Thursday Drops: Clairefontaine Paper, and Pencils, Pencils, and More Pencils!

Those of you who have been asking about a Clairefontaine restock are in luck, because nearly all of it arrived this week! We now have all of the Clairefontaine Seyes/French-Ruled paper in most notebook formats, as well as standard lined and grid versions. Triomphe paper has returned just in time for InCoWriMo next month, along with A4 and A5 versions of most G. Lalo paper and envelopes.

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In addition to paper, we continue to build out our pencil selection! Musgrave and Viarco pencils arrived this week, including many new formats that we’ve never carried before. Be sure to check these out as most of our pencils are sold both individually and by the dozen, so you can put together your own sampler packs. (The one exception is Blackwing, which can only be sold by the dozen, and we have the new Blue/Pink Pearls, Red/Green Matte, and the Volume 574s in stock as well!)

Please take note that if you’re planning on coming to visit us this weekend, our brick-and mortar location will be closing early on Saturday (at 2pm). We are also open from 1-6pm today and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday)

1. Clairefontaine Triomphe Notepads and Notebooks. The bright white “Triomphe” paper is a favorite of letter writers, and it’s now available in notebooks as well as notepads. (Yes, the notebooks come in an ivory color as well as the classic bright white.)

2. Clairefontaine 1951 Clothbound and Staplebound Notebooks. The lined 1951 notebooks have a classic vintage-inspired design and come in several bright colors. These have long been a shop favorite and we’re excited to have them back.

3. Quo Vadis Habana Notebook Journal. One of my favorite notebook journals, which contains bright white dot grid Clairefontaine paper in a colorful assortment of leather-ish covers.

4. Blackwing Volumes 574 Pencils: The Native American Art Pencil. These pencils were designed in collaboration with Kaw, Osage, Lakota artist Chris Pappan to design a pencil that evokes geometric patterns found throughout many Native American expressions of culture.

5. Blackwing “Illegal Pads”. We have multiple rulings of the Blackwing legal pads back in stock, in both A4 and A5 sizes.

6. Rhodia Composition Notebooks. Rhodia’s upgraded take on the classic composition notebook is back in stock, in both orange and black covers.

7. Viarco Pencils. Viarco is back in stock in all of the various vintage designs! And, yes, we also have the metal spring-caps. These are now sold loose in a large box of 100s, so I’m going to divide them up into packs of 5 for sale.

8. Musgrave Pencils. We’re excited to add one of our local brands, Musgrave Pencil Co., to our curated selection of wood and mechanical pencils, with everything from the uncapped wood “Bugle” to the softer 4B Songwriter pencil.

9. Lochby Field Journal Mini. A smaller version of the A5 Lochby Field Journal, designed to hold four of Lochby’s Pocket Notebooks using the same cord-based system. Available in brown, charcoal, and navy blue. As noted, this will not only fit the Lochby 3.5” x 5.5” pocket notebooks, but also most Field Notes and similarly sized pocket notebooks.

10. Notsu Centre Rise Notecard Stand with Cards. I’ve been loving these fountain pen friendly Notsu index cards, which feature a “To Do” layout that allows you to track daily tasks, make lists and whatever else you like to check off as you go. The reverse has space for notes, and the 3x5 cards are prescored so they’re easily foldable. Standard dot grid index cards are also available.

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Notsu Dot Grid Index cards!

New Arrivals: Tennessee-Made Pencils from Musgrave and A Blackwing Restock!

Musgrave Pencils, made just down the road from us in Shelbyville, Tennessee, are one of my all-time favorite stationery products. A family-owned business for more than 100 years, Musgrave makes a variety of pencil styles at a reasonable price point, and we’re happy to offer a fairly large selection from the outset. To get started in the Musgrave world, I often direct people to the “Heritage” sampler set, which contains 12 different pencils from across the Musgrave line, including a couple of “jumbos” and some of their specialty graphite such as news and test-scoring pencils. We also have classics such as the Harvest Professional (a classic yellow No. 2), three different varieties of the Musgrave Bugle, a 4B “Songwriter Pencil”, and the B/No. 1 “Pencil King”. (The latter two pencils are round, and extremely comfortable to use.)

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The latest Volumes release features extra-firm graphite and a burgundy eraser!

Finally, nearly all Blackwing is back in stock, including additional Blackwing 602 pencils, the latest Volume release (“Native American Art” Edition), and one-step long-point sharpeners. We’re going to continue to add pencil products throughout the year, so stay-tuned!

Come visit us in person! Public hours are Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, Saturday from 10-6pm, and otherwise by appointment. We look forward to seeing you this week!

Thursday Drops: Introducing the Lochby Field Journal Mini, New Notebooks from Anecdote Goods, and More!

Now that we’re into the second half of January, we’re starting to see new arrivals show up on our doorstep as warehouses restart shipping. The first big new product release of 2025 is the Lochby Field Journal Mini, designed to hold up to four pocket notebooks in the “standard” 3.5” x 5.5” size. (This includes Field Notes and the Lochby Tomoe River 68gsm paper notebooks.) We also received a general restock of our other Lochby products, which include the popular full-size Field Journal, the Quattro Pen Case, and the Venture Pouch.

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We also want to welcome Anecdote Goods, a Los Angeles-based notebook company that makes sturdy notebooks covered in either buckram cloth or vegan leather. We’ve tried to find some new brands that represent a balance of performance and value, and these perform quite well for a $20-and-under price point. Finally, we have a fresh shipment of everyday ballpoints, including Pilot S20s, Pilot Birdies, and Uni Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pens in colors old and new. (Perhaps to pair with your new Anecdote?)

Our brick and mortar shop is open again this week for regular hours Thursday through Saturday, and otherwise by appointment. For directions and specific hours keep an eye on this page, which will also reflect any changes each week due to inclement weather, travel, etc.

1. Lochby Field Journal Mini. One of the main requests at pen shows last year was a Lochby Field Journal sized to fit the Lochby Tomoe River Pocket Notebooks. Well, that day has come! Available in the same three colors as the rest of the Lochby lineup, the smaller Field Journal has a four-cord setup that allows you to loop in four different pocket notebooks.

2. Lochby Pocket Notebooks. These 3.5” x 5.5” pocket notebooks feature 68g Tomoe River Paper in either dot, lined, or plain format, and are back in stock just in time for the Mini Lochby Field Journal.

3. Anecdote Goods Hardcover Journals. A common request that I’ve had in the shop is for a solid everyday notebook that represents a balance of quality and value. These hardcover notebooks from Anecdote feature a buckram cloth cover with a pleasant texture, and either dotted or lined paper that handles most ink fairly well, though especially wet inks and fountain pens broader than medium might see some show-through.

4. Anecdote Goods Softcover Journals. These inexpensive softcover journals feature 192 pages of lined paper and a vegan leather cover with an elastic closure. Note that this paper is lighter weight than in the hardcover journal and should probably be limited to non-fountain pens.

5. Profolio Notebooks. These softcover fountain pen friendly notebooks feature multi-lined paper similar to Nakabayashi Logical Prime/Logical Air and Clairefontaine Seyes-Ruled, though in a warm cream tone.

6. Lochby Quattro Four-Pen Case. One of our most popular accessories, the Quattro features four pen slots, which are offset to allow for a slimmer form factor as well as additional protection for your pens.

7. Lochby Venture Pouch. The reversible Lochby Venture Pouch combines a standard pen/pencil/stationery pouch with a pen case, using a cool reversible design. Check out this YouTube video to see how it works.

8. Pilot S20 Ballpoint Pens. The Pilot S20 ballpoint has become one of my favorite new everyday workhorses. The refill is the Dr. Grip-style “Cocoon”, which features Pilot Acro-ink in a .7mm fine tip and is available for purchase separately. Check out our Workhorse Pens write-up from yesterday.

9. Uni Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pens. Now including a new beige color! These favorite 4-colors-plus-mechanical-pencil multi pens come in muted pastels plus a comfortable bamboo grip. (Oh, and we have more of the Karimoku collaborations as well, which include a section made from repurposed furniture wood.)

10. Anterique Brass Ballpoints. The classic click pen, kicked up a notch. These feature the exceptionally good Anterique Mach-Ball refill and a brass barrel which gives the front of the pen a nice balance. They also patina well over time.

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New Arrivals: Ballpoints and Multi Pens to Kickstart Your New Year's Productivity

I had a bit of a surprise Monday morning, when an unexpected delivery from Japan arrived. (Somehow I must’ve missed the shipment notification.) Included in this first big delivery of the New Year was a restock of the excellent Uni Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pens in three colors, Sage, Blue Grey, and the new “Beige”, as well as the orange and blue Karimoku collaboration finishes.

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Fans of muted earth-tones like beige and sage will love the Uni Jetstream 4+1 “Bamboo” series.

We also received more of the exceptionally good Pilot S20 ballpoints, which I’ve enjoyed so much I’m working up a “Workhorse Pen” post highlighting what I consider one of the best low-viscosity ballpoints out there. Featuring Pilot’s “Acro-ink” in a Dr. Grip-style refill, this .7mm ballpoint writes a smooth, dark line, and features a contoured wood barrel that will appeal to many pencil fans as well as ballpoint enthusiasts. Finally, we’ve received the ballpoint version of the Mini 5-friendly Pilot Birdie, so you can complete the trifecta set (pictured at top).

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I’m trying very hard to get the matching mechanical pencils, which apparently can be difficult to source.

Come visit us in person! Public hours are Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, Saturday from 10-6pm, and otherwise by appointment. We look forward to seeing you this week!

Thursday Drops: Pilot Dip Pens, Midori MD, Caran d'Ache Fixpencils and More!

As we await anywhere from 6-10” of snow in the Nashville area, it’s a great time to be inside enjoying your stationery! We have a few new arrivals this week, ranging from the Pilot Iro-Utsushi Dip Pens, to a fresh restock of Midori, to Caran d’Ache Fixpencils and more! It’s the perfect weekend to get some journaling in. Don’t forget to check out our Gently Used and Clearance, where we have some individual Inkvent samples and other products we’re clearing out at year-end.

Please note that due to the impending inclement weather, our brick and mortar store will likely be closed Friday and Saturday. Keep an eye on this page as well as our Instagram account for updates. Orders will continue to be packed and shipped, though please do not worry if you don’t see “movement” for a few days, as USPS and UPS will likely be delayed. Stay safe out there!

1. Pilot Iro-Utsushi Dip Pens. These simple dip pens from Pilot have garnered rave reviews, mainly due to their excellent performance at a very low price point. The woodgrain versions have a larger diameter and feature a facet to prevent the pen from rolling off the desk.

2. Caran d’Ache Fixpencils. Both the standard matte black Fixpencil and the Fixpencil 884 (color versions) are back in stock! In addition, we have a few remaining “Creative Nomad” lettering sets, featuring brush pens and fineliners in addition to a limited edition Fixpencil.

3. Viarco Pencils. From one of the last operating European pencil factories, we are happy to offer these Portuguese woodcase pencils in six different vintage inspired designs, as well as a gift set where you can purchase a dozen of each style.

4. Midori MD and MD Light Notebook Restock. Midori MD and MD Light notebooks are a favorite, not least because they fit many different standard A5 notebook covers and notebook systems.

5. Midori MD Thick Paper. A thicker version of MD Paper, for those who really like to layer on the ink or use their journals for multimedia projects. We have both the A5 and Square versions in stock.

6. Stalogy 1/2 Year and 365-Day Planners. For those looking for a flexible undated planner (or a very functional notebook) with thinner paper, Stàlogy should be on your list of things to consider. We also have the Stàlogy heavy-duty stitched paper covers in stock, which are sized to fit both styles of notebooks.

7. Midori Notebook Tabs. We found a large stash of these Midori Notebook Tabs and Dividers that had fallen out of the online inventory. These are exceptionally useful for those who want to create their own planners and organizers using standard undated notebooks.

8. Tom’s Studio Lumos Refillable Fineliner Pens. Before the New Year, we received a restock of the Lumos Pro Duo and Lumos Pro fineliners in most colors.

9. Tom’s Studio Wren Refillable Fineliner. The compact, pocketable Wren was a surprise success last year! The matte blue (“Midnight”) and matte black colors are hard to keep in stock. We also have a restock of the Midnight Blue Fibre-Tip Ink, specially formulated for the Wren and Lumos Pens. Standard fountain pen ink works just fine, in my experience, but this stuff is excellent and I love the color.

10. Tom’s Studio Pocket Fountain Pens and Architect Nibs. During this same restock, we added pens that ship with the architect nib pre-installed, though you can also order the Architect Nib separately.

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