@katlynsnest

About the Creative

I'm a fountain pen enthusiast from the Philippines. I work in IT and always found myself looking for creative outlets.

I'm particularly in awe of nature and try to capture the feeling first through photography, then watercolors, and now fountain pen and ink. I’ve found my sanctuary in playing with ink and painting dainty botanicals. I'm an advocate of journaling and sketching for mental wellness. There is something meditative in exploring the nuances of fountain pen ink and I love learning new forms of self-expression.

Outside of fountain pens and painting, I like reading (Discworld series is a favorite), travelling, and spending time with family and friends (usually over good food).

Katlyn's Nest is derived from my children's names. I had meant it to encompass all my creative outlet and they are my inspiration. Aside from fountain pens and sketching, I like decorating for small events, creating costumes for my kids, and trying out new crafts like pottery and leather craft.

Interview with @katlynsnest

How did you fall down the rabbit hole of fountain pens and stationery? AKA, the moment that made you fall in love with writing tools and supplies.
I was into watercolors before I got into fountain pens. I saw some artists I follow using Hobonichi and being able to use watercolors in the techo. A lovely journal needed a fountain pen I thought so I researched and got my first fountain pens on Fountain Pen Day 2017. I’m really into colors, so I got a lot of inks. More inks meant more pens, and vice versa. But what made me fall deeply in the rabbit hole was when I first started washing ink with color and the magic had me. This was Pilot Iroshizuku Tsukushi.

What do you do for work? Is there any way this hobby is intermingled with your work?
I’m in the IT and Project Leadership space. The hobby is my way to go back to analog and destress. I did advocate the hobby to my workmates and started a creative organization.

What else are you in to that you would like to share with people to better know you?
I like reading, mostly fantasy. Terry Pratchett is my favorite author. I like travel and photography. I’m also a matcha girly… who still like coffee.

What words/quote would you like to share to other aspiring creatives?
Create for yourself without pressure and inner criticism. And practice makes progress.

What do you believe is the best starter fountain pen? Where should people start?
TWSBI Eco I believe is a pen you can start and end with. The ink doesn’t dry out and you can use shimmering inks with no worry because it’s easy to clean. The piston filler may not exactly be beginner level, but it’s easy to learn.

An alternative is Kaweco sport, it’s handy and takes international standard cartridges. The small size may not work for some though.

What's your go-to pen and ink combo?
It’s difficult to have a single go-to. 😅 I normally match the ink color to the pen. If I will grab a pen for a casual outing, I usually choose a pen with an ink with interesting chromatography (for sketching purposes). Among my currently inked pens, that would be TWSBI Eco Serpentine with Sailor Suki-Gokoro.

What's your favorite color? :)
My favorite color is pink, and my favorite pink ink is currently Kobe Strawberry Chocolate. Among shimmering ones, that would be Tono & Lims Burma Tourmaline.