Where I Actually Buy My Calligraphy Supplies
A very unserious, slightly tangent-y list of the shops I trust.
Ok so this is genuinely the #1 thing people ask me about. Not "how do you get your letters so consistent" (practice y’all!), it's "where do you buy your stuff." And I get it! Because when I started it was like 2002 and I didn't know of all the things. Also, it was such a different time back then, you'd have to physically walk into a craft store.
So here's the current 2026 list. The shops I actually go back to. Nothing here is sponsored, nobody's paying me to say any of this, BUT the ONE exception is my Amazon shop, where I do make a tiny affiliate commission, and I'll flag it when we get there (pinky promise, it's like the first thing on the list lol).
Quick tip: You do not need everything at once. I know. I KNOW. The urge to buy the full aesthetic starter kit is so real (I had it bad). But a couple good nibs and one ink you love will take you so much further than 40 bottles you're scared to open. Anyways, I have bottles of ink that have been with me since before covid, LOL.
Ok, here's the list:
Listen. Is it the romantic answer? No. BUT Amazon ships so fast, and honestly half of what you need is already on there, so I made a little shop of my actual go-to's to save you the doom-scroll. Heads up: these are affiliate links, meaning if you grab something through them I make a tiny commission at no extra cost to you, which just helps me keep making free stuff like this post. That's the only spot on here I earn anything, promise!
My ride or die. This is where I send basically everyone first. Huge selection, ships fast, and fun fact: they’re based on Nashville, Tenessee, so you can check them out if you’re ever out that way!
The selection here is insane. Weird nibs, oblique holders, every calligraphy book you could want. My "I can't find it anywhere else" shop. They ship internationally too, deadass.
ISmaller, cuter, very hand-picked. It's Lindsey Bugbee's shop, and it's kind of perfect if a giant supply catalog makes your brain go static (mine does, frequently). Less overwhelming, very beginner-friendly. Loved her since her “Learn Calligraphy for a Latte” worksheets, but that was back in 2014 when a latte was $5.
If you're a socal girlie anywhere near me: PLEASE go. It's tucked into Old Town San Diego (the historic park part, it's so cute it's unreal), run by Claudia and Eric — a husband + wife duo who make custom stationery and run an actual vintage letterpress in the shop. Best part? They have a "try me" station, so you can feel a nib on paper before you buy it. Do you know how many times I've bought a nib online just praying it'd feel right?? This fixes that. Buying your tools in person from people who love this as much as you do just hits different. Worth the drive, and it’s just super cute inside!
Ok THIS one is for my design girlies. It's a UK brand that started when the founder made prettier calligraphy pens for his wife (who's a calligrapher, isn’t that cute!?). Everything is refillable and sustainable and honestly so beautiful it hurts, and their inks come in a million colors. Bonus: they ship to the US with duties already paid, so no surprise customs fees. Thank you, Tom!
Okay, THIS one is special. It's a calligraphy and stationery shop in Tokyo (Kudanshita), and it's a whole vibe. Pointed nibs, gorgeous premium holders, ruling pens, and inks you genuinely cannot find easily over here Finetec metallics, Kyo No Oto's traditional Kyoto colors, all of it. They even carry engraving, foiling, and gilding supplies, which, if you know me, you know I lost my mind over. The site's fully in English so you can browse (and covet) from your couch — but if you ever make it to Tokyo? Go. Bring the bigger suitcase.
Anyway, the actual point: start small. Get a couple things, play around and see where the journey takes you next.
If you want the exact stuff on my desk, it's all on The Shelf. And if you're cooking up something handwritten — invite, keepsake, whatever's living in your head — come say hi. Truly one of my favorite things.
Psst — some links in this post (my Amazon shop) are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only ever recommend things I actually use and love.
