The Journal
How to Choose Your Blackwing Pencil Graphite Grade
Discover the Zebra Mildliner: The Perfect Tool for Journaling, Studying, and More
Cultivating a Judgment-Free Zone: Write Freely and Embrace Your Authentic Voice
In our previous blog post, we discussed the joys of writing and journaling and how these practices can enrich our lives. One crucial aspect we touched upon was the importance of creating a judgment-free zone for self-expression. In this follow-up piece, we'll delve deeper into how to establish a judgment-free writing environment and write without fearing criticism or judgment from ourselves or others.
Embrace the Joy of Writing and Discover the Power of Journaling
Welcome to the wonderful world of writing and journaling! In this blog post, we'll explore the therapeutic benefits of expressing oneself through writing and how maintaining a journal can enhance one's overall well-being. Moreover, we'll provide some tips on incorporating journaling into your daily routine to make the most out of this remarkable practice. So, let's dive in!
Handwritten letters from famous artists
Letter writing is said to be a dying art, but in our age of emails and texts more people are going back to paper and develop a real love for handwritten correspondence. We listen for you some exciting and beautiful letters from artists and writers who inspired us.
- Love letters between Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West
“I am reduced to a thing that wants Virginia. I composed a beautiful letter to you in the sleepless nightmare hours of the night, and it has all gone: I just miss you, in a quite simple desperate human way. You, with all your un-dumb letters, would never write so elementary a phrase as that; perhaps you wouldn’t even feel it. And yet I believe you’ll be sensible of a little gap. But you’d clothe it in so exquisite a phrase that it would lose a little of its reality.” – Vita Sackville-West
“Look here Vita — throw over your man, and we’ll go to Hampton Court and dine on the river together and walk in the garden in the moonlight and come home late and have a bottle of wine and get tipsy, and I’ll tell you all the things I have in my head, millions, myriads — They won’t stir by day, only by dark on the river. Think of that. Throw over your man, I say, and come.” Virginia Woolf
2. Alexander Calder and Ellsworth Kelly
Alexander Calder and Ellsworth Kelly maintained their friendship with frequent correspondences. The two artists would send letters , illustrated notes, postcards about their personal lives, mutual admiration and work.
3. Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau
Picasso wrote this colourful illustrated letter to Cocteau upon hearing that he was ill.
4. Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera
Across their 27 years of relationship, Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera exchanged passionate and poetic letters. She wrote about her emotions first in an illustrated diary and then by letters.
“Diego.
Truth is, so great, that I wouldn’t like to speak, or sleep, or listen, or love. To feel myself trapped, with no fear of blood, outside time and magic, within your own fear, and your great anguish, and within the very beating of your heart. All this madness, if I asked it of you, I know, in your silence, there would be only confusion. I ask you for violence, in the nonsense, and you, you give me grace, your light and your warmth. I’d like to paint you, but there are no colors, because there are so many, in my confusion, the tangible form of my great love.” Frida Khalo
How to choose the perfect notebook?
At the Journal Shop, we want to make it easier for you to choose a notebook that is adapted to your needs. A notebook is a perfect instrument to record your thoughts, generate new ideas and be more organised. When picking a notebook, a lot of criteria has to be taken into consideration: size, material, cover, binding…
We hope you will find this guide helpful in choosing a notebook that you will enjoy using.
FOR SCHOOL
Taking notes at school or universities by hand can help you memorise and assimilate more quickly. By taking notes by hand, students get a deeper understanding of the class.
These beautiful Rhodiarama notebooks feature a velvet-smooth cover, authentic hand-stitched spine, and, of course, fantastic fountain pen friendly Rhodia paper. The slim size is perfect to carry in a backpack.
Why we love it …
The variety of colours allows you to assign a colour by subject ( Example: Biology= Green; Chemistry = Red; History= Blue …).
Colour-coding your notebooks can make it easier to organise your notes.
A great simple notebook from Stalogy with a “Gokanshi” cover, a type of paper with a unique texture and a distinct feel.
Why we love it …
The Stalogy notebook comes with a handy label that will help you with keeping track of your work.
FOR WORK
At the office, we are all using MD Paper notebooks because of the high-quality paper and the minimalistic cover.
MD Paper Notebooks open flat thanks to their thread-stitch binding and feature fountain pen ink friendly paper throughout the range. Recognising the importance of the quality of the paper used to record memories, thoughts, and ideas by notebook users, Midori spent years honing its paper in pursuit of comfortable writing, ink resistance and anti-transparency.
Why we love it …
The MD Notebook is our office favourite. High-quality paper with beautiful minimal design, what more can you ask for?
FOR THE ARTIST
To keep track of your creative process, a notebook is a useful companion.
If you are constantly doodling in your notebook or writing down your creative ideas, a notebook
Croquis sketchbook from Maruman Japan is ideal for sketching and drawing. The thick craft overprotects your pages inside.
FOR THE TRAVELER
While traveling, keeping a journal is a great way to write about your adventures, memories, expectations … You can also your travel journal as a scrapbook to illustrate your journey with museum tickets, postcards or polaroids.
Why we love it …
Traveler’s Notebook has redefined the way people journal and take notes, whether for travel or otherwise! You can mix and match inserts so your notebook is tailored to your journey! Whether you take it out on an adventure or write in your backyard, the Traveler’s Notebook ages with you.
Top Five Travel Quotes
'FOR ALL THE TRAVELERS WHO HAVE A FREE SPIRIT.'
TRAVELER'S Passport Notebook - Camel
Travel is a great thing. It's a great, big exciting world out there. When you travel you leave the familiar world you know and go on an adventure. You might have a good time, you might have a bad time but you'll definitely have a different time than you would have had if you stayed at home.
Whether it's the most exciting trip ever or the worst thing to happen to you since 'One Direction' broke up, some things are constant. It will feel strange waking up in a new room, the same food will taste different somehow, and you'll want to tell someone about something that happened.
If only there was a way to record your feelings and thoughts as you experience them...
TRAVELER'S Notebook // Brown
The Traveler's Journal is a great thing. Take it with you on your adventure and you have the perfect way to write about your trip. You get to capture your first vivid impression of people, places, and things, with the sand still in your hair or the ice still on your eyelashes.
TRAVELER'S Notebook // Refill 016: Pen Holder (M) Black
Here are 5 of our favourite travel quotes to inspire wanderlust and a need to see what's on the other side of the horizon. See you there!
‘The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page’ St. Augustine
‘Wherever you go, go with all your heart.’ Confucius.
‘To travel is to take a journey into yourself.’ Danny Kaye
‘One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.’ Henry Miller.
‘Not all those who wander are lost’ J.R.R Tolkien.
TRAVELER'S Notebook - Blue
(Bonus quote: It's about travel and a diary and it's very funny so we had to include it!)
‘I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.’ Oscar Wilde
Five Asian Dessert Shops in London
Summer has come to London (finally!) and this time it’s here to stay (for a while, at least). The blue sky and warm weather are the perfect excuses to indulge yourself with a well-deserved dessert, whether is a cake, ice cream, smoothies, take your pick!
Looking for some inspiration? London has lots of hidden gems and we’ve made a list of our favourite Asian dessert treats and where you can find them.
Wa Café
Located in Ealing Broadway this independent patisserie has been voted as the most authentic Japanese place to eat by the local community and with their varied range of cakes, pastries made by their skilful Japanese chefs we warmly agree. We recommend trying their White Sesame Cheesecake while you are there.
Courtesy of tombocafe.com
Tombo Café and Matcha bar
This stylish Japanese café situated in South Kensington, the museum district, offers a delightful array of dishes and desserts. If you are looking for a quiet place to spend some quality time with your friends or you are just taking a break between visiting museums and galleries, stop by for their Matcha Soft Serve Ice Cream.
Courtesy of yelp.co.uk
Tsujiri Matcha House
With a legacy of over 155 years, Tsujiri is well known as the home of the best green tea desserts. They have shops all around the globe and in London, you can find them in Soho and Chinatown. The shops offer a variety of traditional Japanese desserts to choose from and as they say it ‘the best matcha latte in town’. We recommend trying their delicious Shiratama’s sundaes which are handmade in-store.
Courtesy of Chinatown.co.uk
Bake
Located in the heart of Chinatown, this Asian bakery offers a wide range of desserts from Malaysia, China, Japan, Korea. They even do bespoke birthday cakes so it’s worth keeping them in mind for an upcoming celebration. Our recommendation is Bake’s star snack: a bespoke Taiyaki, a fish-shaped waffle cone filled with a hearty serving of soft matcha tea ice.
Bobajam
BobaJam has opened its first tea and dessert shop Leicester Square in 2011 becoming a pioneer in London's bubble tea culture. Their café in Soho is a welcoming place with a lovely artistic design perfect for spending a summer afternoon. Their menu is varied and all desserts come in a beautiful (and instagrammable!) presentation. We recommend trying their eye-catching Rain Drop Cake.
Five Coffee Shops to Visit in London
Whether you’re after your daily dose of caffeine, a fresh cup of matcha, or just a nice spot to sit down and put your notebook on a table corner, London is undeniably a little paradise for coffee lovers and artisan roaster hipsters.
We have listed for you some of our favourite (and most instagrammable) coffee shops, perfect for everyone seeking for a bit of peace to keep up with their journal or simply to enjoy a break from their busy London life.
Clerkenwell Grind
You might be familiar with the Grind, as they have a few coffee shops all around town. Pink velvet sofa, marble counter, they worked together with Australian design company Biasol for the interior and we must say that it is a little heaven for design lovers. Coffee, smoothie, and avo toasts , but also cocktails and dinner in the evening. A must go if you are around Clerkenwell.
Monocle Café
A little taste of Japan coffee culture in the heart of Marylebone. With its minimal interior, Japanese inspired menu, and pastries from Lanka (a patisserie which fusions traditional French and Japanese food), Monocle Café is a perfect quiet spot to enjoy a coffee and plug your laptop. You can also find Monocle latest magazine editions, and some of their lifestyle products.
Barber & Parlour
Probably one of the best places in London to grab a coffee and relax (their big comfy sofas are an invitation to nap). Laptop friendly, freelancers will love their spacious and bright space as much as their yummy menu and detox juices. Located on the trendy Redchurch street, Barber & Parlour (which belong to the Soho group), also have a shop corner, and an in-house barber, cinema, and cheeky parlour. Worth to visit.
Tap Coffee
With three coffee shops located around Fitzrovia, in just a few years Tap Coffee has become a must go for coffee lovers. They spend a lot of time sourcing the finest ingredients to prepare their coffee, and want to make sure that their customers feel at home in their shops. Great place to work in peace, in the busy city centre.
Farm Girl
Bringing Australian cafe culture to London, Farm Girl is well known for its charcoal and rose lattes, but also for their delicious healthy food. It's usually packed over the weekend, but make sure to enjoy their little outside area in their Notting Hill location during the week, it's a little corner of heaven in the city.
Cover picture: Courtesy of Trotter Mag
Past/Present
In ye olde times, before Siri, how did people tell time?
When people say we’re in a digital age what they mean is we have smartphones, computers and talking microwaves (‘Dinner for one again, Sam?’). All the usual signs of modern, exciting living. The biggest sign of this digital age though might be that we have digitised time. (OK, it's not, but this article’s theme is ‘Time’ so just go with it.) What do smartphones, computers, and sarcastic microwaves have in common? They all tell time digitally. Time, always elusive, has become ephemeral. It’s 0’s and 1’s. It’s electrons. It's an idea.
Go back a few hundred years and time was analog. People determined time in physical, practical ways. Take a candle, mark it 12 times, and you have candlemarks - “The food will be ready in 2 candlemarks. I’ll be back from the forest in 6 candlemarks. I’ll be making candles for the next candlemark.''
Candles were a bright idea, but there was always the danger that they would go out. An even better idea was an hourglass. An elegantly simple way to monitor the passing of time. There is something hypnotic about the sand falling from the top to the bottom chamber, almost changing from one state of being into another.
Beyond simply measuring the time an hourglass challenges you, makes you question yourself. ‘’The sand will fall whatever I do, so how did I spend the time? Was it a good use of my time? Didn't that guy say he’d back from the forest in 6 candlemarks?’’
Don't get me wrong, digital time is convenient. I take my smartphone with me everywhere but I can’t take an hourglass to the gym (Mostly because they won’t let me bring it in. Any more.) The problem with digital time is that it can seem bigger than you. Alarms announce themselves and order you out of bed. Appointments show up unannounced in your online calendar. Digital time seems to rob you of power.
An hourglass gives you your power back. It takes something abstract and makes it concrete. Now you can hold time in the palm of your hands. You control what you do with it. You can set yourself goals and measure your progress towards them. An hourglass helps you understand something very important - you can do anything you want to do. You have time on your side.
Travel - Our Favourite Spots in Tokyo
Flaubert once said “Travel makes one modest” , and it surely feels like that when you are in Japan. Tokyo’s incredible energy will please all the creative travellers looking for beautiful interiors, innovative design, avant-garde architecture, traditional craft, the best of fashion,and of course food.
We wanted to share with you five spots to (absolutely) visit while you are in Tokyo. You can thank us later.
Our Favourite Shop
Located in a renovated factory in Shirokane, Our Favourite Shop is a little paradise for design lovers. Their very well curated selection features art, fashion, gourmet food, and interior design products by local talents only. The store was born from a collaboration between three leading lifestyle professionals, and became in few years a hub for artists and creative entrepreneurs. We particularly loved the minimal and contemporary pieces by KIKOF.
Yaeca Home Store
Seriously, can we live here? The team behind Yaeca Home Store had the brilliant idea to convert a two-storey residence into a home shop. When you enter, you are immediately welcomed with a cool brewed tea, and it’s just the beginning. You can go to the kitchen to enjoy a selection of freshly baked biscuits, walk around the living room to admire their incredible furniture and decorative object collection, climb upstair to have a look at their minimal fashion wardrobe . Half way between a home and a shop, Yaeca present their products in a similar way that you would like to see them in your house. Must go.
Shozo Cafe
The coffee culture is strong in Japan, and you would miss out on a great experience if you don’t stop at Shozo for a cuppa. Located in Minamiaoyama few steps away from two other hip coffee shops (Café Kitsuné and Blue Bottle), Shozo is the cutest coffee spot we’ve been too. The little Japanese wooden hut is filled with amazing coffee and sweets that you can enjoy in their garden area. So charming that you might want to come back everyday.
Traveler’s Factory
Japan is known for being “stationery Mecca” to many stationery afficionado around the world, so how to resist a quick stop at the iconic Traveler’s Factory? Located in the busy Tokyo Station, the shop houses all the products that made the success of the brand alongside some special limited editions that you can only find there. If you can’t make it all the way to Japan this year, don’t worry we have your back! Simply make sure to check our Traveler’s Company collection on The Journal Shop, as you will definitely need a Traveler’s Notebook to record all your upcoming summer adventures.
Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience
Sakurai is the ultimate contemporary tea room. Designed by Shinichiro Ogata, this gorgeous interior featuring copper, stones, and dark timber is the perfect place to experience the Japanese tea culture with a modern twist. There are only a few seats available around the counter to taste some of their finest seasonal blends served with delicious Japanese delights, but believe us it worths the wait.
Cover pic: Credits http://www.the-dailys.com
Craft Ideas: Favourite Inspirational Stationery
together and it can even improve our physical and mental wellbeing.
Whether you join a workshop or use the comfort of your own home, are a beginner or passionate artist there are tons of inspirational craft ideas to guide you. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin when wanting to start a new project and there are so many materials to choose from!
That’s why at the Journal Shop we’ve put together a selection of craft ideas using stationery that will get you started. Have fun and release your inner creativity!
1. WASHI TAPE FRAMES FOR YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTOS
Courtesy of@sandyalamode
Washi tape needs no introduction, ever since it’s launch in 2006 it has become an international phenomenon being used by crafters and artists alike. There are countless ways to use it, it’s low low tack adhesive and large variety colours and patterns to choose from makes it so popular and easy to use.
So dust off your old photos, pick up a pair of scissors, a handful of making tape patterns (we have plenty to choose from) and start creating your own photo wall.
2. PERSONALISED SCRAPBOOKS FOR YOUR MEMORIES
In this digital age it is so easy to snap pictures to remember special moments in our life. But more often than not those pictures are left stored on our phones or computers or forgotten in a box somewhere.
Whether you just want to tell a story of your travel adventures, wedding, kids, inner thoughts - you name it – creating a scrapbook is a fun way to keep those memories safe in an attractive layout. With plenty of scrapbooking supplies out there for you to choose from, your scrapbook can easily become your favourite project yet.
3. CREATE UNIQUE EMBOSSED CARDS
With lots of revolutionary embossing machines on the market, embossing technique has never been easier. Beautifully decorated cards, wedding and party invitations end even napkins (I know, right?) can now be created at home, with just a few crafty essentials!
Feeling excited? Before you start browse our shop for these must have:
WASHI TAPE AND SCISSORS
- MT Masking Tape 1P Deco Shima Murasaki
- 2 Aimez Le Style Wide Washi Tape 'Mode'
- MT Masking Tape // 20 Pack of Solid Colours
- Hightide Penco Stainless Scissors
SCRAPBOOK AND ACCESSORIES
- Hightide Scrapbook Album
- Iconic Scrapbook v.2
- Iconic Diary Deco Pack v.7
EMBOSSER MACHINE
- Midori Embosser Machine
- Hightide Penco Embossing Label Maker
