Yesterday's Misfits box was a very small order. The increased prices mean I reach my budget faster, with fewer items. As you see.
Still room for a bit of chocolate though.
And still working in ink on my little drawings.
These are grapevine pens. I cut them years ago from wild grapevines growing near home, and used to give them to students in workshops.
You angle the cut to make a rough nib, at both ends, giving two pens in one. Let them dry a while, and they're good for years.
Van Gogh used these when he was broke, also ink he made probably from black walnuts. You can see early drawings he made of landscapes using them.
I used to give walnut ink I'd made, to students, along with the pens. They were very excited to be following in the footsteps of Van Gogh.
Blake referred to a rural pen in his Songs of Innocence. Same thing.
Anyway they work nicely for ink drawing, giving interesting changeable lines. And you're part of art history when you make and use them, however humbly.
But, bright side, it's cooler today and I can get out for an errand or two and a walk. So there's that.
And Kate Atkinson is seeing me through. Now it's
Happy day everyone! Enjoy what you can.
Vincent would be proud of you!
ReplyDeleteI bet your students loved you.
ReplyDeleteI hope getting out of the house is enjoyable for you today.
I always learn something when I come here, who knew about grapevine pens, ink from black walnuts and Van Gogh! The cost of everything is hard to manage. It's changing our habits. Enjoy the better weather.
ReplyDeleteLove the rural pens! Very thought gift for students
ReplyDeleteIn early blogging years, the Rural Pen was taken.
I'll be reading Atkinson's book soon. Thank you
Fascinating about the grape vines and Van Gogh. Thank you for sharing, Boud.
ReplyDeleteI use a password manager (1password) - it is wonderful. Also wonderful, and much more satisfying, is your sketch using the rural pen!
ReplyDeleteWilma, I have passwords saved, but when condo mgt changes the access password, the old one doesn't work. Which is what happened.
ReplyDeleteWhen you're dealing with a HOA, the mgt can change website, access etc at will. They got back to me with the new access pw. But within the site, I had to reup my user id and pw because the site change had invalidated my old ones.
You'd think we were dealing with Fort Knox instead of a dinky little HOA site.
I like using the handmade pen. Might do more.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great picture!
ReplyDeleteLove the pens/ink explanation, and sympathize on the password security thing - a modern pestilence. We actually have layers of security to get into the work environment even at work - two passwords and a random number generator installed on my mobile phone and linked to my login id. Of course the phone has to be password protected too (or fingerprint). It's only insurance! I'm planning a day, and a lifestyle in which 90% of my current passwords become redundant.
ReplyDeleteHaving been out of town on a botanical foray, I return to find a new word (tortillon), a new thing-I-had-never-heard-of (ink stick and ink block), and the ingenuity of a grapevine pen (which I had also never heard of). And your wonderful creations with same. You are a wonder!
ReplyDeleteAnd sympathies on the small (but irritating!) irritations of life. HOA passwords. Sheesh.
Chris from Boise
Interesting grapevine pens! I've never heard of such a thing!
ReplyDeleteThey're also known as reed pens, because reeds are hollow and can be cut into pens.
ReplyDeleteYou never fail to surprise or delight me.
ReplyDeleteEllen, thank you. What a wonderful thing to read on a not so good day!
ReplyDeleteHi Liz, I'm from the Bite CC lub which Dee retired in 06/21. I've got grape vines that been removing due to spotted LF, but saving the dried vines; I'd like to make the vibe ink pen which you wrote lasts for years, just whittle the both ends like a piece of wood twig?
ReplyDeleteI loved the bite club! Learned so much from the other members. About the grapevine: just clean cut the end across at a 45degree angle. That's it! Make a few though, because they can wear down with use.
ReplyDeleteYou and Van Gogh: forever intertwined in my lil mind. 🤓
ReplyDeleteYou're definitely in good company with Van Gogh. I made walnut ink before we moved here but opted to get rid of any remainders just in case I spilled it on the carpet. If it weren't for the fact that I would have to get a dedicated 'pot' to cook it in, I'd be tempted to try it again.
ReplyDelete