Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Little Women

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. 😉

---

Short Story Time

I had an incredibly difficult time putting this post together. I desperately wanted to do the pen, and the book, justice. If you’ve been following my blog for long enough, you may know how much Little Women means to me. But, if you haven’t, suffice to say that it was a favorite of both my mom and I, which has earned it a special place in my heart.

Part of why I requested this commission from Stanford Pen Studio was as a reminder of all the good times my mom and I had related to Little Women. I knew Hanna would do it justice since she did such an amazing job with my Pride and Prejudice pen.

So, yes, I expected an amazing work of art. What I didn’t expect was that it would give me back Little Women. I’ve stayed away from the book and the movies since my mom passed away over 11 years ago.

But, when I got to see this pen in person, to hold it and admire the art, I knew I needed to compare some of the scenes to scenes from the movies to emphasize the great job Hanna did.

I steeled myself and clicked through the three versions I regularly watched with my mom: 1933, 1949, and 1994. Surprisingly — to me — I found myself able to just enjoy them, without the heartbreak I was expecting. I intend to go back and watch them in full. I’ve even started watching the 2018 miniseries — I’m not sure I’ll finish it, but that’s because I’m not in love with the casting.

I’ve also read through pieces of the book while getting quote locations, and even found myself getting lost in the story before recalling myself to the task at hand. I think it’s time to re-read the book.

So, thank you to Stanford Pen Studio and Hanna for accepting my commission request, thereby giving me such a fabulous, but unexpected gift.

Now, on to the pen porn!

Photo Time

You know I always start with the 360° views. I chose to go back to my standard format for these posts, as the longer form Ardently video didn’t seem to interest you all.

The March Sisters

All four March sisters have some representation on the pen, both as a family on the cap, and individually on the barrel. Let’s start with the cap.

I’m fairly certain the cap scene surrounded by flowers is meant to represent when the girls go next door to the Laurence house for a party.

The other cap scene — in front of the March home (which is beautifully rendered, by the way) — is harder to figure out, but I think it’s when the girls take their Christmas breakfast to the Hummel family.

The Sisters Alone

Then, on the barrel, we see most of the sisters pictured individually, industrially working at their greatest interests, and with their beaux for each accepted proposal. I’m assuming that the pen got rather full, and, to balance out Beth not having a proposal scene, only three sisters are depicted alone. As Meg’s great interest is etiquette — which doesn’t lend itself to a solo silhouette image — it makes sense that she was the one left out.

Beth is seated at her piano. I’m pretty certain it’s the cabinet piano she was gifted.

Amy is hard at work on her art, either drawing or painting.

And Jo, of course, is working on her next story, or perhaps her novel.

Getting Engaged

While I’m not 100% certain, I believe all three engagements are represented.

I’m fairly certain that the silhouettes in the window are Meg and John Brooke.

“I needn’t go away, but may stay and be happy, may I, dear?” … “Yes, John.” (John and Meg, ch. 23).

It’s possible that it’s meant to be Jo and Laurie dancing at the Laurence party, but it doesn’t really look like dancing.

Then we have Amy and Laurie in the rowboat.

“How well we pull together, don’t we?” … “So well that I wish we might always pull in the same boat. Will you, Amy?” … “Yes, Laurie.” (Amy and Laurie, ch. 41).

Like with the previous scene it’s possible that it represents a different scene, specifically Meg and John on the lake during the picnic.

And, finally, we have the iconic umbrella scene with Jo and Friedrich Bhaer.

” … I haf nothing to gif back but a full heart and these empty hands,” … “Not empty now.” (Friedrich and Jo, ch. 46).

There’s no mistaking this one for anything else.

Quotes

This seems the perfect transition to the quotes, starting with the one at the finial end of the barrel: “I have nothing to give but my heart so full and these empty hands… They’re not empty now.” [which movie adaptation?]

Moving up the barrel, we have “I like good strong words…” (ch. 4). Jo’s response to Meg’s complaint of her use of “dreadful expressions.”

Then at the bottom of the cap, “Don’t try to make me grow up before my time…” (ch. 14). Jo’s entreaty to Meg after she’s been reprimanded for “such romping ways.”

Mid-cap, we have “I want to be great, or nothing” (ch. 39). Amy declaring that she’s finished her artistic endeavors, “because talent isn’t genius.”

And then we have my goof at the top of the cap: “Books are always good company if you have the right sort.” (Jo, Jo’s Boys, ch. 6). It’s a fabulous quote, isn’t it? But, it’s not from Little Women. I requested that it be included; and, as you can see, Jo says it, but only two books later! Oops!

Decorative Elements

And we get to finish with the beautiful artistic elements Hanna added. As she usually does with her art pens, Hanna carried some thematic elements all throughout the pen to tie the scenes together.

Gold dots, purple flowers, and green color washes and leaves are sprinkled across the art. And, of course, her characteristic swirls.

I had to finish the pen off with a custom-engraved nib from Carolina Pen Co. — thanks, Jonathon! And, what better than a quill pen for Jo’s — and Louisa May Alcott’s — writing?

---

I love that Hanna managed to capture so much of the story. And, more than that, she captured the March sisterhood — their connectedness even while growing up with different interests and having separate adult lives.

---

How long have you been following my blog journey? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading to the end, I hope you enjoyed my post. Make sure to subscribe to my blog or follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss any posts. I generally post at least once a week.