The year is only 2/3 of the way over, but planner companies have already begun the hype cycle for 2027. Corporate has asked me to post about planners to capitalize on current trends.
I haven't posted anything about my planner since my 2024 Traveler's Notebook update. At the time, I was using a shitty hand-bound book with dot grid paper where I had to measure and date everything myself. Unsurprisingly, this got tedious really quickly. I've been buying planners since then, and the time/sanity saved have been well worth the expense.
Hobonichi Weeks (left) and Sterling Ink N1 common planner (right)
My sketchbook, which is bound inside the cover of Shivers by William Schoell. The cover features a painting of a gargoyle on a roof done in a warm grey palette. A green mist winds around the gargoyle and down to the bottom of the cover. The title is printed in large gold foiled lettering behind the gargoyle.
I love making book covers out of things that otherwise would have ended up in the trash, so I couldn't pass on one of these handmade book-sketchbooks from Arsenik Press. I don't have the time or energy to bind a new sketchbook right now, so I was happy to buy this one because it's still handmade and (importantly) it looks cool. The paper in this book is Fabriano 1264 watercolor paper.
I stole the idea to draw/paint an overview of my current favorite supplies on the first page from Apple Pine. I always struggle with what to put on the first page of a sketchbook, so I like this exercise. I've also made several changes to my tools lately, so let's talk about them.
A closer photo of the drawing of my current supplies, described in detail in the text below.
Transcript of writing (top to bottom)
Supply log 22/2/2025
Rag (old T-shirt)
Crayon tin — much easier to use and transport when they're broken in half!
Old waterbrush — stained to hell, but it works
Platinum Preppy with Carbon Black Waterproof!
Esterbrook J (1948) 9048 nib Montblanc Van Gogh Turquoise
Rubato Pocket Pen Brause Steno 361 nib Pilot Yamaguri
The pen I commissioned from Rubato. It's a clear demonstrator with plants embedded in the resin and a green grip section.
I've been enamored with Rubato Pens for a while now and finally took the plunge on commissioning a pen a few weeks ago. And now it is here!
Rubato is operated by one woman, Emi, who makes fountain pens, nib holders, and other trinkets. Her pens are made of resin with decorative inclusions that give them a distinctive look (plants, glitter, charms). They're beautiful little art pieces in of themselves, but I was primarily drawn to their functionality. They take dip nibs!
A photo of my full-sized watercolor sketchbook. It's hand-bound with orange, yellow, and green thread. The cover is wrapped in lemon-print paper.
I only have a few pages left in my big watercolor sketchbook. This is an accomplishment for me because I usually have a hard time finishing sketchbooks, and I'm actually happy to look at this one despite not really using it for anything particularly fancy. It also means I have to think about making or buying a new one soon.
Liz Steel has a great post on this topic, How to Choose a Sketchbook. In the interest of thoroughness, I'll talk about the criteria she uses in her post.
