Philadelphia 2023 Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict). I was bummed to miss this year’s Philly Pen Show, mainly because I wanted the chance to pick up my Schon DSGN Monoc nib in person! There’s always next year!
Petals on Water: Studyo Agackakan (via A Fleeting Ripple). I’ve jumped even further into the world of custom/independent makers this year, especially those working with especially interesting materials. I love the look of this particular material, a cellulose acetate.
Overheard at Philly: Three Views on Sharing Pens at Pen Shows (via mnmlscholar). I tend to think that it’s more about the people as opposed to the pens. I sometimes enjoy testing out or admiring pens I haven’t seen before (and have confirmed or nixed prospective purchases after seeing one in person “after dark”), but mainly I hang out to talk with friends.
Kakimori Brass and Steel Metal Dip Pen Nib Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). Blake compares two products that have exploded in popularity over the past year: Kakimori’s excellent metal dip nibs in two different materials. I have a brass nib, but would like a steel (and a glass) at some point in the future.
Early Thoughts on the Jinhao X159 Fountain Pen (via Fountain Pen Blog). I also had the opportunity to test out an X159 this weekend at pen club, and confirm that it wrote nicely. Picking one up myself! I suspect you will start seeing these nibs repurposed into custom pens at some point in the very near future.
Genuine Excitement for the BENU Talisman Shamrock (via Penquisition). While BENU pens generally aren’t up my alley aesthetically, the Talisman line of pens are more traditional and not quite as over-the-top visually. I like this one!
Fountain Pens from My Collection: Pelikan M200/M205 (via Fountain Pen Love). Two exceptional workhorses that were among the first piston filler fountain pens that I purchased.
What I Love About Stationery: An Incomplete List (via From the Pen Cup). This is an absolutely exceptional post from Mary. Love the combination of the journal entries + photographs.
DesignWorks Vegan Suede Folio in Blush Pink (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana reviews a vegan-friendly option to the classic Traveler’s Notebook leather cover.
Aurora Il Viaggio Segreto in Italia Volterra with Goccia Nib (via Gourmet Pens). I’ve been admiring this series from Aurora for some time, and I’ve long wanted to try out one of their Goccia nibs. Maybe this year!
In Case You Missed It….
This week on the blog, I reviewed two new (to me) technical/drafting pens and pencils from the TWSBI “Precision” line. Fans of Rotring 600-style writing instruments may want to check these out. I also reviewed two offbeat ink colors that I’ve been using for some of my everyday writing recently, including my much sought-after yellow ink that I think I finally found.
It’s never too late to start a 2023 planner when you opt for an undated version! We have plenty of options, and you can even use items like Midori Diary Stickers to convert any notebook into a planner!
This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop
This week we continued to see many of you stocking up on letter writing supplies in advance of InCoWriMo next month, and I was happy to see the new composition books from Mr. Boddington’s Studio going out the door! This week’s “Thursday Drops” e-mail also highlighted a restock of pocket notebooks and reporter-style and steno pads.
Consider Supporting Us Via T.G.S. Patreon!
This year, I’m trying to be more visible and intentional with T.G.S. Patreon and how the support/membership program will expand in 2023 to include not only access to meetups and early gently used sales, but more exclusive content, including the potential return of Digital Divide. 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!