Sunday Reading for January 7, 2024: Happy New Year!

1. Tokyo’s Best Stationery Store: “Cute Things from Japan” (via Inky.Rocks). Add this one to the list for my Tokyo trip! I’m so sad that I missed them at the San Francisco Pen Show.

2. 2024 Stationery Intentions (via A Gathering of Curiosities). I love reading about everyone’s intentions for 2024, especially those who have been in the hobby for a while. “Streamlining” is an increasingly common theme.

3. 2024 Journal, Planner, and Notebook Setup (via Pen Addict). I need to do my own review of the William Hannah. It’s an excellent flexible notebook option.

4. $30k in Pens from Taccia and Palisades (via Figboot on Pens). A touch outside of my price range, but fun to see nonetheless….

5. 23 Memorable Inks in 2023 (via Ink Octopus). Just what I need, a list of more inks to buy and try in 2024! :)

6. Diamine Inkvent 2023: A New Year’s Eve Review (via A Gathering of Curiosities). It’s interesting to hear everyone’s reactions to this year’s Diamine Inkvent Calendar. Everyone’s “No Way!” category seems to contain the scented inks. :)

7. The Inkvent Draft Is a New Family Tradition (via mnmlscholar). In our house, the one-way Inkvent Draft would get pretty boring real fast! This is a great idea for a multi-addict household.

8. Pen Show Calendar Updated! (via Well-Appointed Desk). This is my go-to resource for pen show logistics, and the calendar stays up-to-date throughout the year.

9. Old Inks (via Goodwriterspens). Collecting old inks is something that I dabbled in for a while early on, and shockingly, many older inks remain stable and usable years later.

10. Planning in 2024: The 12-Week Year (via Writing at Large). Breaking down the year into manageable chunks is an excellent way to get started with planning.

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Did you know there is a fine-tip Lamy EMR Pen? In both Safari and AL-Star format!

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I published my daily journal lineup for 2024, which is all Hobonichi (each used for a different purpose). I also wrote the next installment of my “Strategic Paper Replacement” series, in which I talk about my experiments with e-ink paper tablets like the Remarkable 2 and the Kindle Scribe. And, finally, we come to the end of Inkvent 2023, with my full-length YouTube recap that includes my thoughts on all 25 inks.

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This Week in the Curated Shop…. More Pilot!

The first new arrivals of 2024 are starting to trickle into the shop! On Friday we received a shipment of pens from Pilot, including the black-trimmed Vanishing Point “Capless” pens, as well as the Pilot Explorer, a relatively new pen from Pilot at the $25 price point that’s sharp looking and is an excellent well-balanced writer. I inked up a matte black medium myself. We’re also fully restocked on Pilot Iroshizuku inks, including favorite colors such as Shin Kai, Yama Budo, Tsuki-Yo, and Sui-Gyoku (one of the newest additions). Finally, read about our favorite TWSBI releases from 2023.

Pilot

TWSBI

Highlighters

Profolio

Help Support T.G.S. in 2024!

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. This month, Patreon supporters have had access to additional Inkvent content, including commentary on my favorite Diamine Inkvent inks and more. The first of these Inkvent posts is public, so please check out Patreon to learn more!

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

Sunday Reading for December 24, 2024 (Christmas Eve Edition)

1. Currently Inked Christmas (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Merry Christmas, to everyone celebrating!

2. Year in Review: What Happened with My 2023 Stationery Resolutions? (via A Gathering of Curiosities). I love this kind of accountability. :)

3. My Top Three Fountain Pens for 2023, and a Stationery Year in Review (via Urban Adventure League). Three great pocket/portable fountain pens here.

4. Year-in-Review - 2023 Pens (via Rachel’s Reflections). Rachel had a great year full of diverse acquisitions.

5. My Theme for 2024 (via From the Pen Cup). Something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately, personally. Still working on a theme….

6. Meet Your Maker - Tim Cullen, Hooligan Georgia (via Pen Addict - Caroline). If I have one personal acquisition goal for 2023, it might be to get a hold of one of Tim Cullen’s pens featuring his metalwork.

7. Kilk Celestial Blue & Black (via Figboot on Pens). I’m likewise a fan of Turkish brand Kilk’s design, especially the materials they use.

8. Diamine Inkvent 2023, Day 22 “Tinsel” (via Cheryl Lindo-Jones). Tinsel - a bright red with silver shimmer, might be the perfect “Christmas Red,” at least for me?

9. Burnham and Casein (via Goodwriterspens). I’m often asked about casein pens - casein is a milk-derived resin - which have a distinct highly coveted look among vintage pen enthusiasts, but are easy to damage and susceptible to rot.

10. Inkmas Day 11: Vinta Aegean Armada 1944 (via Well-Appointed Desk). One of my favorite Vinta ink showed up in the 12 days of Inkmas!

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Lots of new arrivals from TWSBI and Kaweco hit the shop (and my own personal Favorites list) at the end of 2023!

In Case You Missed It…

This week, I finished my year-end recaps on the blog. Don’t miss Part I: Five Favorite Acquisitions of 2023; Part II: Five Favorite Products Reviewed in 2023; Part III: Best Sellers from the T.G.S. Curated Shop; and Part IV: Series and Editorials. We’re also finishing up the 2023 Diamine Inkvent Calendar today and tomorrow, so tune in to the YouTube Channel to see what’s in store!

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

I’m leaving the shop open for the next few days, and while we’re off today and tomorrow orders will be processed in the normal 2-3 business days time. We have lots of new arrivals, including Profolio Oasis Notebooks, a new shipment of Nakabayashi “Logical” and Yu-Sari notebooks, new Field Notes, and new washi tapes from MT Tapes. We have the Holiday Gift Guide for those of you still looking for New Year’s gifts, and for last-minute Christmas presents, we have digital gift cards!

E+M Highlighter Leads

Craighill Pens

Profolio Oasis

Field Notes

Support T.G.S. and Get the Rest of our Inkvent Content via Patreon!

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. This month, Patreon supporters have access to additional Inkvent content, including commentary on my favorite Diamine Inkvent inks and more. The first of these Inkvent posts is public, so please check out Patreon to learn more!

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

Sunday Reading for December 17, 2023

1. Year in Review: 2023 Stationery Highlights (via a Gathering of Curiosities). There’s less than two weeks left in 2023, meaning…it’s time for year-end review pieces! I love seeing how everyone spent their year, whether that means acquiring, consolidating, or a bit of both.

2. My 2023 Brand “Discoveries” (via Rachel’s Reflections). The number of new brands constantly emerging in the pen industry, especially independent makers, never ceases to amaze me. 2024 was a great year.

3. Sailor x Nagasawa Kobe Affection Kyomachi Legend Blue - A Tale in Three Acts (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Interested in how the three versions of this pen compare? Check out this review.

4. Diamine Inkvent 2023, Day 14: Rainbow’s End (via Cheryl Lindo-Jones). Even though I’m doing my own Inkvent this year, I’m still following along with others working their way through Diamine’s annual set. Rainbow’s End (I insist on inserting the apostrophe) is one of my favorites from last week.

5. Like I Thought I Was Going to be a Famous Artist (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Out of all the toxic mindsets that emerged from the 1990s (and possibly other eras, but speaking personally here), the worst was parents/teachers/others telling their kids that “if you’re not immediately really good, and if it’s not going to make you rich or famous, you shouldn’t waste your time doing it”. Applicable to art and other things, and I suspect it’s a big reason why many of us are coming back to pens/inks/art supplies/journaling/[insert here] relatively late in life.

6. The Golden Rules of How to Use the Philofaxy Diary Inserts (via Philofaxy). Make your own Filofax (or Plotter) diary refills? A brilliant idea if you find yourself needing a non-standard layout.

7. Aurora 88 Blue Mamba Fountain Pen (via Blake’s Broadcast). Lots of people love the Aurora 88 “Mamba” series. I personally don’t have a thing for textured barrels, but these do look stunning in person.

8. Quality Urushi for Under $400? The Ensso Piuma Urushi (via Figboot on Pens). Urushi lacquer at a sub-$500 price point is rare due to the time needed for proper application.

9. Diplomat Elox (via Scrively). A Diplomat Aero, but at a higher price point. I like the looks of the Elox but Aeros have never stuck in my collection for some reason.

10. M205 Rose Quartz (2023) (via Pelikan’s Perch). I had the opportunity to see one of these at pen club yesterday. I know it’s controversial, but I love the white finial.

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Has anyone else noticed that shimmer inks are getting better these days? Not just better-looking, but more consistent in how they behave in terms of bleedthrough and dry times?

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I published another installment of my “Ask TGS/TGS Responds” series of posts, which I will likely incorporate into a larger FAQ resource for the site at some point. This one looked at shimmer inks and best practices for getting the best writing experience out of these and other specialty, higher-maintenance inks in general. I also published the first installment of this year’s Year-End Review, in which I take a look at five favorite acquisitions of 2023. If you’re interested in following along on this week’s Inkvent journey (where I open up the 2023 Inkvent Calendar), check out the YouTube Channel! Currently the channel is focusing on Shorts where I swatch the various Inkvent inks, but I have some longer videos in the works once I get through December. There’s also a lot of back content that I’ve made as I grow the channel.

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We just received another shipment of the special release Fixpencil “Creative Nomad” sets, designed with Swiss lettering artist Rylsee!

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

Holiday shipping is still underway, and we’ve managed to stick with a 2-business day turnaround time for most orders. Since we’re about a week out from Christmas, the timeliness of any delivery is in the hands of the carrier and strongly dependent on things like weather, distance, etc. If you’d like to arrange for overnight or expedited delivery of any packages, please reach out separately via the “Contact” link on the site, and for Nashville, Tennessee-area folks, we do local pickup and delivery!

This week we received a restock of Caran d’Ache items, including the Rylsee Fixpencil Limited Edition lettering sets, additional 849 Colormat ballpoints, and more. We also are fully stocked on most Traveler’s Company and Midori MD products, in preparation for the pre-New Years last-minute planner rush that I know is coming!

Caran d'Ache

TWSBI

Craighill

Penco

Support T.G.S. and Get the Rest of our Inkvent Content via Patreon!

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. This month, Patreon supporters have access to additional Inkvent content, including commentary on my favorite Diamine Inkvent inks and more. The first of these Inkvent posts is public, so please check out Patreon to learn more!

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

Sunday Reading for December 10, 2023

1. Grail Feeling: Aurora Internazionale Orange (via A Gathering of Curiosities). I find myself wishing I had picked up an Internazionale in blue, when they were available!

2. Interview with Daisy from Yoseka Stationery (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I love reading interviews with other shop owners!

3. Diamine Inkvent 2023 Days 1-5 (via Mountain of Ink). It certainly is that time of year again! I love reading everyone else’s impressions of the various inks.

4. Diamine Inkvent 2023, Day 9 (via Cheryl Lindo Jones). Day 9 (“Moonbeam”) might be my favorite “Inkvent” ink thus far.

5. Montblanc Writer’s Edition Agatha Christie Fountain Pen Review (via SBRE Brown). Reviews of this pen are few and far between, so when I see one, I will post it!

6. Cartier Diablo (via Dapprman). I have a Cartier nib from the late 1980s/early 1990s on a custom pen in my collection, and I enjoy it very much. I’m not sure the original Cartier bodies are to my taste.

7. Dip Pen Handles (via Goodwriterspens). Many people collect dip pen holders/handles, in their various formats. In addition to vintage options, I’m starting to see more custom turned versions as well.

8. Sakura Retrico Ballpoint (via Left Hook Pens). This is cool to see. I love ballpoint pens more of a technical, mechanical pencil format.

9. On Planners: The End… and the Beginning (via Well-Appointed Desk). It’s that time of year again, when we all finish our current planners and/or journals and start new ones!

10. Faber-Castell Electric Pink (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Faber-Castell makes a very nice series of often-overlooked inks, and this vibrant pink is one of the more legible (usable) pinks on the market, IMHO.

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What’s one thing I pretty much use every day? Bookmarks.

In Case You MIssed It…

I took a crack at Part II of my “TGS Responds” Series, answering questions from my mailbag about how I curate items in the shop! I’ve enjoyed writing these posts and may continue once a week or so through the month of December. I also wrote the first of a few contemplated year-end “check-in” posts in which I talk about five of my most-used non-pen stationery items.

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TWSBI ECO Creme + Rose Gold pens are now available!

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

This past week saw a restock of most Hightide and Penco products, including Sandglasses and Penco Perfection Bullet Pencils! We also have some remaining stock of the new Kaweco Art Sports in all but one material (Hickory Brown is now sold out, unfortunately). Finally, TWSBI ECO Creme + Rose Gold Fountain Pens will begin shipping out tomorrow. Don’t forget to check out the 2023 T.G.S. Holiday Gift Guide, and remember that in order to give yourself the best chance of receiving items by December 25, please try to place your orders by December 15. While we will be shipping up until December 23 before taking a short break, the sooner you get orders in the better.

Penco

TWSBI

MT Tapes

Traveler's Company

Check Out TGS Patreon for Free This Week - including Inkvent Content!

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. This month, Patreon supporters have access to additional Inkvent content, including commentary on my favorite Diamine Inkvent inks and more. The first of these Inkvent posts is public, so please check out Patreon to learn more!

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

Sunday Reading for December 3, 2023

1. The Gathering and the Menagerie (via A Gathering of Curiosities). R.B.’s posts on collecting are among the most interesting I’ve read this year, and certainly have me thinking about how I curate my own collection(s) to pare stuff back and focus on what’s meaningful.

2. Pens of the Tough Love Variety (via mnmlscholar). Some pens are just built to take the rigors of daily carry. Like the Kaweco Sport.

3. Diamine Inkvent 2023: Spoiler Free Introduction (via Writing at Large). Many of us are posting our daily Inkvent finds as we go. Just be sure to open your own Inkvent Calendar before checking your feeds!

4. A Sturdy Pen (Not Fountain) (via Pen Picture). Tombow’s pressurized pen (think Fisher Space Pen equivalent) was popular a while back, but I’ve not heard of it for a while.

5. 3D-Printed Diamine Inkvent Tree, Version 2.0 (via Cheryl Lindo-Jones). This needs to be a generally available product. Seriously.

6. Bringing Less Stationery? (via Stationery Pizza). This x 1000. I’ve not inked up many new pens in a while, as I focus on reducing my daily carry to a manageable level.

7. Early Thoughts on the Hongdian N23 Year of the Rabbit Fountain Pen (via Fountain Pen Blog). Hongdian is one of those companies people keep mentioning that makes inexpensive, Amazon-accessible pens with fairly decent quality specialty nibs. I’ll have to check one out eventually.

8. Ink Review #788: Vanness Fountain Pen Day (2022). Each year, our friends at Vanness release an official Fountain Pen Day Ink to match that year’s color theme. There are several inks now. Anyone have them all?

9. Nahvalur (Narwhal) Does Nashville (via Penquisition). Being an actual Nashville Native - one of five remaining in the city, don’t get me started - I have strong feelings on this pen, which I won’t get into in this short post, but I’m pleasantly surprised to see that they did make an effort to tie the colors chosen to Nashville. I do have to admit that I’m disappointed to see that the artist they chose to help design the pen is from and lives in Oklahoma.

10. Opus 88 Demonstrator Sapphire Fountain Pen (via Pen Addict - Sarah). It’s interesting to see that Opus 88 is doing more with their larger “ink tank” eyedropper line, in materials other than transparent.

In Case You Missed It….

For the past few weeks, I’ve been spending time going through my personal accumulations of pens and ink, selling some off and just generally consolidating. I wrote this short post about what turned out to be the three most “well-worn” items in my current rotation. In the meantime, I’m also participating in Inkvent for the first time ever! You can check out the first couple of days in yesterday’s post, along with details on my plans for documenting the entire Inkvent adventure.

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New Arrivals in the T.G.S. Curated Shop: Kaweco Art Sports!

This week saw the arrival of the latest round of Kaweco Art Sport Fountain Pens. For those of you who haven’t been in the hobby 5+ years, the Art Sport is a higher-end line of Kaweco’s iconic pen, in which Kaweco uses Italian resins to make a turned version of the Sport fountain pen that feels quite different from the original injection-molded version. There are four colors: Hickory Brown, Terrazzo (personal favorite); Pebble Blue, and Mineral White. In recent weeks we have also added an expanded assortment of woodcase pencils (including Camel pencils from Japan), and high-quality Japanese scissors from Allex.

Kaweco

Diamine

Pencils

Allex Scissors

How to Support T.G.S. This Year!

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!