Since I found myself getting into fountain pens, I've never really used black inks. Grey inks, sure: a good grey can be as expressive as any other colour, ranging from a clean crisp silver to the colour of 2B pencil, and with an infinity of tints, from almost lavender purple, to murky fog-brown. But the … Continue reading Finding joy in black ink
experiences
So mechanical keyboards is now an acceptable crossover for a pen blog, eh?
I've mentioned a couple of times in previous posts that, as well as loving pens, I've been variously smitten with typewriters and, more practically, mechanical keyboards. And now Jeff posts at the Pen Addict about his journey into keebs, which I'm taking as permission to tell you all about my dalliance with the digital side … Continue reading So mechanical keyboards is now an acceptable crossover for a pen blog, eh?
It’s not you, it’s me
Update: I've added to my for sale page as I start to wind down. Time for contemplationI'm just coming up to the third full year writing UK Fountain Pens. I started the blog because I had things I wanted to say about stationery and my journey through it, and all the things I was learning. … Continue reading It’s not you, it’s me
So much for my global shopping?
Warning: rant ahead. I love this worldwide community of stationery that we live in. WordPress tells me that this blog is read in more than 150 countries (shout out to Vatican City), and I'm just as excited to discover an inspiring new maker, whether they live here in the UK or in some farflung part … Continue reading So much for my global shopping?
Sometimes what’s good for you feels bad
In case you missed it, I'm selling some pens again. A garage full of supercars — which Ferrari would you sell? I've long since passed the point of selling the pens I've bought but don't get on with (although there are always a few of those); I'm mostly selling pens I really enjoy, that write … Continue reading Sometimes what’s good for you feels bad
True grails
I love the term "grail pen". It conjures such great mental images of cathedrals and warm-glowing gold, of Indiana Jones on a quest, of the ultimate sacrifice for eternal salvation. A Lamy 2000 doesn't quite measure up, does it? Depending on your financial means, a Lamy 2000 may be your ever-out-of-reach ideal pen — but … Continue reading True grails
Should I have stopped buying pens in November 2016? Thoughts on the Lamy 2000 Bauhaus
In November 2016 I bought a Lamy 2000, with medium nib, on sale at WH Smith. I think it cost me £90, which seemed like a lot at the time. That pen is still with me today. It has seen heavy use, although less now that I have 30 other pens -- some ten times … Continue reading Should I have stopped buying pens in November 2016? Thoughts on the Lamy 2000 Bauhaus
“Oh, they don’t count”
I have a guilty secret. I have even more pens in my collection than I show in my SotC posts. First are the cheap pens that I've foisted on my eldest daughter. A slew of TWSBI Ecos in beautiful colours that I keep wanting to write with. A Kaweco Perkeo. Kaco Retro. Muji aluminium. Lamy … Continue reading “Oh, they don’t count”
Franklin-Christoph makes me happy on a Friday
On Wednesday evening Franklin-Christoph sent me an email announcing the beta test of its new Shopify-based website. I quickly take a look on my phone and see a short run of the Pocket 66 model in solid ice. Since I'd been mulling ordering another F-C pen anyway, and the Pocket 66 is no longer a … Continue reading Franklin-Christoph makes me happy on a Friday
Why (and how) I just sold 70 bottles of ink
I've said it before that ink accumulation is a much bigger problem (at least for me) than accumulating pens. Ink is cheap (ish), so it hardly seems worth selling individual bottles. It's heavy and fragile, so it's a pain to post. And when you use an ink, you're actually consuming it — a used pen … Continue reading Why (and how) I just sold 70 bottles of ink
