(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)
The SF Pen Show happens at the end of August and my birthday is always a week and half afterwards, which makes it extra fun for shopping and also extra dangerous for the wallet! Unfortunately, this year’s birthday plans have been put on the backburner (gotta stay safe, right?), which meant a bit more...ok, a LOT more, birthday indulgence than usual. So, what did I end up getting?
I first saw the Pininfarina PF Two at the DC Pen Show a few weeks and loved the sleek and modern pen design but what really got me was the magnetic cap! They sold out of this at DC so I knew I had to get this at SF!
Is this pen sleek or what?
It’s really impossible to work at the Franklin-Christoph table and NOT get anything and this show was no exception! I managed to escape with “just” a green Pocket 20 and a Purple Candystone 20 (two of my favorite models) as well as a Model 90 Artium Pencil in Sky Blue & Orchid Blue.
Pocket 20, 20 and Model 90 Pencil from Franklin-Christoph.
Heading into the Luxury Brands of America booth, I knew that I wouldn’t be leaving empty handed. I had seen the new pens from Waldmann as well as their newly added brand, Gioia, on their Instagram feed, so it was not “should I” but “which one would I get”. The more I saw pictures of the Gioia Partenope, the more it really grew on me and it’s so nice in person. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it also comes with a matching rollerball attachment! I was also mesmerized by the new Waldmann Grandeur in Burgundy with its stunning lacquered red guilloche. I also picked up a Nebula Casual Note notebook because I’ve really enjoyed the Nebula Note notebook, but it doesn’t come in dot grid (pretty please, Nebula, make your regular Note notebook in dot grid).
Gioia Partenope in Ivory Rose Gold perched on the Nebula Casual Note notebook.
Waldmann Grandeur in Burgundy with 18kt gold nib - this is THE birthday pen purchase from the show!
I’ve been eyeing the Esterbrook JR since the new colors came out and I couldn’t decide between turquoise or orange. And when I saw Josh Lax at the show, I decided to ask him which color was his favorite and he said, hands down, the turquoise one, so turquoise it is! I got his Scribe nib grind which is his take on an architect grind.
I always have to stop at Peyton Street Pens because you never know what goodies Teri Morris has. I don’t think anyone would be surprised that I picked up a gorgeous purple pen, but would you believe this is a Platinum President?!?
I also picked up this gorgeous blue Waterman Le Man 100 from my friend John because I am a sucker for pretty blue pens and because the price was too good to pass up. I am still shaking my fist in his direction, while simultaneously admiring this beauty, lol!
Esterbrook JR, Platinum President from Peyton Street Pens and a new-to-me Waterman atop the fountain pen-friendly Ayush Paper that I also got from Teri!
Pens weren’t the only things I bought at the show. I got the 2021 Sailor Pen Show ink from Itoya US as well as 4 inks from Kiwi Inks, one of which is their SF Pen Show ink. I also snagged a bottle of Vanness’ exclusive from Vinta Inks, Sodalite Shimmer Kislap 1891.
I had to get a 2021 SF Show t-shirt from Rickshaw Bagworks which I preordered and picked up at the show (does that even count as show haul?). The shirt was inspired by the “phoenix rising” of the SF city flag and designed by their in-house graphic designer, Sarah! While I was there, I also picked up a Might Pen Caddy made by Sunset Hill Stoneware out of Wisconsin and a bunch of stickers too.
I was so tempted at the Curnow Bookbinding and Leather tables but I was good and didn’t add to the notebook fort at home. Instead, I got this cute set of wooden coasters which are made from the excess materials from his wooden book covers and they double as pen rests!
Pallet Coasters from Curnow Bookbinding and Leather doing double-duty as a pen rest!
I also snuck in some time to get some nib work done on my Visconti Medici by Gena Salorino of Custom Nib Studio as well as get Cursive Italic grinds on my ST Dupont Atelier Purple and Pelikan M600 Green White by Mike Masuyama. Getting nibs tuned or having custom nib work done to your nibs is such a great way to make them stand out and these two do such good nib work, I can’t recommend them enough!
But best of all, my favorite “haul” are the hugs, laughs and wonderful memories with pen friends old and new. You could tell me I wasn’t allowed to buy a thing and I’d still say the best part about pen shows is the people. Thankfully, I got to have both the pen things and the pen friends at this show, so while my wallet is empty, my heart is so full and I can’t think of a better way to get ready for a birthday.
Hangin’ out after the show with Ian Schon.
John K, Connor S and I all hadn’t seen Gena Salorino in two years (or each other for that matter) - good times were had while Gena worked their magic on our pens!
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