Editing The Pen Addict 517/transcript (section)

== Peak Stationery Journey ==


'''Brad:''' That's pretty amazing. So I think about that time, like, that's really not that long ago. But then, like, probably you and I can sit here and think about, like, that's ages ago. And, like, the things that we use and, like, how our tastes have changed. But it's funny, it's as busy and as active as, like, the communities were at that time. I think it's just still, like, a straight line trajectory up from then till now. Like, it has not stopped. Absolutely. At least in my perspective. Yeah.

'''April:''' A hundred percent.

'''Brad:''' So is that when all the, you started to do, like, the Instagram and started sharing more of your things online? You're starting to meet people and learning more stuff online. Is that around when your, like, your Instagram started? Like, what was your first kind of stationary social media platform? When did that start?

'''April:''' That was the same time, 2015. Okay.

'''Brad:''' That's what I was thinking.

'''April:''' Early 2015. So up till March, I haven't been sharing much. I did share that in the woods experience with the Hobonichi users groups. And then after that, I started my Instagram account. I rebranded from Penguin's Artist to Penguin's Creative. And I started sharing my Hobonichi spreads. So that was how it began. And I turned on YouTube. I think that was when YouTube creators and, like, planner journaling videos were starting to take off as well. And I watched those on a daily basis. And I was like, I could do some of these. So I started my YouTube channel. I started posting on Instagram. And then started being super active. Like, I somehow became one of the moderators in the Hobonichi users group throughout that year. And then when time comes for me to go to the U.S., I was like, I've been talking to all these people on the other side. Like, via English, obviously, I was connecting with all these people in the U.S. over Hobonichi. I was like, can we meet up? Like, can I actually find these people? And so, and that was my first time in the U.S. I was like, I need to make friends. I have no idea what this world is like. So I was in Boston. I was traveling to all these cities. And whenever I travel, I would put a shout out in the group. Be like, hey, anyone uses Hobonichi? Do you want to meet up? And I know, being that person myself, that people like us are dying to talk about pens and, like, journals and stuff to people who would listen to us. So those shout outs worked. And I actually got to, like, through the Internet, through being in these Facebook groups, got to meet a lot of people and make friends in different cities, actually. And built, like, a very solid frequent journaling meetup group in whichever city I was in for that period of time. And when I finally settled in Seattle for, like, because I graduated and I finally had a solid job here. And that was when I really, like, took it off even deeper with the podcast and, like, with the community and all that stuff. That's amazing. And like you said, the growth of stationary variety has not stopped for a second since then.

'''Brad:''' Yeah, yeah, not at all. So we're going to dig into more planner-specific stuff later, including what you're doing now. Wink, wink. But I want to know what it was about the Hobonichi product at the time that allowed just such an expressiveness for you to not only enjoy your stationary from a personal perspective, but, like, what do you enjoy the most about sharing, you know, Hobonichi layouts and spreads and things like that?

'''April:''' I think the Hobonichi is still my ride or die planner, even up to today. Like, I think I will either it or me is going to go out first. Like, I love my Hobonichi. I've been using it, like I said, since 2014, never stopped using it. And I think what I love about it is how well it holds together every single day of my life and its memories and the people I've met, the things I've done, all together in this sturdy, amazing binding. Like, it's not even about the paper. It's the binding.

'''Brad:''' Which is, like, the paper's wafer thin. Like, this should not work, right? Exactly, yeah.

'''April:''' And then compound with, obviously, amazing paper, Tomor River paper through its ups and downs. And the fountain pen compatibility, now that I'm getting into this deeper end of the stationary obsession, it just holds up and it fits with everything. Everything goes into it. I was able to keep up with every page. And I think that's the best part about a hobby is to see progress, right? Like, any hobby or interest is to have physical evidence of daily growth or daily improvement or deterioration, whatever. And Hobonichi gives me that. Like, I know that I, just like I felt with my first Hobonichi in that gap year, I did not waste a single day of my life knowing each day in my Hobonichi, I can find something that I'm pretty, like, happy or proud of or can smile about. So, yeah.

'''Brad:''' So, I had this thought when I was putting together these notes and it didn't hit me until I was, like, actually typing these up.

'''April:''' Mm-hmm.

'''Brad:''' And knowing you like I do and being able to talk to you and seeing everything that you do. Yeah. Does everything with you start with the journal and then transition into the broader stationary scope? Hey, then we have the pens and the stickers and the washi and, you know, the inks and things like that. Because I was thinking about it for myself. It's kind of the reverse, right? When I look at the things that I like and the things that I do, I tend to start with the pen and then, you know, secondarily I get into, you know, the paper and other things like that. Am I onto something there with how you create things and how you use things?

'''April:''' I think you're right. I think it does start with the journal with me. Like, I've always kept a diary or journal throughout my whole life. Like, even as a kid, we get assignments to do these, like, do those and then you write about your day. You know, I've always been, I like that process, I guess, of documenting. And then when Hobonichi came along, it was, like, the first expensive, like, book that actually made me want to, like, write something worthy in it. Even though it didn't really, like, not everything is, like, worthy of the Hobonichi, but whatever. And I love the Hobonichi because the, like you said, it started with the page and the intention to record. The intention to, like, keep track of what's good and bad in my life. And then the pens come after that. Like, okay, I can put different colors on different pages based on my moods. And then the stickers come after that because, like, oh, these are cute. I think of stickers as collections of arts and I want to, like, put them into my journal because they make me happy for that day. And it always starts with that day anyway. And then anything afterwards, like, whenever, I love collecting ephemera. And then I love putting them into my Hobonichi because they make up my day. So, again, it goes back to the intention of wanting to document, wanting to, uh, Hobonichi has that saying, happy birthday, like, omedeto, like, something inside the each of the cover. It basically means not every day has to be, like, the special day. Any day could be celebrated. And so I really can relate to that. And it's just part of, like, you know, my stationary hobby is this intention to capture my day as a very normal small person in this giant world. Like, I mean something, I guess. And then all the stationary surrounds the book. Yeah. Like, they surround me now.

'''Brad:''' Okay. So that leads me into my next question. I'm going to ask for your utmost honesty in replying to this question. How many journals and planners are you actively using right now?

'''April:''' So who watched my video?