If I could choose one picture to summarize 2022, it might look something like this.

2022 Year-End Review, Part IV: Series & Editorials

December 21, 2022

Of all the 2022 year-end review posts, today’s installment is the one I most looked forward to because a major goal of mine for the year was to focus less on writing pure “review” content and more on archiving/consolidating 8+ years worth of stationery-related experience and knowledge in order to make it more accessible to readers both new and experienced. As I worked my way back through everything I wrote this year, I think I exceeded my goal! Given the volume of editorial/lifestyle/series posts, I’ve broken this portion of the 2022 Year-End Review into different sections to make it easier to navigate.

Updated Review Archive, Best Pens, and Holiday Gift Guide

Last year, I launched a navigable archive of all past T.G.S. fountain pen reviews, organized by brand. It’s now been updated to include pen reviews from 2022. The “Best Pens” recommendation page, as well as this year’s Holiday Gift Guide, are also up to date.

Guide to Notebook Systems

In 2022, I dove into the world of “notebook systems” / “System Techo”, which honestly took my focus off of pens and inks for the second half of the year. That’s not altogether a bad thing, because I did need a break from “collecting,” and I needed to think hard about how I was using all of the various notebooks and planners I had in rotation. Look for a post after the New Year on my setup for 2023.

The addition of a “Perspective” Nib by Gena Salorino brought this Pelikan M800 “Stone Garden” back into rotation for me.

Mini-Collections and Review Series

I only purchased a handful of pens this year for my personal collection, focusing more on having nibs customized to enhance certain pieces that I already owned. I managed to review four of the grinds, and have several more custom grinds on the way and/or in rotation.

DesignPhil Table San Francisco Pen Show 2022 — The DesignPhil table at the 2022

2022 Pen Show Recaps & Travel Posts

2020 and 2021 injected a lot of uncertainty into the future of pen shows, including concern over whether the “show circuit” would survive. I attended a handful of shows in 2021, and it clearly wasn’t the same. The 2022 pen shows - especially those on the back end of the calendar, went a long way towards allaying most people’s concerns about the future of pen shows. San Francisco, in particular, was an exceptionally well-run and memorable experience!

Questions about traveling (particularly flying) with fountain pens topped my list this year.

How-To Posts and Responses to Reader Questions

I made a conscious effort to be better about responding publicly to more frequently asked reader questions, specifically topics of interest to those considering purchasing their first fountain pen or who recently acquired their first pen and have questions about using it in certain scenarios. Cleaning and travel-related questions top the list of inquiries received.

Three favorite ballpoint pens. Check out the post below, for details!

Stationery Lifestyle Posts & Industry Trends

Finally, I try to find space in the rotation every other month or so to write a personal reflection on topics of interest to me in the stationery community. While I plan to continue writing these posts on the main site, I also plan to add some exclusive content to the T.G.S. Patreon Program in 2023, which will likely be along these same lines.

2022 Year-End Review, Part III: Top Sellers from the T.G.S. Curated Shop

December 20, 2022

We launched the T.G.S. Curated Shop in 2020 to replace sponsorships, paid advertisements, and other forms of outside support. Over the past two years, we’ve been able to bring together a curated collection of stationery products that we not only sell but enjoy using ourselves. For today’s year-end recap, I’ve pulled together a list of the ten best-selling products, in order of number of units sold. Honestly, there weren’t too many surprises on here! Many thanks to everyone who has supported T.G.S. over the past year, and if you haven’t had a chance to try out one of these customer favorites, please give them a shot. (For those of you interested in following stationery trends, here is last year’s post.)

Since faith in the USPS apparently springs eternal, orders continue to come in and we are shipping as fast as we can to give these the best chance of arriving by Christmas, though there can be no guarantees this late in the season. The $8.50 level of shipping (starting at packages weighing 1lb and above) will go USPS Priority (typically 1-3 days) or UPS.

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

Lochby Field Journal and Lochby A5 Refills. The entire Lochby lineup was definitely the star of 2022, but the A5 Field Journal, which holds up to six of the Lochby-branded Tomoe River paper refills, was our top seller. Since the refills are standard-size, they can be used in many other A5 covers, and they also come in pocket size.
Lochby Quattro Four Pen Case. After the Field Journal, the Lochby Quattro won out over the rest of the lineup. This slim, compact four-pen case is a stalwart of my own daily carry, and I love how the slots are offset so your pens don’t touch when the case is closed.
Hightide Hourglasses. I’m a little surprised that the Hightide Hourglasses and Book Stands made the list this year - due to shipping delays and inventory shortages it took us the better part of a year to get a restock. You all made up the difference over the past two months!
Hightide Metal Folding Book Stands. Easily one of the more practical gift ideas we offer, these folding book stands slide easily into a bag so you can take them with you on the go. Available in nearly a dozen colors!
Book Darts Archivally Safe Page Markers. One of our original items offered, Book Darts remain a customer favorite. Use them as bookmarks, line markers for favorite passages, or (my own favorite use) to divide a single notebook into multiple sections or subjects.
Midori MD Cotton Paper. Midori MD Cotton Paper has become my favorite fountain pen friendly paper on the market, and it looks as though many of you agree!
Midori MD Paper. Standard MD Paper is also one of the best fountain pen friendly options, and it comes in multiple formats (i.e. pads, notebooks) with several refillable cover options.
Clairefontaine French-Ruled Looseleaf Sheets. I’m not sure I’ve ever had a special order product sell out as fast as these looseleaf sheets of the Seyès-ruled paper. I still have a few packs of the double booklets!
Caran d’Ache Infinite 888 Ballpoint Pens. Yes, the best-selling pen in our shop costs $6.25, and personally I think it’s one of the best ballpoints out there. It’s also refillable.
Write Notepads Reporter Notebooks. Finally, there has to be at least one Write Notepads product on this list. Our top seller is the Reporter-style notebook, which we’ll have to reorder after the first of the year since there’s been a bit of a run.

Sunday Reading for December 18, 2022

December 18, 2022

Thinking Backwards to Plan Forwards (via mnmlscholar). Alas, I have begun the process of setting up my own planner/notebook/journal system for 2023.
My Techo Kaigi for 2023 (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I’ve never heard of the concept of a “Techo Kaigi”, or a process where you reflect on your planner(s) and journal(s). and whether it/they are working for you.
Montblanc x Fritz Schimpf Special Edition Italic Edge Fountain Pen (via Blake’s Broadcast). Montblanc’s bespoke nib program apparently allows you to customize a nib to your preference, and German retailer Fritz Schimpf created this crazy customization.
Flying: Opus 88 Minty (via a fleeting ripple). Finally! Someone who apparently loves the Minty as much as I do. Happy to have enabled!
Ridiculous Pens (via Rachel’s Reflections). This was a fun post in which Rachel looks at several pens with (overly?) intricate design elements.
BlueDew Writer Lapis (via Rants of the Archer). I’ve heard a lot about BlueDew fountain pens, particularly their flex pens. They offer standard nibs as well.
Ensso PIUMA Primary Manipulation Fountain Pen (via SBRE Brown). Apparently even Ensso is getting into the Primary Manipulation game?
Unlined Smythson Notebook (via Notebook Stories). Smythson notebooks went on sale in November, and I considered springing for a (still expensive) review sample, but I deferred because I couldn’t find a reliable review testing the paper with fountain pens. Now we have one!
Inkmas Day 7: Colorverse Chi-Town (via Well-Appointed Desk). I agree that this is sort of an odd color for a Chicago theme, but the ink looks interesting!
End of 2022 - A Bit of a Wrap Up (via Gourmet Pens). I love year-end wrap-ups and reflections from others in the pen world.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I started the 2022 Year-End Review Process, with the first posts in this series. Part I was “Five Up, Five Down in the Personal Collection,” and Part II was “Favorite Products Reviewed in 2022”. I plan to keep the multi-part format that I started last year.

This Week in the Curated Shop

PSA: This weekend I’m shipping out all orders placed through today, and starting tomorrow (and definitely by Tuesday), Christmas delivery is MUCH less likely given the rush of packages that will be going out this week around the U.S. So get those gift orders in ASAP!

So what’s new in the shop? Lots of stuff continues to arrive. We’ve built our our offering of Maruman Mnemosyne products, with literally all the sizes of notebooks and notepads that we can get our hands on, in spiral and bound formats. The Mnemosyne line is exceptionally good fountain pen friendly paper that won’t break the bank, and best of all, the spiral bound notebooks are perforated. Also, now is an excellent time to pick up your planner for 2023. We have Traveler’s Notebook Planner Refills, as well as all sorts of undated planner options and the Midori Multi-Year Diaries!

Maruman Mnemosyne

Caran d'Ache

TWSBI

Reading Accessories

Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

For those who want to support T.G.S. without necessarily adding to their accumulation via shop purchases, the Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5 (with a discounted annual option) 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 items which made it through Patreon become available to the general readership.) Many thanks to all of you who already decided to back via Patreon. Your support means the world to me!

2022 Year-End Review, Part II: Favorite Products Reviewed in 2022

December 17, 2022

Earlier this week I kicked off the 2022 Year-End Review Process with a new entry in the series, a “Five Up, Five Down” post, in which I looked at five products I personally used more than expected in 2022, as well as five I used a lot less. Today’s post is a bit more traditional, with a short list of my five favorite products reviewed for T.G.S. in 2022. As I reflect back on 2022, I’ve focused more on those products that I enjoyed due to the level of innovation and creativity they displayed, even if the products themselves are a new riff on something that’s been around for a while. Enjoy!

Good Made Better “Writewell” Writing Desk. The Writewell captured my interest immediately when I first saw it at this year’s 2022 D.C. Pen Show. Dan was kind enough to send me a production sample, and I went ahead and backed the Kickstarter because, well, why not have a second writing desk! This product embodies everything I love about this community and those who create products for it, with well-made construction, thoughtful design, and a useful purpose.
Nock Co. x Rickshaw Sinclair “Model R” Pen Case. My favorite pen case of all time is back, in a slightly larger, and dare I say improved, layout! I understand that eventually you will be able to customize the Sinclair using the Rickshaw Bagworks configurator, though you can put in a special request now if you reach out to them.
Kakimori Brass Dip Nib and Drillog Metal Dip Pen. I’ll keep these as a single entry, because I enjoy them as a product category. Both of these machined metal dip pens offer an excellent way to test and use your inks, whether you want to move between colors quickly, or have a particularly high-maintenance ink that doesn’t behave well in fountain pens. While I had some initial trouble with my extra-fine Drillog, the larger medium point that they sent me as a replacement works quite well.
Vinta Inks Aegean Armada and Leyte Kelp. Vinta inks have become a mainstay in my rotation, particularly the blue-green-grey “Armada” that I can’t keep out of a pen. The Vinta ink line in general made last year’s year-end review as a new discovery, and these two specific inks made for a favorite 2022 review. Vinta keeps getting ever more creative with their offerings, and as I consolidate my personal pens and inks into a smaller number of core brands, Vinta is guaranteed a slot due to their combination of quality and uniqueness.
Nahvalur Nautilus Ebonite Fountain Pen. Frank was kind enough to provide me with a sample of their “Pen Show Special Edition” Nautilus at April’s Atlanta Pen Show, and I’ve had that pen inked regularly, in addition to the purple “Stylophora Berry” edition. I’ve long been a fan of ebonite as a material, and love how Nahvalur (formerly Narwhal) has kept the price point reasonable while still offering an innovative design (porthole ink windows!) and quality feel.

Thursday Drops: Stocking Stuffers and Last-Minute Gift Ideas

December 15, 2022

While we aren’t technically at the point of true “last minute” shopping - at least not for the Christmas holiday - we are approaching the shipping cutoffs. For the best possible chance of having a package arrive by December 25, we would strongly recommend placing your order by tomorrow, and by Monday at the absolute latest. Today’s post should be especially interesting for those in the market for “Secret Santa” ideas, stocking stuffers, and other smaller gift items that tend to be the focus of last-minute shopping excursions. We have lots of fun stuff to explore, and we made sure to buy plenty of it so we’re fully stocked through the end of the year!

Perhaps my favorite Caran d’Ache jumbo pencil set ever?

Everything featured here is in-stock and available to ship out by Monday. The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Book Darts Page Markers. I think I first discovered Book Darts when I received a tin as a holiday gift long ago, maybe at a work gift-share party from someone who knew that I enjoyed reading. Book Darts are archivally safe page markers that come in three finishes: bronze, brass, and stainless steel. While intended to mark passages in books, they can also be used to divide notebooks into multi-subject sections, etc.
Hightide Co. Folding Metal Book Stand. Easily the most popular gift item in our store, these folding metal book stands can be used for reading, transcribing passages into your commonplace book, holding a planner or calendar, holding a tablet, and many other uses. Best of all, they fold completely flat for travel and slide easily into your briefcase. Currently available in ten colors.
Hightide Co. Sandglasses. We’ve sold more Sandglasses this month than ever! If you’ve never used an analog timer like an hourglass for work, meditation, or simply for the simple pleasure of watching time pass for a brief moment, check out these products from Hightide. Available in 30, 15, 5, and 3-minute intervals. If you’d like to read more on how I personally use mine, check out this post.
Caran d’Ache “Colour Treasure” Maxi Pencil Sets. These colorful tins of jumbo pencils are pure fun, and I can’t imagine any stationery enthusiasts NOT loving these. I’m trying to get my hands on as many sets as I can because I want to keep them past the holidays.
WMS & Co. Corner Page Marker. Looking for something a bit more hefty, with gravitas? Consider these metal bookmarks that slip over the corner of your page. Available in bronze and copper.
Midori Clip Bookmarks. The perfect stocking stuffer, these ultra-thin metal bookmarks come in four different patterns and won’t bulk up your novel or your notebook.
T.G.S. x Penwell Exclusive Edition in Aged Red. I’ve always been a proponent of gifting pen accessories - not pens - to pen enthusiasts, since it’s simply too hard to guess preferences. This Penwell pen stand features a dark red finish exclusive to our store, and attaches to your desk with a microsuction pad that ensures a secure place to park your pen!
Anderillium Inks. After accessories, ink tops my list of recommended gifts for fountain pen lovers. Anderillium Inks, with two lines organized around themes of birds, squids, and octopuses, are both quirky and quality - the hallmarks of an interesting ink brand!
Washi Tape and Snail Mail Accessories Like Stickers. Washi tape (Japanese decorative masking tape) has become insanely popular among journaling and letter enthusiasts over the past several years, and we recently brought in nearly a dozen new patterns. Who doesn’t want “Taco Tuesday” washi tape in their stocking?
Enamel Lapel Pins. With themes ranging from stationery to science to reading, there’s always an enamel pin made for you to adorn your jacket, bag, or pen case. These high-quality pins from iLootPaperie are colorful and sturdy.