Ahab/Konrad ebonite replacement feeds IMPORTANT notice.
If you order a replacement feed for your Ahabs or Konrad, ask the seller to test in sections. I tried three sellers and all three were TOO NARROW IN DIAMETER with Noodler’s flex/non-flex, Jinhao, Schmidt #6’s and the assembly slid all the way through the feed. I informed seller and they are investigating. My guess is a batch were made, and sold across the world that were about 6.15mm diameter when they needed to be 6.25-6.3mm. Posted November 2019
Scriptura.
Metairie, LA . A proprietor of high end stationary, papers and also a fine pen bench. Pens are not sold on-line but go in and chat with David (proprietor) and he’ll outfit you with an appropriate writing instrument at very fair prices. Good stock of notebooks and inks. Just off Severn Ave near Lakeside Mall and next to a great coffee house. Check it out and try out some FPs! Posted March 2020.
NOTE: As of July 2020, the Metairie branch has closed, but, the uptown store is still open for business. It’s on 5423 Magazine St. See https://www.google.com/search?q=scriptura+new+orleans&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#
Using the old bean ....... more.
Slower pace, less consumption, less pollution, more focus, more accomplished - all things resulting from a viral pandemic. I take advantage of this period to appreciate people and sort out how I use my time and what I really value. Just like the old adage about the tea cup accumulating grinds, they get tossed out and we have a cleaner brain hitting all 4-6-8 cylinders. I now include more time for ideation in my day. Added to the list; more brain use! Before you ask, has this increased FP usage? Ubet it has! Posted May 2020
Haiku time.
Grab your fountain pen, grab your notebook and try writing a Haiku. These are simple poems of three lines, first line only 5 syllables, second line 7 syllables and third line 5 syllables. The style is of Japanese origin and in their purest form have some allusion to nature. I take the liberty of alluding to anything I please. Posted May 2020
Chicago Pen Show rescheduled September 10-13, 2020 ....... What are your thoughts of a Pandemic Pen Show?
Moved to September, Barring no new uptick in Covid for the area, I plan to mask/glove up and attend. If vendors from all over follow USGOV and/or Chicago/IL Health Department guidance, I might consider it; likely not going though. The convention hotel is the Chicago Marriot Northwest, 4800 Hoffman Blvd. Hoffman Estates, Illinois, 60192
Bluestem Pens now has an Instagram Account
On the advice of my hip friends Alyssa and Jim (thanks guys) I have tried to open and maintain an Instagram account. Like any such app, millions of folks use it so I have a good chance of mastering one day if I just use it. (and keep asking Alyssa and Jim for help). Always have friends smarter than yourself! Posted July 2020.
Bluestem Pens Instagram now features other pen makes!
Yep, you read that correctly. What better way to share many of the other pens in my stable? Bluestems are clearly labelled as such and offered for sale. Inquire at [email protected]. Posted July 10, 2020.
“First order retrieval” concept.
Pay a visit to the Why Fountain Pens section. See also Adam Savage’s Maker website. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=adam+savage+tool+holder
New Ink ........ Ever-Write Ink
Brown ("Romeo Rust"), from Fahrney's Pens. Great brown ink, advertised as bulletproof, lubricated and fast drying. My new favorite brown ink. Flows beautifully from my Lamy Al Star Copper, M nib on journal paper and work notebook. Thinking of trying another one of these. Posted November 24, 2020.
New Ink ........ Karkos ink blue. Inexpensive (~$2.50 for 30 ml), good all rounder, good flow, bold blue. Good for the money; made in China. Not sure of resistance properties. Posted November 25, 2020.
Wordsworth and Black .......... New Pen. Erudite Model, M steel nib, metal cap and barrel, Racing green color. Have not heard of this pen brand previously, box printed with “Designed in US. Manufactured in China”. Came with a smooth chrome section which I roughed up with very fine grits of sandpaper. Not quite a matte finish as could be obtained from a sand blaster, but feels nice and looks fine. Posted 10Jan2021.
Smooth chrome shiny section grips ..... Two kinds of people in the FP world: those who dislike shiny chrome grips and those who will not admit it. (LOL). I only own a Lamy studio because they made a black matte, non-chrome section.
Chicago Pen Show 2021 …… Dates changed to September 29 - October 2. I drove to Hoffman Estates Marriot Northwest 01Oct Saturday and what a good time! Only about 75% of the normal vendor number from 2019; Not too crowded but all were masked and room to social distance. Nice haul: Waterman Expert F Blue/Black gold accent; Tombow F Green Matte Al, Pelikan F Student and new ink. Delivered two pieces of LA sinker cypress to Ryan Krusac. All in all, fun time, wish I had more time there. Next year, I might spend the night.
Two Louisiana wood Saw Whet models made Dec 2021 for friend Joe Cooper of Oak Ridge, LA. Both RB’s by request. Joe has large collection of fine woods, many from Louisiana and southern homes and barns. Also, he has shared a wooden shotgun stock from his late father’s collection. VERY hard wood, but good looking for pens.
From the workshop. Dec 1-30, 2021. I just finished my first kitless pen. It is made of ebonbite with a #6 Jowo nib unit with a M Conklin steel nib. More to come. Went through several iterations, beginning to get a few more skills in my kit …… much more to learn.
More from the workshop. Dec 30, 2021. Made a hand turned Spectrum series of Moonstone blank! Same as I sent to Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson. That material is hard as a rock. But it’s phosphorescence is awesome and is a biggie sized pen.