A location is more than a geographical point, more than a dot on a map. A place and its name contain a world of associations. There are special feelings evoked by the mention of place names. The Florida Keys is one such place. Its name suggests sun, tropics, chill lifestyle, and exquisite natural beauty.
The Keys are a divine place. Braxton and Erica Frankenbery vacationed there many times from their home in Ohio. On a whim, they relocated to the Keys after their 20th anniversary. Now they are situated farther north in Florida, but the feeling of paradise remains with them. They embrace it, live it, and proudly carry it as their business name: Divine Pens Plus (DPP).
Braxton's background was in manufacturing, and Erica was a microbiologist. After Braxton began making pens from kits, he soon switched to more satisfying models of his own design.
Erica describes her husband's rapid success as a pen turner: "With Braxton's experience as a drafter and machinist, we believed that we could make pens that are functional pieces of art." Custom pens led to a brick-and-mortar store, which closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Presently, DPP pens are offered on the company website and at select pen shows.
Braxton is self-reflective but frank about his pens. The customer is always on his mind, whether considering cost or writing comfort: "When designing and making a pen, our goal is high quality and functionality, meaning it is a consistently good writer for many years."
Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av PEN WORLD.
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Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av PEN WORLD.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Show Your Summer Style
The newest Visconti Homo Sapiens, Iris Garden, is a tribute to the beautiful irises that bloom each spring in Florence, Italy's Iris Garden.
Good Made Better Keeps Getting Better
SUZANNE C. LEE tests Dan Keller's wood and metal reading and writing accessories and finds her childhood dream desk come to fruition.
Layers of Talent: River City Pen Company
With his skills in design and eye for details, Rich Paul crafts pens that are as beautiful as they are functional.
Fathoming the Unfathomable
The new Kanilea Pen Co. Blue Moana fountain pen and Mau Loa cap band are inspired by the ocean's depths and universal interconnectivity.
Truphae: Flexibility Is Key
This young pen shop is writing a new chapter in retail pen sales by finding unique ways to foster community.
"Winter Counts:" Transforming Non-fiction into Fiction
Creative writing typically blends what we know and experience with what we invent and imagine.
Swivodex, Sailors, and the Plastic Revolution: An Overview of Dip-less Desk Sets, Part V
The end of World War II ushered in a new era, with plastics technology opening the way to better and less costly products of all sorts.
The Mystery of the Purloined Parkers
What do G-men, mobsters, and tampons have in common? The two most epic fountain pen heists in history.
The Other Articles of Impeachment
\"Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye! All persons are commanded to keep silent, on pain of imprisonment...\"
The Road to Recovery
A recent trip to Wajima, Japan, by TACCIA's Shu-Jen Lin shows tragedy in the present but hope for the future.
