The Enchanted Inkwell is one year old!

A year ago, The Enchanted Inkwell existed only as a dream.

I wanted to create a place that felt a little slower. Somewhere people could try a pen, test an ink, open a notebook and take their time. A place that felt a little old-world, where curiosity and creativity were encouraged and there was space to explore.

Buying something wasn’t the goal. Curiosity was.

What I didn’t know then was just how many people were looking for that too.

Over the past year, I’ve realised that what makes this shop special was never going to be what’s on the shelves. It’s the people who walk through the door.

It’s hearing a child tell their parent, “This is my favourite shop.”

It’s seeing them carefully choose a pen with their pocket money.

It’s helping someone find their first fountain pen, fix an old favourite, or discover a journal they can’t wait to fill.

It’s the customers who make a point of visiting whenever they’re in town, just to see what’s new and say hello.

Those moments are what make The Enchanted Inkwell what it is.

There have been long days, late nights and plenty of lessons along the way, but there have also been some wonderful milestones. One of the highlights was being named a finalist in the Stationery Awards. To be recognised alongside businesses I have admired for a long time was both humbling and incredibly encouraging.

As we begin our second year, I’m excited about what’s still to come.

We’ll be welcoming our first fountain pen group in July, continuing our involvement with the Sunday Letter Project, and bringing the upstairs space to life with workshops and gatherings. My hope is that these become opportunities for people to create, connect, learn something new, and spend time with others who share their interests.

Most of all, I’m excited to keep building this community.

Whether you’ve visited once, visited often, followed along online, recommended us to a friend, or simply cheered us on from afar, thank you. The Enchanted Inkwell wouldn’t be what it is without you.

And if you’ve never visited before, this is your invitation.

Come in.

Try the pens.

Test the inks.

Open the notebooks.

Stay a while.

Curiosity is always welcome here.