About six years ago I decided to organize my life. That’s an important task and I wanted to do it right, so I really did my homework. Ryder Carroll’s Bullet Journal and David Allen’s Getting Things Done were two styles that rose to the top of my list. I finally settled on a hybrid of the two which I still use.
But the pens.
Oh, the pens!
The pens!!!
Fountain pens even!
Wait, people still use fountain pens?
Pilot Metros, Lamy Safaris, TWSBI Ecos, Conklin Duragraphs!
Oh my!
I was instantly smitten with the colors, the nibs and the inks. The different filling systems amazed me. The history and development through the years intrigued me and I dove deep down that rabbit hole.
The online community is tremendously thoughtful, encouraging and helpful. One member gifted me a $100+ pen just because I made a comment about wanting to buy that pen someday. The fountain pen underworld has the worst penablers; they do it with kindness and friendship.
After a while, with all the tinkering I’d done on both modern and vintage fountain pens, I started thinking of making my own. I love the look of the old classics, the Sheaffer Flat-top (above, left) and the Parker Duofold Senior (right) are my two oldest and most prized pens (both are over 85 years old and work perfectly), and I wanted more with the same style. Could I just buy something? Sure, there are plenty of good quality pens out there at reasonable prices. But to have one of my own, that I made to fit my own hand, would be spectacular.
The fountain pen underworld has the worst penablers; they do it with kindness and friendship.
Now, here we are. The lathe arrived late 2021 and I’ve been going ever since. There is a learning curve but there’s also a lot of help in forums and on YouTube. The pen making forums are also known for encouraging the newbies and helping them out.
So for now I’m making pens from kits. And I’ll keep making them for those who like the rollerball, gel and ballpoint refills. There are so many themes that they’re a great way to personalize your writing experience. There are kits for military members, police and fire responders, rifle and bow hunters, beach goers, fantasy and steampunk lovers, Victorian era or Roaring 20’s fans, dog or cat persons, bird watchers, gardeners and computer nerds. You can find a pen that fits your style and inspires your writing. If you don’t see it on the page, just let me know what you’re looking for.
Soon I’ll offer fountain pens (got some samples above). With different sizes, colors, shapes and nib styles, they can also be customized for you. Then you’ll fill it with that exact shade of sunset, forest, ocean or clear sky ink. After all that, when you’ve found that perfect mix and your eyes light up with wonder, that’s when you’ll join me down the rabbit hole.