How to Use Your Notebooks in 2026 To Improve Your Life (via Writing at Large). Another excellent post with great suggestions on how to put your journals and notebooks to use.
Writing on for 2026 (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Despite her protests at being disorganized, Kimberly is much more organized with her notebooks/hobbies/projects than I will ever be. My biggest takeaway from this post, however, is that I REALLY need a rotary cutter for perforating pages.
Talking About 2026 Plans for Pen Shows, Conventions and More (via dwrdnet). It’s that time again, when we plan our pen show schedule for the upcoming year. We will be posting the T.G.S. Pen Show attendance schedule in the coming days.
My Full 2026 Techo Kaigi (SO EMBARRASSING!) (via Well-Appointed Desk). Only five notebooks? Embarrassing? Please.
A Spoon?! Yes. And Paper and Inks from Vanness Pens. (via Inkdependence). I don’t know what Skipidi is either, but orange shimmer sounds fun.
Diplomat Viper (via Figboot on Pens). For me, the only problem with this pen is that it keeps selling out….
ReMarkable Wish List (via Stationery Pizza). As someone who has used a ReMarkable2 for years now, yes, there is a laundry list of features I wish it had, but sometimes I appreciate the fact that they keep it relatively simple.
10 Years of Pens (via Rachel’s Reflections). Congratulations on a decade in the hobby! Especially when people seem to jump between interests so frequently.
Fresh Thoughts on the Pilot Prera (via Pen Addict). The Prera fountain pen was a new discovery for me this year, with the release of four solid colors that held more appeal than the clear pens. You might pay a premium for some Pilot pens, but the experience is predictably rock-solid.
In Case You Missed It….
This week on the blog I discussed my 2026 Notebook Setup, which I’ll be discussing more with Lisa on the upcoming inaugural episode of the Paper Trails Podcast (production is in progress!). I have a relatively practical/boring setup this year, which builds on things I’ve used in the past and is more of a “greatest hits” than anything else. Go with what works for me, even if it’s not the prettiest or most efficient. I also answered a reader question that I found particularly timely for the first of the year, which focuses on choosing and buying a first fountain pen, and pairing it with a suitable ink and paper.
This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop
Soooo much stuff arrived this week, with the 2026 “January restock” in full effect. The biggest new arrival that I was personally the most excited about was our collaboration with Rickshaw Bagworks and Nick Dominguez on a series of exclusive pen cases, which feature a “Clouds” design hand-drawn by Nick with multi-shading fountain pen inks. We’ve also added workhorse stationery brand Leuchtturm1917 to the shop, including their ubiquitous notebooks as well as the colorful Drehgriffel ballpoints and gel pens. Finally, we have a dwindling number of Kakimori notebooks and also the Kakimori Frost fountain pens and “ink-ball” rollerballs. Be sure to check out each week’s Thursday Drops post for the full list of new arrivals and restocks.
How to Support T.G.S. and Our Various Projects
If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and special promotions, consider supporting us via Patreon. The T.G.S. Patreon includes early access and discounts on exclusive shop releases, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly meetups. As of this morning, ALL Patreon supporters (including non-paying free members) have access to one or more initial “practice” episodes of “On the Paper Trail”.
