top of page

SCHEDULE

Thursday, July 31

​

8 AM - 10 PM Open for Exhibitors and Weekend Traders

​

pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png

Friday, August 1


9 AM - 5 PM Weekend Traders          12 PM - 5 PM Public Admission
1 - 5 PM VANNESS Pen Lounge

 5 PM SUPERSHOW CLOSES & EXHIBIT ROOMS LOCKED, OVERNIGHT SECURITY
            
SEMINARS

​

12 PM - FOUNTAIN PEN INK 101 - Eric Nuzum 

  2 PM - HABITS TO START EARLY IN THE FOUNTAIN PEN HOBBY - Rachel Crawford 

  3 PM - FOUNTAIN PEN BASICS - Vanness Pen Lounge

 

WORKSHOPS

​

 9:00 - 11:30 AM - MODERN CALLIGRAPHY:  UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVE EXPRESSION - Dawn Reynolds (McLean)

10:00 - 11:30 AM - EXPLORE CREATIVE JOURNALING - Tom Forsythe (Langley)

10:30 - 12:00 PM - SKETCHING WITH FOUNTAIN PENS - Claudia Berger (Boardroom)

12:30 -  2:00 PM - MAKE A POCKET SKETCH JOURNAL - Judith Dollar (Langley)

12:30 -  2:00 PM - INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL JOURNALING - Thien-Kim Lam  (McLean)  

   1:00 - 2:30 PM - SWATCH YOUR INKS - Vanness Pen Lounge

   1:00 - 4:00 PM - INTRODUCTION TO ITALIC CALLIGRAPHY - Nik Pang (Boardroom)

   2:30 - 4:00 PM - SELF-PORTRAITS WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE - Tom Forsythe (Junior)

   3:00 - 4:30 PM - WATERCOLOR AND INK SKETCHING - Sarah Greesonbach (McLean)     

   3:00 - 4:30 PM - CASUAL BROAD EDGE CALLIGRAPHY - Azizah (Langley)

   5:00 - 6:00 PM - INKY MESSES - Azizah (Langley)

 

SPECIAL EVENT​

​

6 - 8 PM     ERANO & LAX PRESENT THE GREAT DC VINTAGE PEN PANEL AND WRITE AROUND

eranoLax24pic_edited.jpg

ERANO & LAX

present

​

THE GREAT DC VINTAGE PEN PANEL AND WRITE AROUND

 

     One of the best part of fountain pen shows is the ability to try different pens while searching for that great writing experience. But when it comes 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 make an excellent addition to your modern pen collection.

 

     To help bridge the gap, we hope you can join us on 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 plan 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/old 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 are various makes) for which they are comfortable allowing fellow attendees to use without concern of “something happening” or the need for instructions.

 

Please contact Joshua Lax and jjlaxpenco@gmail.com if you are interested in exhibiting your pens during the event.

pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png

Saturday, August 2


9 AM - 5 PM Weekend Traders          10 AM - 5 PM Public Admission
9:30 AM - 5 PM VANNESS Pen Lounge

 5 PM SUPERSHOW CLOSES & EXHIBIT ROOMS LOCKED, OVERNIGHT SECURITY
            
SEMINARS

​​

9:30 AM - FOUNTAIN PEN BASICS - Vanness Pen Lounge

    10 AM - USE THIS ONE WEIRD TRICK TO HAVE A GREAT FIRST PEN SHOW....FIND YOUR GRAIL FLEX PEN! -  Pierre Miller 

     11 AM - PILOT VANISHING POINT - David Rzeszotarski 

11:30 PM - FOUNTAIN PEN BASICS - Vanness Pen Lounge

     12 PM - OMAS: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE- Letizia Iacopini 

       1 PM - Q &A with FIGBOOT - David Parker 

       2 PM - PAPA’S GOT A(NOTHER) BRAND NEW BAG! - Mike Matteson

       3 PM - FOUNTAIN PEN INK 101 - Eric Nuzum 

 3:30 PM - FOUNTAIN PEN BASICS - Vanness Pen Lounge

       4 PM - FOUNTAIN PEN 101 - Pen Boutique Team 

​

​

WORKSHOPS

​

  9:00 - 11:30 AM - MODERN CALLIGRAPHY:  UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVE EXPRESSION - Dawn Reynolds (McLean)

10:00 - 11:30 AM - GET LOST IN YOUR CREATIVE JOURNAL - Tom Forsythe (Langley)

10:30 - 12:00 PM - SKETCHING WITH FOUNTAIN PENS - Claudia Berger (Boardroom)

12:30 -  2:00 PM - MAKE A POCKET SKETCH JOURNAL - Judith Dollar (Langley)   

12:30 -  2:00 PM - MAD SCIENTIST INK MIXING - Thien-Kim Lam (McLean)  

  1:00 -  3:00 PM - COLLAGE JOURNALING AND TUNNEL PAGES - Suzette Perez (Boardroom)

  2:00 - 3:30 PM - CARVE YOUR OWN RUBBER STAMPS - Vanness Pen Lounge    

  3:00 - 4:30 PM -  WATERCOLOR AND INK SKETCHING - Sarah Greesonbach (McLean)      

  3:00 - 4:30 PM - CASUAL BROAD EDGE CALLIGRAPHY - Azizah (Langley)

  4:00 - 6:00 PM - JAPANESE STITCH BOOKBINDING DEMO - Alexandra Ozga (Boardroom)

  5:00 - 6:00 PM - INKY MESSES - Azizah (Langley)

  5:30 - 6:30 PM - MAGNETIC BOOKMARK - Jolie Tran (McLean)

​

​

pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png

Sunday, August 3


9 AM - 5 PM Weekend Traders          10 AM - 5 PM Public Admission
10:30 AM - 5 PM VANNESS Pen Lounge

 5 PM SUPERSHOW CLOSES
            

​​ SEMINARS

​

 11 AM - FOUNTAIN PEN COSPLAY - Rachel Crawford

 12 PM - TRAVELER’S NOTEBOOK INTRO - Jacqui Williams

   1 PM - FOUNTAIN PEN BASICS - Vanness Pen Lounge

​

WORKSHOPS

​

 9:00 - 12:00 PM - CALLIGRAPHIC STYLE OF COPPERPLATE SCRIPT – Nik Pang (Boardroom)   

10:00 - 11:30 AM - INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL JOURNALING - Thien-Kim Lam (McLean)

10:30 - 12:00 PM - GAMIFY YOUR LIFE: A GEEKY PLANNING SYSTEM - Vanness Pen Lounge 

11:00 - 12:30 PM - HOW TO MAKE POP UP CARDS – Link Tong (Langley)    

12:30 -   2:00 PM - MAD SCIENTIST INK MIXING – Thien-Kim Lam (McLean)

    1:00 - 3:00 PM - COLLAGE JOURNALING AND TUNNEL PAGES – Suzette Perez (Boardroom)

    1:30 - 3:00 PM - JOURNALING WITH IMAGINARY FRIENDS - Tom Forsythe (Langley)

​

​

 â€‹

Details for Admission, Exhibitors, Seminars, Special Events, Workshops at dcpenshow.com website

 

Seminars, Special Events, and Vanness Pen Lounge  in Junior Ballroom on Lower Level

 

Ink Testing Tables on Lower Level outside of Junior Ballroom Thursday - Sunday 

 

Workshop locations: Langley & McLean rooms on the 2nd floor, Boardroom on the 10th floor, Junior Ballroom on Lower Level

pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png

VANNESS   PEN   LOUNGE
AUGUST 1, 2 & 3

Hang out at the Vanness Pen Lounge â€‹â€‹

 

  • Open throughout the weekend, the Vanness Pen Lounge is your space to unwind, explore, and engage with the pen-loving community. Whether you’re taking a quiet break, attending a workshop, or sharing the joy of your latest writing instrument, this is your creative retreat within the show.

​

  • On one side, the lounge will host engaging classes and demonstrations — perfect for deepening your knowledge. On the other, round tables invite you to rest, reflect, or connect with fellow attendees throughout the event.

​

  • Experienced pen show veterans will be available to answer questions, offer tips, or simply celebrate your newest acquisition. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a longtime collector, the lounge offers a comfortable, welcoming environment to enhance your DC Pen SUPERSHOW experience.

 

FRIDAY​

​

1 pm - Swatch Your Inks (90 minutes workshop)

          Join Ana Reinert of the Well-Appointed Desk and learn how to inventory, swatch and catalog your fountain pen ink collection.

          In this class, I will share all the techniques and methods I use for cataloging and swatching fountain pen inks. I will demonstrate many swatching techniques, methods for organizing and inventorying your ink collection and even some fun ways to choose an ink for your next fill-up.​

          Class participants will get to try out lots of tools and techniques for starting their own ink swatching collection.

          What’s Included? Class fee includes an ink swatching kit (retail value: over $15). 

          What's needed: No additional materials are needed for the class but feel free to bring a notebook, recent ink acquisitions, and ink samples.

 

FEE: $60 (Class size limit: 20)  Register:  https://wellappointeddesk.bigcartel.com/product/swatch-your-inks-swatch-catalog-your-collection

​

​

​

3 pm - Fountain Pen Basics

          Have you been interested in learning how to use fountain pens?   We will go over parts, and function as well as what pen works best for your handwriting style.  This class is hands-on and you will learn to clean and care for your pens (you will want more than one before we are done). 

          A basic fountain pen is included in this class. 

***We suggest bringing a notebook

​

​

SATURDAY

​​

Fountain Pen Basics 

9:30 am

11:30 am

3:30 pm

          Have you been interested in learning how to use fountain pens?   We will go over parts, and function as well as what pen works best for your handwriting style.  This class is hands on and you will earn to clean and care for your pens (you will want more than one before we are done). 

          A basic fountain pen is included in this class. 

***We suggest bringing a notebook

​

2 pm - Carve your own rubber stamps (90-minute workshop)

          Join Ana Reinert of the Well-Appointed Desk, using simple tools, and she will walk you through the process of making and carving your own rubber stamps from readily available materials like erasers and craft stamp pads. You can then use these stamps in your planner, journal or notebooks. Class attendees are highly encouraged to bring a notebook to use for saving designs and collecting stampings from fellow attendees.

          What’s Included? Carving tool, assorted package of blades, and cutting materials. Paper, pencils and stamp ink pads will be available for use in class. (Retail value: $25)

          What's needed: Any simple design approximately 1-2" in size that you might want to carve. Examples and test images will be available in class as well.

 

Fee: $75 (Class Size Limit: 20)  Register:  https://wellappointeddesk.bigcartel.com/product/carve-your-own-rubber-stamps

​

​​

​

SUNDAY

​

10:30 am - Gamify Your Life: A Geeky Planning System with Ana Reinert (60-90 minutes)

          Make planning, journaling and getting sh*t done a game! Using techniques collected from RPG games, video games and the world of fantasy and sci-fi, you can turn your day-to-day activities into a loot-acquiring missions and side quests.

          We will build a D&D/video game character sheet with your goals and regular activities and combine it with a dice casting method to add a bit of fun and chance to your day-to-day life. Accomplish goals and get loot!

          What’s Included? Includes sticker sheets, printables and a set of dice for your gamification. (Retail value: $10)

          What's needed: Bring your current journal and/or planner or a new notebook to start Gamifying your Life. Pens, stickers, washi and assorted ephemera also welcome.

 

Fee: $30 (Max. Capacity: 30+) Register:  https://wellappointeddesk.bigcartel.com/product/gamify-your-life-a-geeky-planning-system

​

 

1 pm - Fountain Pen Basics

          Have you been interested in learning how to use fountain pens?   We will go over parts, and function as well as what pen works best for your handwriting style.  This class is hands on and you will earn to clean and care for your pens (you will want more than one before we are done). 

          A basic fountain pen is included in this class. 

***We suggest bringing a notebook

​

​Vanness Pen Lounge is located on the Lower Level in the Junior Ballroom - accessible be a staircase in the Foyer or elevators.

 

 

Many thanks to Lisa Vanness who brought this idea to fruition and coordinated volunteers to have the classes and workshops.

​​​

​

​

pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
pen-g460be697a_1280.png
bottom of page