Notebook Systems 101: More 2025 DC Pen Show Workshop Information

I mentioned Saturday that I would be holding a daily workshop on Notebook Systems at the 2025 D.C. Pen Show, and times are now live on the D.C. Pen Show website. Because that site can be a bit hard to follow, the schedule is as follows: Friday 8/1 at 4pm; Saturday 8/2 at 3:30pm; and Sunday 8/3 at 11:30am. There is no charge to attend any of my workshops, and the class will be held in the Vanness Pen Lounge, located downstairs and open to all show attendees.

What Does The Notebook Systems 101 Workshop Entail?

Last year, I held the workshop roundtable-style in the pen lounge, and basically walked attendees through the concept of a notebook “system” (as opposed to just a standard notebook) and the different options available. Attendees were able to peruse functional samples (either my personal notebooks or demo units set up by me) of notebooks/binders from Plotter, Traveler’s Company, Lochby, and Roterfaden. This year, I will have those same brands available, plus additional examples of notebooks from Yamamoto Ro-Biki, Cloth & Paper, and other more unique offerings that don’t get as much attention.

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I enjoy holding this class because many people find it helpful to experience in person how each system works, and what types of paper and accessories can be used with each one. It can be hard to visualize a ring binder vs. a cord-based system vs. a disc-based system without an opportunity to test them out hands-on. It’s a key part of our in-store experience here in Nashville, which I try to replicate at those pen shows where I’m primarily teaching as opposed to setting up and selling.

What If I Can’t Make the D.C. Pen Show? Where Else Can I Find This Information?

I recently created a Notebook Systems informational resource on the website, with links to relevant blog posts and video content. I plan to add to this in the future, including any workshop content that I make available to pen show attendees, so that general readers will have access even if they can’t make the show.

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Oh, and I’ll probably bring some multi pens!

Do You Have a Table at the D.C. Pen Show?

I will have a small setup, either as part of the Vanness Pen Lounge or adjacent to the Vanness tables. (D.C. is so large and chaotic that we often don’t know how exactly how the show will be set up until we get there.) I currently plan to bring a small assortment of notebooks, mainly Roterfaden and Lochby. Traveler’s Company and Plotter usually attend the show as a brand and sell directly. Some of you have asked whether we will have stock of our recently released Roterfaden special edition, the TSG_25. While I will certainly bring any stock that I have, I think it’s unlikely many will remain available as we’ve already sold through roughly 2/3 of our initial shipment. The timing and size of any restock will depend on trade developments in the coming days, but it will not be prior to the D.C. Pen Show, unfortunately.

Our brick-and-mortar is open this week so please do stop by! We are open Thursday and Friday from 1pm-6pm, and on Saturday from 10am-6pm, and otherwise by appointment. Hope to see you soon!

Introducing the T.G.S. x Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter TGS_25: Available Now!

Over the years many have asked where I obtained my A5-slim Roterfaden, which has made an appearance both here on the blog and in YouTube videos. That particular release was a special edition, long-since discontinued, and Roterfaden was kind enough to agree to bring it back for us in what’s been dubbed the “Taschenbegleiter TGS_25”, with a soft olive green exterior leather and a dark grey suede interior! It’s a flexible size, with the cover not designed to fit any specific refill: It measures roughly 5” x 8.6”, and will accommodate any A5 Slim/Personal-sized notebooks up to 4.3” (wide) by 8.3” (tall) dimensions. While I typically cut down A5 notebooks to fit this size cover, I’ve also used notebooks from brands including Lochby (the Voyager is an excellent fit), Yamamoto Ro-Biki, and Traveler’s Company with success. The Roterfaden system operates with stainless steel clips, which conveniently slide up and down to accommodate variations in notebook height.

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There are two elastic options: The green elastic above and the grey elastic shown here. All cords are both removable and replaceable.

These are available now in the main T.G.S. shop, with Patreon supporters having their own listing with a special pricing opportunity via the Patreon Shop. (Patrons be sure to check the main feed and Discord for details.) We carry a wide range of notebooks and refills that could potentially fit this cover, and also recently procured a commercial paper cutter that allows us to trim notebooks to size. Please e-mail me or reach out via the “Contact” link if you are interested in this service and whether it is possible with a specific notebook. There will be no charge, but once a notebook is cut down any sales will be final.

While I can’t guarantee how many Taschenbegleiters will last through the weekend, our brick-and-mortar will be open this week so please do stop by! We are open Thursday and Friday from 1pm-6pm, and on Saturday from 10am-6pm, and otherwise by appointment. Hope to see you soon!

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If the A5 Slim size doesn’t work for you, we also have a restock of many A5 Taschenbegleiters and one B6 model.

Weekend Reading for July 19-20, 2025

1. “Efficiency, As I Have Discovered, Is the Enemy of Depth” (via Analog Office). If there were a mission statement/manifesto as to why I enjoy writing by hand and doing most things the long way around, this might be it.

2. Show Report: Pacific Northwest Pen Show (via Urban Adventure League). I love reading first pen show reports! The Pacific Northwest (Portland) Show is relatively new and growing.

3. 2025 Pacific Northwest Pen Show Recap and Report Card (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Some of the behind-the-scenes stuff sounds not-so-great. An expensive show to attend, with other administrative challenges that likely make it economically nonviable for many vendors to attend.

4. 2025 St. Louis Pen Show FIRST TIME (via Feed Your Creativity). St. Louis is on the list of pen shows I’ve personally never attended, and maybe that should change next year?

5. Discover the Magic of the Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Dark Hawaii (via dwrdnet). I’ve always been a huge fan of this material, and have one of the original Momento Zero rollerballs.

6. Stanford Pen Studio Haunted House (via Figboot on Pens). Ok, this one messed with me. Especially the thumbnail image.

7. Packing Pens and Inks for Long Term Travels (via UK Fountain Pens). I’ve never had to pack ink for a monthlong trip. Two weeks has been my max.

8. Archer & Olive Beneath the Willows Notebook Review (via Pen Addict - Sarah). Finally, someone is trying to bring back the tall/narrow hardcover notebook!

9. The Mad Scientist Method of Mixing Your Own Fountain Pen Ink Colors (via Well-Appointed Desk). I’m not a big ink mixer but I love reading about experiments!

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I spent most of the week digging into this. Highly recommended. I wish I’d kept a pack of the Field Notes.

In Case You Missed It…

Well, you didn’t miss all THAT much this week, since we were on a much-needed vacation. (It’s been quite the year.) I did publish a retrospective “From the Archives” post that looked at some of my favorite early/underalgorithmed TGS YouTube, and I also published an update on the Summer Pen Show Schedule and D.C. Pen Show details, since we are only two weeks out. Be sure to get D.C. Pickup orders in, and there’s more on that in the full post.

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This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - PLUS A VACATION Weekend PROMO!

We had a lot of new arrivals continue to pile in, and my helpers at home have been busy shipping orders! Roterfaden A5 Taschenbegleiters continue to go to new homes, and we’ve recently added Toyo Steel Boxes as well, which are a favorite stationery storage solution for many. In addition to the standard Yamamoto Ro-Biki notebooks, we now also have the Ro-Biki Passport size notebooks (yes, they fit the Traveler’s Notebook Passport Cover) in more than a dozen different designs.

This weekend (through 11:59pm on Sunday, July 20), we’re running an ink sale! Use the code “INKYVACAY” at checkout to get 10% off most bottled inks and cartridges. Some exclusions apply - see this week’s Thursday Drops post for details.

Original Brooks

Toyo Steel Boxes

Lochby

Roterfaden

curated stationery boxes are available!

We have a very small number of the Patreon curated stationery boxes that have been made available to the general readership. We plan to start shipping by the end of the month. 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 special promotions like this one, 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)! The T.G.S. Patreon includes early access and discounts on exclusive shop releases (including the Taschenstift “Violet Tendencies”), the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. As noted above, we’ve recently started a Discord community for all paid Patreon supporters.

Summer Pen Show Schedule and D.C. and San Francisco Pen Show Details

The August Pen Show Season is almost upon us! First up is the 2025 D.C. Pen Show, which will take place at the Marriott Fairview Park in Falls Church, Virginia. We will be attending, and while our final setup is yet to be determined, we will either be sharing table space with our friends at Vanness Pens and/or set up in the Pen Lounge downstairs, where I plan to hold my workshop on Notebook Systems once daily on Friday (4pm), Saturday (3:30pm), and Sunday (12pm). The DC Seminar Schedule is a bit disorganized and hard to follow, and does not currently reflect these classes, but will be updated soon.

For those who visited the D.C. Pen Show last year, you may remember the Vanness Pen Lounge as a downstairs “oasis” where you can get off your feet around a table to visit with friends, and catch a class or workshop in a more informal format. It will be open Friday-Sunday, from open until close.

The San Francisco Pen Show will follow from August 29-31, and while I currently plan to be there, my current schedule and location is TBD. I want to spend at least part of that show as a pure attendee. Stay tuned for additional details around mid-August.

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Can I Order Items from the Shop to Pick Up in D.C. or San Francisco?

D.C., yes. San Francisco, possibly but I’m not sure yet. The difference is that I’m driving to D.C., whereas I have to fly to San Francisco. (I’m also attending the San Francisco Pen Show mostly as an attendee, and therefore won’t have a regular table or easy place to store any stuff.) Details on D.C. Pen Show Orders can be found in this week’s Thursday Drops post, but the short version is to use the coupon code “DCPICKUP” at checkout to drop the shipping charge. Orders not collected at the show that do not qualify for free shipping ($75+) will be assessed a separate shipping charge. I will be mostly set up in the Vanness Pen Lounge (downstairs) for the weekend, and my stock will heavily feature notebook systems and accessories (i.e., Roterfaden, Lochby, Traveler’s Company). I do intend to bring most of my current Roterfaden stock to D.C., so if you have been waiting on a specific piece, I would encourage you to visit the store or purchase in advance. The status of the current trade situation will likely influence the timing of any further restock.

Pen Show and Shop Schedule for August

Please pay close attention to posted in-person shop hours for the month of August, as they will be somewhat irregular due to travel.

• Thursday, July 31 through Sunday, August 3: D.C. Pen Show. We will have special in-person store hours in Nashville the week of July 28, and possibly add a day next week, to make up for the fact that we will be closed that weekend.

• Thursday August 28 through Sunday, August 31: San Francisco Pen Show. We will plan to have special in-person store hours in Nashville the week of the show, since we won’t be in town that weekend.

• Otherwise, the T.G.S. storefront should be operating per our normal business hours, Thursday and Friday 1pm-6pm and Saturday from 10am-6pm. We may add an extra afternoon (probably Wednesday) on weeks in August due to the pen show schedule.

Just a reminder that our shop is closed today (Saturday, 7/19) since we are on our last day of travel. Normal hours will resume next week and we are back on a normal shipping schedule. Don’t forget to take advantage of the current promotion, with 10% off most bottled inks and refills using the coupon code “INKYVACAY” at checkout!

Thursday Drops: Jetstream M17 Restock, Toyo Steel Boxes, Handsewn Notebooks from Original Brooks, and More!

They’re back! We have additional Lamy x Jetstream M17 ballpoint refills, which will fit the Safari, AL-Star, Lamy 2000 and other pens that take the Lamy M16 ballpoint refill. If you’d like to read more about why we love this refill so much, check out this post. We’ve also recently received a supply of Toyo steel boxes from Japan, which are a popular stackable storage solution for anything from stationery to office supplies to travel accessories. Finally, we’ve added some gorgeous hand-sewn journals from Original Brooks, a boutique bookbindery in North Carolina, and we also have a Roterfaden A5 and B6 restock!

UPDATE: While we’re at it, let’s do a vacation promotion! Through Sunday at 11:59pm, take 10% off most bottled fountain pen inks and ink cartridges using the coupon code “INKYVACAY” at checkout. (We did just get a restock of some favorites, including all the Greek Mythology inks!) Promotion excludes brands that cannot be discounted, including Pilot and TWSBI. I also wanted to take a moment to talk about the DC Pen Show, which will happen at the end of this month. I will be driving, so if you would like to place an order for DC Pickup, use “DCPICKUP” to drop the shipping charge. Note that we will NOT ship your order to you if you fail to pick it up in DC, unless it otherwise qualifies for free shipping at the over $75 threshold. All DC orders must be placed by noon on July 30 (7/30).

These hand-sewn notebooks from Original Brooks have been a fun find. I love that each signature contains different reclaimed, antique, or repurposed paper.

Just a reminder that our brick-and-mortar shop is closed this weekend as we are on vacation this week. Orders have continued to ship, and anything placed today or later will ship within our normal 2-3 business day processing time. Many thanks for all your support!

1. Lamy x Jetstream M17 Ballpoint Refills. The popular Lamy x Jetstream refills that sold out so quickly are back in stock. These are designed to fit Lamy retractable ballpoint pens that take the Lamy M16 refill. .5mm and .7mm tip sizes are available.

2. Toyo Steel Boxes. These cult-favorite Japanese steel storage boxes come in a range of colors and are perfect for storing everything from stationery to tea to ink bottles, to travel supplies. Certain colors are harder to get than others, so supply may be limited.

3. Original Brooks Handsewn Notebooks. Original Brooks is a small-scale bookbinder located in North Carolina that makes notebooks from reclaimed and antique scrap paper. Each notebook/journal contains multiple signatures of different papers, as well as a couple of envelopes for collecting keepsakes and ephemera. Two sizes are available.

4. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter in B6 Smoke/Honey. The dark blue and honey suede Taschenbegleiter is back in the B6 size, a much-requested addition to our Roterfaden lineup.

5. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters in A5. Otherwise, we have a sizeable restock of A5 Taschenbegleiter covers in various leathers, both with felt and suede interiors. Four-clip versions have sold out but three-clip versions remain.

6. Yamamoto Ro-Biki Canvas Covers/Cases. These canvas notebook cases are designed to fit the Standard Ro-Biki notebooks, but function more as a wrap than a traditional cover, and incorporate a zippered pouch into the outside.

7. Yamamoto Ro-Biki Standard and Passport Notebooks. The Ro-Biki paper is excellent, and we now offer it in a passport-sized notebook that will fit in the Passport-sized Traveler’s Notebook cover. All Passport notebooks feature dot grid Soliste paper.

8. Lochby Voyager Journals and Refills. Lochby’s version of the “A5 Slim” format is here, and it’s quite nice. Like the other Lochby cases, this one holds four refills on the cords and one in each cover. Lochby’s own refills contain 68gsm Tomoe River paper.

9. Shorthand Press Notebooks and Desk Pads. Los Angeles-based Shorthand Press makes spiral notebooks and desk pads that feature letterpress covers, vintage-inspired rulings, and durable double-o spiral bindings.

10. Anecdote Goods Correspondence Cards. By popular request from both our in-store and online customers, we’ve added a series of folded correspondence notecards with simple design motifs. These are 300g cardstock, with a substantial feel in the hand.