This week’s highlighted products includes a variety of “workhorse” stationery that I use in my everyday life, including these bicolor pencils and, of course, my favorite Book Darts.

Deals & Drops: Hand-Picked Everyday Office Supplies

September 16, 2021

It’s not just about the high-end pens and paper around here. My shop offers, and I regularly use, items such as pencils, ballpoints, sticky notes, tape, and page markers. Be sure to check out our wide selection, and in addition I’m planning on bringing as much of it with me as possible when I visit the Dallas Pen Show next weekend (September 24-25) and the Chicago Pen Show the first weekend in October (1-3). These will be the first shows at which I’ve had my own table since Baltimore 2020, and I’m still in the planning process so if you plan to attend the shows and have any requests for what I bring with me, let me know!

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M+R Brass Bullet Pencil Sharpener. A classic piece of stationery beloved by pencil enthusiasts for both its portability and durability, you can get a quality sharpening experience that will last a lifetime. Just replace the blades if they dull.
M+R Brass Two-Hole Sharpener. Need a sharpener capable of handling larger pencils? M+R also makes this brass two-hole wedge, which accepts the same refill blades as the Brass Bullet.
Caran d’Ache Graphicolor Red/Graphite Bicolor Pencil. Between this and the bicolor highlighter pencil included below, this simple editing tool is one of the most functional pieces of stationery in my arsenal. If I’m doing serious reading, it’s in my hand. Available individually or by the dozen.
Caran d’Ache Graphicolor Highlighter/Graphite Bicolor Pencil. Another great one, perfect for assisting me with my legal research as I highlight and markup caselaw. (You lawyers and anyone else doing serious research will understand.)
T.G.S. Signature Book Darts. Could these be considered my first product collaboration? Maybe! Book Darts was kind enough to add a custom label to one of the more useful - though slightly offbeat - desk and reading accessories. Use these to mark favorite passages from beloved books, or alternatively to add sections to a single-subject notebook or journal!
Tombow and Uni Mitsubishi Office Pencils. Sometimes all you need is a standard No. 2 pencil, with an excellent graphite core, that won’t break the bank. Both Tombow and Mitsubishi make awesome pencils perfectly suitable for stocking your office supply closet or desk.
Midori MD Pencils. Featuring a smooth, bold “B” core and a thick lacquer in Midori’s signature white, these Japanese pencils are one of the most popular items in the shop.
Uni Kuru-Toga Mechanical Pencil. What I consider to be one of the best mechanical pencils available, largely due to the proprietary mechanism that rotates the lead as you write, maintaining a sharp point.
Caran d’Ache Eco Ballpoints. Looking for the Caran d’Ache writing experience in a standard “office supply” pen? The Eco is a quality alternative, especially if you’ve been searching for a more sustainable option like the version made from extruded wood chips.
Writing Pads from Write Notepads and Rhodia. I’m often asked about my preferred “legal pad” - to be honest, 90% of my writing done on looseleaf or writing pads is done on either Write Notepads Memo Pads or Rhodia Dot Pads. Both are cost-effective options for fountain pen friendly paper, and handle nearly all pens and ink exceptionally well.

In addition to this week’s products featured above, don’t miss the latest arrival from TWSBI: the Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue!

Every once in a while I need to systematically clear out samples and gently used pens from my collection. Be sure to check out the “TGS Gently Used” Section of the website for deals on barely used and vintage stationery.

Write Notepads paper handles ink swabs beautifully, with no feathering or bleedthrough whatsoever!

Deals & Drops: Writing Pads, Rollerballs, and Planner Markdowns!

September 9, 2021

In addition to my updated personal planner systems, I’m using a TON of looseleaf paper, mostly torn from memo pads, as I’m in the middle of a busy season at the day job and I’m taking lots of longhand notes. Ergo, I’m relying heavily on Write Notepads with some Rhodia paper mixed in. I keep a selection of my favorites in stock in the shop, so be sure to check these out.

A note on the T.G.S. x Sunderland mk1 collaboration: I’m getting towards the end of this initial run, with two pen shows (Dallas and Chicago) tentatively on the calendar, so these may go out of stock for a while once they sell out. While I fully intend to do another run and bring them back, I will likely do another batch of signature Penwells first. If you’ve had your eye on the rollerball, the next couple of weeks would be a good time to jump!

Midori MD Cotton Writing Pads. Looking for a luxurious writing experience that handles pretty much any fountain pen ink (and can also double as a mean typewriter paper)? Midori’s MD Cotton stock is one of the best options I’ve found, and I actually prefer the texture of this particular paper over smoother options such as Tomoe River.
Write Notepads Memo Pads. My personal daily driver for most of my writing and notetaking, as well as an excellent choice for ink swabs and writing samples, since the bright white paper shows off ink color quite well and doesn’t feather or bleed at all. Available in three rulings: dot grid, lined, and meeting.
Rhodia Classic Notepads. The old standby, Rhodia offers a cost-effective fountain-pen friendly writing experience that won’t break the bank. Their dot pads in both A5 and A4 have been a staple in my home and office for over a decade, and I’m now pleased to offer them for purchase in the Curated Shop.
Write Notepads Engineer Memo Pad. This memo pad features the same unique paper is the same as found in the limited edition “Together We Build” Engineer Notebook. Note that this is different paper than found in the standard Write Memo Pads, and intended more for technical notes and drawings. While it handles ink fairly well, very wet fountain pens may feather some.
Sunderland mk1 x T.G.S. Special Edition Rollerball Pen. As I noted above, we’re on the home stretch for batch one, so don’t sleep on this. If you’re unfamiliar with the mk1, check out my write-up on the pen here.
Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Pen. Love the aesthetics of the Caran d’Ache 849 ballpoint, but wish it were slightly larger to offer a better grip? You’re in luck, as Caran d’Ache now offers the 849 in a rollerball format that accepts Parker-style refills. Video demonstration here.
CW&T Pen Type-A and Pen Type-B. These now-iconic industrial gel/rollerballs, designed to accept Pilot’s needle-tip Hi-Tec-C refill, straddle the line between desk pens and pocket pens. Durable enough to travel in your pocket anywhere you go, the designs are also faceted so they’ll rest easy next to your keyboard or on your drafting table. Read my writeup here for more details.
Caran d’Ache Claim Your Style Season 3. This season’s Claim Your Style releases from Caran d’Ache are easily my favorite, and it’s getting hard for me to pick a color, so I still haven’t decided. Last year I opted for the “Bluish Pale,” but this year I’m feeling something darker?
Platinum Preppy Wa Limited Edition Fountain Pens. We still have Preppy Wa fountain pens, which pairs Platinum’s classic with traditional Japanese designs in six unique patterns. Once these are gone, they’re gone.
Traveler’s Notebook Second-Half Start Dated Planners in Standard and Passport (ON SALE). I have a handful of Traveler’s Notebook “July Start” dated planners still available, now marked down! September still gives you four full months of use at the beginning of the one of the busiest times of the year!

Deals & Drops: Post-Pen Show New Arrivals! Platinum, Field Notes, Caran d'Ache & More

September 2, 2021

There was a pile of boxes awaiting my return from the San Francisco Pen Show, including a fresh shipment of Limited Edition Platinum Preppies from Luxury Brands USA (the Platinum Distributor), the brand new Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Pens, a huge box of TWSBI Swipes and TWSBI Ink, the Field Notes “Trailhead” Edition, AND two new versions of the Kokuyo Sketch hardcover pocket notebooks: the dot grid “Trip Book” and the top-bound “Offset Book”. I’m finally up to date with loading everything into inventory and onto the site, so happy shopping!

Platinum Preppy Wa Limited Edition Fountain Pen. Platinum recently released the Preppy Wa, a special version of their Preppy cartridge fountain pen decorated with six different traditional Japanese patterns, all with unique symbolism. The Preppy is a great pen, for users both new and old, because even at this low price point ($7?!), it features Platinum’s Slip ‘n Seal technology that prevents the pen from drying out. (Review here.)
Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball. If early sales are any indicator, Caran d’Ache has a hit on their hands with the new 849 Rollerball, a larger-diameter version of the 849 ballpoint. In fact, you don’t have to use this one as a rollerball at all since it accepts the Parker-style refills of your choice.
TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen. These things were so popular in San Francisco that I ended up having to sell my demo pens. I have both the Smoke and Prussian Blue versions back in stock in all nib sizes, in addition to the full range of TWSBI cartridges and bottled ink.
Giuliano Mazzuoli Nuovo ITALIA Ballpoint/Mechanical Pencil. I appreciate practicality, and you can’t get much more practical than a high quality ballpoint that comes with three different color refills AND allows you to swap in a .7mm mechanical pencil insert. Throw in a design with historical significance, and you have a product tailor-made for the Curated Shop. Full write-up here.
Field Notes “Trailhead” Edition. Field Notes recently released their latest quarterly edition, a stunning combination of dark green and orange featuring a linen-textured cover and ORANGE staples! The back covers feature illustrations of North America’s three most famous trails, the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest, and the Continental Divide.
Kokuyo Trip Book and Offset Book Hardcover Pocket Notebooks. These long-format hardcover pocket notebooks have developed a cult following in both Japan and the United States, and now I can offer a dot grid version (the “Trip Book”) as well as a top-bound “Offset” version.

I made a short video comparing the Rollerball to the Ballpoint. Check it out here.

Be sure to check out those orange staples!

New Arrivals: TWSBI Swipe Is Now In Stock! Plus Caran d'Ache Nespresso and More Sunderlands!

July 29, 2021

In addition to the launch of the Caran d’Ache x Nespresso Edition No. 4 pencils, this week also saw the arrival of the much-discussed TWSBI Swipe, TWSBI’s first cartridge-converter pen. We received our initial shipment, plus TWSBI cartridges and an ink restock! You may also have seen my Instagram announcement that several new products (mainly red inks from last week’s sampling), have been added to the “Gently Used” page. While those items come from my personal collection, they can be combined with shop orders to take advantage of the free shipping offers.

TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen. Many were wondering, “Will TWSBI ever release a cartridge-converter fountain pen? Well, now the wait is over. The Swipe arrived on the doorstep yesterday afternoon, and they are now live and ready to ship. We also have cartridges and the full range of TWSBI bottled ink, with the 1790 Colors now available for purchase individually!
Caran d’Ache x Nespresso Edition No. 4 Fixpencil. As I discussed in yesterday’s post, for this year’s collaboration with Nespresso, Caran d’Ache decided to go in an entirely new direction, releasing a limited edition version of their iconic Fixpencil.
Caran d’Ache x Nespresso Edition No. 4 Swiss Wood Pencils. In addition to the Fixpencil, Caran d’Ache decided to release a set of special edition Swiss Wood pencils, featuring three metallic capsules, a special imprint, and graphite made from 25% recycled coffee grounds! (Don’t worry, I tested them out and to me, the pencils write like any other Swiss Wood!)
T.G.S. x Sunderland Machine Works mk1 Exclusive Edition. Our exclusive collaboration with Pennsylvania-based Sunderland on a bead-blasted, matte-black and red version of Sunderland’s signature EDC gel-rollerball pen is back in stock! If you’re wondering why we chose this particular model for our second store exclusive, you can read my write-up here.
Write Notepads Spiral and Reporter Notebooks. I’ve fully restocked on Write Notepads Spiral and Reporter Notebooks, in all colors! This paper is among my favorite for everyday writing, and if you want an example of how it can show off fountain pen ink, look no further than my recent ink color comparisons.

Traveler's-Company-Passport-Refills.jpeg

Back to School/Work Season Is Upon Us - Don’t Forget to Check Out Our Notebook Systems and Reading Accessories!

School starts for us in less than two weeks - I know, I can’t believe it snuck up like that. If you’re headed back soon (to work or school), be sure to check out our ranges of notebook and organizational systems, including notebooks, refills, and accessories from Traveler’s Company, Midori MD, and now Stálogy! We also stock a wide assortment of reading accessories, including Book Darts page markers (one of my absolute favorite items we carry in the shop), and desk accessories from Hightide Co. and WMS & Co.

Sure, it’s the old location, but the new one doesn’t provide a higher place to take a photo and give you the sense of scale. I don’t know whether this year’s show will be quite this big, but the fact that it’s happening at all is exciting!

Deals & Drops: Gearing Up for the D.C. Pen Show - A Few Updates!

July 22, 2021

I plan to attend the D.C. Pen Show from August 5-8, and I honestly can’t wait. I’ll be behind the Vanness Pens table, hopefully in the same location as 2019. While I really don’t know what to expect crowd-wise, I assume it will be well-attended on the vendor side, and there are SO many pens I want to see in person this year. I have a lot of catching up to do. A few updates for the weeks prior to the D.C. Show:

First, I need to sell off some stationery from my personal collection to “free up some funds” for D.C. These are listed separately from any items in the shop, though you can still combine orders and I will honor the $75 free shipping promotion. Check out the “Gently Used” page here. Patreon members have right of first refusal on any gently used items, so Patreon members please check the exclusive page as I list more stuff this week.

Second, while I plan to have a few items with me in D.C. (mainly my exclusive pen and maybe a couple of small items that are easy to travel with and don’t overlap with Vanness), I will not have my own table. That said, if you plan to attend D.C., and would like to place an order for pickup at the show, please reach out and I will arrange to remove the shipping charge if the order is under $75. Note that heavier or more fragile items, such as sandglasses and paper pads, will need to be excluded from this offer for logistical reasons.

I look forward to seeing you all! And happy shopping with this week’s featured items, which includes both exclusives and low-stock items that are gone once I sell out!

T.G.S. x Sunderland mk1 Exclusive Edition. I’m down to my last pen for this shipment, but should receive another prior to the D.C. Pen Show. I plan to bring some with me to have at the table, but that will depend on current stock in two weeks. Read more about this pen here.
Lamy 2000 Brown Limited Edition Fountain Pen and Paper Set (via Vanness Pens). Vanness has limited edition Lamy 2000 pens in stock at the moment. This one ships with a brown notebook. Will I add one to my collection?
Caran d’Ache Léman “Klein Blue” Fountain Pen with Limited Ultramarine Ink. I have exactly one remaining Klein Blue Léman, with its gorgeous limited finish and exclusive 50ml bottle of Caran d’Ache Chromatics ink. You can read my write-up on this pen here.
Caran d’Ache Ecridor Racing .7mm Mechanical Pencil. If Caran d’Ache was going to make a ballpoint or mechanical pencil in my ideal finish and color scheme (matte-black plus a red racing stripe), it would be this one. Somebody buy this before I keep it for myself.
Caran d’Ache “Claim Your Style” Season 2. I have a few of these remaining, including pens in the “Bluish Pale” and “Hibiscus Pink” finishes, which are among my favorites. These won’t be restocked to make room for Season 3, coming soon.
Reading Accessories from WMS & Co. I may bring some of these with me to the D.C. Show, since they are so easy to travel with and really pop once you see them in person. In addition to book weights, be sure to check out their hand stamps and
TWSBI ECO Lilac Fountain Pen. The ECO is on the cusp of taking over as TWSBI’s flagship, with its exceptional price point and reliable build. These “color” editions have remained extremely popular.
TWSBI ECO Transparent Purple. Other than the Transparent Orange, which isn’t made at the moment, the Transparent Purple might be my favorite of the ECO demonstrators (well, that and maybe the Transparent Blue). These pens have a jewel-box-like quality which makes them a lot of fun for the money.
Opus 88 Pens (via Vanness Pens). As a whole, I love the Opus 88 brand as an example of high quality, high-capacity fountain pens with reliable nibs at a reasonable price point. These have been huge sellers at the D.C. Pen Show in the past. Check out my recent review of the Opus 88 “Omar” here.
Traveler’s Company “Factory Green” Fountain Pen. This one will be traveling with me to the D.C. Pen Show, as the “bullet” format has become a personal favorite for pocket carry. The matte “Factory Green” finish comes on all Traveler’s Company writing instruments and makes this a very comfortable pocket pen to write with for longer sessions.