One Direction custom Moleskine

I'm beginning to love handlettering because there is so much creativity involved that I didn't manage to see before in creating the fonts. Pinterest and Instagram have been major references for me though and there are just so many super talented people in this world.

I received this order from an ex uni mate who was ordering this for herself. It was hard picking which song titles to put as the boys had so many hit songs. I went with the top 20 listed in a website.

Moleskine type: Cahier
Size: Large
Colour: Pink

Uni Paint Marker and Pilot Choose Gel Ink Pen - Review

I have been on this white-ink-pen search far and wide lately only to find it in the bookstore nearest to my house. Prior to finding a fine tip white ink pen, I used Uni white paint marker which, while great to cover up spots on walls (or even cars I was told), produced inconsistent lines as you had to shake and press it up and down to have the ink flow every now and then. It does produce clumsy blotches here and there. UniThe big tip also meant that I can't go into details as usual.  Some artwork that I produced using the marker:

Uni Paint Marker - White. Image taken from www.staples.com

Went to Manila in October and this was how I remember it. Gorgeous art everywhere, skyscrapers and traffic jam! Drawn using Uni Paint Marker - White. 

Trees. Drawn using Uni Paint Marker - White.

Night. Drawn using Uni Paint Marker - White.

Come fly with me. Drawn using Uni Paint Marker - White.

I was never a fan of Pilot drawing pens, preferring Artline drawing system lines as the ink flows better on Moleskine Cahier covers. However, Pilot also has the only white gel ink pen in town so that's what I got. The darndest thing is, up to the moment I was searching for images of the white pen to put in the blog a few mins ago, I kept thinking that it's by Pentel.

Pilot Choose Gel Ink Pen - White, 0.7mm. Image taken from www.jetpens.com 

So I have to admit, I underestimated the Pilot Choose Gel Ink in white. The tip measures 0.7mm. The ink wasn't as white as I expected but it does have a sort of chalk on board kind of effect. The ink flows smoothly and I didn't even have to press hard on paper. It retails at RM3.80 and also available in silver and gold. Which I also got on the same day. :)

Spiky mountains inspired by one of my favourite artists on Instagra,, melkadel. Drawn using Pilot Choose Gel Ink Pen in white, 0.7mm

Drawn using Pilot Choose Gel Ink Pen in white, 0.7mm

Can't wait to draw more things with the pen!

Shane Filan custom Moleskine

An urgent order for this custom Moleskine came through last week for Shane Filan's roadtour in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday. The client wanted all 13 of his songs in his latest album 'You and Me' included on the cover. She managed to pass this journal to Shane's manager! Really hoping that it would reach him safe and sound.

Moleskine type: Cahier
Size: Large
Colour: Pastel yellow

Memorable Raya Aidilfitri

I was very lucky to be commissioned by Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, the Malaysian Minister of Women, Family and Community Development to doodle for this year's Raya Aidilfitri celebration. I had only started doodling 'seriously' about 2 months prior to that and was not sure if I could pull it off, but I'm glad I took up the challenge! I worked on about half a dozen different designs and the one we finally agreed upon was then tweaked to suit the occasion.

A few proposals for the project. It was challenging but satisfying for me to finally channel my energy and creativity into something else apart from writing or teaching English.

3 out of the 5 redrawn proposals to cater to the client's want. We finally got it on the 5th version, alhamdulillah. How I wished there were undo and redo buttons while doing this!

I was so excited to be invited to her open house with my whole family, thinking I would be able to see my design on a banner. We took photos at the first banner we saw outside the main entrance at BCCK and I had to keep pinching myself as it was so surreal. However guess what, they didn't only put it on that banner, they had the entire design blown up to fill up the 20 feet stage backdrop! And the Raya money packets! And this cookie box gift set! She also had the design everywhere she went for Raya celebration in the Sarawak interiors, my cousin actually spotted the banner with the doodle design on a ferry. LOL.

Received my own set of cards from the lady in the photo herself at her Raya Aidilfitri open house at BCCK in Kuching 

The doodles were also on money envelopes aka sampul duit raya!

Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim's raya cookies gift box

Datuk Rohani and I

A month after that, Wan and Intan, her children, both sent me photos of the doodle design on banners and backdrop at Datuk Rohani's open house at Putrajaya! It was definitely the highlight of 2013 for me and what I learned from it is, if you do something, do it well, persevere and you could be very handsomely rewarded. And take risks!

Stage background at YB Datuk Rohani's open house at Putrajaya yesterday. Photo by Wan.

Custom Moleskine

I don't know how I got into customising Moleskine Cahier covers but here I am. And I LOVE it! I admit it's not easy to get ideas on what to draw that sort of depicts the client's wants and at the same time project my style of doodling, but I try.

These are customised Moleskines I've done the past few months.

// Adrian & Adriana //

This was my first custom Moleskine order, by an ex uni mate. She pretty much left the entire design to me and just wanted the phrase 'Love Adrian & Adriana' to be on the cover. Adrian and Adriana are the names of her adorable kids. I put the names in the sun as I can only imagine the warmth the kids provide to their mother's heart every day. 

Moleskine type: Cahier plain journal

Size: Large

Cover colour: Kraft

Adrian & Adriana. Full cover.

Adrian & Adriana. Left: front cover, right: back cover

// Maynard //

Maynard was my second client. He wanted a total Borneo-themed cover, being a Sarawakian. I had to do some research on things he mentioned e.g. bunga terung, bidayuh ferns, baruk, etc. I never knew Bunga Terung is called that, even though I've seen a lot of the tattoo design before, being from Sarawak myself. The middle zen swirl in the Bunga Terung design was a big challenge for me, took me a while to practice before I felt confident enough to draw it. I was afraid to draw the wrong things as I understand that each symbol or design represent something in the Dayak community. 

Moleskine type: Cahier plain journal

Size: Large

Cover colour: Kraft

Maynard. Full cover.

Maynard. Details.

Maynard. Left: front cover, right: back cover.

// Ina & Mell //

Ina contacted me with this idea of including 30 personalised messages for her BFF's 30th birthday. At the time I was mulling over the idea of using pocket Cahiers to include messages inside for the client, apart from just a custom doodle in front. So Ina's order came at the right moment. The challenge in completing this order was in doing the handlettering for the messages. I tend to repeat the same fonts: Block letters or cursive so I had to look up online for other ideas. The birthday girl also love pastries and frogs so I drew a pastry garden for her. All the plants/flowers are actually a kind of pastry, see if you can identify them. I was really happy how this turned out.

Moleskine type: Cahier plain journal

Size: Pocket

Cover colour: Pastel yellow

Ina & Mell. Full cover

Ina & Mell. Details.

Ina & Mell. Left: Back cover, right: front cover.

To view the video I made of the 30 personalised messages, you can click on the following link: *CLICK*


// Miss Fazura //

For this order, I was approached by an old friend who was a close friend of Fazura (THE Fazura). He wanted to give her something that she might not have yet, I mean, what do you give someone who has everything? He told me to draw things she love, which are fashion and her boutique, House of Doll. Purple is her favourite colour but the only stock I had on me that time was the pocket size. So we decided that he should also add another illustration, a glitter gown I drew a few weeks before that, to be included as her birthday gift. I was actually given only 3 days to do this, pressure was HIGH.

Moleskine type: Cahier plain journal

Size: Pocket

Cover colour: Purple

Miss Fazura: Full cover

Miss Fazura. Left: Front cover, right: back cover.

// Aldrin //

I spent almost a month working on this latest custom Moleskine, due to heavy workload at the uni, where I teach. It's funny how I spent weeks thinking of what to draw to no avail and hey presto, filled up the space pretty much in one day yesterday. Aldrin wanted the following elements to be included: his love for tennis and sports, photography particularly lomography and some Borneo motif. I also drew photos of himself, his wife and 2 beautiful daughters that I think made this Moleskine even more personal. Frankly I was so nervous about drawing them that I put that off for 2 weeks. Sorry I still f-ed up your photos Aldrin! -_-

Moleskine type: Cahier ruled journal

Size: Large

Cover colour: Grey

Aldrin. Full cover.

Aldrin. Details.

As much as I love to draw unique, personalised Moleskine Cahier covers, I have to stop taking all orders for this year as I would need to catch up on current orders first. Moleskine custom orders would resume in March next year.