Sunday Reading for June 14, 2026

1. 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.

2. 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!

3. Triangle Pen Show Report! (via Inkdependence). The Triangle Pen Show is one of the few that I’ve never attended.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. I Don’t Understand (via Line Variation). Sometime this happens with specific pens and, sometimes, specific materials which are prone to failure.

7. 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.

8. Don’t Toss It! Mail It! (via From the Pen Cup). As always, Mary has some of the most creative correspondence ideas out there.

9. 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.

Anterique

Tom's Studio

Toyo Steel

Pilot

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.

Sunday Reading for June 7, 2026

1. My Top 5 Stationery Favorites for 2026 (So Far) (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana walks us through her top finds for the year to date.

2. My Solution to the “I’m Dead, What Happens to My Journals?” Question (via From the Pen Cup). Another perspective that’s different from the usual “Burn them” response.

3. Halfway Through the Year with a Sterling Ink Common Planner (via Dime Novel Raven). I personally am using the Wonderland222 this year, but the Sterling Ink Common Planner is another that I see heavily recommended.

4. Every Pencil in the New Blackwing LOTR Set (via dwrdnet). This was a wild idea. So far I have still resisted.

5. Live from the Triangle Pen Show 2026 (via Inkdependence). The Triangle Pen Show (North Carolina) took place last weekend, and Mike always does his show walkthrough and livestream.

6. Top 10 Fountain Pen Makers You Should Know (via Figboot on Pens). There are many new makers who have entered the pen world over the past few years it can be difficult to keep up, and videos/posts like this one are helpful keeping track if you’re interested in exploring custom pens.

7. Sixth Anniversary (via Inkredible Colours). Congratulations on a six-year bloggiversary! Always a huge accomplishment!

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Patreon members know what I’m talking about here…

In Case You Missed It….

I’ve been back from Japan for a week or so now and have had a chance to start going through all of the stationery I brought back! This week I posted an entry in my “Japan Trip Journal” series discussing the inks I found, and I also did a YouTube video on the Top 5 Cool Things I Brought Back from Japan with me! Yesterday I posted a pen review of one of the pens I ended up taking with me on that trip, the Pilot Custom Heritage 92, which is the sole piston filler in Pilot’s lineup and a highly underrated workhorse pen.

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

We had several new arrivals land in the shop this week, including restocks of most TWSBI fountain pens, Diamine Ink, additional nib sizes of the Pilot Custom 845 Urushi and Pilot Custom 912, and additional TRAVELER’S Notebooks. New Anterique pens (the click-cap GP1) arrived, as well as additional colors of their standard click-pens. We’ve also added the last few Summer Clearance Mystery Boxes to the clearance section of the shop, and once these are gone we’re done until the fall. Be sure to check each week’s Thursday drops post for a full list of all new arrivals and restocks.

Our Nashville shop will be open this week normal hours, from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-5pm on Saturday! Please come by and see us in person.

Pilot Pens

TWSBI

Diamine

Anterique

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.

Sunday Reading for May 31, 2026

1. 9 Years in the Rabbit Hole (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Happy penversary to Kimberly! I like this exercise of going back and re-inking the pens that first got you into the hobby.

2. In Memoriam: Platinum Curidas, 2020-2026 (via Pen Addict). I’m honestly surprised the Curidas actually held on this long. It was a decent attempt, but the design never caught on with mainstream fountain pen users.

3. Michael Schur & Joe Posnanski - Big Fan! (via Figboot on Pens). Not necessarily all pen-related, but this was a cool interview for David to get to do.

4. Did I Get Lucky? Gentleman Stationer Mystery Boxes! (via dwrdnet). I always have fun putting these together and watching people react to the unboxing. I will do more of these in the future.

5. I Bought Every Blackwing Pencil So You Don’t Have To (via dwrdnet). I guess the pencil box was successful…. :)

6. Baran’s Pen Sleeves (via UK Fountain Pens). I’ve not seen these before - I love fabric pen sleeves and rolls, especially from small makers with a story behind them.

7. Read on Expiration (via Dime Novel Raven). What will happen to all those journals?

8. My Top 3 3D-Printed Fountain Pens (via SBRE Brown). 3D-printing is never something that’s grabbed me, but you’re starting to see it more and more in the pen space.

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Read more about my visit to the Kakimori Inkstand!

In Case You Missed It…

I’m back from Japan! In the coming week or so I’ll be publishing my trip recaps and sharing my experiences and, of course, all the fun stuff I brought back. I’ve published two recap installments so far, including a pictorial of my trip to Itoya and other shops, as well as a recap of a trip to Kakimori’s Tokyo location that included the custom notebook and custom ink experiences.

OnionBrand A5 leather notebook cover in Olde Walnut.

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

There were lot’s of fun arrivals this week, including the new TWSBI ECO Fluorite Purple + Bronze which sold out in under 8 hours and per TWSBI likely won’t be restocked for a month or so. We’ve also restocked on OnionBrand A5 leather notebook covers in a couple of different finishes, including Olde Walnut and Tanner’s Claret, the reddish-brown hue that was so popular in San Francisco. Finally, we have the new Pilot Custom 845 Urushi in Prussian Blue, and it’s a stunner, as well as additional MD Products Dot Grid A5 notebooks, among other items. Be sure to check out each week’s Thursday Drops post for a full list of new arrivals and restocks!

Our Nashville showroom is open regular hours (Thursday and Friday 1-6pm and Saturday 10am-5pm). Come see these and more in person!

Caran d'Ache

Pilot

Midori and MD Products

Uni

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.

Holiday Weekend Reading, May 25, 2026 (Japan Edition!)

1. Visit to Traveler’s Factory Airport, Japan (via Inkredible Colours). Funny how I just stopped in here myself! It’s a fun little place to pick up some unique refills and accessories.

2. 2026 Stationery Park Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Another stationery event that looks well-attended and well-stocked.

3. Obsessed with Show Inks: ChiPS 2026 (via Dime Novel Raven). This year’s Chicago Pen Show seemed like an improvement on recent years, as many vendors I spoke to had a good experience. And of course there are all the show inks…

4. I Tracked Down the Zento Signature Special Edition Only to Swap to a New Ink (via dwrdnet). It’s interesting to read about preferences, because I strongly prefer the Zento refill to the Uni One. You also can’t find these anywhere, including Tokyo.

5. 26 Pens in Under 26 Minutes: My Diplomat Pens Family (via Inkdependence). Diplomat pens are reliable writers, and Mike has quite the collection.

6. Tour of Papier Plume, New Orleans Stationery and Pen Store (via Feed Your Creativity). Papier Plume is one of my favorite U.S. stationery destinations, and a must-visit if you are ever in New Orleans.

7. Magna Carta Truflex Gold Nib (via Inky.Rocks). I have seen what these Magna Carta Truflex nibs can do and the results seem impressive. I may try to get my hands on one at an upcoming pen show (D.C. or San Francisco).

8. TaG Submarine Ballpoint (via Figboot on Pens). These TaG pens have caught my eye more than once. Now I just have to try one.

9. Dicey Journaling (via From the Pen Cup). More fun journaling ides with Mary! I have a set of these dice and may give this a whirl.

10. Mini Photo Printer Comparison for Journaling (via Well-Appointed Desk). I took my Canon Ivy with me to Japan, and have generally been pleased given how I use this piece of gear.

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Just wait until you read my recap of the Kakimori Ink Stand experience!

In Case You Missed It…

I’m in Japan! This past week I haven’t had too much time to post trip updates, other than my Travel Day status update, and a pictorial recap from Days 2 and 3 (where I bought a LOT of stationery right out of the gate). Stay tuned for additional recaps this week, including my visit to Kakimori Tokyo and the custom notebook and custom ink stand experiences.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop: Don’t Miss the Memorial Day Sale!

This year’s annual holiday weekend sale will snag you 10% off most brands of ink and paper using “TOKYO10” at checkout. We’ve also received the new Lamy Safaris in Neon Pink and Neon Yellow, as well as over 1000 Zebra Sarasa Clip gel pens, Pilot Frixions, and more.

Our Nashville showroom is open regular hours (Thursday and Friday 1-6pm and Saturday 10am-5pm) during my absence. Please be patient if we do take a bit longer to respond to e-mails and social media inquiries due to travel.

Zebra

Tono & Lims

Craft Design Technology

Pilot Metropolitan

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.

Sunday Reading for May 17, 2026

1. TGS Mystery Box May 2026 - What Did I Get? (via dwrdnet). Derek unboxes the first Curated Box of 2026! As a note, the box shown in this video is one of the curated stationery boxes that we do every few months through our Patreon program, which are distinct from the Mystery boxes we currently have on offer in our clearance section.

2. At the Swap Meet (via Typewriter Revolution). A fun event for typewriter enthusiasts, as people thin out their collections.

3. Unplug and Get Off Grid For a While: Tactile Turn’s Newest Seasonal Design Pen (via Inkdependence). Since I’m going on Japan, I need to be on a no-buy for the next three days, but this one is hard to resist. Maybe when I get back….

4. The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword…the Conway Stewart Indiana Jones (via Figboot on Pens). I typically dislike movie collaboration as well - just not my thing - but this one is well-executed.

5. Video Review: Pilot Custom Heritage 91 (via Scrively). Did an orange Custom Heritage 91 just go on my Japan shopping list?

6. What’s in the Bag for Stationery Park? (via Pen Addict). Kimberly’s off to another stationery show adventure and show’s us what she’s bringing along. I love a good bag dump video.

7. Pen Show Schedule - Updated! (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana runs what is probably the most comprehensive pen show calendars on the internet. I agree with her point that there really is no “pen show season” anymore - there’s something happening year-round!

8. Platinum Classic Lavender Black Ink Review (via Pen Addict). The Platinum “Classic” series are some of the more interesting inks out there by virtue of the fact that they contain iron gall, which as Sarah points out allows them to be both permanent and shade.

In Case You Missed It…

It’s been busy around here getting ready for what I hope is an epic two weeks away! This past week we released Episode 9 of On The Paper Trail, which includes a discussion of the On The Paper Trail Live Event that will take place in Nashville October 16-18. (Tickets are now on sale and hotel information is also live.) I spent most of yesterday on back-office matters, including updating a new “Events” page that contains information on which pen shows and other events we will be attending for the rest of the year.

This Week in The T.G.S. Curated Shop (And Last Call for Mystery Boxes)

Our goal for this week was to get all of our inventory backlog processed before I’m out of the country, so that my colleagues don’t have to deal in my absence. :) In addition to the new Lamy Safaris in Neon Yellow and Neon Pink, we now have Pilot Metropolitan fountain pens, rollerballs, and ballpoints, the entire lineup of Zebra Sarasa Clip gel pens, new Lochby 6-ring binders, and a whole lot more! Finally, all mystery boxes will be removed from the shop this evening at 5pm CT. Last Call!

Be sure to check out each week’s Thursday Drops post for a full list of the new arrivals, and these posts will continue for the next two weeks since I’m on a work trip, not vacation.

Kaweco

Lochby

Craft Design Technology

Zebra Sarasa

As a reminder, the online store will continue to be open with orders shipping regularly, and our Nashville showroom will remain open regular hours (Thursday and Friday 1-6pm and Saturday 10am-5pm) during my absence. Please be patient if we do take a bit longer to respond to e-mails and social media inquiries due to travel.

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.