Sunday Reading for November 30, 2025 (Thanksgiving Edition)

1. Wild Things at the Tokyo Pen Show 2025 (via Inky.Rocks). I’ve been jealously following all the Tokyo Pen Show recap posts, and that Ink Alchemy machine really takes first prize for me in terms of things I wish I had seen in person.

2. Stationery Haul from Japan (via Vanness Pens). Lisa walks through her take-home stationery haul following three weeks in Japan! Settle in for a lot of stationery envy.

3. A Deep Dive into the Deep Sea by Tactile Turn! (via Inkdependence). Support your small makers! The switch mechanism isn’t for me (I’ve tried it and prefer the Side Click) but the Cerakote finish on these pens always gets me.

4. Esterbrook Niblet (via Figboot on Pens). The “Niblet” is Esterbrook’s latest release - a compact fountain pen - and there is some mild controversy over the design inspiration. David breaks it all down.

5. Order Restored (Yet Again) (via From The Pen Cup). I’m also a sucker for old desks. Good thing I now have a shop and warehouse that I can use to collect them. :)

6. Planner Set-Up for December (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana walks through her monthly planner setup and talks a bit about how she reevaluates her setup every month.

7. My Number One Fountain Pen Filling System (via SBRE Brown). What filling system holds the most ink? I like all of these from a technical perspective but I may change inks too much to make this style my “favorite”.

You will see some more about this soon, but I’ve been exploring binder refills, including different papers that come in the Mini-5 format like Iroful and Yamamoto (shown here).

In Case You Missed It….

It was Thanksgiving and “Black Friday”/Small Business Saturday week, so I had no time to publish any content other than a quick video looking at the new TWSBI Cosmo Blue ECO on the YouTube Channel. For the past few years I pretty much have had to take the week of Thanksgiving off to manage the shop since it ends up being such an important part of our annual revenue stream. Things will get back to normal over the next week or so, and in the meantime you can check out our latest major release, which was the 2025 update to the annual T.G.S. Holiday Gift Guide.

Also, T.G.S. Patreon subscribers will know this but elsewhere I’ve also been dropping hints about a new podcast/video series project that I’ve been working on with Lisa Vanness of Vanness Pens, which will launch in the coming weeks, probably after the first of the year. We will be sharing bits here and there in the lead up to the official release, so be sure to follow our respective profiles to make sure you get the up-to-date announcements regarding videos, lives, and more. T.G.S. YouTube can be found here, and Vanness Pens YouTube can be found here or in the link to Lisa’s Japan recap above.

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Don’t miss new Lochby cases and Colorways!

T.G.S. INKSGIVING Sale Ends Today! 10% Off Most Orders Plus 20% Off Clearance

The T.G.S. “INKSGIVING” promotion ends tonight at 11:59pm U.S. Central Time. We’ve been busy packing and shipping orders with the goal of getting caught up by the end of the day tomorrow. Use the code “INKSGIVING” at checkout for 10% off most orders, plus take an additional 20% off Clearance items automatically applied at checkout. (Certain exclusions apply due to brand restrictions.) Also, just a reminder that tomorrow is December 1, the first day of “Inkvent”! We still have one or two Inkvent Calendars available, so if you’d like to follow along be sure to pick one up as they won’t be restocked until next year. And, yesterday we received a huge shipment of Lochby, including new Olive color ways, the new Field Sling, Duo two-pen cases, and new Mini Venture Pouch colors.

Notsu Card Systems

Erasers!

Pilot

Traveler's Company

How You Can Further Support T.G.S.

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. The T.G.S. Patreon includes early access and discounts on exclusive shop releases, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly meetups. As of this morning, ALL Patreon supporters (including non-paying free members) have access to one or more initial “practice” episodes of our podcast experiment discussed above.

It's Small Business Saturday! Stop By to See New Arrivals from Lochby, Tom's Studio, and More!

Just a friendly reminder that we’re open today from 10am until 6pm, for what’s become known as “Small Business Saturday,” a day between Black Friday and “Cyber Monday” to support your local community-based shops! Our in-store specials are the same as our online “INKSGIVING” promotion, and we have plenty for you to peruse in person, including new two-pen “Duo” cases from Lochby, new colors of the Mini Venture Pouch, and more. We also have newly arrived ink from Tom’s Studio (a classic “Sepia” color), and a full restock of the Lumos and Wren lines.

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Though it started out as a commercial holiday, Small Business Saturday means a lot to many small boutique shops and businesses that depend on the holidays for a significant portion of their revenue. In my opinion, small shops are what add character to a community, whether that’s your town, city, or online hobbyist Discord server. While I try to encourage people to shop small throughout the year, don’t underestimate the importance of today in the midst of all the “Black Friday” craziness! Where you spend your dollars makes a real difference.

If you need advice on a holiday gift idea, please check out our 2025 Holiday Gift Guide, but it may be easier for you to come in and speak to us in person. I spent much of yesterday advising customers on gift ideas, and I’ll be there all day today. We hope to see you soon!

Thursday Drops: Happy Thanksgiving from T.G.S.! TWSBI Cosmo + Onyx, New Midori Desk Accessories and More!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Or should I say “Inksgiving”? This week’s new arrivals include the latest TWSBI ECO release (and it’s a good one), as well as the entire range of the Midori XS Stationery Accessories, which you can now purchase separately from the XS Stationery Kit. We continue to restock on existing brands in advance of the holiday shopping season, including Pilot, Tom’s Studio, TWSBI, Diplomat, and more! Don’t forget to take advantage of our ongoing Thanksgiving Week promotions, including:

• 10% Off Most Items in the Shop Using the Code “INKSGIVING” at checkout. Some brand exclusions apply. Be sure to check out the 2025 T.G.S. Holiday Gift Guide for ideas on how to use your discount, especially if you’re buying for others.

• 20% off Clearance Items, Automatically Applied at Checkout. We’ve added additional items to our Clearance section.

• T.G.S. Sticker Promo. Any orders over $75 (pre-shipping and taxes) automatically qualify for free domestic U.S. shipping and will also receive a large 3” T.G.S. holographic vinyl sticker for your water bottle, laptop, notebook, flask to get you through Thanksgiving dinner, etc.

• A New Notebook Gift Promo! Any order over $150 (pre-shipping and taxes) will include a nice A5 Notebook, while supplies last, or another gift of equivalent value until we run out. This promo will be automatically applied to all orders placed between Weds 11/26-Sunday 11/30 at 11:59pm US CT, so if you placed an order in this window no action is necessary.

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We have the new TWSBI ECO Cosmo+Onyx fountain pen, which will be available both in-store and will start shipping tomorrow (11/28).

Note that our Nashville Store will have special hours this week. We are closed Thursday (11/27) for Thanksgiving, but will reopen Friday (11/28) and Saturday (11/29) from 10am-6pm for extended post-holiday hours. Online shopping remains available 24/7, and all online discount codes will be valid in-store.

1. TWSBI ECO Cosmo + Onyx Fountain Pen. TWSBI has released it’s latest ECO, and this latest entry in the “swirled acrylic” series features blue, green, and purple mixed together and paired with Onyx trim for a look that reminds me of the Earth from space. I posted a video yesterday which might give you a better idea of the look.

2. Pilot Vanishing Point Birchwood Capless Fountain Pens. Pilot uses birchwood finishes in ballpoints such as the S20 and multi pens like the Legno 2+1, but now it’s also available in the Capless Vanishing Point fountain pen for an ultra-elegant look.

3. Pilot Custom Heritage 92 Demonstrator Fountain Pens. One of the best pure demonstrator fountain pens on the market, the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 features crystal clear acrylic and an excellent 14k nib.

4. Pilot Kakuno Fountain Pens, Including Transparent Colors + Madoromi Series. The Pilot Kakuno is one of our favorite entry level fountain pens because it’s so accessible, and I’ve been glad to see Pilot expanding the Kakuno’s offerings because it’s not just an excellent pen for beginners, but a great everyday carry for anyone.

5. Tom’s Studio Lumos Pro Duo “Clementine”. Tom’s Studio has released the Lumos in a warm matte orange finish just in time for the holidays. If you’re interested in reading more about why I love the Lumos (and refillable fineliners in general), check out this post where I walk through how they work. Other colors also have been restocked.

6. Tom’s Studio Wren “Clementine”. The Wren works similarly to the Lumos, only it uses a standard writing tip rather than the micron-style tip used by the Lumos. The Wren is an excellent option for those of us who love to write with marker-style pens and want one that goes anywhere. In addition to Clementine, other colors are back in stock as well.

7. Midori XS Stationery Kits and Individual Components. As we gear up for the holiday travel season, I’ve had a few inquiries about travel kits and portable stationery. One of my favorites is the Midori XS Stationery Kit, and we now offer the individual components separately.

8. Zenith Staplers from Italy. By far one of the more overlooked desk accessories for paper aficionados, a good stapler is critical to my own workflow, and I’ve enjoyed these plier-style Zenith Staplers from Italy. Check out a video demonstration of how they work here.

9. Life Airmail Stationery (Pads + Envelopes). We once again have both Airmail writing pads and matching envelopes, for those who want to get a jumpstart on their holiday letter writing!

10. Original Crown Mill Stationery. We’ve recently added the line of Original Crown Mill laid stationery out of Belgium, with A4, A5 and correspondence card sets available. These and more are now available to browse in our dedicated correspondence section of the shop.

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I almost forgot, we added a ton of new specialty Japanese erasers this week from Seed and Kokuyo, including many with multiple edges for precision work.

Happy INKSGIVING! Don't Miss the T.G.S. Thanksgiving-Week Sales and Promotions!

It’s the day before Thanksgiving, so you all know what that means…. It’s time to kick off the Holiday shopping season. As we do every year, we are running a series of discounts and promotions through Sunday, November 30 at 11:59pm US Central time. Here they are:

• 10% Off Most Items in Store using the Code “INKSGIVING” at Checkout. Some brands (i.e., TWSBI) do not allow us to discount, so exclusions apply.

• 20% Off any Clearance Items, which will be automatically applied at checkout. Note that you won’t see the discount until you click the “Check Out” button in the cart, and it will be applied before you pay.

• All orders over $75 will receive a large 3” T.G.S. Holographic water-bottle sticker in addition to your free shipping! Since quantities are limited, only those who use the INKSGIVING code will receive the promotional gift.

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Though not eligible for promotions, the new TWSBI ECO Cosmo + Onyx fountain pen is now available for pre-sale online. Pens will ship Friday (11/28).

Special In-Store Nashville Hours This Week: Closed Thursday on Thanksgiving

Due to the holiday this week, we have special hours at our Nashville shop. Note that we will be closed Thursday on Thanksgiving. We will be open Wednesday afternoon (11/26) from 2pm-6pm, Friday (11/28) from 10am-6pm, and Saturday (11/29) from 10am-6pm. All discounts will be honored in-store with mention of the INKSGIVING code! We hope to see you there!

Note that our showroom/shop has moved! To shop in-person, please come to Suite 107 on the front of our building (behind the “Tower”). You’ll know what I mean when you see it. ;)

New Arrivals: More Notsu Notecards, New Notecard Holders, Plus Midori XS Stationery Accessories!

Just in time for the holidays, we received a giant box from Notsu yesterday with more Centre Rise Notecard Sets (featuring vertical “To Do” cards), the Centre Notecard Set (featuring horizontal “To Do” cards), and two new colors of Notsu’s vegan leather Notecard Holders, which are now available in gray and dark brown!

We also offer the Midori XS Stationery kit components available for purchase separately, including the XS Staplers, Glue Tape, Correction Tape, and Paper Cutters. We’ve carried the popular XS Stationery travel kits for a while now, and you can now buy refills or the mini components separately to build your own kit. These are excellent office supplies for a go-bag or travel journaling.

Check out these items and more in our latest release of the annual T.G.S. Holiday Gift Guide! Note that we have special hours this week in our Nashville store, and will be open from 2:00pm-6:00pm Wednesday, Closed on Thursday (Thanksgiving), and will open from 10:0am-6:00pm Friday and Saturday to kick off the holiday shopping season! We hope to see you there!