Monday, March 28, 2022

Fountain Pen Ink Review: Cozy Comforts by Robert Oster Signature × EndlessPens × micahfinds

In the previous two years during the pandemic, we saw pen companies and brands come up with new and exciting products that kept most of us—including me—entertained and motivated at the same time. It's always inspiring and moving when people work together to bring out excellent products for others to enjoy. Products from such partnerships are not only well-crafted and full of details, they are designed from the heart with their intended users in mind. 

One such product is the most recent ink set from Robert Oster Signature that the most creative @micahfinds designed for EndlessPens. Cozy Comforts, a six-color fountain pen ink collection is an EndlessPens exclusive, inspired by six soothing sounds, smells, sights, and sensations. Inspired by tea, coffee, books, campfire, and stars, these beautiful and vibrant fountain pen inks evoke feelings of comfort, ease, and satisfaction. Rants of The Archer has the pleasure of introducing to fountain pen enthusiasts all around the world the EndlessPens exclusive Cozy Comforts by Robert Oster Signature × EndlessPens × @micahfinds

Cozy Comforts, a brand new ink collection exclusive to EndlessPens.

Cozy Comforts by Robert Oster Signature × EndlessPens × @micahfinds

Cozy Comforts are six beautiful ink colors with shading, sheening, and shimmering properties. The six colors are the following:
  • Tea Time – a green ink inspired by the color of matcha green tea
  • Coffee Date – milky brown ink inspired by lattes
  • Old Book Smell – rich red-brown ink inspired by worn and torn leather-bound books
  • Soft Kitty Warm Kitty – cool grey-blue, inspired by the coat of the Russian Blue cat.
  • Campfire Crackle – shading orange ink with a black sheen and a touch of shimmer
  • Stargazer – a dark sheening teal ink with blue and silver shimmer, reminiscent of stars lighting up a night sky.
Six colors in Cozy Comforts fountain pen ink set. Please click the photos in this review to zoom in.


Cozy Comforts Tea Time

"Tea Time is a desaturated green ink inspired by the color of matcha green tea, paired with gentle conversations, mindful journaling, or grounding meditation."

Tea Time, the only green ink in the set, is a lovely fountain pen ink color. It has a yellow undertone that makes it more unique than other tea, olive, or moss green inks such as Robert Oster Crocodile Green and J. Herbin Vert Olive. Tea Time reminds me of late afternoon tea with friends or a warm cup on a cold, rainy night. This ink is very expressive of the color undertone with beautiful shading, especially if used in fountain pens with wide nibs. It is well-behaved and has excellent flow.

I used two types of paper for this review, Canson 90gsm sketch paper, and Tomoe River Paper 68gsm in LiveNotes notebooks from PenGallery. Tea Time appears lighter in the Canson sketch paper and a bit darker in Tomoe River Paper. It did not feather or bleed on both papers, but dried faster on Tomoe River Paper.

Cozy Comforts Tea Time by Robert Oster Signature × EndlessPens × @micahfinds
Tea Time has a strong yellow undertone.
This green fountain ink is very expressive and has wonderful shading.


Cozy Comforts Coffee Date

"A milky brown ink inspired by lattes, and the company of those who make you feel like your favorite self."

Coffee Date is a warm, golden-brown fountain pen ink inspired by milky coffee, a pleasure I have forgone for several years now. This fountain pen ink has medium shading and a subtle yellow to orange undertone. It is a bit lighter than the Robert Oster crowd favorite Caffe Crema and has less red than J. Herbin Ambre de Birmanie. The first time I saw the color of Coffee Date, I thought of caramel instantly, and looking at my writing sample felt like I am smelling caramel toppings on a cup of coffee. Coffee Date is well-behaved and has excellent flow. It did not feather or bleed on both Canson sketch paper and Tomoe River Paper.

Cozy Comforts Coffee Date by Robert Oster Signature × EndlessPens × @micahfinds
Coffee Date is lighter than Robert Oster Caffe Crema, and is more golden brown that the red-brown J. Herbin Ambre de Birmanie.
Coffee Date has medium shading and dries a beautiful golden brown.


Cozy Comforts Old Book Smell

"Old Book Smell is a rich red-brown ink inspired by worn and torn leather-bound books. Running your fingers through the spines as you walk through library and bookshop aisles."

Old Book Smell is a rich, luxurious red fountain pen ink with a dark brown sheen. It has medium saturation but flows and dries well. It is darker than Robert Oster Signature Red Candy and almost similar to Diamine Oxblood. This ink has medium shading, well-behaved. It did not feather or bleed on Canson sketch paper or Tomoe River Paper. The red-brown Old Book Smell reminds me of the hard-bound Reader's Digest compilation books I used to hoard when I was in college. Most of them have turned red-brown due to age and use, and they smell old, too. 

Cozy Comforts Old Book Smell by Robert Oster Signature × EndlessPens × @micahfinds
Old Book Smell has medium shading and a lovely dark brown sheen.
This dark red-brown ink reminds me of the old books I hoarded when I was in college.


Cozy Comforts Soft Kitty Warm Kitty

"A cool grey that leans blue, inspired by the coat of the Russian Blue cat. Warm ball of fur curling up against you on a gloomy day, reminding you that tomorrow can be better."

Soft Kitty Warm Kitty is the most expressive ink color in the Cozy Comforts set. The grey-blue ink also produces a light purple undertone, depending on lighting, paper, and nib width. It is a shading ink, and I am excited to see it from a stub nib. Though my cat is a ginger tabby, Soft Kitty Warm Kitty will always remind me of cats. This ink has good flow, but it feathered in the Canson sketch paper, although it was fine in Tomoe River Paper.

Cozy Comforts Soft Kitty Warm Kitty by Robert Oster Signature × EndlessPens × @micahfinds
Soft Kitty Warm Kitty has a beautiful light purple undertone.
Soft Kitty Warm Kitty is a beautiful grey-blue ink that will always remind me of cats.


Cozy Comforts Shake 'N' Shimmy Campfire Crackle

"A shading orange ink with a black sheen and a touch of shimmer. From embers to flame. The crisp sound as the logs burn, warming you on a cold evening, camped out with friends."

Finally, this set has orange ink!

Shake 'N' Shimmy Campfire Crackle is such a beautiful dark orange ink with a very fine shimmer and black sheen. It is a well-behaved ink, flows well, and did not feather or bleed in either the Canson sketch paper or Tomoe River Paper. I love the fine gold shimmer in this ink and will probably include this in my regular orange ink set. 

When I was in high school, I loved studying using our dining table which faced the small bahay kubo next to our house. One evening, as I was studying for a biology exam, there was a brownout in our neighborhood, and as I stood up to get some candles, I saw a burning ball of fire inside the bahay kubo. It was a mesmerizing mix of yellow, orange, and red all in a ball of fire that we call santelmo. Yes, I saw a santelmo in my lifetime, and Campfire Crackle brought back memories of that dark, magical night. 

Cozy Comforts Shake 'N' Shimmy Campfire Crackle by Robert Oster Signature × EndlessPens × @micahfinds
I like the fine shimmer of Campfire Crackle. It's simple, subtle, and beautiful.
Campfire Crackle is a redder version of Burned Orange without the shimmer.
Campfire Crackle is a beautiful orange ink with fine gold shimmer and a black sheen.


Cozy Comforts Shake 'N' Shimmy Stargazer (Stargazing) by Robert Oster Signature × EndlessPens × micahfinds

"A dark sheening teal with blue and silver shimmer, reminiscent of stars lighting up a night sky. The 3 AM thoughts. The hushed sounds of nature. The smallness of one, and the bigness of the whole."

Shake 'N' Shimmy Stargazer is a dark teal fountain pen ink with a unique blue and silver shimmer. Of all six ink colors in the Cozy Comforts set, Stargazer is my instant favorite! It reminds me of Christmas trees and holiday decorations! Looking at the swatch of Stargazer is like staring up at the summer night sky dotted with flickering stars.  Like Campfire Crackle, Stargazer is a shimmer ink that is well-behaved and flows well. I chose a Broad nib for the two shimmer inks in this set for a better flow and also for the shimmer to show.  

Cozy Comforts Shake 'N' Shimmy Stargazer (Stargazing) by Robert Oster Signature × EndlessPens × @micahfinds
Stargazer has a unique shimmer of silver and blue flecks. 
Stargazer/Stargazing is a darker, greener ink than Herbin's Emerald of Chivor, but equally beautiful.
The shimmer is very visible in this writing sample from a Broad nib.


It was fun and exciting working on the review of these six fountain pen inks. I enjoyed working on the swatches and doing the small art and writing samples for each ink color. This set has a good selection of colors, and @micahfinds did an excellent job—all six inks are well-crafted and full of beautiful details.  

Do you want to try and experience Cozy Comforts? Get them from EndlessPens where you can buy the whole six-color set or pick individual bottles of the colors that you like. 

I had fun doing this spread for Cozy Comforts.


Rants of the Archer thanks @micahfinds and EndlessPens for providing the complete six-color set of Cozy Comforts for review purposes. To see EndlessPens' product offerings, visit their website or follow them on social media:

Monday, March 14, 2022

Notebook Review: Endless Explorer Refillable Leather Journal

I love leather and marvel at the beauty and durability of products and accessories made from it. My leather pen cases, pen holders, and notebook covers, handcrafted by artisans are not only collectibles, they are products that will last for many years. 

Last year our friends at Endless Works launched a new product, the Endless Explorer, a refillable leather journal that fits their large Storyboard notebooks and other similar-sized notebooks. The Explorer comes in supple and soft caramel color leather that gathers a beautiful patina with use.  

The Endless Explorer Refillable Journal and Pen Loop in a lovely presentation box meant to serve as an archival storage box.

Our friends at Endless Works created the Explorer to be a companion where we can transfer thoughts and ideas as they come to us. The Explorer is a gorgeous leather journal designed to fit with the Endless Storyboard Large Notebooks. The Explorer package includes the handcrafted leather cover (8.1 x 5.7 inches), a large Storyboard notebook (7.5 x 5.1 inches) with 68gsm Tomoe River Paper with dotted layout, open type leather Pen Loop, and two extra pieces of elastic bands for future use or to fit additional notebooks.

Explorer and open type Pen Loop. The Explorer's leather quickly gathers a natural patina.
The Explorer comes with additional elastic bands for future use or to fit more notebooks. The main elastic band is inside the leather cover, while the extra bands are outside the cover's spine. I am not very comfortable with this setup as the bands may break. I will try to fit them inside the leather cover, too.  
The Endless logo is stamped at the back of the leather cover.
The Explorer fits the Endless Storyboard Large Notebooks. Note that the top and bottom of the leather cover's middle section are slotted to fit the elastic bands and keep them in place.
The large Storyboard fits the Explorer perfectly.
The Explorer comes with a large Storyboard notebook with 64 pages of 68gsm Tomoe River Paper in dotted layout. Extra bands can fit two more notebooks, or one notebook and the Endless Cotton Wallet.
The Storyboard has 68gsm Tomoe River Paper that's perfect for fountain pen writing. Here I wrote Peace by the poet Patrick Kavanagh using a happy orange pen and ink duo—BENU Euphoria Halloween fountain pen filled with Robert Oster Ng Special. Writing on the Storyboard's TRP is such a pleasant experience. 
Endless Explorer, BENU Euphoria Halloween, and my NATIVIDAD leather three-pen case.

The Endless Explorer is an amazing product that is handcrafted by expert artisans from India. It's a perfect companion journal—or a travel journal—with three notebooks and a cotton wallet. It could be an art journal or a sketch album. As the Explorer's size is limited to the Storyboard for refills/inserts, I will make my own notebooks to fit into the leather cover, as I plan to make mine a combination of daily notes, diary, and art journal. Truly, the possibilities are endless! 


Rants of The Archer thanks Endless Works for providing The Explorer in this review. To learn more about their products and how to buy, visit their website at MadebyEndless.com or follow them on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/madebyendless/) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/madebyendless).

Monday, March 7, 2022

Fountain Pen Ink Review: Vinta Inks Fairytale Collection


Four years ago, a proudly Pinoy brand of fountain pen ink was launched in Manila. Vinta Inks, launched in March 2019, uses locally sourced pigments meant for fountain pens and calligraphy. Since their launch, Vinta Inks have introduced many fountain pen ink colors that have become crowd favorites here and abroad. Last year in April, Vinta Inks launched their first Capsule Collection of fountain pen inks and two more seasonal inks in December in time for Christmas. 

Now, Vinta Inks have surprised us once again with the launch of The Fairytale Collection, a set of five new enchanting fountain pen ink colors that take inspiration from the beloved Lola Basyang fairytales and children's stories, written by the Filipino writer, playwright, and director Severino Reyes. Reyes wrote many children's stories in Liwayway magazine using the pen name "Lola Basyang," a character that describes a grandmother who loves telling stories to young children.

Vinta Inks' The Fairytale Collection was launched last February 28 and all five colors are now available.
The Fairytale Collection is available in 30ml spill-proof amber glass bottles with plastic caps. Vinta's ink bottles are individually wrapped in Saran Wrap to prevent leaks in case of breakage or spills. 

The Fairytale Collection by Vinta Inks


The Fairytale Collection from Vinta Inks have five unique and extraordinary colors as they are shading, sheening, and shimmering all at the same time. The five ink colors are the following:

Please click this image to see the different expressions of the five colors. Each ink swatch in this set has two parts: the upper half is a swatch of the ink without the shimmer, while the lower half shows the shimmer.

Saysay 1925  |  Mystical Eve


Saysay 1925  |  Mystical Eve

Saysay 1925 | Mystical Eve is the only dark ink in this collection. It's purple-black with a deep green undertone and fine silver shimmer. Of all five ink colors, Mystical Eve surprised me the most. It's a dark saturated ink, and yet it's also the wettest. It has excellent flow and is very expressive of the color undertone and shimmer.

Mystical Eve is based on the Lola Basyang story titled "Rosamistica," a young orphaned girl who was maltreated and neglected by her relatives. On the day of Rosamistica's aunt's birthday, she was given a 25-centavo coin. Rosamistica went to the fair and was eyeing a doll and some food to eat when she saw a mother and daughter asking for help so they can buy food. Rosamistica kindly gave her coin to the two and received a small bag in return. When she checked the bag, it was full of 25-centavo coins which Rosamistica also gave away to other people needing help.

1925 was the year the Lola Basyang stories first appeared in Liwayway, the oldest Tagalog magazine in the Philippines, published since 1922. 

Mystical Eve has a deep green undertone and fine silver shimmer.
This dark saturated ink is surprisingly wet with excellent flow.

Pagtangi 1958  |  Clouds of Gray


Pagtangi 1958  |  Clouds of Gray

Pagtangi 1958 | Clouds of Gray is a gray ink with brown and purple undertones and fine gold shimmer. I did not expect gray to go so well with gold. The combination of undertones and shimmer in this ink is so beautiful. It flows well and suits wider nibs.

Clouds of Gray is based on "Ang Kastilyong Bakal," the love story of young lovers Princess Olivia and Prince Agaton, who were separated by the jealous sorcerer Serpenton. With only his ingenuity and a few choice items from the elders of his kingdom, Prince Agaton goes on a journey to save the love of his life.

The year 1958 is when Sampaguita Pictures, a Philippine film production company, released the first Lola Basyang film.

This gray ink has purple and brown undertones and a fine gold shimmer.
Clouds of Gray is inspired by the fairytale "Kastilyong Gawa sa Bakal." 

Lakbay 1861  |  Sea and Sky


Labkay 1861  |  Sea and Sky

Lakbay 1861 | Sea and Sky is such a refreshing ink color. Its light blue teal reminds one of the seas and is overlaid with an earthy red shimmer. It's like looking at the horizon while the sun is setting. It has good flow and looks better in a wide nib.

Sea and Sky is based on the Lola Basyang story "Kapatid ng Tatlong Maria," where Teong the folk healer accidentally sets a giant serpent free after cutting down a magical kolesmeloko tree for profit. As punishment for his greed, he must give away his three daughters Maria Trining, Maria Upeng, and Maria Loleng, to three powerful kings. Many years later, the youngest child Pedro journeys across different realms in an effort to find his sisters and reunite his family.

1861 is the birth year of Severino Reyes, the creator and writer of Lola Basyang stories and fairytales.

Lakbay's light blue color and red shimmer look so good. This is another expressive ink as it shows blue, teal, and red.
Sea and Sky got its inspiration from a Lola Basyang story where a young boy went looking for his three long-lost sisters.

Salimbay 1949  |  Plume


Salimbay 1949  |  Plume

Salimbay 1949 | Plume is a bright purple ink with deep blue undertones and a pretty pink shimmer. It has excellent flow and looks good when used in a wider nib.

Plume is based on the story "Prinsipe ng mga Ibon," where a princess wanted to marry her beloved bird, Prinsipeng Ibon, despite her father's disapproval. In the end, Princess Singsing decided to turn herself into a beautiful bird and fly away with her beloved bird to his kingdom.

1949 is the year when the Lola Basyang comics were first printed and released.

This bright purple ink has blue undertones and pink shimmer.
Plume is inspired by a bird prince and his love for a beautiful princess.

Lakambini 1950  |  The Maiden


Lakambini 1950  |  The Maiden

Lakambini 1950 | The Maiden is probably everyone's favorite. This gorgeous pink ink has brown-purple undertones and a bright gold shimmer.  It's also a wet ink with excellent flow and consistency. Gold shimmer on pink looks so much better.

The Maiden is based on the Lola Basyang story "Ang Binibining Tumalo sa Hari," where a slave's daughter, Sharay, overcame the King's many challenges with wit and cunning in order to with the prince's hand in marriage.

1950 is the year when the Lola Basyang radio drama show became popular.

Love the gold shimmer in this pink ink color!
The Maiden is inspired by the fairytale "Ang Binibining Tumalo sa Hari," a story about a slave's daughter who fought for the love of a prince.


I enjoyed doing the ink swatches and doing the writing samples for these five lovely, happy, bright, and cheery fountain pen inks from Vinta Inks. All five ink colors are beautiful and show the story inspiration for each of them.  

Do you want to experience The Fairytale Collection? Do you want to try these beautiful shimmer inks? Vinta Inks ship their inks internationally through regular mail or courier. You can also get Vinta Inks in selected retailers in the US, Australia, Europe, South Korea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Thailand. Here is a list of these retailers.


Rants of the Archer thanks Vinta Inks for providing The Fairytale Collection for review purposes. To see their ink collections, visit the Vinta Inks website or follow them on social media: