Posts filed under Pen Case

SHEdesigns Pen Wrap Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

It's not every day that we get the pleasure of writing about a company that exists because of a non-profit program that teaches under-privileged people a skill from which they can earn a living, so that's why I'm really excited to tell you about SHEdesigns out of Nepal. The pen wrap that I've been using is actually from HelloTello — a custom pen maker out of Ohio who includes a pen wrap from SHEdesigns with every pen purchase. Here's a description of SHEdesigns' history and mission from their website:

The vision for SHEdesigns began in 2015 when a cross cultural worker from the US moved to a remote village of Nepal. It was a region that was known for staggering poverty and human trafficking. An initial survey revealed multiple risk factors that perpetuated the issues villagers were facing. Partnering with a local non-profit, they established a sewing program which grew into the business that SHEDesigns is today. This small initiative has had a huge impact – not only for the ten women who have been empowered through employment there but for the entire community surrounding them who have been affected in ways that will benefit generations to come!

This is the kind of inspiring and uplifting that I can get behind all day long. According to their website, they haven't quite launched to the public, but they're obviously hard at work making beautiful hand-sewn products. Purchasing a beautiful pen from HelloTello is a great way to get one of these pen wraps.

The pen wrap I have in front of me is a mostly medium red/gold color scheme that includes lots of shiny/reflective bits in the fabric and string. It's a thing of beauty that is both functional and a piece of art.

The pen wrap design is a pouch and flap that closes with a string. Simple but effective design! There's plenty of room for a single pen, and I'm sure you could stuff a couple more in if you wanted to. I prefer the idea that this wrap is meant for a single pen that has specific meaning or sentimental value over a more utilitarian case that's purpose is to hold as much stuff as possible. The exterior fabric is a lovely pattern with lots of right angles and rectangles of different shades of red and gold. Some of the thread is sparkly, which adds so much visual interest to the wrap.

Inside the wrap, the fabric is a velvet-like dark red or maroon that is really soft. The pouch that holds your pen actually has some stitching at either end of the opening to make it more secure. Instead of a large envelope opening, there's a a half inch pocket on each end of the pouch that the pen can slide into for some extra security. It's a thoughtful design that works great in practice.

Once your pen is in the sleeve, closing it and securing it a simple matter. Just wrap the string around the ca a couple times and tuck the string under itself with the help of the bead at the end. No need for any knots or double-tucks — the string stays secure with the friction created by one tuck, and that also means it's still easy to unwrap. After a little practice, the act of opening or closing the wrap takes just a second.

This is such a simple product that looks amazing and functions perfectly, but knowing where it came from makes it even more special. I'll enjoy telling the story to people that inevitably comment or compliment the wrap (happens often due to the eye-catching fabric), and I'll also look forward to supporting their shop directly when they open.

You can keep an eye on their website and their Instagram account for any news!

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Posted on June 26, 2024 by Jeff Abbott and filed under SHEdesigns, Pen Case.

Rickshaw 6-Pen Coozy Roll 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. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available for pre-order!)

There's no better feeling than curling up in a soft blanket. Why deprive our pens of that joy? Rickshaw has them covered--literally--with the handy 6-Pen Coozy Roll.

Rickshaw describes these pen rolls as "plush," which is the perfect word for it. The inside is the softest, fuzziest fabric I've ever seen in a pen case. It is teddy bear soft. The fluffy padded roll will keep your pens cushioned from the outside world while protecting delicate surfaces from any scratches or abrasions. It's not a hard case in any way, so care must still be taken when it comes to impacts or pressures your pens might encounter, but for soft, cushiony protection, this roll is fabulous.

While the inside is full of the softest fluff, the outer material is a woven polyester printed, in this case, with a plethora of adorable black cats drawn by artist Yuki Tanaka. Their personalities perfectly match those of my own black cat, Merri. The pen roll comes in tons of colors and patterns and you can easily find one or three that appeal to you. The edges are all lined with a reinforcing trim, and the roll securely closes with an elastic band that circles and cinches closed with a locking plastic toggle.

As it states in the name, it holds six pens. Each pen slot is stitched on both sides, so your pens never touch. The slots are wide enough to fit thick pens, but the plush texture fills the empty space around thinner pens, so they don't slide out, even though there is no closure flap over the opening. When not housing pens, it lays flat, which is great for storage purposes. But your pens are going to love living in this roll, so storage will likely be unnecessary.

This pen roll sells for $49 on JetPens, which is very fair for such a highly constructed piece of pen transport. The cases are also all made in San Francisco, where Rickshaw devises all sorts of tempting bags. Browse at the peril of your wallet.

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

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Posted on June 20, 2024 by Sarah Read and filed under Rickshaw, Pen Case.

How Many Pens Can Girologio Cases Hold? All Of Them.

When you reach a certain point in the pen hobby, you begin to think about how to store, carry and protect your pens. What is that certain point? One pen. At least that’s when I started thinking about how I want to protect my favorite writing instrument. But what if you have more? Like 96 pens maybe? Then Girologio is a brand you need to check out.

Of course, most people don’t need a case that holds 96 pens (y’all hush your collective mouths!🤪) but Girologio has many different options for all of your carrying and protecting needs.

*Lamy Safari for scale, in many of these pictures.*

First up is the Triple Top Flap Case, which is the smallest of the cases I’m looking at today. As the name states, this case holds three pens, and does a nice job covering them individually from top to bottom. The slots easily hold some of my wider pens, too, although I don’t have any of the classic large pens (Montblanc 149-ish,) to test with.

If there is any hangup, it is when the long flap is open. It’s certainly secure when tucked in the front, but you will likely want to tuck it under the back to save space on your desk or table when open. At $22, it provides a good value for a portable pen case.

Going in pen slot number order, the Grab N Go 4 Pen Case might be the most unique of this batch. It is more than a pen case, with spots for an A6-sized notebook, pocket notebook, 4 pens, 7 credit card-sized slots, a small snap pouch, and a keychain loop on the interior. Whew! There is so much going on that I forgot to even take pictures of the card slots, so check out the product pictures in the link above.

*Notebooks on the right. Card slot divider in the middle.*

What I was mostly concerned with were the pen slots, and the notebook storage. I have to say, the Grab N Go handled everything perfectly. Since there are only 4 pen loops, there is plenty of room for pens of any size. Even some of my widest acrylic barrel pens with roll stops fit without issue. And inside the back, I fit a Midori MD A6 notebook underneath the flexible flap, and a Field Notes in the top slot.

The drawback with this case is the size. It is chonky! I think that is ok for the most part, because this isn’t a case you are going to buy on a whim. It is purpose built, and it is clear what you are getting going into it. For $56, you are getting a lot.

Next up is the 12 Pen Zip Case, which features loops for six pens on each side of the case, with a fabric-covered divider to separate and protect the pens from touching each other when the case is closed. When open, the flap lays on either the left of right side, leaving the opposite side open and accessible.

This case is useful for those who want to carry a good amount of pens in a compact, and protected fashion. This case can easily fit in a bag or backpack, and not cause too much of a fuss. The $44 price tag makes it a great option for exactly that.

With those standard options out of the way, Girologio steps it up in a big way, starting with the 48 Slot Zip Case. If you have ever been to a pen show, this is the type of case you see at many tables, and maybe even at the bar late at night. This case means business, and it handles that business perfectly.

Each side of the case holds 24 pens, with a removable velcro divider on the left side of the case that protects the pens when zipped shut. The dual bands for each pen slot are fixed, but flexible enough to hold many diameters of pens. They hold smaller and narrower pens comfortably and securely as well, even when closed due to the divider.

*Pro: removable dividers. Con: velcro bumping up against the pens in the left-most slots. I’d consider leaving those slots empty when moving the case around frequently.*

While big, I wouldn’t say it is bulky. It’s a stand-alone product for sure, and won’t fit into any other bag easily outside of your luggage, but is super functional for those who want to carry a large number of pens. This case runs $103, and comes in several color and material varieties.

In my time traveling to pen shows I’ve seen a wide variety of carry, storage, and display options, including all of the options above. What I haven’t seen is what’s next on my list, the 96 Pen Briefcase Carrying Case. And you know what? It is awesome!

Not many people need something like this in their life, but if you do, I imagine you are very happy with what Girologio has done here. In a nutshell, this is two of their 48 pen cases attached in such a way to open and display half of the pens, or all 96 at once. On top of that, it zips and folds up nicely, with the added benefit of telescoping briefcase handles for easy carrying. It is quite the spectacle, and at $230, it’s a great fit for the right person.

Girologio has expanded their lineup greatly since I first became aware of them several years ago. From single pen cases, up to the 96 pen standout shown above, they have most of the bases covered in the pen storage realm. They are worth checking out the next time you are looking for storage, portability, and protection for your pens.

(Luxury Brands USA loaned these products at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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