After my last recap, which was my longest article ever, I wanted to make sure this one didn’t follow in the same footsteps :-) And because I wrote a recap on the 2022 Dallas Pen Show, it should be pretty short. Why? Because it was very similar to last year. Which was a nice change of pace, since both the DC and SF shows were significantly different from 2022. Read on to see what I’m talking about.
Like last year’s Dallas show, I worked behind the Franklin-Christoph table. Both days were fairly busy with Friday traffic a bit lighter so I was able to walk around a little bit.
Always a pleasure to work with Dustin and Audrey from the Franklin-Christoph crew and spread the F-C love.
Many of last year’s vendors were in attendance again this year and maybe a few more (66 listed on the website this year vs 58 last year.) It was nice to see familiar faces from other shows, but also folks that only go to this show were back again. Once again, Dromgoole’s (from Houston, TX) took residence in the whole back corner of the main ballroom. Many of the distributors were on hand - Coles of London, Kenro, Pilot - as well as vintage pen dealers, modern makers and more.
This is one of the few two day shows on the US pen show circuit (Friday and Saturday;) most shows are Fri-Sun, with a few starting Thursday afternoon. Friday hours were from 10am-8pm and Saturday hours were 9am - 5pm. I was definitely happy to head home on Sunday given the long day on Friday. This year, it felt a little slower to me than last year, but not by too much, with Friday being less crowded than Saturday. This allowed me to check out some of the other tables during the show.
Once again, the Dallas Pen Show was held at the DoubleTree Hotel Dallas, Galleria, in two adjoining ballrooms, with the silent auction, Pen World and show registration desk outside.
I did not bid on this Retro 51 at the auction but I wanted to!
A view of the small ballroom from the corner of Franklin-Christoph (right) and Karas Kustoms (left.)
Our pen show neighbor, Karas Kustoms, had special pens made for the Dallas Pen Show, like this one, which have special box covers for each show!
Our neighbor to the right was Vanness Pens and they had exclusive pens from Nagasawa! I have always preferred the flat topped Pro Gear and Pro Gear Slim, but that blue 1911S is calling my name…
The main ballroom is an odd upside down L- shaped room with Dromgooles in the far back left corner and lots of vendors spread out in this room.
Speaking of Dromgooles, this corner was like its own store, with more products than some shops! It was pretty busy the whole time.
Dromgoole’s newly released Retro 51 Giddy Up set and matching pen sleeves from Rickshaw Bagworks. True story - Marty Henderson collaborated with Retro 51 on the design of this exclusive!
Adam Velker and Karen Langley from Retro 51 and the Giddy Up guy (whom I affectionately call Larry) - Michael Dromgoole, please get your dad a shirt like this!
You can’t say Retro 51 and not think of Marty and Kimberly Henderson standing in front of a table full of Retros! They also had some products from Rickshaw Bagworks, and you can also see Jesi Coles working at the Dromgoole’s Ink Wall.
Shu-Jen Lin (left) and Kelly Henick were busy at the Taccia tables all weekend - with their gorgeous array of pens, that’s not a surprise!
Like last year, there were four seminars, all held on Saturday - Flourishing with a Fountain Pen, Sketching with Fountain Pens, Basic Fountain Pen Repairs, and Pens for Kids. It would be great to have some classes on Friday as well.
I love that the Pen Collectors of America (PCA) runs the Scavenger Hunt for kids and holds a seminar that teaches kids how to use and take care of fountain pens!
Danny Fudge of The Write Pen is well-known and respected in the vintage restoration world.
A customer is testing out their nib after Matthew Chen worked on it.
Because Friday is such a long day, peaks and lulls are expected. There was the morning rush when the show opened and for a couple of hours until folks leave for lunch or take a break. Then it picks up again in the mid-afternoon, and then there’s another lull until the after-work crowd comes. This year, it felt a bit slower on Friday than Saturday, though not all the vendors felt this way.
This is the “right” side of the main ballroom, looking back from the other end of the room.
I’m always happy to see Shawn Newton at a pen show and I finally remembered to pass along some pens for his scholarship foundation.
It’s not every day you get to hear knives getting sharpened! Stephen Howell of The Sharpest Edge was busy working on all sorts of knives and pointy objects and making them nice and sharp!
I was so excited to see these acrylic seam rippers that I forgot to note which vendor made them. My dad was a tailor and these reminded me of him. Just goes to show that you never know what cool things you’ll find at a pen show!
I was SO tempted to get this hat! It reads “Handwriting Police, Vigilance for those who correspond by hand”, except no vigilance is needed if you’re corresponding by hand! Just don’t use a ballpoint or pencil - KIDDING!
Folks from the local calligraphy guild, Kaligrafos were writing people’s names in calligraphy and selling items made by guild members.
I love shows that are dog-friendly. They always brighten up the room and it’s funny to hear folks’ voices go up a few octaves when talking to dogs. “Who’s a good dog, yes, you! You’re a good dog! The best dog!”
Look at this adorable doggo in the arms of Audrey Matteson of Franklin-Christoph! There was much squealing since this cutie was such a soft and sweet pup!
Last year after the long Friday show day, people gathered at the bar area until well past midnight but there was a lot less of that this year. It was definitely a long and tiring day. There is always more post-show hanging out on Saturday night because everyone was finished with the show! They had already packed up their tables, had their dinners and were ready to relax, catch up with friends and play with pens.
If I had to give this show a report card, it would have a similar score as last year because it was an overall solid show and the schedule and vibe remain the same. I had a good time, as did many of the vendors and attendees that I talked with. A few folks liked the longer but fewer days, and while I would’ve preferred three shorter days, it was nice to be able to head home on Sunday for a change. The attendees didn’t seem to really notice or mind the long Friday, but it may have impacted their after-hours experience since the vendors were usually exhausted afterwards.
In the end, despite having a bit more time to roam around the show, I didn’t take as many pictures as I intended to. That’s often because I get wrapped up while catching up with friends or doing my own shopping (it’s still my birthday month, right?).
My haul included an awesome undated calendar filled with calligraphy exemplars by the Kaligrafos calligraphy guild, the latest Visconti Rembrandt-S Lavender, a denim Girologio 12 pen case, a beautiful swirly Franklin-Christoph 46L, and a Nagasawa exclusive Kobe Affection Kyomachi Legend Blue 1911S from Vanness Pens (so much for being on #teamflattops, lol.)
And the perfect bookmark to commemorate this show, written by Saah from the Kaligrafos guild.
Thank you, Dallas Pen Show, for your southern hospitality! I think this is my last show for the year (but never say never!). I’ve finally caught up on sleep, which means it’s time to write some pens dry. Until next time, stay safe and stay inky!
