Who among you here participated in stationery swaps back in your high school days? Who among you here have those scented papers, colorful pens and stickers? I am asking because I am one of those people who loves stationeries, may it be paper, pens, envelopes , stickers, notepads and everything that looks cute.
Since I was high school I really love to collect stationeries. Whenever I earned an extra amount I will buy stationeries and then swap it to other collectors who are also my friends. We used those supplies for our journals and also for writing letters. When I reached college I still have some for my letter writing for my aunt. I also cut brochures, art papers for decorations of my letters and cards.
When Eilan was born (my first baby), I made an Instagram account and there I found a community - "The Planner Community" who loves stationeries as much as I do. That was the start of another level of love for stationeries, planners and journals. In the Planner Community there are many giveaways and I am joining by reposting IG posts, following the account or joining some challenges. And I fell very blessed because I was able to win stationery supplies, even branded ones from different countries. Here are some of my winnings.
I could not imagine myself taking hold of those planners because I could really not afford those, but thanks to God for the blessings. Even in this kind of winnings, I find it fulfilling.
Aside from joining giveaways, I also participated in swaps. There are Facebook groups and planner girls that welcome and organize swaps. One of the swaps that I joined was the Advent Swap last year and I am so amazed that my partner was able to prepare this kind of stuffs, makes me guilty because I just gave her a random of my collection. I can see her dedication in curating and preparing all of these.
I also buy stationery supplies but in moderation, just when I have extra or there is a promotional. I buy supplies from local shops and also in shoppee because there are a variety of cute stuff there as well. What I usually do is I also resell some so that the things I buy would be compensated with my profit. I also buy from thrift shops like Japan Surplus. And yes as time goes by my collection is growing,one cabinet is intended only for my stationeries. I am a a bit of a hoarder of stationeries, please don't judge me. ^.^. These are some of the stuffs I buy from different shops, the 3rd one was for resell.
What I gained from this hobby of collecting stationeries? You may wonder why. It is one of my stress relievers, I feel happy seeing my the cute stuffs and I am also using them for my planners and journals. I am able to express my creativity through them. Here is another entry from my journal using Hobonichi and Chic Sparrow TN.
So whenever I have time, I play with my stationeries for them to be put on use. Another one is I am able to gain friends from the many sides of the country and of the world who also love stationeries. The friendships go even beyond the stationery thing, they became my helper, my encourager in my trying times. Just like here in read, I gained friends that are my constant support group. I was able also to know people here who also loves journals to name @CrazyRichFilipina and @Momentswithmatti. I love to see read their articles about journals and planning.
Closing thoughts
All of us has its own likings, in Filipino "hilig". We tend to collect those and even at the point of hoarding them, just looking on them and not using it at all. I love my stationery collection and it makes me happy to see them.
How about you? Do you have collections too? I would love to know your thoughts.
Note: This article is inspired by post of @FarmGirl - Winning, What's in it for You? where she shared some of her winnings and I shared about the stuff I won too and it triggered me to share my hobby. Hope that you can relate on this.
LINKS
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When I was young I couldn't like that because my money when I was a high school student was only 5 pesos 😊 then my Mother just buried me with bread. So I really just focus on reading and assignments hehe. Pero nakikita ko yan da mga kaklase ko na nag gaganyan sila. Mahiyain kasi ako kaya nasa gilid lang palagi ako at walang kibo 😅