Cheers to Inspiration Lab 005: Customize your Traveler's Notebook with 1.61 Soft Goods (6/18/16)

It's hard to imagine that one whole week has already passed since our Inspiration Lab with 1.61 Soft Goods happened in this studio last Saturday. Today the space is really quiet... I finally had a chance to go through some images from the event so I wanted to take a moment to share it with you! 

The idea of this Inspiration Lab was to create an open-studio gathering where our BK community can meet our creative partner 1.61 Soft Goods who is behind our Essential leather inserts for Traveler's Notebook, BK leather charms, Napkin Sketchbook, Origami Leather Basket... and more! 

Added (and huge) bonus: Diana and Wes of 1.61 Soft Goods offered to emboss our logo marks and favorite inspirational quotes on everyone's Traveler's Notebook as well as other selected leather items using the embossing machine they use in their workshop! 

This event has been "in dreaming" for a year or so in my head... and "in making" for several months. Collaboration with our BK team and Diana and Wes to pull all the details together have been an incredible experience for us. Many meeting when we tested our samples and brainstormed on the "menu" of offering happened between their workshop and our studio. 

The day was filled with great moments. Frido was the designated "design counselor" for everyone who wanted to emboss on their leather items. Diana and Wes got to meet everyone who attended the event. I loved that Diana and Wes were trusted to leave the embossing marks on many beautifully worn-in Traveler's Notebook. It's such a permanent mark on the leather and I totally understand that it requires significant amount of faith in process. Eunice and I were in charge of making everyone comfortable and also helping at the check out register. 

To watch our lovely BK community come together physically in our studio was probably my biggest highlight. We are so used to connecting virtually... but NOTHING beats the real relationship we build by sharing the time, space and passion together. 

Thank you Diana and Wes for sharing your talent. For our BK team for continuous support in making the event amazing... and THANK YOU, our amazing guests, in making this great gathering happen. I so appreciate you coming out on Saturday (in a heatwave) and sharing your love for Traveler's Notebook with us. 

I captured a short clip of Diana and Wes getting ready in our studio on IG. Here is the link! Also #baumkuchenstudio and #bkinspirationlab bring up some images from our attendees and their "embossed" Traveler's Notebook! 

Our next-up Inspiration Lab is with Amy Tangerine on July 31st! I hope you will be able to join this special gathering with her. I am definitely looking forward to embracing the ongoing analogue journey:) 

xoxo

-wakako

Analogue system: Simplified

It's hard to believe we have crossed 1/2 mark of the year! How is your analogue system going??? Is your system still holding up to your hopes and dreams you set out at the beginning of this year?? At the end of last year, I wanted to simplify the system. (link here about the story) and it feels like the idea of "simplicity" is still very present in my life. What changed??? I have it even more simplified. Having gone through spring with a loss in our circle of friends and few other "life" staff, I really needed a fresh start. My metaphor is... that some people go out and buy a brand new sport car when they feel stuck in life..., I change up my analogue system instead! 

I am pretty happy with the current set up. It feeds both my soul and productivity in a balanced way! 

So here is the details.
Traveler's Notebook (regular size) as my planner & wallet. 
MD leather cover with A5 notebook for everything else. 

Pretty simple, right? 
My A5 size notebook with MD leather cover is much like Bullet Journal. It includes my personal reflection, letters I write for our girls and Frido, my weekly schedule, to-do list, ideas, BK documentation. It's EVERYTHING. I tend to write my letters to the girls on a horizontal format instead of everything else in a vertical format. It helps me to find those letters when I flip back the pages (instant warm and fuzzy feeling no matter how the day is going:) and I am hoping that it will help Satchi and Coco to find those words when they need it in the future. I also enjoy that every page on my A5 Notebook feels different. Truly reflective of what I am going through personally and what we are cooking up at home and at our BK studio. 

In the MD leather cover, I usually have one or two BK shop card tucked in the front and Lettermate template and postage stamps in the back along with my favorite Polaroid pic of Satchia and Coco. I often clip Lamy fountain pen or Kaweco fountain pen on the leather cover so I always have a pen with me and carry MIDORI brass pen in the leather cover pen loop while traveling. I left the notebook out in the sun when we were camping at Big Bear few weeks ago and Lamy pen clip left a crisp mark on my leather cover. I kind of like the detail and can't wait to see the leather wear in over time. 

I carry both Traveler's Notebook in my Superior Labor canvas pouch (large) or Paint Small Shoulder Bag and go through the pages whenever I have a pocket of downtime. It is refreshing to see and read through all the pages I have marked in a fresh set of eyes and I seem to catch most of the to-do list items over the course of time. 

A friend recently asked me what is the key to journaling everyday. 

I believe in staying true and not get too caught up in a certain style or format. And to remember life changes and evolves and so does our journaling pages. And at the end of the day... and beginning of next day, we are journaling for ourselves;)