I had to miss last week due to big deadline at work - I write these after hours and needed to prioritize some client projects. Back to regular programming this week!
Anyone who went to school with me knows I was very particular about my school supplies. I was fortunate to have a mother who funded my obsession for curated school supplies every year. I would meticulously decorate my locker and color-code all my binders, notebooks, and folders for a perfect collection of supplies that fit the vibes for that school year.
A well organized binder with all the accessories still brings me so much joy. I may not be in school anymore, but in honor of back-to-school season, here are all my favorite stationery and office supply brands.
✦ Stationary
Papier
My go-to for notebooks. They have the best cover art designs plus really great quality. They also have great holiday card templates and wedding stationery - we used their name cards and menus for our Italian-themed rehearsal dinner.
Golden Coil
I discovered this planner company in college and loved it. It is expensive ($80+), so I got a gift card as a birthday gift one year, but you basically get to build your own planner so it’s highly custom to exactly what you need. You pick from tons of daily, weekly, and monthly layouts as well as insert pages for meal planning, goals, budgeting, and more. You can even upload all of your calendars, events, contacts, and inspirational quotes so it’s hyper personalized.
Penco by Hightide
Penco is one of the house brands from Hightide, a Japanese stationery company. Their aesthetic is super classic and minimal. For some reason I feel like if Wes Anderson had an office these products would be in it. Hightide has a store in DTLA full of goodies.
Bromstad Printing Company
Bromstad has these super cute risograph notepads. They’re loud but such a fun piece for your desk. I love the food ones, they would be cute in a kitchen for grocery lists, etc.
✦ Pens & Pencils
Blackwing
This for my designers - Blackwing pencils are a status symbol in the design world and an icon of creativity and craftsmanship. Many notable creatives swear by this pencil. It became popular in the 1930s and was praised for its smooth graphite, replaceable erasers, and the motto “Half the pressure, twice the speed.” After its discontinuation in the 1990s, Blackwing pencils became a collector’s item with a cult status. The iconic pencil was brought back in 2010 when Palomino revived the Blackwing brand.
Poppin
Honorable mention for these. I get them at Staples and they are by far my favorite pen. I am SURE there are much better and higher-end pens out there, but I love the simple look of these and they have never failed me.
✦ Office Supplies
Toyo Steel
If I was gonna buy a pencil case, I’d get one of these Toyo boxes. Toyo was the first company to successfully develop a method for making a seamless toolbox from a single sheet of steel. The boxes are stackable, so you can keep a few organized on your desk, and they’ve been making them since 1969. The brand is known for its simple, durable construction and award-winning design.
TOOLS to LIVEBY
These paper clips are made from brass wire and inspired by patents from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tools to Liveby refined the designs and reproduced six classic shapes. There’s just something so cool about a fancy paperclip on a resume or important document. It’s the little things.
Boston General Store
This place just has it all. From timeless office essentials to beautifully designed everyday objects, they curate a mix that is both classic and useful. Their selection is perfect if you like the idea of stocking your desk with things that are practical but also feel special.
✦ Stickers!
East Village Postal
This shop has an amazing collection of vintage deadstock stickers. Lots of nostalgic designs you can’t find anywhere else. It’s such a fun stop if you love little details that add personality.
My friend Claire (you may remember her art from this newsletter) is a full-time elementary art teacher and needs supplies for her classroom! She is starting this year at a new school since her previous school unfortunately shut down their art program. Linked above is her classroom wishlist - if you want to give back to your local art teacher, send her some love and go buy her students some markers!!
MS. MILLERS WISHLIST
^This is an Amazon wishlist link, you add the item to your cart and it sends it to her, sort of like a wedding registry.
I appreciate the colors of the flowers that I see right now.
- From art piece by
Please comment and share your favorite office supplies! There are so many I missed and would love some recommendations!
