Notes

Here, we share what fills our creative corner. We explore the minimalist stationery in our collection, books on our desk, and tools we use daily. Consider it a peek into our working space and discover thoughtful design, practical insights, and the details that make work more intentional.

Alcove Reading

November 18, 2025

Second Chances and Starships: The Old Man's War Series

I was listening to a podcast about Joe Abercrombie (one of my favourite authors) when the guest mentioned John Scalzi's Old Man's War in passing. Intrigued, I picked up a copy. I read the first sentence and knew I was in...

Pens

November 14, 2025

Pens and air travel

For fountain pen enthusiasts, leaving your favorite writing instrument at home when you travel feels like leaving a part of yourself behind. The good news? Flying with fountain pens is entirely possible, and with a few thoughtful precautions, you can...

Ink

November 5, 2025

The enduring elegance of black ink

Here is something that might surprise you: black ink holds the largest market share in the global fountain pen ink market, even in our age of endless color options. In a world where you can write in shimmer, sheen, and...

Paper

October 30, 2025

Why Your Grandmother Was Right About Letter Writing

Remember when your grandmother used to sit at her writing desk with beautiful stationery, carefully crafting letters in her elegant handwriting? You probably thought it was charmingly old-fashioned. Well, it turns out Grandma was onto something. Your Brain on Digital...

Distractions

October 29, 2025

The Quiet Power of Minimal Stationery

Research from Princeton University's Neuroscience Institute reveals that visual clutter forces your brain to work overtime, with multiple objects competing for neural representation and gradually fatiguing your cognitive functions. Minimal, distraction-free stationery offers a scientifically validated path to enhanced focus, with...

Pens

October 28, 2025

Why We Specialize in Water-Based Creative Instruments

At Alcove and Nib, our collection tells a story about what we value most in creative instruments. Our specialty lies in rollerball pens, fountain pens, and thoughtfully designed pencils, which are tools that prioritize the creative experience through superior ink...

Paper

October 27, 2025

Finding Your Planning Freedom: The Case for Free Format Diaries

In the world of planning, two paths diverge: preformatted planners and free format diaries. At Alcove and Nib, we believe free format diaries offer the ultimate in flexibility—if you can tolerate the blank page and do not require every hour...

Alcove Reading

October 26, 2025

Stumbling Into the Grimdark: The Eisenhorn Trilogy By Dan Abnett

I did not expect episode 5 of Prime Video’s Secret Level to completely change what I would read next, but there I was, watching this dark, beautiful, brutal animated story set in the Warhammer 40k universe, absolutely hooked. The grimdark...

Doodling

October 24, 2025

Ditch the Diary Drama: Why Doodling Might Be Your New Best Friend

Ever stare at a blank journal page like it personally wronged you? You know the feeling: cursor blinking mockingly while your brain serves up absolutely nothing worth writing. Well, what if there is a delightfully simple escape from diary drama...

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