Matome Collection - JMW

24/05/2026

Pen drop! These 5 pocket pens are now available for sale. From left to right, these colourways are:

1 - Kelpie - blue/green gradient
2 - Inky - black/white marble
3 - Craft Indigo - Blue/white marble
4 - Color Shift Pastel Green (by )
5 - Cotton Candy - white/shades of pink marble.

In celebration of a recent major upgrade to various toolings and procedures in the workshop that allow greater consistency and better results, these pens and perhaps the next drop or two will be priced at $150 USD each, plus shipping (about 20 dollars to north america). Every pen includes a #6 Jowo steel nib, available sizes EF, F, M, in silver or gold or 1.1 stub nibs in silver only. All pens will accept a standard international short cartridge or a Kaweco mini folding cartridge (also available as an add-on for $5).

We can accept payment via PayPal, or for those in Canada we also accept Interac e-transfer.

About these colours:

The Inky colourway is a unique creation. I create the black colouring partially by hand-grinding a traditional Sumi ink stone. Usually used in calligraphy, and incorporating it into the resin. It's not a complex procedure but it is time-consuming.

Craft Indigo also incorporates a traditional Art form - Aizome - traditional Japaneseindigo dying. For this colourway, I use a dye compound created by , a traditional indigo dye artisan collective that has been in continuous operation for over 200 years. Traditional Aizome Incorporated incorporates blue and white together and I have strived to maintain that aesthetic here.

Kelpie and Cotton Candy are also cast in-house, and I love the way these bright colours help Herald in the summer.

And last but not least, the excellent Pastel Color Shift created by Rob over at . Be sure to check out the video of this pen included in the post, the way the colour shifts as the light moves around is really something special! Super-limited as I have been assured I will not be allowed to get more 😂 Rob's help and advice has been absolutely instrumental to get my work to this point, please check out his pens if you haven't yet!

24/05/2026

22/05/2026

One neat trick I've found to get a preview of how a piece of resin will look after you give it a glossy finish is to put just a little bit of transparent oil onto it. It fills in the surface and adds a layer of gloss which is equalized by the pressure of the air around it, giving you a pretty good idea of how it would look!

Sometimes, especially with opaque materials, it can be tough to know whether matte, gloss, or satin would be best. This one looks lovely and soft when matte, like cotton candy, but when glossy you get to see extra detail of ribbons and swirls due to just a bit more added translucency.

Which do you prefer?

#万年筆 ＃文房具

21/05/2026

Technically, these are pens - all the mechanics and threads are there.

But between you and me, I think I can make them look nicer.

07/05/2026

Wood is an amazingly resilient material when handled with caution. These walls are less than 1mm.

#万年筆 #手作り

24/04/2026

A surprise, to be sure, But a welcome one.

#万年筆

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Often even the person making your own isn't sure what it will turn out like until we start to sand and polish.

#万年筆 #文房具

10/01/2026

Today's workshop results, 1 Aizome pen and 1 Sumi. This is just after a rough sanding and they await further sanding and polishing. The finishing touches take as long as the rest of the pen a lot of the time.

#万年筆 #文房具

26/12/2025

How a kitless fountain pen grip section is made, From start to finish - no injection molding, no CNC. Just hand tools and a lathe.

#万年筆 #ハンドメイド作家

22/12/2025

Hey everyone, JMW here. If you don't recognize the new profile name, it's because it was changed to reflect the exciting new chapter in my life.

For years I was more actively writing blogs about my life in Japan and the discovery of daily life here. Over time, however, it became harder and harder to find new, interesting content because I have been here now for over 7 years - and so the blog simply stopped updating. But that doesn't mean I wasn't working on something!

For a while now, I have been working in my spare time on a project I am very excited about - making custom fountain pens! Though most people these days use ball pens, there are those who still prefer to use something a little bit more intentional and thoughtful - a little old fashioned. I know when I am writing a card or a journal entry I like to take my time with it, and the ceremony of uncapping a special pen makes it that much more enjoyable for me.

In my workshop here in Japan I cast my own resin rods and turn them on a lathe to make pens of my own original design that are fun to look at, contain special ingredients/stories, and most importantly of all, feel great to use. I have been working on the design and methodology for months and I am finally at a point where I can list a small selection of items for sale. I would appreciate any support you can give, even just a 'like' or a 'share' can really help get the word out for a small maker like myself.

Please feel free to check out my Etsy shop page where you can see the finished products, or my Instagram profile, where you can see more about how they are made.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MatomeCollection

https://www.instagram.com/matome_collection/

Shop items by MatomeCollection.