It has only taken me a third of the year to start a journal in 2018. As I continued using the undated journal I’d started in August 2017 at the start of the year.
My new journal is a change from the Castelli notebooks I’ve used for the last few years. This one is a Flame Tree Notebook* and was a 40th birthday present. The cover pattern is based on Turkish Iznik style stone paste tiles and is more colourful than the notebooks I’ve used recently. I love this difference as it reminds me of who chose it for me, an artist friend Jo Lillywhite.
The notebook has a magnetic closure along the right hand side. I don’t need this feature but I still like the satifsying click when I close the notebook. The lines are slightly wider than I normally choose but the ink doesn’t feather or bleed through the paper.
![The pages and line spacing in my 2nd 2018 journal](https://darktea.co.uk/darktea/blog/wp-content/uploads//The-pages-and-line-spacing-in-my-2nd-2018-journal-1024x1024.jpg)
Pen Heaven have recently sent me a Lamy fountain pen* to try. As the colour matches the notebook it is currently my night time journal writing pen, using Diamine Blue Pearl ink* which is blue with silver sparkles. However, I’m not sure I’ll keep using the pen. It has an advantage over my previous wooden one as I get less ink on my fingers. However, the the nib is more scratchy and the ink doesn’t always flow smoothly (as you can see in Tuesday in the above picture).
![My 2nd 2018 journal and fountain pen and ink](https://darktea.co.uk/darktea/blog/wp-content/uploads//2nd-2018-journal-and-pen-1024x1024.jpg)
Over the last few days I’ve made a change to the way I write my entries. I have been writing a list of positives and occasionally free writing about something that happened during the day. However, I want to feel more gratitude, and don’t always include this in my positive section. So I am now writing a positives and gratitude section, and aim to write at least three things in each.
I suspect I’ll need a third notebook for my 2018 journal, but haven’t thought about what I’ll use next. Do I find an unused notebook in the house, go back to Castelli or try a new option?
Are you writing a 2018 journal? How is going? What do you like to write about? What type of books do you like to use?
*Disclosure – I was sent the pen free in exchange for a review but all thoughts and comments are my own. This post includes affiliate links which means I’ll earn a percentage of what you spend, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra.
So glad you are using the notebook and that you like it. Thanks for the mention 🙂
I have just discovered your blog and I love it. I am a journal enthusiast and usually have a few going at the same time – all with a different purpose. I am about to venture into making my own signatures and gathering them into a journal. My “daily life” journal is usually filled with musings, photos, ticket stubs, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I always hope for spiral bound for this journal so it expands with all of the extras in it. I also do travel journals, reading journals, and I try to keep a gratitude journal. I look forward to going through your past posts and catching up!
Robin
California, USA
I love daily journaling plus special ones on Holidays and Travel.I love your blog and style! Thank-you for sharing and May you have wonderful Holidays.