Link Love: Washi Tape Swatching

This week, I discovered that journal makers Archer & Olive have a delightful blog with tips, ideas and printables to add to your planner or journal. They feature a wide variety of topics for bullet journalers, art journalers, planners and more. Somehow I stumbled on their blog when I found a post they did a couple years ago about how to make a washi tape swatch book. I think making a washi tape swatch book is a great way to use up a Field Notes book — I know so many fountain pen users have a stack of unused Field Notes that need a use. Voila!

Pens:

• Five Dip Pens for Ink Testing (Pilot, Sailor, Kakimori, Glass & More!) (via FudeFan on YouTube)
• Video-Review: Galen Leather – Legacy Collection Leather TwinFlip Pen Case (for 3 pens) (via Scrively)
• Common Fountain Pen Terms Explained (Part One) (via Pen Boutique Ltd)

Ink:

• Lennon Tool Bar Catfish Spirit (via Inkcredible Colours)
• Ink Review #2736: Robert Oster Bless Your Heart (via Mountain of Ink)

Pencils:

• The Pencils I Use (via Ian Hedley)
• (211) Which Sharpener is Best: It’s a Sharpener Showdown! (via Inkdependence on YouTube)

Notebooks & Paper:

• Gillio A5 Compagna (via Philofaxy)
• Creating An About Me Page In Your Journal (via Archer and Olive)
• Collage Playlist for your Junk Journal (via Archer and Olive)
• 10 Thread-Bound Tomoe River Notebooks Worth Trying (via Rediscover Analog)
• The History of the “Pocket Slim” Filofax: Part 1 (via Notebook Stories)

Calligraphy & Handwriting:

• Cursive Handwriting Guide for Beginners (via An Inkophile’s Blog)
• Learn Calligraphy in 5(ish) Minutes (via An Inkophile’s Blog)
• 8 Calligraphy Myths That Might Be Holding You Back (via The Postman’s Knock)
• A Beguiling and Wonderfully Organic Alphabet From 17th Century Poland (via Design You Trust)

Other Interesting Things:

• Sun-Star Stickyle Stamp Review (via The Pen Addict)
• Illustrators launch fightback against AI dolls with #StarterPackNoAI trend (via Creative Boom)
• Tariffs, a vibe (via A Gathering of Curiosities)
• What’s at the Heart of Our Tarot Fascination? (via Hyperallergic)
• 2025 Atlanta Pen Show Highlights (via Olive Octopus)
• Take Note! Chicago Stationery Shops Enjoying Revived Interest in Analog Communication, Fueled by Social Media and Celebrities (via WTTW, Chicago News)

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