Poll: You Choose Thursday's Blog Post Topic + Good News for Pen Lovers

New: Vote on Thursday's Blog Post Topic

For the past couple of weeks, I've written a lot about products and/or product reviews in the TPK blog. This week, I'm going back to the basics and focusing on the heart of TPK: art and/or calligraphy tutorials! I hope you'll help me out by participating in a poll so I can write about what you want to read about. There are four blog post concepts that I could cover for Thursday's blog post, and I want you to vote on the one that most appeals to you! The concept with the highest votes will win.

1. Sketchbook Layout Tutorial - This tutorial will walk you through how to make a sketchbook journal layout with hand-lettering and illustration that records the highs and lows of your week.
2. Thanksgiving Greeting Card Tutorial - This tutorial will show you how to make a Thanksgiving-themed greeting card. It will require some simple illustration, watercolor painting, and hand-lettering.
3. Autumn Mail Art Tutorial - This envelope tutorial will involve illustration, calligraphy, and some simple watercoloring. It will revolve around an autumn botanical theme (leaves, squash, acorns). 
4. Redo: Botanical Letter Tutorial - I'll revamp this tutorial with clearer instructions and improved photography. 

To vote, you can access the poll here. I'm excited to see what you pick!

A Surprise Visit from Rodger Mayeda

Surprise! Rodger Mayeda stopped by TPK HQ last week to drop off five Bolivian Rosewood oblique pens that he made for the TPK Supplies Shop. Rodger is the artisan behind my very favorite pens, which are exclusive and elusive: since they're made by hand, not many of them exist! He usually crafts around 25 pens every month, which he sells through his Etsy store, Rodger's Pen Box ("RPB"). Unfortunately, the pens rarely last on RPB for more than five minutes before they're gone!

Last time I offered Rodger's pens in the Supplies Shop, many readers didn't get a fair shot at purchasing because not everyone receives this newsletter email at the same time! In an attempt to level the playing field, I won't make the pens available at the Supplies Shop until 2:00 MDT (Denver, CO timezone) this Wednesday, October 30th. At that point, you can find them at this link. If you are interested in getting one, save the date and -- importantly -- the time!

Left Oblique Pens are Now Available at TPK!

I spent last weekend thinking about my TPK lefties! I've always wanted to offer a left oblique pen, but I wasn't sure how to go about making the flange. Rodger explained it to me several weeks ago, but I'm not exactly what you would call an auditory learner! After some trial and error, though, a lovely left oblique flange came to be (and then another, and another). I only had time to make five left obliques last weekend -- all fitted for the Brause EF66 nib -- but I plan to make more soon! If you want one of the original five pens, you can snag it here. 

In other lucky lefty news, I will start offering the TPK Modern Calligraphy Starter Kits with left oblique pens fitted for the Nikko G next month. Stay tuned!

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That's it for now! We'll reconvene on Wednesday with an artistic autumn tablescape leaves tutorial. It's a simple and fun little project that will elevate your autumn decor by volumes. :) Thanks very much for reading, and enjoy the rest of your week!

Warmly,