:00.001-04:002017-05-14T08:53:25.801-04:00Coloriffic: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Gets A Delivery<blockquote class="blockrow postcontent restore preview postcontainer forumcontent" id="yui-gen12" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px; overflow: hidden; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sooooo many colorrrrrs!</span></blockquote><blockquote class="blockrow postcontent restore preview postcontainer forumcontent" id="yui-gen12" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px; overflow: hidden; "><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><br></span></blockquote><blockquote class="blockrow postcontent restore preview postcontainer forumcontent" id="yui-gen12" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px; overflow: hidden; "><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">Dr. Inkenstein recently purchased a bunch of these off fleabay. They're so cute I laugh every time I pick one up. Yes, they have the famed logo of Big Brown. They probably date from the 1980s or 90s. NO idea of their true history, though.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="blockrow postcontent restore preview postcontainer forumcontent" id="yui-gen12" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px; overflow: hidden; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2869/34449825355_68b8348a2a_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "></span></blockquote><blockquote class="blockrow postcontent restore preview postcontainer forumcontent" id="yui-gen12" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px; overflow: hidden; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote><blockquote class="blockrow postcontent restore preview postcontainer forumcontent" id="yui-gen12" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px; overflow: hidden; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They are comfortable enough to hold, and seem to be of decent build quality. Dr. Inkenstein will use these as travel companions and diva-y ink testers. And maybe give a couple away.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="blockrow signature restore preview" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px; overflow: hidden; "></blockquote>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-27206819921895857632017-05-02T15:11:00.001-04:002017-05-02T15:11:52.224-04:00New Pen In Town: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Goes With The Flow<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So there are a couple new Chinese pens being talked about that Dr. Inkenstein has had the misfortune, err, good luck, to stumble upon. After swearing off pen purchases.</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">You can see just how long THAT lasted.<br></span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here's the Jinhao 992 with a quick test using Noodler's 41 Brown and absolutely no flushing of the pen, which is how we do things around here. I also forgot the model number of this pen. It's not written anywhere that I noticed.<br><br>On this paper, with this ink, it writes a wet medium-fine line that was almost too thick for sketching. By contrast, the Delikes I also just got, which are Chinese homages to the Sailor Sapporo, write a needle-fine line.<br><br><span rel="lightbox"><img class="bbc_img" src="http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/5314/9372/5269/Brown_Jinhao-640p.jpg" alt="Brown_Jinhao-640p.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; cursor: pointer; max-width: 100%; "></span><br><br>The 992 is a good size, light in weight, and posts well. Ideal for Dr. Inkenstein's particular needs. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The second Jinhao 992 is blue, and I filled it with Dromgoole's dark-dark-gray USS Texas. Which is apparently a very wet ink, and as these are very wet pens, the result was like an oil spill. USS Texas was quickly decanted, and the pen refilled with my very dry custom mix of Minato-no-Burushii. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(A possible head-to-head with this blue 992 and one of the Delikes is bewing.)</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dr. Inkenstein likes these! Maybe I should have gotten more. <img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=":)" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; "> </span></div></div>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-76166378550850215352017-02-28T16:30:00.001-05:002017-02-28T16:30:56.731-05:00Now, V'Ger: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Goes Cinematic<div abp="1513">
Don't get me wrong. I LIKE <i abp="1514">Now, Voyager</i> (Warner Brothers, 1942, Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Paul Henreid). In fact, I watch it once a year or so, when winter is icky and dreary and I feel like taking a cruise to Brazil only I don't have the money because I spent it all on pens and inks. And maybe some paper. Plus, this film contains Claude Rains, and if that weren't enough, the icy, inimitable Gladys Cooper, and also that actress who plays a different Nursie-Poo in <em abp="1515">The Man Who Came To Dinner</em> (also 1942, also Bette Davis): Mary 'Just Call Me Nursie-Poo' Wickes.</div>
<div abp="1516">
<div abp="1517">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div abp="1518">
<div abp="1519">
So this repressed Boston spinster (Davis) meets Dr. Claude Rains, who quotes her this poem ending in, 'Now, voyager,' and she goes forth and meets Kirk and Spock and a giant alien Entity...no, wait, wrong movie.</div>
</div>
<div abp="1520">
<div abp="1521">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div abp="1522">
<div abp="1523">
She goes forth on this cruise I can't afford and turns all glamourous and has a totally illicit affair with a married man (Henreid) whose accent is so thick you could use it for pate. His younger daughter has a complex because she thinks she's not wanted. She's such a puling little drip no wonder.</div>
</div>
<div abp="1524">
<div abp="1525">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div abp="1526">
<div abp="1527">
Somewhere along the line, Mr. Accent gives Davis a bunch of camellias. Then there's talk about the moon and the stars. Thee end.</div>
</div>
<div abp="1528">
<div abp="1529">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div abp="1530">
<div abp="1531">
V'ger is that which programmed me. Take that, you carbon units!</div>
</div>
<div abp="1532">
<div abp="1533">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div abp="1534">
<div abp="1535">
Oh, wait, right. Fountain pens and socks. Davis knits in one scene. Could have been socks. Maybe.</div>
</div>
<div abp="1536">
<div abp="1537">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div abp="1538">
<div abp="1539">
If this movie was an ink, it would be Iroshizuku Ajisai. Because hydrangeas are totally the same as camellias, right?</div>
</div>
<div abp="1540">
<div abp="1541">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div abp="1542">
<div abp="1543">
Maybe Dr. Inkenstein will go watch another movie.</div>
<div abp="1544">
</div>
<div abp="1643" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1644" href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2363/32909219061_e9df26226e_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1645" border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2363/32909219061_e9df26226e_c.jpg" width="536" /></a></div>
<div abp="1545">
</div>
</div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-15299059191800525662016-11-02T10:13:00.002-04:002016-11-07T13:49:22.036-05:00Discontinued, Continued: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Displays Zero Sales Resistance<div abp="1475">
<div abp="2124">
<span abp="1476" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So... as previously stated, Dr. Inkenstein does NOT need more ink. Seriously. And this has to be why I find myself with ten new inks to test. Ten. A one followed by a zero.<br abp="1477" /><br abp="1478" />Paper is Rhodia Ice. Pens are various. The rightmost swabs got a double pass, with some single-pass tail-end showing. <br abp="1479" /><br abp="1480" /><br abp="1481" /><br abp="1482" /><br abp="1483" /><img abp="1484" alt="" border="0" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5650/30545847346_56919613fb_z.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" /><br abp="1485" /><br abp="1486" /><br abp="1487" /><br abp="1488" /><br abp="1489" /><img abp="1490" alt="" border="0" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5742/30582061505_4c6f22ee47_z.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" /><br abp="1491" /><br abp="1492" /><br abp="1493" />Many seem dry. Might be the fault of a particular test pen. One of them made an appearance in FPG's Guess The Ink thread. See if you can match it with the above.<br abp="1494" /><br abp="1495" /><br abp="1496" /><img abp="1497" alt="" border="0" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8132/29798413373_b5fdb35033_z.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" /></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1498">
<div abp="1499">
<div abp="2149">
<span abp="1500" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br abp="1501" /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1502">
<div abp="1503">
<div abp="2154">
<span abp="1504" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Overall, these are nice enough colors, in spite of some sketchy labeling and occasional hard starting. And they're being discontinued. Therefore, on sale. To which there is no resistance.</span></div>
<div abp="2154">
</div>
<div abp="2154">
</div>
<div abp="2154">
(Updating, now that Dr. Inkenstein has run through just about all of them:<br abp="28920" /><br abp="28921" />Antique Slate has a definite blue base, that I discovered on cleaning it out of the Dollar demonstrator. It was wet and easy in that pen, no hard starts.<br abp="28922" /><br abp="28923" />Zircon had a kind of...I don't know, oily? consistency to it, that I found on dipping the nib in water to start the pen writing, because it was always a hard starter. It looked like a colorful oil slick.<br abp="28924" /><br abp="28925" />Antique Walnut started hard when left for a day or two in the Metropolitan, but with regular use, flowed well, and may be the blackity-brown of choice for me.<br abp="28926" /><br abp="28927" />Capri was very well-behaved. So was the utterly mis-named Cobalt.<br abp="28928" /><br abp="28929" />Antique Crimson and Orchid stained converters and carts but good! Crimson is weird; it's the only bottle that has bubbles, resulting in almost a soapy consistency, and because of that bubbling up, this ink is frustrating to load a cart with a pipette.<br abp="28930" /><br abp="28931" />Only the rust-colored Antique Raspberry was always unpleasant to use, dry and hard, and I may give that another go in some garden hose or other.<br abp="28932" /><br abp="28933" />In all, as the Chesterfield line is being phased out, has some nice colors, and is selling at a good price, Dr. Inkenstein recommends trying a few bottles.)</div>
</div>
</div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-32493947673211511892016-10-18T10:37:00.000-04:002016-10-18T10:37:27.079-04:00Five Rules For Fighting: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Posts A Fanfic<div abp="695">
</div>
<div abp="916" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="917" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYJiTYvK663w7dLjdOIERdy3ZPIwmduxrZQJDhyphenhyphenRj8mKQ4laVehNlkB4NguIs-C9QPYWnWo7NDe08InpWFlI8gelw7leo_9LPnLzdVYLL2tdbgBFUQ_VcAKXItd6VBGP6Srwc8dqJ4R8/s1600/Hiei+St+Joes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="918" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYJiTYvK663w7dLjdOIERdy3ZPIwmduxrZQJDhyphenhyphenRj8mKQ4laVehNlkB4NguIs-C9QPYWnWo7NDe08InpWFlI8gelw7leo_9LPnLzdVYLL2tdbgBFUQ_VcAKXItd6VBGP6Srwc8dqJ4R8/s320/Hiei+St+Joes.JPG" width="253" /></a></div>
<div abp="847" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div abp="695">
</div>
<div abp="695">
</div>
<div abp="695">
</div>
<div abp="695">
Disclaimer: Kenshin does not own the Yuu Yuu Hakusho characters (they are the property of Togashi Yoshihiro et al), and does not make any money from said characters.</div>
<div abp="696">
</div>
<div abp="697">
What Kenshin <strong abp="698">does</strong> own, however, are all the original characters in this work. Any attempt to "borrow" these characters will be met with the katana, or worse.</div>
<div abp="699">
</div>
<div abp="700">
<em abp="701">Idiot Beloved</em> takes place shortly after the Dark Tournament; <em abp="702">Firebird Sweet</em> directly follows. For reference, I use a combination of the subtitled YYH anime and the American manga, plus some of the CD dramas.</div>
<div abp="703">
</div>
<div abp="704">
This particular tale is told from the antagonist's point of view.</div>
<div abp="705">
Title: Five Rules For Fighting</div>
<div abp="706">
Author: JaganshiKenshin</div>
<div abp="707">
Genre: Action/Adventure, General</div>
<div abp="708">
Rating: K+/PG-13</div>
<div abp="709">
Summary: Hiei encounters a <em abp="710">youkai</em> in disguise-and he means to have Hiei's hide.</div>
<div abp="711">
</div>
<div abp="712">
A/N: As always, thanks for your reviews and faves!</div>
<div abp="713">
</div>
<div abp="714">
A killer lies in wait for Hiei.</div>
<div abp="715" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
Five Rules For Fighting</div>
<div abp="716" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
by</div>
<div abp="717" data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
Kenshin</div>
<div abp="718">
</div>
<div abp="719">
"It's Hiei all right." AkaRaikou's informant ducked back into the reeking alley. "Even though he ain't wearing that black mantle or sword."</div>
<div abp="720">
</div>
<div abp="721">
AkaRaikou scowled, thinking furiously.</div>
<div abp="722">
</div>
<div abp="723">
In the Makai, Hiei was still notorious. But several years had passed since the Dark Tournament. It was said Hiei no longer wielded the Kokuryuuha, and indeed, hardly ever carried a sword.</div>
<div abp="724">
</div>
<div abp="725">
It was also rumored that Hiei had lost a step or two, living as he did in the human realm. That he was an easy mark. But those who spoke of such things did so in hurried, fearful whispers, which meant anyone seeking to make a name for himself could still legitimately aim to take down Hiei.</div>
<div abp="726">
</div>
<div abp="727">
AkaRaikou-the name meant Red Lightning-had been scouting for Hiei about a week now, and had been forced to pay first one insider, then another, and tonight, this human thug. What was his name? Yama-something? Hardly worth remembering.</div>
<div abp="728">
</div>
<div abp="729">
But at least this one delivered.</div>
<div abp="730">
</div>
<div abp="731">
Keeping his voice pitched high, as befitted his current form, Lightning said, "Are you sure it's Hiei?"</div>
<div abp="732">
</div>
<div abp="733">
"Sure I'm sure." The thug bared tobacco-stained teeth. "But kid, are YOU sure?"</div>
<div abp="734">
</div>
<div abp="735">
"Just do it. I'm not paying you to second-guess."</div>
<div abp="736">
</div>
<div abp="737">
They stepped out of the alley, human and <em abp="738">youkai</em>. The thug a cheap punk-for-hire, to be had for the price of some booze.</div>
<div abp="739">
</div>
<div abp="740">
Lightning looked human, but this was temporary. He had taken the appearance of a small and fragile ten-year-old boy, and it was a strain keeping his <em abp="741">youki</em> suppressed.</div>
<div abp="742">
</div>
<div abp="743">
He was a shapeshifter, and his real form was ten feet of bronzed lightning and clawed thunder. Strength wasn't his only merit. He also had speed to spare.</div>
<div abp="744">
</div>
<div abp="745">
Any moment now, he would secure his fearsome reputation with the murder of Jagan Master Hiei.</div>
<div abp="746">
</div>
<div abp="747">
</div>
<div abp="748">
See the rest <a abp="750" href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12098165/1/" target="_blank">HERE.</a></div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-57804208414420128862016-10-01T09:40:00.000-04:002016-10-18T10:40:55.629-04:00Discontinued! In Which Dr. Inkenstein Posts Moar Blobs<div abp="654">
<div abp="2124">
Oh, my...has it been this long already?</div>
</div>
<div abp="655">
<div abp="2126">
</div>
</div>
<div abp="656">
<div abp="2128">
Dr. Inkenstein doesn't need any more ink. Naturally, that must be why I recently bought six (6) new bottles from xfountainpens. </div>
</div>
<div abp="657">
<div abp="2130">
</div>
</div>
<div abp="658">
<div abp="2132">
But I have <strike abp="659">excuses</strike> reasons. They were being discontinued. They were on sale. And the bottles were small.</div>
</div>
<div abp="660">
<div abp="2135">
</div>
</div>
<div abp="661">
<div abp="2137">
Just not as small as I had originally thought.</div>
</div>
<div abp="662">
<div abp="2139">
</div>
</div>
<div abp="663">
<div abp="2141">
Paper is Rhodia. Ink names scribbled in pencil.</div>
</div>
<div abp="664">
<div abp="2143">
</div>
</div>
<div abp="665">
<div abp="2145">
</div>
</div>
<div abp="2275" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2276" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBoipnYUHLK2JQihCaLGRTASXWYFdqfSGQFkRBY7joCVAacJT2diH2G6UGRTEhELBLf9_qmIEiKV1H9y28xEQSBsdq_eEyRSpI16THbTaF1mxvjiwsuVzppz95Pu92VQeF3d262nFyfQ/s1600/Chesterfield+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2277" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBoipnYUHLK2JQihCaLGRTASXWYFdqfSGQFkRBY7joCVAacJT2diH2G6UGRTEhELBLf9_qmIEiKV1H9y28xEQSBsdq_eEyRSpI16THbTaF1mxvjiwsuVzppz95Pu92VQeF3d262nFyfQ/s640/Chesterfield+001.jpg" width="458" /></a></div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The only ones loaded now are Antique Jade, in a Hero 616, and Antique Crimson, in a Jinhao x750 fude. (I like Amberlea's notion of 'abusing' inks by means of pens with biiig nibs). </div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All these swabs look different from the swabs posted on xfountainpens. </div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In my swabs, Antique Jade looks gray, but in the pen, it's a bit darker and greener, and on some papers it shades.</div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Crimson looks darker and more intense in the fude. The Orchid, when dip-tested, is all but black. Dr. Inkenstein longs to mix a drop or two of Orchid into the Crimson.</div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They're already sold out of some colors that I wanted. Hurry if you're interested.</div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="771" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="666">
<div abp="2164">
</div>
</div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-6404144615488954982016-03-08T15:10:00.001-05:002016-05-20T11:18:24.930-04:00Sailin' Da Blooz: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Searches For Truth<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Turns out Dr. Inkenstein does not have very many True Blues. And of the following, some are far from true blue, and quite a few are sample vials: the Iroshizukus, and the Sailor Kobe #37 (thanks for this latter to bluesea!). Rotring Ultramarine, which Dr. I used to have, and re-purchased NOS from fleabay, is remembered as being a nice denim color. But it's actually POIPLE, as evidenced by the chroma. (sorta kinda....scannage tones down the normal dynamic color range). Rotring Ultramarine does fade down in poiple-osity a bit when fully dried. <br><br>The Old Shoe MB was bought secondhand and is clearly a blue-black, but looks blue in the bottle. I swear it does. It's there for...contrast. Yeah, that's it. Contrast. Just like the Rotring.<br><br>Tsuyu-Kusa, while a lovely color with excellent properties, seems a little pale for everyday use. Asa-Gao... just didn't thrill me. </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>My favorites? The classic Waterman Florida Blue, now a collector's item. And JH Eclat de Saphir. If I wanted a darker blue, Myosotis. I guess Skrip is up there, too, rating an Okay, At Least It's Inexpensive (this would be the conical-bottle Slovenia version).<br><br>These are not my finest chromas; I plead InCoSomNia.<br><br>Are my ink-bottle days behind me? Maybe. If Sailor made a true, clear blue with no green, turquoise or POIPLE undertones, I might be interested.<br><br><br>Da inx:<br><br><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1583/25385486111_d3134edfd7_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "><br><br>Da chromaz:<br><br><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1546/25385492331_a2f7db4aef_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; "></span></div>JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831142206710036145.post-47117079114687223622016-02-22T14:47:00.001-05:002016-03-08T14:51:26.244-05:00Black Is Black: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Does Coronas<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dr. Inkenstein is not particularly a black ink aficionado. Oh, sure, we are familiar with Lamy Black in carts. It's black. It works in my red Lamy Safari with a Fine nib. As I say, it's black. So, too, with Platinum black carts and the Preppy .03 and .02. They write black.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />I recall buying my first bottle of used (beg pardon, 'previously owned') Montblanc ink on fleabay. Yay! I thought; I'm significant now! I own an ink bottle shaped like a shoe!<br /><br /><br />It was black. It wrote black. And so on and so forth, until I had acquired a couple more bottles of black ink, all of which wrote...black.<br /><br /><br />But then something interesting happened. Seeing a review of PR Velvet Black, and being impressed with the brilliant corona produced by dropping it on a paper towel, Dr. I did a series of paper towel chromas, with four bottled blacks. The results were not what I expected. The Levenger Raven Black was...black. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />The others were a surprise, and far more colorful. Now I wonder...is the Montblanc even a black? It sure writes like one. Waterman and Quink seemed very close in color components, but in daylight, and not scannage, Quink's corona was slightly more intense orange. Still, I don't think any of them were as much of a rainbow as the PR Velvet! Which clearly will be coming to my ink shelf soon.<br /><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1492/24954404802_d84a17592b_z.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" /></span></div>
JaganshiKenshinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03519213364281470183noreply@blogger.com0