I want to have an Instagrammable desk, I really do. Quirky objets d'art. Small pot plants, maybe a cactus. A steaming cup of green tea. Casually brilliant planner spreads. The kind of space that's perfect for a flat-lay pocket dump. Zoom out, pan back: a city view with perfect sunlight streaming through gossamer blinds. An … Continue reading My desk is not nice enough to do justice to the Galen desk pad
reviews
Is a Sailor Special Nib worth it? Hands on with the Naginata Cross Concord
Sailor's so-called Special Nibs -- ranging from the subtle Naginata-Togi to the absurd King Eagle -- have a storied history. They were unavailable for a few years, and relaunched just a couple of years ago with much higher prices and a new pen body format. Only recently has it been possible to buy one online; … Continue reading Is a Sailor Special Nib worth it? Hands on with the Naginata Cross Concord
Karas Ink V2 Pony Express: the weight of progress
I had a short phase of liking brass and copper pens. Then I decided that the metallic smell was too annoying and stopped using them. So why is there a bronze pen here on my desk? You could call it impatience, or curiosity. Let me explain. Over a year ago I got myself a Karas … Continue reading Karas Ink V2 Pony Express: the weight of progress
Quick review: Franklin-Christoph Model 20 in vintage green with Masuyama Needlepoint
This is not my first Franklin-Christoph and I doubt it will be my last. My favourite model for sheer comfort is the 02, but I thought I'd give the Model 20 a try and I'm glad I did. The 20 is a simple acrylic pen that takes a #6 JoWo nib. Its standout feature is … Continue reading Quick review: Franklin-Christoph Model 20 in vintage green with Masuyama Needlepoint
Pilot takes the Vanishing Point to the next level
I have a thing for retractable fountain pens, like the Montblanc 1912 and the Lamy Dialog 3 (and yes, the new Curidas). But the king of them all in the market is the Pilot Vanishing Point. I have tried a few Vanishing Points (or 'Capless') over the years. The current 'normal' Vanishing Point first. Then … Continue reading Pilot takes the Vanishing Point to the next level
Scribo? “Feel the writing” is spot on
Do you like Italian pens? Do you like flex? Do you like piston fillers? Do you like being a little bit... unconventional? Then boy, do I have a treat for you. Read on as I explore the Scribo 3... Third time's the charm?The Scribo 3 is the third release of Italian brand Scrittura Bolognese's collaboration … Continue reading Scribo? “Feel the writing” is spot on
The Montblanc M as product design thought experiment
You ever had a situation where you knew you were making a really stupid decision, but you did it anyway out of fatalism, or curiosity? Well, that's me with buying the Montblanc M. This is not some never-before-seen pen, bought as a brave experiment to satisfy your curiosity, dear reader. The M has been out … Continue reading The Montblanc M as product design thought experiment
Diving in to the world of Ferris Wheel Press
I'm a closet (graphic) design lover. I will stop in the street to admire a carefully chosen colour palette, and I mentally applaud when I see evidence of good typography practices in an advert or on packaging. So Canadian brand Ferris Wheel Press is kinda like catnip to me. As they'll proudly tell you, they … Continue reading Diving in to the world of Ferris Wheel Press
Introducing Eureka fountain pens from South Korea
Eureka Pens is a one-man-band run by a guy called Dovidu from South Korea. He posted up a thread on FPN a couple of months back introducing two entirely new fountain pen designs, fabricated entirely in-house except for the ink converters. The specs were interesting and Dovidu made bold claims about the quality and design … Continue reading Introducing Eureka fountain pens from South Korea
A survivor of a more refined age: the Waterman Carene
The Carene and I have passed like ships in the night a few times over the years — which is ironic, because it's a pen designed to evoke the curves of a speedboat, and the word itself means 'hull' in French. I dismissed the Carene for a few reasons. Sometimes I lumped Waterman in with … Continue reading A survivor of a more refined age: the Waterman Carene
