As we continue to partner with leading brands in the industry, it was fitting that Tombow is featured as our first Maker of 2019. Our brands both value superior quality and artistic grade products.
“At Tombow, we’re passionate about offering the finest and most innovative stationery and arts and crafts products on the market today. Whatever your project, from hand-lettering to paper crafting to fine art, you can count on Tombow for unmatched quality and design.”
Read more about the Tombow brand and how they are making an impact on stationery trends below!
What tips do you have for those looking to start journaling?
Journaling is such a personalized hobby that allows you to really make it your own. If you want to get started journaling, our best advice is to find a method that works best for you. Some people prefer very ornate styles of journaling with lots of embellishments by adding illustrations, hand-lettering, stickers and more to the page; whereas other people prefer the bare bone approach with just the essential information jotted down in their notebooks. The best part of journaling is that there are no rules – you can put in tons of pre-planning and map out exactly how you want your journal to flow, or you can start fresh on each new page without worrying about what came before it or what will come after.
Are there different creative journaling techniques? How do you know which is best for you?
There are so many different creative journaling techniques – from planning to tracking to mind-mapping and just about everything in between. Knowing which is best for you comes down to the goal you have for yourself when starting a journal. Is it for planning out your days, weeks, months, or even your entire year? Or is it for setting goals, developing plans to meet those goals, and keeping yourself accountable along the way? What about just keeping track of your everyday life, like which books you’re reading or which TV show you want to watch next? Or maybe there is a creative pursuit, like hand-lettering or illustration, that you want to use a journal for each day to enhance your skill set? Determining the purpose of your journal is your first step in figuring out what type of creative journaling techniques will work best for you.
Can creative journaling improve your writing skills?
Creative journaling can absolutely improve your writing skills! If the purpose of your journal involves writing each day, you can definitely use it to improve your writing skills.
How can creative journaling benefit daily life?
Creative journaling can benefit your daily life in many ways. Some people find it relaxing to keep up with their journal each day, or they get great joy out of looking back on everything they’ve accomplished while using a particular journal. If you choose to use your creative journal to help hone a new skill, it can be very rewarding to watch as that skill grows and develops. People who use journals for planning purposes can also benefit by staying organized and prepared for whatever comes their way.
Why is creative handwriting still important in the digital age?
Creative handwriting is especially important in the digital age because it gives people the opportunity to step away from the screen and put pen to paper. This is a hobby that has a very low barrier to entry – all you need is a pen/marker and piece of paper to get started! And the best part is that anyone can learn how to do it. You don’t have to take classes (although they definitely help), or have special credentials, or even have good handwriting. It truly is a hobby that anyone and everyone can partake in.
Are there any therapeutic DIY activities you see trending in particular with your customers?
The therapeutic DIY activities we’re seeing the most right now include hand-lettering/modern calligraphy, creative journaling, doodling, and water-coloring. Each of these activities is something that pretty much anyone can learn, which is why we believe so many people are attracted to them.
Are there certain pens you recommend for certain activities?
There are! For hand-lettering/modern calligraphy we recommend using our Fudenosuke Brush Pens (which are a favorite among beginners), as well as our Dual Brush Pens. Since the Dual Brush Pens are water-based, they’re also perfect for water-coloring – just add a bit of water to the ink and you have an effortless watercolor look. For creative journaling and doodling, we recommend our MONO Drawing Pens, TwinTone Dual-Tip Markers, MONO Drawing Pencils, and MONO Erasers. The Fudenosukes and Dual Brush Pens are also great options for creative journaling and doodling!
To shop the full assortment of Tombow writing products click here!