This past week I've just been enjoying getting on and using my pens. It's been relaxing to not think about reviewing even the new arrivals, liberating, even. A rose gold shimmer ink? The kind folks at Izumi sent me over a sample of their new exclusive ink made with de Atramentis. It's called "Pink Rose … Continue reading Snippets: Izumi exclusive ink, Parker 51, Taccia ink, Musubi Cosmo Air Light
Snippets: Schon, John Garnham, Pebble, GLP, Cross
It's been a quiet month here on the blog. I haven't posted anything for ten days, which is a long spell for me. But I do want to shout about a few things, so it's time for a Snippets. Bye to Instagram Thanks to those of you who took the time to email me to … Continue reading Snippets: Schon, John Garnham, Pebble, GLP, Cross
What the Sport should have been: the Kaweco Supra Fireblue
It’s almost sacrilege to say it, because the Kaweco Sport is a true icon, but the Supra I have in front of me here is in many respects a better pen, and in my opinion probably the best competitor to the Schon P6 if you’re looking for a metal pocket pen. Where the Supra shines … Continue reading What the Sport should have been: the Kaweco Supra Fireblue
The results are in: the great fountain pen survey, part 1
Late last year I set out to survey the fountain pen community about all aspects of their relationship with fountain pens. This post starts to dig in to the incredibly rich data set that resulted. I'm excited about this data, because as far as I know it's the only large-scale, quantitative survey of fountain pen … Continue reading The results are in: the great fountain pen survey, part 1
Behind the pen: Joe Kershaw of the Online Pen Company
It’s important to break out of your Instagram echo chamber every now and again. That was my key takeaway from interviewing Joe Kershaw, who runs the Online Pen Company (you may remember they provided the Staedtler Lignum for my recent review). Kershaw is not what you might expect a pen company owner to be like. … Continue reading Behind the pen: Joe Kershaw of the Online Pen Company
Binge and purge: reaching equilibrium with sets of five
Living with less I am not a minimalist. But I have minimalist aspirations; on a good day, even minimalist tendencies. I know that I feel happier when my space and my mind aren't so encumbered by stuff, and I have built up my mental muscles to recognise when I'm hanging on to an object but … Continue reading Binge and purge: reaching equilibrium with sets of five
The Gioia Alleria: a new Italian piston-filler with panache
I am here today to tell you about the Gioia Pens Alleria, but first I want to say this: wow, aren’t there a lot of exciting pens coming out of Italy recently? Leonardo, Maiora and Nettuno, Tibaldi, Tesori, ASC’s Studio, plus the stream of new releases from Visconti, Aurora, Santini and Scribo, and the recent … Continue reading The Gioia Alleria: a new Italian piston-filler with panache
Cutting the collection in half: January 2021
My last SotC post was in early November — and what a lot of change there has been since! A number of review samples have crossed my desk, and more than a few personal purchases too, but it’s overall been a period of tremendous consolidation for me. In short: more out than in The last … Continue reading Cutting the collection in half: January 2021
Three mini-reviews in one: Fine Writing Fenestro Kuroshio, Montegrappa Monte Grappa, Cross Sauvage
Sometimes I don't see myself writing a full review of a pen, but I have some things I want to say about it. So here you go: three reviews in one. Fine Writing Fenestro Kuroshio I bought this pen from Write Here. You can get it here, for a hair under £95. What's good about … Continue reading Three mini-reviews in one: Fine Writing Fenestro Kuroshio, Montegrappa Monte Grappa, Cross Sauvage
How to read a pen review
Why do you read pen reviews? Is it a form of entertainment, enjoying the words and pictures? A learning exercise on your journey to better understand the world of fountain pens? Is it a way to keep up with new pen releases that you might not have seen, and might want to put on your … Continue reading How to read a pen review
