Skip to content

Category: Stationery

Pen Porn: Zek PensPen Porn: Zek Pens
September 19, 2025
Rachel
One Comment

Pen Porn: Zek Pens

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. 😉

This is one of two Zek Pens pens I picked up at the DC Pen Show this year. It was the first to catch my eye, so it’s the first I’m sharing. Zek Pens includes — but may not be limited to — a brother-sister team. The brother makes the pens, and the sister paints them. This design is hand-painted Turkish illumination on a resin body. The paint is sealed, so you don’t have to worry about scuffs.

Zek Pens blue and turquoise
Keep ReadingPen Porn: Zek Pens
12 Pen Person Questions#12PenPersonQuestions
September 17, 2025
Rachel
Leave a Comment

12 Pen Person Questions

Posted in Stationery

I learned about the 12 Pen Person Questions tag from The Well-Appointed Desk‘s September 8 blog post. In it, Ana linked to Olive Octopus’s original post. I enjoyed answering their 17 Ink Questions, so I’m answering these questions as well.

Now, on to the questions! I plan to write this more “stream of consciousness” style so that the answers are more genuine, since Lise (Olive Octopus) indicates a goal of answering these is to learn more about yourself.

Keep Reading12 Pen Person Questions
2025 San Francisco Pen Show Experience2025 San Francisco Pen Show Experience
September 12, 2025
Rachel
Leave a Comment

2025 San Francisco Pen Show Experience

Posted in Pen Shows

In last week’s post, I promised you an overview of my experience of the San Francisco Pen Show (SFPS). This is that post, and I promise it’s more positive than the other one was.

For anyone who didn’t read the review post, this was my and Jim’s first time at the SFPS. We’ve wanted to attend for 6-7 years, and have been planning to go for 3-4 years, but only just made it this year.

Jim’s initial interest in the show centered on the array of Asian, especially Japanese, vendors who go to the SFPS but don’t make it to the DC show. Over the years, a few have started attending, but we found out they bring a wider variety to the SFPS. For example, check out Bungubox at DC and at SF.

My interest was more focused on seeing the second-largest pen show. And, while the show was rather nuts, I’m happy we went.

Keep Reading2025 San Francisco Pen Show Experience
2025 San Francisco Pen Show Rating2025 San Francisco Pen Show Rating
September 5, 2025
Rachel
Leave a Comment

2025 San Francisco Pen Show Rating

Posted in Pen Shows

Originally, I intended to only write one post about the San Francisco Pen Show. But, after restarting my post four times, I realized I needed to break it into pieces. Today’s post is my show review.

I already know, based on the categories I rate, the SF Pen Show will have a poor showing. However, it’s not a bad show by any means. I definitely would go back again if the stars align. So, keep an eye out for my follow-up post(s).

With that out of the way, allow me to share my impressions of the 2025 SF Pen Show.

Keep Reading2025 San Francisco Pen Show Rating
Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana PenguinsPen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Penguins
August 22, 2025
Rachel
Leave a Comment

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Penguins

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. 😉

Having shared my three Intwana pens — Chameleon, Seahorse, and Kitten — it’s time to share the pen Jim ordered, Renée Gerstner’s Penguins.

Before I get started, I want to make sure you know that, while the Koi, Phoenix, and Seahorse designs are not currently listed on the SPS website, the Chameleon, Dragon, Giraffe, Kitten, Llama, and Penguins designs are all still available.

Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Penguins
Keep ReadingPen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Penguins
2025 DC Pen Show2025 DC Pen Show
August 8, 2025
Rachel
One Comment

2025 DC Pen Show

Posted in Pen Shows

Well, I went to the pen show with good intentions. But, I blew my budget completely out of the water before noon on Friday. I have zero regrets, but I had planned to be good. On the plus side, no one slipped a free case of COVID in my bag this year. Yay!

Before I get started, let me say, I had a blast. It was great to see everyone, especially friends I only get to see at pen shows. I must also acknowledge, though, that it’s also exhausting. I don’t socialize like that other than at pen shows, and it definitely takes a lot out of me.

Jump to a section: Show thoughts | ⇣ Classes | ⇣ Pen case prototype| ⇣ Preparation vs. reality | ⇣ Day-by-day | ⇣ My haul

Show thoughts

I’ve reviewed the DC Pen Show a couple of times now, so I won’t go into depth in this post.

Keep Reading2025 DC Pen Show
Nib Design Appreciation PostNib Design Appreciation Post
July 30, 2025
Rachel
Leave a Comment

Nib Design Appreciation Post

Posted in Fountain Pens

While I write a lot about fountain pens, and even have 72 pen porn posts, I don’t feel I give enough credit and attention to nibs. They are, after all, the most important part of a pen. Without a nib, a fountain pen is just a stick of material — granted, possibly a very pretty stick of material.

That said, it’s long past time I dedicate a post to nibs and the beautiful designs they can carry.

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for nib 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 have to start with the nib that means the most to me. This nib features Bumbledore’s ears, nose, mouth, fangs, and whiskers. It is the nib on The Right Royal Pen, my tribute pen to Bumbledore by Marian Binder and Stanford Pen Studio. I cut and smoothed it to a cursive oblique.

Keep ReadingNib Design Appreciation Post
Pen Show PlanningPen Show Planning
July 25, 2025
Rachel
One Comment

Pen Show Planning

Posted in Pen Shows

Somehow — seriously, how??? — the DC Pen Show is a week away!!!! I’m so far behind in terms of getting ready.

I missed quite a bit of the show last year with my haphazard way of dashing from one person I know to the next. I don’t want to do that again. So I need to plan.

Schedule

First up is to figure out my schedule. Everything revolves around the show. What time do I want to arrive on Friday? What classes am I taking? What times are the classes I’m teaching? What scheduled plans do I have? And so on and so forth.

Keep ReadingPen Show Planning
Never Buying These AgainNever Buying These Again
July 18, 2025
Rachel
7 Comments

Never Buying These Again

Posted in Fountain Pens

If you’ve been here for a while, you know I like to keep this space as positive as possible. But, every once in a while, I let in some snark. Today is one of those posts, which you probably already knew from the title.

I’m sure some, or all, of these will be unpopular opinions. However, I have valid-to-me reasons for my opinions. So, I hope you enjoy the honesty and sprinkles of snark I chose to indulge in for this post.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it’s most of it.

Aurora

Aurora 100° Anniversario
Beautiful, yes, fantastic writing experience… not so much.
Keep ReadingNever Buying These Again
Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana KittenPen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Kitten
July 11, 2025
Rachel
Leave a Comment

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Kitten

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. 😉

When we backed the Stanford Pen Studio (SPS) crowdfunder last year, I ordered two pens, and Jim ordered one. Imagine my surprise when Jim’s pen arrived with a stowaway! I’m honored to have been gifted one of the Intwana Kitten models with Brandon Lodewyk‘s art on it. Thank you so much to Di, Dave, and Brandon.

Not only is it a great fit for me — as a cat-themed pen — but it also means I have a pen with Brandon’s art now, putting me one step closer to having a pen with each partner artist’s work.

Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Kitten

Before I get started, I want to make sure you know that, while the Koi and Seahorse designs are not currently listed on the SPS website, the Chameleon, Dragon, Giraffe, Kitten, Llama, Penguins, and Phoenix designs are all still available.

Keep ReadingPen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Kitten
2025 Mid-Year Check-InMid-Year Check-In
July 2, 2025
Rachel
Leave a Comment

2025 Mid-Year Check-In

Posted in Fountain Pens

After how slowly the first quarter of the year went by, it’s almost incomprehensible to me that we’re already half-way through 2025. But, here we are on day 183 of 2025, and that means it’s time for a mid-year check-in on my purchasing resolutions and wish list.

Purchasing

My rules for this year are:

  • Pens
    • Add 30 pens max to my collection (including non-fountain pens and gifts).
    • Limit mainstream brand acquisitions to 14.
    • Don’t buy pretty ink sticks unless it’s a friend’s collaboration.
    • Save up for pens rather than buying on credit and paying them off.
    • Sell at least 10 pens.
  • Inks
    • Don’t buy any bottles without trying a sample first, or at least seeing a swatch in person when it’s not possible to get a sample.
    • Get rid of inks I’m not using.
    • Use every “for use” ink sample at least once.

So, how am I doing?

Keep Reading2025 Mid-Year Check-In
Ink Dupes #16: Sailor, Platinum, and PilotInk Dupes
June 27, 2025
Rachel
2 Comments

Ink Dupes #16: Sailor, Platinum, and Pilot

Posted in Ink

As a reminder, this is my new format for ink dupes posts. Where, previously, my ink dupes posts were more like double reviews, now they’re about art. I know that isn’t a perfect translation to writing with the ink, but I’m doing my best to include “wet” sections with a lot of ink and “dry” sections with less ink to simulate broader and finer nibs, respectively.

Today’s post features Sailor x Disney Belle Yellow, Platinum Mixable Sunny Yellow, and Pilot Iroshizuku Daikokuten.

These three inks are all incredibly similar. While there may be minute differences in how they shade, unless you’re using them side by side in pens, I don’t think you’d notice the difference.

Keep ReadingInk Dupes #16: Sailor, Platinum, and Pilot
Stationery For Your Worst EnemyStationery for your worst enemy
June 20, 2025
Rachel
Leave a Comment

Stationery For Your Worst Enemy

Posted in Fountain Pens

This post is inspired by Angelica Nyqvist‘s video Products I Would Recommend To My WORST ENEMY… 😈. In that video, they credit Kelly Gooch and Kackie Reviews Beauty with coming up with the idea.

In looking through my notes on blog post ideas, I almost discounted this one because I was certain I’d already written it. But, there wasn’t a post on my blog, and I couldn’t find notes anywhere in my binders or a draft post. So, I’m finally writing this post I’ve been planning on for at least a year.

This is, of course, all in fun. I thought it would be a good laugh. If you love any of the products mentioned, that’s great. It means you didn’t waste money like I did.

Keep ReadingStationery For Your Worst Enemy
Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025, Bi EditionFountain Pen Rainbow 2025 Bi Flag edition
June 17, 2025
Rachel
One Comment

Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025, Bi Edition

Posted in Fountain Pens

I hope you’re enjoying Pride Month! Since I didn’t get to a bisexual (bi) pride flag rainbow last year, I’m making sure to do one this year. Depending on which definitions you go with, bi and pansexual could both apply to me, but the bi flag has prettier colors.

I’ve done my best to not include any pens that were in either of my previous pen rainbows.

Keep ReadingFountain Pen Rainbow 2025, Bi Edition
Pen Porn: Cypress Maki-e GoldfishPen Porn: Cypress Maki-e Goldfish
June 13, 2025
Rachel
2 Comments

Pen Porn: Cypress Maki-e Goldfish

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 don’t know if the first post I saw of the Maki-e Goldfish was the first time Cypress posted it, but I knew, instantly, I needed it, and left a comment to that effect. I received a message with an offer to hold one for me, at which point I discovered it wasn’t as expensive as I thought, and bought it. I have zero regrets.

Cypress Maki-e Goldfish
Keep ReadingPen Porn: Cypress Maki-e Goldfish
Stanford Pen Studio Model ComparisonStanford pen studio model comparison
June 6, 2025
Rachel
4 Comments

Stanford Pen Studio Model Comparison

Posted in Fountain Pens

Today’s post is a bit different for me, but I’ve been planning it since my first Intwana pens arrived in mid-March. Since the size of the Intwana surprised me, I wanted to share a comparison between Stanford Pen Studio‘s (SPS) original painted pen model, the Jabulani, and their new painted pen offering, the Intwana. But, life got in the way, like it does. Better late than never, though, right?

The models

For those completely unfamiliar with SPS’s pen models the two I’m comparing today are the Jabulani and the Intwana. They are the two models SPS offers with hand-painted and/or hand-drawn art on them. Allow me to share SPS’ own words on each model.

Keep ReadingStanford Pen Studio Model Comparison
Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025
June 2, 2025
Rachel
One Comment

Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025

Posted in Fountain Pens

Happy Pride Month! It’s time for another pen rainbow. I made sure to only choose pens that weren’t in last year’s pen rainbow, which was difficult for the black pen. Would you be interested in seeing another post later in the month with the Bi flag colors? I didn’t get to that last year, but I could do it this year.

Proud pen addict button/pin

Like last year, I’ve included plenty of pen pictures, so this is a bit of a pen porn post, too. I kept the brown, black, and white pens, because who doesn’t want more pen pictures?

Keep ReadingFountain Pen Rainbow 2025
An Instant Burst of HappinessAn Instant Burst of Happiness
May 30, 2025
Rachel
Leave a Comment

An Instant Burst of Happiness

Posted in Stationery

Brad Dowdy — AKA The Pen Addict — posed an interesting question in last week’s member newsletter: Do you have any pens, pencils, or other stationery that gives you that instant burst of happiness, or a sneaky grin just for yourself? It was intriguing enough that I want to answer it in a post.

Honestly, this is precisely what I want my entire collection to be, both pens and ink. My goal is to get to a point where any pen I ink up gives me a burst of happiness. Of course, I’m still a ways away from that goal, especially with my inks.

That said, I do have a couple of general things in my collection that give me extra joy.

Keep ReadingAn Instant Burst of Happiness
Ink Battle: Taccia and ColorverseInk Battle
May 23, 2025
Rachel
Leave a Comment

Ink Battle: Taccia and Colorverse

Posted in Ink

This ink battle is between Taccia Light Washed Jeans and Colorverse αCnc. Both inks are in a pens fitted with a Jowo #6 M nib. The paper is Muji loose leaf dot grid A5 paper.

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

I love pale, desaturated blue inks, but they have to be bright/dark enough to read easily, even in F and EF nibs.

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.

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". 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.

Keep ReadingInk Battle: Taccia and Colorverse
Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana SeahorsePen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Seahorse
May 16, 2025
Rachel
One Comment

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Seahorse

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. 😉

And now it’s time to share the second Intwana pen I ordered, Lisa Strachan‘s Seahorse.

Before I get started, I want to make sure you know that, while the Koi and Seahorse designs are not currently listed on the SPS website, the Chameleon, Dragon, Giraffe, Kitten, Llama, Penguins, and Phoenix designs are all still available.

SPS Intwana Seahorse
Keep ReadingPen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Seahorse
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).