On May 24th, Scriven Montréal held its second-ever pen show—and guess what? I finally got to attend my very first stationery event ever! Two weeks later, I’m still daydreaming about inky tables, shiny nibs, and all the stationery magic. 💕💫
Here’s a little recap of my adventure… plus a peek at the goodies I brought home! 🎁📸
- Arrival + First Impressions 🌧️
- Finally Getting Inside! 🎉
- Shopping!! 🛍️
- Workshops 🧠
- Final Thoughts 💭
- 💌 P.S. From The Heart
Arrival + First Impressions 🌧️
The Scriven pen show was held at the stunning Centre St. Jax in Montréal—an old, ivy-covered stone building attached to a church. 🌿 I love venues like this… full of stories, personality, and a little haunting charm. Honestly, it felt like a pen show set in the middle of a cozy ghost story! 👻📖🖋️
Since I got to Montréal a bit early, I popped out of the subway (which was so warm, as usual 😅) and decided to treat myself to a raspberry iced tea at a nearby Van Houtte café. ☕❄️
About fifteen minutes before the doors opened, I strolled the one corner between the café and the venue. The sky was gray, the air was damp, and a light drizzle fell as I made my way there—classic pen show weather, if you ask me. ☁️🌧️💼
When I arrived at Centre St. Jax, I was honestly shocked (in the best way!) to find a line of people waiting outside in the cold and the rain—for a pen show! 😲 My heart leapt. These were my kind of people. I had found my kindred spirits! ✨💕
Finally Getting Inside! 🎉
The wait wasn’t very long—maybe 10 minutes—but with my heart pounding from excitement and first-time nerves, it felt much longer! 😅⏳ But then… I was in! ✨
The space inside was small and a bit cozy (okay, cramped 😄), but it was thoughtfully arranged to help everyone move around without too much trouble.
Pro tip: If you ever attend Scriven, do not bring a giant backpack like I did! 🎒🚫 It turns into a bit of an obstacle in tight aisles.
Right at the entrance was a table selling exclusive Scriven merch—and I made a beeline for it! 🏃♀️🛍️ Everything was in limited supply, so I was so glad I arrived early enough to snatch up all the goodies I had my eye on. 💖
Shopping!! 🛍️
There were quite a few vendors! I had studied the floor plan beforehand, but since I wasn’t (yet!) a full-blown fountain pen enthusiast, a lot of the brand names went right over my head. 🗺️🤷♀️
Well—except for one. 😉
💕 Esterbrook x TheCoffeeMonsterzCo ✨
As a longtime fan of TheCoffeeMonsterzCo, I definitely knew about their adorable recent collab with the iconic Esterbrook fountain pen brand. ☕🖋️
Naturally, that was my very first stop. I wasn’t expecting to see the TCMC limited edition collab—just hoping to peek at the display… but lo and behold! ✨
(That was my actual reaction when I saw the banner: “Emotiiiii!!” 😍)
Now, as I said, I’m not a fountain pen collector (yet!), so I’d managed to resist buying the pen when it first launched on TCMC’s site a few weeks earlier. 💪😇
But then I saw those cute little boxes in person and… well… I slipped. 😅 I bought one of each. Zero regrets!! 💖🛍️💸
🌈 Circumflux Stationery 💖
I still had a bit of time before the first workshop I wanted to attend, so I wandered through the vendor booths, just soaking it all in. ✨
That’s when I was instantly drawn to one table—bright colors, adorable displays, and pure cuteness overload! 🎨🧸💕
I ended up chatting with the lovely owners, and our conversation totally sparked my imagination! ✨🧠 I left their booth bubbling with creative ideas for Miss Stickers—honestly, I wish I could bring them all to life right now! 😭💡
🏙️ The Toronto Pen Shoppe 🖋️
I’d definitely heard of The Toronto Pen Shoppe before—it’s well-known in the stationery world! But since I live in Montréal (a whole 7 hours away 😮), I’d never had the chance to visit in person.
So when I spotted their booth at Scriven, I was so excited! 🎉 I might’ve been too busy shopping to snap a pic (oops! 😅), but don’t worry—here’s a look at my haul instead! 💼🛍️💖
(Of course, I got stickers! 😅 There weren’t many around but I managed to find some. 😁)
🛒 Other Shops 💡
There were also lots of smaller or lesser-known (to me) vendors—like Mondu, and Roses Without Thorns—and even though I couldn’t linger everywhere (budget things! 💸😅), I still managed to snag a few fun little treasures! 🎁🌟
Some shops, like Phaidon and Leuchtturm, I had to admire from afar (for now!), but overall, it was such a treat to browse through so many beautiful products in one place. 🥰
Workshops 🧠
I was battling a bit of a cold that day 😷, so my energy ran out pretty fast… but I did manage to attend two lovely workshops before needing to rest. I’m so glad I did!
📓 Journaling Workshop ✂️
This one was hosted by artist and teacher Karina Palacio, a warm and welcoming animator who brought years of bullet journaling experience to the table—literally! She even brought her personal journals for us to flip through, and they were amazing. 💖📚
Each table had a little plateau full of journaling goodies—stickers, scissors, washi tape, and more! It felt like crafting heaven. 🐰✨
The workshop was just 45 minutes long, but it was such a cozy and creative moment. I managed to put together a quick calendar spread in my brand-new Scriven x Leuchtturm notebook and even snagged the cutest bunny sticker! 🗓️💕
🖋️ Kyuseido Workshop 💡
The Kyuseido workshop was a totally different vibe, but just as special. The presenter (Aijing Zhang) was very shy, but also incredibly knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the Kyuseido brand and their unique pump system. 💬💖
We all got to hold (and even test!) one of the Kyuseido fountain pens. ✨ It was surprisingly heavy, but somehow that made it feel extra cozy in my hand—like a luxury item that’s also meant to be loved and used. 💎✍️
So… maybe one day I’ll get myself a Kyuseido pen. Not yet—I’m still getting used to fountain pens—but someday!
Final Thoughts 💭
Scriven was such a fun and fulfilling event—I absolutely plan to go back next year! 💕 There was this special sense of warmth and togetherness that only happens when you’re surrounded by people who share your passions. It truly felt like stepping into a hall dedicated to my clan. 🖋️✨
Everyone was smiling, kind, and open to chatting. I learned so much and felt at ease right away—and I’m a shy little introvert, LOL! 😅💬💖
I’m already looking forward to seeing how the event grows in 2026 and beyond. Count me in! 🎉📅
👜 Tips For Next Time!
If you’re planning to attend Scriven in the future, here are a few things I highly recommend:
- 🎒 Skip the big backpack! Bring a couple of lightweight totes instead.
- 🧥 Bring a bag for your coat or vest—you’ll get warm inside!
- ☔ Avoid umbrellas if the weather allows—they’re just a hassle in the crowd.
- 📓 Carry a blank notebook to jot down ideas, test pens, collect shop stamps, or stick in samples.
- 💸 Start saving early! You will find treasures, trust me!
So if you’re heading to Scriven 2026… I’ll definitely see you there! 🥰🖋️💖
💌 P.S. From The Heart
Okay, I want to get serious for a minute (I promise I won’t take too long). 🤍
Six months ago, I suddenly fell very ill. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety—I couldn’t sleep, eat, or even sit still. In the middle of December and January, I had to open the window just to breathe and wound up in the hospital more than once.
The journey back has been long and slow. Every minute felt like an hour, and for a while, I truly believed I’d never feel like me again. But I made a decision: I would celebrate every small win. 🎉
The first win was simply going outside. Then driving to the pharmacy and grocery store two streets down (it took my boyfriend getting sick and needing something for me to go—but hey, it counts! 😅). Then I drove a little farther. Then I went back to work.
And today… I did something I hadn’t done in years:
I took public transportation and went to an event in the city all by myself.
I was nervous. I was scared.
But I did it anyway. 💪
So if you’re reading this and you’re going through something—anything—please take this as your gentle reminder:
✨ Celebrate your wins. Big or small.
✨ Take a moment to notice how far you’ve come.
✨ And be kind to yourself. You’re doing better than you think.
Today, I didn’t just attend my first stationery convention—I reached a personal victory.
Today, I beat anxiety. 💖
See you at Scriven 2026! 💖
Miss Stickers 
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