Spring is in full swing in Northwest Ohio. We have had two wonderful days in a row, which I have taken advantage of by opening the garage, blowing the dust off the power tools and prepping some blanks. It's been a long winter, and the new kits and stock sitting in a box since January will mock me no longer. I had enough time after work today to turn a couple of pens (from left to right): These pen style are both firsts for me. The first is a style called "The Gatsby", although it also goes by Wall Street and/or Sierra depending on who makes/sells the kit. It takes a shorter wood blank (which is nice since you can get two pens out of well figured blank) and is a twist ballpoint mechanism. The pen is dressed in an Amboyna Burl, a rare, exotic hardwood that grows in Southeast Asia and has a fragrant aroma. It can vary in color from yellow to golden brown to red, and is generally considered excellent for both turning and finishing. The second style is a "Big Ben", although this will also go by different names and is commonly referred to as a Cigar style. This pen is dressed in a Figured Bubinga, also known as African Rosewood, is medium red-brown with lighter red to purple veining. Look for new pens now that the garage is officially open once more!