1/22/2023

2-Set of Awl Wood Handle

This is a set of two identical faux-vintage tailor awls. They're re very light and easy to handle. The point is really sharp and has a protective sleeve, and really useful to perforate both fabric and watercolour paper without tearing them apart. I haven't tried them on leather, though. Very good priced. I wish they have been two different awls instead of two of the same as one of the product page photos seems to suggest that this is the case.

Uni Posca PC-1MR Marker White Ultra Fine 0.7mm Tip Nib

These are my least favourite of the Posca white range of markers. I'm a devotee of the brand and of their white markers, but this ultra-fine point one has been quite a disappointment. I bought these markers at a good price to use them in my mixed media projects to write and draw on acrylic paint. Like any other Posca marker, I have to pump it out the first time I use it for the ink to flow out. However, unlike the other white Posca markers, whose nibs retain ink for while and you have to re-pump them once in a while, these ones don't retain ink in the nib, so the ink doesn't flow naturally and I have to pump them out or shake them continuously. What's worse, the quality and saturation of the lines are deficient. Just frustrating. I won't be buying this finer point nib again.

1/21/2023

Laciteny Artist Detail Paint Brushes Set-12 Pcs

This brush set has a good mix of small size brushes with different nib shapes. The handle is very ergonomic and the overall size of the brushes is perfect for my hands, so I enjoy working with them. The filaments are good quality, and they don't lose colour or shape when I use strong colours or after washing them.

My two main issues with these brushes are:
1- The ferrule tends to separate from the handle after little use; it seems it was poorly glued or pressure stuck, so I have to secure them with insulating tape when that happens. It wasn't because of this, my rating would be higher.
2- The selection includes sizes that I don't necessarily consider detailed brushes, like those over size 2. These bigger small brushes are quite common and easily found and included in any cheap set. This being the case, I would have loved the set to include only sizes that go from 2 down, and nothing above size 2.

Good price for the set and they brushes look expensive.

27 Feb 2023 UPDATE
The black coat that covers the handle comes easily if you wash the brush after use or leave it in water for a while as crackles the paint and exposes the woody part. Not happy about that. I had to use insulating tape to cover it. A star removed because I don't use these brushes too much and they deteriorate rapidly after barely any use
.

1/20/2023

Toni & Guy Smooth Definition Mask 200 ml

I usually buy the damage repair hair mask from this brand so I wanted to try this one to see the difference, especially because I have a naturally frizzy hair. The Smooth Definition Mask is excellent and leaves my hair looking shiny, healthy and effortless stylish. It smooths my hair layers without flattening them or losing their shape, plus no frizz. The texture is less creamier and nourishing than the other mask, and I need more product to untangle my hair. Overall, very happy with this mask. I'll buy it again.

1/19/2023

Strathmore Artist Tile Pack, Toned Gray, 400 series

I bought this grey card pack just because it was cheaper than the white paper one and not sure what the real colour was as the product page doesn't show it. The cards are toned in a lovely warm grey as per my photos. The card stock is sturdy and has resisted everything I've done to it today without tearing.

Things I've done to the paper just to try it:
> Covered the cards in white high tooth gesso.
> Added a coat of heavy-body acrylic paint.
> Glued several layers of collage paper using matte gel medium.
> Glued a small piece of fabric.
> Stitched French point using embroidery thread, previously using an awl to perforate it.
> Added a glaze of acrylic paint and rubbed it with my fingers.
The paper has resisted everything. The stock is 215 gsm and not 300, which is ideal for mixed media, and that shows in the fact that the paper corners curl a bit.

I've also tried the paper without gesso and also resisted everything.

The third experiment I've carried out is stitching and doing basic sewing and embroidery on it, without gesso added. I also added heavy-body acrylic paint and rubbed water-soluble crayons. The paper stood everything as per my photos.

For the rest this is an excellent artist paper, versatile, and it can be used as it is, in the original toned colour or covered in paint , gesso or anything you want.

Yet, it's a bit expensive taking into account that the pack only has 30 tiles.

1/18/2023

HASK Argan Oil 5-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner Spray 175 ml

I
'm a fan of Hask hair products, and some of them are a staple in my beauty case. However, this supposed conditioner has been a great disappointment. It does not condition or detangle my hair after washing it, so I don't consider this to be a proper conditioner. It works more like an add-on shine and protection oil once I've conditioned my hair with another product'; also, it's not as good as Hask oil vials either as a leave-in product, at least on my hair. I won't buy it again.

1/16/2023

LEONIS 30 Color PolyesterThread Set (45 m/50 yds ea)

I bought this pack to use it for stitching in my artwork. The mix of colours is lovely and varied and includes the main colour families. The bobbins are half the size, or less, of average bobbins (see my photo), but that doesn't bother me as I won't be using them to sew garments or in big projects. What bothers me is the quality of the thread, which is average, not good; as the thread is quite thin, I need to use it doubled so that it's noticeable on the paper. The needle threader is handy but it's also paper thin. The container box is nice and handy to keep all the bobbins tidily stored.