Dispatches from the Archives (via A Gathering of Curiosities). I’ve been avidly following this series of posts. To be in this sort of situation and not have access to my pens…. well, at least I’m a pencil person as well!
Lamy Dark Lilac 2024 vs. The Original Dark Lilac 2016 (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Kimberly has an excellent comparison of the two inks - yes, they’re different yet still similar at the same time - and her observations line up with my own.
BWIPS 2024 (via Rachel’s Reflections). As a longtime Baltimore Show attendee, Rachel writes great recaps and has excellent observations on this particular show. I’m glad to hear the “off” feeling from last year wasn’t an issue this year, and I’m looking forward to returning next year as my schedule allows.
Clicky Pens: Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen Vintage and New (via A Fleeting Ripple). I look forward to reading the rest of this forthcoming series!
A Quality Fountain Pen for $35? The Asvine P80 (via Figboot on Pens). Of all the lower-priced fountain pens available on the market, Asvine might be the best. These pens are decently made and fairly reliable, though I haven’t had mine for long.
Leaving a “Later Space” for Brainstorming Medium and Long-Term To-Dos (via mnmlscholar). More discussions of analog planning techniques in a variation of traditional bullet journaling.
Quick Look: Good Made Better Penwell Classic (via The Poor Penman). The Penwell is the ultimate “enthusiast’s accessory” - the number of people who truly need one is relatively small, but those who love and use them never go without!
Kaweco ART Sport in Pebble Blue Acrylic Review (via Pen Addict - Jeff). I agree with everything Jeff has said about this model, especially about how the integrated clip being a nice addition. The only quibble I have is that the Terrazzo is clearly the best material, right?
Taking It Slowly (via From the Pen Cup). Mary discusses her latest reading project, which is a wonderful idea if you’re looking to tackle long, difficult books.
Bouncing Back to Gel Pens (via Pete Denison). This article touches on something that I’m also feeling strongly - the enthusiast community often marches everyone down the fountain pen rabbit hole, to the exclusion of all the other wonderfully fulfilling, well-made products out there (including some excellent gel pens).
“The Only Thing Constant in Life is Change” (via Well-Appointed Desk). Another observant take on the Dark Lilac “controversy”, and a reminder to enjoy these inks for what they are while we have them (along with everything else).
Rubato Fountain Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). While maybe not exactly my personal style, this is EXACTLY the type of thing that I love discovering at pen shows - new creators!
In Case You Missed It….
This week on the blog I chronicled my own adventures outside the fountain pen universe, since I’ve been on the road and am now enjoying a mostly restful week at home before I take off for the Arkansas Pen Show on Thursday afternoon! I reviewed the Uni Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch Mechanical Pencil, a super comfortable .5mm mechanical pencil featuring Uni’s Kuru Toga rotating “engine” plus the ability to turn the rotation mechanism on and off. I also wrote a piece discussing how line width compares across various types of non-fountain pens, including ballpoints, gel pens, and mechanical pencils. One is probably not exactly the same as the other, as liquid or gel ink pens might write a broader line than their designation.
This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop
After a week on the road most of my effort went into getting caught up on shipping and listing all of the new arrivals that hit the shop while I was out. The biggest news was the arrival of Blackwing in the Curated Shop! I’ve been talking to Blackwing for years about bringing in the brand, and at last the timing is right. Check out the full range of Blackwing pencils, sharpeners, and accessories, as well as the excellent “Illegal Pads” writing pads.
Among other things, we now carry a broader range of clutch pencils capable of holding 5.5-5.6mm leads (both graphite and highlighter), as well as the Kakimori dip nibs. In addition to the Kaweco Clutch Pencils, we have clutch pencils from another German manufacturer, E+M, which come in a wide range of wood finishes. We also received an additional shipment of AL-Star Pens from Lamy (including the Azure, Cosmic, and Whitesilver finishes), and now have the 2024 Safari Ballpoints available in both Pink Cliff and Violet Blackberry.
Support us on patreon and get access to our monthly meetup and extra content!
If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), there are several ways that you can support us. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which also includes early access to quarterly gently used sales. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. Patreon supporters also get access to any pen show-exclusive specials and promotions, such as that offered to course attendees this weekend.
No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!