#8PenQuestions: Part Two - The Original 8

PART TWO

Here are my answers for the original #8PenQuestions

1. When and how did your fountain pen journey begin?

January 11, 2020, I placed an order on Amazon for a pack of Zebra fountain pens in assorted colors. It came with black, blue, red, green, pink, purple and turquoise. These lasted me a good while, until May 28, 2022, when I wandered into a local paper store and picked up my first “real” fountain pen; a Lamy Safari in white. I also got a mini 15ml bottle of Pilot Iroshizuku Kon Peki. At this point I was writing in a Stalogy notebook during my nursing school years. It’s hard to remember what prompted me to purchase the Zebra pens, but I’m happy I did! The first time I experienced Tomoe River paper was my first dated entry in an A6 Hobonichi notebook on August 30, 2022. My journey took off from that point, and what a wild ride it has been : )

2. Favorite inks in the beginning? What are your go-to inks now?

My favorite inks in the beginning were Kon Peki, Pelikan 4001 Turquoise and Sailor Manyo Yomogi (can you tell I liked blue?). These days I have experimented with many different colors and my collection is dominated by blues, but I do fancy green ink as well. A couple of inks I’ve been enjoying these days are Sailor Ink Studio 140 in a real juicy broad nib and Robert Oster Jade in a fude nib. My ink preferences all the time, so it is difficult to pick my go-to inks overall.

3. How have your ink and pen tastes changed over time?

Inks: In the beginning I was really drawn to chromoshaders and high shading inks, but overtime I have fallen in love with more wet, saturated inks. I almost never use inks with sheen. I do like shading, but it must be easily legible so I can read it easily in the future.

Pens: I was originally using fine/medium nibs, but I quickly learned I absolutely LOVE broad nibs. I have larger handwriting, so it fits my writing style and has the bonus of showing off all the color variety in a particular ink.

4. Are there inks & pens that you have yet to try but would like to?

Inks: I would love to try Birmingham Pen Company inks. Because I am in Canada, I unfortunately cannot have them ship to me. Maybe one day I’ll find a way but right now… I have too many inks as it is : )

Pens: I would love to experience a Pelikan M1000, Lamy 2000 and some of Pilot/Sailor’s various specialty nibs.

5. What is your Holy Grail Pen?

My dream is a fountain pen from the Visconti Homo Sapiens Earth Origins Collection. They are absolutely B-E-A-utiful pens. Water, Earth Air, Fire, and Aether. Can I have one of each? Please?

Also, I will just leave the most epic fountain pen video ad right here.

6. How many pens do you currently own?

I have… 165. Yesh. This includes fountain pens that are my “penabling” pens, and the pens I’ve set aside for resale.

7. Do you have a limit on pens (or inks) in your collection? Is it a number? Is it a feeling? When do you know that you have reached your maximum?

I don’t think I have a number-specific limit, I guess it is more of a feeling. I think if I run out of storage space, I’ll know I’ve hit an all-time high. I like experimenting with all types of pens/inks but not all of them are necessarily ones I’ll keep in my collection. I like that there is a trustworthy buy/sell community on Reddit: r/pen_swap

8. Consequently, what would you do if another pen/ink came along?

I’m always looking at inks and pens, new and old. Sometimes I get curious... But lately I’ve been very aware of the ocean of ink I have on hand and a little more hesitant to bring in new items. I also have a better understanding of the types of ink and pens I enjoy so it is much easier to sift through the hundreds of new products that are being released annually, seasonally, monthly… It never ends!

Thanks for reading! Keep an eye out for part three where I answer the updated #8MorePenQuestions2025

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