It’s not you, it’s me

Update: I've added to my for sale page as I start to wind down. Time for contemplationI'm just coming up to the third full year writing UK Fountain Pens. I started the blog because I had things I wanted to say about stationery and my journey through it, and all the things I was learning. …

Scribo? “Feel the writing” is spot on

Do you like Italian pens? Do you like flex? Do you like piston fillers? Do you like being a little bit... unconventional? Then boy, do I have a treat for you. Read on as I explore the Scribo 3... Third time's the charm?The Scribo 3 is the third release of Italian brand Scrittura Bolognese's collaboration …

UKFP Uncapped, 10th November 2019

Happy Sunday to you all. First notice: I added a few more pens to my For Sale page, including the incredible and hard-to-find Pilot Custom Urushi. Community I love it when new ink makers come on to the market, even though the market is so crowded it often seems like there are no colours left …

The UKFP Holiday Gift Guide 2019

We're approaching that time of year when we give each other (and ourselves?) presents. So what do you get for the fountain pen addict in your life — or if someone asks you what you want, what do you tell them? Here are some ideas across seven categories. Every item on this list I have …

The Montblanc M as product design thought experiment

You ever had a situation where you knew you were making a really stupid decision, but you did it anyway out of fatalism, or curiosity? Well, that's me with buying the Montblanc M. This is not some never-before-seen pen, bought as a brave experiment to satisfy your curiosity, dear reader. The M has been out …

Diving in to the world of Ferris Wheel Press

I'm a closet (graphic) design lover. I will stop in the street to admire a carefully chosen colour palette, and I mentally applaud when I see evidence of good typography practices in an advert or on packaging. So Canadian brand Ferris Wheel Press is kinda like catnip to me. As they'll proudly tell you, they …

UKFP Uncapped: 1st November 2019

On my mind This week was Fountain Pen Day, which is from one perspective our community's Black Friday, filled with deal-hunting and shopping. But I've been thinking this week about the opposite: generosity. Just today, my daughter received a pack of pens, ink and notebooks from a kindly benefactor (thanks Ian!). He went out of …

State of the collection: November 2019

Happy Fountain Pen Day, dear reader! I hope today your ink flows smoothly, your nibs run straight and true, and your postman is weighed down with parcels! For me, the last month has been heavy on the sales. I still have quite a few pens in my for-sale case, but I said a proper goodbye …