It’s taken me almost a week to recover from the Atlanta Pen Show.  I was so busy working behind the Vanness Pens table, I forgot to take photos but luckily, everyone else took tons.

During the day Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I sold ink, pens and paper with Lisa Vanness and Christa at the Vanness Pen table in “the Cool Kids room” as Brad and Myke deemed it near the Karas table, Carolina Pens and the ink testing station. In the evenings, we spent time sharing pens, eating and drinking. Friday night was a cookout by the pool for vendors and 3-day pass holders so we spent time outside until it was so dark we were looking at pens and ink by the light of our phones.

Saturday night was the recording of the Pen Addict podcast in front of a live studio audience. It was nerve-wracking but not as stressful as last year. I thought I was going to pass out last year. Luckily, there were other guests to interview this year; Vito from Story Supply Co. and Jonathan from Carolina Pen Co. so I really didn’t have to talk much. I just sat around, easy peasy.

By Sunday, we were all getting tired and the weather got cold and rainy which made the show pretty slow. It was disappointing for the vendors and everyone started packing up early and had to load up in the rain.

As always, the best part of any pen show are the people you meet and get to spend time with.

But, of course, the pen love was strong!

New additions to my Skripsert collection.

And I wasn’t the only one who fell for the Sheaffer Skripserts!

And there was lots of enthusiasm for the Col-o-ring Ink Testing Books too!

Of course, the Pen Addict podcast recording in front of a love audience was both a highlight and a moment of sheer terror. Do we look nervous?

There were some pretty scary coloring pages left at the ink testing station too.

So, if you’re in the Midwest, I hope you’ll be coming to the Chicago Pen Show this weekend. We’ve been madly making more Col-o-ring books to bring to the show. Once again, I’ll be at the Vanness Pens booth. This time, it will be Lisa, Matt Armstrong of the Pen Habit and I and we’ll be right next to Brad and Nock Co. so it’ll still be the “cool kids,” right?

The show is way out in the northwest suburbs but, trust me, it is totally worth the trip. Its near a great big Target too so you can get a toothbrush and TP while you’re schlepping to the suburbs. No sense in paying those toll and not get your money’s worth. If you’re coming in from Wisconsin, Michigan or Iowa, the hotel is not far from an Ikea so add that to your agenda and leave a little space in the car for pens and some build-it-yourself bookshelves.

Looking forward to another great pen show weekend even though the forecast is predicting another rainy one! We are made of tougher stuff than that, right? Italian beef will make us strong! If not, I’ll pack the Malort.

Baron Fig has become a product releasing machine. Metamorphosis ($20 for individual purchase or $74 per year for quarterly subscription) is the second release in 2017 in the subscription series for the Confidant. This time, they are making fewer waves than they did with the Askew, which ruffled quite a few feathers.

The Metamorphosis treads more familiar Baron Fig territory with a peach book cloth cover and cobalt blue end papers and cotton ribbon book mark. The design message with the Metamorphosis is comes from a quote by Van Gogh, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

The colors are striking. Springy peach on the outside and shockingly vivid on the inside. The graphics are as sleek and clean as any edition previously. Tasteful and understated. Kudos to the design team.

Inside the on the right side is a space for name or a title or a doodle.

I love the bubble graphics. The germination of an idea… or is it the filtration of particles? Your call.

On the inside of the back cover, the trays are blank. I love the boxes that Baron Fig uses. They are sturdy and are endlessly reusable.

The ribbon bookmark matches the cobalt blue exactly. Quite the design feat. I just wish Baron Fig would make their ribbon bookmarks a little longer.

The dot grid remains the same as previous books and the paper is good quality and fountain pen friendly and well as friendly to a lot of other pens and pencils. Baron Fig is really doing simple and well-designed notebooks right.

So, all in all, the Metamorphosis notebook is a winner.  So, I’d like to pick a winner.

THE RULES: In the spirit of Metamorphosis, what would you like to bloom, change or grow this spring? Are you working on a new project? Training for a race? Watching your garden grow? Watching your new baby grow? Growing out your hair? Leave a comment below on what you want to metamorphosize below to be entered to win this (one) Baron Fig Metamorphsis dot grid notebook.

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Monday, May 8, 2017. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Tuesday. Winner will be selected by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include your email address in the comment form (not in the comment itself) so that I can contact you if you win. I will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. If winner does not respond within 30 days, I will draw a new giveaway winner. Shipping via USPS first class is covered. Additional shipping options or insurance will have to be paid by the winner. We are generous but we’re not made of money. US and APO residents only.

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Baron Fig for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

I borrowed another photo from Franz Dimson of Hand Over That Pen who takes amazing photos! This was another Atlanta “After Hours” pen swap shot. I was sitting at the bar trying out the Sailor King Eagle.

Pens:

• The Beginner’s Guide to Fountain Pens (via JetPens Blog)
• Kaweco’s Perkeo (via Bleistift)
• Fancy Ballpoint Pens – Sailor’s 1911 and Pro Gear (via Clicky Post)
• The Tiffany & Co. Atlas by Pelikan (via The Pelikan’s Perch)
• Video: Sheaffer Legacy 2 (via My Coffeepot)
• WinkPens Glass Nib Pen (via Gourmet Pens)

Ink:

• Original Sailor Jentle Inks Coming Back (via Wonder Pens)
• Montblanc UNICEF Blue (via Squishy Ink)
• Diamine Safari (via Alt. Haven)
• Bungubox Imperial Purple (via Squishy Ink)
• Noodlers Upper Ganges (via Pen Chalet Blog)
• Rohrer & Klingner Morinda (via Write to Me Often)
• Robert Oster Peppermint (via Squishy Ink)

Pencils:

• Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Pencil Tin Set (via Pen Addict)

Paper and Notebooks:

• Punch-drunk and paper-happy (featuring William Hannah and Filofax notebooks) (via Leigh Reyes: My Life as a Verb)
• Why Keep a Notebook int he Digital Age (via Rhodia Drive)
• New Darkstar Collection Notebooks (via Paper Pens Ink)
• Experiment 16: Upgrading Ink Tests With the Col-o-ring (via Inkpothesis)

Other Interesting Things:

• London Stationery Show report (via United Inkdom)
• Atlanta Pen Show Recap (via Reverenced Writing)
• Letter Writing Failures and Thoughts about Fake Hoildays (via CW Pencils Blog)
• Atlanta Pen Show Haul Mini Reviews (via My Pen Needs Ink)
• Total Eclipse of the Sun to be commemorated on a Forever Stamp (via USPS.com)
• Trip Prep and Paint Pots (via Laurelines)
• Travel Bag Dump: Colored Pencil Refresh (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)

In honor of May The Fourth Be With You (AKA Star Wars Day) and a tribute to Carrie Fisher, I thought I’d do Fashionable Friday early this week and focus on my favorite theme: Star Wars. Pens inspired by C3P0 and Dark Vader, pencil cases designed to look like my favorite droid R2-D2 and some accessories that are rebel-centric. Of course, you can always embrace your Dark Side, I’ve heard they have cookies.

• Star Wars enamel pin – Fly Casual Han Solo Quote $10 (via RatherKeen on Etsy)
• Star Wars enamel pin – We’re Doomed C-3PO Quote $10 (via RatherKeen on Etsy)
• The Princess Diarist (via Amazon)
• L’Artisan Pastellier Callifolio Heure Dorée Ink (40 ml Bottle) $12 (via JetPens)
• Star Wars Episode 7 Funko Pop – Rey $6.38 (via Amazon)
• Kaweco Special Brass fountain pen € 95
  (€78,51 Outside EU) (via Fontoplumo)
• PIUMA Minimal Fountain Pen in Black Aluminum $79 (via Ensso)
• Inkaren Corner Ring Bound Notebook in Black unlined (also available in lined with dark green cover and grid with gray cover) $16 (via Fresh Stock Japan)
• Loungefly x Star Wars R2-D2 Faux Leather Pencil Bag $18 (via Loungefly)
• BB-8 necklace $17.97 (via Etsy)
• itty bittys Star Wars Admiral Ackbar $6.95 (via Hallmark.com)
• MT Big Black Dot & Stripe Washi Tape $3.50 per roll (via CuteTape)
• Star Wars Rebel Alliance Luggage Tag $9.95 (via Hallmark.com)
• Sailor Pro Gear Fountain Pen – Imperial Black, Broad Nib $472 (via Anderson Pens)

Review by Laura Cameron

I’m new around here, but I have a confession to make: I might be addicted to pens.

I’ve been around pen enthusiasts for years. My father can always be found with a pen in his shirt pocket and, more often than not, it’s a fountain pen with a fine nib and peacock blue ink.  When I moved to Kansas City almost a decade ago, Ana and I met through other shared interests (knitting and tea), but it wasn’t long before I was a regular reader of the Well-Appointed Desk.

Almost two years ago now, I had a taste of my first gateway drug: a Retro 51 Tornado Rollerball. It was pink and I was in love. It wrote so smoothly, and I loved the weight of the metal pen in my hand. It wasn’t long before another Retro came to live in my house. This time it was the Retro Tornado Limited Edition Twinkle.  I saw it and I had to have one.

It took a little longer for me to move onto the “hard stuff.” I’m a left-hander and all I remembered from trying fountain pens as a kid was that I smeared the ink all over my hands and I thought fountain pens were fussy.  

But in late 2016, while listening to the Pen Addict and idly browsing Pen Chalet, I found a deal that was too good to pass up. I ordered a Lamy Safari in Dark Lilac and a box of the Dark Lilac Ink to match. 

And I hated it. I feel bad even saying that, but it just wasn’t a good match for me. I really disliked the angled (molded) grip the most, but I also didn’t how lightweight it felt. I used it halfheartedly for a few weeks and then sold it to what I hope was its forever home.

I mulled my options over. And then I went back to my favorite dealer and ordered something I hoped I would truly love: a Retro Tornado Medium Nib in Black Cherry. It arrived and I took a few weeks to load it with ink, afraid that I’d be let down once again. I don’t even think I told Ana I was experimenting with pens and inks. Eventually, I loaded it with a black cartridge and played a little bit. The feel was SO much better. I really wanted the weight of a metal pen in my hand, and a smooth grip really pleased me. The medium nib let the ink flow beautifully.

Then I saw several reviews of Robert Oster’s Fire & Ice and I wanted that particular ink so badly. I had to wait until it was back in stock, but finally it was mine. And it was a perfect match. I’ve been trying other pens lately, contemplating additional purchases, but I still go back to the Tornado most of the time. I just can’t beat the “high” of the right pen and ink.

A few weeks ago Ana generously lent me a few other pens to try out. One was a Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Turquoise with a fine nib. I immediately gravitated towards this one because it was more of what I liked: a metal body that had some weight to it, a round smooth grip, and a nib that let ink flow smoothly. Another confession: within a few days of testing Ana’s out, I had ordered a green one for myself.

The second pen I had been jonesing for was a TWSBI Eco. This one was obviously a little different in terms of materials and style than what I knew I liked, but I was fascinated by the clear model where you could just twist it to load the ink. I dithered about purchasing one until Ana offered me hers to try.  At first I wasn’t sure about it. The TWSBI is a bigger pen than either the Retro or the Pilot, and of course it’s a plastic body.  But I used it for a few days and it grew on me so I expect one to come live with me soon. Ana’s TWSBI Eco has a fine nib and that was probably the least pleasant nib I tested. I found it to feel kind of scratchy on paper, so I’m looking forward to trying one with a medium nib to see if that feels better.

The final pen that I wanted to play with was a freebie that I received from Goldspot with my first order. It was a Jinhao 599A Orange Demonstrator pen. It didn’t have any of my preferred options (it’s plastic, it has an angled [molded] grip, etc.) but I eagerly inked it up with a sample ink and wanted to test it.  However, I was really disappointed because it leaked everywhere. I think the seal between the feed and the barrel was defective because I kept ending up with ink blobs on my page every time I pulled it out. Since it was a freebie I have to admit I chucked it.

I’ve enjoyed a lot of things about this new addiction of mine. First of all, there are some really lovely pen people who have a lot of knowledge and are generous about sharing that knowledge. I have added quite a few blogs and Instagram feeds to my daily routine, and I’ve also found some great stores to work with. All of the pens that I’ve spoken about above are available for less than $50, which I consider to be a reasonable starting fee. The Pilot Metropolitan is a steal at under $15 (via Jetpens) and looks and feels fun to boot. I’ve really enjoyed learning about what features I like the most and I’ve also enjoyed spending the time with analog tools. I spend so much of my day typing, that it’s nice to get back to writing with nice pens and ink. I’ve also noticed my writing style change. In the last several years I’ve developed a very heavy hand. I grip my pen fairly hard, and I tend to press down hard on paper when writing. I don’t know that I was aware I was doing it, except now I’m lighter and easier with a fountain pen, I am happier with the results.

So, I guess the only question is what’s my next pen?

(Editors Note: Today is Laura’s birthday and her first post here on The Well-Appointed Desk so please leave her lots of nice comments and a birthday wish or two, okay?)

Laura Cameron is a tech editor, podcaster, knitter, spinner and recent pen addict. You can learn more about her knitting and tea adventures on her website, The Corner of Knit & Tea and can find her on Instagram as Fluffykira.

Congrats to:

our winner of the Baron Fig Confidant Metamorphosis! I’ve contacted Mark via email so he can get started on his commonplace book in his new Metamporphosis this week, should he so choose.

I got home from Chicago last night so timely posts should resume tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy this photo of me with Matt from The Pen Habit and Brad from Pen Addict. The one moment the three of us actually stood still all weekend during the pen show. We worked our butts off but we had a great time, sold lots of ink, pens and pen cases and met lots of great people and probably ate and drank a bit too much. More soon!

Col-o-Ring News!

• Experiment 16: Upgrading Ink Tests With the Col-o-ring (via Inkpothesis)
• Mr. Paper! Col-o-ring! (via Anderson Pens Blog)
• An Inky Giveaway! (via Hand Over That Pen)

Pens:

• M800 Royal Gold Raden (via The Pelikan’s Perch)
• Retro 51 Rollerball Classic Desk Set in Turquoise (via Clicky Post)
• Montegrappa Game of Thrones (via Inkdependence)
• Lamy Safari 2017 Petrol Fountain Pen (via Gourmet Pens)
• Video: Time for a Bath — Cleaning my Pens (via Pen Habit)
• Baron Fig Squire Rollerball Pens & Confidant Notebook (via Gourmet Pens)
• Lingmo Lorelei LM-2016 Fountain Pen (via Alt. Haven)
• Benu Purple Night Silver Fountain Pen (via Pen Addict)

Ink:

• KWZ Inks Meta-review (via United Inkdom)
• P.W. Akkerman Dutch Masters Gele Oker van Frans (via Gourmet Pens)
• Peppermint – Robert Oster Signature Ink (via Fountain Pen Inks & Bleach)
• Private Reserve Arabian Rose (via Alt. Haven)
• Robert Oster Signature Grün-Schwarz (via Alt. Haven)
• Diamine Cocoa Shimmer (via My Pen Needs Ink)
• Chicago Pen Show Exclusives from Papier Plume! (via Inkdependence)
• Callifolio Bleu Pacifique (via Pen Addict)
• Levenger Shiraz (via Write to Me Often)
• Kyo-Iro Stone Road of Gion (via The Pencilcase Blog)
• Video: Sailor Ultra Marine (via Anderson Pens Blog)
• Lamy Petrol Bottled Ink + Cartridges (via Wonder Pens Blog)
• Robert Oster Australian Opal Mauve (via Pen Chalet Blog)
• Monteverde Napa Burgundy (via Pen Chalet Blog)
• Fire and Ice – Robert Oster Signature Ink (via Fountain Pen Inks & Bleach)
• Robert Oster Signature Ink Fire & Ice (via Pen Chalet Blog)
• Video: Montblanc UNICEF Blue (via Anderson Pens Blog)

Pencils:

• Mysterious Mono 100s (via Bleistift)
• A custom Pentel Kerry pencil and a surprise from Clairefontaine (via Pencil Talk)

Paper & Notebooks:

• 8 of the best notebooks for fountain pen users (via Pocket Notebooks)
• Who knew there was so much crap in my head? (via From The Pen Cup)
• An Additional Bullet Symbol for your Bullet Journal (via Tiny Ray of Sunshine)
• My first official Hobonichi cover (via Bleistift)
• Notes on Utility Field Notes (via Pens and Junk)
• Field Notes + Bellroy Everyday Inspiration Cover (via Pen Addict)
• New Nock Co DotDash Notecards – Gigante and Petite (via Clicky Post)

Other Interesting Things:

• Notes to Self: Create More (via Seaweed Kisses)
• Calligraphy Tips: Solving Common Problems (via JetPens Blog)
• WIP: Gelli Printing on Tomoe River Paper + process video! (via Contemplations of a Kitty/Miss Thundercat)
• Experiment 17: The Chicago Pen Show & The Meaning of Pens (via Inkpothesis)
• 2017 Seoul Pen Show (Spring) (via Inklode)

On Monday afternoon, the pen community received devastating news that Susan Wirth, the Godmother of Pen Shows, Queen of Ink, and someone I like to think of as a friend, passed away.

My “word of the day” today was “moxie” and it couldn’t be a more appropriate word to remember Susan because she had it in spades. Courage, nerve, pep and know-how… that’s how the word moxie is defined and it’s exactly how I would describe Susan Wirth. She had a wealth of knowledge about fountain pens that she was willing to share and fearless courage and energy that put people half her age to shame.

She held court on Sunday in Chicago with all the verve and passion that we all remember her having so I am glad to know that she did not suffer long and that her last days were happy, doing what she loved, surrounded by people that “got her” and sharing her knowledge and passions.

According to announcements on the Pen Addict Announcements, there will be a family service in Milwaukee next week. An obituary will published on Sunday in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

There will be a pen show memorial at the DC pen show in August this year. More details will become available as the event comes closer.

I’d like to collect images, stories or anecdotes to put together a book to share in DC. If you have photos or a story you’d like to contribute, please email them to me at chair@wellappointeddesk.com. I’d be most grateful.

In Sad News:

Susan Wirth’s obituary can be found in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Janesville Press-Gazette.

I am continuing to receive photos and stories for the book I’m putting together. If you’d like to contribute, please email me. Details in the previous post.

In Other Sad News:

Dan Smith’s pen case was stolen in Chicago. There is information regarding the serial numbers and individual items in the Instagram photos and link below. If you see any of the pens listed for sale on eBay or any of the online boards, please notify Dan.

In Good News:

I’ll end with some good news because we need something uplifting this week, don’t we?

Col-o-ring Ink Testing books are being used by folks all over the world in new and exciting ways. Leigh Reyes is dipping the ends of the cards in her ink bottles for a great look and a quick way to sample her inks.

Col-o-rings are back in stock in my Big Cartel shop as well as being stocked in many of your favorite locations like:

• Anderson Pens
• Vanness Pens
• Wonder Pens (Canada)

and coming soon to:

• Cult Pens (UK)
• Notemaker (Australia)
• Pen Classics (New Zealand)

So, folks overseas will finally have some options to get Col-o-rings outside the US! More European and US vendors are coming on board soon too so stay tuned!

Col-o-rings will also be available at the D.C. and San Francisco Pen Shows for sure, more details to follow as the shows get closer.

The May ArtSnacks subscription box was my turn to review a box since Tina is traveling the Italian countryside. This box was probably a bit more to my taste than hers anyway so it probably all worked out. Acrylic paint isn’t exactly urban sketch-friendly.

This month featured a tube of Liquitex heavy body acrylic paint in Muted Pink. I fell in love with the limited edition inks that Liquitex did last year in the muted colors so I can see why they decided to try the formula with their acrylic paints.

I’m more inclined to mix colors with paints and I like fluid acrylics better than heavy body, especially for everyday use but I can see the appeal. And it’s pretty easy to thin these heavy body paints down with water or mediums into a thinner glaze for more mileage. Besides, the tube fits into the classic ArtSnacks box a lot easier than a Liquitex liquid acrylic bottle. I got the color Muted Pink which is very “dried blood” color or if you are more inclined “brick red”.

Also in the box were these wax-based watercolor crayons from Marabu. They are creamy with the consistency of lipstick. They can be blended with your fingers or with water. They are not as water-soluble as higher end Caran d’Ache Neocolor II crayons but the twist-up plastic housing, cap and rubber grip make them considerably more travel-friendly and comfortable.

What I didn’t know is that the Marabu watercolor crayons are remarkable similar to the Faber-Castell Gelato crayons. I’ve never used the Gelatos but these come in tubes that look just like lip balm and behave very similarly. According to artist and Art Supply Posse pal Kathy Weller (YouTube video review and comparison), the Gelatos and Marabu crayons work well together so if you already use Gelatos, the Marabu crayons are a great add-on.

I received a turquoise and light grey color. The light grey is slightly more opaque than the turquoise. It took me awhile to figure out what to do with these since I tend to work pretty small and they are pretty blunt. While the colors I received were not the most vivid there are some other much brighter colors.

Then there’s The Masters Brush Cleaner in a little mini container. EVERYONE should one of these. Make that TWELVE of these. Think of them like lip balm. They should be wherever you keep a paintbrush. I keep a big tub on my bathroom sink. That’s how I don’t contaminate all those ink samples? And those white taklon brushes, like the one that shipped in this subscription box? The minute it touched the Muted Pink paint is was stained but a couple of swooshes in Master’s brush cleaner and it was white again.

I’ve gotten hardened glue off brushes before and hardened acrylic paint! I don’t know what sort of witchcraft General’s employs in this cake of lemony-scented goodness but my brushes are soft and clean after a few swirls and soaks.

The only thing I was a bit disappointed about was the paint brush included. I know ArtSnacks wants the kit to create a complete package so that someone can use the materials included — if they send paint, you get a brush so you can start painting. And I know that each box gets a random brush from the company’s array from a particular line — some people got rounds, some got flats, some got blenders, etc. I got a little tiny, wispy brush which could neither support the acrylic paint nor load enough water to move the crayon. I’m sure I was the odd person out.

Last month, with the M. Graham watercolors I got a ginormous 3/4″ house painting brush. Everyone needs these brushes on the ends of the spectrum but since these boxes are often introducing folks new to the brands or to these products, these extremes are probably not the best options to get started with. And not everyone attempts to do the ArtSnacks challenges either.

So, on that note, here is what we made using the contents of the box (plus a few extras):

I decided to use the materials to make collages. I added in other papers, painted papers with the Marabu crayons and acrylic and applied everything into my sketchbook. Additional art materials: glue stick, Plumchester 1.5 pen, 0.5 Sakura Pigma Micron.

Another collage. Had some slight transfer of the Marabu crayon in the adhesive process. Additional materials: White gel pen, Sakura Pigma Micron

Bob got into the challenge as well and tried the Liquitex acrylic paint and Marabu watercolor crayons on black paper to see how opaque they were. The turquoise ended up looking a lot more green on the black and the grey looks almost white.

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by ArtSnacks for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

Post of the Week:

I am touched and flattered that Rhodia took the time to read and respond to my Dot Grid Showdown post. In their reply, they mentioned my biggest complaint which is the ribbon length and said that they are hoping to lengthen it! Joy! They also explained why the dot colors are as dark as they are. And I know for some users, they prefer the color. So, despite my preference for lighter dots, the world has options for a reason. I also discovered, upon opening a different color Leuchtturm 1917 dot grid that not all editions have the same color dots so there may be some consistency issues with how dark the dots print from one volume of Leuchtturm to the other. Whichever notebook you choose, I think all the companies are thoughtful and upstanding and working hard to stand by their products. Thanks, Rhodia for listening to your customers!

• Bullet Journaling Dot-Grid Notebook Comparisons (via Rhodia Drive)

Pens:

• The humble ballpoint pen has become a new symbol of China’s innovation economy — Quartz (via The Cramped)
• Video: Two of My Favorite Fountain Pens (via The Frugal Fountain Pen)
• Namisu Studio (via Inkdependence)
• Where Fountain Pens Are Saved and Sold (via NYTimes)
• Sailor 1911 Black Luster (via Gentleman Stationer)

Inks:

• PW Akkerman Dutch Masters Series – Swatch Test (via Fountain Pens Inks & Bleach)
• Franklin-Christoph Midnight Emerald (via Gourmet Pens)
• Robert Oster Tangerine (via Pen Chalet Blog)
• Monteverde Canyon Rust (via Office Supply Geek)

Pencils:

• On Point (Nice nail polish, Caroline!) (via Flow Magazine)
• Les Crayons de la maison Caran d’Ache, Wooden Pencil Box Edition No. 1 (via Pencil Talk)
• The Point of a Pencil – 5 Reasons I Sharpen With A Knife (via Pencilism)
• A Moment in Pencil History: Japanese Pencil Designations (via C.W. Pencils Blog)

Paper & Notebooks:

• Getting Things Done, Deep Work and Bullet Journals (via Liz Steel)
• Col-o-ring Ink Testing Book (via Pen Addict)
• The Hobonichi Techo as a Bullet Journal (via The Finer Point)
• Leuchtturm1917 A5 Hardbound Notebook (via The Finer Point)
• Baron Fig Vanguard Infinity Edition (via The Finer Point)
• Baron Fig Mastermind and Nomad Sticky Notes (via Gentleman Stationer)
• Rhodia X Marc Jacobs (via Rhodia Drive)
• A Baron Fig Extravaganza! (via All Things Stationery)
• Story Supply Co X CW Pencil Enterprise Pencil Pusher Pocket Staple Notebook (via Comfortable Shoes Studio)
• ‘…back to the roots’ – testing small portable notebooks – Part 4. ‘Back to basics’ (via The Clumsy Penman’s Inkfusion Site)
• How I use notebooks (via Bleistift)
• Video: Mr Paper on Itoya Petite Journal (via Anderson Pens Blog)

Other Interesting Things:

• May Desktop Downloads (via Oh So Beautiful Paper)
• Studio Ink Wallpapers (via Think. Make. Share.)
• RSVP: Stationery Podcast Episode Zero (via RSVP)
• Common Calligraphy Ink Problems + Solutions (via The Postman’s Knock)
• Chicago Pen Show 2017 Journal Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 (via Pen Habit)
• Stationery Shop Map Update 2017 (via All Things Stationery)
• Thermochromic Eclipse Stamp (via Letter Writers Alliance)
• My (Liz Steel) Daniel Smith Dot Card (via Liz Steel)

*Editor’s Note: It appears that The Finer Point‘s RSS feed was out of commission for a few weeks so I’m doubling down on her content this week. If you don’t have Jenny in your favorites already, this would be a good time to add her to your list. She’s been reviewing a lot of notebooks recently and she’s one of my favorite reads.

I’ve been blogging about pens and ink for seven years and this is the first time I’ve tried a Montegrappa ink. Its safe to say, “Its about time!” So, my first bottle is the Montegrappa Violet (50ml $20).

Bottle rating? A+. Those Italians know a thing or two about making things look fabulous. The faceted glass bottle is elegant and classic and the matching facted top with gold coin logo is bellissima! The grippy gear at the bottom makes it possible to open and close the bottle even if your fingers are wet. Engineering points too!

I had fun using Montegrappa Violet as a watercolor. I was able to pull some of the pink out around the edges and get to see exactly how vivid and rich this ink is. Montegrappa Violet is a very saturated ink. In some ways it almost looks indigo its so rich.

In writing, especially with a flex nib, the color is so deep that there is not a lot of shading but it does give a good rich color that is very vibrant. If you are looking for a vibrant color for a fine nib, I think this would be a great option. It flows beautifully. And once dry, it does not move much so while its not a permanent or iron gall ink, it will survive an errant raindrop or drip from your beverage.

I realized that I didn’t have a lot of royal purples in my ink arsenal. Montegrappa Violet and Waterman Tender Purple are pretty similar but Tender Purple has a distinct green/gold sheen. All the other purples and violets in my collection were more reddish and purple and less violet.

While Montegrappa’s inks aren’t a titillating as the hot, sheening inks coming out of Australia or one of the FOMO colors from an itty bitty Japanese stationery shop, these colors are likely to be around for a long time and provide stable quality for a company that prides itself on heritage and craftsmanship.

There are seven colors in the Montegrappa ink line to provide a good assortment of classic colors in classic bottles guaranteed to Montegrappa’s exacting standards.

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Kenro Industries for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

Review by Laura Cameron.

A few months ago I saw that Amazon was having a sale on the Ghost Paper Notebook.  I forwarded the link to Ana, and she let me know she already had one on the way. Of course!

I wasn’t entirely surprised when she put the Ghost in my bag of goodies to try and asked me for a review.

The Ghost Paper Notebook is an A5, 6” x 8” (15.24cm x 20.32cm) notebook that has faintly embossed and debossed lines that you can just barely feel on the pages. In the right light, you can see the lines and use them as guides, but in many lights the pages appear blank.

The notebook itself comes with a faux leather cover in Steel Grey that is soft to the touch and quite flexible.  It has 96 pages and an elastic pen loop and closure. The front and end pages are plain, but provide a clean start and finish to the book.There isn’t a back pocket in this version, but a little birdie told me that there might be in future version. The paper is wood-free and a weight 100lb, which means it is super absorbent and nice and thick. The notebook has a white ribbon bookmark, and the only thing I can find fault with is that it doesn’t seemed to be finished so it might fray with use.

The feature of the Ghost Paper Notebook that I was most intrigued with is the embossed/debossed lines on the paper.

First I tried my Retro 51 Tornado fountain pen with my Robert Oster Fire & Ice ink. While I enjoyed the look of the ink on the paper, there was some bleed through, so I’m not sure this book is best suited to fountain pen inks.

Next I tried my Marvy Le Pens and found that those worked quite a bit better. I also went to my local office supply store and bought a set of Papermate Ink Joy gel pens (0.7mm) and those wrote super smoothly.  I found the paper itself fairly smooth to the touch, but it also felt a little toothy under the pens.

Overall, I think this would make a fun journal, or a place to take daily notes. Its clean lines and simple format lend themselves well to doing anything from writing poetry or prose to making lists or bullet journaling.

The Ghost Paper Notebook retails for $25.00 and is available on Amazon.

Laura is a tech editor, podcaster, knitter, spinner and recent pen addict. You can learn more about her knitting and tea adventures on her website, The Corner of Knit & Tea and can find her on Instagram as Fluffykira.

Did you know that Sailor makes a ballpoint pen that matches the 1911 fountain pen line?  I’m as surprised as you are! At first, I thought, why would I want a fancy-pants ballpoint pen? I’m not one known for being particularly fond of ballpoint pens in general. I am still in therapy after years of gloopy, smudgy budget-priced excuses for ballpoint pens that left smears on my school term papers and on my hand so it takes a lot of convincing for me to even consider a ballpoint pen. Ron at Pen Chalet promised I would love the refill in the Sailor 1911 Ballpoint ($48) so I was willing to take a chance.

Inside the familiar navy blue, spring-loaded Sailor pen box was the ivory colored (listed as white on the web site) ballpoint pen. The pen is a twist mechanism rather than a click or capped design but otherwise looks very similar to the 1911 fountain pen. The clip is the same, the top end has the same rounded shape and the length is comparable. The barrel at the grip is a little bit narrower since its not capped.

The pen is made from the same lightweight resin plastic that the fountain pens use so its light and comfortable. It features gold tone accents.

I was really surprised at how smooth the ballpoint pen was. The ink didn’t gum up or get gloopy like ballpoint pens in the past. After using the pen for awhile, what I realized is that the refill fits snugly in the housing so there is no shimmy when writing. I know this seems like an odd comment to make but its one of the things that I notice most often using disposable ballpoint pens when signing the receipt at a restaurant — the refill in the pen always shakes around a bit in the pen housing. Its never a perfect fit. With a lot of refillable pens, I end up adding extra springs or tape on the refill to try to stabilize the refill but with the Sailor 1911, its a very precise fit.

According to the Monteverde site, the Sheaffer ballpoint refills they make will fit into Sailor pens. By that rationale, Sheaffer refills from any office supply store would also work. Helpful in a pinch however, the point here is that the SAILOR refill is far and away smoother than any other ballpoint refill I’ve used. Monteverde Softroll in Medium in a 2-pack ($8)  are available from Pen Chalet in a variety of colors. They are pretty good refills and if your penmanship is larger than mine (bigger than mosquito script) than these might be a good option. The Monteverde Softroll refills come in purple, brown, turquoise, red and pink to name the more unique ballpoint color options. Monteverde also offers Capless Gel Refills in fine that fit into the Sailor which might meet my exacting standards. A 2-pack of these refills are $8 and are available in black, blue or blue-black. If these options do not replace the original Sailor ballpoint refill, then Amazon can come to your rescue. I found original Sailor fine ballpoint refills listed there.

What hadn’t occurred to me until I was writing my conclusion is that most of the non-fountain pen reviews here have either been disposable pens or machined pens. Occasionally, we talk about Retro 51s but not everybody is interested in that particular aesthetic. And certainly machined pens aren’t to everyone’s taste. So, I’m really glad to add the Sailor 1911 ballpoint into The Well-Appointed Desk pen vault.

The 1911 ballpoint is a lovely upgrade to the everyday pen. The slim barrel is elegant and easy to hold. The only downsides I see with this particular pen is that the light color resin may stain easily if it comes into contact with ink from another pen but this design is available in several other colors — all with gold trim. The somewhat proprietary refill will make it important to stock-up on refills important.

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Pen Chalet for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

KWZ Chicago Blue (60ml, $15)  is an ink color exclusively created for the Chicago Pen Show 2017 but luckily for you, it did not sell out completely. There are still a few bottles left for sale through Vanness Pens. So, even if you weren’t able to make it to the show, you can still feel like you were a part of the event.

The bottle features a watercolor portrait of the skyline and the tagline “exclusively for Chicago Pen Show 2017” so its definitely a collector’s bottle. For those familiar with KWZ ink, it has the signature aroma of lightly menthol-honey that I’ve grown to love when you open the bottle.

Whether you are inclined to associate the color blue with the Chicago Blues music, the Chicago PD (I think more of their black leather jackets there), the color your lips turn on the average February morning (this color may be right on the money there) or the stripes on the city flag (which are actually pale sky blue) – this blue color is the bluest of the blues. It’s practically pure indigo.

We did a few accidental chromographs in Chicago to discover that there was not a hint of red or purple or black in this blue. It’s blue through and through.

Chicago Blue is so dense and dark that it doesn’t shade nor does it have any sheen but its a very rich blue.

I had a tough time finding any other blues quite as vivid. The closest was Noodler’s Ottoman Azure. It was the only color even in the ballpark. I included some vivid blues just to show exactly how deep these blues are without being blue-blacks.

I do find KWZ inks to be viscous, not runny or watery (what other people might describe as “wet” inks). I’d say similar in consistency to Diamine inks rather than DeAtramentis if that helps to give you some sense of the feeling. I’m not a chemist so I don’t know if that consistency will work better for some pens over others but I do find that it makes KWZ inks denser and less luminous. The colors are rich but don’t shade as often as thinner inks do.

I used my Esterbrook #2442 nib in a Shwan Newton holder so I had to dip midway through my writing which resulted in some color differences. I suspect the variations reflect the differences between a medium/broad nib and a EF/F nib. I tested on Rhodia Uni-Blanc paper using 7mm guide sheets. The titles were done with Silver Black Velvet #6 Round Brush. Swatches were done using the Col-o-ring Ink Testing Book, of course.

There are a couple of brands of ink recently that I’ve developed a terrible case of FOMO about and a oddly, Montblanc is one of them. Generally speaking, I am not a big Montblanc pen fan in general because they are too expensive and fussy for me in regards to modern pens and the well for vintage pens is too deep and pricey to get into. But the inks… that’s a well shallow enough for me to play in and many of the colors are lovely and the themes are interesting – historical figures, music, literature and charitable organizations. It’s almost altruistic. So, after a dive into the new Lucky Orange, Golden Yellow and Miles Davis Jazz Blue which I will review soon, I was equally tempted by the UNICEF Turquoise ink.

It’s a limited edition color but it comes in a bottle twice the size as the regular limited edition colors – a healthy 60ml quantity rather than the 30ml but the price tag also reflects the larger size, $39 for the bottle. However, as its a UNICEF charitable project for literacy, part of the cost is a donation to UNICEF. The ink comes in a box decorated with letters from alphabets from around the world that coordinates with the Montblanc UNICEF pen as well. (I forgot to take photos of the box but Anderson Pens has images of the box on their site if you’re curious)

I love turquoise inks in general but I was absolutely tickled to discover that the UNICEF turquoise shades and SHEENS like crazy. It’s a beautiful color and made me absolutely giddy. It was well worth the price which as far as I was concerned was my “show ink” since I made poor Lisa Anderson schlep it to Chicago for me. The price of the UNICEF Turquoise is the equivalent of a bottle of Bungbox and I haven’t bought a bottle of that in over a year so I feel like I’m being pretty well-behaved – all things considered.

In my water test, the ink is definitely not water resistant but it will make for some interesting washes if I decide to play with it for drawing. UNICEF Turquoise has such wonderful Caribbean Seas tones!

As you can see, I clearly had lots of other turquoise inks to compare UNICEF Turquoise to in my collection. I threw Robert Oster Fire & Ice in because I knew folks would ask how similar it was. Fire & Ice is definitely more green. Akkerman Treves-Turquoise is probably the closest with Pilot Iroshizuku Ama-Iro bringing up a close second. Waterman Inspired Blue was very similar in hue without quite as much sheening.

Go buy a beautiful ink and support a charity and then know that you can get a regularly stocked color later that is a darn close replacement. See, we’ve got you covered! And when all is said and done, you’ll have a big beautiful Montblanc glass bottle you can fill with your favorite ink once you’ve used up all your UNICEF Turquoise which you’ll do quickly because you saw Leigh Reyes’ photo this week too, right? Don’t hoard your inks because they don’t keep forever!

TOOLS

• Paper: Rhodia Uni-Blank No. 18 with 7mm guide sheet
• Pens: Empire vintage traveling dip nib holder with Zebra G titanium nib ($33.50 per 10-pack), Esterbrook #2442 nib in a Shawn Netwon custom nib holder
• Swatches: Col-o-Ring Ink Testing Cards
• Brush: Silver Black Velvet #6 Round 300S
• Ink: Montblanc UNICEF Turquoise (50ml bottle for $39)

Please consider making your next purchase from one of the shops that support this blog and let them know you heard about them here. Thanks for your support and for supporting the shops that help keep this site running.

Links of the Week:

For the ladies out there who like podcasts and books (of the romance genre):

My favorite trash-talking, book-loving ladies got together on one podcast – finally. They were all at the Romantic Times Booklovers Conference in Atlanta so that made it easier. Romance Podden, normally recorded in Swedish (so I can’t listen to it often), is hosted by my favorite pen show co-hort Julia was on my favorite book podcast Smart Podcast, Trashy Books recently. SQUEEE!!!! As a result, there are two episodes with Sarah Wendell and Julia and Melody of Romance Podden talking about language, trashy books and generally being their sassy selves. So, if you haven’t come out of the “petticoat closet” yet and need a good push, come join us. Warning: NSFW without headphones.

• Smart Podcast, Trashy Books Ep. 247
• Romance Podden Ep. 30

Now, on a more sombre note, Lori wrote about Susan Wirth, our dearly departed:

• In Memory of Susan Wirth (via The Desk of Lori)

I am still collecting photos and stories and Susan was definitely the godmother of the Fountain Pen Girl Gang. So if you have anything to contribute to the upcoming memory book, send it along to me: chair @ wellappointeddesk.com. Thanks!

Pens:

• Montegrappa Game of Thrones Rollerball And Ballpoint (via Pen Addict)
• FPRevolution Guru Fountain Pen – Steel Flex Nib Pen for Beginners (via Gourmet Pens)
• Diplomat Aero in Sunset Orange (via Pen Addict)
• Aurora Kappa Fountain Pen (via Inkdependence)
• Kaweco Special Ballpoint Pen – New Shiny Brass (via Clicky Post)
• Pilot G-Tec (via Write to Me Often)
• Applied Pens Streamline Fountain Pen (via Pen Paper Pencil)
• Sailor 1911 Large Ballpoint Pen (via Ed Jelley)
• Schon DSGN Classic Pen (Aluminum) (via Nib & Ink)
• Baron Fig Squire – Experiment No. 108 (via Pens and Junk)
• Edison Menlo with Draw Filler (via My Coffee Pot)
• GW Pens Gem Pen “Rose Quartz” (via Squishy Ink)
• Introducing Benu Pens (via Gentleman Stationer)

Ink:

• Diamine Ancient Copper (via Write to Me Often)
• Akkerman 28 Hofkwartier Groen (via My Pen Needs Ink)
• KWZ Inks – Rare and Exclusive (via Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach)
• Rohrer and Klinger Alt-Goldgrün (via Alt. Haven)
• Robert Oster Tranquility (via Inkdependence)
• Franklin-Christoph Tenebris Purpuratum (via Gourmet Pens)
• Robert Oster Midnight Sapphire and Astorquiza Rot (via The Gentleman Stationer Tumblr)
• Robert Oster Royal Red (via Pen Chalet Blog)
• Video: Montblanc Miles Davis Jazz Blue (via Anderson Pens Blog)
• Robert Oster Marrone Mustard (via Pen Chalet Blog)

Pencils:

• Caran d’Ache Swiss Wood (via The Desk of Lori)
• Tree Pencils (via Pencil Talk)
• Muji 2B (via Pencil Talk)
• More Vietnamese Monos (via Bleistift)

Notebooks & Planners:

• Pocket Notebooks subscription box meta-review (via United Inkdom)
• Field Notes Bonus Subscriber Shipment 2017 Surprise (via Bleistift)
• Plan & Note planner pros & cons (via Quo Vadis Blog)
• Inky Fingers Currently Inked (via Paper Pens Ink)
• My Current Pocket Moleskine Set Up (via Seaweed Kisses)

Other Interesting Things:

• Chicago Pen Show 2017 Journal – Part 4 (via Pen Habit)
• How to make your own watercolor and other diversions (via Leigh Reyes)
• Personal Freedom and Paper (via Quo Vadis Blog)
• Get your desk surface back (via My Life All in One Place)
• A Visit to Baum Kuchen Los Angeles (via Paper Pastries)
• 3 Quick “Crayola Calligraphy” Projects (via The Postman’s Knock)
• On Self-Employment, Workaholism and Getting my Life Back (via Lisa Congdon, Today is Going to Be Awesome)

Many people, myself included, never expected that Twin Peaks would be revived as was hinted in the cryptic final scene statement, “I’ll see you again in twenty five years.” But lo and behold, thanks to the new world of Starz, HBO, Hulu and Amazon video production, it’s become possible for shows like Twin Peaks to come back. So, for weirdo nerds like me, I can find out if a show like Twin Peaks which was so epic in its day can live up to its reputation or if trying to bring it back will somehow tarnish its glory when so many other shows have taken what Twin Peaks built on and gone further. Still, to see the Double R Diner, the old Packard Mill and that familiar landscape of Twin Peaks to the strains of Angelo Badalamenti’s hauntingly beautiful music.

• Funko POP Television Twin Peaks Agent Cooper Action Figure $20.90 (via Amazon)
• Diane Tape Recorder Lapel Pin $8 (via Secret Flair Club)
• Great Northern Key Tag by Greenwich Letterpress $6.50 (via Little Otsu)
• Pelikan Souverän M800 Fountain Pen Renaissance Special Edition € 490 (€ 404,96 Outside EU) (via Fontoplumo)
• Butler Pen Pot in Walnut $38 (via Fresh Stock Japan)
• Zig Zag Chevron Black/Grey Washi Tape $2 per roll (via CuteTape)
• Robert Oster “Double R Diner” Caffe Crema Ink (50ml Bottle) $16 (via Anderson Pens)
• Black as Midnight on a Moonless Night Print $20 (via Lil Tuffy)
• J. Herbin Café des Îles Ink (Island “Damn Fine” Coffee Brown) (30 ml Bottle) $11.25 (via JetPens)
• Aurora Duo Cart Fountain Pen – Bordeaux with Gold Trim $180 (via Anderson Pens)
• Deconstructed Sketchbooks with “Reclaimed Packard Sawmill Wood” cover $18 (via Sapori)
• Pilot Prera “Wrapped in Plastic” Fountain Pen in Black $56 (via Pen Chalet)
• Custom InkTober + Denik Spiral “Black Lodge” Sketchbook $18 (via ArtSnacks)

Thanks to my sponsors for providing some of the images I use for Fashionable Friday (my apologies for the creative liberties with the thematic names). Please consider making your next purchase from one of the shops that support this blog and let them know you heard about them here. Thanks for your support and for supporting the shops that help keep it running.

Shop Updates:

If you’ve been waiting to purchase a Col-o-ring, the wait is over! The shop is not only stocked with Col-o-ring books but we are adding other products back to the inventory as well including some choice stationery goodies like the Star Chart note cards. These cards are a joint-venture from Skylab Letterpress and The Well-Appointed Desk and feature multilingual “thank you” messages for all your galactic sending needs.

Edit: To our friends across the pond, Cult Pens has Col-o-rings available (and currently featured on their home page which make me flippin’ giddy!) so many of our UK and EU pals now have a source  for their inky needs! In Canada, Wonder Pens is stocking Col-o-rings and will gladly help our friends to the north. Down Under, Notemaker in Australia and Pen Classics in New Zealand should soon have Col-o-rings available. Col-o-rings are invading the world! Who would have ever guessed such a thing?

Blog Improvements:

Did you notice there’s been a bit of a facelift around here? Besides updating the looks of the design a bit, there’s also been improvements made in the background to help make searching the copious archive of posts a little bit easier.

The fonts have been updated to (hopefully) be more readable and the whole design is now more consistent across all platforms: desktop, tablet and mobile. I’m really pleased with the look ad I hope you will be too.

If you look up in the top menu bar, you’ll notice that as you scroll up and down, the menu bar at the top will stay visible. It has the search bar in the far right corner and hot links to the refill guide, guide sheets, ink reviews, pen reviews and a new separate category for fountain pen reviews!

You’ll also notice that there are now featured posts at the top of the blog. Above the fold, so to speak, special posts will be featured for a week or so. Giveaways, new products, hot reviews, pen shows or other notable stories will be featured there so they won’t be missed.

It was time to retire the old template as it broke every time there was an update to WordPress so hopefully this version will be able to grow with us.

DeAtramentis Pearlescent Inks:

While they may be a little late to the game, DeAtramentis has finally decided to try their hand at making a line of sparkle inks. They’ve divided their ink colors into Pearlescent Gold, Pearlescent Silver and Pearlescent Copper flake bases. Then they offer eight ink colors with each sparkle: Whisky Brown, Amber Yellow, Helio Green, Cyan Blue, Camellia Red, Brilliant Violet, Magenta Red, and Velvet Black.

YStudio Pens:

Finally, a retailer in the US is stocking YStudio fountain pens. Vanness Pens is carrying the YStudio Brassing fountain pens, ballpoint and mechanical pencil. I reviewed the portable fountain pen awhile back and I’m still enamored with it.

Ink Academy:

Ink Academy is a crowd-funded campaign to create an online calligraphy school. Master Penman and one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met, Michael Sull will be the academic director of the school. There are also a host of other amazing calligraphers involved in the project including a former White House calligrapher. The project has about a week left to fund and a long way to go to meet its funding needs. Whether you have a desire to learn calligraphy yourself or just an appreciation for the art form, it’s definitely a project worth some consideration.

Pen World:  June Issue 2017

The June issue of Pen World magazine hits newsstands on Tuesdays. This issue features articles all about paper including my first published article in the magazine: an interview with Bullet Journal creator Ryder Carroll. There’s a sneak peek of the article below but to see the whole magazine, hop over the the Pen World web site and subscribe or visit your local book shop or newsstand an pick up a copy soon.

The Montegrappa Felicitá (pronounced “fella-cheetah” which I learned thanks to the fine fellas at Kenro over drinks in Chicago) is a lovely new line of smaller scale, pearlescent fountain pens. The overall look of these pens is beautiful and somewhat understated from a brand known for doing some pretty elaborate designs. As a result, the price point on this pen is actually pretty reasonable with the average purchase price around $200US.

The Felicitá comes in four colors: Sugar Pink Dust, Jellybon Ocean, Caramel Gold, and Red Velvet. I decided to get the cotton candy pink-like Sugar Pink Dust. I mean really, how could I resist? I do keep calling it Pink Sugar though by accident.

The Jellybon Ocean reminds me of blue velvet and the Caramel Gold looks like sunlight sparkling off sand at the beach and the Red Velvet really does live up to its name so it was hard to choose a color. The fact that Montegrappa went out on a limb and made such a playful color as Sugar Pink Dust though made me compelled to get it.

The shape of the pen overall looks like a Fortuna with reduced proportions. If you like the shape of Montegrappa Mule or one of the other Fortuna pens but found it a bit too big or heavy for you, the Felicitá might be just the pen for you. It’s a bit slimmer, shorter and lighter overall than a full-sized Fortuna in resin and definitely lighter than the copper Mule.

• Capped or posted: 18gms
• Uncapped: 11gms
• Length, capped: 5 1/8″ (13cm)
• Length, uncapped: 4 5/8″ (11.7cm)
• Length, posted: 5 7/8″ (15.1cm)

The pen features stainless steel trim and a steel nib but it is one of the silkiest smooth steel nibs I’ve ever used. The Felicitá traveled with me to the Chicago Pen Show and was tried by many a pen show attendee with equal awe.

The fine nib in the Felicitá writes very smoothly and I’ve not had any issues with hard starting. It’s been filled with the KWZ Raspberry ink for several weeks. I passed the pen around quite a bit at the Chicago Pen Show and lots of people had a similar reaction to the smoothness of the nib. I heard a lot of “oooh”s and “aaaah”s when it hit the paper which delighted me as much as when I was actually using it. I love getting to see other people enjoy trying a new pen as much as I like using them.

My taste in fountain pens has definitely started to move into a higher price point since I first got into the hobby. I didn’t think I’d notice the difference in the writing experience between a $50 pen and a $200 pen but now I can. The pen is weighted nicely. The material feel good in the hand. There is attention to detail in the nib, the resin material and the details like the end cap. If you are looking for “a little bit more” for a fountain pen, the Felicitá might be a pen to consider. While it does not have a gold nib, everything else about this pen is lovely and quite stunning. I’m really surprised how much I like it.

The Montegrappa Felicita is available in all four colors at Vanness Pens for $200.

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Kenro Industries for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.