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What’s Inside This Mystery Stationery Box? (via dwrdnet). Derek unpacks our second curated stationery box, available quarterly via our Patreon (though this time we had a couple left over so at least one non-Patreon member got to grab one). If there’s enough demand we will expand and open it up a bit in the future.
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2025 Washington D.C. Fountain Pen Supershow (via Olive Octopus). Lisa has a very comprehensive D.C. recap, and she brought back a lot of fun stuff. I missed the NFP Designs table so it was interesting to see some of their newer designs up close.
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2025 D.C. Pen Show (via Rachel’s Reflections). That’s quite the D.C. Pen Show haul!
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BUNGUBOX: Their Fountain Pens (via Inky.Rocks). I missed getting to see the Bungubox table at the D.C. show but look forward to visiting them in San Francisco.
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Vintage Journal Ethics (via Notebook Stories). This isn’t something I’ve ever thought much about, and I also had no idea that people were selling other people’s old journals online? I like the idea in the comments about adopting pseudonyms for yourself/others in your journals and personal writing.
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Chopping Block (via Line Variation). Sometimes you have to thin the accumulation. What process do you use to think through what to keep and what to let go?
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Visit to Hands (Suntec Outlet) in Singapore (via Inkredible Colours). The fact that this isn’t even a true stationery store, and still has a selection like this, is incredible.
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Dominant Industry Takasago Ink Swatch Paper Review (via Pen Addict – Kimberly). There’s a plethora of ink swatch cards and paper tools on the market these days, from brands like Col-o-Ring, Dominant Industries, and Iroful.
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Ink Review: Wearingeul Wafarer (via Well-Appointed Desk). I’m not usually a shimmer ink fan, but the subtle Wayfarer is one that finds its way into my rotation semi-regularly.
In Case You Missed It…
I spent most of this week recovering/getting caught up from the D.C. Pen Show, which I recapped on Wednesday. Yesterday I published a post on a topic that I’ve been thinking on for some time, and which has been the subject of several reader requests: my current favorite pencils. Note that my “favorites” posts are different than my “recommendations”, the latter of which focus much more on pens and pencils that might appeal to a broader audience as opposed to my specific needs. Check those out here.
Iroful has come out with a set of 100 Ink Cards, perfect for sampling and swatching inks. 
This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop: New LAMY AL-Stars!
The big news from this week is that the 2025 Lamy AL-Star releases (“Dark Dusk” and “Mint”) arrived over the weekend. Personally, my favorite is the Dark Dusk, as it’s a gorgeous deep purple blue worthy of its namesake. We also added knurled ebonite ballpoints from Laurett’s, a Japanese company that specializes in precision machining. Matching mechanical pencils are also available. On the paper side, we have Traveler’s-sized hardcover notebooks from Archer & Olive, as well as Iroful Planner-punched paper in Bible, Mini, and Mini 5 sizes.
Store hours for this coming week will be as normal! We will be open in-store Thursdays and Fridays from 1-6pm, and Saturday from 10am-6pm. We hope to see you in Nashville.
Laurett’s
Lamy
Iroful
Kutsuwa Sharpeners
Consider Further Supporting 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. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! The T.G.S. Patreon includes early access and discounts on exclusive shop releases (including the Taschenstift “Violet Tendencies”), the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. As noted above, we’ve recently started a Discord community for all paid Patreon supporters.
