I Love L. A! First Time In L. A. For Pen Show - Warning: Spider Pic (Pic Heavy)

[humblescribbler]

My new DaniTrio-made Regina Martini Special Edition, the spider snaring the dragonfly: (forgive my primitive picture-taking skills)

 

 

Apparently the first layer of urushi is over inlaid abalone and eggshell. It is then set aside for awhile and then re-coated several dozen times. Only 50 of these were made. The nib is a medium soft 18 k gold and platinum Martini signature, so probably Bock-made. It writes wonderfully smooth.

 

 

The spider legs ensnare the dragonfly when twisted closed. The eyes are rubies.

 

 

And always worth a west coast trip, a new Nakaya Decapod. This is my second Nakaya, having picked up a portable writer when John et al came to the DC show, but they said that the east coast trip was getting to be too much, so I ended up going out to them!

 

 

And a long time desired Pel M1000,

 

 

with an OB nib which lays a beautiful line of Edelstein ink.

 

 

These are all beautiful writers and I had plenty of time to try them since I shopped from Thursday on.

Wheeled and dealt 9 of my 11 pens that I brought with me. And some time to see a sight or two:

 

Manhattan Beach Pier and Nature House:

 

 

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) to visit the full Giacometti sculpture display (no photos allowed of that) and exhibited nearby, a 19th c. Congressional desk:

 

 

And time for a latte at the LACMA cafe -- I love L.A.! Thank you Randy Newman!

 

 

Thanks for looking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Wolverine1]

Well, thanks for posting !!!! Enjoyed it.

[Ladynib302]

Sure hope John comes East again for this August's D.C. Show with these beautiful Nakaya pens. Lots of hopeful folks waiting....

[humblescribbler]

Sure hope John comes East again for this August's D.C. Show with these beautiful Nakaya pens. Lots of hopeful folks waiting....

 

What started this crazy western trip was my email to Classic Nibs expressing that very sentiment for (I think) 2012's D.C. show! They replied that it was too much hassle for everyone. So as a BD/Valentine present, my wife suggested I head out to the LA Show, rather than waiting for them to come back east again. Obviously they are available online to me, but nothing beat that first experience handling a Nakaya in D.C. with John's hovering helpful suggestions.

 

I'm still hopeful they'll change their mind; I can only build up to a trip like that every 3 or 4 years or so!

[playpen]

Too bad they consider the trip east a hassle. Such a personal and exciting experience as choosing a new treasure and walking away with it to your exact specifications on the moment is much for

many. I can imagine a million parallels but none as disappointing as this recent decision of John's-from a fountain pen enthusiast's point of view.

[humblescribbler]

*snip* 'Such a personal and exciting experience as choosing a new treasure and walking away with it to your exact specifications on the moment'

 

*Sigh* True that. But believe me, I do accept that they're in business. What with the flights, cabs (or rentals), storage, baggage fees, worry about the pens themselves, the backdrop signs and frames, and all the case lights, I'm guessing not enough of us Easterners ended up buying enough pens from the tables to make the trip feasible. Online biz ends up being the choice, if I want to deal with them in the future. And I get that, I really do. But yes, absolutely less personal.

 

I must say however, some of the vendors I see at the shows look reeeeally tired. I'm glad I'm (mostly) the buyer!