The Well-Appointed Desk

Often when I work for Dromgoole’s at a pen show, I will have several people ask for the same ink. Inevitably, an influencer or two will have posted about a particular ink. Sometimes its a video or a TikTok but when I was setting up Link Love, I found out why I had dozens of people asking for Wearinguel Undine— because Brad at the Pen Addict posted the ink in his review for the Nahvalur Original Plus Powder Blue. Of course, we didn’t have any bottles in DC so I had to turn several people away, disappointed.

Normally, I don’t know specifically who posted an now-covetable ink but, this week, I know who you are, Brad Dowdy!!! Thanks for posting an ink without telling me to pack some for the show! (Seriously, though, I am just teasing Brad. He doesn’t realize his reach and influence and how it leaves poor ink-shillers like me empty-handed.)

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In feature

Giveaway: Galen Leather Sinclair Case

AnaAugust 11, 2026August 11, 202682 Comments

I spent some time talking with the team at Galen Leather at the DC Supershow and had them pick the best of the best of their new Leather Sinclair Pen Case in Deep Cognac just to share with one lucky reader.

If you’re not familiar with the Nock Co. Sinclair case, it started its life as a simple fabric case created in the Atlanta area and was then recreated in custom-printed fabrics by Rickshaw Bagworks and now Galen is bringing a new level of luxury to the humble Sinclair by producing it in fine leathers with soft, supple handwoven Kutnu lining.

The interior has three pen slots on one side and a full slot on the other to hold a pocket notebook or loose pens. There is space in the center section for an additional pen sleeve like the 2- or 3-pen coozy from Rickshaw to carry even more pens!

So… The Giveaway!

I am giving away ONE Galen Leather Sinclair pen case (shown in the photos above, pens and accessories not included). Please follow the instructions below to enter.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below and tell me if you have an original Sinclair, a Rickshaw Sinclair or if this will be your first-ever Sinclair. Play along and type in something. It makes reading through entries more interesting for me, okay? One entry per person.

If you have never entered a giveaway or commented on the site before, your comment must be manually approved by our highly-trained staff of monkeys before it will appear on the site. Our monkeys are underpaid and under-caffeinated so don’t stress if your comment does not appear right away. Give the monkeys some time.

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Sunday, August 16, 2026 . All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Instagram or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Monday. Winner will be selected by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include your actual email address in the comment form so that I can contact you if you win. I will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. If winner does not respond within 5 days, I will draw a new giveaway winner. Shipping via USPS first class is covered. Additional shipping options or insurance will have to be paid by the winner. We are generous but we’re not made of money. US and APO/AFO only, sorry.

In feature

Are you ready for planner season?

Laura CameronAugust 10, 2026August 10, 20261 Comment

I can hardly believe we’re here already, but we’re just 3 short weeks away from Hobonichi Day which means it’s almost planner season!

I actually did a mid-year planner report back in May, but I’m excited to change some things up this next year, so I’m starting to think about things more!

First off, a few weeks ago I posted about the Daigo Tea & Diary Time notebooks and I’m pleased to say that I’m REALLY enjoying this one. Each week I record a few pithy notes, funny quotes, or other thoughts about my day and it has really helped me get over the “I don’t have anything to write about today” hump.

For the past few years I’ve been using a Notebook Therapy A5 bullet journal to document my months. The pages are dot grid, but blank and while I don’t feel compelled to write every day, I do feel guilty for not writing more in there. And also not including other ephemera, being more artistic etc. I’ve slowly come to terms with the fact that maybe it’s just not for me? So I think I’m going to press pause on that one, and continue on with the Daigo for a bit.

Last year I added a new diary to the rotation, My Year in Yarn. In many ways, this journal worked really well for me. I love the monthly page where I could set up goals and track what I had knit/spun/sewn/quilted for the month. And I loved some of the detail pages where I could keep notes about exactly what materials and techniques I used which will be handy for future reference.

But a lot of the pre-printed pages with trackers and activities that I THOUGHT I had wanted, I didn’t end up using. And so rather than purchase another whole book where I’ll only use a subset of the pages, I’ve decided to create my own crafty tracker this year.

As you might imagine, I have a stack of notebooks from review that could be “the one” but as I was looking through my stash I realized I had one special notebook that would be great as a journal: my Musubi. I purchase this one at a Chicago Pen Show back in 2018 and I’ve never found the “perfect” use for it so I don’t squander its beauty. I think an artisanal crafted notebook fits as a craft journal right? I’ll share more as we get towards 2027 about how I plan to design my pages and make it my own.

The one thing I’m keeping the same next year? I’ve already ordered my Effin’ Birds 2027 planner. Some habits never die!

Are you starting to feel the siren call of planner season yet?

In Fashionable Friday

Fashionable Friday: International Cat Day

AnaAugust 7, 2026August 3, 20261 Comment

Tomorrow is International Cat Day. If you know me, everyday is Cat Day so let’s celebrate our favorite feline couch potatoes.

Trying to narrow down our combined love for stationery and cats was such a challenge. Van Dieman’s has a 15-color ink collection called Feline with fabulous illustrations on the bottles including Persian Princess which looks 100% like Princess Donut (IYKYK).

Midori D-Clips Nano Clips – Cat – Box of 16 ($8.50)
“Everyday is Caturday” Cat Rainbow Washi Tape ($4)
Uni Mitsubishi Hi-Uni Pencil – HB ($3)
Costume Party Cats Sticker Sheet ($3.95)
Woodpepe Wax Seal Stamp – Yin Yang Cat ($16.50)
P+G Mimi Pochi Friends Case – Tuxedo Cat ($16.40)
Bande Washi Tape Sticker Roll – Cats – Set of 2 ($9)
mt Artist Collaboration Washi Tape – minä perhonen – Black Cat – 35 mm x 10 m ($11.50)
Wearingeul I Am a Cat Shimmer Ink ($27)
Boho Cat & Coffee Lover T-shirt (starting at $23.99)
Pilot Kaküno Madoromi Fountain Pen – Nimbus Gray ($16)
Pelikan Edelstein Pyrite Bottled Ink (50ml) (Ink of the Year 2026) ($35)
Midori Clip Ruler – Cat ($11)
Parrot Polish Chartreux Cat Magnetic Ultrachrome Nail Lacquer ($15)
Vintage Whiskers Cat Cafe Black Glossy Mug (from $16.00)

We’ve been loving cat stationery products for years. Check out our previous Fashionable Friday Cat Days, Everyday is Caturday. And if you want to celebrate cats but don’t have one of your own, consider visiting a local cat cafe like Whisker Cat Cafe here in KC. Sponsor a cat for a month if you’re not local!

Thanks to my sponsors for providing some of the images I use for Fashionable Friday. Please consider making your next purchase from one of the shops that support this blog and let them know you heard about them here. Thanks for your support and for supporting the shops that help keep it running.

In feature

See You in DC?

AnaAugust 6, 2026August 4, 2026Leave a comment

I am hopping on an airplane right now and I’m headed to the biggest pen show in the US! Come see me at the DC Supershow this weekend.

I will be at the Dromgoole’s tables as their resident ink expert. I would be happy to help you find the perfect ink to match your new pen, seek out your “must have” ink and celebrate paper, planners and all the other stationery products. Even if you just want to say hello, come by, I’d love to meet you in person!

Oh, and I have a sneak peek for you all. At DC, the Dromgoole’s will have their latest Rickshaw cases in a variety of configurations, with designs created by me!

First up is the Cherry Blossoms & Bluebirds design:

This design was inspired by vivid, vintage artwork of cherry blossoms and bluebirds culled from my extensive vintage art collection and collaged together to make this pattern.

Next is the Vintage Office Supplies collection:

This case is a bright white background with an assortment of hand colored vintage office supplies. From typewriters to fountain pens and everything in-between, I searched my whole collection for the best vintage supplies.

Come by the Dromgoole’s tables to grab your new cases debuting at the show!

See you there!!!

In feature

Giveaway Winners: Aura Estelle Undated Planners

AnaAugust 5, 2026August 5, 20261 Comment

Thanks to all the entries into our recent Aura Estelle Undated Planner Giveaway. There is still time to order a copy of the Undated or 2027 versions on their website.

Now, on to our winners!

BrooklynBeka is our winner for the B6 Undated Daily version of the Aura Estelle Magnet planner.

Congrats to Jennifer L! She’ll be getting the Weekly version. I have wondered about the name “Magnet Planner” too. Mine is glued to my side so maybe that’s the “magnet” part?

I can’t wait to hear how you both enjoy these planners.

In Link Love

Link Love: Pen Show Prep

AnaAugust 5, 2026August 4, 2026Leave a comment

This week is the end of the Yoseka Stationery Fest in Brooklyn and, for many of us, counting down the hours and days until the two largest pen shows in the US — the DC Supershow and the SF Pen Show. As we prepare for the upcoming shows, check out our special “Pen Show Prep” category to plan your shopping, packing and preparation for the upcoming shows.

My top five pen show “best practices”:

Bring cash (most vendors like cash). Some foreign vendors will prefer credit card so they don’t have to convert currency so have your tap-to-pay and have chip credit cards ready. Cards without a chip require vendors to type the number in which is a higher fee and takes longer. Make sure your card have a chip or your credit cards are in your cell phone “wallet”.
Map out the show floor before you get there to figure out where your favorite vendors are. If there is no map available, try to build a list of the vendors you’d like to visit and hopefully there is a map at the event you can refer to.
Carry a SMALL tote bag that you can carry close to your body (not a backpack. I refer to backpacks as “turtle shells” since I frequently get hit in the head with them. People forget that they stick out a lot further in the back than they realize with a backpack on). If you can take purchases to your hotel room or out to your vehicle to lighten your load, please do. The aisles get crowded and everyone would prefer to have a little space than be sandwiched against a giant backpack.
Pack a water bottle with a sealable lid and snack bars to stay hydrated and avoid sugar crashes. Hotel food options are often expensive and very limited. Leave space in your tote for small snacks, trail mix, and water.
Pack your own notebook to test pens, samples inks, and take notes. Testing pens and ink on whatever paper is provided by a vendor might not have the same ink friendliness or texture as your preferred paper so using your own paper is the best way to guarantee that you like how a pen or ink feels on your favorite paper.

Pen Show Prep

Countdown to the DC Pen Show: Pen Boutique’s 2026 Exclusives (via Pen Boutique Blog)
Pen Shows 101 (via The Pen Addict)
Pen Show Prep, Differently (via Rachel’s Reflections)

Pens:

Comparative Overview: Pilot Custom 823 & Pilot Custom 74 (via Scrively)
The Ferris Wheel Press – Limited Edition Twilight Symphony Masque Fountain Pen and Fountain Pen Ink (via Nick Stweart FOUNTAIN PEN INK ART)

Ink:

ink review : Teranishi Guitar Night Time Soda (via inkxplorations)
Ten Pens, But Inks (via Dime Novel Raven)

Pencils:

Mechanical Pencil Rankings, August 2026 (via Urban Adventure League)

Notebooks & Paper:

Guest Post – Planner Gadgets – Hans (via Philofaxy)
5 Considerations When Choosing a Notebook System (2026 Edition) (via The Gentleman Stationer)

Art & Creativity:

Sharing My Sketch Journal Process (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
On My Table: Beginning of August 2026 (via Apple-Pine)
Scientists Say They’ve Discovered a New Color Called Olo (via My Modern Met)
France 2026: Reflections from my 3-week trip (via Liz Steel)
Old Holland Watercolour complete range (via Jane Blundell Artist)

Other Interesting Things:

No photo outing (via Drewscape)
How in-camera tricks, colourful paper and patience brought Sam Nicklin’s reflective photographs for Alessi to life (via It’s Nice That)
13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. 777) (via Messy Nessy Chic)
The story behind Present & Correct, the perfectly curated stationery shop that’s every graphic designer’s dream (via It’s Nice That)
“Long live Hyrule jazz!” The Z Suites is “a modern jazz reinterpretation” (via Kottke.org)
Christmas Cookie Stamp Designs for the Holidays (via USPS Newsroom)
HK is magnetic (via José Naranja)
Stationery Favourites – July 2026 (via Inky Imaginings)

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