WOW!!! These are the words that came to mind when I chanced upon this forum!!

A short self intro!
I'm a graphic designer by profession, and I've always been interested in typography!
Now, I'm learning to write again! All these years my handwriting has gone from bad to worse and it's about time to dust out my pens!

I have a Pilot Parallel Pen that I do inking with, a couple of Lamys in fine to broad nibs and looking to purchase a custom cursive italic to do letterings with!

1 thing I realise, there aren't many shops in Singapore that stock good materials for writing.
I only know Mustafa and Kinokuniya. Any pointers on where I can purchase inks, papers/notebooks to write with?

Also, any Singapore FPNers can point me to sites that shipped to Singapore for my writing needs?

It's feels great to be here!

Welcome to FPN.

Welcome to FPN.

You might want to check out Fook Hings as Bras Basah Complex. They have good range and prices are reasonable. The other place is peninasia.com. I've not dealt with them but I there's lots of good reviews within FPN. I believe that person is in the Toa Payoh area. Check out the website.

http://www.pensinasia.com/contact.htm

In terms of learning to write, I've pick up some excellent tips from Ann Finley. Check out here excellent posts on Italic script. I've since learned to write in that style and that has improved by writing. It's actually legible now. I'm not saying that my writing is perfect. Far from it, there's much to be done in terms of consistency and strokes

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/lo....php/t2035.html

Have fun

Welcome to FPN.
I remember stopping in Singapore for a day while in a trip from Europe to Australia. I remember and incredible dampness all around. It was difficult to breathe.... it's not an obstacle when writing? I would not recommend a Lamy 2K in Singapore!

Cheers,

Greetings and welcome to FPN. Glad to have you here with us.

viix: Welcome! Man, where to begin? There's tons to cover

If you just search FPN, you'll find answers to several of your questions. Lots of S'poreans here

Are you looking for Italic nibs for your Safaris? Try Lin Kang on 3F Peninsula Plaza. $15 each. I suggest switching the nibs yourself, but they will switch them for you if you ask. It's just that the experience is... harrowing to watch

Or shell out for a Joy calligraphy set

If you're looking for more italic nibs, can try a Sheaffer NoNonsense calligraphy set. Available at the pen counter at many major department stores (seriously). Try Takashimaya 3F.

Ink: if you're just browsing, most of your ink needs should be met at one of the major pen shops here - Aesthetic Bay (2F, Funan), Fook Hing, Elephant & Coral (3F, Wheelock Pl). No-one stocks J Herbin ink here though =p

Paper: Can't go wrong with Clairefontaine paper. Rhodia uses them in their notebooks (not graph pads), which are widely available here. Try BooksActually. Some people here also like Japanese brands: Apica, Campus etc. There's a Japanese stationery shop in the basement of Raffles City. Can also browse the Stationery Superstore on 2F Funan. Moleskine paper tends to be too thin for fountain pens.

Pens: You already know Mustafa. Great prices but gotta know which pen you want.

Pen prices are high in stores for almost every brand of pen. You're probably better off ordering online, from Pen Gallery or pensinasia. The Sales thread on FPN is also a great place to browse Almost every site will ship to Singapore. Just ask about cost first.



LOL well, you kinda get used to the humidity after a while. I'm curious about your comment though - I have a Lamy 2000 and it works well here. But I've been told by an experienced repairman that the nib section will crack after 3 years and he thinks it's 'cos of the climate. Don't know whether to believe him @_@

Didn't you try the food at least?

Welcome to the FPN!

Mark

Hello and welcome to FPN!!

For inks, Aesthetic Bay has a large range of Noodlers and Private Reserve inks. If you are into bargain inks, check out old stationery shops for parker quink with solv-X. I bought 2 bottles a week ago at S$2.50 each.

For FPs. Fook Hing is a great place to ask for attractive pricing. Try out their Sailor italic music pens. Its too broad and wet for some so ymmv. Pen Gallery at Kuala Lumpur is worth making a trip.

For papers, I am using Giant Hypermarket store branded superior multi-purpose paper (70gsm) which I found to be FP friendly. Once you find papers you like best, buy them in A4 size pads and get them hand stitched. The society for physically disabled www.spd.org.sg provides book binding service. I got my Rhodia pads made into Moleskine size journals.

Guys, since you seem to know this part of the globe so well, could one of you point me to some cheap stationery shops in Singapore that stock more "lower-shelf" supplies like Hero inks and Parker V88 pens? My friend is in Singapore right now and she wanted to buy some of these for her colleagues. And please, be it a shop in an area where a young woman can walk alone (I know, it's a very safe country, but each city has some places where even I would not go alone). Thank you in advance.

Parker pens are ubiquitous. Most bookstores and major department stores have a pen counter with at least Parker pens. Can't say I've been paying attention to the V88 though.

Can try looking in -

Bookstores: Times, Popular

Dept stores: Takashimaya, BHG (in Bugis Junction), OG

These places can be found easily in the Orchard / City Hall area.

For Hero ink - try Big Bookshop in Clementi:

http://www.bigbookshop.com.sg/images/clementi%20map.jpg

It's easy to get to, and Clementi is really safe Just take the MRT to Clementi station on the East-West line. It's a 10 minute walk.

Big Bookshop
451 Clementi Ave 3
#03-307 S(120451)
Mon - Fri: 11am - 915pm
Sat Sun Ph: 1030am - 915pm

Welcome to FPN.

Hello and welcome to FPN.

Hey thanks! I've gotten my italic nibs from the friendly peeps at Lin Kang at $14! I've actually ordered some nice pilot pens from Ujuku web shop. The shipping's fast and I got my VP pretty quick.



On the contrary, the humidity seems to prevent pens from drying out.. Problem though is my journals turn yellow faster due to the heat and dampness.

I'm actually learning to some script writings from Alejandro paul's FeelScript for my 1st attempt!

Hello. Welcome to FPN.

Hi how much did you pay for the vanishing point ?
It's very expensive here in Singapore.
Even the list price on pilotpen.sg website at S$235 is much more than the US$139.9 at pilot international site.
The only place I can find them in Singapore is at popular and even at 20% discount during sales is still very expensive.
Some overseas sites selling at less than US$100.

Welcome! Must be fun, re-learning to write.

Welcome to FPN.

LOL, you'd be surprised. I'm so used to typing that I've totally can't write a complete sentence neatly. Looking back at all my school work, I am amazed how little effort I took writing those few hundred pages then. Now 10 years down the road, I can't finish a page without fidgeting.

I had to force myself to write neat when I have a calligraphy project coming up.. No computers this time.

Hello and welcome aboard the FPN! I can remember going to several stationery stores in Singapore, which had a fine selection of fountain pens. I really need to come back and visit the Hawker Centers, and ride the MRT again.