Thursday Drops: Pocket Notebooks, Reporter's Notebooks, and Steno Pads for Writing-on-the-Go

Since our primary shop focus is on tools to use for your everyday writing, it has always seemed like a natural fit to maintain a broad selection of portable notebooks, including pocket notebooks, reporter-style/top-bound notebooks and notepads, as well as more specialty items such as steno pads. We are fully stocked on most of the brands we carry, and have more on the way! If you’d like to read more on the different types of paper that we carry and why, please visit our paper resources page, which contains links to a variety of posts and guides to various paper brands and their intended use.

Please note that we are down to our last few 2023 dated planners from Traveler’s Company. While we will always carry the undated/open planners (and in fact have a wide selection from multiple brands), dated planners won’t be reordered until the mid-year starts become available. Happy shopping!

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Each Lochby Pocket Journal includes one 68gsm Tomoe River Pocket Notebook to get you started.

Pocket Notebooks

1. Lochby Pocket Journal Notebooks. Featuring classic 68 gsm Tomoe River Paper, these 3.5” x 5.5” (i.e., “Field-Notes sized”) pocket notebooks are the most fountain-pen friendly, true pocket notebook that we carry. Pair with a Lochby Pocket Journal cover/case for an all-in-one everyday carry solution.

2. Traveler’s Notebook Passport-Sized Refills. Whether you use the refills by themselves or in the Traveler’s Notebook cover, the Traveler’s Notebook system offers a wide range of paper types from which to choose, including standard Midori MD Paper, Specialty Papers, or the quirky “B-Sides and Rarities” editions!

3. Kokuyo “Sketch” Field Notebooks. Slightly longer than your classic pocket notebook, these hardcover Japanese notebooks are perfect for list-making and smaller-format bullet journaling. We recently received a full restock of all available colors.

4. Field Notes Pocket Notebooks. We’ve restocked on nearly all of the current Field Notes standard and limited edition pocket notebooks, with - in my opinion - some of the best designs yet having been released over the past year. Case-in-point: the “Hatch Show Print” Collaboration, featuring a classic Nashville-based business; “Signs of Spring,” with its textured yellow cover, and the timely “Ignition” with two date books and a checklist journal.

5. Maruman Mnemosyne Card-Sized Memo Pads. Looking for a credit-card-sized pocket notebook to keep in your wallet, bag, or glove box? Maruman Mnemosyne is some of the most underrated fountain-pen friendly paper out there, and it comes in essentially every format you can think of, from pocket-sized notebooks and writing pads to spiral notebooks, steno pads (discussed below), and portfolios.

Kokuyo “Sketch” Field Notebooks come in an array of colorful cover options.

Top-Bound Reporters Notebooks

1. Write Notepads Reporter Notebooks. While we’re low on these at moment, Write Notepads reporter notebooks are among my favorite stationery items out there. The paper is fountain pen friendly, and those who have to do a lot of writing standing up appreciate the heavier chipboard cover.

2. Field Notes “Front Page” Reporter Notebooks. If you’re looking for classic Reporter-notebook styling, the Field Notes “Front Page” is your go-to option.

3. Field Notes “Heavy Duty” Top-Bound Pocket Notebooks. Featuring heavier paper than is typical in a Field Notes pocket notebook and a top spiral binding, we couldn’t keep these in stock back when they were a special edition, and were ecstatic to see that they joined the standard lineup.

4. Maruman Mnemosyne A7 Spiral Notepads. Small enough to easily fit in a shirt pocket and featuring excellent Mnemosyne paper, these are a cross between a reporter’s notebook and a mini steno-pad.

5. Maruman Mnemosyne Top-Bound Perforated Pads. One thing that I absolutely love about Maruman paper is the fact that the sheets are perforated, both in the traditional writing pads and in the spiral notebooks. In addition to classic A4 and A5 pads, Maruman makes a variety of other sizes, including narrower reporter-sized pads and squared notepads.

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Maruman Mnemosyne Gregg-ruled Steno Pad

Steno Pads

Another product line that I’m actively looking to build out, traditional “Stenographer’s pads” are roughly A5-sized and feature either “Gregg”-ruled paper (classic steno lined paper divided down the middle into two columns). The Maruman Mnemosyne version, which is what we currently have in stock, also has a grid/graph-ruled option.

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

Spotlight on New Arrivals: Midori MD Letter Pads and Mr. Boddington's Studio Composition Books

Late last week, we received two new items that I’m particularly excited about: Midori Letter Pads and Envelopes in both Midori MD and Midori MD Cotton Paper, as well as a new series of composition books from boutique stationer Mr. Boddington’s Studio. The decision to add one of these two product categories may be more obvious than the other: In addition to multiple customer requests to bring in more letter writing supplies, the start of InCoWriMo (International Correspondence Writing Month) next month makes the letter pads and envelopes particularly timely. We should hopefully have a restock of these as well most sizes of the Clairefontaine Triomphe writing pads later this month. In the meantime, we’ve gone ahead and put together a separate section of the paper shop that we will keep updated with letter writing supplies as additional items come in.

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The quality of these illustrations is top-notch!

As to the composition books, I simply couldn’t pass up these cover designs, particularly the pencils, outer space, and shark patterns. The paper is traditional standard-ruled, and works well with most pens (and certainly pencils). While it is not intended for fountain pen use, extra fine/fine nibs should do ok, with some show through and pinpoint bleeding on wider nibs and wet inks. That said, these books are meant to be enjoyed for the whimsical artwork, and I’ve set aside a handful for journaling and gifting throughout the year!

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The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold. Remember that all U.S. orders over $75 ship free!

Thursday Drops: InCoWriMo Supplies, Composition Books, Mini-Stationery & More!

International Correspondence Writing Month (or “InCoWriMo”, as it’s called) is upon us starting next month, so it’s time to load up on your letter-writing supplies including both specialty letter pads as well as fun supplies such as Washi Tape, Enamel Pins (if you like to include small gifts with your letters), and more! The first of the 2023 additions to the Curated Shop already have started to roll in, including composition books from Mr. Boddington’s Studio, and the Midori XS Stationery Kits. Finally, don’t miss our ongoing “gently used” sale, with several fountain pens, ballpoints/rollerballs, and inks still available.

Happy Shopping!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold (secondhand “gently used” page excluded, though we always stand by everything we sell).

1. Mr. Boddington’s Studio Composition Books. I’m a huge fan of the composition book format for a no-frills writing experience, and I wasn’t going to leave these whimsical designs on the table when I saw them. I’m going to sell these both individually and in a set of all six designs.

2. Midori MD Letter Pads and Envelopes. We’ve been asked to stock the Midori MD Letter Pads, and your requests have been answered in time for InCoWriMo! We have them in both the standard MD Paper as well as MD Cotton Paper, with matching envelopes.

3. Midori XS Stationery Kits. Ever wish you could take your desk with you in your bag? These compact stationery kits from Midori feature mini-versions of favorite everyday desk items, including scissors, a stapler, a craft knife, and more.

4. Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache Edition No. 10 Pencil Set. The latest edition of Caran d’Ache’s premium luxury pencil set features a woodsy patchouli-based scent developed in connection with Swiss parfumier Mizensir. I love that this year’s set features a blue, green, and two natural toned pencils.

5. TWSBI ECO-T Jade and Rose Gold Pen and Ink Set. The latest addition to TWSBI’s rose gold ECO lineup features the “softly triangular” ECO-T model, along with a bottle of what might be my favorite color of TWSBI ink, Midnight Blue.

6. TWSBI Precision Ballpoint Pens and Mechanical Pencils. Our initial batch of TWSBI Precision technical-style writing instruments sold out quickly, but we’ve received another shipment. I love the softer knurling, which I don’t find as sharp as other brands.

7. Giuliano Mazzuoli Nobile ITALIA Ballpoint Pen/Mechanical Pencil. I’ve been reaching for a lot of mechanical pencils these days, and the one that’s always in my bag is this ergonomic gem from Mazzuoli that not only serves as a .7mm mechanical pencil but also as a ballpoint. The pen ships with interchangeable Schmidt mechanical pencil and ballpoint pen mechanisms.

8. Platinum Preppy Wa Limited Edition Fountain Pens (Second Series). A favorite trend from the past year is the emergence of lower-priced options in the limited and special edition categories, with Platinum leading the way. The Preppy Wa has sold briskly two years in a row.

9. Platinum Plaisir Aura 2022 Special Edition Fountain Pen. Similarly, Platinum has taken to releasing a special version of their “next level” entry pen, the Plaisir, in different finishes. This year was the “Aura,” which added a tinge of color gradient to a pearlescent white barrel, in addition to three different sections.

10. Opus 88 Minty Fountain Pens. The “Minty” doesn’t get as much love as many other Opus models, which is of course why we brought it into the shop. I don’t really understand why, as it’s garnered rave reviews from bloggers and others who have tried it.

You CAN Take It With You: XS Stationery Kits from Midori

Let’s face it, all of us sometimes wish we could carry our entire desk with us wherever we go, keeping handy a pair of scissors, some glue, a stapler, and maybe even some white-out tape. If you’re someone who is actually carrying one or more of these things with you daily, the Midori XS Stationery Kit may be of interest! Available in both black and white, the small zippered clamshell case includes six different desk accessories (shown above clockwise from top left): (1) tape measure; (2) correction tape; (3) glue tape, or double-sided sticky adhesive; (4) pocket scissors; (5) a craft knife; and (6) a stapler. Each fits into its own slot in the included case, pictured below.

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Honestly, between shipping packages and home renovation, the thing I find myself reaching for the most is a tape measure, and if you like to work in centimeters, this tiny pocket-sized role of measuring tape can be a lifesaver. The Midori XS Stationery kit sells for $44 and is currently available in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. In addition to these and other desk accessories, we carry the full range of Midori pens and pencils, as well as Midori MD Paper. Refills for the correction and glue tape will be available in the near future, along with individual items from the kit.

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

A Year-End Promotion to Close Out 2022: Take 10% Off Most Shop Items

It’s time to start clearing out the shelves to make way for new releases and restocks in 2023. As a thank-you to all of our loyal readers and customers, through 11:59pm CT on January 1, take 10% off most items in the T.G.S. Curated Shop using the coupon code “LOYAL10” at checkout. (Some exclusions apply - see below for details.)

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Use New Year’s Week to Get Your Journals and Planners Ready for 2023!

The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is an opportune time to organize your planners and notebooks headed into the New Year, and if you haven’t picked yours up yet, it’s a great way to use your New Year’s discount. We offer a range of planners and journals, both dated and open, including the Traveler’s Company diaries in Standard and Passport sizes, Write Notepads Weekly Planners, Lochby Planner Refills, and even a few remaining Soumkine Universal Planners. Finally, just before Christmas, we received a restock of the WMS & Co. Weekly Planner pads, which are an excellent way to plan without committing to a full notebook or stand-alone planner. It’s also a great time to pick up a Midori MD Notebook and cover, which you can turn into a planner using the undated diary stickers.

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New Arrivals from TWSBI: Jade and Rose Gold ECO-Ts and TWSBI Precision Restock

Our shipment of the new TWSBI ECO-T in Jade and Rose Gold arrives today, and these pens will be packaged as a set with an 18ml bottle of TWSBI Midnight Blue Ink. We also are receiving a restock of the TWSBI Precision ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils, which have sold very well and are excellent “technical” pens and pencils. Happy Shopping!

Promotional code excludes TWSBI, Lochby, and Good Made Better. The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.