Topics

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Scriptus 2024 Is Here

« on: October 23, 2024, 08:05:16 AM »

If anyone is in Toronto this weekend. Scriptus, the only Canadian Pen show, is happening again on Sunday 27, October.

It’s still at the Toronto Reference Library.
789 Yonge st
From 10:00am - 4:00pm
Free entrance.

Lots of great pens, stationary and writing stuff. Not to mention all the great people.

If you get there, come see me. My Timber Elegance table is in the Epic room. You won’t miss my new banner. LOL

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Scriptus 2023

« on: October 28, 2023, 07:43:28 AM »

It’s that time of year again.
I am am heading to Toronto, Ontario today, for Canada‘s biggest pen and stationary show.

Scriptus Toronto Pen Show
https://www.scriptusinc.com/exhibitors-and-sponsors

On the second floor of the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
10 AM – 4 PM - No admittance fee

If anyone will be in Toronto Sunday, drop by my table. I’ll be in the Epic room.
Here is a link to a virtual map of all the vendors
https://www.scriptusinc.com/scriptus-map

Have a great weekend

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / OFPS Open-house/Sell&Swap

« on: August 22, 2023, 08:23:24 AM »

Not sure if this is appropriate, if not please delete.
I’m not sure how many members we have in the Eastern Ontario Region of Canada.

The Ottawa Fountain Pen Society is Ottawa's oldest club for fountain pen enthusiasts. We meet monthly to share our curiosity and collective knowledge about fountain pens, inks, handwriting, history and craftsmanship. Often our meetings feature interesting and educational presentations and workshops on related topics from members and external guests. OFPS members bring a diverse range of knowledge and interests to the club, including topics such as pen maker history, pen engineering, and ink art. And the pens! From vintage Parkers to refurbished Montblancs to modern Viscontis, you will see it all at the OFPS!

The OFPS, is hosting an Open house next week at our monthly meeting.
While it is a fountain pen group, we have a very diverse membership including journalers, calligraphers, collectors and even just regular folk that like writing with pens.
The evening will also include refreshments and a Sell-n-Swap of inks, pens and materials.

Location
Tuesday August 29, 7:30 pm
Bronson Centre Rm 103
211 Bronson Ave
Ottawa, ON

Please feel free to reach out if yo have any questions.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Toronto Stationary Show

« on: April 30, 2023, 08:12:37 AM »

I should have posted this a while ago. There is a wonderful show in,Toronto, Ontario, that is having it first live event since Covid.
It’s taking place today, from 10 until 6pm. A ton of stationary artists and vendors.
I couldn’t get a table this year, but I hope to get to the next one.
Web page
https://torontostationeryshow.com/


Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/Crp83CSuZdV/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

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Workshops & Conference News / Toronto Stationary Show is once again in person.

« on: January 08, 2023, 08:24:09 AM »

I am pleased to say that The Toronto Stationary Show is going to be live again this spring.
Sunday, April 30 at 1153 Queen Street West

It should be a fabulous gathering of Artists and Vendors for all things stationary.
I hope to see and meet a few of our Ontarian members.


https://torontostationeryshow.com/

https://www.instagram.com/torontostationeryshow/

https://www.facebook.com/torontostationeryshow/

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Tools & Supplies / Calligraphy auction

« on: May 04, 2022, 09:52:01 AM »

Not sure if this is allowed or the correct place for it, please move or delete as appropriate.

I just came across a temporary addition to the Yoke Pen Company website.
It appears that Christopher is getting rid of a bunch of stuff from his own collection. He has a page set up as an auction with some very cool stuff. He has also mentioned it on his IG.

https://www.yokepencompany.com/collections/auctions

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Foolish Magazine

« on: April 09, 2021, 08:33:50 AM »

Good morning everyone.
I was not sure, really where to put this, but figured it was a good coffee point.

I heard about this magazine a couple of months ago, in one of my fountain pen groups. Unfortunately, it was entirely in Italian, I have a hard enough time with English. The photos and and layout made it a joy to peruse, even without understanding the words. Well they have finally released an issue in English.

While it is a pen focused magazine, it also includes articles about calligraphy, watches and other collectables. There is even an ad right at the beginning for an oblique fountain pen.

I hope you all enjoy it.

https://issuu.com/foolishmagazinebypennamania/docs/foolish_0_eng_300dpi_online_issuu

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Help with Logo opinions

« on: August 30, 2019, 10:27:42 AM »

I'm not sure where this should go, as it is not hand written. Currently, one of the big struggles my business, Timber Elegance, is branding. I need to tweek my look and start using the various social medias to get my work out there. I have been struggling to come up with a logo for my Pen Making business and decided on a simple Monogram logo.
 
I tried many times to draw/write the logo myself, but my skills are just not up to the task. I ended up using a font called English157 as a base for the Capitals of the monogram, then converting them to an image. I then used a program called Inkscape to add, adjust and tweek it until I got what I think is a good logo.

This will be used for everything from my business cards to signs and Internet icons. It will also, hopefully, be used as a signature mark on my work, such as engraving on a pen clip or being inset as finial button in my pen caps. So not only will it need to be drawn, but may need to be worked in fine metals down to as small as 11mm in a cap button or 3mm as an engraving.

There is a lot of lettering expertise in this group and I value your opinions. Have I hit the mark here?

Thanks in advance.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Help identifying this exemplar.

« on: August 12, 2019, 08:34:31 AM »

Good day all, long time no hear. I do keep my eye on the group though.

As many of you know, my mainstay is making pens, mostly fountain pens. A supplier of mine (small mom and pop shop), just brought out a new fountain pen kit for pen makers, that is a starter broad edge calligraphy set. While i don’t normally make kit pens anymore, this one seems like it will be a nice gift set. It comes with 3 nibs; 1.5mm, 1.9mm and 2.5mm as well as an ink converter and cartridges.

Now for my question. He has included a card “A basic guide to calligraphy” with and exemplar on the back (see attached photo). I am far, far from an expert, but I am sure it is a pointed pen exemplar. I would like to advise him about this, but want to get my info straight. Could someone identify it for me?

I would also like to find an exemplar that I could suggest for him to use for a simple broad edge. It would need to be free of copywriter and fairly simple for a beginner. This card is not something that he makes money on, just an add on for the gift box set.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Pelikan Hub gathering

« on: May 28, 2019, 08:02:49 AM »

Not exactly calligraphy, but it is a fun evening for Ink and writing enthusiasts around the world.

Pelikan Hubs, are gatherings all around the world that are hosted by the company. However, while Pelikan does host the events, and they attract Pelikan fans, the is absolutely no requirement to own a Pelikan pen.

To attend the event, you need to Register at https://www.pelikan-hubs.com/
There are hubs in cities  all around the world. There are 13 in Canada, I just registered for Ottawa.

Not only do you get to hang out and talk pens and inks, registered attendees get a swag bag which traditionally contains a bottle of the Pelikan Edelstein Ink of the Year. This year its “Star Ruby”.

As I mentioned, Pelikan hosts the event but each is managed and organized by a Hub Master. While there is essentially no cost to attend, quite often the Hub Master needs to collect a small fee to offset venue costs.

If your in the Eastern Ontario area, I look forward to seeing you in Ottawa.

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Tools & Supplies / New Nikko G nib ?????

« on: May 04, 2019, 02:44:38 PM »

As some know, my mainstay is making custom pens. I was poking around one of my parts suppliers and found a nib that is called a Nikko-G, but it looks nothing like any G nib I have seen. I sent a message, asking who the manufacturer is, but I was also wondering if anyone here has seen it?

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Scriptus Pen Show

« on: October 27, 2018, 06:52:09 AM »

Well its that time of year again. I am off to Toronto, for the Scriptus Pen Show on Sunday.

Once again it is being held in the Toronto Reference Library. If anyone is going, drop by my table and say hi.

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Scriptus Toronto 2018

« on: May 23, 2018, 08:12:32 AM »

Scriptus has announced the date on Facebook (the website has not been updated yet)

October 28th 2018, 10am - 4pm
Toronto Reference Library

For those that don’t know, Scriiptus is , to my knowledge, the only Pen show in Canada. There is tons of Ink, Pens and Paraphernalia. Not only do the big pen names come out, but there is a lot of small businesses, including myself and our own @Salman Khattak. There are usually a couple of paper supplies, as well as a showing from the Toronto Calligraphy Guild.

I hope to see lots of smiling faces again this year and hopefully I will even have time to talk. I am thinking about grabbing a room in a nearby hotel the day before, we’ll see.

Here is the Facebook link
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1875820979122720&id=639078262797004

And the Website
http://scriptustoronto.com

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Show in Toronto

« on: October 26, 2017, 08:40:36 AM »

Hi everyone.

Sorry I haven't been around much. I have been busy lately getting set for the Scriptus pen show.
It is even bigger this year. The Calligraphy Arts Guild will be there, as well as a ton of stationary and ink. I'm not sure if Salman will be there this year, but I hope so.
If your in the area this Sunday, please drop in. Its free and its fun.

http://scriptustoronto.com

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Shout out to Schin

« on: June 19, 2016, 10:12:54 AM »

What a pleasant surprise this morning, when I opened up my June issue of Pen World magazine. There between the covers was a fabulous article about one of our very own.

I just wanted to send a huge congratulations to you Schin, you should be very proud.