Penabling

Did you know that the term for snaring someone into the world of fountain pens is “penable,” with the second part rhyming with the word “table?” I have dabbled here and there but nothing had quite captured my heart until I received the Bijou fountain pen from my friends at Ferris Wheel Press. This pen has the perfect amount of weight for me, both in its heft - not so heavy as to fatigue my hand- and girth, which is a little wider than most of my other pens. I also love that the cap screws into place, as opposed to being pressed on, which has in the past resulted in a stuck cap or damaged nib. Maybe that’s just me but I appreciate knowing when it’s on all the way!

I have a small stable of lightweight plastic fountain pens that are nothing special and while I do feel cool grabbing one from my bag instead of a “regular pen,” THIS pen adds a little touch of luxury to my writing experience. I feel fancy whenever I look at the pretty scroll design on the barrel, just above the nib. I also really like the sparkly emerald body, which in my case is Catnip Cafe, a lovely green ink that has been in constant rotation for my dip pens since I got it. As always, the packaging is gorgeous and I have to keep a close eye on my kindergartner, who covets all the boxes and tries to sneak them from my display shelf to stuff with his treasures.

Writing with this nib is nice and smooth, and seems so quick compared to my usual slow, careful dip pen scribing. Currently I am using the Sad Charade ink, which is an understated, elegant gray-blue. I prefer converters to cartridges because I can refill them with custom blends. I’m looking forward to writing more with this fun fountain pen!