2/28/2025

EKET Cabinet with Door (White, 35x35x35 cm)

I like the simplicity and elegance of the Eket line. Having a cube with a door allows me  to store and hide ugly-looking stuff from work, study or art making. The cube is made of a wood-like conglomerate, which you can clearly see on the individual panels inner sides when assembling them. It's sturdy material but light. I can move the cube around easily with my bare hands. The white matte paint and the overall design result in a neat elegant storage solution. The door has a push-opener integrated, and opens by making a bit of pressure.
 
This Eket cube can be hung from the wall (you'd need to buy the wall fittings separately), can be attached to another Eket cube (you'd need to buy the joining fittings), used with legs (ditto) or on its own. I own two pieces, which I use separately, resting on top of two Trotten storage units with castors (now discontinued) of the same size and the ensemble looks like water for chocolate.

I found the cube easy to put together. However, the instructions leaflet wasn't the best as includes instructions for other Eket combos and models. Linking and clicking-in-and-down the side 'knobs' was easy in theory. However, despite pushing down the panels like a champion, I couldn't make them click down fully. That being the case, I had to use a small hammer (protected with a thick fabric kitchen towel) to do that. 
 
DESIGNER  Jon Karlsson.
ASSEMBLY LEAFLET that came in the box is not available on the website any more.

OSTBIT Bamboo Serving Tong

 I love anything bamboo so I was delighted to find a tong in this material. Price was cheap, the design beautiful and I urgently needed a replacement for my broken tong. I choose this over a metal tong because I like organic materials, especially bamboo. My delight was short-lived. This tong grip is not good. It doesn't open/close properly, so it's difficult to comfortably grab anything with bulk. It's not specially good for salads either. I don't think that the Ikea Sweden team was inspired the day they created it. I don't recommend. 

DESIGNER Unknown.

VESKEN Narrow Trolley (White, 54x18x71cm)

The Vesken narrow trolley with castors is a super-cheap solution if you have a narrow space in your kitchen, bathroom or craft room and want to use it to the fullest potential. Both the trolley and castors are made of sturdy plastic, no tools or screws are needed, and holds a maximum of 6 Kgs. This Vesken holds a lot of fluffy bulky stuff or many small heavy-ish items. I have it in my kitchen, in the small space existing between my fridge side and a cupboard side. 
 
This shelf is quite wobbly unless one of its sides leans against a firm, steady surface. Otherwise, the trolley will fall, especially if stands on tiled flooring. Supposedly, the trolley can be used in the shower, but I don't think this would work because most shower floors are tiled or slippery. I tried in mine and was a disaster.  

I keep the trolley stationed in the same place with the occasional pushing/pulling in and out. I don't think the overall design and the plastic castors were made to move it around as I do with the metal trolleys I own. 

Despite the ridiculously cheap price, I wouldn't buy this item again. The reason is that, despite the instructions leaflet being clear, I had trouble assembling it. This is a click-in sort of assembly, no screws or tools needed. However, as the material is not rigid and you have to exert some pressure to click-in and down all the bars, I didn't know how much pressure I had to exert without breaking the bars. Also, I found difficult finding the right position for the bars to click in fully. 
 
DESIGNER David Wahl.

HARVMATTA Letter Tray (Anthracite, 32x25x32 cm)

Like the rest of the Harvamatta series, this tray is both practical and stylish. It's quite large and you'll need a bit of space to place it. (I think it fits inside a Kallax cube). It's also a bit heavy (about 4.5 kilos); most of the weight comes from the individual trays as the outer shell is quite light.

I use this letter tray to declutter my desk and other surfaces in my home office. I store papers that I haven't classified yet (e.g. letters, postcards, receipts),  printing paper, and current documents that I want to keep at hand (e.g. medication prescriptions, medical referrals or certificates, bills to pay). The  trays are sturdy and hold A4-size paper pads, small sketchbooks, small items of stationery, and phone chargers. In a way, this letter tray is a mini-shelving system. The individual trays can be pulled out for convenience and their cork lining and outer curved flap prevent anything from sliding off and out.

Assembly is easy. The only difficulty I found was clicking in the last piece of the outer shell. 

DESIGNER Eva Lilja Löwenhielm.

HARVMATTA Box with Lid (Anthracite, 24x35x6 cm)

This box is the largest in the Harvamatta box set. I can easily store up to A4-size documents, stationery, unused painting brushes, colouring pencils and pastels, among other things. They're a bit pricey, but also good quality.

The box is very elegant and minimalist, with a hint of formality. I love the contrast between the metal anthracite colour and the cork lid woody colour. As they are so stylish, I can leave them in full view even though they might contain a lot of crap that, otherwise, would be cluttering my office. These boxes pile on each other perfectly, and they look great on top of the Harvamatta letter tray.

The main downside of the Harvamatta box line is that they don't have any closing or securing system. On the one hand, this favours easy piling on each other. On the other hand, if the box falls down, you'll have its contents all over the place. I would have loved these boxes having some sort of vintage-like wired closure or fasteners; even a tight closure like those that pickle traditional jars have. 

DESIGNER Ebba Strandmark.

CITRONHAJ Salt & Pepper Shakers (8 cm)

This set is made of glass and stainless steel and the screw top can be open to refill. They can be used to store any spice, not just salt and pepper. The cap has two rotating sliding blades under which there is a set of small holes and a large aperture.

I don't use this set on my table as it looks cheap and not especially elegant. I use them in my kitchen when I'm cooking and only because I  don't want to dispose of them. In all honesty, I won't buy any more of these to store any spice as the cap sliding blades aren't fasten enough and  they open easily at random. Besides, the holes are too big and not many, so I cannot properly get the right dose of spice. 

Although I paid very little money for them, I got what I paid for. I don't recommend them.

DESIGNER Friso Wiersma.
 

RÅSKOG Small Trolley (white) with NORRÅVA Lid (28x38x61 cm)

I have two taller larger Raskog trolleys, which I love, but I needed something smaller (this is 61 cms tall instead of 77 cms) to tuck it under my desk when not in use, and to place it beside during my painting sessions without obtruding the area.  

The  antique-white epoxy coating is beautiful and goes perfectly with the Norrava bamboo lid. Besides, the epoxy coating  is easy to clean from paint splashes and stains.
 
Despite its small size and lightness, this trolley holds a lot of stuff. I place my brushes holders on the top shelf when painting, which I remove when not in use and place the bamboo lid. It's true that the lid protrudes a cm or so over the edge, something that didn't happen with older models. Yet, I don't see this as a big issue. On the shelves underneath I keep different painting media I often use (gesso, basic paints, palette ceramic plates, wipes, painting tools, gels, etc.). Although I use this unit for my painting needs, this trolley is perfect for kitchen and bathroom storage when the space available is limited.  

The trolley is easy to assemble thanks to the very clear instructions leaflet. The castors are great quality and roll beautifully in all directions; they can be locked in case you want to use it as non-movable storage unit.
 
DESIGNERS Nike Karlsson & Ellen Hallström. 

AVSTEG Knife Holder (23 cm)

This knife holder looks great in the photos, due to the combination of Ikea's classic metal epoxy white metal and bamboo colours. Something I love. However, the product looks less stylish and refined, even cheap, in real life.  The box airing system prevents mould from forming inside if you store the knives wet inside, but it's also a nice design touch.
 
I have it on my kitchen counter, and I have a good amount of different knives stored them. The materials aren't strong and I think that the design isn't good. The holder wobbles a bit due to the fact that has some legs and a mobile tray that rests on them. That is, the bottom tray is not fixed but loose, so it tends to slide off easily. It was designed to catch dripping water if you put them wet in. But, who would do that? I don't at least. Why not making the base solid and fixed just with some perforated holes? Why not making the holder more stable and strong? I bought this product when it was first released, so it wasn't as cheap as it's today, but I was totally disappointed. I have this holder in use, and  serves a function, but I would not recommended it.  
 
DESIGNER Zhelin Lian.

1000 PUBLISHED REVIEWS


 
 
Hi there lovely strangers! 
It's celebration day today: 1000 reviews published on this blog.  I feel like the Goddess of Reviews today, to be honest. I've gone through a long road that has taken me from from A to Z, to infinity and beyond. May the force be with me to continue this self-imposed task.
 
I started this blog many years ago as a repository for all the reviews I was publishing on different online platforms, mostly food and travel sites. The blog has grown organically to include most of the reviews I publish online, most of them on Amazon, including those rejected on different platforms because they were unfavourable to the product or service reviewed, those that I toned down to prevent rejection on those platforms, or those that I don't feel like publishing on online platforms because my real name would be shown. 
 
 
 
My reviews are honest and reflect my experience with products, services, online retailers, hotels, and so on. My aim is to be helpful to those who read them. I'm still too busy at work to engage on social media or to moderate blog comments but, believe me, I appreciate your visits more than you think. Thank Youses!  

 
 (I created all images in this post with Ideogram and Bing Image Creator) 

FEJKA 3-Pack Artificial Succulent Plants (6 cm)

This set is overall pretty, and the plants look great from afar. However, the size is tiny. The 'plants' part lacks colouring detail, which would make them look more natural. I was expecting the set to have the colours shown in the product page photos, which are way more realistic; however,  my set looks all dark green without any realistic touch. The pot is made of plastic. I would have been OK paying a bit of more money and having a more realistic plant design and a ceramic pot. Yet, you get what you pay for. DESIGNER Unknown.

KRILLE Leg with castor, white (70 cm)

These legs are sold individually to use with the individual table top of your choice. They are made of good quality strong metal and have an excellent epoxy coating. The castors are fabulous and lockable.
 
The Krille is easy to assemble and, screwing it to the table-top, is straight forward. However, the location of some of the screws holes is wrong, making something as simple as screwing a total pain. I don't have an electric screw-driver so I used a manual one and, despite having small hands, I still had difficulty positioning my hands in a way that I would be able to fully screw some of them. The spacing should have been different. I understand that the holes have to match those that the table-tops have, but the holes on the the leg base were to close to the metal bar. I had difficulty screwing them manually, so I don't know how a person with big hands or a big screwing tool can do that. For the rest, a great purchase. 
 
DESIGNER Francis Cayouette.

2/22/2025

Lightwish 100%-cotton 300gsm/140lb Watercolor Journal (4.7x4.7 in)

This is such a cute watercolour journal. It is not only affordable, as most Lightwish products are, but also has a good-quality 300 gsm cold-pressed watercolour paper. It's perfect for both watercolour painting and mixed-media. The size is ideal for travelling or as a carry-on sketchbook.
 
The paper has a bit of tooth to it, so it's a bit rugged. I've tested it with acrylic inks and paints with and without priming. The results are quite good. The paper takes a lot of water in. It buckles a bit when wet, but it recovers its flatness once dry. I've also tried it with  the same materials, adding clear gesso and the inks and paints run more smoothly and I can work the paper harder. 
 
The binding is excellent and I can open the pad almost flat without the stitching coming apart.  However, the colour tends to bleed down through the stitches holes. That might not be a problem if you don't paint the full spread or just focus on motifs on each page, do zentangle or drawing. Painting an inks drip down. Yet, for the price, this is a fab mini sketchbook.

Due to slightly textured surface, the use of fine white markers and Posca pens is not the best, unless the paper is totally dry and they go over a very dark colour.
 
The cover has a fabric-like texture in a beautiful turquoise colour. I like my journals to have the cover in different colours as this helps me easily identify different journals. This is important to me because I use them to explore different colours or materials.
 
The elastic band is a must because, once you start using the pad, this won't close fully. Besides, once the whole pad is used, the band will help close the notebook properly. 

Finally, the pad has a ribbon bookmark, something I really love.

2/04/2025

Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens, 3-Pac (Soft, Hard, and Twin Tip)

I love these Fudenosuke Tombow markers.One is the classic Fudenosuke  black with brush tip medium nib, the same in dark blue, and the other is a two-tip marker with two different nibs (fine and extra-fine). These markers are very pleasurable to use. They glide smoothly on any kind of paper I've use them on. The quality of the ink is intense and bold unlike the normal Tombow markers, which have a more watercolour nature. That being the case Fudenosuke is better for artistic drawing, calligraphy, shading, outlining and making bold ink-like marks.   
 
The ink is water-based, so these markers are not permanent. You will need a workable sealer if you want to use them in mix media as they smudge easily if mixed with anything slightly liquid. Also, if used in combination with acrylic paint, make sure that the paint is completely dry before you use the markers as, otherwise, the nib will be damaged. This is true for most markers out there, though.  
 
This package is good value for money and you have three different tips and colours. They last a long time without drying off, and the quality of the ink is always good. I've had this for over a year, and they are still as new.

2/03/2025

JRINTL Large Extended Gaming Mouse Pad (800x300mm)

This is an affordable large mouse pad that I bought to use both as laptop mat and as mouse pad. It’s really large, thick and made of good quality rubber/silicone, which is flexible and allows the pad to be rolled if necessary. The upper is velvety soft and really comfortable to rest my wrist and arm directly on it. The mouse rolls smoothly on it, as well. The back has an anti-slip rugged texture that helps it stay on the table.  
 
I would have bought this pad even if it was plain black, but I love maps so I thought that the featured print was really cool. However, the item I got has poor quality printing, with the image faded or not crisp, nothing like the image shown on the product page. Besides, the image is slightly distorted, as if a small image had been stretched to fit in a canvas that is too big for it. Not good if you really want the map perfectly printed.   For the rest, it's a great mat/pad.

2/01/2025

Kinbom 6pc Detail Paint Brush Set (Red)

These medium-quality affordable detail brushes are better quality than expected. I've now used them for several months.
 
The set has two items of each size (5/9, 3/0, 2/0) and, although they are not liners, they make good lines, shapes and fine marks. They're great for corrections on small areas, for mark-making and to fill in small areas or corners in a journal. I use them with flat or soft paper surfaces so I don't know how they would react with canvas or wood panels. I always use them with acrylic paints/inks and no issues so far.
 
I tend to forget my brushes submerged in water for too long, from some hours to a couple of days. The bristles tend to bend and lose shape while left in water for a while, but they recover it easily by drying t hem with a paper towel and, at the same time, pressing them into their straight shape with my fingers. I initially feared that the red handle would lose its colour or break open, but that hasn't happened. So, I think these brushes are better quality than they look like. On the other hand, they look like a downgraded version of the brushes depicted in the product page photos.
 
Although unimportant, the brushes colour is more like burgundy, definitely not the beautiful red in the photos. I just wanted any coloured handle to differentiate these brushes from other small ones I own, so any colour would do.  

In short, an economic student-grade set of detail brushes that are sturdy, durable, and versatile.

Aymorder 10-piece Nail Art Liner Brush Set

I was lured by this 10-piece set of nail art brush liners due to the variety of sizes and the good price. I risked the purchase as they could have been terrible. But they are not! Sure, they aren't a professional artist set, but I didn't want to spend a little fortune on a professional set. I wanted this to start getting familiar with this type of brush and to work on art journal and small paper projects. They're befitting.
 
I use them with acrylic paints/inks and they work well overall. They would have been better if they had slightly thicker bristles but, you know, these were a bargain and are not intended for artwork. They make good long flat and curvy lines with ease but, due to the bristles not being strong enough, sometimes the lines aren't clean. It might be me, as I'm just getting used to them. They're perfect for people with small hands and they're good quality despite the bargain price and the fact that they were intended for nail art not painting.  These brushes work better on flat paper (e.g. art journal pads) or on surfaces that have none or little texture (e.g. cold pressed watercolour paper).  

The brushes are easy to clean and can be kept in water for a long time without worry. The 'crystal' handle material hasn't deteriorated at all despite my tendency to forget brushes in water all night or for several days. The synthetic bristles get bent when left in water for long, but they recover their shape easily by drying them out with a paper towel and pressing them back into their flat shape with my fingers. 
 
I haven't used these for nail art, so I cannot comment on how they work for that purpose.

Yitexin 20-piece Alphabet Stencils 4x7in (18x10cm)

This is a generous set of alphabet stencils made of good quality stencil material and with different lettering styles, so you can use them on different projects. Due to their size, these stencils are great for art journaling, scrapbooking and school art projects. The quality of the cutting is good. However, there are some design inconsistencies within each template, something that bothers me. Good priced.

Uni-Ball Signo 1mm Gel Pen -- Gold (UM153.25)

This Uniball Signo metallic gold gel pen is fantastic. It produces clean lines and is great for accents on craft and painting projects. However, this is not a lightfast or permanent marker, so you would need to use a fixative if you want the colour to stay. The gold colour is on the greenish side, not bad, but not my favourite tone of gold.

L’Oréal Magic Retouch Permanent (Dark 5 Brown)

This is a new product in the L'Oreal Magic Retouch range. I use the spray to cover greys when I haven't had the time for colouring. However, the spray only lasts till I wash my hair. So this mini-tint package is great. It has the same quality permanent colour that you find in the full box, but in the right amount to cover my part line and temples but also some of the sides of my head. 

The box contains a dispenser bottle with an brush attachment, the jar with the colour and a very good and useful instructions leaflet. I mix the product as per the instructions but I never use this colour, or any other, directly from the bottle. I always pour it into a professional tinting container and use a professional tinting comb as these allow a more efficient use of the product and I get better results.
 
I'm very satisfied with the results as the tint covers my greys perfectly, the colour looks beautiful, it does not irritate my scalp, and has a mild odour. 
 
Now the downsides. The first one is this, like other L'Oreal tints I've used, dries my hair noticeably. The colour looks great, especially if you put a dark colour on, but I also noticed that my hair is less soft, freezier, and feels dry to touch. This being the case I have to put a full mask and then use tons of Moroccan oil to compensate. Being honest, we're meant to leave the product 10 minutes on only, but I tend to leave it 30 minutes as I have rebel thick greys and otherwise they would not get properly covered. So, be aware that if you use it longer than recommender, this might be your case as well.  

The second downside is this. The price of this bottle is almost identical, sometimes the same, sometimes a couple of dollars down, to the full box. However, the latter contains more quantity and a great shampoo and conditioner. So, to me, the full box is better value than the MR version, and it serves me better as I have a large amount of greys all over my head. Magic Retouch is better for guys or just girls with short haircuts or just people with not many greys.

Sally Hansen Nail polisher remover (Strengthening Pink)

Nothing fancy or hoo-ha about this nail polish remover. It does the job, it does not smell too bad despite being acetone based, and removes thick coats of paint with ease. If I wanted to strengthen my nails, I'd rather use a purpose-made nail strengthener. I don't think this NPR was designed to strengthen your nails, just not to further damage weak or flaky nails by adding lanolin and hydrolysed wheat protein. So, the result is that this NPR is gentler on my nails than others. Good-priced and it does the job.