u/Particular_Song3539

It wasn't exactly planned, but I ended up getting New Purple Pens and New Purple Inks. So I thought I should share !

Purple Pen :

- Fine Writing International x Wagner Amethyst 14k F

- Fine Writing International x Wagner 八犬伝（智）18k F

Purple Ink :

- Van Dieman's Arctic 90 ° North

- Van Dieman's 2025 Ink of month Firefly

PS: (The pen is not shown in these photos but the ink is Van Dieman's 2023 Ink of month November )

I have owned Ebonite pen before but didn't used it that much and sold . But then I saw this one (八犬伝（智）) with a blue and purple barrel and I was sold in the first 0.2 sec lol

I am very glad I got it, it is heavier but not uncomfortable, it looks and feels premium on hand. The Jowo 18K F has good ink flow , inked with Firefly which has a great amount of yellow tone iridescent shimmer, base color is light enough but very much eligible even with a F nib.

Amethyst is a real beauty because the resin shines when moving the barrel. The new ink released by Van Dieman's is perfect matchy matchy. There are beautiful halo effect with this ink.

A few weeks ago I decided to turn one of my TN into a crossbody bag, the inspiration came from u/skay1211 in their previous post about hers.

I used to be a "heavy handbag carrier " (because the day when I decided to carry light would always be the day I needed something that I didn't bring) . However ever since last year I started suffering from "frozen shoulder", I could no longer maintain the same set up without being in pain the whole time so carrying a lightweight bag instead became a must for me.

A crossbody mini shoulder bag is my daily choice but there are also days I need to visit the hospital and a notebook with a pen would come in handy.

Instead of the regular size , I chose the passport size because I wanted to "test the water " first to see if it would fit my style.

I used a Big Bite (a hole punch+ eyelet setter) to punch holes just a little bit under the cut in the spine. I didn't have eyelets with a washer on hand so I left the back of the eyelets like in the photo here.

There are several things I want to add for those who want to try :

+ Be mindful of the size of the eyelets you chose vs the size of the snap hook you can fit in vs the weight of the TN you will be carrying . The smaller the eyelet means it would be hard to put in a bigger snap hook.(Edit: it should be "smaller" .. because a smaller eyelet has less "space" to let the snap hook move around and pinch in)

+ Because both ends of the TN will be bound to the snap hook and a long stripe, you will not be able to use the original elastic band as closure.

+ I am using the Galen wallet as an insert, the zipper pocket ensures the inside is secured. Otherwise, things inside the TN could fall off and disappear easily as you walk and move. Only put things you don't mind missing for your test runs.

I have been using it for 2 weeks now and overall I love it. It has a lot of potential and I am enjoying the journey to evolve it into a system that fits my daily life.

If you have any questions I am happy to answer as best as I can 🙂

I have always known Wagner has different fountain pen events , but it always feel a little bit difficult to tackle and navigate the information provided by a blog that filled with more ads than anything. This time a friend invited me to come because they would be attending as a vendor.

It was held on the 10th floor of a rather big multi purpose commercial building, the venue is well equipped, clean and well lighted ( very important to me ! I hate building with dim and orange hue lights) . There were 22 vendors , including 2 workshops and 3 nib-meisters.

I arrived 45 mins earlier and got into chit-chatting with old friend and missed the early entrance queue up. When I joined the queue up line it was 2 mins before the open time, around 10 people queuing up. During my time in the event, I observed that over 95% were male , mostly elderly male, there were only 4 or 5 females (including myself) that I have seen, one being a foreigner who came with a friend being a translator.

The biggest reason I came to the event was to get some of the pens created by Fine Writing International which are only available through Wagner events. My first time getting a FWI pen was from Lichtope(who is also a member of Wagner). They tune every pens before they ship out. I have never had a smoother steel pen in my whole collection , or any other experience when I wrote with a steel nib. I don't know how they decide which new FWI x Wagner models named under Wagner or Lichtope but at that point I just want one, or two , or three lol

I ended up ordering 2 from the "before-event sale" and got this blue marble one in the show. Mr Mori (head of Wagner) tuned a beautiful jowo Flex-F nib for me while I sat in his booth and chatted . It writes beautifully. It doesn't 'flex' but it is soft and wet just as I like.

For anyone who has been curious about Wagner 's event. I think it is a lovely event if you like treasure-hunting. I got a brand new 742 falcon nib in Deep red (discontinued color) in very very good price at the Kobayashi Stationery booth. That pen with a FA or WA nib was only available in events.

There are also good deals in different booths e.g. a brand new M600 art collection Rudi Rother selling at JPY69,xxx, the lowest price I have ever seen (believe me, I have checked everywhere ).

It is an attractive event for FP collectors with big budgets. There were a lot of LE Pelikan, or customized version, with premium price tag. There were NOS, or overseas LE version of pens that rarely available in the Japan market. BUT, it is an event that requires coverage to tackle. Even as an extrovert myself, I found it not as easy to "blend in " (or make friends) as other FP or stationery events.

Not exactly my first priority when I shop for stationery but over the years I sorta got a pen rest collection.

The only two I use daily are the Galen brass one and the biggest one with the bird.

Show me yours ?

🌈　Honoring the Pride month 🌈
There are many times that I wish Traveler's notebook related products has more colors. Why is it always be brown, black, grey, dark navy ? can we have brighter colors ? The Love and trip is such a refreshing release and it shouldn't be a LE imo.

^(TSL has a lot more colorful choices but the prices has been getting really out of hand orz.)

Colorful stationery to honor the Pride month 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

I have custom-ordered a kimono flap pen case from Uttoko Japan .

Back in the Tokyo pen show two years ago, I was mesmerized at the elegant and high quality handmade pen cases at her booth. I approached her in messages last July and asked about the possibility of ordering a special pen case using my own kimono. She was very co-operative and agreed to take my order.

Fast forwarded this year in April, I was finally settled down in my new place and was able to send out my kimono for her to work on. My kimono, which you can see from the last photo, was given by an elderly lady twenty something years ago, not long after I got married in Japan. It was a light lilac color with subtle, not too loud floral design. I have worn that kimono to several events and have had lovely memories with it (especially because I was a newlywed ).

The kimono was a symbol of the precious memories in my old house and me starting to get into the local community. Sadly, I didn't have the skills for wearing a kimono all by myself, nor did I have any future occasions to wear such a formal traditional outfit , so the kimono has been sleeping at the bottom of my closet for years. Before the move, I have decluttered all of the other kimono and accessories I was given and only left this one.

The pen case is hand stitched, soft and beautiful. I am beyond grateful for it's beauty, and the memories attached into the fabric. I was also reminded of the good conversation with Aiko san during our meets.

Only a tiny part of my kimono was used to make this pen case, I am hoping to order more when my budget allows.

If any of you are looking for special pen case for your special pens, Uttoko is your choice !

Thank you the inspiration from u/napsforlife . It is hands down my favorite journal style right now. Playful and creative, one of the best ways to show off my shimmer inks in my best pens/nibs.

I always have these three pens in my desk, because they are smooth and never dried out.

From left to right:Fine Writing International Buffalo Horn B - Eyedropped - inked with Van Dieman's Christmas Beetle

Fine Writing International ×Lichtope Starry Night B - Button Piston - inked with Vinta Jewel Green

Fine Writing International Planet Jupiter F- Eyedropped - inked with Van Dieman's Marilyn

I am having a lot of fun with this circle doodle style !!

Does anyone have this ornament (or similar from Starbucks) ? It says it's ceramic, I wonder how doable it is to use it as a TN charm. The size is perfect and it looks stinking cute 🥰