What is stationery nirvana, and how do we find it? April Wu joins me to discuss her stationery journey in what has been an especially busy year.
This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:
Enigma Stationery: Shop online with code PENADDICT24 for a free gift and discounted shipping on orders of $50 or more.
Ooni Pizza Ovens: Bring restaurant quality pizza to your home. Discount automatically applied at checkout.
You thought we were done adding to the goods for St. Jude? We are far from done! If you have missed what was released in Week One, you can find it here. Week Two? That’s right here. Week Three, see below, and then be sure to scroll to the bottom to see how you can participate in raising money for the kids at St. Jude.
Nodus Sector Dive GMT - Pen Addict Edition:
That’s right, my friends at Nodus are donating one of our collaboration watches, and that’s on top of the donation they will be making to St. Jude from the sales of this project.
Goldspot x Sailor Pro Gear in British Racing Green, 21K Medium nib:
Takizawa x Pilot 88th Anniversary Custom 912, Numbered 117/200, 14K Fine Medium nib:
Maruzen x Sailor Pro Gear Mini Store Exclusive, 14K Fine Medium nib:
LAMY 2000 Black Amber Special Edition, 14K Extra Fine nib:
Oeste Kai x Pilot Custom 74 Benefuji, lightly used, 14K Medium nib:
Traveler’s Notebook Tokyo Limited Edition, with Brass Charm:
Tactile Turn 2024 Seasonal Edition “Vice” Standard length:
Tactile Turn 2024 Seasonal Edition “Vice” Short length:
Ferris Wheel Press Bijou Fountain Pen “Echoes of Eaton,” Fine Steel nib:
And there will be even more next week!
So, how can you help out the kids at St. Jude, and have a chance at winning some great prizes? Here you go:
Helping to raise funds for St. Jude is one of the highlights of my year. Their work is important and impactful, and I appreciate your support of this great cause. That you to everyone who participates!
(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!)
Handmade pens? Yes. In beautiful, unique materials? Yes. From a woman-owned shop and new penmaker? Triple yes! Everything about this is good and the pen itself is the best part.
White Bear Pens is a new company founded in 2023 by Mikayla Jackson, who took the journey most of us take: straight down the fountain pen rabbit hole. And then she took it a step further and decided to learn how to make her own pens. She's been touring pen shows all year with a lovely selection of pens in two models: the Ursa and the Echo. I was extremely fortunate to receive an Echo for review. It also came with a custom Rickshaw pen sleeve with the White Bear logo and the softest plush interior to keep the pen safe and cozy.
Handmade pens in fun colors of acrylic are my personal kryptonite, so this was love at first sight. The acrylic is a sparkly blend of pinks, teals, blues, greens, gold, purple, and did I mention sparkle? This is unicorn perfection. There are even fuchsia rings set into the bottom finial and cap band that are so expertly fitted that you can't even feel them--it feels like one smooth piece, even though the construction of such a feature has to be a ton of extra work.
The cap is threaded and the grip section is lightly shaped and flared, giving it a comfortable shape for writing. The cap does not really post--you can put it on fairly shallowly, but I wouldn't want to scratch the material on the threads by trying to force it to post. It has a very nice silver, spring-loaded clip, though, so the cap won't roll away if you set it down. On the top of the cap is an inlay of the White Bear logo, which looks fantastic.
The pen takes either a standard international converter or cartridge, and it does come with a converter. It has a steel nib, this one in an extra fine, engraved with the White Bear logo. White Bear Pens does have their nibs professionally tuned, and it shows. This things writes like a dream. It is super smooth with perfect flow--an absolute pleasure to write with. I was just making lists at first, but I didn't want to stop writing! That's very useful for a gal on a deadline or three!
I am very excited to have experienced one of these early pens from White Bear Pens and I can't wait to see what Mikayla does next!
(This pen was purchased by Brad from White Bear Pens at the 2024 Atlanta Pen Show.)
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