The Well-Appointed Desk

Link Love: Pens & Quilts = JOY Laura, in an act of selfless kindness, found some fabric that she said was "so me" and then bought it and made me a whole freakin' quilt! It's huge and beautiful and covered in a bright, fun assortment of stationery-related prints. She quilted it with loopy stitches that are reminiscent of calligraphy swirls. So well-planned! So cool! So cozy!

Link Love: Pens & Quilts = JOY

Laura, in an act of selfless kindness, found some fabric that she said was "so me" and then bought it and made me a whole freakin' quilt! It's huge and beautiful and covered in a bright, fun assortment of stationery-related prints. She quilted it with loopy stitches…

Giveaway Winner: Wonderland 222 Notebook Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway for the Wonderland 222 B6 notebook. It looks like our commenting system is working again and ready for prime time! Our winner is: I have reached out via email to our winner. More giveaways will be happening soon so stayed tuned!

Giveaway Winner: Wonderland 222 Notebook

Friday Friends: PensiveCandy Candace Milner (@pensivecandy) is a creative and a long-time fountain-pen-and-ink enthusiast, based in Perth, Western Australia. She was first introduced to fountain pens in primary school (many, many, many years ago). Today, she uses her pens and ink to make art. Her explorations in ink typically result in intricate patterns, detailed line-work and the use of expressive ink combinations.

Friday Friends: PensiveCandy

Candace Milner (@pensivecandy) is a creative and a long-time fountain-pen-and-ink enthusiast, based in Perth, Western Australia. She was first introduced to fountain pens in primary school (many, many, many years ago). Today, she uses her pens and ink to make art. Her…

Notebook Review: Wonderland 222 Tomoe River Tomoegawa B6 (& Giveaway) I met the creative team behind Wonderland 222 while I was in Portland this summer and was absolutely delighted to be able to put faces to this amazing product line. Wonderland 222 is best known for their Tomoe River-based planners -- simple, minimal planners in loads of formats. While talking with Liisa, I discovered that Wonderland 222 still has some notebooks that use the classic Tomoegawa (original) Tomoe River paper…

Notebook Review: Wonderland 222 Tomoe River Tomoegawa B6 (& Giveaway)

I met the creative team behind Wonderland 222 while I was in Portland this summer and was absolutely delighted to be able to put faces to this amazing product line. Wonderland 222 is best known for their Tomoe River-based…

Link Love: Finding Comfort I have been curious about some of the trends I'm seeing in the pen community and in the world in general. Folks are going back to their starter pens, diving into their notebooks and paperlife with renewed fervor and everyone seems to be embracing the vibes of October with cozy sweaters, blankets and pumpkin spice everything. Even with our media consumption, I am noticing a continuing trend towards "comfort reads" and cozy mysteries and general inclination for joyous escapism.

Link Love: Finding Comfort

Pen Review: Writech Sprinkles Gel Pen 0.5 mm (5-Color Set) I've talked about it in previous posts but I want to reiterate that I've been surprised with the quality and variety coming from Writech. I decided to try the Writech Sprinkles 0.5 mm Gel Pen ( 5-Color Set) ($12.10) which features such an unusual color set for a "basic color set". The Sprinkles set include: Azure (blue), Coffee (brown), Grass Green, Hot Pink, and Iris Blue (purple).

Pen Review: Writech Sprinkles Gel Pen 0.5 mm (5-Color Set)

Underappreciated Ink Brand: Vinta Inks Once upon a time, Vinta Ink was the darling of the pen world. They came onto the market with pretty bottles, history baked into their color choices and a beautiful array of multichromatic, sheening and shimmer inks before many of the popular inks of today (like Ferris Wheel and Wearinguel). Other brands may have existed but Vinta grabbed the attention of the pen community.

Underappreciated Ink Brand: Vinta Inks

Once upon a time, Vinta Ink was the darling of the pen world. They came onto the market with pretty bottles, history baked into their color choices and a beautiful array of multichromatic, sheening and shimmer inks before many of the popular inks of today…

Link Love: Is it Inktober already? I cannot believe its October already. I love pumpkins, crunchy leaves, and more sweater weather. But I completely forgot today starts Inktober. The list of the official prompts are available but I like to create my own list. In the past, I've created an A-Z list (26 drawings with bonuses for any over the 26) of office supplies and knitting terms and I've also participated in…

Link Love: Is it Inktober already?

I cannot believe its October already. I love pumpkins, crunchy leaves, and more sweater weather. But I completely forgot today starts Inktober. The list of the official prompts are available but I like to create my own list. In the past, I've created an A-Z list…

October Planner Set-Up: New Book, New Me Apologies for skipping my planner organization and set-up for September but I have been so excited to start planning for October AND I get to start a new book as well. Double trouble! Double joy! Hope this makes up for it! Products shown in this video: Stalogy B6 Paperblanks midi size Paperblanks review Creeping Moon Draco Clip Hot Dang Press…

October Planner Set-Up: New Book, New Me

Apologies for skipping my planner organization and set-up for September but I have been so excited to start planning for October AND I get to start a new book as well. Double trouble! Double joy! Hope this makes up for it! Products shown in this video:…

Pen Review: Writech Needle Tip Gel Pen 0.5 mm (Pack of 4 – Black Ink) It's been a long time since I've bought or used a simple black ink gel pen. I always seem to lean into funky colors or other kinds of pens. But I've found that I really like the kookiness of the Writech line of pens. They've released dual color multipens with two complimentary colors or a color + black. So, I went in search of other Writech products to try.

Pen Review: Writech Needle Tip Gel Pen 0.5 mm (Pack of 4 - Black Ink)

Friday Friends: Claudia at Cloudy Desk I love to see other folks' sketchbooks and notebooks. I love to see a beautiful but REAL sketchbook. I like the variety of ink testing and landscape sketches and Claudia @The_Cloudy_Desk has a beautiful balance of both. Now, I'll let Claudia of Cloudy Desk tell you a bit about themself. Hi, I'm Claudia aka The Cloudy Desk (they/she), because who doesn't love sitting at their desk on a cloudy day with a notebook and a cup of tea?

Friday Friends: Claudia at Cloudy Desk

I love to see other folks' sketchbooks and notebooks. I love to see a beautiful but REAL sketchbook. I like the variety of ink testing and landscape sketches and Claudia @The_Cloudy_Desk has a beautiful balance of both. Now, I'll let Claudia of Cloudy Desk…

It looks microscopic in your hands.

Pen Review: Writech Retractable Highlighters (6 Color Set – Neutral) I am such a sucker when it comes to unusual colors in pens and highlighters. So when I saw the Writech Retractable Highlighter (6-Color Set - Neutral) ($13 per set) I knew I had to give them a whirl. The set was particularly interesting because the pens are RETRACTABLE! I don't think I've ever used a retractable highlighter. If you use your highlighters for actual highlighting in textbooks or for annotating books, then a retractable highlighter might be just what you need.

Pen Review: Writech Retractable Highlighters (6 Color Set – Neutral)

I am such a sucker when it comes to unusual colors in pens and highlighters. So when I saw the Writech Retractable Highlighter (6-Color Set - Neutral) ($13 per set) I knew I had to give them a whirl. The set was particularly…

Link Love: Read All The Things I finished the Orilium Fall Equinox Magical Readathon Challenge this weekend. Its another in a long list of ways I'm gamifying my life. The challenge started on September 1 and is filled with various RPG-style challenges to inspire participants to read more. I read about eight books so far (the seven shown above as well as an extra credit read) and am trying to work through the Spring prompts as well in hopes to complete two semesters of prompts in one month.

Link Love: Read All The Things

I finished the Orilium Fall Equinox Magical Readathon Challenge this weekend. Its another in a long list of ways I'm gamifying my life. The challenge started on September 1 and is filled with various RPG-style challenges to inspire participants to read more. I read…

Why the Pentel Sign (Fude Touch) Brush Pen is my Favorite Brush Pen I have reviewed a few sets of the Pentel Sign Brush Pen ($250 each) over the last couple years including the Fluorescent and the 2020 Special Color Set. What I've never 'fessed up to publicly is that I have slowly been adding individual markers to my collection until I essentially have almost every color. I love the firm, fiber-based, brush tips on these pens.

Why the Pentel Sign (Fude Touch) Brush Pen is my Favorite Brush Pen

Why the Pentel Sign (Fude Touch) Brush Pen is my Favorite Brush Pen I have reviewed a few sets of the Pentel Sign Brush Pen ($250 each) over the last couple years including the Fluorescent and the 2020 Special Color Set. What I've never 'fessed up to publicly is that I have slowly been adding individual markers to my collection until I essentially have almost every color. I love the firm, fiber-based, brush tips on these pens.

Why the Pentel Sign (Fude Touch) Brush Pen is my Favorite Brush Pen

I have reviewed a few sets of the Pentel Sign Brush Pen ($250 each) over the last couple years including the Fluorescent and the 2020 Special Color Set. What I've never 'fessed up to publicly is that I have slowly been adding…

In The Shop: Gamify Your Life Zine We have just listed our new zine: Gamify Your Life Players Handbook (2nd Edition) ($12 for zine, $20 for kit)-- "Make it Fun to Get Sh*t Done". This zine was created to accompany my workshops of the same name but I've packed it full of enough information that I think it is a great jumpstart into the gamification of your life planning.

In The Shop: Gamify Your Life Zine

We have just listed our new zine: Gamify Your Life Players Handbook (2nd Edition) ($12 for zine, $20 for kit)-- "Make it Fun to Get Sh*t Done". This zine was created to accompany my workshops of the same name but I've packed it full of enough information that I…

Friday Friends: Paper Art with Yulia Brodskaya (www.artyulia.com)

Challenge: Use Only Starter Pens For One Week I was inspired by Derek over at dwrdnet on YouTube to attempt my very own "Use Starter Pens for One Week" Challenge. I like to think of the this as a Platinum Preppy Challenge as these were some of my first fountain pens and the one I've loved the most. If you want to try this challenge for yourself, the goal is to go back to those under $20 pens that made you fall in love with fountain pens.

Challenge: Use Only Starter Pens For One Week

Laura Answers the #12PenPersonQuestions List I decided to jump on the bandwagon and answer OliveOctopus' #12PenPersonQuestions list! 1. If you consider the different ways you can engage with pens and stationery—as a user, a collector, a hobbyist, a creator, a maker, a vendor—which roles fit best and what percentage of 100% would you assign to each? Are you happy with the balance? Hmmmm this one is a hard one.

Laura Answers the #12PenPersonQuestions List

Link Love: Fake Fall Faked Me Out We had a few lovely, cool mornings about a week ago and I got so excited that Autumn was finally here. But no. I live in the Midwest and that was FAKE FALL. The temps have zipped back up to 90ºF for the past week and, even as a human lizard that prefers warm weather, I'm over it. I want bowls of steaming soup, a steady stream of spicy teas and a chance to wear even one of the dozens of sweaters I've knit.

Link Love: Fake Fall Faked Me Out

Link Love: Fake Fall Faked Me Out We had a few lovely, cool mornings about a week ago and I got so excited that Autumn was finally here. But no. I live in the Midwest and that was FAKE FALL. The temps have zipped back up to 90ºF for the past week and, even as a human lizard that prefers warm weather, I'm over it. I want bowls of steaming soup, a steady stream of spicy teas and a chance to wear even one of the dozens of sweaters I've knit.

Link Love: Fake Fall Faked Me Out

We had a few lovely, cool mornings about a week ago and I got so excited that Autumn was finally here. But no. I live in the Midwest and that was FAKE FALL. The temps have zipped back up to 90ºF for the past week and, even as a human lizard that prefers warm…

Challenge: Use Only Starter Pens For One Week I was inspired by Derek over at dwrdnet on YouTube to attempt my very own "Use Starter Pens for One Week" Challenge. I like to think of the this as a Platinum Preppy Challenge as these were some of my first fountain pens and the one I've loved the most. If you want to try this challenge for yourself, the goal is to go back to those under $20 pens that made you fall in love with fountain pens.

Challenge: Use Only Starter Pens For One Week

Link Love: A Little Paper Love I confess that for all my love for beautiful pens and gorgeous ink colors my true love is a notebook, planner, journal or sketchbook. The potential between the covers of any blank book is infinite. I could write letters, reflections, a novel, draw pictures, sketch a new product or paste layer after layer of ephemera. Isn't this why we all have a shelf, cupboard, box or whole room full of blank books -- just in case?

Link Love: A Little Paper Love

I confess that for all my love for beautiful pens and gorgeous ink colors my true love is a notebook, planner, journal or sketchbook. The potential between the covers of any blank book is infinite. I could write letters, reflections, a novel, draw pictures, sketch a…

Ana Answers the #12PenPersonQuestions List Thanks to Olive Octopus for this great tag to share and learn a bit more about the pen community.  If you would like to play along, feel free to leave your answers or a link to your answers in the comments (which work now!). If you consider the different ways you can engage with pens and stationery—as a user, a collector, a hobbyist, a creator, a maker, a vendor—which roles fit best and what percentage of 100% would you assign to each?

Ana Answers the #12PenPersonQuestions List

Thanks to Olive Octopus for this great tag to share and learn a bit more about the pen community.  If you would like to play along, feel free to leave your answers or a link to your answers in the comments (which work now!). If you consider the different…

Store Updates: Restocks and more! Its finally cool this morning making me want to drink hot, pumpkin spiced coffee, wear a cozy sweater and light candles. It's overcast today and I am in full autumn vibes. It's taking me a few extra days to get my planner set up,  so I thought it was a good time to dig through all the new stickers and…

Store Updates: Restocks and more!

Pen Shows Are About Friends While this post is a little about The SF Pen Show, its mostly about how even the shyest, most introverted, awkward people* can find true, lifetime friends. The San Francisco Pen Show is probably the show I've attended the most and have developed some of my best, closest friendships. Years ago, I needed a room share for the show and found a willing person to share a hotel room with a complete stranger.

Pen Shows Are About Friends

While this post is a little about The SF Pen Show, its mostly about how even the shyest, most introverted, awkward people* can find true, lifetime friends. The San Francisco Pen Show is probably the show I've attended the most and have developed some of my best, closest…

More Behind-the-Scenes News: The Fight Continues! We think we may have solved our spam problem thanks to an anti-spam plugin from CleanTalk. We have been having people testing our comments section. Please drop a comment below to let us know the new system is not blocking REAL people from commenting. If you have issues, please email me at (chair)(at)(wellappointeddesk)(dot)(com) so that I can try to adjust the blocking plug in.

More Behind-the-Scenes News: The Fight Continues!

We think we may have solved our spam problem thanks to an anti-spam plugin from CleanTalk. We have been having people testing our comments section. Please drop a comment below to let us know the new system is not blocking REAL people from…

Link Love: All About The Planners This week is the exciting start to "planner season" but many retailers' shipments of Hobonichi got trapped in customs so we will all have delayed enjoyment. Luckily, we don't need out new books until January so we can wait. Pens: Fountain Pen Rotation: What’s in Your Cup this Month? (via Fountain Pen Chronicles and More) Home Front — August Notes #2…

Link Love: All About The Planners

Happy Hobonichi Day! For some, today is Labor Day, the last official day of summer but, for stationery nerds, its Hobonichi Day or the official start of 2026 planner season. Whether you have been clicking reload on the Hobonichi web site for the last month or have been waiting for the release of your favorite planner brand for the new year, For US Hobonichi fans, I recommend purchasing your new planner from one of the US importers like…

Happy Hobonichi Day!

For some, today is Labor Day, the last official day of summer but, for stationery nerds, its Hobonichi Day or the official start of 2026 planner season. Whether you have been clicking reload on the Hobonichi web site for the last month or have been waiting for the release of…