#the paper is the perfect thickness the size of the book is great its spiral binded it has a strap so i can carry pens n shit im very excited

[starry-toya]

im on the last page of my sketchbook that I started back in march 2022 woah

[stationerystore]

Unleashing Creativity: Exploring the Wonders of a Stationery Store

Discovering the Art of Writing and Beyond

A stationery store is a treasure trove of creativity and productivity, filled with items that can elevate your work, studies, and artistic endeavors. Whether you're a student, a professional, or someone looking to tap into your creative side, these stores have something for everyone. Here are some of the fascinating things you can find at a stationery store:

1. Pens and Pencils Galore

A good pen or pencil can make all the difference in your writing experience. Stationery stores offer a wide variety of writing tools, including:

- Ballpoint pens: Known for their smooth writing and longevity

- Gel pens: Popular for their vibrant colors and smooth ink flow

- Fountain pens: Elegant and sophisticated, perfect for calligraphy and formal writing

- Mechanical pencils: Great for precise drawing and writing without the need for sharpening

2. Notebooks and Journals for Every Need

Jotting down your thoughts, ideas, and plans has never been more enjoyable, with a diverse array of notebooks and journals available. Some options include:

- Spiral notebooks: Ideal for taking notes in class or during meetings

- Composition books: Sturdy and versatile, perfect for journaling or creative writing

- Bullet journals: A customizable planner system that combines to-do lists, agendas, and diary entries

- Sketchbooks: Designed for artists, with thick, high-quality paper to prevent bleed-through

3. Art Supplies for the Aspiring Picasso

Unleash your inner artist with a wide range of art supplies, such as:

- Colored pencils: Available in various shades and qualities for blending and shading

- Paints: From watercolors to acrylics, find the perfect medium for your masterpiece

- Brushes: A variety of sizes and shapes to suit your painting technique

- Drawing pens: Create intricate illustrations with fine-tipped pens and markers

4. Organization Essentials

Stay on top of your tasks and appointments with handy organization tools like:

- Planners and agendas: Keep track of important dates and events

- Filing supplies: Organize your documents with folders, binders, and dividers

- Sticky notes: Leave reminders for yourself or communicate with coworkers and family members

- Desk organizers: Tidy up your workspace with pen holders, paper trays, and storage boxes

5. Personalized Stationery

Add a touch of personality to your correspondence with customized stationery items such as:

- Personalized notepads and letterheads: Make a statement with your own unique design

- Customized stamps: Create your own designs or choose from pre-made templates

- Wax seals: Elevate your letters with a touch of old-world charm

- Greeting cards: Express your sentiments with beautifully designed cards for any occasion

Conclusion: A World of Possibilities Awaits

A stationery store is more than just a place to buy pens and paper; it's a gateway to countless creative and productive possibilities. From honing your artistic skills to organizing your life, these stores have everything you need to make the most of your talents and passions. So, the next time you visit a stationery store, take the time to explore its wonders and ignite your creativity.

[between-two-fandoms]

If I've got any followers who are fellow witches here are a few cheap/closeted witch tips I've picked up over the past year as a baby witch.😀❤

If your a witch with other tips up your sleeves feel free to comment/repost listing them!

Grimoires/Book Of Shadows:

The great thing about your BoS is that it can be tailored to your needs and no one else's! It can be anything from a fluffy pink journal with a diary lock to something out of Charmed or Hocus Pocus. Below is a list of few BoS's I've used/thought about using.

I'm also suggesting Molly Robert's Rock Your Grimoire video on You Tube, she's a queen and I love her.

Create something out of an old book no one in your house is going to look for! Throughout your journey you can black out pages/words and find hidden messages or just cover the pages with something else you've created!

Go to your local Dollar Store! Dollar stores are often overlooked by the mundane, but most carry a plethora of spiral-bound notebooks perfect for hiding witchy secrets in.

Michael's and other craft stores! My current BoS is a small Artists Loft brand sketchbook that cost less than $5. The pages are thick enough for me to use watercolor and my Ohuhu markers, there is some ghosting on the other side of the page.

Make it yourself! Take a few sheets of normal printer paper and staple/sew them together!

An extra tip: depending on your craft write in a secret language only you can decipher! By this I dont mean Theban/Norse-Pagan alphabets. (If you're closeted someone might take the letters as some sort of evil/dark magic. Write in hyphens or spell out words differently than you normally would. Substitute sigils or symbols for certain words, remember to keep your key in a safe place outside of your BoS so if someone finds it they can't read it.

Tools, ect:

Tools are often used in witchcraft to help channel your energy into a spell/potion without leaving you exhausted. In an ideal world we'd all be able to live in a witchy aesthetic but unfortunately that is not always the case. Halloween is often a great time to find witch/themed tools if you really want to have a certain look.

For cauldrons all you need is a container. A ceramic bowl you decorated with sigils/symbols, something from the dollar store you thought was "pretty" so you bought it.

Candles are often used in the spells I work with since I mainly practice elemental/color magic. Tea light candles are great for short spells and you can easily hide them in shoeboxes/drawers. The Dollar Store and Target/Walmart are great places to go to find candles. They also often sell black candles during Halloween so keep an eye out!

Wands are used as a way to channel your energy for a spell your performing. It doesnt matter what your wand looks like, or is made out of, but from what I've seen through research sticks are often more powerful as they're found in nature. Since I am still technically a "closeted" witch my wand is currently just a normal stick I felt pulled towards while on a walk.

Alters are actually easier to hide than some people may originally think. Shoe boxes work great for this, or small containers like Altoid mints or those soap bar holder things. Recently I've taken to hiding my stuff in an old cosmetics makeup bag and it just sits on my shelf until I need to use it.

Potions/spell jars also dont need to be super expensive or witchy looking. For my moon/sun water I've got an emptied peanut butter jar that sits on my windowsill. I've drawn protection and banishment sigils underneath the lid to keep out any unwanted energies. (Since I'm often using watercolors on artworks my family just assume its extra paint water.) For potion bottles you can take really anything. I like to use emptied travel shampoo/conditioner bottles and cleanse them using moon water and a quick spell. Emptied acrylic paint bottles are also a good size for potions or containers to hold dirt/herbs/ect.

I hope this helps some of my fellow closeted/on a budget witches out there!❤

Remember: Witchcraft isn't a one-way path. Do your own research and find out what works best for you!

[drawpaintcolor]

7 Best Sketchbooks for Markers

In this article, we will be talking about the best sketchbooks for markers. So if you are looking for a great sketchpad for your drawings, you’ve come to the right place. Read along!

Just like other media, markers need special paper so that you can make the best use out of them. Markers dispense ink that your normal, regular paper can’t handle. When you use thin paper when drawing with a marker, you’ll notice how it bleeds on the other side and sometimes stain the next page.

Wet mediums like markers are demanding and fixing mistakes can be a bit harder. That’s why having the right type of paper to draw on is important to make sure that you don’t ruin your drawings.

Marker IssuesBleeding

The biggest issue about markers for artists is that the marker ink bleeds through the paper very easily. The alcohol-based marker ink is very thin making it dry up faster and it makes the marker lines blur and spread over the contours of a paper.

You’d think that using a thicker paper will solve this issue but the thing with thicker paper is it uses up more ink making your marker finish up faster. For this same reason is why papers for watercolor and acrylic are not ideal for markers.

Most artists have simply lived with the bleeding by only using one side of the paper sheets all the time then just putting something beneath it so that they won’t stain the next page.

Ink Feathering

This term is used when the ink leaks outside the area you’ve drawn the marker to. This can happen when too much ink is applied or if the paper is too textured. Ink feathering shouldn’t be a problem when you use smooth, high-quality paper.

What to Look for in Sketchbooks for MarkersPaper Texture and Finish

Most markers bleed through papers easily and this is an important factor to keep in mind when choosing your sketchbooks. If you want to highlight details, crisp lines, and sharp edges of your art, consider getting smooth papers. They are ideal for alcohol-based markers that can refine these features.

If you want your artwork to have that dramatic brush effects while keeping the vibrance of your colors, choose rough surface papers. Also, this type of paper is mostly bleed-resistant so you can use the other side of the paper.

Avoid highly absorbent paper. Those papers made for acrylic, gouache, and watercolor paints are not suitable for markers because those papers are manufactured to be absorbent.

Paperweight and Thickness

The weight and thickness of your sketchbook paper are other things to consider. Since you will be working with markers that dispense ink, you will need a paper that does not bleed through or smear. Therefore the high-quality heavyweight paper is the most ideal option.

Brands use GSM (grams per square meter) to determine the weight of paper. Your sketchbook will need to have at least 135 gsm for optimum paperweight and thickness.

Paper Quality and Color

Another factor to look out for is the paper quality and color. Check the label of the sketchbook and make sure it is acid-free. Acid-free papers prevent discoloration and fading. It preserves the color of your art over time.

Sketchbooks also come in various paper colors. The most commonly used are white, off-white, and ivory, but there are also sketchbooks that come in darker colors of tan, beige, and gray.

Sketchbook Size

This factor will depend on your personal preference. Are you the type to bring along your sketchbooks when you go out? Do you like heading out to draw landscapes and sceneries? If so, you will want a sketchbook that will easily fit into your bag. There are many different sizes of sketchbooks you can choose from and its portability highly depends on your activities and preferences.

Sketchbook Binding and Cover

A sketchbook’s cover and binding will determine its durability and longevity. Sketchbooks with spiral binding will allow you to flip the pages easily and lay them flat on the surface for easy sketching. This is the perforated type and you’ll want this option if you want to tear the sheets easily.

If you prefer to have your pages without perforations, the glue-bound sketchbooks will be your best pick. The downside for this type is that the binding is not very durable, however, you will be able to tear your sheets neatly.

As for the cover, if you want enhanced durability, go for hardbound sketchbooks.

Price

Lastly, you might also want to consider the prices of the available sketchbooks on the market. If you’ve not yet sure about your preferences, it’s better to try the cheaper sketchbook. Test it out and figure out what you like and don’t like about it before spending more on a more expensive sketchbook.

Best Sketchbook for Markers

Canson XL Series Marker Paper Pad

Canson is one of the most reputable and trusted companies for their quality papers for different mediums and that’s why this product is number one on our list. Right off the bat, you’ll immediately know which medium this pad is for and it is specifically designed for solvent-based and Copic markers.

This sketchpad provides you the ideal drawing surface to show off your rough sketches and artistic masterpieces. Aside from markers, this sketchbook is also great for ballpoint pens and pencils.

Its paper has the right weight that’s neither too light nor too thick and holds inks very well. The paper is smooth and is ideal for detailed strokes and crisp lines. The paper is slightly translucent and can be used as tracing paper to create straight lines and detailed sketch plans. What’s even greater is that even though it is transparent, the markers don’t bleed through the paper.

This sketchpad is glue-bound and the sheets are easy to remove.

Pros:

has 100 sheets

bleed and smudge-proof

smooth paper surface

Cons:

cover is flimsy

Buy on Amazon

Copic Markers SKBK9X12 Sketch Book

If you are looking for a specific sketchbook that will cater perfectly to your Copic markers, look no further because the same company also makes sketchbooks. And this pad is a hefty one. Not only is it bleed-proof, but its papers are also smooth and white that will let you work easily on your sketches.

This sketchbook has fifty 9×12 pages that will give you more than enough space to work on.

Pros:

Spiral-bound that lays perfectly flat

Very ideal for Copic Markers

The portable size that can fit easily in a backpack

Paper is smooth providing excellent blending

The cover is thick and durable

Cons:

there is some bleeding when blending some of the copic markers

Buy on Amazon

Crescent Creative Products 12-00011 Rendr Hardbound Sketchbook

This is one of the best sketchbooks for markers and is made with a special patented technology called the Rendr no-show tech that makes it not only bleed-proof but also makes sure that what you made in front is not visible on the other side. With this feature, you can use both sides of your paper without worrying that you’ll ruin the other side. Great, right?

This sketchbook is also hardbound and has a compact size of 8×11 inches which is very handy for you to take anywhere you go.

Pros:

Hardbound so it’s very durable

Compact and portable

Can be used with other media

Bleed-proof, smudge-proof, and has no show-thru tech

has 48 pages

the paper is smooth and thick (180 GSM)

Cons:

Does not lay flat

Expensive than other options

Buy on Amazon

Bee Paper Company Bleedproof Marker Pad

This brand, although not very popular yet, is known for its quality and affordability. This sketchpad is bleed-proof and acid-free, and the papers are smooth and thick allowing beautiful blending and layering. The paper is stark white which makes your drawings and illustrations pop out with color.

The sketchbook is 8.5×11 inches in dimension and you can choose between having 30 or 50 sheets. It is suitable for ballpoint pens, inks, and alcohol-based markers. The sketchbook’s binding is meant for easy sheet removal, too.

With its acid-free white paper and bleed-free design, this Bee Paper Company book is one of the best sketchbooks for markers.

Pros:

you can choose between 30- or 50-sheets

has a classic size that will allow you enough space for drawing and sketching

this sketchbook comes in different sizes

affordable than other brands

Cons:

some bleeding is noticed when using Copic markers

the binding is not very durable

Buy on Amazon

Strathmore 566-8 500 Series Hardbound Mixed Media Art Journal

Strathmore is a reputable brand that has been providing high-quality paper products for decades. This hardbound mixed media art journal has crisp white sheets that are 8.5×11 inches in dimension. This sketchbook is great not only for markers but also for other mixed media.

This journal has 32 sheets of thick white paper that is highly bleed-proof so you can use both sides of the paper.

Pros:

Hardbound and compact

Paper is pure cotton fiber, acid-free, and lignin-free

Cons:

might have bleeding when you layer on too many colors

Buy on Amazon

U.S. Art Supply Spiral Bound Sketchbook

This sketchbook is spiral-bound and is exquisite for your marker drawings. Its design makes it easy to flip and lay flat every time you sketch or draw.

The paper of this sketchbook is smooth and can hold markers without smudging and ink feathering. It is acid-free, which prevents the paper from discoloration and becoming brittle over time. It’s not only suitable for markers, but it’s also great for pens, pencils, charcoals, pastels, and more.

This sketchbook has durable hard cardboard back so you can draw with ease even when you don’t have a flat surface.

The size is portable as well, as it’s only 5.5×8.5 inches in dimension. You might think it’s too small but it’s really designed to be pocket-sized that will allow artists to take it with them wherever they go.

Pros:

Compact and portable

smooth and acid-free papers

has 100 pages

has sturdy cardboard back for support

Cons:

Pricey for its size

Buy on Amazon

Leda Art Supply Perfect Premium A5 SketchBook for Markers

This sketchbook is perfect to take with you when traveling. Its compact size is highly portable and it has a flexible waterproof cover. The sketchbook lays flat and it has an expandable pocket inside to keep extra papers, and it also has an elastic band to keep it closed.

This sketchbook is 8.25×5.55 inches in size and has 160 pages of 130GSM cream-colored paper. Papers in this sketchbook are smooth and perfect for markers without ink feathering on the pages.

Pros:

Compact and portable

has thick pages

can be used for mixed media

has a smooth writing surface

the cover provides great all-weather protection

Cons:

Copic markers may bleed through the paper

Buy on Amazon

FAQsWhat is a sketchbook for markers?

Just like the name suggests, it is a type of notebook made specifically for markers. The paper for this sketchbook provides a great workable surface for markers that will display your drawings, illustrations, sketches beautifully.

This type of sketchbook is ideal for markers. The paper’s characteristics such as weight, texture, finish, color, and thickness are made to cater to markers.

Why do you need sketchbooks for markers?

Markers dispense ink and regular thin papers can’t handle them. When you use a marker and draw on a regular piece of paper, it would result in bleeding, smearing, ink pooling, and feathering. This will make your artwork messy and unpleasant to the eyes.

If you are serious about making art with markers as your medium, it is highly recommended that you find the best sketchbooks for markers. With these sketchbooks, you won’t have to worry about bleeding and ruined artwork.

What are the most trusted marker sketchbook brands?

Some trusted sketchbook brands include Canson, Strathmore, Bee Paper Company, US Art Supply, and Leda Art.

How to use the sketchbook?

You use these sketchbooks just like how you use any regular sketchbooks. There are no rules or guidelines. You have all the freedom to use them as you want.

Where to buy it?

These sketchbooks are available on your local arts and crafts stores and they are also available on various shops online like Amazon and eBay.

We have linked the products mentioned above and these are affiliate links, which means when you buy through the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission to help us keep running this website.

So there you have it, we’ve gathered the best sketchbooks for markers to help you make your purchasing decision easier and more convenient. We’ve highlighted each sketchbook’s pros and cons so as to let you know what to expect when you do get them.

Overall, the choice will be entirely yours and will depend on your preferences and the techniques that you use.

Lastly, we hope this post has been helpful to you. As always, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy your art journey!

For more articles like this, make sure to visit our blog!

[wandering-artist-and-writer-ded]

Monster Capital: Haven

You walk down the pristine road. The bright, multicoloured, stone guides you through the lively forest. The clear sound of birds signing accompany the click of your pace as you make your way down. The road gives ample room for people to pass, on foot and by carriage. Flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colours adorn the side of the road, yet not one plant peaks through the stone. 

Although it is midday you know the scenery at night. When the sky goes to rest... no, when the sky comes alive with a different life. The world never rest, it just lives in a different way, and this path reflects it as well. The stones glow bright, illuminating the flowers around, when the trees far above are alight with the array of pastel colours. The pattern built into stone below reflecting in blurred accuracy lights above. It guides you just as well when dark as when the light greets you from above, whether you care for the night, or the light more. It cares for you.

The trees part as you reach the base of the mountain, although the peaks are by no means bare, a forest does stretch it’s length but here, it lets you see the glory you are about to ascend. A house open for all travellers to rest at sit, quiet and well maintain. You walk into it, the door opening with a gentle creak, as it welcome you into it’s warm embrace. Stepping in you see the furnishing, modest, humble, and yet still covered. Although the royal family pays for it to always be well stocked, furnished, and in great repair, many travellers often leave pieces of themselves, fragments of so many lives to be open to the new people.  I wind chime in the window, make of old glass and wrecked pieces of a city,  A shelf caring a battered book, inside lays only drawings, many of them unidentifiable due to age. Old antique cutlery, some of which can not be used due to age. On the beds lays unique draping of distant lands. A battered doll snuggled into one of the large beds, painting of mysterious animals. Or a simple stick,have shaven, and broken.

People leave a part of them here, if they desire, to welcome everyone else who steps foot in here.

You step up the stairs, the occasional one creaking as it finds itself in use. And you make your way to one of the beds, the decoration was appealing to your eyes, the colours blend in a way you find breathtaking. Either organized and carefully placed, or carelessly strewn around a mix of many things, many stories. You fall down into the bed. It’s soft and comfortable, curving around you to give you the most support it can. Immediate the weariness of your travel’s wash over you and your eyes close.

When your eyes open you are refreshed, ready to take on the day. and you smile enjoying the songs of the birds outside. Light filtered in through the window, a bright day outside calls to you. You get off the bed, the hurry down the stairs. As you reach fr the door it opens, and a figure stands in the doorway, stopping as you appear in their many eyes. They blink, each eye blinking at a different time as it focusing you in it’s many pupils. Then they open their mouth, a soft welcome greeting rolling off it’s tough, around the few large round teeth that are embedded within it’s gums.  They looks delighted to see you, and they extend a hand in a welcoming gesture. Before carefully making their way to the side, allowing you to pass by to where you were going. As you head out, they wave at you, a gentle smile on the Monster’s face. Overjoyed to see another new person. They like to make new friends after all.

The road starts to incline up. Gently turning to spiral around the mountain, It is a long walk up, and there are detours one can take t make it more direct, stairs for you to walk up if you chose, they span the entire mountain, you could find the path from anywhere on the mountain if you desired. to take the long path designed to allow those with wheels up, or the one of the many stairs to hike up the mountain. The choice is yours. Either way you are greeting to vast beautiful sights as you make your way up, a river that comes from the very peak of the mountain rush down the side, under various bridges built over them, perfect untouched clear water. Dipping your hand into it to take a sip, it is pure, fresh water. It returns your strength as is passes your lips. As you are about to leave you see a doll floating down. Luckily undamaged, but soaked by the water. the pastels blues and greens were untouched by the powerful liquid. You pick it up as it slowly passes your hands

It’s soft, yet strong. You examine it more closely and find places where it has gone dull, from time. It is obviously loved dearly.

It remains in your hand as you continue your climb. Under the soft trees, and around the gardens all scattered about, it’s filled with life, birds flutter arcs the tree tops, rabbits run from their holes, and bees buzz. You sit dfown for a rest on the side of the road, falling back onto the soft grass and flowers. Your head tilts up, and at the top of your sight you spot some glass, squinting your eyes you make out a window, and two curious eyes looking through it.  They jump up, trying to get a better look at you and wave, big shiny eyes stare at you with excitement before jumping down from the window. A door opens from somewhere near by and a monster possessing two huge eyes on their head comes out, trotting on their bizarrely formed legs, They lacked a neck, infact they jade no joints whatsoever. In their hands was a glass of some yellow drink, the come to yoiur side and kneel down, offering you the beverage. Lemonade they tell you, as you take the glass and look at it with with curiosity. And you take a small sip. Which reveals that it was, infact, lemonade nice and cool, a perfect mix of sweet and sour. You smile graciously as you slowly drink the offered refreshment, and they look pleased, chubby cheeks smiling with lopsided teeth.

You talk with the Monster a little. and hold out the doll for them to see, they [pick up the doll and turn it over. remarking it’s a beautiful thing, but not theirs. They would like one like that though, so the person who lost is but be very sad. They hope you find the owner of it.

So you continue to walk up the mountain side, over the paved, worn paths, The gentle stairs. Everything was worn with many travellers, everything was carefully crafted, and lasting. There appeared to be no caretakers, and yet, it wasn't chipping. 

And at last, the trees part, and bright blooms replace them. a bright vivid city coming to veiw. the light colours, soft as everything melt together to form a tapestry even from this distance. and you feel safe, even with no guards, even though you stand so close to the top of a mountain. 

You know, You are safe. You have arrived at Haven. The capital of the entire monster empire. Out of all the continents, all the other rulers, this is where the head of all of them lies, this is where the royal family to whom every monster in the world heralds to.

You step upon the stone path, heading into the city, no walls surrounded it, only flowers. organized and cared for. A large monster knelt down into the bed, their back was to you, but you could see his orange and red hair, braided down his back, incredibly long. He has white fur with a few hints of yellow in the tips, and a pair of large horns, that curved back and then up, thick ridges evenly spaces out on the white horns.

He was large, and humming as he waters the flowers, stopping to let one rest in his hands here and there. You stop, staring at him. Despite his stature he was so clearly gentle, if you couldn't tell by the song bird lazily perched on his horn. You think about going up to him and addressing him, but you deside against it as a younger monster, which many visual similarite4s to him comes running up, laughing with their arms out to give him a large huge smile find its way onto your face as you see them embrace, and the larger one hold the monster over his head with glee and pride.

 The both of them, so happy. You turn to head into the city.

A monster of slime, with gems glistening from the shimmering liquid nearly bumps into you, ten eyes suddenly open on the side near you and they change their course, ensuring to not disturb you with a gentle gurgle.

A ball of feathers comes rolling down the street, an eye occasionally visible. slowly rolling down and swerving around the two children that just darted in front of them, one covered in crystals, and the other looked to be made out of water. chasing a red bouncing ball.

A collection of basic shapes also walk down the streets, three paper bags filled with fruits, some exotic, and some you saw just last week, and bread in their arms. What appears to be their head turn to look as you as they pass, and they nod at you, perfectly aware of your location despite not having any obvious eyes. you smile and nod back. The scent of fresh bread filling your nose as they go by. they stop, turning towards you again, before a gentle repeating chuckle comes from them, it sounds distant, as if it was an echo. And they take one of the loaves of bread from the bag, and hands it to you. You try to refuse  but they do not seem to care, placing the loaf upon your head as they turn and walk away.

You see a figure, a possessing a long tail curled around them lays, hunched away in a flower patch, head buried in their tail. And before you could start to approach another monster, a fluffy feather crest running down their back, and animal paws kneels down next to them, and even another, a skeleton plops down next to them, and they speak, they talk, you don't understand what about. 

But as you watch the com[passion they are showing to this monster is clear. And slowly they help them to their feet, and start to walk among the flowers. The grieving monster already looking better. So you smile and walk away, assured they would be alright.

You find yourself coming upon a fountain, water being shot up into the air and coming down in careful formed, glittering drops that hit the crystal water with clear splashes. a melody only in the sound of water going up and coming down. as you head over to the fountain and lean over, you see something move in the fountain.

Your eyes. flash down, looking for whatever move. and before long a pink head peaks out at you, two increadibly long fins trailing of from their head, and a feather bread stretching far into the water. They smile at you,, pruple pearl eyes closing, and tiny sharp blue teeth opened to the air.

And then they turn and dive back down, splashing the cool water on you a little. And they vanish before you have any time to question them. No sign of them remains in the fountain, but as you stare into the water its clear that the fountain does not have a visible bottom.

 It goes on for far beyond what you can see. You stick your hand into the water, it feels refreshing to your skin, the perfect temperature to cool you down. and as you remove your hand it looks much brighter than before, it feels much better even. 

You dip your other hand into it, and the same happens, the aches you hand wishing away and all the grim vanishing. No sign of dirty in the water. Your tempted to take a sip of the water, feel this refreshing effect upon your entire body, down your chest. To feel much better with just a single sip of this cool clear water.

AS you leave the fountain, content with what you have seen today you start to look for a place to rest, you will be here a while and having a shelter over your head would be nice. it doesn't take long to find a place, a  large wooden sign holding a moon and star hangs out. and you head in. seeing if this place would welcome you.

Bright light flickers inside, covering the many monsters and wicker chairs in a gentle flickering orange light. a fire sits in the far wall, humming peacefully. 

a group of monsters, one large and wrinkly, with five arms, one small, frail, almost a skeleton, a couple of floating elementals of fire and earth, a small little goblin all sit at a table, laughing, their distinct laughs filling air with their joy, one of them opens their mouth and tells another joke, you cant help but to smirk at the bad pun as they all burst out screaming with laughter again.

A small fluffy monsters peeks over a table, needing to stand on their tippy toes to see the board game being played by the two monsters sitting comfortably at the table. 

they move the brightly coloured pieces, faces furrowed with concentration, and yet they still gave enough attention to rub the little ones head.

your turn over to the counter, looking for so

Looking for someone, some monster to speak with to get a room.

A bright face greets you, two gleaming eyes and a mouth upon a floating head, there were clothes beneath it, although they seemed to move independently of them

A warm greetings rolls of their lips in an upbeat sing song. And you ask for a room and, the price of a meal.

They laugh as they spread their arms, reaching under the counter for a key.

They inform you that the first night and meal is free for any newcomers to the city. Courtesy of the King.

They drop they key in your hands, they lacked actual arms, merely floating hands mocking around. They tell you that they will have weeks special sent up to the room in a few hours. and they bid you a goodnight as you turn, having to stop as a four legged monster darts in front of you, barely coming to your waist. You see a hint of yellow and blue, but it moved too fast to make out any details.

you step up the stairs, the only sound they make as your feet hit the wood, is the steady click as your feet hit the ground, firm steps steady beneath you.

You head into the door, who's symbol matched the one inscribed on the key the innkeeper gave you, a simple spiral is engraved on the metal key, however the door is more elaborate, colours swirling around it, and gems in the wood of the door.

You notice the door lacks handle, and your key lacks anything to open a lock. On a guess you reach your hand out and try to push the door open, the spiral on the key and on the door starts to glow, it lasts but a few moments, before fading. and the door opens with the lightest touch of your hand.

You head into the room, locking around at what you have been generously provided with. the far wall has a large window, allowing the darkening sky to pour the last rays of light into your room. the draippings were of a bright colour, and imagery embroidered flawlessly onto them

to the side and below the window sits a large bed.

The bed is soft, curving to fit your form as you lie into it, as as you feel the pillow the gentle feathers within it are made clear. Two blankets are provided, a warm, fluffy one, always soft to the touch, and a larger, firm, quilt lay folded resting at the foot of the bed. each where made carefully by hand, and the pictures told of ancient myths.

a vanity stand rests on a adjacent wall. In the topmost drawer waits a brush, with firm but soft brisles on a polished wood handle, A comb of just as high quality, polish which upon inspection poses an image of shiny scales, a jar of cream which shows an image of hide. Each item was fresh, not a hair bent out of place, and jar packed fully with no intents, the polish full to the brim.

The rest of the drawers were empty.on a stand in the corner of the room was a large pot of water, and a cloth sitting next to it.

the last thing in the room was an empty shelf... no not empty, a single row holds a some books of different subject materials, and a lounge chair next to it, a single magenta colour, and soft, you sink into it. the books are in easy arms reach for you.

As you lean back into the bed you see out the window, at the fading light, the twilight taking over. you see many monsters usher their children in. but at the same time you see more monster leaving their homes, wide awake. small ones jumping to the roof as the sun falls, ready to go.

Your eyes start to close, and before you know it you've drifted off to sleep.

[workingmotivation]

What exactly IS Bullet Journalling…and why should anyone care? Bullet Journalling is an analogue planner ‘system’ created by Ryder Carroll, a digital product designer based in Brooklyn, New York. You can find out the backstory, as well as the original guidelines, at “Bullet Journal - The analog system for the digital age”, but in a nutshell: Bullet Journalling is a way of taking planning and organisation back to basics. This is the official description from Ryder: “The Bullet Journal is a customizable and forgiving organization system. It can be your to-do list, sketchbook, notebook, and diary, but most likely, it will be all of the above. It will teach you to do more with less” The basic concept is that you take a notebook (any notebook)…and use it to help you get – and stay – organised, clear and productive. As solopreneurs, we are not strangers to overwhelm and procrastination. Bullet Journalling is the ONLY system I’ve found to date that truly helps me stay on top of what I’ve got going on, and keeps me moving forward. I attribute this to its simplicity – it’s simple, flexible, and completely practical.

What you need to get started ?

Unlike most other organisational tools or planners, the Bullet Journal requires no expensive or special materials to set up. All you need is: ~ A good notebook ~ A good pen And that’s it! That’s all you need to start your own BuJo. Of course, there are so many other things you can use in your BuJo (such as washi tape and stamps). I cover these further down the post. But all you really need is a notebook and pen, and you’re good to go.

How to choose the PERFECT notebook ?

As you’ll be using your BuJo for probably at least a couple of months (depending on how much you use it), it makes sense to choose a notebook that can stand up to the strains of everyday life. Size: Probably the most important thing to think about when it comes to choosing your BuJo notebook is size. I personally find an A5 (half-letter) size notebook is perfect, although I know of others who use letter sized, and others who use Midori (personal) sized notebooks. Size really doesn’t matter – but what does matter is that you choose a size you’re most comfortable with. Cover: Another thing you might like to think about is whether you’d prefer a hard or soft cover notebook. I personally prefer a hard cover, as I like to throw my BuJo in my handbag when I head out. With soft covers, I find that the edges are more susceptible to curling and tearing, so I like the protection that a hard cover offers. If you plan on adding pages or sticking things into your BuJo, a soft cover may be more suitable, as there is more give in how much the notebook can expand. Binding: Hard-bound, spiral-bound, ring-bound – there are many different types of notebook to choose from. Again, choose something that you feel most comfortable with. I personally prefer a hard-bound book format, as I just love the way it feels! I have tried to incorporate my BuJo into my Filofax, and although it didn’t work for me, I know many people who have done this successfully. Paper quality: I would ALWAYS recommend spending just a little more on a quality notebook (and I’ll share my favourites below), as paper thickness and weight can make all the difference. I personally hate bleeding and shadowing, so using good quality paper can stop your ink looking ugly and messy. Experiment with what feels right to you, and remember that this notebook should last you a while, so it makes sense to buy the best quality you can afford. Paper style: Most notebooks – especially Moleskines and Leuchtturms – are available in a variety of paper styles: plain, lined, gridded and dotted being the most popular. Gridded and dotted tend to be the most versatile, as they’re extremely handy for tracking and sketching. If you don’t really plan on tracking anything in your BuJo, lined may be a better option for you. I personally use dotted.

How to choose the PERFECT pen ?

Pens are a BIG deal in the BuJo community! Some people are extremely particular about which pens they stick to for their BuJo (and I must admit…there is something strangely sexy about gliding a fountain pen over crisp white paper). The way to choose the PERFECT pen for your BuJo is to experiment. Try lots of different types to see what works for you, and what you feel most comfortable with. I personally love my Pilot Frixion pens. These are erasable pens (perfect for crazy creatives like me who change their minds every five seconds 😉 ). The only downside to Frixion pens, however, is that if left in the heat the ink disappears. You can bring it back, but the ink isn’t archival quality (which may not be so great if you’re planning on keeping your journals to reflect on in years to come). Many people swear by Staedtlers, and others love the Sharpie Pen. Again – experiment, and try to choose something that flows freely and easily. I have a page at the back of my BuJo that I call my ‘scratchpad’ – when I want to try out a new pen, I doodle on that page to get a feel for how the pen writes, and how much ink bleed there is.

Now its  the most important point that is how to set up bullet journal...

When it comes to setting up your BuJo for the first time, I highly recommend that you watch Ryder’s video to get a grasp of the basics. There are so many ‘adapted’ Bullet Journal systems out there that it really does help to see the system in its native form. You can then adapt it from there as you need to. In addition to watching Ryder’s video, here are some examples from my own BuJo that will hopefully inspire you to get yours up and running.

INDEX PAGE: I must admit, I don’t use the Index page as much as I probably should, but it’s still really useful to have as a reference. I personally prefer to identify my key pages using tabs (I’ll talk about those later in the post), however having an Index means you can easily find certain pages. In my first BuJos, I used to enter all of my pages into the Index; now, I just enter important things I want to be able to reference quickly. I don’t generally index daily pages.

YEAR AT A GLANCE: The first page of my BuJo isn’t something that’s included in Ryder’s original setup, however I find it invaluable for quick reference. I have a ‘year at a glance’ page, where I can quickly look up dates for the whole of 2016. I was inspired to do this page by an image I found on Pinterest, though I can’t find it now. If you have seen it, please let me know so I can attribute it! 

FUTURE LOG: One of the challenges with the Bullet Journalling system has always been future planning. As it emphasises logging and planning ‘as you go’, traditionally there wasn’t much accommodation for future plans to be made. Ryder has recently updated the system to make it easier to log future events, and he suggests that your first ‘spread’ is your ‘Future Log’. This is simply a convenient place to log any events that you want to make a note of that are coming up in the following months.

RUNNING TO-DO LIST: After my Illumination tracker, I have a running to-do list. I didn’t really need two pages for this list, as it’s just general things I know I need to get done at some point. The GREAT thing about the Bullet Journal is that there is no wasted space – you just turn to the next blank page and fill it with whatever you need to. In this case, I have a reference for what counts towards my five-a-day.

WEEKLY SPREADS: This is where I think I have quite radically departed from the original Bullet Journal system. In general, Bullet Journals have a spread for the month, and then you start a new page for each day, logging your tasks and notes as you go. These are your daily spreads. I personally much prefer to have my week on a spread, because I like to think in terms of what I have on each week. The whole point of Bullet Journalling is that it’s meant to make your life easier, and for me…I just can’t do without my week at a glance. Some people create just one weekly spread on a Sunday for the week ahead on the next available double spread of pages. I personally like to create all the weeks of the month in one go, all together. I like the fact that my weekly pages are together, and laying them all out in just one sitting is so much easier than creating one a week. My weekly spreads are probably the main thing that I do decorate in my BuJo. I like to give each week a different washi, and I like to use my stamps. I’ve played around with layouts over the years, and I feel like I’m starting to really settle into these now. If you’re looking for some inspiration on weekly layouts, this is a wonderful resource.

MONTHLY TRACKER: There are certain things that I like to track throughout the month, such as medication, diet, and business goals. These objectives tend to change each month, so I don’t have a set list of things I ‘track’ – I just add them in as I feel like it.

That’s about it as far as my setup goes! The only pages I’ve not shared here are my daily pages. Every day, I start a fresh page with the date, and I write out the things I have to get done that day. This really is more about being conscious of my time, and grounding myself in the day. I do this first thing in the morning, while Poppy is eating her breakfast – that way, when I get back from the school run I’m ready to hit the ground running. Part of the original Bullet Journal system is ‘Migration’. This is where you take any incomplete tasks and migrate them over to a new day or month. I personally don’t migrate my tasks all the time – I just start a blank page each morning, and centre myself in what I know I need to do. Sometimes, my daily pages become filled with notes, or brainstorm pages. I free-flow these pages, and don’t think about presentation at all. Whatever’s on my mind, I simply jot down on my daily page. If it’s something I want to come back to, I’ll put a page flag to remind me that this was something worth revisiting.

How to set up your Bullet Journal for the first time...

Hopefully you’re feeling all inspired and fired up to create YOUR own Bullet Journal. I’ve told you everything you need to get started (all two items – a notebook and pen!), but when you’re sat holding your new notebook in your hands and open it up to the first blank page…you may FREEZE, and not know what to do first. Here’s the thing about Bullet Journalling: It’s not meant to be perfect! It doesn’t matter how much of a perfectionist you are – learning to let go when it comes to planning and keeping track of your life is seriously the best move you could ever make. There are going to be things in your journal that don’t work for you…and that’s fine. As you keep using the system, you’ll soon figure out what works and what doesn’t – it’s all about trial and error. With that said, it can still feel ridiculously daunting to make that first move in a new notebook. My advice would be to watch Ryder’s video , you can even check the bullet journaling video from buzzfeed, and just start practising the basics (if it helps, tell yourself that this first notebook is just an experiment – no pressure!). Set up your first BuJo as per Ryder’s instructions, and just notice what helps you, and what doesn’t. The more open you are to experimentation, the more quickly you’ll find your BuJo groove. Within a short space of time, you’ll be rapid logging like a pro. It does take a bit of practice, but don’t get overwhelmed by doing it ‘right’. Find out what your style is by trying out new things, and don’t be afraid to make it your own 🙂