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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Free Oblique holder

« on: June 07, 2018, 07:32:35 AM »

This is an oblique pen holder made by ChicObliques in the UK. It is crafted from English Yew wood, and features a grip that is based on the Ransomerian planed surface grip. It is one of the relatively new Curv-E holders. It is beautifully crafted and polished.

As can be seen the holder is best suited for smaller to medium sized hands. It measures about 135 mm in length. The holder is currently fitted with a Gillott 404 as an example, it will take 303s, zebra Gs and Leonardt Prinicipal nibs. The picture shows it alongside a Tachikawa holder that many should be familiar with (I hope) for scale.

So, I invite expressions of interest from people who may be able to use this. If there are a few entries I will pick one randomly.

Postage anywhere is included in this offer. The holder is completely free.

Please be aware, as noted above, that this holder will not easily suit someone with large hands.

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Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Re: How do you deal with hand tremors?

« on: April 22, 2018, 01:05:23 AM »

The first thing that springs to my mind is essential tremor. This can be familiar - inasmuch as it has an assumed genetic component - and not necessarily neurological.

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: Shanghaied!

« on: March 02, 2018, 08:22:57 PM »

The red image behind is around 18 feet long and is cut out from a single piece of paper. It is STILL a single piece of paper! Serendipity. We found it in a museum of marriage at a nearby "watertown" called Fengjing. The picture depicts, as I understand it, the importance of family and the commitment expected of husband and wife to this ideal.

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: Shanghaied!

« on: March 01, 2018, 03:01:36 AM »

My heartfelt thanks, @melanie jane, @JanisTX, @AnasaziWrites, and @Erica McPhee.

When I am in Shanghai my family name is Xia Qing Tian, which poetically translates as Clear Summer Sky. Lei, the lovely lady in the pic, is my sun.

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Shanghaied!

« on: February 26, 2018, 10:40:45 PM »

This beautiful lady recently agreed to wear a ring that I offered to her.

We were married in Shanghai, her (and now my adopted) home city.

Just arrived home after a month in the city. Still a bit stunned really.

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Curv-E Holder - New Oblique Pen Holder

« on: January 23, 2018, 04:35:54 AM »

Interesting design. I have an ergonomic holder from Melanie (EnglishPenCrafts) that feels in my hand exactly the way the holder in this thread is described. It's not triangular. It is kind of like a free-form Tower Strahm holder. The upper surface of the grip is flat (and dipping slightly), and the thumb sits behind the flange also on a flat plane. The side that is hidden by the hand is curved - though as this plays little part in the holding it is not so relevant beyond aesthetics.

This image doesn't show those planes as clearly as I would like.

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: Where in the World?

« on: January 12, 2018, 06:15:52 PM »

Dunedin, New Zealand

Originally from the UK - just found out that Dunedin is the farthest city from London (19,100 km or 11,870 miles). Talk about getting away from it all!

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Straight vs Oblique (one more point)

« on: October 20, 2017, 05:36:03 AM »

Nice hand!

I see you have what looks like a holder from Arseniy and Olga? I'm waiting on one of their holders right now. Taking an age to get here though. How do you like the 'ergonomic' shape?

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Searching for a specific nib

« on: October 06, 2017, 06:31:07 AM »

Hi folks,

I am looking for a source of the Brause 523 nib. It's a three-tined nib. I have one and I really quite like it for (fountain pen) ink testing and some braod edge calligraphy, but I cannot find any more. Not looking for whole boxes or such, just 10-12 nibs.

If anyone has a lead on these and would like to share, please pm me.

cheers,

Dave

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Evacuating Florida because of Irma

« on: September 06, 2017, 01:32:37 AM »

Indeed. Stay safe. Hoping Irma will turn back out to sea.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: What It's Like to Be a Designer

« on: September 02, 2017, 01:53:54 AM »

Hilarious!

I'm not a designer but I am quite often used as such by academics who want conference posters made. In general I either get a request for an image that is way beyond my capability or time to create, or I get variations on the following conversation:

Academic: I'd like a poster made about this study.
Me: No problem, what exactly would you like it to show?
Academic: Not sure. Here's the abstract, see what you can come up with.

After a day or two of throwing idea onto the page and coming up with what I think is a workable design... (presents to academic)...

Academic: No, that's not what I'm looking for at all.
Me: Okay. What do you suggest?
Academic: Don't know. Show me something else.

And... repeat ad nauseum until it is so close to the deadline that a decision is forced.

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Technical Support & Feedback / Re: Dropping membership

« on: August 22, 2017, 07:16:30 AM »

Just to add a small update. I am super busy right now: big research projects, assignments and so on. Anyway, when I get a chance to do another practice and sample I will post it over in the "Kind Critique" area in the first instance, and Jean, if you wish, you may copy it over to the blog at your convenience. It's not going to be too regular though until the semester ends.

Edit: samples may be in pencil more times than not. I don't carry my dip pens around with me.

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Technical Support & Feedback / Re: Dropping membership

« on: August 13, 2017, 03:38:30 PM »

Thanks Jean. I have had a cursory look at it before going to work. Lots of things to consider by the looks of it. I don't have any preference regarding words or letters per se, though the arrangement of words is important to me, which is why I used part of that poem. For those unfamiliar with such things, it is an unfinished poem by Dylan Thomas reflecting on the passing of his father. I don't think I've ever read a more heartfelt and poignant personal poem as this one. There is a great clip that can be found on YouTube with Richard Burton reading.

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