2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Fountain Pen Addicts

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Pen friends in the US are celebrating Thanksgiving this week and the countdown to Black Friday begins!  It got me thinking that a holiday gift guide would be helpful.  This guide is primarily intended for the non-pen person looking for a gift for the fountain pen aficionado, whether newbie or seasoned, in his or her life.

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Currently Inked: Loadout for Weekend Hockey Tournament

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October has been fairly light in terms of travel but duty called. This time the duties as a hockey mom which involved going with my son and his team to the city of Kitchener for a hockey tournament. Originally this was supposed to be a 3 day trip but cut short by the sad reality that our team did not make it into the final day of the tournament. On a positive note, it gave me an opportunity to plan another pen + ink load out.

Apart from my must-bring Hobo and TN, I wanted to bring whatever pens and paper I could fit inside a larger case. The case I had in mind was the A5 sized Lihit Lab Teffa Bag in Bag. I was expecting to travel a lot from rink to rink and I wanted a self-contained writing tool kit that I could bring along.

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Chinese Cacography: 汽車 Car

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It's been awhile since I last posted a Chinese Cacography. Here's a simple one. Akkerman Shocking Blue has amazing sheen - even on this Baron Fig paper which is a bit absorbent. I wish I could photograph the sheening quality better.

**Pen:** Omas Ogiva Alba EF Extra Flessibile  
**Ink:** Akkerman Shocking Blue

**Brush:** Kuretake No. 8 Brush Pen  
**Ink:** Kuretake Black

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Currently Inked: Loadout for Trip to Philadelphia

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After coming home from my annual family cottage vacation, I barely got my luggage unpacked before repacking for a short trip to Philadelphia.  A few days was for working but there was a little time for sightseeing too. 

Since this would be shorter trip I decided to pack lightly in terms of writing instruments and stationery especially since I was intending NOT to check any baggage.

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Chinese Cacography: 修訂 Revise

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It's interesting that Tokiwa-Matsu looks flat green on Baron Fig paper. Definitely a sign of it's absorbency compared to certain Travelers Notebook, Rhodia or Tomoe River papers.

Pen: Franklin-Christoph Model 45 IPO Masuyama M Cursive Italic

Ink: Sailor Jentle Tokiwa-Matsu

Brush: Kuretake No. 8 Brush Pen

Ink: Kuretake Black

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Chinese Cacography: 頭痛 Headache

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There's lots going on in my life at the same time and that's giving me a real headache.  My project list at work continues to grow, deadlines looming, kids' end of school year madness, my mom broke her leg and needed an operation…the only thing not giving me a headache is writing this blog.

Pen: TWSBI Diamond 580 - Orange EF
Ink:  Lamy Blue

Brush: Kuretake No. 8 Brush Pen
Ink:  Kuretake Black

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Wordless Wednesday: My Fountain Pen Families

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Edison Pens

Pilot/Namiki

Platinum

Lamy

Franklin-Christoph

Throwback Thursday: First Look at Platinum Natural Weasel Hair Brush Pen and Platinum Black

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Pen:       Platinum Natural Weasel Hair Brush Pen

Ink:        Platinum Black

Paper:   Rhodia No. 16 Grid

I've posted a fair number of "Chinese Cacography" posts now.  They all feature the Platinum brush pen.  I was fascinated that they made brush pens that used ink cartridges.  I picked one up as I thought it would be a fun way to extend the use of fountain pen ink.

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