Stationery Pulse: DC Pen Show Season, and a Case That Holds Five Pens
August 10, 2026
New here? The Stationery Pulse is a short weekly letter for people who still think on paper. Every Monday I round up what's worth reading in the analog world, pens, notebooks, planners, and the people using them well, then close with whatever's new from Planning Engineered. One letter, once a week. That's it.
Half the stationery world is at the DC Pen Show this week or writing about it. The recaps are worth reading before the next one lands.
I spent my week with a five-pen case that actually protects what you put in it. That is rarer than it should be.
Below is what caught my eye, plus a good reminder that a habit survives on the second miss, not the first.
What's new in analog
My Stationery Office Tour! (AlexanderWrites): AlexanderWrites walks through her full workspace and lists discount codes for Endless, Lochby, and Scriveiner. If you've been waiting to try any of those brands, here's a good way to save on the order.
Sunday Reading for August 9, 2026 (Gentleman Stationer): Gentleman Stationer teases that some new machines are heading to Nashville in October for the On the Paper Trail Live event. Worth a look if you're nearby, since the post notes the machines may only be around briefly before they get shipped back.
What 20 years of Thinking On Paper taught me (Rachelle in Theory): Rachelle in Theory looks back on two decades of putting thoughts on paper, with a linked guide for anyone who wants to start doing the same. It's a solid watch if you want a long-view perspective on what a paper-based thinking practice actually does over years, not weeks.
Upgrading My Homemade Pocket Notebooks! (Gare the Bear): Gare the Bear picked up a Vevor guillotine paper cutter and says it changed how she assembles her own pocket notebooks. If you're making notebooks by hand, her take on the cutter could save you some trial and error.
Daily Plan With Me: Sardines 🐟 Hobonichi Cousin (The Coffee Monsterzco): The Coffee Monsterzco settles into a Hobonichi Cousin for a relaxed plan-with-me touching on work and everyday life. It's an easy watch if you like company while you fill in your own planner. Shop (affiliate): Hobonichi Techo, Hobonichi Cousin.
After Years of Bullet Journaling, I Realized My Planner Needed to Change (Mark Your Pages): Mark Your Pages noticed this year's annual setup felt different, moving past the usual question of which planner to buy. It's worth reading if your own system has started to feel like it needs a rethink rather than a replacement.
my first yoseka stationery fest ✨ (Tori on Paper): Tori on Paper recaps her first Yoseka Stationery Fest and what she picked up while she was there. If you're weighing whether a stationery fest is worth attending, her first-timer account gives a real sense of it.
Fashionable Friday: International Cat Day (Well-Appointed Desk): Well-Appointed Desk marks International Cat Day by pairing stationery with cats. It's a light, quick read for anyone who keeps both a planner and a cat in the house.
Weekly Drops: DC Pen Show Weekend Edition! (Gentleman Stationer): Gentleman Stationer previews their DC Pen Show weekend, bringing Roterfaden, OnionBrand, and Lochby to the floor. If you're attending the show, this tells you exactly which booth to visit for those brands.
Missing once is fine. Missing twice is a new habit. (Rachelle in Theory): Rachelle in Theory argues that missing a habit once is a slip, but missing it twice starts turning into a new pattern. It's a short, practical reminder for anyone trying to keep a daily planning or journaling habit going.
Which pen is your favorite? Sound off in the comments (Mark Your Pages): Mark Your Pages opens the floor by asking which pen is everyone's favorite. Drop your pick in the comments if you want to compare notes with other readers.
See You in DC? (Well-Appointed Desk): Well-Appointed Desk is flying out to the DC Pen Show, where she'll be at the Dromgoole's table as their resident pen expert. If you're at the show, that's exactly where to track her down.
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From the channel
That's it for this week. See you back here next Monday.
Looking for more? Every tool and template I use and recommend lives on the Planning Engineered resources page.
Luis