Thursday Drops: Quirky Stationery Products That Are Surprisingly Practical

When you’re shopping to stock a store, you definitely don’t want to focus solely on what other people are carrying. You want to look for the fun and unusual items that are difficult to find elsewhere. By far, the most enjoyment I’ve had in running my little shop over the past few years comes from watching these types of finds catch on and the brands take off. Here are ten of my favorites! You can view these and more in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and don’t forget to take advantage of the items on the Gently Used page, which can be combined with shop purchases to save on shipping.

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

1. Opus 88 Minty Fountain Pen. You need to reward pen companies when they step outside the box a bit, and I feel like Opus did this with the Minty, particularly the color selections and the decorative banding on the cap and barrel finials. The Minty remains one of my favorite Opus releases from the past couple of years.

2. Mazzuoli Nobile Italia Ballpoint Pen/Mechanical Pencil. This historical airship-inspired writing instrument features two different options: a Parker-style ballpoint pen refill (three different colors of Schmidt Easyflow 9000 refills are included) or a Schmidt .7mm mechanical pencil insert. The shape is perfectly ergonomic, and comes in four attractive finishes.

3. Highide Attaché Marbled Fountain Pen. Pocketable fountain pens that post to a full-size writing instrument have become the rage lately, and Japanese stationery company Hightide has released their own contribution. This well-priced cartridge/converter pen features a nice fine nib and comes in several attractive colors.

4. Kokuyo Mark+ Dual-tone Highlighter. Ever since these arrived, I’ve been carrying a full set of each color in my bag. I’m a serial highlighter, and the ability to emphasize important material by using a darker tone of ink is incredibly useful.

5. Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache, Edition No. 10. The tenth release of Swiss stationer Caran d’Ache’s signature pencil set features four of my favorite finishes: blue, green, and two different natural wood tones.

6. TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Salmon. The TWSBI Swipe is unique in and of itself, but what makes this particular pen fun is the color. A true pinkish-orange (well, “Salmon”), it sort of evokes the tone of the Opus 88 Minty.

7. Midori MD A4 Notebooks and Covers. A5 notebooks are everywhere, but A4? They’re a bit harder to come by, especially in bound formats. Not only does the Midori MD notebook come in a blank A4 format, but there are undyed leather and Japanese paper cover options available as well.

8. Lochby Venture Pouch. Tired of carrying both a stationery pouch AND a traditional zippered, slotted pen case? Lochby’s Venture Pouch combines both into one convenient format.

9. Midori MD Multi-Year Diaries. While the 5-Year Diary has been popular for a long time, did you know that Midori also makes a whopping 10-year version? If 5 or 10 years is too intimidating, what about the 3-Year Diary?

10. Midori MD A5 Natural Undyed Leather Sleeve. Most people are familiar with Midori’s natural undyed leather journal covers, but they also make leather pouches and sleeves designed to hold not just an A5 notebooks, but pens and other stationery items.

Spotlight on Midori MD Notebook Journals: A Wealth of Versatile Formats

So far this year, posts on journaling have received a lot of traffic (and comments!), and journals are flying out the door in the shop. It’s encouraging and gratifying to see so many people enjoying analog journaling, and even if I haven’t been able to respond directly to all of your comments, I’ve enjoyed reading them, especially the comments discussing all of your journaling styles, methods, and prompts.

I can see myself using the Grid-Block Notebook Journal as a Planner: you will have eight “boxes” on two pages facing one another, so you can use a box per day plus a section for notes or a bullet list?

While we carry a lot of notebooks appropriate for journaling (and pretty much any notebook can be made to work as a journal), the Midori MD system is the most popular. In addition to the standard MD “notebooks” in lined, grid, and blank formats, Midori also sells A5 notebooks that they bill as “Notebook Journals,” which come in different layouts that many find helpful for creative journaling. Of course, the dot-grid version is a favorite (and probably our overall top-selling Midori MD Notebook), but the A5 “Frame” version is also popular with those who draw, paint, or paste in photographs and other mementos. The newly arrived A5 “Grid Block” notebook is the most interesting to me, as it divides each page of grid ruled paper into four quadrants. The Midori MD Notebook Journals are the same size as the standard A5 MD Notebook, so they are compatible with Midori MD Covers and other accessories.

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Traveler’s Company Brass Index Clips and other Traveler’s Company/Midori Accessories enable you to organize your journals and notebooks.

Of course, for those who journal regularly and want a true day-to-a-page notebook in a single volume that will stand alone by year, the Midori MD Codex will remain the gold standard. We have Codex journals in both Dot Grid and Blank formats, along with the clear plastic covers. (Note that the Codex journals do NOT fit the standard MD Paper or Leather covers, which are intended for the slimmer MD Notebooks and Notebook Journals.) You can check out our full range of Midori paper offerings here, in addition to matching pens and pencils.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Midori and Traveler’s Company.

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.