Stationery Pulse: The notebooks that earn a place in my system

What's new in analog this week, from Planning Engineered.

Sep 28, 2026

September 28, 2026

Stationery Pulse: The notebooks that earn a place in my system

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. The full gear catalog lives on the Shelf, linked at the bottom. One letter, once a week. That's it.

I try to rotate between the Paper Republic and the LOCHBY Mini Field Journal, if not every day, to make sure they are not just sitting on the shelf and gathering dust. The LOCHBY Mini Field Journal is waxed canvas, built tough, and feels like a tool kit that you can carry and toss around.

These days, I use it for my reading journal, and I carry a couple of LOCHBY pocket notebooks: one where I summarize quotes and books that I am reading, and another that is more of a thinking book where I take some of those quotes and map them into something that makes sense to me.

If I end up having quotes or anything when I am not near my main notebook, I can jot them down in the catchall pocket notebook that I carry with me.

This week's links come back to that same question: what earns a place in the notebook system you actually carry?

What's new in analog

Sunday Reading for September 27, 2026 (Gentleman Stationer): This roundup covers the Opus 88 Mini, revamped Papier Plume inks, the DC Pen Show, Saint Jude fundraising, Leonardo Puras, a 130-person London Pelikan Hub, and an October planner reset. Open it for a broad snapshot of what the fountain pen and planner community is talking about right now.
The time tracking method that ended my procrastination (Rachelle in Theory): Rachelle explains a simple time-tracking method built around seeing where your hours go, with chronic procrastination framed as a mix of fear and apathy. Watch it if perfectionism, burnout, or vague guilt keeps you from starting important work.
How I ACTUALLY Use a Pocket Notebook (Day-in-the-life) (Gare the Bear): Gare documents a morning pocket-notebook routine that begins with a boxed date, a short journal entry, gratitude, and a to-do list. It is a useful look at how one small notebook can give the start of a day some structure.
Planner Guilt Is Real. Here’s What’s Actually Causing It. (Mark Your Pages): An unfinished task or blank planner page can become a report card that makes you feel inconsistent or behind, and this video argues that the tool should not work that way. Open it for a practical examination of planner guilt that starts with the unchecked box.
Sailor 1911 L Fountain Pen #fountainpens #sailor1911 (AlexanderWrites): The Sailor 1911 L shown here has a broad 21-karat gold nib, Sailor black ink, and a wet, smooth line without hard stops. Watch for a direct writing demonstration and a clear assessment from someone using the pen.
My Top 5 Stationery Favorites for September (AlexanderWrites): September’s five stationery favorites include KWZ Cappuccino, a scented ink paired with a Pilot Custom 823 after viewer-requested orange ink sampling. Open it to see which frequently used items made the list, including established brands and the creator’s own work.
my 2027 hobonichi haul + faded chronicle (Tori on Paper): Tori shares a 2027 Hobonichi order placed after launch day, along with a new A6 Paper Republic setup and tiny Hobonichi-cover keychains. Watch for a considered haul from someone who found waiting less stressful and ended up ordering differently. Shop (affiliate): Hobonichi Techo.
Frosted Goodness...Leonardo MZG Pura (Figboot on Pens): Three new Leonardo Momento Zero Grande Pura colors arrive in frosted petrol, gray, and red resin, with gold, ruthenium, and palladium trim options. The review promises measurements, size comparisons, a writing sample, and a candid account of what works and what does not.
Enjoy Unique Ways to Use TRAVELER’S FACTORY Original Refills (Traveler's Company): TRAVELER’S FACTORY presents original refills made with colorful kraft paper, black paper, and reduced page counts, then suggests ways to use them. Read it for options that push a TRAVELER’S notebook beyond standard diary, sketchbook, and travel-memory setups.
Video: I Blew Up My Planner Set-Up for October (Well-Appointed Desk): October brings a changed planner setup, with new notebooks added and others temporarily retired. Open the accompanying video for the details behind what the author calls a month of planner chaos.
Thursday Drops: So All the Exclusives Landed at Once! The T.G.S. Sunderland MK1 Returns! (Gentleman Stationer): The updated T.G.S. storefront brings Classic Burgundy and Black Shimmer inks, a restock of the matte-black Sunderland mk1 rollerball with its dark red section, and several other new arrivals. Read it to see the exclusive releases and fresh pen colors that landed in the shop at once.