1. When and how did you begin journaling or keeping planners? Has
your relationship to journals changed during the years?
I started keeping my first journal when I was 10 years old. The
entries were short and colourful. I used all the coloured pens I
owned. It was only writing for a long time until I saw the movie „Cruel
Intentions“ for the first time. And while
all my friends fell in love with Sebastian, I fell in love with his
journal. From then on, I started decorating my pages. With drawings and
pictures I cut out of magazines and catalogues. With my very first
salary of my very first summer job, I bought my first
leather journal. It was a suede leather wrap around with a
non-replacable notebook inside. I think until this day, it’s the most
elaborate and thoughtfully filled journal I ever had. I even gave all my
entries a title! And yes, I still have this journal,
securely tucked away in my attic. Growing into adulthood with responsibilities—especially after moving out of my parents’ house—journaling gradually faded into the background. I kept buying notebooks (I have a vast collection by now), but I didn’t use them anymore.
Until one fine day in 2019, I was talking to a friend about putting photos in journals, and I started looking for washi tapes—without even knowing what they were called. As a Pinterest user, it didn’t take long to stumble upon scrapbooking, and I was hooked!
It reminded me of art projects at school, and the more I explored, the more intrigued I became. Around the same time, I discovered refillable leather journals—and down the rabbit hole I went! I started my first journal-related Instagram account, where I shared my scrapbooking and, later, more minimal collage work—mostly without writing.
Eventually, I found my way back to writing by collecting poems and quotes, before returning to journaling about myself and my life again.
As addicting as social media can be, I began pushing myself to create more and more to satisfy an audience that was mostly anonymous to me, instead of focusing on myself. Eventually, I burned out creatively. I was so tired of collaging that I didn’t even want to see the work of others anymore—work I had admired for years.
Still, I wanted to stay connected, and I still needed a creative outlet. So I decided to start from scratch and shift my focus to my other passion: photography. That’s when I started the cozy account I have now—where journaling is more or less just a side character in the content I produce. This shift gave me the freedom I needed: to create in my journals without the pressure of being liked by others, and to make mini-setups for my notebooks that my followers can enjoy. That’s why I rarely share decorated pages and only show selected writings—because, after all, it’s very personal.
You could say I’ve basically gone back to my roots, journaling-wise: simply pen on paper.
But instead of magazine cutouts, I now prefer photos and tapes to decorate my entries.
2. What does journaling mean to you?
A while ago, I read something like, “A journal is a friend who listens without judgment,” and I think that pretty much sums it up. In my journal, I can speak my mind openly, without any filter—whether I’m feeling joy and happiness over the most random things, or I’m frustrated and angry. My journal is a valve—a safe space to share and vent without fear of being judged. It keeps me grounded. It keeps me sane.
3. What are your favorite tools and materials to use?
Ever since I discovered Sterling Ink notebooks, they’ve become my absolute favorite to write in! My go-to pen is the Uni-Ball One F with a 0.38mm tip—smooth on every type of paper I’ve tried so far.
When it comes to decorating, I’m a big fan of PET tapes, journaling cards, and all kinds of photos. Most of my journals are housed in leather covers. The more dents and scratches they have, the better—because a well-used journal is a well-loved one.
-----
Thank you, Marina, for the lovely answers!
Until next time,
Marianne
