* Pen making
So it’s now I find myself into my 3rd year of doing these updates, or there abouts. To mark this I did a giveaway which is still running until next saturday (19th of this month). Check out last weeks update for the info.
So with a new year things have not slowed down for me. I am prepping for the pen show in July (hoping it happens). Along with that I am still keeping up with the custom pens. Like this [skull pen](https://i.imgur.com/pJpSL5Q.jpg) which also has [skulls](https://i.imgur.com/sXmno35.jpg) on [either end](https://i.imgur.com/LT2AkiJ.jpg). Second polish is needed but you get the picture. This is made from a diamond cast Derby Girl blank. I really enjoy working with them but I remember when I started I wasn’t too fond of them.
I have started to practise on doing demonstrators and working out what the best way of doing them is. So I am working on [this one](https://i.imgur.com/XccfNO5.jpg) for another pen maker, it’s not shaped yet and I need to polish the inside but I am hoping I can get this one clear as crytstal, alumilite isn’t the best for doing demonstrators.
So today I started working a bit early because I needed to clear my head. I had a bit of a stressful morning. I started with a bunch of [blanks](https://i.imgur.com/GqUkzwj.jpg) as always, some for stock some for customer orders. I had been asked for shorter and thinner pens, so I have decided to do something like that with the next batch. A mix of clips and not too.
I have explained my processes before a few times, I made the [sections](https://i.imgur.com/BKa9BWA.jpg) first, these will get shaped later. Then I turned the barrel and caps down to [size](https://i.imgur.com/pGk5Nxl.jpg) cutting where needed. I finished work at 4pm today and I started at 10:20 ish. So it’s taken me all that to make 5 pens which have sections and drilled out and [threaded barrels](https://i.imgur.com/dG8ZkN0.jpg). The other two need to be turned down a bit more and threaded. That along with shaping and sanding will happen tomorrow. Polishing may have to happen in the week.
So I want to invite you all to pose some questions. I will answer them as best I can on next weeks update. I want to get you guys involved more in these.
Well that’s it for this week, take care my friends, and most of all, stay safe.
Den's Pens 
