It's Hobonichi Time: Roterfaden A5 with Hobonichi Cousin inside — It’s almost Hobonichi Time!

Sunday Reading for November 26, 2023: Cyber Week Edition

November 26, 2023

10 Things I’m Grateful For, the Fountain Pen Edition (via a Gathering of Curiosities). I’m thankful we have posts like this one.
Using an A4 Organizer on a Daily Basis (via Philofaxy). Sure, it takes a bit more planning and slightly more complicated logistics to carry every day, but count me a fan of the A4 organizer.
2023 Hannukah Gift Guide (via Penquisition). Looking for Hannukah gifts? Start here! (And check out Evan’s new Benu collaboration!)
Plotter Alternatives (via Rachel’s Reflections). Interested in a binder system like Plotter, but don’t want leather, want a slightly thicker binder, etc.? Here’s a comprehensive series.
Splitting the Difference (via mnmlscholar). Part of the fun with inks is finding one equally suited for work and fun.
Best Sale - FPD v Black Friday v Boxing Day (via Dapprman). This is an interesting post from a UK perspective. Here in the U.S., what I’ve noticed is that many larger retailers are simply running sales for the entire month of November.
Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Sketchers (via Writing at Large). This is an interesting new twist on the gift guide, from a different perspective!
Cleaning Tips That Will Help Keep Your Fountain Pens Writing Great (via Fountain Pen Love). It’s almost time for the great year-end fountain pen cleanout! I’m slowing the pace at which I’m inking pens, in the hopes of starting fresh on 1/1/24.
Reflections on Some Currently Inked Pens (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). The TWSBI Classic is the one TWSBI I’ve never tried, believe it or not….
Find Those Black Friday Deals! (via Well-Appointed Desk). Yes, go ahead and get that pen you’ve been eyeing, but remember to support smaller retailers as well.

Camel Pencils from three years back — Three years’ worth of Camel Pencils from my personal collection

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I reviewed one of my favorite woodcase pencils of all time, the Camel HB Pencil. I also wrote the first post in a contemplated series: “From the T.G.S. Mailbag,” in which I answer three frequently asked questions that I receive from readers.

Allex Scissors Mini 100, both Fluorine coated and stainless steel in all color options

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

Through tomorrow, take 10% off your orders with the coupon code “GIVETHANKS23” at checkout! There are also markdowns throughout the store, including automatically applied 15% discounts on certain items. You can see the details here, including any exclusions.

We’ve recently added Allex Scissors and Camel Pencils to the shop, which are two of my favorite all-around stationery products. We also have special editions from Caran d’Ache, a Write Notepads restock and more!

Allex Scissors

TWSBI

Book Darts

Anterique

How to Support TGS!

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), there are several ways that you can support us. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop, especially during the upcoming holiday season! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which also includes early access to quarterly gently used sales. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

Write Notepads Memo Pads Stocked for the Holidays, on the shelf!

Sunday Reading for November 19, 2023: Holiday Ramp-Up Edition

November 19, 2023

Pen Frustration, Pen Magic (via a Gathering of Curiosities). Do you particularities about your pens ever prevent you from simply enjoying them? R.B. reflects on a post from r/fountainpens asking this question.
Revisiting Diamine Inkvent 2022 (via Cheryl Lindo Jones). I had grand plans to find a copy of the 2022 Inkvent and take a practice run before starting 2023, but I may have waited too long and might just pick a couple of my favorites from this post.
Recap of TIPS 2023 (via Inkredible Colours). Will I get there in 2024? I hope so.
It’s a Conference Not a Show - 2023 Chicago Planner Conference (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I think we need more conferences in the community, distinct from commercially-oriented shows.
Mike’s Pen Fun Fountain Pen Review (via Pen Addict). I love reading a review about a pen from a new independent maker!
Making Filofax Personal Size Your Everyday Organizer (via Philofaxy). Is the personal size the equivalent of Plotter Bible Size?
Ink of the Week: Sailor Amamoyoi (via Fountain Pen Love). To date I’ve not spent much time at all with the Sailor multi-shaders or multichromatic inks. That needs to change as I’ve seen so many of these at pen club and shows, and they’re generally becoming so popular, that I need to familiarize myself with at least a few.
Robert Oster 7th Anniversary Inks (via Mountain of Ink). Has it really been 7 years of Robert Oster Inks? I’ve not seen these colors before (but then again it’s hard to keep up).
Early Thoughts on the Tibaldi Infrangible Black Gold Fountain Pen (via Fountain Pen Blog). Ebonite feed on a reasonably priced pen. Enough said.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I reviewed the TWSBI Kai limited edition fountain pen, which is a special TWSBI piston filler model that they only release periodically, every few years. Yesterday, we also released the 2023 TGS Holiday Gift Guide, which has been updated to reflect some new arrivals this year and to reflect some new gift ideas for this year’s holiday season.

The T.G.S. YouTube Channel has also been more active! In addition to releasing a new “Currently Inked” video, which I’ll try to do more often, I’ve published video review supplements on both the Santini Italia Libra and Sailor 1911L Kyomachi Legend Blue fountain pens.

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

While the 2023 Holiday Gift Guide will highlight many recent shop arrivals (which were selected with the holidays in mind), you can read about our Anterique restock/expansion here, which is the big news from this week - the “High-lighters” are really cool and interesting looking. We also have T.G.S. Book Darts once again in stock and ready to ship, as well as a full shipment of Write Notepads Memo Pads and Classic Hardcover Notebooks!

TWSBI

Lamy

Anterique

Highlighters

How to Support TGS!

Sunday Reading for November 12, 2023

November 12, 2023

How Pens Leave and Enter the Gathering (via A Gathering of Curiosities). How do you manage the number of pens in your collection, if at all? Do you adopt a “one-in, one-out?” philosophy? How do you choose which pens stay and which pens go?
Fountain Pen Day 2023: An Interview with Mr. FPD (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I’ve been in the hobby long enough to recall when Fountain Pen Day first started. I enjoyed reading this interview with my friend Cary Yeager, who started the whole thing!
Fountain Pen Day Project: Starting My Ink Swatch Library (via Cheryl Lindo Jones). Another Fountain Pen Day has come and gone. Did you have any special pen-related projects that you tackled last week?
Tokyo Pen Show Haul (via Inky Rocks). Ok, so I’ve been watching TIPS videos for the past week and have now decided that I’m going to do anything and everything in my power to get there next year.
Pen Upgrade: Pilot 912 with Custom Nib Studio Spencerian Nib (and Flexible Nib Factory Feed) (via Well-Appointed Desk). If you are looking for a soft flexible nib and are willing to invest in customization, I cannot recommend Gena enough for this grind.
This Is All of It (via Line Variation). I really do need to photograph my own collection, even if just for informational/inventory purposes.
Summoning All of the Grinds. Well, Five of Them (via mnmlscholar). There are many ways to choose a “currently inked rotation.” Some people go by color, others by size and shape, and as here, a nice selection of different nib grinds.
Monteverde Jungle Chameleon (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Whoa, this very dark purple really jumped out at me!
Flushing New Fountain Pens (via Dapprman). This post points out an important thing to remember with any new pen - if you have flow or skipping issues with a new arrival, be sure to rinse it out and re-ink first because the problem could simply be manufacturing residue or dried ink from quality control testing.
Ink of the Week: Scribo Grigio (via Fountain Pen Love). Or, as I like to describe it, “Best Ink of All Time?” Seriously, it may come to that, as I have three pens inked with it right now.
Pelikan M200 Pastel Blue (via Mountain of Ink). A nice review with photos of the latest Pelikan M200 release, which is a pastel blue color paired with ivory. I tend to prefer Pelikan’s transparent demonstrators in this line but variety is good!

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I reviewed a pen that I picked up at this year’s Dallas Pen Show: a Nagasawa Stationery exclusive 1911L dubbed the Kobe Affection Kyomachi Legend Blue! I also wrote a piece outlining my plans for the remainder of 2023 and 2024 in terms of my notebook and planner setup, as well as some additional insight into how I manage my workflow using analog tools.

Finally, be sure to keep an eye on the T.G.S. YouTube Channel! Yesterday I hit publish on a companion video to my recent review of the Santini Italia Libra fountain pen, and I have another such video in the works on the Sailor 1911L Kyomachi Legend Blue. Video content on these two pens offer me the ability to provide some additional context when discussing size, writing samples, etc. You can expect more of this type of content when I review stuff going forward.

Anterique Brass Ballpoints arrayed on leather book, with all of the colors — We are now fully restocked on the Anterique Brass Ballpoints, including two new colors! (Keep in mind that the top portions are interchangeable with the standard Anterique Pens, allowing you to mix and match to create pretty much any brass + color combination you like.)

Curated Shop Arrivals: New Lamys, Caran d’Ache Special Editions, and Anterique Brass!

The past few days have been huge for the Curated Shop, as we’re listing new arrivals prior to the holidays. The rest of the Caran d’Ache Keith Haring special editions arrived, including the Keith Haring 849 Ballpoints in two different designs, along with Anterique Brass Ballpoints in two new colors.

On the heels of our Kaweco expansion, we’ve also decided to offer additional pens from Lamy, including one of my favorite sub-$200 14k nib options: the Lamy Studio. Be sure to check out all of the new shop arrivals for the remainder of the month as we have more on the way.

Anterique

Lamy

Caran d'Ache

Roterfaden

How to Support TGS!

If you enjoy our content (whether on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), there are several ways that you can support us. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop, especially during the upcoming holiday season! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which also includes early access to quarterly gently used sales. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

A6 Roterfaden alongside A6 Hobonichi Notebook — I still can’t decide on the best A6 Roterfaden for my A6 Hobonichi next year….

Sunday Reading for November 5, 2023

November 5, 2023

Ink Thoughts: Montblanc Dragon Red (via A Gathering of Curiosities). This is a lovely shade of red. One inevitable consequence of the ongoing “limited edition ink craze” - combined with the fact that many companies are now expanding their standard ink lineups to include hundreds of colors - is the duplication or near-duplication of colors (even if it’s unintentional and not part of a cynical cash grab).
Platinum Chou Kuro Black Ink Review (via Pen Addict). None more black: the review.
Hobonichi A5 Notebook (via Stationery Pizza). I’ve recently picked up both Hobonichi Planners and the Notebooks in A5 and A6, and look forward to working my way through them. It’s been a while since I’ve revisited the Hobonichi lineup.
Professional (Hand)writing Tool (via Pen Picture). What qualifies as a “professional” writing instrument? Honestly, I’ve gotten by using pretty much anything I want in the office over the years, but what type of pen or pencil best suits your needs will be specific to your particular situation.
A Quick Survey on How We Experience Wet Inks and Dry Inks (via mnmlscholar). The survey linked to in this article only takes a few minutes to fill out, and I’m interested to see the results. I love how this hobby leads people in so many different directions.
Time for a Change (via Rachel’s Reflections). Fountain Pen Day always gets me thinking about how I optimize my own rotation. I plan to do a big clean-out this evening.
Pen Show Pick-Ups: An Over-Due Overview (via The Poor Penman). I don’t think I’ve done a personal overview of everything I picked up this year, much less published a grand look back. Maybe in connection with the year-end review pieces…
Bright Night Designs Bright (via Dapprman). Yet another reason to eventually make it to the UK, with this proliferation of independent makers hopefully helping to further grow the pen show scene.
M600 Art Collection - Glauco Cambon Special Edition (via Pelikan’s Perch). I had the opportunity to see one of these in person this weekend - it’s a gorgeous pen, though there are less-pronounced red tones in person than appear in the picture.
Trick or Treat: Sailor North America Decreasing Prices on Select Collections (via Well-Appointed Desk). My guess is that this is a result of the North American pricing being out of whack with the rest of the world, driving customers to overseas retailers and the grey market, combined with a seemingly endless stream of “limited” editions that hang around for years and that retailers apparently have trouble selling due to oversupply.

The Tile 2-Pen Box from NFP Design shown with two recent TWSBI Releases: the ECO-T “Rosso” and the TWSBI Kai.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I reviewed the “Tile” 2-pen box from a new company I had the opportunity to visit with at this year’s D.C. Pen Show: NFP Design. And since it was Fountain Pen Day week, I published a short piece on why I think this event, entering its 12th year, is important, going beyond the annual sales promotions.

Celebrate Fountain Pen Day with us and get yourself some TGS and Fountain Pen Day Swag in your order!

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop (It’s Fountain Pen Day! Or Fountain Pen Week! Or Fountain Pen Weekend….) PLUS New Gently Used Items!

Today is the last day of our own Fountain Pen Day promotion and sale. You can take 10% off most orders (excluding brands such as Roterfaden and TWSBI) using the code “FPDAY23” at checkout, and there are also tiered “add-ons” at certain order thresholds. You can read the full details here. Also, be sure to enter our Fountain Pen Day giveaway, with full details on yesterday’s blog post and Instagram. While Roterfaden and TWSBI can’t be discounted, purchases of these items will count towards your tier bonuses.

Finally, the Gently Used Page has been updated to include those items that remain after Patreon members took the first pass! These specific items are not eligible for further discounting, as they’ve been priced to move.

TWSBI

Roterfaden

Kaweco

Diamine

Patreon Update - Support T.G.S. via Sample Sales, Early Access, and Meetups!

If you’re interested in further supporting T.G.S., consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which features not only access to meetups and the early gently used sales (one of which is pending now), but more exclusive content. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your pledge!

Sunday Reading for October 29, 2023

October 29, 2023

The YosekaLab Planner, Part 2: Vertical Quadrant (Divided) (via A Gathering of Curiosities). The YosekaLab Planner continues to be something that is piquing my interest. I’ve come to enjoy quadrant-style layouts as well.
To What Level Should You “Restore”? (via KraftyKats). The restoration process presents many interesting questions and considerations for vintage pen collectors and enthusiasts. I generally take Chloe’s approach here.
Meet Your Maker: Ben Stewart, Mayfair Pens (via Pen Addict - Caroline). I have a Mayfair pen currently in the queue to review, and I can’t wait to break it out after reading this profile.
Musubi Pocket Folio Notebook (via Well-Appointed Desk). I love the feel of Spica Bond paper, and was thrilled to see these notebooks released at the San Francisco Pen Show.
Nibs and Feeds with Kokuyo’s THIN Paper in Mind (via mnmlscholar). While Kokuyo’s thinner planner paper can work well for planning on the go (the absorbent paper dries fairly quickly), you do need to carefully consider pen and ink combinations that will work best.
Stationery Micro Kit (via Pen Picture). What is your “minimal” stationery carry, when weight and space are the most important factor?
Rollerballs Revisited and Gels as Well (via Line Variation). It’s hard to beat the Pilot Precise V5, which was one of my go-to pens for years. I think I still have a bunch lying around somewhere.
Journaling Series: Journaling When There Are No Words (via Writing at Large). Sometimes the words just won’t come, but you can still journal.
MIG Brass Fountain Pen with Mini Kit (via Macchiato Man). Looking to support your local makers? Here’s a new Australian-made pen!
Monteverde Color Changing Ink Set (via Well-Appointed Desk). I’m not exactly sure what I would do with these, but it’s an interesting idea.