Rethinking the Stationery World Post-Pandemic: Overcoming Burnout

Rethinking the Stationery World Post-Pandemic: Overcoming Burnout

It really doesn’t even need to be said, but I’ll state the obvious: the last 15 months have really been something. And just like everything else- the stationery hobby has looked significantly different over that time than we imagined it would have in the early days of 2020. While we are not out of the woods entirely- we are cautiously but increasingly optimistic. We are beginning to see signs- even in our little stationery world- of things returning to “normal.”

There are a lot of unanswered questions we could discuss about what the stationery world will look like as we attempt to slowly and safely climb out of our homebody shells over the next many months. But there is one small, but personal and important question that’s been on my mind that I wanted to address first.

There are signs everywhere of new and creative things to arise out of this time in our hobby, and many people increased their stationery use during the pandemic or maybe even dipped their toes into the stationery world for the very first time. But it’s also possible that many of us are experiencing a bit burnout- both in life overall and specifically in relation to our hobbies.

Even though the pandemic was an all-encompassing shared experience across much of the human race- I think it’s important to remember that each of us experienced it a little differently. The pandemic gave rise to increased engagement in a variety of hobbies like baking bread and playing video games and gardening. However, that doesn’t mean that engagement with the stationery hobby was the same for each of us over this long, and difficult time.

Speaking as a healthcare provider on the the tail end of the longest year of my working life- I’ve struggled at times to remain as connected as I would have liked to be to the stationery world. I haven’t been as active in online communities, or even text chains with my closest pen friends. I haven’t sent as many packages or letters or cards as I wanted to, and I haven’t kept up as much with the stationery news or new releases like I used to. I was in survival mode.

As I try to get back into the swing of things, I’ve found myself stuck in the “mehs,”which is usually always cured by a “booster shot” of enthusiasm and connection at an in-person pen show. Realistically, I probably won’t get the opportunity to attend a show until at least the very end of this year or early next year… so in the meantime… now what?

I’ve been collecting and trialing a few ideas over the last couple of weeks. If you’ve been struggling to re-engage with any of the things you love or you’ve felt like you’re on the outside looking in- I hope these will remind you you’re not alone and spark a new idea or two about entering or re-entering the stationery world.

Give Yourself a Fresh Start

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I STILL had a few pens inked from all the way back at the last pen show I attended in Little Rock 2020. I also had a couple of notebooks that I had started and had been attempting to continue journaling or planning in for many months with very little progress.

So last weekend, I took every inked pen I could find- and cleaned them all out. And then I took some of my half-finished notebooks and I **gasp** put them back on the shelf and replaced them brand new blank ones.

Sometimes even the smallest actions can act as a signal to yourself that it’s time for a new phase or a new start. I’ve used more pens and paper this week than I have in the rest of all of 2021.

Get Back to the Basics

If you’ve been in the hobby for a while, and especially if you happen to have an increasingly large and unwieldy collection- it might be time to just get back to the basics.

For me that’s any TWISBI Eco (sorry Ana!) with a matching ink, my Kaweco Brass Sport inked with Platinum Carbon black, and a 0.38 Signo DX Gel Pen. Maybe for you it’s a Platinum Preppy or a Lamy Safari or the first ink you ever purchased. Whatever it is, removing the complexity and getting back to the basics can help remove the mental blocks to getting started- and remind you of the simplest joys that got you into this hobby in the first place.

Find a Hobby within the Hobby

If nothing else, this stationery world is a hobby of a million rabbit holes. Even if you’ve been around forever and seen 15,000 new releases come and go, there’s still likely something about the hobby you haven’t explored.

Maybe it’s dip nibs or glass pens or bank paper or one very specific vintage pen brand or model. Maybe it’s even pencils. If you’re just not that excited about the barrage of limited edition everything hitting your inbox every other day, maybe it’s time to temporarily narrow your focus and learn more about something you previously overlooked.

See the “Who” Behind the “What”

In some ways, the stationery hobby uniquely prepared us for pandemic life by teaching us to stay connected with friends all over the world both online and through the written word of snail mail. But I still think it’s easy to lose sight of the “who” when it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other’s faces and seen the actual physical products that come across our screens each day.

Yea, I’m psyched about Ian Schon’s latest experiments with ultem- and I love all his Instagram stories from his shop. But it’s still not the same as seeing how freaking excited he is behind a pen table holding one of his latest designs in his hands and showing it to someone new.

And yes, I love joining in on and watching Jonathon Brooks’ live Instagram streams explaining his pen turning and urushi processes- but it’s still not the same as seeing the smile on his face when he’s sold out of every as pen at his table 24 hours into a pen show.

And yes, I love meeting up with Well-Appointed Desk crew online but it’s not even close to the same as playing with pens and inks with Ana and Jesi until we pass out asleep with pen still in hand at a show at 1am (or sometimes 8pm).

For one thing, I think this continues to the the reason that getting back to in-person meet-ups and brick-and-mortar stores and pen shows as it becomes safe is so important for this hobby in the long-term. The entire hobby is built on the benefits of physical goods in a digital world- and now more than ever I feel the necessity of being face-to-face with not just the products- but the people behind them. You know what brings meaning to all the pen and ink releases that don’t really personally speak to me and my tastes? Meeting the person who is not me who those products DO speak to.

But until we can get back to all those crucial in-person events, I’ve still been working on shifting my focus to the “who.” Next time you go to ink up a new batch of pens- pick them based on what they mean to you for a week or two instead of just your favorite looking pen or the best writing pen in your collection. Maybe even instead of just writing the name of the pens and inks you are carrying once you ink them up- write about who made them or sold them to you or gave them to you- and where and how you acquired them.

Just Start. And then, Start Again.

If you feel like you’ve been out of the loop and can’t jump back into the community or the conversation for any reason, I urge you- just jump in. Comment on a post if you have something to say. Join a live Twitch or meet-up even if you can only be there for a short time and your office isn’t perfectly organized for the video (that’s what they make backgrounds for)! Ask the question you’ve been dying to know the answer to on a blog or a video or a Slack channel. Text your pen friends back even if it’s just a quick hello (earth to Jaclyn). Write a sentence or two on post card and slap a stamp on it if a letter is long overdue.

And if you get stuck in the “mehs” once again- when you’re ready- just start again.

Jesi answers all your questions about Tomoe River

Jesi answers all your questions about Tomoe River

The world of paper manufacturing has been an uncertain place lately. There have been changes. There have been rumors. There may have even been lies. Or little fibs. Intrigue at least. So I was sent out by the Well-Appointed Desk on a mission to uncover the truth as far as possible.

Some questions we were asked:

I know there’s a lot of gossip around the end of Tomoe River 52 gsm. First, they were changing manufacturing locations but now I’m hearing they are discontinuing it completely. What’s the story?

Tomoe River 52 gsm paper is highly prized by many fountain pen users. The paper is incredibly thin and light, yet fountain pen ink doesn’t bleed through the page (well, it can if you really try). The coating on the paper allows characteristics of fountain pen ink to show up that are lost on other paper varieties. Sheen, shading, and multi-chromatic properties are greatly enhanced.

In 2020, rumors started up that the manufacturer of Tomoe River paper, Tomoegawa, had changed the manufacturing process of their 52 gsm offering without making the change public. Although the company denied this at first, Tomoegawa did release information confirming the changes. Unfortunately there was not a good way to distinguish the two batches at first, however, this was remedied by adding an N suffix to the paper code.

Is it just the 52 gsm that’s going away or the 68 gsm too?

As the fountain pen community was starting to move forward from this incident, a new rumor started to circulate that Tomoegawa would cease the manufacture of all Tomoe River paper, 52 gsm and the heavier 68 gsm. According to this post by Sakae TP, the company is no longer manufacturing products with Tomoe River paper “due to the discontinuation of the base paper product”. The document showing the discontinued items includes both the 68 gsm and 52 gsm notebooks.

According to Tomoegawa, they have been making Tomoe River paper for the last year at a loss due to increases in the price of wood pulp. At first the loss was small but increased steadily. Once the machines needed repair, the decision was made to discontinue the paper production.

I am sad to say that yes, the rumor is true. Tomoe River paper has come to an end as of December 2020 and the paper that now exists is the last.

 I’m having trouble finding any Tomoe River at all. Are people hoarding it?

I have noticed several retailers have sold out of most Tomoe River products. I’m sure this recent news has increase sales of the paper as individuals who fell in love with TR paper try to calculate how much is needed for a lifetime supply. I have been guilty of stocking up a few extra notebooks.

However, I don’t believe even die-hard fans of Tomoe River paper will be able to exhaust the current supply too quickly. Stock is also low due to overseas shipping. Delivery times are getting better as the world emerges from Covid lockdowns, but freight deliveries still face delays.

Most retailers have an option to be notified when they restock their inventory. If you are having trouble finding Tomoe River products, sign up with one or more stores to receive these notifications. Don’t panic.

What’s your best advice for alternatives?

Here is where I can bring good news. The problems we have seen with Tomoe River paper over the last two years has encouraged the search for new paper that would bring out the best in fountain pen ink. New paper types are supposedly being developed by several groups.

The best answer I can give to this question is that paper exists already that is great for fountain pens. However, no other paper behaves exactly like Tomoe River paper. What is the feature you most love about Tomoe River paper? If it is the shading, try Cosmo Air Light. If it is the sheen, take a chance with onion skin paper. If it is how the paper enhances the ink, grab some Bank paper. Perhaps you just want to pour out a bottle of ink on a page without ink bleeding through. Is so, try the new washable paper from Traveler’s. If you love the extra long dry time of Tomoe River paper, try Yupo brands. This last one may not ever dry, however.

I know you like the Cosmo Air Light but what else do you recommend?

Nanami Paper has announced a new paper in notebook form that they call ZEN paper. You can even request a sample of it by sending in a self-addressed stamped envelope! Sakae Technical Paper Company is looking into alternative papers as well.

Musubi has been ahead of the curve on this front, having released folio notebooks with Cosmo Air Light paper and Bank paper. They still have stock of Tomoe River folio notebooks as well (Musubi has confirmed that their current stock is the original, pre-2019 TR paper).

Yamamoto Paper has a collection of 18 types of specialty papers in one notepad. I highly recommend this to individuals seeking new paper adventures! Their paper pad can be purchased directly on their site or from many popular retailers. Shigure Inks, Dromgooles, Pen Boutique carries Yamamoto notepads and several kinds of loose leaf paper.

Graphilo paper does an excellent job holding up to fountain pen ink. Midori MD paper and Midori cotton paper are wonderful with fountain pen ink as well and are becoming more widely available. Onion skin is interesting to use with ink and is unique in the texture department. Curnow Bookbinding and Leather makes A5, Traveler’s size and Passport sized notebooks made of a variety of papers including onion skin.

Traveler’s put out several new types of notebooks this year – the B-sides and Rarities collection – that includes a non-Tomoe River paper that is fountain pen friendly. I plan to review that very soon.

The great news about this change is that many groups are looking for suitable replacements. New paper types are being created. Notebooks are being made with a greater variety of paper. The fountain pen world is full of innovative and driven people who will not rest until the right paper or papers have been found and the Well-Appointed Desk will be here to keep you informed about new products and reviewing those products.

 

We have written this post to be up to date as of June 3, 2021 and have made every effort to only repeat information from the actual manufacturers. We will update the blog with further information as it becomes available. 

Giveaway Winner: Galen Leather Writer’s Medic Bag

Giveaway Winner: Galen Leather Writer’s Medic Bag

I can’t tell you what a delight it was to read all the comments for the Galen Leather Writer’s Medic Bag giveaway.

Of the pen people mentioned as special to our readers, the list included:

  • Brad (and Myke) of the Pen Addict
  • Kelli at Mountain of Ink
  • Joe at Gentleman Stationer
  • Joshua at Pelikan’s Perch
  • Gena at Custom Nib Studio
  • Tom Otto of Ink Journal
  • Nick Stewart of Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach
  • Newsha on Ferociousnprettypens
  • Figboot on Pens
  • Brain Goulet and the whole team at Goulet Pens
  • SBRE Brown
  • Azizah at Gourmet Pens
  • Mike and Audrey at Inkdependence
  • Lauren Elliott (Flygirlelliott)
  • Lindsey Bugbee of the Postman’s Knock
  • Yoseka Stationery
  • JetPens
  • Fontoplumo
  • Lisa at Vanness Pen Shop
  • Lots of other local and brick-and-mortar pen and stationery shops
  • Matt at the Pen Habit
  • Alessa at Inky.Rocks and Tokyo Inklings
  • PenBoyRoy
  • Friends who are gone now like Jim Rouse, Susan Wirth and Mishelleraine
  • Friends, family and co-workers
  • and even The Well-Appointed Desk and all the folks here that keep it going (even a shoutout for the furballs!)
  • and many, many more!

If you have time, please go through the comments and read through the kind words, lovely stories and discover new-to-you penfluencers!

And now… drum roll, please, for our winner:

What a sweet story and Aimee can brag to Shelley that she acquired new stationery gear without spending a cent! Maybe she’ll buy Shelly some ink as a consolation?

Thanks again to everyone who entered. More giveaways soon!

Link Love: Hot Wheels & Chair Socks (You can’t resist clicking through now, can you?)

Hot Wheels MINI JCW Cooper

Welcome to Wednesday Link Love brought to you by the inside of my local MINI dealership. Don’t worry, I am not throwing my beloved Fat Charlie (2009 MINI Cooper in BRG) out but I thought you all would be amused to see the Hot Wheels JCW MINI Cooper S sitting in the lobby. I’m actually waiting for Charlie to get his long-overdue service. The pandemic and my financial situation have both improved so that taking him to get all his bits checked over is actually possible. Should I have them add this spoiler and air intake onto Charlie? NAW! He just needs his fluids topped off.

In pen-related news, we are chock-a-block with paper posts this week and Joe over at Gentleman Stationer asks the hot-button question “Has the market for ‘limited editions’ jumped the shark?” which is a topic ripe for discussion. What’s your opinion?

Pens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Cat Paw chair sock
TABBY Cat Paw Chairs Socks $8 (via Wonder Fair Home Shopping Network)

Other Interesting Things:

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Fountain Pen Review: Platinum Prefounte

When I started my fountain pen journey, one of the first pens I loved was the Pilot Metropolitan (this was back in the day when they were the entry model and $15-18 a pop). From there I bought a TWSBI Eco and a Retro 51. While I still love what I consider inexpensive fountain pens (Kaweco Sport anyone?) I admit that I sort of skipped right over one of the entry classes of fountain pens and never went back to try them.

I do love Japanese nibs, so I when Ana had a spare Platinum  Prefounte ($10) in Night Sea with a medium (0.5) nib, I wanted to give it a try. The Prefounte comes basically ready to rock and roll with the pen and an ink cartridge for the price of around $11.00.

The body of the Prefounte is made of a transparent resin and comes in several muted colors. The pen has a chrome clip, and a stainless steel nib. The cap snaps shut and is made with “Slip and Seal” technology that claims it will keep your pen inked for up to a year. The cartridges are proprietary, which is the only downside I can see (that you can’t just grab one of the random cartridges you have rolling around at home) and has a small steel ball in it. While I gather this makes ink flow easier, it does make a little clicking noise in there if you shake the pen, so beware.

The pen is a nice length at 5 3/8″/13.7 cm capped, and 4 3/4″/12 cm uncapped. It comes in at a super light weight – 13g (capped and with the cartridge inserted).

In general, the writing experience was only ok for me. In the first sample, it took a bit to start, but then seemed ok. I took a break to take some photos and came back, and the nib was a bit dry and had a hard start. I got it going again, but every so often it would skip a bit. So I hate to say it, but compared to my TWSBI Ecos that I can pick up after weeks and write with right away, it was a little disappointing. (ETA I picked it up again this morning just before hitting post after it sat overnight and it wrote perfectly on the first try, YMMV?)

However, I would take my review with a grain of salt. Other pens that would fit in the same category as the Prefounte are the Kaweco Perkeo and the Pilot Kakuno about which I do hear lots of positive feedback. Unfortunately, I don’t own either, which is to my (and your) detriment when I write this review.

I did take a quick shot of the Prefounte with the closest competitors in my collection: (L to R) Kaweco Frosted Sport, Pilot Metropolitan, Platinum Prefounte, Scrikss 419. In terms of preference I would use the Pilot Metro or the Frosted Sport over the Prefounte.

Even though the Prefounte wasn’t my favorite, I do like that there are fountain pens available at every budget level. I think that makes them more accessible to everyone one, and also an easier entry pen to share with your kids or someone you’d like to entice over to the hobby (or should I say way of life?).


DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

Giveaway: Galen Leather Writer’s Medic Bag (Crazy Horse Forest Green)

Giveaway: Galen Leather Writer’s Medic Bag (Crazy Horse Forest Green)

In honor of Memorial Day weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate with a giveaway.

This is one of the original prototype Galen Leather Writer’s Media Bag in Crazy Horse Forest Green (retail price $219). The gang at Galen gave this to me at the DC Pen Show a couple years ago. I have been holding on to it for the perfect opportunity and THIS IS IT.

Galen Leather Writer's Medic Bag

The Writer’s Medic Bag is designed for modern pen folk but is based on vintage medic messenger bags. It was the last design Zeynep created and on Memorial Day weekend, it seemed appropriate to remember not just Zeynep but all the people who gave so much of themselves to the pen community.

Galen Leather Writer's Medic Bag

Galen Leather Writer's Medic Bag

The bag features lots of loops for pens, slots for cards and ephemera and the magnetic opening makes it easy to see all the items in your bag when you arrive at your destination.

This bag is all-leather in my favorite Crazy Horse Forest Green. The leather is pre-distressed so there are marks and scratches and tonal variations built into the leather. I love this look and it means you don’t have to worry about scratching the leather — it’s already been done. Rubbing it with a soft cloth or even the pad of you hand will diminish any big scratches easily.

Galen Leather Writer's Medic Bag

The bag includes a clippable keychain and the Galen signature leather tag.

Galen Leather Writer's Medic Bag

Galen Leather Writer's Medic Bag

The strap is long enough to carry the bag crossbody and there is a stud mechanism to adjust the strap length.

This is a prototype and may vary slightly from the final production version. The bag has not been used but has hung around the studio as eye candy so may be sprinkled with a cat hair or two and a dollop of dust. Will be packed well but does not include original Galen packaging.

To enter to win this Galen Leather Writer’s Media Bag in Crazy Horse Forest Green, follow the instructions below.


TO ENTER: Leave a comment below telling us someone in the pen community who means a lot to you. It could be someone you know personally or just someone who makes awesome online content. (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 Tuesday, June 1, 2021. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Wednesday. ONE 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.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this post were provided free of charge by Galen Leather for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.