Pre-Covid I went to the Michigan Pen show and purchased an Edison 76 directly from Brian and Andrea Gray. They were even kind enough to pose for a picture holding the pen. As a fan of Edison Pens I will always consider it the crown jewel of my collection regardless of any future purchases. 🙂✒️

I agree that you don’t have to finish your samples - the whole point is just to see if you even like the color 😄

You are so put together. :) I loved hearing your answers to these questions. it was nice to hear I'm not the only one who leaves things in my cart for long periods of time!

What is a *GRAIL PEN* “Grail pen” generally refers to one of two things: (1) the specific pen you are currently looking to add to your collection - i.e., the current subject of “the hunt”; or refers to a singular pen they aspire to but can't easily buy (2) Also known as the EXIT PEN... the pen that you believe will complete your collection - i.e., the prize that you spend most of your time online and at shows searching for. You no longer have the compulsion to look at buying another Fountain Pen again. The Thrill of the Hunt & Chase is over. (3) Grail pens for some are ; vintage pens made before c. 1965. Whether this definition will expand in years to come to include the pens of the '70s and '80s remains to be seen. (4) The grail pen is like a pen at the end of a long quest, much like the holy grail quest King Arthur's knights were searching for. (5) the Grail Pen will be rarer, more precious and better than your current pens in your collection, enough to make everything in your current tray seem a bit boring. (aka : The Jewel in the Crown Pen) (6) For some a Grail pen can be a Fountain pen that is irreplaceable...it was gifted to you and has a large sentimental (memory) value connected to it. Ex : your grandparents gave this to you as a gift on your achievement. Ex #2 :A pen that has been passed down through your family line. (7) For few collectors , there is no Grail Pen....like collecting hockey cards or pokiman Cards...the collection never ends and the Grail pen is a myth.

My favourite one yet! Really enjoyed learning your perspective on the 8 questions Karyna. Thanks for putting this together 🙏🏾

I enjoyed your video so much and now feel I know you better!!! I've been loving this tag "series" and hearing different ways of thinking and curating pen and ink collections is so helpful!!! I never thought going back into this hobby that my pens would become so many so quickly. I've had a lot of pens given to me ... I estimate at least 48% of my big number... 😂❤. I counted every Preppy and Varsity etc lol. This year studying student pens I'm still adding pens but mostly very intentionally for that project!! I'm so glad you made your response video!!! I'm going to keep working toward making my pens and inks more manageable ... one help has been separating out review/ comparison pens into a special pen case. ❤

I just got both the Colorverse kingdom kyujang-gak and Wearingeul Don Quixote in the cult pens 5 for 4 sale! I've been into fountain pens for a few years but only just finding the wider community on social media like here and intsa. It's fun to see how popular the hobby is now! I am also impressed by your small collection, the last time I updated my own spreadsheet I was at over 90, but I have about 10-15 I need to sell :p

My Sailor Pre Gear Slim in Purple Rain was my game-changer pen and I own 24 pens now! Used to own over 40 but sold and gave away a bunch! Lucy is so cute!❤

Side note if you love browns at all you could try the limited edition collar with Ferris wheel press and wonderpens. Their brown has a slight hint of green that you might like 🤎

This is a great exercise to reflect on what we have and why. My collection is small but I want to be more mindful on how it grows in the future.

I loved your thoughtful replies. I'm pretty much there with you. Thanks so much for sharing your take on this, it is a lot of fun to check out all the videos, hear different perspectives that give me the opportunity to reflect on my own approach even more and find more people to follow. I'm sorry I don't have more deep thoughts to share, I really feel completely "thought out" especially after my follow up video.

Karyna, wow! First of all, love hearing that you’ve inventoried your pens via spreadsheets!!! Really thoughtful and insightful responses, thanks for sharing!

Some great questions, and fun to have these circulate around. I'm new to making KZfaq videos, but this is a great idea for an upcoming video. Thank you!

Great video. I enjoyed listening to your journey. I try to buy more samples, than bottles of ink now. I only buy a bottle of ink if I really love that color and plan to use it often.

I’m happy with my collection also. It consists of 2 Pilot G-2 Rollerballs. Writes brilliant on any all stationary. No buyers remorse😢

Lovely video 🤎🤎🤎! I love how you have samples purchased. I used to buy and still buy some full bottles from certain brands. Opera rose from Guitar fountain pen ink is def a game changer. Their range is 🤩 stunning. The ink guilt is definitely real. I recently got into doing swaps with others from the planning and fountain pen community✌

Thanks for sharing, Karyna! I have learned so much about pens and inks from your fabulous videos. I’ve jotted down the questions and look forward to answering them (and learning about myself)!

The feeling that you described about the pen that goes out of stock and everyone has one happened to me with the sailor nuts. So when it came back in stock on goulet pens I snatched it up. But because I thought it would never return I had already purchased another sailor to fill the void and now I have an extra I guess. I’ve also felt that anxiety of having too much and luckily didn’t get too many ink bottles and got the Galen 40 pen case to try to limit my collection of pens.

To me a grail pen is one that you want but don’t think you will buy soon because you can’t find it or you don’t want to spend the money on it yet. I have the Ume Murasaki ink that you mentioned and it is great. Thanks for the video!

can't wait to watch.. but first.. must get the coffee going !!

OK I own way to many bottles and samples of ink. I really like most of them because most bottles were bought only after one or more sample. I use a custom mixed (mixing is fun) blue/black for work note taking and a custom Orange for marking up copy paper. My Grail pens are a Conway Stewart Churchill and a Pelikan M800. A Parker Duofold was on this list and at the recent Atlanta pen show I purchased a previously owned one and it is fantastic. Therefore, I will most likely buy a previously owned Churchill and M800. A fun video, thank you for sharing.

I loved hearing how you answered those questions. I am the same as you in that I get the "too much" anxiety. When I get that feeling, no matter what's causing it, I'm likely to just throw the whole thing out. 😁 I know if I was to even start with the fountain pens/ink, it would turn into a problem so I've, so far, successfully stayed away from it. You've really helped me with that because I live vicariously through you and your pens/inks. So, thank you for saving me so much money. Which, really, just frees up my discretionary funds for buying stickers from your shop! 🤣

Great answers! Even the ones that you didn't answer directly. Explaining your interpretation of the question/answer as it related to your journey. We have the same color love of dusty rose and purple inks. -Heather

I just got the Conklin Israel 75 which came with a limited ink in a beautiful blue that matches the pen. Oh my this is my new favorite pairing!! Loved your “pen talk”.

You are so thoughtful with your process Karyna. The Pelikan Brown/Black M800 is on my list too! I don't have any Pelikans yet and Helen definitely inspired me with hers. My debate is whether I should hold out for the M800 or start with something smaller. The green M605 one is on sale in so many places so that has tempted me a bit...plus it's a nice spring color! Love the idea of one week in your cart before purchasing! I think planning a purchase and hunting/researching beautiful pens is part of the fun!! Always enjoy your videos. xo Lori

Excellent answers, as I knew they would be. I commend you for having more intentionality than I do! I watch your swatching videos, but I can't recall if you've tried Laban Aphrodite ink. I also love Teranichi Opera Rose, but when I view these two inks side by side, they seem very similar, at least on Tomoe River paper. And of course I have full bottles of both, which gives you a glimpse into my problem. 😏

Excellent answers. Agree that each pen has their own purpose. However, the only purpose of the angel skin in your collection is to make me jealous. 😂😅

For me grail pens are those I strongly desire but just won't pay what they cost. That would be the M1000 and the King of Pen. A while back I came into some unexpected cash that would have covered the cost of both, yet bought neither. They are both offensively expensive.

Moderation, like hot or, say, cold is relative... I think we all enjoy and set limits on enjoyment based on a lot factor that are both personal and "responsible" (and not so responsible). But, really, it is all about living our lives and having that sense of quality that be want as we experience every moment, wanting to have that fullness. So, what is moderate for me, in terms of "how many" is relative to someone else's needs, wants, purchasing/economic power, and so forth. I don't set to limit the thing that I find great pleasure. Although I do understand my own sense of moderation toward any end. I love that you do have a "working" number, but you set that number and (so you) it can change. And I so respect that. I don't have a working number, but also don't want the mounting anxiety that comes with having spent money and not use a thing... So, I so agree with you regarding your "30" pen working limit. Mine is more of a feeling than an actual quantity. There are things I want to experience, nibs, grinds, sizes, materials I just want to try. So my limit is established by fulfillment of having this/these curiosities met. That could be the no. 6 size nib in titanium versus it as a no. 8. And so on. Now a grail pen for me is how every my mood is for and toward what comes across my awareness.... It has to strike as a thing not easily had.... it can be vintage, new, used, or just the novelty of owning it satisfies like no other in my collection. I has to be so unique that owning two would be ridiculous by anyone's measure...But, still, I may want more than one... but to do so, would really stop me in my tracks in pulling the trigger on going beyond having more than one. I enjoy your content. Thank you.

The Pelikan M800 Brown/Black is a great pen, I love it so so much! The 800 series is a perfect size for my hands, not too big not too small.

Loved hearing your answers Karyna! I have been thinking a lot about those Iroshizuku inks- now that I have a couple of samples, I can clearly see why what the hype is about. these are the only inks that come off the glass dip pen like they do- they are SO LUBRICATED! I wonder why other ink companies haven't figured out this formula for their inks. Why is it that these Pilot inks are so responsive in pens.... and nothing really compares to them!? just thoughts I have..... Random, I know. But because you are also a fan, I'd love to know your thoughts. I think 30 pens is a good number- I was thinking 20 but I don't know if my capsule collection could be contained to that number. There are so many pens out there I'd still love to try out.

Thank you for sharing! I have some pens that I may sell as they do not bring me joy when I write with them so they are ultimately taking up space and I feel guilty when I don’t use them

This was great - I like the time-out in the shopping cart idea to curb impulse buys. Side note - I have a full bottle of Jane Eyre (that was an impulse buy) would you be interested in a vial?

my first fountain pen was a cheap chinese brand I bought when studying in China at the end of 2019 which I unfortunately forced to left there bcs the pandemic (I was supposed to be at home for like a month or two before going back to china thus I only bring a gym bag full of clothing) and yet to buy a new one, adjusting with the struggles during pandemic, I feel like in near future I'll be ready to buy one again.

Where do you sell your pens?

Love this, although I’m late to the party! i think that we’re both in Canada, I’m on west coast. What shop is Van Ness please (perhaps i didn't hear it correctly?) Many thanks to you, Karyna! ~kari

I have a 1ml sample of Umemurasaki you can have