Choosing Keeping Composition Book Giveaway

I knew there was one item that was coming home with me on recent stationery tour of London, and that item is the classic Composition Book, made by Choosing Keeping.

This A5 notebook features a unique flower-patterned paper cover, red linen spine and corners, mottled paper edges, and 90g blank creme paper on the inside. In short, it’s beautifully made, and ready for you daily notes, innermost thoughts, or your next novel. I have one to give away this week, as seen in the photo above, so read the rules and get to entering!

Posted on August 6, 2024 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Giveaways.

Tactile Turn Vice Side Click Pen Review

Nearly four years into their quarterly Limited Edition release cycle, Tactile Turn is showing no signs of letting up. In fact, with their latest release “Vice,” they are showing that they are having more fun than ever creating these fantastic pens.

As you could imagine with the name Vice, these pens take on the bright and colorful synth wave vibes from South Florida in the 1980’s, aka the Miami Vice era. And notice I say “pens,” because there is more than one with this release. “Night” gives off a nightclub vibe with neon popping across the dance floor, and “Day” gives off that blinding beach look when exiting the club at 7:00 a.m. - you know who you are.

Deciding which pen to choose is always the challenge with Tactile Turn, even with single pen releases. With two exterior designs, and three barrel length (and refill compatibility,) options, you are sure to find a model to your liking.

Design was easy for me this go-round. I considered Day for a minute because I don’t think there are enough great light color pen barrels on the market. That said, the bright Pinks and Blues of Night - set off perfectly with the splattered black barrel - is one of my all-time favorite color combinations.

With color out of the way, what barrel would I choose? For Vice, I think Standard might be the right choice for most people. You want a fun, bright, gel ink refill for this pen, and its Pilot G2 compatibility gives you the most options. That said, I had ulterior motives with my choice.

I ordered a few Schmidt Standard P900 refills last year when I saw they released fun colors such as Magenta, Purple, and Turquoise. These refills had been sitting in my review bin just waiting for their opportunity to be used, and I’m happy to say that now is their time. The Short model of the Vice Side Click is compatible with Parker-style, or International G2, ink cartridges, and I was stoked to ink it up with Magenta as soon as it arrived.

In comparison to the Standard (5.8 in., 1.2 oz.) barrel, I prefer the Short (5.3 in., 1.1 oz.) simply from a weight and length perspective. I have to be in the mood to use Tactile Turn’s Standard model, and when I do, it’s usually sitting at my desk. The Short works well at the desk, and better as carry pen for my needs. You could drop all the way down to the Mini model (4.6 in., 0.9 oz.) for size purposes, but refill compatibility is the most restricted with the Pilot G2 Mini refill. I have one each of the Standard and Mini pens that I use sparingly, but my choice is primarily the Short.

The Tactile Turn Vice Side Click pen runs $149 in any barrel size and color combination. Maybe you need one of each so you have a daytime pen, and a nighttime pen. You know, to go along with your daytime phone, and nighttime phone. Y’all do that too, right? 🤣

Regardless of which pen design or size you choose, you will be happy with the quality that Tactile Turn provides in each of their products. And even is the Vice isn’t for you, you are sure to find something else interesting in their full lineup of products.

(Tactile Turn provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on August 5, 2024 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Tactile Turn, Pen Reviews.

Misfill, Omakase Edition

Each week in Refill, the Pen Addict Members newsletter, I publish Ink Links as part of the additional content you receive for being a member. And each week, after 10 to 15 links, plus my added commentary on each, I'm left with many great items I want to share. Enter Misfill. Here are this weeks links:

— Ink Omakase: July 2024 (Inkcredible Colours)

— 2024 D.C. Pen Show: Friday Report! (Plus Directions to Our Table) (The Gentleman Stationer)

— The Oldest Example of a Prestigious Red Dye Was Found in a Rare 3,800-Year-Old Textile (Colossal)

— Hakase Part 2 – NJ15A, the Pen (dapprman)

— Reflecting on one year of Ink Sync (Ink Sync)

— Interesting Japanese Diaries (Notebook Stories)

— Quick Follow Up on the Ensso Bolt (Cheryl Lindo Jones)

— David Oscarson Nikola Tesla (Figboot on Pens)

— My Hobonichi Techo Doesn’t Get Daily Use (Joseph Dickson)

— Does size really matter? A scientific comparison of #5, #6, and #8 nibs (part 1) (idipbananasintocoffee)

— Prepping for a Pen Show (Rachel's Reflections)

— Overlooked 2.0: Inspired by London's utility hole covers (Creative Boom)