Sunday Reading for January 16, 2022

1. My Writing Style (via Dapprman). We all have different writing styles and preferences, which affect anything from what types of pens and nibs we enjoy to how we hold the pen to how much pressure we use.

2. Thoughts on Handwriting (via UK Fountain Pens). I also generally prioritize the act of writing over the art of writing, though I’ve recently been exploring more art and calligraphy as a less work-focused hobby.

3. Stickers, Washi Tapes, & More (via InkSharks). I’m just as guilty with my consumables, especially things like Washi tape, sticky notes, and stickers. I likewise have made a conscious decision to use more of these things however I can.

4. Laban Skeleton: Perfect if Bling Is Your Thing (via UK Fountain Pens). I’ve never been drawn to “skeleton-style” pens, but I know many who enjoy Laban’s version. There is a gunmetal/ruthenium finish that looks great.

5. State of the Art: Talking Myself Out of Things (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). A skill I have yet to master.

6. Wearingeul Jekyll to Hyde Ink Set (via Mountain of Ink). These color-changing inks from Korean company Wearingeul continues their literature-inspired theme. I have not yet tried any Wearingeul inks, which I believe are available only on Amazon.

7. Sailor x Tinterias: A Deliciously Inky Combination (via Pen Addict). I picked up one of Tinterias food-themed inks (“Homemade Tortillas”) back in October at the Chicago Pen Show. Kimberly reviews both colors.

8. Analog Coping Mechanisms (via From the Pen Cup). More from Mary on why these things we love are important.

9. Never Too Late to Start Planning (via Well-Appointed Desk). Indeed, I’m still tweaking/perfecting my own setup, especially on the journaling front.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I wrote a piece about natural (undyed) leather, which has become a personal favorite of mine over the years as I’ve learned to love items with a more worn/used look. I also introduced a new product with a bit of a story behind it to The Curated Shop: French-ruled looseleaf sheets and booklets from Clairefontaine! Read on to hear a bit more about why I love this unique paper, and how I discovered it.

This Week in The Curated Shop

Apart from the main Clairefontaine paper dump, we continue to add new woodcase pencils, including the Edelweiss 3B from Caran d’Ache, which sold out immediately the first time we stocked them. There are plenty now! This week’s Deals & Drops post has additional details! Also, note that the Caran d’Ache Infinite ballpoint and mechanical pencil are apparently being discontinued. we were able to stock another round of the ballpoints but I’m down to about two pencils, so if you’re interested now’s the time.

Clairefontaine

Caran D'Ache Fixpencil

Caran d'Ache 888 Infinite

TWSBI

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. 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. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales. Check out the current sale, as there is at least one custom fountain pen remaining!

Sunday Reading for January 9, 2022

1. 2021 Year in Review (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana has a comprehensive review of last-year’s developments in the stationery world. Suffice to say, there was a lot of change, both good and not-so-good.

2. The Noodler’s Cinematic Universe: Noodler’s Q’ternity (via Left Hook Pens). Wow. This is a great article going deep into the various references on the Noodler’s Q’ternity bottle, which is getting to become a bit of history that many people might not recognize immediately.

3. Leonardo Officina Italiana Furore Aquapetra Rose Gold and Zenzero (Ginger) Gold (via Rants of the Archer). More great materials from Leonardo, and I think that “Zenzero Gold” might be my favorite of these two.

4. Magna Carta Elements Earth Fountain Pen Review (via S.B.R.E. Brown). Magna Carta is one of those brands that I’ve admired from afar (mainly due to their classic shape and materials), but I haven’t actually had a opportunity to get my hands on a pen.

5. Hello, Hello (via Ink Between the Teeth). Sometimes you just need a break. Welcome back!

6. Reflection: Journaling for Clarity (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). When I spoke earlier this year about promoting more content that shows how people use their stationery in a way that’s meaningful and useful to them, this is exactly what I was talking about.

7. Elbwood Pocketmaster: An Uncompromising Pocket Fountain Pen (via UK Fountain Pens). This is a really interesting pocket fountain pen design, especially the fluting on the metal section.

8. State of the Art: Working on Useful Journaling V2 (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Ever wondered what goes into creating a zine? I really enjoyed Useful Journaling V1, and can’t wait to see the new edition.

9. Stabilo Boss Pastel Highlighter (via Pen Addict). For some reason, these were my favorite highlighters when I was in school. Maybe it was the compact, ergonomic design or the fact that they last forever. Anyway, I now find myself wanting to get my hands on these again.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I looked at my daily carry to start out 2022, which is a mix of the familiar and a few new items. I also kicked off ink reviews for the year with a review of Ancho Chili Pepper, a subtle, muted color from The Birmingham Pen Company. Finally, please don’t forget to check out this post, which discusses the T.G.S. Patreon and how you can help support what we do here at T.G.S. in 2022.

This Week in the Curated Shop

There weren’t many new arrivals this week, other than a small restock of Hightide Sandglasses which I got listed. (Some colors continue to trickle in.) For a recap of our top-selling products over the past year, you can check out the “Best Sellers” category, along with this “Back to Basics” post from earlier this week containing some ideas on basic products to help stock your office or writing space for 2022.

Clairefontaine

Traveler's Company

Write Notepads

Life

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. 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. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales. Check out the current sale, as there is at least one custom fountain pen remaining!

Sunday Reading for January 2, 2022 (New Year's Edition)

1. My 2021 State of Pens (via Leigh Reyes). Leigh’s year-end updates are always thoughtful, well-taken, and full of links to content you may have missed throughout the year.

2. 2021 Is Hindsight (via Penquisition). A great year-end update from Evan. I’m looking forward to reading more of their content in the year to come.

3. A Pen Man in a Strange Land; Quick Update (via The Poor Penman). It’s always fun to learn a bit about the backstory behind different blogs and accounts. Best of luck!

4. Greatest of All Time Fountain Pens 2021 (via S.B.R.E. Brown). The 2021 GOAT List is live!

5. My 2022 Pen New Year Resolutions (and Laminated List) (via UK Fountain Pens). Anthony is taking a similar approach to what I did for 2021. I’ve found it a much more satisfying approach to collecting and using, with a lot less stress.

6. A State of Reflection (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I’ve enjoyed following Les’s creative endeavors over the past year! Be sure to keep up with her blog, which features much more than stationery.

7. “Why Are You Selling This Pen When You Said It Was Perfect?” Five Reasons I Part with Greatness (via UK Fountain Pens). Just because a pen isn’t right for you long-term doesn’t mean it’s not a good (or even a great) pen. As Anthony points out, needs are different, and needs change.

8. Theme System Journal Review (via Pen Addict). I have an early version of the Theme System journal that I picked up a couple of years ago, and I’m finally going to try it out starting this month.

9. Tales of a Vandal Pen User: Reflecting on Eyedroppers (via Peaceable Writer). I’m also somewhat ambivalent about eyedroppers, but I certainly miss writing in cafes and libraries.

10. Ink Comparison: Kin Mokusei v. Apricot (via Well-Appointed Desk). If you’re having trouble keeping track of Sailor’s ink release history, Jesi has created a reference in this post. I’ve moved away from a lot of Sailor inks recently, but this is a handy tool if you have a large stash of Sailor inks and find yourself wondering if a newly released ink is similar to something you already own.

In Case You Missed It… “Resolution” Posts for 2022

I say that I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions, but I did a couple of posts anyway: Five Intentions for 2022: What I Want to See From Myself, and Five Wishes for the Pen Community. You’ll notice that most of the posts in this weeks links involve similar content, and it’s encouraging to see that a lot of us seem to be on the same page headed into the new year!

This Week in the Curated Shop

It’s been a bang-up inaugural year for the shop, and I’m off to do my inventory count this afternoon (FUN!). Many thanks to all of you who participated in my year-end inventory promotion. While sales may be over, check out this post highlighting some products that are sure to help you with your New Year’s planning, as well as the new “Best-Sellers” category in the store! (BTW, the Planner promotion runs through tonight! Take 10% off all dated and undated planners before you have to head back to work.)

Planners

Sandglasses

Clipboards

Desk Trays

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. 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. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales. Check out the current sale, as there is at least one custom fountain pen remaining!

Sunday Reading for November 21, 2021

1. 8 Fresh Designs to Get You Excited About Fountain Pens Again (via UK Fountain Pens). We all go through that period when everything starts to look the same as what you already have/have tried, and you need something new to rekindle the interest. This article is literally a checklist of pens I have not tried but need to get my hands on ASAP.

2. Traveling with Fountain Pens - Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (via Pen Addict). Kimberly has a great guide for traveling with fountain pens as we head into the holiday season and many of us will be hitting the road or taking to the skies. Personally, I’m also an experienced pen traveler who does absolutely nothing special with my fountain pens before I get on an airplane. If they burp ink, they burp ink, and I’m just careful to have a paper towel on hand when I arrive at my destination. I rarely have any issues with modern pens.

3. Stalogy Planners (via Left Hook Pens). I continue to be very happy with my converted Stalogy notebook cut down to Traveler’s size, which Hayley was kind enough to mention in her own review.

4. Tianzi Sky Blue Piston-Fill Fountain Pen (via Rants of the Archer). Another lower-priced piston-fill fountain pen option? Apparently there’s one more I have to try!

5. The Go-To Notebook Review (via The Poor Penman). Chronicle Books has released a high-end notebook that appears to perform surprisingly well with fountain pens. What’s the most interesting to me is the fact that Mohawk Paper is prominently featured in the copy, suggesting they are trying to raise their profile in the stationery business.

6. Uni Jetstream Edge (via Writing at Large). The design on this pen is what caught my eye, but what kept me reading was the comparison to the Traveler’s Company ballpoint, a needle-tip favorite. I need to pick one of these up.

7. Ferris Wheel Press Cream of Early Grey (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli reviews and ink that has long fascinated me, even if it’s probably not usable for my everyday purposes. I do have a sample that I need to break out, eventually.

8. Accessories for the Desk: Makers Cabinet Hovel & Iris Review (via Pencilcase Blog). What, you mean part of this hobby involves making questionable financial decisions? Dries takes a look at two luxury desk accessories, the Hovel pencil planer and the Iris circle compass, which were recently rebranded under the name “Makers Cabinet”.

9. Paul’s Fountain Pen Journal (via Well-Appointed Desk). I also was not aware that Paul was offering a paid subscription to his fountain pen-focused publication, Paul’s Fountain Pen Journal. Please check it out, and Ana has all the links and details.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I looked at inks! (I know, I’ve been on an ink review kick lately but you all seem to be enjoying them and I have a lot of inks to get through. Plus I’ve been doing a lot of writing at the day job.) Check out my review of Anderillium “Cuttlefish Brown,” a sepia-colored ink, as well as this first look at several Sailor inks I picked up during my recent trip to Chicago that includes Manyo HaHa and four entries in the Sailor Ink Studio collection.

Check out the 2021 T.G.S. Holiday Gift Guide and New Shop Arrivals

In advance of this year’s holiday shopping season, I launched the 2021 edition of the T.G.S. Holiday Gift Guide, which features more than a dozen different gift ideas from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, including recently restocked old favorites and some new ideas for this year. This week’s Deals & Drops goes into the new arrivals and shop restocks in a bit more detail, including Hightide Sandglasses and Folding Book Stands, as well as the full range of Penco “Perfection” pocket pens! Finally, don’t forget that the “Gently Used” Shop has been restocked with items from my own personal collection that I’ve decided to part with.

Sandglasses

Book Stands

Enamel Pins

Washi Tape

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More! (For those in the Patreon, Check the Sale Page!)

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. 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. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales. Today, I listed a bunch of new gently used products in the Gently Used Section, including some rare Blackwings from my personal collection, a handful of gently used custom fountain pens, and some high-end notebooks that I’m never going to get around to using. Patreon users already have had their pick, but there are some great items remaining!

Sunday Reading for November 14, 2021

1. TWSBI Black (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). TWSBI Black needs more attention as a free-flowing black ink with high water-resistance. (We carry the full TWSBI ink lineup in The Curated Shop.)

2. Laban Gloria Ruby Red (via Rants of the Archer). Laban pens and ink have been receiving a lot of exposure lately. Laban has always been a prolific pen manufacturer, but they recently have released a series of “Greek Mythology”-themed inks that are taking off. This review contains some shots of the “Ares red.”

3. UKFP 2021 Christmas Gift Guide (via UK Fountain Pens). The first of the gift guides to hit the ‘net (at least the first that I’m aware of). Those of you in the UK or the EU should check this one out, since it focuses on . My own will follow sometime later this week.

4. Ink Overview: Esterbrook Inks Part 2 (via Macchiato Man). Yagan has another of his incredibly thorough reviews of an entire line of inks, this time the second installment of a look at the recently released inks from Esterbrook.

5. Pen and Notepad Review: Midori MD Fountain Pen, A5 Notebook, and MD Paper Cover Notebook (via Macchiato Man). This week, there’s a second, also incredibly thorough review of a brand close to my own heart, Midori. I absolutely LOVE the MD system (disclaimer, I sell Midori), and feel that it’s one of the best-integrated brands out there, in terms of the brand’s identity remaining visible throughout the entire product line.

6. Edison x Goldspot Pens Newark Orion Nebula Diamondcast Fountain Pen (via Pen Addict). I love seeing what pen makers have been able to do with Diamondcast material, and this Edison exclusive from Goldspot is one of my favorites.

7. Midori 2022 Pocket Diary Slim - Ojisan (via Well-Appointed Desk). Yes, there are pocket planners out there beyond Hobonichi and Traveler’s Company! If you’re looking for a small, inexpensive calendar, don't forget to check out what Midori has to offer.

8. Caran d’Ache Alfredo Häberli 2mm Fixpencil Review (via Pen Addict). I was too slow on the draw and missed getting these for the Curated Shop (they went fast!) but the ochre and periwinkle blue color combination looks amazing.

9. Wancher Primo Fountain Pen (via Pencilcase Blog). This new design from Wancher looks great, but it appears there may be some room for improvement in the usability department, especially with respect to the weight of the pen.

10. What I’ve Been Using This Week (via Inkdependence). I really do wish more people would write about their weekly usage and the pens they are using day-to-day. I’m going to make an effort to talk more about this myself.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I wrote about a new (to me) ink I’ve discovered, Birmingham Pen Company “Angelfish,” which is a super-sheener blue ink that actually behaves well and could see regular use. Since I was on a short family trip, Saturday’s post included a short recap of my trips to Anderson Pens Chicago and Atlas Stationers, two great stationery stores you should visit if you are ever in that city (one of my favorites). This week’s Deals & Drops announced a bunch of restocks in advance of the holiday shopping season - see the Shop Updates section below for details.

T.G.S. Curated Shop Restocks and a New Round of “Gently Used” Pens and Stationery!

At long last, I finally was able to receive a restock of the ever-popular Hightide Co. Folding Metal Book Stands, as well as certain Write Notepads products like the Landscape notebook that have been out of stock for a while. I’ve also added a bunch of items to the “Gently Used” sale, which features pens, pencils, and notebooks from my own personal collection that it’s time to let go, whether to simply clear clutter or to make room for new acquisitions and review material. Patreon members already have had their first pick, but there’s a lot left.

Hightide Co.

Write Notepads

Traveler's Company

Kokuyo

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More! (For those in the Patreon, Check the Sale Page!)

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. 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. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales. Today, I listed a bunch of new gently used products in the Gently Used Section, including some rare Blackwings from my personal collection, a handful of gently used custom fountain pens, and some high-end notebooks that I’m never going to get around to using. Patreon users already have had their pick, but there are some great items remaining!