Meet Helen Colebrook – New Designer and Journaling Star!

Helen Colebrook is an incredibly talented Journal Keeper who has created the beautiful Journal With Purpose, a place for all things wonderfully curated and loved by her to be shared with her ever-growing followers. Not only does Helen create stunning journals but she also has two published books to her name, articles in high-profile magazines, and a host of amazing brand collaborations.

I was very fortunate to have a piece of Helen’s time away from her craft room to discuss a little more about what Journaling means to her. With the development of the beautiful, exclusive new collection, I have been seeing there is more to Journaling than meets the eye. It can be a means to not just make something beautiful, but it can also be a medium to help express self-reflection in a mindful, positive manner. So, without further ado, read on and get to know Helen if you aren’t already familiar with her and start to sow the seeds of your journaling journey!

What is your earliest memory of crafting?

My Mum and my Nan were both very creative, so I was definitely surrounded by lots of crafting growing up. My Mum loves making cards and my Nan taught me how to do patchwork as a child. I still have items from my Nan in my sewing box which are very precious to me. My Mum and my Nan were also keen painters, and sketchers and always had lots of art supplies that they were happy to share. I have one of my Nan’s oil paintings hung on my wall. However, once I became an adult, I didn’t actually do anything creative until many years later.

Have you always kept journals, or did you start off creating something else like cards or scrapbooks?

I started journaling on a daily basis about ten years ago now. Before that, I enjoyed card-making, adult colouring books and scrapbooking, but they weren’t something that I ever kept up with on a regular basis. I was on holiday and decided to keep a journal of our trip. I enjoyed it so much that I was determined to make time for it once I got home and haven’t stopped ever since.

How would you describe journaling?

I think of journaling as a safe place to document the highs and lows of everyday life. I use my journals to plan out my goals, somewhere to stick in my photos, write about special memories and keep a record of the little moments each day that can so easily pass us by.

How did journaling help you through the last few years of managing lockdowns throughout the height of the Pandemic?

Journaling and creativity in general were a huge lifeline during that period. Keeping a record of the lockdowns, rule changes and people’s behaviours was quite a fascinating experience and one I knew I would want to read back through in the years to come. Sharing my journals online during that time really helped me to feel connected with people in the journaling and creative community. Reading other people’s journals and their feelings during the pandemic also helped to make me feel less alone in my worries and enabled me to bring a healthier perspective to the situation. I always keep a gratitude journal and writing down something that I was grateful for each day kept my mind focused on the positives.

What is your favourite part of creating a journal? Do you have a theme in mind or is it quite an organic process?

I often have a general theme in mind before starting a journal page, but not an actual plan for how the page will turn out. I might pick a colour palette or topic before starting and then wait to see what comes out.

 How do you find inspiration for your designs and prompts?

Nature is one of the biggest inspirations behind my designs. My pages often reflect the colours around me, my favourite flowers and woodland walks. I regularly get asked what I find to write about and very often it’s simply my thoughts and feelings on the day and what is happening in the world around me. However, I also create and share a list of journal prompts on Patreon each month where we delve into different topics like gratitude, dealing with change, hopes and aspirations, people we’re inspired by and lots of other areas.

What would be your advice to someone who wants to begin journaling?

Try building some time into your routine every day, even if it’s just 5 or 10 minutes. I often decorate my journal pages at the weekend when I have more free time. In the evenings during the week, I can then just take my journal and pen over onto the settee where I can spend a little time writing. Decorating your pages in advance makes them so inviting to write on.

If you could only keep 5 items from your craft room, what would they be and why?

Stencils – such a great way to add a pretty background to your journal pages.

Washi tape – a wonderful non-messy way of adding borders to your page, frames to your photos and even covering up mistakes.

Brush pens – I love adding quotes and headings to my journal pages and brush pens are great for this.

Watercolour – my absolute favourite medium for creating with and documenting the wonderful things in nature.

Ink pads – great for using with stencils and stamps, which are the 6^th item I managed to sneak in!

What’s your favourite snack to keep you going whilst journaling? Sweet or savoury?

Oh goodness, I love all snacks unfortunately! However, crisps are something I could snack on all day long.

What do you hope your new collection with Creative Expressions will bring?

Journaling has brought so many benefits to me, through improved general happiness by letting all my feelings out and just the pure joy of creating on my pages every day. I’m really hoping that my collection will inspire people to get journaling and experience the same benefits that I have. I loved designing this range and can’t wait for it to be launched into the world.

Discover the collection in full here or visit our Pinterest board for more inspiration!