6.30.2011

The day's tweets

  • 08:18 CCTexanLuxe - Jewelry featuring precious and semi-precious stones - sapphires, emeralds, and others #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 11:26 WoodExpressions - Decorative texturing on bowls, plates and vases for unique woodturned items. #handmade #artfire - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 15:32 RickDerWitsch - High quality prints of rural countryside scenes - #handmade #artfire - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 16:46 Bev Hale - www.bevhale.com/ - will have her steampunk goodies at the Armadillocon Art Show again this year #convention #
  • 17:30 Carbara style pen in Sunset Orange Spalted Maple - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off - #artfire #handmade t.co/LVxwjMq #
  • 19:40 Tom Bishop - bit.ly/m6dqIh - will be displaying his sculptures at Armadillocon this year after a few years away #convention #
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6.29.2011

The day's tweets

  • 08:18 CCTexanLuxe - Jewelry featuring precious and semi-precious stones - sapphires, emeralds, and others #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 11:00 FLORIBUNDA STUDIO - Artfire Crazy Train - bit.ly/37AVX -soaps paintings photographs #handmade #artfire #
  • 11:28 WoodExpressions - Decorative texturing on bowls, plates and vases for unique woodturned items. #handmade #artfire - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 15:28 RickDerWitsch - High quality prints of rural countryside scenes - #handmade #artfire - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 17:31 Carbara style pen in Sunset Orange Spalted Maple - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off - #artfire #handmade t.co/LVxwjMq #
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6.28.2011

The day's tweets

  • 08:18 CCTexanLuxe - Jewelry featuring precious and semi-precious stones - sapphires, emeralds, and others #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 11:26 WoodExpressions - Decorative texturing on bowls, plates and vases for unique woodturned items. #handmade #artfire - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 15:29 RickDerWitsch - High quality prints of rural countryside scenes - #handmade #artfire - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 17:30 Carbara style pen in Sunset Orange Spalted Maple - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off - #artfire #handmade t.co/LVxwjMq #
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6.27.2011

Artfire - Featured Shop - S S Woodcraft

S S Woodcraft designs and hand crafts toys, canes and other wood items. Born 62 years ago, in Montana as the son of a master carpenter and cabinet maker.  His dad taught him all he knows about woodworking.

He's spent over 40 years working with wood, as a hobbyist, carpenter, cabinet maker, and independent remodeling contractor. He's got sawdust in my blood. (His wife says it's in his socks).   And, I'd bet, in the washing machine.

In the last few years, a series of medical issues had him worried that he might not get back into the shop.  He is, though, but not able to do any heavy work.  That restriction has inspired his current lines of toys and smaller items.  He's now creating realistic toy tools and appliances for the little ones, walking canes and a number of handgun shaped designs.

Take a look at some of the items in his shop:




Artfire - Item of the week - Sunset Orange Spalted Maple Carbara style pen

My item of the week on Artfire is a Carbara style pen turned out of Sunset Orange Spalted Maple.  It's essentially the school color for the University of Texas - the rival of my Alma Mater Texas A&M.  Actually it is a much deeper orange, in my opinion.  Take a look and I'll take 10% off of the price during the next week if you contact me before purchasing.  Even if you graduated from t.u.






Weekend update

Friday:

Aikido

Saturday:

Up early to drive to New Corn Hill for a family reunion
Family reunion - my focaccia bread was well-received
Stopped by the old family house in Granger
Drove back home

Sunday:

Managed to sleep in until 7:30
Off to ApolloCon for a 10 am meeting
Back home around 1:30
Watched Wimbledon on TV
Granger sausage and sauerkraut for dinner

Aikido Friday Night - 6/24/11

Aikido players: Tim, Sal, and Dan

Ukemi:

Full set of twelve.

The Walk:

Twice, as usual.

Releases:

Sal and Dan worked with each other while Tim and I commented.

Techniques:

Sal and Dan worked with each other. Sal, mainly on oshi-taoshi and Dan mainly on ushiro-ate.

Aftermath:

None of note.

The day's tweets

  • 08:36 Pennies from Heaven - art, jewelry, accessories and more for the eclectic soul! - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #handmade #artfire #
  • 10:38 Grand Prairie Woodworks - clocks, lighting and home decor by a master builder of Mission furniture. #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 10:57 CALLIOPE CREATIONS - Artfire Crazy Train - bit.ly/37AVX - Hot Spiny Oyster items? Ever heard of Gaspeite? #handmade #artfire #
  • 13:40 Inlet Images - unique color, black & white and toned digital photographs #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 15:41 ArjasUni - Finnish handmade jewelry - a fusion of influences from art and nature - #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 16:42 Cigar style pen turned out of Coolibah Burl - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off #handmade #artfire t.co/wm2bCdo #
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6.26.2011

The day's tweets

  • 08:36 Pennies from Heaven - art, jewelry, accessories and more for the eclectic soul! - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #handmade #artfire #
  • 10:39 Grand Prairie Woodworks - clocks, lighting and home decor by a master builder of Mission furniture. #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 13:39 Inlet Images - unique color, black & white and toned digital photographs #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 15:41 ArjasUni - Finnish handmade jewelry - a fusion of influences from art and nature - #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 16:42 Cigar style pen turned out of Coolibah Burl - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off #handmade #artfire t.co/wm2bCdo #
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6.25.2011

The day's tweets

  • 08:36 Pennies from Heaven - art, jewelry, accessories and more for the eclectic soul! - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #handmade #artfire #
  • 10:37 Grand Prairie Woodworks - clocks, lighting and home decor by a master builder of Mission furniture. #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 10:55 ANGELAS ADORNMENTS - Artfire Crazy Train - bit.ly/37AVX - Gold and Silver, Sparkly Gemstones and Colorful Beads #handmade #artfire #
  • 13:41 Inlet Images - unique color, black & white and toned digital photographs #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 15:40 ArjasUni - Finnish handmade jewelry - a fusion of influences from art and nature - #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 16:43 Cigar style pen turned out of Coolibah Burl - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off #handmade #artfire t.co/wm2bCdo #
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6.24.2011

The day's tweets

  • 08:36 Pennies from Heaven - art, jewelry, accessories and more for the eclectic soul! - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #handmade #artfire #
  • 10:38 Grand Prairie Woodworks - clocks, lighting and home decor by a master builder of Mission furniture. #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 13:42 Inlet Images - unique color, black & white and toned digital photographs #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 15:40 ArjasUni - Finnish handmade jewelry - a fusion of influences from art and nature - #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 16:44 Cigar style pen turned out of Coolibah Burl - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off #handmade #artfire t.co/wm2bCdo #
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6.23.2011

Weekend update

Friday:

Aikido seminar

Saturday:

Aikido seminar
Dinner at Deno's with the seminar crew

Sunday:

Up at 5:15 to leave the house by 6 to go pick blueberries
Picked 19 pounds of blueberries
Found the Cooper's Farm truck to buy peaches
Breakfast at Cracker Barrel
Slept during the U.S. Open golf tournament
Grilled out steaks and salmon

Volleyball, 0-3

Well, we lost all three games again.  They were all close, so it wasn't a slaughter, but it was still 3 losses.

The day's tweets

  • 08:35 Pennies from Heaven - art, jewelry, accessories and more for the eclectic soul! - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #handmade #artfire #
  • 10:37 Grand Prairie Woodworks - clocks, lighting and home decor by a master builder of Mission furniture. #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 10:53 ILMARE - Artfire Crazy Train - bit.ly/37AVX - exquisite jewelry crafted with fine gems and quality materials #handmade #artfire #
  • 13:40 Inlet Images - unique color, black & white and toned digital photographs #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 15:41 ArjasUni - Finnish handmade jewelry - a fusion of influences from art and nature - #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 16:43 Cigar style pen turned out of Coolibah Burl - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off #handmade #artfire t.co/wm2bCdo #
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6.22.2011

The day's tweets

  • 08:36 Pennies from Heaven - art, jewelry, accessories and more for the eclectic soul! - bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #handmade #artfire #
  • 10:37 Grand Prairie Woodworks - clocks, lighting and home decor by a master builder of Mission furniture. #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 15:41 ArjasUni - Finnish handmade jewelry - a fusion of influences from art and nature - #handmade #artfire bit.ly/cw3Tq2 #
  • 16:42 Cigar style pen turned out of Coolibah Burl - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off #handmade #artfire t.co/wm2bCdo #
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6.21.2011

The day's tweets

  • 10:52 DESIGNS BY BARB - Artfire Crazy Train - bit.ly/37AVX - Childrens Clothing such as Girls Dresses, Pants and Capri Set,etc. #artfire #
  • 18:09 Brad Foster - bit.ly/mASDuM - will be showing some if his artwork at Armadillocon 33 - bit.ly/l1cuvF #armadillocon #convention #
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6.20.2011

The day's tweets

  • 09:59 Cheryl's Purple Cow - Quality Hand Crafted Awareness Jewelry and pieces made for metal sensitivity. bit.ly/l7Iww4 #handmade #artfire #
  • 11:04 Sandra Healy - wild animal sculptures and magnets hand carved from her own original designs - bit.ly/miRB5d #artfire #handmade #
  • 13:05 J. D. Fielder - "Let shape, color and line trigger lost memories and visions dreamed." - bit.ly/jWqZXu #artfire #handmade #
  • 15:07 Julie Magers Soulen Photography - Nature, landscape, wildlife, and flower photos of Colorado - bit.ly/lIXMB3 - #hand! made #artfire #
  • 17:10 Madrone Burl bottle stopper - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off - bit.ly/5fEVM7 #handmade #artfire #
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6.19.2011

The day's tweets

  • 09:59 Cheryl's Purple Cow - Quality Hand Crafted Awareness Jewelry and pieces made for metal sensitivity. bit.ly/l7Iww4 #handmade #artfire #
  • 10:51 LISIAN BLUE - Artfire Crazy Train - Spring Bulbs, Stained Glass, Painted Glassware - bit.ly/37AVX #handmade #artfire #
  • 11:03 Sandra Healy - wild animal sculptures and magnets hand carved from her own original designs - bit.ly/miRB5d #artfire #handmade #
  • 13:06 J. D. Fielder - "Let shape, color and line trigger lost memories and visions dreamed." - bit.ly/jWqZXu #artfire #handmade #
  • 15:10 Julie Magers Soulen Photography - Nature, landscape, wildlife, and flower photos of Colorado - bit.ly/lIXMB3 - #handmade #artfire #
  • 17:10 Madrone Burl bottle stopper - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off - bit.ly/5fEVM7 #handmade #artfire #
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6.18.2011

The day's tweets

  • 09:59 Cheryl's Purple Cow - Quality Hand Crafted Awareness Jewelry and pieces made for metal sensitivity. bit.ly/l7Iww4 #handmade #artfire #
  • 11:04 Sandra Healy - wild animal sculptures and magnets hand carved from her own original designs - bit.ly/miRB5d #artfire #handmade #
  • 13:06 J. D. Fielder - "Let shape, color and line trigger lost memories and visions dreamed." - bit.ly/jWqZXu #artfire #handmade #
  • 15:08 Julie Magers Soulen Photography - Nature, landscape, wildlife, and flower photos of Colorado - bit.ly/lIXMB3 - #hand! made #artfire #
  • 17:11 Madrone Burl bottle stopper - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off - bit.ly/5fEVM7 #handmade #artfire #
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6.17.2011

The day's tweets

  • 09:59 Cheryl's Purple Cow - Quality Hand Crafted Awareness Jewelry and pieces made for metal sensitivity. bit.ly/l7Iww4 #handmade #artfire #
  • 10:50 DABEEZ NEEZ - Artfire Crazy Train - wire work, shells, beads or chainmaille - bit.ly/37AVX #handmade #artfire #
  • 11:06 Sandra Healy - wild animal sculptures and magnets hand carved from her own original designs - bit.ly/miRB5d #artfire #handmade #
  • 13:08 J. D. Fielder - "Let shape, color and line trigger lost memories and visions dreamed." - bit.ly/jWqZXu #artfire #handmade #
  • 15:08 Julie Magers Soulen Photography - Nature, landscape, wildlife, and flower photos of Colorado - bit.ly/lIXMB3 - #handmade #artfire #
  • 17:14 Madrone Burl bottle stopper - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off - bit.ly/5fEVM7 #handmade #artfire #
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6.16.2011

Volleyball, 3-0

We had our second match of the summer season on Monday.  We played, unfortunately, a team that is new to JSC volleyball.  They did not realize how competitive the leagues are and signed up for a league for which they are not ready.  They had one player on their team that is ready for this league, but the others are not.

The day's tweets

  • 09:58 Cheryl's Purple Cow - Quality Hand Crafted Awareness Jewelry and pieces made for metal sensitivity. bit.ly/l7Iww4 #handmade #artfire #
  • 11:06 Sandra Healy - wild animal sculptures and magnets hand carved from her own original designs - bit.ly/miRB5d #artfire #handmade #
  • 13:08 J. D. Fielder - "Let shape, color and line trigger lost memories and visions dreamed." - bit.ly/jWqZXu #artfire #handmade #
  • 15:09 Julie Magers Soulen Photography - Nature, landscape, wildlife, and flower photos of Colorado - bit.ly/lIXMB3 - #hand! made #artfire #
  • 17:10 Madrone Burl bottle stopper - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off - bit.ly/5fEVM7 #handmade #artfire #
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6.15.2011

The day's tweets

  • 09:58 Cheryl's Purple Cow - Quality Hand Crafted Awareness Jewelry and pieces made for metal sensitivity. bit.ly/l7Iww4 #handmade #artfire #
  • 10:47 TRUE COLOURS - Artifre Crazy Train - Made to Heal: True Colours Pearl and Gemstone Jewellery, based in Ireland bit.ly/37AVX #artfire #
  • 11:05 Sandra Healy - wild animal sculptures and magnets hand carved from her own original designs - bit.ly/miRB5d #artfire #handmade #
  • 13:06 J. D. Fielder - "Let shape, color and line trigger lost memories and visions dreamed." - bit.ly/jWqZXu #ar! tfire #handmade #
  • 15:07 Julie Magers Soulen Photography - Nature, landscape, wildlife, and flower photos of Colorado - bit.ly/lIXMB3 - #handmade #artfire #
  • 17:10 Madrone Burl bottle stopper - my item of the week - contact me for 10% off - bit.ly/5fEVM7 #handmade #artfire #
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6.14.2011

Artfire - Featured Shop - Dryad Studios

When I grow up, I want to be as accomplished as Dryad Studios with working wood. Dryad is a family run operation operating out of Northwest Arkansas. They create some of the most amazing furniture in my favorite styles. Take a look:




Artfire - Item of the week - Madrone Burl Bottle stopper

My item of the week on Artfire is a Madrone Burl bottle stopper for your next open bottle of wine. contact me for 10% off.

Weekend update

Friday

Aikido

Saturday

Artfire work
Worked on a bread peel in the shop
Aikido - very, very brief.  No students showed up
Watched the Ags play FSU in baseball
Dinner with the in-laws

Sunday

Artfire work
Lunch with K., V., E and Mom at T-Bone Tom's
Worked on Lemon Rolls (turned out meh)

6.12.2011

Items sold at SoonerCon

I was ecstatic to sell some items at the SoonerCon Art Show.  Here are pictures of what sold:







Thank you to the fine folks who came through the SoonerCon Art Show!

6.11.2011

Aikido Friday Night - 6/10/11

Aikido players:  Tim, Brad, Sal, and Dan

Ukemi:

None.  I was watching over Dan

The Walk:

Twice, as usual.

Releases:

I worked with Dan.  We spent about 30 minutes on the 5th release.  It was time well spent and he ended up much better than he started.

Techniques:

I worked with Dan on the outside the arm off-balance.  We worked on that a while and then turned it into #2 and #3.  After that, we did a couple of reps of Shomen-ate.

Aftermath:

None of note.

6.08.2011

Volleyball, 0-3

We started the new season of Co-Ed Reverse 4's on Monday.  We only had 3 of our 4 players and the other team had all 4 of theirs.  We did ok the first game, got pretty walloped on the second and were leading 12-10 in the third and ended up losing 13-15, I believe.

Tweets - 6/7/11

  • 08:03 Divine Definition - Necklace, bracelets, earrings and a "38 Special" category of jewelry - bit.ly/iL0m9f #artfire #handmade #
  • 10:06 Jewelry by Johan - Rings with wood or meteorite inlay, or made out of damascus steel - bit.ly/jBmLVD #handmade #artfire #
  • 13:10 Valhalla's Anvil - Metal cloak clasps, hair sticks and custom leather work - bit.ly/mNPZ0Y #handmade #artfire #
  • 15:14 Kardav - Handpainted terra cotta and glass dishes - bit.ly/mnkxwL #handmade #artfire #
  • 17:51 Sierra pen turned out of Blue Maple Burl - item of the week at artfire - contact me for 10% off - bit.ly/cAyxPl #handmade #artfire #
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6.07.2011

SoonerCon 20 - Con Report

I flew up to Oklahoma City on Thursday to be a part of SoonerCon for the first time. The con didn't start until Friday, but I wanted to be there to help set up the Art Show on Thursday night and to go to the pre-con dinner.

Before joining in on con stuff, I got a ride from the ever-accommodating Sensei Nick Lowry to Windsong Dojo. I spent a couple of enjoyable hours with him and his students before getting a ride back to the hotel.

The pre-con dinner was great: a chance to meet the con committee and enjoy a nice meal at Cafe do Brazil (Salmon and a nice salad).

Unfortunately, back at the hotel, we were not able to get in to the room to set up the art show on Thursday. We had to wait until Friday morning.

Friday morning started off with breakfast in the hotel restaurant (as did Saturday and Sunday). It was quite obvious that the hotel was also hosting some of the tams for the NCAA women's softball tournament. Lots of players and coaches were in the restaurant and throughout the hotel all during the weekend.

I went off to the art show room, unfortunately stuck at the end of a hallway, and helped Matt Alfred set up the art show. I put out my art and then alternated between sitting with Bill Parker at the Texas in 2013 bid table and helping out in the art show.

I think the art show closed around 6 p.m. which gave me the opportunity to go out and grab a bite to eat at Tapwerks Ale House and Cafe. I had their smothered chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes and added an apple crisp for dessert. The apple crisp was not that great, but the chicken was pretty good. I also had a couple of beers: Big Sky Moosedrool and St. Bernardus Abt 12. I liked both of these, probably the St. Bernardus Abt 12 was my preference. The waitress also gave me a sample of another beer, but I've forgotten what it was.

Up the next morning for breakfast and then my first panel of the con, a Koffee Klatch. I got the opportunity to sit around and shoot the breeze with some of OKC's fandom and nosh on some nice breads.

Then it was off to the art show and the Texas bid table for a few hours. During that time, I got to help Darrell K. Sweet hang his art. There were a couple of pieces of his that I'd love have hanging in my house, but the prices were a bit out of reach for me. While sitting around at the bid table, I got an education on reactions to a Chicago WorldCon art show that was not well received.

My next panel was "Monster in an Hour". Going in to it, I had some vague notion of what it was about and was a bit nervous. I figured we'd be drawing or building a monster in an hour. I was hoping for building as my drawing skills are non-existent. My hopes were dashed. We were to draw a monster in an hour. I managed to come up with something.


From there it was back to the art show to help get ready for the auction. We ran the auction and I then went up to the Texas bid party and helped Bill out until Midnight.

Up again for breakfast and back to the art show. Jimmy Simpson and I helped organize the piles of art and helped folks check out of the show.

I had a one o'clock panel : "Being a traditional artist in a digital age" I think I had at least a little something to contribute to that conversation.

Then back to the show to get my art checked out. I ended up selling 6 pieces. Not enough to cover all of my expenses, but I really did not expect to.

I was supposed to have a 3 p.m. panel, but I had to leave the con at 3:30 p.m. to catch my flight. The flight was uneventful ( I got the emergency exit row. Yay!) and quick.

If my schedule allows it, I'm looking forward to going to SoonerCon again next year.

Aikido Thursday Afternoon - Oklahoma City - 6/2/11

I flew up to Oklahoma over the weekend for a science fiction convention (SoonerCon) and planned it so that I could take in an aikido class at the Windsong Dojo run by Nick Lowry.

Aikido players: Jim, Scott, Roger, and a bunch of other folks whose names I've forgotten after a convention weekend. I knew I should have attempted this write-up on Thursday.

Ukemi: Full 12 fall warm-up

The Walk: Twice, as usual. It was interesting seeing the differences between our interpretation and theirs

Techniques:

We played with taking uke off-balance with just two fingers to reduce the amount of feedback that we gave uke. We then did the same sort of thing with a wide variety of ukes.

Aftermath:

Nick took me back to the hotel, first stopping by a nice tea place where I tried an iced vanilla black tea. It was pretty good

Artfire - Featured Shop - Lassarina's Odds 'N Ends

Lassarina's odds 'n' ends has a ton of cute and cool chainmaille and polymer clay jewelry handmade and straight from Rockwall, Texas. All of the pieces are handmade by Lassarina using high quality materials and tools.

Take a look at some of the interesting stuff in her shop:




6.06.2011

Artfire - Item of the week - Sierra style pen in Blue Maple Burl

This is a Sierra style pen turned out of a Blue Maple Burl with gold tone hardware. It is a good size for either a man's or a woman's hand and is 6 inches long. This has a button click, retractable mechanism. It can use either a Uniball or a Parker refill. I default this pen to the Parker refill.

For the next week, contact for me a coupon for 10% of the price of this pen: