The Well-Appointed Desk

This week, I discovered that journal makers Archer & Olive have a delightful blog with tips, ideas and printables to add to your planner or journal. They feature a wide variety of topics for bullet journalers, art journalers, planners and more. Somehow I stumbled on their blog when I found a post they did a couple years ago about how to make a washi tape swatch book. I think making a washi tape swatch book is a great way to use up a Field Notes book — I know so many fountain pen users have a stack of unused Field Notes that need a use. Voila!

Pens:

• Five Dip Pens for Ink Testing (Pilot, Sailor, Kakimori, Glass & More!) (via FudeFan on YouTube)
• Video-Review: Galen Leather – Legacy Collection Leather TwinFlip Pen Case (for 3 pens) (via Scrively)
• Common Fountain Pen Terms Explained (Part One) (via Pen Boutique Ltd)

Ink:

• Lennon Tool Bar Catfish Spirit (via Inkcredible Colours)
• Ink Review #2736: Robert Oster Bless Your Heart (via Mountain of Ink)

Pencils:

• The Pencils I Use (via Ian Hedley)
• (211) Which Sharpener is Best: It’s a Sharpener Showdown! (via Inkdependence on YouTube)

Notebooks & Paper:

• Gillio A5 Compagna (via Philofaxy)
• Creating An About Me Page In Your Journal (via Archer and Olive)
• Collage Playlist for your Junk Journal (via Archer and Olive)
• 10 Thread-Bound Tomoe River Notebooks Worth Trying (via Rediscover Analog)
• The History of the “Pocket Slim” Filofax: Part 1 (via Notebook Stories)

Calligraphy & Handwriting:

• Cursive Handwriting Guide for Beginners (via An Inkophile’s Blog)
• Learn Calligraphy in 5(ish) Minutes (via An Inkophile’s Blog)
• 8 Calligraphy Myths That Might Be Holding You Back (via The Postman’s Knock)
• A Beguiling and Wonderfully Organic Alphabet From 17th Century Poland (via Design You Trust)

Other Interesting Things:

• Sun-Star Stickyle Stamp Review (via The Pen Addict)
• Illustrators launch fightback against AI dolls with #StarterPackNoAI trend (via Creative Boom)
• Tariffs, a vibe (via A Gathering of Curiosities)
• What’s at the Heart of Our Tarot Fascination? (via Hyperallergic)
• 2025 Atlanta Pen Show Highlights (via Olive Octopus)
• Take Note! Chicago Stationery Shops Enjoying Revived Interest in Analog Communication, Fueled by Social Media and Celebrities (via WTTW, Chicago News)

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(*Featured image from Selvedge by Donovan Beeson on Patreon)

Last week, Paper & Pencil (the Chicago-based stationery shop) posted about the new tariffs and how they have been directly affected. Because the tariffs are changing day-by-day, some vendors might receive a bill for astronomical fees one day and the next, the tariffs are on hold for 90 days. I fret for how this will effect small shops and small businesses. I purchase some items for the shop from other small makers and I know not everything they create is made in the US. I have had to hold off on making anymore custom washi tape designs until I can verify that I won’t be hit with 135% tariff fees to import it (washi tape can only be made in Asia at the present). If I were to be hit with fees that high, I’d have to double the price for a roll of tape which I don’t think would end well for anyone.

Check out the article below from Notebook Stories about how notebooks and journals will also be affected by potential tariffs. These import fees will definitely change how we, as pen and stationery fans, purchase and collect our favorite items. Time to reach into our current stash and use some of those notebooks we’ve saved for a “special occasion”.

Pens:

• What’s It Like to Get a Nib Modified at a Pen Show? Follow Along! (via The Gentleman Stationer)
• Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Chameleon (via Rachel’s Reflections)
• Brief Ballad of my First Kaweco (via Dime Novel Raven)
• Review: Esterbook x TheCoffeeMonsterzCo Estie Fountain Pen (via Inky Imaginings)
• Video-Review: TWSBI GO (via Scrively)

Ink:

• Cult Pens Michael (via Inkcredible Colours)
• Ink Review #2732: Teranishi Guitar Melancholic Blue (via Mountain of Ink)
• Ink Review #2734: Ferris Wheel Press Lores of the Loch (via Mountain of Ink)
• Dominant Industry Sunset Ink vs. Lavender Ink: Side by Side Ink Swatches (via Pen Chalet)
• Diamine Forever Ink Review (via FOUNTAIN PEN INK ART)
• Wearingeul The Old Man and the Sea Ink Review (via The Pen Addict)
• Ink Swatch Wednesday: Colorverse Arrokoth, featuring Pelikan M600 Art Glauco Cambon (via CJs Wunderkammer)

Pencils:

• Why Pencil? (via Ian Hedley)

Notebooks & Paper:

• How Will Tariffs Affect Notebook Prices? (via Notebook Stories)
• Insert Exchange (via Philofaxy)
• The 10 Best Weekly Planners with sewn binding (via All About Planners)
• The History of the Pocket Slim Filofax: Series Introduction (via Notebook Stories)
• Why three pages (of journaling) make all the difference (via Rediscover Analog)
• A New Journal (via Wonder Pens)
• How I Use My Notebooks: New Streamlined Weekly Review Format (via Writing at Large)

Art & Creativity:

• Reading Notes: Zen of Drawing (via Apple-Pine)
• Cockatoo Island experiments (via Liz Steel)

Post & Letter-Writing:

• The art and pleasure of writing a letter : Life Kit : (via NPR)
• The Royal Mail’s magical new Myths and Legends stamps – created by illustrator Adam Simpson (via Creative Boom)
• How to Make and Send Your Own Artistic Postcards (via The Postman’s Knock)
• Keep the Post Office Public (via Selvedge by Donovan Beeson on Patreon)

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