Take Advantage of the T.G.S. Archive and Other Online Resources!

I’m on the home stretch here, and I should have access to my stationery stash and review samples once again by early next week when office renovation work is mostly completed. In the meantime, I thought I would take this brief respite to discuss some of the resources I’ve been building out here over the past year. Since The Gentleman Stationer recently turned eight (8) years old (!!!???!!!), in addition to figuring out how to make the site sustainable over the long-term, and to set T.G.S. up for future growth, a core focus of mine has been organizing nearly a decade’s worth of content in a way that’s accessible to readers both new and old. This has turned into a much larger project than anticipated, so expect more developments to come.

The T.G.S. Fountain Pen Review Archive

I enjoy using Squarespace as a platform, but it’s search and archiving functions leave something to be desired. I’ve long wanted to offer a means by which readers could search past reviews, sorted by brand. As it turns out, I discovered that the only real way to do this was by manually combing back through past reviews and building it myself. This expanded index currently only includes fountain pens, but a non-fountain pen version (and hopefully, an ink index) is in the works!

Note: For those of you who want an easy way to search reviews of a specific pen beyond The Gentleman Stationer, check out Pennaquod, a Pen Blog search engine run by our friend Ian Hedley. For example, if you’re looking to compare reviews on, say, the Lamy 2000, Pennaquod will draw on dozens of different pen websites to get you the information you need.

Guide to Fountain Pen Friendly Paper

While a guide like this can never truly be comprehensive, since definitions of what is “fountain pen friendly” vary from person to person, paper formulations change, and new papers constantly enter the market. That said, I’ve tried to maintain this as a “living” post with a vibrant comments section, so in addition to the papers I have listed in the post itself, be sure to review the comments for additional suggestions. (A word of warning - they are just that, comments and suggestions. I’ve not used nearly all of the different types of paper mentioned in the comments.)

“Workhorse Pens” Reviews

Separately from the Fountain Pen Review Archive, I’ve consolidated my “Workhorse Pens” reviews and recommendations onto a single page. “Workhorse Pen” is the name I give to those pens that make the best everyday writers, and nearly all of these have remained in my personal collection and in rotation. Similarly, the “Resources” navigation bar

T.G.S. Patreon for Meetups and More

For a bit more in-person interaction, consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon Program. In addition to “behind-the-scenes” content and early access to exclusive and limited edition products in the shop, Patrons can participate in a monthly meetup (via Zoom) where we discuss topics of interest to the community, the latest releases, and pretty much anything of interest to enthusiasts. There’s also a lot of free exchange of advice and recommendations. Meetups typically take place on the third Saturday of every month, at around 8pm Central Time. We’d love to have you join us!

This post does not contain third-party affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, as well as the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

April 28-May 1: Chicago Pen Show!

Just a reminder that this coming weekend I’ll be attending the 2022 Chicago Pen Show, so if you’ve been considering a shop order and would like something to ship before Thursday, please get your orders in before Wednesday (tomorrow) at noon. I may be able to do show pickup, depending on logistics and size of the order, so e-mail me and we can arrange to drop shipping charges.

While I will have a table in Chicago, I will NOT be set up as a vendor. The table will be a meet-and-greet, informational resource only due to things like inventory management and travel burden. I will have things like stickers and buttons, however, along with pens and paper to test out and see in person. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the show, so please stop by!

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, as well as the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Essential Stationery: For Me, It's Sticky Notes

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve basically been forced into stationery minimalism. Three quarters of my stash has been packed away, and while I don’t have as large a stockpile as many, and tend to keep only what I might reasonably use, it’s definitely given me a sense of what’s truly essential and what’s a luxury. Here, I define “essential” as “What have I had to go back into storage to dig out of boxes because I can’t function without it?” The number one thing? My stash of sticky notes and page markers.

I use a broad range of sticky notes and page markers for everything from making notes to myself, to creating makeshift bookmarks, to annotating documents at work, to marking up books I’ve been reading where I want to go beyond marginalia. Honestly, for my day job, I probably do just as much writing on Post-its as I do on traditional legal pads or notebooks.

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A real-time shot of my work desk from this week. Lots of Post-It flags. Always.

So What’s In My Stash?

I keep a wide variety of stationery readily available for this purpose, ranging from your classic Post-Its (purchased in bulk every couple of years at Costco), to 3M document flags, to fountain pen friendly stickies from Midori and Traveler’s Company, to repurposed washi tape. For books that I plan to keep (as opposed to library books I can’t mark up), I’ll use Book Darts and more expensive paper tabs such as those from Duncan Shotten. Here are a few of my favorite options, chosen by what’s actually on my desk at this very moment:

• Classic Post-It. While overall performance with fountain pens definitely varies by batch (and especially by paper color), on the whole I’ve had a decent experience using standard 3M Post-It notes with fountain pens and most other writing instruments. The classic yellow are my favorite, and as I mentioned, I usually buy them in bulk at Costco.

• Midori MD Sticky Notes or Traveler’s Company Sticky Notes. I don’t use these on “throw away” notes for work, since they’re more expensive, but when I’m reading a book or wanting to add a sticky note to my journal, and intend the note to last for posterity, I’ll definitely use one of these higher-quality, fountain pen friendly sticky notes. The Traveler’s Company sticky notes come in a handy insert with plastic protector so you can store them as a refill inside your Traveler’s Notebook. The Midori MD versions are slightly larger (A7 size), so they can really double as “sticky memo pads.”

• 3M Post-It Flags. I probably wouldn’t buy these myself (b/c you can’t really write on them well), but I work at a law office and they have them lying all over the place so they’re always in my bag and sometimes “whatever’s available” (or “whatever’s free”) is what you use.

• Book Darts. These classic metal page markers are infinitely useful, and I never find myself without a tin of them in my bag or next to the chair I’m reading in. While they’re reusable, I typically only use them in books I’m reading and plan on saving, since I like to leave them in long-term to revisit certain passages. (They’re archivally safe and won’t degrade paper over time.) You can also use them to create a multi-subject notebook divided into sections.

• Duncan Shotten Sticky Page Markers. I have several packs of these quirky sticky page markers in various themes. (Lately I’ve been using the “alien” ones.) They’re great for when you want to show more personality than a Post-It flag allows.

• Folded-over Washi Tape. If you ever want to mark a page in a book or notebook, and don’t have a Book Dart or other page marker handy, you can always fold a small piece of washi tape over the edge of a page. I forget who told me this trick but it’s stuck for years!

Anything I’m missing? What are your favorite sticky notes and page markers?

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Book Darts on Tomoe River Paper!

Thursday Drops: More Caran d'Ache Fixpencils Have Arrived!

It’s been quite a while since we’ve had the standard matte black Caran d’Ache Fixpencil in stock, and after a bit of a delay due to supply chain constraints, they are now available for purchase once again. We also stock replacement leads, erasers, and pencil sharpeners, along with a wide array of Caran d’Ache pencils, pens, and other products! We have also restocked on Write Notepads reporter-style notebooks and the Landscape Notebooks, in an assortment of updated colors!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

1. Caran d’Ache Fixpencil. The famous clutch pencil comes in a matte black finish with three different button options: red, blue, or black. While the pencil ships with an HB-grade lead, additional grades of refills are available for purchase separately.

2. Caran d’Ache Fixpencil 884. Looking for something with a bit more color? The Fixpencil 884 comes in red, green, or blue, and while it doesn’t have the same matte finish, the raised grip area still offers a comfortable texture.

3. Caran d’Ache x Nespresso Pencil Sets. Alas, the last version of the Caran d’Ache x Nespresso 849 ballpoint collaboration has been discontinued, pending an as-yet-to-be-announced replacement edition, but in the meantime we still have a limited supply of the collaboration Swiss Wood pencil sets.

4. High-Quality Tombow Erasers. Clutch pencils typically don’t have erasers, so it’s smart to pick up a Tombow Mono or even a click eraser to have on hand. Tombow erasers leave very little dust and cleanly remove pencil marks.

5. Write Notepads Reporter Notebooks. One of the top sellers in the shop is back, with four new colors: Plum, Forest Green, Arctic Blue, and Coral. The “Arctic” color has become my personal favorite.

6. Write Notepads Landscape Notebooks. After something of a hiatus, the Landscape Notebook is back, and also available in the Forest Green and Arctic Blue finishes. What makes a landscape-style spiral notebook unique? It features a landscape orientation that allows the notebook to sit beneath a keyboard, and is top-bound so it’s also lefty-friendly.

7. Write Notepads Writing Pads. In my opinion, some of the best fountain-pen friendly writing pads on the market! Available in lined, dot, and meeting rulings.

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The new colors of Write Notepads Reporter Notebooks!

Case Review: Lochby Field Journal Notebook Cover

Continuing my series of reviews of products that are easily accessible to me (i.e., being carried with me everywhere I go while my home and office are under construction), I turn to another recent addition to my daily carry: the Lochby Field Journal in brown. Currently, this particular notebook cover holds my Theme System Journal and a Nanami Paper Seven Seas Writer that I use for a NaNoWriMo novel-in-progress (that, sadly, has fallen by the wayside). Paired with my Standard Traveler’s Notebook in blue, the Field Journal is with me pretty much every day from mornings at home through, more recently, longer nights at the office. Is this case a good fit for you? I discuss some pros and cons below.

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The Lochby Field Journal, compared against the Standard Traveler’s Notebook (right), and a 13-inch MacBook Air (top).

What I Enjoy About This Case

• Durable Waxed Canvas Build. Like all Lochby products, the Field Journal features vegan-friendly waxed canvas, with no leather components. While I’m not vegan, I love the look of waxed canvas in general, and multiple items in my personal daily carry share this aesthetic. Waxed canvas is water-repellant, and looks great as it ages. Plus, all Lochby covers and cases are double-stitched and bartacked for durability. The aluminum clip attaches securely to canvas loops on the cover, and you can pull the strap to tighten the closure. (It will hold!)

• Yellow Interior. Ok, so this is a personal point, but if a product is made with yellow or dark red interior, I will buy it. There simply aren’t enough stationery items on the market with this color scheme for me not to go all-in. (And for those of you who would prefer something a bit more muted, note that the interior lining to the Navy and Charcoal Field Journals feature different shades of tan.)

• Notebook Versatility. The Field Journal fits standard A5 notebooks, and can fit up to six “softcover slim" notebooks, like the refills sold by Lochby. To fit this many notebooks in the cover, you use a Traveler’s-style cord system to attach four refills, as well as slots inside the front and back covers for two more. As I mentioned above, the cover easily holds two relatively thick, full-size notebooks like the Theme System Journal and the Seven Seas Writer, both of which I attach using the cords.

• Compatibility with Other Lochby Products. The outside pocket of the Field Journal is designed to hold either the Quattro Pen Case or the Pocket Journal, so you can use the Field Journal as your main daily carry item if you want a smaller, handheld carry-all. Lochby includes a strap on the spine of the Field Journal for this purpose.

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The interior of the Brown Lochby Field Journal. You can secure the refills using the four cords or the cover flaps.

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If yellow isn’t your thing, the Charcoal and Navy Field Journals (pictured here) feature different shades of tan interior.

Potential Drawbacks

• Closure. Some people may not appreciate the strap and metal clip. While I don’t find the Lochby mechanism particularly cumbersome, especially as the loops soften up over time, it does take some getting used to and may add a few seconds to the time it takes you to close your notebook when you’re finished working.

• Open Sides. While the Lochby Field Journal closes securely, and will certainly remain closed in your bag, it does feature open sides, meaning the edges of your notebook and whatever papers you keep inside aren’t protected from the elements or other items in your bag. Personally, this isn’t a big deal to me. I use other open-sided cases like the Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter and Traveler’s Notebooks, but many prefer the ultimate security of a case with a full zipper that extends all the way around the outside.

• Size. The Field Journal is not a slim case, and can get pretty thick but if you’re someone who carries up to six A5 notebooks with you at any time this likely won’t be an issue for you.

I use two larger A5 refills, secured by cords, and then use the interior cover slots to hold index cards.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

Overall, the Field Journal is an excellent utilitarian notebook cover capable of holding multiple refills and daily essentials, and pairs well with other items in the Lochby lineup. At $59 (including one 68gsm Tomoe River refill), it’s attractively priced, leaving you room in your budget to stock up on more paper or even another case like the Quattro (which holds four pens) or the Pocket Journal (which holds pens and a pocket notebook). I’ve been using the Field Journal regularly as a larger counterpart to my Traveler’s Notebook, and I don’t see myself swapping it out anytime soon.

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I have no fear of carrying thicker notebooks.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop carries a selection of Lochby Products, including the Field Journal in three different colors. Each Field Journal ships with a dot grid refill, with other rulings (lined, blank, and planner) available for purchase separately. All Lochby refills feature 68gsm Tomoe River paper, which is fountain pen friendly and gives you a high page count in a thin format. For further reading, check out my recent review of the Lochby Quattro Four-Pen Case, which is back in stock.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Lochby and all other products we stock.