Mid-Year Stationery Review (via Well-Appointed Desk). Laura walks us through what stationery she’s been using in 2023 so far, and I’m happy to see the Midori MD 5-Year Diary has staying power!
Montblanc Heritage 1912 (via The Stationery Pen). One of the pens that I consider the pinnacle of modern Montblanc design, and their modern take on a safety-filler fountain pen.
Kaweco Dia2 (via Dapprman). I love the vintage styling of the Kaweco Dia2, but honestly have been (pleasantly) surprised at how well this pen has done over the years. To me, this seems like the perfect vehicle for Kaweco to expand their gold nib offerings by selling the Dia2 with the upgraded nib. These larger pens can support a higher price point.
Gioia Bellavista Fountain Pen Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). Gioia pens aren’t really my style, but I found the information about the “lost wax casting” techniques interesting.
Sailor 1911L 4am Fountain Pen (via Pen Addict - Sarah). One of the strangest names Sailor has ever come up with for a special edition does look pretty great.
Ink Battle: Colorverse and Lamy (via Rachel’s Reflections). How do you choose between inks from different brands that look the same but inevitably both end up in your collection?
Notebook Review: Dingbats* A5 Wildlife Notebook (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I’m glad to see Dingbats* still around, with their fountain pen friendly paper and perforated pages!
Hakase NJ15A Unboxing (via Dapprman). I’ve heard much about Hakase fountain pens, but never seen one. Follow along with this unboxing!
Building Back My Paint Box (via Writing at Large). Though I’m not a painter, I’ve always been curious about how to assemble a watercolor set.
Anticipation (via From the Pen Cup). Picking inks and filling pens - one of the most enjoyable aspects of this hobby.
Five different installments of our instructional YouTube series, “How to Fill a Fountain Pen”, are now available!
In Case You Missed It….
This week on the blog (and, should I now add, the revitalized YouTube Channel?), I posted several pieces of content that I’ve been working on for a while. The first is one of the longer reviews I’ve published this year - a look at the Cortex Brand Sidekick Notepad, which is one of the nicer desk pads I’ve used though it comes at a price. I also published a list of My Favorite Fountain Pen Inks for 2023, a supplement to the “Best Pens” list that gets updated annually. Finally, we’ve been steadily adding more video content to our YouTube channel, which we hope to be able to use to complement the written resources on our site. Be sure to check it out at the links above and give us a follow to help us grow!
We’ve also restocked on products like the Write Notepads Dot Grid Spiral, which is now available in new colors!
Don’t Miss Our T.G.S. Curated Shop Memorial Day Weekend Promotion!
Through Monday, May 29 at 11:59pm CT, take 10% off your order using the coupon code “SUMMER23” at checkout! I always view this weekend as the official start to Summer. Some exclusions apply (including TWSBI, which can’t be discounted), but most items in the store will be eligible, including our wide range of desk pads and other fountain pen friendly paper.
Consider Supporting Us Via T.G.S. Patreon!
T.G.S. Patreon is currently the only non-shop means of support for the site, and features not only access to meetups and early gently used sales, but more exclusive content. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your support!