There has been an undeniable connection in my life between writing things down and getting things done. It’s part of why I created the FLOW Planners in the first place. Something shifts when we take what is swirling around in our heads and place it onto paper.
But pen to paper is about more than productivity. When we are thoughtful and intentional, we grow. And growth has a way of bringing us face to face with both our past selves and our future selves. We notice old stories, patterns, and fears. We get clearer about what matters now. We start listening for the woman we are becoming.
For me, journaling has become one of the most useful tools in my own becoming.
At the beginning of summer, I always get a new journal. It fits in a bag with pens, glue, paint, and little treasures I collect along the way. I bring it to the beach, camping, or out into the yard at the end of a big workday. Some pages are words. Some are sketches. Some are scraps glued beside a thought I don’t want to forget.
I’ve learned there are many ways to meet ourselves on the page. Sometimes that looks like writing – getting honest, asking questions, finding clarity. Sometimes it’s the SketchPoetic process that I’ve come to love, with its blend of sketching, mindfulness, and reflection. And sometimes it looks like art journaling, which I’ve done since art school.
In Issue 5 of Pause, we explore all three as creative practices and ways to go deeper into ourselves — with experts who spend their time teaching others how to journal.
Having materials you love gathered together in a bag makes journaling easy and joyful wherever summer takes you. Gather them in a bag, a drawer, a cart. Just don’t make finding them the obstacle.
I asked our Experts what their favorite journaling supplies are. Please note, these are NOT affiliate links, or the only place to get these things. We did our best to make it easy!
Niconeco Zakkava is my EVERYTHING. Based in New York City (I’ve been to their shop), this is where you go if you love Japanese stationery and paper products. They have so many beautiful things here for art journaling and they ship all over the world and have a wonderful online shop: https://www.niconeco.com
MT Tape - The best masking tapes out of all of the brands I’ve used. I use these tapes for everything in my journals. https://mt-tape.us/
Archer & Olive - Gorgeous things for journaling and a strong mental health support vibe too. https://www.archerandolive.com
Art Journaling magazine: https://stampington.com/collections/art-journaling This is a wonderful magazine whether you’re new to art journaling or you’ve been at it for years.
Louise Carmen are hugely viral at the moment, Parisian-made journals, but they’re more for writing in than making art in, since art can be messy, and these journals are an investment: https://louisecarmen.com/ Even still, they’re gorgeous and completely custom.
I love the Hannemuhle Sketch Diary which has space for writing and art-making.
I prefer blank unlined books so I will either make my own (a favorite hobby) or use a Canson spiral bound Mixed Media journal with 98 lb paper that can take both writing and mixed media art.
For daily writing, my current favorite pens are the Pentel Ink Joy gel pens or the Sharpie S-Gel 0.7 tip and pretty much any pens from Uniball Signo.
I have a love affair with the Blackwing Matte pencils and buy them by the box — an indulgence for sure.
For drawing or my Zentangle practice, I like the Micron pens in a variety of nib sizes.
I always have a box of watercolors on the go for travel and love curating my own palettes of Daniel Smith colors.
I never go anywhere with a small pair of scissors and an Uhu glue stick for collage in the wild.
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