Penabled

Did you notice that the title of this newest blog post is similar… but now in the past tense? It’s because I am now fully converted (haha, see what I did there?). Between the several new-old fountain pens I was gifted in the last year by people who donated their mother’s calligraphy supplies to me and the sweet gifts from the nice folks at The Ferris Wheel Press, I now have quite a stable! It’s super convenient to use them when I want my writing to look nice but don’t want to risk having an open bottle of ink out or spend extra time cleaning dip pens.

a quote I found in an old Society of Scribes newsletter regarding a 1997 Spencerian writing workshop taught by Michael Sull

The newest member of my collection is The Masque Fountain Pen, a brass and resin piece that fits perfectly into the slot between fancy and practical. I’ve been working on handwriting and proper letterforms with my almost-7-year-old and one of the ways I entice him is by letting him use my pens! The brass touches make this one feel more high-end than a regular ol’ plastic pen but it’s sturdy enough that I don’t have to worry if he’s a little er… less than delicate in setting it down.

I write him goofy sentences to practice. This is one of the only recent ones not featuring Godzilla.

He likes to take things apart and put them back together, so it’s very cool that we can unscrew the barrel, fill the converter with different inks - my set came with three cute little bottles that I’m sure he will repurpose when empty for potions, ocean sampling, you name it - AND (and this is big) the nib unscrews, too! I love that I can switch out the different tips with any Jowo-compatible pen if he wants to try something other than the current No. 6., which writes really smoothly. It’s also helpful in teaching him that dip pens require a specific pen angle but without the spatter of a flexible nib point.

Myles using Bearington Black ink and a dip pen to draw his specialty - a kitty - on one of my practice papers

The copy from the official product page reads: “Designed to grow alongside its owner… the Masque is more than a new silhouette. As we turn the page toward the future of Ferris Wheel Press writing instruments, the Masque stands proudly at the beginning of a new chapter- one shaped by curiosity, guided by craftsmanship, and written together with our community.” It may be cheesy but this truly resonates with me, especially as I seek ways to stoke the flames of excitement I’m striving to grow within my own family. My 44-year-old husband may be a lost cause but I think I’ve got Myles firmly in my web.

Happy writing!