My first time creating a fully flourished piece like this! It took me almost an hour to figure out how to make the flourishes flow together naturally without looking awkward. I still have a lot to improve, but I’m happy with how it turned out! ✍️

Diamine Ancient Copper

Lamy Safari Charcoal <1.1>

Maruman A5 dotted notebook

I've recently become obsessed with fountain pens after getting back into calligraphy. I've been lurking for a while on this sub and fell in love with the look of the TWSBI ECO. I couldn't decide which one I wanted, so I bought three... And I love them!

Serpentine and Bronze <F>, currently inked with Diamine Rustic Brown

Rootbeer and Bronze <M>, currently inked with Diamine Eau de Nil

Creme and Rose Gold <1.1>, currently inked with Diamine Masquerade (shimmer). This is such a gorgeous pen and ink combo (imo). A swatch for this ink is on slide 4.

Written in both my Leuchtturm and on my Rhodia notepad. These write so beautifully.

I've already asked for gift vouchers to a pen shop for Christmas so I can buy more of these 🫣 I'm eyeing up the Plum and Onyx, and either the Blue Slate and Onyx or the Indigo and Bronze.

A Witch Hat Atelier cosplayer showing off her pen/wand at New York Comic Convention 2026.

It's a great series, by the way. Magic is an art form. Magic-users paint glyphs to combine effects.

As the title says, I had too many glasses of Côte de Rhône and went to Stylo.ca to get the Nahvalur Horizon Nebula with a stub nib. I regret nothing. The nib writes like a dream. The pen positively shimmers in certain slants of light. The paper is Midori MD A5-lined letter pad. The handwriting is mine.

Pilot Iroshizuku Syo-ro

Lamy Al-Star Denim <EF>

Midori A5 dotted notebook

I've really been enjoying making these doodles! I love seeing how the pens look with different inks. Medium and Broad nibs.

Just a beginner and there is a huge mistake in this photo but....tis life.

This beauty was made using some absurdly gorgeous imitation opal, which I have paired with "Embers & Ice" resin from Hobble Creek Craftsman and raw copper accents. I'm super happy with how well the colors play together!

Takes Jowo #6 nibs & standard international converter or cartridges.

Thanks for looking!

I'm so excited to have finally finished a bottle!

It is a nice, permanent black ink. I would recommend it.

I thought I still had a few fills left to go!

But no... I was going to transfer some ink to a sample vial to fill my Asvine v126, but then I realised how little ink I had left. So I had to remove the section and syringe it straight into the barrel. The kakuno (EF) has been the main companion to this ink, it's still half full (so,another month till I'm fully out...?)

Since July I've been trying to finish some inks.

I limited myself to a selection of 4 bottles (Sailor Seiboku, De Atramentis Document Black, De Atramentis Document 'Urban Sienna' and Van Dieman's 'Blue Ringed Octopus') and 7 mostly used samples (I finished them pretty quickly).

Have just got into the fountain pen hobby over the last couple of months after recieving a new pen for my birthday (Parker IM), then falling headfirst into this obsession. I don't own anything super premium as of yet. At the moment I am just having fun, picking up fun pens on the cheaper side to build my collection before I move on to more pricier options. The Parker Urban was my first ever pen I recieved probably 10 years ago as a gift, but kind of forgot about until I felt the urge to write with a fountain pen again.

From L to R:

Majohn A1, Wing Sung 601, Parker Urban, Parker IM, Lamy Al Star, Waterman Allure, Pilot Metropolitan, Pilot Kakuno, Pelikan Twist, Jinhao 159, Jinhao 159, Jinhao X450, Jinhao 82, Jinhao 59, Hongdian C1, Hongdian M2.

Inks I bought online finally arrived! They're from a brand called CAQI, and they're pretty cheap lmao But honestly, they tested different irl than what I saw in the shop, but doesn't mean I don't like them! They look really pretty! The Yantan one reminded me of Sailor Manyo in Ayame, and Wushan one is like a darker version of Van Dieman's Natura Dualis Nightfall. They have this kind of splotchy texture when they dry that I like, especially the one in Bifang.

I think among all of them, Bifang seems to be different. The ink felt more thick, while the others were a little runny and it had a vibrant sea green color out of the bottle but turned this emerald green on the paper.

A small collection of 7 fountain pens and 2 inks!

Inks (left to right):

1. Camlin Royal Blue

2. Camlin Syah Black

Pens (left to right):

1. Camlin Trinity

2. Unomax Brio

3. Jinhao 619

4. Figo Fountain Pen

5. Jinhao X450

6. Classmate Octane

7. Flair Inky Retrax

My favourites are the Unomax Brio, Jinhao 619, and Jinhao X450. I seem to have a soft spot for medium nibs! 😄

What does your fountain pen collection look like, and which pens are your favourites? 🖋️

I picked this up in Manila at the Analog store

Recently, I've been going through my pens and deciding what I'm going to keep. There are a few pens I have that just aren't for me or that I feel are just too many variations on a theme (for example, I have another Parker 51 and a Wingsung 601). This is what is staying. I use all of my pens and I'm trying to be intentional about my functional collection.

1^st:  Sheaffer Targa 1004x, Waterman Carene, Aurora 88 Big 925 Silver Godron, Aurora Optima O Sole Mio, Aurora Optima 365 Lilac LE, Aurora 88 Urano 888 LE, Waterman L’Etalon Gold Basketweave, Sailor Pro Gear Slim Shikiori Manyou

2^nd: Pelikan M205 Petrol-Marbled (put a <M> gold nib on it), Montblanc 144R, Sheaffer Balance II, Lady Sheaffer 632, Lady Sheaffer Skipsert XI, Sheaffer Legacy (the OG), Sheaffer Imperial Sterling Silver, Cross Townsend Herringbone

3^rd:  Sheaffer Crest Deluxe, Parker 51 Deluxe (2021), Parker 51, Pelikan M200 (Old Style), Asvine P36, Sailor Lecoule, Pelikan M200 Smokey Quartz, Jinhao 10

4^th:  Benu Astrogem (Hidden Gem #106), Hongdian M2 Brass, Lamy Al-Star Dark Dusk, Pilot Metropolitan, Jinhao 82, Jinhao 59, Jinhao 100, Pilot Vanishing Point Black Carbonesque

I've had my Maze for a few months now and can report that I have really enjoyed watching the ink slosh around. It's also comfortable to write with. I've had Sailor Seiboku (pigmented) inked up for about a month and the barrel cleaned up nicely after a dip in the ultrasonic. Color me impressed!

Is this (the bottom pen) a Sheaffer Snorkel?

You read the title right. I'm a retired elementary school teacher, lover of ALL things stationery who is just now trying out a fountain pen for the first time.

Trying out my Kakuno EF brought me back to when I was first using a pen or pencil for the first time in kindergarten!

Okay, well maybe not that far back.

I also tried out Tomoe River Paper for the first time as well.

A day of firsts, it turns out.

I have to say writing with the Kakuno wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. It almost felt..... pleasurable, and I see the appeal.

As I wrote, I found myself thinking, "This is how it should feel to write." I didn't worry about skips or the ink not being thorough enough (like some ball points tend to be).

And I was double surprised to see that it didn't ghost much through the TRP!

I fear I may be inching my foot closer to a dangerously deep rabbit hole.

Don't send help. :)

This year, after 30+ years of collecting fountain pens, my collecting and use dramatically changed. I have a nice collections of pens from vintage Waterman, Parker 51s to M800s, Pilots, Sailors, Lamys. I think over the years I chased the dream of a perfect pen without ever being sure what that was. The criteria has evolved over time which has made the pursuit more elusive. I have genuinely loved many of these pens but there has always been something missing about each. I went down the rabbit hole of flex, titanium nibs, titanium pens for durability, vintage, modern, etc never quite capturing that indefinable "perfection" factor. Often I would have 20+ (at least) pens in rotation, switching between them.

Early this year, encouraged by a nibmeister I met, I took the plunge to start grinding nibs myself. The experience has been a revelation. I watched a few YouTube videos to get started. I use fine DMT plates to grind and Belgium coticules for polishing. It turned out to be much much easier than I feared.

What I have found is that the custom nibs are a completely different writing experience in contrast with standard manufactured ones. They are personalised because, as you grind and polish, you can complete this from your own writing position which means that the tip develops perfect contact and smoothness on the page, tailored your own writing. I can precisely tune how I want a pen to write. I have baked and cut my own quills in the past and the bespoke writing experience is almost identical.

Suddenly I found what the intangible missing factor was. Now I have a subset of my pens that absolutely blow me away because they fit my writing exactly.

As a result I have now settled on a single pen that I am using for everything, something that has never happened before for me. In addition, it has improved my writing and work. I am writing more, both professionally and personally, which has transformed my daily life. I write faster and more fluently, work through problems more thoroughly and completely, I think because the pen nows feels like an extension of my arm and frees me to think without distraction. It just fits. The experience lifts the day, and puts a smile on my face.

For the first time I can remember I am not in search for a new pen. It dawned on me today, is this the end of my pen collecting?

Whatever the consequences I now believe there was a perfect pen out there and it was worth the search. I hope you find yours.

TGIF, looking forward to the weekend. Here are a few of my favorite Pelikan M1000 fountain pens that are thirsty for ink and want to be written with. These are displayed on a beautiful Aegean Leather wooden and leather pen tray. I can't wait for the Empire State Pen Show. Have a nice day and enjoy your weekend 🙏🏻

Pelikan M1000 with turban snail mother of pearl stripes and synthetic opal fragments by @ernesturushi

Pelikan M1000 Urushi with synthetic opal fragments

Pelikan M1000 Raden Green Ray 18K M - LE 400 pieces 2020

I have been very intrigued by the Keyno since I love DI inks a lot but neither of the colors were calling to me. I LOVE this edition tho!

My daughter gifted me this new pen case for my birthday today. I’m half Japanese and love my fountain pens so this was a really thoughtful gift. The seller is on Etsy.

Day 1: Reviving the cursive handwriting I used back in school, which I last used in 7th grade. My wrist was already burning after writing this short text.

I’m absolutely in love with this strawberry pattern. The jinhao 59 has ignited a deep appreciation for these cute pocket pens. If anyone knows the production dates of these pens I would love to know.