Soft Focus: The Notebooks
Hello out there,
Happy May! Summer is around the corner for us, and the days of perfect weather are making me wish it was here sooner.
It was recently pointed out to me that I have a lot of notebooks. To which I replied, “but they all serve a purpose!”
My use of them ebbs and flows.
An old friend of mine had a separate sketchbook for each different drawing/painting material, and she separated each sketchbook by theme- creations from imagination, plein air, etc.. They were beautiful to look at. At the time, I thought I was nothing like that as my sketchbook holds all my random doodles, notes, sketches from life. When I made this pile, I realized my habits might be more like hers than I thought.
Here’s what I use the above pile for from top to bottom:
Red pocket notebook: list ideas. Not to do lists, or idea lists, but lists of actual things both concrete and conceptual. Examples from pages of my books: List of Things Lost and Found, Things That Can Be Sharp, Ways to Make a Wish, Ways to Measure Time, More Things That Can Be Sharp.
Purple Five-Star spiral pocket: everything to remember- to do lists, notes for a future time.
Gray 2026 daily calendar: Over the last couple of years, I was attempting to keep daily visual journal. I made it work for a while, but I couldn’t keep up on it. This year, I decided to try a different format. I want to include a drawing daily, but I haven’t done much of it, almost exclusively writing. But it’s what I have been able to make a habit that hasn’t added me the stress of having to make sure I keep up on it.
Magenta weekly Hobonichi calendar: I’m a paper calendar person. I’ve gone through variations of years where I’ve used 8X10 paper calendars, monthly calendars and weekly calendars. I used to get my favorite calendar (which was nice because it was refillable each year) from a local store that closed, so last year I switched to this magenta weekly Hobonichi calendar. It’s smaller than any I’ve ever used, but I love it and I can bring it with me most everywhere.
Green 5X8 Royal Talens Sketchbook: sketchbook!
Black thick notebook: read through for more info on this one!
Yellow composition notebook: free writing.
These aren’t all used on a daily basis by any means, and a couple of them span years. I, of course, have my general sketchbook in which I also write, take notes, etc.. And, that my most frequently used along with my daily journal and calendar.
I’ve always been a notebook person.
Though, I no longer keep books of jokes (thankfully).
In high school, I had multiple notebooks. I didn’t really journal much, but I kept quote books- one for funny things my friends said, and one for quotes I liked that inspired me. I’ve used the pocket five-star notebooks since high school when I began adding homemade tabs to them to keep track of homework.
Based on the beautiful cursive handwriting, the above notebook has to be from middle school. I have no clue what my “mottos” were in middle school, but I like that I was trying to have some sort of catchphrase or guiding stars for my life, even back then. I’ve actually been thinking of starting a new quote book, with writings I find inspirational. I already know the notebook I will use!
Until recent history, I wasn’t great at keeping a sketchbook. I put so much pressure on making every page a masterpiece, I never finished them.
Once I accepted that the purpose of a sketchbook is to play and mess up, I began completing them.
Travel sketchbooks were the first sketchbooks I ever finished. I LOVE keeping a sketchbook while travelling. These are images of my first one completed. Part sketchbook, part journal, part scrapbook from 2001. Sketching during travel is still one of my favorite things. I normally don’t use a separate sketchbook for each trip, though this one was specifically for travel.
Circling back to the first image, the thick black notebook is my 4-leaf clover keepsake. I didn’t always keep them. Mostly, I would just text photos of them to my sisters, but when they began to get annoyed, I decided to put them in a notebook. I make a little note or sketch on where they were found.
In the end, you can only do what you’re motivated to do and make time for. I can never keep up on all the notebooks I wish to use at once.
I’m always interested in hearing how others keep notes/sketchbooks/organize their lives and creative processes. Please leave a comment if you want to share your way of working!
See you next month for June - half way through 2026.