That makes me feel so good to hear that! Thank you!

It is my pleasure! Thanks for watching!

I'm so glad it was helpful for you!

I am so happy to hear that! It's scary to mess with aspects like viscosity, but I promise: it's tough to ruin sumi ink. :) And THANK YOU! My secret is a chill baby. My first little one definitely couldn't be described as "chill" (though he's a joy now), so I'm REALLY enjoying Pia, haha!

Thank you! I am so glad!

I love hearing that! Isn't KZfaq the best for these kinds of situations?!

​@@LindseyBugbeeTPK For sure! I wish you the best🙏

You could use whatever -- even perhaps a small Bonne Maman jam jar. :) (Eat the jam first, obviously!) Baby food jars are also good. I have jars on the site, too, here: thepostmansknock.com/catalog/glass-ink-jar-with-gold-lid/

Yes! It's cotton poplin ... the cloth I'm using came from the Beginner's Kit (thepostmansknock.com/catalog/the-tpk-modern-calligraphy-starter-kit/), but you can use any non-fibrous cloth. Honestly, men's button-up shirts from thrift shops (cut up into squares) make fabulous cleaning cloths!

@@LindseyBugbeeTPK same goes for used/gone worse bedsheets! They make good wipe cloth but the threads come out the sides where you cut it because of how the fabric is made

Interesting! That could be it! Perhaps a small difference in formula!

I love anything Schmincke!

I'm glad to hear your Moon Palace Sumi Ink adventure had a happy ending despite its chilly start! It's pretty amazing that it bounced back to full performance after being frozen. As for the smell, you've stumbled upon an interesting aspect of Sumi inks - they can indeed vary quite a bit from one brand to another, not just in consistency and color, but in scent as well. Sumi ink is traditionally made from soot (carbon black) and a binding agent (usually animal glue), and sometimes additional ingredients for preservation or to adjust viscosity. These ingredients can contribute to the ink's overall aroma. Moon Palace Sumi Ink is known for its quality and performance, but like many authentic Sumi inks, it does have a distinctive smell due to the traditional materials used in its formulation. On the other hand, Kuretake Sumi Ink might be formulated differently, perhaps with different preservatives or less of the traditional glue, leading to a less noticeable smell. Your observation about not needing to dilute your ink could indeed be related to your local humidity. Sumi ink can absorb moisture from the air, which might make it a bit more fluid in humid conditions. However, in a dry, heated house, you'd think it might thicken up, so it's interesting that you haven't needed to dilute it. Every ink has its own character, and part of the fun is discovering how they behave in different environments. That said, I totally get wanting to avoid the risk of frozen inks in the future - I've heard that Canadian winters can be unforgiving! Maybe spring and fall will be your new ink-shopping seasons. 😊

Thank you for a very detailed response! So yes, it gets really cold here in NB. Right now it's -12 ° C. (I think it would be about 2 or 3 ° F. It will get colder during the night. But I love our canadian seasons. @@LindseyBugbeeTPK

I'm so glad that this video was helpful! Unfortunately, me answering any questions about parallel pens would just be the blind leading the blind. I have to admit that I have very little experience with broad-tip calligraphy and parallel pens in general! I'm so sorry about that. Pointed pen stuff, though, I'm your girl. 🤓

Absolutely! thepostmansknock.com/catalog/yasutomo-sumi-ink-6-oz-bottle/

Here: thepostmansknock.com/catalog/yasutomo-sumi-ink-6-oz-bottle/

Hi! I haven't paired sumi ink with sable brushes to write calligraphy, but I have used sumi ink as a paint and paired it with my sable brushes. As long as you're able to clean the ink off your brush before it dries, just as you would with any paint, you should be good to go! Thanks for this thoughtful question. :)

@@LindseyBugbeeTPK Thank you for the response and the information.

The price depends on the bottle! You can find it here: thepostmansknock.com/catalog/yasutomo-sumi-ink-6-oz-bottle/

Hi there! I appreciate your passionate take on sumi ink. It’s true that sumi ink can be quite different from other inks, and DIY options are always interesting to explore. Sumi ink has its unique qualities, especially valued in traditional calligraphy and painting for its deep black tones and beautiful matte finish. While some may prefer to make their own, others find value in the convenience and consistent quality of store-bought sumi ink. It’s all about what works best for your creative process! Thanks for sharing your insights and adding to the discussion. 😊

Haha! I'm sure it's easier/cheaper to make it this way. My friend Jess, who makes Greenleaf & Blueberry watercolors, has been searching for some sort of cow stomach bile (she needs it to make a certain color) and is having the darndest time.