The Journal Diaries- Amandine's Midori Traveler's Notebook

The Journal Diaries is a blog segment where we get a sneak peek into the journals, notebooks, organizers and diaries from creatives all over the world. My special guest today is Amandine from France.

- Hi Amandine! Tell us a little more about yourself!
Hi Michelle, thanks for getting me to do this, it’s been fun thinking about stuff that I do as pretty much second nature now. So, I’m newly 32, and living in Paris with my long time partner. I sell cameras for a living and buy them for fun.

- How long have you been journaling for, and how did your love for journaling all begin?
I’ve been journaling for pretty much as long as I can remember. I always have written stuff down to remember it, I’ve always kept movie ticket stubs, random notes and just wrote to make use of the numerous pens I’ve always loved more than toys, even as a kid. 

- What inspires you to write?
Everything, nothing. Mostly it’s traveling, sometimes work. I love lists. I write lists of everything, from the movies I watch, the shows I follow, the books I read, the music I want to add to my iTunes, to the restaurants I want to try out. I’m a natural born lister.

- How long have you been using your Midori Traveler's Notebook for, and what drew you to it in the first place?
I have had it for a few years now. I got my first regular sized brown as a birthday gift in 2012 after months of drooling on Patrick Ng’s Flickr posts. The system felt right immediately. It’s both rigid and free enough and I just really love it. I used to use soft cover Moleskine notebooks but my TN feels more complete and better suited to my needs.

- Is your Traveler's Notebook used solely as a travel journal, or do you use it for other things as well?
I use my TN every day. I use both a diary booklet (that I also use for daily planning with the addition of a Field Notes notebook) and a kraft book I use for collages, list pasting and random doodling. For travel, I also like to use a passport size TN with a Field Notes notebook insert and stuff  that with receipts, instax and random things like the stamps you can find at subway stations in Tokyo for example.

- Does it go everywhere with you, or is it kept mainly at home?

Depends on how big my bag is for the day. Though some would say my bag is always too big and too full. It always travels with me though, it’s just the right size to hold plane tickets as well as my passport.

- Which size do you find most convenient for you, the passport or the regular, or both?

I do love and use both. The regular size has been with me the longest so it feels like my main love but I’ve learned that both are useful to me.

- Do you mind sharing how you currently have your regular size TN set up? 
I have two notebooks, a 2016 weekly diary as well as a kraft insert.  Surrounded by two plastic folders. A clear one for cards and instax and misc. stuff and a Pan Am because it’s really pretty and blue.

 - Is there a particular time of day that you find yourself using your traveler's notebook more than others?
I like using it really early in the morning to set up my day or really late at night to debrief and figure out what I have to do next. It settles me and quiets my mind.

- Do you have any favorite accessories that you keep or use with your Traveler's Notebook? 
I have two pen holders, some samples of washi stored in either of  the two zipper pouches. I never leave the house without a Field Notes, preferably tucked into the TN’s elastic. I’m addicted to stamps and stickers, so anything of the sort I can get my hands on goes straight into the TN or FN. I also use two clips on either side of the refills I’m writing on to keep the TN open.

- What are your go-to pens (or all-time favorite ones) at the moment?
I love anything with a fine point such as the Sakura Micron 005 or Hi Tec C 0.3. The Zebra Sarasa 0.3 is also a favourite. My favourite fountain pens to use right now are the TWSBI Eco with a stub nib and Kaweco  AL Sport stonewashed in blue with a stub nib as well. I love stub nibs.

- Are there any craft or stationery stores that you favor?
Muji is always a favourite. As for more specialised stationery in Paris, there is this awesome shop called Merci where I can actually get my hands on TN related things and other great stationery items. Otherwise I loved going to Loft in Tokyo and of course the Traveler’s Factory both in Nakameguro and the Narita Airport shop. Online, Jetpens is always a good site to keep my eye on for super fine pens and fountain pens.

  - Favorite color?
Blue, no question.

- Favorite food?
Anything over rice. Savoury things, rather than sweet. Also coffee, if coffee is considered a food, because to me it pretty much is.

- What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Hmm. I studied to be a lawyer. Liked photography much better.

- What advice, tip, or suggestion would you give for anyone looking to start their own path in journaling?
Just go ahead and try it. It’s fine if you don’t do it every day. Also, don’t be intimidated by pristine blank pages. And watch what other people are doing. Instagram is a perpetual source of inspiration to me.

- Other than writing, what are some of your other hobbies and interests?
I love film photography, I collect vintage cameras as well as 35mm and 120mm film. My favourite are my Rolleiflex and my brown Polaroid SX70. I’m also a big fan of Hercule Poirot in every incarnation and can’t go to bed without reading for a good long while.

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Amandine, thank you so much for giving us a peek and sharing your Traveler's Notebooks with us!

And for all you wonderful readers looking to find more of Amandine's travel adventures and daily journalings, you can find her hanging out here-
INSTAGRAM: @ragemost


**Click here to see more journal inspirations and past guests on The Journal Diaries.**