For one reason or another, October has felt slightly stressful. It’s also reached that time of year where it’s cold and dark, so I feel like I’ve had quite a low energy month.
Perhaps because of this, my goals have really suffered, and I feel like I haven’t achieved much in October. However, I spent quite a bit of time with my pens, both journaling and commonplacing, which I’ve found very soothing. I personally find the tactile feel of pen on paper to be really calming, and a good way to get away from screens. Not to mention that journaling especially is a great way to clear your head.
In terms of the stationery I’ve enjoyed this month, let’s start with the pens:
Fountain Pens
I reduced and reorganised my fountain pen collection this month, which was really fun! I got to essentially shop my own collection, and rediscover a lot of my older pens that I haven’t used in a while.
Many of my ‘starter fountain pens’ I feel I’ve outgrown, and have now sold or given away, but some others I’ve rekindled my love for, primarily the Pilot Kakuno and my one reliable Platinum Preppy (I know people love them, but I’ve had terrible luck with Preppy nibs!).
My favourite Kakuno is this Pokemon one, and I have it inked with Noodlers Concord Bream. I haven’t used this ink for a while, as in thicker nibs it’s terrible for feathering and bleeding through, but it’s a match made in heaven in this fine Pilot nib.
My Preppy (the Bats and Willow Modern Maki-E version) is inked with Tom’s Studio Strawberry Jam, and I’m really enjoying this combo. When Preppys are good, they’re good!
And then of course there’s my new pen, the Leonardo Momento Zero Confettini, which I adore! I kind of blew my fountain pen day budget on this, so I’m going to have to behave myself this month!
Notebooks
This month has been all about journaling and commonplacing.
For commonplacing I’m still using my beloved Midori Commonplace book.
For journaling I’m in a B5 Leuchtturm 1917 notebook. I’ve never used a B5 journal before, but I’m really liking it. I tend to do a set amount per entry when I journal – in an A5 notebook (my usual size), I do 2 sides. In the B5 notebook I’ve been doing one page, and it feels like the perfect amount. Since I’m only doing a page an entry, and I don’t necessarily journal every single day, this notebook should last me ages!
Personal Curriculum
As I mentioned earlier, my goals went off a cliff this month, so I didn’t get to most of my curriculum.
The only things I did were:
- Start listening to the audiobook of Queens and Kings: An Unusually Personal History by Lucy Worsley.
- I wrote 3,442 words of my novel.
- I finished the cross stitch I was doing for my friend for Christmas (I won’t show it here, in case she reads my blog!).
I will still try to complete my goals for October, but I think I might put my Personal Curriculum project on hold until the New Year. I already know I won’t have much time or bandwidth for the next couple of months, so I’d be setting myself up for failure!
So how has your October been? What have been your stationery favourites of the month?
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