Sinclair Showdown: A Look at the New Sinclair Model R from Rickshaw Bagworks (via Chicana Writes). I fully agree that the Sinclair Model R builds on everything that made the original Sinclair three-pen case so enjoyable to use, with some nice new additions.
Vinta Inks The Awareness Project Collection (via Rants of the Archer). Vinta inks are among my favorites, and they’ve just released a new collection to raise awareness of endangered animals in the Philippines.
Joan Didion’s Notebooks (via Notebook Stories). Apparently Joan Didion was a fan of Clairefontaine notebooks, among other brands. There is an auction of her papers going on right now, apparently.
Magna Carta Emotions Power Fountain Pen Review (via SBRE Brown). Magna Carta pens have received a lot of attention, with their larger pens, some of which come with a No. 8 nib. I like the acrylic on this particular pen.
Laban Aphrodite Pink (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli is in the midst of reviewing the Laban “Greek Mythology” series, which is among my favorite recent discoveries. They are all nicely behaved and underrated inks, in my opinion.
Anderillium Cephalopod Ink Review. Yes, All of Them (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). While I love several of the inks in the Avian Series as well, as a whole the Cephalopod Series (based on squids and octopuses) is probably my favorite of the two.
Lennon Tool Bar Egret Paper (via Inkredible Colours). I’ve had a couple of requests for recommendations for more absorbent paper lately, and this option potentially looks interesting.
Wahoo! I Made It to Anniversary Two (via mnmlscholar). Congratulations on a two-year bloggiversary! I can attest that it’s far from easy!
Karas Pen Co. Decograph (via Left Hook Pens). The Decograph was Karas Pen Co.’s first foray into a more “traditional” pen style, and while initially acrylic-only, they’ve apparently released an aluminum model.
Giveaway: All Treats, No Tricks - TWSBI Cerulean Blue (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana and team are giving away a TWSBI Cerulean Blue in collaboration with the T.G.S. Curated Shop! Don’t miss the opportunity to win this pen and other great prizes. (Plus we have a ton of TWSBIs in stock right now, see below!)
In Case You Missed It….
This week on the blog was a relatively busy one, though I had a mid-week hiccup on scheduling due to a family funeral. In celebration of the re-release of the T.G.S. Exclusive Penwell in our unique “Aged Red” finish, I thought it might be fun/interesting to revisit my review of the original Penwell, which shockingly is five years old! I also wrote a piece about hacking stationery, and some tips and tricks to keep in mind if you’re inclined to modify pens, inks, and paper! (The post also includes some shots of my latest “experiment”.)
This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop
We had several new items hit the shop this week, including the arrival of the new TWSBI “Glow Purple”, which will begin shipping tomorrow on Halloween! Additionally, we now have Traveler’s Notebook 2023 Diaries in stock, a full restock of Hightide Sandglasses in the 30 and 15-minute intervals, and the arrival of Opus 88 fountain pens! We also previewed one of our 2023 Fountain Pen Day promotions, in which all purchases of a fountain pen from the T.G.S. Curated Shop will receive a complimentary ink sample, so you can get your new pen writing immediately.
Finally, don’t forget to participate in this week’s giveaway, where you can win one of three bottles of Anderillium Ink! The giveaway ends tonight!
Many Thanks for Your Shop Support, and Please Consider T.G.S. Patreon!
We’ve been surprised at the level of enthusiasm and support for our curated retail strategy over the past couple of months, and after careful consideration are beginning to build out our inventory with more brands and product categories. I love managing this aspect of T.G.S., as it offers me the opportunity to directly put great stationery - including brands I feel are underappreciated and underemphasized - into your hands. For those who want to support T.G.S. without necessarily adding to their accumulation, the Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens. (Reminder that those pens which made it through Patreon are now available to the general readership!)