Today is actually your lucky day. That’s because I’m sharing (and you’re reading) the second article in a series from Paper Nerd At Large + Extraordinaire Debra Skinner. TPN readers will hopefully recall Debra’s fantastic, fabulous Unofficial Chicago Stationery Fest Guide from a few weeks back. Although Chicago Stationery Fest (CSF) has come and gone, her write-up endures into posterity as an essential paper lover’s guide to Chicago.
I personally did not make it to all the shops and restaurants, so on my next visit I plan to hit several of Debra’s incredibly well-sourced spots. While I’ve shared my own splurges in a short video I’ve posted on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, Debra’s are most intriguing. And with that, that’s all the editorializing you will get from me for a while. Take it away, Debra!
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In the weeks leading up to March 22nd, a familiar greeting started popping up in texts, DMs, and stationery stores all over Chicago: “Hey! Are you going to Chicago Stationery Fest?” For Chicago-based fans of planners, paper, cards, and more, the fest was expected to be the stationery event of the year.
And now, nearly a month after the fest, I think we can confidently say that the weekend was one for the books (or is that journals?)!
Don’t believe me? Please reserve judgement until you check out my visual diary of highlights, snapshots, and a few moments that demonstrated just how special Chicago stationery lovers are.
Chicago: A Stationery Haven
If you were asked to name ideal cities for stationery enthusiasts, you’d probably list Tokyo and Seoul, perhaps even Paris or Seattle — locales well-known for the hobby or for their artistic cultures. In fact, Chicago might not even make the Top 10.
But for native Chicagoans or those who know the history of the arts in Chicago, it would likely be near the top. And with the addition of CSF to the city’s repertoire of stationery events and destinations, Chicago has grown into a city with an incredibly strong, close-knit, and passionate stationery community. In fact, CSF was a testament to the renaissance that stationery is experiencing — certainly worldwide, but especially in Chicago. Planned by a local stationery store, primarily featuring local artists, and attended in droves by native Chicagoans, CSF was a beautifully-written love letter to and from the city’s stationery community — adorned with plenty of stickers, of course!
A Stationery Experience at Chicago Stationery Fest
By the time the Artifact Events doors first opened at 10am on Saturday, a line was already forming and quickly grew to snake around the block (make that several blocks!). Despite the cold, most of the waiting stationery lovers were excitedly discussing the paper treasures waiting to be discovered within CSF. I was lucky enough to wait in line with Jack Saucedo, owner of local stationery store Papel Arcano, and we made the most of our wait, chatting with people who had traveled from all over — mostly Chicago, but a few from as far as New York, Toronto, and more. Between conversations and tote bag comparisons, we also met a few of the fest’s volunteers (all of whom were kind and, of course, impeccably organized). From the brick, historic exterior of Artifact Events to the pleasant attendees and volunteers, the vibes of the fest were distinctly Chicagoan before you had even stepped inside.
That being said, once attendees finally made it into the event, we were treated to a true Chicago stationery experience. The welcoming gift was an exclusive CSF-themed Field Notes memo book. That notebook was one of the first items to go in my tote — but definitely not the last! The CSF pamphlet was designed and printed using letterpress by Ravenswood-based letterpress printer Starshaped Press. Inside, attendees could find event and meet-up details, a thank you letter from the organizers, a map of the space, and the all-important vendor list.
Stationery store Paper & Pencil, who organized the event, carefully curated the vendor list with a focus on local Chicago makers and artists, in particular artisan letterpress printers. Chicago has a rich, unique history of printmaking and letterpress, and has been home to many letterpress printing companies over the centuries (yep — you read that right! Letterpress has been around in Chicago since the early 1800s). In fact, Ravenswood is home not only to Artifact Events, but also to many of the newer letterpress shops that have opened since the resurgence of letterpress in the late 90s. CSF celebrated that heritage while spotlighting a new generation of creators.
Two Floors of Stationery Joy
Beyond the welcome table, the fest took over both floors of Artifact Events — and nearly every square inch was packed. Two full floors of vendors, workshops, meetups, and the Creative Lounge, plus the constant hum of people saying things like “Oh my gosh, I’ve followed them on Instagram forever!” and “Should I buy this? (I’m buying this.)”
Of course, big names like Traveler’s Company, Field Notes, and Faber-Castell were there (and busy), but some of the longest lines were at indie favorites. Mugobunni’s booth was almost always several rows deep, and I heard more than one person mention they were budgeting specifically for that table. Same.
Another testament to Chicago as an inspirational city for stationery lovers, many of the vendors created exclusive artwork or stationery for the event celebrating Chicago and the city’s stationery history. And there were plenty of exclusives: CSF-themed sticker sheets, Chicago skyline illustrations, limited-edition washi, and stationery inspired by the city itself. One of my favorite Chicago-themed exclusives? Letters to Apollo’s CSF Mood Board sticker sheet. The vibes were nostalgic, classic, and very “romanticize your city.”
In fact, despite the occasional long wait to get into the fest, most people were enthusiastic to be there. I asked a few of the vendors and attendees how they liked the city and was met with a resounding, “I LOVE it!” every time. Between Chicago’s historic architecture, vibrant people, and walkable neighborhoods, there is just something so uniquely Americana about the city that makes it such a pleasure for stationery lovers, who so often use stationery to wax nostalgia or document memories.
The resulting vibe of the fest was one that didn’t just happen in Chicago, but felt distinctly of Chicago. The fest felt like a true love letter from the stationery community to the city, and back again. There was a constant feeling of camaraderie and joy — the kind that comes from meeting like-minded people who love the same things you do. In this case, all things Chicago and all things stationery!
One of the most touching moments of the fest occurred in the early afternoon, when Tyler (of Paper and Pencil) was spotted on the second floor. Everyone burst into applause and hurrahs, cheering on one of the masterminds behind the fest. It was the kind of moment that captures exactly what Chicago Stationery Fest and Chicago stationery fans are all about: community, gratitude, and a shared love of paper. It was a definitely an emotional, full-circle moment for everyone who was a part of it!
The intense love for Paper and Pencil was also evident by the line for their booth, which took up the entire length of the first floor at most times! Visitors were eager to snag house-designed goods and meet the team who made the fest happen.
One of my favorite booths (and one of the busiest) was The Washi Station, an online-only shop that sells a huge variety of washi tapes and stationery from various independent artists.
To round out the upstairs marketplace area, Paper and Pencil partnered with The WasteShed to set up The Great Chicago Stationery Swap. Attendees could destash their own collection as well as browse and pick up items left by others. Any leftover items were donated to The WasteShed to provide to teachers, artists, and more. This was definitely one of the most popular aspects of the fest – as you can see from one of our photos, it was sometimes hard to even get close to the swap counter!
Workshops, Meet-Ups, and Creatively Lounging
The first-floor Creative Lounge offered a welcome moment to rest, journal, and soak it all in. The Creative Lounge itself was constantly full, both with long-time stationery pals plus people meeting new stationery friends at the workshops and meet-ups. Surrounded by stacks of paper, test stations, and communal tables, the space felt like a perfect place for analog creativity — and a chance to see the diversity of the community in real time.
From fountain pen collectors and zine artists to sticker collectors and collage hobbyists, the crowd reflected the range and richness of today’s Chicago paper scene. I spoke with Kirk Speer from Pen Realm at the fest, who shared a fascinating perspective on how stationery habits have evolved over the past decade:
It used to be at fountain pen conventions or events you would tend to see only a few types of consumers, compared to Chicago Stationery Fest today where there are people here from all ages and demographics. And the interests of stationery fans are changing too – it used to be that someone might spend $1000 on a single pen at a convention. Whereas now you see people, especially young people, who will instead spend $1000 over time buying an entire collection of different pens. They really want to embrace every aspect of the hobby and try every ink and every type of pen, which is just wonderful. It’s not just about owning a showpiece anymore. It’s about playing and experimenting and finding your niche. That’s what makes this generation of stationery lovers so fun to connect with.
I myself got to meet Sarah from The Paper Nerd in person, and we chatted about the differences between trade events — like Atlanta Market or NY NOW — and consumer events — like CSF, where indie artists like The Creeping Moon or Madhouse Crafting Co. can drive huge demand and make the fests incredibly popular for paper fans to attend.
And, I had to ask some of the vendors and attendees: “What makes Chicago such a special city for stationery?” The answers varied, but a common theme emerged: the openness of the people themselves! Chicagoans, with their industrial, working-class history, have a tendency to shun pompousness or exclusion — everyone is welcome, as long as you don’t bother anyone else. Unlike some other stationery events, CSF was welcoming of every niche and hobby within the stationery community — from letterpress, planners, and washi to fountain pens, inks, and even luxury stationery storage.
The Creative Lounge, workshops, and meet-ups were real-time examples of the embracing nature of Chicagoans, as so many people could be heard exchanging contact information, planning journaling meet-ups, and sharing stationery tips and recommendations.
It’s true: There was a distinct feeling at CSF that everyone belonged. Whether you were into bold gel pens or vintage fountain pens, maximalist sticker spreads or minimalist planners, there was something — or someone — for you to share that love with.
Maybe it’s the city’s history of print. Maybe it’s the thriving small business and indie artist scene. Or maybe it’s the simple fact that stationery lovers know how to unapologetically craft meaning out of anything, be it the logo-emblazoned napkin from a local cafe that would make the perfect background for your “Coffee Date with Friends” journal spread or a prized, limited edition fountain pen that you saved up for months to purchase. And Chicago, for all its grit and charm, is a city full of stories — stationery stories included!
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Sounds like Debra had fun, no? If you didn’t make it, or somehow did not get your stationery fill there — or maybe you are just craving more of Debra’s stationery-laced prose! — go check out her first post in the series, featuring can’t-miss Chicago stationery stores. Armed with the insider scoop, you can recreate a mini CSF weekend any time of year.
In the next post (or possibly posts) in this series, Debra sits down with the man behind the fest: Tyler McCall of Paper & Pencil. On the agenda is what it really took to bring CSF to life (and the possibility of whether it might return). In the meantime, check out my Paper Fold podcast interview with Tyler to tide you over. Thank you again Debra!
