2023 St. Louis Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). It concerns me to hear that the St. Louis Pen Show, being as well-run an event as it is, continues to have attendance issues, even after last year. I wonder if it has to do with the time on the show calendar, as June tends to be a slow(er) business month in general given vacation, etc.
2023 St. Louis Pen Show (via Rachel’s Reflections). Rachel has another great review of the St. Louis Show.
One More for the Community’s Exploration of #21PenQuestions (via mnmlscholar). My own answers to #21PenQuestions will be forthcoming this week! Stay tuned. I’ve enjoyed thinking on these.
Maruman Mnemosyne Twin Ring Notebook Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). The Mnemosyne spiral notebooks are quite durable, come in a wide range of rulings and sizes, and give rise to endless debates about how to properly pronounce the name.
If at First You Don’t Succeed, Swap Nibs (via mnmlscholar). I’ve long been a proponent of unapologetic nib swapping. Several of my best everyday writers are bonafide “frankenpens” where none of the nibs and bodies match.
Packing Cubes for Notebooks? (via Stationery Pizza). I use the modular Plotter cases that come in three different sizes. Intended to fit plotter binders, they also hold other similarly sized notebooks and make it easy to swap stationery between different desks and bags.
Ink of the Week: Troublemaker Petrichor (via Fountain Pen Love). Now this is a cool grey color that I need to try out….
Kaweco Bronze Sport (via SBRE Brown). I love the warmer tone of the bronze as opposed to the more yellow brass. I wish more penmakers worked in bronze….
What I’m Enjoying (via From the Pen Cup). Flea beetles are the bane of my gardening existence.
A Journaling Streak - Holding on a Little Too Tightly (via Pete Denison). Sometimes it is best to remember why you started doing certain things, and not just continuing to do them for their own sake.
Mini-Review: Retro51 Rainforest Trust (via Well-Appointed Desk). Now THIS is a cool Retro, and for a good cause!
In Case You Missed It…
This week on the blog, I continued the Mid-Year Review, with a recap of the five most popular posts according to a combination of reader comments and statistics. I also wrote a post on a notebook I recently built out for brainstorming - one of my “single purpose” notebooks I keep in rotation.
The Heat is on!
This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop and 4th of July Sale!
The big news from this week is something that’s actually going to launch NEXT week (unless you’re a Patreon subscriber) - more on that below. But we also launched the pre-order for the TWSBI ECO Heat, an orange TWSBI to celebrate summer! Pre-orders are still available, and the pens will go out tomorrow, so reserve yours now. We also received a new shipment of the Laban Greek Mythology Inks, including the previously sold out Aphrodite Pink (which is still in short supply).
We’re also running a Fourth of July Promotion this weekend! Take 10% off inks and pen cases and notebook covers, to help you get geared up for your summer travels! Use the coupon code “HAPPY4TH” at checkout!
You knew the ink was gonna be red, right? I mean, otherwise, what’s the point? ;)
The T.G.S. x Hinze Pens Exclusive Release Launches Next Week (Thursday, July 6) - Patreon Subscribers Can Pre-Order Immediately to Reserve One
The big news that I announced yesterday on Instagram is the arrival of our exclusive collaboration with Hinze Pens and Starry Night Resins: a version of the Hinze “Elementar” fountain pen featuring a custom TGS-themed resin with a black ceramic-plated stainless steel nib. I’m very pleased with how these pens turned out and can’t wait to get them in your hands when they launch to the general readership next Thursday, July 6! There are 30 pens in this initial run, and each pen will include a bottle of limited edition “Summer Sangria” red ink. The ink will not be available after this pen release, as it’s part of a run commissioned by Hinze and is no longer made. While there may be a giveaway of a bottle or two later, there isn’t sufficient quantity to sell it on a stand-alone basis. Pens are currently open for pre-order to the Patreon membership, so if you want to guarantee yourself a pen (and a small break on the price), now is a great time to consider checking out our Patreon program, which also gives you access to a monthly meetup, periodic sample sales, and exclusive content. That said, I expect there to be plenty of pens available after the Patreon pre-order period ends.
The Gentleman Stationer is supported via purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.