Glass Dip Pen review

Just before Christmas Jessica from Glass Dip Pen contacted me and asked if I would like to try one of their pens, now I have been really curious about glass pens since I started learning hand lettering and calligraphy so I jumped at the chance!

After browsing the website I picked the blue Nebula pen from their Thor series and Jessica got one sent out to me straight away.  

Protected in it's own fancy box

The pen arrived the first week of January and I have been using it for my lettering practice ever since!

The whole pen is made from glass but it doesn't feel fragile.  The body of the pen is filled with green and blue glitter which reminds me of the sea, it is super sparkly and looks fantastic!

Blue Nebula 

Having never used a glass pen before I was a bit worried about the writing experience but it actually works really well.  

The nib holds plenty of ink

The twist design on the nib holds a lot of ink so you can write quite a bit without having to constantly reload the pen.  This makes it easier to concentrate on the shape and flow of your letters without worrying that you're about to run out of ink.

The Glass Dip Pen is really fun to use!

The tip of the nib is very fine so it is perfect for lettering, sketching and drawing.  It is also easy to make your writing look like calligraphy by drawing an extra set of lines on the down strokes of the letters and then colouring them in like I have done here.

I love how pretty the pen looks

The Glass Dip Pens start around $19.95 USD and standard shipping to the UK is $4.95, making it approx £19 or 22 Euro in total.  There are also sets that include a selection of inks for a little extra, which is great for a beginner or as a gift for someone. 

If glitter is not your thing then there are lots of different styles and designs to choose from, take a look and see what suits you best!

Easy to clean and use

Have you ever used a glass pen before?  Are you interested in trying one now? I'd love to know your thoughts!

Thanks for stopping by!


* Disclaimer - This product was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review, as always all opinions are honest and my own.

Lamy Safari fountain pen in rose powder

If you don't already know Lamy is a German company who have been designing and making all kinds of pens since 1966.  I am a big fan of their fountain pens and I have a small collection of them at home.  When I saw their new pastel range I thought it would be nice for me to review one as they are very popular at the moment so I reached out to Lamy and they said they would send me one for this post.  I chose the rose powder pen but it really was a close call between that and the blue macaron and mint glaze colours, they are all just so pretty!

Anyway, here she is in all her glory!  Isn't she lovely?

Lamy Safari fountain pen in rose powder

I absolutely adore the pale pink shade they used for this pen, it reminds me a little of strawberry milkshake and other sweet treats like cupcakes and macarons!

Pen test in my notebook

The Safari range was first released in the 1980's and is still a firm favourite today!  Lamy introduce new colours each year but the overall design stays the same, why mess with perfection?

Design points of the Safari fountain pen:

• Made from ABS plastic
• Black chromium-plated steel nib
• Spring loaded pocket clip (usually silver in colour)
• Triangular grip
• View window for ink cartridge

Triangular grip for comfort

The pen is made from a sturdy plastic so it feels quite substantial in your hand but without being too heavy and the ergonomic grip is designed to help you hold it comfortably, making it perfect for writing letters, lists or taking lots of notes at work or school!  The whole pen (apart from the nib and clip) is the same colour unlike the Lx and Al-Star ranges which have a transparent black grip section instead.  

Medium silver steel nib

This pen comes with a medium nib but if you prefer a different size you can change this as replacement nibs are sold separately.  Talking of nibs, one of the main reasons I love Lamy fountain pens is because they write beautifully, they don't skip or drag as you use them and I've never had one leak on me!

There is a cartridge of blue ink in the box so you can start using your pen straight away.  When the blue ink runs out I think I will replace it with a nice pink one, let me know if you have any recommendations!

Pretty, pastel perfection

I really can't fault the Safari fountain pen, I have been using my green one for the last three years and it's still great!  It is a fantastic "everyday" pen, you can pop it into your bag, pen loop or pocket without worrying about it getting scratched or damaged and for under £20 it's a bargain!  If you want to start using a fountain pen or are looking for a nice, shiny new one then I would definitely recommend a Safari!

If you want to check out the other colours available you can find them all on the Lamy website and if you want to see my fountain pens you can find them here!

Thank you to Jessica from Lamy for sending me this beautiful pen and thank you to you too for stopping by and reading my review!


Do you love the pastels collection?  Let me know which is your favourite!


*Disclaimer - this pen was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review, as always all opinions are honest and my own.

Pen and Pencil Day - a plethora of pens!

Yes!  It's finally National Stationery Week!  I'm so excited, I can't wait to get online and celebrate my love of all things stationery!  Make sure you are following the National Stationery Week Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts so you don't miss out on any of the fun and if you aren't already following me you can find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too!

Today is Pen and Pencil day so I want to show you some of the pens that I was given by Small Man Media.  They sent me a lovely parcel of stationery to use during NatStatWeek which included lots of fab new pens, an Nu Elite notebook and some fun bits and pieces from Mustard, including the cute doggie page marker you can see poking out from the top of my notebook.

Pen and Pencil Day

Whenever I get new pens I like to try them out to see how well they write and what the ink colours are like so I cracked open the notebook and got to work testing them all.  I didn't just want to write my name or hello over and over again to try the pens so I thought it would be fun to do a kind of Bullet Journal spread with them.

Sheaffer pen test

On the first page I used a Stabilo pastel highlighter to write Pen and pencil day and then went over the top of it with a black PointMax felt tip writing pen (also by Stabilo).  Then I was ready to try out the pens!  The first two I tested were both Sheaffer 100s, I have a ballpoint and a rollerball in this model.  The ballpoint is a stylish black and chrome pen that is well balanced and a pleasure to write with.  The ink flows freely and I found the pen comfortable to hold.  The ballpoint has a twist action to draw down the tip which means I wont lose the lid while I am using it, that is always a plus point for me!

The rollerball pen is red and chrome and looks very similar to the ballpoint, but they are the same model just with different inks so that is to be expected.  The rollerball does have a separate pen lid though to stop it from drying out and it feels slightly heavier than the ballpoint to me.  It is still a comfortable pen to write with though.  The rollerball ink did skip a little while I was using it but I think that was my fault for not scribbling enough with it first to get the ink flowing.  You can see both pens in the photo below along with the Stabilo PointMax.  

Stabilo and Edding pen tests

On the next page I used lots of Stabilo pens, the pastel highlighters are a particular new favourite of mine.  The Sensor fineliners are nice and bright and they have a patented micro-cushion tip making them a precise pen to write and draw with.  The last set of Stabilo pens I tried were the Pointmax, these pens have a nylon tip and look like felt tip colouring pens when you take the lids off them but they are actually really nice to write with!  The 0.8mm tip is a good size, it's not too big or too small and the pens are available in a variety of colours.

Pens, pens, pens

I also received some Edding pens, their metallic colours in silver and gold caught my eye so I tried those out first.  The silver 1200 metallic is a fibrepen that is perfect for writing on dark coloured paper and the vibrant ink dries quickly reducing the chance of smudges.  The gold 751 creative is a gloss paint marker which is actually made for writing on smooth surfaces like glass and once applied it is water, abrasion, light and heat resistant.  I can't wait to get crafting with these two pens soon!  There was also a pink gel roller pen I thought looked rather nice so I tested that too.  It has a comfortable rubber grip giving you greater control when you use it and the ink was really bright and fun.

Okay, so I think we have covered the pen part of Pen and Pencil Day quite well, what about the pencils I hear you ask!  Well keep an eye out for my second post later today where I will be introducing you to Write Size pencils!

Thanks for stopping by!

*Disclaimer - all products mentioned in this post were given to me free of charge by Small Man Media for the purpose of National Stationery Week.  I was not paid to write this post and as always all opinions are honest and my own.

My favourites - 2015

A few days ago I read a post by Janet from This Bug's Life about some of her favourite products from 2015 and I felt inspired to create my own list to share with you.

Favourite pen

I have been using my Sheaffer VFM since 2014 but it is still my favourite ballpoint pen.  I tend to use lots of different coloured pens on my diary pages but the VFM is the one I keep in my pen loop and I use it all the time.  I love that it matches the interior of my planner perfectly but it also writes so smoothly and is very comfortable to hold.

My favourite pen for 2015 - Sheaffer VFM in ultra mint

Favourite planner/binder

At the start of 2015 my favourite planner was my fluoro pink Original Filofax, I stayed in it for about 5 or 6 months which is the longest I have used one binder since I started this blog.  However since I received my custom Van der Spek planner it has stolen my heart!  Getting to design my own binder and deciding on the colours and leathers meant I now own the perfect planner for me and I have not been interested in any others since I moved into it.  Plus having large 30mm rings is amazing, I can fit everything I need to in here!

My favourite planner for 2015 - Van der Spek 30mm custom
organiser

2nd place

2nd place - fluoro pink Original Filofax

My favourite planner stamps

Before I started using stamps in my planner I hated trying to draw the check boxes for my to do lists.  They were always a bit wonky and never matched each other which would drive me mad!  Thankfully I was given these Check It Off stamps which have a whole range of different check boxes and shapes to choose from and now I have lovely, uniform boxes for my lists! 

Favourite planner stamps - Annie's Paper Boutique Check
It Off stamp set

My favourite notebook

I have a weakness for notebooks but my favourite for 2015 was this pink Nu Notebook.  I love the colour and the matching elastic closure and page marker ribbon.  The paper inside is also great quality, it's nice and smooth and handles all my pens well.

My favourite notebook - Nu Era Pop

Do you have a stand out favourite product from 2015?  I'd love to know!

Thanks for stopping by!

Introducing... The Pen Company & a review of the Sheaffer VFM ballpoint in ultra mint

In my last post I mentioned I would be starting a couple of new features on this blog.  Today I am revealing the first!  During National Stationery Week I found some new companies so I thought I would write a series of posts introducing them and review some products I have either won or purchased from them.

Introducing...

The first retailer I am writing about is The Pen Company.  They are a family run online retailer based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire UK but they do ship internationally too.  

I won a Sheaffer VFM ballpoint pen from The Pen Company in a competition held through their Twitter account.  They also have a Facebook page and are readily available through both.  I like being able to tweet or post a message and get a quick response on social media.  They are also very active online and post interesting links and reviews so it is worth giving them a follow or a like.     

Sheaffer VFM ballpoint pen from The Pen Company

I was emailed by James at The Pen Company the day after I was announced as a winner (very quick customer service!) and I gave him my address details.  A couple of days later I received a second email which was a dispatch notice for my "order", again great service.  I do like a company who lets me know when my goods are on the way so I can start stalking my postman until they arrive.

The review

VFM stands for Vibrant, Fun and Modern and I think this sums up the range perfectly.  I love the simple but stylish design of the pen and the colour I received, ultra mint, is stunning!  

I decided to put the pen through it's paces by writing a quick review of it.  I found it to be comfortable to use and the ink flowed smoothly which is great, I can't stand a scratchy pen!   

Handwritten review

The pen is made from metal with a smooth lacquered finish and nickel plated trim.  It looks and feels a lot more expensive than it actually is.  I said in the handwritten review that the price is $19 (USD) but I forgot to deduct the VAT so it is approx $15 (USD) depending on the exchange rate and £10.95 here in the UK.  The website has a gadget at the top of the page to select the country you are in so you will get all the prices in the correct currency.

The VFM range is available in ballpoint, rollerball and fountain pens and comes in ten cool and contemporary colours:

• Matte black
• Neon blue
• Ultra mint
• Chilled blue
• Strobe silver
• Extreme purple
• Excessive red
• Radiant ruby
• Ultimate plum
• Maximum orange

  Pros

• smooth writing experience 
• looks great, stylish and expensive
• sits well in hand
• nice reassuring click on the push button mechanism 
• comes in a gift box
• has a one year warranty 

Cons

• Doesn't fit in the leather pen loops of my Filofaxes.

I feel like I am being a bit unfair with the con, the VFM wasn't designed with skinny pen loops in mind and it does fit in the elasticated loops but as most of you are Filofax users I did think I should mention it.  

In the gift box

Overall I really like this pen, it is easy to use and easy on the eye!  I would be happy to give one as a gift and just as happy to receive another one myself, I have the ultimate plum on my wishlist at the moment.

Thanks for reading!

*Disclaimer - the pen was given to me as a prize so I did not pay for it.  I was not paid to write this review and as always all opinions are honest and my own.  I am not affiliated with The Pen Company and will not receive any commission on any orders placed using the links on this post.