Sunday Reading for August 14, 2022

1. 2022 DC Pen Show, Part 1 (via Rachel’s Reflections). Rachel has a huge 4-part review of the 2022 DC Pen Show, which will kick off “DC Pen Show Recap Sunday”!

2. DC Pen Show Recap, 2022 (via The Looped Square). Joseph fired the blog back up after the show! It was great to spend time with him and Dan behind the T.G.S. table.

3. 2022 DC Pen Show - A Really Quick Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Kimberly has her usual incredibly thorough review of the DC Show, as seen from behind the Franklin-Christoph table.

4. DC Pen Show (via Figboot on Pens). David has a nice video recap of the show, including the pens he brought home.

5. My Big Red Ink Swab Fest (via Fountain Pen Blog). I love a good red ink swab-fest! One of my favorite color families that inexplicably gets very little love.

6. Galen Leather Medic Bag Review in Pen World (via KraftyKats). Congrats to Chloe on her first Pen World review! Be sure to check it out.

7. Some Thoughts on Paper: Maruman Mnemosyne Notebook (via a fleeting ripple). Mnemosyne paper continues to be the reasonably priced workhorse paper in my everyday carry. The perforations are key.

8. Esterbrook Phaeton 300R (via Dapprman). I’m glad Esterbrook dropped this one; it just didn’t go well with the rest of the line.

9. Namiki Emperor Fountain Pen Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). The absolutely massive urushi pen from Namiki/Pilot gets the review treatment. For good reason (they’re expensive), you don’t see many of these out there.

10. KWZ Prairie Green, Galen Leather Exclusive (via Well-Appointed Desk). Galen apparently had this exclusive release at the D.C. Show, and it sold quickly.

In Case You Missed It….

I posted my own thoughts on the 2022 D.C. Show, and pen shows in general, on Wednesday, and it’s provoked some thoughtful discussion in the comments, as intended. I also posted this article on “practical planning,” which I wrote in response to questions I received at the table in D.C. on how I use undated calendars and planners.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

We’ve been making an effort to consolidate and focus the store, and things are starting to take shape, including more unique offerings from our favorite brands. This week saw the arrival of both the Platinum Plaisir Aura limited editions (which really are stunning, especially if you enjoy pearlescent white finishes), and the latest releases from Caran d’Ache, including the 2022 Claim Your Style Pens and the Dark Violet and Pastel Yellow 849 ballpoints. I’m especially excited about carrying more Platinum fountain pens, as I believe they make some of the best lower-cost pens on the market, which provide an enjoyable writing experience for both new and veteran fountain pen enthusiasts.

Caran d'Ache

Traveler's Company

TWSBI

Lochby

Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

I would love for the T.G.S. Patreon to become a core method of support for the T.G.S. website, and have tried to streamline it. I’ll also need to be a bit more vocal about its availability and what it offers. The Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens.

Sunday Reading for August 7, 2022

1. Pelikan Hubs 2022 (via Dapprman). Hubs are back! Go sign up for your city, especially if you’re in the Nashville, Tennessee area. We already have enough people to qualify but the bigger the Hub, the better!

2. The Treacherous Adventure of Gifting Stationery to Your Hobbyist Friend or Loved One (via mnmlscholar). Gifting pens and ink can be tricky, especially to those who are already deep in the hobby and those you may be trying to convert.

3. Galen Leather Magnum Opus (via Mountain of Ink). I love Galen’s hardcover “Magnum Opus” case, and I have some more fun stuff from them in for review after this weekend!

4. Kiwi Inks Quetzalcoalt (via KraftyKats). Kiwi inks have all kinds of crazy properties, ranging from extreme sheen (like this one), to shading, to shimmer.

5. The Paper Mind Passepied Hardcover Notebook Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). Good hardcover notebooks are few and far between, and I’m excited to see Paper Mind releasing one.

6. Beater Paperbacks: Kaweco Palm Green (via a fleeting ripple). Kaweco inks are extremely underrated, IMHO, especially this green.

7. My Current Top 5 Inks (via Fountain Pen Blog). Some interesting inks here, including some that I have in my own collection that I’m inspired to go ink up!

8. BigIDesign Dual Side Click Review (via Writing at Large). BigIDesign continues to tweak their winning formula for sturdy pens compatible with multiple refills, including this new side click mechanism.

9. One Year Later…. (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Congrats to Kimberly on a full year of pen blogging! I look forward to reading her post every week.

10. RandomThinks Ink Vial Holder (via Well-Appointed Desk). If you’ve never visited Keith’s table at a pen show, be sure to do so, and also to look up his Instagram account @randomthinks! He 3D-prints a wide variety of interesting pen and desk accessories.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I published a couple of pen show-related posts, since I’m traveling to the D.C. Pen Show this weekend. Wednesday’s post discussed things you can do at a pen show other than spend money, since I’ve long wished to see shows adopt a less fully commercial focus in favor of community building, which helps everyone. On Saturday, I posted a short recap of Friday with details on how to find us this weekend. I will probably be set up at the show only for the morning today (Sunday), since I fly out early afternoon and still want to spend some time simply roaming, but track me down if you’re there!

New This Week in the Curated Shop

If you visited me at the show, you may have seen that I had a tray of all the TWSBIs plus some new pens I’m considering carrying. Just arriving this week were three new TWSBI models: the Diamond 580 Rose Gold II in White, as well as the Diamond 580 Iris, which is simply stunning. The Transparent Yellow ECO has also been an incredibly popular release. Finally, right before I left I received a shipment of the new Platinum Plaisir “Aura” fountain pens, which are colorful versions of an inexpensive Platinum favorite that features their slip-and-seal technology.

Lochby Cases

Traveler's Company

TWSBI

Platinum

Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

I would love for the T.G.S. Patreon to become a core method of support for the T.G.S. website, and have tried to streamline it. I’ll also need to be a bit more vocal about its availability and what it offers. The Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens.

Sunday Reading for July 31, 2022

1. Drama in the Pen World (via SBRE Brown). A very interesting response with some observations on certain controversies that have roiled the pen community over the past year.

2. Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Magico, the OG (via Pen Addict). The Momento Magico, with the ink window, is the one Leonardo model I’ve not yet tried. I need to give this one a shot given how much I’ve enjoyed the standard Momento Zero.

3. My Humble Workspace (via Well-Appointed Desk). I love seeing how others work, especially fellow reviewers!

4. A Look at My Brown Ink Stash (via Fountain Pen Blog). Breaking down the ink stash is one of the more sobering tasks for any fountain pen user, especially when you start looking at colors together. Are these shades too similar? How many bottles of this same color do I really need?

5. Musgrave Tennessee Red Pencil Review (via Writing at Large). The Musgrave Tennessee Red, is, in my humble opinion, one of the prettiest pencils made right now, and the dark core is sublime.

6. Pen Porn: Benu Forest Pond (via Rachel’s Reflections). This is a new look for Benu, and I have to say that I’m enjoying it!

7. 2022 State of the Scholar: Tray One (via mnmlscholar). It’s always fun to see if my writing inspires anyone to take similar action. I especially love to see people’s curated pen collections and hear about why they select the pens they do!

8. How to Sell a Fountain Pen (via Inkjournal). During last week’s Patreon meetup, we had a discussion about the best way to sell fountain pens that you no longer use. This article is a great resource!

9. Dominant Industry Autumn Forest (via Mountain of Ink). The one new ink that’s still on my list!

10. Edison Pen Co. Comet Fountain Pen Review (via Pen Addict - Sarah). The Comet is Edison’s newest fountain pen model, which debuted at this year’s Chicago Pen Show. Be sure to check it out the next time you’re on their site or at their show table.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I wrote an article about seeking the “sweet spot” in pen size, especially with pens seemingly becoming ever larger. I also reviewed a pen I’ve had in the queue for a long time: My Hinze Pen in “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” resin. I’m looking forward to spending some time with Hinze and the rest of the pen community at the upcoming D.C. Pen Show this week!

D.C. Pen Show and Curated Shop Updates!

Many of you may have seen the announcement posted by Vanness yesterday that due to unforeseen circumstances, they will be unable to attend the D.C. Pen Show this week. I was planning to work with Vanness this week, so we’re busy rejuggling plans. As of now, the plan is that T.G.S. will be taking over two of the Vanness tables, though it remains to be seen whether we will be selling directly at the show, or instead set up with samples and testers. Be sure to stop by!

In the meantime, we are still running a 10% off “pre-pen show/summer inventory reduction sale”, with the discount automatically applied to certain items at checkout. While not discounted, we do have a handful of Traveler’s Notebook 2022 Limited Editions available in the blue “Airline” cover. Now is a great time to pick up a Traveler’s Notebook and stock it with refills and accessories! Finally, be sure to check out the “Gently Used” page, as there are a few pens still available, all in great condition!

Traveler's Company

Lochby

Maruman

Book Darts

Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

I would love for the T.G.S. Patreon to become a core method of support for the T.G.S. website, and have tried to streamline it. I’ll also need to be a bit more vocal about its availability and what it offers. The Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens. Attention Patreon Members: Yesterday I posted half-a dozen or so new “gently used” products to the sale page, so check it out. I’m doing a general “stash and sample” reduction, so more will follow.

Sunday Reading for July 24, 2022

1. Heatwave… (via KraftyCats). Stay cool out there, people!

2. How Pen Companies Fail the Pen Community (via SBRE Brown). I agree with much of what Stephen says here. The proliferation of high-end pens that objectively don’t write well out of the box is still far too prevalent, and should never happen.

3. Meininger Art Material (Denver, Colorado) - A Quick Walkthrough (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I love a good store tour! This is an absolutely HUGE art supply shop.

4. The DRILLOG v. 2 Machined Dip Nib (& Graft Spiral Barrel). The DRILLOG is back with a new Kickstarter, and from Ana’s observations, there have been some improvements, or maybe just a better explanation of what is reasonable to expect from the writing experience.

5. Stipula Etruria Magnifica Miele Selvatico 1.1 (via Dapprman). As a former fan of the Etruria, I’ve also found myself wondering what happened to Stipula over the years. I’m glad to hear that the quality is still generally good, and I’d love to pick up one of the faceted models.

6. Pencil Revolution Handmade Peekaboo Pride Notebook (via Writing at Large). Johnny at Pencil Revolution dove headlong into bookbinding over the past year or so, and I’m glad to see his work getting some attention!

7. Caramel Swirl: Visconti Rembrandt Eclipse (via a fleeting ripple). Visconti’s steel nib offerings are a bit of a mixed bag. Some I have tried have been very smooth, others on the drier side and scratchy. I’d recommend testing the secondary market.

8. Finishing My Greens: A Look at My Green Ink Stash (via Fountain Pen Blog). I likewise have come to the point where I’ve started to think hard about what new “stuff” I bring in to the house and add to the pen collection. That said, I have way too much ink that I need to start using or thin out.

9. TWSBI Midnight Blue on Muji Planting Tree (via Inkredible Colours). I love TWSBI’s Midnight Blue, and think it’s a highly underrated color in this particular range of blue-blacks (i.e., more of a “dark navy” than a “steel blue” or “blue-grey”).

10. RIIND Compact Pen Review (via Pen Addict - Jeff). RIIND is back with a smaller version of their knurled machine pen, which did very well the first time around. I’m excited to see if this one goes mainstream.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I talked a little about my desire to downsize my pen collection, and how I want to organize things going forward. You all have given me a lot to think about in your well-thought-out comments and responses! I also posted an unboxing/walkthrough of my latest acquisition, one of the 2022 Limited Edition Traveler’s Notebook Sets, the “Traveler’s Hotel” edition. (No, I couldn’t resist.)

This Week in the Curated Shop

I’m getting to a point where I’m feeling better about excess inventory, and the new direction is starting to take shape. I’ve managed to clear out certain slow-selling products to make room for new curated goods, including another release of the 2022 Traveler’s Notebook Limited Editions, one of which already has sold out and another of which is very close. Don’t sleep on these!

Our inventory reduction sale will be coming to a close following the D.C. Pen Show, so if you’ve been looking to take advantage, you’re coming up on your last opportunity. Certain things have been marked down, and you can receive a general 10% off most pens, pencils, and paper, automatically applied at checkout. (Certain exclusions apply.)

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Traveler's Company

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Lochby Cases

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Maruman Mnemosyne

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Washi Tapes!

Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

I would love for the T.G.S. Patreon to become a core method of support for the T.G.S. website, and have tried to streamline it. I’ll also need to be a bit more vocal about its availability and what it offers. The Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens. Attention Patreon Members: Yesterday I posted half-a dozen or so new “gently used” products to the sale page, so check it out. I’m doing a general “stash and sample” reduction, so more will follow.

Sunday Reading for July 17, 2022

1. Gioia Alleria (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I’ve not tried a Gioia fountain pen, and the aesthetic isn’t really something that’s in my wheelhouse, but I’ve seen nothing but good reviews in terms of their quality.

2. Thin Strokes, Thick Strokes: 1.1mm Lamy Stub Nib (via KraftyKats). Chloe has a guest post this week from A Fleeting Ripple (another great blog you should be following). Honestly, the standard Lamy 1.1mm stub shouldn’t be as good as it is, yet I find myself reaching for it periodically as well.

3. Water Lilies: Giant’s Pens (via A Fleeting Ripple). I have a pen on order with this same resin (Water Lily Koi), and it’s also interested to read about yet another newer artisan maker!

4. A Currently Inked That Is Currently Sharing (via mnmlscholar). I can’t go on enough about how enjoyable it is to have a pen club, either local in-person or either online, where you can share your love for stationery with other like-minded people! (Especially if you don’t have anyone in your family, at work, or in your close circle of friends who loves stationery as much as you do.)

5. Pens That Make You Go Ooh (via Dapprman). I think one of my own goals as I reevaluate things is to make sure I write with all my pens. Especially those pens I love and have kept because they both write well AND are visually appealing.

6. Graf von Faber-Castell “Perfect Pencil” (via Scrively). An iconic product, but is it super-functional from a usability perspective? Maybe for some people but probably not for me.

7. Otto Hutt Design 04 Fountain Pen (via SBRE Brown). Otto Hutt has been getting more exposure lately, especially how good their nibs are. Some of their designs are a bit too slim for me.

8. Nespresso + Caran d’Ache Fixpencil (via Bleistift). I wish I had kept one of these for myself when I had them in the shop. I do love the orange finish, even if I would definitely have replaced the Nespresso recycled lead with a 2B Technograf.

9. Ink Review #1859: Scribo Grigio (via Mountain of Ink). As discussed a bit further below in today’s post, I’ve been using Scribo Ink lately, and Scribo Grigio is a personal favorite.

10. Curnow A5 NEW PAPER Inserts (via Well-Appointed Desk). Known as being among the first to use Tomoe River in pocket notebooks and handmade journals, Curnow Bookbinding has started experimenting with new papers.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I had two posts: a follow-up look at the Lamy 2000 Multipen (or “4 Color Ballpoint), more than five years after I first reviewed this particular pen. I also reviewed another Scribo ink I’ve been using, Verde Prato, which is a quite functional bright green.

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Only a couple of these are left in T.G.S. “Gently Used”!

Visit the T.G.S. Curated Shop for Reduced Pricing Storewide!

We’re selling down a lot of our inventory as we refocus the shop going forward, so take advantage of 10% off pens, pencils, and paper (some exclusions will apply) from now until the D.C. Pen Show. The discount automatically applies at checkout, so no coupon code is necessary. Also, there are still a few pens left in the “Gently Used” section of the website. These have gone relatively fast, and I’m happy to see pens going to homes where they will be used and loved!

Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

I would love for the T.G.S. Patreon to become the primary method of support for T.G.S., and have tried to streamline it. I’ll also need to be a bit more vocal about its availability and what it offers. As of yesterday, I’ve streamlined the Patreon to two tiers: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens.