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Analog Friends 03: Desiree on Collecting, Seasons, and Mice.

Hello, Analog Friends! This month, the birthday month of Cafe Analog, I talked to Desiree—the Godmother of Cafe Analog, and the stationery designer of some of Cafe Analog’s signature stamps.

In this new series of Cafe Analog’s blog called ANALOG FRIENDS, I invite you to enjoy long-form reading at a slower pace (preferably with a cup of coffee, tea, or chocolate!)—while getting to know the people behind Cafe Analog’s products you love.

Enjoy!

Hanny (H): Hi, Desiree! Now that you’ve had more time to relax and enjoy life, not having to sleep next to washi tapes and rubber stamps, how have you been spending your time?

Desiree (D): Of course, I was a bit naïve by thinking we would have a sea of free time right away after you and Daniele left with the last rental boxes and boxes with stationery items. First, there was this turmoil of emotions, then all the little tasks of final admin, then acceptance and relief (it was in good hands), then the seeking of silence in our heads—no more stress.

It took a few weeks to settle the dust and to start our ‘new life’, which means a lot of cleaning and clearing out, going through piles of administration and paperwork, and finally, wallpapering, painting, and creating my own little Studio. This had been #1 on our to-do list, together with creating Thijs’ model trains hobby room!

Both are now basically done!

H: When did you start journaling, actually? How did you get into this—and when did it spiral into something bigger than yourself? 😀

D: I started keeping diaries when I was 12-13 yo, together with pen-palling. Mostly it was writing and gluing in little memorabilia, like drawings, little love notes, cinema tickets, film-star pics, etc. But also a strand of yarn from the bikini I was crocheting (not knowing this crochet bikini would sink to your ankles in water after getting wet).

I have always felt the need to express myself and my feelings creatively since. I like all craft materials, too, except clay—I’m not too fond of the feeling somehow—and paper is my all-time favorite.

After many years of family/travel journals (I still have some from 1996!), it became part of my life to journal more daily or weekly, whatever felt good. So the first ProjectMe—a journaling challenge to write and create in your journals regularly—is from 2016 (7 years ago!)! I have had many projects with friends (Round Robins, shared journals, etc), and with some, I still write (again).

Postcrossing was a huge factor between 2009 and 2014—it started many friendships, also in Japan. When I decided to visit some of these friends in Tokyo and Osaka and travel to Japan with my daughter in 2017, things became a rollercoaster. I visited Stationery shops and a Stationery Café (Bunbogu Café) in Tokyo—and that’s where CAFÉ ANALOG was born!

H: Personally, why do you journal? How does journaling fit into your analog moments—and what benefit do you get from it?

D: My biggest hobby from when I could hold a pencil has been drawing. I made a trizillion drawings in my young life. After a while, I felt the need to write down what happened in my life, or better to write it off my chest sort of, and to express myself on paper. With pencils, illustrations, photos, stickers, or whatever proof of them. Always analog.

I love to arrange my thoughts on paper, my dreams, interests, and quotes that resonate. I play with it in my head, and it goes on paper through my hands—in colors and images.

I also avidly collect about 643 things or artifacts, be it postage stamps, themed postage cards, crystals, kokeshi dolls, geisha/maiko postcards, mini tins, or journals. I love to collect! Adding to a collection is so satisfying for me.

And I love the search for it even more, I think.

H: How would you describe your journaling style? Do you see your style evolving throughout the years?

D: I think my style is mostly realistic, maybe romantic? I have had mostly the same style over the years. I am not into the vintage style anymore, have been for a while, but I never liked steampunk and ‘dark stuff’. I always find myself drawn to lighter colors and pastels, and my theme and colors actually go with the seasons. I really LOVE the seasons, the way it changes, and how it all fits into my life.

My husband would love to move somewhere always warm, palm trees and the sea—but I would miss the seasons so much, so we stick to palmtree-vacations for my sake. Thanks to Zelda, we walk at least an hour daily—so we don’t miss a day of the seasons outside, it is very important for me.

H: How do you carve a creative time in your life? How do you make time amid everything that is happening? Do you have a journaling routine?

D: Now I mostly quit my Café Analog work (I still work about 8 hours a week for it), I have plenty of time of course! I like to sit down after dinner at night, reflect on the day or an event or thought, and ‘play’ for at least an hour and a half. I pick 1 picture, or rubber stamp, washi, theme, or color, and then go through my ‘stash’ to find stuff and colors that go with it. This process in itself is already lots of fun! Then I group it all together and throw out what doesn’t resonate.

H: Have you ever stopped journaling? If yes, when was that, and why? What made you pick up your pen and paper again?

D: I did quit for a while as a young mother; I was just to busy to be a good mom, cook, clean and raise a happy child. I kept up the yearly vacation books, but it was more pictures, entrance tickets, and drawings from my daughter. When she was around 8, with regular schooldays, I started my first company, ‘Alles Kids’, in 1998.

At first, we mostly did creative birthday parties, but after two years, these became business-to-business corporate events. Then I got divorced and was alone with my girl for a while, which was a very tough time, and I was just surviving, I guess.

After a couple of years, around 2009, the Postcrossing—and SwapBot Adventure started, which turned from 1 thing into another. I even started an Etsy shop, ‘Cherishedbydees’, selling cards and Stationery Kits. With the money I made, I could buy Zelda—our Cocker Spaniel.

H: Sometimes, people need help thinking about what to write about. What are some of your favorite journaling prompts?

D: Wow, that is a hard question – there is not just one prompt, but I like strong words like CARPE DIEM, or quotes like ‘the Earth laughs in flowers’ and ‘Inspired by Nature’. So much we made them into stamps. I have a Pinterest board where I save all prompts, quotes, and poems I like. But I hardly go there because I always have something to journal about.

H: What else do you like to do in your analog moments of the day apart from journaling?

D: Oh boy – don’t get me started, I have so/too many interests. I have a huge love for Japan, as you may have noticed. I have collected tons of stuff from my trips there, am constantly adding things to it, and reading about it a lot. I love reading very much anyway.

Also I love movies (I initiated a Filmclub with friends long ago, where we watched all the movies that won an ‘Oscar for Best Film’, that was super fun!

Then I started to build a (Maileg) Mouse house 1,5 years ago. I am a big kid when it comes to miniatures. The house size is 1:12, so nice and small. I love the Mice that live in it, and although I said I started it for my 3 granddaughters (3, 3,5, and 5), of course I am the one playing with it the most, hahaha.

I love furnishing, wallpapering the house, and making little homey sceneries where my mice live happily together.

My latest obsessions are crystals and gems and reading about them. And I am in the midst of creating my little ‘Zen Studio’, where the rental boxes used to live. I am a happy camper; now I have all the time in the world to appreciate all the little things in my life, as now I know those are the BIG things! CARPE DIEM!

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