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Inktober 2025 Skirmishes, Pride & Prejudice

Inktober Skirmishes

October 8, 2025

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Inktober 2025 Skirmishes, Pride & Prejudice

Posted in Ink

Welcome back to Inktober Skirmishes. As a reminder, I’m using Inktober to work on my resolution to get rid of some inks. The goal is to remove one ink from my collection for each skirmish, but if the two inks are different enough, I’m open to keeping them both.

Skirmishes are similar to Ink Battles, but without scoring, just final judgment. I am writing out the first chapter, one skirmish at a time, of as many of my favorite books as necessary to get through the 31 days of Inktober.

I’ve decided that I’m going to post the skirmishes as I finish a book’s chapter. This post has the rest of the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice.

Inktober 2025 Skirmishes, Week 1

Inktober Skirmishes

October 3, 2025

Inktober 2025 Skirmishes, Week 1

Posted in Ink

I always want to participate in Inktober, but I often find it difficult to do so. Last year, if my memory serves me correctly, I took part in Inktober Tangles. However, I really had to push myself, and often found I didn’t have enough time to really relax and have fun.

So, this year, I’m using Inktober to work on my resolution to get rid of some inks. I haven’t done anywhere near as well with it as I’d like to. The result: Inktober Skirmishes! The goal is to remove one ink from my collection for each skirmish, but if the two inks are different enough, I’m open to keeping them both.

These will be similar to Ink Battles, but faster. No scoring, just final judgment. I haven’t even included a scribble section. My plan is to write out the first chapter, one skirmish at a time, of as many of my favorite books as necessary to get through 31 days.

Totally Should’ve Tag – Stationery Edition

Totally Should've Tag

September 26, 2025

Totally Should’ve Tag – Stationery Edition

Posted in Stationery

This post is inspired by emmmabooks‘s video TOTALLY SHOULD’VE BOOK TAG l ORIGINAL l.. In that video, they acknowledge that they were inspired by a previous tag, but this one is their own.

I’ve adapted the Totally Should’ve tag to stationery questions for funsies. I will admit I pick on Montegrappa in this post. I didn’t mean to, but their products kept coming to mind as I answered these questions.

1. Product that totally should’ve been made permanent.

This is completely self-serving, but I have to go with Pure Pens Platinum Jubilee ink. It’s such a gorgeous purple. I didn’t learn about it until well after it was discontinued, but I was able to get a sample from a friend, and it’s amazing. It’s such a shame I’ll never own it.

Pen Porn: Zek Pens

Pen Porn: Zek Pens

September 19, 2025

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

12 Pen Person Questions

#12PenPersonQuestions

September 17, 2025

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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.

2025 San Francisco Pen Show Experience

2025 San Francisco Pen Show Experience

September 12, 2025

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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.

2025 San Francisco Pen Show Rating

2025 San Francisco Pen Show Rating

September 5, 2025

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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.

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Penguins

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Penguins

August 22, 2025

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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

2025 DC Pen Show

2025 DC Pen Show

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.

Nib Design Appreciation Post

Nib Design Appreciation Post

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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.

Pen Show Planning

Pen Show Planning

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.

Never Buying These Again

Never Buying These Again

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.

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Kitten

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Kitten

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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.

2025 Mid-Year Check-In

Mid-Year Check-In

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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?

Ink Dupes #16: Sailor, Platinum, and Pilot

Ink Dupes

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.

Stationery For Your Worst Enemy

Stationery for your worst enemy

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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.

Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025, Bi Edition

Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025 Bi Flag edition

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.

Pen Porn: Cypress Maki-e Goldfish

Pen Porn: Cypress Maki-e Goldfish

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

Stanford Pen Studio Model Comparison

Stanford pen studio model comparison

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.

Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025

Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025

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?