2024 ~ TEO DEGAS' REVIEWS

12/07/2024

Maxwell & Williams Teas & C's (Silk Road Aqua) Side Plate 19.5cm

Designed by New-Zealander ceramist Gabby Malpas, this is a gorgeous side plate that I find perfect for breakfast or cake. The design is a mix of modern romantic dinnerware with a hint of those nonna's plates that we all love. I prefer the white background version, but this blue one is still very pretty. Great quality porcelain, that I usually wash by hand; however, it is dishwasher safe. It is also microwave safe, but I haven't used it in the latter. This is part of a tea set with an equally stunning teacup and saucer, but I bought this separately at reduced price. Perfect of gifting as it comes in a pretty and sturdy box. Good value for money, at least when I bought it.

Stamperia paper pads and collections are always a favourite among world-wide crafters and collagers due to their beautiful design elements, the fantastic paper, and the excellent printing quality. This Forest collection (designed by Cristina Radovan) is utterly gorgeous. It has a fairy-tale or fable flair with gorgeous colours.The many elements included are perfect for so many different kinds of craft or collage projects, for art spreads or just to make your own greeting cards. Therefore, the pad is really versatile.

The sentiments in this pad are multi-lingual, something I love, but that might disappoint people if you are just speak English.

The advantage of the double-sided pads, besides being cheaper, is that you have more elements to use, as each side of the sheet has different printing elements. The downside is that you might love both sides but will have to sacrifice one or the other when you use one.

I bought this pad very discounted during Prime Day week, but all Stamperia pads are always pricey.

Stamperia International paper pads, this included, are gorgeous. The imagery, the paper thickness and the printing quality are always paramount. The Klimt collection (designed by Sara Alcobendas) is beautiful and really evokes Klimt's work and spirit.

This pad contains abstracts patterns, figures, and written decorative sentiments all of which are versatile pieces that can be easily incorporated into many different craft and collage projects; they're also perfect for art journal spreads. Each sheet has different printing elements on each side.

This is the second item I buy from this collection and I've noticed that the printing tonality is different from the previous pad I bought. This one is way darker and more brownish, not the golden vibe that the other had, which is what is shown in the product page. For a second I thought it might not be legit, but the quality of the paper and detailed printing is Stamperia's.

The advantage of the double-sided pads (beyond being cheaper than then single sided) is that you have more elements to use. The downside is that you might love both sides of a sheet but when you use one of htem you lose something at the back or front that you might love.

I bought this pad very discounted during one of the Prime Day promotions, but Stamperia pads are always pricey.

This is the first time I use this product. I really like the creaminess of this mask and how well detangles my hair with a small amount of product.

I haven't used as a leave-in conditioner so I cannot comment on that. I've used it both as a conditioning mask (shampoo, rinse, applied mask, left on for 3 minutes, detangled, washed out) and as a deep treatment mask (dried my hair after rinsing shampoo, applied a thick layer, left it on for 10 minutes and then washed out) and the results have been great on my hair, which looked nourished and shiny afterwards. I was fearing that I might need to use a lot of product as I have long wavy hair, but it was not the case. I like the creamy neutral scent, which I think is perfect for any gender.

If I compare this mask with my preferred usual hair mask from another brand, this matches the results I get from the latter. Although I bought this Maui's heavily discounted during a flash sale, I don't think I would want to pay its standard price when my other mask does the same job at a cheaper price. Having said that, I will definitely buy it again if I get it discounted.

USTIYA Clear TPU Four Corners Protective Case for Oppo A38 & A18

Nothing fancy about this case, just a silicone clear 'glove' that fits perfectly my Oppo A18. I love this clear case as it not only economic but it really protects the phone without masking its original features. The protruding corners are really great and improve handling and secure grip, preventing the phone from slipping off. So far, so good.

I've bought almost every variety of Red Rod Deli chips, seasonal, famous chef, usual varieties and anything they product. I love the brand and everything they do, but this plain variety is the one I always return to because it's the one with less preservatives, less additives and the 'healthy' variety if you want. They taste of what they're supposed to taste, have the right amount of crunch and of salt, and they are plain delicious. Just potatoes, salt, oil and some preservatives (which seem to be unavoidable these days).This pack is great for two people to munch on, to fill in a bowl if you have visitors or just for yourself to snack two or three times. I bought this heavily discounted and that made my day.

McAfee Total Protection 3 Devices

I've tried most antivirus protection software out there, and McAfee Total Protection is my favourite due to the seamless unnoticeable working in the background and the many features it comes packed with, VPN included. I don't always buy it because it can be pricey, but I bought this kit in one of the Prime glorious days at nearly half price.

The product was sent from UK, so when I tried to activate the card I found the following, "This product is available for several regions", and then a drop-down menu with UK and Ireland as the only two options. I panicked for a sec thinking that it might be valid just in those countries, but it is not. I clicked "continue" and the process of activation was super easy and superfast. Installation on my household phones was also easy breezy.

McAFee has been in the antivirus market for a long time, but, unlike Norton, has learned how to evolve, improve and make things easier, including an excellent VPN service at no extra cost, offering value for money with the VPN being really good.

The main downside is the fact that soon after you are happy that you aren't getting any self-promos within the program, they;ll start popping up prompting you to upgrade and pay extra for device tuning services or extra features that are not really cheap. However, I paid little for this software and it does a great job.

Oshhni Enamel Austronaut Pin

This is a very cute and funny pin perfect to put on a school/travel backpack or just to wear on a casual tshirt or jacket. I see this more for children than for adults, and it's fit for both girls and boys as long as the child likes astronomy and the outer space. I bought this pin for my nephew and he loved it. The closure is not the safest, so I fear that might easily get loose and lost. Mind -- The product size showing on the product pages photos is incorrect, as the pin is way smaller.

This is a large (or larger than average) pop-up card made of good quality cardboard and printed in really beautiful bright colours. It looks as good as in the photo. It has a stand-alone note to write the greeting message if you don't want to ruin the card. I used the white spaces to write my message, but you might not want to do the same. I consider this perfect for male and female as long as they've shown interest in aviation, rockets, flying etc.

Dilmah Infusions Green Rooibos with Coconut and Mango, 40 Grams

This is a healthy tisane made of green rooibos (not the usual red variety) and not suitable for milk tea. The ingredients are mostly tea, 5% mango and 5% coconut nothing else. This tea smells delicious and has a sweet-ish taste but not sugar in it. The flavour is equally yummy and satisfying. I cannot distinguish the coconut flavour at all. The aroma and flavour are more peach than mango to me. Nevertheless, a delicious flavoursome tisane with no caffeine. Teabag material is really great quality.

I use this set of bowls all the time mostly as side dishes, to store small quantities of leftovers, and also to serve fruit, ice-cream and deserts. Beautiful porcelain and motifs perfect for everyday use but still fun and beautiful. The set comes beautifully packed, so it's perfect for gifting.These ceramic bowls are microwave and dishwasher safe.

My only complaint is that the blue colour in the photos and the colour of my set is completely different. The one in the photos is a light Mediterranean kinda blue. The one I got is more like an Indigo blue; still beautiful but not as much as the one in the photos.

Canson Montval 300gsm/140lb Cold-Pressed Watercolour-Paper Wired Pad (20 sheets, 5.5x8.5in)

I love Canson watercolour paper pads as they're always very decent quality, affordable and perfect to use as sketchbooks. I've been using this pad often, and the paper quality is good for mixed media, which is what I bought it for. I haven't used it with watercolours yet; mostly with acrylics paint, acrylic inks, crayons, pens, Posca ad Pitt Pen markers and it stands most things beautifully even without previous gesso priming. I love the pages micro-perforation as it allows me to use them as stand-alone sheets, or keep them as a pad.

On the flip side, this Montval series is more like a student pad, so worse paper quality than other Canson pads I own and also re the quality of the front and back covers, which is quite bad. Besides, the paper doesn't handle rubbing well, and sometimes the paper sands off if not primed. That being the case, now I gesso the pages that I intend to rub or scratch. I would not use this pad paper for professional purposes.

For the rest a good affordable study or student watercolour pad with decent quality paper.

I bought the medium-size pencil wrap just to store some stand-alone pencils and markers. The canvas quality is stupendous, sturdy, and better than another one I own. The printed design is cool and vibrant and very good quality printing; I would say that the motif is genderless. The wrap rolls well despite the canvas thickness and it can be stored vertically. I love this sort of wraps as they really protect the pencils tips, can be stored vertically, something I usually do to maximize storage space, and it it's perfect for travelling as the wrap adds minimum weight to the pencils. Good value for money.

Double D Sugar-Free Choco Drops 70 g

These lollies are really nice, and taste similar to what a sugar lolly would taste. However, the taste is not really chocolaty or does not remind me of chocolate either except for the colour. It reminds me more of the sugar-free version of Werthers Original flavour. The sweetener use in this candy is laxative, so there is a limit to the number of these I consume in a day. For the rest nice lollies.

This is my preferred silver marker among the ones I own. I don't lime most of my acrylic silver markers. However, this one won me over for many reasons. The metallic silver colour is really noticeable and the colour it should be, not too dark not too clear, just a beautiful silver tone. Also, the ink flows effortlessly and cleanly. The marker draws crisp neat lines, which makes it perfect for highlights or accents on any acrylic paint if the pieces are dry; Otherwise, it would smudge and the nib would get ruined. The marker is made of good quality material and the to cap fastens well.Well priced, too.

Ain't sure about the pigment lightfastness but the information I've found online seems to indicate that is more so than other types of markers. It is not a waterproof marker I would say but it gets fixed using a fixative once it has completely dried.

This is such a great value-for-money set. The two colours pen-looking mechanical pencils came in two gorgeous colours. They hold medium-thickness lead (7m), something I love as it's allows for very smooth and velvety writing. The pack comes with a refillable leads tub and a replacement erasers tube so these are kept tidy and safe. The pencils are very plastic looking but also very light. Nothing I would use to impress anyone, but just what I needed.

Very nice brand of chips. Just chips and salt, nothing else added. They are crunchy but not as crunchy as other brands. I don't like chips that are too salty, but, to me, these reduced-salt is a bit too reduced. For me, they would have needed of a tiny bit of more salt to be tastier. For the rest, lovely chips.

This jug is part of the Dahlia Daze blue background porcelain tea set. The whole collection is gorgeous and very arty, like a materialised watercolour in your hands. The set pieces are sold individually.

This jug is one of my fav pieces. It's not just the beauty of it as it looks like a hand-painted watercolour. It is also that it is very practical for me, something I use almost every day. I love having small milk jugs or creamers beside my tea pot or coffee pot. The piece comes is a gorgeously designed beautiful good-quality box, perfect for gifting.

The main downside is that, unlike most of Maxwell & Williams porcelain products, this one is not dishwasher or microwave safe, the latter I guess because of the gilded motifs. I love hand-washing, and that's not a problem, but not being microwave safe it's just annoying because it forces me to warm the milk in another container and then pour it into this. Just senseless.

This sugar bowl is part of the Dahlia Daze blue background collection. Although very artistic. it has no designer or artist name attached to it. It's part of a tea set, but each piece is sold individually.

This is a beautiful piece regarding colours, design and shape. The golden accents enhance the watercolour-like floral design. The shape and size of the bowl makes it perfect for either its original purpose as a sugar container or, as I do, as storage bowl to keep small chocolate pieces, cookies and other sweet treats. I see this also as a perfect trinket box. It comes in a gorgeously designed beautiful box, perfect for gifting.

The main downside of the this piece is that, unlike most of Maxwell & Williams porcelain, this one is not dishwasher safe, the latter I guess because of the gilded motifs. On the other hand, the need to use the dishwasher is nothing needed to do often with this sort of container.

Elephtree Fish-Shaped Pencil Case

I bought this super-cute fabric pouch heavily discounted on a Prime Day. I just wanted something light to put it several some of my left over markers. The pouch design is playful and original; the colours are muted, close to pastels, and perfectly captured by the product page photos. I was able to store 9 average markers and 2 size-5M Posca markers. There is still room for two or three fine ones, a small eraser or a small sharpener.

I would use this for a getaway trip for either some markers/pens/pencils or small items of makeup. Despite the photos showing large items of makeup in the product page, this pouch would not hold anything large and round, mostly linear pencil-like items and small eye-shadow or lipstick containers.

Both the outer and the inner lining are made of plain fabric, no canvas or a strong material. That being the case they aren't liquid or spill proof; the material can be easily stained outside and, destroyed if any of the markers leaked inside. Also, the pouch has limited capacity as the fish tail is just decorative and does not hold anything, and the fish mouth has limited storage space.

Shary Freeze Dried Strawberry Crisps 20 g, Small

This mini bag of strawberry crisps is just a great snack with no artificial ingredients added at all. Just dried frozen crunchy flavoursome whole strawberry pieces with a bit of sugar added. Just a bit, not overly sweet and it's also low calories. I would have loved the product au natural without sugar added to be honest. The description page fails to mention that the product has 3% sugar cane, as per my photo, which is important to know for diabetics or people with high sugar levels in blood. For the rest a natural healthy (or healthier than most) snack. A bit pricey for what it is.

Amscan Plastic Rectangular Tablecover, Frosty White

I wanted something simple and inexpensive to protect my work table from paint splashes and stains, so this seemed befitting.The tablecloth is XL size, so I decided to use it double to add an extra layer of protection.

I was re-arranging my stuff on the table after placing the cover, and it got damaged by bare friction. I am very conscious about my plastic footprint. I don't have a problem with plastic as long as it's durable and good quality, but this is is neither. The material is paper thin and terrible quality. More like one-use cloth for parties and functions and something temporary on my table until I buy a good quality cover. It got torn and broken on the first day of use.

I guess you get what you pay for.

EYmann Jar, Bottle and Can Opener

The product I got doesn't look like stainless steel but more like a chrome-like metal product. Definitely not the refined product you see in the product page pictures. It opens beer bottles well. It also opens jars, but you have to be careful not to put your finger under the black slider. I have tried it with cans, and I find it unnecessary unless you have some problem with your fingers or not enough strength. In all honesty, it takes me less effort open a jar or a can with my own hands. I needed it mostly for beer can opener than anything but the price is low so the other features might come handy in the future.

I've been replacing my old side and breakfast dishes and I bought this one because it has a perfect size and the Greek vibe motif print. It's made of porcelain but has a very rustic look. I liked more the photo than the product in real life. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

This is a healthy organic clean delicate tisane that doesn't taste of any of the particular ingredients listed on the packaging. It does not taste or smell of cinnamon at all, even though the tea is sold as Cinnamon Tea and the packaging says it has 35% of cinnamon in it. So this is a tisane with some cinnamon in it not cinnamon tea. Also, the scent and flavour of this tea are totally lost and the tisane tastes more like a chamomile than of anything else, but there is no chamomile in it.

I won't buy this again. I will stick to my Celestial Cinnamon and Apple Tea, which is more expensive but one teabag brews two mugs of tea and tastes and smells of cinnamon. This one of example why tisanes should be called tisanes unless the majority of the ingredient in a tea bag is the product mentioned on the packaging.

I confess that I had a favourable bias towards toasted/roasted fava beans (broadbeans) because I grew up in the Mediterranean where this has always been around.

This is one of my favourite healthy snacks. Unlike many other healthy packaged stuff that I've tried, this snack is actually terrific regarding flavour, crunchiness and health ratings. Too many healthy snacks are tasteless, have too much sweetener, or still have sugar in them, or are not pure ingredients. Instead, this is a yummy crunchy flavoursome snack that is all natural, has no sugar, no gluten, no fats, vegan and, to top it all, it's made in Oz. Best thing, it's tastes great. I've also noticed that when I am hungry at work and have one of these mini bags as snack, it curves down my appetite for good.

I love this packaging with individual bags, as it's perfect to control portion size and to carry around in my small handbag, or to put in my lunch box or stock it in my office drawers.

NUTRA Gycemia Tea -- WTF Shopping Moment: Yes. Perhaps. No. Who knows

This product is sold as a tea to help control blood sugar by using plants traditionally known for that purpose: bitter melon, cinnamon and fenugreek. This explains the name Glycemia and, I guess, the high price. The brand is crystal clear about what they offer and their Amazon product page has great clear photos showing ingredients and preparation instructions. That's great.

Now, if you sell something marketed as Glycemia, as something to help me with any health-related issue, I expect the company to have some kind of scientific backup for their claims. Obviously they don't. And here it comes the irony: this tea is sold to assist you with you sugar levels, right? However, one of box sides clearly states the following, "This product is not designed to prevent, treat or cure any disease or medical condition." Sweet. Pun intended. So it does not help with anything. No issue, sell it as a herbal tea, not as a tea to assist with your sugar levels. But... there is more. The box printed text also says "Please seek medical advice before drinking this tea if you are on prescribed medication, suffer from high blood pressure or are pregnant." So it seems that the tea has some sort of medicinal properties that might have an interaction with medication. Like if you're taking this tea most likely you're taking tablets to control your sugar levels; otherwise, you would be drinking Early Grey. So it has some sort of medicinal properties, because if it had none, the latter comment would be unnecessary. What the heck?

My head is spinning in all directions. It reads like the company wants you to assume whatever you want to assume and they cover all sides so that you cannot sue them or any assumption that they might have contributed to create. Just ridiculous and brilliant at the same time.

If the price was average or the amount of bags in the packet many, I wouldn't mind the marketing crappola. However, these tea bags are sold at an above-average herbal tea price (like double) and with a promise of whatever you want to believe. Thank you gosh they're not selling religious books.

For the rest this is a pleasant herbal tisane, with subtle but distinctive flavour and a hint of bitterness that I love.

I was lured by the discounted priced and the hyaluronic acid in it. I know this product is widely used in face creams and serums and the results are noticeable skin wise. I don't exactly how this is achieved on the hair as hair is follicle not skin, though.

I don't get what the packaging means by "plumping". Like volumising? Thickening? My hair was a volumised after using it as it was before. My hair is wavy and thick, so perhaps people with fine sparse hair might have a different experience and results.

I don't particularly like the scent, the jelly like texture, the colouring added to it, or the fact that I had to use a lot of product to untangle my long hair and it does not untangle as well as other masks from other brand that I use. It didn't feel it was as nourishing either, not even compared to other varieties from the same brand and price range.

On the other hand, my hair looked very shiny and healthy looking after use, and the price tag is really good.

Not my fav hair mask, but a good one when I'm on a budget.

Maxwell & Williams Teas & C's Silk Road Coupe Plate 19.5cm Gift Boxed

I gifted this to myself to use as breakfast plate. The design is by Kiwi-Australian ceramist Gabby Malpas.The photo doesn't do it justice. The design is a mix of modern romantic dinnerware with a hint of those nonna's plates that we all love. Just beautiful. It's made of good quality porcelain and washes well under the tap. However, is dishwasher and microwave safe. I find this size perfect for desert and for breakfast. I use it for the latter, to place toasts, hash browns, cooked eggs and other breakky goodies. This is part of a tea set with an equally stunning teacup and saucer, but I bought this separately at reduced price. Good value for money.

I was disappointed with the flavour of these jellies, having tried other Double D varieties from the same brand. These jellies are quite chewy, something I love, and are made with stevia not sugar. However, the flavour is lacking in all of flavours in the bag. Why?! I won't buy them again.

Montana MXA324048 Acrylic Marker 2Mm Fine, Empty Marker

This is a very good quality refillable marker. This marker is easy to fill in/refill and has a metallic ball inside to prevent ink thickening. It is lightweight and the ink is easy to pump out. I used a mini funnel to fill in the marker and it worked perfectly. If I didn't have this funnel, I would have used a syringe. The bullet point works neatly and is very similar to Posca's.

Montana ink is great but also expensive, so I'm happy being able to use other acrylic inks that are less expensive and as good. Refillable markers are a need for me as I feel self-conscious about binning good-quality plastic empty markers. So I love that I can use this over and over.

A bit pricey for an empty marker, but happy to have it.

Double D Sugar Free Cola Bottles 90 g

They are chewy and the cola flavour is just lovely. They're made with Stevia instead of sugar, but they taste great. In fact, they're addictive. These gummies have a somewhat odd smell. Just a warning, despite being made of natural ingredients, the maltitol is laxative; so, if you have a bag of these on your own, you'll get diarrhoea guaranteed. Or perhaps you'd like to have a bag of these if you are constipated. It depends how you see the bottle, half empty or half full. For the rest, great sugar-free lollies and snack but to be consumed in moderation.

Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon Lipstick (Make It Happen)

This is a twisty crayon lipstick in an intense flattering rich. I love the pencil concept as application and outlining are precise using minimum product. It has a matte velvety texture on the lips and dries very quickly so I don't have the feeling of having any lipstick on. It does not last as much as the long lasting lipstick by the same brand, which last me all day long even after eating. This one does not last after eating but it lasts more than other lipsticks I own.

Spiral-Bound 140lb/300gsm Cold-pressed Watercolour paper pad (26.5x26.5 cm, 20 sheet)

This large-ish pad is not only affordable and good looking but, most importantly, it has a terrific smooth watercolour paper. I've used it with Posca pens, collage, acrylic paints, water soluble materials, and stands most media without any gesso layer. Needless to say, I gesso the pages when I want to make sure that I can rub or lightly scratch the surface of my paintings. Acrylic inks will bleed if the pages are not gessoed.

I've tried many watercolour pads and art journals as sketchbook, and this one is at the top of my list due to its quality and price. The only downside is the fact that I cannot open the spiral rings, which is a bit of an annoyance as I'd like to do that to work on each sheet individually without worrying about how to protect the pad from staining. Yet, I've found my way, and this is still a great sketchbook pad for watercolour, water-soluble media and acrylic paints of different viscosity.

This is a large pop-up beautiful card, that sits flat in the envelope but becomes 3D and stands upright on its 'vase' when unfolded. It unfolds easily and fully with no effort. It is very cheery and girly. I consider this perfect for any sort of celebration e.g. I can use it for birthdays, mother's day, and to congratulate coworkers at my workplace, where plants are not allowed. It comes with a stand-alone beautiful note to write your message so the bouquet is not ruined. Even the envelope is beautiful. The size is about 8x8in.

Generic Bottle & Can Opener (5.8x2.1cm)

II grew up with this kind of can opener, and having used anything that has come out in the market, this is still my preferred type of can opener as it occupies no space in my kitchen drawers and it's easy to operate. It is two for one, as one edge is he can opener and the other is a bottle opener.

I didn't notice the dimensions when I ordered the item, so I was disappointed when I got the product and noticed that it is too small for my small hands. It looks like made for children or as a pocket tool. Easy to carry for camping, excursions, travelling and general use at home. Average metal, not stainless steel, but I was not expecting this for the price. It would have been great if it was a bit larger.

This range of paddle brushes is quite expensive, so I was delighted to see this 2in paddle brush heavily discounted during Prime Day. I had high expectations due to the brand and the price tag, and I was not disappointed. The paddle is quite light, easy to handle and moves naturally with the movement of my hand. The hairs are not too stiff or too soft, so the brush does not deform but it is flexible enough. This paddle works wonderfully for blending colours and for spreading paint uniformly. I use it with acrylic paint and it washes easily with water and beauty soap. A great brush, but expensive.

Derwent XL Charcoal Drawing Water-Soluble Blocks, Set Of 6

I bought this sought-after set during one of the Prime Days offers last year, quite discounted to my delight. As the box was sent from Amazon UK, it reached my place with one of the blocks halved and partially shattered, which resulted in the staining of the white block. The box was sealed, but not properly protected either with bubble wrap or protective textured paper.

The blocks are really yummy to use. They are almost creamy and the pigmented ones have rich yummy earthy colours. These are water soluble, so they can be used as watercolours. They are not permanent, so I use matt/gloss medium or fixative when I don't want the marks to smudge. Sometimes, the fun is in the smudging as the mixing of the pigment with other media creates wonderful textures, effects and depth. They're fun to play with but have a professional quality.

Paul Rubens Hot-Pressed 50%-Cotton 300gsm Watercolor Journal (Pink, 5.2’’ x 3.8’’)

This is the second small journal I buy from this brand. I reviewed a slightly different journal in the past. This version has some of the design deficiencies I criticised in the other version sorted out.

The most important thing is that this journal has a wonderful thick smooth watercolour paper that is great for both watercolour and mixed media. I always gesso my pages with either white or transparent gesso, which protects the paper, gives it some tooth and allows me to apply wet media or scratch the paper a bit without any worry.

The satin pink cover is really pretty and girly; not the best quality but befitting the price. I'm happy that this journal does not have the awkward inner pocket the other has because the journal opens/closes more naturally. The journal comes with the promised elastic band, which is necessary to keep all the sheets together once they've all been torn apart.

The main downside is that the dotted tearing indentation is not consistent throughout the journal pages, and some of them are badly punctured. That being the case, the tearing is not always clean and neat.

For the rest, a great mini journal for experimenting, doing small paintings or just as a travel sketchbook. The separated pages make great postcards too.

MYARTOOL Portable Leak-Proof Brush Cleaner with Lid and Filter Screen ( 4-3/4" Tall x 3-1/2" Dia.)

This is a great tool to have either in the studio or for plain-air painting. The tight leak-proof lid is perfect for the later or just to keep things tidy after an art session without the fear or spilling the water on my working table.

This is a stainless steel set with enough weight to hold the brushes even when most of the handles are out. Said differently, it helps keep the brush hairs under water without deteriorating the handle. The inner crevasse helps to remove excess paint from the brush and cleans it better; the perforated base has the same effect.

The main downside is that this medium-sized container is actually quite small. See my photos against one of the average metallic glasses I use for painting. I would be happy to purchase a larger version for my long bulky brushes. For the rest, this one is perfect for those brushes that I use during art journaling or sketching, or for short-handle wide mottlers.

It cleans well and easily under running water.

The photo really does justice to the real product. This is a large-ish good quality card, well printed, in vibrant colours and nicely textured. It pops up beautifully and without difficulty. It comes with a separate note to write my message, which prevents me from ruining the card. I consider this to be a genderless card.

Drain Clean Liquid Enzyme Cleaner 1 Litre

II bought it to try it with my slow drainage kitchen sink, which is especially slow in winter.

After reading the instructions on the back, it's clear to me that this product mostly cleans odours and prevent clogs. It takes a minimum of 24 hours to work, which is not always reasonable if you, like me, use the sink every day. Besides, it says it needs to be used for several weeks to see a difference. Dismal. I'm a bit disappointed as my home piping is really old and needs something that works fast.

I followed the instructions, which say which quantity of product to use for slow drainage and for clogs. The quantity I used for slow drainage made no difference. Then, I used 3/4 of the bottle and there was a slight difference; yet, the water is still running down slow and pools in the sink if I keep the tap open. I let it work for 24 hours, but no dramatic effect.

This is, supposedly, an eco-friendly enzyme drain cleaner. Yet, when I read the ingredients list, it says it has Sodium Hydroxide, non-Ionic Surfactant and water. Well, better than other similar cleaners, yet it is a chemical product, just less harmful than others.

Personally, I would use this is my pipping was working normally, just once a fortnight to deodorize and prevent problems in the drainage, but not with a slink like mine, where the product barely worked and was a waste of money.

VGSEBA Gold Leaf Gilding Foil Sheets,100 Sheets 3.15" x3 .35" (8x8.5 cm)

These leaves are a good alternative to real gold leaf and at a fraction of the price. They look like a sunset gold or Aztec gold leaf, something I love. Each foil leaf is protected by a tissue-paper leaf. The sheets are very delicate and break easily, so they're especially good to cover something, little by little, by applying foil coats; not so good or easy to cover a specific shape (or at least I don't know how to do that). It glues easily with gloss medium and matt medium, but the first one is more befitting with a metallic product like this.

Good value for money as there are 100 sheets in the package and one sheet can be used as accent in a small painting. I wouldn't use this in art pieces for sale, but I use it in my art journaling or small art pieces I want to keep for myself or for gifting.

Stardrops The Pink Stuff Cleaning Paste 850 g

This is the new kid on the block on the household cleaning world. I've never heard of this brand before, but it seems to be all around the Internet, with raving reviews and impacting videos.

A cleaning paste sounded something new to me, and this is why I got this tube and not other cleaning products on the same range. They describe it as a miraculous paste that cleans myriad surfaces grime and grease, so I have tried it on different surfaces to check it out myself.

As per my photos, I've tried it on a pot and a frying pan base, which I scrubbed with a metallic scoured in the past without being able to remove the dry stained grease. I applied a thin coat using a soft scrubber, let it stay for 30 minutes, then scrubbed it off with the same metallic scourer, applied a new coat, left it stay for about 10-15 minutes more and scrubbed again. As you can see, there is a noticeable difference and I was able to remove most, but not all, the grease. So, it is not like in the videos you see on social media where everything comes off easily. It does not work like that.

I've also used the product as a normal surface cleaner in my kitchen, on the stove ceramic top, and the washing metallic sinks and bathroom tiles. It works well and quicker that way with barely any rubbing or scrubbing, leaving the surfaces clean and polished.

I love the creaminess and lovely scent of the product, how easily cleans and polishes, and the many uses it has. Yet, the company statements about rubbing gently before rising off are only true is you aren't removing any tough stains or grime or grease.

The company claims that the product is non-toxic, vegan and non tested in animals, things that are all important to me. Yet, what is this miracle product made of? The ingredient list on the tube says "among others" soap, perfume and preservatives, and asks you to go to their website for the full list. That is unacceptable. Say, for example, that a pet or child consumes this by accident, you would want to know which ingredients are in the tub before heading to emergency services. I've gone to their website and the product has quartz, aqua, soap, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, sodium bicarbonate, glycerin, perfume, ensizothiazolinone, Methylisothiatzolione, Layralamine Dipropylenediamine, and CI 45170 (I guess this is the pink colour). The website also says it's mildly abrasive and to use with care; so, after all, it sounds like slightly toxic and pretty chemical to me.

Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen -- Angelic Color AC White (UM120AC.1)

The Uni-Ball Signo Angelic Color in white is a gel marker with a fine ballpoint, and a good companion to the Uni Signo broad point that I also use. It has a lovely opaque ink. I've used it on acrylic paint and acrylic ink after these have completely dried and the white colour is really noticeable and opaque when used on dark colours; not so much on light colours. The ink flows beautifully and creates polished clean delicate lines or accents. It is not archival, though, so you have to be careful not to smudge it when moving your hand around. This being the case, a fixative is needed if used on artwork. For the rest, it's a lovely marker at a great price.

Celestial teas are among my favourite teas in the world. This tea variety has not disappointed.

Like other Celestial teas, this variety has a wonderful aroma, which starts from the moment you open the pouch containing the tea bags, and continues after brewing. It is not just the nose the one tantalised. The flavour is equally wonderful. The tea has a distinctive apple and cinnamon taste, which is what I was expecting from this variety; it also has other spices undertones with a hint of sweetness. It's a clean and flavoursome taste. I love it in winter nights as it's caffeine free. With a hint of milk makes a kind of light chai. I think it'd make a wonderful iced tea and I'd try it iced when Summer comes. I find this variety easier on my stomach than other spiced teas from the same brand.

One teabag makes two mugs of full-flavoured tea.

I love the packaging and the fact that all the information on the box is written on a decently-sized font. However, there are two very important things that I'd like in the ingredient list to be improved. The first one is the percentage of each ingredient in the mixture, which is missing. Second, and most importantly, I'd lie the general vague "other natural flavours" to be specified. Which ones are they? Do they contain any allergen or sugar?

For the rest, I will be ordering this again.

MEEDEN 12-piece Artist Acrylic Paint Brushes Set

The box contains flat, fan, angler, round, liner and filbert brushes in different sizes.

I love Meeden products. All the art supplies and brushes I've purchased from them in the past have been both affordable and great quality. I bought this brush set not only because of the brand and its affordability, but also because it has a good selection of small/detail brushes and a 1-inch mottler.

Despite what the description page says, this package I got didn't come with a carrying case, just the cardboard holding packaging, which is disappointing. Unlike my other Meeden brushes, these brushes are a bit of a downgrade re handle quality. This tends to break open if kept in water for long periods of time, yet only one of them broke open. The taklon fibres are, on the contrary, excellent -- soft, flexible, easy to wash and low maintenance.

Not professional quality but good quality overall, and they do the job if you're on a budget.

Smith's Potato Chips Snack Mix Variety Multipack 20 Pack

This one of those lovely but naughty snack pot-pourri bags that I love. The bags small size is perfect for lunch boxes or just, as I often do, to enjoy the different flavours in small quantities. My favourite bags are the Grain Waves and the Crinkle Smith's. The other two varieties are also lovely, but they have more additives (colouring, preservative, etc.). The price per gram is obviously more expensive than if buy a full bag of one flavour, but that's the reason why I want a variety pack, because of the variety. They are also convenient for lunch boxes or to carry one in the bag when I do errands and want to have something nice at hand. All the varieties are flavoursome and crunchy.

I'm always on the lookout for healthy snacks. This one appealed to me immediately as it is made of chickpeas, a product that I love. This snack is made of all healthy stuff, as healthy as it gets, mostly chickpea flower, peas, rice, spices and oil. No nasty preservatives. But it is not really chickpeas, it's a mix of chickpeas, rice, peas, sunflower and other stuff. That would be OK if the flavour was stronger. It is mild and lovely, with the chilly being just hinted, but nothing that invites me to buy it again. The crunch is barely there, and that's the main disappointment for me. It's healthy. Yummy? No.

Sunbites Grain Waves Sour Cream and Chives Wholegrain Chips 90 g

Grain Waves is one of my fav snacks due to the hard crunch and the delicious cereal-nutty flavour. This is the first time I try this flavoured version and it is yummy. It's on the sweetish side but very flavoursome. Looking at the list of ingredients makes my heart sink and, needless to say, it has more additives than the plain version. I usually buy snacks from Amazon because they're the same price as in my local supermarket, but this is not one of them. Yet, I had to give away to my craving.

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