Posts filed under Pen Case

Dee Charles Designs Pen Sleeve: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

Dee Charles Designs is a company made up of two individuals who are passionate about fine writing instruments and the art of handwriting. They say,

“People find joy, value and purpose in putting their stories, personal histories, notes and letters to paper. The written word tells a story about a person and relays their feelings, trust and love clearly. Feelings that are much harder to express with an e-mail, text, or post” (from the Dee Charles website).

The Dee Charles single pen sleeve comes in a simple black box with the Dee Charles logo and name in silver.

This sleeve is Midnight black with red stitching. A very cool fountain pen logo is embossed in the leather. The case is 6.5 inches long (165mm) and 1.8 inches (45mm) wide.

The top grain leather is thick and soft. You can see the thickness in the photo below.

The pen sleeve can accommodate both large (up to 5/8 inch in diameter) and small pens. I tried it with my largest pen, a Danitrio Takumi (see review here). Although the pen fits, it is quite snug. With use, I’m sure the leather will stretch out a bit.

However, the top of the pen is exposed at the opening.

If you carry your pen in a case or purse with a pocket, the fact that the top is a bit exposed to the elements shouldn’t be a problem. But, if you plan to drop the pen case into a bag with other items, it’s possible the top could get scratched or damaged. Thus, with large pens, such as Danitrios or Montblancs, I suggest putting the pen case in a pocket of some sort to protect the top of your pen.

Smaller pens fit much more easily into the pen case. I tried my Leonardo (review here) (a mid-sized pen) and my Aurora 88. The Leonardo fit quite well with only a bit of the cap exposed.

The Aurora 88 is small enough that it is below the stitching, so the top is barely exposed at all.

All of the pens fit snugly into the case, and, because of the leather grain on the inside, they won’t slip out.

The Dee Charles Designs single pen sleeve is well made and looks quite sophisticated. If you’re looking for a sleek, classy, leather pen sleeve, you’ll be very happy with this case.

You can purchase Dee Charles Designs single pen sleeves from Pen Chalet. They come in several colors (black with black, gold, or red stitching; rawhide with blue, brown, or gold stitching; and sunrise with black, blue, or red stitching) and retail for $22.00 (though they’re on sale right now for $17.60). You can also purchase double pen sleeves and Field Notes covers.

(Pen Chalet provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on November 2, 2018 by Susan Pigott and filed under Dee Charles Designs, Pen Case.

Global Arts Canvas Pencil Roll-Up Case Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

Global Arts makes some great cases for the pen addict on the go. This 36-Pencil Roll isn't my favorite of their products, but my complaints are all nitpicks that arise from comparing it to other cases of the same brand.

On the outside, the case feels well made, with soft, sturdy canvas fabric and strong elastic. The snap closure is reliable--it's never come undone, even when being tossed around in a backpack.

Inside, the case starts to feel a little cheap to me, in terms of materials. The nylon lining and pocket zipper feel a bit light and flimsy and don't really give me that sense of durability that I like in my cases.

I'm also not a fan of the vinyl flaps that fold over the top and bottom. It's not very gentle on sharpened pencil tips, and its inflexibility adds bulk to the wrap when it's rolled. It's also stiff and gets in the way when I'm trying to get pencils out of the case. I think canvas might have been more effective here. The elastic bands are strong, but very narrow. They're great for standard-width pencils, but won't work well for anything wider.

Overall, though, the case works. It holds a ton of pencils and keeps them secure in my bag. Who doesn't like a giant tootsie roll of pencils in their bag? But I have to say, I much prefer Global Arts' flat zippered cases. For fifty cents more, you can get a case that holds 48 pencils and fits a little more easily in your bag (and it comes in more fun colors). The elastic loops are also wider in those cases, so it allows for some flexibility in what you carry.

In that sense, I think Global Arts is competing against itself a bit. So, alas, this particular case falls into the "this is a perfectly decent product, but I have no use for it" category. While I love the aesthetics of a roll of pens and pencils, they aren't as practical for me to carry with me--especially when they get as large as this one does when full.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on August 23, 2018 by Sarah Read and filed under Global Arts, Pen Case.

Yenderings Toronto Sugar Beach Pen Roll: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

Yenderings is a Toronto-based company that creates custom cases and pen and journal wraps based on menswear designs with colors and themes from the city of Toronto. The designer uses one principle: “fanciful functionality.” According to the website,

Every design contains functional features such as zip pockets to hold all various sundries, strategically placed external pockets for easy access to notebooks and pens and ultrasuede linings to provide soft and cozy protection for your tools. Fanciful elements are then incorporated to add flair and a bit of > je ne sais quoi> to your every day carry.

The pen roll I’m reviewing is called the Toronto AM02 Sugar Beach. It is designed after an urban water park in the Distillery District.

*"Sugar Beach", By Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine [CC0], from Wikimedia Commons*

For this case,

We drew the colours from Sugar Beach's iconic flamingo pink umbrellas popping against the sand and a crystal blue sky. Mix in some orange Creamsicles with whimsical polka dots to feel that everywhere you go with this roll. We even threw in some cork for that summertime feeling!

The outside of the pen case is made of a linen blend and a cork panel. It features a pocket that can hold two Field Notes-sized notebooks. Of course, I put a Nock Notebook in, because . . . well, you know.

The inside of the case is lined with aqua ultrasuede and has six pen slots. The slots are large enough to hold oversized pens, such as the Montblanc 149. Obviously, smaller pens will fit nicely as well.

The fabric on the inside is a super fun orange polkadot that makes for a sweet contrast with the aqua ultrasuede. The flap folds over to keep the pens from scratching one another.

The case is lined in flamingo pink and has a matching fabric tie. The stitching is aqua.

I wouldn’t really call this a pen roll, since you actually just fold it over (unless you want your notebooks to develop a pen-roll curve). Still, it is small enough to slip in a briefcase, backpack pocket, or a large purse.

Because all Yenderings cases are custom made, you might not be able to purchase this exact model, though it’s currently still for sale for $70.00 CAD (= $53.20 USD) plus shipping. Go to the catalog page to see what’s currently available. If you don’t fancy this design there are others from which to choose. And, even better, you can have a pen case custom designed specifically for you (prices vary).

The Yenderings Toronto Sugar Beach Pen Roll is a whimsical, beautifully-made pen roll. I love the color combinations on this case and the soft ultrasuede. The only thing I’m not too keen on is the cork, but that’s just a matter of personal taste. If you’re looking for a pen roll or case that is unique and handmade, I highly recommend Yenderings.

(The Yenderings Pen Roll was purchased at full price by The Pen Addict for review.)

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