Pens, Pens Pens and more Pens

I wan to take a moment to thank all those who have donated their used pens in the last couple of months with a post and a picture. Unfortunately I misplaced some of the envelopes and I dont know were they came from to give credit to some of these beautiful empty pens, I know its a long shot but if you recognized your pens let me know.

I appreciate all the pens that came in and look forward to going to my PO box every day to check for more used pens. Often times I take my youngest daughter who loves to find the box, insert the key and open it to see whats inside. Most of the time there is a package waiting for us and if its too big I receive a yellow note from the postmaster to come to the front desk to pick it up.

So far I have created a couple of large pieces covered in used pens and this week I am creating four frames made from old pallets with mirrors and pens. I will posting those on my site in the next couple of weeks.

Again thank you all for your continued support, please keep sending your used pens and especially your notes, I really appreciate them:)

Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation by Connie in Santa Monica, CA
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation by Emily
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation by Mandy, Ohio/China
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation from Kent England
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation by Sarah in Brookline, MA
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation by Michael in Philadelphia, PA
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation by Anonymous
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation by Innocence in New York,NY
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation by Shauna in New York, NY
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation by A. El Paso, TX
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation by John. B. somewhere serving our country:)
Pen Donation by Matt Yardley, PA
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Pen Donation by Crista in San Franscisco, CA
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy
Recycled Pen Donation for the Pen Guy

Sushi Pen Review by The Pen Guy – Something Smells Fishy


One of the many perks as the pen guy when I am no out back creating pen art out of donated pens is doing the odd pen review here and there. Today’s pen is brought to you by the Prank Place who sent me this pretty raw looking “Sushi” pen. If you love sushi, then you need one (or all!) of these great Sushi Pens! Each ballpoint pen writes with black ink, comes with its own ballpoint cover, and has a delicious sushi at the other end of the pen!

On the pro side, its a great looking pen and does well for short notes and sushi phone orders. I would say a great addition to your pen collection or super duper deal if you owned a sushi shop.

On the other hand its not really a good pen if you like to journal or write long notes. It doesn’t glide over the paper that well and the fact that the barrel is narrow makes it hard to handle and your hand will eventually cramp up. The sushi pen is unbalanced, top heavy and awkward to write with.

I am sorry but I have to give the sushi pen a three out of five dead fish rating.

The Pen Guy Receives 30,000 Pen Donation From TerraCycle

I just received one of my biggest pens donations ever last week from TerraCycle at a whopping 30,000 pens that was delivered on a pallet about 5 feet high all the way from Trenton, NJ. I will be partnering with Terracycle to create art works made from pens and sending them over as soon as I am finished.

The Pen Guy Pen Donation from TerraCycle
The Pen Guy and His Pen Donation from TerraCycle

Their goal is to help eliminate the idea of waste by creating collection and solution programs for all kinds of typically non-recyclable waste. In essence they turn the non-recyclable recyclable by creating waste collection programs, “brigades,” and turning the collected waste into new products, ranging from recycled park benches to upcycled backpacks.

Since my last post back in December I  have received more used pens in the mail at my PO BOX and from local thrift stores collected locally so I wanted to take a moment and play catch up and thank every one and their mother for all the wonderful pens that came in.

The Pen Guy Pen Donation from TerraCycle
The Pen Guy and His Pen Donation from TerraCycl

A Big Thanks Goes to:

Misty over a Photo Lab a certified green company who will be sending all their sharpies & highlighters. They offer complete pro lab services to professional photographers throughout the United States and around the world.

The Pen Guy Pen Donation - Recycle Pens
Pen Donation From Photo Lab

Jane from 1promotionalproducts.com for a box of about 1500 working rejects from a promotional products and apparel company in Utah. Lots of Gel pens that are now everywhere:)

The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens
Pen Donation From 1promotionalproducts

Pen Donations from the USA

  • Someone over at Boston Scientific 
  • Marie. D, Salem NH
  • Henry Ford Hospital Detroit, MI
  • Morehouse San Anselmo, CA
  • Stephani N. Maspeth, NY
  • Amanda L. Los Altos, CA
  • Bill and Louise M, Sebatopol, CA
  • Jamie S. Arlington, VA
  • Anyone else not mentioned who sent in pens the last three months
The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens

The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens

The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens

The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens

The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens

The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens
Pen Donation from the Green Gremlins in NY, NY
The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens
Pen Donation from Louise P. Ashlan, OR

The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens
Pen Donation from Klein, Levittown, PA

The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens

Pen Donations from Overseas

The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens
Pen Donation from Nicola, Kent, England

The Pen Guy - Pen Donation - Recycle Pens
Pen Donations From Ashley, Glasgow, Scotland

4 Good Reason Used Pens Don’t Work Well in this Photoshoot

4 Good Reason Used Pens Don't Work Well in Photoshoot - Used pens donated to the pen guy
4 Good Reason Used Pens Don’t Work Well in this Photoshoot

I just received two packages of used pens, a bunch from my friend Don R. in Hastings, Nebraska today, and a bunch of pens from S. Wilner in New York about two weeks ago just in time for Christmas. I decided to have some fun tonight and do a impromptu photo-shoot while holding a bunch of used pens in each hand. I am looking at these photos and I must admit that pens just dont work as a good prop. Even though I think this shoot was a complete failure, I am thankful for getting these awesome pens to add to my one million pen project.

Pentel Pens Just In – Recycology™ program explained

Pentel Super Ball, Fine Superball and Quickball Pens Donated by Pentel to The Pen Guy
Pentel Super Ball, Fine Superball and Quickball Pens Donated by Pentel to The Pen Guy

On one my recent meanderings I landed on Pentel’s page called Recycology™, a program created to enhance their mission of helping the environment by creating less waste and increasing recycling activity. They are focused on protecting the environment at all stages of manufacturing by creating products that used both recycled content and post-consumer recycled content. All their products in this line are made from a minimum of 50% recycled content excluding consumable content and refills…cool!

I decided to take a chance and contact them about maybe sending me some old expired empty pens laying around the office and lo and behold they emailed me back:) Nicole from the Marketing department emailed me and said they had recently done some remodeling and there was a pile of empty pens with my name on them. I got two boxes of Pentel Super Ball pens, a box of Pentel Fine Superball and a box of Pentel Quickball pens and they came in the mail within days!!!.

Here is what Nicole said to me:

Hi Costas! We know exactly who you are! We have visited your blog and have seen your work. We think it is super witty and creative!

Honestly I was a little freaked about the  “we know exactly who you are” line but getting the pens in the mail was well worth it. Its nice to know The Pen Guy and the Mercedes Pens project has had such a positive impact and that is why I will continue to collect empty pens.