One of the building toys my girls love to play again and again is our set of Goldiblox.
I’ve been raving about this awesome toy since we got our Goldiblox set when BigSis was only 10. I think we bought it at a discounted price from one of Toy Kingdom’s Christmas Warehouse Sale years back. The pieces are sturdy that Sweetpea still gets to play with it now. Thankully, BigSis takes good care of her toys so her little sister can still play with them. Both girls like building toys such as Lego blocks and it always kept them busy for hours.
We like Goldiblox because of its uniquely shaped pieces that resemble real-life construction pieces that can be found in Daddy’s toolbox such as axles, wheels, bolts, washers and nuts. All in super nice pastel colors that appeal to girls.
Update on our Goldiblox set:
Okay, after 7 years, we still have our Goldiblox set complete stored in a nifty plastic container. A few pieces have been added to it already. It has survived play of 2 girls and now, a boy. The durable pieces are still intact. Our youngest kid, Gummybear now happily plays with it. Winner!
I love great line art in children’s books. One of my favorite line art illustrations are those found in Narnia books. Illustrator Pauline Baynes did such wonderful work! I finally mustered the courage to study and copy her lines! Such magic and energy in those lines!
I doodled on my January pages of course. Hobonichi can handle some serious line art using my reliable Tombow Fudenosuke.
Enjoy!
I wonder who will be my artist spotlight for next month?
It seems I am writing more about my planner hobby these days. Planning season started early because I can’t wait to welcome the new year! New year, new hopes and dreams! Better days! Cheers to that!
I would like to share this amazing find from Lazada. I almost got the sticker tabs from Hobonichi and Midori but before I added to my cart, I searched for alternatives first and saw some nice ones from local sticker makers. There are a lot of pretty designs! Update: Last I checked, they now only have 1 design variant in stock. 😦 I think it is the same as mine though. They had lots of stocks when I ordered weeks ago.
Two Ds I consider when buying tab stickers, design and durability! More than the look it will give my planner, since tab stickers are visible all year round, they have to stand the wear of my constant flipping! Laminated, waterproof, stickiness- they have to have these features along with other more durable sticker material to function well! Best part- good value for money!
These Monthly Index Stickers in Gradient colors are so aesthetic!
There are 10 sheets included in the pack. It comes in 2 sheets of the same designs. I chose this design because I like the pretty gradient effect. Since there are many sheets, you can mix and match the colors! The colors are very light and pleasing to look at. The text are embossed with a gold sheen. Hindi siya mabubura kasi naka-indent yung letters. It looks vintage and very pretty!
Look closely…The material is thick with a rough texture. I think this is a durable material compared to regular sticker papers. Has a stiff cardboard feel, not easy to bend or crinkle.Because I couldn’t resist the other colors, I added two tabs from each color while still retaining the gradient effect.
When I saw the photos in the product listing, I thought these will be durable. Expectations met when I saw them in person haha.
Numbers on the other side, months names on one side. Choose which side you like to put in the front.
Are they easy to install? I have isntalled several stickers tabs in my lifetime to conclude that these are klutz-friendly! Certified klutz planner junkie here! I had to reposition some tabs a few times to make them straight. I placed each tab right on tab of the page’s monthly indicators as my guide. Swak na swak siya!
A closer look
Another thing I love about it is how it comes in several sheets! Meaning, I can put in as many planners as I like enough to last 10 whole years actually! I am sharing some sheets to my daughters who are also planner junkies like momma!
Here’s a screenshot of the product listing from Lazada where you can see the shop’s name. As you can see, it only costs Php76 plus 38 for shipping fee! Sulit sobra! Order confirmation was emailed to me on October 30th, delivery came on November 10th. Took longer than the usual overseas ship but worth the wait naman! Link below!
Yey! Hanging our DIY Christmas Ornaments! Kids and I had fun making these😊🌲 Cost: P80 for the clay. The rest are some left-over craft stuff we have at home.
come up with various shapes such as hearts, leaves…we added a cross and a manger.❤
All you need:
airdry clay (we used Jovi brand) bowl of water ( moisten clay while working to remove cracks ) twine or any brown string wooden beads (optional) paint brush
Tips: When painting the ornaments, apply the dry-brush technique for that rustic Papemelroti vintage- inspired look. Just dab a bit of paint on a bristly brush and rub the brush w/ a sideway motion.;) No need to add water to the paint. See photo captions for more tips.
Poke holes before clay dries. Let clay air dry for 24 to 48 hours. Flip to dry both sides. Dab a bit of water with finger to keep the surface moist. Water helps remove cracks too. Smoothen edges with a bit of water. Knead again if it becomes rough. This type of clay dries quick so try to work fast. You may press flowers and leaves to make prints. Or you may also draw designs with a stick or fork. Paint and add the string and beads last.
To spell out words, you may press alphabet stamps to spell words like Joy, Love, Faith, etc.
I worked on this illustration as I daydreamed of better days ahead. 😌Praise God for better days. This pandemic will soon end. I was reminded of how fleeting things are in this world. I see animals and I see God’s goodness. Take a closer look and observe the wisdom in their eyes and the way they move. Animals eat and rest just like humans. God takes care of them and they seem to know it. Animals seem to answer to a divine call. Every blossoming flower speaks of His love. There is so much beauty in His creation!
How are you artsy mama? I hope this post brings encouragement on those crazy days. The covid pandemic has indeed brought a new set of challenges for us artist moms. I believe we are facing different levels of stress these days.
Praise God we are still able to paint, draw, write, bake, sew, sing and dance. I personally had bouts of anxiety when the delta variant reached our shores. It was so difficult to reach for my sketchbook. Thankfully, I found solace in journaling again. I took a break from posting in Selah Artsy Moms, an online support community of artist moms, because I couldn’t offer positivity and encouragement when I was struggling myself.
By God’s grace, I am better now. Thanks to fellow artsy mamas whose beautiful creations inspired me to keep going. One of those inspiring artsy mamas whom I have the honor of featuring in the Selah Artsy Mom Spotlight is a good friend and amazing watercolor artist, Jacqui Tan. She is a member of the Philippine Guild of Watercolorists.
Jacqui is skilled in painting beautiful portraits, landscapes, and still lifes with watercolor. She also enjoys painting digitally. I am happy to share a few of her artworks below. I love her color palettes and the amazing lighting effects in her paintings. I personally witnessed her art journey and I can attest how much time, effort and consistency she devotes in her art. She is truly one amazing artsy mama! Nakaka-inspire talaga!
She gladly shared a snapshot of how her workdesk looks like. I love how simple her workspace is. Everything is within reach!
Her paintbrushes and art tools neatly organized in one spot!by Jacqui Tanby Jacqui Tan
We had a bit of a Q & A discussing Jacqui’s life as an artsy mama and how she manages to keep growing as an artist by continuously learning new skills. I hope our talk inspires you too!
What is your biggest challenge as an artist mom? Time is the biggest challenge because as a mother I also have other responsibilities such as work and taking care of the kids.
by Jacqui Tanby Jacqui Tan
How do you juggle being an artist and a mom?
Through careful planning of my day. I set aside time to paint, do work, help the kids in their schoolwork, cook, and do other chores. I’ve had more time to paint ever since the pandemic started as staying home has saved me time (such as having to no longer travel to the office).
What do you think helps you the most during this season in your life (or during the pandemic) ?
Doing art and having my family around has helped me the most during the pandemic. Since last year I was able to focus more on improving as an artist and experimenting with other mediums. Since we’re mostly staying at home, I believe that it’s important to nurture one’s mental health by learning new things and in my case I focused on art and business. Early this year I took a 2-month business and entrepreneurship program conducted via Zoom. I also took some classes on Skillshare and watched Youtube tutorials to learn digital art via Procreate, gouache, and oil painting. I only painted in watercolor before so expanding my mediums has been very fulfilling.
Any advice for fellow artsy moms?
Keep creating and learning, whether it’s about art or non-art related. We may physically be limited to staying home but with today’s advancements in technology, it’s possible to learn new things and meet new people with online tutorials available and social media. Do what makes you happy!
Portrait by Jacqui Tanby Jacqui Tan
You may follow Jacqui on her social media accounts below:
Have a blessed and restful week, artsy mama! Keep creating!
If you want to share your art journey as an artsy mama, feel free to email or message me on Facebook or Instagram at Selah Soul Art. I would love to get to know you and be inspired by your story! Email: selahsoulartstudio@gmail.com
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