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Do you ever feel lost talking about fountain pens? Whether you're brand new to this hobby, or are a seasoned user who's simply never explored topics such as pen repair and nib customization, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the different terms and expressions people use. For this episode we thought it would be fun to talk through the different parts of the pen and a basic overview of how a fountain pen functions. Future episodes will revisit terminology and discuss things like pen problems, nib modifications, and more! We also share some last-minute details on the On The Paper Trail Live event coming up this weekend in Nashville. Please note that in this episode, we walk through the parts of a fountain pen and a fountain pen nib. While we have done our best to describe everything for audio listeners, we strongly encourage you to watch the video as well if you would like a visual demonstration. Show Notes and Links On The Paper Trail Live in Nashville - Advance Tickets RequiredLeonardo Momento Zero PuraseY Fountain PenPenultimate InksGentleman Stationer Store Hours and LocationVanness Pens Store Hours and Location (Fort Smith Location Opening for Fountain Pen Day!)Get caught up on previous episodes, and find more information on the main podcast informational page.

Episode 17 continues our discussion on Journaling for Mental Health! September is National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness month, so for these two most recent episodes we have been discussing a topic important to both of us: journaling for mental health and self-care. Part II dives into less traditional journaling techniques that we have both experimented with in the past, including creative practices such as doodling and ink swatching, quote collecting, handwriting practice, sticker journaling, and more. Disclaimer: Our discussion here is highly personal and specific to us and our own individual situations. Journaling is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you need help, or feel that you need to talk to someone, we strongly encourage you to speak with a mental health treatment professional. Show Notes and Links National Suicide Prevention MonthOn The Paper Trail Live in Nashville (October 16-18)New Gentleman Stationer StorefrontT.G.S. x Tono & Lims Exclusive InksPilot Frixion WaaiPilot Custom 845 Vermillion Urushi Fountain PenLamy 2000 Fountain PenPilot Juice UpDavinci Raymay 6-Ring RefillsWearingeul Thumbelina InkLisa's New StickersKaleidocraft PrintsGet caught up on previous episodes, and find more information on the main podcast informational page.

September is National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness Month, so for Episode 16 we decided to talk about a topic that's close to both of us: Journaling for mental health and techniques we both find helpful for self care. Part I discusses our own techniques, and Part II will discuss additional journaling techniques that we may not use all the time but have tried in the past and break out periodically. Of course, we also make time to discuss the recent San Francisco Pen Show, new shop arrivals, and upcoming events!Disclaimer: Our discussion here is highly personal and specific to us and our own individual situations. Journaling is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you need help, or feel that you need to talk to someone, we strongly encourage you to speak with a mental health professional. Show Notes and Links National Suicide Prevention MonthPilot S20 BallpointKuru Toga Wood Mechanical PencilMark'Style Tous Les Jours Ballpoint PenMidori PlannersVinta InkPennoniaRoterfaden RestockSchon DSGN Lil' DipperArt of Creation Panel DiscussionDallas Pen ShowOn The Paper Trail Live in NashvilleGet caught up on previous episodes, and find more information on the main podcast informational page.

Join Joe and Lisa as they co-host "The Art of Creation," a panel discussion at the 2026 San Francisco Pen Show featuring a discussion with three independent makers in the stationery industry. We had the opportunity to ask our guests about their creative process, followed by an audience question and answer session. Please note that this was a live panel recording, and the audio may be uneven in parts. We have attempted to optimize it as best we can. If you would like to view the video of the panel session, you can find it at the On The Paper Trail YouTube Channel. Show Notes and Links to Guest Profiles Ian Schon of Schon DSGN, a manufacturing company based in Philadelphia making fountain and ballpoint pens. Schon DSGN pens each have a unique look and feel, some pens being heavier made out of brass or copper and others from super lightweight Engineered Plastics or Anodized Aluminum. Iris Au of Glassophy, which aims to express its ideas through the art of glass lampworking. Glass lampworking is a technique that uses heat exceeding 1000 degrees Celsius to soften glass into suitable shapes, allowing for various shaping techniques such as dotting and scribing, combined with other precious materials like gold, Silver, and artificial opal.Daryl Lim, Founder of Atelier Musubi, Singapore-based maker of small goods and specialty notebooks.Get caught up on previous episodes, and find more information on the main podcast informational page.

Do you ever feel that some fountain pen and ink combinations work especially well together? Have you found that switching inks can make a pen write better? Today we talk about how to pair fountain pens and inks to optimize your writing experience. We each go through three of our favorite pen and ink combinations, and discuss why we like specific inks in specific fountain pens. While we try to describe everything in as much detail as possible in the show audio, those who wish to view products in real time should check out the video stream or see the show notes and links for additional information. Podcast Video Stream Show Notes and Links Joe's DC Pen Show RecapVanness Hummingbird Green Ink Platinum Classic Fountain Pen InkGalen Leather Legacy CollectionLeonardo Momento Zero Pura Fountain PenLeonardo Momento Magico Fantasy SeriesLamy x Uni Kuru Toga Inside Mechanical PencilsOnionBrand Leather Notebook CoversPilot Iroshizuku InkJoe's Inks from JapanTWSBI ECO Bahama YellowKyo-no-Oto InkCallifolio InkSan Francisco Pen ShowDallas Pen ShowOn The Paper Trail Live in Nashville

Our first fountain pen ink episode, where we discuss permanent inks! In this episode you'll learn about document inks, pigment inks, and iron gall inks, including relative waterproofness and lightfastness, pen care, and more. Fountain pen ink is a huge topic, so expect more ink-related episodes as we break things down into manageable chunks. While we try to describe everything in as much detail as possible in the show audio, those who wish to view products in real time should check out the video stream or see the show notes and links for additional information. Podcast Video Stream Show Notes and Links Sunderland MK1: Roterfaden TGS_25Lochby Mini Pocket JournalJoe's 10 Fountain Pen PostCustom Nib StudioPilot Grance Fountain PenKaweco Pearlescent Green PerkeoGalen Leather A4 FolioDocument InksKakimori Pigmented InksDiamine Forever InksPlatinum Pigment InksPlatinum Iron Gall InksKWZ Iron Gall InkDiamine Registrar's Ink (Iron Gall)Results of Our Water Test

With a podcast called "On The Paper Trail," it was only a matter of time before we talked about our favorite papers and how we use them! In this episode, we discuss paper rulings, spacing, texture, bindings, and other factors that affect how we select which paper we use every day. This week's customer questions address understandably confusing paper-related topics such as the meaning of a "lie flat" notebook and the differences between international paper sizes and the less exact sizing standards used by U.S. manufacturers over the years. While we try to describe everything in as much detail as possible in the show audio, those who wish to view products in real time should check out the video stream or see the show notes and links for additional information. Podcast Video Stream Show Notes and Links Pilot Kakuno (Lisa's Pen)Pilot Iroshizuku Ku Jaku (Lisa's Ink)TWSBI ECO Rootbeer Fountain Pen (Joe's Pen)Pilot Custom Heritage 92 (Joe's Pen)Joe's Japan Ink Recap Post (For Photos of the Inks Being Discussed)Kobe Nagasawa Inks Kakimori A5 NotebooksKakimori PensKakimori Inkstand InksMidori MD Cotton PaperNakabayashi Logical Prime PaperMaruman BasicsMaruman Mnemosyne Hardcover Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper (T.G.S. Paper Resource)On the Paper Trail Live in Nashville Event Page

Have you ever written with two fountain pens of the same model and same nib size, only to notice subtle (or maybe not-so-subtle) differences in line width? As retailers, we get questions about this topic all the time, and have experienced this ourselves in our own personal collections, so we wanted to talk about why this happens and what you can do to help ensure you get the nib closest to your desired line width. We also talk a bit about upcoming pen shows and events, including the DC, San Francisco, and Dallas Pen Shows, as well as our own On The Paper Trail Live Event in Nashville! Show Notes and Links Pilot Custom 823 (Joe's Pen) Pilot 4+1 Wood Multi Pen (Joe's Pen)Nagasawa Odyssey Starseeker (Lisa's Pen)Savannah James Stickers (Lisa's Stickers)TGS Roterfaden RestockOnionBrand Notebooks TWSBI ECO Rootbeer Fountain PensCoffee StickersOpus 88 Cloud Dancer Fountain PenDC Pen ShowSF Pen ShowDallas Pen ShowOn The Paper Trail Live in Nashville

Joe and Lisa are back from their recent stationery trip to Japan, and ready to discuss all of the things they discovered while they were there! Join us as we recap two weeks in Tokyo, Hamamatsu, Osaka, and more, including visits to stores like Itoya, Kakimori, TRAVELER'S Factory, Nagasawa, Loft, Hands, Kingdom Note, Toyooka Craft, and other favorites. Are we going back? You bet. Show Notes and Links Opus 88 Sapphire Demonstrator (Lisa’s Pen)Pilot Kakuno (Lisa’s Pen)Pilot Custom Heritage 92 (Joe’s Pen)Pilot Custom 845 Urushi (Joe’s Pen)New Arrivals From Galen LeatherTom’s Studio Ori HighlightersToyo Steel BoxesAnterique PensKakimori Make Your Own NotebookKakimori Make Your Own InkToyooka CraftJoe’s Japan Trip Blog Recap (Visits to Itoya, Ancora, TRAVELER'S Factory)Joe’s Japan Trip Blog Recap (Kakimori Notebook and Ink Bar)Joe’s Japan Trip Blog Recap (Ink Shopping in Tokyo)Joe’s Five Favorite Things He Brought Home from JapanGet caught up on previous episodes, and also find more information about our first On The Paper Trail Live Event, which will be held in Nashville from October 16-18, 2026! Tickets are now on sale! Check out the main podcast informational page for additional details.

We're less than 10 days out from an epic trip to Japan, so in this week's episode, we decided to talk Japanese fountain pen nibs and the differences in nib size designations across different regions, as well as the availability of specialty grinds. We also discuss why Fine Medium is the ONLY appropriate nib size (j/k), and answer listener questions about choosing the correct combination of nib, ink, and paper for your specific writing experience. Don't miss your chance to come hang out with us in person October 16-18, at ⁠On the Paper Trail: Live in Nashville⁠! Event details have been made public, and ⁠Weekend Pass⁠ and ⁠Day Pass⁠ event tickets are now available to purchase. Dr. Grip Ballpoint (Lisa's Pen).⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Opus 88 Savannah Zebra (Lisa's Pen).⁠⁠⁠⁠Benu Pixie (Lisa's Pen).⁠⁠⁠⁠Pilot Custom 823 (Joe's Pen)⁠⁠.⁠⁠Laurett's Ballpoint (Joe's Pen)⁠⁠.⁠⁠Traveler's Company Ballpoint (Joe's Pen)⁠⁠.⁠⁠Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pens⁠⁠.⁠⁠Lochby 6-Ring Binders.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Lochby Tomoe River 6-Ring Refills.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Tono & Lims New Arrivals.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠New Lamy Safaris.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Grandpa's Basement (Clearance).⁠⁠

This week we check in with our 2026 planners and notebooks to see whether they're still working for us now that we're 1/4 of the way through the year. (Wait, how did that happen?) We talk about what's working with our current planners and notebook systems, what may not be working, and what, if anything, we need to change about our current stationery setup. We also discuss upcoming stationery-themed travel, and we might have more details on our On The Paper Trail: Live in Nashville Event that will take place in Nashville October 16-18! Show Notes and Links Mark's Inc. "Days" Ballpoint (via Vanness Pens). Diamine Spring Green (via Vanness Pens). Pilot Grancé (via Vanness Pens). Pilot Custom 912 with PO Nib (via TGS Curated Shop). Pilot Prera (via TGS Curated Shop). Bungubox Dandyism Ink (via Vanness Pens). On The Paper Trail Episode 1. Wonderland222 Back to Tomoe River Announcement. Ask TGS: Flying with Fountain Pens. Lisa's Shipping Update Video.

In this week’s episode of On The Paper Trail, we discuss a topic that we both love: Underappreciated Stationery. For a variety of reasons, a wide range of exceptionally good stationery items don’t get the attention that we think they deserve. In some instances, entire brands can be overlooked. We each pick items from three categories (pens, paper, and ink), and generally discuss why certain stationery can fly under the radar. Additionally, we discuss our upcoming On the Paper Trail: Live in Nashville weekend event, currently slated for October 16-18! We chat about our vision for this event and how we plan to create an event we would personally want to attend, with a more balanced approach to shopping, seminars/classes, and opportunities to socialize! Show Notes and Links Pilot e95s (Lisa’s Weekly Pen).Blackwing Matte (Lisa’s Weekly Pencil).Midori Soft Color Spiral (Lisa’s Weekly Paper). Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen).Uni Style Fit Meister 5 Multi Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen).Life Noble Note A5 6-Ring Paper (Joe’s Weekly Paper).Kaweco Perkeo (Underappreciated Pen Pick).Lamy Pico Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick). Conway Stewart (Underappreciated Pen Pick). Ohto Ceramic Rollerball Pens (Underappreciated Pen Pick).Lamy Swift Capless Rollerball (Underappreciated Pen Pick).Jetstream Prime Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick). Levenger Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick).Yamamoto Ro-Biki (Underappreciated Paper Pick).Original Crown Mill (Underappreciated Paper Pick).Wearingeul Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick).Callifolio Ink (Underappreciated ink Pick). KWZ Old Gold (Underappreciated Ink Pick).Laban Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick). Papier Plume Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick).When they're not podcasting, you can find Joe over at The Gentleman Stationer and Lisa over at Vanness Pens!

What's the difference between a "Stationery Fest" and a traditional pen show? Tune in this week and find out, because we had the opportunity to record Episode 6 of On The Paper Trail in front of a live audience at the inaugural San Francisco Stationery Fest! Topics include our impressions of the show, how we got into stationery in the first place, plus a Q&A with audience members in which they picked our brains about pens, inks, paper, and more. Note that in the video we were in the room with audience members and interacting with people off camera, so we have had to adjust the audio and repeat questions at times. Show Notes and Links San Francisco Stationery Fest Arkansas Pen Show Bonecrusher Studios Pens by Pasquale Nagasawa at Vanness Wearingeul Testing Cards Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Olive Octopus Ink

Do you consider yourself a user or collector of stationery? Maybe a bit of both? In the fifth episode of On the Paper Trail, we talk about a topic that draws strong opinions and maybe even a little bit of judgment in the stationery world. Whether you use every pen, bottle of ink, or rare notebook that you own, or maintain pristine archives for posterity, how we view our stationery is intensely personal and will differ from person to person. We also discuss events at the upcoming Arkansas Pen Show and the San Francisco Stationery Fest! Show Notes and Links Nagasawa Exclusive Pens (Lisa's Pen)Pilot Custom Urushi (Lisa's Pen)Pilot Custom 74 Lavender Fog (Joe's Pen)Uni Zento (Joe's Pen)Pilot S20 Ballpoint (Joe's Pen)Roterfaden TGS_25 A5 SlimLaurett's PensTroublemaker InksWearingeul PaperNagasawa 6-Ring RefillsEpisode 2: Matthew Chen Talks Kodachi NibsAkkerman Standard Ink Bottle ExampleAkkerman Dutch Masters Ink Bottle ExampleArkansas Pen ShowSan Francisco Stationery FestWhen they’re not on the road, you can find Joe over at The Gentleman Stationer and Lisa over at Vanness Pens.

Have you ever been to a pen show? Joe and Lisa visit the 2026 California Pen Show, one of the larger pen and stationery events in the U.S., and recap everything they saw. This two-part episode includes a pre-show discussion on how vendors prep for a show and decide what to bring, while the post-show recap talks about impressions of the event and the different brands and vendors in attendance. The YouTube episode includes footage of the event itself and a short vendor tour that follows the podcast portion, including visits to Stationery Stack, Laurette's Japan, Bungubox, and more! YouTube Episode 4 Show Notes and Links California Pen Show WebsiteList of Pen Show Classes and SeminarsNagasawa 6-Ring Binder RefillsBrelio 6-Ring BindersRoterfaden TGS25 Pre-OrderMusgrave PencilsStationery StackNagasawa StationeryNagasawa Kip LeatherNotsu Index CardsBunguboxLaurette's JapanGalen Leather