Mrs Blackwell's Village Bookshop Greytown
EVENT: The Write Way: A Smooth Introduction to Fountain Pens
EVENT: The Write Way: A Smooth Introduction to Fountain Pens
11:45 - 12:45pm, Saturday January 10th, 2026
Part of the The New Zealand Stationery Festival
Curious about fountain pens but not sure where to start?
Join Andrea Darbyshire for a low stress introduction to the joy and elegance of fountain pens.
In this informative, 45 minute session she will cover:
- The main types of modern fountain pen and their parts
- How to fill a pen: bottled inks, cartridges and converters
- Cleaning and care for you investment
- Ink & Paper: welcome to the rabbit-hole!
We will have a sample set of Esterbrook pens that you can try, fitted with the standard nib sizes: Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad and 1.1 Stub. While our sample set is exclusively Esterbrook, everything you learn in the session will apply to almost any other modern fountain pen on the market.
BONUS: Purchase an Esterbrook fountain pen at the NZ Stationery Show and we'll credit your $25 course fee toward your new pen. Sorry, we can't credit the Eventfinda fees.
This is an absolute beginners class. No experience necessary, just bring along your curiosity. Suitable for left and right handers.
About your teacher:
Owner of more than a hundred modern and vintage fountain pens, you’re in experienced hands with Andrea Darbyshire. Her appreciation for fine writing instruments goes beyond collecting, Andrea also delights in sharing her knowledge with others and connecting with fellow enthusiasts. She is a regular at the Wellington Fountain Pen Meetup. By day, Andrea is the Cataloguer & Metadata Librarian at Masterton Library, where her love of ink and paper naturally complements her passion for books and learning. When she isn’t isn't busy inking a new pen, you’ll likely find her working deftly with a pair of knitting needles, creating something beautiful one stitch at a time.
Presented as part of The New Zealand Stationery Festival. Your ticket to this event does not include access to the Stationery Festival. Please purchase a ticket for The New Zealand Stationery Festival separately.
