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Relevant To Your Interests: Let’s Shop Stationery Supplies

When I did our back-to-school Relevant to Your Interests, I mentioned that one of the nerdiest things I’m into (other than D&D of course) is school supplies, pens and stationery. I mentioned also that I listen to three separate stationery podcasts. Then I received tweets, Facebook messages and texts that said things along the lines of, “omg, I am now listening to stationery podcasts.” Which is exactly what I wanted. Come, come join me where my heart lies. Come nerd with me. That is why I write on the internet. So here’s a little explication of the three main stationery podcasts, and a wee little curated shopping list for each one.

Art Supply Posse

I’m starting with Art Supply Posse even though it’s the newest of the three podcasts I’m chatting about today, mostly because I think it’s the most relevant to your interests. Think of this like a sort by relevancy situation. In this case, it’s most relevant because this podcast is hosted by two women: Ana from the Well-Appointed Desk and Heather Rivard, self-proclaimed gay lady. This is a podcast all about art supplies and the people who use them — so it’s not just about which pencils are best. It’s also about what it means to call yourself an artist, or what happens when you get stuck in a creative rut, or what to do when you’re rediscovering the creative spirit within you after all these years. Highly recommend. Also here’s what I’m using while listening to it. You might like it as well.

art-supply

Prismacolor Nonphoto Blue Pencils (2 pack of 12, $19.43), Winsor & Newton Pigment Markers (set of 12, $43.00), Winsor & Newton marker paper (11X14, $13.79), Stillman & Birn Alpha Sketchbook ( $18.33).

The Erasable Podcast

The Erasable Podcast is all about pencils, if you couldn’t tell, and it’s hosted by Johnny Gamber, Tim Wasem and Andy Welfle. They all get on a Skype call and talk about WriteNotepads and Blackwing Pencils and also what beer they’re drinking. In short, it’s a perfect podcast. Here are some recommendations based on their faves and mine.

erasable

Blackwing Palomino 602 pencils (12 per box, $22.95), Write Notepad Pocket Notebook (set of 3, $9.99), Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener, ($24.99), General’s Layout Extra Black, ($9.34).

The Pen Addict

The original behemoth of my stationery world, The Pen Addict is the most popular podcast for pen people. It’s hosted by Brad Dowdy and Myke Hurley, and they talk pens, notebooks, inks and pen accessories. I’ve basically just given you a list of my faves on this one.

pen-addict

Pilot Metropolitan (black, medium nib, $13.05), J. Herbin Ink (my favorite color, $10.30), Field Notes Pitch Black Edition (pack of 3, $9.95), Leuchtturm1917 dot grid notebook (fountain pen friendly Moleskine alternative, $28.60).

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A.E. Osworth

A.E. Osworth is part-time Faculty at The New School, where they teach undergraduates the art of digital storytelling. Their novel, We Are Watching Eliza Bright, about a game developer dealing with harassment (and narrated collectively by a fictional subreddit), is forthcoming from Grand Central Publishing (April 2021) and is available for pre-order now. They have an eight-year freelancing career and you can find their work on Autostraddle (where they used to be the Geekery Editor), Guernica, Quartz, Electric Lit, Paper Darts, Mashable, and drDoctor, among others.

A.E. has written 542 articles for us.

21 Comments

  1. Have you tried moleskin’s (I believe they are making it) new smart pen? Using a special pen and notebook you can write by hand and it automatically syncs to app on tablet or phone or to Evernote. It seems like it’d be right up your alley and I’d love to hear your opinion, since I am coveting it hard right now.

  4. But what about my beloved Sakura Pigma Micron pens!?

    Seriously, I want lines so fine it’s almost creepy.

  5. YES! The Blackwing 602 is the best pencil ever made. If you’re not following @cwpencilenterpeise on Instagram, you should be

  6. Ali, this is the Youest article I have ever seen and I had no idea I was waiting for it until today, just now. Bless.

  7. Field Notes notebooks are my jam! I use them daily at work. I also have different notebooks (not just Field Notes) for different purposes: meeting notes, gaming notes, fitness notes, and so on. I know there are apps for any and all of these needs, but there is just something about paper that is more satisfying than using digital tools.

  8. This is amazing *tries to hide wallet from self*.

    Also, I have just realised that an excellent way to judge someone’s potential to be my future wife is to watch her reaction to the news that stationery podcasts exist.

  9. Reading through this was very calming right before going to an interview for a job that could make the difference in keeping me in Brooklyn where “my people” are. So, thanks.

    Also all the notebooks look so nice, but I have so many that are blank.

  10. This is incredibly relevant to my interests!
    I finally have a job so I can pay for my art supplies and I’m always hard pressed to know what art stuff to get for what and I am in the market to get a new sketchbook soon so I definitely subscribed to Art Supply Posse

  11. This is highly relevant to my interests, but also highly dangerous. I’ve been flirting with getting an everyday fountain pen for a while, giving one as a gift, or both. Then I wonder if it would seem like coming on too strong for a gift… does anybody else find stationery supplies romantic and sensuous, or is that just me?

  12. This excellent post appears right after I tell myself no more notebooks and pens until I use what I currently have!

    On the other hand, I do pride myself on how flexible I can be……

  13. I fucking LOVE those Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks. I used one of their large, dot grid ones as my notebook for Urdu classes recently, and they were just phenomenal. Paper that’s nicer than Moleskine, but not as slick as Rhodia or Clairefontaine, which I find a little too thick, as well.

    That being said, no love for Pilot Iroshizuku ink? That stuff is my crack. Someday they’ll find me begging on the streets, living in a box in an alley, trying to get the last ten bucks I need to order one more bottle of Fuyu Syogun.

    • I ordered a rhodia notebook a few month ago, but switching to it from tomeo river paper was so stark! It’s still sitting empty with just a pen test in the back.

      Also, also, petition for an entire post about the Iroshizuku ink. Right now I’ve got my TWSBI eco inked up with Noodlers 54th Mass. Do you use any Noodlers ink? It’s absolute heaven.

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