The Journal Diaries- Gert's Hobonichi

The Journal Diaries is a blog segment where we get a sneak peek into the journals, notebooks, organizers, and diaries from people all over the world. (Click here for past posts.) My special guest today is Gert based in LA, California.

- Hi Gert! Tell us a little more about yourself.
My name is Gert and I've enjoyed crafting ever since I can remember. I was born in the Philippines and now reside in Los Angeles. I am happily married with three sons, and work full-time in healthcare. When I was younger, I wanted to pursue a creative career, but then decided to be practical and major in science since that was predictable and stable. Now that my children are older, I have more free time to get back to what I love doing.

- When did your love for journaling in the Hobonichi begin?
I purchased my Hobonichi Cousin last September. I planned to use it as a daily journal but was afraid that I would run out of things to write about. A couple of months later inspiration came in the form of Life Captured Inc.'s December journaling prompts. I followed the prompts and wrote in my Hobonichi every day during that hectic holiday month. Encouraged and excited that I was able to stick with it through the month of December, I decided to carry on and continue journaling daily in 2015. I hope I can keep it up!

- Why the Hobonichi?
I was drawn to the Hobonichi Cousin A5 because of its heft and Japanese craftmanship. It is so well made, and I love the weight of the journal in my hands. Besides being beautiful, it is also very practical. This Hobonichi helps me keep my handwriting straight and even. I even love the Japanese writing in the Hobonichi, even if I cannot understand a word of it!

- How do you find inspiration for your daily journaling prompts?
In addition to the prompts from Life Captured Inc., I also purchased the Kindle version of "365 Journal Writing Ideas" by Rossi Fox. Pinterest is also a great source for prompts. Other times I just write about whatever I'm in the mood to write about. Right now, a lot of my Hobonichi entries are lists. They are quick, easy, and fun! Inspiration for journaling can come from conversations with friends, from magazine articles, song lyrics, from practically anywhere and everywhere.

- When do you find yourself writing the most, and how often?
Most of the time, I'm alone when I journal. I write my daily journal prompts at work on my lunch break. I've journaled in my car, in coffee shops, and on park benches. Portability is one of the many great things about journaling! You can do it anywhere, all you need is your journal and a pen! I don't fine that my mood influences my journaling as much as journaling affects my mood. If I am tired, stressed, or frustrated, journaling helps me sort out my thoughts or at the very least, provides a welcome and soothing distraction. I use the weekly pages of Hobonichi as a personal diary, scribbling down a little recap of each day's events and how I felt that day. I love ending each day like this, reflecting on what happened and documenting my everyday memories before they are lost.

- Do you use any other journal besides the Hobonichi?
Yes! I also use a Midori Traveler's Notebook, another beautiful product from Japan. I use my Midori for quotes and as a photo journal. I've also added Moleskine notebooks to the lineup. It's fun to experiment and change it up to keep things interesting.

- Do you have a favorite type of pen you prefer when writing?
My favorite pen is the Pilot G-Tec-C4. It produces the perfect fine line and I love how smoothly it writes. I order it in bulk from Amazon because 1) my kids love them as much as I do and 2) I've ended giving them away to friends who have tried mine and got hooked!

- Any favorite products, art supplies, or stores at the moment?
Art supply and craft stores are my happy places, I could spend hours roaming the aisles. I frequent Michaels, Jo-Anns and Blick Art Materials. Sadly, I used to have a Michaels less than a mile from my house, but they keep moving further and further away! So now, I order a lot of my supplies online from Amazon. Right now, I am trying my hand at modern calligraphy and have a rapidly growing wish list at John Neal Bookseller.

- Other than writing and journaling, what are a few other hobbies and interests of yours?
In addition to journaling, I love reading, photography, and cooking for my friends and family.


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Thank you so much, Gert, for sharing your Hobonichi and journal entries with us!

For all you wonderful readers looking to connect, you can find Gert and more her creativity here:
Blog: www.pepperandtwine.blogspot.com
Instagram: @pepperandtwine