This past weekend was something of a blur, and that’s putting it mildly. While Friday might have seen less traffic than in years past - probably due to fewer weekend pass holders traveling in from out-of-state - the two public days felt busier than ever. You could sense the pent-up demand, and not only for the buying frenzy that can sometimes take hold at pen shows, but for human interaction with other like-minded people. In short, it was a great weekend, and even though I spent most of it behind the Vanness Pens table at the front of the large ballroom, I went a bit crazy on Sunday and have quite the show haul. Good thing I spent the last few weeks selling off pens and ink!
Hugh ready to go behind the Kanilea Pen Co. table on Friday!
Which Vendors Attended, and a Few Noticeable Absences
Despite the uncertainty, the 2021 D.C. Pen Show featured a wide array of exhibitors and vendors. Retailers included Vanness Pens (where I helped out for the weekend), Dromgoole’s, Bertram’s Inkwell, Lemur Ink, Chatterley Luxuries, and Bittner. Makers included Galen Leather (who traveled all the way from Turkey!), Schon DSGN, Franklin-Christoph, Kanilea Pen Company, Ryan Krusac, Good Made Better, Carolina Pen Company (Jonathon Brooks), Lucky Star Pens, Hinze Pens, and more. Pilot USA even made an appearance this year as part of a push to increase their engagement among fine writing enthusiasts, taking a table next to the Vanness setup. I understand they will be attending more shows in the future. This isn’t an exhaustive list of attendees - just the ones who I was able to visit with. For a full list of exhibitors, check out the D.C. Pen Show website.
The new TWSBI Swipe was one of the more sought-after pens this past weekend.
In terms of noticeable absences, there weren’t many, but I felt that there were fewer opportunities for nib work than in years past. Neither Mike Masuyama or Dan Smith (The Nibsmith) attended, nor did J.J. Lax Pen Co. or Custom Nib Studio (Gena Salorino). Mark Bacas did attend, but in a personal capacity, and wasn’t taking in work to my knowledge. That said, this show created opportunities for newer nib grinders, including Kirk Speer (Pen Realm), Damien Allomar (All in the Nib), and J.C. Ament (Nibs on Point). While I didn’t have a chance to use any of their services this past weekend, I have used Nibs on Point in the past, and will have a review of some of J.C.’s nib work in the near future.
So What Did I Take Home? (Obligatory Show Haul Photos)
Let’s start with the ink. As you know, I’ve been sorting through my ink collection to eliminate duplicates and those inks that I don’t find myself using much. So for inks this year, to the extent I was going to pick up any at the show, they were going to be more unique colors that didn’t already exist in my current selection. As luck would have it, I think I may have left my inks from the show in the hotel room, so if they don’t turn up I’ll have to reorder. Grrrr……. Look for some reviews of Vinta and Ferris Wheel Press inks in the near future, courtesy of Vanness!
Photos don’t do the Brooks material or the Lucky Star/Krusac materials justice….
Pen-wise, on Friday I finally got my hands on a Schon DSGN Pocket Six in Faceted Brass with an elongated section, which I’ve had my eye on since the 2020 Baltimore Pen Show. I also picked up a golden-green (“Olive and Gold” anodized Pocket Six to add to my collection of unique finishes from Ian’s magic workshop. I didn’t buy anything on Saturday, but on Sunday afternoon I did some serious shopping. Pick-ups included a Blue Carbonesque Pilot Vanishing Point from Vanness, a Lucky Star Pens x Ryan Krusac collaboration called the Legend L31 in “Dark Andromeda”, which features absolutely gorgeous Diamondcast acrylic, two Franklin-Christoph Model 20s that were show specials, and a pen from Jonathon Brooks that I couldn’t pass up because I loved the dark blue material.
Clockwise from left: Two Franklin-Christoph Model 20s, Lucky Star/Ryan Krusac Studios L31, Jonathon Brooks/Carolina Pen Company, Pilot Vanishing Point in Blue Carbonesque, Schon DSGN Pocket Sixes in Faceted Brass and a green-gold anodized finish.
I also picked up some Yamamoto Spica Bond Paper from Vanness, and an Odyssey Notebook, featuring 68gsm Tomoe River, in B5 size!
Did the Show Feel Safe, and Will I Be Attending More Pen Shows?
While the situation with the pandemic remains fluid and subject to change, I can say that as an attendee who is both vaccinated and wore a mask throughout the entire show, I felt relatively safe and was able to enjoy myself. The fact that 95% of attendees seemed to play by the rules was encouraging, and most people seemed motivated to help the organizers keep the show running smoothly. For me, I was most surprised by the amount of time it took for me to adjust to being around this many people for the first time in nearly 18 months, and the amount of energy required to socialize for three straight days. I did tend to limit my close “after-hours” interaction to smaller group dinners and tried to stay distanced at the bar. I didn’t attend any classes, seminars, or official events at night.
I would love to attend more pen shows this year, and may try to make San Francisco later this month. While I brought a few items for sale from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, including a few Sunderland x T.G.S. mk1 pens, the latest Caran d’Ache x Nespresso collaborations, Traveler’s Notebooks, and a ton of Book Darts (which were sleeper hits as expected), I likely won’t be exhibiting as an independent vendor this year. We’re a small operation, and given the stresses of a day job, kid in school, and general level of exhaustion due to what it’s taken to survive the past 18 months, I’m saving further “show expansion” as something on the horizon for 2022. Many thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello at the Vanness table, and especially those who purchased something from me! It was nice to meet you all, and I hope to see you at more shows in the future. Stay safe out there!
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