Sunday Reading for October 15, 2023

1. Method and Mayhem: The YosekaLab Planner (via A Gathering of Curiosities). A deep dive into a few of the different options available in the YosekaLab “experimental” planner. I love the idea behind this product.

2. Hooray for Workhorse Fountain Pens (via Cheryl Lindo Jones). There are many different interpretations of the term “workhorse pen”, and you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a pen that you can carry with you everywhere and use every day.

3. Spicing Up Old M and B Nibs (via mnmlscholar). Given that I have so many “standard” JoWo and Bock nibs, whenever I order a pen featuring one of these interchangeable nib units I typically order a Medium or a Broad for this same purpose - to maintain a healthy stock of nibs for grinding.

4. Bullet Journaling: Dot Pads (via Stationery Pizza). There are top-ring-bound Rhodia Dot Pads? I need to find these.

5. Pros and Cons of the Ultrasonic Cleaner (via Goodwriterspens Blog). I don’t use my ultrasonic cleaner as much as I used to, but I do find it quite helpful for certain pens where the section and feed have lots of nooks and crannies where ink can get stuck, or for pens that aren’t easy to disassemble.

6. The London Autumn Pen Show, 2023: My Haul (via Fountain Pen Blog). A Parker 61 capillary filler? Maybe a new goal for the upcoming Ohio Pen Show?

7. 2023 Autumn London Pen Show (via Rachel’s Reflections). The London Pen Show seems like an outstanding, well-run event. The idea of a one-day show intrigues me.

8. October London Pen Show Selling Experience (via Dapprman). Taking a table at a pen show to sell part of your own collection is an excellent way to (mostly) pay for the cost of attending, and you also get the benefit of meeting all the people who come by to visit your table!

9. Yamamoto Paper’s Fountain Pen Friendly Paper Collection, Volume 7 Review (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). These Yamamoto Paper samplers are an excellent way to experience rarer Japanese papers before splurging on a large-quantity purchase.

10. Pen Review: Pilot FriXion Ball3 Slim 3-Color Multi-Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). Don’t sleep on the Frixion! (Sorry Pilot, the “FriXion”.) As Ana points out, it can be extremely convenient to be able to erase gel ink, especially in a professional context.

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Sometimes it’s ok to just dock the boat for a week.

In Case You Missed It…

I was on vacation this week! I actually managed to take some real time off, so new posts were kept to a minimum, though I did finish and post this longer discussion of what pens and notebooks I took with me on my travels and why I decided to leave these specific pens inked up. I also recapped this year’s pen travels and talk a bit more about remaining pen shows in 2023.

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This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - More Clairefontaine!

The big news from this week was the arrival of Clairefontaine clothbound notebooks. I purchased a HUGE amount of these, since they have been a popular seller and inexplicably became a bit difficult to source this year. Our selection of this workhorse paper, as well as other papers and planners like Laconic, will continue to expand, so stay tuned! We’re also working on a larger Roterfaden restock, though we have at least one in each size available to ship immediately. Once again, we truly appreciate all of you who placed orders while we were away, since it’s scary to walk away from your shop even for a week without the (admittedly irrational) fear that the business will disappear overnight without constant attention. Your orders have started to ship and my goal is to get them all out the door by tomorrow.

Diamine Inkvent Calendar

Clairefontaine

Traveler's Refills 2023

Laconic Tokyo

Patreon Update - Support T.G.S. via Sample Sales, Early Access, and Meetups with Special Guests!

If you’re interested in further supporting T.G.S., consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which features not only access to meetups and the 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 pledge!

Sunday Reading for October 8, 2023

1. 2023 Dallas Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict-Kimberly). A great recap from Kimberly of an excellent local/regional pen show. I am adding this one to my list of shows to attend going forward. I’ll have more on my finds from Dallas when I’m back from vacation.

2. My Stationery Mini-Kit (via Pen Picture). I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who does this! Especially when traveling.

3. Endless Companion Pen Pouches (via Well-Appointed Desk). Many of you have asked for a review of the Endless Companion pen cases. While I haven’t been able to get my hands on them, Ana has!

4. The Simplest Paper Filing System (via Analog Office). I have many personal projects I plan to work on during my work sabbatical - sorting through a seemingly endless amount of papers is one of them. A simple system like this is attractive.

5. Unusual Filofax Organizer Designs (via Philofaxy). The six-ring binder design goes way back. It’s interesting to see how consistent they’ve stayed over the years.

6. All Prepared for Tomorrow (via Dapprman). I’m really sad to have missed the Autumn London Pen Show. Maybe in the Spring!

7. My Personal Pens Majohn Q1 (via SBRE Brown). These weird little pens are super popular. Maybe I should pick one up?

8. NFP Design Blok 6 Pen Box Review (via Pen Addict). Vanness had NFP Design pen boxes at the table in Dallas, and they sure did attract a lot of attention! The colorful “Blok” design is my favorite.

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My Sailor Pro Gear Mini from the Dallas Pen Show, in the pen slot on the Plotter Mini 5.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I wrote Part II of my observations on Pocket Fountain Pens and how to successfully carry them (mostly) without frustration. For the rest of the week, I’m on vacation for a very-much-needed recharge following three big pen shows in six weeks and a long-in-the-works job change. You can read more here on what this means for T.G.S.

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This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

We now have all of the 2024 Traveler’s Notebook dated planner refills and 2024 limited edition accessories in stock and ready to ship! Laconic Tokyo is also restocked, and we have a couple of Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters remaining, while I’m also working on a reorder. We also have restocks of most recent TWSBI releases across the Diamond 580 and ECO lineup, as well as desk and reading accessories and washi tape!

Also, a HUGE thanks to everyone who has continued to place orders and help us keep the lights on while we’re away. Orders placed this week will start shipping upon our return in the order in which they were placed, with all orders receiving a bit of the new refreshed TGS Swag that should arrive in stock by the time I get back. I hope you all enjoy!

Traveler's Company

Laconic Tokyo

HMM Project

Roterfaden

Patreon Update - Support T.G.S. via Sample Sales, Early Access, and Meetups with Special Guests!

If you’re interested in further supporting T.G.S., consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which features not only access to meetups and the 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 pledge!

Sunday Reading for October 1, 2023 (Dallas Pen Show Edition)

1. Formal Jacket vs. Fountain Pen (via Pen Picture). How do you carry your fountain pen when wearing a formal jacket or coat? I’m an inside pocket person.

2. Bankers Boxes: Use Them, Love Them, Don’t Let Them Mildew (via Analog Office). Don’t ask me about the bankers boxes in my house/office.

3. Notebook Reviews: 3 Disappointments and One Surprise (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana walks through the pros and cons of several different Japanese notebooks. A big shout-out for Nakabayashi Yu-Sari paper!

4. Spiaggamazing / Scribo Feel Spiaggia Rosa Fountain Pen (via Weirdoforest Pens). The Scribo Feel in Spiaggia Rosa is always one of the biggest draws whenever I’m behind the table at a pen show and there are Scribo Pens available. This material is super-interesting to look at and a bit more adventurous than some of the Scribo options.

5. Composition Notebook Reviews: 2023 Unison Composition Notebook (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I love reading the annual reviews of inexpensive composition books and seeing which brands outperform their price points!

6. Caran d’Ache Leman Fountain Pens (via Blake’s Broadcast). Caran d’Ache’s high-end fountain pens don’t get as much attention as they probably should. They are well-made, and the Leman is the model that most people are familiar with other than the 849 fountain pen.

7. Ink Review: Wearingeul “A Taxidermied Genius” (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Easily one of my favorite ink names ever.

8. Kaweco Supra (Brass) (via Scrively). The Kaweco Supra is a great pen for those looking for a pocketable fountain pen with a full-size No. 6 nib.

9. Clairefontaine Triomphe A5 Notebook Review (via Pen Addict - Sarah). You’d better believe I decided to stock these immediately once they were announced. The Clairefontaine Triomphe A5 notebooks are available in both white and ivory paper.

10. Fountain Pen Shootout: Edison Collier vs. Collier Grande (via SBRE Brown). I still don’t have either an Edison Collier or Collier Grande in my collection - I looked very hard at this year’s D.C. Pen Show but had too hard of a time making a decision on a material. This one may have to wait for next year’s shows.

11. Reflections from a Pelikan Hubmaster (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Another year, another Pelikan Hub! Kimberly does a great job of recapping what all goes in to being a Hubmaster (the person who organizes the event).

12. Pelikan Hubs 2023: Philadelphia - a Recap (via Pelikan’s Perch). Another great recap, this one from the Philadelphia Hub!

13. Journaling with Iroshizuku Ina-Ho (“Rice Ear”) (via From the Pen Cup). I missed the now-discontinued Ina-Ho. It looks like a pleasant color, especially for fall.

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In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog, I talked about one of my favorite papers of all time: Tomoe River 68gsm, which is the slightly heavier version of the ultra-lightweight Japanese paper that’s been the subject of much discussion due to changes in ownership, etc. over the past few years. I also recapped this week’s trip to the Dallas Pen Show, and the unique extended Friday shopping experience due to the show being open until 8pm at night!

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This Week in the Curated Shop: Don’t Miss a Pen Show Flash Sale!

Today is the last day to take advantage of one of our Pen Show weekend sales, using the code “PENSHOW10” at checkout! The sale ends tonight at 11:59pm CT, so be sure to get your orders in to take advantage of the discount. I’m back from the show today, so any orders will start shipping today. We’ve recently added a wide range of high-end desk accessories and other office supplies from the HMM Project, along with additional stock of the TWSBI ECO Indigo Blue + Bronze and Diamond 580 Sunset Yellow fountain pens! Check out this week’s “Drops” post for all the details.

TWSBI

Roterfaden

HMM Project

Midori

Patreon Update - Support T.G.S. via Sample Sales, Early Access, and Meetups with Special Guests!

If you’re interested in further supporting T.G.S., consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which features not only access to meetups and the 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 pledge!

Sunday Reading for September 24, 2023

1. Nagasawa Kobe Affection (via Mountain of Ink). As Kelli mentions, Vanness Pens is now the US retailer for Nagasawa special editions in the U.S. This is a gorgeous exclusive Sailor 1911 in “blurple” and gold.

2. An Extraordinary Fountain Pen: Einstein’s Pen (via Pen Picture). Some pen history for a change? Check out Einstein’s Waterman from the early 1900s.

3. Monty Winnfield Utility Nib: First Impressions (via Cheryl Lindo Jones). I had a chance to see one of these at the Pelikan Hub on Friday, but didn’t have the chance to write with it. I’m not overly familiar with this brand either, is it something I should check out?

4. Planner Review: Yoseka Labs Two-Month Weekly Planner (via Well-Appointed Desk). Really an interesting way to experiment with different planner layouts!

5. A Little Flair: Architect Nib Grind (via A Fleeting Ripple). Architect nibs are among my favorite specialty grinds, even if they’ve been eclipsed in popularity by the somewhat softer Kodachi/Naginata-style grinds in recent years.

6. Journaling Series: Travel Journaling (via Writing at Large). Travel Journaling is, to me, one of the more enjoyable aspects of travel! Re-reading my travel entries almost always brings me back to exactly where I wrote them.

7. Ink Quantities? (via Stationery Pizza). I agree with this take - personally, I’m not sure that it bothers me anymore that ink is sold in smaller quantities than 50ml, as someone who takes a LONG time to use this much.

8. Keep a Checklist Notebook (via Analog Office). Do you keep checklists? I’m somewhat inconsistent though it would probably help my anxiety if I put more checklists in writing, either digital or analog.

9. The Digital-Analog Carousel of Writers (via Pen Addict - Sarah). I love reading about writers’ writing practices, especially if they involve alternating between digital and analog.

10. Lamy Scala Fountain Pen Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). The Lamy Scala is probably one of the lesser known models in Lamy’s lineup, and doesn’t get reviewed that often so it’s interesting to see a review here.

11. StyloSuite XXXF X Wing Harpoon Nib (via Rachel’s Reflections). I still have yet to order a StyloSuite nib, and maybe that will change at an upcoming pen show as I’m writing with more flex recently?

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Some people carry a laptop in their laptop sleeve. I carry a ginormous A4 notebook.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I offered a bit of insight into my personal workflow, with two posts on different types of paper that I use for much of my writing. I started with this piece on A4 notebooks, a format that I enjoy using for writing longhand. Later in the week, I wrote about my favorite paper rulings and why I prefer some over others, as well as some recent new discoveries. For this weekend’s post, I recapped the 2023 Nashville Pelikan Hub, for which I had the privilege of serving as Hubmaster!

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We have a wide range of paper available in the shop, including a few of the papers shown here.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

We have more Life Airmail and Typewriting Paper now available! These specialty papers are a shop favorite, and I ordered a bunch this time. We also have additional HMM ballpoints, mechanical pencils, and coffee mugs. Finally, we have a few additional Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter organizers/portfolios in A4 and A5 sizes, available to ship immediately.

HMM Coffee

Multi-Year Journals

Roterfaden

TWSBI

Patreon Update - Support T.G.S. via Sample Sales, Early Access, and Meetups with Special Guests!

If you’re interested in further supporting T.G.S., consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which features not only access to meetups and the 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 pledge! The September Meetup will take place tonight at 8:30pm CT.

Sunday Reading for September 10, 2023

1. Planner for 2024 (via Stationery Pizza). It’s Planner Month (or “Months”) again as we barrel towards 2024!

2. Too Many Options: Planners and Life (via A Fleeting Ripple). There are far too many planner options out there for me to make sense of them, but if I had to pick one for next year, I would go with one of the Hobonichis.

3. Early Thoughts on the Jinhao Dadao No. 9019 Fountain Pen (via Fountain Pen Blog). So I had the opportunity to see one of these in person at the D.C. Pen Show this year, and came away impressed! The threaded, high-capacity converter is a major bonus.

4. Johnny.Decimal and Me: Why I Use a Formal Digital Filing System Instead of Relying on Search (via Analog Office). I love that there are other members of the club for those who can’t stand the “tag jumble” search-based systems of filing. Foldering and numbering forever.

5. Waterman Kultur Fountain Pen (via Blake’s Broadcast). The Kultur is the successor to the beloved Phileas, which was unfortunately discontinued. Is it available in the states again?

6. Notebooks: They Make You Feel Light (via Pen Picture). Attending a talk, lecture, or even listening to a podcast with just a notebook and a pen in hand? It can definitely feel liberating.

7. Edison Collier Garolite LE Review (via SBRE Brown). I almost picked one of these up, but ended up going with a couple of Micarta pens instead. I still might try to get one? I need to add a Collier to my collection!

8. Waldmann Xetra Vienna (via Mountain of Ink). I missed out on Waldmann’s Master Engraver at the San Francisco Pen Show, but many people picked up personalized pens in this model.

9. Ajoto Pocket Paper Notebook (via The Pencilcase Blog). Penmakers Ajoto embarked on an extended project developing a premium paper notebook. Check out this review of the final product!

10. Pen Review: Anterique Ballpoint Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). Thanks to Ana for reviewing the Anterique ballpoint, one of the smash hits from our table at the San Francisco Pen Show.

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Most of what I wrote about this week, in one picture!

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I reviewed a couple of items that ended up being my two big takeaways from both the D.C. and San Francisco Pen Shows: Toyooka Craft Pen Trays! I also wrote a short update on my notebook setup for 2023, what changes I plan to make, and why I’m probably not buying a dated planner this year.

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Sometimes things just come together, you know? If I had to pick a list of the Top 5 Stationery Products, the Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter would be on that list.

Big News for the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Introducing Roterfaden!

The main announcement this week was Friday’s launch of our partnership with Roterfaden! We are now officially Roterfaden retailers, and currently offer a selection of Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter organizers and notebooks. The beauty of the Taschenbegleiter (which roughly translates to “pocket companion”) is that it’s a notebook system without really being a system - these organizers/portfolios sized A6 through A4 fit a wide variety of standard-sized notebooks and writing pads from many different brands, making them a versatile addition to any work or stationery lineup. Read more here, and expect more Roterfaden-related content in the future as I’ve been using this brand for years and can’t wait to experiment more with the different sizes. We also added some additional desk accessories from Craighill!

Roterfaden

Stalogy

Craighill

Lamy

Patreon Update - Support T.G.S. via Sample Sales, Early Access, and Meetups with Special Guests!

If you’re interested in further supporting T.G.S., consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which features not only access to meetups and the 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 pledge! I’m working on something new - Guests for the monthly meetups! Stay tuned for details on a September special guest.