Sunday Reading for May 8, 2022

1. Chicago Pen Show 2022 (via Pen Addict - Sarah). While I missed Sarah at the show, she did buy the John Twiss pen I was eyeing at Sarj’s table. Thank goodness that pen went home with somebody!

2. Chicago Pen Show 2022 Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). As always, Kimberly put together a thorough, comprehensive review of the Chicago show, particularly the food and after-hours option. Honestly, Chicago might be the best “food show” I’ve attended, in terms of the number of options within walking distance.

3. Esterbrook Estie Oversize (Candy) with Kirk Speer Needlepoint Nib (via Macchiato Man). I always enjoy reading Yagan’s incredibly thorough reviews, including this review of the recently released Esterbrook Estie “Candy”. The colors aren't necessarily my thing, but objectively I think it looks great. I also have one of the needlepoints that I’m in the process of reviewing.

4. ScriBo Rosso Chianti (via Dapprman). Just a regular reminder that I need to dip back into my ScriBo Inks.

5. London Nootropics Coffee (via KraftyKats). I’m not necessarily referring you to this post for the coffee review (thought I’m sure it’s good), but for the overarching observation about how pen people are coffee people. Spend any amount of time at a pen club or pen show and you’ll realize it’s definitely true.

6. Tiny Pen, Huge Heart: Platinum Pocket Pen (via a fleeting ripple). I’ve seen these pens before at shows, and they’re a lot of fun, though they’ve not attracted the same cult-like attention as pens like the Pilot Myu and M90.

7. Tono & Lims Protect U (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). All of the inks from this series are beautiful, but very light in color and not something that I could necessarily use due to readability concerns. Tono & Lims continues to expand their massive lineup!

8. LInk Love: The Kitten Edition (via Well-Appointed Desk). This article needs no further introduction.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I published a short recap titled “Five Takeaways from the 2022 Chicago Pen Show,” discussing my experiences and observations. Based on some samples I picked up at that show, I reviewed the new Sanzen Tomoe River Paper, from the first batch of reissued paper following the discontinuation of the original, much loved fountain pen friendly Japanese paper.

New This Week in the Curated Shop

This week saw the release of the 70th Anniversary 3-Year and 5-Year Midori MD Diaries, though I only have the 5-year versions left in stock. Possibly, there will be more on the way, though no guarantees. I also have restocked on all Traveler’s Notebooks, refills, and accessories, as well as most sizes of Midori MD Paper. Finally, we have a full shipment of TWSBI Swipes in all the various colors, all other models such as the 580 and the ECO, and as of today, the latest releases from Caran d’Ache, including the 849 .7mm Mechanical Pencil in Black Code, Gold Bar, and Brut Rosé finishes.

Lochby

Soumkine

Write Notepads

Midori MD

Interested in Joining a Pen Club? Reach Out!

So I’m actively involved in two different pen clubs, the Middle Tennessee Fountain Pen Club, which meets every Saturday at 12:30, and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which I run and which has become an online pen club of sorts holding meetups via Zoom every third Saturday (or thereabouts) at 8:00pm U.S. Central Time. If you’re in the Nashville area, and interested in participating in an active pen group with a lot of wonderful, interesting people, feel free to reach out to me via the site for details, or join the Facebook group.

Pen clubs are great because they provide an opportunity not only to meet like-minded people, but to try new stuff and see pens/inks/paper in person without having to buy it yourself. You can also easily coordinate things like group buys, ink sample swaps, and even mini-pen shows!

Sunday Reading for May 1, 2022

1. A Tale of Two Pens: Pilot Custom 823 (via A Fleeting Ripple). A great story about why you shouldn’t give in to the hype, and only pick pens that are right for you!

2. Penversary Pen, Wazzat? (via Pen Addict). Great idea! But I don’t need another excuse for me to buy a pen. LOL.

3. Kilk Novo Baroque (via Dapprman). I believe Kilk was present at the D.C. Pen Show at one point, and I had a chance to peruse their pens? Anyway, this pen has beautiful material and I love to see metalwork like this.

4. Graf von Faber-Castell Stone Grey (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I’m a fan of grey inks, but I prefer darker shades, and this one looks like a winner!

5. My Favorite Inks of 2021 (via Ink Sharks). Over the past couple of years, more muted colors have dramatically grown in popularity, which of course I love. There are some great inks here.

6. My Personal Pens Magna Carta Earth (via SBRE Brown). Magna Carta has some beautiful materials, especially if you enjoy larger pens at reasonable prices. The company is doing more U.S. pen shows, and they were in Baltimore.

7. A New Journey Begins with UKFountainPens.com (via UK Fountain Pens). So with Anthony stepping back from blogging full time, Onoto will be sponsoring UK Fountain Pens going forward. It’s a good thing for the community that we won’t be losing access to back content.

8. State of the Art: Creating a Place to Work (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I’ve always used headphones to tune out the world - probably to the detriment of my hearing - but for some reason I can’t work and listen to music with lyrics because it disrupts my concentration.

9. Laban Zeus Purple (via Mountain of Ink). I absolutely love these Laban Inks, and once I get my “review studio” set back up, I hope to get them all into rotation and photographed for the blog.

10. Colorverse First Horizon Set (via Well-Appointed Desk). This is a nice set containing some of the first Colorverse Inks to catch my eye in quite some time. Again, these more muted colors make me happy!

In Case You Missed It….

This week I escaped my under-construction living quarters to attend the Chicago Pen Show, and you can check out my post full of photographs from Friday. I also talked a bit about my ongoing archival project, in which I am trying to organize nearly eight years worth of content into something that’s easily navigable.

This Week In the Curated Shop

The big news from the shop this week was the arrival of a small shipment of Midori 70th Anniversary Products, including the XS Stationery Kit (now sold out), as well as the Midori MD Notebook Light 7 Notebook Set. We also received a full restock on Traveler’s Notebook Starter Kits and most refills and accessories, including the TRC Brass products like the brass ruler that’s insanely popular.

UPDATE: There are a VERY small number of Sunderland Pens now available for sale in the shop. Brad had enough remaining stock to make a few more pens, but this will be it for a some time, as the main Sunderland store is out of stock at this time and he will need to get caught up on pens.

Traveler's Company

Lochby

Write Notepads

Midori MD

T.G.S. “From the Archives” - My First Pen Show Review from the 2014 D.C. Pen Show!

Since I’ve been reflecting on eight years of T.G.S., and celebrating at a pen show, I figured it would be appropriate to go all the way back to 2014 and take a look at my first-ever D.C. Pen Show Writeup, back when I wasn’t even staying at the show hotel or socializing after-hours. (To be fair, this was still when pen shows tended to be a “clubbier” affair and hadn’t yet seen their recent rise in popularity among fans of modern pens, though the beginnings were there.) What’s especially interesting is the fact that I don’t have a single one of these pens or inks in my collection today!

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.

Sunday Reading for April 24, 2022

1. Fawning Over Flora (via Penquisition). The Opus 88 “Flora” is a quite creative design that I’ve never tried but which has grown on me visually. Should I pick one up?

2. Kaweco Sport Collector’s Edition Iridescent (via Well-Appointed Desk). My daughter picked up one of Kaweco’s latest Collector’s Edition fountain pens as her “pen show prize” in Atlanta. While we haven’t gotten to ink it up yet, it’s a beautiful little pen.

3. Wingback Mechanical Pen in Brass (via KraftyKats). Chloe reviews the Wingback ballpoint, which shares design touches with the mechanical pencil I reviewed several months ago. Even with the brass construction, the shorter design is extremely well balanced.

4. Crazy Horses: Galen Leather A5 Folio (via A Fleeting Ripple). Of all the different leather styles Galen Leather makes, the “Crazy Horse” patterns are my favorite, since they tend to accumulate scuffs and scratches and show them off in a way I enjoy.

5. My Analog Task Migration System: For When Life Lives Outside of My Plans (via mnmlscholar). Migrating (or rolling over) unfinished tasks and open items can be a challenge with analog task management and planning, since it’s not automated and requires you to regularly revisit those open items to stay on top of your tasks. A system like this one can work well.

6. Keeping a Notebook PERFECTLY (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I love seeing how other people use notebooks, and particularly how they handle the work/personal divide.

7. ScriBo Arancio di Sicilia (via Dapprman). Here’s one I can’t wait to try out and get into rotation. I can’t get over how good the ScriBo ink bottle is. I know I say that all the time, but it really is fun.

8. Comparative Overview: Lamy Dialog 3 and Lamy Dialog CC (via Scrively). Lamy has released a cartridge-converter version of their retractable nib Dialog fountain pen, and while I’ve seen one at shows I’ve not yet reviewed it. I do have a Dialog 3 and need to get it back into rotation for review.

9. Stylosuite Flex Nib Review (via Pen Addict). I’m glad to see the Stylosuite nibs getting more traction. I spent some time with Les at the Baltimore Pen Show trying out all of his various grinds, including the flex nib.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I continued my “office exile” due to home construction, though things are wrapping up and going forward I at least have a place to work, even if my access-to-storage situation will be in flux for a bit longer. This week I did a full write-up of the Lochby Field Journal, an A5 waxed canvas notebook cover from one of the more popular brands that we carry in the shop. I also wrote a piece on sticky notes, which I’ve discovered are “essential” to my stationery carry.

New This Week In the Shop

This week we received a full restock of Lochby cases, including the four-pen “Quattro” case, the Field Journal, and the Tool Roll. We also received additional Caran d’Ache Fixpencils and Write Notepads notebooks! Stay tuned for some additional Midori arrivals later this week.

Caran d'Ache

Lochby

Write Notepads

T.G.S. From the Archives: Omas 360

Even though it’s not one of my favorite brands, the OMAS 360 is one of those pens that I wish I still had (if for no other reason than it’s exploded in value on the secondary market). It makes me sad that designs such as these are no longer readily accessible, and available only for exorbitant prices in either original form or reissued by other companies.

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.

Sunday Reading for April 17, 2022

1. Pennonia Cheerio Waterbus Ink (via Pen Addict). Kimberly reviews the latest Pennonia Ink designed in collaboration with Mike Matteson of InkDependence. This use of pigment to accentuate color-shifting properties is really cool.

2. Special Occasions: Sheaffer Imperial (via a fleeting ripple). I love Sheaffer Imperial nibs, especially the ones with the slightly upturned tip, though I’ve never tried one of Sheaffer’s factory stubs.

3. PIlot Iroshizuku New Colors (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana takes a look at three new colors of Iroshizuku Ink, a light green (Hotari-bi), a coral (Hana-ikada), and a teal (Sui-gyoku). These replace Ina-ho, Tsuyu-kusa, and Tsukushi, which honestly were three colors I never used much though there are many out there who love them.

4. Wancher Dream Pen True Ebonite Sand Red (via Rants of the Archer). I’ve not seen a review of Wancher’s “Dream Pen” in quite some time, as they’ve been promoting other releases recently. I love a matte red urushi finish.

5. Scribo Inks (via Dapprman). I love Scribo ink, and yes, the ink bottle is a key part of that experience.

6. My Personal Pens: Leonardo Furore Grande (via SBRE Brown). The Leonardo Furore is a classically shaped streamlined fountain pen that gets less attention, undeservedly, than the Momento Zero-style pens. The Furore now has a “Grande” version.

7. Dip Pens & Fountain Pens: Not as Similar as You Think (via The Postman’s Knock). Interested in the differences between dip pens and fountain pens when used or calligraphy? You may want to check out this article.

8. Kakimori Inks (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli is starting to review some of the Kakimori inks from Japan, many of which are pigmented. I have several of these in for review myself (though everything is packed up and in storage).

9. Midori MD Colored Pencils (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana reviews the Midori MD Colored Pencil Set (one of our best sellers in the shop). As she notes, these are excellent colored pencils to annotate notes, in Midori MD’s three-color “signature” palette.

10. M605 Tortoiseshell-Black Special Edition (via Pelikan’s Perch). If Pelikan’s going to be regularly releasing M600/M605 special editions, I’m all for it, especially if they look as good as this one.

In Case You Missed It…

I’ve been exiled from T.G.S. HQ (i.e., my home office) while it’s under construction, so you may see some different types of content in the next few weeks, including the results of some long-neglected internal housekeeping. First up, the 2022 updates to the “Best Pens” Recommendation List! There aren’t many crazy revisions, but I have reshuffled my “Personal Favorites”. I also published this piece on why I think it’s time to abandon the “anti-gold trim” attitude that persists in some areas of the pen community. People were down on gold for many years, I think mainly because it was the only option available on certain pens for such a long time, but given the newfound plethora of options on the market (ruthenium, rose gold, etc.) it’s time to reevaluate.

New in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

Well, of course the big news is the arrival of the 2022 Limited Edition Traveler’s Notebook sets. We sold out of our allotment in less than 24 hours, and while I’ve requested more there’s (1) no assurance we’ll get any at all, and (2) if we do get a next shipment, it’s unlikely to be as big as the first. I’ll keep you all updated! We also received a major restock of Write Notepads writing pads, reporter notebooks, and landscape notebooks, including new colors such as “Plum” (purple), “Arctic” (light blue), “Forest Green”, and “Coral” (an orange-pink). Finally, we are restocked on Caran D’Ache standard matte-black Fixpencils, as well as the M+R Pollux long-point brass sharpener.

Caran d'Ache

Notebook Systems

Write Notepads

Planners

T.G.S. “From the Archives” - Pilot Custom 74

In today’s “From the Archives” throwback post, I thought I would highlight a favorite pen of mine that’s still on the Recommendations List: the Pilot Custom 74. In the years since I last updated this post, Pilot has released the Custom 74 in several new transparent colors, all of which sell quite well at shows and online, and the nibs remain superb. Everyone should have at least one Custom 74 in their collection, IMHO!

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.

Sunday Reading for April 10, 2022

1. 2022 Atlanta Pen Show Recap and Report Card (via PenAddict). The big news from the past week is that the pen show circuit is back in full swing. Atlanta was a great show, consistent with years past, and I expect it to continue as “things in general” pick back up.

2. What’s a Pen Show Like in 2022 (via Well-Appointed Desk). Yes, we want pen shows back! Give the people what they want!

3. Fountain Pen Quest Trail Log - Atlanta Pen Show Edition (via FPQuest). I must’ve just missed Ray who attended the show until Saturday morning. He also has a great recap.

4. Two Writer’s Boxes: A Cautionary Tale (via KraftyKats). While the Galen Leather Writing Box is quite a nice piece of stationery, there are “less quality” imitators out there.

5. IWI Inks (via Mountain of Ink). I heard about these Taiwanese inks for the first time at the Atlanta Pen Show, were Kelli and the Vanness crew working the show had

6. Nothing to Say: TWSBI Diamond 580ALR (via A Fleeting Ripple). I agree, the TWSBI Diamond 580ALR is an excellent everyday workhorse, and has gotten even better over the years now that it’s available in different colors.

7. Lesson’s from Saturday’s In-Person Pen Group Meetup (via mnmlscholar). Pen clubs and meetups are excellent venues for meeting other hobbyists and trying out stationery that you may not otherwise have an opportunity to see in person. Coincidentally, our local pen group met yesterday. If you’re in the Nashville, Tennessee area, consider joining the Middle Tennessee Fountain Pen Club, which meets weekly on Saturday afternoons. (Join the Facebook group or contact me for details, if you don’t use Facebook.)

8. The Good Blue R615 Fountain Pen (via Rants of the Archer). An interesting design, and yet another example of the creativity arising out of the pandemic as people rediscover analog tools and want to create their own.

9. Diplomat Aero (via Dapprman). Quickly becoming a modern classic, the Diplomat Aero is one of those interesting designs that provides a reliable writing experience that won’t break the bank.

10. The Perfect…. (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). A great read on why it’s sometimes best to jump off the treadmill of always looking for “the best [of whatever].”

11. Pilot Capless LS Fountain Pen (via Pencilcase Blog). I’ve yet to see an actual Pilot Capless LS in the wild, and with this price tag, I’m not sure I would be able to justify the “improvement” in the mechanism. (Noise has never been an issue for me with the standard Pilot Vanishing Point.)

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I finally reviewed the Lochby Quattro, the much in-demand four-pen case from Lochby that sold out nearly immediately. Working on getting more…. I also wrote a sort-of recap about my Atlanta Pen Show experience, and in a bit of a departure from the typical “pen show recap” (done quite thoroughly elsewhere, including several of the links above), I chose to discuss the pens I typically pursue at pen shows these days, as well as my ongoing research project exploring different nib grinds.

This Week in the Curated Shop

The big news this week was the arrival of the TWSBI Swipe in Salmon and Pear (or orange-pink and light green). We currently have them available in all nib sizes, along with most other TWSBI models, which we chose to restock at the same time. We also have a healthy stock of the Caran d’Ache “Pop Line” ballpoints, including the Black Code, Gold Bar, Brut Rosé, and the Original!

TWSBI

Caran d'Ache

Soumkine

TRC Brass

This Week From the Archives - The Waterman Carène

I thought it might be fun to revisit my review of the Waterman Carène, a flagship fountain pen from one of my favorite pen companies. The Carène (and Waterman in general) is tragically underrepresented in the modern fountain pen hobby, and I’d love to see them come back!

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.