I am crazy over cute pencils/pens.
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Actually I am crazy over collecting many other things too.
For instance, when I was young, I used to collect batteries. Not really the different types of batteries, but I loved to collect a huge quantity of AA batteries because I listened to the walkman often then. Collecting the batteries gave me a sense of security.
Then, I started collecting pens and highlighters as well, as I used them often in school and I just loved to see my textbooks and assessment books looking colourful. During the study periods before exams, I would pester my aunt to drive me to the nearby stationery shop near our house to buy the different coloured pens and highlighters, even if I’d already had 20 of the same pilot/pentel pens at home. That was my way of de-stressing myself. My poor ATM, aka my mother/aunts. Haha.
As I grew older, I started writing lecture notes and paper became my new obsession. Till today, as I have been taking Japanese language lessons, I still collect different types of papers, notebooks and post-it pads for writing the notes. My latest collection revolves round those ring-binded papers aka loose leaf papers. They just give me the very Japanese feeling.
Since my uni days, I have also grown into a maniac over skincare and cosmetics products. Even if I already have an unused bottle of toner/moisturizer at home, I will still buy a second bottle just to give myself added security. Yes, I am that insecure about the things I use.
Some other unusual things that I still collect today or used to collect are – towels (I have many Disney ones), glass bowls and cups (mainly Sanrio types ‘cos they look very exquisite and cute), cute letterpads and stickers (oh!!! I used to collect many cute letterpads but I have no more use for them now. Who can I write to? I also have no secret lover/penpal. Hahaha. Sometimes I still collect stickers when I am feeling moody, because I always dream of pasting them all over my iphone, to the dismay of my act-macho hubby), and medicine (I fell sick often pre-pregnancy and have tons of medicine for all illnesses. My family liked to treat me as their pharmacist when they are lazy to go downstairs to the clinic.
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Anyway, today’s topic is the cute pencils/pens and they are mostly from Japan (Disneyland/Disneysea/Disney Store/Sanrio Puroland/Sanrio shops/Universal Studios Japan/Tokyu Hands/Kiddyland). Some are from Singapore (random push carts/Isetan or Taka Sanrio corners/A’n’BC). I think I have neglected them recently and it’s time to give them some attention on this blog, as well as make myself happy just by admiring them. Serious. I feel so happy just pouring them out and playing with them. The 3 guidelines I stick to when buying them are:
1) As far as possible, buy the mechanical pencil version instead of the pen version. This ensures that they last longer. The ink in pens dry up over time if left unused. However, exceptions are when the pen version looks too different from the mechanical pencil version and when the design is simply so cute that I need to buy both versions even if there are only slight differences. In such cases, yes, I would buy the mechanical pencil version AND the pen version.
2) 宁可杀错,不可放过 (lit. translation: I’d rather kill wrongly than to let go of any). This is really my mentality when I am overseas. I do not want to return to Singapore feeling regretful for not buying any of the pencils (like how I am feeling now as I look through my collection, as I seem to have missed out buying some of the characters’ pencils. Sad.). This often leads to me buying 5-6 different characters’ pencils from the same series in Disneyland, or ending up buying 2 same pencils as I sometimes forget what I have bought earlier on. Anyway, just buy first and worry later lah! 🙂
3) Winnie the Pooh is my favourite character (actually I have many “favourite characters” but that yellow bear is my top favourite), hence as far as possible, buy ALL Winnie The Pooh pencils even if they don’t look very nice. My favourite shop in Disneyland is Pooh’s Corner located at the exit of the ride, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt. I would always take a shopping basket and start sweeping all the cute Pooh mechanical pencils. I really mean it. ALL.
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Please join me in admiring my humble collection (Sigh, wish I have bought more).
The ikea box used for storing them. Cannot even close the box as it is too full. Haha
Oops, really filled over the brim..
The heap of rubbish pencils/pens. Rubbish to you, but precious to me 🙂
From here onwards, I will just show some of the more special/memorable ones…
From left: (1) One of my first few cute pencils since primary school days. Loved it hence used it very often. (2) This Minnie pencil was given by a beloved Japanese Uncle (my mom’s old colleague who had passed away years ago) about 20 years ago. He also gave me a Mickey one but I don’t know where it has gone to! 😦 This set of Mickey and Minnie pencils sparked off my interest in Disneyland stuffs. (3) Minna no Tabo (I loved this character when young as he looks so cute with his mouth always open. Another Sanrio character that is rarely seen today) (4) Hello Kitty type of pen (just showing you all that this type of pens is worth buying because it uses the Pilot Hi-Tec-C refill.)
This Keroppi pencil was also very much loved and used by me. You can de-stress by playing with its mechanism to open/close the flower petals and peek at Keroppi! This pencil made me hunt for other pencils of such mechanism.
See what I mean? More of Keroppi-like mechanism pencils, mainly manufactured by Sanrio.
Big-head pencils!!! Most of them have some cute functions such as the characters nodding their heads or opening their mouths. The third one from the right is Mickey and Minnie riding a horse when you press the lever down.
Kaleidoscope series of mechanical pencils. All were from Disneyland except the far right one I think. That one is Pixar-collection and has the various Pixar cartoon characters on it.
This is The Incredibles Kaleidoscope pencil. Look through the peephole and you will see the image on the right. Sorry, unable to get a better shot of it. I love Jack Jack so much btw!!! It is so hard to find The Incredibles products in Disneyland, so when I see any, I just grab them, even if they are useless items.
The bulky series of mechanical pencils. These usually have some monkeys moving up/down some rod inside. Showing you all the Hello Kitty one for e.g.
Rare characters’ pencils. Must buy! In Disneyland, it’s easy to find Mickey, Minnie, Pooh and Marie characters’ items, but not these. The 2 pencils (collaboration between Kewpie and Disney) on the far left were probably bought from Tokyu Hands. The one on the far right is The Mummy, from Universal Studios Japan. Cute right?
These 2 are the funniest pencils in my collection. Bought from Tokyu Hands. Press the lever down and Cupid pees! You can even control the amount he pees! Haha.
Some cute pens/pencils bought in Singapore. For snacks lovers.
Ok, that’s all. Can’t show you every single item in that pink box. As you can see, I don’t have that many right! Time to go Japan and stock up soon (i.e. after baby is out)! Bye!
You’ve opened my eyes. I hate to say it, but I’m going to be on the watch for pens like this from now on. The peeing cupid and the Kaleidoscope pens are especially great.
Thanks for a great post.
Oh! I have seen these in your guest room! I feel that you really have a great collection of them now that you posted the pictures (grouping them into categories)! And I am a proud owner and gift recipient (from you of course!) for one of those Kaleidoscope pens! The one with the Incredibles! So cute I don’t even bear to use it…. And I also like Minna No Tabo and I still rem the shuttle bus in College used to have a plush toy of Minna No Tabo which we named “George” coz it resembles our Tutor!
So cute.. I should also start a collection for Rilakkuma’s!
I have been trying to find a nice and cute rilakkuma pencil to collect but so far none are nice leh… It’s under San-x n somehow they don’t make kawaii pencils like Disney and Sanrio… Wah u still keep the pencil I gave u! 🙂 I find it soo cute too. Hahaha
oh..i in love you pen and pencil♥
if you want to sale please tell me
“mayzmays@live.com”
Thank you. XOXO
if you like to sell one of your those disney stationary, please contact me 🙂 >> faii.punnita@gmail.com
thank you 🙂
Hi babe, i have been trying to find the Kaleidoscope Disney mechanical pencils for the longest time for my little sister (she’s crazy over it) and i was wondering if you would be willing to sell one of them? I’ve been looking for them everywhere 😦 and i happened to see this post of yours from years ago haha!
Hi!
Sorry, I am not selling any of them cos I am probably as crazy as your little sister. I do visit Tokyo disneyland almost annually and sadly I think the cute mechanical pencils and pens nowadays are no match for those of the past. They no longer have funny mechanisms or kaleidoscope ones and I think they are producing more of “pretty” ones, slimmer and more like Mont Blanc types. I wished they would just revert to what they used to sell, pens and pencils that bring a smile or giggle to everyone’s faces.
Thanks for coming across my post! Haha
Hi Bev, where did you purchase the Minnie Biscuit pencil? I am also interested in buying it, but nowadays it’s really hard to find.
Hi! I wrote this post donkey years ago. And these pencils and pens were collected since I started going japan actively yearly from around 2002 till about 2010. (I stopped going Japan just before I got pregnant, which coincides with the Fukushima nuclear accident).
Anyway, most of them were from Tokyo Disneyland or Disneysea but sadly, nowadays they stopped producing such creative and cute pencils or pens. I still bring my 2 young kids to Tokyo Disneyland n sea yearly since a few years ago, so I do notice the lack of creativity in their stationery in recent years. Haha. In the past I could buy about 20 pencils/pens each trip. These years, I could buy only about 5 per trip.
Instead of focusing on cute and creative stationery, they now focus on making the stationery pretty or functional. Like Disney characters collaboration with frixion pens (u can Google for “frixion” if your are not sure what I am talking about”).
Do visit Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea if you haven’t been to these two theme parks. Despite the drop in creativity of their stationery items, their stuff are still much cuter and prettier than what you can find in other Asian theme parks!