This Weekend: Come Visit at the San Francisco Pen Show!

It’s that time again! I’ll be behind the Vanness Pens table at the 2021 San Francisco Pen Show, which runs from Friday through Sunday (August 27-29). As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not bringing the T.G.S. Curated Shop with me to shows this year, but for those weekends when I do attend Pen Shows, I typically run the equivalent of “Pen Show Pricing” on the site. Today through Sunday, take 10% off your Curated Shop orders (excluding TWSBI and Sunderland) using the coupon code “SFPENSHOW” at checkout!

Please stop by the Vanness table and say hello! I may have some some stickers and other small items available as well….

Please note that due to my travel schedule, all orders placed between Thursday, August 26 and Sunday, August 29 will ship starting Monday, August 30. Many thanks for your support!

Back to Work Check-In: What I'm Using (2021 Edition)

Despite it becoming clear over the past several weeks that the pandemic is not over, due to work circumstances beyond my control I’ve found myself working outside my house regularly for the first time in over a year. As a result, I’ve had to adjust my stationery “work rotation,” so I thought it would be interesting (for both me and the readership) to do a back-to-work/back-to-school check-in since I assume many of you are in the same boat. I also get a lot of regular questions about what notebooks I carry on a daily basis, so I wanted to be responsive to those who are interested. This post only discusses my notebooks and pen cases, so while my pen and ink usage has changed as well, that’s a topic for a separate post.

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1. Main Work Notebook: Standard Traveler’s Notebook in Blue. My primary work notebook remains the Traveler’s Notebook standard-size cover. The various refills and accessories that I use can vary depending on exactly what’s going on at the moment, but the “Slim A5” format of the Traveler’s Notebook system tends to fit my style of planning and notetaking perfectly because I make a lot of lists. I use a heavily modified bullet-journal system to take notes, which is idiosyncratic and probably makes sense only to me. I’d show you here, but a lot of my notes are confidential and can’t be photographed.

2. Stalogy 1/2 Year Graph Notebook (Cut Down to Traveler’s Size). Before this year, I had not used Stalogy paper, and it took some getting used to, but now I’m a convert. I’ll definitely do a full review at some point, but Stalogy paper manages to be both extremely thin and more absorbent than Tomoe River while still handing fountain pen ink relatively well. Yes, there’s can be some show-through with very wet fountain pens, but the trade-off is a much quicker dry time and, in my opinion, softer texture and a better writing feel. Please note that I have modified this notebook to fit the Traveler’s Notebook cover. You can read more here.

3. Traveler’s Company Undated Planner Refill. I’m a die-hard fan of undated planners, since I don’t necessarily use a paper planner every month - just when it gets busy - and I hate wasting paper. I filled up a Traveler’s Notebook Weeks + Memo insert during the first half of the year, but when I moved to the Stalogy because I needed more room for notes, I incorporated an undated monthly calendar so that I could do more high-level overviews of my schedule.

4. Superior Leather Co. Pen Roll. A new addition to my collection that I absolutely love, this olive green leather pen roll from Superior Labor was purchased from Baum-kuchen in Los Angeles. It might be the softest leather pen roll that I’ve ever used, and since it matches my Filson bag perfectly, it has not come out of rotation. I also tuck document flags, post-its, and other miscellaneous stationery items into the larger pocket.

5. Nock Co. Sinclair Three-Pen Case. Perhaps the most consistently featured piece of stationery in my arsenal, this particular black waxed canvas/burgundy piece (an Atlanta Pen Show pickup from several years ago) has become a true ride-or-die item. I’ve told Brad for years that the waxed canvas Sinclairs are a winner, and now they’re back!

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Yes, I’m still using favorites such as the Nanami Paper Cafe Note in B6 slim and the Write Notepads Spiral notebook, but those tend to stay home as I use them more for journaling and personal writing. My personal journals (I keep several) are ANOTHER topic that warrant a separate post, but the “system” I use is kind of complex, so I’m struggling a bit to describe it coherently. Stay tuned….

This post does not contain affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and reader donations. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more.

Sunday Reading for August 22, 2021

1. Drillog Reinvents the Glass Dip Pen (via UK Fountain Pens). I finally backed the Drillog, especially now that they’ve added a longer aluminum body option to the rewards. I find dip pens really useful, but I would appreciate the increased durability of this machined tip.

2. TWSBI Swipe - Over-Engineered or Welcome Innovation? (via Pen Addict). Kimberly has a very thorough review of TWSBI’s new Swipe fountain pen, which I continue to believe is one of the best current values on the market.

3. Fountain Pens from My Collection: Kaweco AL Sport (via Fountain Pen Love). The AL Sport is a classic! John’s review reminds me that I need to break out my AL Sports and get them back into the rotation.

4. Notebook Review: Fabriano EcoQua (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I’ve used Fabriano notebooks in the past, and they are definitely an undersung fountain pen friendly option, especially given their lower price point.

5. On a Whim Woodworks Fountain Pen (via Rants of the Archer). After reading this review, definitely go and check out the On a Whim Etsy store! There are pens in stock in a range of gorgeous materials.

6. Kaweco Perkeo Demonstrator (via Dapprman). The clear Kaweco Perkeo demonstrator was a big hit at the D.C. Pen Show. I’d love to seek Kaweco do more with this particular line.

7. Yoobi x Marvel HB Pencils (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Inexpensive pencils at Target? I’m always looking for a good recommendation.

8. Ten Journals (via From the Pen Cup). That’s an accomplishment! Congratulations, Mary!

9. Sorry - Not with Those Swirls (via Pete Denison). I tend to agree with Pete that swirled acrylic falls pretty far down the list of my favorite materials. That’s not an absolute (as I have some in my collection, to be sure), but I tend to gravitate towards pens with a more understated look.

10. Ink Series Review - Visconti Van Gogh Inks (via Well-Appointed Desk). There are some really pretty Van Gogh-inspired colors in here, and the price point is a pleasant surprise! I do love the option to purchase the entire set.

In Case You Missed It….

This week I wrote about a pair of pens that have been on my “To Review” list for quite some time - the Ti Arto and Ti Ultra from BigiDesign. If you’re in the market for a versatile pen that accepts multiple refills, these should all be on your list. I also launched a giveaway of a couple dozen pencils courtesy of Musgrave, with a dozen Tennessee Reds and a dozen Harvest 320 woodcase pencils. (Yes, this week was a bit Tennessee-focused, as BigiDesign is from Chattanooga and Musgrave is from Shelbyville!) Finally, this week’s Deals & Drops post includes a breakdown of what’s new in the Caran d’Ache lineup, including some insight into my personal favorites, as well as an introduction to the now-permanent “T.G.S. Gently Used” section.

New in the Curated Shop

Since I’m focused primarily on Back-to-School/Back-to-Work right now, I’ve brought in a lot of ballpoints, mechanical pencils, and rollerballs, in addition to my fountain pen-focused notebooks and accessories. I’m drawn to versatility when choosing a non-fountain pen writing instrument, so be sure to check these different options out if you’re in the market.

Mazzuoli ITALIA

Sunderland mk1

Stálogy

Rhodia

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live and features the inks that I’m selling off as I thin out my personal accumulation.

A Surprise in the Mail from Musgrave! And a Giveaway!

Nicole, the Marketing Director at Musgrave Pencil, was kind enough to send over a BUNCH of product samples to celebrate back to school season, including a Heritage Collection Variety Pack featuring one dozen assorted pencils from Musgrave’s classic lineup and newer releases, such as the Tennessee Red. Since I kicked off this week with a review of two pens from Chattanooga-based BigiDesign, I thought it would be fun to end the week with a giveaway post featuring some pencils from Musgrave, located literally just down the road from me in Shelbyville, TN. (I really do need to go visit sometime - not sure they give tours, though….)

Enter Below to Win a Dozen Tennessee Reds or a Dozen Harvest 320 Pencils!

I’ve previously written about the Musgrave Tennessee Red, a throwback to the time when pencils were made from American red cedar. I also have a dozen Musgrave Harvest 320 pencils, which is Musgrave’s classic yellow No. 2. You can enter the giveaway and view the terms and conditions via the Gleam widget below, but the short version is that I will pick two winners on Weds morning. First winner gets the Tennessee Reds, second winner gets the Harvest 320s. Many thanks to Musgrave for making this possible!

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My daughter already claimed the sampler pack and the pencil cup. Sorry!

Where to Buy

If you’re interested in grabbing one of these awesome pencil samplers for yourself, head over the Musgrave website, which you may notice has been redesigned since you last visited! The Heritage Collection Variety Pack pictured here is available for $12.75, including the awesome reusable pencil cup that won a Dieline award, and in addition to the Tennessee Reds and the Harvest pencils, Musgrave recently released the Greenbelt, an FSC-certified natural wood pencil made. I can’t wait to get my hands on some of these!

This post does not contain affiliate links, nor am I being compensated by Musgrave Pencil. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and reader donations. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more.

A Note on T.G.S. Gently Used

As of this morning, I’ve moved a bunch of pens, inks, and pencils from the T.G.S. Patreon-exclusive Sale Page, to the T.G.S. “Gently Used” page, so that these items are now available for purchase by the general readership. Items available for sale currently include pens and inks from my own personal collection, as well as vintage pencils that I’ve sourced over the years. As you might imagine, I’ve accumulated a ton of stuff in my decade-plus of collecting and reviewing, and it’s time to clear out some clutter. All of it is being offered at or below what you could find these items for at retail, and mostly below my own personal cost.

Please note that while anything purchased from T.G.S. Gently Used can be combined with items from the main Curated Shop for shipping purposes, I am not selling these particular items as an authorized retailer. (In many cases, they aren’t even made anymore.) If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. Many thanks for your support!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we carry, including Caran d’Ache. By shopping with us, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more.