April 2024 Meeting Recap – Chromatography/Serendipity

The 17th of April Meeting was attended by 30 people, including several new attendees. Thank you all for coming! Below are a few photos of the the turnout.

Now for the presentation~

So, you want to know how to paint a Koi Fish, a Volcano, a peaceful nature scene, or Mount Fiji using various fountain pen inks, water, bleach, dip pens, and paint brushes? Look no farther than Terry Bentley, our member. He demonstrated his artistic techniques using these items and creating some amazing work. Below are photos of his tools of chromatograpy and a few finished products.

On May 15th, please join us for the May Meeting. The presentation will be on The Chemistry of Fountain Pen Inks, by Garland Stonestreet. This is a fascinating topic and a must for fountain pen users. Stay tuned for more on this as well as the arrival of our new Printed and Digital Newsletter.

April 2024 Meeting

Terry Bentley will give us a demonstration of Chromatography this Wednesday April 17.

In his own words; “ Chromatography and serendipity play important roles in creating art with fountain pen inks. It’s an easy wet-on-wet technique that anyone can do”. 

If you are curious, come and see his demonstration this coming Wednesday April 17th. Below is an example of his work.

There will also be time to show off any newly acquired pens, inks, and paper.

As always, the Meeting Location will be the Presbyterian Homes Conference Room. The doors open at 6:00 PM and the meeting starts at 6:30.

The Conference Room address is:

2823 Hamline Ave. North

Roseville, MN, 55113 

March Meeting Recap

Below is a report of our March 20 pen club meeting by Mike Green.

• There were 25 present at the meeting.
• A draft copy of new newsletter (editor; Mary Brodd, assistant; Terry Bentley) was available and passed around for viewing.
• Wet Paint donated $200 to our club as a thank you. They are now honorary members.
• Mikayla Jackson at “White Bear Pens” gave an excellent presentation on her pen-making process. Below are some photos from the meeting complements of Alex Jarvis.

Mikayala Jackson and her wonderful pens – Website Link

and a photo of the well-attended meeting.

The upcoming meeting is scheduled for April 17th, featuring Terry Bentley as the speaker, who will demonstrate a fascinating ink painting technique. 

March 2024 Meeting

One of our new Club members; Mikayla Jackson will give us a glimpse of her beautiful handmade pens, how she makes them & the materials she uses. Come one come all!! to see her talk, this coming Wednesday March 20th.

Bring some of your custom made pens to the meeting for Show&Tell.

As always, the Meeting Location will be the Presbyterian Homes Conference Room

The Conference Room address is:

2823 Hamline Ave. North

Roseville, MN, 55113 

The doors open at 6:00 pm and the formal meeting will begin at 6:30.

February Zoom Meeting – Vintage Italian Pens

Over 30 people joined our exceptional presentation by Leitizia Iacopini last night. She covered all aspects of the Italian Pen producers and markets from the early 1900s to World War II. Here excellent presentation was also accompanied by an amazing slide show of these often creatively colored fine writing instruments. Below, please find the slides from the slide show (a full recording of the Zoom Meeting will be sent by email from Francis and will not be available here.)

Italian Pens SlideshowDownload

Below please find two short videos of an early Nettuno Unique Filling System, and a Zerollo Double – Nibbed Side/Pin Fill.

Nettuno Twist Fill Mechanism

Zerollo Pen

February 21 Zoom Meeting

Please see additional Meeting Instructions received this afternoon for the 5:00 PM Central Time Meeting on Wednesday February 21 Meeting, held via Zoom.

Topic: Pre-WWII Italian Pens presented by Letizia Iacopini*

*See Pen Club invitation sent Feb13th for additional information on the speaker.

Time: Feb 21, 2024 05:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada). 

We are meeting one hour earlier, since Letizia’s time in Italy will be mid-night which she kindly promised to stay up late for our club👍

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84108619680?pwd=RWl4bHdxaTgxeWVrREw3cVF2U0ZjQT09

Meeting ID: 841 0861 9680

Passcode: 854801

February 2024 Meeting – Virtual Only – No Live Meeting

Our meeting for Wednesday February 21st will be via Zoom*. Letizia Iacopini will make the presentation on Pre-WW2 Italian Pens from Italy. Notice that the Presentation starts at 5:00 PM Central Time on Zoom which would be midnight for Ms Iacopini. She has volunteered to stay up late for the presentation to our pen club. The presentation will be between 30-45 minutes. 

Above Italian Pens from the collection of William Stryker 

Francis will send a separate Zoom invitation to all on his mailing list next week for you to join the presentation and it will also be posted here.

Letizia brings some of the most beautiful vintage Italian pen to the Shows. She has given talks on Italian pens at the Shows and has written a number of books on the subject. 

Below is her web site for your information. Click on the the tab “About Me” for her resume & offerings. 

https://www.tenpen.it/index.php/about

January 2024 Meeting

The January Meeting took place on Wednesday night January 24, and was attended approximately 30 members. We were fortunate to welcome several new members and it is great to have them.

Mark McPherson once again put together a very comprehensive program of over 70 slides documenting the history and current state of the Chinese Pen Market. This was complemented with many members bringing samples of their Chinese Pens to share as well.

Thank you, Mark, once again for a first rate presentation!

Below are a few photos of the evening.

Stay tuned for details on the February Meeting as they become available.

January 2024 Meeting

The subject of our Pen Club meeting for January 24th is:

Chinese Fountain Pen Companies & Brands.

Francis and Mark M will make the presentation. The Chinese have, in a very short time, made great inroads in the Fountain Pen Industry. Many might say that they now are competing in quality and design with the European & other manufacturers. 

Please bring any of your Chinese Pens for Show & Tell.

The meeting starts at 6:00 pm with the official proceeding 6:30 – 8:00 pm

Holiday Party 2024

Below are photos from the 2024 Christmas party which maybe one of the largest attendances ever recorded for a Holiday Party! Phots were taken by Alex Jarvis and Cindy Ai.

Our January meeting will be held on Wednesday the 24th

We have moved it forward a week due the Christmas party on the 7th. 

The theme of January’s  meeting will be The Emergence & Development of Chinese Pens. 

Stay tuned for further updates.