Most stationery junkies like myself have a favorite writing instrument.  For things like as making notes in books or scribbling a plan out on paper, I opt for pencil - mechanical, preferably.  But for virtually everything else - from letters to shopping lists, I prefer ink.  Blue ink, at that.

So when I take pen to pad, here’s what I use:

Le Pen by Marvy.

The slim-barrel pens have medium-weight tips and are perfect for writing inside note cards or journals.  The ink is rich and bold and flows smoothly onto paper.

As a bonus for me, Marvy offers Le Pen in my signature color, teal - although they call the shade “oriental blue.”  I have a few Le Pens in black and red, as well.  (Don’t look at me like that.  Sometimes you’re required to write in black ink - for forms and whatnot, and the red is perfect for editing and revising documents.)

The ink in Le Pen is smudge-proof, and it’s also acid-free and non-toxic, so I don’t have to worry about it ruining archive-quality papers or making my office staff sick should they decide to take a nibble.

Le Pen is available in these colors:

If you live near an art store, you can almost certainly purchase Le Pen there.  You can also order them online.