On the quest for a life well lived and loved.

Greetings from California, and a happy new year. I am preparing this story to share with you as we count down the last few days of 2023. I am in awe of the mere fact that we have been breathing life into BK for another year.

2023 has taught me many lessons, but the one that stands out the most is how much personal writing can mean to our inner journey. I felt the resonant power of personal writing from the interactions I had with our community, as well as my experience of reading and reflecting on my past writings. The inner world that each of us holds within ourselves is extensive if we gather enough courage to open and walk through the door. Once we step in, though, the mystical world can expand beyond our conscious thoughts. You can call it our subconscious realm, flow state, dream condition, or however you might define it. I definitely felt and explored my inner world deeply this year and enjoyed witnessing how it reflected in my every day. Through these processes, the one constant has been the presence of my favorite pen and notebook. By journaling and writing, the landmarks in my inner landscape have been remapped, and the once-lost trail that threads the past, present, and future has been synthesized.

Stories that are shared this month both portray unique maps. A.C.’s JIYU Monthly story is a visual catalog of their time spilling out of the pages. Their compositions and color schematics are always so intriguing to look at, and I appreciate them sharing a creative idea like a “palette log,” which they use on their monthly overview pages at the beginning of the JIYU notebook. 

Trina interviewed her friend Khristina about her passion for keeping a journal, starting from a very young age. I am so inspired by her archive of past personal writings and planners that are treasured to be shared with her daughter in the future when the time is right. Having a tangible record of how her life has shifted and evolved over decades must be such a priceless experience.

Past writings I left behind in my old journals are crumbles that are waiting to be found, while blank pages that are open for the future ink feel like an expansiveness of the blue sky. With this inner knowing that each of us could open the door of the inner world, I feel so honored and grateful to be a part of your analogue journey through Baum-kuchen.

More than ever, I am on the quest for a life well-lived and loved, and I hope you join along!

-wakako

always a work in progress...

Northern California // January 1st, 2024

 
NOTEBOOK PEOPLE: An Interview with Khristina Westbrook-Fordham // Trina O’Gorman

NOTEBOOK PEOPLE: An Interview with Khristina Westbrook-Fordham // Trina O’Gorman

 
JIYU Monthly - 2023 Season Finale // A.C.

JIYU Monthly - 2023 Season Finale // A.C.

 
Layers of Happiness in the 5-year journal // Wakako

Layers of Happiness in the 5-year journal // wakako

 
Recipe of Baum-kuchen via Substack

More Stories from the Canyon and the Road via Substack // wakako

 
Postalco Snap Binders
[BK Original Postcard] Field Study
MIDORI Compact XS Collection
 
[Kuretake] Gansai Tambi Watercolor Travel Kit // 14 colors
Journey Bag
[Classiky] Toga Wood Small Box
 
Traveler's Notebook
Hobonichi A5 cover
Hobonichi 5-year Techo
 
YouTubeInstagramWebsite
 
  Share 
  Tweet 
  Forward 

www.baum-kuchen.net

You're receiving this newsletter (we think of it as a love letter:) because you have accepted marketing when you created an account at Baum-kuchen. Thank you so much for reading! 

Preferences  |  Unsubscribe