Sunday Reading for June 13, 2021

June 13, 2021

Rethinking the Stationery World Post-Pandemic: Overcoming Burnout (via Well-Appointed Desk). Jaclyn’s post spoke to me a lot, and mirrors many of my own current feelings on where I stand with this hobby. I’m really looking forward to the D.C. Pen Show this year!
Which Papers Are Good Tomoe River Replacements? (via Fountain Pen Love). Expect a lot of similar posts from the stationery blogosphere as Tomoe River becomes scarce. (For a while or forever, who knows?)
Musubi Cosmo Air Light Folio Notebook (A5) (via Pen Addict). While we’re on the subject of Tomoe River replacements, I think Cosmo Air Light will end up being a favorite for everyday writing. I know that some people have trouble with thin lines, but since I won’t be using it for calligraphy and I generally use italic-style script when I write, I didn’t have an issue.
Ayush Paper Fountain Pen Books (via Rants of the Archer). Fans of textured paper may want to check these notebooks out.
Maruman Glyphy B6 Notebook Review (via Pen Addict). I love the look of this notebook, but the paper is a reminder that in terms of fountain pen friendliness, even Japanese companies may have discrepancies in performance between different products in their lineup, especially more “mass market” companies such as Maruman and Kokuyo.
KUM Pencut Scissors (via Left Hook Pens). I’ve been looking for a set of portable scissors. But don’t forget to remove them from your carry-on if/when you start traveling again.
Benu’s Talisman Foxglove is charming (pun intended) (via UK Fountain Pens). Benu continues to release new models on a regular schedule, and some of their recent releases have been more traditional in shape (i.e., a traditional cap with clip), if not in color. I like the orange/red/black combo here.
Delitape (via Bleistif). I’m always on the lookout for good inexpensive tape (the shop uses an exhorbitant amount), and apparently the AmazonBasics tape is made by a quality OEM manufacturer.
Pelikan M205 Petrol-Marbled (2021) (via Pelikan’s Perch). I’m not a huge fan of the marbled acrylic on this one, but those who like this particular “look” should enjoy it. Honestly, I prefer the pen with the black cap ring, as opposed to the chrome-plated one shown in the initial pre-release photos.

No, You Didn’t Miss Anything This Week!

I was on vacation. As in, I didn’t really do much at all with stationery, other than put the weekly links post together on Monday. I think I’m experiencing a bit of hobby burnout, and oddly enough am looking forward to going back into the day-job office a few days a week.

This Week In the Curated Shop….

I’ll be catching up on orders, starting this afternoon. UPDATE: As of now, Traveler’s Company “B-Sides and Rarities”, as well as Midori MD Cotton Notebooks, are live on the site. I currently have a small number of each refill, but more is on the way. I also have the Zippered Cotton Cases in both Standard and Passport sizes, which allow you to turn your Traveler’s Notebook into a wallet. (I’m eyeing one of these for my Passport, in particular.)

Zippered Case (Standard)

Zippered Case (Passport)

B-Sides (Passport)

B-Sides (Standard)

MD Cotton Notebooks

Visit T.G.S. on Reddit, and Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and More!

I’ve been trying to expand into social media beyond Instagram, due to my dissatisfaction with the direction that platform is taking. Currently, you can also engage with me on Twitter, Facebook, and now on Reddit. (Honestly, I’m active on Twitter and Reddit moreso than Facebook, but I do read all the Facebook comments, eventually.) Mainly, I’m doing this because of Instagram’s algorithm-driven approach that buries content unless you’re endlessly posting to their various formats (“Reels,” Stories, posts, etc.) and actively monitoring your account to where you’re basically having to respond to comments and DMs in real time. This is impractical, because you end up spending all your time on their platform and not actually writing or running your business, and then most of this content is temporary (24hrs) and you have to jump on the “hamster wheel” again. Many people just want an easy way to receive updates on when I post new content to the blog. Twitter and Reddit allow me to do that reliably. If there’s one thing you can do to help support T.G.S., it’s sharing our content and spreading the word!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live!

Weekly Links for June 7, 2021

June 7, 2021

Esterbrook Scribe Nib (via Rants of the Archer). Joining Esterbrook’s “Journaler” specialty nib is the newly released Esterbrook “Scribe,” an architect’s nib developed in partnership with J.J. Lax Pen Company.
Esterbrook Gold Rush Frontier Green (via Rants of the Archer). The Esterbrook Estie fountain pen featured in the prior review caught my eye, and apparently it’s the new ‘Gold Rush Frontier Green” release! Don’t forget to check this one out - Esterbrook is killing it with some of these new materials.
Kasama Tala Ultem (via Dapprman). A Kasama fountain pen has been on my radar for a while now, and this is the year it’s probably going to happen. This review looks at the Ultem version, in the smaller size. (I didn’t realize there were two sizes of Kasama pens.)
The Big Paper Retesting and Rerating (via Fountain Pen Love). John has an incredibly thorough and well-thought out rating system for how he evaluates fountain pen friendly paper. He’s actually in the process of updating his ratings, and you can read more here about the process he uses.
Getting to Grips with The Otto Hutt Design08 (via UK Fountain Pens). I can appreciate the adventurous design, but this pen simply has too much going on to pique my interest.
Diamine Writer’s Blood (via Mountain of Ink). Writer’s Blood is an ink developed for members of the Reddit community r/fountainpens, where I’ve been spending more time lately. It’s an interesting color and I need to pick up a bottle. These burgundy shades are right up my alley.
Jesi Answers All Your Questions About Tomoe River Paper (via Well-Appointed Desk). You may have heard the news, that Tomoe River paper is being discontinued. We’ll see if this is truly the end (there have been rumors of its imminent demise in the past), but based on Jesi’s research production has actually ceased.
M605 Green-White Special Edition (via Pelikan’s Perch). Followers of Pelikan will want to check out this latest release in Pelikan’s white M605 series. I’d like to see it in person, but the green/white combination looks very nice.

In Case You Missed It…

I’m out of town this week, but in my absence I’ve arranged for several “recap” posts, with one discussing the reader favorites from the first half of 2021, and the other discussing my own personal favorites so far this year. I also have a post talking briefly about the announced “end” of Tomoe River and some possible replacements.

Shop Updates and Ship Dates for Orders Placed This Week

As I’ve mentioned in a couple of different places, I’m traveling this week to visit family that I haven’t seen in over a year, so any orders placed will ship next weekend upon my return. Thanks very much for your understanding, and I’ll be sure to include some extras in any orders placed this week to compensate for the delay. I have a bunch of new products arriving that will be listed in the coming weeks, so any help you all can give me in clearing out current stock is greatly appreciated! Finally, the “library pocket” promotion discussed this week will continue for as long as I still have stock, and given the popularity, I may make it a regular thing.

Visit T.G.S. on Reddit, and Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and More!

Sunday Reading for Memorial Day Weekend, Plus a Memorial Day Promotion!

May 30, 2021

Pilot Deluxe Urushi (via Left Hook Pens). Another Japan-only release from Pilot, but this looks like a slimmer version of the Pilot Custom Urushi, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Here’s to hoping that Pilot brings this one stateside.
3 Oysters Delicious Chili Red (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). 3 Oysters is one of those brands that flies under the radar but it’s been a long time since I’ve used their ink. I need to pick it back up since it’s a good workhorse brand.
Tibaldi Bononia Seashell Mist (via Rants of the Archer). With a shape similar to a Leonardo Furore or a classic Sheaffer Balance, the Tibaldi Bononia once again showcases some stunning materials.
2021 Parker 51 with Steel Nib (via Dapprman). After mostly positive reviews, here’s one where someone has had issues with the newly reissued version of the Parker 51.
Introducing the Penquisition Shop (via Penquisition). Please go visit the Penquisition shop and check out their pen rests, pen holders, and other Penquisition swag. I’m always glad to support other sites and blogs trying to make a go at it without the “sponsorship” or affiliate model.
Uniball One .38mm Gel Pen Review (via Pen Addict). Uniball has been updating their gel and ballpoint lineup, and I like the look of the One, especially the more modern barrel design. I’ll need to check out the ink, though.
Uniball Jetstream Edge 3 Color Multi Pen Review (via Pen Addict). While we’re on a Uniball kick, this is a weird multi pen design. Jetstream Multi Pens are generally great, but I’m not sure how the grip works on this one.
Sharpie S-Gel and Roller Pens (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ok, I may be headed out to Office Depot today to pick some of these up after reading Ana’s review. Sharpie for the win, as always!
Montblanc Meisterstuck LeGrand 147 Traveller Fountain Pen (via Gourmet Pens). Looking for the 146-sized Montblanc that can take cartridges? Check out the “Traveller” version.
GIVEAWAY ALERT: Galen Leather Writer’s Medic Bag (via Well-Appointed Desk). And why not conclude this week’s links with a giveaway from Ana and team at the Well-Appointed Desk? Don’t miss this chance to win a Galen Leather Writer’s Medic Bag.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I published a series of posts with a bit of a theme. Part I talked about my current dissatisfaction with the FOMO-driven state of today’s stationery market, but how I myself feel like I fell into the trap of chasing “limited editions,” etc. over the years and got away from what first got me into this hobby: actually writing. The second installment talks about how I’ve tried to adopt a different mindset in building out the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and Part III looks at what I think it takes to do a special release the “right” way, looking at the recent Kanilea Pen Company Honokalani Maile Lei.

Looking to jump-start your planner life as we get back to work? We have the full lineup of Traveler’s Company Notebooks and refills. Take advantage of our periodic sales to get into this versatile notebook/planner system.

In Observance of Memorial Day - Take 10% Off Your Curated Shop Orders, Plus a Free Gift Promotion!

To celebrate Memorial Day, use the coupon code “GRATITUDE” to take 10% off shop orders (excluding TWSBI products, which cannot be discounted per the manufacturer). Since I’m looking to clear some stuff out of my own collection, all orders placed between now and 11:59 p.m. CT on Monday, May 31 will receive a free gift from my own personal stash - it could be a few modern or vintage pencils, it could be a pen, it could be a rare pocket notebook! All I know is that I can’t use all of this stuff and I’m looking to pass it along.

Visit T.G.S. on Reddit, and Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and More!

The new Caran d’Ache + Nespresso collaborations are on the way. This year it won’t be a ballpoint!

Sunday Reading for May 23, 2021

May 23, 2021

Snap Cap Fountain Pens (via Left Hook Pens). “Snap cap,” or “friction closure” fountain pens can represent the ultimate in convenience, allowing you to quickly deploy your fountain pen and get to writing without spending extra time screwing/unscrewing the cap.
Opus 88 Jazz Demonstrator Fountain Pen (via Pencilcase Blog). A slightly more classic, streamlined design than other Opus 88 demonstrator pens, I agree with Dries that this is the closest to a “mainstream” design that Opus 88 has come, and could be a big hit provided they can keep retailers stocked.
Laban 325 Lagoon (via Rants of the Archer). This one really is reminiscent of the beach. They don’t get a lot of attention, relative to other brands, but Laban makes some great looking pens, and their lineup is quite diverse.
Sailor Manyo Kakitsubata and Ukikusa (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I’ve more or less given up trying to keep track of Sailor’s various ink lineups and where to start, but the Manyo series has some great colors, and still come in 50ml bottles.
Parker Sac Replacement Revisited (via Dapprman). For those interested in starting to restore vintage fountain pens, read as much as you can on the ins and outs or sac replacement. It will get you 90% of the way there.
Karas Kustoms Bolt v.2 (via Writing at Large). I found the original Karas Kustoms Bold too long for my taste. I loved the design of the pen though. I need to give v.2 a try.
New Paper Search Tool Now Available (via Fountain Pen Love). John has developed a paper search tool that allows you to sort fountain pen paper recommendations by specific properties. Check this one out!
Snippets: Teal Breaker, Otto Hutt, Gravitas, Benu, and more… (via UK Fountain Pens). So I need to get my hands on an Otto Hutt Design03….
Sakura Craft Lab 005 Gel Ink Pen (via Pen Addict). I’m not sure I understand this one at all, but it’s an interesting pen but the price point strikes me as insane.
Platinum Procyon Fountain Pen (via Gourmet Pens). Azizah reviews what I would call Platinum’s “mid-range inexpensive option”, the Procyon. While perhaps a bit pricey for what it is, the Procyon is a nice size and balance in the hand.

In Case You Missed It…. GIVEAWAY ENDS TONIGHT!

This week I reviewed a pen that’s been in my queue for some time: the Tibaldi N.60, in the beautiful “Samarkand Blue” acrylic. Otherwise, I had to balance my crazy day job with getting a TON of new items listed for the shop so I could clear them out of my home office. Check out this brief write-up of the Traveler’s Notebook “July Start” Planner refills, including in the Weekly + Memo format. Finally, don’t miss the TRU RED Giveaway courtesy of Staples.com. It ends tonight at 11:59pm Central Time.

New in the Curated Shop

As I mentioned, we’ve had a ton of new stuff arrive in the last couple of weeks, as well as a full restock of all Caran d’Ache products, including most models of the 849 ballpoint, the 844 mechanical pencil, and the 849 fountain pen. We also stock TWSBI fountain pens and ink, Midori MD notebooks and writing pads, and Traveler’s Notebooks, refills, and accessories.

Caran d'Ache

Traveler's Company

TWSBI

Midori MD

Visit T.G.S. on Reddit, and Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and More!

As I noted above, I’ve been trying to expand into social media beyond Instagram, due to my dissatisfaction with the direction that platform is taking. Currently, you can also engage with me on Twitter, Facebook, and now on Reddit. (Honestly, I’m active on Twitter and Reddit moreso than Facebook, but I do read all the Facebook comments, eventually.) Mainly, I’m doing this because of Instagram’s algorithm-driven approach that buries content unless you’re endlessly posting to their various formats (“Reels,” Stories, posts, etc.) and actively monitoring your account to where you’re basically having to respond to comments and DMs in real time. This is impractical, because as Ana points out, you end up spending all your time on their platform and not actually writing or running your business, and then most of this content is temporary (24hrs) and you have to jump on the “hamster wheel” again. Many people just want an easy way to receive updates on when I post new content to the blog. Twitter and Reddit allow me to do that reliably. If there’s one thing you can do to help support T.G.S., it’s sharing our content and spreading the word!

Trying out Nespresso in its various forms.

Sunday Reading for May 16, 2021

May 16, 2021

Progress Over Perfection: The Venvstas Magna CC (via UK Fountain Pens). Apparently the proverbial heads have rolled over at Venvstas, and there is new management in charge. The results? A much better pen. Check out Anthony’s reviews for details.
Otto Hutt Design04 Wave White and Rose Gold (via Rants of the Archer). Otto Hutt is literally all over the place these days! I had not seen the Design04 compared against other pens, and it’s interesting to see that this particular model isn’t as small as I originally thought.
Inkuisition - Birmingham Pen Company (via The Poor Penman). Birmingham Pen Company apparently has released a couple of different ink formulations that reduce dry times and supposedly work better on inexpensive paper. This article tests out a couple of those claims.
Victoria’s Journals Smyth Fashion Flexy Dotted Bullet Journal (via Rants of the Archer). I only wish journals/notebooks like this were available in our local bookstore!
Pineider Arco Blue Bee (via Dapprman). I absolutely love the look of this material, regardless of whether it’s true “Arco” or not. I did not personally experience quality control issues with my loaner “Quill” nib, but apparently they are out there. This thorough review is worth reading if you are considering a Pineider.
Sailor Pro Gear Cocktail Kure Azur (via Pen Addict). Susan reviews this gorgeous transparent Pro Gear from Sailor’s “Cocktail” series - if only they could focus on keeping these exceptionally popular and well-designed colors in the main lineup.
TRU RED Starter Journal (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli also takes a look at the TRU RED Starter Journal, from Staples and Staples.com affiliated brand TRU RED. For my own look at this product, check out the links below.
Link Love: Cat(ch)-22 Edition (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana’s discussion of Instagram here struck a chord with me, as I’ve been reconsidering my own commitment to the platform. I don't have a lot of time to devote to things like “Reels” and “Stories,” which makes it difficult to get any traction in the algorithm. Since my first love has always been writing and text-based interaction, I’ve tried to be more active on Twitter and now, Reddit, including r/fountainpens and the new r/gentlemanstationer. More on that below.
Kunisawa Executive Ring Notebook - Fountain Pen Friendly! (via Gourmet Pens). I reviewed Kunisawa notebooks a couple of years ago, but found the paper inconsistent. That issue has since been remedied.
Modern Fuel Adjustable Bolt Action Pen Prototype Preview (via Ed Jelley). Modern Fuel, makers of the Modern Fuel mechanical pencil, have been working on a bolt action pen that takes a wide range of refills. They’ve blown through their Kickstarter goals, apparently.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I published a post on some of my favorite ballpoint refills, and I already have a list of more pens to check out, based on your comments and submissions! I also reviewed the TRU RED Starter Journal, a product from Staples and Staples.com-affliated brand TRU RED. Finally, this week’s Deals & Drops spotlighted a new collaboration between Vanness Pens and Shawn Newton, as well as some ideas for accessorizing your office as many of us prepare to go back to work.

New This Week in the Curated Shop

This week, I received new stock from Midori MD, including the blank/framed version of the MD Notebook Journal, as well as dot grid and blank MD Notebook Journal “Codex” versions! The latter features 368 pages of Midori MD paper - a page per day, if that’s how you choose to use it, and a lay flat binding. Note that this particular journal is not compatible with standard Midori MD Notebook covers.

Hightide Sandglasses

Mark'Style Ballpoints

TWSBI

Midori MD

Visit T.G.S. on Reddit, and Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and More!

As I noted above, I’ve been trying to expand into social media beyond Instagram, due to my dissatisfaction with the direction that platform is taking. Currently, you can also engage with me on Twitter, Facebook, and now on Reddit. (Honestly, I’m active on Twitter and Reddit moreso than Facebook, but I do read all the Facebook comments, eventually.) Mainly, I’m doing this because of Instagram’s algorithm-driven approach that buries content unless you’re endlessly posting to their various formats (“Reels,” Stories, posts, etc.) and actively monitoring your account to where you’re basically having to respond to comments and DMs in real time. This is impractical, because as Ana points out, you end up spending all your time on their platform and not actually writing or running your business, and then most of this content is temporary (24hrs) and you have to jump on the “hamster wheel” again. Many people just want an easy way to receive updates on when I post new content to the blog. Twitter and Reddit allow me to do that reliably. I plan to continue using Instagram, because it can be fun. I just don’t intend on doing more to just “play the game.”