2026 Stationery Resolutions
We are starting the year off with a chunky TN. I’ve got a Sterling Ink notebook, a Sterling Ink Core Planner, a homemade notebook with JetPens Corana View paper, and a Daiso notebook.
Thanks, Rachel of Rachel’s Reflections for this list of questions. If you’d like to read their answers, check out the original post here.
One. What is your plan for pen/ink/stationery purchases this year?
I feel like I’m in a pretty good place as far as having things that I want in the hobby, so I am going to lean toward tings that enhance my enjoyment. I’m an ink addict so I definitely will be playing with and trying more inks in this year, but I really want to renew my focus on what is already in my collection. After four years of tracking through my Enjoy Collection project, I know what inks I gravitate towards and that there’s probably plenty I could pass on to others and share the wealth.
If I buy any pens this year it will have to be something special that I find absolutely irresistible, but also within a lower budget.
Overall, I want to bring in objects that enhance my enjoyment of writing, journaling, doodling, etc. That will probably be a lot of trying new papers, trying to get a hold of some new-to-me ink brands, and investing in tools that let me play with my current collection (my medium nib Sailor Hocoro was seriously something I should have bought long ago, it’s so useful to testing inks and makes it so much easier to do ink comparisons).
Two. Is there a brand you are hoping to try for the first time?
I’m very curious about a lot of the new Chinese ink brands that are popping up here and there. If I can get a hold of some samples, I’d love to see how they hold up and compare to other brands that I have. Some of them look super interesting.
Three. What pen/ink/stationery will you prioritize this year because you didn’t get it last year?
I think I want to get a few more nib grinds from nib grinders that I haven’t had the opportunity to work with yet. I also may need a medium imperial grind from Pen Realm in my future. I really enjoy that grind.
Four. How would you like to change your collection this year?
Honestly, I’m pretty happy with it as it stands. One thing I need to do is organize things better so that I can access them without forgetting where I put it. I currently have things tucked away in a few too many spots.
Five. What general stationery goals do you have for this year?
To spread the joy of stationery where I can. I think being able to unplug from the internet and phones for a while will be a big part of managing my own sanity, and I want to find ways to encourage others and/or show them that I am on the journey with them. I’m really looking forward to creating workshops and providing spaces where us stationery nerds can gather.
Six. What product do you want to use more or less than you currently do?
My Writewell from Good Made Better. I was scurrying around so much in 2025 that I didn’t give myself much time to sit down and just use it. It’s such a beautiful and functional item and it’s also a great way to get me down to writing.
This is such a beautiful lap desk. I really want to spend more time with it, my notebooks, and books that I am reading.
Seven. Do you have a resolution for your stationery collection as a whole?
Be better at really sitting with things that I love.
And not buy more stickers/washi until I make a huge dent in what I already have.
Gotta use those stickers and washi tapes and do lots of writing. Towards the end of the year I just started leaning into doing random calligraphy or collages in my daily journal. It’s been fun and it’s an outlet I want to keep pursuing.
Another example of a decorative page. Was in the sort of mood that called for writing out a villain song. Ink is Colorverse Supernova.
Eight. Do you have any ink or paper resolutions?
Don’t buy notebooks I know I’m not going to use. Get a better paper cutter to cut down notebooks that I would use if they were in a different size.
Nine. What new pen habit or behavior do you want to adopt this year?
I’ve already kind of started this with my “Ink of the Week” series, but I want to do more ink comparisons and interact with the collection more. I’ve got such a large one that it’s very possible that I have inks that are super close. That and seeing if I have ended up with any dupes for special/limited editions that are challenging to get.
Ten. Do you have any continuing resolutions?
I am going to keep working through my list of “dusty inks” that haven’t been put in a pen since 2021. If they are still in the collection at the end of this year while being untouched I will find some new homes for them.
I think overall this is going to be an interesting year for those of us in the hobby. The downside is that things are getting really expensive, but on the upside we can discover new things. I also think the pen community is awesome about loaning and sharing, so folks will be able to play with new things even if they can’t buy new pens, ink bottles, or high-end notebooks.
Currently Inked
I am still working through my fills of Teranishi Gentle Green and FWP Pumpkin Patch from the beginning of the month. Already ran through a fill of Wearingeul The Raven and needed another fill up to make it through the end of the month as my header ink.
Colorverse Supernova - Kaweco liliput fireblue 14K M ‘journaler’ - I’m actually surprised I haven’t used up my mini bottle of this ink yet. Supernova is such a bright blue with great sheen on a variety of papers. It pops off the page in a way that makes me smile when I use it. For a sheener it’s really well-behaved and dries pretty quickly as long as the nib isn’t super wet.
Diamine Bittersweet - Kaweco liliput copper M stub - I picked up a few bottles from the Diamine Inkvent Teal Edition from Yoseka Stationery right after Christmas. Bittersweet is a nice minty green. I need to do a comparison of it with my favorite greens in this range (Anderillium Luna Moth and FWP Grand Central Skies) to see how similar it is. Like all Diamine inks it behaves really well and has a decent dry time.
