Greetings from Topanga Canyon. My name is Wakako, and I am the founder of Baum-kuchen, a lifestyle brand focusing on analogue and slow living. As our company has grown over the last 15 years, I steered the ship with intention, love, and care, even though how we did things at BK often contradicted a standard industry culture. Now that our business is entering its teenage years, I felt compelled to start carving a space for myself to create.
When you visit Baum-kuchen’s website, you might think of it as a stationery and lifestyle store. If you read and watch our stories, you might imagine it is a brand focused on a slow and intentional lifestyle sprinkled with love for analogue, travel, and family. If you stop by our shop during our weekly opening hours, you will probably think it’s a party:) The truth is that Baum-kuchen is all of the above and more. I created Baum-kuchen 15 years ago as a way for me and our community to journey through life stories as they unfold.
Before starting Baum-kuchen in 2010 and through the early years of BK, I loved posting my writing spontaneously in the blog format. I wrote about the behind-the-scenes of Baum-kuchen, a growing experience as a new mom, and life lessons and insights. I also enjoyed writing about stories from our travels near and far and my spiritual journey.
I wholeheartedly believe stories connect people, and I am thrilled to start sharing mine once again using this platform and be open to exchanging ideas and thoughts with the community. The topics I imagine sharing include insights on building an intentional business model, living in the canyon in LA where nature overpowers everything human-made, parenting kids, who are now a tween and a teen, and inspiration from our travels, including our family van life as we road trip. I look forward to meeting like-minded people open to new and different ways of looking at and living the world.
What are the logistics of this space? I hope to write and share a new story at least once a week, if not more, depending on the season. As much as I love to schedule the posts more deliberately, I believe in the natural rhythm of how stories come through me, and I want to keep the mystery of creativity alive by not force-fitting the schedule.
Most importantly, I hope this space will embody the recipes of our beloved Baum-kuchen - the secret sauce included.
I hope you join this journey with me.
love,
-wakako
always a work in progress…
