Planning for a Windy City Visit (CPS 2025)
It’s a little less than a week until the Chicago Pen Show. It’s at a new venue this year with, what seems to be, a lot more vendors than at the previous hotel. It also meant more space for gatherings and classes (more on some that I’m a part of below!).
I’m a little apprehensive about the new hotel space, just because I’ve witnessed growing pains with other events like this that I’ve been a part of in the past. But I am very hopeful. Despite all of the economic turmoil, I think folks are looking for experiences and events that celebrate the things they care about. It’s not just about the hunt for that rare pen anymore. I’m really happy to see more stationery and pen-adjacent dealers in the show room this year.
So, what might I be shopping for?
I have a bit less money to spend this year than previous years due to stepping away from my old job, the current economic situation of the world, and some other trips I have planned for the year. Basically, I’m going to have to selective and any splurge will have to be very greatly justified (at least to myself). I’ve got my eye on show exclusives (the Colorverse ink for sure and maybe the Anderillium (I heard it was green so we’ll see)). If there are any others I will be interested to see those as well.
That’s the only, I-will-definitely-be-buying-that item (it’s a Colorverse blue… I’m weak for those and it’s a show exclusive so a great and useable souvenir) on my list. Everything else will be extra.
Some previous exclusives.
Things I will definitely be checking out:
Store exclusive inks - Amarillo Stationery and Atlas Stationers have new ones and it looks like some of the other vendors that are there might have some too.
Interesting paper - especially in pad form, loose leaf, or A6 notebook. I do not (this is a memo to me) need any more A5 notebooks. Most of the ones that I’ve gotten recently ended up getting pulled apart and their paper rebound in A6 so I could carry them in my TN. That being said… if there are some Kleid notebooks around I might pick up a few of those because I’m addicted to the teeny tiny grid at the moment. If there are paper types I haven’t seen or tried before, those will probably be coming home with me.
Stickers - both free and for purchase. I love seeing how creative folks can be with all of their designs from logos to silly themes.
Pen and ink adjacent things. For example, I am really interested to see all of the goodies that the 3D printers that are coming will have. Some of the teasers that I’ve seen are super cute (WellAppointedDesk shared some of Kaleidocraft’s stuff and it’s so cute! That is going to be a dangerous for my wallet table. I also may have to pick up another ink sample coffee cup from Randomthinks - now that I have the Kaweco foldable converters, having something to hold the sample vials while I try to load up a liliput is very, very helpful!
Prototypes, even if they aren’t for sale. There are so many amazing craftspeople in this hobby and I am looking forward to seeing what they have come up with.
Although I will certainly be walking the show floor to see what is out there and admiring pens I can’t afford, haha, I am the most excited about spending time with people. The nearest pen meetup in my region is about 3 hours away, so I rarely get to hang out with the Twin Cities folks. I usually only see them at the Pelikan Hub in the fall. It will be nice to say hi and also say hello to friends from around the country (and even the world in some cases). Even if we haven’t met before, please say hi!
Meant to design some stickers in time to get them printed professionally… but didn’t quite get that far. So I made some on my printer at home on the sticker paper I had (which is translucent… so these will probably look much better in a journal than anywhere else). I’ll be giving them out as supplies last!
There’s also some times that you’ll be able to catch me at things because I’m hosting them! I’m going to be doing a free journaling class three times, one Friday afternoon (3-4 pm) and twice on Saturday (10-11 am and 3-4 pm) If you attended last year, I’m tweaking the format a bit so there will be some new prompts. If you’re at the show and would like to rest your feet from the show floor for a bit, I hope I’ll see you there! I’ll have stickers, paper ephemera, and washi tape to play with!
Sneak peak of some things I am bringing to the journal workshop that folks will get to play with!
I have also worked with the organizers of the show to have what we are calling a “Pen Social” on Saturday night from 6 pm to 10 pm. I’m really glad they were willing to give it a try. The Chicago Pen Show has a really great social scene, but it can definitely be intimidating to folks new to the hobby (that and we pen nerds tend to be an introverted group) to just jump-in to a table at the bar or common areas. The Pen Social is a drop-in event so folks can come for the whole time or for just a little while. I’m getting the rest of my “conversation starter” materials together, but there will be a junk journaling station, a find-a-penpal station, a de-stash/swap table, some paper testing, paper-based games (tic-tac-toe, dots and boxes, paper battleship), and show-and-tell spots where people can join in to share their pens or checkout the favorites/special pens of others. I’m really excited for this because I think, now that the show is getting bigger, there is room for more organized activities that makes the whole experience even more of an event as opposed to only a market.
If you’re curious about the show you can also check out my recaps of 2023 and 2024.
Currently Inked
Colorverse Red Horizon (Colorvent 2024) - Kaweco Art Sport Terrazzo B ‘imperial’ - the Art Sports are back in their custom ghost pen-sleeve and filled up with some of the inks from last year’s Colorvent (of which I am eagerly awaiting the pre-order for 2025’s). Red Horizon is a stunning dark red with dark sheen on some papers. It has a wetter flow and has that true red at its core. I’ll have to do a head to head comparison with Diamine Cardinal… I think Cardinal will be lighter, but on the same red spectrum.
Colorverse Neptune’s Occultation (Colorvent 2024) - Kaweco Art Sport Tiger’s Eye 14K M ‘selvedge’ - This is a very rich blurple and it was way too much when I originally had it in a broad nib. This ink looks so much better in the crisp lines of my selvedge nib (from Nib Tailor). It’s a pretty color, but I think I prefer Colorverse Quasar over this one.
Ferris Wheel Press Wayfinder’s Slate - Kaweco liliput copper M - It turns out I have a weakness for “greige” inks. I have a few of them now. My favorite is still Wearingeul Othello, but this one can give it a run for its money. It’s like a more matte version of Othello. Basically, Wayfinder’s Slate lays down more uniformly where Othello has a tendency to shade and pool. Both are beautiful in different ways. I have a feeling this is just the start of being back on a gray ink kick, which is great because I have a few that I haven’t tried yet in my sample stash.
Ferris Wheel Press Russet Typecase - Kaweco liliput fireblue 14K M ‘journaler’ - I got this ink in July of last year and didn’t think much of it. It was a rusty brown-orange and I wasn’t that excited about it at the time. Now that I’m trying it again, I really like it. I decided to ink it up after playing with FWP Terracotta Canyon a few weeks ago. This one is absolutely a keeper and I’ll definitely be giving it some use.