{"id":4418,"date":"2021-03-26T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-26T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/?p=4418"},"modified":"2024-04-03T08:31:40","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T12:31:40","slug":"dia-de-muertos-pen2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/dia-de-muertos-pen2\/","title":{"rendered":"D\u00eda de Muertos, Making of the Pen"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

I’m back with the second entry in the chronicle of my D\u00eda de Muertos pen. If you read my first entry<\/a> then you know that this means I received permission to share the mock-up images for my custom pen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be forewarned, it will likely be a while before my next update. I’ll explain why I think so a bit later. For now, let’s pick up where I left off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Getting Things Started<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After finding out that Mr. Cypress<\/a> was accepting custom orders, I asked about a D\u00eda de Muertos pen. He confirmed I was interested in a raden pen, and asked for some reference images. I sent him the following, asking for 1-2 sugar skulls as the main feature, likely on the body of the pen; with some D\u00eda de Muertos motifs to fill in space, perhaps on the cap. If possible, some papel picado bunting would be fabulous as well, although I acknowledged that was likely too complex for raden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"dia
Sugar Skull reference found on Google<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"dia
Sugar Skull reference found on Google<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"dia
Motif pattern found on Google<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"dia
Motif pattern found on Google<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A couple of days later, I was sent this glorious<\/em> image (minus the watermark, that’s my addition). It was much more than I had hoped for, and I accepted it instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mr.<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I asked for a cost estimate, which was almost ridiculously low. However, Mr. Cypress informed me that his artist was working on additional design elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Back-and-Forth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, we settled on the shape of the pen \u2014 flat top \u2014 and I asked for a flower on the cap finial like was on the grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next mock up featured flowers scattered on the pen body. But they didn’t speak to me. The flowers didn’t have the right feel. Instead, I suggested some type of bunting (see below) and perhaps candles near the bottom of the pen body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"My<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next iteration added both the candles and bunting, but also replaced the floral motif on the cap with candles. Not quite what I was going for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with a bit more back-and-forth, each one making minor tweaks, we settled on a final design, and all I can say is W-O-W! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mr.<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finalizing the Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once I’d OK’d the final design, I got a bit of a shock. Mr. Cypress told me he’d check with the artist\/designer and “let [me] know if it can be done.” I’d assumed we were working through, or with, the artist\/designer the entire time. I waited anxiously for the verdict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, all was well. The artist\/designer confirmed the pen could be produced. After asking, I learned that payment is not required up front, not even a deposit. I found that a bit surprising, but I suppose he has no problem selling pens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Now, We Wait<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’ll keep you updated as I get updates. I’m so excited, but I know it will likely be months before it’s ready, and perhaps just as long before I receive any update. I can be patient, though. It’s going to be such a fabulous expression of culture, and I look forward to using it, especially around the D\u00eda de Muertos holiday. I have a feeling this may be my only raden pen ever, because realistically, what could possibly be better than it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you think? Are you excited to see the final product as well?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab Read the previous post in this series<\/a> | Read the next post in this series \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’ve wanted a D\u00eda de Muertos fountain pen for several years now. Read the second entry in the chronicle of my custom fountain pen.<\/p>\n

Keep ReadingD\u00eda de Muertos, Making of the Pen<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4444,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[261,43],"class_list":["post-4418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fountain-pens","tag-mr-cypress","tag-story","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/diaDeMuertos2-IGSm.jpg?fit=288%2C288&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Z77k-19g","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4309,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/dia-de-muertos-pen\/","url_meta":{"origin":4418,"position":0},"title":"D\u00eda de Muertos, But Make it Pen","author":"Rachel","date":"February 23, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"I've wanted a D\u00eda de Muertos fountain pen for several years now. 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Read the third and final entry in the chronicle of my custom fountain pen.","rel":"","context":"In "Fountain Pens"","block_context":{"text":"Fountain Pens","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/category\/stationery\/fountain-pens\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Showing a full skull on the old pen.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/20210503_201736.jpg?fit=810%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/20210503_201736.jpg?fit=810%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/20210503_201736.jpg?fit=810%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/20210503_201736.jpg?fit=810%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6520,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/mr-cypress-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":4418,"position":2},"title":"Mr. Cypress \u2013 Pushing Boundaries","author":"Rachel","date":"January 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"With both of my Mr. Cypress pens having skull-themed designs, I'm in the unique position of being able to compare the two for you.","rel":"","context":"In "Fountain Pens"","block_context":{"text":"Fountain Pens","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/category\/stationery\/fountain-pens\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Macro photo showing the \"sketchy\" quality of the linework.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20211223_145458.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20211223_145458.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20211223_145458.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7382,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/pens-part-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":4418,"position":3},"title":"My Pen Collection Part 4","author":"Rachel","date":"April 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"You asked, and I'm delivering. 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These are pens I know of that are unique to a brand.","rel":"","context":"In "Fountain Pens"","block_context":{"text":"Fountain Pens","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/category\/stationery\/fountain-pens\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Desiderata pen showing Zebra G Flex nib","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/daedalus_engraved_capoff.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/daedalus_engraved_capoff.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/daedalus_engraved_capoff.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/daedalus_engraved_capoff.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/daedalus_engraved_capoff.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/daedalus_engraved_capoff.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6328,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/2021-top-pens\/","url_meta":{"origin":4418,"position":5},"title":"My 2021 Top Pens","author":"Rachel","date":"December 24, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm revisiting my 2020 Top Pens and seeing what differences there are in comparison to my 2021 top pens. 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