Ten Years of The Well-Appointed Desk

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I started this blog over ten years ago. It’s as big a surprise to you as it is to me. Ten years!

Many of you have probably heard the story of the inception of this blog, but I’ll retell it anyway just in case.

In the dark days of the internet, I had a personal blog (back in the day when everyone had a personal blog like LiveJournal or Blogger) that I had been peppering with my opinions on various office supplies. I had even written a review or two for Pencil Revolution and befriended Brad Dowdy who had started his own blog all about pens. Then I went to a presentation by a woman who started a blog all about decorating her Berlin apartment all in turquoise called The House of Turquoise. She said if she could make a blog all about all-things-turquoise that the internet was big enough to have corners for all kinds of super-specific interests. So, I went back to my desk and launched my own super-specific blog on Tumblr and named it The Well-Appointed Desk. After a couple years, I focused less on desk accessories and office set-ups and I started writing a lot more reviews. At that point, I officially moved the site to WordPress and the rest, as they say, is history.

Over the last ten years, I’ve learned so much and met so many amazing people. Pens and the pen community have changed my life in so many ways.

First, I need to thank the ladies who help keep this site running: Laura, Tina and Jesi are an integral part of the everyday functioning of this site and I couldn’t do this without them.

Then I need to thank the sponsors who have helped keep this site running financially. I’ve always debated whether or not to discuss the costs of running the site. A couple years ago, our service provider required that we upgrade our hosting because our traffic was breaking the current server. So, our costs increased. We also require some additional services to protect us from the onslaught of spam that result from being one of the top search results. So, thank you to everyone, presently and in the past who has advertised on the blog or provided review products because you have helped make ALL this possible.

I also need to thank all the bloggers and vloggers in the pen community who have supported us, become our friends, allies and drinking buddies.

And finally, to all the readers of the blog today and in the future. Your comments here on the site, in the mail and in person at pen shows and meet-ups around the world have meant so much to all of us. We have been so happy that our insights, experiences and opinions have helped you in one way or another.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, we will be featuring two weeks chock full of Top Ten lists and giveaways that will blow your mind. Huge thanks again to all our sponsors for generously donating gifts for these giveaways. Please, if you can, support the sponsors. They are the reason we can continue to do this.

Now… on to the celebration!

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29 comments / Add your comment below

  1. Reading about your journey to where you are now, is inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
    Happy Birthday!✏

  2. congratulations on you ten years of amazing work. Your insights, reviews, and additional content that goes beyond the desk are consistently enjoyable and enlightening. Your site is the only one I read in detail every week and often bookmark your content. Thank you!

  3. Congrats! Always appreciate the time you have taken at the ATL pen show answering my questions and making recommendations.
    Thank you!

  4. Amazing! I thoroughly admire people such as yourself who have the commitment to write regularly about something they’re passionate about. To do that for 10 years is a huge achievement. I found your blog a couple of years ago and I look forward to getting my weekly fix of Link Love plus all the great reviews by your team – I always learn something and often find myself shopping for products I’ve seen. All I need now is a UK distributor for your great stamps! Thank you for all the pleasure you’ve given me – and keep up the good work.

  5. Congratulations!! I have gleaned lots of information from your blog in the last few years since finding it but I never comment. I just want to say congratulations on reaching this milestone, and thanks for all the information you’ve provided me. And your Col-o-Rings are my favorite non-pen accessory.

  6. Congrats on 10 years of making the world a better place by loving something and sharing it!
    Appreciate all you do and post.

  7. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! Ten years in the blogging world is a great milestone. It’s not easy to keep up relevance and interest, so kudos to you and your team! Thank you and your team for all your work and creativity. Readers like myself greatly appreciate your insight!

  8. Believe it or not, back to my office, so I can be reunited with my heirloom pen stand and my Pelikan M605.

  9. Congratulations on 10 years! Your blog has always been such a great resource for all sorts of things, and entertaining as well! Here’s to many more years 🙂

  10. Ten years, and still so fresh & interesting! That’s no mean feat. Thank you for your hard work and your wonderful content — I’m proud to be a loyal reader

  11. Congratulations on achieving 10 years! Thank you, Ana, Laura, Tina, and Jesi, for everything you do to bring us The Well Appointed Desk. Now more than ever, you provide a sorely needed respite. Here’s wishing you many more years to come.

  12. Thank you so much for these last ten years! I have learned so much (and spent more than my husband would like) thanks to The Well Appointed Desk!

  13. Ana,

    Many congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the Well-Appointed Desk!

    One of my biggest disappointments this year has been the cancellation of the pen shows where I so enjoy seeing my good pen friends, especially you, Lisa Vanness, Brad Dowdy, and so many others. I hope that we all enjoy good health and good fortune so that we may celebrate together next year!

    Very best wishes,
    Jay McCarty

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