Notebook Itch

Whether its an affordable Corona / Green Apple, pricey Moleskine or anything in between, I am always REALLY excited to start writing in a new notebook.

Unfortunately, this also means that after I start writing in one, I am always excited to finish so I can start a new one. I feel like one of those brats who sit with crayon in hand, going through a pile of books by scribbling only on the first few pages of one before getting bored and starting on a new one.

I'm in the middle of one now and I REALLY want to finish it but am sooooo far awwaaaaaayyy from the end. I have a number of other notebooks at home waiting to be doodled in, and variety of other notebooks that are waiting to be purchased.. so I can also doodle in them too. Grrrr.

Pipe Cleaners

Visited a huge crafts store for the first time in the US back in 2003. I love paper, scrapbooking anything, pens, and arts and crafts stuff - pretty much anything that you use to create with your heads. You can image my reaction when I stepped into the store. I was both dumbfounded and giddy. Have you ever seen Scrooge McDuck swim in his pool of coins and throw them up in the air with glee? That's what I felt like doing.

So I had myself a field day and bought whatever my budget would allow me at the time - all sorts of colored and textured paper, googly sticky eyes, colored wire, these poofy sparkly pom poms and all other sorts of stickies used for embellishment, colored sand (yes.. colored sand), photo corners, etc.

I still have a bunch of this stuff with me today - partly because I haven't gotten around to putting together a huge number of scrapbooks (they're time consuming! and expensive!) and partly because I used to have a weakness for hoarding pretty things that I thought I'd never see again if I used it up.

I do have one item stored that makes me wonder what I was thinking when I purchased them: pipe cleaners. Not literally pipe cleaners (I think) - but could very well be a pipe cleaner I suppose? They're basically long pieces of wire wrapped in all sorts of colored.. ehm.. fuzz? Being wire, you can basically bend them into any shape you want. I guess seeing them reminded me of my child hood and art classes in school. Though come to think of it, I don't remember actually using them for anything as a child. Lol.

So yes, I have this bag of pipe cleaners which I guess I intended to use for scrap booking but found out later on that they're pretty hard to glue down. Had no idea what to use them for after that so they kind of sat in storage for years.

Decided to give half of my stash away. Thank goodness for friends with kids who still like arts and crafts. Better off in that home than in mine.

Hmmm.. maybe I oughta add the colored sand to that list. Lol.

Packaging Love

Purchased some items from VMV Hypoallergenics recently. I'm still testing out this particular line of products, so I have yet to see it through to give it my ultimate thumbs up or down. I did though, fall immediately in love with their shopping bag!

Made of great, thick board in an elegant light creme with wonderfully sturdy handles. I love that the branding on the handles and the bag (though it can't be seen here) is very simple - for the most part, it bugs me when brands garishly scream their brand by pasting it on every square inch of merchandise they own.

What I love the most about this bag is how they keep the mouth of the bag from opening up. Many staple (ick) their bags shut. The VMV bag handles are dual purpose; they act both as carrying handles as well as drawstrings that are secured at the base with a regular bow. Because of the thickness of the bag itself, the mouth doesn't flap open when being swung around (like you do with all shopping bags right? lol).

I ADORE great packaging.

Moleskine Madness

Moleskine is my notebook splurge. In my notebook world, they are what Hermes and Chanel are to the fashion world. Yeap.. pricey little notebooks with a cult following. Known for their great quality and excellent craftsmanship, I love its simplicity & classic look and yet, also really love the different varieties they have come up with. I also love the feel and quality of the paper. Something about it's beautiful pages makes you want to create and do beautiful things with it. And if you google it, you'll see I'm not the only one to think so. Tell you the truth, there isn't much not to love about it. Well.. except for the price. Especially when converted into Philippine peso :I

I have had a recent hankering for the Moleskine colour a month daily planner set. I saw it several months ago as a new release by Moleskine but only recently saw it in person. *Drool...* I WANT IT NOW NOW NOW. Hahaha, yup, when I become an uncontrollable brat, you know you've tapped into my inner most desires. I want to use it for my blessings/gratitude list. I currently make it a point to jot down in my planner things that I am grateful for, so when I look back on my year, I will see 365 days of blessings. For this year, I wanted to separate the notebook. Wala lang.. ehm.. simply because there are new notebook I can make use of? :) Though.. I cannot seem to fathom spending Php 2650 for a set of notebooks :I

I would also like to get myself a set of large soft cover moleskine's to keep my "vision boards" in. I stopped painting a long time ago, and would like to start again. This is far from painting but at least will keep me flexing my creative muscle.This one is will definitely take priority over the "colour a month" set.

Lastly, I know 2010 is still a quarter away but I can't WAIT to get myself new planner. I'm still trying to decide what kind of layout I want. *SQUEEEAAA!!!* Can't wait :)

(photos taken from: http://static.stanfords.co.uk/images/originals/sample-179185_mole10_colmonth_pic.jpg)