Pairings Party: Fountain Telling Willow Fountain Pen, Sailor Manyo Uri

Getting to talk to makers and vendors is the one of the best parts of any pen show, and I made that a priority at the 2026 Atlanta Pen Show. That’s where I got to spend time talking to Kristen Brooks of Fountain Telling, and she got to share with me the story of her latest pen design, Willow. I’ll be the first to admit that when I first laid eyes on this pen I wasn’t sure what to think, but once I heard the story behind it, I couldn’t stop smiling. I firmly believe that the best products have great stories, and Kristen recently shared the impetus for Willow with Caroline Foty in last month’s Meet Your Maker: “The “Willow” pen is designed to represent Brooks’ dog, Willow, an Australian shepherd. “She’s my entire world wrapped into a dog. She’s my service dog, she’s a competition dog – she does dock diving, barn hunting, and agility – she’s with me wherever I go. I like to say she picked my husband for me.” The pen represents the silhouette of Willow’s body: “She has a narrow nose, a…