Link Love: The Pen Shows That Weren’t

Last week, news that both the San Francisco and Dallas Pen Shows were cancelling this year hit the pen community. The Chicago Pen Show announced that they were not going to hold their show in 2020 and announced their 2021 spring dates. There are only a few US Shows left on the calendar and it’s unlikely, at this point, that they will be going forward this year.

The 2020 St. Louis Pen Show worked with several pen makers to create special pens that matched this year’s show ink (purple). The show was cancelled but they hosted an online virtual event, including a launch video featuring several of the makers involved in the virtual event.

The pens sold quickly but there may still be a few available and a couple bottles of the KWZ show ink available for sale. The plan is to do a lottery to give everyone a chance to get some – available worldwide. More details on their site.

The effects of COVID-19 continue to impact our community. Small makers, distributors, pen shops and the pen community at large have all been impacted by this pandemic along with the hospitality industry, the travel industry, and the service industries. The dangers of this health crisis can’t be ignored but the financial and social impacts have also been devastating.

We will continue to update our Pen Show Schedule with changes for 2020 and any dates available for 2021. Our fingers are crossed that we can all gather in 2021.

Pens:

• Does a hand sanitizer on our hands damage the pens that we use? Does it discolor? (via Pen Boutique Blog)
• Additive Pens Double Helix Fountain Pen Review (via Pens! Paper! Pencils!)
• Oddly Satisfying Sexy Flexy Handwriting (via Gourmet Pens)
• Multi-generational Multi-pen Round-up (via Penquisition)
• Cleo Skribent’s rare Natura (via UK fountain pens)

Ink:

• Kaweco Smokey Grey (via InkSharks)
• Ink Review of Colorverse Solar Wind & Magnetosphere (via Mountain of Ink)
• Noodler’s Revolution Blue (via Mountain of Ink)
• Herbin 350th Anniversary Gift Set (via Nick Stewart: Fountain Pen Ink Art)
• Pelikan 4001 Blue Black (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist)
• Taccia Ao (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist)
• Diamine Earl Grey Review (via Writing at Large)
• Kala Tribute to Neon “Groovy Neon Violet” Ink (via The Pen Addict)

Pencils:

• The Enduring Allure of Pencils (via Hyperallergic)
• A guide to pencil lead grades (via The Pen Company Blog)
• Blackwing Volume 3 The Ravi Shankar Pencil (via Gourmet Pens)

Notebooks & Paper:

• Yamamoto Cosmo Air Light Paper Review (via Fountain Pen Love)
• Handmade Stationery Set Tutorial (via The Postman’s Knock)
• Artist And Cancer Survivor Creates Sincere Empathy Cards (via Design You Trust)
• TAG Stationery Kyo-No-Oto Hisoku (via Tokyo Station Pens)
• Time to reorganise the contents of your organiser? (via Philofaxy)
• Handwriting, Lockdown and Unlined Smythson Notebooks (via Notebook Stories)

Art & Creativity:

• GUEST ARTIST: “Art Can (and Should) Begin at 40!” by Michelle Gonzalez (via Doodlewash)
• The Seduction of Color (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
• Take Your Art to the Next Level With These Useful Drawing Tips (via My Modern Met)
• Learn About Letterpress Printing, From Its Beginnings to Today (via My Modern Met)
• Lessons in Slow Living (via My Giant Strawberry)
• Painting Fast, Thinking Slow (via Doodlewash)
• Why Cooper Black is Everywhere (via The Casual Optimist)
• 14 Years of Inspiring Crafts! (via Fancy Tiger Crafts)
• Dana’s Edit: A New Direction (via Modern Daily Knitting)

Other Interesting Things:

• Hamilton, But Sung By The Muppets (via Kottke.org)
• Honest Advice On Relationships And Life In General By This Balloon Artist (via Design You Trust)
• A Mail Art Project Creates Space for Collective Mourning and Exchange (via Hyperallergic)
• Will TikTok Be Banned in the US? (via Hyperallergic)

Black Lives Matter:

• LTJG Swegle Makes History as First Black Female Tactical Navy Jet Pilot (via My Modern Met)
• Vivid Paintings by Artist Jessica Spence Highlight the Beauty of Black Hair (via Colossal)
• In Good Company is back with reflections on what we’ve learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic (via Creative Boom)
• A History of Policing in America (via Kottke.org)
• Black Lives Matter: Solomon Plaatje, his Smith Premier Typewriter and the Siege of Mafeking (via Oz Typewriter)

COVID-19/Coronavirus-related:

• Bill Nye Demonstrates Why We Need to Wear Face Masks in Public (via My Modern Met)
• A View From the Easel During Times of Quarantine (via Hyperallergic)
• How Risky Is Visiting a Museum? This Graphic About COVID-19 Transmission Provides Some Answers (via Hyperallergic)
• Nursing Home Residents Recreate Famous Album Covers During Pandemic Lockdown (via Kottke.org)
• Lockdown, Lockout, lockup (via Nero’s Notes)