Time to Put Your Boat Shoes On!

     One of the things that Monteverde does right is stand out from the crowd.  No matter what, you are going to notice a Monteverde pen, whether it’s on a display shelf or in someone’s hand.  Taking a cue from the colorful flags flown at boat races, the Regatta Sport line mixes carbon fiber sections with either bright red or yellow, or a full carbon fiber design.  Not content with just these color choices, the Rose Gold Limited Edition was released.  Limited to just 999 pieces in Fountain, Rollerball or Ballpoint, these are some eye-catching pens.  Their limited edition number is laser engraved into the lacquer finish over the top most carbon fiber section.

     The Fountain and Rollerball versions both come with magnetic caps – no worry of cross threading, broken thread sections or stripped threads.  Even better, the magnet works  while either capped or posted.  The Ballpoint has a smooth mechanism and is compatible with Parker style refills, coming equipped with Monteverde’s own SoftRoll technology from the factory.  Each pen comes with a matching numbered box, while the Fountain Pen also includes a converter and cartridges.  These pens are ready to use and show off right out of the box.

     Due to their limited supply, there are not many of these pieces left.  Do note – if you are looking to use these pens, they are relatively thick-bodied.  The Fountain and Rollerball pens have slimmer sections under the cap, but the ballpoint is the same thickness throughout the whole body.  They all exhibit a good weight, as Monteverde pens usually do, and they all provide a good grip – these pens will not be slipping out of your fingers any time soon.

     The Monteverde Limited Edition Regatta Rose Gold is a collectible pen in any version.  The scarce supply and sharp looks add that much more to the desirability of this homage to racing.

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Montblanc’s Andy Warhol Special Edition

 Montblanc’s Andy Warhol Special Edition

The latest piece in Montblanc’s Great Characters series, the Andy Warhol special edition pays tribute to one of the principal figures of the pop art movement. While originally trained as a commercial artist, Warhol eagerly embraced both the silkscreen process and the newfound commercialism of the 1950s and 1960s. Blurring the lines between fine art and commercial art, Warhol defied contemporary critics with his loud, sometimes garish interpretations of iconic American symbols that dared viewers to challenge their own perceptions of the nature of art, and what art can be.

The Montblanc Andy Warhol special edition is an homage to one of Warhol’s earliest, most well-known, and most enduring subjects – cans of Campbell’s soup. Deeply etched into the stainless steel barrel of the pen are four soup cans, arranged in a 2 x 2 grid in a nod to Warhol’s penchant for geometric arrangement. The color scheme of the front section, cobalt blue and orange, showcases the wide variety of hues Warhol explored in the mid-1960s, as he transitioned away from more realistic paintings and illustrations. The clip of the pen, with its clean and static lines, is an understated reproduction of the squeegee used to deposit ink onto the artistic medium in Warhol’s signature silkscreen process. Atop the pen is Montblanc’s signature snowcap, encircled in this case by concentric rings (not unlike those found on the top of, say, a can of soup!). Adorning the top of the pen is a quote which embodies Warhol’s tendency to explore the boundaries and definitions of art: “Art is what you can get away with.”

All in all, Montblanc fails to disappoint with a fitting testament to one of Modernism’s most influential and eminent figures. Like any piece produced by Montblanc, the Andy Warhol special edition stands by itself as a piece of art, a faithful tribute to the artist himself and a worthy purchase for any fan of Andy Warhol, modern art, and fine writing instruments.

- Gavin

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Writer Quotes on Ink

“Pale ink is better than the most retentive memory.” - Harvey Mackay

“Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel.” - Mark Twain

“The pen is very quick in getting stuff from your brain to the page.” - Graham Swift

“I am probably exaggerating a little, but I owe my equilibrium to ink and paper.” - Julien Green

“Writing ink is the magic that allows nothing to become something. It catches the fleeting idea and seeks out the glances of those who wish to see. Even a random ink splat will mean something to someone.” -Fennel Hudson

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Writer Corner

William Faulkner had some specific ideas about becoming a writer. You become a writer simply by reading and writing.

“Read, read, read everything – trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you’ll find out. If it is not, throw it out the window!”

“Don’t be a writer, be writing.”

“You don’t need writing classes or seminars any more than you need this or any other book on writing.” Faulkner learned his trade while working in the Oxford, Mississippi post office. Other writers have learned the basics while serving in the Navy, working in steel mills or doing time in America’s finer hotels.

Faulkner’s strong commitment to writing still lives on.

The PEN/Faulkner Foundation is an outgrowth of William Faulkner’s generosity in using his 1949 Nobel Prize winnings to create the William Faulkner Foundation among the charitable goals of the foundation was "to establish a fund to support and encourage new fiction writers."

The PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is awarded annually by the PEN/Faulkner Foundation to the authors of the year's best works of fiction by living American citizens.

Write everywhere and often.

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Writer Quotes

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting.” –
Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I never did calligraphy... But handwriting is an entirely different kind of thing. It's part of the syndrome of modernism... It's part of that asceticism.” - Paul Rand

“I was filling entire school notebooks with stories by Grade 3. Of course, they were double-spaced, and the handwriting was huge.’ - Linwood Barclay

“You may not be able to read a doctor's handwriting and prescription, but you'll notice his bills are neatly typewritten.” - Earl Wilson

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Writer Quotes

“In composing, as a general rule, run your pen through every other word you have written; you have no idea what vigor it will give your style.” - Sydney Smith

“I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.” - James Michener

“If you can't write your idea on the back of my calling card, you don't have a clear idea.” - David Belasco

“Everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. “- Sylvia Plath

“The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium.” - Norbet Platt

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History of Pen Pals

A Pen Pal relationship is often used to improve literacy, to learn more about other countries and life-styles, and to make friendships. As with any friendships in life, some people remain Pen Pals for only a short time, while others continue to exchange letters and presents for life. Some Pen Pen Pals eventually arrange to meet face to face; sometimes leading to serious relationships, or even marriage.
Pals come in all ages, nationalities and cultures. Pals may seek new pen friends based on their own age group, a specific occupation, hobby, or select someone totally different from them to gain knowledge about the world around them.

Some Famous Pen Pals

Karl Marx and Abraham Lincoln exchanged letters at the end of the Civil War, with Marx writing on behalf of the International Working Men’s Association. Although they were divided by far more than the Atlantic Ocean, they agreed on the urgency of suppressing slavery and the cause of “free labor.”

One day in 1961 Groucho Marx received in the mail a note from none other than T.S. Eliot himself. Expressing his admiration for the comedian, Eliot asked him for an autographed portrait. A shocked Groucho sent back a studio photograph of himself, only to receive a second note from the icon of modern poetry requesting instead a picture of the iconic Groucho, sporting a moustache and holding a cigar. A second photograph was sent out and a happy Eliot wrote to thank Groucho: “This is to let you know that your portrait has arrived and has given me great joy and will soon appear in its frame on my wall with other famous friends.

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Pen and Ink Drawings

In fine art, the term 'pen and ink' denotes a drawing technique involving the use of black and other colored inks which are applied to a support (generally paper) with either a dip pen or a reservoir pen. This traditional, versatile media has been used by Western artists since ancient-Egyptian times, for sketches, finished drawings or ink and wash paintings. It is also one of the main mediums involved in book illustration.

 The development of ink truly revolutionized human life. Long before Gutenberg simplified the printing process, ancient cultures in Egypt, Greece and Asia used ink for creating handwritten manuscripts, religious and political documents and works of art. Ink provided people with a permanent means to keep records, create manuscripts and document the world around them. Ink as a sophisticated artistic medium developed sometime between the 7th and 8th centuries in China, where a range of subjects, from religion, history and daily life, were illustrated using brushes fashioned from animal hair and feathers. Applied to scrolls of paper or sheets of silk, these detailed works of art were forerunners to the approaching development of pen and ink drawings.

By the Renaissance, new tools were developed to enhance the precision and detail afforded by ink, such as wooden styluses and sharpened metal shards. Because of its permanence, ink drawings demanded practice and perfection. For this reason, many artists used this medium for their studies. Leonard Da Vinci created many detailed studies of human anatomy, mechanical inventions, as well as figure drawings, which exemplify the range of results possible with fine ink drawing. Ink was also used with other media, such as pencil, graphite, watercolor and chalks, and soon washes and highlighting techniques developed, providing additional effects to ink drawings, whether quick sketches or elaborate compositions.

Ink has been used for centuries to create meticulous compositions. In addition, realistic diagrams of the anatomy helped early doctors in the study of the human body. The printing of books advanced literacy and promoted language arts. As an artistic medium used by masters, such as Rafael, Rembrandt and Picasso, ink is a versatile medium that provides a permanent record of an artistic statement.

Question: How many “Pen and Ink” drawings did Leonardo Da Vinci create?





























Answer: Leonardo composed a minimum of 4,000 “Pen and Ink” drawings.

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Writer Quotes

 “Caesar had perished from the world of men, had not his sword been rescued by his pen.” - Henry Vaughan

“You want to be a writer, don't know how or when? Find a quiet place, use a humble pen.” - Paul Simon

“Putting pen to paper lights more fires than matches ever will!” - Malcolm Forbes

“To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music the words make.” - Truman Capote

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew, upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think...” - Lord Byron

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Cross Pens Special Purchase for Graduations

The graduation season is almost here!  A pen is a traditional present that signifies success and future professionalism. Pens make for the best graduation gifts for high school, college, graduate school, trade school or military school. Pens have been known to bridge the style gap between “old fashioned” and “stylish.” Even the most paperless adherent graduate can use a good pen to prop up on their desk, a pen/stylus to interface with paper and technology as well as a life style statement of a proud status. The most popular graduation brand pen by far is Cross. For more than 150 years successful academic, medical, business and more have launched their careers with a reliable Cross fine writing instrument.

A.T. Cross (or Cross for short) was founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1846 by Richard Cross. Though the Cross family were traditionally jewelers, Richard Cross was a superb pen and pencil maker who passed all of his knowledge to his son, Alonzo T. Cross. In 1916, the Cross family sold the company to an employee, Walter R. Boss, who transformed it into the world-wide success it is today. For more than 165 years, A.T. Cross has re-invented writing instruments by combining design ingenuity with jewelry-quality craftsmanship. As America's first manufacturer of quality fine pens, they have continued to make pens people will use, depend on and enjoy for years to come.
For a limited time Pen Boutique is offering special purchase prices on these select Cross pens. Get a jump start on your graduation present list. Don’t forget to inquire about our customized engraving!

36%-50% OFF!!!

Classic Century Satin Black w/ CT BP: http://www.penboutique.com/cross-century-ii-classic-satin-black-ballpoint-pen.html

Click Slim Satin Red: http://www.penboutique.com/p-14441-cross-click-slim-satin-red-gel-ink-pen.aspx

Mahogany Desk Set-Single Pen: http://www.penboutique.com/search?q=cross+mahogany

Classic Century Satin Chrome MP: http://www.penboutique.com/cross-classic-century-satin-black-pencil-0-7-mm.html

 

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Postcards: A wonderful way to keep in touch without a timely commitment

The Ingenious Postcards

The first postcard was issued by the United States Post Office Department on May 13, 1873. The marks for mailing on the card depicted the bust of Liberty and a circle with the postage amount of one cent. Most cards were used widely as advertisement in the U.S., until they were in general use after the World Columbian Exposition in 1893. Colored cards of the Exposition went on sale and they became extremely popular. On May 19, 1898, an Act of Congress was passed so that privately published postcards were given the same message privileges and rates as government issued cards. All those privately published had to be labeled as such. This marked the start of the Golden Age of postcards in the U. S., which lasted until about 1920, when popular use of the telephone began.
The reason why postcards became so popular is because of the price. Postcards cost less to send in the mail than a sealed envelope. When first issued and all through the Golden Age, postcards could be sent for one cent. Post cards were also popular because they were an easy way to keep in touch while someone was away from home or on vacation. Many postcards took the place of family albums with pictures of families on vacations.

While, postcards show the interesting areas of a certain place, they are also interesting themselves. Pictures can be sent from all over the world to those who have never actually been there. During the Golden Age, postcards were popular because people send a quick "hello" or show a friend or relative where they were staying for a small amount of money. Today postcards are still sent and collected for the same reasons.
Postcards widen the conversation by adding a third element: the image itself, whether tacky or beautiful, generic or informative.

They’re also, in a way, more real. “It’s the actual physical feel of something,” says Nancy Pope, head curator of the History Department at the National Postal Museum, and “still one of those” who sends postcards. “When you’re able to actually hold something in your hand, that trumps reading something electronically any day.” The U.S. Postal Service processed 770 million stamped postcards in fiscal 2014.
Locally, postcards have disappeared from newsstands, which are also in the process of vanishing. Many hotel gift shops and souvenir stores carry them. The store shared by the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum carries individual cards, The gallery’s chief of retail operations, David Krol, reports by e-mail: “Our postcard sales remain steady, with additional bursts due to special exhibitions. There has been no unusual drop in activity.”

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