Several months ago I shared a "pouch dump" post of my to-go kit for pen meetups and shows, but most of those items are sold by pen vendors and likely already familiar to pen people. Now I want to share, in no particular order, a list of ten things that have become an integral part of my usage of fountain pens and inks but are more likely to be found in your local big-box, housewares, office, hardware, or grocery store—maybe even your own kitchen.
These "useful things" make my inky life easier and better, what sort of things would be on your list?
No. 1 Modern Twist Placemat
I first got a silicone placemat to protect surfaces from heat and spills while brewing tea, but now use it as a desk mat. The inevitable inky messes from swatching, painting, or filling a pen easily wipe clean, and it protects the desk when I'm melting wax to make wax seals. I even pack one to use in the hotel room while at a pen show.
I've tried a few different brands, but this first one from Modern Twist has been the best. Others have creases from being folded for shipping and don't lay flat or a "sticky" texture that really makes me appreciate the quality of the Modern Twist mat.
No. 2 Joseph Joseph Drying Rack
I tend to clean pens in batches rather than one at a time. As my collection grew, so did my need for a way to keep dozens of individual parts organized and safe while drying. While shopping for housewares I came across this drying rack from Joseph Joseph, a brand I've found to have well-designed products, and naturally my first thought was "this would be great for pens!"
This 3-tier drying rack can easily accommodate 6-8 pens in a fairly compact footprint, or expand 2 or 3 levels to hold several more. The grooves and edges keep the parts from rolling around too much so I can fill up the tray by the sink while cleaning, then carry it to another location out of the way to dry. It's been a game-changer on pen cleaning day!
No. 3 Really Useful Boxes
I have been using various sizes of "Really Useful Box" for years. These boxes feature external supports for strength, relatively straight sides, and handles that flip up to hold the lid in place. You really start noticing how tapered and rounded so many plastic totes and bins are when trying to store paper, books, and boxes—the straight sides really make a difference.
I've filled medium-size boxes (4-8 liter) full of heavy glass bottles of ink or stacks of paper without worry that they will collapse under the weight. I've got a small box filled with loose stickers, and the mini boxes can hold small accessories like spare nibs or converters. Large boxes (42 liter) are full of fabric and yarn. Bottom line, these boxes live up to their name.
No. 4 Glass Dropper Bottle
I can no longer remember why I bought a set of cobalt blue dropper bottles a decade ago, but they have become something I use almost daily with my pens and inks. I often swatch multiple inks at a time and want to be sure my tools are rinsed with clean water between each ink, without needing to run to the nearest sink every time. By filling this bottle with clean water, I can use the dropper to rinse swatch tools and dip pens with a small amount of water and swatch for an hour or two before needing to refill the bottle.
I also use the dropper to add drops of water to swatch cards to make an ink wash, or to dilute the ink on a glass nib to add shading to a sketch.
No. 5 Food Jars
I've repurposed several shapes and sizes of glass jars, from pasta sauce to fancy jam, for display, storage, and cleaning. While that's not a particularly novel idea, I've been rather pleased with these small glass jars that held a single serving of yogurt, which have no branding in the glass and just a small lip instead of the threads for a lid. This simple profile doesn't immediately look like a former food container. They are the perfect size for storing smaller pens and markers, holding clean or inky glass stir rods, soaking pen parts, and catching rinse water.
No. 6 Glass Stir Sticks
I've spent a lot of time trying reusable, easy-to-clean swatching tools. This small carving tool shaped like a tiny spoon that I pulled out of my toolbox has become a favorite swatching tool, but I just have the one so my search for something more readily available and easy to recommend continued.
That's how these glass stir sticks, an alternative to disposable cocktail straws or coffee stirrers and available in bulk, became a close second favorite for ink swatching.
When I decide to sit down and swatch a dozen or more inks on multiple types of paper, I can move pretty quickly when I've got a jar of these at the ready. I use a clean glass stick with each bottle or sample of ink, then place the inky used sticks into a second jar. When I'm done (or run out of clean sticks), I can quickly rinse them all together in the sink and spread them out to dry, which saves a lot of time compared to using a single tool that must be rinsed and dried at the desk between each ink.
While the glass sticks can be used to make a wide variety of swatch shapes, I'm liking the character these swirled shapes bring out in an ink.
No. 7 Coasters
I'm the kind of person who does have a wide array of coasters available for beverages, but I also keep a few fun paper coasters around to place under ink bottles, rinse jars, etc. to catch any stray drips. Additionally, thick silicone coasters (also from Modern Twist) provide more protection from the heat of using a candle or wick to melt wax, and I can make seals right on the non-stick silicone surface to attach later. You may even catch me using a pretty coaster as a backdrop for a pen photo.
No. 8 Ceramic Items
I enjoy collecting pretty yet functional ceramic items, keeping them around the desk to hold Col-o-ring and Col-o-dex cards or pens, and keep smaller items like nibs and parts from rolling around or getting lost in the shuffle. It certainly doesn't hurt that they look sharp holding a pen for a glamor shot.
No. 9 Flour Sack Towel
From wiping the section clean after inking a pen to drying a tool after cleaning, a towel is a necessity but paper towels create a lot of waste, can leave behind fibers, and get expensive. A flour sack towel is large with good absorbency and low lint so that's what I use as often as possible. I love seeing the years of ink stains that have accumulated on this particular towel.
Blue "shop towels" also last longer and leave behind fewer fibers than regular paper towels, so I'll use those for messier jobs, or blotting and drying brushes when painting. A fun paper towel stand to hold the roll of shop towels is going on my wishlist this year!
No. 10 LEGO
LEGO are building blocks for creativity. I designed this custom desk tray to proudly display a selection of fountain pens and Retro 51s, keep other writing tools organized, and feature an olive octopus. Build what makes you happy.
