Pilot Custom 74 - Ranking the Nibs (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). The Custom 74 is one of the more unfairly overlooked and underrated pens out there. In my book, soft fine-medium for the win.
Travelogue Part 1: Choosing the Tools (via Line Variation). It’s officially the summer travel season, so expect to see a lot of travelogue and EDC-related posts in the coming month!
Triangle Pen Show Report! (via Inkdependence). The Triangle Pen Show is one of the few that I’ve never attended.
Feed Your Creativity and River City Pen Company Live at the Triangle Pen Show (via Feed Your Creativity). More pen show streams! June is becoming an active pen show month.
How to Decorate Your Journal with Gemstones and Crystals (via Inky.Rocks). A cool way to decorate your notebooks, but also it’s fun to hear about how different interests and hobbies intersect.
I Don’t Understand (via Line Variation). Sometime this happens with specific pens and, sometimes, specific materials which are prone to failure.
Hakase Dark Sepia Ink (via UK Fountain Pens). Don’t get me started on the Japanese exclusive sepia inks - those ended up among my favorite inks I was able to obtain.
Don’t Toss It! Mail It! (via From the Pen Cup). As always, Mary has some of the most creative correspondence ideas out there.
Pen Show and Stationery Fest Calendar UPDATED! (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana maintains one of the most comprehensive pen show calendar pages on the ‘net. If you’re looking for a pen or stationery show in your area, this is where I would start.
In Case You Missed It…
This week on the blog I reviewed a new product: The Tom’s Studio “Ori” refillable highlighters. Building on their series of “Lumos” and “Wren” refillable fineliners, Tom’s Studio has introduced three nice highlighters that you can use with six different fluorescent inks (all of which have worked really well so far). I also provided my updated thoughts on the Pilot Frixion line of erasable pens, and how I use these in my own everyday carry. Finally, those of you curious about what I brought back from Japan should check out our latest YouTube video, in which I discuss 5 cool things I brought home with me!
This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop
New Lamy AL-Stars are here! This year’s second AL-Star Release includes two new colorways: “Disco” and “Roller Skate,” in colors that we find more reminiscent of the 1980s than the 1970s! (Either way, these look good.) We also have a full restock of Tom’s Studio pens, including the new Ori Highlighters, Lumos refillable fineliners, and Wren pocket pens, as well as the full line of Tom’s Studio fountain pen inks.
Finally, Anterique pens and Toyo Steel Boxes are back in an array of new colors! Be sure to check out each week’s Thursday Drops post for a full list of each week’s new arrivals and restocks!
We are open this week from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-5pm on Saturday. You can find details and directions to our Nashville showroom here.
How YOu Can Support us further: Visit Us on Patreon
If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and special promotions, consider supporting us via Patreon. In addition to exclusive content, Discord access, and online meetups, Patreon supporters have access to one or more initial “practice” episodes of “On the Paper Trail” which have not been publicly released.