Sunday Reading for October 30, 2022

1. Sinclair Showdown: A Look at the New Sinclair Model R from Rickshaw Bagworks (via Chicana Writes). I fully agree that the Sinclair Model R builds on everything that made the original Sinclair three-pen case so enjoyable to use, with some nice new additions.

2. Vinta Inks The Awareness Project Collection (via Rants of the Archer). Vinta inks are among my favorites, and they’ve just released a new collection to raise awareness of endangered animals in the Philippines.

3. Joan Didion’s Notebooks (via Notebook Stories). Apparently Joan Didion was a fan of Clairefontaine notebooks, among other brands. There is an auction of her papers going on right now, apparently.

4. Magna Carta Emotions Power Fountain Pen Review (via SBRE Brown). Magna Carta pens have received a lot of attention, with their larger pens, some of which come with a No. 8 nib. I like the acrylic on this particular pen.

5. Laban Aphrodite Pink (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli is in the midst of reviewing the Laban “Greek Mythology” series, which is among my favorite recent discoveries. They are all nicely behaved and underrated inks, in my opinion.

6. Anderillium Cephalopod Ink Review. Yes, All of Them (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). While I love several of the inks in the Avian Series as well, as a whole the Cephalopod Series (based on squids and octopuses) is probably my favorite of the two.

7. Lennon Tool Bar Egret Paper (via Inkredible Colours). I’ve had a couple of requests for recommendations for more absorbent paper lately, and this option potentially looks interesting.

8. Wahoo! I Made It to Anniversary Two (via mnmlscholar). Congratulations on a two-year bloggiversary! I can attest that it’s far from easy!

9. Karas Pen Co. Decograph (via Left Hook Pens). The Decograph was Karas Pen Co.’s first foray into a more “traditional” pen style, and while initially acrylic-only, they’ve apparently released an aluminum model.

10. Giveaway: All Treats, No Tricks - TWSBI Cerulean Blue (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana and team are giving away a TWSBI Cerulean Blue in collaboration with the T.G.S. Curated Shop! Don’t miss the opportunity to win this pen and other great prizes. (Plus we have a ton of TWSBIs in stock right now, see below!)

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog was a relatively busy one, though I had a mid-week hiccup on scheduling due to a family funeral. In celebration of the re-release of the T.G.S. Exclusive Penwell in our unique “Aged Red” finish, I thought it might be fun/interesting to revisit my review of the original Penwell, which shockingly is five years old! I also wrote a piece about hacking stationery, and some tips and tricks to keep in mind if you’re inclined to modify pens, inks, and paper! (The post also includes some shots of my latest “experiment”.)

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

We had several new items hit the shop this week, including the arrival of the new TWSBI “Glow Purple”, which will begin shipping tomorrow on Halloween! Additionally, we now have Traveler’s Notebook 2023 Diaries in stock, a full restock of Hightide Sandglasses in the 30 and 15-minute intervals, and the arrival of Opus 88 fountain pens! We also previewed one of our 2023 Fountain Pen Day promotions, in which all purchases of a fountain pen from the T.G.S. Curated Shop will receive a complimentary ink sample, so you can get your new pen writing immediately.

Washi Tape

Opus 88

Penwell

Caran d’Ache

Finally, don’t forget to participate in this week’s giveaway, where you can win one of three bottles of Anderillium Ink! The giveaway ends tonight!

Many Thanks for Your Shop Support, and Please Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

We’ve been surprised at the level of enthusiasm and support for our curated retail strategy over the past couple of months, and after careful consideration are beginning to build out our inventory with more brands and product categories. I love managing this aspect of T.G.S., as it offers me the opportunity to directly put great stationery - including brands I feel are underappreciated and underemphasized - into your hands. For those who want to support T.G.S. without necessarily adding to their accumulation, the Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens. (Reminder that those pens which made it through Patreon are now available to the general readership!)

Hacking Stationery: Don't Be Afraid to "Personalize" Your Products! (They're Yours, After All)

One of my favorite topics to write about - though I don’t necessarily do it often - is “hacking” stationery products. As it’s used in the pen community, “hacking” can mean anything from using a different brand of paper refill in your Traveler’s Notebook to “actual hacking” away at a pen or notebook with an X-Acto knife to create a “personalized” product. Many people are understandably hesitant to experiment in this way, but if you go slowly and don’t attempt anything too crazy, the rewards are great and the risk relatively low.

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One of the simplest “hacks” of all is a hole punch, creating your own refills from the paper of your choice for use in ring or disc-based notebook systems.

A Few Things to Keep In Mind When Modifying Your Own Products

• Start Small. Maybe it’s trimming down a favorite brand of notebook to fit a specific case/cover, mixing two favorite inks together to create a new color, or clipping the end of a favorite gel refill so that it’s just a touch shorter and will fit in your preferred machined pen. Either way, these are small “hacks” that are easily accomplished at home with tools/materals that you have around the house, and will build your confidence to try more complex projects.

• For More Complex Projects, or Those Involving Expensive Pens, Do Your Research. There’s a wealth of information out there on the internet, whether on pen-specific forms and blogs or on YouTube or Tiktok. For example, if you’re considering swapping nibs or feeds on pens from two different brands, the chances are somebody (like me) has done that before and failed, and has passed along and documented their wisdom, or lack thereof, for posterity. (I’ve linked to a post on my adventures swapping Platinum nibs into Opus 88 pens below.)

• Don’t Worry About “Hurting Resale Value”. A common question I get from someone hacking a pen is “what will this do to the resale value”? Honestly, if you’re having to ask yourself this question, and you’ve purchased a pen for investment purposes, you shouldn’t be modifying it (or probably even writing with it). On the other hand, if you bought your pens to use them, you should feel free to do whatever you think will make you more likely to use the pen, and make the experience more enjoyable. Which brings me to…

• You Will Void The Warranty. Recognize that you are taking some degree of risk anytime you modify a pen or any other product in a way not contemplated by the manufacturer. In other words, while it’s pretty difficult to break a pen beyond all hope of repair, if it happens in the context of you creating the Frankenpen of your dreams it’s going to be your fault, and you shouldn’t expect the manufacturer to replace it.

At the end of the day, if you purchased these products to use, and if you’re goal is to actually use them for work, pleasure, or otherwise, you shouldn’t be afraid to make changes that will allow you to maximize your own enjoyment and the overall experience.

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Platinum Frankenpen!

And One More Thing… (A New Hack!)

An hour before I left on vacation a couple of weeks ago, an idea struck me. I recently discovered the Platinum Desk Pen on a recommendation from my friend Ana over at the Well-Appointed Desk. It has a smooth extra-fine gold-plated steel nib, which you can’t seem to find on any of Platinum’s other low-cost offerings like the Preppy or the Plaisir. The good thing is that the Desk Pen uses the exact same feed as these other models, and you can swap them out by gently pulling both the nib and feed to remove them, and inserting the nib from the Desk Pen into the Plaisir (and vice-versa), as shown in the photos.

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Further Reading

To read more on how I’ve customized my own pens, inks, and notebooks, you may want to consider giving these posts a read:

• Opus 88 Fountain Pens for Maximum Versatility. I’ve long enjoyed the ability to use any JoWo-compatible nib unit with Opus 88’s Japanese-style eyedropper filling system. With JoWo-threaded nib housings from Flexible Nib Factory, you can pair nibs from your favorite brand (such as Platinum) with Opus 88 or any JoWo compatible fountain pen.

• Creating Your Own Notebook Refills. Over the past year I’ve shown off my cut-down Stàlogy notebook that I’ve trimmed to fit into a Traveler’s Notebook cover. I’m coming to the last few pages of the notebook as the year winds down, and I’m already thinking of what my next “project” will be.

• Ink Mixing. One inexpensive “hack” that can be a lot of fun is mixing your own inks from the hoard of different colors that you already have on hand. Platinum also makes a line of inks specifically designed to be mixed, so that you can experiment with how different colors interact with one another without worrying about whether the different inks are compatible.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop or pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Many thanks for your support!

Weekly Drops: ECO Glow Purple Pre-Orders, Traveler's 2023 Calendars, and an Early Fountain Pen Day Promotion!

This week in the Curated Shop, we welcomed Opus 88, and also received our initial allotment of Traveler’s Notebook dated refills in both Standard and Passport size. We have T.G.S. Penwells in stock and available to ship, as well as a full restock of iLootPaperie washi tape and Nahvalur and TWSBI fountain pens. Finally, we are giving away three bottles of Anderillium Ink! Check out this post for details, and don’t forget to visit the Instagram giveaway post as well.

Speaking of fountain pens and ink, we are launching one of our Fountain Pen Day promotions a week early! As of now, all fountain pen purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop ship with a free ink sample. We previously ran this promotion to celebrate the Nahvalur launch, but are expanding it through Fountain Pen Day (November 4)! Purchase a new fountain pen and fill it immediately!

UPDATE: TWSBI ECO Glow Purple Pre-Orders are now available! Match your ECO Glow Green, and the pens will ship on Halloween!

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

1. Traveler’s Notebook 2023 Diaries (Standard and Passport). The 2023 Traveler’s Notebook Diary inserts are now available for purchase, in all five variants. The Standard size features Weekly Vertical, Weekly + Memo, and Monthly options, while the Passport size features weekly and monthly inserts. (Photos have not been updated yet, so even though 2022 is pictured, you will receive a 2023 edition.) We are fully stocked on most Traveler’s Notebook covers, refills, and accessories.

2. T.G.S. x Penwell Exclusive “Aged Red” Edition. The T.G.S. Penwell is back in stock, in our exclusive “Aged Red” finish. In case you missed yesterday’s post on how I use the Penwell and why I love it so much, check it out here.

3. Opus 88 Minty Fountain Pens. The latest release from Opus 88 features a cracked-ice style acrylic in “light blue” (really a teal green) and “orange” (really a coral) colors. This streamlined flat-top pen holds a ton of ink, and the Japanese-style eyedropper system ensures your pen is leak free on an airplane or in your bag.

4. Opus 88 Jazz Fountain Pen. This frosted cigar-shaped demonstrator also features Opus 88’s high-capacity Japanese-style eyedropper system, making it one of my personal favorite workhorses.

5. Nahvalur Nautilus Ebonite Fountain Pen. Nahvalur’s Flagship “Nautilus” fountain pen has fast become a preferred recommendation for those looking for a larger piston filler that won’t break the bank. You can read the review here.

6. Nahvalur “Original Plus” Fountain Pen. At an even more attractive price point, Nahvalur offers the “Original Plus,” a new take on their first fountain pen that features lightly swirled transparent acrylic with a high-capacity vacuum filling system. Full writeup here.

7. TWSBI ECO Fountain Pens. At only $32 for a high-quality piston-filler, it’s easy to see why the TWSBI ECO series is so popular. We have stock of recent releases including the Cerulean Blue and the “Glow Green,” with the “Glow Purple” on the way next week!

8. TWSBI 580 Fountain Pens. The first TWSBI is still a favorite, with a reliable piston-filling system, interchangeable nib units, and a variety of different finishes from which to choose. The big seller has been the iridescent “Iris” finish.

9. TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pens. The Swipe is TWSBI’s first fountain pen with a cartridge-converter option, making it perfect for those not quite ready to commit to bottled ink but who would still like the option. The Swipe comes in four colors: Prussian Blue, Smoke, Pear (light green), and Salmon (light orange). Read our write-up on why we like the Swipe here.

10. iLootPaperie Washi Tape. We recently added over a dozen new patterns of washi tapes to the shop, and restocked on many different favorites.

Review Revisited: The Penwell Classic Five Years Later

It’s been five years since Penwell Co. (since renamed Good Made Better as they’ve expanded their range of goods) introduced the Penwell, a thoughtfully engineered desktop pen stand designed to allow you to enjoy the “desk pen” experience with any fountain pen or other capped writing instrument. I’ve received a few questions over the past two weeks regarding how exactly the Penwell works and how I use it, so I thought it might be fun to do a “review revisited” post.

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I have two Classic Penwells: one in the brass finish, and one in our exclusive “Aged Red”.

The beauty of the Penwell is that it’s such a simple product. It consists of three parts: (1) the base, available in a variety of materials and finishes; (2) a foam insert, which secures the pen cap, and (3) a microsuction pad that adheres to your desk or other surface. The Penwell’s base does not use any sort of adhesive, but rather thousands of tiny microscopic suction cups. I have two different Penwells that I’ve used for years, and despite moving them around multiple times, I’ve never had the microsuction pad damage the finish on any surface, nor has it lost any of its stickiness. If you find the Penwell coming loose or sliding around, all you typically need to do is wipe the microsuction surface with a damp cloth and you’re good to go.

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The foam insert is flexible enough to accommodate pens of varying sizes. While I’ve been able to use nearly all pens with the standard foam insert (which ships with our Aged Red Model), if you have an especially large pen you can purchase a thinner XL foam sleeve for $5 directly from Good Made Better.

As I noted in my original review, I love that the Penwell gives me the ability to “park” my pen cap-down while I’m working, especially with larger pens that don’t post. One reason that I post my pens is that I get (justifiably) nervous about the cap getting knocked off the desk onto the floor, and my strategically placed Penwells give me peace of mind. The Penwell base holds the cap securely, so you can uncap your pen one-handed and easily recap when you’re finished writing, as you would with a traditional desk pen. Currently, I have one Penwell stationed on my main desk in my home office, and another on each standing desk, at home and in my office downtown.

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The Penwell microsuction base on a two year-old Penwell. For a demonstration of how to use the pen holder, check out this Instagram video.

I’ve always loved the idea of a dedicated desk pen, especially some of the more lovely vintage sets, but the bases tend to have a large footprint and the pens themselves aren’t especially versatile, featuring long tapers and low ink capacity. With the Penwell, you can use your pen of choice in “desk pen mode”, and then pull it out to take it with you when you move away from your desk. That said, I sometimes use my larger Opus 88 eyedroppers, such as the classic “Demonstrator” pens, as semi-permanent desk pens when they’re inked. They hold so much ink that if I’m on a busy streak at work and don’t want to worry about refilling, I can park them in the Penwell and keep a fountain pen at the ready, which is convenient for those days when I accidentally leave my pen case at home. Below I’ve included pictures of the Penwell with fountain pens in different sizes, to showcase the versatility.

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Penwell with Opus 88 Demo

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Penwell with PenBBS Pneumatic

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Penwell with TWSBI ECO

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Penwell with Opus 88 Minty

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Penwell with Platinum Plaisir

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Years later, the Penwell is still one of my most-used desk accessories, which is notable because I tend to cycle through things and “redecorate” my workspace often. There are very few constants on my desktop. I expect the appreciation for this product is widespread, given that Good Made Better has expanded over the years and become a fixture at pen shows.

Here, I liked the Penwell so much that it was my first choice for a product collaboration back in 2020 when I launched the T.G.S. Curated Shop. In addition to our own special-edition Penwell in the T.G.S.-exclusive “Aged Red” finish, you can purchase other Penwells directly from the Good Made Better website, along with a range of other desk accessories designed to make your work more enjoyable, including the recently released “Bookfellow” book weight. The Penwell Classic (which remains my preferred model) comes in a variety of different finishes, though you may also want to check out the larger Penwell Craftsman and the portable Penwell Traveller.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of certain Penwell products. This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links. T.G.S. is supported entirely by purchases through the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Giveaway Time! Win a Bottle of Anderillium Ink!

I’m “out of the office” today for a family event, so it’s time for a giveaway post! Three winners will receive a bottle of Anderillium Ink from one of the following colors: Vampire Squid Red, Common Loon Black, Spirula Green, Blue Ringed Octopus Blue, American Goldfinch Yellow, or Indigo Bunting Blue. You can read more about Anderillium Ink here!

To enter, comment on this post and/or like the accompanying Instagram post, and next week I will pick a winner using a random number generator. The giveaway will remain open until 11:59pm Central U.S. time on Sunday, October 30, 2022. While the giveaway is open to everyone (provided it’s possible for me to ink ship to you), I may request that you chip in for international shipping if it ends up being prohibitively expensive. Also, if you comment anonymously or don’t allow Instagram DMs, I may not be able to contact you to tell you that you won.

Finally, remember that all orders for fountain pens placed in the T.G.S. Curated Shop through next Friday, November 4 will receive a free ink sample! No promotional code necessary!

This giveaway is not a paid promotion. The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Anderillium ink and all other brands sold.