Bullet journal, period tracker bullet journal. These two tools have been part of my life for quite a while now. What started as a simple way to track my cycle slowly turned into something much more personal. It became a way to observe myself — my energy, my emotions, the way I experience the world during the different phases of my cycle.
Writing things down helped me start noticing patterns. Over time I realised that journaling wasn’t only happening in my notebook. It was also happening in my drawings.
The illustration I’m sharing here is one of those moments.
In the picture you see me holding the drawing. The image is actually a screenshot from a reel on my Instagram account where I talk about it. I liked the idea of sharing not only the finished illustration, but also the story behind it.
Usually people only see the final image.
But for me, the process is just as important.
When I draw, I enter a similar space as when I sit down with my journal. My mind becomes quieter and I start paying attention to what is happening inside me. Sometimes I already know the feeling I want to express. Other times the drawing reveals it slowly while I’m working.
It’s a bit like turning another page of the journal, just without words.
The habit of tracking my cycle helped me become more aware of these internal shifts. Some days feel open and creative, others feel slower or more reflective. Instead of trying to push through them, journaling helped me accept that rhythm.
Drawing became another way to stay connected to that.
Many of the illustrations I create begin without a clear plan. I simply start with a line, a shape, or a colour. At some point the drawing begins to take its own direction and I realise it is expressing something about where I am emotionally.
In that sense, each illustration is a small snapshot of a moment. When people see the final print, they might simply see an image. For me it often carries the memory of a specific feeling or phase of life. It reminds me of the state of mind I was in when I created it.
That’s why I enjoy sharing these moments too.
The reel where this image comes from was a small experiment for me. I realised that I like speaking about the drawings and explaining what was happening when they appeared. It feels more real than only posting the final result.
You see the person behind the illustration.
And that feels important to me.
Everything I create — the journals, the illustrations, the tools — comes from the same place. It all started with my own curiosity to understand myself better. The journal helped me slow down and observe my emotions. Drawing naturally became part of that process.
Sometimes I imagine it like stepping out of a cocoon. When we move through life quickly, many emotions stay hidden or unclear. Taking time to write or draw creates a small pause where we can actually see what is happening inside.
That pause can change a lot.
The illustration you see here came from one of those quiet moments. I didn’t sit down thinking I would create something for the shop. I was simply following the feeling of the moment and letting the drawing unfold.
Only afterwards did I realise it was something I wanted to share.
If you feel connected to this illustration and would like to see it more closely, you can find it in the shop on my website.
And I think I’ll continue sharing more of these little glimpses into the process — showing the drawings, talking about them, and letting people see where they come from.
Because for me, illustration is not separate from journaling.
It’s simply another page of it.