Instead of a traditional Deals & Drops setup this week, I wanted to give you all a glimpse behind the camera into my everyday “writing life,” including a product that I’ve had for a while but have never featured here: the Galen Leather Writing Box. I’ve kitted this out as my “journaling station,” which sits beside the armchair in my office and holds most of the stationery supplies I use frequently. Over the past several months, this setup has received a lot of use. I’ve long been a fan of antique writing boxes, and Galen Leather’s version apparently was inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s own design. As a bonus, at the bottom of this post I’ve included shots of my own antique writing box that I’ve owned for 20+ years. Enjoy!
Galen Leather Writing Box (via Vanness Pens). I finally picked one of these pieces up at last year’s D.C. Pen Show, and once the pandemic hit I outfitted it with everything I needed for my daily writing sessions. I might not use it in “briefcase mode” with the included leather straps, but it makes a great lap desk with interior storage and organization. I’ve had no issues with warping - I’ve owned the box for nearly a year and I can say that problem appears to have been fixed. They are out of stock on the main Galen website but Vanness has some available.
Nanami Paper Cafe Note (via Nanami Paper). For most of my journaling and personal writing, I use either the B6 Cafe Note or the Hobonichi Techo A6, the latter of which you will have to wait a couple of months to buy when the 2021 editions are released. (Honestly, buying anything “2020” right now just seems like it would be asking for bad karma.) Go ahead and get a Cafe Note in B6 or A6 instead.
Field Notes Pocket Notebooks (via TGS Curated Shop). I’ve gone back to Field Notes as my mobile repository for reading notes. I tend to take notes in the margins with pencil as I read (especially nonfiction), and Field Notes pocket notebooks work well because they are slim and tuck well inside a book. I’m falling back in love with these things as I use them more, and will end up stocking most of the line shortly.
TWSBI ECO Fountain Pens in Yellow and White/Rose Gold (via Pen Chalet). When I’m journaling, I tend not to want to be distracted by the pen I’m using at any given time. Rather, I want a simple pen that holds a lot of ink (typically something versatile and reliable). The TWSBI ECO fits the bill here.
Book Darts (via TGS Curated Shop). I always read with a tin of Book Darts nearby, especially if I’m reading nonfiction or a book that I plan on re-reading or perusing again in the future. Book Darts are archivally safe (meaning they won’t cause the page to deteriorate) and can be removed and reused, though they’re relatively inexpensive so I tend to leave them in place long-term.
Duncan Shotton Sticky Page Markers (via Duncan Shotton Design Studios/Etsy). Book Darts are great, but sometimes you just need a temporary sticky note-type page marker. I went with the “Mars” version, because if aliens is an option, I’m definitely going with aliens.
Washi Tape (via TGS Curated Shop). Washi tape is useful for sticking things into your journal, such as pictures or old sticky notes/scraps of paper you end up wanting to keep. You can also take a small piece and fold it over the edge of a page in a notebook, to make a permanent place marker or to mark off sections if you index your notebooks.
NJK Long Point Pencil Sharpener (via C.W. Pencils). NJK makes an exceptional long-point pencil sharpener for the money, especially if you want one that’s portable enough to carry around in your pocket.
Caran D’Ache Graphicolor Highlighter/Graphite Pencil (via T.G.S. Curated Shop). My pencil of choice for reading, so I keep several stashed in my writing box. I love highlighter pencils, and Caran D’Ache graphite is firm enough to let you annotate and take notes while reading without having to worry about sharpening excessively.
Pokka Pens Ballpoints (via TGS Curated Shop). Honestly, I never leave the house without these things. I have clear cap Pokkas in stock, even though they are now sold out on the main Pokka site.
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