Luddite Patchwork Bendy Pen Case Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

Pens on the go need proper conveyance, so I'm always up for trying out a new pen case. It seems there's no end to the new ways designers will configure a simple pen case, but this Luddite Bendy Pen Case is yet another fun, fresh take on the idea.

This case answers the question no one has ever asked: What if my pen case was like a taco and a pita at the same time? The answer: Awesome, that's what. The square-ish case is lined with five pen pockets, and it folds in half lengthwise and snaps closed over the pens. But also! Each side of the case is a zipper pouch. So much storage!

The case is made from a soft woven Kurashiki canvas, this version in a patchwork of denim colored textures. The stitching is a yellow thread, and the zippers are gold colored YKK zippers. The designers opted for quality at every decision on this one.

The only issue I encountered with this case is that if you put bulky items in the zipper pouches, they interact with the pens in the pen slots. The volume is shared, so your ability to use those zipper pouches is somewhat limited. But for smaller items like a notepad or ink swatch cards, stickers, etc., it's a fantastic way to assemble a small writing kit. The fabric isn't as protective as a more robust case would be, but the two layers of canvas provide enough padding to keep the contents reasonably safe.

The case sells for $35 at Dromgoole’s, where it's available in a variety of colors. That's a great price for the quality of the case. It's been perfect for taking my writing supplies to the November write-ins happening at libraries everywhere this month. I've been attending one or two a week and really enjoying this kit in the process. I could also see this working well for a sketch artist kit, or even a case for knitters or crocheters to store hooks, needles, and notions. It's a great design made very well, so there are endless uses. When November writing is finished, this one is likely headed for my knitting bag.

(This product was purchased at Dromgoole’s at regular price.)

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Retro 51 X Pularys Modern Traveler Set Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

It's a great feeling when you are interested in something because of one feature it has (like, say, a tiny Retro 51 pen), but then you find yourself enjoying all of its features much more than expected. So yes, I selected this item because I wanted the tiny Retro pen. It's cute! And now I am enjoying having a great wallet, too. Double win.

Pularys makes lots of nice leather wallets, and the Modern Traveler Set collaboration with Retro 51 combines their quality features with a great portable pen, ensuring that you can be well equipped for any tasks that combine card-carrying and writing. There are a lot of those. While many receipts have gone digital, I used mine today in a restaurant, and earlier this week signing a form in a doctor's office. I wouldn't want to write a whole book with this teeny tiny pen (though I'm mad enough to try it someday, probably), but it's fantastic for jotting down a quick note or signature. And the pen writes well! It’s a ballpoint pen, not the gushing rollerball of Retro 51 Tornado fame, but that is much more practical for what will likely be used on receipt paper a lot of the time.

The wee Retros included in these wallets are color-coordinated to the set. This blue wallet comes with a copper-colored pen. The Cognac wallet's pen is teal, and the black wallet's pen is black. All have the Retro 51 brand on the front, and they close with a silver snap strap. They all look great.

It's a surprisingly small wallet, though it carries a lot. It holds 8 cards in the aluminum RFID-blocking sleeve, which releases the cards with the flip of the black plastic lever at the bottom of the wallet. There are also two folder-style sleeves inside the wallet to store additional cards. There's also a folded plastic bill holder behind the aluminum card sleeve. Then, of course, there's the mini Retro pen sleeve in the spine. I was able to move everything I need to carry into this wallet--from a much larger wallet that did not include room for a pen. It was a wonder of physics.

This is my first time using a wallet with one of those card-flipper features. I've been nervous to try one. The little flippers stick out funny, and what if they break, leaving my important cards trapped in their aluminum coffin? Okay, I'm still a bit anxious about that, but I can say that using this one feels very sturdy and reliable.

I knew I would love the pen. I had a tiny Retro 51 like this that I purchased at my first ever pen show in Colorado in 2015, and I lost that treasured pen when it fell out of my pocket in a parking lot one day. I've been searching for a replacement ever since, and it looked like this wallet set was the only way to find one. I did not expect to like the wallet as much as I do! I figured it would be nice, don't get me wrong, but I have never considered myself to have "wallet preferences." That might change, now.

The only thing I'd change about this wallet is that I'd include a teeny tiny notebook tucked into the right side slip pocket, just for a bit of scrap paper to go with the wee pen. Happily that's something I can add, myself.

The Retro 51 Modern Traveler set sells for $120, though as I write this, it's on sale for $96 at Dromgoole's. It's worth the full-price cost, and the sale is a great deal. If you have someone in your life who needs a nice new wallet, or if you need a tiny Retro 51, this is a total win.

(This product was purchased from Dromgoole's at regular price.)

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Stationery Stack Pen Tray Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

Do your pens need to recline in luxury? Does your desk need a little organizational help? Do you keep more than a handful of pens inked at all times? If you're reading this blog, I know you answered yes to all, so you may need one (or all) of these pen trays from Stationery Stack.

The set pictured here includes the Honcho, the Amigo, and the Alfie. The Honcho is the single pen rest, and it's available in two lengths and several different finishes. It's perfect for keeping your main pen handy, especially if you have a pen that wants to roll away on the desk. This will keep it safe while remaining easily accessible. Like a pen cot.

The Amigo is also a single pen rest, but with an added slot that can hold a few sheets of cardstock, like business cards or even a to-do list or calendar page.

The Alfie is the large pen tray. It can hold ten pens--seven longer ones, and three shorter ones. The shorter slots run the width of the tray, with the seven longer ones along the length. It's a clever design that maximizes the number of pens it can hold while keeping a reasonable footprint on the desk. It is 10.5" by 6.25" by 1". It takes up less space than a sheet of paper.

All three shown here are in the St@cked brand color--a lovely Celadon Green that is literally my favorite color. The green paint has a satin finish. Beneath the paint, the Alfie is made from solid Cherry wood. The Alfie is also available in Maple and Walnut. The Honcho and Amigo are Pine. The finish on everything is exceptional--the wood shaping and paint is smooth and flawless. The fabric that lines the pen grooves in the Alfie is a faux suede in the “Sandy" color (Grey is also available). It feels lightly velvety, and makes a nice soft bed for your pens.

Pen trays like this solve my number one obstacle to using my pens: convenience. If I'm sitting down for a planned writing session, it's nice to have my pen handy. But more often I need to grab a pen for a quick note. I'm not likely to dig into cases for a quick need--I end up grabbing whatever writing instrument is most handy, which is usually a freebie disposable pen, or one of my library's numerous golf pencils. Having my pens out in a tray has noticeably led to me using them more frequently. And using nice pens more frequently, as we all know, increases happiness!

All of the pieces at Stationery Stack are made by Addy, who makes very cool things and has big plans for even more. The soon-to-be-released Journal Caddy will be an immediate must-buy for me. There is a status page on the website where you can find information about upcoming shop updates and product releases, which is great. Because this is a one-woman shop, production moves at the pace of perfection.

Do be warned that the time and craftswomanship are reflected in the prices of these products. The prices are absolutely fair, but they are expensive. The Alfie, the largest pen tray, is priced at $145. The Honcho is $14 and the Amigo is $20 for the shorter length and $23 for the longer. It's a big leap up between the models, but that has a lot to do with the materials (pine vs cherry) and the time that goes into crafting a larger piece.

I have really enjoyed these, and I'll be watching for the Journal Caddy launch. And whatever else Addy dreams up next!

(These products were provided by Stationery Stack at no charge for purposes of this review.)

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!