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.
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).
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.