Berlin Stationary Haul 2.0

LUIBAN

This is the place that leaves me the nicest memory in Berlin so I have to write a single blog post about this stationary shop.

I got to know this shop because of the owner of R.S.V.P.. She recommended me to go there since she knows that I love paper goods that much. As soon as I left R.S.V.P., I headed to LUIBAN without troubles as it is not far away from R.S.V.P.! (Thanks Google map:P)

When I first entered the shop, I did not feel so much and I was playing with a pair of scissors which sounds so weird. I was thinking buying a larger size (the one in the picture above) or a smaller one in blue handle. The owner was kind enough to let me know that I can try it by trying to cut the paper and then I started a journey of cutting the whole A4 paper with different angles haha. But the talk between me and the owner also started. I apologize that we talked that long and I did not even know the name of the owner:(

He introduced me different kind of stationary and I love every recommendation from him!

And I feel like my collection is completed right now. (But of course it would keep on expanding:P)

I have got the Blackwing 602 pencil (designed for speed writing) that would not smudge easily and the automatic pencil sharpener that does the job just right. Now when I am sketching, I do not have to worry about the smudging caused by my hang moving around and I can get the pencil sharpened in a right length and sharp tip.

Next, Tadaaaaa the cutest Birdie is an envelope opener! I am a person who does not like to destroy every letter that I receive so I always pay extra attention in opening the letter in the edge with a pair of scissors but now I just have to insert Birdie's tail into the letter and slide it open without an effort. Also Birdie is a nice decoration too.

The last thing that I got from LUIBAN is something I did not expect to get in this trip - the ink. Since I have just bought 3 bottles of ink from Pilot not soon ago, I was not planning to get it. But when the owner showed me with the glass tip calligraphy pen (I ordered one glass tip pen as soon as I know where I can buy it because it is convenient to test out colours), I knew I have to get it. You can see from the pictures above. The intensity of the ink is very high. The one from pilot is quite sheer comparing to it. "Grey" is kind of like colour of pencil and "Matador" is a beautiful bloody red. I wish I had more courage to bring back more bottles of it since it is inexpensive and the colour payoff is really really nice after it dried.

The last two pictures are the receipt of the shop and it was printed by an old machine in Germany. I collected it since it has got the hand writing of the owner and the print is beautiful (I am not sure how many times I have to say about beautiful in this post hahaha)

Besides, a girl came to buy a notebook in between our conversation. She bought Traveler's notebook which I am also interested in but I was not sure if it was Traveler's notebook so I did not talk more about it with the owner but now I do know that it definitely. I got a brown one recently and I wish I could talk to him more how to use the notebook with owner since I know he uses it for a few years alreays. I would love to listen to his experience! He also told me not to be ashamed of loving stationary because it just shows that I like material, textures and colours.

It was such a pleasant paper shop experience for me! WILL definitely visit LUIBAN again!

Love,

Sonia

Berlin Stationary Haul 1.0

boesner | R.S.V.P | Leuchtturm1917 | Copic | 

Part one of my Berlin stationary haul is about Boesner and R.S.V.P.!

Boesner is an art supply store and I went to the biggest store in Prenzlauer Berg which the area is about 1.200 m². The store is so big that you can be lost in each aisle just by looking at what is in each shelf. I went to there mainly looking for sketching/drawing goods. But I already aimed for Leuchtturm1917 notebook and Copic Ciao makers when I was planning this trip.

At the end, I have got 2 Leuchtturm1917 notebooks and quite a lot Copic Ciao makers. Leuchtturm1917 notebooks surprised me because I have never draw or write in such a nice paper. It is perfect for colouring since the ink or colour would not be sinked through the paper and the thickness and texture of the paper is perfect. This notebook will definitely become my sketchbook for all my ideas! Also, it was so hard for me to choose what colour to buy for Copic Ciao makers. I went for pastel colours but you cannot see what kind of colour I bought exactly because it is quite sheer and I am still testing how to use it the best. But I love the colours and the brush tip. It makes you feel like you are using water colour so easy without mixing the colours with water all the time. The notebook and the makers are perfect together for drawing.

After Boesner, I went to a local paper store called R.S.V.P. in Mitte. It is divided into two stores. One side is for paper goods and another side is for stationary. I personally like the stationary side better and I bought a few bits and bobs there. Actually I was looking for something that is made in Germany or Europe which I cannot find really in Hong Kong and it will grow my collection more special. So I asked the owner about it. I got a card, bookmakers, envelopes, stickers and even masking tapes which are all from Germany if I remember right. I have not decided what to do with all these little pieces but I am sure the inspiration will come on time and it will mean something.

The second part of this haul is even more exciting!

Love,

Sonia

frannerd

Package from FRANNERD!

I was like a zombie coming home after work with a light fever.

But when I check my mailbox, I saw Fran's words and I know the package has finally arrived.

It made the fever gone for a moment hehe!

I love Fran's painting and energy.

It is so calming to watch her painting or even just listening to her talking.

I gained so much positive energy and also painting knowledge(?!) from her!

I am gonna link some YouTube videos that I like a lot here.

(She made me falling in love with Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks and Copic Ciao makers <3)

This time, I purchased Perfect Tree Shapes and a print Waiting from her Esty shop.

But let's take a moment to the lovely hand written cover of the package first.

The font is sooooo adorable!!!! I always see her font on her blog, YouTube videos and instagram pictures but having her to write my name and address, it made me feel special and I am so keeping this envelope.

Perfect Tree Shapes is about the trip of her and her friend to Paris and London.

Recently, I decided to write a journal about all my Europe trips so I want to get some inspiration.

This little book is not just a travel journal but also a good story to read especially Fran wrote a lot side notes which makes it so lively and interesting.

The other one is a print called Waiting which is basically how I feel these days.

I am waiting all the amazing things to happen but of course I also put effort to make it happen!

So this print is going to be the first page of my new sketchbook which I write all my idea and plan.

I think it would be great to see it every time I open my sketchbook.

Besides, it is a high quality giclee print and I definitely see the quality is there.

So happy with the purchase this time.

Love,

Sonia

Berlin

History | Stationary | Energy

I am so surprised that Berlin impressed a lot since I planned and explored the city all on my own.

Since Berlin is my last stop of the trip, I treated myself and chose to stay in a hotel with a bath tub and queen size bed. It was so comfy that I did not want to leave the bed every morning. Besides, there is no bath tub in my home in Hong Kong, so soaking myself in the bath tub was such a luxury act!

Berlin has so much colours and a different energy comparing to the places I travelled this time.

If you have studied history before, I am sure you know about World Wars. I have been interested in World Wars since my secondary school times. So visiting the monuments and museums is the first priority in planning this trip! Besides, I heard that Germany is famous for its stationary so I also planned to visit quite a few paper shops. In all, the trip is divided into historical and artistic aspects.

I arrived Berlin the early evening so I did not really do much but to walk around hotel and had dinner.

But I met a very friendly Germany-born-Turkish taxi driver and he introduced me different buildings along the way to hotel. On the other days, I got help from different old German men and ladies. Although I do not understand German, I felt very warm as they put so much effort in telling me how to get to a place!

As soon as I rested well for a night, I decided to go to Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen since the weather was really nice. The camp is very quiet and the atmosphere is heavy. Despite the fact that the concentration camp itself is a reminder of the darkest days in the history, the organization of the camp is very beautiful as it went under serious architectural instructions. In the front entrance, the gate has a quote Arbeit Macht Frei (work makes freedom) which I found very sarcastic because it was impossible to leave the camp in the Nazi period. All the things and texts remind all of us that we should feel grateful about our lives and re-think about humanity. I was quite furious when I saw some white girls smiled and posed in front of such a significant place. (Shame on you!) On the next day, I also went to quite a few must-go historical places and of course the atmosphere of those places cannot compare to the concentration camp. The visit to the camp did make me having a lot of reflections of life.

Another big part of my Berlin trip - visiting paper shops!!!

You just have to see how excited and happy I was after visiting three hand craft/paper shops in a row.

I literally did not want to leave. Do you know how nice it is when you have found someone who has the same passion in stationary. I remember the owner in LUIBAN told me not to be ashamed of it because it is not a nerdy, but it shows that your love and passion in materials, textures and colours. I spent more money on papers and stationary than makeup so you should know how the other side of me is fully awaking this time! Stay tuned for a stationary haul! (YAY:D)

Lastly, I have to mention that I got ask how to somewhere everyday when I was there. I do not get it but I think I looked very confident with actually a google map on my hand haha! The last thing I did there is taking a 4-grid photo called photoautomat which is very famous there. I did not intend to take it with me looking the other direction or even closed the eyes but I guess it came out right and I do like it a lot. It marked a good end to my trip.

Berlin, danke schön!

Love,

Sonia

Lagos

Relax | Cliffs | Walk

Lagos is located in southern Portugal's Algarve which is even more relax than Lisbon.

I became lazier and lazier Portugal!

This town is famous for cliffs and beaches.

So we went for a boat trip to see all the cliffs and it was amazing!

Later, we went to the actual cliffs and walked along it.

It is quite a different view from the above and from the sea level.

We also sat on the Camilo Beach for a while.

By listening to the sound of sea waves, it is so calming.

Portugal is famous for cork so I bought myself a cork bracelet.

I did not intend to buy the one with butterfly but I could not choose one.

Fernie picked it up for me and indeed I like it so I decided to buy it.

The whole combination is really nice and even if I wore it alone, it is good enough that I do not have to wear another thing.

Love,

Sonia