More messy comics about clothes

Last Thursday I went to the Michael King Writers Centre in Devonport and I discovered that I’d left my pencil case at home. But I still had my new fountain pen in my bag so I scratched out a few Katherine Mansfield comics with that. I went for a walk at lunchtime and stumbled across a vintage store. Normally I don’t go into them because I know they are three times the price of regular op shops. But perhaps because I was by the seaside, and felt like I was on holiday, I strayed inside and salivated over all the 1950s, 60s and 70s frocks, so beautifully curated, and came out with a 1950s-style number in navy blue with white piping.

Back to the fountain pen – my friend Andrew sent it to me – it’s beautiful and I feel like I’m summoning the spirit of Katherine Mansfield by writing in my journal with it. Because Devonport is a chi-chi sort of place, there’s a fountain pen store at the bottom of the hill, and I bought a bottle of ink. I often have to refill my pen with it, leaving inky blotches all over the place. It makes me think of Mansfield’s story The Fly. 

If you too want to have a fountain pen to write with you should check out Andrew’s listings on Trademe – I recommend the experience! It’s so great to be able to refill the ink and watch the variations in line and flow, rather than throwing spent pens away.