Pen Giveaway Reminder!

Don't forget that eInvite is giving away a beautiful Pelikan pen via our Facebook page, in celebration of Universal Letter Writing Week. I took a couple of photos of the pen to share with you!

Pelikan m215, Black

All you have to do is write a note on our Facebook page: here about a letter that you have written or received, and you'll be entered in the contest to win either the m215 (above) worth $120 or the ballpoint version below!!

Pelikan r215, Black

A winner will be chosen at random from everyone whom comments on our wall with their memories of letter writing. As letter writing (and handwriting in general) becomes more rare, sending and receiving letters becomes so much more valuable and precious. Think about how you feel when you get a handwritten note, or how you feel when you send one.

Never sacrifice your loved ones for the sake of a little convenience!

World Class Pens

I have waxed poetic about pens before, but this time things are a little different. Why? Because eInvite.com is giving away a pen by one of my favorite pen manufacturers. We're not talking about the sort of so-called "fancy" pen you might find in a big-box store or office supply. We're talking a luxury writing tool from Pelikan. Free. Gratis.

Well, there is one, tiny catch. It's a contest. So stay glued to eInvite on Twitter, here on Blogger, or at our Facebook page. Lest you miss out on owning a great pen. Remember, there is more to writing than words on paper.

Image: Adoniram Sides, Pen Courtesy eInvite.com

Pelikan makes some wonderful pens. What makes for a wonderful pen? As it turns out, a few objective qualities and a few subjective, combined: mechanics, features, "write-ability", and aesthetics. Let's take a quick look at each quality in turn.

Mechanics:

This tends to vary with regard to the style of pen you like to use. The popular types tend to be felt-tipped, ballpoint, and fountain.

• Felt-tipped pens are commonly called "markers" and use a porous material as a membrane between the ink and the paper. The mechanical action is exceptionally simple, but leaving the cap off a felt-tipped pen will usually result in its demise, as the porous material allows air into the ink and will eventually dry out the pen.
  
• Ballpoint pens apply ink to the page through friction applied to a tiny ball, often made of metal. The ball separates the ink, held in a case, from the elements outside the pen (paper, air, etc). As the ball spins, the ink flows past the ball, coating it in the process, and is applied to paper. This type of pen has a variety of mechanical benefits: they tend to inexpensive, they have great longevity, and many people enjoy the lack of attention required to write. A ballpoint pen will write in just about any direction, as long as gravity continues to feed the ink. Some ballpoint pens are pressurized to remove the gravity feed problem and allow you to write in any direction, even upside-down.
• Fountain pens are, in my opinion, the most luxurious to use, but also the most difficult to use. Ink is fed by capillary action, through pressure applied to the nib (or point) of the pen. The design of fountain pens requires a more fluid ink that does not dry nearly as quickly as that of a ballpoint or even felt-tip pen. There are benefits, however, that the other two cannot reproduce. Greater pressure applied to a fountain pen results in a wider line, allowing for emphasis to easily be added to text, or allowing for beautiful flourishes and ligatures. Modern fountain pens are also easily refillable, making them a far more environmentally friendly choice than the mass-produced, disposable ballpoints.
  

Just like any tool, the quality of the design, materials, and machining have a huge impact on the mechanics of the pen. Metals and alloys make for durable, beautiful pens that write well and live long. Properly machined and fitted parts ensure the comfort (and quiet) of a fine pen. Have you ever noticed that, like a cheap car, cheap plastic pens squeak and bend as you use them? A good pen will not interfere with you as you write.

Features:

Oddly enough, pens have features, much like any other device. Grips, clips, tips, and a myriad of other design elements allow your pen to do more than just write. However, I am not a fan of generalism. I think you should excel at what you have been designed to do, rather than try and solve a bunch of problems that I don't have. Plenty of people like mediocre things, but if you're going to spend more than a few dollars on a pen, it should be exceptional. The two parts of this puzzle, in my opinion, are the remaining qualities: "write-ability" and aesthetics.

"Write-ability":

This term is not a real word, of course, but it does meet the need to describe how a pen really works. After all, a pen is really there to do one thing: write. When taking notes, I rely on a ballpoint pen, as it dries quickly but has an easy flow of ink to the page. It is not nearly as pleasurable as using a fountain pen, but it does the job admirably well (I use a Cross Century). Disposable pens, particularly those made by Bic, also write very well, though due to the sheer volume of manufacture, tend to be a little less reliable than a more expensive version of the same essential design. When you combine a well manufactured ink system with longevity, the only piece remaining is aesthetic.

Aesthetics:

This is the most difficult quality to quantify and a great deal of it is subjective. When it comes to pens, I like conservative design, where the appointments don't overwhelm the pen. I like a thin body, because I have a tendency to "crush" the pens or pencils that I use (I hold them with too much force). The smaller form forces me to use a lighter touch. Choosing the design of a pen is really up to you, but bear in mind that the size and shape will have a significant impact on how long you can use the pen and how well you can write with it. If you find a gigantic pen with all kinds of doodads and appointments that appeals to your tastes, try to imagine how it would feel to use. Similarly, if you're the utilitarian type, remember that there is more to the pen than how well it writes: rare metal and good manufacture can keep your hand cool and your fingers tireless.

Hopefully this has whet your appetite for more on pens, and writing in general. Leave your experiences and tastes below! We love to hear from you and always try to respond to comments quickly (so return often)!

Fine Pens and Handwriting

These days, we tend to place less emphasis on handwritten things and one of the aspects that gets lost is the value of the writing tool itself. Before we began to rely heavily on electronic communications, a good pen was indispensable. Often, a pen said a great deal about its owner, much like a watch. Unlike the watch, the pen still has a great deal of daily use (how often do you check your phone for the time, rather than your watch?). We still sign bills and cheques, make notes, and sketch out rough ideas, particularly at work. This habit doesn't seem like one we can easily kick. Even with tools like the iPhone and "tablet" laptops, there's something incredibly easy about putting pen to paper, and as a result it still occupies a place of regular use in our daily lives.

I carry a pen with me and I take a certain pleasure in having something that looks nice and performs well. I'd rather spend my money on a tool that will last and can be refilled than a few hundred plastic BIC pens that I'll throw away once exhausted. The waste is upsetting and the pens don't look nice nor feel particularly comfortable (though they do write well). My brand of choice has been Cross, because I like the ease of use and lack of mess that their ballpoint pens provide. They're reliable and relatively inexpensive (the decent ones run from $40 to $150 depending upon where you shop). However, ballpoint pens are still a bit divorced from feeling the ink run onto the paper.

That sensation rightly belongs to the fountain pen. Most are very easy to use and do not actually allow ink to run all over the paper (something you may remember from your elementary school days). Moreover, many are stunning and beautifully crafted. Amongst these, my personal favorite is Pelikan. They're reasonably priced (though considerably more than a ballpoint pen) and write very well. The ink reserves last for a long time and are easy to change. And they are beautiful. Take a look at this:


It's a strong, attractive pen that writes well and is sure to make an impression, both when taking it out in company to use it and in sending or saving something written with it. Unfortunately, I don't own this one (yet!) but if anyone is looking for an early birthday present for me...

You might be surprised how much of an impact a decent pen makes, both in your enjoyment of writing and in its impression on others. I'm still surprised at how often my current Cross pen gets comments, and it's not particularly unique (though it is metallic orange). Truly beautiful pens garner even more attention, even if it is unspoken. Try it for yourself - next time you're shopping for pens, don't buy the big box of seven thousand plastic pens; that's bad for the environment and bad for your wallet. Pick up a decent, attractive ballpoint or fountain pen, and put it to use. I think you'll be pleased with the results.

Express yourself

Holiday decor can also express your personal style and give a feeling of holiday warmth and sparkle. Look at the clothes you buy, the music you listen to, the magazines you read. Examine what you use to express yourself in your everyday life and build on your personality to let your style shine. It may take a little confidence and some effort, but well worth it. When you sit back in front of the fire with your mulled wine, you can admire your holiday home with a whole new spirit.


Gift giving at eInvite can also express personal style with a little panache for the style savvy.

{images: holiday wreath from McQueens via Livingetc magazine, Gold Murano Glass Pen Set via eInvite, Black Stationery Portfolio via eInvite, K82 Silver/Black Ballpoint Pelikan pen in a metal giftbox via eInvite}