I’m back from Portland and the Pacific Northwest Pen Show and I think I was wired on adrenaline yesterday because today, I’m a zombie. Here’s my highlights:
- I forgot to take any photos of the show so check out Kimberly’s post on Pen Addict later this week for some photos of the event.
- I met friends new and old. I met an author I love and was delighted to get to chat for quite awhile on Sunday morning. I met pen pals in person for the first time and I even got to be a fan girl when I met Liisa of Wonderland 222 and I even got some exciting planner news for 2026 (more on that soon, I promise).
- I had the amazing Gena Salorino of Custom Nib Studio to look at a nib for me and they agreed that “yes, that nib is hot garbage” and “yes, I can fix it.” The magic that is a pen show.
- I got several bottles of ink because “I can stop anytime” is a lie I still tell myself.
- I worked at the Dromgoole’s tables and sold lots of bottles of ink, some Kaweco pens, a few Tom’s Studio Lumos and Wren pens and a goodly sized pile of paper goods.
- I was flattered people recognize me at show. Some said hello, some asked for photos. My 15 minutes of celebrity! LOL!
- The PDX airport is in my top 5 US airports. There are great local food options, local shops and its quiet. So, blissfully quiet. If you have to fly in to Portland, make sure to leave a little time to explore the airport.
Pens:
- Endless Stationery Phantom Fountain Pen First Impressions (via dapprman)
- (3) Review: super elite tactical fountain pen – by Ricardo (via Extra Fine Writing)
- Is the Amazon Basics Stationery Range any good? Testing out the pens and highlighters (via All About Planners)
Ink:
- Inkebara No. 1304 Kopi (via Inkcredible Colours)
- Sailor Shikiori vs Iroshizuku: Blue Ink Comparison (via Pen Chalet)
- Diamine Reddit Lady Grey Ink Project (via FOUNTAIN PEN INK ART)
- Endless Stationery Alchemy Inks Series — Poseidon’s Reef Review (via The Pen Addict)
Pencils:
- Leuchtturm Drehgriffel Mechanical Pencil Review (via The Pen Addict)
Notebooks, Paper & Planners:
- Dominant Industry Ink Archiving Book: A Log of Elixir (via Olive Octopus)
- Guest Post – Going to Personal from A5 – Zsu Part 1 (via Philofaxy)
- MeePlus A5 compact organisers/binders (via Philofaxy)
- Review: Filofax Patterns Personal Organiser (Pastel Spots) (via Inky Imaginings)
- TRAVELER’s Notebook vs. Yamamoto Ro-Biki: What’s the Difference? (via The Gentleman Stationer)
Art & Creativity:
- Sea Lavender (via Apple-Pine)
- REVIEW: Winsor & Newton 8-Color Revival Collection (via Doodlewash)
- The Art of Dailiness, by Michael Bierut (via It’s Nice That)
Other Interesting Things:
- Old books are time machines (via Austin Kleon)
- The Brilliance and Privilege of Jane Austen and Julia Margaret Cameron (via Hyperallergic)
- Why Take a Selfie in 2025? (via Hyperallergic)
- Alan Rivera paints a travelogue of Texas that is filled with love (via It’s Nice That)
- Bookshop.org’s 100 Bestselling Books of 2025 (So Far) (via Kottke.org)
- Windows (via Inkcredible Colours)
- You Have To Make a Mess To Make It Better (via From the Pen Cup)
- Pictures of Words — July Notes (via Line Variation)
- Mid-Year review (plus a few weeks) (via Casual Crossings)
- I thought my fountain pen would improve my handwriting… (via Analog From Here)
- A second printing for The Typewriter Revolution (via The Typewriter Revolution blog)
- TWA Hotel: A Time Capsule of Air Travel on the Eve of the Jet Age (via Atomic Redhead)
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