Perfect Presents for a Festive 2022
With Jack O’Lanterns wilting on doorsteps and sparklers selling out in supermarkets…it’s time to start thinking about CHRISTMAS! The Hamilton Pen Company carries a huge array of stationery and writing equipment - some expected…some more unusual! If you are looking for inspiration for gifts to give to those in your life who appreciate a good pencil or seem to have an endless collection of notebooks then look no further than our 2022 Christmas Gift Guide. This year we are bringing you ideas to fit every budget and to suit a variety of recipients. As always this is not an exhaustive list by any means so please do explore our website for all your Christmas, Hanukkah and festive shopping needs!
Quick, before Michael Bublé thaws out and Mariah Carey dons her red velvet Santa dress…let’s take a look at the best gifts for Christmas 2022!
Stocking Fillers Ideas
If you are hoping to put a smile on someone's face first thing on Christmas morning but are stuck for ideas for stocking fillers beyond a tangerine, net of chocolate coins and a pack of AA batteries (guarantee it’ll be AAA you need Christmas afternoon when the kids are kicking off!) then here are some of The Hamilton Pen Company’s favourite stocking fillers
Nahvalur Crab Pen Stand
These little critters never fail to get me grinning! Perfect for a notoriously crabby family member or anyone who would appreciate a cheeky crustacean to hold their writing instruments! The Nahvalur crab pen stand is versatile and makes for a wonderful stocking filler for the young and the young at heart!
Available in Green, Purple, Blue or Orange. These would also work double duty holding up crackers on your Christmas table! busy busy crabbies!
Makers Cabinet Høvel Pencil Plane
This exceptional piece of craftsmanship makes an appearance every year...and I stand by it! The Høvel is the perfect addition to any artist's kit, it makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who undertakes technical drawing and it's practically a work of art in and of itself so makes for a stunning gift for anyone really....perhaps not children though!
Høvel is a pencil sharpener that functions as a miniature plane, allowing you the freedom to achieve any point you like without the hassle of breaking the lead of your pencils like a typical sharpener sometimes does. It can be used as a long point sharpener, a flat sharpener, similar to the result you would achieve with a chisel or knife, or even for making very short and sturdy points.
The blades are easily changed without the need for any tools by using the thumb screw that fastens everything together. The solid brass Høvel weighs in at around 90 grams and has a great weighted feel in the hand. Being a precision machined brass piece, Høvel will age beautifully and is made to last a lifetime. The Høvel comes with 10 replacement blades in the box.
An optional wooden (currently awaiting stock) or cork base is perfect for your desk and collects the shavings as you sharpen. Or, if you are on the go you can bring your Høvel along safely stored in one of the purpose made leather sheaths. All of these accessories plus other incredible products from Makers Cabinet are available at The Hamilton Pen Company.
J Herbin Scented Ink (10ml) - Amber (Orange scented)
instantly makes you think of Christmas? For me it's the scent of Winter candles and mulled wine...a key component of this being Orange scent. Who wouldn't want a stunning ink with the added bonus of smelling Christmassy?
This fabulous lightly scented fountain pen ink comes in a handy 10ml bottle making it the perfect size for a stocking filler...if you're feeling generous you could also pop in a couple of colours/scents!
This is a very smooth-flowing water based ink manufactured using all natural dyes that result in a very neutral pH level, thus making it particularly suitable for both modern and vintage fountain pens. The light scent comes from floral water (hydrosols) produced in Provencal, France which contain no pigments.
Available in 6 different colours/scents.
Chameleon Pens - 5 Assorted Primary Tones
Would it even be Christmas if you didn't get art supplies? We are huge fans of the creativity and versatility of Chameleon as a brand as a whole and we love the markers as a stocking filler.
Chameleon Pens are much more than a normal marker - they give you the power to change colour and give simplicity to your art. Each pen goes from as light as a hint of a tint to rich tones, eliminating tonal gaps in your collection.
- One pen, multiple colour tones!
- For simple, seamless, colour gradations!
- Create depth, dimension, highlights, shading and shadows…all with one pen!
- Built to last, Chameleon Colour Tones have nearly twice as much ink as a regular marker pen.
- Can also be used like a traditional marker.
- Professional quality, with alcohol-based ink.
- Refillable, and have replaceable Japanese Nibs.
- Permanent on most surfaces (including: fabrics, glass, plastic and wood).
- Compatible with all other alcohol-based pens and inks.
- Perfect for curious kids, aspiring amateurs, keen colourists, creative crafters, ambitious students, accomplished artists and design professionals.
Chameleon 5 Pen Primary Tones Set Contains: 1 pen each of colours BK4 Deep Black, BL6 Royal Blue, RD4 Crimson Red, YL2 Summer Sun and GR3 Grass Green, along with instructions and an idea guide.
Gifts Under £50
Many of us are tightening our belts this year and there is a lot of concern and uncertainty about the cost of living - particularly during the colder months. However, this does not mean that we can't show our loved ones that we care with thoughtful and considerate gifts that don't break the bank! There are certainly bargains to be found across the whole of The Hamilton Pen Company online store but here are some of our favourite gift ideas under £50.
Esterbrook Book Holder - Bee
Book lovers, journallers and writers with be delighted with this wonderful little treat! Not only practical but also attractive!
Primarily designed to hold the pages of notebooks and journals open whilst working in them, the Esterbrook Book Holder can also be used for all other books and can be particularly useful for holding recipe books open when cooking! This is another product that has the potential to be a hit with so many different people.
Let this sweet bee BEE a reminder that you are a part of a harmonious hive of writers and creators!
Available in gold or rose gold finishes.
Blackwing Pocket Slate Notebook - White
You might be like me and hear 'Blackwing' and instantly think of the pencils. Well, the pencils are incredible (and also make wonderful gifts!) but i wanted to bring you the unsung hero that is the pocket slate notebook. Stylish, elegant, incredibly attractive and also robust and well considered in its design. This notebook is available in a couple of colours but we think there is something Christmassy about the pearly white.
This superb notebook from exclusive pencil maker Blackwing is the perfect accompaniment to the Blackwing pencils - so perfect it even comes with a matching pearl balanced graphite pencil, well half a pearl pencil to be precise! A great introduction to Blackwing for those not in the know and just a special for fans of the brand!
Features:
- 160 pages of 100gsm ivory coloured paper, ruled, blank or dot grid.
- Blank table of contents.
- Expandable pocket.
- Page marker and elastic enclosure band.
- Dual sewn binding enabling the notebook to be opened flat.
- Wear resistant polymer hard-cover.
- Canvas spine with elasticated pen/pencil holster complete with 602 pencil.
- Size 105mm x 148mm so just slightly larger than A6.
LAMY AL-star Fountain Pen - Black Purple
You say...'reasonably priced but good quality fountain pen'...I say...LAMY! It would be a lump of coal for me not to include a Lamy fountain pen in the budget gift ideas section! At first I was thinking of the classic Safari but in the process of scouring through products I happened across the very attractive black purple Al-star and I thought I'd give it a little spotlight! The Al-star is a wonderful daily use pen and it is great for beginners and those that use fountain pens regularly. Easy to use and maintain, the Lamy Al-star fountain pen is a great all-rounder and makes for a lovely gift. It helps that there's quite an array of colours available. Check out Lamy at The Hamilton Pen Company.
The LAMY AL-star was first introduced in 1996 and was derived from the LAMY safari. Produced with a high-end aluminium surface wrapped around a resilient ABS plastic core, AL-star is light in the hand yet well balanced and with its ergonomic grip section, a comfortable writing experience is ensured.
The AL-star fountain pen uses LAMY T10 ink cartridges or can be used with bottled ink by purchasing the optional LAMY Z28 converter. The nib is made from polished stainless steel and is available in a range of different sizes. Supplied with one blue LAMY ink cartridge.
Sakura Pigma Micron Pen Set - Black
Here's another one for the artsy types! Sakura never misses when it comes to their products and these micron pigment liner pens are certainly no exception. Comfortable in the hand, versatile and incredibly pigmented, the Sakura Pigma Micron pen set is equally as welcomed for fine line drawing as it is journalling and writing.
The Sakura Pigma Micron is a pigment liner pen that comes in 7 different tip sizes. Contains permanent, waterproof, archival quality ink that conforms to ASTM D4236. This set contains the six most popular Pigma Micron pens.
The Pigma Micron pen is the ideal choice for designers, scientists, archivers, Manga artists, cartoonists, illustrators and hobbyists and is the recommended pen for Zentangle.
It has a long metal sheath to protect the writing tip, ideal for use with rulers and templates.
The following tip sizes are included and their approximate line widths:
- 005 - 0.2mm
- 01 - 0.25mm
- 02 - 0.3mm
- 03 - 0.35mm
- 05 - 0.45mm
- 08 - 0.5mm
Parker Jotter Original Ballpoint Pen - Red
Obviously I had to select the Red version to showcase the delightful Parker jotter original ballpoint pen! Other modes are available but with this particular Parker I very much enjoy the ballpoint pen. It feels both vintage and modern in one gorgeous swoop. This very reasonable pen has the aesthetic of a much pricier piece yet retains an accessibility that allows for the comfort and familiarity of this becoming someones new favourite everyday pen.
The modernisation of Parker's iconic Jotter ballpoint pen is the ideal combination of classic style and functionality to deliver the best writing experience. The Parker Jotter Original has a stainless steel cap with push button mechanism and arrow pocket clip and a tough plastic body available in a range of colours.
Fitted with a medium blue Quinkflow refill that allows for a smoother, cleaner and more consistent writing performance.
Incredible Inks for Christmas Presents
Bottled inks are one of those things in life which always feel like a treat, whether it is a complex and expensive bottled ink with intriguing properties or a practical daily blue or black...there is just something about that little bottle filled with ink that brings so much joy. There are so many incredible inks on the market these days but here are just a few of our top picks for Christmas 2022.
Ferris Wheel Press Ink Charger Set
You can't go wrong with any of the Ferris wheel Press Bottled inks ... they are practically made for gorgeous gifting! Each is beautifully packaged and features dreamy detailing but all that aesthetic concentration does not take away from them being darned good inks! As with many bottled inks, Ferris wheel Press inks are not just limited to uses within pens but they are increasingly popular as an artistic medium with many incredible pieces of art being created using the vast array of shades and tones available whilst retaining the brilliant characteristics of ink. The Ferris wheel Press Ink Charger set makes for a particularly great present because there are so many options available for the combination of shades included in the set. Each set is carefully curated to ensure a harmony between each vial. This format is a brilliant way to try out some new or even more daring colours!
Ferris Wheel Press Ink Charger Sets include three 5ml vials of ink. Each set comes in a curated palette of 3 colours, and are a firm favourite for their portability and collectability. These are the perfect selection for customers who would like to dabble with multiple inks.
The ink charger sets are available in the following collections:
- Autumn in Ontario
- Bookshoppe
- Candy Stand
- Fashion District
- Finer Things
- Freshly Squeezed
- Harvest
- High Tea
- Home and Holly
- Lady Rose Trio
- Life is Peachy
- Morningside
- Moss Park
- Original
- Spring Robinia
- Sugar Beach
- Twilight Garden
Pilot Iroshizuku Ink - Sui-Gyoku (Emerald Stone)
It doesn't take long when talking about bottled ink for Pilot Iroshizuku to come up. And for very good reason! These inks are unquestionably some of the most beautifully presented bottled inks on the market at the moment and the variety of colours is astounding. The emerald green of Sui-Gyoku is one of my favourites and brings to mind scenes of wintery landscapes with fir trees peeking through a glistening snow.
Enjoy Japan's rich and subtle colour aesthetic as you write with Iroshizuku fine fountain pen ink. Available in a wide range of vibrant and exciting colours.
The name "iroshizuku" is a combination of the Japanese words "iro" (colouring) expressing high standards and variation of colours, and "shizuku" (droplet), which embodies the very image of dripping water.
Each ink name derives from the expressions of beautiful Japanese natural landscapes and plants, all of which contribute to the depth of each individual hue. Enjoy Japan's rich and subtle colour aesthetic as you write.
Parker Quink Ink - Black
It may be argued that this selection for the gift guide is a little on the practical side but sometimes receiving something you know will be used and appreciated on a regular basis is very welcomed! The Parker Quink Ink may be the 'socks' of our list but there are some absolutely delightful socks out there! Furthermore.. Quink is pretty iconic in its own right!
First developed as a quick drying ink in the 1930's, Quink has gone from strength to strength over the years and is now considered to be the safest ink for fountain pens on the market.
Recommended for all Parker fountain pens that use bottled ink but also suitable for other fountain pen brands. Comes in a 57ml glass bottle.
Available in colours:
- Black
- Blue
- Blue (Washable)
- Blue-Black
Wearingeul Fountain Pen Ink - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Spell Book
What would this gift guide be without a touch of luxury and a sprinkle of magic. That is the Wearingeul 'The wonderful wizard of oz spell book'.
Yes...this set is novel and niche and beautiful but it also has the versatility of the DIY element which is something of a calling card for Wearingeul. The set features gorgeous tones, novel concepts and most importantly of all...fun! Ink should be fun and that's what Wearingeul does really well (subscribers to our newsletter may remember the April fools day release of fried chicken inks which were actually pretty stunning inks!)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is an American children's novel written in 1900 by Lyman Frank Baum. The story chronicles the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy in the magical land of Oz where she has to destroy the Wicked Witch of the West, ably assisted by her pet dog Toto and the friends she makes along the way!
The characters from Lyman Frank Baum's novel are represented through colour and ink in this set. The main character Dorothy and the other three characters, Tin Woodman, Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow are captured in this intriguing ink series. The various features represented in this ink add meaning while realising each character's image through colour.
With the liquid shimmering DIY 'glitter potion' you can make your own shimmering ink by adding the glitter to the inks in the set.
This set contains four 30ml bottles of ink from the Wonderful Wizard of Oz ink series & four 10ml glitter potions.
Christmas Gifts at The Hamilton Pen Company
It may only just be November but many people will be beginning their hunt for the perfect gifts for this festive season (some may have already begun!). If you have not already, join our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter and discount code - Make a saving on your gifts this year and leave space in your budget for a little gift for yourself ... go on, treat yourself!
The 2022 gift guide is only a small snippet of what is on offer at The Hamilton Pen Company and our sister online shop The Hamilton Hut. The Hamilton Hut is the place for beautiful toys and games and unusual gifts guaranteed to please! From puzzles to speakers, reusable straws to lighters and finger puppets to hip flasks, there is much to explore across both sites!
We hope that you have enjoyed this, our 2022 gift guide. Please explore our online store for more inspiration and gift ideas. A huge thank you to all of our wonderful customers and we wish you all a very merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, a wonderful Kwanzaa, a joyful Yule, a festive season and that it is a safe and happy time for you all.
