TRAVELER’S notebook adventures in the Pacific Northwest

Hey Travelers, we made it back from the Pacific Northwest Pen Show and Sketcher Fest.

Over two weeks, our TRC USA team experienced the beautiful summer promised by the Pacific Northwest Region to its fullest. The skies were blue without a hint of clouds. The weather was hot, but the occasional cool breeze rejuvenated us and kept us in good spirits.

TRAVELER'S notebook with TRC USA x Art Toolkit palette against a red brick wall.

Starting in Portland, Oregon, we kicked off the series of summer events with a TRAVEL & SKETCH crawl pop-up at Oblation Papers and Press, a TRC US Partner Shop, in the Pearl District of downtown Portland on 7/12. This neighborhood is filled with indie boutiques, restaurants, leafy streets, and home to the famous Powell’s City of Books.

A "throw-down" of TRAVELER'S notebook and sketchbooks from a sketch crawl.

The staff introduced us to a local park filled with contemporary art sculptures by local artists – Jamison Square. The rundown façade of the nearby Ecotrust Building is a popular subject for all the sketchers who joined us on that day. Over 20 TRAVELER’S notebook fans and urban sketchers joined us for a fun afternoon of TRAVEL & SKETCH and a meetup at Oblation Papers and Press afterward. Of course, we can’t miss an opportunity to build a TRAVELER’S notebook tower, stacked book by book from excited fans.

Sketching and painting in the TRAVELER'S notebook.

A tower of TRAVELER'S notebook at Oblation Papers and Press.

Throughout 7/13 – 14, we set up a pop-up at the Pacific Northwest Pen Show inside the Monarch Hotel and Conference Center. The ballroom was filled with other pen and stationery enthusiasts throughout the weekend. We were thrilled to showcase the recent collaboration between Blackwing and TRAVELER’S COMPANY, releasing officially on 7/17 at Blackwing’s Online Shop. We look forward to bringing these to our next physical events.

TRAVELER'S notebook pop-up at PNW pen show.

A fan unearthed a vintage issue of TRAVELER’S TIMES to share with us during the pen show, featuring the iconic stag sign at the Burnside Bridge in downtown Portland.

A TRAVELER'S notebook passport size with a TRAVELER'S TIMES against a white background.

We enjoyed sharing TRAVEL & SKETCH tools with fans who are looking to document their summer adventures. The hibi 10-minute aroma incense matchsticks were also a convenient tool for winding down at the end of the day.

TRAVELER'S COMPANY pop-up table featuring hibi 10-minute aroma.

The weekend getaway in Oregon was a memorable road trip experience for our staff, and we continued this adventurous spirit up North to Washington. Before we prepared for our events at Sketcher Fest Edmonds, the team detoured for a quick break at Port Townsend. This idyllic Victorian town is located at the Northeastern tip of the Olympic peninsula. The team drove their car onto the ferry and through island roads to reach this hidden destination. It is also the home base of our collaborator Art Toolkit!

The Palace Hotel at Port Townsend, WA.

TRAVEER'S Team encountered a record store at Port Townsend, WA.

When we finally arrived at Port Townsend, we couldn’t help but marvel at the charming town. It’s as if we stepped into TRAVELER’S TOWN, filled with Victorian-style buildings, bookstores, eateries, and even a record store! The team had a chance to relax and enjoy the ocean breeze. We ended the day with a cool dessert from an old-fashioned soda fountain diner.

An old-fashion soda fountain diner with pink and teal decor.

A few days before Sketcher Fest’s Sketchbook Fair and Art Market, we participated in the local Urban Sketcher group’s 15^th anniversary celebration. At a quiet corner of Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle, where boats lulled for the season, we enjoyed doodling and sketching in our TRAVELER’S notebook alongside other sketchers.

Sketchers painting at Fishermen's Terminal in Seattle.

Finally, on Sunday 7/21, we kicked off the TRC USA Pop-up at the art market. Sketcher Fest was held at Edmonds Waterfront Center, with a beautiful view of the Puget Sound and ferries that came and went throughout the day. The newly released TO&FRO organizers were a highlight at the show and the perfect pouch to keep our notebooks clean in the elements.

TRC USA X Art Toolkit palettes featured at Sketcher Fest Edmonds.

TRC USA Pop-up table at Sketcher Fest Edmonds featuring the TRAVEL & SKETCH SPIRAL RING NOTEBOOK.

Throughout the day, we saw artists and TRAVELER’S notebook fans lounging around the venue and creating beautiful sketches and paintings. New TRAVELER’S notebook users immediately picked up and made use of watercolor paper and sketch paper refills. We can’t wait to see what fun adventures these TRAVELER’S notebooks will hold in the future.

2 TRAVELER'S notebook fans sketching in their notebook at Sketcher Fest Edmonds.

Artists and fans poured over the TRC USA table at Sketcher Fest Edmonds.

As we slowly wrap up this summer’s events, there are two more exciting ones to look forward to in August. We hope to see you soon at Stationery Fest in Brooklyn, NY and at the SF Pen Show in Millbrae, CA at the end of August!

An iced coffee with TRAVELER'S notebook against the Washington Ferry at the dock of Edmonds.