7/16/2026

Yosoo White Chinagraph Peel-Off Wax Pencil (8pc set)

My disappointment at getting this slightly white wax pencil turned into a blessing in disguise. Because I've used it as guide on some coats of paint to draw something and I was able to delete it afterwards with little effort. It is a very waxy pen, and it's more like those flat wax sticks that one used for drawing sewing patterns of fabric but with less white lead. 
 
THE SO-SO
> I don't particularly like the peel-off system as you cannot control the volume of lead out.
> The first pencil I used broke its point, in a chunk, after using it two seconds. 
>  I have a true China white pencil and this is a wax pencil not a Chinagraph. I haven't used it on glass or fabric just on top of dry acrylics or dark surfaces and it's barely visible and too waxy to stick to anything else. 
> The lead is slightly white not really strong opaque white. 
 
ANNOYING
Although very cheap, I wanted to buy one pencil, not a whole set.  
 

Northcote Pottery Leonard Self-Watering Pot (20x18 cm)

This is a very nice self-watering UV-resistant plastic pot that I use both indoor and outdoors. This size is perfect for herbs and small or medium-small plants. I love its lightness, so I can move the plant between my backyard and my living area with little effort.  The colour is true to the product page photo. It looks expensive, but it's quite cheap. The lower part is the water receptacle; it has a small pout where to introduce the water. I like the self-watering feature because it's really important during Summer and warm period. This size and model is available in other colours, so I will be buying more! 

ESRICH 16-pack Canvas Board (5x5in)

These mini cotton canvas board  aren't only affordable but also decent quality (I'd say student quality, but they're also acid free). I use them with acrylics and/or mixed media, sometimes using a lot of wet products, and they stand abrasion and wet on wet work quite well. I've noticed, though, that the edges can deteriorate if you work hard on them, so I recommend giving them a coat of gesso to improve the edge resistance. They come packaged in groups of four, which is a perfect number to work on a mini-series. They are pleasurable to work on and  the final result  looks very lovely. They can be used with oils, gouache tempera, watercolour and acrylics.   

Fclub Vintage Rose Watercolour Tin Palette (20 Full Pans & Adhesive Magnets)

This is such a great watercolour palette. It is not only beautiful but also very light and comes with the empty full pans and adhesive magnets so the pans don't move once set in place. I store here some Gansai Tambi watercolour and solid pigment pans. I can comfortably fit 8 large full pans with a bit of room left either to put a short pencil or piece of charcoal or an eraser. It's a great case for travelling due to its capacity and the lightness of the tin material. 

Derivan Matisse Acrylic High Tooth Gesso MM36 (250 ml)

This is a very affordable good quality thick gesso with a lot of grit (or tooth) in hit; i.e. has a thick sandy texture. Initially created to use on encaustic work, I use it for my mixed media and acrylic artworks  as I tend to use watery products, inks or semi-fluid acrylics and love sanding or scratching surfaces. I tend to give the substrate two coats  using a silicone brush. Once dry, I can scratch, sand or carelessly work on my piece.  

Raffaello Gift Box (15 pieces, 150g)

I love Raffaello balls. I really enjoy the crunchy coconut-coated wafter and the inner chocolaty (more custard-like) cream and toasted almond core. It's sweet but not overly so, and the contrasted textures and clean favours are a hit with me. I love having two balls with my mid-arvo tea or coffee on weekends as a treat. I got two of these boxes at very reduced price and that was great. This box is great for gifting. 

INVALLNING Trolley (68x39x9 cm)

I have two of these  trolleys at home. This is a very practical storage solution to pile, store and move boxes with little effort. It is not only good-priced, but also made of good quality materials, sturdy, and easy to assemble. 
 
It's advertised as a fit for four boxes from the Kuggies, Pansarts, Drona and Dungergubbe box ranges. I hesitated to buy this trolley as the boxes I have on top aren't from any of these lines and are quite heavy. Buying this trolley was a great decision. The castors have a lock so you can leave it in place without the risk of sliding anywhere, and unlock it when I want to move it.  Even when I leave the castors unlocked, the trolley doesn't move on its own on my floorboards.
 
The only thing I miss is the trolley having a sort of "leash" to carry t he trolley from one room to another without having to bend my spine. Beyond that, it is a great buy.   
 
DESIGNER = James Dart.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Materials = Steel, Epoxy/polyester powder coating.
Maximum weight = 100 Kgs.  
Maximum stacking height = 90 cms. 
MIND = 
> Only for indoor use.  
> Put the heavier box at the bottom.