Story
gift of message June 12 2017
BK on the Road: Okinawa with expansive adventures... June 06 2017
An Ode to Nature’s Song // Trina O'Gorman April 25 2017
Create your own Correspondence Kit! April 25 2017
Nurturing your zen garden April 25 2017
TN Mini for special stories April 07 2017
Grow life in your favorite tin can! April 07 2017
Dear Satchi & Coco March 05 2017
The Art of Thanks // Trina O'Gorman March 01 2017
Adventure continues... February 26 2017
Meet our incredible BK Team! February 26 2017
Personal Writing and the Collective Heart // Trina O'Gorman February 03 2017
The Stories We Tell Ourselves // Trina O'Gorman January 01 2017
Time is what life is made up of... December 13 2016
Eunice's 2017 Analogue System December 10 2016
Gift-wrapping... an art of our soul. November 29 2016
Turning Over A New Leaf for 2017 // Trina O'Gorman November 29 2016
Making "travelog" happen! November 12 2016
Imagine, Plan, Action: My Analog Method to Managing Little Tasks and Big Dreams // Trina O'Gorman November 08 2016
Metamorphosis: MD Leather Cover // 6+ months October 16 2016
BK CLOSED // Tokyo Research trip! October 15 2016
Why I write. October 04 2016
The World is a Book // Trina O'Gorman September 29 2016
Sojourning through Italy // Anthony Carro September 01 2016
The Journey That Takes You Home // Angie Park September 01 2016
Finding Your Inner Sage // Trina O'Gorman August 30 2016
Visiting The Superior Labor... and having one of my dream come true July 27 2016
One of the big reason for our recent Japan trip was to visit the headquarter of The Superior Labor in Okayama prefecture.
I so vividly remember the day when I stumbled upon their Engineer Shoulder Bag in a little shop in Harajyuku and having the overwhelming feeling of how much I loved the bag I had in my hand instantly. Ever since then I have been their huge fan for last 4 years. I love artifacts they produce, the concept behind the brand and just everything about them.
When we opened our studio/shop location 3 years ago I started bringing my beloved Engineer Shoulder Bag into the studio as my everything bag. I usually hang my bag on the wall in the studio and many customers who walked in noticed and asked where I got it from... and that's when I knew that I have to reach out to them with all my gut and intent and write a huge love letter to inquire if we could possibly carry their artifacts at our shop.
I can't count how many times I have said "visiting the Superior Labor in Okayama is my dream" in last 4 years... and I am so glad to be sharing a collection of their items at our studio/shop!
When I started planning this trip, my plan was to say hi, visit their cafe and feel the amazing Superior Labor vibe... But I am glad that 2 days with them became so much more. On the first day when we got to Okayama airport, we were so excited to meet the owner Makoto-san and hear his stories behind The Superior Labor, being invited into their headquarter and making place (which was filled with wonderful leather fragrance and the very special kind of "maker's place" air), meet some of the team members who are behind crafting their beautiful artifacts... Our meeting continued to a very special BBQ in front of the observatory house we rented on top of the meadow, the following day to discuss possible future collaboration and more...
Frido and I were most inspired by their strong philosophy, core of what they believe and how it manifests into everything they do. I am incredibly thankful and humbled for our most memorable meeting(s) with them... and am officially screaming (virtually and physically) to the world that I am their biggest fan:)
** Definitely click the title to see more images from our visit to The Superior Labor!
The Embrace of Beginnings // Angie Park July 02 2016
The embrace of a new beginning is beautiful.
New beginnings are an experiment where each of us chooses to re-imagine our lives— beyond societal rules, norms, expectations, etc.— a concentrated effort to start a new phase of life that forces us to make choices and be courageous. Though phases of life can come in all shapes, sizes and forms (such as getting married, buying a house, having kids, etc.), it is also instigated by a deep inner need for change and growth.
As I begin to transition into a new chapter of my life, I find myself grieving for the old one, as I slowly detach myself from old routines and old feelings to recover and reinvest in my new life. Although I am not leaving everything behind, I feel the need to give myself permission and space for the new experiences to come.
**click the title to read more with a cup of coffee:)
Keeping a Notebook through Thick and Thin // Trina O'Gorman June 28 2016
“Keep a notebook. Travel with it, eat with it, sleep with it. Slap into it every stray thought that flutters up in your brain. Cheap paper is less perishable than gray matter, and lead pencil markings endure longer than memory.” — Jack London
Quite often, I have been asked why I am always so upbeat, as if being happy is wrong or a strange thing to be. Friends are well aware of the challenges that I deal with on a daily basis. My personal life is a bit of strain these days, and this isn’t the first time it has been tough. But, my default mode is positive. As to how I stay this way, the answer is always the same. I credit my notebook. When I give this response, most often I get a sideways glance. People think I’m either quirky or just obsessed with stationery. The truth of the matter is that personal writing is the means by which I process the world around me, try to make sense of my relationships, collect my memories, and make observations about the world that allow me to be amazed by just how glorious the simplest things are. Personal writing taps into my very soul. My notebook is a tool.
Grab your notebook and read more by clicking the title!
Cheers to Inspiration Lab 005: Customize your Traveler's Notebook with 1.61 Soft Goods (6/18/16) June 25 2016
It's hard to imagine that one whole week has already passed since our Inspiration Lab with 1.61 Soft Goods happened in this studio last Saturday. Today the space is really quiet... I finally had a chance to go through some images from the event so I wanted to take a moment to share it with you!
Analogue system: Simplified June 20 2016
It's hard to believe we have crossed 1/2 mark of the year! How is your analogue system going??? Is your system still holding up to your hopes and dreams you set out at the beginning of this year?? At the end of last year, I wanted to simplify the system. (link here about the story) and it feels like the idea of "simplicity" is still very present in my life. What changed??? I have it even more simplified. Having gone through spring with a loss in our circle of friends and few other "life" staff, I really needed a fresh start. My metaphor is... that some people go out and buy a brand new sport car when they feel stuck in life..., I change up my analogue system instead!
I am pretty happy with the current set up. It feeds both my soul and productivity in a balanced way!
So here is the details.
Traveler's Notebook (regular size) as my planner & wallet.
MD leather cover with A5 notebook for everything else.
Pretty simple, right?
**click the title to read more and see more pics:)
Travel with Purpose // Angie Park June 01 2016
"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us." ----
We’ve always been on the move.
Since we were hunters and gatherers in search of food.
Since we began to build roads that allowed us to travel and caravan through continents.
We moved and travelled for the purpose of trade, commerce and religious convictions that took people like Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo to foreign parts of the world to encounter new strange lands where they were confronted by people who spoke different languages and believed in other types of deities. Our movement spread stories, expanded minds and changed the way we view others and ourselves.
- Angie Park
**click the title to read more!
On Keeping My Notebook // Trina O'Gorman May 24 2016
I’ve kept a notebook of one kind or another, since I was a young girl of around nine years old. My first was a black marbled composition book, like the kind you could pick up in the stationery aisle of most supermarkets. Nothing fancy. Later I’d discover that Jean-Michel Basquiat used the same kind of notebooks, and he was genius, brilliant albeit haunted by ghosts. Mine will not end up in art museums like his, but they served their purpose and housed a few ghosts as well.
Over the years, my notebooks have served all sorts of purposes. They have been repositories for my creative writing and poetry. They have been organizers. They have been places where I plan and dream and celebrate the magic of life. Ah, there is so much magic! They have been places where I process my thoughts and come to better understand the world around me. And in times of deep sorrow, they have been places where I’ve grieved. On the organizational side, they are extensions of my brain. On the personal writing side, they are keepers of my heart and soul. I don’t find them to be particularly artistic, but more about maintaining order in my life and making sense of the world around me. Yet, there is a certain artistry to examining and observing life. Perhaps, that is art.
- Trina O'Gorman
** click the title to read more of her analogue system!
Love for Traveler's Notebook with Patrick Ng (5/19/16) May 29 2016
May 19th was a very memorable day for us at Baum-kuchen! We had an amazing honor to host Traveler's Notebook meet-up with Patrick Ng. I had to pinch myself few times the day because it was really a dream come true to have such a passionate Traveler's Notebook community in Los Angeles to gather and listen to Patrick's point of view in analogue lifestyle, his role as a stationery buyer in Hong Kong, as well as stories behind Traveler's Notebook.
**click the title to read more!
SAVE THE DATE // 1.61 Soft Goods Inspiration Lab // June 18th (Saturday) May 06 2016
We are thrilled to share that we are bringing new type of Inspiration Lab to our Baum-kuchen studio on June 18th (Saturday)! This gathering will be very special because we are featuring our favorite creative partners, Diana and Wes of 1.61 Soft Goods.
For the past 2.5 years Baum-kuchen and 1.61 Soft Goods have worked on so many creative projects together from Essential leather insert for Traveler's Notebook, Origami Leather Basket (which was initially designed as BK in-store shopping basket) to soon to launch Baum-kuchen charm 2.0! We love their design aesthetics, craftsmanship and maker's lifestyle.
On June 18th, Baum-kuchen community is invited to our BK studio/shop in Glassell Park to customize your Traveler's Notebook and refills (or any other notebooks of your choice:). You will be working with 1.61 Soft Goods using their beloved leather tools while browsing unique 1.61 Pop-up collection (some of which include artifacts that are exclusively sold through their website).
This gathering will be RSVP only and free to attend so please stay tuned for an update.
If you would like, please send us an email to karma@baum-kuchen.net so we can add your email address to our Inspiration Lab contact list!
When we come across a fork in the road // Angie Park May 06 2016
"One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. "Which road do I take?" she asked. "Where do you want to go?" was his response. "I don't know," Alice answered. "Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter." - Lewis Carroll
----
As young adolescents, we grow up hearing…
What do you want to do?
Who do you want to be?
What do you want to accomplish?
We think that the answers to these questions will lead us towards a clear path and some sort of ‘final destination.’ But, as we grow older, and gain new understandings, you realize these answer are not set in stone, but it shifts, adapts, and changes with time. These questions continue to pop up again and again over the course of our lives (sometimes, in different formats), and it allows us to reflect and re-calibrate. Sometimes, we come across a fork in the road— a chance for us to make adjustments, and re-set our path. These opportunities require us to make decisions.
- Angie Park
Reflecting on Inspiration Lab 004: The Art of Fountain Pens (4/10/16) April 24 2016
Few weekend ago, we hosted our 4th Inspiration Lab at Baum-kuchen. We love that we continue to explore different aspects of analogue lifestyle through these intimate gatherings. This time, we shared our love for all things fountain pens.
**click the title to read more!
Building an analogue habit / The 100 days of Meditation April 03 2016
Few weeks ago, I reached the epic goal in the most beautifully anti-climatic way. I completed my "100 day" project.
I first came across the idea of #The100DayProject when I attended and spoke at the recent "The Beyond Inspiration" gathering. There, Sarah Ehlinger (check out her Instagram @verysarie) shared her story about The 100 Days Project she was just finishing and how it shifted her creative career. At the end of the gathering, I left the room promising myself that I would love to shift something in my life by challenging myself with The 100Day Project.
Knowing myself and everyday juggle we have at home and the studio, I knew that whatever I decided to tackle as a part of The 100Day Project needed to be simple and straight forward... Around the same time I started to practice morning meditation using Headspace app. So combining these two ideas came together somewhat natually.
My objective for 100Day Project:
To write a thought, feeling, a word... that came to my mind during and/or after my meditation using pen and paper.
So the journey began on 11/8/2015.
**click the title to read more
Let's "Mail it Forward"! March 27 2016
As we dig deeper into what "love for analogue" means to us at Baum-kuchen, we are discovering that idea of sending a letter via snail mail really resonates with us.
More Than Words // Angie Park March 09 2016
Early February, I headed to Singapore for work. One of the things I wanted to investigate during my travels were the transformations that occur when we set aside time to write a letter to someone we love from afar.
What changes in you?
What changes in the relationship between you and the person who receives it?
What makes this mode of communication so special?
**read more from Angie by clicking the title
Hello Fountain Pen! February 10 2016
We are extremely excited that we get to continue sharing our love for analogue in many different layers. If you have seen our BK Instagram feed, you probably have noticed that I am pretty obsessed with my fountain pens including Lamy and Kaweco for everyday adventures. (their fountain pens coming soon to Baum-kuchen shop!)
There are still SO MUCH MORE for me to learn about fountain pens so I asked Eunice if she could give me some fountain pen tips from her perspectives. (and above image from the day when I learned that we should clean the pen every time we change our ink cartridge!)
p.s who will be heading out to The Los Angeles International Pen Show this weekend?? I have heard so much about this event over many years and so thrilled to check it out in person for the first time:)
**click the title to read more about fountain pen tips!
Reflecting on Inspiration Lab 003: Mail more love (2/7/16) February 09 2016
We had so much fun at Inspiration Lab on last Sunday. This time around, we focused on facilitating the Baum-kuchen experience of writing, crafting and sending a letter. I love working with Eunice. She sprinkled so much details in everything we prepared... from a special gift to each guest to letter crafting ingredient stations! ... And we had mini work stations for everything. Paper/envelope station, wax seal station, typewriter station, envelope making station... you name it!
Once we launched the Lab, the whole room got very very quiet. Everyone was putting a lot of thoughts into what they were crafting... for someone special. The analogue energy in the space was incredible. Some guests finished the entire letter including the final touch with vintage postage and putting address labels and dropped off their letters into our BK mail box (aka vintage milk box from Japan). I so so appreciate everyone bringing such a positive energy into the group... making the time we spent so much more. Writing a letter is a very personal activity. I am hoping that mixing the private letter writing process that is so close to our heart and being at the communal table brought much creativity and inspiration to everyone who was present!
We are hoping to facilitate and host more unique gatherings at Baum-kuchen in the future so please stay tuned! Send us an email (karma@baum-kuchen.net) if you are interested in putting your contact info on our Inspiration Lab list. You will be the first ones to receive the announcement via email. We then usually announce our studio events on our BK (email) love letter and Instagram!
Happy analogue adventure:)
Crossroads: Q&A with Erika Nishizato February 02 2016
Adaptation by Yuri Angela Chung February 02 2016
I'm a strong believer in the "Laws of Attraction" — sometimes, people magically enter your life in meaningful synchronicity. Yuri and I grew up together in the suburbs of California, but it's only till recently that we re-connected, under such strange circumstances. Her courage, relentless dedication to her work and her gusto for life inspires me everyday. Yuri's story emboldens me and encourages me to evolve, adapt, and continue to become a more authentic version of myself. I hope she inspires the same to you— to shine brightly even during a storm.
xo,
Angie
**click the title to read more
Anthony's Traveler's Notebook [Sojourning through life] January 15 2016
LOVE for Analogue / personal touch with wax seal January 09 2016
We recently had a wax seal party at our studio! Well... it was Nerine and me learning about wax seal from Eunice and getting totally psyched about using wax seal on everything everywhere!
We are designing our Baum-kuchen original wax seal stamp for very very near future... and can't be thrilled more! For now.... I hope this visual story will get your creative juice going!
**continue reading by clicking the title!
LOVE for Analogue / custom sticker made of washi tape! January 05 2016
A lot of our Baum-kuchen friends have told us that they have a pretty extensive collection of washi tapes that are waiting to be utilized. But they tend to sit on the table for a long (looooong) time... so I asked Eunice what are some fun ways of using these tapes.
**click the title to read more and see project pictures!
Update on Analogue System for 2016 December 15 2015
I am excited to share my (close to) final thoughts on how I will be arranging my analogue system for 2016. (you can check out my last iteration of the system here.) I am passionate (aka. obsessed) about this topic because the process of thinking about it always feels very reflective of the current life state. Just like how people contemplate about the interior space and home they aspire living in... I imagine and dream about my analogue system.
**read the entire story by clicking the title
LOVE for Analogue / Create festive details! December 14 2015
I hope you are embracing the holiday spirit! I will be wrapping special gifts for Satchi and Coco this week and was wondering what would be creative ways to add a personal touch to the gifts... so we asked Eunice if she could share some thoughts on how to craft festive and personal gift tags. I loved that she started it with simple tags that can be found at any office supply stores... and added layers of accents using masking tapes and few of our favorite analogue goodies.
How awesome would it be to have personal tags like this on your gift this year?? I know for sure that our girls will feel extra excited to see these happy tags (and their wrapped gifts) for next 10 days... under our Christmas tree.
**click the title to read more!
LOVE for Analogue / Take a moment to send a love letter November 23 2015
As we slowly approach the end of year..., it's so easy to get lost in holiday shopping, dinner parties, deep cleaning of the house (we do this... in a Japanese way), and more things that need to be crossed off from our list. (oh and kids are off from school too!)
So we would LOVE to take a moment to share an idea of maybe doing totally the opposite. What if we take one quiet afternoon and instead of trying to juggle what are on our plates, slow down to write and send something special to a friend? Adding and sharing words and artifacts that inspire you at this moment.
**read more by clicking the title! (don't forget to get a cup of tea to accompany you:)
Nothing is lost in the universe. // Angie Park November 22 2015
As Fall comes to a close with the Winter season at bay, I'm excited to share my Autumn adventures and inspirations with the Baum-kuchen family. When the air becomes crisp and the leaves begin to change its color—the direct visual and sensorial changes move me in a deeply visceral way. It's a yearly reminder that time is moving forward, and I swallow its implications with tender, loving bittersweetness. For me, it's often a time of reflection and I love to spend time traveling during these months because it coincides so well with my inner yearnings.
** Got a cup of tea?? Sit back and read the rest of Angie's story by clicking the title.
Baum-kuchen is growing in the most awesome way - welcome on board, Eunice! November 21 2015
Since the end of this summer we have been itching to grow our team so we can continue to support all ends of Baum-kuchen. Between Nerine and I... we have been shipping our packages to so many wonderful and loving customers and hosting many in-store guests.
I kept asking... "Can we get through the holiday seasons between two of us?" I knew I could pull many hours in the studio (you get trained to do some impossible things when you go through a competitive design school...) but it started to make sense to seek for a support from an additional team member.
I am cautious to grow and I think I wIll always be. Because I want to make sure that Baum-kuchen is a sustainable business that does not have to push hard to sell. I don't want to sell things for the sake of selling just so that I can make the ends meed. I want to share inspiration because I truly feel inspired. Carrying artifacts we love and believe and being able to share with our amazing community...
Last month we slowly started to share the thoughts of looking for a new team member with our close friends. Just asking... if any of our friends might know someone who might be a fit... who might understand our Baum-kuchen karma. And I kept saying to myself and everyone..., the right person will come across our path without us forcing it to happen. I understand that it's incredibly naive to run a business this way... but the entire Baum-kuchen has been built on the beauty of believing. Being naive to the most positive and constructive way.
Fast forward few weeks... I was having lunch with our friend Eunice. By the end of our lunch, what we ended up having was not only yummy food from Habitat Cafe but also the possibility of working together at Baum-kuchen.
I am sure everyone knows of her from her beautifully curated Instagram account @thedailyroe. We were so lucky to have hosted the Baum-kuchen Inspiration Lab with her in the past.
I must admit... incredibly coordinated stars aligned beautifully for us.
Eunice will partnering with us to lead the Baum-kuchen Love for Analogue which is a HUGE core of what we believe as a brand. I seriously can't wait to explore the concept of "Love for Analogue" with her to the max! She will also be supporting Nerine who is putting a lot of TLC to Baum-kuchen karma everyday.
I will be sharing the very first project we worked on yesterday in our studio. Please stay tuned for more Love for Analogue to fill your blog and IG feed:) We will definitely be sharing!
Now let's thrive and enjoy the entire life through holidays:)
xoxo
-wakako
Gert's well loved journal/planner collection (IG: pepperandtwine) October 31 2015
The Wilderness that Moves Us // Liz Song October 31 2015
I'm excited to introduce Liz Song as a guest writer for this season's Love Letter! She is an old friend from my hometown, and although we've lived far apart for the the past decade, I have admired her love and zest for life, and her deep enthusiasm for the wilderness. Her energy is contagious and she's someone who puts her 100% into her passions. It brings me joy to have Liz share her experience in the Sierras, and the 'layers of time' encountered in the wilderness. I hope she inspires you to explore, set out on new adventures, and take a leap of faith...
xo,
Angie
Thoughts on analogue system for 2016 December 14 2015
Every year between October-December... I spend a lot of time thinking and imagining what my next year's analogue system look and feel like. I LOVE this process every year as it gives me a chance to look back, reflect and dream how it could be... and it always ends up becoming a diagram so I can make sense out of the system. So this is what I am thinking about... for 2016!!
**click the title to read more!