Fountain pens and I go a long way back. The school I attended focused very much on penmanship. We were only allowed the use of pencils until we reached Third Year. After that, we were to use fountain pens only and told to steer clear of ball point pens. I still remember the anticipation of getting my very first fountain pen. Since that first day of my third year in primary school, I have only ever used fountain pens for writing.
A few months ago, I started to create a Make Art quilt pattern series starting with this quill pen and ink bottle.
I express myself best in writing. So, not surprisingly, I decided to make a fountain pen quilt pattern next.
I have had many a pen, but the Pelican pen given to me by my husband, is my workhorse. I would be lost without it. I adore the scratching sound it makes on paper. I now prefer to use sepia ink over black. I also have a soft spot for indigo, a very dark blue ink.
I love my pen so much that I made this little card featuring my pen, sepia ink and parchment paper featuring one of the Shel Silverstein poems I really like.
A few nights ago, I started painting a bookmark featuring the city of Oxford, England. Thinking of the colleges there set the perfect mood for sewing the pen.
The fountain pen stitched up quite quickly. Teal is one of my favourite shades. I am keeping the background same for all of my Make Art blocks in case I decide to make a quilt with them. Just like the Quill Pen quilt pattern, this one is also 12″. The Fountain Pen pattern is now available in my shop.
Shortly after I finished sewing the last seam, my husband, who also uses fountain pens, laid claim to the block. You might also have someone in your life who would appreciate a gift featuring this writing instrument which represents the lost art of penmanship in the digital age.
-Soma
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38 thoughts on “Make Art – Fountain Pen”
Lisa Isabella Russo May 4, 2018 at 14:17
Oh those are gorgeous! I didn’t learn to use fountain pens at school, but thought they were beautiful. I tried to teach myself to no avail. I’m afraid it’s ballpoint pens or computers for me when writing…
Lucy Corrander April 15, 2018 at 06:14
Our school was very insistent on ink. I don’t think I started using a biro until mid-way through university. I like biros now – as long as they are of a particular make and thickness. I can’t track down my fountain pen. It’s somewhere among the things not unpacked after moving house. Really like your pen picture. And how very clever to quilt it.
Linda April 4, 2018 at 12:39
What a great block, so realistic! I loved reading your post, and I too remember not being allowed to ‘progress’ onto a fountain pen until my writing improved! Thanks for sharing with ‘sew stitch snap SHARE’
Kaja March 31, 2018 at 00:42
You have reminded me of my school days: we were not allowed to make the transition from pencil to pen until our handwriting was considered neat enough. Although I am left-handed and writing with ink presents its own problems, I have always loved a good fountain pen.
Ness March 30, 2018 at 09:01
I still use the fountain pen my parents gave me for my 18th birthday. There’s nothing like writing with proper ink.
Shelley March 29, 2018 at 14:48
I think your patterns are just beautiful. The fountain pen is a favorite tool for me so that pattern is particularly special. Lovely work!!
Emily Bailey March 29, 2018 at 12:02
Fun to read about your connection to the fountain pen. Your block looks great!
Wendy @ September Violets March 27, 2018 at 14:59
Soma, it’s been ages since I’ve visited blogs and when I come back here, I’m always a little sorry I’ve not been a better blogger. Love this post and all you’ve said about the fountain pens. I too was introduced to a fountain pen (I think it was grade 4), and we were not allowed to use ballpoint pens. I adored using the fountain pen, and our desks actually had the holes for inkwells (although we used cartridges). I kept my pen for many years, but then switched to ballpoint. I worked for a lawyer years ago who insisted on always using fountain pens too, and I admired how nicely he wrote. Lately I’ve been disappointed with every pen I write with in my journal, and reading this has reminded me of the joy of writing with a fountain pen. Your quilt panels are beautifully made, and I really like the fountain pen! Speaking of penmanship, I did a post a few years ago of an autograph book I have from my great aunt. The penmanship is beautiful.
Marie-OR March 27, 2018 at 14:26
The quill and the fountain pen are both awesome! I wish you success in selling the patterns.
Judy Hansen March 27, 2018 at 13:02
Great block, I love the beauty of penmanship, and fountain pens. Thanks for linking with Design Wall Mondays, I always enjoy seeing what you are creating. Judy
Kay L. Davies March 27, 2018 at 11:03
I remember fountain pens in school, and I never mastered the use of them. I was a prolific writer, however, and made do with pencils until ballpoint pens and a typewriter came into my life.
Your art is beautiful, and I like your gift suggestion. My artist brother had a birthday earlier this month. Perhaps I’ll try to find a fountain pen and send it to him.
Thank you for this fascinating blog post.
Kay
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
AnnieO March 26, 2018 at 23:13
Great story to go along with your beautiful fountain pen pattern. I have not tried to write with a fountain pen for decades, and we certainly did not use them in primary school—I would have been covered head to toe in ink spots, surely!
Angie March 26, 2018 at 20:58
Although our son does not do a lot of writing, and I would suggest his penmanship could use work, he has an obsession with fountain pens. There is something very physical about a fountain pen that brings joy, and so we always have a gift option for him!
Jennifer in Indy March 26, 2018 at 16:52
That’s a neat pen! As a lefty, I always wound up with more ink on my finger than the paper!
Angela Grasse March 26, 2018 at 11:53
As one who has done calligraphy and quilting I really love these blocks!
Rebecca Grace March 26, 2018 at 11:27
The nib of that fountain pen is just magnificent! I can’t believe you were able to capture that so accurately in fabric!
Taken For Granted March 26, 2018 at 07:44
Fountain pens are wonderful objects, and this art celebrates that.
Cathy Keller March 26, 2018 at 06:20
You are so very talented! The block is just beautiful!
Cheryl Brickey March 25, 2018 at 18:01
Beautiful block, it really captures the timelessness and elegance of a fountain pen.
Sandra Walker March 25, 2018 at 10:46
Oh how I love Shel Silverstein! And you take me back to when I got my own fountain pen and retractable pencil set (orange) on my hmmm, maybe 10th? birthday. I felt so grown up, and special, as it came from England from my aunt. Just love that your husband laid claim to the block! It is beautiful, as is the card, and the bookmark, a feast for my eyes and creative soul in one post! Wait, and my reminiscent soul too… ;-)
Kim Sharman March 24, 2018 at 21:16
I too love writing with fountain pens; the lovely sound on the pen scratching the paper, though I have had a few mishaps with spilt ink. Your block is once again incredible. The detail is fabulous…..as only you can seem to do, Soma. Love the background fabric. How I would love to see you create more designs and transform them all into a most beautiful quilt.
Janine @ Rainbow Hare March 24, 2018 at 13:25
This is a great block. I love fountain pens too but I despair at finding a notebook with paper that doesn’t show a shadow of the letters through to the next page. What sort of paper do you use?
dawn March 24, 2018 at 10:16
You fountain pen block looks so realistic! What a fun idea to make a quilt out of Make Art blocks!
Candace March 24, 2018 at 04:51
I love this! I don’t usually paper piece, but I may have to get your pattern and make a mini for my son from it. I don’t get to see him often, as he lives in a different country, and the last visit he got himself a fountain pen, saying that he’d always wanted one, and felt that it would make him feel elegant (jokingly). He also got me one for my birthday.
Sarah Goer March 23, 2018 at 21:54
That Fountain Pen! Such fabulous detail!! Thanks for linking up on TGIFF.
Lynette March 23, 2018 at 14:35
Soma, this is a seriously beautiful, absolutely elegant rendering of a fountain pen! I ***love*** the angles within the blade. I also enjoyed the unique story of your schooling with fountain pens. I’d never heard of such a thing.
jesh stg March 23, 2018 at 11:45
Those are some funky angles in your quilt piece – beautiful!
Got your email and will respond soon. Hop to also see you back at All Seasons:) Have a great weeken, Soma!
Fred March 23, 2018 at 10:50
A beautiful pattern, and lovely done! That’s great to remember that pens still exist!
Mary March 23, 2018 at 08:45
That is incredible. My husband and I were just talking about using the fountain pens in school when we were younger. I do remember that “scratch” on the paper.
Lady Fi March 22, 2018 at 22:32
Wow – so lovely!
Su-sieee! Mac March 22, 2018 at 21:11
That’s a cool block! I like how the teal pops. I was never good with a fountain pen. Always made blotch and smear marks. Now that I’m mature, maybe I could do better. Only way to find out is to get a fountain pen. :-)
BillieBee March 22, 2018 at 15:08
It’s funny how pens have mattered in our lives over the years. I still think of one I had in High School…how silly is that. I graduated in 1965. Really love all your patterns.
Susan March 22, 2018 at 12:48
We never used fountain pens in school, but we did learn penmanship. I like the block.
Janice Holton March 22, 2018 at 11:48
So classy! This is a beautiful block and I really like the card you made too. Good hand writing seems to be one of those things that are slowly disappearing. Can you believe some schools don’t even teach cursive anymore? Whaaaat? Your whole post evokes a sense of documenting something beautiful that is slowly dying.
Dixie March 22, 2018 at 09:47
I am impressed that your school used fountain pens and in the 3rd year! Amazing and so wonderful.
In our schools, they are no longer teaching penmanship. And what a fun and special class penmanship was!
I love your bocks. So beautifully made.
Enjoy…signed a dreamer, a hoper, a teller of tales, and a magic bean buyer.
Jayne March 22, 2018 at 06:58
The detail in this pen is amazing! Your block is so gorgeous! Since fountain pens are rarely used these days, it’s a good way to show the ‘youngsters’ what writing was all about!
Tammy S Asad March 22, 2018 at 04:52
You are so very creative. I’ve never known of schools using fountain pens. I do wish penmanship was still taught. When my youngest boy left for college 2 years ago he didn’t even have a signature to open a bank account because he never had to sign anything properly in his life. When I was in high school, we were taught the basics of being independent but kids don’t get that these days. My former boss loved fountain pens so one year for Christmas I gave him one along with some ink and French cotton paper. He used it to write a letter to his 3rd grade teacher who had a big impact on his life.
Patty March 22, 2018 at 04:17
Great block!