This is the story of a mom Elsie @elsiewithlove from Penang, Malaysia who uses journaling through art to express herself when words can't be found, and uses the spaces on paper to pen down her doubts and questions when there seem to be no answers. Through the pandemic, her own stamp and stickers creations have gone to places internationally. This year in 2022, she opened her own Tofu Studio in Penang, a lovely workshop space filled with plants.
R: Elsie, how did you come to fall in love with journaling? How has journaling impacted you?

R: What made you decide to start your own business in stationery creating your own rubber stamps? Where do you get your inspirations and ideas from? Share with us your journey!
I would say I am very much inspired by nature and the little things in my surroundings that sometimes people may overlook like paper clips , furniture and so on. Sometimes, we can minimise thinking what to draw, and practise drawing whatever that is around us.


R: What is your journaling style? Any tips for people intimidated to start and don’t know where to begin?
Elsie: I don't think i have a specific journaling style because I do believe my styles vary according to the format of the journal and also the topics I choose to journal. But overall i would say among the journaling styles, my favourite would be doodle journaling and collage journaling.
Just remember there are no rules in journaling. That's the beauty of it! just do what you love.
Elsie: It might sound super cliche, but it's the truth- when I start to doubt myself or find myself in very difficult circumstances, I journal, regardless of whether it's personal or business-related.

R: Thank you so much for sharing! We hope you enjoyed using our World's 1st Pursebook! How did you like it?
Elsie: I think the Pursebook is a very clever idea. I carry a journal with me a lot to cafes. So i constantly also need to carry a pencil case separately. Sometimes when I only wish to carry very few items, a Pursebook is like a solution to it all. I can just grab the journal and be on the go. Hassle free.