I first came across Adriana’s YouTube channel by chance while researching for BK, and her vibrant pages instantly captivated me. However, I quickly realized that her notebooks are more than just visually appealing. They’re a window into how she reflects on her life and passions. Come sit with us and savor Adriana’s story, one that invites us to slow down and savor the present. - Eunice
BK: We’re so happy you’re here with us, Adriana! If someone asked you, “tell me a little bit about yourself and your background” over coffee, how would you answer?
Adriana: Thank you so much for having me. It’s truly an honor. It’s always a little tricky to define oneself outside of work, but I’ll give it a try. I’m 30 years old, originally from Spain, and I moved to Seoul three years ago. It’s hard to believe how quickly time has passed. I came here to finish my Master’s in Gender Studies, and over time, Seoul has become my home.
Living abroad is always a challenge, and every day feels like I’m stepping outside of my comfort zone, but I wouldn’t change it. I studied Comparative Literature in Barcelona, which is something I’m deeply passionate about. Along with that, I’ve always had a love for all things analogue—journals, pens, books.
These days, I spend my time reading, writing, and connecting with others through my hobbies. I’m also taking a bit of a break after leaving my previous job. I worked in an education company, part of their R&D team, creating children’s books. While I enjoyed the work itself, I found the company atmosphere a bit draining, so I decided it was time to step back and reflect on what might be the best fit for me moving forward.
BK: From your YouTube channel, we know you’re currently based in Seoul, Korea. Is there a special story behind what brought you there?
Adriana: My first experience with Korea was in 2018 when I came for an exchange program in Busan. I immediately fell in love with the culture, the people, and the energy of university life here. I look back on those months with so much warmth, and when I left to return to Spain, I knew I wanted to come back to Korea. I just didn’t know at that time I’d be coming back to settle here with a partner!
I returned to Seoul in 2022 to pursue my Master’s, and although Seoul and Busan are quite different, the vibrancy of the city completely captured me. I haven’t looked back since. I do miss Spain, of course, and the comfort of familiarity, but I’ve really found my place here.
BK: Many of us in this community share a mutual deep love for analogue. Was there a moment or catalyst that really sparked your love for putting pen to paper?
Adriana: I’ve always loved all things analogue—stickers, pens, notebooks. My favorite time of the year was always when September rolled around, and it was time to buy school supplies. I guess I’ve always loved putting pen to paper. However, my real journey into the world of stationery started when I was an undergrad. My parents took a trip to the northern part of Spain, and as a souvenir, they brought me a Pelikan Jazz Elegance Fountain Pen. That pen sent me down the rabbit hole of paper, ink, and everything in between. I stumbled upon a YouTube video showcasing a Traveler’s Notebook, and the rest is history.
I remember that back in 2016, it was pretty difficult to find Traveler’s Notebooks in Spain, so I ended up ordering mine all the way from Malaysia. Since then, I’ve been completely hooked. Now, I have a large collection of finished inserts that live under my bed at my family home. Every time I visit, I love going back and flipping through those journals, which always bring me so much joy.
BK: What does your current analogue system look like? Could you walk us through how you use it in your daily life?
Adriana: This year was one for experimenting. I started with a Hobonichi Cousin, but I couldn’t commit to a page per day. There are days when I want to spend hours with my journals, decorating, writing, or just ruffling through the pages. But other days, the thought of writing anything down pains me. I quickly realized that a structured journal doesn’t really work for me.
My current lineup, which brings me so much joy, is mainly two notebooks:
❖ Hobonichi Weeks: I love the idea of flipping through a single bound book that holds a whole year — the ups and downs, little obsessions, interests, people I met... I’ve found the space in the Hobonichi Weeks is perfect for that. I use the weekly pages to capture highlights of each day, and once it’s filled, it feels like a very contained and honest representation of who I was.
❖ Traveler’s Notebook (regular): For journaling and planning I went back to a Traveler’s Notebook. It gives me the perfect kind of versatility. I keep one insert for long-form journaling, or really anything I want to archive. Another insert acts like a bullet journal where I organize my weeks and lay out longer plans. And then there’s my commonplace insert, where I write little essays about authors, books, and art I come across. Things I know I’ll want to reread one day.
BK: Your layouts always feel like a visual journal as much as they do a written one. What drives your decisions around colors, patterns, or visual vignettes? Do you follow a theme each week, or let your mood guide the outcome?
Adriana: I’m very much a moody person. I’m a mood reader, a mood journaler… I love making lists but I rarely follow them, so when I sit down to journal there’s hardly ever a plan. I feel so comfortable on my pages, they’ve become a grounding ritual, so I don’t overthink my spreads. There are times of the year when I have more time on my hands and I’ll challenge myself to find ephemera in a certain color or palette, but that only happens a couple of times a year. Mostly it’s just whatever strikes my fancy in the moment. Pictures, though, are always a constant in my journals. I don’t usually reread what I write, but even years later I can guide myself back through the memories with the visual aids I added. Pictures, tickets, movie stubs — those are a must for my pages.
BK: With 2026 just around the corner, have you decided on your analogue setup for the new year? How do you reflect on what’s worked or not as you make your choices?
Adriana: I don’t plan on making any changes for 2026. The combo of Hobonichi Weeks and Traveler’s Notebooks works perfectly for me. I do sometimes feel tempted by a 5-year journal, but I worry it might replace my Hobonichi Weeks, and I still love using that planner.
I enjoy reflecting on what works or doesn’t, so every month I set aside some time to go through my pages and look at my aspirations for the month, seeing if there were any setbacks. I’m not someone who feels the need to change their system constantly. I actually find a lot of comfort in routine and regularity. When I do feel the itch to switch things up, I try to pinpoint the real reason — whether it’s boredom, outside influence, or true discomfort with the system itself.
BK: You share your work and life so generously online. What’s something that keeps you grounded and authentic in the middle of creating for an audience?
Adriana: I think this is something I’m still finding my feet with. I was a viewer for so many years before I found the courage to share my analogue journey, and of course I worried about how performative something I loved so much might become. But honestly, not much has changed. I still approach journaling the way I always have, probably because my journals are such a deep source of comfort for me.
I’m much more interested in the stories behind the pages than in how aesthetically pleasing they look. I’ll often put a video on in the background while I work, just to hear people talk about their own journeys. In a way, maybe mistakenly, I’ve convinced myself that people do the same with my content, that they’re there for the stories and not perfection. So I don’t really think too much about social media when I’m journaling. But if I ever do catch myself doing that, I’d remind myself that I don’t have to share everything. Just sharing the parts I’m comfortable with is enough.
BK: Have you ever had a stationery “fail” that actually ended up turning into something you loved?
Adriana: I remember years ago I tried making my own inserts, and it was a complete fail. I didn’t have the right materials, so I cut everything with scissors, which took forever, and sewed it all together. The end product was this very wonky notebook, but once it was done, I felt like it already had a story. Even before writing in it, it had its own journey, and that made it one of my favorite notebooks. Since then, I’ve always printed my own grid on inserts and bound them back together, sometimes mixing papers or patterns, and I really love that process.
BK: We also know you love to read! If you could recommend just one book (hard, we know!) that our analogue community might especially enjoy, what would it be?
Adriana: This might be the hardest question to answer! If I had to choose one book, I’d say The Lonely City by Olivia Laing. Maybe I’m projecting here, but I feel like people who love analogue things often have a deep connection with loneliness, art, and expression, so this book feels perfect. Laing explores the lives and creations of different artists, showing how their art is inseparable from their own journeys through loneliness.
BK: What is something analogue has taught you that you carry with you beyond the pages you create?
Adriana: I love Seoul, but it’s an incredibly fast-paced city, and people are often glued to their screens. You’ll see people walking while watching a movie or series on their phones, and that makes me really try to ground myself in the present, in life outside the screens. If I don’t pay attention to what surrounds me, what am I going to write about in my journals? I ask myself this often, and it helps me stay more present and connected to what’s around me.
Where to find Adriana:
Instagram: @adrislogs
Youtube: adrislogs
❖ Bk Artifacts Featured:
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