In Planners & Organizers

Notebook Cover Review: Happy Hollow Farm Leather A6 Loxx Notebook Cover in Plum

Author Laura CameronPosted on 1 Comment
Notebook Cover Review: Happy Hollow Farm Leather A6 Loxx Notebook Cover in Plum

A few weeks ago we were approached by Happy Hollow Farm, maker of custom leather products out of Tennessee. They offered us a chance to try a one of their leather notebook covers for free. Ana gave me a chance to review, and I happily selected an A6 Loxx Notebook Cover in Plum ($93) to cover my new beloved Tea & Diary Time.

The notebook cover arrived beautifully packaged in a muslin drawstring bag, and Happy Hollow Farm generously added in a tin of Smith’s Leather Balm (their suggested method for keeping the leather looking great) and a magnetic bookmark that they are testing.

The notebook cover itself is lovely. I chose plum, but there are many other colors available. Their Loxx system refers to the snap on the front. It took me a quick Google to understand how it works – you pull on the top knob and the snap opens!

Inside the case there are two side pockets so you can slide A6 notebooks into. The inside also has a few slots for ID cards, credit cards or business cards so it would be useful as a small notebook for daily use.

The case comes with a Paperpage Lined notebook, a 160 page notebook with 100 gsm lined paper in a light cream. While it looks like a fun notebook, I had other plans in mind for my case, so I skipped testing the paper.

Overall, I really like the look and feel of this case. Aside from the closure it’s fairly slim and lightweight. It’s clean, minimal design is unisex and the number of colors available mean that everyone should find what they want.

Notebook covers are also available in A6 and pocket sizes, and with other closures (zippers, straps, etc.) I will need to put the cover through it’s paces to determine how it will wear, but I’m excited to see it patina a bit!

Thanks again to Happy Hollow Farm!

DISCLAIMER: I received the A6 Loxx Leather Notebook cover (a value of $93) from Happy Hollow Farm for free for the purposes of this review. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature

Skylab Letterpress Open House: Sunday, Sept. 20 2pm-5pm

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Skylab Letterpress Open House: Sunday, Sept. 20 2pm-5pm

This Sunday, Sept. 20 is the 20th Anniversary of Skylab Letterpress and we would like to invite any Desk reader to join us at our Open House from 2pm-5pm. Light refreshments will be available as well as a tour of the shop, shopping, freebies and maybe a chance to get inky and print up some stuff we’ll have locked up on press.

The invite is over on Facebook which includes the address and map.

Skylab 20th Anniversary Open House

Sunday, Sept. 20 from 2-5pm

1968 Linn St. N, Kansas City, MO 64116

Come see the shop in person, see how the presses run and where all the Col-o-ring magic happens.

In Fountain Pen Review

Pen Review: Wancher PuChiCo Mini Fountain Pen

Author Laura CameronPosted on 1 Comment
Pen Review: Wancher PuChiCo Mini Fountain Pen

Today I am going to tell you about a ridiculous pen I bought a few weeks ago. At the time I knew it was ridiculous and I did it anyway, just to see if it was truly as ridiculous as I thought it was. Spoiler alert: It was.

I am talking about the Wancher PuChiCo Mini Fountain Pen series, available from JetPens in a variety of colors and nib sizes for $33. They are cute, and oh so mini.

The first thing that surprised me was how tiny they really were. I know, you’re thinking that’s silly. I don’t know what was going through my head but I thought these incredibly short pens were going to be, for lack of a better word, girthy. Like the one on Kickstarter from ages ago.

But no. This pen was tiny. Like I don’t even know why they used such a big box tiny?

The pen is eyedropper fill only because it is too small for a cartridge. Yes you read that right. The nib has an o-ring at the top to help prevent leakage. Since I’m a belt and suspenders kind of girl I smeared a little silicone grease on mine just to be sure. Be careful when you fill this one. The eyedropper is larger, but it takes an incredibly tiny amount of ink because the nib feed has to go back in! I opted to fill mine with Pilot Iroshizuku Ajisai, which sort of matches the Hawaiian Blue resin I chose for mine.

Now you’re probably thinking this whole post is ridiculous, but I actually had hopes for this pen. I hoped it wrote well, because that can fix a multitude of sins. Sadly, that is not the case. The nib and pen work properly, such as they are.

The problem is that the pen is too short to use unposted, and the cap won’t stay posted. The cap is a screw cap which holds it tightly over the nib, but for either aesthetics or difficulty of design, they didn’t employ anything on the end of the pen to hold the cap efficiently. No matter how many times I posted it the cap refused to latch on and fell off as I was writing. Which means this pen was too short to hold.

Y’ALL. I have small hands. I like small pens. I have lots of small pens.

Small Pen Smorgasbord (L to R): Wancher PuChiCo, Gravitas Quark Pink, Benu Pixie, Kaweco Liliput, Kaweco AL Sport

This one doesn’t work for me.

So there ya have it. My lesson has been learned. Your mileage may vary.

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In Link Love

Link Love: Recovery Mode

Author AnaPosted on 4 Comments
Link Love: Recovery Mode

As an asthmatic, when I catch a cold, it turns into full-fledged bronchitis. I have all the meds on-hand from my doctor since I’ve been through this for decades but the recovery time is long and slow. I have to let my body recover and, as anyone who runs a small business can tell you, slowing down and letting go is hard to do. My to-do lists have to-do lists and it makes me physically itchy to just leave them but I have to… at least for a few more days.

So, Patrons, the podcast might be a little late this week. I don’t want to record until I can go more than five minutes without coughing.

Other posts might be late or a little light this week, but once I’m well, I will hopefully have my mojo back and be rolling full throttle. Thanks to you all for your well wishes and patience.

In the meantime, I’ve put a good dent in my TBR list. Put any of your most reads in the comments so I can top my list back up!

Pens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Planners, Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Pen Show Recaps:

Other Interesting Things:

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In Tools

Product Review: Rickshaw x NockCo Brasstown Pen Roll Case

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment
Product Review: Rickshaw x NockCo Brasstown Pen Roll Case

Rickshaw Bagworks is now offering the classic NockCo Brasstown pen roll and zip case (starting at $60). This was one of the earliest designs created by NockCo way back in the day and a case I’ve had and abused for over 11 years. I have had a pen leak in mine, thrown it in the wash, ironed on custom decals and stained it repeatedly. My original Brasstown has had some miles on it so getting a chance to test drive a new Brasstown in signature pink was a true treat.

If you missed the original iteration of the Brasstown, the Rickshaw Bagworks version keeps all the elements that made the Brasstown popular while adding a few new details:

  • They rounded the corners of the interior pen roll to allow it to fit better inside the case.
  • The pen slots on the roll are now fully lined making the roll sturdier.
  • Rickshaw added paracord zipper pulls to make opening and closing the bag a snap.

My older Brasstown looks wider but I think its just more worn. I was able to fit the same amount of stuff into both the Rickshaw and original NockCo Brasstown despite the pink looking a little slimmer.

I’ve always liked the Brasstown for the ability to store fountain pens or “good pens” in the roll and tuck miscellaneous items like a ruler, glue stick, stamp pads, washi, etc around the roll.

The new Brasstown feels a little more sturdy but my original version has been used and abused and run through the washer so its a little worn out. I do think the extra lining of the pen roll provides a bit more stability making it feel sturdier and structured. If you want it squishier, I think a couple trips through the washer will soften it considerably.

In the above (and below) photo, you can see the rounded corners on the pen roll which looks a little cleaner and fits neater into the case.

If you missed the original Brasstown, grab one of the new Rickshaw Brasstown cases. It’s both as good and a little better than the original. (We can also hope that Rickshaw will start offering custom prints soon and I’ll be sure to add the Inky Dreams version in the shop soon!)

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Rickshaw Bagworks for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature

Using what you have…

Author AnaPosted on 5 Comments
Using what you have…

I’ve been laid up in bed this week with a cold, so I’ve had a chance to consider the launch of 2027 planner season from a bit of a distance.

While I am not a diehard Hobonichi fan, I do find myself caught up in the fervor of new covers, different formats and new ways to document, organize and catalog my thoughts and goals.

But what I realized this week, is that I have more than enough notebooks to sustain me not just through 2027 but probably several years beyond that.

So, I piled up a few contenders for some of the plans and projects I have in the works for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.

First, I found a lovely little B6 Slim Midori Diary that I forgot I had gotten at the end of 2025. I needed a more dedicated work planner for various projects so I decided to start using it– in September. And I discovered that I like the size and format. Sadly, I don’t see this slim size being offered by Midori this year but I have A6 and B6 blank notebooks that I can call into service should I want to continue this work notebook into 2027.

The notebooks above were samples sent by Lauren Phelps and Owl Paper Co last year for review but since they were older planners I didn’t get a chance to use them so these might be the notebooks called into service as my work planners for next year. One is A6 and one is B6 so I have my size options and both use Tomoe River paper so they’ll be good with my fountain pens. I can put new dates in them with stickers or stamps and make them work for my purpose without having to reinvest in a dated planner– especially if I fall of the bandwagon in a matter of months (it’s been know to happen!).

I have wanted to do more Solo RPG journaling games, so I dug through my massive stash of underused A5 notebooks and found a few that may work well for the purpose.

I have a Teranishi Haikara dot grid notebook, a NYBG Moomin x Esterbrook lined journal, a Tsubame Fools Cream graph and a Nebula Note blank that can all be called into service for project journaling. I’m a little amused that I managed to find all notebook configurations without even trying.

I’m debating switching to a dedicated book journal in 2027 rather than keeping my books in my journal with other thoughts and notes. If so, one of these A5 books might serve that purpose. Do you prefer single-purpose journals and notebooks or one big catch-all? I waffle.

I might save the Nebula Note for an ink testing book but I might need to do some test swatches before proceeding with that course of action.

I will search around the house as I am sure I have a traveler’s style cover that I could use to contain these A5 project notebooks into a more cohesive unit.

I also found a Midori Spiral Ring Notebook that I purchased on a whim years ago, glued a few bits of ephemera into and then shelved. Since it’s spiral, I can remove the pages I started with no clear thee or direction and star fresh. I’m not sure exactly what I might do with this book but I like that it doesn’t feel precious. I can tear pages out for random lists and notes, glue or tape things in or just have “in case”. Besides, it’s lovely Midori paper and isn’t that a good enough reason to use it?

Are you buying a new planner or journal this year or are you going to try to make do with things you already have? I love rediscovering things in my stash and finally committing to putting them to use.

(This post was built tucked in bed on my phone so apologies for lack of good photography and links but I wanted to get a post up even if it’s a little half-baked.)