I am one lucky gal to be surrounded by such talented people. Belinda Moy from Quire & Co. happens to be part of that crew. #youcantsitwithus (But actually, you can.)
Belinda is a long-time friend that I partnered up with when I released my food blog, Marble Crumbs. One aspect that I needed perfected for my website was a logo. I wanted something that would depict my love for food and dining stories. Naturally, I turned to Mrs. Moy for her calligraphy skills and she brought my logo to life.
In a recent article, I talked about goal-achieving for the New Year. I don’t plan on overwhelming myself for 2017 (I think becoming a new parent is a wide enough stride). I’ve been turning to lists to keep myself organized on a day-to-day basis. I was thrilled when Belinda announced her latest project baby, Quire & Co. Her new blog follows her artistic journey with the use of bullet journals and modern calligraphy. Belinda’s page is informative and insightful. Yes, one click to her website and you’ll be scrolling through images of her beautiful art work. However, Moy also has tips, tricks and DIYs that she’s willing to share with her audience. Safe to say, Quire & Co. is helping me stay on track with organizing and focusing on my daily goals.
Lucky for me, Belinda agreed to a few Q&As:
What is a bullet journal?
Bullet journal system is a method of quickly and efficiently logging notes, tasks and events. It uses four major components – topics, page numbers, short sentences and bullets. The basis of it is meant to be simple but it is very flexible and can be catered to the needs of most people. All you need is a notebook and a pen to start!
Who/what inspires you most when it comes to jounaling?
My journal stays pretty true to the original format recommended by the creator of the bullet journal. However, I do follow a lot of Instagram accounts and I recommend those who want to start journaling to do the same! There are a lot of fresh ideas that pop up all the time. My favourite accounts to follow these days are @bujo.auslife, @penpapersoul and @plananotherday.
I’ll often start using agendas only to neglect them by the middle of the year. What keeps you motivated? How do you stay on top of updating your journal?
I’ve always had the same issue! And I still do. What’s changed was that I stopped worrying so much. I used to feel bad about not updating my journals or planners and would hide them away to avoid looking at all the blank pages. Then, I would go out and buy new ones and repeat the process over and over again. I’ve learned that it’s okay to take breaks; remember that planners, journals and diaries are for yourself. If you don’t have the time or feel the need to update it at any given time, don’t do it – leaving blank pages is fine. It shouldn’t feel like a chore.
What are some of your favorite pens to use?
My current favourite for general writing is the Pentel G2 (0.38mm). For brush calligraphy, my go to pens are the Pentel Fude Touch Brush Sign Pen and the Zebra Disposable Brush Pen in super fine. My all-time favourite is Bic Cristal Ballpoint in blue.
Do you have any advice for those wanting to start in the art of calligraphy?
Just start!! If you have a pen and paper, you can do it right now! Look up some tutorials on faux calligraphy and just go for it. If you feel like you want more, purchase an inexpensive brush pen or dip pen and ink and you can start working on expanding your skills. Practice all the time. Most importantly, down strokes are thick and up strokes are thin – ALWAYS!
Make sure to follow Belinda through Quire & Co.’s social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
How do you keep yourself organized?
*all images courtesy of quireandco.com – used with permission
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