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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So Who Won 2024? Final Thoughts on Inkvent vs. Colorvent

This “Inkvent Season” was the first year that Diamine and Colorverse went head to head with their respective “Inkvent” and “Colorvent” ink advent calendars. So who did it better? In my opinion, Colorverse, and it wasn’t even particularly close. This was a bit of a reversal, where I thought Inkvent was leading for the first 10 days. Colorverse not only grew on me over time, but ran away with the victory starting about halfway through the month.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Diamine Ink, but primarily their standard colors. I’m partial to more subdued, muted shades - even if I do enjoy a subtle shimmer ink on occasion - and this past year’s Inkvent focused too much on “extreme sheen”, which might be my least favorite ink property. I found these inks slow to dry, and they often featured so much gold or green sheen that you couldn’t even see the base color once the ink was on the page.

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Yep, the sheen on this ink led to smearing weeks later.

Of all the Colorverse Colorvent Inks, however, there were only a handful that I couldn’t see myself using on a regular basis. The Colorvent Calendar went heavy on the blues, reds, and multi-shading greys, and while many of these colors aren’t particularly “festive”, I personally appreciate the fact that I can use them year-round, especially after shelling out close to $200 for the Colorvent. It’s a lot of ink, and I actually plan to keep most of it!

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Diamine Wishing Tree was my favorite of the 2024 Inkvent Inks. You can check out my overall favorites from the first half of the two calendars here.

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I REALLY want Colorverse to add this particular ink to their permanent collection. This was prominently featured in my recap of Inkvent/Colorvent, Part II.

Grab Some Select Inkvent Samples, While Supplies Last!

I can’t keep everything, so I’ve dropped this year’s Inkvent samples and some remaining from prior years into the “Gently Used/Clearance” section of the shop. Patreon Members already have had first crack at these, but there’s still a lot of ink left to go out the door. Also, please be sure to check out the rest of our brands, as we’ve recently brought in several new lines including Teranishi, Taccia, Diamine 150th Anniversary, and more!

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

New Arrivals: Pilot Iro-Utsushi Dip Pens

By customer request, Pilot Iro-Utsushi dip pens have arrived! These relatively inexpensive dip pens feature a simple holder and a fountain pen nib in either fine or medium, and have become a favorite of enthusiasts looking for a simple way to write from an ink bottle or to sample fountain pen inks. Not as delicate as a glass pen, and not as temperamental as some calligraphy dip nibs, Pilot designed the Iro-Utsushi line for simplicity. Pens are available in five different colors: Black Wood, Natural Wood Grain, and Clear, Clear Blue, and Clear Black Acrylic.

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The pens do not have a cap, but Pilot does include a reusable rubber sleeve in the box that you can use to protect your nib during travel.

The Pilot Iro-Utsushi dip pens are priced as low as $8 for the resin models and only $20 for the wood grain versions, the latter of which have a facet on one side to serve as a roll stop. Available now!

Our brick and mortar shop is open 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.

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Sunday Reading for January 5, 2025

1. 2025 Stationery Intentions (via A Gathering of Curiosities). Another thoughtful post from R.B. I’m still working through my own personal stationery intentions (as opposed to business goals).

2. A Stationery Year in Review: 2024 (via Urban Adventure League). Year-in-review season continues! Consolidation and enjoying the current collection is a common theme.

3. 2025: Let’s Do This! (via Well-Appointed Desk). What planners are you using? Ana has some fun ones lined up.

4. Pen Plans for 2025 (via Pen Addict - Sarah). How do you choose which pens to keep when weeding out a collection? Many, if not most, of the ones I choose to hang on to have sentimental value.

5. Three Habits Worth Keeping (via Writing at Large). I loved this post. These are three habits I’m trying very hard to stick to in 2025.

6. The Vintage-Inspired Mythic Pens V53 (via Figboot on Pens). I’ve not added a Mythic Pens pen to my collection, and I love vintage-inspired designs….

7. Holiday Recap // Weirdoforest Penflections (via Weirdoforest Pens). Another great recap focused on intentionality.

8. My Notebooks for 2025 (via Inkredible Colours). Three notebooks is a good, manageable number for most people. It’s what I’ve settled on for daily/weekly use.

9. End of 2024 and a Happy New Year (via Dapprman). Two very interesting pens of the year!

10. Pen Review: Pilot Custom 74 (via UK Fountain Pens). A new voice over at UK Fountain Pens, reviewing one of my favorites.

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In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I finished up 2024 recap content with a post about the top 10 products from our new shop and brick-and-mortar store! I also posted my 2025 planner/notebook system setup, which is going to drastically simplify things in the hope that I end up using more stationery and can better enjoy the writing process without worrying about keeping up with a strict system. (Since I’m not using Hobonichi this year, I can’t personally comment on any paper issues, though I’ve received a lot of inquiries.) Happy 2025, everyone!

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We’re restocked and ready to go for 2025!

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

I spent most of this week counting inventory in the shop, and immediately after I finished listing a huge Midori restock, which is now available for purchase just in time for New Year’s notebook season. We also have Roterfadens, Traveler’s Notebooks (including 2025 refills), and a continuing end-of-year clearance with a 15% automatic discount at checkout, no coupon code necessary. Just before the holidays, we also added Fisher Space Pen and Rite in the Rain All-Weather Pens to our selection of go-anywhere EDC options, so be sure to check these out!

Be sure to check our brick-and-mortar hours if you’re looking to visit us in person. We’ve gone back to regular, non-holiday public hours but you can always place an order online for pickup or make an appointment!

Midori 5-Year Diaries

Rite in the Rain Paper

TWSBI

Teranishi

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives and Sample Sales

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and gently used stationery opportunities, consider supporting us via Patreon. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, the T.G.S. Patreon includes these as well as access to early shop releases, the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly Zoom meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. For example, Patreon supporters had their own special Fountain Pen Day promo “mystery box” opportunity and now have a chance at Inkvent samples before the colors are released.

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

Planners, Journals, and Notebooks for 2025

In 2024, I decided to explore the Hobonichi Planner in all its various formats. Last year's planning and journaling setup included the A5 Hobonichi Cousin (my work planner, used for both the day job and T.G.S.), the slim Hobonichi Weeks (what I would call a loose personal weekly journal where I set out to record what I did each day in a few sentences); and a standard Hobonichi A6 (which I intended to use as a daily journal for longer reflections). For reasons I explained in October's "Techo Kaigi" post, I knew about midway through 2024 that my grand Hobonichi experiment wouldn't extend past the end of the year. While all three books were objectively excellent, with none of the paper issues this year's journals have faced, the Hobonichi layout doesn't suit my particular needs for "planning" or notetaking - I can’t move individual pages around and pull them in/out of the notebook - and for journaling I found that I enjoy changing formats depending on my needs rather than adopting a rigid "one-book-per-year" setup that having the Hobonichi encouraged.

This Year’s Theme: Flexibility

I actually stopped using the three Hobonichis in mid-November, and decided to experiment with new formats over the last six weeks of 2024. I approached the year-end period from the perspective of simply using whatever I wanted to use for a couple of weeks, while gradually adding more structure around the products I gravitated towards most frequently in the hope that I would arrive at a “final” setup that met all my needs going forward. Here's what I've settled on:

Notebook 1: Plotter A5 (My "Work" Notebook)

The Plotter A5 holds my weekly schedule and notes for both T.G.S. and my legal practice. I considered keeping two binders - one for each job - but I like having everything in one place, without having to switch between notebooks and without the bulk of the Hobonichi Cousin. Let's face it - while the Cousin is one of the best planners I've ever used, it's a LARGE book, and can be a bear to tote around everywhere you go. The slim simplicity of the Plotter not only forces me to streamline what I'm focused on at any given time, it decreases bulk in my bag. I've been carrying approximately two to three weeks' worth of weekly schedules and notes in the Plotter at any given time, and once I run out of space I discard those notes that I don't need and archive those that I want to keep by scanning them digitally or filing them away in an A5 Filofax binder, which holds quite a bit of paper. If I ever need additional room, or decide that my current Plotter can't handle both jobs, I can either add a second Plotter A5 or rotate the Filofax into the "Notebook 1" slot.

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Ring-based systems are excellent choices for those who love to print their own layouts and choose their own paper. I have many different A5 writing pads that I use for notetaking, and often punch holes in sheets of paper to add to the Plotter and/or Filofax A5. Here, you can see how slim the Plotter is compared to the Filofax, which dovetails perfectly with my current goal of narrowing my focus to fewer things at once.

Notebook 2: No Set Format (My Personal Journal)

This slot in my rotation will have no specific format, and no restrictions on how I can use it. I have a limitless supply of notebooks that I've accumulated over the years that I want to use and experience at some point, and last year taught me that I definitely lose interest in journaling if I find myself locked into a one-book, one-year or day-to-a-page format like the Hobonichi, especially if the pages are dated or numbered. If I miss days, it kills my motivation if I can’t get “caught up”. I started this new year by picking up a half-filled blank Musubi Notebook with bank paper, and have mostly been successful writing something every day, whether that's a reflection, blog post, notes on a new project, or simply three morning pages of drivel. This particular notebook is purely about the writing, not the format, as I desperately need to redevelop my habit of getting things out of my head and onto paper, even if I never look at it again.

Another reason for the flexibility: I want to be able to change up my journaling notebook depending on context. Lately, since it's the New Year and I've been in a more reflective mood, the Musubi feels appropriate. Since this notebook is now nearly 3/4 full, I will need to choose a new one within a couple of weeks, and that choice will depend on what's going on in my life at the moment. If I'm facing down some heavy travel, I might opt for a Traveler's Notebook, or even a Field Notes.

Notebook 3: Midori MD 5-Year Journal (Short-Form Daily Log/Journal)

I've had this journal since 2019, and it has roughly three full years of entries, leaving me enough space to use it for two more years if I write as close to daily as I can. Sure, sometimes I will have to catch up a day or even a week at a time, but this is easy to do if you only have to come up with two or three lines per day. The Midori 5-Year Journal replaces last year's Hobonichi Weeks, and while the Weeks was easily my favorite of the three Hobonichis and the one I wrote in the most, I missed having entries from the prior years to reflect on. Midori also makes 3-year and even 10-year versions, though I find the 5-year to be the sweet spot.

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Other Books That See Regular Use

I will of course use other paper throughout the year, in various formats. My Roterfaden A4 holds an A4 writing pad and a few other large-format notebooks I use for brainstorming and drafting articles and briefs longhand. I have a commonplace book that I transcribe quotes and passages into whenever I'm inspired. I also have a handful of dedicated single-purpose notebooks that I use for specific projects and for tracking certain things. Most of these are A5 size, so as necessary I can move them into an A5 Roterfaden or Lochby Field Journal and carry them around with Notebook No. 2 (the general-purpose journal) as necessary. Most frequently, however, I have also been using one or both of the following:

Plotter Mini 5: My go-anywhere pocket notebook

Even if I'm not planning to write, I always feel better with some paper on me. The Plotter Mini 5 can double as a light wallet, though I'm using it as such less and less since the wallet/cardholder insert can make it too bulky to use as a notebook.

Remarkable2 E-ink Tablet

Yes, I'm giving the ReMarkable2 another go, primarily as a replacement for the half-dozen or so legal pads I have lying around my office. I've fought a long-running battle against "junk paper" - notes from phone calls, random meetings, marked-up printed copies of pdfs - none of which get saved and most of which get shredded or thrown out. The Remarkable2 works quite well as an electronic legal pad, feels the closest to writing on real paper as any electronic device I've tried, and certainly makes an excellent alternative to carrying around 300+ page binders full of printed pdfs. I find the writing and notetaking experience superior to the iPad (more immersive/less distracting), and really only use the latter for sensitive materials that require a higher level of security or documents that need to be annotated and circulated to other people for collaboration purposes.

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For some work days, the Plotter A5 and ReMarkable2 can sometimes be the only two pieces of “Stationery” that I carry.

So that's it! This isn't a hypothetical setup that I'll be experimenting with - it's what I've already been using in some form since mid-November, and I firmed up my plans over the last week or so as I wrote up these notes. The best part about this system is that I don't have to think much about it at all, and I don't find myself forcing my writing into a pre-set format, as I sometimes felt pressured to do with Hobonichi. This setup is also highly adaptable. If I suddenly decide I prefer a disc-based notebook to the Plotter rings mid-year, I could theoretically move to a William Hannah or Levenger Circa without changing the underlying system much at all.

Thank you for reading! The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to visit our in-person location, you can view directions and up-to-date hours here.