Happy New Year & I'm Back!

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Hello Pen Friends! Happy New Year to all!

December went by in a flash and we're already more than a week into 2017. Apologies for dropping off suddenly for the past few weeks. It was unintended for sure. Things just got super hairy with work and the holidays, out-of-town visitors and some travelling of my own. If I was better at planning, I would have seen the busy period coming and prepared blog posts in advance.

Thanks to everyone for continuing to visit the blog. This will just be a short post to let you know that I'm back and will ease into a regular posting routine.

Throwback Thursday: Quick Look at Lamy 2000 + Akkerman Parkapop Purple

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Honestly, I have no idea how the time has gone so fast.  I’ve been completely swamped with work projects, business trips and family stuff.  But still, I’m enjoying my fountain pens and, in particular, looking back at pen + ink combinations from my sultry August line-up.

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Throwback Thursday: Quick Look at Franklin-Christoph Model 20 Translucent Bronze + Franklin-Christoph Tenebris Purpuratum

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Well, while pen friends in the United States are celebrating Thanksgiving Day, it’s just a regular Thursday for me.  For this week’s Throwback Thursday, I look at another pen + ink combination from my August line-up.

Handwritten Review

Pen: Franklin-Christoph Model 20 Translucent Bronze S.I.G. F

Ink:  Franklin-Christoph Tenebris Purpuratum

Paper: Rhodia No. 16 Grid

 

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2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Fountain Pen Addicts

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Pen friends in the US are celebrating Thanksgiving this week and the countdown to Black Friday begins!  It got me thinking that a holiday gift guide would be helpful.  This guide is primarily intended for the non-pen person looking for a gift for the fountain pen aficionado, whether newbie or seasoned, in his or her life.

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Throwback Thursday: Quick Look at Bexley Gaston’s Special Reserve + Diamine Ancient Copper

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The days are shorter and the weather is cooler.  But thankfully, I still have pen + ink combos from the summer to look back on.  This week it’s a match up from my August line-up.

Handwritten Review

Pen: Bexley Gaston’s Special Reserve M
Ink: Diamine Ancient Copper
Paper: Rhodia No. 16 Grid

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A Closer Look at the Lamy Lx Pen Case

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Soon after I posted my review of the Lamy Lx (which admittedly was quite a few weeks now), my friend Dries from the Pencilcase Blog asked me:

How's the inside of the case, does it hug the pen or does the Lx sit loosely inside?

It’s a very good question that led me to realize that I should have spent a little more time looking at the case itself in the original review.

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Hobonichi Techo vs Stalogy 365 Throwdown

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I learned of Hobonichi Techo last year and was compelled to get it for the fabulous Tomoe River paper.  Hobonichi Techo has a great fan and user base.  I love seeing the creativity that some people put into their Hobo’s.  Sadly, I am not one of them.  While there’s a lot I love about the Hobo apart from the paper (small form factor, dotted grid lines, quirky quotes and at least one recipe), I found the dated planner a challenge to use consistently.

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Throwback Thursday: Edison LE Mina + Diamine Teal

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I’ve been spending a lot of time these days at ice rinks with my son and his hockey team.  Thankfully I still have many pen + ink combinations from the summer to look at including this one from my August line-up.

Handwritten Review

Pen: Edison LE Mina EF
Ink: Diamine Teal
Paper: Rhodia No. 16 Grid

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First Impressions Review of Pelikan M400 Brown Tortoiseshell

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There is a category of pens in my Wish List which has always been “pencilled-in”.  It’s the “luxury European” fountain pen category.  The main contenders were always either Visconti or Pelikan to hold the spot in the “under $500” bucket.

You may have noted I put Visconti Homo Sapien on the list.  But in the back of my mind, I really wanted to try a Pelikan, in particular, a tortoise.  

 

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