
Friday Night
The planned open house at Vanness Pen Shop has been cancelled due to
unforeseen circumstances.
Saturday Night
Pen Show After Dark
Emceed by Lisa Vanness and Cary Yeager
Delta Hotels by Marriott Atrium
7:00 pm - ?:??
All workshops will be held in the Maumelle Room just down the hall from the main vendor area in the Arkansas Lakes Ballroom. All but five of the 20 workshops are free of charge! Those with a fee are indicated in the schedule below with an asterisk and have information on how to preregister if required and pay up front. All workshops are 50 minutes unless otherwise indicated.
SCHEDULE OF SEMINARS AND EVENTS
Friday, March 17, 2023
10 am - 9 pm
10 am-6pm Vendor Room Open, Arkansas Lakes Ballroom.
10 am Watercolor with Fountain Pen Ink with Nicole Smith. Do you love art and have too much fountain pen ink? Come play with us! With a spray bottle, pipette, and/or a straw, plus fountain pen inks, a dip pen and paper, you can make beautiful art! You'll go home with samples made by you! Note: for health reasons, this class is limited to 20 people, and facilitator requests that no food or drink is allowed in the session and attendees not come in with heavy laundry or perfume fragrances.
11 am Introduction to Metal Lathe Turning with Steve Clark. Interested in adventuring into the world of metal pen turning? Steve the owner/craftsman behind Only Made Once Designs and machinist with over 20 years in the trade, will share his journey and experience with making metal pens. You'll leave knowing the resources and materials needed for metal turning, and his process for making a pen from start to finish.
12 pm Fountain Pen Basics/Fountain Pens 101 with Andrew McCauley. If you are interested in fountain pens but don't know what things are called or where to start, visit this low-key, introductory seminar where there is no such thing as a stupid question about pens!
*1 pm Write with Ruth: Sampler with Ruth Czirr. This beginning hour lets you experience several quick and powerful journaling techniques with the guidance of an expert teacher. All you need to bring is a pen that can write quickly. $10 cost includes worksheets, papers, resource handouts, and more. Please preregister online with PayPal or credit card if possible at https://www.writewithruth.org. Cash only accepted at the door if seats remain available.
2 pm Day 1: Beginning Fountain Pen Repair with Fern Padilla. In this information session, you will learn the basics of lever filler repair as well as valuable sources for parts , tools and information about pens in general.
3 pm Elyce Longazelle couldn't make the trip but internationally-known Bob Dupras has agreed to fill in and host the Casting Resins seminar. Take a sneak peak behind the scenes to discover how many resin-based pens get their start! You'll move through the many choices of colors, mica powders, and resin to be come a pen blank to be purchased by both professional and novice pen makers.
4 pm Conid Pens with Allen Shinogle, Conid Pen Ambassador. Al will share insights into the workings of a pen manufacturer. This company creates only custom-designed pens that fit the user to a "t." Learn the many decisions required to craft the perfect pen just for you.
5 pm Trends in Modern Pens with Jim Hinze of Hinze Pens. Here you'll learn what is considered to be a "modern" pen. Jim will point out the differences between hand-machined and CNC manufacturing and discuss the merits of both small and large operations.
6 pm Vendor room closes.
*6 pm (2 hours) Jotting and Diagrams with Ruth Czirr. You don't have to "write prose" to journal! Suitable for both beginners, and experienced journalers. Please bring a pen that can write quickly and doesn’t smear. $40 cost includes worksheets, papers, resource handout, use of a buffet of colored pens, and more. Please preregister online with PayPal or credit card if possible at https://www.writewithruth.org. Cash only accepted at the door if seats remain available.
Saturday, March 18, 2023
9 am -??? pm
9 am-6 pm Vendor Room Open, Arkansas Lakes Ballroom.
9 am Stationery for Daily Use with Joe from the Gentleman Stationer. Here you'll learn how to choose pens, inks and paper for the office and other everyday writing.
10 am Urban Sketchers with Kenneth Williams. Workshop will feature the basics of line and wash fountain pen sketching, including information on inks, nibs, and the use of a water brush for washes and color effects. Kenneth will also discuss urban sketching and will provide exercises to improve line making with the pen. Bring your favorite fountain pen and sketchbook. A few fountain pens and paper will be available for use during the class.
11 am Elyce Longazelle couldn't make the trip but Janna Belote is stepping in to present Doodling with Dips. Come explore and play with dip pens and ink. Practice hand lettering, doodling, zentangles, and more. Bring ink friendly paper, your favorite dip pen, and ink if you have them. New to pens? We'll have tools and supplies for you to use! Perfect for children of all ages.
12 pm Fountain Pen Hacks with Danny Harris, member the Arkansas Pen Club. Danny will show how common household items can be used in a variety of ways to make your pen hobby easier and more fun!
1 pm Parallel Pens with Kerry Kemp of ART Outfitters. The Pilot Parallel Pen's unique plate structure and advanced design provides a different experience from traditional calligraphy pens. Here you'll learn the different nib sizes and how to use these unique, affordable, writing tools.
2 pm Day 2: Advanced Fountain Pen Repair (vacuum fillers) with Fern Padilla, pen collector/vendor. Fern will take you in a deep dive into the world of repairing vacuum filler pens. While this class is for advanced pen repair, it will interesting for fans of pen mechanics at all ranges of experience.
3 pm Fountain Pen Ink with Lisa Vanness of Vanness Pen Shop. In this seminar you will learn about fountain pen inks, ink properties, and more. The class is perfect for new pen lovers and those interested in learning more about inks.
*4 pm (2 hours) Guided Journaling with Ruth Czirr. All you need to bring is a pen that can write quickly. Two hours gives you time to experience several different techniques. You'll begin to unpack what's on your mind, discover what you want to write about, and explore new points of view. A fresh start for experienced writers, but also suitable for beginners who are comfortable jumping in and trying things. $40 cost includes worksheets, papers, resource handouts, and use of a buffet of colored pens, and more. Please preregister online with PayPal or credit card if possible at https://www.writewithruth.org. Cash only accepted at the door if seats remain available.
6 pm Vendor room closes.
7-??? pm Pen Show After Dark, emceed by Lisa Vanness of Vanness Pen Shop and Cary Yeager of Kenro Industries. This is the time when vendors and attendees kick back and just talk and play with pens! There will be a cash bar and great munchies. You need to be there! Located in the Delta Hotels Atrium.
*Indicates classes that have a fee and may require registration prior to the show.
Sunday, March 19, 2023
8:30 am - 4 pm
9 am-4pm Vendor Room Open, Arkansas Lakes Ballroom.
8:30-8:45 am Pen Show Devotional (non-denominational) with Danny Harris. Start your day with a quick and uplifting message to feed your soul.
*9am (3 hours) Copperplate Calligraphy with Nik Pang of Entropy Ink. Come learn the beautiful calligraphic style of copperplate script! Copperplate calligraphy, also known as roundhand, engrosser's, and engraver's script, is considered by most to be the mother of all pointed pen hands. In this course we will go over the history and learn to use dip pens to form the basic strokes. This course is geared towards beginners but those with more experience are welcome to come as a refresher! The course is $70 for the 3 hours and includes all the tools (nibs, holders, papers, handouts). Attendees are welcome to bring their own supplies if they wish, and everyone is encouraged to bring a pencil and ruler. Preregistration is highly recommended. Reach Nik at nik@entropy.ink, where he accepts credit cards, cash, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.
12 pm Pen Ephemera Drop-In with Tim Joiner, pen and ephemera collector. Bring your vintage pens, advertisements, souvenirs, displays, and other ephemera for a fun and friendly drop-in, show-and-tell!
*1-4 pm Spencerian Penmanship with Michael Sull, vendor and owner of Spencerian Penmanship. Join the national treasure and renowned "gentle pen man" for a seminar on this revered handwriting style.
4 pm Vendor room closes.
*indicates classes that have a fee and may require registration prior to the show.
Show Information: Contact Tim Joiner, 501-350-1174