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. 😉
Category: Stationery
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. 😉
Ink Battle: Colorverse and Lamy
Posted in Ink
While I do my best, especially recently, to only buy inks I’ve already tried, sometimes that isn’t possible. Because of this, I have some inks that are incredibly similar in color.
I’ve decided to have “ink battles” to figure out which to keep. I’m going to put the similar inks into pens with the same nib, then test them out to see which I like better. Or, I may find out that, when used with the same nib, they’re sufficiently different to keep them both.
Depending on how these “battles” turn out, I may tag some of the posts as ink dupes as well. You’ll be able to find all of the ink battles posts on the tag page.
Pen Porn: Benu Talisman Sakura
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. 😉
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m letting myself collect the Benu Talisman pens that have shaped glitter. I love the swirly material on the Sakura; and I’m not unmoved by the flower-shaped glitter.
Evocative Pens
Posted in Fountain Pens
I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while, but it kept getting pushed back. So, some of these pens are rather old at this point. However, the premise still holds true: all of these pens remind me of of other, non-pen, items.
Please note: I’ve borrowed all of these images, they are not mine. Each image links to the page where I found it. In the future, some of the links likely won’t work.
Sharing Tips: Learning New Pens
Posted in Fountain Pens, and Ink
I came across the following information as the pinned comment on Liane Likes‘ video Part 1: My Fountain Pen Journey, Conversation with seemownay. The comment was posted by Iron Mic; unfortunately, I don’t have any further information about them. I copied and pasted the information directly from the comment, but I added a couple of paragraph breaks to make it easier to read.
8 Pen Questions
Posted in Fountain Pens
This post is an answer to the questions in Liane Likes‘ video Part 1: My Fountain Pen Journey, Conversation with seemownay. Liane Likes collaborated with seemownay who posted How many Fountain Pens is enough? Interview with lianelikes Part 2 of Conversation.
I discovered Liane Likes’ video through Ink Journal’s weekly newsletter.
Pen Porn: Gioia Cameo Edition
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. 😉
Jim bought his first Gioia pen well over a year ago, and has really enjoyed having it in his collection. However, until the Cameo Edition was released, their library of models hadn’t really called to me.
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. 😉
For the first time, I’ve been privileged to receive a pen for review. However, rest assured that this post, and all views that I express, are my own. Ruth of Shibui North reached out to offer me a pen in exchange for a pen porn post. Once I got over my shock, and confirmed all pertinent details, I chose the Pocket Fox Asa No Ha in Cherry Black.
Even More Indie Makers
Posted in Fountain Pens
It’s time again to feature new-to-me indie pen makers. Every so often, I post an update to my original Indie Pen Makers post. So far, I’ve posted an update and an addendum. These update posts are meant to let new-to-me pen makers have their time in the spotlight, and allow you to know who is “new.”
Since the pen-making world is constantly changing, I’ve decided to create a permanent reference page of makers I know of. Every time I post about indie makers, I’ll update that page, adding new makers, and removing any who have left the field. This means I’ll no longer update past indie maker posts.
Keep in mind, I have not purchased a pen from most of these makers, so consider this an informational list, not an endorsement.
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. 😉
In late January, I saw a post about Nahvalur’s Lunar New Year special edition. After having been told there would ne be resin versions of the Nautilus with porthole ink windows, the Lunar New Year special edition surprised me.
However, despite the beauty of the pen, I made myself wait until February to buy it. After all, I’d already bought too many pens. The universe was clearly looking out for me — or rewarding me for good behavior — as, during the self-enforced wait, I came across a post for the Enigma Stationery-exclusive Brilliant Bunny limited edition of 50 pens.
BWIPS 2023
Posted in Pen Shows
Last weekend was Baltimore Washington International Pen Show (BWIPS) weekend. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, or if you know me, then you know BWIPS is my favorite pen show. This year, however, was significantly different than previous years for me and Jim.
We attended this year’s BWIPS without any responsibilities. We didn’t volunteer, and we didn’t commit to teach any classes. It was nice, from that perspective, to attend a show like “normal” people. We didn’t have to worry about schedules or anything.
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. 😉
If you saw my 2023 wish list post, then you know I’ve wanted one of the Gravitas Pens Universe pens for a while. I had to give the initial release a miss because of Athena’s illness, but I was determined to get one from the next release, and I did.
I don’t know where February went. How are we already in March? This year is racing by. But, new month means new pen perchases overview.
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 particular pen was a commission from Analog Notes. After getting my pen with Chrysanthemum petals last year, it occurred to me that this, finally, was an excellent use for some dried petals I had saved.
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. 😉
Those of you who have been here for a while know I like the Benu Talisman model. So, when Azizah of Gourmet Pens told me she would have an exclusive Talisman, I was sold before I even saw the pen. When I saw it, I was at “shut up and take my money” levels of interest. The delightfully ostentatious True Unicorn is a smorgasbord of color and sparkle — and not for the faint of heart or those who delight in minimalism.
Pen Porn: 18111 Night Snow
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. 😉
At this point, I don’t even remember when I first saw one of Mr. Nakama’s snowflake pens. I think I already wanted one when I commissioned my Harley Quinn pen, and that was nearly 4 years ago now. Time flies.
As I mentioned in my Pen Resolutions Tag and Reviewing My Purchasing Habits posts, I’m trying to limit myself to 36 pen purchases this year. I think that going through my purchases will help me keep on track. So, expect monthly updates on how I’m doing.
A secondary goal I had for myself was to not buy anything in January. My idea was to put January’s allotment toward March to augment my BWIPS “budget.” And I did great, until the 21st. Somehow, in the last 10 days of the month, I bought four 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 stumbled upon the Ice and Snow on Instagram. Although I thought I had finished with pen purchases for 2022, I had to have it. Between my love of winter and collecting the Talisman series pens that have shaped confetti — like the Wild Rose, Shooting Star, and Four Leaf Clover — there was no way I wasn’t going to pick one up.
As with other Talisman model pens, the Ice and Snow has its inspiration added to the material of the pen. This time, it’s Snow Quartz. According to the pamphlet that came with it, “snow quartz has an uplifting and kind energy and is typically used during challenging moments in life, when everything seems dark and grim.”
Pen Resolutions Tag 2023
Posted in Fountain Pens
I had a lot of fun with the Pen Resolutions Tag last year, so I’m doing it again this year. I’m also revisiting the resolutions I made last year to see how I did.
This idea was originally adapted from Theresa is Dead’s video: OH 2021… | BEAUTY RESOLUTIONS TAG video. The Beauty Resolutions Tag originated with Mel Thompson.
I’ll definitely revisit this again in 2024.
1. What is something you do regularly in your pen routine that you will try to stop?
Answer from 2022: Stop putting off pen cleaning. Did I do better? Nope. I keep forgetting to add it to my weekly spread in my notebook. And, if it’s not there, it doesn’t get done.
Answer for 2023: Since remembering to add pen cleaning to my weekly to-do list would get me to clean my pens, I need to get better at doing that. This is, at its core the same resolution I made last year, but I’m taking a different approach to see if I have more success.