Notebooks (Things I love #1) Again

The Island by Sh@z: Notebooks (Things I love #1) & New Sketch: I am a notebook addict! A few from my collection I absolutely adore notebooks. I love those hardcover notebooks with their gloriously...

These are lines from a post I did last year. Apparently the sentiments still ring true to me. I love notebooks!

9 from my collection

Why am I bringing this up again? A few weeks ago I went to the beach, and on my way home I stopped at a new pharmacy called Starlite Pharmacy in Maraval. I had to check it out because it looked like a Superpharm and was obliquely opposite to it. I don't know what kind of obeah Superpharm works but every time I go in, I must always come out with a purchase. So I approve of Starlite because I do not like monopolies on services offered.
I went in with the intent of scoping out the goods but I could not resist their stationery collection!  They had  beautiful notebooks and notepads and ahhhh! I went crazy.

So I bought 2 new notebooks.

Then a week later I visited RIK Bookstore at Grand Bazaar, and what did I see? A gorgeous purple and gold notebook. I had a burning desire to purchase it. Thankfully I got some sense talked into me! I just bought 2 notebooks that have no purpose as yet and now I want to buy a third to use for what? Thank you Akash! (Though I still want it lol) I know..I have problems.

About my purchases: One Waldo Pancake simple small hardcover notebook- very plain, with thick pages; one page lined, and the other blank, which is perfect for my sketching/doodling needs. While I appreciate the wit and sarcasm of the illustrator and I am laughing at the front cover with its yellow writing saying "Who writes this crap" and the back with "Waldo Pancake who writes this crap as well", I have a sneaking suspicion that I am going to be customising it. Though it is kind of growing on me. We will see.

The next one was from the awesome people at Live-Inspired.com. I do not even need to explain why I bought it. You can see more photos about it here on their website. It is amazing.

I think it is inspiring and is great for people who like to keep journals, record their thoughts, or practise their writing. It features quotes from the amazing Ralph Waldo Emerson and some others on a few random pages throughout the book. I feel motivated just looking at it and I wonder if I do write in it, will some magic in it rub off on my writing?

However I don't think I am going to find out! I've decided to do a giveaway of sorts :D 

I have some very awesome friends/blog readers, and when I purchased it, a few of you crossed my mind, as I thought it was something that some might appreciate or find a use for as a journal or a book of poetry.

I am a firm believer of everyone having their own special notebook to keep thoughts recorded. Simply because when I was going through some rough patches, and felt my brain overflowing with thoughts, it was easier to let loose on a page and get rid of some of the negative emotions.

It was also great retrospective study. It gave me perspective when I needed to analyse situations, and helped me organise my thoughts. Most importantly with my terrible memory, it helped me remember fantastic moments and lessons learnt from bad ones so I don't repeat them.

I started writing this blog post in February and planned to do this as a give-away to celebrate because it was also my birth month and I was on the receiving end of so much love and support for my birthday. Birthday celebrations Life got the better of me and I neglected that post so I am doing it now.

I will be giving away this lovely notebook to one very special reader to say thank you. It would make me so much happier to know that this gorgeous book found an owner who will use it and appreciate it.

If you would like to have a shot at owning this, simply fill out this contact form. Let me know what you would like to use it for and be sure to include a mailing address. I will pick someone at the end of the month and mail / hand deliver. My decision is final and all that, and if I decide to keep it for someone's birthday, I suppose that will work as well (:D hehe) My point is I want it to go to someone who will love, appreciate and make the most out of it.

Thank you everyone for the support. I look forward to hearing from you all and keep on reading :)

Tribal Nail Polish

A deviation from my usual art posts for a girlish pastime at the apartment. I love my room-mates. 

I think this is our new favourite brain-cooler exercise. Sometimes it's good to step-back and pamper yourself after a tiring week. Our last involved colouring books and crayons. (lol) I know how that sounds but it's good practise on colouring technique! Also sometimes the most ridiculous/childish of activities are a welcome respite from studying medicine.

If medical school doesn't work out, could this be my back-up plan?

Of Birthday Parties, Matting and Leopard Print Boxes

Lighting Star-lights from the birthday candles. Photography by Hailz

Thursday was my roomie's birthday. However being a medical student, it was just her luck that she had call on her birthday and would not be finished til 10 in the night. To make up for that, we decided to throw her a surprise birthday party to start her day right. Operation: Surprise Midnight Birthday Party was a success! We had old friends who rarely see each other except for occasions (e.g. the return of the Canadian scholar to the island) and yummy egg-less mocha cake :D Also some balloon contraption made out of garbage bags to release balloons when she walked out of the door. I think we did good, and her call was not bad. She got to deliver two babies on her birthday. How awesome is that?

Pre- cut Matting from Fine Arts

I got her print of my painting (Eze, France) framed with some dark purple pre-cut matting from Fine Arts. Apparently, the entire process with glass, etc takes about a week (which I did not have time for). Another surprise- Fine Arts is cheaper than Horizons?

I was also an idiot who forgot to carry the print with me when I went to the art store. I ended up buying a few other options because I could not figure out what would go with the piece the most. Plus I loved the other colours and I know that I have some old pieces that could use some matting. (My name is Shazanna Khan and yes, I have a problem when it comes to art supplies.)

Leopard Print Box perched on my room mate's laptop

This week also, I cleaned my apartment. I wanted some prettier containers for some of my stationery than an old cardboard box. So I went the primary school art & craft route, and brought out the gift paper. To the left is one of my creations.

This Leopard Print Box was once half of a box that once packaged printer ink. My bro, who once lived at my apartment, used it for paper clips.

I thought it needed some sprucing up so I wrapped it in a Leopard-print paper bag from some jewellery purchase. The bag was too pretty to throw away and I knew one day I would find a use for it.

Ribbon bow came from a hairclip that I broke accidentally. Who ever knew that you can't sit on them ? The entire thing was held together by my new spray glue (I was itching to try it out) and some clear tape. It was a great way to reuse old materials.

New use for my Leopard Print Box? Well, you will have to ask my roomie that question. She was studying next to me while I was making it and fell in love with the print and box. It was instantly added as one of her birthday presents.

Art Supply Haul (Things I Love #2)

I finally purchased some new Art supplies! I made a much needed trip to Fine Arts in San Fernando on Friday and Superpharm, in Price Plaza a few days before.

My new supplies: 1. Acrylic Paper; 2. Watercolour Paper; 3. Pre-cut Matting; 4.  Dewert Inktense Pencils; 5. W&N Cotman Round Brush #2; 6. Black Ink Pen; 7. Palette; 8. Gold Acrylic Paint; 9. Liquid Glue; 10. Spray Adhesive Glue.

I got 2 sheets each of Acrylic and Watercolour paper, to replace the ones I used in recent paintings. I always like to have a few sheets handy, so I would not have to run to the store whenever I catch a whim to draw or paint or more importantly have time to do it. Acrylic paper is more textured and thicker than the watercolour paper and I love how coloured pencils or watercolour pencils look on it.

Fine Arts also has a big selection of pre-cut matting and frames for anyone who wants to make their photos/paintings look extra-professional without the professional price tag. I think I am going to use mine to do either a study of native flowers in watercolour or a landscape of some sort.

I originally went into Fine Arts to purchase Watercolour Pencils, but these Dewert Inktense Pencils caught my eye instead. They are watersoluble ink pencils and according to the packaging they are supposed to combine the intensity of pen and ink with the versatility of line and wash. You can wash them over with water for an ink-like effect and when its dry, the wash is permanent so you can continue work over it with different media. I really wanted a set with more colours, but this was all Fine Arts had and I was really excited to try them out.

I bought also a new brush to replace one of my old ones, black ink pen for my pen & ink endeavors, and a new palette for watercolours as most of my existing palettes were covered with acrylic paint. The gold acrylic paint and the glue were for my scrap-booking needs, but I would like to try a mix media piece with some sort of découpage or textured paper.

Blue-Grey Forest

I am pleased to say that my purchases came in handy today. I was able to supply my brother with materials for his abstract painting to decorate his new room. I worked on a new piece (pictures to come soon) while he did his, based on the colour scheme he picked- blue-grey, grey, brown and black. I am impressed. He did quite a good job on it.

My Father's House

Additionally, I finished the piece that I was working on, which you can see in previous blog posts, entitled, "My Father's House." Picture of the finished piece to follow soon.

Sometimes I wished I owned an art store just for the infinite amount of supplies that they have. I cannot wait to have my own home so I can have a room dedicated to being my work and storage space. Until then, a girl can dream :D

As you can see, I cannot do without some good quality paper to paint on. In my opinion it really makes a difference in the finish of a piece. So that brings me to this question, "What is/are your favourite art supply/supplies that you cannot do without?" Also how do you use it? This question also applies to your own special talent (e.g. writing, football, etc)

Thank you for reading. :)

Notebooks (Things I love #1) & New Sketch

I am a notebook addict!

A few from my collection

I absolutely adore notebooks. I love those hardcover notebooks with their gloriously thick pages. I love those with their fancy art-inspired covers. I even love those with their sleek modern black covers and soft drawing paper inside. I love how they help keep you organised, and they are so excellent when planning things. Also the pocket-sized ones are so fantastic to keep track of those little tidbits of knowledge that you need to remember at the hospital because you can't log around your textbook. (Dare I mention that I am also a big fan of stationery?)


I always purchase them with the intention of practising my writing, making lists or starting my sketchbook. However outside of their most practical functions (school and planning), I rarely use them, especially the gorgeous ones. I always think that I am going to use them when I am at the store, but when I carry them home, it boils down to me thinking that they are too pretty for my uses and that I would would spoil them.  

 New Sketch in my Moleskine Notebook

At the beginning of the week, I decided to start using my almost-new Moleskine Sketchbook. I excitedly purchased it a few years ago and never used it, but I have made up my mind to turn a new leaf. I have come to the conclusion that Sketchbooks are not about having the most perfect sketches in them, but having something to help you improve on your art and to see how far your work has progressed. Also, my new motto is no more notebook purchases until I start using what I have, so I need to get moving on finding uses for them

In this sketch, I experimented with Charcoal from my Cretacolor Sketching Set. It has certainly been a long time since I've used it.

Apparently there are other cool ways to use your own Moleskine notebooks to get the most out of them. The folks over at Freelance Switch have an awesome article about all the the tips and tricks to use them.
Click here to read more ---> The Monster Collection of Moleskine Tips, Tricks and Hacks

Are you a notebook addict like me? Please tell me there are others out there! :D If you are, how do you use your favourite notebook? Let me know in the comments below.

Like/ Share/ Subscribe and as always thank you for reading!