Thursday Drops and New Arrivals: TWSBI Indigo Blue + Bronze, Pocket Pens, and Mnemosyne!

September 7, 2023

After some Fedex delays, I’m happy to report that we have our initial shipment of TWSBI ECO Indigo Blue + Bronze fountain pens in stock now. Currently we have medium, broad, and 1.1mm nib sizes available, but will restock shortly. We are received additional stock of the Diamond Mini AL Grape, which was a hit at the San Francisco Pen Show but sadly sold out on Friday except for a single stub. Finally, we have more Laconic Tokyo notebooks with the cover options, as well as Midori MD A4 Notebooks and the Maruman Mnemosyne A4 spiral notebooks. Happy Shopping!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

TWSBI ECO Indigo Blue + Bronze Fountain Pen. I love that TWSBI is getting more creative with their color combinations, and have expanded into different trim like the Rose Gold and, now, Bronze!
TWSBI Diamond Mini AL Grape Fountain Pen. I set out to the change the trend of exhibitors not showcasing the TWSBI Diamond Mini at pen shows, and it turns out that a lot of you agreed that it was a good idea. It was fun to have people seek out my table “looking for the purple Mini.”
TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue. We received a few more of this classic Diamond 580 fountain pen, in the popular EF-M nib sizes.
Laconic Tokyo “Style” Notebook Covers. When I discovered Laconic Tokyo back in January at NY Now, I had a sneaking suspicion that readers would love this hyper-specialized notebook line that allows you to customize your planner/journal/notebook with nearly a dozen different refill layouts. Laconic sells a series of slim PVC covers that holds two refills.
Laconic Style A5 Notebooks. You don’t need the Laconic-specific cover to enjoy the Laconic refill system! These standard A5 refills fit covers from Lochby, Roterfaden, Midori, and more.
Maruman Mnemosyne A4 Spiral Bound Notebooks. With their perforated pages and versatile layouts, Maruman Mnemosyne notebooks are among our favorite everyday writing options. We recently received a large shipment of A4 sized notebooks in all the various rulings.
Midori MD A4 Notebooks. Large-format notebooks offer a versatile canvas for your writing, art, and more, and Midori’s large A4 notebook features excellent MD Paper. If you enjoy the MD Cotton Paper, the “F3” size is close to A4 dimensions and fits most A4-sized covers.
Midori MD Multi-Year Diaries. It’s time to order planners and journals for 2024! Why not pick up one that you can start with immediately and keep on using for three to ten years?
Traveler’s Company Standard Traveler’s Notebook in Olive Green. The latest notebook release from Traveler’s Company is back in stock, along with the matching pen holder and specialty papers including Traveler’s Company Sticker Release, Lightweight, and Accordion Paper Refills for Traveler’s Notebook.
Lochby Venture Pouch. Navy Blue and Brown Venture Pouches are back in stock. You all cleaned us out in DC and San Francisco!

InCoWriMo Letter Writing Supplies — By request, I’ve left the “InCoWriMo” section in the Curated Paper shop, where we collect letter-writing supplies.

Pen Trays and Accessories: Toyooka Craft and the Beauty of Simplicity

September 6, 2023

I would venture that the most popular draw at both the D.C. and San Francisco Pen Shows was the Toyooka Craft table. Toyooka Craft Co. is a family-run woodworking company founded in Hamamatsu, Japan, and while their business extends beyond desk accessories and stationery products, they are known in the pen community for their simple - yet beautiful - pen trays, chests, pen rests, and other items. I really can’t overstate the popularity of their products. In San Francisco, for example, a long line formed on both Friday and Saturday mornings, and persisted until at least midday. For those who have seen videos of the Friday morning attendees lining up and racing to the back of the show in San Francisco, many of these people headed directly to the Toyooka Craft table.

Toyooka Craft Hinoki Blue Covered Pen Tray

Toyooka Craft uses the "kumi-ki" metal-free construction method, discussed in more detail on their website. Woods used include a combination of Alder and plywood, with liners made from soft rayon that won't scratch your pens. I went into the month of August with zero Toyooka Craft products in my personal collection and began September with three: two of the small stackable pen trays in a black/burgundy combination, and one larger covered pen tray in Hinoki Blue, a color I didn't expect to love as much as I did when I saw it in person.

Toyooka Craft Hinoki Blue Covered Tray with lid — My Hinoki Blue Tray holds 15 pens and features a non-attached, removable lid. I like this because it means I can stack the tray with others should I (or, “when I”) purchase more in the future.

Toyooka Craft Joints and Blue Lacquer — The seams/joints are nearly invisible, and I love how the blue lacquer still allows the wood grain to show through.

Toyooka Craft Small Pen Tray — I keep one of these small six-pen trays at each of my workstations. Partitions in the small pen trays are raised enough to keep the pens separated without destroying the sleek aesthetic. In other words, these trays look flat, and there's no fumbling with "slots" whenever you need to pick up a pen to write. While extremely lightweight, the trays also have rubber pads on the bottom so they will remain stationary and not slide around.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I find that many "traditional" pen chests and trays sold in the U.S. lack a sense of subtlety - they’re either too large for my taste or overly ornate. These Toyooka Craft trays are so sleek that they essentially disappear on your desk, despite my having chosen relatively loud design choices such as the blue lacquer and red lining.

TGS Pen Show Table Display — I’ve been using Toyooka Craft Pen Trays as part of my pen show table display. They really look great with demonstrator fountain pens like the Pilot Custom 74.

Unless you plan on waiting until next year's D.C. or San Francisco Pen Show, the best way to obtain a Toyooka Craft product is by direct order through their website. While some products are likely ready to ship, depending on stock, there may be a slightly delay in the event the item you order needs to be made.

I find Toyooka Craft products reasonably priced given the quality. The small pen trays shown here list at 4,500 Yen (roughly $30), and the larger pen tray with the separated lid at 1200 Yen ($80), though adding the Hinoki Blue lacquer will increase the cost. Pen show pricing was roughly double what is listed on the website, presumably to reflect freight, import duties, and the expense of attending the show. Some, but not all, of these costs will need to be added to your online order as well, so don't expect the website price to be inclusive.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases through the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain paid advertising or third-party affiliate links. I purchased the products featured in this review with my own funds for my own use.

Curated Shop Spotlight: Desk and Reading Accessories from Craighill Co.

September 5, 2023

Many of you who visited our table in San Francisco commented on our selection of accessories from designer and manufacturer Craighill Co., which first came on my radar back in 2019. Craighill’s timeless, functional design and overall focus on office and small personal accessories kept them on the short list of brands that I wanted to add to the store, and this summer I received my initial allocation of the Kepler Pen (which incorporates a D1 refill into a retractable knock mechanism), the Desk Knife and Plinth (a combination letter opener and utility knife), and reading accessories such as the “Perch” Bookmark and Page Indicators.

Craighill Desk Knives on the four different cast concrete plinths.

Based on the reaction in San Francisco, we will likely be expanding our selection of Craighill goods, in addition to restocking those we already carry. Are you a fan of Craighill? Is there a specific item that you would like us to stock? Several of you offered some suggestions at the show, and those are already in the works. Happy Tuesday!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all goods sold, including Craighill.

Check out the unique grip on the Craighill Kepler Pen!

Sunday Reading for September 3, 2023 (Labor Day Long Weekend Edition)

September 3, 2023

2023 SF Pen Show - The Funnest Pen Show, aka Not a Quick Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Wow, this was an EXTREMELY comprehensive from someone who is probably the most qualified SF Pen Show tour guide in history.
Pen Show Recap: SF Pen Show (via Well-Appointed Desk). As always, Ana is a great table neighbor to have at a pen show!
What’s So Special About Specialty Nibs? (via Leigh Reyes). It was great getting to see Leigh again at this year’s SF Pen Show, and even better to read a post about her adventures in nib grinding at the show and what to think about when considering specialty nibs.
Method and Mayhem (A Gathering of Curiosities). New blog alert! So far, R.B. has offered a couple of incredibly thoughtful posts, including this one on writing and notetaking process.
Otto Hutt Design 08 Fountain Pen (via Blake’s Broadcast). The Otto Hutt Design 08 is one of those extremely expensive “design piece” fountain pens which never really went mainstream.
Traveling with Ink: Birmingham, August 2023 (via Fountain Pen Blog). A Pen Museum? This looks fascinating.
Dotted Sea Urchin (via Rachel’s Reflections). This is gorgeous hand-painted work.
Meet Your Maker: Jacob Pawloski, Mad Science Pen Company (via Pen Addict - Caroline). This latest round of pen shows was the first opportunity I had to see Jacob’s work in person, and at some point I’d love to get my hands on one of his pens.
M600 Red-White Special Edition (via Pelikan’s Perch). Pelikan is back with one of their new white M600’s, just in time for the upcoming Pelikan Hubs at the end of the month!
Five Painless Ways to Make Writing a Fun, Daily Habit (via Ink Journal). A great article from Tom on how to get started on longer-form writing projects and to keep moving forward.

Pens from DC and San Francisco Pen Shows! Lots to Review

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog, I recovered from San Francisco. I recapped the show in this post from Wednesday, then talked about some of the new acquisitions I brought home yesterday. I’ll be resuming regular review content this coming week, though I haven’t yet decided where to begin!

This Week in the Curated Shop - LABOR DAY PROMO, TWSBI Update and More

After some unexplained Fedex delays (lingering hurricane logistics?) TWSBI Indigo Blue pre-orders are set to arrive Tuesday and will go out immediately. You may start to see labels being generated for your orders over the weekend. We currently still have a few of these pens available for pre-order, and if all of the pre-order units sell out I will place another order quickly. Also, some of you who I met in San Francisco have asked about a restock of the TWSBI Diamond Mini-AL Grape fountain pens. Those are also set to arrive Tuesday, so I’ve made them available for order. Finally, we are running a Labor Day sale through tomorrow at 11:59pm CT: Take 10% off all ink and paper using the code LABOR10 at checkout. Happy shopping!

Pilot

TWSBI

Anderillium

Reading Accessories

Patreon Update - Support T.G.S. via Sample Sales, Early Access, and Meetups with Special Guests!

If you’re interested in early access and a right of first refusal for the periodic sales, consider T.G.S. Patreon, which features not only access to meetups and the early gently used sales, but more exclusive content. Everything that didn’t sell to Patreon members, including some older limited edition Baron Fig items and notebooks, is now available for general purchase on the “Gently Used” page, and I recently reduced prices on certain items to continue the clear-out!

Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your support! I’m working on something new - Guests for the monthly meetups! Stay tuned for details on a September special guest.

Unpacking the San Francisco Pen Show: A Deeper Dive into What I Brought Home

September 2, 2023

As I did after the D.C. Pen Show recap, I wanted to do a post that’s a bit of a deeper dive on what I picked up at the San Francisco Pen Show, especially since my weekend was spent mostly behind the table and these past few days at home were my first opportunity to explore most of my purchases, which were largely planned pre-show and executed in the last two hours on Sunday afternoon. It’s been like a pen show after a pen show!

Gravitas Ultemate Vac and Kyuseido Kakari — The Kyuseido (right) next to the Gravitas Ultemate Vac (left). The Kyuseido "Kakari” fountain pen was designed by C.Y. of Kyuseido in collaboration with Ben Walsh of Ben Walsh Design/Gravitas Pens.

Kyuseido Pump Piston Filler (The “Kakari”?)

So of all the pens that I posted photos of on Instagram and in my main San Francisco recap, this is the one that prompted the most questions. I understand the official name is the “Kakari” (from Ben Walsh’s Instagram), and it’s a riff on the “bulkfiller” (lower-case) or syringe filler mechanism. More details will follow once I’ve had time to play with it. My particular pen features black PVD titanium trim (numbered edition of 40/50), and a 14k nib ground by C.Y. into a “Sankakusen”, which is his term for the kodachi/naginata-style grind. I basically use it like a soft architect, and so far it’s been a wonderful writer. An ebonite feed delivers a lot of ink, but the nib is well-tuned so that it doesn’t bleed through on most papers.

My understanding is that the San Francisco Pen Show was a “soft launch” for this particular pen, and that we will be seeing more of it soon. It’s a premium product, priced at $660 including the custom grind, a price point which is slightly lower than than the Conid Bulkfiller with a titanium nib. I of course plan to do a much more in-depth post on this pen, though I need to wait until Kyuseido posts more information about the specifics of the design when it officially launches. We were both so busy at the show I didn’t have an opportunity to discuss the pen with C.Y. in any great detail.

Schon DSGN Monoc Comparison — And, yes, my fine Monoc (left) was anodized in a rainbow gradient.

Schon DSGN Fine Monoc Nib

I reviewed the original Schon DSGN Monoc nib back in February, shortly after it’s initial launch. At the D.C. Pen Show, Ian revealed broad and fine versions of the Monoc, which I didn’t have a chance to test out. Then Ana, my table neighbor working for Vanness, bought one and brought it back to the table in San Francisco, and I was hooked. I mentioned this in my prior recap, but I needed to re-ink the pen after travel and take some pictures of the unique line variation this nib offers. While the original Monoc writes a medium line in normal “nib-down” position, and a fine/extra-fine on the reverse, this latest release writes a fine line in normal position and an medium architect line on the reverse. It’s extremely smooth either way, though I did move it from a Pocket Six to my Amber Ultem pen, as I think ink flows better in the Monoc through a converter.

Schon DSGN Medium and Fine Monoc Writing Samples

Gravitas Pens Ultemate Vac Filler

I’ve been wanting to pick up one of Ben Walsh’s polished Gravitas Ultem vacs, and it doesn’t disappoint. So many makers default to the matte finish with Ultem, and while I might prefer that visual on most designs, here the polished finish was clearly the right choice. I’m also digging the clipless, postable cap, and the titanium on the barrel gives the pen a nice balance. I stuck with the stainless steel EF nib, which writes well, and the section is threaded for a JoWo nib unit if I ever wanted to change it out.

Skogsy Pens Micarta Fountain Pen

Did I mention I’ve become obsessed with Micarta as a material. Yes, I know it “stains”. No, I don’t care. And yes, you bet I dipped the section of this pen to fill it. I even got permission from Zach at Skogsy to do it. (He encourages this!)

Micarta Fountain Pens from Skogsy Pens and Leonardo Pens — My two Micarta Fountain Pens: The Skogsy (left) and the Leonardo Momento Zero collaboration with Stilo e Stile (right).

For those unfamiliar, “Micarta” is a brand name for a thermoplastic made from resin-infused fiber (typically linen, canvas, paper, fiberglass, or carbon fiber), though it’s also used generically (“micarta”) to refer to materials made using similar techniques. It has a range of industrial uses, though the most familiar niche consumer applications are knife handles, pool cues, and guitar components. Once hardened and turned, Micarta takes on the feel of compressed sailcloth, and will wear smooth and patina depending on how it is used.

Micarta Pens Sections, one stained with ink. — Micarta is absorbent, so as you use your pens, knives, etc. they will take on a patina from hand oils and ink.

Durable and extremely light, Micarta makes for a fascinating pen material. I missed out on the original TWSBI Micarta release (which I talked about in my Pen Addict Podcast appearance EIGHT years ago!?!), but immediately picked up the Stilo e Stile collaboration with Leonardo Pens, and jumped at the chance to grab a Skogsy Pen in San Francisco. These things sold fast, and on Saturday morning I only had my pick of three!

Enigma Stationery and TGS Hinze Pens Collaboration

Enigma Stationery Special Edition No. 3

Another table neighbor got me on the first day. I mentioned that Enigma Stationery was right next door, and we had both done collaborations with Hinze Pens. Dan and I ended up swapping a couple of pens from our latest limited runs, and I took home this gorgeous Enigma Special Edition #3 turned by Hinze from a custom in-house Enigma blank. I also love the matching turquoise nib and have a couple ideas for the perfect ink to match this one. (Iroshizuku Sui-Gyoku, perhaps? That seems to be my new favorite.)

Pilot Custom 74s on Toyooka Craft Pen Tray

Pilot Custom 74 Burgundy Demonstrator with EF Nib

Yeah, yeah, don’t shop your own supply, I know, but someone wanted to dip this Custom 74 at the SF Show and I noticed for the first time that the burgundy demonstrator features a smoke black section and finial and it’s a burgundy and smoke pen and my signature colors and I don’t have a Pilot Custom 74 with an EF nib and I talked myself into keeping it. So there.

Pilot Custom 74 Demonstrators — Yes I do plan to remove the sticker.

As I’ve demonstrated, you can still do an extreme amount of damage to your wallet with only two hours to spend shopping at the SF Pen Show (and even without leaving your own table). Even so, I’m considering dialing back show attendance as an exhibitor next year, and refocusing more on the informational/content/after-hours aspects, and maybe even hosting workshops and seminars. It’s more in line with what I want to get out of the show experience, since logistics dictate that I’m never going to be a multiple-table vendor and my time is likely better spent visiting with makers, distributors, readers and attendees. Stay tuned for future show plans! I may have one or two more in me this year.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain paid advertising or third-party affiliate links.