my obsession

A sampling of my marker collection

I admit, I have a thing for stationery. Notebooks, paper, pens, markers, post it notes, stickers...I love it all. I currently have enough pens (and notebooks) to last me a lifetime. But I will buy more. There's always something new to try.

I've had the obsession my whole life. I loved back to school supply shopping. And when I went to school in the 1970's-'80's there was no where near the interesting selection of goodies that there is today! I had an extensive sticker collection in the '80's organized by type and sparkle factor - scratch & sniff were my favourite. I have a distinct memory of receiving a fabulous pen shaped like a lollipop in my Easter basket when I was about 10. The pen ink smelled like lemon and wrote in yellow. Best Easter gift ever - thanks Easter bunny!

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Sweatshirt from our BTS 1988 season. I graduated in 1988 so I have never been able to part with this.

My first job was at Willson Stationers at Wesmount Mall in Edmonton. Remember Willson's? Actually, remember when Westmount was a real mall? And Woodward's...

I loved working at Willson's! I started when I was 16 and worked there through high school and university. BTS season (Back to School for those not in the biz) was my favourite time. I could sell a Cross Pen set and knew which Smith Corona ribbon fit which typewriter like nobody's business. Don't even get me started on colour coded filing systems.

(Aside: For more insight about why I love planning and planning tools, check out this post)

I've recently discovered this whole online community of people who are way more obsessed with stationery and planning than I am. It's awesome!

This month I purchased the most beautiful leather notebook from Chic Sparrow. It's a traveler's notebook style (Midori created the original traveler's notebook). The leather is called creme, and the colour is chocolate brown.  It is divine. The leather is smooth and supple...and it smells so good! The notebook is simple and beautiful. The system has four elastics inside the cover to string notebooks through, an elastic closure and I had the pen loop added. I will take the notebook traveling with the following set up:

• Plastic zipper pocket/folder from Midori for some stickers and post it notes
• Kraft folder from Midori for journalling cards and to hold things I collect
  
• 2016 monthly calendar from May Designs
• Moleskine cahier with all our travel and tour details outlined
• Explore notebook from May Designs to journal daily

May Designs notebooks are really great. They are stitched with a canvas cover that you can personalize and choose what type of pages you would like inside.

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Oh, and the splurge item I purchased this week. The Polaroid Zip printer to print photos from my phone. It is so cute and perfect for travel. Look how it compares to the size of my business card.

I'm excited that I will be able to print off some of my photos from the day and put them right in to my daily journal pages. The printer paper for the Zip is actually sticker paper so it will be quick and easy to print and stick some photos to my pages.

The next thing I want is a TWSBI fountain pen but that will have to wait until after the trip.

My dream job is to open a mobile paper store in a renovated Airstream. That way I can travel and surround myself with stationery awesomeness. I would also sell tea out of my Airstream. And maybe stroopwafles. A girl has to dream!

Well now that you know about my obsession, my birthday is in October.