If I’m already preparing for pen and stationery shows for 2026, does that make me a Pen Show Prepper? Just kidding! But I am already being asked and/or invited to participate in a variety of shows so there is lots of planning for travel, hotels, tables, workshops and more. As such, I updated the Pen Show Schedule this week with some new dates and fresh links. If you see anything that needs to be added or updated, give me a shout.
On our list of shows we’ll be attending “for sure” so far for 2026 are the Chicago Stationery Fest, the Chicago Pen Show and the St. Louis Pen Show for sure this year. Those are the only shows I have confirmed at this point. The Well-Appointed Desk will for sure have a table at the CSF and St. Louis Pen Show and I will teaching workshops are the Chicago and St. Louis pens shows. I am still waiting to hear if tables will be available for the Chicago Pen Show. As soon as I know for sure, I’ll let you know.
There are many other shows we would love to attend but costs, time and distance is going to make it challenging to determine if I will be attending others. Often, I help with other shops but I don’t know yet if and where I might be able to lend a hand. I’ll keep you all posted if you’re curious where I might land next. I always like a chance to meet and talk with other pen and ink lovers.
Are you planning to attend any shows this year? Let me know in the comments.
2026 Planner Set-Ups and Plans:
- How to Use Your Notebooks in 2026 to Improve Your Life (via Writing at Large)
- Episode 1 of On The Paper Trail: Setting Up Our 2026 Notebooks, Is Live! (via The Gentleman Stationer)
- My 2026 Notebook Setup: The Year of Practicality (via The Gentleman Stationer)
- 2025–2026 Purchasing Habits Review (via Rachel’s Reflections)
- Writing On in 2026 (via The Pen Addict)
Pens:
- The 47 Best Pens for 2026: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens (via JetPens)
- Fresh Thoughts On The Pilot Prera (via The Pen Addict)
- The Cookie Monster of Pens (via A Gathering of Curiosities)
- Review: Asvine C80 Fountain Pen (via Inky Imaginings)
- The best pens to use with bullet journal stencils (via All About Planners)
- The Best Black Pens for Franklin Planner Users (via Planner Fun)
- New Pen: Esterbrook Estie Avalanche (via CJs Wunderkammer)
Ink:
- Ink Review: Akkerman 26-30 Inks (via Mountain of Ink)
- Kakimori No. 1 Po (via Inkcredible Colours)
- Ink of the Week: Wearingeul The Raven (via Dime Novel Raven)
- Inkvent 2025 (via Final Recap)
Pencils:
Planners, Notebooks & Paper:
- Planning When Your Body is Tired (via Planner Fun)
- Simple Planning vs Perfect Systems (via Planner Fun)
Art & Creativity:
- Shut your laptop! Ways to find inspiration offline (via IT’s Nice That)
- 10 low-effort ways to get your creative brain working again (via Creative Boom)
- Sorting Neocolor II Crayons by Values (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
- Lucky Fish: Free Knitting Pattern (via Purl Soho)
Other Interesting Things:
- WikiFlix is a streaming site for movies in the public domain… (via Kottke.org)
- Love Takes Wing on New Stamp (via USPS Newsroom)
- Postal Service To Release Stunner of Stamp To Honor Bruce Lee (via USPS Newsroom)
- Historic Danish Postal Service Ends Letter Delivery After 400 Years (via My Modern Met)
- 2026 Stationery Fest Ticket Sales start Jan 15 at 9pm Eastern (via Yoseka Stationery)
- Book Review: Uprooted, Noami Novik (via Writing at Large)
- On my product review ground rules (via Urban Adventure League)
- A 3D-printed Mignon (via The Typewriter Revolution blog)
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