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Aug 23 / Leigh Reyes

Waterman safety, Waterman vintage music nib, lyrics.

“I wish that I believed in fate, I wish I didn’t sleep so late. I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders.”

Waterman safety, jade dragon, letter paper

Waterman safety, jade dragon, letter paper

“Hey blue, there is a song for you, ink on a pin. Underneath the skin, an empty space to fill in.”

Waterman imprint

Waterman imprint

“You put a big bird in a small cage, it’ll sing you a song, that we all love to sing along, to the sound of the bird that mourns.”

A vintage Waterman music nib

A vintage Waterman music nib - sloping shoulders, thick iridium tipping, three tines

“When out of a doorway, the tentacles stretch of a song that I know, and the world moves in slo-mo, straight to my head like the first cigarette of the day.”

The nib, half-retracted, peeks out of the barrel

The nib, half-retracted, peeks out of the barrel

“You have lived and your intelligence is sexy. I wanna know what you’ve got to say. I can tell you taste like the sky ’cause you look like rain.”

The nib still in the barrel

The nib still in the barrel - iridium tipping in focus

“Don’t seem right. I’ve been strung out here all night. I’ve been waiting for the taste you said you’d give to me.”

Plastic eyedropper, Private Reserve Oxblood ink, barrel

Plastic eyedropper, Diamine Oxblood ink, barrel

“And now, my strongest force of habit, my favourite game, my wrecking ball is you. So why stay clear?”

Yes, the music nib flexes

Yes, the music nib flexes

“Well it’s been a long time, long time now, since I’ve seen you smile. And I’ll gamble away my fright, and I’ll gamble away my time.”

The nib keeps up with flexing, thanks to the generous flow

The nib keeps up with flexing, thanks to the generous flow

“And on the worst days, when it feels like life weighs ten thousand tonnes, I sleep with my passport. One eye on the back door, so I can always run. I can get up, shower in half an hour, I’d be gone.”

Line variation galore

Line variation galore

“Like baby’s breath, I’m holding on to air. My lung’s a thief. Should I know you? A stranger though you seem, you feel like home.”

 

  • http://hollywendt.blogspot.com Holly

    That’s just strikingly beautiful.

  • http://www.stevelightart.com Steve Light

    These safety pens are GORGEOUS!! Just when I think I have enough pens–I see pens like this that I am DYING to draw with.

  • http://inkophile.com Margana

    Gorgeous! If you ever decide to sell it…

  • Matt

    That’s a voluptuous line. This review reminds me that I should practice and maintain a certain discipline in my efforts. It’s not the push-pull exercises, its not . . . .

    That Waterman has really good taste in music.

  • http://leighreyes.com Leigh Reyes

    Holly, Steve – thank you.
    Margana – :D :D :D
    Matt – I just write what comes into my head. Once in a while I do pages and pages of wings and scrolls and flourishes.

  • sonia

    soooo pretty!!!! if you ever plan to sell the pen, I’m first in line! :)

  • http://leighreyes.com Leigh Reyes

    Sonia – :D :D :D

  • soot

    Leigh~~
    oy…the flexy music nib is grossing me out (btw: love your handwriting/drawing/doodling) … :’(
    I miss my Filarmonica music nib…

    correct me if I am wrong– these vintage waterman music nibs are not easy to come by, right?

    Bob

  • Maethelwine

    I see others have already lined up to say how beautiful this is, both the instrument and what you can do with it. So where did you come by the nib? And (bet the answer is no) can you point out any online source for a model of that hand? Really lovely.

  • http://leighreyes.com Leigh Reyes

    I found the nib on eBay. I don’t see them at all. This was the first time I saw one being offered. IIRC a friend of mine tipped me off about it. :)
    Bob – Where is your Filarmonica music nib?
    Matt – It’s like a mutant Spencerian/Engrosser’s script. Um. I think.

  • soot

    I have only recently acquired the Filarmonica. A very beautiful piece.
    But due to the place I am working at, I didn’t the take the chance to ship it here because the possibility of lost/stolen enroute is high.
    I would have to wait for a few months before I see it back in New York.

  • Matt

    Leigh, it’s the “um I think” that makes it brilliant!