Watches, Pens, and the Craft of Analog Living
Ellen Ashford · July 13, 2026
If you write with fountain pens long enough, you will eventually look down at your hands and see something that resembles a crime scene. I’ve had mornings where I sat down to remove fountain pen ink stains from three different surfaces before my coffee finished brewing — my fingers, my shirt cuff, and the corner … Read more
Ellen Ashford · July 10, 2026
The first time I picked up a scratchy fountain pen, I assumed something was broken. I’d just started collecting seriously, and my new Pilot Metropolitan was catching on every upstroke like sandpaper on silk. I almost returned it. What I didn’t know yet is that tuning and smoothing a scratchy nib is one of the … Read more
Ellen Ashford · July 8, 2026
The most common question I get from new fountain pen owners isn’t about nibs or inks — it’s about clogs. Specifically, why their pen stopped writing after sitting for two weeks. I’ve been there. Learning how to clean a fountain pen and prevent clogs properly changed everything about how I interact with my collection. Before … Read more
Ellen Ashford · June 27, 2026
The first time I uncapped a bottle of shimmer sheen fountain pen ink, I genuinely thought I had discovered the best thing in the hobby. The liquid glittered like crushed stars. It flowed onto the page in a deep, shifting purple that caught the light from three different angles at once. I was completely seduced. … Read more
Ellen Ashford · June 23, 2026
If you’ve ever stood in a stationery aisle holding a refill that almost fits your pen, you know the particular frustration I’m talking about. I’ve been there more times than I care to admit. A solid pen refill compatibility guide would have saved me dozens of wasted dollars and more than a few ruined writing … Read more