Stationery Pulse: Pen Show Recaps, a Leather Jacket, and My Top 10 Pens
What's new in analog this week, from Planning Engineered.
July 14, 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 folks using them well, then close with whatever's new from Planning Engineered. One letter, once a week. That's it.
Pen show season is in full swing, with two solid recaps in this week's roundup if you couldn't make it out west. There's also a good case for treating watercolor as a journaling tool instead of fine art, worth a read if the medium has intimidated you. On my end, I'm sharing the ten pens I actually reach for every day, ranked by how much I use them, and the most expensive one didn't win.
What's new in analog
Summer Launch Party Happy Hour at HQ (Field Notes): Field Notes is hosting a Launch Party Happy Hour for its 71st Quarterly Limited Edition (Summer) at their HQ this Thursday, July 16, from 4 to 7pm. If you're local or can get there, it's a chance to see the new edition in person before the wider release. Shop (affiliate): Field Notes.
JetPens Coupons, Promos, and More (JetPens): JetPens keeps a running list of its current coupons and promo codes in one place. It's worth bookmarking if you order from them regularly, since it can save you money on your next haul.
PNW Pen Show 2026 Recap 🖊️ (AlexanderWrites): AlexanderWrites recaps the 2026 PNW Pen Show and shares discount codes for Wancher, Lochby, and Scriveiner. Useful if you missed the show or want to try one of those brands at a discount.
Sunday Reading for July 12, 2026 (Gentleman Stationer): Gentleman Stationer's Sunday Reading for July 12 rounds up notable stationery posts, including a look at Sailor's Que Será erasable gel pen via Pen Addict. It's a quick way to catch up on what the pen community has been discussing this week.
A productivity system so good you HAVE to be consistent (Rachelle in Theory): Rachelle in Theory walks through a productivity system built to keep you consistent, with a discount code for Saffron Co attached. Worth a watch if you've struggled to stick with a planning method past the first few weeks.
One notebook won’t fix your life… but three might 😜 (Mark Your Pages): Mark Your Pages makes the case that a single notebook can't cover every part of your life, but a small set working together can. Useful framing if you keep abandoning one all-purpose notebook and wondering why it never sticks.
PNW Pen Show! (AlexanderWrites): AlexanderWrites checks in from the PNW Pen Show. Worth a watch if you want a first-hand look at the show floor this year.
The Field Notes Leather Jacket! | Full Review (Gare the Bear): Gare the Bear reviews Field Notes' new Leather Jacket, their latest leather cover offering. If you're deciding whether to protect your Field Notes books in leather, this lays out what to expect before you buy. Shop (affiliate): Field Notes.
Sketchbook Flip Through ✏️ Product Ideas & Designs (The Coffee Monsterzco): The Coffee Monsterzco flips through a sketchbook that's held up well and shares the product ideas and designs that came out of it, with a 10% off code for their shop. A fun watch if you like seeing a working sketchbook turn into finished products.
Paper Review: Graphilo by Kobeha (Gentleman Stationer): Gentleman Stationer reviews Graphilo by Kobeha after naming it a top-tier pick in the revamped "Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper" resource. Worth a read if you're hunting for paper that handles fountain pen ink well and want to know why this one earned the upgrade.
Stop Using Watercolor Like an Artist, Use It Like a Journaler (Mark Your Pages): Mark Your Pages argues watercolor isn't just for artists and shows how bullet journalers and planners can use it to add color without needing painting skill. Helpful if you've wanted more color in your spreads but assumed watercolor was out of reach.
Writing with a Stub Nib Left Handed (AlexanderWrites): AlexanderWrites covers what it's like writing with a stub nib as a left-handed writer, with discount codes for Wancher, Lochby, and Scriveiner among others. Handy if you're left-handed and curious whether a stub nib will fight your writing angle or work with it.
Links marked (affiliate) support Planning Engineered at no extra cost to you.
From the channel
New on the blog: The 10 Pens I Actually Reach for Every Day (Ranked by Use)
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