Link Love: Recaps & Recuperation

I am no longer feeling like death warmed over and, just in time, too!  We leave tomorrow for the Chicago Stationery Fest which is completely sold out for the weekend. I look forward to meeting new people, teaching new classes and seeing some old friends too!

(If you are from Chicago, you’ll 100% get this week’s photo. If not… I bet you can guess. DIBS!)

There are some fun links this week. CJ’s Wunderkammer take the idea of gamifying to pen collecting so I have more things to consider about my “gamifying my life” project. And The Gentleman Stationer asks the question “Is there a Specific Color You Gravitate Towards” in your pen collecting? I will have to dig into my collection and see what I discover.

And there’s a pencil review this week! A shorthand pencil. Which is interesting because Lisa at Vanness Pen Shop and I have been talking about her teaching a shorthand class as a future pen show. Its a skill she possesses and I think it would be cool to learn this secret code-like writing would be. Do you know how to write shorthand? Would you be interested in learning it?

Pen Show Recaps:

• Baltimore Washington International Pen Show Recap (via Penquisition)
• 2025 Baltimore Pen Show Recap (via The Pen Addict)
• BWIPS 2025 Recap (via Rachel’s Reflections)

Pens:

• Attainable Urushi – Pilot’s Urushi Lacquer Pens Under $1,000 (via Pen Boutique Ltd Blog)
• Opus 88 Mini Pocket Stripes Fountain Pen Review (via The Pen Addict)
• Favorite Fountain Pens: Is There a Specific Color You Gravitate Towards? (via The Gentleman Stationer)
• Santini Giant Faceted Venezia Fountain Pen Review (via BLAKE’S BROADCAST)
• The Gamification of Fountain Pen Collecting (via CJ’s Wunderkammer)
• Review: Jinhao 10 Fountain Pen (via Inky Imaginings)

Ink:

• Currently Inked Pens March 2025 (via Writing at Large)
• Ink Review #2726: Teranishi Guitar Innocent Mauve (via Mountain of Ink)
• Ink Review #2725: Diamine Port of Call (via Mountain of Ink)
• ink review : Graf von Faber-Castell Olive Green (via inkxplorations)
• Van Dieman’s Tassie Salmon (via Inkcredible Colours)
• Ink Review #2723: Dominant Industry Atlantis (via Mountain of Ink)
• Tono & Lims Orbit L2 Ink Review: a Stand Out “Light” Ink (via Pen Chalet)

Pencils:

• Pitman’s Special Shorthand Pencil (via Pencil Fodder)

Notebooks & Paper:

• Musubi Pocket Folio A6 Slim Notebook Review (via BLAKE’S BROADCAST)
• Kakimori Custom Notebook First Look, What About The Muddler? (via The Pen Addict)
• Filofax A5 Malden – Revisited (via Philofaxy)
• Moleskine Touch Notebook (via Notebook Stories)

Art & Creativity:

• Winterized (via Abigail Halpin)
• Drawing Table Unpacked (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
• The best podcasts for creative inspiration in 2025 (via Creative Boom)
• How to beat creative block: practical tips from your fellow creatives (via Creative Boom)

Other Interesting Things:

• Spring desk refresh: 8 fresh finds in stationery and office accessories (via Creative Boom)
• 11 Best Women’s Bags for Work, Travel, and Everyday Use (via Carryology)
• I’m Still Here (via From the Pen Cup)
• Here’s your Manila Pen Show 2025 ultimate guide (via Pen Noob)
• Stationery and school: My personal round-up (via Urban Adventure League)
• Peter Pauper Press Planner Stickers Review (via All About Planners)
• The Conqueror numbering machine (via The Typewriter Revolution blog)

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