Hello and welcome to Lil' Dragon's Desk.

Hello, my name is Clark, and I’m an elementary school art teacher from New Palestine, Indiana.

If you are reading this, you've obviously gotten lost and fallen down a rabbit hole of such. Thank you for reading and welcome.

I’ve often felt that writing about my stationery experiences could be helpful—not only for me, but also for others who share similar interests. Here, you’ll find thoughts and reflections on anything on my desk: fountain pens, fountain pen inks, paper, accessories, and whatever else happens to inspire me to write something.

One of my goals this year is to do this-write more. Although I’m not a professional writer, I’ve written a variety of things over the years, including equipment and accessory reviews for PalmAddict—a now-defunct website dedicated to Palm handheld organizers—articles for art education magazines, and Teaching for Artistic Behavior.

I’m still relatively new to the fountain pen hobby. Since buying my first fountain pen and bottle of ink in May 2020, I’ve been learning as I go. I’m certainly not an expert, but I do have some thoughts. Plus I enjoy sharing my experiences and perspectives as an enthusiastic newcomer. My hope is to contribute what I learn along the way while continuing to grow in the hobby myself. After all, old dogs really can learn new tricks.

If you enjoy what you read, feel free to leave a comment. Suggestions, recommendations, and conversation are always welcome.

Comments

NPD: Rockster Daydreamer

Today I received a new custom pen from Rockster Pens , crafted by Ash Lawrence . While this is not my first pen from Rockster, it is one made specifically to my vision. I wanted a vintage-inspired design crafted from Mazzucchelli cellulose acetate, and the final result exceeded my expectations. The pen arrived in a thoughtfully designed cardboard tube that immediately reflected Ash's attention to detail. The packaging is versatile enough to accommodate a variety of pen sizes, and the Rockster logo is prominently displayed. I always appreciate makers who carefully consider every aspect of the experience—from branding and presentation to shipping—as it elevates the enjoyment of receiving a custom piece. Once I removed the pen from the tube, I was immediately struck by the beauty of the material. The material features a rich blend of browns, reds, and oranges, accented by subtle chatoyance that gives the pen remarkable depth and movement in the light. I chose rose g...

How it all began.

My interest in fountain pens began in the spring of 2020. At the time, I had been bullet journaling for a couple of years, but the pens I used were fairly standard and, honestly, uninspiring. What bothered me most was the constant clicking of the refill against the barrel every time I wrote. Once I noticed it, I couldn’t ignore it. The sound became unbearable, so I started searching for a pen that wouldn’t make that noise. One evening, I opened my browser and searched for “the best pens for journaling.” As I worked my way through the results, I came across an article about fountain pens. Up until then, I hadn’t really considered fountain pens as something people still used, let alone collected. Still, something about them immediately caught my attention, and my curiosity took over. One pen mentioned repeatedly was the Lamy Safari. The article praised its durability, modern design, and relatively affordable price. At the time, spending $28 on a pen felt extravagant, but after a few...

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