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Hello FPN! I'm a 17 year old guy from Michigan and I've recently become enamored with fountain pens. I've mustered up enough money to buy two Lamy Safari's (one of which unfortunately someone decided to steal from me at school) and a Joy with a 1.5 italic for calligraphy as well as a bottle of Private Reserve Avacado. However, I'm looking to buy another ink or two (probably more later on), and some other pens once I eventually get some money. Since I picked up the first one a few months ago I haven't been able to stop writing. (An added benefit is that I'm writing more notes in class and actually enjoy doing so!) I always used to be that guy who had a ton of different pens, but I never really loved ballpoints because there was not too much special about them. Pens were a tool, that's it. A friend at school got a TWSBI mini as a gift for his birthday and he showed it to me and I have to say I thought it was one of the coolest things I'd seen in a while. I eventually gathered up enough to buy my first fountain pen (a Lamy Safari F for $20.) That's where it started. I bought another one which someone took, and a Lamy Joy for Calligraphy. As I mentioned, this is the only pen I use now. I am actually excited about writing things now because they are such a joy to write with. I haven't really been able to explore many inks yet, but I have been perusing the index of inks for hours at a time looking at the hundreds of options. From what I've seen, I love colors that are quite unique and rich. I guess I fall on the edge loving bold and subtle inks for every day use. I love Avacado because it's a really unique color I haven't really seen before, and don't see around often. I'm currently eyeballing J. Herbin Bleu Pervenche. Would anyone like to suggest some inks and pens for me to look into? I'm currently saving up for a TWSBI mini and I'm only about 1/10th of the way there (hah). (If any of you would be so kind, I would greatly appreciate it if you had any samples or anything you would be willing to send! If so, I would be absolutely ecstatic, if not, I won't be disappointed.) Thanks for reading! I am looking forward to reading your responses and towards reaching my goal! Best regards, John

Hi! I'm Jocelyn, but I've also dubbed myself Miss Inky Fingers. I'm a 42 year old woman from Connecticut, in the US. I was introduced to fountain pens 5 moths ago, starting with disposables, a month later moving to Metropolitans, and now I've got a pretty hearty pen collection including one Pilot Falcon and a couple more mid range pens, plus a healthy allotment of workhorses (those cheap pens that deal with my crazy needs and inks well, like my Lamy Safary's, which don't clog from shimmering inks!). When current orders arrive, my collection will number 11 fountain pens, 2 glass dipping pens, and two calligraphy dip pens (just learning!). I'm just about to buy a nice vintage pen with a fine flex nib... I don't have one picked out yet (I have to wait to get my new credit card in a week or so to shop), but I'm crazy for flex writing and even the Falcon can't quiet pull it off, so vintage it will be. I REALLY want a "Ladies'" pen with a loop on the cap, but I'm not picky about cosmetics, I just want an excellent writer. I'm VERY excited that I got that credit approved because I'll get, in addition to the vintage, another falcon (this time F instead of B nib (oops!)), another stub (either a Conklin Duragraph or a Monteverde Intima, and one more Ahab. So, yah,, maxing that right out! My FAVORITE thing about fountain pens is INKSSSSS! When my current orders come in I'll have amassed about 35 bottles and I'm out of room but show now signs of stopping. There's always an exciting new hue or shade, or a feature I never imagined ink could have! My favorites of the moment are kosumosu (iroshizuku, a bubblegum pink) and Solferino (in the purple family, super vibrant!). **I'm going nuts for shading ink right now and also waterproof (but not bullet proof) non-black and non-blue inks... recommendations welcome!** My spare time is spent writing a lot of letters to pen-pals and friends I like to keep in touch with.. its replaced Facebook as my primary social communication. I'm always looking for new snail mail pen-pals if anyone is interested, leave me your mailing address and I'll send you a letter if you promise to write back! Well, that's me! Ready to participate instead of just checking here when I have questions! Bye! Miss Inky Fingers aka Jocelyn

Something fun happened to me today... I was at a conference in Manchester on the state of the housing sector in the region. I was there providing live tweeting, to keep the conversation for posterity. I had with me a Leuchturm jotbook, an Onoto Magna Classic and my iPhone. At the end of the session, the gentleman behind me said "Snap!" and showed me his pen. It was very similar to mine, but the logo on the cap was different. I asked him what his pen was and he told me it was a Parker Duofold. It was a beautiful pen and very similar in size and shape to my Onoto. It even had the chasing on the body, although a different pattern to my Onoto. We then had a conversation about fountain pens, rather than the supply of new housing...