Custom-made, Totally Unique T-Shirt Designs!

I guess you could say we were tired of our same old t-shirts so we wanted to do something a little bit more unique. I've always been amazed at Melissa's awe-inspring designs

(PICS! for a sample), so what we wanted to do was to find a way to get one of her designs onto a t-shirt.

The drawing we wanted to use.

The best way to do this, we thought, would be to iron them on. First, we had to find the right printer paper to use. I have an HP inkjet printer so we checked out the usual office supply suspects for printer paper. We found some Avery Ink Jet T-Shirt Transfers

http://www.avery.com/avery/en_us/Products/Crafts-&-Scrapbooking/Fabric-Transfers/T_Shirt-Transfer_08938.htm

at Staples that seemed to be what we were looking for. Next, we picked up some blank t-shirts from Michael's. We scanned the desired t-shirt design and then printed it out in a way that would best preserve the quality of the drawing as well as the detail. I'm not completely dialed-in to my HP scanner+printer so it took some fiddling to get it right. (Side note: if you're thinking of trying this, don't actually print on the expensive Avery Transfer paper until you've found the right set of conditions for the best print-out on regular printer at low-quality. Once you've found what works, print at a high-quality on the transfer paper.)

What proved to be the tricky part was the actual ironing-on of the print-out to the t-shirt. For the first attempt, we placed the print-out face down on the t-shirt and ironed for about 2 minutes directly on the back-side of the paper. This might have resulted in too much heat being applied because the shirt started to brown. We placed a pillowcase over the paper and ironed for the recommended 90 seconds. However, when we attempted to pull back the paper from the shirt, the design itself wasn't completely affixed to the shirt so part of the design started to peel off as well.

Finally, we tried ironing over the pillowcase but for about 3 minutes making sure the transfer was fully applied. This proved to be the best case as it came out beautifully.

We'd like to eventually do a more professionally looking application. We just wanted to try this out. and see how it would work.

One of the winners never responded to claim their prize =( so we decided to pick another winner for prize pack #3. The winning comment for prize pack #3 is... (drum roll, please)... MzMonster!

Email us as soon as you can so we can ship out your winnings! If we don't hear from you by Sunday, September 13th at 7 pm Eastern time we will have to pick another winner. Congratulations to BoutiqueStitches and Passion, we'll send out your prize packs tomorrow! Thanks again to everyone for participating!

Back to School Giveaway Winners!

The official drawing for the Back to School Giveaway was ran with the Random Integer Generator at Random.org.

Here are the results:

So congratulations to #5 Simon, #1 BoutiqueStitches, and #3 Passion! You each have until 7pm (Eastern Time) on Sunday, September 6th to write with your shipment info. Simon, since you're post number came up first, you'll get first pick out of the 3 prize packs. Once I've heard from Simon, then I'll let BoutiqueStitches know which two are left. Then we'll send the remaining prize pack to Passion. We'll ship the prizes as soon as possible.

Thank you all again for reading! Congrats to the winners and to those that didn't win, we'll certainly have more giveaways in the future so check back soon!

Back to school giveaway!

Back to School Giveaway!

To help east the transition from the care-free, laid-back summer to the grind of the school year, we decided to have our very first giveaway.  We're giving away 3 different packs filled with goodies:

Prize pack #1:

Pilot Varsity Disposable Foutain Pen - Purple

Uniball Fusion - Black

Uniball Fusion - Blue

Wide ruled Marble Composition Book

Prize pack #2:

Pilot Varsity Disposable Foutain Pen -  Black

Zebra Sarasa Push Clip Gel Ink Pen - 0.5 mm - Black

Zebra Sarasa Push Clip Gel Ink Pen - 0.5 mm - Pink

Zebra Sarasa Push Clip Gel Ink Pen - 0.5 mm - Blue

Zebra Sarasa Push Clip Gel Ink Pen - 0.5 mm - Orange 

Prize pack #3:

Pentel Slicci Gel Ink Pen - 0.25 mm - Black

Pentel Slicci Gel Ink Pen - 0.3 mm - Blue Black

3 gel ink pens (Black, blue, and green) from Morning Glory, a Japanese stationary store located in New Jersey

How do you get in on all this goodness?  Just drop us a comment on this post sometime before 7:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Sunday, August 30th.  One entry per person, please!  We'll use that gnarly Random Integer Generator at random.org (if only that would help us pick better Powerball numbers!) to pick 3 winners.  The order the winning comments are generated by the "RIG"  will determine the order that you get to pick which prize pack you'd like to win.  For instance, if the generator comes up with your comment number first, you'll get to pick one prize pack from all three.  If your comment number comes up second, you'll get your pick of the remaining two.  And if your number comes up last on the generator, you'll get the remaining prize pack.  Don't worry, though, there's good stuff in each one!  We'll post the winners at some point on Monday, August 31st, so be sure you check back to see if you're among the lucky and if you are, then you have until 7:00 PM (Eastern Time) Sunday, September 6th to email us at the addy to the left with your info.  

Thanks for participating!

Good luck!

Review: The Pilot M90

Ever since Jetpens posted the Limited Edition Pilot M90 Stainless Steel Fountain Pens on their website, I was extremely tempted to click "buy".  I'm a sucker for ultra-sleek, elegant pens; among my favorites are the Ohto Fine Ceramic Rollerball and Pilot Duo Color Cavalier, to give you an idea. But the hefty $180 price tag was enough to make me shy away.  I know I can have pretty expensive taste, but I wasn't sure if I should take the plunge with the M90.  However, my girlfriend knew how much I was into that pen (probably because every time she saw me on the Jetpens website, it was open to the M90)  and, before I could do anything about it, she went and bought me the M90 with a medium point nib.

It arrived promptly (Jetpens is always fast and reliable!) and in a large box instead of the usual Jetpens package.  Inside was a sleek black box that contained the pen.  However, upon opening the box, the cutout of foam where the pen was supposed to be was empty!  Minor panic attack!  No wait, it seems the pen had slightly shifted during transit and was just nestled under the foam.  Phew - crisis averted! 

In hand, the pen surely is stunning.  The design is ultra sleek.  The no-frills approach is enhanced by the tiny "M90" inscribed on the top of the cap.  The entire pen is brushed stainless steel.  The coolest feature, I think, is the way the body flows seamlessly into the nib; a design so unique, I’ve never seen anything quite like it.  Adorned atop the cap is a blue gem that accents the pen and it gives the pen the perfect amount of flare.  

Of course, I have yet to touch on perhaps the most important aspect of a fountain pen.  How does it write?  Albeit with my limited experience, I can say it is the smoothest fountain pen I’ve used.  (The Libelle Seabreeze a close second, followed by the Lamy Al-star/Vista)  The nib literally glides across my Clairefontaine notepad as if on a cushion of clouds.  I should say that, like any fountain pen, I think the ink really can make a difference in your writing experience.  Initially, I used the stock black ink cartridge that came with the M90, but I think the pen’s true potential was realized when I swapped it for the J. Herbin Eclat de Saphir.

The consistency of the line makes the M90 a great notetaking/writing fountain pen.  As a lefty, fountain pens (such as the Ohto Tasche) can give me trouble as often times I’m “pushing” the nib rather than “pulling”.  The M90 hasn’t given this lefty any problems.  Smearing or bleed-through on Clairefontaine and Rhodia notebooks aren't issues at all, although this probably has a lot to do with the ink as well.

I prefer a slightly broader nib and the medium point the pen produces is the perfect size for me.  It’s a nice and thick wet line.  As such, I’m not sure if the medium point would be ideal for users requiring finer detail.

If you can get past the premium price-tag, the M90 is certainly worth the money.  It has sharp looks and it's certainly a great writer.

Tattoo Art

We apologize for the lack of updates recently, this summer has been slightly busy to say the least.  Melissa and I wanted to post some pictures of tattoo ideas that she had designed for her and her mom.

Tattoo ideas.

Melissa's tattoos.

Melissa's mom's tattoo.  She previously had the vine on her arm, but Melissa designed the flower.

Inks!

We recently purchased a few Fountain Pen Ink Samples from the Pear Tree Pen Company.  We touched on how much we like the idea of the ink samples (and the practicality of the glass pen in this regard) in this post.  But, boy, the ability to survey all kinds of colors and brands of inks in the matter of minutes is invaluable.  Testing inks in different brands of fountain pens introduces too many variables to give you a true comparison of the inks, including both color and flow character of the inks.  The glass pen gives you the ability to compare inks side-by-side with the same set of variables for each.  

Here's a quick rundown of the samples we recieved. (Of course, I think we have to include a disclaimer here; the colors that you see in the picture may or may not be at all like they are actually.  As much as we try to portray the true colors of the inks, there's too many other variables such as lighting, photo quality loss from digital camera transfer, and monitor settings).

Diamine Grey - reviewed below

Noodler's Bulletproof Black - A classic black.  Although it takes a little longer to dry, so there may be issues with smearing.

Diamine Quartz Black - Initially, we were hoping for  it to be more on the grayer side than the blacker side.  But, overall, it's a nice saturated black.

Private Reserve Midnight Blue (Fast dry) - reviewed below

Private Reserve Black Cherry - Purple and brown hues combined at just the right ratio to produce this really pretty ink.  

Diamine Maroon - No surprise here, nice maroon color so it's pretty true as advertised.  

Noodler's Kiowa Pecan - A lighter brown than the Grand Canyon Brown.  It has yellow hues that might not be apparent based on this picture.

Noodler's Nightshade - Based on the sample swatch from Writer's Bloc, we were hoping to see more shades of red on this ink.  In reality, it just looks black.

Caran D'Ache Grand Canyon Brown - A really nice true brown.  Maybe a cooler brown, but a very true brown (as compared to the Kiowa Pecan, which has tinges of yellow).  We liked this one so much w purchased a bottle.  

Noodler's Apache Sunset - A really nice orange and a unique color.  There are faint hints of yellow, so it's not just a monotone orange.  Might not be a good one to write with, but a great drawing ink.  You can also achieve great homemade colors by mixing it.

Waterman Purple - A purple ink.  Not much else to say here.  If you like purple ink, this is one to get.  (This picture does not do the Purple justice.  You can't really see the saturation.)

Noodler's Squetegue - A nice dark turquose green black.  A great color to write with.  It's pretty true to the swatches you see online.

Diamine China Blue - We were a little disappointed with this one at first as we were hoping for a paler blue.  It's a little more saturated than we expected, but, nonetheless, it's a nice blue.

J. Herbin Bleu Nuit - A denim blue.  Again the samples you see online can be deceptive to an ink's true color.  Still a nice color.  Case in point, trying out an ink you're not sure about is key.  Getting a sampler is a great idea so you won't have to purchase a full bottle only to find it wasn't exactly what you were expecting.

J. Herbin Eclat de Saphir - A really pretty blue with purplish hue. Very saturated color.  Suitable for art and writing.  We liked it so much we bought a bottle.  In our honest opinions, it's one of J. Herbin's finer inks.

Diamine Mediterrenean Blue - Makes you think of an ocean near a tropical island.

Our Homemade Seafoam Green - Your basic turquoise.  The picture might not do it justice.  I dropped the ball and forgot to write down the recipe for this one, but I can promise you it's a nice color.

Diamine Woodland Green - Your basic forest green. It's a nice green.  I think the samples for this color are as advertised.

Noodler's Firefly (Highlighter) - I almost forgot to include a write-up for this one because I didn't see it.  It's great for highlighting important notes, but, as you can see, it might not be the best writing ink.  It's a great ink to mix with as we used it in our Seafoam Green.  

Melissa's take on two of the inks:

Diamine Grey

- nice, saturated grey

- dark enough to be suitable for writing purposes

- appears as a cooler-toned grey to me

- my favorite grey so far = a keeper!

Private Reserve Midnight Blue

- nice, saturated dark blue

- line way too thick even with minimal pressure

 - bleed-through and feathering a major problem on all paper types/brands

 - not good for people with small handwriting like me

 - fast dry (Dries instantly)

It should be noted that the ink name was written with a Pilot Preppy as an eye-dropper FP, but the notes under the ink name were written with a Pilot Preppy that did not have the Midnight Blue ink in it, it had the stock Pilot Preppy blue black cartridge.  The line that was produced using the Midnight Blue ink came out extremely thick.  It makes you wonder, could it be the pen or the ink?  But looking at the samples written with the glass pen it yielded the same results.  Curious.

The ink samples.  

Melissa put a few of the inks in her fountain pens.  Here's some calligraphy that she's done (above) and a sketch she did (below) using the following inks:

Noodler's Apache Sunset

Diamine Maroon

Diamine Jade Green

Homemade Seafoam Green

Review: Stabilo Point 88 Mini Pens - 18 Color Set

Review by Melissa of the Stabilo Point 88 Mini Pens available from Dick Blick.

These pens are great for drawing because there are so many nice colors available in the 18-color set.  The set is not that expensive and even if you don't want to purchase that many pens, there are smaller sets available for even less money.  These pens are 0.4 mm so the line is thin enough to be suitable for writing purposes.  However, I tend to use these primarily for my artwork.  I find that these pens are very good for shading and coloring-in.  I also like underlining notes with these pens - they are a great substitute for highlighters.  I also like their compact size, as they are easy to travel with and can fit in the back pocket of my jeans.  I always try to carry one pen with me when I'm on-the-go at work, and this pen is perfect for that purpose.  These pens are available in a larger size (check out dickblick.com), but I find them to be too long and they don't fit in most of my pencil cases.  Overall, I love these pens.  I really like their compact size and how they can serve as both an artistic tool and a writing tool.  Also, there are so many cool colors available, even more colors than I've shown here (though they may only be available in the larger size).  

-MLB

A small amount of coloring in this picture was done with the Stabilo pens.  As you can see, you can achieve nice, even colors using these pens.

Pic taken on a stool in lab (Yeah, we play with our pens when we have a little downtime in the lab =0)

Review: The Zebra Sarasa

Review by Melissa:

Zebra Sarasa pens are great gel pens.  I prefer the 0.7 mm tip because it gives a smoother, more consistent line than the thinner tips.  I'm not really fond of the scratchiness of the 0.4 mm pens I own.  My current favorite color of this collection is Mahogany.  I really like brown inks, and the reddish tint adds to the uniqueness of the color.  I think it's cool that 10 pack includes colors not commonly found or seen as pen (ink) colors, such as cobalt, frost, and mahogany.  The only flaw - these 0.7 pens don't dry fast enough - at least on Clairefontaine paper - so beware of smearing!  Luckily, I didn't observe this problem with other paper, such as my Mead Cambridge notebook. 

-MLB

PICS!

This was drawn by Melissa using:

Copic Multiliner SP Black Ink 0.2 mm

Uni-ball Noble Metallic Gel Ink Pen 0.8 mm

Without a flash:

With a flash:

Reviews: Lamy Al-star, Sheaffer Calligraphy Pen, Diamine Jade Green Ink

Reviews written by Melissa:

26 April 2009

I wrote the date with the medium Sheaffer nib.  Way too thick.  Even the extra fine nib is a little thick and the ink bleeds through the paper.  So I switched to my Lamy FP with a 1.1 nib.  It writes nicer and the bleed-through is minor.  The Lamy FP is becoming a fast favorite of mine, right up there with the Pilot Plumix.  I switched the EF nib to the slightly thicker 1.1 mm nib, and that has made all the difference in the world.  For a thicker barrel pen, the thicker nib is key.  It makes my writing experience better, and it provides a smoother line.  For thinner barrel pens, like the Pilot Cavalier Pen, the EF nib works better.  It just makes more sense to me.

23 May 2009

Jade Green (Diamine) written with a Kaweco Sport FP.  Nice, light green.  Reminds me of a sunny, spring day.  Good saturation.  Consisten, smooth lines.  Would definitely consider using this more often and purchasing a bottle.  On this Clairefontaine paper there is minor bleed-through.  On other paper, such as my Clairefontaine GraficFlow Hard cover Journal, there is no bleed-through.  I love this color.  It makes me happy.  =)

This last picture was written with a Kaweco Sport fountain pen with Diamine Jade Green ink.  We had gotten the Jade Green in a sample pack of a few different kinds of inks from Pear Tree Pen Company.  The sample packs are really a great (and cheap!) way to sample different brands and colors of inks.  It's so tough to get an accurate picture of the color of an ink on your monitor.  There's so many different variables as to the "true" color of an ink like how the picture was scanned in, your monitor color settings, things like that.  So it's definitely a great way to get just enough to try out on your own.  (This is where that glass pen comes in handy!  Just dip it into the sample, try it out on your Clairefontaine, and wash the color off to try the next color.  Works great!)

She used a Kaweco pen that was converted into an eye-dropper fountain pen.  For those that don't know this pretty cool technique, you basically eliminate the need for any kind of cartridge or converter.  You can fill up and use any ink in your pen relatively quickly without the hassle of a converter.  Writer's Bloc has a great write-up of how this is done here:

http://blog.shopwritersbloc.com/fountain_pens/pen_modification_convert_into_1.html

Most of your fountain pens can be converted into an eye-dropper pen, but, unfortunately, pens that have holes in the barrels, like my Lamy Al-star, can't be made into an eye-dropper pen.

Good Pens also has a great post about converting his Pilot Preppy FP into an eye-dropper:

http://goodpens.blogspot.com/2009/06/preppy-cartridge-fountain-pen-converted.html

And here's one from nrepose about using Noodler's Blue Ghost in a converted Preppy:

http://unpostednrepose.blogspot.com/2009/05/blue-ghost.html

Here's an example of the glass pen in use.  We received the ink sampler from Pear Tree Pens which included Noodler's Apache Sunset, Diamine Woodland Green, Diamine Maroon, and Diamine Quartz Black.  Sampling the inks with the glass pen took a matter of minutes.  Instead of worrying if your fountain pen is dry enough to put in your next ink, you can easily wash the color off the glass pen and use the next color.  

Fun with Calligraphy

I thought I'd post some pics of some pretty cool calligraphy.  The handwriting and calligraphy was done by my super-talented girlfriend, Melissa.  She used a Pilot Parallel Calligraphy Pen with a 1.5 mm nib.

A Few Pics...

Just a few of my favorite pens =).

Here's a close up of the Pilot Ageless Ballpoint (top) and the Pilot Timeline Gel ink (bottom).

J. Herbin Glass Pen

I recently got a black tinted J. Herbin Straight Body Frosted Glass Pen from Jetpens.

Upon first dip, the ink is applied rather heavy.  However, after writing a few sentences, the pen finds its groove.  Being a lefty, I've always had issues with smudging and smearing.  Because so much ink is applied at once, it takes a while to dry.  If you are a lefty and prone to smearing your inks, I'd recommend a quick drying ink to minimize smudging.

Certainly not a fine tip.  Produces a thick line.  If I had to guess, I'd say somewhere in the 0.5-0.7mm range, but probably closer to 0.7mm.  This might be remedied by writing faster as it gives less time for the ink to flow to one spot.

The idea of a pen made solely out of glass is a little foreign to me.  We're brought up to believe (that is, ingrained in our heads) that a pen is made from plastic and contains a cartridge of ink within its body.

The style of writing harkens back to simpler times; simpler in many respects and perhaps pens are symbolic of that.  We live in a time where the more complex the devices and the more technology it has, the better.  We assume it will perform because of the complexity and amount of technology.  If it doesn't have more than 10 moving parts, it must not perform well, because, heck, where is the technology?  We want something to brush our hair, order shoes online, drive our cars, all while cooking our breakfast.  

The glass pen is a refreshing reprieve from this madness.  It's really as simple as you can get.  No moving parts, no flashing lights, no fancy touch screens.  Just pen and ink.

Where the pen really shines is in showcasing the idiosyncracies of the ink itself, instead of the pen's characteristics overshadowing the writing experience.  To really get the full effect, I think it would be best to use multiple inks with the glass pen.  Ink can be washed off very easily from the tip of the glass pen.  This allows use of multiple types of inks and allows for direct comparisons of the inks side-by-side.  For instance, my girlfriend and I have been experimenting with the Noodler's Ink Mixing Kit and trying to come up with some cool, homemade colors.  (I'll most definitely have a post about that sometime soon.)  We've definitely noticed that when the ink is in the vial, it can look drastically different than when the ink meets the paper.  The glass pen is the perfect tool in seeing how the ink flows and how it looks on paper.  If we want to add a few drops of a certain color, the ink on the glass pen is easily rinsed off and the newly mixed ink freshly applied.

In short, the glass pen is the most intimate interaction between writer, pen, ink, and pad.  In my opinion, writing in its purest, original form.

Of course, it's not the most ideal pen for quick note taking in class, for example.  But, nonetheless, even if you don't use it that often, it's a great piece of artwork.

The box that the pen comes in, however, hardly does the workmanship justice.  I received a pen stand that was custom made for the glass pens courtesy of Zero_dgz from the Jetpens.com forums.  This pen stand is the absolute perfect way to showcase the glass pen.  The stand is displayed on my workspace and I've certainly gotten a few interesting looks and inquiries about the glass pen from passersby.  Zero_dgz does great work, thank you!!

Ageless vs. Timeline

Today I wanted to talk about the ballpoint Pilot Ageless Medium Point and the gel ink Pilot Timeline 0.5 mm.  These two pens available from Jetpens have quite a unique tip-extending mechanism and are two of the coolest looking pens I own.  One twist of the translucent end extends the nose and another twist extends the point from the nose.  Definitely a line of pens that turns pen tips as well as heads.

Both pens are certainly a pleasure to use.  However, they each have their own qualities and it really comes down to a personal preference as to which one you'll enjoy more.  There aren't any fancy gel comfort grips on these pens, but the shape of the tinted part of the barrel is ergonomic enough to feel quite comfortable in your hand.

The difference between the two becomes apparent with the first few words you write.  The Ageless line is thick and muddled while the Timeline's line is crisp and clean.  Surprisingly, the Ageless is remarkably smooth for a ballpoint.  I rarely pick up ballpoints anymore - I just prefer a smoother write - but for some reason the Ageless is something entirely different than what I've come to expect from ballpoints.  Now, don't get me wrong, certainly I'm not saying the gel ink Timeline pens aren't smooth.  I'd say the smoothness of the gel ink Timeline is comparable, if not slightly better than, the liquid ink Ohto Fine Ceramic Rollerball 0.5 mm pen - and that's one of my favorites.  All I'm saying is that the Ageless might change your opinions of ballpoints.

From a purely aesthetic perspective both these pens look absolutely cool.  From the innovative twist mechanism to the sleek, futuristic design, these pens will surely turn some heads when you use it.

If you had to get just one, which one would you get?  It's an excellent question and it really comes down to personal preference, in my opinion.  Does your work require more precision in your lines?  Can you sacrifice a little precision in your lines to get a super smooth flow?  Do you detest ballpoints no matter what?  It's hard to argue for the Timeline with a $45 price tag - you might be inclined to say there are slightly better gel ink pens for a cheaper price - but, boy, if you like gel ink pens, I think these are some of the coolest out there.  (My advice?  Get both... =P)

Stay tuned for pictures =) ....

The Cuteness

I recently received a Hello Kitty Pilot Hi-Tec C pen courtesy of Jetpens (once again, you rock, Lily!).  The Pilot Hi-Tec C line is great for those pen users requiring that extra little bit of precision.  Jetpens offers a few different tip sizes: 0.25, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 mm depending on your preferences and demands.  I received a black 0.3 mm Hi-Tec-C pen affording a level of precision I wasn't quite used to as I've tended to be drawn to 0.5 mm and larger tips.  Perhaps due to my own lack of confidence in my handwriting I figured a larger tip, and thus a thicker line, would hide any imperfections in my handwriting.  (I blame the fact that I'm a lefty on my poor handwriting, but I digress.)  As such, it took a few words to get used to a thinner tip, but I must say I soon found myself using the Hi-Tec-C over a few of my 0.7 mm "ol' trusties."  The precision I was afforded was welcomed as my work sometimes requires me to write out structures of chemical compounds in small areas.  Instead of the usual blob that vaguely resembles the shape of an "O" (indicating an oxygen atom), I now had clearly defined atoms that were readable by fellow colleagues.  (In scientific research, reproducibility is key and if you can't read what your colleague wrote, it might as well be irreproducible!)  

The Pilot Hi-Tec-C pen is remarkably smooth, which surprised me because I had been used to the mantra that thicker tips write smoother.  As I understand, there's a tradeoff that as you go to a thinner tip, you have to sacrifice smoothness.  Poorly made pens with thinner tips can sometimes be pretty scratchy, so much so that I'd gotten turned off to thin-tipped pens.  The Hi-Tec-C, however, defies the laws of pen physics as the tip flows across the paper with ease.

My girlfriend has the 0.4mm Pilot Hi-Tec-C Putimo.  She offered it to me to try it out as I had initially complained about the 0.3mm tip of the Hi-Tec-C.  For me, the 0.4 is a nice compromise between precision and thickness.  Perhaps if I get another Hi-Tec-C it'll be a 0.4, but my mind isn't as closed as it once was on 0.4 mm and thinner pens.

Of course, I haven't yet mentioned what makes this pen "the cuteness."  Well, the pen came with a Hello Kitty figurine adorned on the top of the cap.  (The Limited Edition Hello Kitty Hi-Tec-C).  The figurine is removable and transferable to other Hi-Tec-C's so if you're not the Hello Kitty type but know someone who is, you can always give it to them.  Speaking of gifting, these pens would be a perfect gift for your niece/daughter/girlfriend with a special liking for anything Hello Kitty; they're super cute and, as an awesome added bonus, they write excellently!