Today I’m talking paper—specifically a “this, not that” situation that honestly ticks me off. Hobby Lobby (and yeah, same deal at Mardel’s since they’re owned by the same folks) changed suppliers on a paper I used to recommend all the time, and the new version just isn’t it. If you’ve ever had a favorite fountain-pen-friendly pad or sketch paper get quietly swapped out for something cheaper, you already know the pain. I’m going to rant a little, because when paper changes, your ink and your nib get blamed—and that’s not fair to your pens. In this video I break down what made the old stuff work, what’s gone wrong with the replacement, and what kinds of issues to watch for when you’re testing paper with fountain pens (feathering, bleedthrough, show-through, and how it handles wetter pens and broader nibs). The good news: I do share a decent replacement option so you’re not left scrambling. The takeaway is simple—don’t assume the same brand name means the same performance, and always test before you commit to stocking up.