If there’s one thing I always seem to need more of, it’s new pens and paper. Notebooks, tablets, little cards, gel pens, fountain pens, highlighters… I have an insatiable demand. And going crazy for pens and paper is a low cost hobby.
History of my passion for pens and paper
If you are a pen and paper lover like me, you will understand. If you aren’t, you may think I am nuts to obsess so much over something trivial like pens. My husband certainly falls in that camp; he actually saves ballpoint pens from hotels (shudder!!) to use around the house. Hey, they’re free, right?? In my opinion, if it’s worth writing something down, it’s worth using nice paper and wonderful pens. Life is too short for pens that remind you of your last Hyatt stay. (sorry not sorry)
I won’t claim to be an expert, just crazy for pens and paper. There are numerous blogs and online stores that will go deeper than you can imagine into the topic. I even listened to a podcast…about pens for a few months. And then I started neglecting all those “more serious” podcasts in my queue! Actually now that I think about it, maybe I should revisit that podcast again. My mind is about as full of “enrichment” as it can take these days.
I’d like to share some of my favorite sources and items for pens and paper and perhaps bring you from the dark side (dear husband!!). I hope that you will go just as crazy as I have over pens and paper.
JetPens
Get ready to go deep on wonderful pens and paper at JetPens. These folks know their stuff. Their focus is on Japanese pens and such (the Japanese really do know how to make a fabulous pen) but they’ve got so much more. Newest discovery for me is their very cool series of ASMR videos. Check one out below…
Although you can find some of their items at Amazon and other mainstream retailers, they have a unique collection and it’s nice to support a company that is all-in on pen and paper craziness like I am. Plus they have some great guides for newbies on best fountain pens for beginners and the like.
Amazon
Speaking of Amazon, sometimes it is easiest to get my P&P (pen and paper) fix by adding it to an order of, say, Bona wood floor cleaner. It’s less likely to attract the notice of Dear Husband (“do you REALLY need more pens? have you seen how many pens we already have? have you seen that pen I brought home from the Hilton?”)
A few of my favorite picks
- Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen: I’ve told you all about this lovely pen and ink in an earlier post. It’s a great starter pen- easy to use and inexpensive, and you won’t feel (too) bad if you drop it on the floor and bend the nib (oops!) Fountain pens can get crazily expensive, but this one is available for ~$25.
- Colored pencils: I had grand ambitions to start drawing and coloring (more on that in a future post) at the beginning of the pandemic. It hasn’t worked out quite as planned (darn you, Labor of Love!) but these are great quality and look so pretty in a neat row in the tin.
- Leuchtturm1917 hardcover notebook: The world of notebooks is vast. It’s hard to know where to start. Of course, I went through the Moleskine phase, but Leuchtturms just seem a bit more “in the know”, when I want to impress a fellow paper lover. And yes, I know that I am revealing myself to be a complete nerd.
- Papermate pens in a rainbow of colors: I’m not a complete snob, y’all. Sometimes a solid, reliable Papermate in purple is just what you need to perk up a boring set of meeting notes.
- Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens: There is something about the scratchiness of using these pens and the smooth flow of ink that makes them a worthy contender in the world of fancier fountain pens. And they are not expensive- so don’t worry if you lose one. Get a set with multiple colors because heck, why not?
Levenger
Levenger has an interesting vibe to it; if I were to guess, the typical customer is hyper-organized, probably never has anything out of place on their desk, and is frankly a bit intimidating. That’s not exactly me! But there are few stand-by items that I keep returning for…and I always take a peek at the Circa organization system and compartmentalized handbags and dream of a time when I will be that kind of person.
10 year journal: There are five lines for every day over 10 years. I started this one in 2013 so I’ve got three years to go. It’s been fascinating to see how things/moods/life changes from year to year; it’s been equally fascinating to read how little things have changed over seven years!
Levenger doesn’t seem to sell the 10 year version anymore but there’s a 5 year version that I probably need to stock up on.
Notabilia lined notebooks: Many years ago when I was a consultant at Accenture, my favorite client at Visa in Foster City, CA used these notebooks and I was hooked. She always seemed polished and composed; could using her same notebook bring that to me? Alas, no. (She also wore Hermes scarves tied in a neat bow around her neck most days of the week- something else that I’ve had a hard time replicating. Too hot. And I definitely skew a bit more “relaxed” in my clothing style, if you will) But I’ve stuck with the notebooks over 15+ years.
The older version of the notebook from years ago had an inspirational quote on the front, something like “my job is to create”. For whatever reason, when work colleagues would read that, they frequently looked at me quizzically? Skeptically? I guess I didn’t look enough like Steve Jobs to earn the title of “creator” 🙂
Papier
Full disclosure- I have not bought anything from Papier yet. But the website is so fun, with beautiful and colorful notebooks, cards, etc., most of which can be customized. I’m actually not sure where to start! And perhaps now is the time, when we’re all working from home so much, to branch out from the seriousness of Notabilia notebooks and use something more fun like this. And I’d definitely need to move off of the standard blue-black ink fountain pen cartridges I’ve been using- to purple!
When you use something multiple times a day, like paper and pens, doesn’t it make sense to use things that give you a little frisson of happiness every time you pick them up? I don’t feel at all guilty for going crazy for pens and paper.
And in case you are wondering, I’m not a complete paper snob…I’ll hang on to this note (written on a hotel notepad) from sweet Sophie forever.
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Amy’s husband does not — repeat does not — grab pens from the Hilton or Hyatt. I have it on good authority he only swipes a particular type of ball point offered by the better hotels, such as The Kahala and Four Seasons. He particularly recommends the pen from the Hotel Schweizerhoff in Zurich. A must for pen pilferers.