Sunday Reading for November 27, 2022

1. Still So Much To Be Grateful For (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). As a community, we do indeed have so much to be grateful for! And while I don’t spend a lot of time on Twitch, this list resonates with me.

2. Pelikan Hubs 2022 - Philadelphia: A Recap (via Pelikan’s Perch). I had a blast hosting this year’s Nashville-area Pelikan Hub, and have enjoyed reading about the different Hubs around the world. I will echo that finding a suitable location has become difficult as the event grows in size and popularity.

3. Slowing the Shopping (via Rachel’s Reflections). While this one may come too late for many of us (myself included), it’s still the holiday shopping season, with the temptation to overindulge.

4. A Case Against Black Friday (via Caroline Finds It - Caroline Weaver). If you’re not subscribed to Caroline’s newsletter, and are interested in reading about not just thoughtfully curated products in various categories but small business in general, you should subscribe ASAP.

5. Cosmo Air Light B6 Slim Notebook (via Well-Appointed Desk). I never got much into Cosmo Air Light as a paper, though I did enjoy the samples I used. If its properties interest you, get the notebooks while you can!

6. Kakimori B6 Bank Paper Planner Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). With changes to Tomoe River and, at least for now, the impending demise of Cosmo Air Light, people are looking for alternatives. Bank Paper has emerged as a favorite for many.

7. Heavy Duty: A5 Rhodia Notepad (via A Fleeting Ripple). I’ve been reading a lot in the pen community about how Rhodia is overrated. While there is definitely inconsistency among the different products, as a general matter I still consider it very good for the price point, especially for paper you plan to use in higher volume, such as at work.

8. Curating Towards Custom (via mnmlscholar). My own collection as a whole is starting to curate towards custom, and I’m very happy with that!

9. Meet Your Maker - Meg Blackburn, Black Robin Pens (via Pen Addict - Caroline). I always love reading about new (to me at least) makers, and I have a running list of makers whose pens I want to try. Add Black Robin Pens to the list!

In Case You Missed It…

Since this week was a holiday week here in the States, and one that traditionally kicks off the holiday shopping craziness, the focus was on a lot of sales. While there didn’t seem to be as many insane 30-50% off promotions (which hopefully signals a healthier approach to these types of things on the part of both businesses and consumers), it’s still a good time to pick up items you’ve had your eye on at a slight discount. That said, remember to support your independent shops and makers, who due to economics may not be able to offer the same type of discounting as big box or major online outlets. I published this “Indie Gift Guide” to complement my own annual shop Holiday Gift Guide (discussed below), focusing on those independent makers I have supported over the past year. I did also write a piece on my pencil “mini-collection,” which I’ve trimmed down over the years but still brings me a lot of joy.

Don’t Miss the T.G.S. Curated Shop Cyber-Week Sale - Use “GIVETHANKS” for 10% Off Most Items

Through Monday, use the coupon code “GIVETHANKS” at checkout to take an extra 10% off most items in the Curated Shop (excluding TWSBI). It’s our way of thanking readers and repeat customers, and hopefully gives you a little help with a head start on your holiday shopping. This week we had a major restock on most Caran d’Ache items, including the arrival of the “Colour Treasure” limited editions and the 10th release of the Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache.

Caran d'Ache

Field Notes

Opus 88

Desk Accessories

Consider T.G.S. Patreon - New “Gently Used” Items in the Patreon Shop!

For those who want to support T.G.S. without necessarily adding to their accumulation via shop purchases, the Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5 (with a discounted annual option) 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. (Reminder that those items which made it through Patreon become available to the general readership, and this week you can get an extra 10% off Gently Used items with the coupon code referenced above!) Many thanks to all of you who already decided to back via Patreon. Your support means the world to me!

Thanksgiving Thursday Drops and Cyber Week Promotions

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! We’re eminently grateful for all of you, our readers and customers. Take 10% off most items store-wide through Monday at 11:59pm, US Central Time using the coupon code “GIVETHANKS” at checkout. As always, domestic U.S. orders over $75 ship free. (Yes, the code should still work in the “Gently Used” section, though technically it’s not part of the main shop!)

This year’s finish on the Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache includes two natural-finish pencils.

A bunch of new items hit the site this week that you won’t want to miss, primarily the launch of the Caran d’Ache “Colour Treasure” collection and a general Caran d’Ache restock, ranging from 849 fountain pens to bicolor pencils to the newly released set of Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache. The promotion extends across categories, not just writing instruments, so be sure to check out our selection of Curated Notebooks and Paper, Desk and Reading Accessories, and Washi Tape and Pins. If you’re getting a head start on gifting prior to December, you may find our 2022 Gift Guide helpful, and we’ll have additional content through the weekend.

1. Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint “Colour Treasure” limited edition. This year’s holiday edition from Caran d’Ache comes in two different variants, a warm tone featuring shades of red, yellow, orange, and pink, and a cooler tone focusing on blues and green. The design is intended to evoke Caran d’Ache’s iconic colored pencil sets.

2. Caran d’Ache “Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache, Edition No. 10. This year’s release is scented with “Patchouli’s Wood,” the latest collaboration between Caran d’Ache and Swiss Parfumier Mizensir. This year’s set includes some gorgeous pencils - always an eagerly anticipated release!

3. T.G.S. Exclusive Penwell in “Aged Red”. Looking for a gorgeous gift for the fountain pen enthusiast in your life? Check out this T.G.S.-exclusive edition of the Penwell, in a special “Aged Red” finish designed to evoke the look of urushi lacquer.

4. Opus 88 Fountain Pens. There’s never been a better time to test out an Opus 88 fountain pen, what with a holiday discount and all. We have both the “Minty” and “Jazz” Japanese-style eyedroppers in stock, as well as a selection of fountain pen inks to fill them with.

5. Nahvalur Nautilus Ebonite Fountain Pens. I plan to write more on ebonite as a material in the near future, but what spurred me to explore this category was the Nahvalur (formerly Narwhal) Nautilus fountain pen, which we currently stock in the “Stylophora Berry” finish, along with the Nahvalur “Original Plus” vacuum filler.

6. Hightide Attaché Marbled Fountain Pen. This small, lightweight pocket fountain pen features a clip and a smooth fine nib. I’ve been enjoying using this for portable planner carry, and shockingly have been loving the basic black version.

7. Caran d’Ache 849 Fountain Pen. Certain of the primary colors have been out of stock for a while, but we recently received a new shipment just in time for the holidays.

8. Caran d’Ache 2022 Limited Edition 849 in Dark Violet and Pastel Yellow. Don’t pick up just one, get both, since the colors complement each other nicely. The “Dark Violet” finish features yellow writing, and vice versa.

9. Caran d’Ache “Claim Your Style” Edition No. 4. I don’t necessarily know why, exactly, but this year’s Claim Your Style colors feel fall-ish, and since we’re just now getting “Fall” weather here in Tennessee, these feel especially timely.

10. M+R Brass Pencil Sharpeners. We have the Pollux back in stock, as well as most of the other M+R Brass sharpeners, including the brass bullets with and without the keychain holes.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Sunday Reading for November 20, 2022

1. Traveling with Ink: Porto, Portugal (via Fountain Pen Blog). I’ll be adding this article to my collection of pen stores to visit on future travels.

2. New Orleans Adventures (via Sarah Read). Scriptura is one spot I haven’t hit in New Orleans, maybe for a future trip?

3. Shibui North Kitsune (via Dapprman). I love seeing interesting new designs from independent pen makers, and the engraving on this one makes it unique.

4. Good Made Better Made Portable (via Penquisition). Somehow I missed the release of the Penwell “Traveller Clip”!

5. Phoenix Pen Stands (via KraftyCats). Good pen stands are infinitely useful if you work at a desk, especially for clipless pens that can roll. These are some interesting designs.

6. Life Noble Book Hardcover Notebook (via Blake’s Broadcast). Life has apparently released a hardcover version of their Noble Note series. I’ve not seen these before and need to check them out.

7. Risky Business: Montblanc 146 LeGrand (via A Fleeting Ripple). I had a similar odyssey trying to get my first ever 146 to write properly. You can indeed find these pens with great nibs (and a lot of “gently used” character) on the secondary market quite easily, at good prices.

8. Indie Packaging Influence (via Rachel’s Reflections). Does packaging influence my own purchasing decisions? I think I agree with Rachel’s conclusions here.

9. Dubito: Kaweco Green Lilliput (via A Fleeting Ripple). The Lilliput is one of those pens that I need to try for a second time, especially now that it’s available in this excellent green color.

10. Midori MD Paper Products Colored Pencils (via Well-Appointed Desk). Tina reviews the Midori MD Colored Pencil Set. (Which we promptly sold out of! More on the way!)

In Case You Missed It….

Since I served as Hubmaster for the 2022 Nashville Pelikan Hub, most of my pen-related efforts this week went towards getting that event off the ground, and it was a rousing success! Yesterday I published what I envision as the first of two 2022 T.G.S. Holiday Gift Guides: this one focusing on products from our shop, and the next focusing on products from independent makers whom you may want to explore, including several new ones that I discovered this year.

This Week in the Curated Shop…

The big news this week is the arrival of a new Field Notes shipment, including all of the most recent limited editions, as well as a restock of the “Front Page” reporter-style notebook and the “Heavy Duty” top-bound pocket notebook. We also ran a post focusing on building your perfect office workspace, and many of the items highlighted in that post are similarly highlighted in the gift guide.

Write Notepads

Field Notes

Lochby

Opus 88

Consider T.G.S. Patreon - New “Gently Used” Items in the Patreon Shop!

For those who want to support T.G.S. without necessarily adding to their accumulation via shop purchases, the Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5 (with a discounted annual option) 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. For Fountain Pen Day I added a handful of pens, as well as the last of my pocket notebook stash, to the Patreon store, which backers will want to check. (Reminder that those items which made it through Patreon become available to the general readership!) Many thanks to all of you who already decided to back via Patreon. Your support means the world to me!

Sunday Reading for November 13, 2022

1. Pelikan Hubs Are Back! (via Pen Addict). Pelikan Hubs are this week! I’m the Nashville-area Hubmaster, so if anyone is interested in joining and you haven’t signed up, just let me know.

2. Fountain Pen Myths (via Rachel’s Reflections). I didn’t even know that some of these were “myths” about fountain pens! An interesting read, especially if you’re new to pens.

3. What Makes a Stationery Purchase “Good”? (via mnmlscholar). I think I lean more towards a “staying power over time” standard, personally.

4. Monteverde Sweet Life Blue Velvet Cake (via Dapprman). Blue Velvet Cake was one of the most popular “Sweet Life” inks back when this series was first released a few years ago.

5. Montblanc Patron of the Arts Moctezuma Fountain Pen (via SBRE Brown). Why not include a review of a crazy high-end, completely out-of-reach pen this week?

6. November Foliage Ink Palettes (via Mountain of Ink). So here in Tennessee we’ve gone from November feeling like September to November feeling like, well, January, but we did get a short glimpse of fall foliage last month!

7. Vintage EF Blackwing 602 (via Well-Appointed Desk). Believe it or not, I’ve never used an original EF Blackwing. I do use a lot of pencils, but I guess the hype and the current cost for an original just got to me.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I turned my attention away from Fountain Pen Day (which was all-consuming, yet insanely successful - thanks y’all!). I wrote my annual paen for the ballpoint pen, which is my No. 2 writing instrument of choice, as well as a post comparing five of my current favorite ballpoint refills.

New This Week In the T.G.S. Curated Shop!

2023 Planners from Traveler’s Company have dropped, as well as 2023 limited and special addition accessories including the pencil board. Yesterday, I added a huge batch of Field Notes, including some of the best-looking editions I’ve seen in quite some time. In addition to the Hatch Show Print collaboration - which of course I’m going to stock because, well, Nashville - the covers on the “Underland” and “Signs of Spring” editions might be among my favorites. The Reporter-style “Front Page” and “Heavy Duty” editions also make a return to the regular non-limited edition lineup. Finally, be sure to keep an eye on the “Gently Used” section, as I’ve been regularly cycling pens, paper, and more that I’m clearing out of both my personal stash and the store review sample stash.

Field Notes

Penwell

Lochby

Rhodia

Consider T.G.S. Patreon - New “Gently Used” Items in the Patreon Shop!

For those who want to support T.G.S. without necessarily adding to their accumulation via shop purchases, the Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5 (with a discounted annual option) 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. For Fountain Pen Day I added a handful of pens, as well as the last of my pocket notebook stash, to the Patreon store, which backers will want to check. (Reminder that those items which made it through Patreon become available to the general readership!) Many thanks to all of you who already decided to back via Patreon. Your support means the world to me!

Sunday Reading for November 6, 2022

1. Fountain Pen Day: Pens I’d Run into a Burning Building For (via A Fleeting Ripple). Last week was Fountain Pen Day, when the community gathers each year to celebrate our favorite writing instruments. I’ve enjoyed reading how everyone celebrates, this post included.

2. Fountain Pen Day Giveaway! (via Well-Appointed Desk). You have until Tuesday to get in on this KWZ giveaway, with two of their best-known inks.

3. A Pilgrimage to NYC’s Fabled Yoseka Stationery (via mnmlscholar). I’ve yet to visit Yoseka, but it’s top of my list for the next time I’m in NYC.

4. Flax Pen to Paper - Road Trip! (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I enjoyed getting to meet the Flax team in San Francisco, and look forward to visiting their shop next time I’m in LA.

5. 2022 Scriptus Pen and Writing Show (via Rachel’s Reflections). Scriptus is the single-day show in Toronto, which content-wise looks like an amazing show but the crowds were certainly something to behold.

6. Travel First Class with the Onoto Magna Greenwich (via UK Fountain Pens). Ok, so I need to pick up an Onoto for review. The GMT function probably doesn’t interest me from a pen perspective, but it’s still a creative addition.

7. Pocket Size Review: Benu Minima Skulls and Roses (via Penquisition). It’s been a while since a Benu has grabbed my attention, but these did immediately. I may have to pick one up.

8. Ink-a-Pet: Sleeping Cat and Little Penguin (via KraftyKats). Chloe reviews the Ink-A-Pet ink vial holder, which appears to be the product that every true pen and ink enthusiast never knew they needed. Plus the post has a discount code!

9. Cartier Pasha Fountain Pen Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). I have a custom pen that features a vintage Cartier gold nib, which I absolutely love. The nibs are indeed on the smaller side but they’re excellent writers.

10. Finer Things: Ferris Wheel Press Ink Collection (via A Fleeting Ripple). Ferris Wheel Press has been killing it lately with their latest ink series in some extremely interesting colors.

11. A Few Bloggiversary Thoughts (via Fountain Pen Blog). I always love reading blog origin stories and what drew people to this hobby.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I took a second look at the Aurora Optima fountain pen, and also looked generally at why I like this pen so much: the style. I also reviewed the Opus 88 “Minty,” a new model from Opus that’s been making the rounds, and shares the same general “streamlined flat top” profile that I enjoy so much with the Optima.

View fullsize

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Enter the Fountain Pen Day Giveaway and Take Advantage of the Ongoing Promotions: They End Tonight at 11:59pm CT!

The big news this week in the shop was the launch of our various Fountain Pen Day offers, plus a general discount of 10% on most items. Visit the Fountain Pen Day post for details. We also added a bunch of new products from Hightide Japan to the Curated Shop, including the “Attaché” pocket fountain pen, as well as new colors and designs of the melamine pen trays, a restock of the Sandglasses in the larger sizes, and all colors of the folding metal bookstands. Stay tuned as we gear up for the Holiday Shopping Season (which may already be underway)!

Penwell

Hightide Pens

Opus 88

Traveler's Company

Consider T.G.S. Patreon - New “Gently Used” Items in the Patreon Shop!

For those who want to support T.G.S. without necessarily adding to their accumulation via shop purchases, the Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5 (with a discounted annual option) 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. For Fountain Pen Day I added a handful of pens, as well as the last of my pocket notebook stash, to the Patreon store, which backers will want to check. (Reminder that those items which made it through Patreon become available to the general readership!) Many thanks to all of you who already decided to back via Patreon. Your support means the world to me!