Once again, it has been too long since the last review and I still have many items patiently waiting for their place in the spotlight.  I’m working on it!
This review is for a fountain pen by the Think company.  Think pens are very cool and unique.  Many of their designs are unlike any other pens on the market.  I predict it might be very difficult for you to pick just one design!

Furthermore, the website for Think pens is creative with inspirational sayings.  This is definitely a company made of pen people, as its motto, “Think in Ink,” demonstrates.  You can find more Think pens at www.thinkpens.com.

I have been privileged to have the Alla Moda fountain pen in the color “Slicker,” from Think’s newest collection of pens.

Appearance: This is a colorful pen!  The body is a turquoise color with a contrasting and eye-catching orange section.  The top of the cap is also the same orange.  The rest of the resin cap is a beautiful deep metallic blue with lines through it to give it a marbled look.  I think it almost looks like electricity, which reflects the energy of the pen.  The pen is then trimmed in engraved chrome with a chrome jewel on top featuring a “T.”

Nib: The nib is still in a Medium point.  All Think pens are only available in Medium.   I was a bit concerned about the Medium nib before using the pen, as I am normally a person who prefers Fine nibs.  However, I worried for nothing.  The Medium nib laid down an average sized line that was neither too thin nor too wide, as you will see in the photos below.  The nib is sturdy, but the tines will open if pressure is applied.

Opening and Closing: This pen is a twist cap and posts securely.

Size/Weight: This is a thick, fat pen…or maybe I should say phat.  Anyway, there is definitely more pen to grip.   I was also concerned about this aspect before using the pen, but it is actually very easy to write with and a great change from always writing with thin pens.  The thickness of this pen would be especially great for someone with large hands.

The pen also feels sturdy in the hand, without being heavy.  I prefer to use this pen unposted, as posting the cap makes it a bit top-heavy.  However, someone with larger hands than I have would probably disagree.

Writing: No problems here!  It lays down a smooth line and is really a fun addition to the collection.  The pen will dry up if not used for a while, but this is typical of most fountain pens.  The usual trick of running the nib under water will cure this temporary condition.

Ink: The ink in the photos below is Diamine Chocolate Brown.

Other Considerations: Think pens are available in cartridges or converters, so there is something for everyone.  I prefer converters and that is how I used the pen for this review.

The Box: If the pen wasn’t exciting enough, box aficionados are going to be thrilled.  The box is bright green plastic, lined in black felt, with a sliding top bearing the name “THINK” in black and magenta.  It’s quite cool and just as eye-catching as the pen!

Overall: A very cool pen.  I would like to try more of the Think line.  Preview all the designs at www.thinkpens.com.

I have sent several shipments of my unneeded pens to the great charity, Pens for Kids.  Pens for Kids (PFK) provides pens to children in Africa to help them enhance their educational experience.  Many of these children do not even have pens and pencils, which makes learning and doing homework extremely difficult.  I found this cause to be extremely important because education is what saves many of these children in their poverty and disease-stricken communities.

In addition to pens, PFK accepts monetary donations that are used for postage to ship pens to Africa.

I spoke with Linda, the Executive Director of PFK, about whether they are getting enough pens and money to adequately serve the children.  She told me that:

“Getting pens donated is not problem (we’re currently receiving about 2000 pens a month from all over the world including a pen company in the US, but the issue we have is paying to ship them to Africa. We receive about $200 per month in monetary donations and we pay for the balance needed personally.  Right now we are collecting pens to personally take . . . a couple friends and I are going on a safari and are trying to get the airlines to let us take extra bags.”

Even though PFK gets a good number of pens, there are still not enough pens for all who need them.  Linda also told me, ” These countries are poverty stricken and dealing with child AIDS, malaria, infant mortality, corrupt governments, lack of food and clothing etc.   School is TRULY a luxury and the one area that we chose to focus on to make a difference. Education is the only way to solve the other issues.    We are a grassroots effort and 100% of what ever is notated – pens or cash for shipping  – goes directly to the kids.  We have no paid employees and are only a group of 6 people around the world slowly making a difference.  So, the short answer is no, we are always under-supplied but $$ is the bigger challenge.”

It is truly touching that people like Linda make these trips and personally supplement PFK’s financial deficits to help children in need.  Please visit www.pensforkids.com to learn more about how you can help.  You can ship pens to PFK’s Long Beach location or directly to Africa.  You can also send money to help PFK ship pens to Africa.

Appearance: The Diplomat Excellence B is a very classy looking pen. It is a pearlized white with silver trim and clip. The section is black.

Nib: The nib is stainless steel, etched with the Diplomat logo and the words “DIPLOMAT Since 1922 F.” The nib is connected to the section, so if for any reason you change nibs, you change the whole section piece with the nib, not just the nib itself. My nib often has nib creep, but that does not affect the performance of the pen at all.

Opening and Closing: This pen has a pull-off cap that removes easily. When capping the pen, the cap seals with a satisfying click and stays on securely.

Size/Weight: This pen is a good width, neither too skinny nor thick. It is comfortable for me to wrap my fingers around when writing, but someone with very large hands might find it small.

I find the pen to be well balanced and I prefer to write with it unposted because the pen’s body is slightly heavy for me, even though it is not really a heavy pen. It feels substantial in the hand. Despite the fact that the B’s weight is heavier than pens with which I normally write, I have comfortably written with this pen for several hours at a time.

Posting the cap requires a bit of pressure. If the cap is not pressed down enough to post properly, it will flop around and fall off, so I advise making sure it is on good.

Writing: Writing with the Excellence B is smooth and easy. Like I said, I have comfortably written with it for long periods of time.

Ink: This is a cartridge/converter pen and I have been using it with a converter. The flow is also quite wet on this model, which adds more shading to my ink — a feature I like. The ink used in the photo below is J. Herbin’s Vert Olive (a favorite!).

Other Considerations: Like the Diplomat Esteem I reviewed before, the Excellence B has not given my any problems with drying out after leaving the pen sit for a while. I actually had not used this pen for a couple of months while I was busy with other projects and it was still fresh when I picked it up again! I do not know of many pens that will maintain a good flow without drying out after several months.

The Box: The Excellence B’s box is also quite nice. It has a satin pillow patterned with the Diplomat logo and a little piece of ribbon to hold the pen in place. For some reason there is a bit of lint in there which does get on the pen, but is easily wiped off. Then the box comes with a metal top that slides over the main box and then fits in a regular Diplomat cardboard box.

Overall: Diplomat’s website at www.mydiplomatpen.com, accurately states their products are “Fine German Writing Instruments.” The Excellence B is one of the more expensive pens in the line, but it is one of my favorite modern fountain pens and I highly recommend it.

The Bottle: A small rectangle plastic bottle. I think this is just for sampling purposes.

The Color: This is a great black color. I have found it to be a black-black, and not very influenced by purples, blues or greens like other black inks.

Consistency: Saturated and consistent. I tested this ink in a Lamy Joy AL Calligraphy pen with a 1.1 mm nib and it flows well.  I never had a problem with clogging or drying and it was a pleasure to use.

Other Considerations: None I can think of – this is a great ink!

Mont Blanc recently invited me to preview their new Ingrid Bergman pen. I unfortunately do not have photos to share  because I did not bring my camera when I previewed the pen.

The Ingrid Bergman pen is beautiful with a mother of pearl style cap and amethyst on the clip.  The body of the pen is black resin.  If you are familiar with the Mont Blanc writing experience, the pen writes the same.  What really amazes me about the Bergman, Dietrich and Garbo pens is that Mont Blanc really evokes the essence of each woman in the style of the pen.  It is hard to explain, you have to see them to experience it.  You can view the Bergman pen at Mont Blanc’s website here.

While at Mont Blanc, I also browsed the Starwalker, Boheme and my personal favorite, the new Etoile collection.  How could I not love it with that name?!  The other pen I really liked is the one to benefit Unicef, with a beautiful sapphire stone in the cap.

While the Mont Blanc pens are some of the most gorgeous around, I found the nibs to drag.  Have you had this experience?  What do you think of the Mont Blanc pens?

The Bottle: A small rectangle plastic bottle. I think this is just for sampling purposes.

The Color: This is a really great dark brown. I am generally not a brown fan, but really like the warmth of this one. Another plus of this one is that it is close to black and therefore may be able to add some variety to writing in a business environment.

This ink is pretty consistent on different papers. There is no feathering and not much shading due to its dark hue. The writing sample in the photos was taken with a glass dip pen, so again, it is a bit darker than when writing with a filled pen.

Consistency: Saturated and consistent. It flows well. I found it dried in the pen if I didn’t use the pen enough, but part of this seems to be due to the pen. Other inks did dry in this pen, just not quite as much as this Chocolate Brown.

Other Considerations: As you can see from my writing samples, the ink is not waterproof.  Overall, this is a great brown color and I like it!

The Bottle: A small rectangle plastic bottle. I think this is just for sampling purposes and it comes in a nicer bottle for purchase.

The Color: This is a really great dark, forest-y, emerald green color. The ink writes really dark with the glass dip pen. However, the lighter edges of some of the lines are more like what it looks like flowing from an actual pen.

This ink is pretty consistent on different papers. There is no feathering and the ink has some shading. The writing sample in the photos was taken with a glass dip pen, so there is more noticeable shading than when writing with a fountain pen.

Consistency: Saturated and consistent. It flows well.

Other Considerations: Like I said, the ink is a lighter when written with a fill pen, rather than a glass dip. Otherwise, I like it!

The wonderful Leah at the Quo Vadis Blog interviewed me for the site! It is quite an honor as the QVB is one of my favorite blogs to read. You can read the interview HERE at QVB or below.  (Thanks to Leah for letting me repost!)

Erin “D*J*E” Jacobson is a J.D., DJ, and fountain pen aficionado/blogger. We caught up with her recently to talk about these various interests and hobbies.

QVB:  When and how did you first get into fountain pens?

Erin:  I have always liked pens, but my fascination with fountain pens started several years ago when my dad gave me his Parker 45 from the 1960s, complete with a box of Parker Super Quink “Washable Royal Blue” Tap-Tank cartridges. I tried it and liked it, but then put it aside. One day I picked it up again and the spark hit. I started using it all the time. I also began looking online for more information on fountain pens. I discovered many beautiful pens and the unique community of fountain pen users.

As I have bought, used and researched more fountain pens, I am amazed at their beauty, style and quality of craftsmanship. Furthermore, I like unique items and think that fountain pens are special. They are not just cheap plastic pens from the store. Fountain pens have an elegance to them that is easy to possess in everyday life.

Italic, flex and stub nibs give writing an artistic dimension and the range of ink colors available far surpasses that for ballpoints or rollerballs. Writing with fountain pens also motivated me to improve my handwriting, which led me to a greater interest in calligraphy and dip pens.

I liked it all so much that I wanted to share my thoughts with others and started La Plume Etoile for my reviews.

What are your favorite pens?

My favorite pens are my vintage pens. My top choice will vary depending on my mood, but my absolute favorite pen is probably my vintage Parker Vacumatic. My vintage Esterbrook is one of my most comfortable pens. My vintage Sheaffer Balance is probably my most beautiful pen and is a fantastic writer. However, there something about my Vac – it writes like an absolute dream.

I understand you own a lot of vintage pens. Where do you buy them? What criteria do you look for?

I do have some vintage pens – see my favorites. I have bought some online and some at pen shows. One has to be careful when buying online because the pen one receives often is not as described or pictured online. After deciding whether the pen is visually appealing to me, I look for overall quality of the pen. After checking the body, I check the nib to make sure that is also in good condition and not damaged or worn. Thirdly, the vintage pens I buy need to be restored. If the pen has a sac, I like it to have a brand new sac. I make sure the lever or other filling mechanism works without issue. I do not do pen repairs and I want to make sure it is in great working condition.

Aside from that, I personally look for smaller size pens like juniors or debutantes because they are the perfect size when posted. I also favor extremely lightweight pens to reduce strain on my tendonitis.

Which pens have surprised you most over the years, either positively or negatively?

I have had some disappointments with buying pens online that did not live up to their descriptions Luckily, no pens have really have negatively surprised me. I have been positively surprised with the vintage pens because of the quality of craftsmanship and the level of detail in their design. It amazes me that some of these pens that are so old can look almost new. Vintage pens were also built to last, as evidenced by people who still use them regularly today.

I analogize fountain pens to vintage telephones. The cordless phones you can pick up in any store today usually need to be replaced after a year, but some people are still using vintage bakelite desk phones. I feel these items accompany a sense of pride in one’s work. The companies and people that made these items took care to make them properly and to last; they are not cheap manufactured products churned out without thought to their longevity of use.

What are your favorite notebooks and inks?

I am still deciding on my favorite notebook, but I love notebooks with Clairefontaine paper. I started my ink book in one of my Clairefontaine mini-notebooks because not only is the paper incredibly smooth, but it makes the ink colors come alive! I am also currently using a Joshua Davis spiral notebook from MiquelRuis that I love.

My favorite ink brand is J. Herbin! I am not just saying that because Exaclair distributes it and Karen, my wonderful fairy ink-mother, sends me samples for review. I truly enjoy the range of colors and how some of the colors look vintage. I also appreciate Herbin inks’ gentle nature because I know they are safe for my pens and will not clog them. Herbin ink usually does not stain my sink after a pen flush and it quickly washes off my fingers. I once spilled Poussiere de Lune on my favorite jeans to my initial horror, but miraculously, I was able to quickly wash it out with no residual stain! If J. Herbin needs a spokesperson, I’m available. Seriously.

Honestly though, my ink choice often depends on the pen I am using. I have a (possibly weird) habit of matching my ink color to the pen color. My ink choice is often J. Herbin, but I also use other inks. I love the color of Private Reserve’s DC Supershow Blue and use that in my Vacumatic.

Do you have any writing routines? A certain place, time of day, etc.?

I wish I could say that I did! I try to regularly keep a personal journal, but I usually become too occupied with other activities and forget to set aside the time to write. However, I am big on handwritten cards.

Since I know you’re a DJ and music lover, I feel compelled to ask: what bands are you listening to these days?

First, I would like to clarify “DJ” because many people assume I’m spinning in clubs and hired for parties, which I’m not. I am a podcast DJ and have a podcast called Electric Effect where I feature the best unsigned and indie bands. The list of what I listen to is quite long and available at the show’s website. As far as indie bands, Kiss the Girl just came out with a very cool new EP, Lynhurst and The Reigning Monarchs just released their new albums. There are too many to name, so you will have to listen to the podcast to hear the other bands I find worthwhile.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of bands trying to make it. Some are good and some are not. I filter the good from the bad and pick the bands that are worth listening to and that have the potential to make it big. I pick all the bands and songs from each band played, provide information on the bands and sometimes interview them. I try to make it a unique experience more like DJs from years past who were the tastemakers, rather than today’s computer-generated playlists.

How you got interested in music and law and music law in the first place?

I have always been interested in music. In third grade, I was Elvis Presley’s number one fan and knew all sorts of trivia. The other kids would find out facts about him and try to trip me up, but they never did. In high school, I was the resident expert on The Beatles. Over the years, my tastes in music have greatly and rapidly expanded to where I like almost all types of music. A list of many bands I like are at the Electric Effect website.

Music is great because it has this amazing ability to bring people together and erase the differences between them. Music is also a great companion, no matter what mood one is experiencing, and can help people through tough times.

Is there anything else you’re this passionate about, besides music?

Music and fountain pens/inks/paper are definitely two of my biggest passions. Law is also a big part of my life and I am lucky in that I have found a way to associate it with my passion for music.

I am very interested in vintage style and design, both in fashion and interior décor. I love old films, especially film noir and Technicolor musicals. It is also fun to spot the fountain pens used in some of these old films! Aside from that, I love classic cars, monograms, genealogy, family, friends and enjoying life!

Fun & functional office supplies giveaway. Win $150 worth of Carolina Pad fashionable office supplies http://tiny.cc/Mbdbn

I really want to win the Simply Chic collection!