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This is an introductory guide to setting up your fountain pen with bottled ink. If you're wondering what bottled ink is or why you should be using it check out our blog here! Now you're caught up, let's get started... What you are going to need: 1. Fountain Pen  The first thing that you’re going to need is your fountain pen. Most fountain pens can be made to work with bottled ink.  2. Converter  You will need something called a converter, a plunger/piston device that goes into your pen where the ink cartridge usually sits. It is used to draw up and store ink. All of the fountain pens we stock are compatible with a converter, so if you purchase your pen from us you can also pick up the appropriate converter!  3. Bottle of Ink  Finally you will need your bottle of ink. At Honest Paper we have the basic colours (Blue and Black), in both the Lamy and Pilot ranges, as well as some more adventurous colours from Lamy and Robert Oster.     Now that you've got what you need, here's how to fill your fountain pens with your favourite bottle of ink. 1. Make sure your pen is clean and dry This means disassembling it and removing the cartridge that was in the pen. Running water through the pen until it is clear is a good way to make sure there is no residual ink left in the feed section (Make sure to let it dry!) 2. Put the converter in the pen Insert the empty converter into your pen where the cartridge would sit. It attaches in exactly the same way the cartridge does. Wind the plunger down towards the nib as far as it will go. 3. Submerge the nib including the breather hole in the ink On a stable surface, open your bottle of ink. You will need to submerge the nib of your pen into the ink, until the surface of the ink is over the breather hole (The small hole near the top of the nib).  4. Twist the converters plunger to draw the ink into the pen While holding the pen steady, twist the converter raising the plunger. This will draw the ink up through the nib into the pen. Don’t worry if it doesn’t completely fill the converter!  5. Repeat the process with the converter to get a better fill   While keeping the nib in the ink, repeat the full up and down motion of the converter a few times. This allows the ink to saturate and fill the feed section of the pen. After a few cycles you should see the converter fill most of the way. 6. Reassemble the pen and wipe off the nib Take the pen out of the ink and wipe the excess ink from the nib using a towel. Then reassemble the body of the pen. 7. Start writing And you’re done! Your pen is now filled with bottled ink and is ready to write just like it was before with a cartridge. And next time you run out of ink, just repeat the process listed here to refill your pen. (If you are using the same ink you may not need to clean out your pen, however if you change to a different colour you will want to clean out your pen again to prevent the inks mixing) Congratulations on filling your fountain pen with bottled ink! Now a whole new world of inky goodness has just opened up to you. So go! Explore, write or draw with your new found fountain pen ink.

The journey to bottled ink may seem like a challenging one, but don’t be afraid! It’s a very rewarding addition to your fountain pen world and an easier leap than you might think. Bottled ink expands the way you can use your fountain pens, and lets you get even more from their unique writing experience. For starters, by moving to bottled ink, the range of colours available to use with your fountain pen increases. Most pen manufacturers only make ink cartridges for their basic colours. Moving into using converters with bottled ink allows you to use their full range. Even more importantly is that you can now use bottled ink from any fountain pen manufacturer, a converter allows you to use ANY bottled fountain pen ink. Check out our other blog here for how to fill a fountain pen using a converter. (Note: Fountain pen ink is different to calligraphy ink, make sure the ink suitable for fountain pens. Calligraphy ink isn’t water based and will prevent your pen from writing) Another great advantage to bottled ink is that you no longer have to worry about running out of ink cartridges. Bottled ink comes in 30-50ml bottles, which gives as many as 100 refills per bottle. This means you're far less likely to get stuck with a pen which has just run out of ink. (Think about all the plastic you’ve just saved too!) On top of all of that, the world of bottled ink is just as deep and interesting as that of fountain pens. There are inks that are multi-shaded, inks that have metallic sparkles in them, inks that are watery or thicker, inks that blend colours and change as you write. The journey to finding your perfect ink is just as fun as finding your perfect pen. So welcome to the beginning of your bottled ink journey. There are almost as many inks to try as there are things to write about. So take the leap and expand the way you write and create, with bottled ink.   

Not all fountain pens are calligraphy pens, and not all calligraphy pens are fountain pens. The style of writing a fountain pen will produce is found a) in your individual writing style and ability and b) the type of nib it has. Most fountain pens are fitted with a rounded nib and are available in extra fine, fine, medium or broad sizes. It is important to note that, while the broader the nib the thicker the line size, this doesn’t necessarily correlate to line variation or calligraphic effect. Read more on line variation… If you are determined to achieve a more flourished, calligraphic writing style, try a fountain pen fitted with an italic nib. Also known as a ’stub’ these have a flat tip, sometimes angled, and are available in varying widths. Words by: Ben GrahamImage Source: https://www.lamy.com/en/lamy-nib-guide/

Line variation refers to how much of a difference you can get in line thickness from a nib.  While the majority fountain pen nibs are not designed for calligraphy or ‘flexing’ some nibs still have a certain amount of expression to them. This is because when you are writing and applying pressure to the pen on the page, it can force the tines of the nib slightly further apart, causing a wider line. While this effect can be desirable, it should be noted that you should be very careful in how much pressure you put on your nibs, because if you press too hard the tines will be permanently bent and ruin the nib. Experimenting with your nibs expression is something you should only do when you are already comfortable with your pen, and understand how it writes. Then, slowly try applying very little pressure on the down strokes of your writing to see if your nib has any expressiveness. *note that line variation in standard fountain pen nibs will only be possible on the down stroke of your writing. Some nibs, such as ‘stub nibs’ or ‘italic nibs’ get their line variation from having different shaped tips. Their variation comes from the direction of writing. Stub nibs tend to be more rectangular with rounded edges, giving line variation from side to side, and italic nibs are rectangular with a sharper edge, allowing for great variation between side to side and vertical writing strokes. Words by: Ben Graham

Are fountain pens easy to use? Even with their exquisite appearance, delicate and shiny nibs, fountain pens are perfect for elevating your everyday writing experience. Often confused as a ‘calligraphy pen’ or a ‘dip pen’, rest assured they are neither as tricky or messy as those!   Can I learn calligraphy using a fountain pen? Not all fountain pens are calligraphy pens, and not all calligraphy pens are fountain pens. So, the answer is only sometimes, and more specifically with the correct nib type and some practice. Read more…   What is line variation? Line variation refers to how much of a difference you can get in line thickness from a nib. Read more…   Are fountain pens dip pens? No, fountain pens aren’t designed to be dipped. Fountain pens contain an ink reservoir, which are designed to be refilled using either a converter or a pre-filled disposable ink cartridge. Unlike dip pens, fountain pens are self contained and typically capped, so you can easily carry it with you and make use of it every day.   Are fountain pens okay for left-handed writing? Yes, there are nibs designed for left-handed writers. For example, the Lamy left-handed nib which is slightly oblique, making it ideal for left-handed writers who frequently tilt their hand when writing. As another option, left-handed writers can try a finer nib for a speedier dry time to avoid ink smear.   How do I clean my fountain pen? For converter and cartridge filled fountain pens, simply disassemble your pen and wash each piece through with water.For a simple clean: Disassemble your fountain pen into 4 parts - lid, body, feed (with nib attached) and remove the cartridge or converter. Under the tap, run a slow stream of water into the feed so that it trickles through the nib on the other side. Do this until it runs clear. Wash the other parts with water, then set everything aside and allow to dry. Reassemble. For a more thorough clean, you can remove the nib and clean it with water as well (please note that not all fountain pens are designed to do this).   How often should I clean my fountain pen? It’s common to clean you pen between changes of ink colour, mainly to avoid colours mixing. Troubleshooting: If you leave your fountain pen idle, with ink inside, over an extended period of time you may find writing to become scratchy or even impossible. In this case, ink may have dried in the feed, blocking ink flow. Try cleaning your fountain pen throughly, re-ink it and then attempt writing again.   Pictured: Bespoke Letterpress Writing Pad, Lamy Safari Fountain Pen in White.

So you've been hit with the news that you're sick... and you've been instructed to self-quarantine. So what to do now?  No one needs to spend 1000 hours watching Netflix, although it's a good start. But once you start to feel bored with being bored, here are a few ideas on how to get your butt off the couch and do something semi-productive and interesting.  1. Pull your journal out. You can do it!! Pull open a fresh new page, grab your favourite pen and start with these words... "I'm stuck here so I may as well..."  Challenge yourself to a new topic each day, fill a page or two. Early in the morning is best! If you need a journal.. here's where to look. Journals & Notebooks 2. Write a letter! Okay, not all of these are writing focused, we promise! But seriously, who in your fam hasn't heard from you in a while? Which friend from school haven't you spoken to in a while? Write them a letter and ask for a response. You might be setting yourself up for some lovely mail in a few months :)  Letter Writing Stationery here  3. Clean your fountain pen. Yep that's right, you can CLEAN your pens and you should do it regularly. We do it all the time, one day we'll write our own blog but for now... here's a useful video on how to clean them properly. click here 4. Revisit your yearly goals. Take a moment to look at the goals you made for this year, what changes do you need to make? Are you having fun?  5. Enjoy a spot of online shopping ;) you know where we live... www.honestpaper.com.au - enjoy free shipping over $50 etc etc    LOTSA LOVE

As a new year rolls around, something inside of all of us ignites, new years resolutions are made & there's a desire in all of us to just "be more organised"!  In an ever-increasing digital age, surprisingly the paper diary is making a serious comeback and we have a few tips for you to help you use and actually keep your diary all year round.  1. Choose the right diary for you Not all diaries are made the same, in fact - there are SO MANY different types of diaries, it can be seriously overwhelming but having the right diary can make a masssssive difference. Questions to ask yourself might be  How much space do I need?  Will this diary be left at home or taken with me always? What parts of your life need the most organisation? ie. Meal planning, gym, work, kids etc Do you need help with goal planning/ tracking or just a calendar  Do you scribble/draw? Do you need space for this?  Do stickers excite you, what are your colour preferences?  All of these questions will help you land at the correct diary & THIS will set you up for a win. Buying a quality diary that will LAST makes a big difference to how much you use it, if you're inspired by it the chances of using it are higher. Have a peek at our collection here.  2. Find a pen you like  Believe it or not, a good pen will help you "enjoy" sitting down and using your diary, it doesn't have to be expensive or amazing but a pen you actually like that is kept WITH your diary will encourage you to use it more often!  Some great pens here.  3. Make planning a habit A simple way to do this is to add using your diary to a daily task that you do every day already. Perhaps when you have breakfast, or when you sit down at your desk with your coffee first thing. If you add the practice of opening your diary up every day/every week WITH an activity you don't have to think about doing, you'll find it easier to continue to do every day. 4. Set up your year  At the beginning of each year, take a moment to add into your diary, the years "events". Add in things like birthdays, date nights, annual recurring events and planned holidays.  5. Blank isn't bad  There is a weird pressure to "fill up" your diary completely... don't succumb! It's ok to have whole weeks where you have nothing planned at all! Often it's nice to see that you have some time off, you can use the space to write a quote or draw a little picture.. just because you haven't used every day doesn't mean the diary isn't useful!!  Bonus: a few things to think about scheduling when doing your yearly planning!  Schedule date nights & holidays first - plan your breaks  Add birthday reminders a month before for important birthdays so you are organised.  Schedule Christmas planning in November (or October if you're really keen) so you don't feel overwhelmed come December. Use different coloured pens for different categories, ie: financial, family, birthdays etc Use other creative tools like washi tape to keep your diary exciting!  Add kind words & reminders for yourself further into the year, it's always a nice surprise ;)  Don't just add everything for the sake of it, eg: if your rent is auto deducted there's no need to write it in each month Block out days for selfcare & breathing space Use a pencil for events that are guaranteed, that's why they say "I'll pencil you in"  Add reminders for your annual checkups, dentist, doc, donating blood etc!  HAVE FUNNNNN  x  

I remember my first time picking up a fountain pen. I was expecting little more than a complicated writing experience, laced with the disappointment that I wasn't worthy of something so fancy. To my surprise the writing experience was not only a simple one, but one that left me inspired to continue to write and explore in this new world of pens. As writers and stationery lovers, we all enjoy the special connection we have to our craft and hobbies. To pick up our favourite notebook, sip our favourite tea and to simply enjoy. This is true regardless of our crafts, whether it's writing novels, poetry, journaling, note taking or simply our daily to-do list. The connection from person to pen to paper is one that is unique to each Individual, and one that leads to our unique writing styles. Finding your own rhythms and patterns in writing furthers our journey into creativity and our enjoyment within it. Fountain pens offer a different approach to writing, their nibs allowing for ink to flow uninhibited from the pen onto the paper. This gives a writing experience like no other, one where you guide the ink as your write. So next time you're in Newcastle, why not take the time to come into Honest Paper, to find and explore the world of fountain pens. It is far less complicated than you might expect and it can be deeply rewarding. I constantly am finding myself inspired when I uncap my fountain pen, ready to see where the paper will take me. Now go forth and write! Enjoy and explore the way that only you can communicate. Dig deep into your love of the bespoke and the artisanal, and most of all, create! Words by: Ben GrahamPictured: Milligram Journal in Beige, Lamy Al-Star in Graphite, Lamy Blue-Black Ink