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Original poster

to love cute stationery as an adult?

36 replies

AsEmptyAsParadise · 15/09/2023 08:21

I am in my 50s and I have a guilty pleasure. I am obsessed with cute stationery. I have a job that requires note keeping and a lot of training, and needing stationery for this makes me extremely happy. I will favour notepads, filofax, highlighter pens, hobonichi, dot journals, etc. over any digital notekeeping app any day of the week.

I lust over Korean and Japanese stationery and I am always on the lookout for cute good quality stationery. Good quality is really important, so will usually avoid the likes of Aliexpress because I have no time for crap performance (e.g. sticky notes that don't stick or low quality paper).

Anyone else like this? I'd love to hear suggestions for online shops that may cater for my needs. I quite like the Journal Shop although it falls more into the quality side than cute. The likes of WH Smith, Smiggle, Typo et all just don't do it for me.

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FrontEnd · 15/09/2023 14:01

Cultpens website for fountain pens, bottled inks and fountain pen friendly stationary

cobden28 · 15/09/2023 13:17

It's not unusual, but it can work out a lot more expensive than normal business-type writing paper and envelopes. For anything official I always use plain whitr paper and a fountain pen with black ink, but for family and friends cute paper & envelopes are OK. My personal favourite is reams of coloured photocopy paper that you can buy from any reputable stationer, although it's next to impossible to get the matching envelopes to go with the coloured paper.

bravotango · 15/09/2023 11:32

Just to follow up my previous suggestion - it's phenomenally expensive but v fun 😊 We like Muji the best in this house.

phoenixrosehere · 15/09/2023 11:32

Etsy is my usual go-to.

Here’s a few UK-based Brands:

BalticMoonUK

PieFingers

HipHipHoorayStudio

TinyDeskCo

LavenderGreenBooks

MoshiMoshiUK

bravotango · 15/09/2023 11:31

Have you seen the Itoya x Anya Hindmarch collab? Very nice!!!

RaelImperialAerosolKid · 15/09/2023 11:27

Hi my

milafawny · 15/09/2023 11:07

bridgetreilly · 15/09/2023 10:37

I could never understand the Simply Gilded hype. They were all the same pattern and not even a particularly cute one at that.

Oh i was obsessed. Every week in my bullet journal was a different colour scheme, but the bows made it feel like it all still went together. Its been a good few years now since i bought some but i do still use the bows, just not as obsessively lol.

It was definitely some kind of cult club and the marketing and constant new releases and presales were ridiculous, added to that he monthly "gems" or postcards. When she made the sub box contain about 10% it had previously for the same price i unsubscribed and and havent really bought any since. And looking back, i agree, the bows werent even that nice of a design

AliOlis · 15/09/2023 10:39

My grandsons postman has even got in on the act by knocking and saying to my grandson that Hedwig dropped his letter off at the sorting office and she's having a nap and some butter beer
Aw! That's lovely 😊

Dobbyatemysocks · 15/09/2023 10:37

Apologies, I should add that banksy is a stray who adopted us when we moved into our new house.

bridgetreilly · 15/09/2023 10:37

I could never understand the Simply Gilded hype. They were all the same pattern and not even a particularly cute one at that.

Dobbyatemysocks · 15/09/2023 10:35

I love a good writing set.
I write to my grandson every week and he loves getting them. The one I'm using at the moment is Harry Potter based as he has just discovered the books and films (partly because this nanny is obsessed as well). The writing set has a wax seal that you can add to the back of the envelope.

My grandsons postman has even got in on the act by knocking and saying to my grandson that Hedwig dropped his letter off at the sorting office and she's having a nap and some butter beer.
Each writing set comes with a book that I use to write recipes, hints, tips, patterns and keep photos in.
I love stickers too and Home Bargains do some really cute ones and often have an offer on them for buy 2 get 1 free.

This is a sample of my journal.

to love cute stationery as an adult?
Original poster
AsEmptyAsParadise · 15/09/2023 10:34

The mini Korean binders in Coral & Ink are out of stock but I MUST have one. What to do?

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Original poster
AsEmptyAsParadise · 15/09/2023 09:57

I also seem to be drawn to things with a grid, like grid journals, grid washi tape and grid post its. I think it's the nostalgic schoolgirl in me who couldn't have anything nice due to lack of money.

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Peccary · 15/09/2023 09:41

Me to, I'm a serious scientist with a full range of cat pens and animal sticky notes on my desk. DD 6 is getting into it too. We love a trip to Kenji when in Manchester

ISeeARedDoorAndIWantToBreakIn · 15/09/2023 09:37

Ozgirl75 · 15/09/2023 08:59

I also LOVE stationery. My son recently chose a new pencil case and I said to him “I used to love getting a new pencil case for school and do you know what? I still love getting a new pencil case, notebook and pencil now” and he looked thrilled that this was a pleasure that would last forever!

Something I also love is that when I go to a day out, if I want a pencil or notebook from the gift shop I just buy one! Never allowed as a kid and now I’m so happy I get to buy things like that 😁
Happily filling my Picasso notebook from Barcelona with lists and notes right now.

I was in a shop the other day, not a stationery shop, but was of course looking at the stationery. I saw a pencil case that I would have absolutely loved when I was at school. I very nearly bought it!

BitOutOfPractice · 15/09/2023 09:34

Ozgirl75 · 15/09/2023 08:59

I also LOVE stationery. My son recently chose a new pencil case and I said to him “I used to love getting a new pencil case for school and do you know what? I still love getting a new pencil case, notebook and pencil now” and he looked thrilled that this was a pleasure that would last forever!

Something I also love is that when I go to a day out, if I want a pencil or notebook from the gift shop I just buy one! Never allowed as a kid and now I’m so happy I get to buy things like that 😁
Happily filling my Picasso notebook from Barcelona with lists and notes right now.

I never ever leave a museum / national trust / tourist place shop without a pencil. Ever.

milafawny · 15/09/2023 09:28

AsEmptyAsParadise · 15/09/2023 09:26

By the way, I bought a whole bunch of stickers from Temu and they were awful.

Ive had some from shein and they were hit and miss. Most were naff but there were some lovely ones amongst them

milafawny · 15/09/2023 09:27

AliOlis · 15/09/2023 09:26

Wow. Hardcore.

Show quote history

I subscribed for like 5 years or something then go sucked into presales and limited editions and month collection releases. Honestly that women knows how to play on FOMO, over a roll of bloody tape

AliOlis · 15/09/2023 09:26

milafawny · 15/09/2023 09:26

Did you ever fall into the simply gilded cult, i mean, fad? I have over 1000 rolls of their washi alone. Ooops

Show quote history

Wow. Hardcore.

Original poster
AsEmptyAsParadise · 15/09/2023 09:26

By the way, I bought a whole bunch of stickers from Temu and they were awful.

OP posts:
milafawny · 15/09/2023 09:26

IceTrap4389 · 15/09/2023 09:22

Plus love washi tape too

Did you ever fall into the simply gilded cult, i mean, fad? I have over 1000 rolls of their washi alone. Ooops

IceTrap4389 · 15/09/2023 09:22

Plus love washi tape too

Original poster
AsEmptyAsParadise · 15/09/2023 09:18

Ahhh I love this, thank you. And thank you for all the mentions of shops, specific journals to look out for, etc. I am going to indulge on some serious browsing this morning.

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Ohnanawhatsyourname · 15/09/2023 09:18

Stationery and greeting cards, my obsession is Choosing Keeping in Covent Garden (and online)

Love this thread! Watching recommendations :)

AliOlis · 15/09/2023 09:14

BobbinThreadbare123 · 15/09/2023 09:14

I also love stationery! I'm quite senior at work but will still happily put kawaii cat and dog post-its on documents and carry a crazy pencil case with bunny pens in it!

👍