Skip to content

Author: Rachel

Pen Porn: Atelier Lusso Taurus RagazzonePen Porn Atelier Lusso Taurus Ragazzone
September 4, 2026
Rachel
2 Comments

Pen Porn: Atelier Lusso Taurus Ragazzone

Posted in Fountain Pens

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for pen envy or impulse purchases resulting from viewing this post.

Per usual, you can click on the images to view them larger. I do my best to provide you with high-quality pen porn. 😉

I’ve wanted one of Eric Sands‘ raden-esque pens for years. I’d hoped to request a commission, only to discover, once I finally asked, that he was no longer accepting them. Several times after that, I saw a pen that I would have liked, but I was always too slow to get it.

Finally, last year, Jim and I made it to the San Francisco Pen Show. The Atelier Lusso table was my second stop of the show, and I was able to snag this beauty. Clearly, I’m WAY behind on my pen porn posts, and I desperately need to catch up.

atelier lusso taurus ragazzone
Keep ReadingPen Porn: Atelier Lusso Taurus Ragazzone
Best Pen Show BagThe Best Pen Show Bag
August 21, 2026
Rachel
2 Comments

Best Pen Show Bag

Posted in Pen Shows, and Storage

Our “niche” hobby seems to be hitting a much larger audience in recent years. All of the larger U.S. shows are getting crowded and overcrowded. While there was a time when you could manage larger bags, now they are roadblocks at best and dangerous weapons at worst. Even messenger bags like the Rickshaw Bonzai/Bento bag can cause issues, especially when stuffed full.

Unfortunately, hotels that meet show requirements are — so I’ve been told — few and far between, which means many of the overcrowded shows don’t have other venue options. So, it falls upon the attendees to moderate how much extra space we take up with items that aren’t strictly necessary.

Is this how it should be? No. But this is the reality, at least for now.

Keep ReadingBest Pen Show Bag
2026 DC Pen Show2026 DC Pen Show
August 14, 2026
Rachel
4 Comments

2026 DC Pen Show

Posted in Pen Shows

It is, of course, that time of year again. With the DC Pen Show (sadly) in our rearview mirror, I want to reminisce on the experience.

To start, I think this may have been my best pen show experience in years. I had an absolute blast!

Rather than my typical, highly — or overly, depending on your point of view — detailed rundown, I’m going to do my best to provide overall impressions and general feelings and experiences since there’s so much to cover. To make it easier on you, I’m breaking this into sections. Feel free to jump to what you’re interested in.

Keep Reading2026 DC Pen Show
Pen Show Prep, DifferentlyPen Show Prep Differently
July 31, 2026
Rachel
Leave a Comment

Pen Show Prep, Differently

Posted in Ink, and Pen Shows

While social media abounds with tantalizing Stationery Fest details, I’m diligently preparing for the DC Pen Show. I’ve signed up for the classes I’m taking, I’ve book my nibmeister appointments, I’ve started my shopping list, and I’m making progress on the presentations for the classes I’m teaching. But this year, my pen show prep started in June with a push to finally use more ink samples and make some sellables.

Since my June 7 pen rotation, I’ve only filled pens with ink samples — rather than bottles — my long-fill pens excluded. My goal has been to test samples I’ve had for a while to decide if I want to pick up a full bottle at the DC show.

Keep ReadingPen Show Prep, Differently
Ink Battle: Wearingeul and AnderilliumInk Battle
July 24, 2026
Rachel
Leave a Comment

Ink Battle: Wearingeul and Anderillium

Posted in Ink

This ink battle is between Wearingeul Pinocchio and Anderillium Luna Moth Green. Both inks are in a Pilot Kakuno fitted with a medium nib. The paper is Maruman Giuris with grid ruling.

Today’s ink battle was another bout of bottle versus sample. It determined if my sample of Pinocchio got to stay in use, or got relegated to the “for dupes” baskets. Were I to keep it in use and go through the whole sample, then I’d likely buy a bottle.

For those unfamiliar with these inks, Pinocchio contains gold shimmer. While Wearingeul shimmers typically settle completely, I shook the sample before inking my pen.

Ink Battles Explained

Between myself and Jim buying inks, we own far too many. This means I have some inks that are incredibly similar in color. And, because of that, I need to figure out which inks to keep and which to dispose of. Sometimes, I have samples of two or more similar inks that I’m trying to decide which to buy, or if I should buy one ink when I already own a bottle of a similar one.

Enter ink battles. I put the similar inks into pens with the same nibs (two Jowo #6 M, two TWSBI F, etc.) — or I create ink splats and doodles — to test them out to see which I like better. Or, I may find out that they’re sufficiently different to keep or buy a bottle of the sample.

You can assume I have no problems with any ink that appears in an ink battle. I may find, when using the inks side-by-side, that there are performance differences, but the point of the battle is to choose a favorite ink, a “winner,” based on the color properties, not the way the ink functions. These choices are often subjective, and you may disagree with me.

An ink battle — unlike ink dupes — is between inks I like. I enjoy using them enough to have them in my “for use” ink collection — as opposed to my repository of inks for testing dupes. If an ink performed poorly or caused problems, I wouldn’t keep it. And, if that were the case, an ink battle would be unnecessary.

Reminder: You can find all of the ink battle posts on the tag page, and I have a page dedicated to my ink comparisons.

Keep ReadingInk Battle: Wearingeul and Anderillium
If I Could Only Keep TenIf I could only keep ten
July 10, 2026
Rachel
2 Comments

If I Could Only Keep Ten

Posted in Fountain Pens

When I saw Inky Imaginings’ post in my email, I knew I wanted to come up with my list before reading anyone else’s. So, I waited until I’d determined my ten pens to read Laura’s list or Ana’s or Laura C’s on The Well-Appointed Desk.

I tried to track down an “original” post for this challenge, but I didn’t have any luck. I found random, semi-related posts and videos shared in the past 5 years, but no clear thread like is developing from Laura’s. So, without any parameters to guide me in this, I’ve come up with my own.

Keep ReadingIf I Could Only Keep Ten
Athena: 3 Years CuredAthena: 3 Years Cured
July 3, 2026
Rachel
Leave a Comment

Athena: 3 Years Cured

Posted in Cat

Today, we get to celebrate another anniversary of a momentous occasion. Three years ago, Athena was declared cured of FIP. There isn’t too much to say this year for Athena’s cureaversary. Not much has changed since her last post, which is mostly good.

Athena sleeping on her heating pad
Athena walking across the banister
close up of Athena sleeping on her heating pad

Health

As always, I’ve also updated her FIP Bloodwork Google Sheets file, which includes all of the blood work values that could be related to FIP and her blood work history dashboard.

Keep ReadingAthena: 3 Years Cured
30 Inks, 30 Days, 15 Comparisons30 Inks, 30 Days, 15 Comparisons
July 1, 2026
Rachel
Leave a Comment

30 Inks, 30 Days, 15 Comparisons

Posted in Ink

In an effort to continue reducing my ink collection and to better “learn” the inks I have, I decided to tackle Ink Journal’s 30 Inks 30 Days challenge as ink comparisons. And, in a happy nod to Pride Month, I went for a rainbow of inks. I made an effort to create doodles that have both standard lines (to show how writing might look) and larger, filled-in areas.

Like any human, I made mistakes as I worked through the 15 skirmishes. Since I want the focus to be on the inks, I’ve edited out the mistakes using Photoshop for the “final” image. However, for transparency, I’ve also included the “original” version without those edits. I’ve done my best to edit the ink colors to be true-to-life, but some of them were exceptionally difficult.

Keep Reading30 Inks, 30 Days, 15 Comparisons
Soolla: Not Quite What We NeedSoolla not quite what we need
June 26, 2026
Rachel
10 Comments

Soolla: Not Quite What We Need

Posted in Storage

Unpopular opinion incoming: The Soolla bag and pouch aren’t well-suited to the fountain pen world.

Now, set aside your pitchforks and torches. I do like Soolla products. I own the 80’s Windbreaker version of both the studio bag and studio pouch, and they’re fabulous. Both are sturdy and well-made, and the range of colors, already large, keeps expanding. I also 100% acknowledge that the Soolla bags weren’t created for the pen world, so I don’t hold it against the creators or the bags that they aren’t perfect for us.

Keep ReadingSoolla: Not Quite What We Need
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that I can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to this website and helping me to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side.

This information is provided in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).