The Spirit of Giving (Project Cereal Fundraising)

There is much happiness in giving. We often forget this in the process, but when we give, a certain sense of fulfillment takes its place within, and it helps us be grateful of what we have.

It's been a long time since this little space has had an update, and I truly apologise. University life is certainly overwhelming with assignments, projects and readings. Despite all the frenzied mess, this October, I do have some wonderful news to share, and I cannot be more excited about it because it's all for a good cause.

Next week, The Happy Candle will be selling its first ever line of products - brush lettered Bookmarks and Greeting Cards - as part of a fundraising event for an Overseas Community Service Project (OCSP) called Project Cereal. Here are some details about the project:

"Project Cereal is a pioneer student-initiated OSCP to Cambodia. The first of its kind, Project Cereal has tied up with Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Faculty of Social Sciences to launch a two-week project in Cambodia’s Kampong Speu. Project Cereal aims to advance social mobility through poverty alleviation missions. Its first mission primarily aims to equip Cambodian children with English as well as basic computing skills."

The fundraising will be held from 12 to 16 October at my very own university, SMU, and the bookmarks and cards can be purchased there at the SMU Basement, opposite of Pastamania. If you're an international reader, and you'd like to show your support, don't hesitate to like Project Cereal's page on Facebook or follow them on Instagram for updates. :)

Each Bookmark costs S$2, and three of them are sold at S$5. For the Greeting Cards, each costs S$3, and two are sold at S$5. The Bookmarks come with a ribbon, and the Greeting Cards are one-sided. Both of them are printed on 250gsm white paper and come in various designs, and among them includes my first digital illustration, so it'll definitely be fresh and interesting. :) 

A significant percentage of the proceeds from the fundraising will go to helping the children in Cambodia, Kampong Speu. I'd also like to thank one of my seniors, Alina (Ali), who helped out with some of the designs and gave helpful pointers for this entire launch, I honestly couldn't have completed this without her. :) 

A lot of time and effort has been put into to making this happen with The Happy Candle's new brand stickers, packaging and designs, to make sure that there'll be a fulfilling outcome from the project, the fundraising and the cause, so your support is greatly appreciated. 

Giving is living. Let's stay compassionate, and live with meaning. 

Until next time ♥ 

________________

+ Do check out Project Cereal on Facebook and Instagram to find out more details about the project. :)

+ As with my last break from this space, I suppose it'd be courteous to inform readers about the future reduction in frequencies of posts as well. I'd just like to mention this concisely, just to ensure that readers are informed and (hopefully) look forward for future posts. 

I might not have the time to write, but if you'd like more updates from The Happy Candle, you may follow me on Instagram, where I'll post some additional lettering work and some behind the scenes that are not featured on the blog as well. :)

The Creative Minds: Happy Girls

Beauty, in itself, is a wonderful entity. Yet, most never have the audacity to remind its value in themselves. What is most unfortunate is how people are often inclined to ascribe it to physical appeal instead of what lies beneath. 

I've teamed up once again with the very talented Elsa from Totally Elsa, and we have created a piece with her sketch of a portrait of Audrey Hepburn and my lettering. Audrey Hepburn is indeed a inspiration to many young girls due to her poise and down-to earth demeanor, and Elsa has certainly made a wonderful illustration of her. The detail in her sketch is incredibly intricate and it takes such patience and conviction to produce a very delicate piece like the one she's created.

It was Elsa who had picked out this beautiful quote, and suggested it to lettered. I agreed to it almost immediately because the message that it carried was no doubt genuine and captivating. Of course, it must be noted that this message isn't applicable to just women as well. When people are happy and grateful with their lives, beauty and grace are also reflected in their souls as we inevitably find ourselves enduring adversities with quiet fortitude.

The misrepresentation of 'perfect' physical traits such as waistlines and makeup on television and social media has distorted the once staggering image that beauty possessed before these influences ever existed. While its definition is ostentatiously molded by these pervasive bodies, producing unrealistic expectations, we must take heart that true beauty lies within, and one of the ways we can reflect it is through happiness.

Happiness doesn't necessarily mean to be the less-than-realistic, constantly cheerful character with a plastered smile. Having that kindred-animated spirit, taking stock of our blessings or doing something that induces the warm fuzzies in another can depict happiness as well. Only in keeping this joy, we emerge as beautiful individuals - young and spry regardless of age, for this is also what manifests a meaningful life.

Until next time ♥

Illustration by Elsa from Totally Elsa, Lettering by Dian from The Happy Candle

______________________

+ The Creative Minds Series is a collaborative collection where a contributor and myself will create an artwork or a piece together, featuring the original works from contributor about art or any other form of design, including photography, and anything creative. 

+ In view of the busy times ahead, if you'd like more updates and inspirational lettered quotes, you may also find me on Instagram, where some new content that isn't featured on the blog will be posted as well. :)

Completed Project: Lynde Avenue

Uncertainty may intimidate some, but if embraced, it gives more room to trust and have faith. We can never anticipate how things will turn out while working with someone new. Admittedly, there were moments in various projects where I didn't give credence to my own work and refused to believe they were good enough, but we certainly have to learn to trust the process and keep the faith.

Some time ago, Emily from Lynde Avenue had approached me to help create a new header and style for her blog after she saw the project I worked on with Sophie from Sophie Smith. She wanted to give her blog a more creative boost and mentioned that a fresh design would be very helpful for her.

Lynde Avenue is a blog about wellness, beauty and lifestyle, where Emily shares advice about keeping healthy, tips and tricks on wellness and beauty, and occasionally some blogging and lifestyle tips as well. The posts on the blog are always concise, to the point and summarises things in a nutshell. I especially enjoy reading posts on wellness and health. They are certainly beneficial to keep ourselves in the pink of health and in good shape. Emily also has pretty impressive coding skills and has designed blogs before, so her blogging tips are helpful too. If you enjoy reading about beauty and fashion, the blog also shares information and tips about those topics, so feel free to check them out. :)

Emily was very forthcoming with her ideas and she was also open to what we both had in mind. She had an idea of the colour palette she loved - purple, pink and a pale shade of blue. She also loved a minimal, elegant and feminine style. Here's a moodboard that inspired the project.

(Clockwise from top-left) Orlando Florida Wedding (Photo by Amalie Orrange Photography) / Brush Stroke + Lettering + Heart by myself / Classic & Elegant Russian Wedding (Photo by Sonya Khegay) /  Zila Lila Nest Bean Bag / Figs & Gold Wedding Inspiration (Photo by Onelove Photography) 

We explored the purple, pink and neutral colour palette, leaving the complementary colours for some accents, and because Emily loved the idea of minimal, clean sans serif fonts, I also managed to implement them into the headers by lettering and drawing them out. All the headers were hand lettered, and most header options also included a watercolour pink heart, to accentuate the minimal style Emily was fond of.

We also discussed about different design elements that would be really unique to her blog. Since coding is also something Emily enjoyed doing, it would be very special to include this interest into the blog style as well. The additional illustrations include a running shoe and a jump rope to depict wellness, which is one of the main topics discussed on the blog. These illustrations were hand drawn to give the design a more authentic style too.

(Inspiration: From left) Classic & Elegant Russian Wedding (Photo by Sonya Khegay) / Orlando Florida Wedding (Photo by Amalie Orrange Photography) / Zila Lila Nest Bean Bag / Figs & Gold Wedding Inspiration (Photo by Onelove Photography) 

This is still, one of my first few attempts at creating a moodboard, and I am very aware that it's not the best, so I'll gladly welcome any criticisms and comments. I'd love to hear any suggestions and improvements that we can all learn from together.

This project was pretty enjoyable to work on, as with all other projects are, because each one of them undoubtedly possess a certain form of uniqueness and specialty. :) Furthermore, it's always an eye-opening experience to be able to work with someone from another part of the world. I had such a wonderful time working with Emily who was always so courteous and kind. She was extremely gracious and polite with suggestions and this certainly made the project easy to work on. It could never have been possible with her ideas as well, so I really appreciate that. :)

Finally, collaborations are perhaps one of the most interesting type of projects to work on because working with new people undeniably has unexpected paths and turns, but eventually, the results produced are relatively pleasant and satisfying. Apart from successfully completing the project together, genuine partnerships are formed as well. :) They also provide the much needed affirmation for both parties, and allow us to just believe in ourselves, a little more.

Until next time ♥

Lettering + Design elements by me, Photos as stated in links

Check out the other projects I worked on with Sophie from Sophie Smith and Bryleigh from A Little Yarn Blossom. 

___________________________

+ If you're keen on featuring your original, creative creations on The Happy Candle, check out the new post series, The Creative Minds

+ I have been incredibly busy this month and will continue to be in the coming month, with college administration and camps, but I do hope to continue contributing to this as much as I can. To make up for the reduction in the frequency of posts, I will be posting more updates on social networks. You may check out what inspires me on Pinterest and follow me on Instagram for new lettering work and extras that are not featured here on the blog as well. :)