{"id":16167,"date":"2025-12-17T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/?p=16167"},"modified":"2025-12-30T08:02:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T13:02:48","slug":"2025-favorites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/2025-favorites\/","title":{"rendered":"My 2025 Favorites"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As I do each year, I’m sharing my current top tens. *screech* Except I’m not. I’ve decided to rename this entry to my favorites of the year. It has nothing to do with my inability to stick to just 10… Really.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My inks list started the departure from my “top 10” format. As you’ll read later, I could either have a top 5 or a top 15. Then I tried to do nibs, and I have so many amazing nibs, I simply couldn’t rank them normally, so I provided my top nib(s) for several categories. And, then, when finishing the pen section, Stanford Pen Studio was 90% of the list, so I decided to give those pens their own list so that other pens would have a chance to shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also check out my top tens (AKA favorites) from previous years: 2024<\/a> | 2023<\/a> | 2022<\/a> | 2021<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, without further preamble, enjoy my top tens<\/s> favorites of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Jump to a Section: Pens | \u21e3 Nibs<\/a> | \u21e3 Inks<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top pens by appearance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These are my favorite pens based on appearance. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, these pens bring a smile to my face \u2014 and sometimes some tears to my eyes \u2014 whenever I pick them up. It’s not uncommon for me to spend time just admiring their beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stanford Pen Studio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As I mentioned above, I gave Stanford Pen Studio<\/a> their own list this year. After all, it’s hardly fair to compare a fully hand-painted piece of art by a professional artist with other pens. I’ll also admit to a serious bias towards their work, and this gives my other pens a more level playing field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9: Ardently and March Sisters by Hanna Farmer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Stanford<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Stanford<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ardently<\/a> \u2014 a Pride & Prejudice tribute \u2014 (top) and March Sisters<\/a> \u2014 a Little Women tribute \u2014 are covered in so much beautiful detail, typical of Hanna’s pens. I really can’t choose one over another, since they’re both stunning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8: Catstellations by Yulia Glas<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Stanford<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, I haven’t posted a pen porn post for this pen yet. That said, this is such a fun pen! I love the cat constellations, and that cat sun is gorgeous!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7: Imperious Egyptian Cats Kseniia Nel<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Stanford<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More cats! Last year, Imperious Egyptian Cats<\/a> outranked Delft Cats for the precision of the patterns. This year, I’m putting more emphasis on color, so they’ve swapped places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6: Delft Cats by Yulia Glas<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Stanford<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Usually cats would rank above moths and hummingbirds, but I’m trying to judge these on more than my feelings for the subject matter. Color means a lot to me, and Delft Cats<\/a> is monochromatic. It’s a stunning pen, though, truly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5: Hummingbirds by Marian Binder<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Stanford<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hummingbirds<\/a> is another pen that has an amazing color palette, and I do so adore color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4: Magenta Moths by Yulia Glas<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Stanford<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I fell in love with this pen the day it was posted, but the stars never quite aligned until the black Friday sale. And now it’s mine. The color palette is absolutely stunning, and the detail is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3: Cats and Books by Yulia Glas<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Stanford<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cats and Books<\/a> fell one spot, for obvious reasons, but it’s still an absolutely amazing piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1: The Right Royal Pen by Marian Binder AND The Royal Tribute by the Stanford Pen Studio Artists<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Stanford<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is the last year I’m going to include my two Bumbledore pens on a yearly favorites list. Now that he’s crossed the rainbow bridge, no other pens can ever compete \u2014 not that any could when he was still with me \u2014 so I feel it’s unfair to include them. Just know that these are both always<\/strong> my number one. The Right Royal Pen<\/a> was such an amazing living tribute to my sweet boy, and now The Royal Tribute arrived yesterday<\/a>, just in time to add it to this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All other pens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This list was incredibly<\/em> hard to put together. It’s hard for me to choose between pretty design and beautiful workmanship. I tried to get some of each. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10: Den’s Pens Baetylus Twist<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Den's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Den makes all of his pens by hand, that includes the shaping and polishing. Knowing that makes the complex shape of the various Baetylus styles even more impressive. I call these “fidget pens” because your fingers glide along the grooves in such a satisfying way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9: Country Made Pens 3D Scrollwork Sleeve<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Country<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The 3D Scrollwork Sleeve<\/a> is another pen here for its magnificent workmanship. The glorious duochrome material doesn’t hurt, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8: Zek Pens Tezhib Butterflies and Flowers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Zek<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And we get to our first pen here for its design. It’s butterflies; and look at those colors!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7: Ryan Krusac Ashbain the Dragon<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Ryan<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just look at that dragon! Ashbain the Dragon<\/a> has been beautifully rendered with so much detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6: Platinum Izumo Kurikara-Ken<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The magnificent black-on-black urushi art for the dragon really sets off the silver of the sword and the clip. And the texture on the Kurikara-Ken<\/a> is exquisite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5: Iron Feather Creative Mayan Art<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Iron<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Mayan Art<\/a> holds a special place in my heart for its cultural significance. The pen is beautifully executed, like everything from Iron Feather. And it has a hummingbird, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3: ARTUS Four Elements Air and ARTUS Four Elements Water<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"ARTUS<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"ARTUS<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Per usual, the Water<\/a> and Air<\/a> are neck and neck. Rather than waffle back and forth on the correct rankings, I’m setting them at a tie again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2: Cypress Maki-e Goldfish<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Cypress<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is a truly stunning pen design. I knew when I saw the Maki-e Goldfish<\/a> that I needed to add it to my collection. It’s such a beautiful design, and I love the chubby little goldfish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1: Permies.World English Garden<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Today, the English Garden<\/a> wins out. Between the color, texture, and subject matter \u2014 can you spot both hummingbirds? \u2014 it feels right to put it at the top of my list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Full<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jump to a Section: \u21e1 Pens<\/a> | Nibs | \u21e3 Inks<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top nibs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These are my favorite nibs to write with. This year, I’ve divided the list into my top nibs for various categories \u2014 stock nibs, grinds, etc. \u2014 because I don’t feel like I can rank them anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stock nibs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n