2023 Atlanta Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Atlanta is always a great regional/local pen show, and if I hadn’t just spent a month traveling basically nonstop, I definitely would have gone for the entire weekend. Kimberly’s recaps are spot-on and thorough.
In Defence of Writing by Hand (via KraftyKats). Despite our best efforts here, the world continues to digitize. Personally, I think the key is to do so thoughtfully, and to maintain an analog space in your life where it makes the biggest difference for you.
Using the Hoard (via From the Pen Cup). What better way to preserve the art of writing by hand than using your notebook hoard!
Il Papiro J2 Notebook Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). I love marbled paper. Enough said.
Early Thoughts on the Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Filler Fountain Pen (via Fountain Pen Blog). I’m not a huge fan of modern Conklin pens, but at the same time I’m glad this particular model continues to exist.
The Kaweco Student (via Left Hook Pens). Kaweco’s student pen has developed its own following, and I’ve enjoyed the weight and shape of the section in the past.
Ink of the Week - Kaweco Smokey Grey (via Fountain Pen Love). I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Kaweco inks are extremely underrated.
Ellington Pens Review (via SBRE Brown). Ellington Pens get the SBRE Brown treatment.
How To Distinguish the Upcycled from the Wood-Cased Noris (via Bleistift). I haven’t written much about Staedtler’s decision to move to an “upcycled” - read, Wopexified - version of the Noris. This makes me sad, but I guess on a certain level it’s inevitable.
Notebook Review: Cortex Sidekick Notepad (via Well-Appointed Desk). I’ve been wanting to check out the Sidekick for some time now, but at $40 each, the price has served as a bit of a barrier. I’m not above spending on expensive notepads and notebooks, but at this price, the page count for the dollar amount has me a bit concerned, especially since that’s before taxes and shipping to many areas. That said, Cortex Brand products are well-designed and of excellent quality.
In Case You Missed It….
This week on the blog - and on the until-now-semi-dormant Youtube channel - I spent the week getting caught up post-pen show. I wrote a short piece on five things that you can do to help introduce new users to nice pens, and I also took a look at the Kaweco Sketch Up Clutch Pencil, one of the many new Kaweco products we’ve recently added to the shop. To kick the week off, I filmed a short video titled “Currently Inked”, which was a quick look at two pens that I inked up for this week: the Pilot Custom 74 and a vintage Parker 51. I’ve decided to start working on some more video content since there are certain things that can be difficult to show/explain in writing. These will be posted both to Youtube and to Instagram Reels/Stories, though I’m not sure about frequency yet.
WEEKEND PROMOTION: Spend $50 in the T.G.S. Curated Shop and get a free Anterique Ballpoint Pen in one of the five colors above. Spend an additional $50 and get a pen in a different color. These pens are excellent, and I plan to make them a fixture going forward. Valid through Sunday. [For those who missed the promotion, the Anterique pens are now live in the shop!]
This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop
There’s been a seemingly never-ending wave of shop arrivals, mainly due to orders placed back in January and February when I was taking several buying trips and thinking that these would all be staggered somewhat. Turns out that all the new products arrived at once and I still have more to go! This week saw a huge TWSBI restock, including some additions of “last call” items like the Diamond 580 ALR “Punch Pink” and AL “Rose”, plus a restock on the ECO Saffron and newly arrived ECO Persian Green. The biggest news dropped Thursday, with Kaweco arriving in the shop, including Sport fountain pens, Sketch Up Clutch Pencils, and Inks! Stay tuned for more big news on our expansion this week.
Consider Supporting Us Via T.G.S. Patreon!
T.G.S. Patreon is currently the only non-shop means of support for the site, and features not only access to meetups and early gently used sales, but more exclusive content. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your support! Our next meetup will be at our typical time, which is the third Saturday of every month at 8:30pm U.S. Central Time. Details are circulated through the Patreon feed, so Patreon members should be sure to sign up to get updates/alerts.