The Late Late London Spring Pen Show (via Dapprman). I’m getting geared up for the D.C. Pen Show this coming weekend, and it’s been fun reading reviews of other pen shows that are happening. (Honestly, I like the look of a truly “distanced” pen show rather than the somewhat claustrophobic situation that tends to prevail at U.S. shows.)
Pen Shows Are Back, and Better Than Ever (via UK Fountain Pens). Another great report from the London Pen Show, and again, I love the look of the new setup. I hope D.C. will be similar.
How to Pen Show (via Inkdependence). A timely video from Mike, who will be in attendance in D.C. as well! I can't tell you how much I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again.
Saying Goodbye to The Pen Addict (via Pen Addict). Congratulations to Susan and best of luck in your new endeavor! I hope this isn't goodbye forever, and that Susan will still occasionally share her thoughts and excellent reviews!
Shibui Kibo Urushi Enamelled Copper Pen (via Dapprman). The finish on this pen looks gorgeous, and Ruth Bolton is an urushi artist to keep an eye on.
Taccia The Jeans Collection Classic Wash (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I’ve never really understood how Taccia develops their various ink lines. Sure, they make great inks, but the “Jeans” collection is kind of quirky.
Obligatory Mechanical Keyboard Post (via Penquisition). The mechanical keyboard hobby is something that interests me, but I’ve never jumped in wholesale, such as building my own keyboard like Evan does. I have two (one at home and one at the office) that I’ve been using for years, and I keep going back to Cherry MX Green as my switch of choice. (Stiff and Clicky!)
Dingbats Notebook Review (via Writing at Large). I’m glad to see that Dingbats is still making notebooks. Their paper is quite fountain pen friendly and the vegan covers quite durable.
Looking Back at Old Flames, with Ever Widening Eyes (via UK Fountain Pens). You may have noticed that I’m selling off a ton of inks and paper, and I haven't figured out how I’m going to reduce my pen count. I’m struggling with it to avoid later regrets.
Birmingham Pens Everlasting Inks (via Mountain of Ink). I love these colors, but permanent inks tend to feather and bleed a lot for me. I have a bottle of “Compost” in for review and will see how it works out.
In Case You Missed It…
This week I published the third installment of my “All the Inks” series, in which I swab my “mini collections” of ink in their entirety. Purple inks were up next, and it was interesting to see that I wasn’t as attached to many of the super-popular “cult” purples as I thought I would be. I let a lot of them go. I also wrote a short piece highlighting the new Caran d’Ache x Nespresso collaborations, which are available in the store. I love this annual release - I grab one of each installment for my personal collection. Finally, this week’s Deals & Drops highlighted the new TWSBI Swipe and more!
Pre-D.C. Pen Show Inventory Updates - Sunderland, TWSBI, and the More Regular Launch of T.G.S. Gently Used/Vintage!
I will be bringing all remaining Sunderland x T.G.S. mk1 collaboration pens to the D.C. Pen Show with me, so if you are NOT attending the show, and want to get one in the near term, I would recommend purchasing this week. As I noted, I have the new TWSBI Swipe in stock, all of the TWSBI inks (including the smaller bottles of colored inks), and the full range of Caran d’Ache x Nespresso pencils. Finally, I’ve launched the T.G.S “Gently Used” page, where I will be selling some items from my personal collection, as well as some vintage items - namely vintage pencils - that I’ve stockpiled over the years.
Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!
For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live and features the inks that I’m selling off as I thin out my personal accumulation.