The 2022 Lamy Safari special editions are out. I'm probably going to pass on the cream one because I already have a white Safari. But I couldn't pass up the strawberry. Blame it on liking Strawberry Shortcake as a little…
Use Case: Field Notes Signs of Spring (Not a Review)
Disclaimer: I know less about the Field Notes brand than most people I know in the pen community, so this is not exactly a review. Instead, think of it as a use case. My use case posts celebrate finding ways…
My Col-o-ring Is Full! – Adventures in Ink Swatching
I'm working on another post on what one Slack user refers to as "emotional support pens," but put it aside to write this little celebration of inks and swatching. Have you discovered the joy of swatching ink samples? It's the…
How I Use Washi Tape For Notes, Writing, Etc.
A few years ago, I ordered some washi tape because I found some pretty patterns, but I didn't really know what to do with it. I'm not a bullet journaler, and I don't make scrap books. My notes can sometimes…
Another Shade of Green: Welcoming a New Pelikan
Tea with a new Pelikan. Are these pictures too weird? Have I mentioned I'm half Irish, or rather, half Irish American? Yes, an Irish-Chicana. My mom was (mostly) Irish, her father a loyal member of the Friendly Sons of St.…
Pen Review: Visconti Van Gogh Sunflowers
I was recently able to try a Visconti Van Gogh. I realize that this is not a new to the market pen, but I had held off in purchasing a Visconti because of the brand's reputation for not having consistently…
First Fountain Pen on BBC’s The Repair Shop
It's been a hard few years. Life has been stressful on a personal and global level: deaths, illness, pandemic, tenure files, surgeries, and general political madness leave me feeling sometimes like the world is on fire. None of us should…
My Wallet is a Hobonichi Weeks!
My boring black zip-around wallet finally gave up the ghost. A few hours into searching for a good replacement I realized I could use a Hobonichi Weeks cover (<-- this link has a great series of pictures plus a review).…
Doodles by Ben and Resisting Sticker Hoarding
For the second year in a row, my partner gave me a subscription to Doodles by Ben's Pin Badge Club. The result is monthly happy mail for me. A Friendly Comet - February's Pin Badge The subscription is for a…
Pen Friends Can Be The Best Friends, A Quick Look At A ‘New To Me’ Sailor 1911S
About two weeks ago, I mentioned to a pen amiga that I had this burning desire to get a yellow fountain pen. I really don't *need* any fountain pens at this point. I have a nice collection that keeps me…