ORLANDO, Fla. – Stylophiles, artists and writers looking for inspiration may find it at the Orlando Pen Show.
The annual convention for all things pens, stationery, journaling and sketching returns to The Florida Hotel and Conference Center starting on Friday, Sept. 12, for the general public and running through Sunday.
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Stationerycore lovers and pen collectors can find their new favorite writing instruments from dozens of vendors, as well as ink, journals, stickers and more.
Big pen companies like Pilot, Esterbrook and Nahvalur will have booths. So will custom pen artists and stationery shops from across Florida.
The show will also offer classes on Friday and Saturday in cursive handwriting, journal making and sketching.
In an age where everything is increasingly tied to technology, more people are interested in papercraft, stationery and writing than ever before.
The Lighthouse Paper Company in Melbourne has been open for two and a half years. The owners say the fact that these small businesses are opening in communities makes their stores very popular.
“We opened our doors and it’s turned out very well for us. It’s been a great reception from the community,” said Brendan Murphy, the store’s owner.
The Lighthouse Paper Company offers classes in art, journaling, calligraphy and hand lettering. Free monthly journaling meetups pull in 50 people, Murphy says.
The shop has also hosted cursive writing classes in the past, and with more to come. News 6 spoke to Lighthouse Paper Company back in March, and the owners said they hosted over 20 cursive writing workshops last year.
“We actually enjoy it when people come in and complain that kids don’t write in cursive anymore, and we say ‘we’re working on that,’” Murphy said.
Then there are the pen collectors, who are willing to spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, on vintage pens, handcrafted pens and high-quality pens.
“The collectors are all about it. There are 18 pen shows in the U.S., there are shows all over the world,” said Joe Cortner, who owns Florida Fountain Pen and runs the Orlando Pen Show. “There are people who spend thousands of dollars on watches or shoes or other things. There are people who are really into it.”
The show is also hosting a silent auction and a pen makers challenge, with proceeds going to Reef Relief of the Florida Keys.
A one-day ticket to the pen show on Friday or Saturday is $12, or $17 for two people.
Cortner said this is the fourth year for the Orlando Pen Show, and they have expanded to Sunday because of interest. A ticket into the show on Sunday is $5.
Tickets can be purchased on the Orlando Pen Show website. You can also sign up for classes there.