Montegrappa Miya 450 Limited Edition Yellow (via Rants of the Archer). So this is what I mean when I really have a hard time understanding why Montegrappa doesn’t make the Miya a permanent centerpiece of the company’s lineup. These vibrant celluloids are gorgeous and I was happy to get one in the “Zebra” celluloid.
What’s in the Bag; Back 2 the Office (via the Poor Penman). A great bag dump post, and a versatile set of everyday carry gear.
Schon DSGN Ultem Pen (via Figboot on Pens). David has a review of the new Schon DSGN Ultem pen, which is a different shape and size than Ian’s first fountain pen, the Pocket Six.
Worth a Look: The Worther Compact Fountain Pen (via Penquisition). A very interesting design from a brand that I don’t have experience with, though these smaller German brands tend to make very high quality pens.
Summer and I’m Not Dead Yet (via UK Fountain Pens). Anthony checks in for the summer, and he’s the one person I know so far who’s purchased the new Lamy 2000 limited edition. I’m looking forward to a review!
Nespresso Notebook and Pen (via Bleistift). Nespresso’s capsule recycling program has moved beyond their partnership with Caran d’Ache into other product lines, and apparently they now are using not just the recycled aluminum but the coffee grounds as well. As this article points out, Nespresso customers can get some unique stationery goods thrown in with their orders, depending on where you are located. Also, see below for more details on the latest Nespresso x Caran d’Ache collaborations.
Fountain Pen Quest Trail Log (via FPQuest). Ray seems to be going through a similar reevaluation of his collection, only I’m focused on thinning inks and the notebook hoard right now instead of pens. I’m always fascinated to see how other people make their decisions on what to keep and what to sell.
Where I Write (via From the Pen Cup). I’m a fan of decluttering in general, but I also firmly believe that we all need a space that’s uniquely “ours” to personalize without feeling compelled to “Kondo-ize” it to meet someone else’s standards. My own home office space serves a similar purpose to Mary’s.
Super Weird Moonman (via Well-Appointed Desk). Agreed. Super weird, but I’m somehow glad this exists.
Montblanc Writer’s Edition Homage to Arthur Conan Doyle Scarlet Red Fountain Pen Ink (via Gourmet Pens). I’m repeating to myself - I’m NOT buying any more red inks…. Ok, maybe I’ll check it out in D.C.

In Case You Missed It….

I’ve spent the past two weeks doing a massive summer clean-out, as we’re preparing to have some work done on our house (including floors in my office area), and I’m trying to thin out as much clutter as I can so I don’t have to move and/or store things I wouldn’t keep long term. I came up with the idea to mercilessly attack my ink accumulation by swabbing all the inks I have by color family, so I can compare them side-by-side and see which ones I’m actually likely to use going forward. Eventually I may do the same with pens, but ink is the more urgent issue. So far, I’ve done two posts, one on red inks, which makes up the largest set of inks in my collection by far, and one on green inks, which is the second largest group.

New in the Shop: Caran d’Ache x Nespresso Collaborations Arrive!

Yesterday I received my allotment of the new Caran d’Ache x Nespresso collaborations, including a limited edition Fixpencil in matte orange, and a set of three special Swiss Wood pencils with aluminum finials on the end. This release marks the fourth successful collaboration between Nespresso and Caran d’Ache, and the first that does not involve a special edition 849 ballpoint. Finally, T.G.S. x Sunderland exclusive mk1 rollerballs are back in stock, as I picked up the second half of my first shipment yesterday. If these last, I will bring some to the D.C. Pen Show the first week of August, but there’s a chance they may sell out so if you’d like to reserve one for show pickup please send me a note and we can work out the specifics.

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live and features the inks that I’m selling off as I thin out my personal accumulation.