#592 Now Sold

Elm and Red Spirit Stained Chrome Ballpoint Twist Pen

EUROPEAN ELM - Ulmus procera

European Elm is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. With an oil finish it can turn a beautiful golden brown colour.

Pen #592 was turned on 2nd July 2016 at Chester Floating Market

It’s quite a long run from Middlewich to Chester and day one of our journey was called off due to weather of biblical proportions, definitely not cruising weather unless you absolutely have to. Tuesday was much brighter, the only downside is that everyone else had decided to leave at the same time and it appeared everyone was running low on water so big queues at the only water tap for a long time and also at every lock.

In previous, non trading, times this route would have taken at least a week for us. This time with more pens to make and postal deliveries to collect we managed this most scenic part of the Shropshire Union Canal in two days.

You can follow my pen making here on this blog and our travels on another blog here

http://nb-lois-jane.blogspot.co.uk

oh and please like us on Facebook too here
https://www.facebook.com/ThePenMakersBoat

#591 Now Sold

NB Dane Oak and Chrome Twist Pen 

(£2.50  from the sale of this pen will be gifted to The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the Custodians of NB Dane)

EUROPEAN OAK - Quercus robur

Usually straight-grained, the heartwood of European Oak varies in colour from light tan to brown. Quarter-sawn pieces show attractive flame figuring. The wood is fairly hard, heavy and dense, clean but with the occasional knot. European Oak is a beautiful timber and with an oil finish, the grain will turn a deep golden brown. 

This particular piece of oak (probably English rather than European) is just a little bit special though. It comes from the rear cabin side planking of Narrowboat Dane. I was given a few off cuts by the superb craftsmen who were carrying out the extensive refurbishment to this historic boat. 

The rotten parts of these rebuilt boats are usually used to stoke the fires that steam the new planks for bending to the hull's shape.Luckily these pieces of elm were too important to burn and have been properly stored. I wasn't sure how deep the rot would have gone and how deep I would have to delve into this piece to find stable wood. The pens I make from historic boat materials have been thoroughly tested by me to make sure that they will give pleasurable daily use.

Narrowboat Dane was built by the Mersey Weaver and Ship Canal Carrying Company and used as part of their fleet. She was built in November 1946 and first registered on January the first 1947. Ade from A P Boatbuilding is currently restoring her on behalf of The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the work being done is re-bottomed with new chine planks, kelson, stem post and soon to receive two new bow planks, gunwales, decks, new back cabin and engine room. The pens that I will be making from Dane are all from a heavy lump of Elm bottom plate and a replaced side plank made of oak.

Pen #591 was turned on 2nd July 2016 at Chester Floating Market

It’s quite a long run from Middlewich to Chester and day one of our journey was called off due to weather of biblical proportions, definitely not cruising weather unless you absolutely have to. Tuesday was much brighter, the only downside is that everyone else had decided to leave at the same time and it appeared everyone was running low on water so big queues at the only water tap for a long time and also at every lock.

In previous, non trading, times this route would have taken at least a week for us. This time with more pens to make and postal deliveries to collect we managed this most scenic part of the Shropshire Union Canal in two days.

You can follow my pen making here on this blog and our travels on another blog here

http://nb-lois-jane.blogspot.co.uk

oh and please like us on Facebook too here
https://www.facebook.com/ThePenMakersBoat

#590 Now Sold

NB Dane Elm and Chrome Ballpoint Twist Pen

(A donation from the sale of this pen will be gifted to The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the Custodians of NB Dane)

EUROPEAN ELM - Ulmus procera

European Elm has is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. With an oil finish, it can turn a beautiful golden brown colour. Unless, of course, it's been kept at the bottom of a canal for an awfully long time.

The rotten parts of these rebuilt boats are usually used to stoke the fires that steam the new planks for bending to the hull's shape.Luckily these pieces of elm were too important to burn and have been properly stored. I wasn't sure how deep the rot would have gone and how deep I would have to delve into this piece to find stable wood. The pens I make from historic boat materials have been thoroughly tested by me to make sure that they will give pleasurable daily use.

Narrowboat Dane was built by the Mersey Weaver and Ship Canal Carrying Company and used as part of their fleet. She was built in November 1946 and first registered on January the first 1947. Ade from A P Boatbuilding is currently restoring her on behalf of The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the work being done is re-bottomed with new chine planks, kelson, stem post and soon to receive two new bow planks, gunwales, decks, new back cabin and engine room. The pens that I will be making from Dane are all from a heavy lump of Elm bottom plate and a replaced side plank made of oak.

Pen #590 was turned on 2nd July 2016 at Chester Floating Market

It’s quite a long run from Middlewich to Chester and day one of our journey was called off due to weather of biblical proportions, definitely not cruising weather unless you absolutely have to. Tuesday was much brighter, the only downside is that everyone else had decided to leave at the same time and it appeared everyone was running low on water so big queues at the only water tap for a long time and also at every lock.

In previous, non trading, times this route would have taken at least a week for us. This time with more pens to make and postal deliveries to collect we managed this most scenic part of the Shropshire Union Canal in two days.

You can follow my pen making here on this blog and our travels on another blog here

http://nb-lois-jane.blogspot.co.uk

oh and please like us on Facebook too here
https://www.facebook.com/ThePenMakersBoat

#589 Now Sold

NB Dane Elm and Gun Metal Premium Ballpoint Twist Pen

(£4  from the sale of this pen will be gifted to The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the Custodians of NB Dane)

EUROPEAN ELM - Ulmus procera

European Elm has is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. With an oil finish, it can turn a beautiful golden brown colour. Unless, of course, it's been kept at the bottom of a canal for an awfully long time.

The rotten parts of these rebuilt boats are usually used to stoke the fires that steam the new planks for bending to the hull's shape.Luckily these pieces of elm were too important to burn and have been properly stored. I wasn't sure how deep the rot would have gone and how deep I would have to delve into this piece to find stable wood. The pens I make from historic boat materials have been thoroughly tested by me to make sure that they will give pleasurable daily use.

Narrowboat Dane was built by the Mersey Weaver and Ship Canal Carrying Company and used as part of their fleet. She was built in November 1946 and first registered on January the first 1947. Ade from A P Boatbuilding is currently restoring her on behalf of The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the work being done is re-bottomed with new chine planks, kelson, stem post and soon to receive two new bow planks, gunwales, decks, new back cabin and engine room. The pens that I will be making from Dane are all from a heavy lump of Elm bottom plate and a replaced side plank made of oak.

Pen #589 was turned on 2nd July 2016 at Chester Floating Market

It’s quite a long run from Middlewich to Chester and day one of our journey was called off due to weather of biblical proportions, definitely not cruising weather unless you absolutely have to. Tuesday was much brighter, the only downside is that everyone else had decided to leave at the same time and it appeared everyone was running low on water so big queues at the only water tap for a long time and also at every lock.

In previous, non trading, times this route would have taken at least a week for us. This time with more pens to make and postal deliveries to collect we managed this most scenic part of the Shropshire Union Canal in two days.

You can follow my pen making here on this blog and our travels on another blog here

http://nb-lois-jane.blogspot.co.uk

oh and please like us on Facebook too here
https://www.facebook.com/ThePenMakersBoat

#588 Now Sold

NB Dane Elm and Chrome Fountain Pen

(A donation from the sale of this pen will be gifted to The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the Custodians of NB Dane)

EUROPEAN ELM - Ulmus procera

European Elm has is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. With an oil finish, it can turn a beautiful golden brown colour. Unless, of course, it's been kept at the bottom of a canal for an awfully long time.

The rotten parts of these rebuilt boats are usually used to stoke the fires that steam the new planks for bending to the hull's shape.Luckily these pieces of elm were too important to burn and have been properly stored. I wasn't sure how deep the rot would have gone and how deep I would have to delve into this piece to find stable wood. The pens I make from historic boat materials have been thoroughly tested by me to make sure that they will give pleasurable daily use.

Narrowboat Dane was built by the Mersey Weaver and Ship Canal Carrying Company and used as part of their fleet. She was built in November 1946 and first registered on January the first 1947. Ade from A P Boatbuilding is currently restoring her on behalf of The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the work being done is re-bottomed with new chine planks, kelson, stem post and soon to receive two new bow planks, gunwales, decks, new back cabin and engine room. The pens that I will be making from Dane are all from a heavy lump of Elm bottom plate.

Pen #588 was turned on 1st July 2016 at Chester Floating Market

It’s quite a long run from Middlewich to Chester and day one of our journey was called off due to weather of biblical proportions, definitely not cruising weather unless you absolutely have to. Tuesday was much brighter, the only downside is that everyone else had decided to leave at the same time and it appeared everyone was running low on water so big queues at the only water tap for a long time and also at every lock.

In previous, non trading, times this route would have taken at least a week for us. This time with more pens to make and postal deliveries to collect we managed this most scenic part of the Shropshire Union Canal in two days.

You can follow my pen making here on this blog and our travels on another blog here

http://nb-lois-jane.blogspot.co.uk

oh and please like us on Facebook too here
https://www.facebook.com/ThePenMakersBoat

#586 Now Sold

Black Walnut and 24ct Gold Plated Ballpoint Twist Pen

BLACK WALNUT - Juglans nigra

It would be hard to overstate Black Walnut’s popularity among woodworkers. Its cooperative working characteristics, coupled with its rich brown coloration puts the wood in a class by itself among temperate-zone hardwoods. To cap it off, the wood also has good dimensional stability, shock resistance, and strength properties. Heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Color can sometimes have a grey, purple, or reddish cast. Sapwood is pale yellow-gray to nearly white. Figured grain patterns such as curl, crotch, and burl are also seen.

Pen #586 was turned on 26th June 2016 at Chester

Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival (FAB) is always a busy weekend. This was the third time we had visited, once as a visitor and once as a trading boat selling pens. This time our plan of action was to hit a better compromise between the business elements and having a bit of fun with some of our friends and watching some of the evening music acts.

We think we got it just about right this time. Whilst we were talking to thousands of music lovers using the towpath as a highway through to the different venues there were music, artistic and dance displays throughout the town. 

We all decided to open the floating market of boats all day Friday as well as the weekend as the weather was looking unsettled, particularly on Sunday. As usual the forecasts weren’t far out and we had a dry day Friday, and warm and sunny for the most of Saturday and early Sunday until the storms that were promised arrived early afternoon Sunday. It was a blessing in disguise as we were able to close up a bit earlier and have a couple of hours relaxation time before heading out to the pubs and some great impromptu folk music from some very talented amateur musicians. 

Leaving Middlewich FAB is always thought provoking, on the one hand we were saying goodbye to some of our friends that we wouldn’t be seeing for a long time but on the other we were heading out across beautiful countryside in the direction of Chester City - one of our favourites for our next event a floating market below the ancient city walls.

You can follow my pen making here on this blog and our travels on another blog here

http://nb-lois-jane.blogspot.co.uk

oh and please like us on Facebook too here
https://www.facebook.com/ThePenMakersBoat