I wanted to capture some of my favorite products for 2026 (so far). I tried to choose one notebook, planner, pen, ink and tool but I broke my own rules before I even finished the post. What’s been your favorite products so far this year?
No. 1 Notebook: Mark’s EDiT Notebooks
I absolutely love the Mark’s EDiT notebooks and the B7 Semi Size has been my little side kick all year for random notes, to-do lists, thoughts and ideas on-the-go and even a few. silly little doodles. The paper is thin and great for fountain pens but I like it just as much with gel, felt tip, markers and rollerballs. The plastic cover keeps the book safe and durable without making it feel precious. This is a work notebook, not an heirloom. If you haven’t tried one yet, the paper is called NEO AGENDA and was created for Mark’s to be all the things we love about lightweight, fountain pen friendly paper. Not to promote my own shop but I have new order of these notebooks scheduled to arrive on June 13 so stayed tuned.
No. 2 Planner: Aura Estelle B6 Classic Daily Magnet Planner
I have been using the Aura Estelle B6 Classic Daily Magnet Planner and it is a great system. It combines all the things I loved about the Hobonichi (fountain pen friendly paper, page-a-day layout, etc) and added in the weekly layout like the Hobonichi Weeks at the beginning of each week. The layouts are simple, there’s no space occupied by quotes I didn’t choose myself and the gird lines are light and unassuming. 100% would buy again. My only issue is that I would love to see an Aura Estelle “Avec” with two smaller books for each half of the year as my Aura Estelle has already doubled in size with all the thing I’ve glued into it that I’m worried how impractically large it will be by the time November and December roll around.
No. 3 Pen: Kaweco Sport DIY Glow-In-The-Dark
I haven’t purchased a ton of fountain pens this year but I was able to acquire one the Kaweco Sport DIY Glow-In-The-Dark models and I love the color of the body whether its glowing or not. I appreciate Kaweco pushing the boundaries of what materials to use when making their flagship pen. My suggestion for the next model would be to do something translucent day-glo with sparkles — in green it could be Alien Invasion, in pink it could be a real Barbie Princess vibe, blue could feel like crystal caribbean waters and day-glo sprkly yellow could feel like a solar supernova.
No. 4 Ink: Diamine Deadly Nightshade
I know its not fair to most US pen fans to choose this one but I am absolutely loving Diamine x Cult Pens Deadly Nightshade ink. A delicious purply ink that sheens, has shimmer and floaty skulls in the the bottle. Be still my little goth heart. But don’t dispair, there’s still time to enter to win a bottle. May the floating skulls be yours!
No.5 Tool TIE: Soola Studio Pouch and Hobonichi Drawer Pouch
Darnnit. I was really hoping not to break the Top 5 rule but when it comes to tools in my stationery collection, the bags I use to hold all my pens, markers, stickers and ephemera, its hard to pick just one.
The Soola Studio Pouch is great for doing a bag-in-a-bag scenario and having “all the things”. All the pockets on the outside make it a great way to grab various pens and then the interior compartment with its various pockets can hold stamps, ink pads, stickers, washi, glue and more. I like that it sits flat on my desk or table when I use it as well.
But I still love using my Ukranian Flowers Hobonichi Drawer Pouch for the more diminutive carry. This case is used when I just need a few things or I’m trying not to look like a pack mule when I go somewhere. It has enough space for the pens I’ve selected for my monthly planning, a pair of scissors, washi tape on cards, a glue stick and maybe a few other bits. Slim and trim and can then be unzipped on my desk to create a landing spot for all the tools that it easy to see and easy to access.
Soola for ALL THE THINGS and Drawer Pouch for on-the-go.
Bonus Humble Brag: The Retro Rainbow Sticker collection
My new Retro Rainbow Sticker collection are my new favorite stickers. I can grab a color to match my theme of the month and have a great variety of vintage ephemera like tickets, stamps, typewriters, flora and fauna and more. But even I have been “these are too pretty to use” even though I have a drawer full of more of them. So, don’t worry and if you have any of these, use them. I’ll keep making them. And I may be convinced to add more colors to the rainbow in the future.
Links included in this post are for previous reviews and places where you might find the products. None of the links are affiliate (I don’t get any money, products or special deals for these link placements) EXCEPT links to The Well-Appointed Desk. That’s my shop. So, I do make money when you shop there. And I do genuinely appreciate it when you buy from my shop.