(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

Galen Leather makes gorgeous leather products and other accessories for the analog-minded. For my birthday, I asked my husband to purchase a Galen Six Pen Case in Crazy Horse Brown leather. I liked the design with the zip closure which I hoped would offer a better level of protection than a roll case.

The case comes in a Galen cardboard box. Included inside are a card with the craftsman's name, information about Galen leather, an evil eye talisman, a packet of Turkish coffee and a tea bag. I love these extra touches in their packaging.

The case is absolutely gorgeous. I really like the weathered look of Crazy Horse Brown leather.

The zipper is super thick with a leather pull attached.

Inside are three elastic pen slots on each side. Leather flaps cover the pens to protect them from knocking against one another when the case is closed.

All of this is fabulous--until you put pens in the case. The elastic slots hold the pens securely. However, I encountered several problems.

First, pens longer than 5.5 inches do not really fit in the case. For example, my Danitrio is simply too long (and fat) for this case.

Second, if the pens are large in diameter, the leather flaps don't completely cover the pens to protect them, and the pen case itself can't be zipped closed.

In this photo, you can see how the leather flap meant to protect the pens is forced up. Even if you push it down, it doesn’t cover the bottom third of the pens.

Third, even if you fill all six slots with pens of ordinary size, the case will not close completely—at least I wasn't willing to try to force it closed. When I say pens of ordinary size, I'm talking about typical-sized fountain pens, such as Platinum, Pilot, Aurora, and Sailor.

What I discovered is that this case works great with just three pens, but if you try to fill all the slots, you run the risk of the pens scratching each other since the leather flaps don't fully cover them. Worse, you can't completely close the case. While I realize that leather can stretch, I doubt it can stretch enough to make the case useable for me—and who wants to risk using their pens to stretch out the leather? Perhaps Galen could use some elastic along the zippered portion that would allow the case to expand to accommodate six regular-size pens. I'm not sure. But, in all honesty, I feel uncomfortable putting more than three pens in this case, which obviously means it's no longer a six-pen case.

That said, I looked at the reviews of the six-pen case on Galen's website, and most people were quite happy with it. One or two said that the case doesn't accommodate larger pens, but no one discussed the case not closing properly. Maybe those reviewers use smaller-sized pens. I will probably return my six-pen case and purchase a version that has pen slots on one side only.

Even though this six-pen case didn’t work for me, if you use smaller pens (I’d say pens equivalent to Pelikan M400 size), it should work well for you. The craftsmanship is truly exquisite--there’s no doubt in my mind about that. The case is reasonably priced at $45.00, and you can have it personalized for $10.00 more.

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Image via Pen Chalet

Sponsor support is very important to me here at The Pen Addict. My sidebar advertisers put their faith in me to deliver good value for them month in and month out, and I want to shine the light on the best of the best for you. If you are shopping for pens, paper, inks, and more, please check out these great companies and see what they have to offer. Some recent highlights:

JetPens received the Pelikan M600 Vibrant Orange Limited Edition, which is just the pen you need to kill winter with orange.

Pen Chalet stocked the new Wancher True Ebonite Dream Fountain Pen in stock and ready for holiday shipping.

Goldspot has the full lineup of Bungubox Inks, which make the perfect match for those holiday fountain pen purchases.

Anderson Pens has the 2018 Limited Edition Pilot Vanishing Point available, which would make a perfect gift for any pen lover on your shopping list.

Big thanks to TEC Accessories for providing this Ko-Axis Rail Pen for giveaway to Pen Addict readers. And the winner is:

Congrats Jeremy! I’ve sent you an email to get your shipping address.

Each week in Refill, the Pen Addict Members newsletter, I publish Ink Links as part of the additional content you receive for being a member. And each week, after 10 to 15 links, plus my added commentary on each, I'm left with many great items I want to share. Enter Misfill. Here are this weeks links:

— A portrait of the Visconti Van Gogh (UK fountain pens)

— Spiral House that Frank Lloyd Wright Designed for His Son, Precursor Building to the Guggenheim, Up for Sale (Core77)

— Sailor Shikiori: Sakura-Mori ink review (The Finer Point)

— Chris J Wilson – I still love paper (The Cramped)

— 65 Encouraging Postcards Written to Complete Strangers (BOOOOOOOM!)

— Yenderings Toronto AM03 Blind Valentine Wrap (Gourmet Pens)

— Robert Oster – Get.set.GO Review (Fountain Pen Inks And Bleach)

— A Writer’s Tools for Finding Creativity (Baltimore Post-Examiner)

— Illustrations of Creatures From Russian Myths and Fairy Tales (Doodlers Anonymous)

— Cross Time (Dave's Mechanical Pencils)

— Early Heads-Up: March 1st 2019 Price Increase (TOM BIHN Bags Blog)

Want to catch the rest, plus extra articles, reviews, commentary, discounts, and more? Try out a Pen Addict Membership for only $5 per month!

(This is a guest post by Phillip Barlow.)

As many in the community may know I have been a Conid enthusiast and self appointed brand ambassador for a long time. Conid is a company based out of Antwerp, Belgium and when I purchased my first Conid in the middle of 2016 they were not as well known as they are today. They have grown by leaps and bounds over the past two years through many like myself showing off their pens, talking about them, and helping spread the word.

Today I would like to give my thoughts and opinions on the newest Conid to be added to my collection, the Conid Minimalistica. This particular model is the Monarch, a collaboration between Conid and Fontoplumo. The Conid Minimalistica Monarch is limited to 50 pieces and the orange ebonite finials stand out with a brilliant pop of color. This pen was originally sent to me by a friend who knew I loved Conid and knew I hadn’t had the opportunity to try the Minimalistica model. Within days of having this pen I knew I didn’t want to send the pen back to its owner, luckily after chatting he was willing to sell it to me.

The Conid Minimalistica has the modern and industrial design found throughout the Conid line of pens. It definitely follows the less-is-more contemporary style, giving it clean lines and elegant touches throughout. Conid design checks so many boxes of what I consider is needed for the perfect pen, there is a lot here for everyone to love. I feel that the Minimalistica is a wonderful value and a star in the Conid lineup. While it won’t unseat the Kingsize as my favorite Conid pen it does come in second.

One of my favorite aspects of all Conid pens is the interchangeable nibs. I enjoy being able to have spare nibs and switch them into the body to give me a different writing experience. This is one of Conid’s 7 strengths and particularly close to my heart. This particular Minimalistica came to me with a Platinum 3776 Soft Fine in a housing designed by Joey over at Flex Nib Factory to convert the Platinum nib over to the Bock housing that Conid uses. This allows the Platinum nib to screw into the normal Bock mount of pen without issue and work seamlessly. I currently do not have any other Bock #6 size nibs but have a Fine nib on the way. After owning the Platinum for a while I decided that the nib wasn’t for me and have since switched it over to a H-F Sailor 21k nib. If you are also one that enjoys experimenting and changing up your pens Conid is a brand for you. I have seen Conid pens with all kinds of nibs ranging from vintage Waterman nibs, to Sailor nibs, to dip pen nibs, to even Montblanc and Pelikan nibs.

The Minimalistica uses the same materials as the other Conid’s with a few slight design changes and “minimal” approach to construction. Unlike other Conid’s that have separate barrel attached the the grip section the Minimalistica uses a one piece design. This design also uses a gradual increasing taper instead of the sculpted grip on other models. This gradual taper allows the user to grip the pen at any comfortable spot along the length of the pen. Near the nib is starts out at 10.3mm thickening to 12.5mm with the mid-point of 11.2mm. The Minimalistica comes in a little thicker to the Pilot 823, and for my large hands it is much more conformable to hold. If the Pilot 823 is a pen you already enjoy the Minimalistica will be right up your alley.

Another unique aspect of the Minimalistica within the Conid lineup is its slip cap. When I first thought of this cap my mind jumped to the well known Lamy Safari or Lamy 2000 … BUT it’s not like either of those which are more of a snap cap, this cap slips. To achieve its seal the cap incorporates an o-ring. This was a very appealing feature for me as sometimes I’m making a lot of quick short notes in meetings and unscrewing or leaving a cap off isn’t a good option. This cap does function differently than other similar caps I have used securing the cap much more efficiently. I have tested putting it cap first into single pens sleeves, shaking the pen over a bed to see if the cap would come off (without a nib or ink in in), and other ways I’ve had caps come off in the past. Surprisingly it passed all these tests with flying colors, the one semi draw back to security is the cap does require, at least for me, a special way to remove it easily. This is accomplished by holding the cap and the barrel of the pen and pulling apart while at the same time doing a quarter twist and the cap comes off easy and smooth. Once this is accomplished and you pick up the skip quickly you and your trusty Minimalistica are ready to take on the world … well at least ready to write a bunch.

I mentioned writing a bunch and this is definitely the case with the pen coming in with an impressive 2.5ml ink capacity. Granted, just because it has it doesn’t mean you have to use it. Personally, I don’t often fill up my pens, only doing about a half fill most of the time. Now to one of the fun parts filling the pen! Conid uses a patented filling system called the bulkfiller and it is present across the complete line of pens. This system is both easy and a joy to use, while also in my opinion being very beautiful. Conid pens have a forward small reservoir right at the nib housing assembly that is blocked off from the main in supply in the barrel by the end of the piston rod with an o-ring on it. To fill the pen or allow more ink into the forward reservoir simply twist the piston knob on the end and draw back the piston a little. If filling the pen draw it all the way to the end and continue twisting and the end of the piston will screw into the plunger in the rear of the pen. Once the piston is attached the the plunger you will make one more twist and the plunger with release from the rear of the pen allowing you to push the plunger forward, without ink unless you’re trying to attack someone with a jet of ink. Then dip the nib of the pen ink your bottle of ink and draw the piston rod back and it will fill with ink, release the process of unscrewing the piston and you’re ready to go back to writing.

I have recently performed a test on the Bulkfiller system involving shipping my pen back and forth to Mark Bacas. We drained the ink from the forward reservoir into the barrel and sealed back the piston rod, leaving the ink in the barrel. With a normal pen, mailing it filled with ink would normally cause an explosion within the cap. Both trips back and forward were accomplished with no splatters of ink inside the cap.

For me, what really makes a Conid such a great pen and wonderful writer is its superb balance in the hand and marvelous build quality. When you include its modern design and great ink capacity it becomes a true titan in the pen world. The best compliment that I can give the pen is that IF I was only allowed to have one pen for the rest of my life I would choose a Conid as that pen. For me it checks all of the boxes for what I’m looking for in a great pen. If the design aesthetic is one that appeals to you and you have been holding back getting one, I can recommend that you try one when the opportunity arises. You might find a pen that is an extension of your thoughts bringing words to paper.

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

One of the newest journals on the stationery scene, the Elia Note Journal is 496 pages of Tomoe River paper goodness. Each journal features a soft cover, Smyth-sewn binding, your choice of blank, lined, or dot grid ruling, and a study slip cover for storage. I have one journal to give away, courtesy of Elia Note, so read the rules below and enter away!

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

While the name is comically long, the Palomino KUM 2 step pencil sharpener is quite a small device that can create an exceptionally fine point on your pencils. The market for small, portable pencil sharpeners has plenty of standard options, but there's also plenty of unique selling features. 2 step sharpeners are capable of achieving a long, fine point that most other sharpeners can't touch.

As the name implies, this product is actually made by KUM, a company that produces many different pencil sharpeners. The Palomino product is a white-labeled version of KUM's own sharpener of the same name, except this sharpener features the Blackwing branding on the side and comes in unique color options.

What sets this sharpener apart from other standard sharpeners is the fact that it is two sharpeners. The first slot shaves away the wood casing while allowing the whole lead to pass through almost untouched. This allows the lead to reach a much longer length than normal, and it looks quite weird.

The second slot is much smaller and only shaves the lead. Once this sharpener starts removing more from the wood casing, you know that it's ready to go. This two step approach results in a point that is about 1-2 mm longer than usual.

I've used this sharpener over the past few months, and I've had mixed results. When done correctly, it does produce a long tip with a very fine point. In practice, I've broken the lead several times while trying to use the second slot to sharpen the lead core. From what I can tell, you have to use extremely light pressure and be incredibly careful about the angle that you use when sharpening.

The sharpener is a convenient size and also collects shaving inside the transparent compartment. The blades are really high quality, and it also comes with two extra blades that are stowed in the end of the shaving compartment. Aside from the learning curve that resulted in a lot of broken lead, I've really enjoyed this sharpener.

For me, I prefer using my Kutsuwa Stad T-Gaal pencil sharpener most of the time, but it's nice to shake things up. Like most small sharpeners, they're incredibly affordable (less than $10) and easy to experiment with. If you're interested in the 2 step sharpening method, this is a great place to start. You can buy the Palomino-branded sharpener, but you can also purchase the KUM version of the same product, and you can even purchase the sharpener without the plastic container and shavings compartment. For any wood-case pencil lovers, it's a great addition for your arsenal!

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

There are some very decent disposable fountain pens out there, and the Itoya Blade and Pilot Varsity are two of the best. They write well, and they're reliable and very affordable. The only downside is that they look every bit as inexpensive as they are and the plastic materials aren't as durable as pricier reusable pens.

Itoya solved this issue with the PaperSkater Galaxy. It isn't a pen itself, but a suit of swanky armor for the Blade and Varsity disposable pens. The end cap of the pen twists off, and then the disposable pen-turned-cartridge slides right in. The Varsity requires an (included) small adaptor under the blind cap.

The PaperSkater body is brushed aluminum. The orange I was sent is very vivid. The accents are chrome and feel sturdy. The clip is bolted in place and does not bend easily. The cap twists off, but the threads are very subtle and don't interfere with the grip at all. It is lightweight and comfortable to hold.

The Itoya Blade that comes with this... Iron Man suit? writes well. The black ink is dark and dries quickly, though it has no shading or sheening. It feels a bit dry as it writes, but that may be the fine point--which is the only size available. It's also only available in blue or black. I would personally prefer to use a Varsity with this... Escape Pod? as it comes in more colors and has, I feel, a more enjoyable writing experience. The PaperSkater body would cover all of the color-indicators on the Varsity, though, so you'd have to remember what you put in it.

If you love disposable fountain pens and want a... durability enchanted armor set? for them, this is a nice option, though you'll pay between $30 and $40 for it, depending on sales and where you buy it.

Personally, this doesn't work for me. I like the Varsity, but I don't feel like it needs to be frozen in carbonite in order to perform well. I also feel like it turns a cheap disposable pen into a very expensive ink cartridge. Why not shell out the money for a regular fountain pen and buy the cheaper, smaller standard international cartridges for it? There will be less wasted money and less wasted plastic in the landfill. While it's not for me, I can see its merits. And if I was a Varsity, I'd want a cool Vibranium suit, too.

(Goldspot provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Snorkeling (via Anderson Pens)

In what is an annual podcast tradition, Myke and I are joined by Ana Reinert to talk about the gifts on our mind this holiday season. And, as usual, good times ensue. Hopefully you get the advice you need to have the best stationery gift giving season ever!

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

Kane 11: Premium socks in precisely your size. Get 20% off your first order.

Harry's: Quality shaving and grooming products, at a fair price.

Pen Chalet: Click the ‘podcast’ link at the top of the website and enter the password ‘penaddict’ for this week’s special offer, and to get your code for 10% off.

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

I saw the Pineider Snorkel Filler on the Goulet Pens website and thought, “What a great idea!” The purpose of this instrument is to make it easier to get the last drop of ink using the snorkel along with a fountain pen converter.

The Snorkel comes in a simple envelope. Inside there’s a diagram demonstrating how different converters fit on the top end of the snorkel. Pineider says that the snorkel will work with most fountain pen converters.

So, I gathered up several of my converter-fill fountain pens, and gave the snorkel a try. I always struggle to fill pens from nearly empty Iroshizuku bottles and Sailor ink bottles, so I was pretty excited about the snorkel.

I tried the following converters with the Pineider snorkel: Faber-Castell, Nakaya/Platinum, Sailor, Leonardo, and the Pilot Con-40.

The Faber-Castell converter fit loosely on the snorkel as you can see in the first two photos. When I tried filling the converter, it worked partially, filling to about one-quarter full. This was not encouraging.

The Nakaya/Platinum converter was very loose on the snorkel, and I couldn’t get it to work at all.

Similarly, the Sailor converter did not fit tightly on the snorkel. I tried pushing the lip over the rubber ring to get a more snug fit, but the Sailor converter was too small in diameter, so it wouldn’t go over the rubber ring. As a result: no fill.

I had better luck with the Leonardo converter. It fit tightly onto the snorkel. I had to fiddle with the snorkel and converter to get a complete fill, but it worked! Hurrah! A success!

Last, I tried the snorkel with a Pilot Con-40. The Pilot was wide enough to fit over the rubber ring, so I was able to get a good fill with the snorkel.

I tried the snorkel with a few other converters I had on hand. The Schmidt K5 piston converter (used in Karas Kustoms pens) fits snugly. However, the converters that came with my Shawn Newton and Franklin-Christoph pens fit loosely, so they won’t work with the snorkel.

Only three of the converters I own work with the Pineider snorkel: the Leonardo, the Pilot Con-40, and the Schmidt K5. All of the others in my collection (Nakaya/Platinum, Sailor, Faber-Castell, and whatever brand(s) Newton Pens and Franklin-Christoph use) did not. According to the Goulet website, other converters that will work with the Pineider Snorkel filler include Cross, Kaweco, Lamy, Parker, and Sheaffer. It does not work with Waterman, Montegrappa, or Jinhao. This is pretty disappointing, especially since Pineider claims that the snorkel “fits most converters.” Unfortunately, the brands that don’t work with the snorkel are the fountain pen brands I prefer!

The Pineider Snorkel Filler costs $15.00 at Goulet Pens plus shipping (so around $20 total). Honestly, I don’t think the snorkel is worth the cost, especially since you can use other methods to get the last drops of ink into your pens. For example, I pour ink vestiges into empty sample vials and fill my converters directly from them, though that can be a little messy. You can also purchase syringes ($5.00 for two) and transfer ink from the bottom of bottles into your converters that way.

(I purchased the Pineider Fountain Pens Snorkel from Goulet Pens with my own funds.)

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

I knew this Elia Note Journal giveaway would be a popular one - thanks to everyone who entered! And the winner is:

Congratulations Austin! Check your email so I can get your shipping address.

Each week in Refill, the Pen Addict Members newsletter, I publish Ink Links as part of the additional content you receive for being a member. And each week, after 10 to 15 links, plus my added commentary on each, I'm left with many great items I want to share. Enter Misfill. Here are this weeks links:

— Ink Review #520: Taccia Tsuchi Golden Wheat (Mountain of Ink)

— Best New Gear: November 2018 (Carryology)

— Anatomy of a Fake: Forgery Experts Reveal 5 Ways To Spot a Fake Painting by Jackson Pollock (or Any Other Artist) (Open Culture)

— Writing Making Your Mark (The British Library)

— Steve Jobs' handwritten Apple I specifications sheet could fetch $60,000 at auction (Apple Insider)

— Who’s She: A Laser-Cut Guessing Game That Celebrates Accomplished Women Throughout History (Colossal)

— Review: Stilform Kosmos Ti Pen (The Pencilcase Blog)

— Christmas Currently Inked (Wonder Pens)

— Why Is Japan Still So Attached to Paper? (The New York Times)

— Art, Bro: For a hundred bucks, Eddie Argos of Art Brut will paint the cover of your favorite album (Dangerous Minds)

— The 2018 Engineering Gift Guide From Purdue University (NotCot)

— Gift Guide: Ideas for bullet journalers (TechCrunch)

— The Best Books of 2018 (Kottke)

— Illustrations Transform Nike Air Maxes Into Concepts That Pay Homage to Their History (Colossal)

— Susan Bernhard's Playlist for Her Novel "Winter Loon" (Largehearted Boy)

— Pantone's 2019 Colour of the Year is Living Coral (Creative Boom)

— Front Notebook (Notebook Stories)

— Printing for watercolors, an experiment (Mateusz Urbanowicz)

— Unboxing Pen Gallery Diamine Jalur Jemilang Ink (Gourmet Pens)

— Pokka Pen / Rite-in-the-Rain All-Weather Pen — The Gentleman Stationer (Pen Review)

— Review: De Atramentis Meng Hao Ran (Alt. Haven)

— MATCHBLOC (Present & Correct)

— A Ming Dynasty woodblock printed poetry book (ZEN in TECHNICOLOR)

— Modern Fuel Design Minimal Pen – Review and Kickstarter Wrap Up (Ed Jelley)

Want to catch the rest, plus extra articles, reviews, commentary, discounts, and more? Try out a Pen Addict Membership for only $5 per month!

One of the most fun parts about being obsessed with stationery isn’t just discovering new writing instruments, but also the accessories that go with the writing instruments. I’ve developed a fondness for wooden pencils over the years, and as much fun as I have trying new ones and discovering my favorites, I also enjoy exploring pencil-adjacent accessories, like pencil sharpeners.

The Carl Ein Pencil Sharpener is the latest to hit my desk, and has a feature I wasn’t aware I needed: Two stages of tip sharpness. Why is this important to me? I’m so glad you asked!

Not all pencil cores are created equally. Traditional writing pencils, like your standard HB, have a graphite core. They sharpen to a pointy, durable tip and write well from the moment they hit the page. Colored pencils use a clay-based core, making them softer and more prone to breakage when sharpened to a point as fine as I like with my writing pencils. Have you ever sharpened a colored pencil in a regular sharpener and snapped the tip of the pencil off the moment it touched the page? That’s why.

The Carl Ein helps with this issue by having two settings in one sharpener: An 0.5 mm standard pointed tip for traditional writing pencils, and an 0.9 mm broad, stub tip for pencils that are softer or use different core materials, like colored pencils. This setting is simple to swap between with a simple twist of the knob on the handle side of the sharpener.

While the selling point of the sharpener works as intended, Carl and I had a rough start. When my package arrived and I pulled out the box I noticed a lot of rattling. Opening it up, there were small, loose parts everywhere. The front, slide-out panel had become completely disassembled in shipping. Putting it back together was a 20-30 minute exercise in frustration. It’s one of those things that requires three hands to assemble, and unfortunately, I was only born with two.

This had me worried about the overall build and sturdiness of the sharpener from the jump, but it has proven to be a workhorse and no further issues with functionality have been detected.

One design feature I noticed and appreciated with regular use was the sloped top cover of the sharpener. Desk sharpeners usually require two hands to operate, one on the crank and one on the top of the sharpener to hold it steady. I didn’t even realize this feature until I was switching back and forth between my favorite Uni KH-20 sharpener and felt that the Carl was easier to hold on to. It’s also slightly wider and has a wider base, so that contributes to its sturdiness.

0.5 mm on the top of each pair, 0.9 mm on the bottom

I’m happy overall with the Carl Ein, but their is one final gotcha to be aware of: The price. This is a $40 desktop pencil sharpener. I’ve used great desktop sharpeners in the low-$20 range, like the Classroom Friendly. My personal favorite is the aforementioned KH-20, which runs $30.

Does the Carl Ein offer enough in its added features to justify the extra cost? For me personally, no. I will recommend the KH-20 every time over the Carl. But, for hardcore colorists and soft-pencil core users I can see the benefit of having dual point sizes built into a single sharpener. And for that, I think the Carl Ein is a good choice.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

What is that notebook? It’s the Write Notepads Meeting Notebook.

That question came up multiple times yesterday after my Carl Ein Pencil Sharpener review, so I thought let’s give one away! The winner of this giveaway can choose Black or Pistachio and prepare to rule over all future meetings. Read the rules below and enter away!

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Write Notepads have always impressed me with their build quality and value over the years, and the Meeting Notebook is no slouch.

A relative newcomer to the lineup, the Meeting Notebook is not a novel concept, but Write's execution is impeccable. You've probably seen similar notebooks at your local office supply stores, Amazon, and from Rhodia and Japanese stationery companies. The "meeting notebook" usually contains formatting paper that is conducive to taking notes during a meeting or discussion. There's an area for contextual information like date, location, attendees, etc. as well as a reserved space for action items and notes. The Write Meeting Notebook follows these cues, but adds a bit of the classic Write style that we know and love.

As the name implies, these kinds of books can be a lifesaver during meetings. There's ample room for notes, a sliver of margin reserved for recording actions, and minimal amount of space up top for context. It's a great format, and one that I wish I could use more often. I love using this book when attending a meeting as a participant or stakeholder, but I normally fall back to my faster digital notebook (Bear) for recording minutes and actions for calls that I'm leading so that I can record all the details as they happen.

Just take one look at a picture of the paper format and you'll know if this can help you in your job or personal life. It provides enough structure to keep your notes and actions organized, but it's also subtle enough to disappear if you want to use a sheet as an impromptu sketch or doodle during a meeting.

Once you finish a Meeting Notebook, you have a convenient record of your meetings — along with the notes, decisions, and actions that took place. It's a great analog reference tool.

Like I said at the beginning, I'm always impressed by Write Notepads, and this notebook is no exception. The quality of materials is fantastic, and that translates to delight whenever you get a chance to hold or use the book.

I have the black cover version, but they also sell a Pistachio (off-white cover) version that is identical inside.

The twin ring binding is rugged and sleek. When turning pages, I haven't had any issues or hangs along the binding. Being tossed in a busy bag and bouncing around on the commute is an easy task for the binding, and I'm sure it will outlast the notebook. The sheets aren't meant to be torn out of the notebook, and (as such) feel very secure when turning pages back and forth. It does not feel like a page will accidentally tear or start to fall out with heavy use.

The covers are a thick and durable chipboard material. I'm a big fan of the look and feel, and the minimal branding just makes my day. There's a small space on the front cover to indicate a year, project, subject, or other detail, but there is no "This book belongs to..." page on the inside. The first page of this notebook is all business — just like all the other pages. There's no fluff, and I really appreciate.

The format of the paper is something I really enjoy, but now it's time to look at the quality of that paper and how it performs with different types of pens and inks.

In the past, I've had mixed experiences with Write Notepads when it comes to juicy fountain pens, so I was expecting similar results with this notebook.

I was pleasantly surprised after doing several pen/ink samples to find that there was practically no bleeding, show-through, or any other negative reactions. This paper is fantastic! Write Notepads lists the paper as 70# stock, but it performs better than I expected. Fountain pens, gel pens, liquid ink rollerballs, and pencils all performed with aplomb. Not only can you bring this notebook to your meetings, but you can be confident that you favorite pen can also come with you to help document the meeting.

Every time I try out a new Write Notepads product, I'm always happy I did. While the idea of a "meeting notebook" isn't new, I appreciate the unique take that Write took with this book.

The Meeting Notebook sells for $22 and is available in Black or Pistachio covers.

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(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

I love pocket pens. They're cute and practical and easy to have always at hand. I have small hands, so pocket pens fit easily and comfortably in my grip. If you have larger hands, that might not always be the case. Pocket pens are not comfortable or practical or many folks. But this pen! This one has you covered. The Zebra SL-F1 ST ballpoint pen is a pocket pen that telescopes open to be a full-sized ballpoint pen. Kind of like a magic trick. Or a transformer. It even makes a satisfying click when you expand and retract it, like any properly fidgety pen should. This pen wasn't just designed, it was engineered. And even apart from its magical properties, it is a very fine pen.

When shortened, the pen has a tip cover that retracts as it expands, and re-emerges when contracted, so there's no risk of ink leakage in a pocket. The metal construction is sturdy and has a good weight to it. The finish is a pretty, vibrant blue, and it comes in a number of nice colors. The grip is smooth ridges, so it has good traction but no sharp edges. The edge where the barrel separates over the interior tube is slightly sharper, but not enough to cause any irritation to the hand. My hand doesn't even touch the pen at that part. The clip is metal and very solid, but has good flexibility.

The refill is nothing to get too excited about--it's a fairly standard ballpoint. It writes smoothly and consistently with no skips and only a few blobs. It's certainly better than the big-box plastic ballpoints that you find on every public counter.

I'm in love with the simple practicality of this pen. It's become a staple in my purse. In fact, it slipped so easily into my life that I almost forgot I needed to review it.

JetPens sells this pen for $7.75, which I think is an absolute steal. I would not have flinched if it had been twice that. If you have any use at all for a pocket ballpoint pen (don't we all?), get you this one.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

I remember when finding Tomoe River paper was difficult. Only one or two retailers offered it in the US, and you had to get an order in promptly or you were out of luck. Now Tomoe River paper is available from multiple retailers in a variety of notebook styles.

Today I’m reviewing the Tomoe River Notebook by Sakae Technical Paper. It is a cardboard-bound notebook with white, dot-grid, 52gsm paper in A5 size. The notebook contains 368 thread-bound pages.

This is a beautifully-made notebook. The thick cardboard cover is textured with a subtle logo on the front. It comes with a plastic cover that protects the notebook from the elements, which is an especially nice touch. The notebook lays flat when open.

The paper is smooth with a light dot-grid pattern on pure white paper. I really like the white paper (I’m accustomed to cream Tomoe River paper) because ink colors look more accurate on white paper.

I tested the paper in several ways: writing reviews, practicing calligraphy, testing pens, and doing swatches. It performed beautifully, though, like all Tomoe River paper, show through is obvious. Bleed through, however, is rare. I only encountered it with my three-tined music nib and a Sharpie.

General Writing

The paper works well for general writing. I wrote a couple of Pen Addict reviews using the notebook, and I have absolutely no complaints about how the paper feels under a nib. It’s absolutely smooth and it doesn’t catch at your nib. Plus, it lays flat when open.

You can see the show through from the review written with a Danitrio fine nib.

Calligraphy Practice

I love this notebook for calligraphy practice. The dot grid provides guidance, and you can write in portrait or landscape.

Thicker lines show through much more obviously than regular writing.

Pen Testing

I used several different fountain pens and other writing instruments to test the paper. It handled all the fountain pens perfectly except for the widest and wettest nib: a Waterman three-tined music nib. I dipped the Waterman, so the number 10 I wrote was especially wet. That was the only ink that bled through (and just a tiny bit).

I also tried several other pens, rollerballs, brush pens, various ballpoints, and a pencil. The only pen that showed through quite obviously was the Sharpie.

Swatches

Last, I tested the paper by doing ink swatches. I love how ink swatches look on this paper. The colors are true, and the dot grid shows in the swatches. Obviously, with such wet ink, you have a great deal of show through (but no bleed through on any of the inks I tested).

As you can see, the paper is lovely and it shows off ink well. However, if you are bothered by show through, you won’t like this notebook (or any Tomoe River paper, for that matter). The thing about Tomoe River paper is that it is super thin and yet ink doesn’t tend to bleed or feather. However, that thinness means that writing will show through. The easy solution is to use only one side of the paper if you’re bothered by show through. I journal on both sides of my Seven Seas Writer (also Tomoe River paper), and I’m not bothered by the show through at all. I love how the paper gets all crinkly and the ink colors meld together in a collage of words.

A few things are missing from this notebook that some writers might want, such as a ribbon marker, pockets on the inside of the cover, and page numbers. But, if you like a sleek, classy looking notebook without any added bulk, the Tomoe River Notebook by Sakae Technical is a great choice.

You can purchase this notebook at Jet Pens for $49.00. Although this notebook is very nice, it is almost twice as expensive as the Seven Seas Writer ($26.00), which has 468 pages (it comes in dot-grid, white or lined cream). The Seven Seas does not have a plastic cover, however, and it is much thicker.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

I think my description is accurate.

In this week’s episode, I stumble on my words. That’s par for the course I guess - at least it makes for good show titles. Myke joined the Platinum 3776 party and shares his thoughts, and I dig into a slew of new projects I am working on.

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

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I’m a fan of highly specific notebook layouts, so something like the Write Notepads Meeting Notebook is right up my alley. Apparently it is right up your alley too, as many readers have been inquiring about it. I did have one to give away, and the winner is:

Congrats Brian! Check your email for details.

Each week in Refill, the Pen Addict Members newsletter, I publish Ink Links as part of the additional content you receive for being a member. And each week, after 10 to 15 links, plus my added commentary on each, I'm left with many great items I want to share. Enter Misfill. Here are this weeks links:

— John Lennon's Report Card at Age 15: “He Has Too Many Wrong Ambitions and His Energy Is Too Often Misplaced" (Open Culture)

— New Pentel R-6 (My Supply Room)

— Practical tips to help creatives tackle the most common anxious thoughts (Creative Boom)

— Inkmas Day 3: DeAtramentis Document White (The Well-Appointed Desk)

— Aerosutra: How People Survive On Long-Haul Flights While Trying To Sleep (Design You Trust)

— The Story of The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York," the Boozy Ballad That Has Become One of the Most Beloved Christmas Songs of All Time (Open Culture)

— Zebra's Tiny TS-3 (Bleistift)

— Fountain Pen Ink Art Tutorials on YouTube (Fountain Pen Ink Art)

— Review: Pelikan Edelstein Olivine (Ink Between The Teeth)

— 2018 Not Just Bags Gift Guide (TOM BIHN Bags Blog)

— Typewriter Maps (Kottke)

— Star Wars Costume Designer’s Sketchbooks (Notebook Stories)

— Pen Review: Pelikan M120 (The Gentleman Stationer)

— Las Vegas eats, 2018 edition. (The Dish)

— The Evolution of The Great Wave off Kanazawa: See Four Versions That Hokusai Painted Over Nearly 40 Years (Open Culture)

— Best of 2018: The Top 10 Graphic Novels (Hyperallergic)

— Smithed It (Coudal Partners )

— Design Sleek Modern Office Accessories with U Brands In CA (Core77)

— Sam Pierpoint on working with paper, living in the countryside and doing good in the world (Creative Boom)

— Mary Meeker’s 2018 internet trends report: All the slides, plus analysis (Recode)

— The Life and Works of Jean-Michel Basquiat: A Supersized New Book From TASCHEN (Colossal)

— Review: Parker Jotter Fountain Pen (Comfortable Shoes Studio)

— Finding the Heart of a Nation in Generations of Black Art (Hyperallergic)

— Japanese Food Reimagined as Stationery (Spoon & Tamago)

— Essential and Interesting 2018 Year-End Music Lists (Largehearted Boy)

— Review: Syahi Imperator Fountain Pen (The Pencilcase Blog)

— Review: 3 Oysters Purple Grey (Alt. Haven)

— Brownie planner A5 Slim (East…West…Everywhere)

— Worst Christmas Album Covers Of All Time (Design You Trust)

Want to catch the rest, plus extra articles, reviews, commentary, discounts, and more? Try out a Pen Addict Membership for only $5 per month!