Seminars and Workshops for the 2025 Philadelphia Pen Show will be offered and hosted by Azizah Asgarali of Gourmet Pens, Michael Ward of mrmgward.com, Tom Forsythe of Sugar Turtle Studio, and Kimberly Lau of @allthehobbies.
- All seminar/workshop attendees must also purchase a Philly Pen Show admission ticket.
- Tickets can be purchased online at the bottom of this web page.
FRIDAY:
5:00pm to 6:00pm
Stitch a Nib Wipe
Azizah Asgarali & Wendi Sue
In this workshop, you’ll craft your very own nib-wiping tool, a must-have accessory for fountain pen enthusiasts. We will be using very simple sewing; some hand-eye coordination required. You will be supplied with cloth, needles, thread, and cute accessories that will be a surprise!
Price: $15
6:00pm to 7:30pm
The Philadelphia Vintage Pen Panel and Write Around
Moderator: Joshua Lax
One of the best parts of fountain pen shows is the ability to try different pens while searching for that great writing experience. When it comes to older or vintage pens, however, many feel discouraged from pursuing the same experience we get from modern or contemporary pens. Not only can we use vintage pens, but they often offer a unique and beautiful writing experience that makes an excellent addition to your modern pen collection. To help bridge the gap, we hope you can join us for a panel discussion on exploring vintage pens for use, followed by a “Write Around.” During the Write Around, our team of vintage pen enthusiasts will be set up with vintage pens around the room, and participants will be able to move around at their own pace to write with and sample these pens. We hope to have ink and paper available.
This is a social event and is BYOB. The purpose of this event is to create a positive experience to bridge the gap between modern/contemporary and vintage/older pen enthusiasts and collectors without the dynamics that sometimes play out on the pen show floor.
All vintage pen enthusiasts are invited to exhibit parts of their collection (perhaps ten to twenty pens of various makes) with which they are comfortable allowing fellow attendees to use without concern of “something happening” or the need for instructions. Please contact Joshua Lax at jjlaxpenco@gmail.com if you are interested in exhibiting your pens during this event.
Free with Paid Admission to the Pen Show.
No reservation required.
SATURDAY:
10:00am to 10:30am
Pen Show Tour
Come along for a pen show tour! This is a great option for anyone who is new to pen shows, would like a pen show buddy to alleviate the jitters or anyone who would like an introduction to pen show etiquette. Host will answer questions and you’ll get to ease into the show experience!
Free with Paid Admission to the Pen Show
10:00am to 11:00am
Gourmet Pens’ Casual Broad Edge Calligraphy
Azizah Asgarali
Join our workshop and learn the basics of a Gourmet Pens-tweaked broad edge script, and how to make it extra beautiful. Let’s unlock the art of stylish, colorful calligraphy! You will be supplied with a Pilot Parallel fountain pen, ink, guide, and some additional accessories for that GP pizzazz! No experience necessary.
Price: $60
11:15am to 12:45pm
Explore Creative Journaling
Tom Forsythe | Sugar Turtle Studio
Join Tom of Sugar Turtle Studio for a quirky, messy, informative journey into the world of Creative Journaling. Get over your fear of the blank page and get using those pens, notebooks, art supplies, stickers, and washi in fun and creative ways. Great for beginners and avid journalers looking for a new perspective.
Attendees will receive a Creative Journal Starter Kit which will include a journal, washi tape, stickers, and other fun surprises in a fun journal pouch!
Price: $75
1:00pm to 4:00pm
Spencerian Script for the Fountain Pen User
Michael Ward
Many would say that Spencerian Script is the most artistic and beautiful of all the hands. And they’d be right! But honestly, who wants to carry a dip pen nib, an oblique nib holder, and an ink well with them wherever they go? Who even wants to faff about with these items when at home? Very few, that’s for sure.
Enter Spencerian Script for the Fountain Pen User! Joy! In this three-hour class you’ll need only your favorite writing instrument (be that a fountain pen, a ballpoint, a rollerball, a pencil, etc.). Using the instrument of your choosing, we’ll start by learning the fundamental strokes and lowercase letterforms. We will then move on to the magical world of capital letters and explore the entry and exit flourishes that can add personality to your script. In places where shades are added to the script, you’ll learn to draw them in after the fact to replicate the look of a flexible nib. You will finish this class with the knowledge and confidence to further practice Spencerian at home – and you’ll have an undeniable desire to use it in your own personal correspondence.
Price: $100
2:00pm to 3:30pm
Get Lost! (In Your Creative Journal)
Tom Forsythe
You’re beyond the basics with your creative journal, but there are still plenty of new ways to get lost inside its pages. Join Tom from Sugar Turtle Studio for a series of exercises to stretch your creative muscles, expand your repertoire of creative journaling tools, and become a journaling genius.
Attendees will receive a Creative Journal Expansion pack, which will include a journal and a whole mess of other surprise goodies inside of a fun journaling pouch.
Price: $75
4:00pm to 5:00pm
Doodle Stacking
Azizah Asgarali
A class for pen lovers who think they cannot create cool art! Azizah, a seasoned doodle enthusiast and writing fluid aficionado, will help you explore a stackable style of drawing that will help you maximize the use and enjoyment of your fountain pens, inks, and other writing instruments. Perfect for hesitant scribblers. No prior experience required. This workshop will provide all the tools needed for your opus, including papers, pens, and guides.
Price: $55
4:00pm to 5:30pm
Elevate the Everyday: Improve your Handwriting with Kimberly Lau
Kimberly Lau
Do you get mistaken for a doctor with your chicken scratch? Has typing your life away taken its toll on your handwriting? Is your writing fine but you’d like it to look nicer? Join us for an interactive seminar on how to improve your everyday handwriting with Kimberly Lau (@allthehobbies on IG) who started her own handwriting journey in 2017 after discovering fountain pens. Kimberly will walk you through the different aspects of handwriting, providing tips and techniques to get you improving your handwriting in no time.
You’ll learn: How to break the process into individual and less daunting steps Steps to overcome your inner critic Practical methods for planning your practice Please bring any kind of pen (preferably with darker ink) or pencil to this 90 minute session and get ready to transform your everyday handwriting!
Price: $35
SUNDAY:
8:00am to 9:30am
Two Ring Circus: A Comedy of Errors | Episode 6
Azizah Asgarali, Eric Orozco, and Special Guest Drew Brown
Come watch Azizah and Eric Sunday morning for whatever hits the fan! Tune in for special guest Drew Brown, and probably others! We will recap the Philly Pen Show and spew poppycock, codswallop, balderdash, and flapdoodle. And let’s not forget the Hokey-Pokey! Don’t miss out!
Free with Paid Admission to the Pen Show
