* Pen Making

First of all I want to introduce one of the staff members of Den’s Pens. Her name is Eris, and yes it’s the Eris that one of my pen designs is named after. She is 7 and she has just signed on to be the assistant pen designer. She has started to design her own pens and blanks as seen [here](https://i.imgur.com/rByx1NW.jpg) . She has a little sister called Freya who is 3 and they have been helping me make pen blanks behind the scenes. [These](https://i.imgur.com/rJETTeW.jpg) are their first blanks. Eris did the ones on the far right, Freya did the ones in the middle with the bright pink end (and is also the one featuring in the video) and I did the ones on the far left. I think its a great start and I want to show off what they have done so they can get some encouragement which comes from someone not in their family, something which is hard to come by in lockdown situations. So please let me know what you think and I will pass on what you say.

I have been playing around with my camera settings to try and get better photos. I have made a Baldur model pen using Diamond Cast blanks. [Here](https://i.imgur.com/0TlDB0T.jpg) is is with the cap on and [here](https://i.imgur.com/U3w8b9Q.jpg) with the cap off.

Other than that there has been a bit of a leap in my ability as a pen maker, well at least I think so anyway. Again I would like some feedback on these advances. I have started to make rings which sit around the barrel just after the cap threads. So far I have made them from [acrylic](https://i.imgur.com/8u6MANX.jpg), my own in house resin and finally [Brass](https://i.imgur.com/WrbusnQ.jpg) I am really happy with the Brass ones, Here is a [full picture]() and one [close up](https://i.imgur.com/6J8J2HN.jpg).

* Cockups

A new section, yeah I am still not liking Jowo nibs. Why? Because [this](https://i.imgur.com/f4uqZlf.jpg) happens. Not an isolated situation unfortunately has it has happened on nibs from different suppliers. They just seem very flimsy to me. Not sure if it is me or the nibs themselves.

* Blanks

Yay, more new sections. So I am starting to sort through my blanks, I have just ordered a bunch from Brooks and decided it was about time I went through and sorted the ones I currently have. So all of the in house blanks go in a [drawer](https://i.imgur.com/7ta3lsc.jpg) the bought in ones go on the back of the [door](https://i.imgur.com/X6BlYXD.jpg) . Today I have spent most of the time working through turning the square blanks round. A laborious task but one that has to be done. Barely made a [dent](https://i.imgur.com/odSytVq.jpg).

Anyway…

So that is the first maker highlight, any feedback on that part would be appreciated. 

As usual feel free to give suggestions for where these updates go in the comments. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones and stay safe.