In Link Love

Link Love: Tariff-ying Future

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment
Link Love: Tariff-ying Future

(*Featured image from Selvedge by Donovan Beeson on Patreon)

For the full story, please visit Paper & Pencil’s post on Instagram

Last week, Paper & Pencil (the Chicago-based stationery shop) posted about the new tariffs and how they have been directly affected. Because the tariffs are changing day-by-day, some vendors might receive a bill for astronomical fees one day and the next, the tariffs are on hold for 90 days. I fret for how this will effect small shops and small businesses. I purchase some items for the shop from other small makers and I know not everything they create is made in the US. I have had to hold off on making anymore custom washi tape designs until I can verify that I won’t be hit with 135% tariff fees to import it (washi tape can only be made in Asia at the present). If I were to be hit with fees that high, I’d have to double the price for a roll of tape which I don’t think would end well for anyone.

Check out the article below from Notebook Stories about how notebooks and journals will also be affected by potential tariffs. These import fees will definitely change how we, as pen and stationery fans, purchase and collect our favorite items. Time to reach into our current stash and use some of those notebooks we’ve saved for a “special occasion”.

Pens:

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Pencils:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Post & Letter-Writing:

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In Ink Review

Ink Review: 3 Oysters Caramel Macchiato

Author Laura CameronPosted on 1 Comment

Are you ready for my next installment in brown inks? Ana was a super pal and brought me a few new ones from the Baltimore Pen Show!

Today’s ink is 3 Oysters Caramel Macchiato (38mL for $16), and I have to say it reminds me perfectly of the way they drizzle the caramel into the cup when they make this drink!

The brown definitely leads a bit yellow, very close to Diamine Gingerbread, and not quite as rich as Robert Oster Toffee, but close.

I love 3 Oysters Inks. The square bottles make it oh so easy to fill your pen, and their inks are really lovely shaders.

Sadly this is not a Mocha Mousse candidate, but I really like it and can’t wait to put it in another pen!

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature

Some Exciting News!

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment

I will be attending the Little Craft Fest event next weekend (April 25-27)! I’ll be helping the Dromgoole’s all weekend at the event … and I’ll actually get to see the shop in person for the first time on Wednesday.

There will be a PLOTTER event at Dromgoole’s shop from 9 AM – 8 PM on Wednesday, April . The event includes corner customization ($20), FREE Leather Binder seminar from 4-5 PM and Vision Board Workshop (ticketed). For details, check out the PLOTTER USA website for more information and workshop tickets). I am going to make sure to bring my Plotter with me and get fancy corners!

I’ll be bringing some Well-Appointed Desk goodies to have at the table. If there’s anything you would like me to bring for you, please drop me an email or leave a comment here.

Can’t wait to visit Houston and the Little Craft Fest. I have SOOOO much to do in the next few days to get prepared. But I’m super excited.

In feature

Giveaway Winner: BENU Pixie

Author Laura CameronPosted on Leave a comment

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway for the BENU Pixie! I wish I had one for everyone, but sadly there can only be one. And that winner is Ash:

I’ve already contacted Ash by email and the pen is clean and ready to be sent. We look forward to more giveaways soon!

Thanks again to Luxury Brands USA for providing the BENU Pixies for review and giveaway (retail value: $59 & $72). Please see the About page for more details.

In feature

Preview: Kaleidocraft Prints 3D Stationery & Desk Accessories

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Preview: Kaleidocraft Prints 3D Stationery & Desk Accessories
My good pal Jaclyn (a familiar name and face both here on the blog and in the pen community) has been off the scene for a bit and is coming back with a big, bold, creative project! She and her fiancé Laura have started a 3D printing side-gig called Kaleidocraft Prints.
Kaleidocraft will have a table at the Chicago Pen Show in May, their first stationery-focused event. To launch the product line, she sent me a huge box of products to show off, get feedback and get everyone excited about what they’ll have at the show.
Kaliedocraft is using a combination of original designs (just learning how to do 3D design) as well as adapting other designs (with permission and commercial licenses where appropriate) for stationery uses and working with other designers to print their pre-existing designs that we think the stationery community would enjoy.
The designs that Kaleidocraft is making  are a basis for other crafts including painting, marbling, and resin-coating.
They plan to launch an Etsy shop by the end of April and have pre-orders available for pick-up in Chicago at the show. If you see something here, drop a message via Instagram and get your order in. (ALL PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE!)

First let’s talk about this stellar rainbow Pen Block ($15) with Interchangeable Magnets (prices for magnet vary based on size, starts at $2 each and up). It was designed by Jaclyn and Laura and includes a hand-applied resin on the top with glitter! So cool! The magnets are imbedded inside the print- magnets are meant to be interchangeable to change up the look of the pen block.

The “Bad Vibes” Desk Trashcan ($16) is absolutely adorable. Perfect for all those little bits of paper, candy wrappers and eraser dust. My 11-year-old neighbor saw it and her eyes popped out of her head so this disappeared across the street in a matter of minutes. Other models will be available in marbled material and with or without the “Bad Vibes” text.

I literally gasped out loud when I saw the Retro Typewriter Post-It Holder/ Clicker ($15). The minty, retro color scheme is perfect and the “functional” clicker keyboard makes me smile every time I tap, tap, tap and then pull a sticky note.

Kaleidocraft is making mix-and-match Storage Boxes ($16 each) and there are different inner divider options available (2-, 4- and 6-cubby options are available). While I absolutely love the marbled lid, Jaclyn informs me there are also going to be stationery-themed covers available in Chicago as well as other marbled lids. I vote marbled!

Jaclyn asked me a question about vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or mint before she sent me the package and I had no idea what it was in reference to. I said “mint” and voila! a melted Ice Cream Cone Vial Holder ($6 each). Which one is your favorite ice cream flavor (with sprinkles, of course!).

Frog and Cat Ink Buddies ($6 each) are designed to hold ink vial and glass nib pen or paint brush. I was able to balance a Sailor ProGear Slim but it worked much better with a slimmer barreled pen.

This little dude! This Crab Pen Holder ($6) is probably one of my favorite pieces. He makes me smile and laugh and is large enough to hold a good-sized fountain pen.

 

How lovely and unusual is this Candy Paper Clip Holder ($7 each)? I love the colors and the wonderful natural look. Its hard to believe its made with a 3D printer!

Kaleidocraft also sent me a handful of 3D printed, decorative Paper Clips ($1 for four). I think these are so cute but wonder how durable they will be with daily use in a planner. I guess time will tell.

Jaclyn lists these as Dragon Pens ($8 each and includes a Pentel Energel Needletip refill in 0.5mm) but they also look like mermaid scales to me so it’s up to you. Dragon or mermaid? or both!

The Fidget Pen ($8) is such a beautiful gradient material that features ribbons of swirls that thread into the magnet tip case so that when you pull on the cap, the pen twists out and its mesmerizing.

I was sent two of the neon colored Cassette Washi Tape Dispensers ($8 each). Each dispenser holds two rolls of washi tape and are so much fun.

These enormous Marker/ Pencil/ Paint Brush Keychain Clickers ($6 each) are fun and fidgety. Each feature a keyboard clicker/switch which is unusual. I wish I could open them to hide gum or aspirin or random little bits inside. Maybe there will be a deluxe version in the future? I’m most impressed by the multiple colors used for each of these designs. It makes them look so much more upscale and professional then so many of the 3D printed designs I’ve seen. It definitely shows the attention to detail and artistic eye of the Kaleidocraft team. There will be other color versions of these designs available too.

The Fountain Pen Nib Clicker Keychains ($5 each of 3 for $12) are smaller than the pen, pencil and brushes keychains. To keep these looking as authentic as possible, each nib is hand-coated in resin to look metallic in silver, copper and titanium (?!?!). These also have keyboard clickers for a little fidgety fun.

I wish I could be at the Chicago Pen Show to witness the joy and enthusiasm that people will have to this amazing new addition to our pen community. Stay posted for the launch of their Etsy Shop as well. I am sure they will be up to their eyeballs in orders soon!

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Kaleidocraft Prints for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In Link Love

Link Love: Goodnight, Moon in KC

Author AnaPosted on Leave a comment
Link Love: Goodnight, Moon in KC

I am so excited that the USPS will unveil new Goodnight Moon stamps at The Rabbit Hole here in KC on May 2 this year. The Rabbit Hole is a children’s literature interactive museum that opened here in Kansas City last year. It is a fabulous place — imagine a Meow Wolf for kid’s books. Yeah. That cool. I want to find out if the public will be allowed to attend. If so, I’ll definitely be there for the event.

Link of the Week:

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Ink:

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Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

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In Fountain Pen Review

Review & Giveaway: Benu Pixie Fountain Pen

Author Laura CameronPosted on 72 Comments

When Ana goes to pen shows, we all get gifts. Why should the Baltimore show be any different?

Ana has recovered from her traveling and we got together for coffee this past weekend. She presented me with two boxes, courtesy of Luxury Brands USA, holding two of the new BENU Pixie Fountain Pens. You know what that means right? One for me and one for you!

L to R: Franklin Christoph x Vanness 45, BENU Pixie, BENU Pixie, Kaweco AL Sport Iguana Blue

The Benu Pixie is a new entry into the pocket pen, perfect for every day carry. And this one is tiny! It’s shorter than both the Kaweco AL Sport and the Franklin Christoph 45, coming in at 3.58″/9cm closed, and  4.75″/12cm posted. I don’t generally post my pens, but this one definitely needs it, even in my small hands!

L to R: Franklin Christoph x Vanness 45, BENU Pixie, BENU Pixie, Kaweco AL Sport Iguana Blue
L to R: Franklin Christoph x Vanness 45, BENU Pixie, BENU Pixie, Kaweco AL Sport Iguana Blue

The BENU Pixie ranges in price from $59-72 depending on design (solid resins are $59, whereas dual color with glitter are $72). They are international cartridge filled only – even the Kaweco converter is too big for this tiny pen. They are available in 10 colors (shown here in Emerald Sea/F Nib and Coffee Brown/EF Nib) and you can choose EF, F, M and B steel nibs.

How do they write? I chose to test the Coffee Brown since it kind of goes along with my Mocha Mousse year.  I popped in a cartridge and it was off to the races. The ink flowed well into the nib and it wrote right away. The EF nib had a bit of feedback, but wasn’t too scratchy and the pen was comfortable in my hand. I did try without posting and that wasn’t terrible comfortable, but your mileage may very. Overall, I think this is a nice way to get the look of fun resin pens at a more entry level price tag, since comparable models from Carolina Pen Co., Franklin Christoph and the like are more expensive.

So that’s my take on it! But wait, there’s more.

THE GIVEAWAY: One lucky reader is going to win their choice of the two BENU Pixie pens above! Your pen will arrive in original packaging and with a few cartridges in as close to matching colors as I have.

Note: I inked the Coffee Brown for the purposes of this review and will clean it thoroughly if that is your choice – otherwise you can choose the pristine Emerald Sea.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below and tell me which color pen you would prefer? Play along and type in something. It makes reading through entries more interesting for me, okay? One entry per person.

If you have never entered a giveaway or commented on the site before, your comment must be manually approved by our highly-trained staff of monkeys before it will appear on the site. Our monkeys are underpaid and under-caffeinated so don’t stress if your comment does not appear right away. Give the monkeys some time.

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Friday, April 11, 2025. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Monday. Winner will be selected by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include your actual email address in the comment form so that I can contact you if you win. I will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. If winner does not respond within 5 days, I will draw a new giveaway winner. Shipping via USPS first class is covered. Additional shipping options or insurance will have to be paid by the winner. We are generous but we’re not made of money. US and APO/AFO only, sorry.

DISCLAIMER: Both BENU Pixie Fountain Pens were provided to The Well-Appointed Desk  free of charge for the purposes of this review and giveaway by Luxury Brands USA (retail value: $59 & $72). Please see the About page for more details.