Have you ever struggled to find ways to use your fountain pens more often? If you have, I hope this helps! Patreon: / pensandtea Discord: / discord Instagram: / pens_and_tea
Your comments brought back an old memory. My ex-husband divorced wife number 2 when my children were in school. My son had a concert and needed to get his white "church" shirt from his step-mother. She didn't feel comfortable going to the concert, but she wrote a note saying that she loved him and wished him good luck and put it in the sleeve of the shirt. He found it when he was getting dressed for the concert. She is one of the nicest people I have ever met. My ex-husband is a fool.
Kerry, you're a riot! Love all your suggestions. I keep an A6 lined notebook with me at all times along with a fountain pen where I jott down all things, even ones I'll expand on in my journal later. Plus, I (for this year) am writing Morning Pages' "stream-of-consciousness" thoughts, at least 4 pages worth every day. This way I am keeping a promise to myself to draw-down my excess inks, rotate thru my collection, and practice my cursive. Thanks 😊
"Old people" aren't the only ones who love getting snail mail. I send letters to my nieces (ages 5 and 8), and they love it! My 8 year old niece gets to practice reading hand writing and my 5 year old niece is excited because she has started recognizing words. (I print her letters. The 8 year old gets cursive because reading cursive is becoming a lost art.)
I did this for a while with a friend of mine who lives in a different city. We did shared journals. We each had a journal and wrote in it for a couple of weeks, then we mailed them to each other. We got to read the other person's entries and then added ours for a couple of weeks, and so on. It was great.
I use my pens as often as I can. I’m a note taker & list maker and have about 6 different notebooks going for various things. I doodle when I’m listening to things-taking notes or just doodling-and am trying to get back into sketching with them. I also colour code my journal so I’ve been going through ink samples trying to find good replacements for the gel pens I’ve been using. I could keep using the gel pens, but it’s so much more fun to play with inks that shade!
One option that people might find helpful is to try a journaling game. Thousand Year Old Vampire is probably the most well known. They will give your prompts and game mechanisms to write fictional journal entries or stores.
I use my fountain pens for anything that requires a pen. My work task lists are written on an Endless Creative Block, or other fountain pen friendly note pad; and, I leave a fun note for my client, after checking all the boxes (and/or, making edits), before I leave it on her fridge... just so she can get a smile or laugh, when she passes her fridge. Also, I take a Rhodia Webnotes notebook with me, to jot out things on my mind, during my break, to get them out of my head, before I continue with my tasks. And, I've, recently, started sending snail mail to some of my favorite humans. I even got one back, from a friend who wasn't sure if she'd be able to write back. She ended up buying cute statioery to correspond through snail mail. 🥰
I and my husband enjoy getting nice blank cards (still cheaper than the Hallmark cards) and then writing a more personal note inside. Some elegant washi tape and stickers go a long way to personalizing it quickly.
Nice to see Parker, its been a while. I’m really enjoying this mini series Thank You. Cool Ideas. Like the “mini-quickie notes” Idea. I’m going to give it a try. To your list I would add: use the clip that most FPs have! When you get dressed for the day clip one or two pens to your shirt or jacket -does any one wear a jacket these days- clip it to a note pad/book that you carry, clip it in your purse, or your cellphone case -better yet ha, ha, take the smart phone out of its case, leave it at home and replace the sp with a FP and note pad in the phone case that you take with you. Well the point is, if you always have a pen readily at hand and with you at all times you will use it more and perhaps be surprised how often you use it. No place to clip? Then make sure you keep one pocket empty in whatever you wear😢 each day and put only your pen in that pocket.
Doodle, sketch, write haiku in a fancy script, design new scripts that work well with fountain pens, copy out fonts you like, paying attention to all the details of the letterforms.
I like to take notes and copy out passages from roleplaying rulebooks when I am learning new rules and settings. I also take notes both as GM and player in RPG sessions, which is very helpful, I never used to really take notes before I got into fountain pens.
Another thing I use my pens for is to write memories. I don’t really do any journaling regularly but I have a notebook that I started writing life anecdotes in. I’m in my 60s and have had a lot of interesting experiences in my life. There are many anecdotes that I have told people on many occasions (whether they want to hear them or not 😄) and it occurred to me once that I should start writing them down. I don’t plan to ever do anything with the writing and I don’t expect anyone else to ever read them, but I find it pleasant to reminisce about past experiences and write them down in detail.
That was one of the funniest and informative videos I watched this week 😂🎉 Thanks for all the suggestions! Looking forward to the next videos of this series
For a guy, one of the best ways to use a fountain pen is to keep one in your shirt pocket. I find a Majohn A1 or Pilot VP takes the “pain” of unscrewing a FP cap when you need to write in a hurry.
Thanks Kerri! I just wrote a letter to my best friend (of 55 years)! Since I don’t have any pen friends in my area, I just write to her! She prefers the phone! 😂. But it’s pretty cool because I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I wrote an actual letter! Thanks for the other ideas! God bless you!
I write letters to my friends and family. It is very special to receive a letter in the mail these days. I think anyone appreciates it. It’s more personal than email or text message.
Besides my journal, i use them for artwork…need document ink so it’s waterproof, then apply watercolors or use ink that is not waterproof ..also great for crosshatching artwork for quick doodles on the go
Yes, inspirational quotes and maybe favourite prose pages, which makes for even more uninterrupted writing practice. I simply find myself writing absolute waffle in my journals, just to enjoy writing with my fountain pens, LOL. Just for the sheer joy of feeling the pen glide along the page making letters. Who would have thought this was such a joyous experience with fountain pens. My best pens are only the modest lamy safaris Al stars and studios. I have a Parker Sonner which is meh, ok at times, a Staedtler, also meh, a couple Jinhao's x159's ok and an 82 also ok, but best so far are the lamy's in my collection. Definitely looking at a Benu, thanks to the many recommendations, the Kaviar one.
Cracked me up about card lengths. I swear, the last one my parents gave me was so long that I think they didn't bother to read it, because a lot of stuff in there did not apply to me. Just put on the front, "TL;DR I love you," and I'll be fine.
One of my favorite people to receive greeting cards from is my future sister-in-law because she writes her own with her fountain pens and ink. The messages are always heart-felt and warm, and I love asking what ink(s) she used to write them. I keep all of her cards in a memory box along with pen pal letters, souvenirs, etc. Now, I buy cute cards with blank insides and write my own messages for people. As an additional idea, I recommend taking pens and a journal to work or, if you work from home, keeping them nearby. I write notes during meetings, continue professional reflections, and set goals. This helps me use my stationery AND connect with people who also enjoy these things. 😁
I use "some" of my fouuntain pens daily for work. I use multiple retractable ones in different colors (Pilot Capless/Mojohn A-1) because my dept tracks attendance etc, so in addition to having an electronic record, I keep a written record daily with different groups in their own color of ink. For improving my handwriting, I've transcribed several important historical documents like the Declaration of Independence & the US Constitution in its entirety, & I have a hardcover notebook that I am filling with quotes that I've jotted down or taken screenshots of on my phone.
So Christmas I take q-tips and Emeraude de Chivor and Rouge Hematite blank white card stock and probably some black ink and maybe othe colors. Make Christmas trees, snowmen, ornaments, nativity scenes ( just kidding) but it's fun and I get postive comments.
I kind of do one of your suggestions. I have been watching videos on pens and writing down these different lists in a journal I have dedicated to fountain pen information to be able to reference back to.
Excellent suggestions! Snail mail: it's why I push, any time I see a "paper review" that's just notebooks and journals, for coverage of notepads and looseleaf paper. Criminally underrepresented, IMO. Could cover brands of everyday cards and envelopes, too. No reason why an envelope should be in ballpoint and not fountain pen ink. And there's even blank inside cards for cheap that work for fountain pens. Doesn't have to be high end or expensive (Dollar Tree in the US has 2fer cards all the time that are generally pretty good, for example. Basically 2 for $1.25 USD. 😉) Carry a pen and small pocket notebook. Faster than trying to get to the pertinent app on your phone. Even cheap ones can work (I've had good luck with el cheapo ones from Walmart. $.10-.25 USD if you stock up during back to school sales. ) Don't carry a really fragile or expensive pen. Find a cheap one you like to use, and is durable. Even a couple dollar Jinhao can be a nice writer, and you'll never cry if it's broken or lost (it's vintage Esterbrook Js for me currently. Those old cellulose acetate pens are almost indestructible. And I got them generally for around $10-15 USD, still working. Find something you will use. ) Awesome video!
Yes, make your own cards, lets you use many of your inks. Yes Christmas is just around the corner. Time to buy anything you really want before they run out, or you have to pay for premium shipping to arrive on time.
If you are a student or preparing for some serious test, and You tend to memorize by hand or have to do a lot of math on some random A4 copy paper, 2 converters are easy. One day I used about 3.5.💀💀 Good memories and I'm proud of myself but, *MAN* it was hard.
Your comments brought back an old memory. My ex-husband divorced wife number 2 when my children were in school. My son had a concert and needed to get his white "church" shirt from his step-mother. She didn't feel comfortable going to the concert, but she wrote a note saying that she loved him and wished him good luck and put it in the sleeve of the shirt. He found it when he was getting dressed for the concert. She is one of the nicest people I have ever met. My ex-husband is a fool.
Kerry, you're a riot! Love all your suggestions. I keep an A6 lined notebook with me at all times along with a fountain pen where I jott down all things, even ones I'll expand on in my journal later. Plus, I (for this year) am writing Morning Pages' "stream-of-consciousness" thoughts, at least 4 pages worth every day. This way I am keeping a promise to myself to draw-down my excess inks, rotate thru my collection, and practice my cursive. Thanks 😊
"Old people" aren't the only ones who love getting snail mail. I send letters to my nieces (ages 5 and 8), and they love it! My 8 year old niece gets to practice reading hand writing and my 5 year old niece is excited because she has started recognizing words. (I print her letters. The 8 year old gets cursive because reading cursive is becoming a lost art.)
I did this for a while with a friend of mine who lives in a different city. We did shared journals. We each had a journal and wrote in it for a couple of weeks, then we mailed them to each other. We got to read the other person's entries and then added ours for a couple of weeks, and so on. It was great.
I use my pens as often as I can. I’m a note taker & list maker and have about 6 different notebooks going for various things. I doodle when I’m listening to things-taking notes or just doodling-and am trying to get back into sketching with them. I also colour code my journal so I’ve been going through ink samples trying to find good replacements for the gel pens I’ve been using. I could keep using the gel pens, but it’s so much more fun to play with inks that shade!
Great ideas! And you are so funny after a nap 😂 Feeling less grumpy now, thanks!
One option that people might find helpful is to try a journaling game. Thousand Year Old Vampire is probably the most well known. They will give your prompts and game mechanisms to write fictional journal entries or stores.
I use my fountain pens for anything that requires a pen. My work task lists are written on an Endless Creative Block, or other fountain pen friendly note pad; and, I leave a fun note for my client, after checking all the boxes (and/or, making edits), before I leave it on her fridge... just so she can get a smile or laugh, when she passes her fridge. Also, I take a Rhodia Webnotes notebook with me, to jot out things on my mind, during my break, to get them out of my head, before I continue with my tasks.
And, I've, recently, started sending snail mail to some of my favorite humans. I even got one back, from a friend who wasn't sure if she'd be able to write back. She ended up buying cute statioery to correspond through snail mail. 🥰
I and my husband enjoy getting nice blank cards (still cheaper than the Hallmark cards) and then writing a more personal note inside. Some elegant washi tape and stickers go a long way to personalizing it quickly.
Nice to see Parker, its been a while. I’m really enjoying this mini series Thank You. Cool Ideas. Like the “mini-quickie notes” Idea. I’m going to give it a try. To your list I would add: use the clip that most FPs have! When you get dressed for the day clip one or two pens to your shirt or jacket -does any one wear a jacket these days- clip it to a note pad/book that you carry, clip it in your purse, or your cellphone case -better yet ha, ha, take the smart phone out of its case, leave it at home and replace the sp with a FP and note pad in the phone case that you take with you. Well the point is, if you always have a pen readily at hand and with you at all times you will use it more and perhaps be surprised how often you use it. No place to clip? Then make sure you keep one pocket empty in whatever you wear😢 each day and put only your pen in that pocket.
I like writing while listening to audiobooks. My eyes can stay on the paper. Thanks Kerry!
Good idea!
Doodle, sketch, write haiku in a fancy script, design new scripts that work well with fountain pens, copy out fonts you like, paying attention to all the details of the letterforms.
Your kitten is so cute. I’m more of a dog person but they’re so cute! They make me melt.
I like to take notes and copy out passages from roleplaying rulebooks when I am learning new rules and settings. I also take notes both as GM and player in RPG sessions, which is very helpful, I never used to really take notes before I got into fountain pens.
Another thing I use my pens for is to write memories. I don’t really do any journaling regularly but I have a notebook that I started writing life anecdotes in. I’m in my 60s and have had a lot of interesting experiences in my life. There are many anecdotes that I have told people on many occasions (whether they want to hear them or not 😄) and it occurred to me once that I should start writing them down. I don’t plan to ever do anything with the writing and I don’t expect anyone else to ever read them, but I find it pleasant to reminisce about past experiences and write them down in detail.
That was one of the funniest and informative videos I watched this week 😂🎉 Thanks for all the suggestions!
Looking forward to the next videos of this series
Glad you enjoyed it!
For a guy, one of the best ways to use a fountain pen is to keep one in your shirt pocket. I find a Majohn A1 or Pilot VP takes the “pain” of unscrewing a FP cap when you need to write in a hurry.
especially when it's leaking in the pocket :-)))
Thanks Kerri! I just wrote a letter to my best friend (of 55 years)! Since I don’t have any pen friends in my area, I just write to her! She prefers the phone! 😂. But it’s pretty cool because I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I wrote an actual letter! Thanks for the other ideas! God bless you!
If you have old magazines you could cut out photos and make a collage for your greeting card. And write your greeting inside.
I write letters to my friends and family. It is very special to receive a letter in the mail these days. I think anyone appreciates it. It’s more personal than email or text message.
Besides my journal, i use them for artwork…need document ink so it’s waterproof, then apply watercolors or use ink that is not waterproof ..also great for crosshatching artwork for quick doodles on the go
Yes, inspirational quotes and maybe favourite prose pages, which makes for even more uninterrupted writing practice. I simply find myself writing absolute waffle in my journals, just to enjoy writing with my fountain pens, LOL. Just for the sheer joy of feeling the pen glide along the page making letters. Who would have thought this was such a joyous experience with fountain pens. My best pens are only the modest lamy safaris Al stars and studios. I have a Parker Sonner which is meh, ok at times, a Staedtler, also meh, a couple Jinhao's x159's ok and an 82 also ok, but best so far are the lamy's in my collection. Definitely looking at a Benu, thanks to the many recommendations, the Kaviar one.
Love the “You got boogers.” note idea. Will be leaving some of these hidden at friends’ houses.
Cracked me up about card lengths. I swear, the last one my parents gave me was so long that I think they didn't bother to read it, because a lot of stuff in there did not apply to me. Just put on the front, "TL;DR I love you," and I'll be fine.
Def need this video... And hi Parker
One of my favorite people to receive greeting cards from is my future sister-in-law because she writes her own with her fountain pens and ink. The messages are always heart-felt and warm, and I love asking what ink(s) she used to write them. I keep all of her cards in a memory box along with pen pal letters, souvenirs, etc. Now, I buy cute cards with blank insides and write my own messages for people.
As an additional idea, I recommend taking pens and a journal to work or, if you work from home, keeping them nearby. I write notes during meetings, continue professional reflections, and set goals. This helps me use my stationery AND connect with people who also enjoy these things. 😁
“Can you SEE IT!!!!”
There are TH-cam vids on how to paint trees ornaments etc.
Loved Jurassic Park book. So much better than the movie. But that is usually true.
I use my pens to write out my days schedule (even though I have an outlook calendar) just to use my pens.
I use "some" of my fouuntain pens daily for work. I use multiple retractable ones in different colors (Pilot Capless/Mojohn A-1) because my dept tracks attendance etc, so in addition to having an electronic record, I keep a written record daily with different groups in their own color of ink. For improving my handwriting, I've transcribed several important historical documents like the Declaration of Independence & the US Constitution in its entirety, & I have a hardcover notebook that I am filling with quotes that I've jotted down or taken screenshots of on my phone.
Usually i will be doing like try to catch up with whatever I'm hearing from youtube videos as watching. It helped me to write fast
Absolutely love your content ❤
So Christmas I take q-tips and Emeraude de Chivor and Rouge Hematite blank white card stock and probably some black ink and maybe othe colors. Make Christmas trees, snowmen, ornaments, nativity scenes ( just kidding) but it's fun and I get postive comments.
I kind of do one of your suggestions. I have been watching videos on pens and writing down these different lists in a journal I have dedicated to fountain pen information to be able to reference back to.
Excellent suggestions!
Snail mail: it's why I push, any time I see a "paper review" that's just notebooks and journals, for coverage of notepads and looseleaf paper. Criminally underrepresented, IMO. Could cover brands of everyday cards and envelopes, too. No reason why an envelope should be in ballpoint and not fountain pen ink.
And there's even blank inside cards for cheap that work for fountain pens. Doesn't have to be high end or expensive (Dollar Tree in the US has 2fer cards all the time that are generally pretty good, for example. Basically 2 for $1.25 USD. 😉)
Carry a pen and small pocket notebook. Faster than trying to get to the pertinent app on your phone. Even cheap ones can work (I've had good luck with el cheapo ones from Walmart. $.10-.25 USD if you stock up during back to school sales. )
Don't carry a really fragile or expensive pen. Find a cheap one you like to use, and is durable. Even a couple dollar Jinhao can be a nice writer, and you'll never cry if it's broken or lost (it's vintage Esterbrook Js for me currently. Those old cellulose acetate pens are almost indestructible. And I got them generally for around $10-15 USD, still working. Find something you will use. )
Awesome video!
Yes, make your own cards, lets you use many of your inks. Yes Christmas is just around the corner. Time to buy anything you really want before they run out, or you have to pay for premium shipping to arrive on time.
If you are a student or preparing for some serious test, and You tend to memorize by hand or have to do a lot of math on some random A4 copy paper, 2 converters are easy. One day I used about 3.5.💀💀 Good memories and I'm proud of myself but, *MAN* it was hard.
Your selection book-wise appears mostly if not all fantasy oriented.
Shnooks: nope to kisses
I see the loaf is chunky as ever.
Heads up “you rfountain pens” is in the title instead of “your fountain pens”
Thanks, all fixed hahaha