Bring out the biker in you! The new Harley-Davidson collection from Retro 51 is available in matte black with orange pin stripes or brushed charcoal with textured etching. The magnetically capped ballpoint has a sculptural metal mid-ring design; it uses an Easy-Flow refill. The pen comes in a canvas pouch and is priced at $60. Also new from Retro 51 is the Stroker--a click-top ballpoint that also comes in two styles: Ivory Eagle ($25) and Pink Exotic, with 19 Swarovski crystals in the clip ($30). Finally, the new Flathead ballpoint, with its unique rectangular body, has an extra large clip and shiny chrome accents. It is priced at $22.50.

The new Ceramic Tornado

Newest from Retro 51 is the Ceramic Tornado ballpoint, the latest rendition in the popular Tornado line first introduced several years ago. This limited and numbered edition, available in brown or white ceramic, has rose gold colored trim and retails for $250. The pen is packaged in a great-looking black lacquer box.

Score another one for the handwritten word

Last week, the online Wall Street Journal business section featured an article entitled, "How Handwriting Trains the Brain." In it, author Gwendolyn Bounds outlines the many reasons that writing by hand is good for kids (it can improve idea composition and expression and may aid fine motor-skill development, among other things) and why it's good for adults--it can keep the cognitive abilities of aging baby boomers on point. It seems that neural activity in the brain is different when we consciously form symbols as opposed to simply choosing a whole letter on a keyboard. So the next time you take out your favorite pen and paper and start to write, remember that you are doing your brain a favor.

IW magazine on sale now...

Don't miss the fall (September) issue of IW (International Watch) magazine, also published by Fine Life Media, with the first-ever Stylus magazine insert. This abridged version of Stylus includes an extensive new pen product section, a "news" page with pen show calendar and a cover story about Dani-trio maki-e pens. It is already in the hands of IW subscribers, and it is on sale now at various book stores around the country. The full-feature online Stylus will be posted this week.

Dado Penworks

I love all the creativity involved in pen making, from the actual production of a writing instrument to the marketing and sale of it. I've been lucky over the years to meet quite a few independent pen makers, and each brings his own signature to his products. In fact, this is my very favorite part of what I do. I like to learn about an individual's motivations, as well as his process and goals, since as far as I'm concerned, a pen is just a pen unless there is something unique breathed into it by a real live person. It then reaches even greater heights in the hand of someone who cherishes it and uses it.

Several weeks ago, I met Dallas pen maker David Stephenson in Houston for a cup of coffee and a look at some of his pens. We met at everyone's favorite office away from home: Starbucks's. So over some icy drinks we talked about his pen company, Dado Penworks, and his plans--and he's got a lot of both. Here's a sampling of his work...a web site is coming soon.