Ink Flight #66 Reveal, July 2022
It's exciting to explore a new country as well as a new ink manufacturer. In July, we sampled inks from a newcomer to the fountain pen ink scene - Monarca Stationery (@monarca_stationery on the 'gram) of Mexico. Let's explore the beautiful landscape of Mexico with the inspired collection of Monarca's fine writing inks. Shading, shimmer, and sheen - this range of colors excite and delight.
Here is a rundown of this month's ink color selection:
July 2022 Ink Flight Box #66 "Currently Inked" Color Selection
Monarca Cielo Cruel
This color represents the sky at Zacatecas City in northern Mexico - showing a deep blue color with big clouds.
Monarca Cardona
This ink has a beautiful sheen and shimmer. Inspired by the delicious cactus fruit tuna cardona.
Monarca Cenote
Inspired by the mystical Cenotes found in the Riviera Maya, this ink has a deep violet sheen and twinkle of shimmer.
Monarca Mar Caribe
This color is inspired by the turquoise sea at Riviera Maya.
Monarca Manglar
This color is inspired by the lush mangrove forests at Riviera Maya.
Monarca Arena Blanca
This color represents the white sands at Riviera Maya beaches. A low-saturated, big-time shading ink.
Monarca Rey Jaguar
Paying tribute to North America's largest feline, this ink shines with shimmering gold tones.
I'll confess (and I know many of you have also been in this situation as well) I didn't have the time to enjoy the full range of July's Ink Flight. I did fill up with Arena Blanca, Cenote, and Manglar and have been impressed with the hue, flow, and uniqueness of each color. I don't think I've ever come across such a light beige color such as Arena Blanca. It might be light, but it's saturated just enough to see it clearly on the page. As opposed to last month's Vinta shimmer inks, Monarca has a gentler measure of shimmer for a hint of glitter. I'll be writing with the remaining inks sometime in the next week and will update my thoughts here.
Update [August 24, 2022] - After enjoying extended writing time with all Monarca's colors, I'll provide some additional thoughts on the colors I had not tried prior to writing the original reveal post. Just like Cenote, Rey Jaguar was an impressive shimmer ink that wrote with good flow, despite the shiny particles. Mar Caribe is a brilliant, shading turquoise worthy of its namesake. Cardona has got some impressive saturation that hits you with that sheen just right. Cielo Cruel is a solid choice if you need a business-appropriate blue ink to use in the workplace.
Box Extras: Midori Book Band Pen Case & Journaling Transfer Stickers
To accompany summer reading or a trip journal, attach the Midori book band pen case to carry writing tools, refills, and accessories. The adjustable strap fits book sizes between B6 and A5. The pen holster pocket has a loop and flap to hold the pen securely in place.
[For the purposes of this photo, I fit a Leonardo Momento Zero Grande into the holster pocket. July's Ink Flight boxes did not include Leonardo pens.]
Store spare ink cartridges, ink samples, blotter paper strips, highlighters, and additional pens or pencils in the convenient zippered compartment. Subscribers received one of several fabric color options at random.
Stickers are always a stationery treat. Especially if you can use them seamlessly in your journal. In this month's box, we included Midori dessert-themed transfer stickers. These stickers are perfect to decorate letters and journals. They are a little trickier to use than regular stickers. That's OK since instructions are printed on the back of the sticker sheet. The payoff: the stickers almost look like you made the illustration yourself.
By the way, I know many of you are missing the lovable Inktopus. Don't worry, Inky will make an appearance in August's box with a brand new sticker design.
So, what are your thoughts on July's Ink Flight? Please feel to share them on social media by tagging me @inkjournal or send me a quick e-mail to provide your feedback.
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Previous Ink Flights
Ink Flight #1 - Noodler's, Ink Flight #2 - Robert Oster Signature, Ink Flight #3 - KWZ, Ink Flight #4 - J. Herbin, Ink Flight #5 - P.W. Akkerman, Ink Flight #6 - Papier Plume, Ink Flight #7 - Platinum Mix-Free, Ink Flight #8 - Franklin-Christoph, Ink Flight #9 - Organics Studio, Ink Flight #10 - Monteverde, Ink Flight #11 - Krishna, Ink Flight #12 - Caran d'Ache, Ink Flight #13 - Rohrer & Klingner, Ink Flight #14 - Blackstone, Ink Flight #15 - Colorverse, Ink Flight #16 - De Atramentis, Ink Flight #17 - Aurora & Montegrappa, Ink Flight #18 - Krishna, KWZ, Papier Plume, Ink Flight #19 - Diamine, Ink Flight #20 - J. Herbin, Ink Flight #21 - Robert Oster Signature 80's Collection, Ink Flight #22 - 3 Oysters, Ink Flight #23 - InkJournal Holiday Blend, Ink Flight #24 - Taccia, Ink Flight #25 - Kyoto TAG, Ink Flight #26 - Kaweco, Ink Flight #27 - April Fool's Surprise, Ink Flight #28 - Pelikan, Ink Flight #29 - Sailor, Ink Flight #30 - Straits Pen Honest Inks, Ink Flight #31 - Colorverse, Season 5, Ink Flight #32 - Inks by Vinta, Ink Flight #33 - Troublemaker, Ink Flight #34 - Monteverde Sweet Life, Ink Flight #35 - Taccia Inks Pt. 2, Ink Flight #36 - Sailor Manyo, Ink Flight #37 - P.W. Akkerman, Ink Flight #38 - Waterman, Ink Flight #39 - April Fool's Suprise II, Ink Flight #40 - Lamy, Ink Flight #41 - KWZ, Pt.2, Ink Flight #42 - Robert Oster, Pt. 3, Ink Flight #43 - Pure Pens, Ink Flight #44 - Kiwi Inks, Ink Flight #45 - Sailor Manyo, Pt. 2, Ink Flight #46 - Colorverse Ink Project, Ink Flight #47 - Van Dieman's Ink, Ink Flight #48 - L'Artisan Pastellier Callifolio, Ink Flight #49 - Pennonia, Ink Flight #50 - Jacques Herbin Essentials, Ink Flight #51 - April Fool's Surprise III, Ink Flight #52 - Colorverse, Season 7, Ink Flight #53 - Private Reserve, Ink Flight #54 - Graf von Faber-Castell, Ink Flight #55 - Stipula, Ink Flight #56 - Taccia Ukiyo-e 2nd Edition, Ink Flight #57 - Ink or Treat, Ink Flight #58 - Colorverse Ink Project Vol. 2 Constellations, Ink Flight #59 - Dominant Industry, Ink Flight #60 - Robert Oster Cities of America, vol 1, Ink Flight #61 - Wearingeul, Ink Flight #62 - Van Dieman's Underwater Series, Ink Flight #63 - April Fool's Surprise IV, Ink Flight #64 - Pennonia Inks, Pt. 2, Ink Flight #65 - Vinta Inks, Pt. 2 feat. "Fairytale"