iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

"I'm Glad You Don't Try" by Colin Fowlie is a love song for people with a sense of humour

Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

We were in the middle of a recording session when we heard of Brian Wilson's passing. He had a huge impact on both of us and on music in general. (Featuring my good friend Black Suit Devil)

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Fredericton, New Brunswick: It's a great week if you like live music!

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Sound ON for maximum hilarity. Yes, I enjoy writing out Trailer Park Boys quotes with a fountain pen. (Hongdian 1861 Pro with bent/fude nib)

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

I'm getting more comfortable with the fude nib on this Hongdian 1861 Pro Fountain Pen. And I've finally nailed my ABCs...

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

New fountain pen day. I picked up a Hongdian 1861 Pro in brass with a fude nib because I was going for a vibe. For under $30 (converter included) I'm REALLY impressed!

A Hongdian 1861 Pro brass fountain pen capped and lying on a Rhodia dot pad to the left of a writing sample.

Hongdian 1861 Pro brass fountain pen with a fude nib propped up on the cap to show the bent nib

Closeup on the fude nib of a Hongdian 1861 Pro brass fountain pen.

A Hongdian 1861 Pro brass fountain pen uncapped and posted, being held like a brush

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

How many pages on one fill for the Faber-Castell E-motion fountain pen? I have an answer.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I could wait longer than a week to see if the TWSBI Mini AL Fountain Pen hard starts with Octopus Fluids Write and Draw ink but I don't wait to...

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

For those that are fans of the Harvest festival in Fredericton, can't wait to see you in September!

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Loving the new Ruston Kelly release "Dirt Emo Vol. 2"

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Reposted by Colin Fowlie

Bruce Hughes @dbrucehughes.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Proud of these 2 projects, thanks for supporting them.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

I've been taking a breather from social media and doing a lot of reading instead. I finished "All The Sinners Bleed" by S.A. Cosby in one sitting yesterday and holy hell what a book. I'll be reading everything @blacktopkid.bsky.social has put out in short order 🤘💕

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

I typically am not a voracious reader of fantasy novels, but I just finished The Poppy War trilogy from @rfkuang.bsky.social and holy fuck... what a ride.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

My heart goes out to all the satire writers out there. It's getting harder to stand out from the absurdity that is the "real news."

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Gonna venture out in the cold and do some singing this month for any of you in New Brunswick

A list of concert dates written with a Faber-Castell Ambition fountain pen on a Rhodia Dot Pad.

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Reposted by Colin Fowlie

livingrootsfest.bsky.social @livingrootsfest.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

We have announced our initial lineup for year ten. see ya in June

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Acoustic guitar + harmonic tremolo is going to be a thing for me in 2025. Upgrading the solo setup to be able to fill more sonic space while playing fewer notes.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

My Faber-Castell Ambition fountain pen with Platinum Carbon Black ink is my go-to pairing for yelling onto the page.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Welcome to the new Twitter refugees that pulled the plug after Elon's little display today. Fffuuu....

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

If @skylight.social is working the video angle, I'm definitely here for it.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Several of my US-based friends are once again able to access TikTok. It's kinda fascinating to watch this play out and I'm sure other governments (including Canada) are watching with great interest.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

This is one of my oldest, most favourite fountain pens but also sometimes frustrating. It has a sharp cursive italic nib on it that WILL NOT comform to you. You have to confirm to it. I've had it for 17 years without mastering it, but it's fun to just see what happens when I let it lead me astray.

Closeup on a 2-tone 14k gold Pelikan fountain pen nib with a sharp oblique cursive italic grind.

A Pelikan M400 Fountain Pen, Uncapped and laying on a Clairefontaine notebook page beneath a cursive writing sample that reads:

"As a musician I have stopped chasing after perfection. The chase only served to hold me back. Instead, I started chasing after passion. That means that I still make lots of mistakes, but the farther I go the more likely I am to fuck up in beautiful ways. And that is where my best new ideas come from."

A Pelikan M400 Fountain Pen uncapped and lying on a Clairefontaine notebook beneath a cursive italic writing sample.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

New ink day. Finally got my hands on some Diamine Registrar's Blue Black fountain pen ink and filmed a little clip of how the colour changes over the span of a few minutes. I'm kinda in love with the vibe. It's a dry ink, though. And potentially corrosive if you leave it sitting in a pen.

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Reposted by Colin Fowlie

A. Markov @abigailmarkov.com · 13/01/2025

For my fountain pen buddies making it over here: You don't have to use hashtags for Fountain Pens. Just saying that will yeet your post into the FP feed (definitely go follow it too) where people can find you. The feed: bsky.app/profile/did:...

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

I like to keep my schedule busy, but also flexible. I love staying productive, but roughly one day a week, I hit the wall and need to do absolutely nothing but switch off and recharge. I never know which day of the week it's going to be. (Today is the day.)

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Pretty proud of how this song and video have moved people in the last year. youtu.be/MUDikG79bl4?...

youtu.be

Change The Tune #1: "Cold Like This"

YouTube video by Blue Sea Foundation

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

For the fountain pen enthusiasts looking for the blackest of permanent inks and are willing to pay a premium to get it, Platinum Chou Kuro is a pretty outstanding choice IMHO. Paired with the Faber-Castell Ambition <M> it's like writing with warm butter on hot Teflon. So smooth.

Closeup on a bottle of Platinum Chou Kuro fountain pen ink

Closeup of the nib and section of a Faber-Castell Ambition fountain pen. The nib size is medium.

A Faber-Castell Ambition fountain pen capped and lying next to a writing sample that says

Pen: Faber-Castell Ambition <M>
Paper: 20 lb Staples Multiuse Copier/printer paper (feathery and bleedy AF)
Ink: Platinum Chou Kuro

Pros:
-Black as hell
-Wet flow
-Very Well Behaved
-Minimal Feathering/Bleed
-Permanent/water-resistant

Cons:
-Expensive as hell
-Distilled water recommended for cleaning

Closeup of the cap of a Faber-Castell Ambition fountain pen that demonstrates that the ink does not show through the paper despite the nib have a broad and wet flow.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

I spent New Year's day chilling, eating, briefly strolling in the rain, binging a murder show with my wife, and tooling around with my favourite fountain pens.

Closeup on the nibs of 6 fountain pens, from top to bottom:

Faber-Castell Ambition (Medium)
Faber-Castell E-motion (Fine)
Faber-Castell Hexo (Fine)
Lamy 2000 (Extra Fine 14k gold)
Pelikan M215 (Extra Fine 14k gold)
Pelikan M400 (Oblique Medium Cursive Italic 14k Gold)

6 Fountain Pens capped and lying on a Rhodia dot pad. The name and nib size of each pen is written with the pen itself.

From top to bottom:

Faber-Castell Ambition (Medium)
Faber-Castell E-motion (Fine)
Faber-Castell Hexo (Fine)
Lamy 2000 (Extra Fine 14k gold)
Pelikan M215 (Extra Fine 14k gold)
Pelikan M400 (Oblique Medium Cursive Italic 14k Gold)

6 Fountain Pens posted and lying on a Rhodia dot pad. The name and nib size of each pen is written with the pen itself.

From top to bottom:

Faber-Castell Ambition (Medium)
Faber-Castell E-motion (Fine)
Faber-Castell Hexo (Fine)
Lamy 2000 (Extra Fine 14k gold)
Pelikan M215 (Extra Fine 14k gold)
Pelikan M400 (Oblique Medium Cursive Italic 14k Gold)

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

We had a quiet night in to ring in the New Year here in New Brunswick. It's now officially 12:13 am, Jan 1, 2025. My wife is off to sleep and my biggest decision at the moment is which fountain pen to use for my first journal braindump/rant of the year ✒️

A selection of seven fountain pens laid on a Clairefontaine notebook opened to two blank pages.

From left to right:
Faber-Castell Hexo
TWSBI Diamond Mini Classic
Faber-Castell Ambition
Faber-Castell E-motion
Lamy 2000
Pelikan M215
Pelikan M400

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

Contemporary pessimist: "Things are fucked and can't possibly get worse!" Contemporary optimist: "Don't be so negative. Of course they can..."

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

When I want to sit and just vibe with one of my fountain pens I listen to music and write about a song that means a lot to me. This time it's a song that I produced and co wrote with a good friend. It's called "Cold Like This" (Run The River & Colin Fowlie) for those that want to look it up.

A song diary discussing a tune called "Cold Like This" next to an uncapped Faber-Castell Ambition fountain pen with a walnut body and a medium steel nib.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

2024 was slow but I produced/collabed on some 🔥 tracks. 1. Cold Like This (Run The River & Colin Fowlie) 2. Dying Wages (Colin) 3. Packd Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box (Xs & Arrows feat. Colin Fowlie) 4. Rollercoaster (Ella Campbell) 5. Belly Up (Colin Fowlie) 6. Butterfly Net (Krista Shannon)

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Found the full video. It's from 2023. I'd forgotten about it until I was looking for something else the other day. A cover of "Live Oak" by Jason Isbell youtu.be/2V-uhYYJMzQ?...

youtu.be

Live Oak (Jason Isbell cover)

YouTube video by Colin Fowlie

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Some angry, mournful guitar noises fot the night owls.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I frequently have two fountain pens on my person. As a songwriter, I'm constantly writing shit down but recoil at the thought of having to use a "normal" pen, so I bring a backup.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

My first wood-bodied fountain pen arrived today. It was a birthday present from 5 weeks ago, but it got delayed by the Canada Post strike. Faber-Castell Ambition Walnut <M> Loving it so far.

Faber-castell Ambition with a walnut wood body and a medium nib, uncapped and resting on the cap, on a Rhodia dot pad

Faber-castell Ambition fountain pen capped. The pen is lying on a Rhodia dot pad that includes a writing sample that gives the name of the pen, the cursive alphabet, numbers 0-9 and several punctuation symbols.

Close up of the nib and section of a Faber-Castell Ambition fountain pen

Faber-castell Ambition fountain pen posted and held above a Rhodia dot pad

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

A little fingerpicking étude I cooked up for one of my long-time guitar students. I don't teach as much anymore, but it picks up during the winter months because touring in Canada in Jan/Feb is nonsense.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

It's not very romantic, but I think that one of the most important keys to a successful relationship is having compatible flaws...

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

A video thread on how to disassemble and lubricate the piston in a TWSBI piston filling fountain pen (Part 1/4)

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

Seeing lots of new fountain pen users (or the fountain pen curious) asking about cartridge converters so made a video about how I fill my Faber-Castell Hexo with Platinum Carbon Ink (Part 1/2)

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Streaming services releasing one episode a week of the latest season of a show that has already finished airing on cable is fucking irritating. I'm looking at you, Britbox/Shetland.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Or couples that randomly and arbitrarily switch sides of the bed whenever. Like... what the hell?

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

A song for folks that are carrying a heavy heart into the holiday season. youtu.be/KetS3CBzAy4?...

youtu.be

Colin Fowlie - "Ready to Say" (Official Lyric Video)

YouTube video by Colin Fowlie

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Spending Friday evening listening to deadmau5 and scribbling with my favourite fountain pen. It was a long week and I'm semi-burned-out.

Closeup on the nib of a Pelikan M215 fountain pen. It is a two-tone extra fine nib made of 14 karat gold

Pelikan M215 fountain pen capped and lying on a Clairefontaine notebook under an inscription that reads:

8:49 pm. Some may find it odd but when I feel shitty I listen to EDM music (typically deadmau5) and write shit down with a fountain pen. Renaissance man likes a good remastered remix.

The nib and section of a Pelikan M215 Fountain Pen in the crease of a Clairefontaine notebook.

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Colin Fowlie @colinfowlie.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Started on a fresh Clairefontaine A5 journal. I hadn't tried Clairefontaine paper until recently, but I'm really enjoying it. And I "only" have 5 fountain pens inked at the moment. That's the limit of my self-control.

5 Fountain Pens capped and lying on the front cover of a black A5 Clairefontaine notebook. From top to bottom:

Pelikan M215
Lamy 2000
TWSBI Diamond Mini Classic
TWSBI Diamond Mini AL
Faber-castell Hexo

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