Complementary Notebook Systems and Stationery: Yamamoto Bullet Jotters

Of all the notebook systems, planners, and related products on the market, what I really appreciate is a brand or system that doesn’t lock you into a specific format, allowing you to experiment with different types of paper and to mix-and-match refills. It’s a big reason why I like flexible cover-based systems like the Lochby Field Journal series, the Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter, and binder and disc-based systems that you can really unlock by buying a hole punch and using whatever paper you choose. In my Notebook Systems 101 workshops that I’ll be holding at the upcoming D.C. Pen Show next week, how different planner and notebook systems interact and complement one another will be a major topic of discussion.

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To that end, I wanted to spotlight a new product from Yamamoto Paper: The “Bullet Jotter,” which is a Personal/Bible-sized notepad holder that can be used as a stand-alone product or as a companion to a Bible-sized binder from brands such as Plotter. This small portfolio measures roughly 4.5” x 7.2”, lies completely flat, and holds two pads of Bible-sized paper (one pad of Soliste and another of Sheep Clouds Bond are included). You can use the notepads as is, and the paper can also be hole-punched for filing, as shown below in my Plotter.

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I used a Carl/Plotter hole punch to add the sheet of Sheep Clouds Bond to my Bible-size Plotter.

Yamamoto, a Japanese paper distributor, has sourced six different Japanese papers to fit the Bullet Jotter (or to use as individual notepads). In addition to the Soliste and Sheep Clouds Bond, there are pads of Sanzen Tomoe River, Canopus, Meringue, and Slight White. Some of these already have been made available in Yamamoto’s sampler packs and A4 looseleaf sets, but Canopus and Meringue are new papers that I look forward to exploring.

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As of this morning you can get the Yamamoto Bullet Jotter, refills, and plenty of other Yamamoto papers in our shop. We’re somewhat frantically trying to get a ton of new inventory listed before the D.C. Show, and these might come with us. Please note that we are open today (Saturday) for in-person shopping, and will be open Thursday for limited hours before closing next weekend for D.C. You can keep track of updated hours here.

Thursday Drops: Roterfaden TGS_25 Special Edition, Traveler's and Maruman Restock, and Braun Clocks!

We have a bit of everything this week, with the big news being the release of our own special Roterfaden collaboration, the TGS_25, in an A5 slim format. While I expected it to be popular (this is an uncommon Roterfaden size that only periodically appears in special releases), I wasn’t quite prepared for how quickly this one has sold. We do still have some stock remaining, and I have held back a handful for our local customers this weekend. Just a reminder to our Patreon supporters that they have a special pricing offer on this release - please check the Patreon feed for details.

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Yesterday we also received a restock of many different Traveler’s Notebook refills and accessories, as well as Standard and Pocket Starter Kits. Maruman Spiral notebooks are back in stock, as well as some of the more popular Yamamoto A4 papers, including Kin Kaku Den, Soliste, Slight White, and Light Force. Finally, be sure to check out our ever-expanding selection of desk accessories, including Toyo steel boxes and Braun desk alarm clocks - a new analog timer to complement our sandglass selection!

Our brick-and-mortar shop is open Thursday and Friday from 1pm-6pm, and on Saturday from 10am-6pm, and otherwise by appointment. Hope to see you soon!

1. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter TSG_25 (T.G.S. Special Edition). Our most recent collaboration is an A5-Slim Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter, in a soft exterior Olive leather with dark grey suede interior. This Taschenbegleiter will fit notebooks from several different existing brands, or you can cut down a standard A5 to fit the dimensions. You can read more about this release and how it works in Tuesday’s post.

2. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Standard Sizes (A5 and B6). Along with our TGS_25 special edition, we have additional stock of A5 and B6 Taschenbegleiters in a variety of cover colors and interior finishes.

3. T.G.S. x Hinze Taschenstift “Violet Tendencies” Micarta Fountain Pen. We have some remaining stock of our latest fountain pen collaboration with Hinze Pens, which features a dark purple Micarta with a matching anodized nib and section. You can read more about this here.

4. Lochby Voyager A5 Slim Journal Cover. For those not into the leather Taschenbegleiter, Lochby offers their own A5 Slim cover in waxed canvas. These will accept any refill/notebook up to 4.3” x 7.3”.

5. Uni Jetstream M17 Ballpoint Refill. We have another shipment of the excellent Uni Jetstream refill designed to fit Lamy ballpoint pens that take the standard M16 refill (Safari, AL-Star, 2000, etc.). .5mm and .7mm tip sizes are available.

6. Braun Desktop/Travel Alarm Clocks. I rediscovered this line of classic Braun desk accessories when I visited London last year, and while I haven’t yet been able to source the calculator, I did find this compact travel alarm clock that I use as a non-phone desk clock at my office.

7. Toyo Stackable Steel Storage Boxes. These stackable steel boxes from Japan are a modern design classic, and can be used to store anything from stationery to office supplies to charging cables to coffee and tea. (I hear some people even use the taller sizes to store ink bottles.) Multiple colors and sizes are available.

8. Original Brooks Hand-sewn Notebooks. These handmade creations are U.S.-made using reclaimed scrap, vintage, and even antique paper, and even include a few envelopes sewn into the notebooks that you can use to hold mementos. Two sizes available.

9. Shorthand Press Notebooks and Desk Pads. For obvious reasons, we’ve been exploring U.S.-sourced stationery over the past several months, and have decided to bring Shorthand Press’s gorgeous spiral notebooks and classic vintage-inspired desk pads into the shop. Made in Los Angeles.

10. Appointed Notebooks and Writing Pads. One of the most pencil friendly papers we’ve used, Appointed paper is textured and really takes graphite well due to its texture. We also love the textured linen covers.

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This muted vintage yellow might be my favorite color of the Toyo Steel Boxes.

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.