Pens and the Post - Collect, Correspond, Celebrate!

Alright all you ink slingers out there...I just got a nice email from the Smithsonian National Post Museum and they wanted me to let you know about their upcoming event, Pens and the Post: Collect, Correspond, Celebrate! It is taking place this Saturday, May 29, 2010 at the Smithsonian National Post Museum from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be all kinds of family-fun activities going on throughout the day, including calligraphy demonstrations, card making and Kids Workshops. Here are the details:


The National Postal Museum, along with the Pen Collectors of America and Fahrney’s Pens, are hosting “Pens & the Post: Collect, Correspond, Celebrate!” Pens, postage and mail have long gone hand in hand. Explore the shared history of pens and mail with the whole family.

The following are activities taking place throughout the day:

· Make a creative card to send to a friend with young designer Sophia Breuer

· Watch an expert calligraphy demonstration by expert calligrapher Deborah Basel

· Take a fancy fountain pen for a spin at the “Pen Petting Zoo” provided by Fahrney’s Pens

· Sample a rainbow of ink colors with John Bosley, author of Vintage Inks

· Try out beautiful papers from plain to posh with handwriting specialist Nan Barchowsky

· Just in time for Memorial Day, pen a letter to U.S. military members and learn about World War
II-era correspondence.

· Meet the Pen Collectors of America and find out more about the pen collecting community

· See a pen set belonging to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and beautiful stamps featuring pens and handwriting in a scavenger hunt.

Short workshops provide the opportunity to learn from the experts and try new skills:

· 11:30 a.m. – Pens for Kids Workshop presented by the Pen Collectors of America

· 12:30 p.m. – Cursive for Kids Workshop presented by Fahrney’s Pens

· 1:30 p.m. – Pens for Kids Workshop presented by the Pen Collectors of America

· 2:30 p.m. – The Glory of Pen Collecting presented by the Pen Collectors of America


So, if you are anywhere near Washington DC this Saturday, you should definitely check it out! This is the link to the event's webpage and you can get directions here.

Here is the link to the Pen Collectors of America who will not only be at the event, but will also be streaming the event live on their website.

Fahrney's Pens will be in attendance too, with all kinds of writing instruments for you to try out.

Also check out this Vintage Inks website run by John Bosley who is the author of the book, "Vintage Inks." John will be one of the featured guest at the Pens and Post event.