Pip: The Fabulous Scientist is back, and apparently the magpie instinct is fully operational — if it shimmers, shifts color, or evokes a Victorian novelist, it's getting reviewed.Mara: fabulousgrass has been writing about fountain pens that punch well above their price, covering chatoyant resins, piston fillers, and the question of whether affordable really has to… Continue reading Podcast Episode: Affordable Luxury Fountain Pens
Tag: writing
The Majohn P139 Endurance: The Luxurious Pen for People on the Budget
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist There are fountain pens that whisper sophistication. Then there are fountain pens that stride confidently into the room wearing a tailored suit, gold cufflinks, and enough presence to make your other pens question their life choices. The Majohn P139 Endurance belongs firmly to the second category. At first glance,… Continue reading The Majohn P139 Endurance: The Luxurious Pen for People on the Budget
Affordable Luxury: Asvine P20 Fountain Pen Overview
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist There comes a point in every fountain pen enthusiast’s life when you realize you may have accidentally developed a “type.” Some people collect understated black cigar-shaped pens. Some gravitate toward vintage flex nibs. Me? Apparently, I collect pens that shimmer, glow, shift colors dramatically, and look like they were… Continue reading Affordable Luxury: Asvine P20 Fountain Pen Overview
Inky Review: The Troublemaker’s Butterfly Dream
Troublemaker Inks is one of those Filipino fountain pen brands that quietly sneaked into the global pen community and created a good international following. Founded in Cebu as a tiny hand-mixed ink studio, the brand became beloved for its experimental shading, sheen, and shimmer inks that look less like office supplies and more like bottled weather… Continue reading Inky Review: The Troublemaker’s Butterfly Dream
Tiny Pen, Big Personality: My Review of the Wancher PuChiCo Arctic Blue
by Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist There are fountain pens you buy after hours of research, careful comparisons, and deep contemplation over nib sizes. And then there are fountain pens you buy because your brain immediately goes: “Oh no… it’s tiny and adorable. I need it.” That was exactly my experience with the Wancher PuChiCo Arctic… Continue reading Tiny Pen, Big Personality: My Review of the Wancher PuChiCo Arctic Blue
Pelikan M200 Cherry Blossom Review: The Glinda of My Chatoyant Fountain Pen Collection
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist Inspired by the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms, the Pelikan M200 Cherry Blossom is a special edition pen that leans heavily into soft elegance and quiet charm. Its pale pink resin body reflects the gentle hues of sakura in bloom, while subtle design details like cherry blossom-shaped ink windows,… Continue reading Pelikan M200 Cherry Blossom Review: The Glinda of My Chatoyant Fountain Pen Collection
Is the TWSBI Kai Worth It? My Honest Long-Term Review
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist I got my TWSBI Kai when it was first released through a pre-order from Everything Calligraphy back in October 2023—right when I was still tumbling headfirst into the fountain pen rabbit hole. At the time, I had this itch to own something “rare” or “limited,” and the Kai just… Continue reading Is the TWSBI Kai Worth It? My Honest Long-Term Review
Jinhao Shark Fountain Pen Review: Playful and Practical
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist I don’t buy fountain pens as often as I used to—my “acquire everything shiny” phase has officially mellowed out. In fact, I’ve been on a bit of a decluttering streak this year, letting go of some of the beginner pens I picked up when I was just starting out.… Continue reading Jinhao Shark Fountain Pen Review: Playful and Practical
First Impressions: My First Time at the Manila Pen Show 2026
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist If you’ve ever fallen down the rabbit hole of fountain pens, inks, and all things analog, then the Manila Pen Show 2026 is probably already on your radar, or at least it should be. For the uninitiated, the Manila Pen Show is a yearly gathering of pen enthusiasts, collectors, artists,… Continue reading First Impressions: My First Time at the Manila Pen Show 2026
Ink Review: Platinum Carbon Black — The Waterproof Ink I Wish I Tried Sooner
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist One of the most talked-about permanent black inks in the fountain pen world is Platinum Carbon Black Ink. It has been a favorite among artists, sketchers, and fountain pen enthusiasts for years, especially for people who need their writing to survive water, humidity, and time. What makes this ink different… Continue reading Ink Review: Platinum Carbon Black — The Waterproof Ink I Wish I Tried Sooner
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