The Dallas Pen Show was a great experience this year. Despite an extra day and a half of show which was tiring, the attendees, vendors and organizers were all a delight.
Not only did people share their love of pens and stationery with us but also with each other. I’m always tickled to watch one attendee help another by recommending their favorite ink, helping someone find something on the ink racks or just make new friends simply flipping through the ink swatch books and ooh-ing and ahh-ing together over the colors.
Thanks to the Dromgoole’s for continuing to allow me to be a part of their team. Every show with them is a true joy even if I have to alphabetize inks, lift heavy boxes and crawl around on the floor looking for something I put under the table for “safe keeping”.
Thanks to Ardwolf Ink for answering all my questions about their fascinating new ink line but of course I forgot to ask the most important question which was “How can people buy your inks after the show?!?!” because I forgot to pick some up during the show.
Thanks to Josh John of Precision Writing Works for making my Kaweco Sport actually an EF nib.
There was more kindness and joy throughout the weekend as well. On Friday night there was a Pelikan Hub event hosted by Hubmaster Mike (sing that like the Beastie Boys please, “Hub D in da House.. say hey now!”) and everyone who wanted to attend were invited so I was able to go. Mike put together a history of Pelikan slide show and had folks in the audience share their Pelikan stories. Then hosted an Ink Crawl that was so much fun and introduced folks to new ink colors, new brands and new ink makers.
Big thanks to others who brought me gifts and kindness throughout the weekend like a mini Traveler’s notebook (you didn’t tell me your name! Leave a comment below if this was you since I want to send you more business!), a tiny magnifying glass (Natalie), chocolates and snacks (Kimberly), stickers and washi (Danielle) and probably a bunch of other things I am forgetting but will remember the moment I hit post. For those folks, consider this your full page ad in Variety after the Oscars. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Pen people really are the best sorts of people. Thanks to everyone for making the Dallas Pen Show awesome this year.
Pens:
- ✨ I Custom Dyed a Pilot Kakuno! ✨ (via Heather Marie Plans on YouTube)
- Pen Pit Stop : LAMY AL-star Harry Potter Limited Edition Series (2024) (via inkxplorations)
- Pairings Party: Kaweco Sport Marble Ocean, Pennonia x SultilsAttila Stormy Meadow (via The Pen Addict)
- Nebotek (II) (via Crónicas Estilográficas)
Ink:
- My Favorite Red Inks in 2026 (and Why I Still Decided to Make My Own) (via The Gentleman Stationer)
Notebooks & Paper:
- Interview with Scrively: What Makes a Good Notebook? (via Scrively)
- Review: Kinbor Undated Weekly Planner (via Inky Imaginings)
- Free For All Friday No 933 Tabs by Laurie (via Philofaxy)
- Apica Notebooks – A Quick Review (via The Pen Addict)
- analogue system prototype – Hobonichi Cousin // wakako (via Baum-kuchen)
Art & Creativity:
- What freelance life taught me about my ADHD, burnout and what I need to make great work (via It’s Nice That)
- Book Review: The Art of Rachel and Terry Dodson (via Parka Blogs)
- Drawing With Friends in San Jose (via Apple-Pine)
- Using colour blocks (via Liz Steel)
Other Interesting Things:
- Still summer (a mixtape) (via Austin Kleon)
- Digital life might have seemed perfect for a while, but paper is making a comeback (via Flow Magazine)
- A Pelikan Hub recap, London UK, 2026. (via Fountain pen blog)
Check out our Patreon where you can get inspiration, gossip and free printables that include a biweekly podcast and more. Your patronage supports this site. Without them, and without you, we could not continue to do what we do. Thank you!