DIY Kaweco Event at Flax Pen to Paper

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

I was so excited when Kaweco announced that they would be releasing a special DIY (Do It Yourself) Kaweco but it would only be available at in-store events. I kept seeing events popping up at vendors at times/places that I couldn’t attend so I thought I’d just have to hunt for a used one down the road. Thankfully, the stars and schedules aligned and I was able to make the trek to Flax Pen to Paper this past weekend and assemble my own Kaweco! Spoiler alert: this article contains pictures of the DIY process, so if you’re planning to get one done and you don’t wanna see what’s involved, scroll to the bottom and look at the haul instead 🙂

I love the signage for the DIY event as well as Custom Nib Studio and Saiko Stationery!

Ryan Finnegan of Saiko Stationery also did a pop-up at the store! I was good and didn’t buy any washi tape but I might have picked up some other stuff…

After the first rush of customers, I was able to start working on my DIY Kaweco! I’m so excited!

This big box is shipped to the vendors around the world who had signed up to participate in the DIY event.

The various pen parts are inside, including different nib units, grips, etc.

Here are the parts for my pen (not including the box and sticker.)

I put the inner cap onto the metal post thingy (yes, that’s the technical term and I’m sticking to it, lol) and then put the cap on top of that. The inner cap helps prevent evaporation.

Time for the finial to go on the cap!

Voila!

Time for the nib to go into the pen!

That was easy!

*All done! *

All of the steps were very easy to follow (especially since Ryan walked me through it!) and the machine was also very easy to use - no significant strength required! I did not keep any of the packaging as there was nothing highlighting that this was a DIY Kaweco, other than the silver engraving on the pen cap itself. It does not come with a converter.

Gena Salorino of Custom Nib Studio was on hand to work their magic on folks’ pens, including my newly created Kaweco!

Can you believe that, all this time, I only wrote on their sample pad and never in my notebook? Oops 😃 Glad I finally took my own advice!

Gena ground the broad Kaweco nib to a Cursive Italic and I inked it up with Robert Oster Napa.

In addition to the DIY Kaweco, I couldn’t escape the store without buying these goodies from Flax and Saiko Stationery.

I couldn’t choose between the different packs of stickers from Saiko Stationery, so I got several! Also love the wine “juice box” sticker from Flax and underneath is a Bellroy Lite Sacoche, the link is for Black, but mine is Clay.

I also bought some Uni-ball One P and F gel pens, a PLOTTER Bible-size Fastener Case, Midori metallic transfer stickers and some awesome cards.

I had a great time at the event! Aside from assembling my very own Kaweco, it was so fun meeting people and chatting with them while they shopped or tried Gena’s tester pens (highly recommend, even if you’re not getting anything done). Thank you to Flax Pen to Paper for hosting this event, to Ryan for helping me with the Kaweco (and bringing some super cute Saiko Stationery goods) and to Gena for making the nib extra special! I believe the Kaweco box of goodness will be making its way to the next stop soon (though I was unable to find a list on the Kaweco website), but if you have the opportunity to assemble a Kaweco at your local pen store, I highly recommend the experience!

(Disclaimer: All products and nib services were purchased by me at Flax Pen to Paper.)

Shachihata Daily Log Stamp 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 Twitter. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available for pre-order!)

You may already know this about me, but I sure do like books. My job is books. My hobby is books. And when I'm not busy with books, I like to relax with a good book. So when my love for books and my love of stationery combine, it is pure joy.

As an avid reader and multi-book club participant, I keep a reading journal to track what books I read and when. Mine is very simple--just a printed image of the book, the date I started and finished, the format, and a star rating. Sometimes I jot a note, if I feel it's necessary, but usually not. In the past, I've printed out a star graphic that I paste into my journal and write in the info I need. But now? LOOK AT THIS STAMP!

The Shachihata Daily Log Stamp does all the work for me! It has the stars, an adjustable date line, and room for a format note. All in one quick press, so I can get back to reading faster!

The stamp itself is made out of rubber with a tall plastic handle that makes it easy to hold. It takes up more space than a flat wooden-rubber stamp, but inside the handle are the mechanisms for rotating the dates that appear on the stamp. Each number has its own turning wheel with toothlike gears that make it easy to turn. You can also retract the date part of the stamp if you don't want to include it at all.

The image is nice and clear when stamped. You'll need an ink pad (this stamp does not store its own ink), but that opens up a lot of options for colors and formulas. I could see my reading log with a bit of glitter ink, at some point.

Maybe your hobby isn't reading (what???) or you have a different entry in your journal that could use some stamp help. They also have versions of this stamp for the weather, sleep log, exercise log, menu, to do lists, etc. Really, you could lay out a whole planner with these stamps in a blank book. The stamp faces are about 2.7cm square, so fairly small. 

They're a bit pricey, as far as stamps go. The adjustable dates likely add most of this cost, but each stamp runs around $26.50. It's a bit more than I'd expect to pay, but at least it's something that can be reused indefinitely. Which is good, because I've got a lot of reading to do.

---

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!

SHEdesigns Pen Wrap Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

It's not every day that we get the pleasure of writing about a company that exists because of a non-profit program that teaches under-privileged people a skill from which they can earn a living, so that's why I'm really excited to tell you about SHEdesigns out of Nepal. The pen wrap that I've been using is actually from HelloTello — a custom pen maker out of Ohio who includes a pen wrap from SHEdesigns with every pen purchase. Here's a description of SHEdesigns' history and mission from their website:

The vision for SHEdesigns began in 2015 when a cross cultural worker from the US moved to a remote village of Nepal. It was a region that was known for staggering poverty and human trafficking. An initial survey revealed multiple risk factors that perpetuated the issues villagers were facing. Partnering with a local non-profit, they established a sewing program which grew into the business that SHEDesigns is today. This small initiative has had a huge impact – not only for the ten women who have been empowered through employment there but for the entire community surrounding them who have been affected in ways that will benefit generations to come!

This is the kind of inspiring and uplifting that I can get behind all day long. According to their website, they haven't quite launched to the public, but they're obviously hard at work making beautiful hand-sewn products. Purchasing a beautiful pen from HelloTello is a great way to get one of these pen wraps.

The pen wrap I have in front of me is a mostly medium red/gold color scheme that includes lots of shiny/reflective bits in the fabric and string. It's a thing of beauty that is both functional and a piece of art.

The pen wrap design is a pouch and flap that closes with a string. Simple but effective design! There's plenty of room for a single pen, and I'm sure you could stuff a couple more in if you wanted to. I prefer the idea that this wrap is meant for a single pen that has specific meaning or sentimental value over a more utilitarian case that's purpose is to hold as much stuff as possible. The exterior fabric is a lovely pattern with lots of right angles and rectangles of different shades of red and gold. Some of the thread is sparkly, which adds so much visual interest to the wrap.

Inside the wrap, the fabric is a velvet-like dark red or maroon that is really soft. The pouch that holds your pen actually has some stitching at either end of the opening to make it more secure. Instead of a large envelope opening, there's a a half inch pocket on each end of the pouch that the pen can slide into for some extra security. It's a thoughtful design that works great in practice.

Once your pen is in the sleeve, closing it and securing it a simple matter. Just wrap the string around the ca a couple times and tuck the string under itself with the help of the bead at the end. No need for any knots or double-tucks — the string stays secure with the friction created by one tuck, and that also means it's still easy to unwrap. After a little practice, the act of opening or closing the wrap takes just a second.

This is such a simple product that looks amazing and functions perfectly, but knowing where it came from makes it even more special. I'll enjoy telling the story to people that inevitably comment or compliment the wrap (happens often due to the eye-catching fabric), and I'll also look forward to supporting their shop directly when they open.

You can keep an eye on their website and their Instagram account for any news!

---

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!