Mochi Honey

G’day, Honeys!

Day 8 of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar is upon us, and today we’re unwrapping Purple Bow. It’s a deep, luscious purple that embodies elegance and holiday cheer. This one is a standard ink, no shimmer or sparkle—just a clean, rich tone that delivers consistency and sophistication… or at least it should have, but today came with a few hiccups.

A Little Lid Drama

Let me start by saying that Purple Bow gave me a bit of a workout before I even got it into the nibs. The lid on this bottle was cross-threaded, screwed down much farther than it should’ve been. To free the ink, I had to bring out two pairs of pliers (and maybe a bit of creative Aussie language). Breaking the label was a bit of a heartbreak, but the lid’s back on and working fine now. Crisis averted—Purple Bow lives to write another day!

Today’s Colour: Purple Bow

Purple Bow is a classic, regal purple—deep, clean, and versatile. It’s a great pick for festive writing or even everyday notes if purple’s your go-to. It went on beautifully with most nibs but gave me some trouble with the medium nib. I suspect I didn’t pull enough ink into the feed, which impacted consistency. That’s on me, Honeys—not the ink.

Testing the Ink

• Dominant Industry Ink Muddler (glass nib): As usual, the glass nib showed off the ink’s lighter side. Purple Bow was smooth and consistent here, with no issues laying down colour.
• Sailor Hocoro (medium nib): This was a bit patchy today. On reflection, I didn’t get enough ink into the nib, so it struggled to lay down a consistent line. Lesson learned: check your fill levels, especially when working with thicker or drier inks.
• Kakimori brass nib: The Kakimori came through strong, as always. Purple Bow looks its richest and most regal here, showcasing the depth of the colour.

Final Thoughts

Despite the bottle drama and my own operator error, Purple Bow is a solid ink. It’s clean, consistent (when properly loaded), and has a great balance of boldness and usability. If you’re looking for a straightforward purple that isn’t flashy but still makes a statement, this one’s a winner.

The video link below shows Purple Bow in action. Thanks for tuning in, Honeys—see you tomorrow for Day 9!

Cheers,
Your mate who’s now keeping pliers next to the ink bottles!