Women’s Equality Day

Pen Boutique would like to wish everyone a very happy Women’s Equality Day.

26th August marks a special day that initialized a great movement for women residing in U.S. The day commemorates 1920’s passage of 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote. This year the day represents the 96th anniversary of the glorious event.  After years of struggle and advocacy women were finally allowed to vote, the movement is still recognized as one of the most inspiring event that uplifted the status of women in the society.

The movement begun in the year 1848 at the world’s first women’s right convention, and after more than seven decades of hard work and struggle women finally secured their voting rights. The day doesn't only represent the glorious event, but also inspires equality. Though, we live in a free country where human right is highly acknowledged still there are other places in the world where women are highly dominated and deprived of their basic human rights. Let’s take an initiation this year to change the world, every simple step counts, do every little thing you can and try to make the world a better place to live for everyone.

Special Summer Feature: Desk Accessory Extravaganza!

 
50% off for a limited time!

In these modern days, spending much time at our desks, either at home and in the office, seems to be the norm. It is nice to embellish your surroundings and work space by personalizing them with some unique and memorable desk accessories.

For a limited time, Pen Boutique is showcasing three such distinctive animal desk accessories at a reduced sale price.

Mastiff desk accessory

With our Bull Mastiff desk accessory, we bring you a faithful companion for your desk. Made from resin this statuesque homage is majestic and denotes the largeness of heart that follows these dogs. It makes your desk vibrant and assures you the comfort of having a faithful companion next to you when you are working

Charging Bull

The use of the bull as a symbol of power or strength goes back to antiquity. Many traditions and even cave paintings show that the bull is a symbol of power. These Charging Bull are made with special meaning.  They are handcrafted, made with compressed resin, which shows minute details which make it a great companion on your desk or as a show piece.

Three Wise Monkeys

The Three Wise Monkeys originate from Japan. Together they embody the proverbial principle to "see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil.” Their names are Mizaru, who is covering his eyes and sees no evil; Kikazaru, who is covering his ears and hears no evil; and Iwazaru, who is covering his mouth and speaks no evil.

Ink Trivia

Ink Trivia

Question: What is the difference between ink bottles and ink wells?

Answer: Inkwells are different from ink bottles in that they are filled from ink bottles and are used as a temporary home. Their purpose is to house the ink in a convenient place for the writer. Traveling ink wells are a classic example of its portable use.

Pen Trivia

Pen Trivia

Question: Many U.S. Presidents were prolific letter writers, especially our third president Thomas Jefferson. How many letters is it estimated that he wrote during his lifetime?

Answer: Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) wrote nearly 20,000 letters in his lifetime. Writing was so important to him his need for quills caused him to breed geese solely for that reason.

Writer's Corner

Since the late 1940s, there has been an actual designated psychological condition called “writer’s block.” Even great American fiction writer F. Scott Fitzgerald struggled with this affliction. Many things can be attributed to this condition including illness, anxiety, distraction and the pressure to create. Some writers need a personal muse or divine inspiration to put “pen to paper.” The best coping method is to sit down and simply start writing.

One kick-off is to concentrate on being descriptive. Anton Chekhov suggests “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of the light on broken glass.” Graphic novel author Neil Gaiman recommends this course of action: “The main rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, you're allowed to do whatever you like…  I'm not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter."

So don't let that blank page traumatize you. Let your creative juices flow and express yourself. A fine writing instrument with perhaps a new color ink and smooth writing paper will put you on the “write” path.

Writer Quotes

“The idea of just wandering off to a café with a notebook and writing and seeing where that takes me for awhile is just bliss.” - J. K. Rowling

“Good writing is clear thinking made visible.” - Bill Wheeler

“Pens don't draw they unravel their handwriting and then tie it up again, but differently. - Jean Cocteau

“A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.” - Franz Kafka

“I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say.” - Flannery O'Connor

World Humanitarian Day

Across the globe, humanitarian activity each day is saving a life.

19th August marks the World Humanitarian Day; the day commemorates the commitment of people involved in various social organizations to uplift the lifestyle of people less fortunate than them. On this day, related events takes place all across the world to inspire and motivate people to involve in humanitarian activities. This day was first recognized in the year 2009, since then every year UN introduces a certain theme designed to celebrate this day in a unique way.

On 19th August 2015, UN will recognize the people who have constantly pushed themselves tirelessly to ensure the wellbeing of others. UN requests you to participate in the event by sharing the image of such people you know on your social media platforms by using #Sharehumanity. For Instance, take the example of  Maseray Kamara - a brave Ebola survivor who is now constantly initiating his steps to ensure the dignified burial of people who died of this deadly disease.

International Youth Day

International Youth Day

12th August 2015 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the International Youth Day. This day commemorates the value of youth and encourages their engagement in various fields. Youths are the backbone of every society without their active involvement the sustainable development is quite impossible. This day is celebrated each year in order to draw attention of the youths worldwide towards inspiring change.

The 2015 International Youth campaign targets motivation of youths across the world to actively engage in civic sectors. If you turn our head and look at the world we will acknowledge that the opportunities for youths to engage in social and political sectors are significantly low. Youths are enthusiastic and can bring a big change in the society if they are willing to make the contribution. However, the youths today are less likely to make contributions as a citizen than those in early generation. Hence, the civic bodies located in any society must seek out ways to encourage the active participation of youths in civic sector, people engaged in this field from an early age are more likely to involve in civic activities in the days to come.

 Pen boutique family wishes a very happy youth day to each and every youth out there.

In honor of Left Handers Day – August 13th

In honor of Left Handers Day

Here are some interesting facts about people who have a dominant left hand. Left-handed people make up about 10-12% of the population, but they live in a right handed world. Most gadgets, office supplies, cooking supplies, and various other objects are catered for the right handed population which must be frustrating to say the least.

Tom Cruise, Whoopi Goldberg, Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie all have dominant left hands. Many deceased celebrities, like Marilyn Monroe, Kurt Cobain, and Jimi Hendrix were left-handed as well. Maybe being left handed is the secret to stardom!

Recently St. Lawrence University conducted IQ tests among right and left handed people. The tests results concluded that there were more left handed people with IQs over 140 than those individuals with dominant right hands. To prove it, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Benjamin Franklin, and Isaac Newton were lefties!

Research has shown that left handed people are typically more artistically inclined. There is evidence that lefties are better at divergent thinking, and a survey of over 2,000 left handed people showed that the majority of lefties were drawn to careers in art and music.

With that being said, Lamy makes a left-handed nib that will fit most of their fountain pens. Some of the lines that will house these nibs are Safari, Al-star, CP1, Studio, Accent, Scala, Logos, as well as others. The nibs are available in silver or black stainless steel. Allowing a left-handed person to exercise their artistic or general writing needs without having to worry about the right handed world!

Penmanship Trivia

Penmanship Trivia

Your cursive penmanship may be a window into your personality. Creative and artistic writers use rounded letters. If you are careful making decisions your letters will be logically connected. Light pressure with your pen denotes sensitivity.

Questions: What does it mean when you write quickly?

Answer: Writing quickly denotes that you are likely to be impatient.

Pen Trivia

Pen Trivia

Question:

One was invented in: 1828, one in 1944 and one in 1960. Place the following in chronological order: Ballpoint, Fountain Pen, and Roller Ball.

Answer:

Fountain Pen – 1828

Rollerball - 1960

Ballpoint – 1944

Writer’s Corner

Writer’s Corner

Is there any consistency in the work spaces and desks of successful authors? Are they all neat, orderly & tidy or does a bit of chaos act as an unsung muse to inspire creativity?

Some like Mark Twain, Martin Amis and William Buckley worked best surrounded by stacks of undefined papers. Children’s author Rudyard Kipling and food writer Ruth Reichl fancied/fancy a window view at their desk. Shelves of books housed the catacomb-like work spaces of John Updike as well as contemporary writers Nigella Lawson and Colm Toibin. Jane Austen and Charles Dickens limited desk clutter by only allowing a quill, paper and ink bottle on their revered work desks while composing. Comfort was foremost on the mind of children’s writer Roald Dahl, who used a lap desk and comfy chair while he formulated his magical adventure tales.

Whatever your preference, the key to successful letters, journals, essays, poetry and prose begins with an agreeable work space and your favorite fine writing instrument. 

Platinum Preppy Pens

Featured Story

Platinum Preppy Pens

Are you still a little skittish about investing in the world of fine writing fountain pens? Platinum Pens has an alternative for you with the Platinum Preppy. The Preppy offers a variety of stainless steel nib sizes, pen colors and ink colors that won’t break the bank. This generously-sized writing instrument demonstrates perfect balance, is a joy to hold and a delight to maneuver.

Enhanced with “Slip & Seal Mechanism,” the pen will not dry out even after a year without use. Most fountain pens are not airtight. With the design of a secure screw type cap, this affordable gem avoids dried out ink and clogged pen flow. So not only can you save on the purchase of the initial pen, due to its unique design, Platinum’s propriety ink cartridges will last much longer than comparable ink cartridges and save you even more.

Platinum Pens is a family owned business with a history of nearly 100 years. Their innovations and commitment to quality continue to propel the internationally acclaimed company securely into the future.