This month, let us introduce you to Alexa Ung, also known as @mingnialexa, who will be sharing her story on how she reignited her love for painting through Iraville's Watercolour Art Kit. 🎨🖌️
Hi Alexa! We'd love to get to know you better. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi! My name is Ming Ni, but you can call me Alexa. I'm a deaf individual who holds a diploma in Illustration. After I graduated from college, I worked part-time as an art teacher, teaching arts to children and teenagers. Currently, I'm working full-time as a draughtsman and interior designer.
I enjoy exploring my artistic abilities. Currently, I have five Mossery Art Kits, including Mossery × Iraville, Plate to Paper, Tom Haugomat, and Angela Pan's first and second edition Art Kits. So far, I've tried the Iraville Watercolour Art Kit and plan to finish it this year before moving on to other Art Kits.
Did you ever hesitate before buying your first Mossery Art Kit? If so, what made you decide to go for it in the end?
Yeah, I did hesitate before, but eventually, I decided to buy it as I want to practise my art skills and to reduce my time surfing the Internet. I fell in love with the Mossery Art Kits even before I bought my first one. I find them all amazing and it makes me want to collect them all. I admire the artists who collaborated in the Art Kits and would love to learn new skills through it. Besides, I enjoy facing new challenges that come in learning new skills.
Is there a specific piece that you created using the Art Kit that you're particularly proud of? What made it special to you?
Yes and it's Camper Life. It’s hard to paint since it has small details, but that's what made it special to me. I'm proud of the end result as painting everything so small was a challenge and I managed to finish it.
Mossery Art Kits come with a workbook to guide users to develop and practise their art skills. Have you found them to be useful or helpful?
Yes, they are very useful. They helped me to learn new knowledge and skills.
For the Watercolour Art Kits, I was introduced to new brand art materials. I discovered that I can use Polychromos colour pencils after using watercolour, something I never would have considered pairing with watercolours. I'm also surprised that there are different types of watercolour paper with different textures.
I tried the Paint Marker Art Kits too and it's my first time trying out Posca and Molotow markers. Through this experience, I learnt colour exploration and new techniques on how to paint with markers.
Have you ever experienced creative blocks or self-doubt in your own artistic practice? If so, how did you overcome it?
After I graduated from college, I struggled with self-doubt which makes me seldom draw and paint. I was eager to draw again but I did not have the motivation to start drawing. Then, somewhere around November 2021, I stumbled upon Mossery Art Kits and I know that it will be the perfect tool to encourage me to start drawing again. Through the Art Kits, I have started to let go of my perfectionism and slowly embrace self-compassion.
I started to get back into art thanks to the Art Kits. My mind is free when I immerse myself in painting, and I enjoy flipping through my practice workbook, seeing my progress through the finished artwork I've done.
Would you mind sharing any tips or advice for someone who's new to painting and feeling a bit overwhelmed?
It's okay to take a break sometimes. Learn to appreciate and be patient with your small progress, no matter what others think about it.💖
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Unleash your hidden creativity with Mossery Art Kits today. Browse through the collection here and rekindle with your creative side today👩🏻🎨!
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For too long, we have been taught to believe that power comes only from assertiveness, aggression, and dominance. But the truth is, empowerment can also come from our softer side.
This Women's History Month, let's celebrate the often-underrated softer qualities.
To embrace the Gentle Power within us and rediscover the strength in our softer qualities, we want to highlight four values — intuition, sensitivity, nurturing and compassion.
Intuition is often seen as a mysterious and unreliable quality, but it is actually a valuable tool for decision-making and problem-solving. It allows us to tap into our subconscious and make decisions that come from our heart, often leading to better outcomes than relying solely on logic and reason.
So how can we tap into our intuition? The best way is to start small and simple.
Listen To Yourself: When your mind and body are giving you signs about a decision or path, take a moment to reflect and observe. Write down what your body is telling you and try and deduce why.
Set Strong Feelings Aside: The next step is to clear up and strengthen your intuition. Strong emotions like anger or sadness cloud your natural judgment. Clarity is key to making the right intuitive choice. Journaling and introspection can help you adopt a more neutral standpoint. Reading your thoughts in writing allows you to take a step back and see them from another perspective.
Sensitivity is often seen as a negative quality, but it is actually a strength that allows us to pick up on the nuances of our environment and the people around us. It helps us empathize and connect with others and can be a valuable asset in leadership, creativity, and problem-solving.
We can start by becoming more in touch with ourselves. Increasing your overall understanding of emotions and reactions makes you a more sensitive and a better communicator.
Observe Yourself: When you encounter a strong feeling whether positive or negative, observe what you do. Note if you clenched your jaw, smiled, played with your hands, etc. This allows you to become more self-aware of your emotions and improve your emotional sensitivity.
Observe Others: By understanding your own emotional sensitivities, you will be able to see them better in others. With this, you can have more clarity on what another person is feeling by observing their reactions and communications.
Nurturing is the act of taking care of and supporting. However, nurturing goes beyond caring for others, nurturing also means fostering a positive relationship with yourself. It helps us create a more caring and supportive environment, leading to stronger relationships and a more positive community.
Nurturing begins with you and then spreads to those around you to create safer and healthier environments.
Protect Your Growth: Before you can create a safe and nurturing environment for others it is important for you to nurture yourself. This means allowing yourself to grow, make mistakes, and protect your interests and journey to a better future.
Being Mindful Of Others: Just like you would have practiced protecting yourself while you are growing and making mistakes, you now need to grant others that space to express and feel. Provide support when needed and become the person you needed on your journey.
Compassion is a quality that helps us understand and relate to others. It allows us to show kindness and empathy towards those around us, which can lead to a more supportive and inclusive community. It prompts us to prioritise the greater good over superficial factors.
Similar to the other values, it first begins with you.
Practice Self-Compassion: Self-compassion entails treating yourself the same way you would treat a friend who is struggling, even if that friend messed up, feels inadequate, or is simply going through a difficult life situation. Try to write a letter as if you were talking to a dearly beloved friend who was struggling with the same concerns as you.
Self-compassion offers the security required to acknowledge mistakes and emotions rather than feeling the urge to place the blame elsewhere.
Let Go of Black-and-White Thinking: Understanding that people around us are not wholly good or bad allows us to understand them in a deeper sense. We are all humans with complicated lives and choices. Letting go of rigid thinking can allow you to connect with others more empathetically even if your own problems are bigger/smaller.
At last, your gentle power can be empowering. Empowerment doesn’t always have to be rough and tough, sometimes it simply means understanding yourself better. By looking inside and seeing what your inherent qualities are and strengthening them, you open the doors to a greater relationship with yourself and those around you.
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This month, we talk to Taylor Waldroup about how she overcame her artist block, her newfound confidence, and the discovery of a new medium that resonates with her through Sibylline’s Gouache Art Kit. 🎨💫
Hi there Taylor! Nice to meet you. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm residing in South Florida with my partner and our two cats. I’ve never taken formal art classes but I’ve been into drawing and painting since childhood. I still vividly remember my first memory of creating. I decorated the school's picnic table with sharpie markers and signed my name multiple times because I was proud of it! Luckily, I didn't get into trouble, and the drawing stayed there for quite some time.
Besides creating art, I have a few other hobbies that I enjoy. But, right now, I'm painting for fun and to improve my painting skills. One day, I would love to start my own art business — selling art prints, stickers, and other similar things.
How did you first hear about the Art Kits and what made you decide to purchase one?
I heard about the Art Kits from Sibylline Meynet. I've been a fan of hers for a while. Initially I was hesitant, however, after reading about what was included in the Art Kit, I felt reassured and decided to purchase the 1st and 2nd editions of Sibylline Meynet Gouache Art Kit. It was worth it as the Art Kit includes everything you need to learn about gouache, making it great for someone like me — who wants to try a new medium without fully committing.
We'd love to hear your thoughts on the Sibylline Meynet Gouache Art Kit and how it has influenced your creativity, confidence and art style?
Sibylline Meynet Gouache Art Kit has had a huge impact on my creativity. I was experiencing a really bad case of art block and was struggling finding a medium that fits me as an artist. The Art Kit has helped me not only to discover my favourite medium, but also to become more confident using the paints. The step-by-step instructions in the guidebook were helpful — everything was explained thoroughly and it was easy to follow. It boosted my sense of confidence as an artist, allowing me to confidently share my artwork with the world.
You mentioned that you were struggling with finding the right medium for you. What led you to choose gouache as your preferred medium?
I've tried other mediums before, such as oil paints and watercolour but never got too far with it. When I saw the opaque and detailed capabilities of acryla gouache in Sibylline's work, it made me intrigued to try it out. I've tried digital art too but nothing compares to painting with real paints. The acryla gouache is the perfect balance between watercolour and acrylic and has become my absolute favourite medium to work with 💘✨🎨
Do you have a specific artwork that you're particularly proud of? What made it special to you?
The piece I’m the most proud of right now is the painting I did for the Lunar New Year, celebrating the year of the rabbit! It’s a girl sitting calmly in a meadow with two of her rabbit friends 🐰 I’m proud of it specifically because it’s the first original illustration I’ve done using the acryla gouache. I used everything from the Art Kit to complete it and I am still so happy with how everything came out — from the composition to the colour palette!
Can you share with us where do you find your inspiration?
I draw inspiration from many sources. I find that nature - particularly plants, and animals - plays a significant role in my artwork. I’m a big animal lover so I always try to include them in my art!
I'm also inspired by other artists I admire, as well as movies and TV shows I grew up with. It's always nostalgic and comforting to recreate a scene from my childhood favourites. I'm still working on finding my individual style, so I'm taking my time to experiment and explore what works best for me as an artist.
Overall, how would you rate your experience with the Sibylline Meynet Gouache Art Kit, and would you recommend it to others
I would rate my experience the highest I could possibly rate it. I would highly recommend both Art Kits for those who want to try acryla gouache. Not only does the Art Kit contain incredibly useful materials, but it also includes exclusive artwork from Sibylline herself - a fantastic bonus! 😊✨
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Unleash your hidden creativity with Mossery Art Kits today. Browse through the collection here and discover the perfect art medium for you!
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Love is not out there somewhere, it begins with one's own self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-care. It means prioritising and nurturing one's emotional and mental well-being, rather than seeking validation and fulfilment from external sources.
Love is an inside job. It starts from within you.
Self-acceptance and self-awareness are closely related concepts that play a crucial role in an individual's overall well-being and happiness.
Self-awareness involves gaining an understanding of one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and how they impact oneself and others. This awareness allows individuals to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and areas to improve.
Self-acceptance builds upon this awareness by allowing individuals to embrace their flaws and imperfections without judgement or criticism.
When we begin to understand them better, we can slowly actualise them. The journey begins by taking small steps every day and staying dedicated to yourself.
Scroll down and discover how Mossery Notebook and Introspect can help you to journal your thoughts.
According to the American Psychological Association, expressive writing such as journaling reduces intrusive and avoidant thoughts about negative events and improves working memory. These improvements, researchers believe, may in turn free up our cognitive resources for other mental activities, including our ability to cope more effectively with stress.
Reflect on daily experiences: Write about what happened throughout the day, including events, conversations, and emotions. This will help you gain insight into your thoughts and feelings, and how they impact your behaviour.
Practice gratitude: Write down things you are thankful for, no matter how small they may seem. This exercise can help shift your focus to the positive aspects of your life, promoting self-acceptance.
This will get you used to the habit of conscious reflection and allow you to be able to understand your subconscious processes better. With this, you can move to more critical reflection.
Identify patterns: Keep track of recurring thoughts and emotions. This can help you recognize patterns and areas that need improvement, leading to increased self-awareness.
Explore self-doubt: Write about instances where you felt self-doubt or negative self-talk. This can help you identify the root cause of these thoughts and work towards changing negative thought patterns.
Practice self-compassion: Write down positive affirmations or reminders of your own self-worth. This can help promote self-acceptance and counteract negative self-talk.
Recognising the importance, we have worked on creating tools that help, including habit trackers in our planners and our self-care journaling series.
Journaling can be the start of a better you and we hope to be part of your journey. Starting simple is the key to not getting burnt out by the process.
In conclusion, self-awareness and self-acceptance are critical components of personal growth and well-being. Journaling can be an effective tool for promoting both, as it provides a space for individuals to reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Through journaling, individuals can gain insight into their emotions, beliefs, and patterns of behaviour, leading to increased self-awareness. Additionally, journaling can promote self-acceptance by allowing individuals to embrace their flaws and imperfections without judgement or criticism.
By achieving self-awareness and self-acceptance, individuals can experience a greater sense of self-love, peace, and fulfilment. They can also make better decisions, establish healthier relationships, and lead more fulfilling lives. So, if you're looking to cultivate self-awareness and self-acceptance, consider incorporating journaling into your self-care routine. With its many benefits, journaling can be a powerful tool for personal growth and well-being.
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The thought of school sends you into a jittery frenzy, with sweaty palms, non-stop thoughts and a rapid heart beat. Does it sound familiar to you?
The overwhelming weight of going back to school can be daunting, paralyzing our motivation for school. We then find ourselves lost in an all too familiar phenomenon called procrastination.
Procrastination begins when the gap between the knowledge of our tasks and the action of doing it becomes wider. We are then lost in that ‘knowing-doing’ gap as anxious jitters creep up our fingertips. To prevent that from happening, a stepping stone to taking that first step is, you’ve guessed it, routines!
Routines are a set of actions that you do repetitively on a frequent basis. It helps build momentum in your productivity, and set you on track with your goals. Being in that productivity mode helps tick off your to-do lists. Thus, you become motivated, becoming an embodiment of the Nike slogan.
As you journey through this state of flow, your focus will be shifted. Perfection will matter less and your jitters will turn into brain juice. Soon, you will have achieved and progressed further than you’ve thought.
Routines are built from small actions, such as to-do lists and everyday tracking devices. An action as small as writing "buy pens for school today" on a post-it note may do wonders in lowering the likelihood of forgetting and procrastination. That's where tools such as Planners or Bullet Journals come into the picture. They are your safe place to brain dump, doodle and take note of everything in your life.
Getting ready for school can feel hectic as routines are often lost in the holiday shuffle. And that’s okay. It is also important to forgive yourself from time to time for procrastinating; however, it’s also important to jump back up and ready yourself for the journey ahead.
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Each June, we are greeted by soaring technicolor flags — each a proclamation of a pride hard fought for. The rainbow flag has become an iconic symbol of solidarity, celebration, and fight for queer people across the globe.
Credited to US gay activist — Gilbert Baker, the pride flag emerged in 1976 as a symbol of social independence for the gay community.
As a drag queen himself. Baker, equipped with a penchant for 1970s glam and yet not the wallet to support it, was adept with a sewing machine and had skillfully stitched together a canvas of stacked stripes — a symbol of many coming together as one.
The rainbow flag has become his emblem of choice as “flags are about proclaiming power”, he said.
While the rainbow flag has become a symbol for the queer community, Pride Flags for each pocket of the queer spectrum have emerged since then — each a color of their pride.
This Month at Mossery, we’d like to celebrate the height of pride — the coming together of a community, the spectrum within, and the creative liberties we take for what we believe in.
This is the safe space we'd like to provide to you — from wherever on the spectrum you come from, to learn what empowers you.
That’s why we’d like to hear from you, our Mossery community: what makes your pride?
Journey through the spectrum with us on @mosseryco.
Last year, we launched the Prism Fundraiser where we donated 40% of Prism Cover proceeds from the month of June to SEED foundation & the It Gets Better Project.
This year, we’re turning it into the Prism Project — a year long initiative where 25% of all Prism Cover sales will be donated to SEED Foundation.
SEED Foundation is the first trans-led community based organisation in Malaysia. Co-founded by Nisha Ayub, SEED Foundation is on a mission to advocate for, build a safe space and provide sustainable livelihoods to marginalised communities.
In the spirit of trust and transparency, we’ll be updating this space to include the donation update by the end of June.
“Everytime someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place” — Raymond Holt, Brooklyn 99.
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Stay tuned to our Instagram @mosseryco for all these exciting updates, new launches, and more.
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“I’m going to give you a handful of wildflowers
so, each petal that falls will remind you
that the earth breathes, and the moon rises.”
― Carolyn Riker
If not the Earth, then where would we be?
This April, let’s join hands to commemorate the endless beauty and resources the Earth has graciously offered us. For where would Mossery be, without the fruits of the Earth to inspire?
Read on to learn more about our green initiatives and how you too can take steps towards a greener tomorrow:
As a stationery company, paper is more or less the core pillar of our business. We’re blatantly aware of how continuous paper production affects the environment.
There are inevitable consequences we must acknowledge, as it is a detrimental byproduct of our existence as a brand. Therefore, we’ve focused on sourcing ethically-produced paper to make sure we’re not causing additional harm to the environment to the best of our abilities.
The papers we use to sustain our business are FSC-certified and ISO14000 Certified, both of which adhere to global environmental standards.
As a company that produces paper products of all shapes and sizes, perfectly fine excess bits of paper are inevitable. As a way to resolve this, we’ve repurposed these scraps into Mossery Offcuts which are fresh new items with their own practical value.
From these leftover pieces of paper, we’ve created handy index cards and undated vertical weekly planner pages for some convenient organization!
Even the best of machinery can’t guarantee perfection. In moments of error during our manufacturing processes, we end up with slightly flawed products that don’t quite pass our meticulous quality checks.
Be it so, it would be a shame (and environmentally harmful) to simply discard these items or leave them abandoned on our warehouse shelves. Superficially, they may not be flawless but a little character never hurt anybody — especially when they’re still 100% functional!
In an effort to minimize waste, we’re holding our biggest Second Chance Sale yet! No longer limited to Planners and Refills, we’ve extended our sale to every nook and cranny of the Mossery catalog.
From tools to accessories to covers and the like — these products are just waiting for their second chance. Give them the home they deserve.
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The earth exists not to be your playground or your area to pollute as you please. It is the soil that cups the soles of your feet. The fallen dew drops that kiss your cheeks in the early morn. The untainted beauty of petals who whisper a shy hello.
Candidly speaking, there may never come a time when we become worthy of Earth’s gifts. But a small, good-intentioned step is a step nonetheless.
Reach out and let us know what we can do better to help contribute to a greener future. Share how you’ve played a part too over on our Instagram, @mosseryco!
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We’re officially in the second half of the year, and this means that Mosstober is coming up!
The 31-day-long art project may seem daunting for many artists to take on, but we’re here to break it down and show how it can be manageable.
We believe every artist aspires to have consistency and would like to be dedicated to self-improvement, so we hope that this guide will help make the challenge more accessible for you, letting you focus on creating everyday.
Having a theme can help you know what to draw, as it narrows down a potentially overwhelming pool of possibilities while also keeping the main tone or style of your work consistent.
If you're planning to use a Mossery sketchbook, you can personalise your theme name on the cover — this way, it can be kept with your other completed projects or as part of your portfolio.
@whamonster incorporated themes into her previous challenges — Game of Thrones for 2017, and Stranger Things for the year before that.
Your theme can be anything you like: a TV show, a movie, a limited colour palette, or a specific style of drawing. Be sure to choose something that helps you generate more ideas and not get stuck too often!
Remember, the goal is to make things easy for yourself, so it's best not to go too overboard with the kinds of tools you plan to use. We recommend keeping it simple with just two to three pens of different textures and sizes, especially if you’re looking to incorporate colour.
But if you're up for an extra challenge, this could also be a great time to familiarise yourself with a new art tool or method. It's all up to you — which kind of muscle would you like to exercise?
Mixed Media artwork by @tomoko/Watercolour artwork by @hazelong
If you're planning to use a Mossery sketchbook but don't know which one to pick, the 224gsm Mixed Media paper is ideal as it can take a wide variety of mediums, allowing for flexibility and experimenting.
However, if you are planning to paint with ink, we recommend the 300gsm Watercolour paper or our brand new 100% Cotton 300gsm Watercolour paper so your artwork doesn’t bleed easily onto the back of the page.
Over the course of a month-long challenge, there will be times where you may feel like skipping a day or two.
Whether it's sketching the artwork or writing down ideas for each day, planning ahead can go a long way — this means you have one less to-do to worry about when you’re in the thick of it.
Don't worry about coming up with fantastic ideas for each prompt. While we understand the urge to create a masterpiece every day, the real purpose of Mosstober is to simply maintain the streak.
So even if you feel that your preplanned idea or sketch could be better, what counts is that you created something for the day and didn't get stuck in the ideation process.
Mixed Media artwork by @angelynpeh
Outline a schedule in a notebook, or list down ideas for each day based on the prompt. You can even draw rough sketches for the days you know you already have visual ideas for.
We all need some motivation from time to time: doing a challenge with friends can be the best kind.
Encouraging each other through demotivating days and brainstorming ideas together can go a long way to making Mosstober less daunting.
Don't worry if you can't find someone to take on the challenge with you — the Mossery Mosstober hashtag shows many other artists who have committed to seeing the challenge through, and following along with them is another way to boost your morale.
@ludmilacerafoce and @albabbgg challenged themselves to create artworks with a limited colour palette.
Feel free to save it, share it, or even use it as your desktop wallpaper as a reminder. We’ve also invited 31 artists once again to submit a piece of artwork for each day’s prompt, which we will post all throughout Mosstober itself on our Instagram.
Remember to hashtag #mosstober2021 when you start posting your works in October!
For now, we have great news: you can pick up a Mossery Sketchbook (Medium, Large and Refills) for 15% off using the code MOSSTOBER
The discount is valid from 16th August to 30th September 2021 – the perfect amount of time for you to receive your sketchbook and get it ready for the challenge.
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It goes without saying, but we can't wait to see everyone's works! Here's to improving our skills and learning together.
How do you prepare for Mosstober? Share some of your tips with us in the comments below!
As August sets its course, we’d like to introduce our Made For You Month where we remind you of the main priority behind our hallmark of customisation — you.
Our products are made for you. From a wide array of cover designs down to name personalisations, they are customised to fit the varied preferences and needs of our users.
This pertains especially to our Planners, Notebooks and Sketchbooks. In fact, we took it up a notch by launching our Twinbook — for those who’d prefer the convenience of both a planner and notebook in one book!
Continuing on from July, we would like to redirect you to our Purposeful Everyday Checklist which entails 31 acts of daily wins over the span of 31 days.
Affixed as a route to self-betterment that requires our conscious effort, some might find the idea of living Purposeful Everyday intimidating and worry about relapsing into the grips of languishing.
However, we are here to take the first steps with you and remind you that it doesn’t have to be splendorous. It’s okay to start small, accumulate little wins and witness yourself evolve throughout the journey, one day at a time.
Feel free to kickstart your journey to flourishing by checking off the purposeful acts you've done today!
Awed by the wonderful ways our community has personalised their own Mossery book, we are thrilled to feature some of you in our Made By You Interview Series, where we’ll be showcasing their creative spreads and discover how they came to be!
With that, do check out Part 1 and the upcoming Part 2 of the interview series!
Learn more about their stories, from their diverse backgrounds to personal preferences and how they found a creative refuge from the whirl of modern life, provided by the simplicity of physical paper and pen (or paint).
These individuals have proved that not a single book is the same, and that we all become the author of our own story as we begin to fill in the pages of our book, our way.
In hopes of empowering the hundreds of ways our community could go about their planner, notebook or sketchbook, we have made it a point for us to not limit your possibilities by way of personalisation.
It is truly a joy for us to witness how our books are made by you, and how they have become a meaningful piece of your life story. Here’s to hoping they become a wonderful companion in your purposeful journey.
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Start curating your book, then leave it to us to carefully build and ensure its best quality for you.
Have you customised your own Mossery book? What do you like most about our personalisation features? Share with us in the comments section below!
Thank you to Faziera for this write-up, and to @ellieandmarker for the photo!
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Having spent long periods of time in a state of uncertainty, we are collectively falling into an emotional rut – leaving us devoid of motivation, aim, happiness, and unable to pinpoint how we feel.
What if we told you there is a term that perfectly describes this emotion? Called “languishing”, this feeling emerges in our absence of purpose, clouding our drive to get through the day. To overcome this, you can bring purpose into your everyday life.
As we emerge from this post-pandemic norm, it’s important to not let this stagnant feeling carry on. Living every day purposefully despite circumstances is the key to healing your minds and hearts, as they grow and flourish.
With that, here are 5 steps you can take to make your everyday purposeful.
When working remotely, there is barely a line between the office and home when all is done in the same room. It can be easy to overlook or forget to do simple things, like drinking enough water or stretching your legs.
One way to give yourself some breathing space is through the Pomodoro method. Split your entire work duration into 25 to 30-minute intervals, and have 5-minute breaks between each interval.
During those breaks, you can dance, stretch, snack, hydrate — do whatever you like to keep yourself rejuvenated. At the end of the day, listen to your body and replenish any nutrients you might miss. By taking care of your body, you allow your mind to reset.
It can be hard to stay engaged and positive when you don’t feel your best, but remember to show compassion to yourself by nourishing your body and mind. Allow yourself to have fun and relax for optimum productivity throughout the day.
Being in isolation can be difficult as our daily human-to-human interactions seldom come by. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends and family during this time. Odds are, they’re seeking your company too and would welcome an invite for a quick chat.
Make weekly calls with your loved ones and just talk! Talk about your worries, hopes, and dreams. Healthy relationships built on consistency are the cornerstone of making meaningful connections.
Do also connect with your colleagues or make new friends by joining online workshops. Not only will this expand your social circle, but it can also make you feel less alone through engaging with various people.
When feeling languished, a way to remedy this is by getting into a state of flow. As isolation orders were put into place, many of us have felt more burned out than ever before.
Being in a state of flow involves being fully immersed in something you love or something new that you’ve always wanted to try. That’s when our creativity levels are at their highest where we can accomplish more with less effort.
Try doing things that challenge you. Channel your creative energy into a productive activity, such as painting, learning to knit, or indulging in writing. The sense of accomplishment derived from it is a great confidence booster and mood regulator.
Some of you may find yourself having ample time to contemplate, think, and self-reflect. Try naming your feelings and identifying how certain situations make you feel. You’ll find it easier to take action when you’ve familiarised yourself with your mind space.
Keep a journal. Writing down your ideas, feelings, and doubts can help streamline your thought process, untangling any uncertainties. By having your values visualised on paper, you can clear out the path that directs you towards your purpose.
If you’re unsure about how to start, click here to check out some therapy-based journaling prompts!
Start small when setting goals. Being realistic about your goals and ideals avoids the cycle of feeling defeated when you don’t reach them. Making goals based on your current capacity will enable you to feel good about yourself and what you’ve done.
Celebrate every win, no matter how small. Do what makes you happy and feel good. If the win was waking up early and having a quick breakfast, celebrate it. If the win was cooking your own dinner, celebrate it. You can even track your wins in our planner's habit tracker, and rejoice as your smalls wins accumulate!
These little joys will snowball, as you gain momentum in life and begin to identify bigger joys to pursue. Initially, it can be hard to get started. But by consistently making these small progressions, you will eventually lead yourself to big, meaningful changes.
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Thank you Farah for this writeup! We hope these tips will help you in making your everyday purposeful. Live your life intentionally and by your own accord. Then, watch as your soul flourishes, reviving your drive.
On that note, we're happy to announce that we've launched our 2022 Planner. Check them out here! Stay tuned to @mosseryco for more exciting things lined up in the coming weeks.
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The pandemic has caused a major halt in our lives. As the world enters a new normal, we are now collectively feeling an emotion that leaves us unmotivated, aimless, and joyless.
This emotion is called “languish”. It emerges from our absence of purpose, making us feel like we’re stuck dragging our feet through each passing day. However, this state of languish is hardly permanent with the right antidote.
To counter this, we want to introduce the idea of
where we reclaim control of our circumstances and despite them, create meaning in the days to come.
Rejuvenate our drive through experiencing a meaningful day-to-day life. After all, finding purpose is what makes life really worth living.
With that, we are delighted to announce the launch of our 2022 Planner!
For the months leading up to 2022, we implore you to reconnect with yourself. Dig deep and think: what makes your day purposeful?
By filling in each day with intent, you are cultivating your mind, heart, and self. Notice as you slowly flourish with the small changes you make with every passing day.
Along with the 2022 Planner, do also check out the four new covers we released — Microflora, Moss, Citrus Dream, and Malibu!
Inspired by the inkling of life to the weight of our sky, we hope these covers will not only refresh your energy for 2022, but also inspire you to always live your days with renewed vigour. Pre-order now now to get your planner in August!
Step back, recalibrate, and rejuvenate. Fill in your new 2022 Planner with old wishes and all your wins, no matter big or small. By living life how you make it, your next year will be filled with intent, growth, and purpose.
We also have several more exciting things lined up for the month, including a guide on how to live your days purposefully. Do stay tuned to @mosseryco, we can’t wait for you to see them!
Thank you to Chee Zhen for this writeup!
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Although the world we live in can sometimes feel divided, the reality is that we live on a diverse and colourful planet that is meant to come together to create something beautiful.
It’s no secret that we each have our own unique colour palette and that we are all made of ideas and experiences that could only exist within us, making it tempting to stay within the realms of what we already know.
Yet, it is when we venture out of our comfort zone and come together to embrace humanity in all its diversity, are we only able to create a palette that is out of this world.
This June, we want to remind everyone that the world is a colourful blend of our individualities and when we work with our differences, something remarkable can come out of it. In addition, we’re doing a fundraiser in conjunction with the new release of our Prism cover!
For the month of June, Mossery will be donating 40% of our Prism medium book sales to the Seed Foundation and the It Gets Better Project. You can also opt to donate here, without purchasing the Prism cover!
The SEED Foundation is the first trans-led community-based organisation in Malaysia, whose motto is "Nobody Gets Left Behind”, ensuring the availability of support services for local marginalised communities.
Co-founded by trans-activist Nisha Ayub, the SEED Foundation aims to empower marginalised groups in Malaysia by providing access to a safe space, supporting sustainable livelihoods, facilitating access to healthcare services and linking people to resources that will improve quality of life.
In fact, as of June 2021, SEED Foundation and Justice For Sisters are collecting donations for the Trans Solidarity Fund to help trans Malaysians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to donate directly.
The It Gets Better Project, on the other hand, is a non-profit organisation with a mission to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ youth around the globe through storytelling and building networks between international and local communities.
Founded in 2010 by Dan Savage and his partner, Terry Miller, this once social media campaign has turned into a full-fledged organisation that spans its inspiring efforts among the youths across 20 countries. Click here to donate directly.
We're proud to announce that we've raised over $450 USD in donations and Mossery will be matching that amount. In total, we will be donating $900 USD and have it split equally between the SEED Foundation and the It Gets Better Project.
For that, we are beyond thankful for your participation in the Prism Fundraiser.
We hope through this fundraiser, our collective efforts can support these organisations to raise awareness for our local and international queer communities in need of help and resources.
Besides, we have done two feature series, with one showcasing creative celebrities and the other, artists! Feel free to check them out.
Stay tuned to our Instagram @mosseryco for all these exciting updates, new launches, and more.
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With self-care growing into prominence in recent years, journaling became a popular strategy for people to practice self-care.
For one, it’s a fluid tool that allows one to reflect and express themselves in their own unique way. Still, some of us may find it hard to start journaling.
Should you resonate with this, here are some helpful prompts to help you kickstart your journey.
By default, we humans tend to focus on the negative aspects of our day-to-day lives. If we are not mindful about our pessimistic state of being, it’s easy to get lost in the midst of it all.
To counter that, by intentionally and consistently listing out what you are grateful for, you can deliberately challenge and reframe your mind to remember the good things in your life you might have overlooked.
With that, reflect, and list three things you are grateful for today. For example:
Think of a quote that has inspired you lately, and reflect on how it has affirmed or challenged you at any point in your life.
You can look up what your favourite poets, writers, artists, philosophers, spiritual teachers, etc. have said, and choose one to write down.
That quote shall serve to guide you as a mantra for the week! Moreover, having these words of affirmation visualised on paper can help anchor you for when you feel lost.
For instance, the above quote by Oscar Wilde could serve as a timely reminder for you to be gentle on yourself and to adopt a beginner’s mindset whenever you work on a new project.
When necessary, revisit what you wrote and remind yourself of the intentions.
If you can’t think of a quote to write down, the Mossery Dated Planner comes with pre-printed weekly quotes to set your energy for the week!
It’s important to take care of how you see yourself. A delicate self-identity can create falsities that negatively affects our state of mind.
This is a powerful journaling exercise for anyone who might be suffering from low self-esteem and/or is looking for an extra confidence boost.
While this exercise is similar to the gratitude prompt, this prompt differs by asking you to reflect exclusively on your internal strengths and competence, i.e. your intelligence, personality, resilience, adaptability, skills, etc., such as:
By affirming yourself and your inherent characteristics, you are reminding yourself that you have all the potential and capacity to succeed, just as is.
If you are working on achieving your goals, what you can do is break down your resolutions into actionable steps. Consider journaling about your life ambitions.
Visualise the kind of person you want to be and detail what you’d like your life to be by then. Then, break down your goals by listing the steps you can fulfil to help realise them.
By doing so, you are also setting up realistic expectations for yourself. One way to do this is as such:
Self-care is realising your limits and gradually broadening it to reach your goals. There is no need to force yourself or create unnecessary pressure. What’s important is the intent.
What makes the journal system truly powerful is its adaptability.
If any of these prompts are not working for you in the long run, you can easily switch it up and experiment with another prompt according to your preference and capacity.
There may be days when you have a lot to share, and some days when the words seem to be trickling slowly— such days are perfectly valid.
Rest easy and do follow your energy accordingly— whenever you are ready, your notebook will be there to capture it.
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Roshinee is a Malaysian activist who uses media and art to advocate for better mental health and stronger youth empowerment in Malaysian society.
You can view her art here and read her mental health blog at @cukup.club. In addition, thank you to Chee Zhen for her artwork!
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It’s undeniable that writing down your thoughts in a private journal is helpful, and even more so if you are able to reflect, reframe, and rediscover a healthier way of thinking.
For anyone seeking therapy-based prompts, or a more defined structured way of expressing their thoughts, perhaps looking into Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help.
CBT is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment people can use to keep their mental state in check. According to it, our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are related and can be influenced by each other.
Thus, one of the main concepts in CBT is cognitive restructuring or reframing of thoughts. By addressing and challenging our unhelpful thoughts, we can also see a change in emotions and behaviour.
As a therapist who has translated CBT exercises into journaling, here are a few prompts you can try out for yourself.
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When you start expressing your thoughts through journaling, do try to write about a variety of moments in your life, from those that were great to those that you might not be proud of.
This way, if you ever wish to look back and understand why you said or acted in a certain way, writing it down in the form of a thought log could be helpful.
According to the CBT model, our thoughts and emotions can influence our behaviours in any situation.
Try to explore what you’ve experienced and see how they could’ve led to your behaviour by jotting down what happened!
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If you feel that you’re anxious or constantly worried about something to the extent that it affects your mood for the rest of the day, it could help for you to look at the situation from a different point of view!
Worrying is normal, but when thoughts turn into predictive catastrophes, it can really wipe us out.
Here’s a thought-challenging exercise called de-catastrophising. All you have to do is answer these 5 questions in your journal:
When you take your time out to do this exercise, it can help slow down that worry spiral and create step-by-step ways for you to find reassuring and realistic answers!
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Some of our most harmful thoughts and behaviours stem from negative beliefs about ourselves, such as, “I’m not good enough” or “No one likes me”.
It can be tough to challenge these beliefs on our own. A CBT activity that you can do to combat this is the behavioural experiment, where we will set a hypothesis— a statement we test to see if it’s true or false.
By using a behavioural experiment, we can test the negative beliefs about ourselves by gathering evidence from around us.
Try asking your friends or colleagues about what they think of you, with questions like:
Then, note down what they say verbatim. These will be the results of your experiment and would likely prove that your negative beliefs aren’t true at all. Scary, but helpful!
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Humans are creatures of habit but sometimes, we need to work on increasing our good habits while decreasing our unhealthy ones.
Fortunately, we like to feel rewarded in our efforts to maintain new changes. Having a cute and structured habit tracker to check off your daily habits feels fulfilling and motivating, which strengthens our new behaviours.
Try pairing your mood tracker with your habit tracker. Tracking our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours reminds us that they are all connected, that to work on one will definitely benefit the rest.
If you need more tips and tricks on using habit trackers, here’s a handy guide to kickstart your journey.
Although these are only a few examples of exercises used in therapy, I can assure you by just reading this article, you’ve taken the first step towards improving your mental health.
It’s not necessary for you to adhere strictly to each part of the exercises as structured above, but be assured that these detailed prompts are stemmed from evidence-based therapy approaches that can definitely lend you a hand.
And if this isn’t your cup of tea, that’s perfectly fine! Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach and you may benefit from a looser, more expressive way of journaling for your mental health.
I say that if it works, it works!
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Amanda is a clinical psychologist based in Kuala Lumpur who aims to bring awareness about mental health to all while taking charge of her own.
She is frequently seen reading fiction, gaming, or trying out weird hobbies to discover new forms of self-care. You can find her on Instagram at @pocketofcare.
Also, thank you to both Amanda and Chee Zhen for the visuals!
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References:
Garfinkel, P. (2016). How the ancient art of writing therapy can help you create a brighter future. Los Angeles Times.
Cherry, K. (2020). What is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?. Very Well Mind.
Psychology Tools (n.d.). How to use CBT thought records to change the way you feel. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
The Center for Growth (n.d.). Decatastrophizing: Challenging anxious and depressive thoughts. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
Morin, A. (2020, February 12). How to perform behavioural experiments: Test how real your assumptions are and you might change your life. Very Well Mind.
Raue, P. (2019, October 2). The power of tracking your mood. Sanvello.
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What is your idea of self-care and how do you go about it? When was the last time you had a good look at your mental health and made the active choice to work on it?
For this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Mossery wants you to know that facing ourselves and acknowledging the state of our mental health can be difficult.
The thought of opening up, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, and finding ways to heal matters just as much as acting on the desire to change.
Your thoughts count and when you’re ready to improve your mental health, we’ll be right here, taking the first steps with you.
This May, we want to remind you that all forms of progress count and that taking care of your mental health is something that is done mindfully.
With that in mind, we have reached out to several content creators to help guide you on your way to creating an environment where you can feel safe.
From journaling using Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy to more casual journaling prompts, and reminding our audience of small self-care acts, we hope that we can be with you every step of the way.
Sometimes, it isn’t so much doing the acts but having the intent to do so. We believe that your thoughts count, that that is the very first step to self-care.
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To kickstart your self-care journey, we've launched two blog posts to help you begin journaling using four Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy exercises and self-care prompts respectively. Feel free to check them out.
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What are some of your personal acts of self-care? Comment below or DM us on Instagram @mosseryco
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When was the last time you stepped out and immersed yourself in nature?
The trees breathe life, the soil nurtures it while the moss carpeting it was what inspired our name, ‘Mossery’— a fusion of the words ‘moss’ and ‘stationery’.
When we chose that name, we wanted to pay tribute to the Earth’s beauty and the resources it has offered to us.
Thus, this April, we want to remind everyone and ourselves, that the Grass is Greener Here on Earth, that this is the only place we have to call home.
With the full intention to protect and conserve our environment, we are launching Mossery Earth, a series of initiatives we’re taking to create a greener future.
To ensure your books arrive safely in your hands, we unfortunately leave behind our carbon footprint in the process.
Hence, to offset the carbon produced from shipping worldwide, we’re proud to announce that we will be working with Cloverly to neutralise our carbon footprint by matching each shipment’s carbon emission cost with a green project closest to the destination.
By calculating the total carbon emissions generated from our deliveries, the Cloverly API determines the price of carbon offsets we have to purchase.
Then, the amount collected will be used to cover our carbon footprint by channelling the fundings into green and sustainable projects.
We have a slightly different take on the 3R principle, which is: ‘Reuse, Refill, Renew’. With that in mind, we designed our books to be refillable.
Every Mossery book lasts as long as the duration you own it, as you can simply replace used pages with a variety of refills, which you can choose according to your needs and preference at the time.
By refilling your books, you can reuse your favourite cover for however long you want, whichever way you’d like!
Machines make mistakes, that’s why some of our refills have minor imperfections.
While we’re committed to deliver in the best quality we can attain, this hardly means that books with barely noticeable flaws should be thrown away, especially when these books are still 100% functional.
To avoid unnecessary wastage, we’re offering these books at a 40% discount at our Second Chance Sale. After all, every book deserves a home.
While paper products can be effective tools of creativity, we’re aware of the effects uncontrolled paper production has on the environment, namely deforestation from excessive logging, as paper is made from wood.
As an ongoing effort for sustainability, we source our paper with care and scrutiny to make sure they’re ethically produced.
As such, our papers are certified by the FSC and the ISO14000 Environmental Management Standard, both globally recognised environmental standards.
With that, we aim to minimise the negative effects paper production has on our planet.
Unique designs require specific prints and cuts, although this may result in leftover papers during production.
To avoid wasting these ample materials, we’re repurposing the offcuts to create new products! We're still in the midst of making it happen so do stay tuned!
Besides Mossery Offcuts, we have several more exciting launches lining up for the month, so stay tuned to our Instagram for the latest updates!
While it may be possible for humankind to eventually discover and settle on a distant, yet familiar planet, the greenest grass still grows on Earth.
With that, we implore you to pick up your watering cans, and join us to take care of this big, beautiful globe we call home.
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Within your power, what steps are you taking to uphold sustainability? What other efforts would you like to see us take to advance this green mission?
Tell us all about it in the comments below!
Thank you to Chee Zhen for this writeup!
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The road to equality is a bumpy ride, yet a necessary one to take for an ideal future. In previous years, we at Mossery have taken the stance to empower and inspire women everywhere, making space for women’s voices to be heard during Women’s History Month.
This month, we’re diving deeper - not only are we learning about the trials and triumphs of women whose ripples stretch beyond history, but we will also highlight the stories of women who are creating history as we speak.
It is with full intent that the Mossery team strives to amplify women’s stories, inspiring young women everywhere to live up to their fullest potential.
Facing injustice is no easy feat. On that note, we will be featuring notable women who defied all odds and left impacting influences that still shape current society.
Head on to our Instagram to discover the stories of Anne Frank, Malala Yousafzai, Nisha Ayub, and Michelle Obama, who maintained resilience and rose above their circumstances, some of whom remain fighting for equality, to this day.
The spotlight will also be cast on several women creators of the Mossery community.
Check out our Instagram as we roll out snippets of our interviews with them throughout March.
Learn about their lives and outlook as modern-day career women, and gain insight into the struggles they overcome while pursuing their goals. The full interviews will be available to read in our upcoming blog post.
Last but not least, we created a new Instagram filter in conjunction with Women’s History Month! This little birdie will follow you around like the flower that you are. Try this filter out here!
In challenging times for rights advocacy, it’s easy to lose hope. However, as history has proven time and again, we believe that every woman possesses the strength to thrive through adversity.
Still, one’s greatness can only extend so far without the support of others. Regardless of your gender expression, it’s essential to stand in solidarity by giving voice to the women around you.
Let HerStories be heard, and let this road to equality be an uplifting one.
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Do you know the stories of any inspiring women in your life? Or are you a woman who overcame hardships and created something you’re proud of? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
Thank you to Chee Zhen for this writeup!
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As we enter February, it’s time to celebrate the month of love. In the current world where loved ones are kept apart, let’s continue to spread love and gratitude with heartfelt words and sincere actions.
We know circumstances have changed but love has not. Just because we’re separated does not mean the relationships in our lives has changed. After all, love remains as long as we continue to reach out.
In that case, we have prepared a few exciting things in February to encourage you to have fruitful interactions with your loved ones.
First, we added a new collection of stickers for you to enjoy! Made with the With Love, theme in mind, we hope these cute stickers can help communicate your affections clearly.
Moreover, for the first time at Mossery, we created filters! One of which is a cute Smiley filter that changes stickers according to your mood! Click here to try it out!
The other is a little fun twist on our Introspect cards! You can use this new filter and answer which love related question you landed on. Click here and see what you’ll get!
We also prepared a few interactive stories and posts on our Instagram so do stay tuned to @mosseryco for the latest updates and remember to join us!
We hope Mossery can continue to do our part in supporting you on your journey to maintain the connections with the people around you.
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How are you celebrating the month of love? Comment below with some planned activities!
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With that, 2020 is over! We’re now in January and things are moving along as it should. We hope everyone had the chance to spend some quality time with their friends and family over the holidays.
Although things are a little different this time around, what’s important is that we are all healthy and have each other.
Last December, the Mossery team also decided to slow down and have our own moment to think about 2020. What a strange year indeed.
As strange as it was, however, we still created a bunch of exciting things throughout the year that we’re quite proud of today.
On that note, let us present you with our annual Year In Review where we recapped everything that has happened in 2020!
From our numerous Artist Collaborations to exploring new grounds with our Impromptu and Introspect card decks, we want to thank every single one of you for being there with us.
It’s not without reason to say that we’re only here today because of your continuous love and support. So, thank you!
Now, let’s move forward in the new year. We hope to continue to bring you exciting things for 2021 so, stay tuned!
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How did you spend your December? Let us know down in the comments below!
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How quickly has the year passed us by that we only have one month left until we set off the fireworks at midnight?
Although this year has resulted in many of us not being able to spend the last two months with our family and friends, we hope that at least everyone has been healthy and safe!
In the month of November, our team has released the most anticipated project of the year! We’re so happy to announce that we have collaborated with French illustrator, Sibylline Meynet to curate an exclusive art kit.
Dubbed the Mossery × Sibylline Meynet Gouache Art Kit, we have worked together with the artist to put together an all-in-one kit that features her step-by-step instructions to painting with Gouache, a Gouache practice book, her handpicked tools, and more.
Throughout her career, she has been about her painting process and through our collaboration, she finally has all the answers packaged into a neat box.
Click here to check out the Art Kit now!
Perfect for both beginners and experienced artists, we hope you all can enjoy this special project!
If you’re curious about the behind the scenes and want to learn more about the artist, click here for our interview with Sibylline where she talks about her muses, the challenges she faced while creating this art kit, and more.
Speaking of November and how we’re close to the New Year, this is the best time to get your 2021 Planner!
As usual, this is the time to start planning ahead and for your New Year’s resolutions! Stop thinking about them and start writing it down instead.
Click here to browse our covers! We offer personalisation too!
If you’re in need of a Planner with space for notes, you can opt for our Twinbook instead!
With a Dated Half-Year Planner Refill on one side and a Notebook refill on the other, you will have plenty of space to journal and schedule your tasks properly.
Try out different Refill combinations for our Twinbook here!
For the next month, we’re going to take it easy and reflect on 2020. However, we still have some surprises left in us so make sure to stay tuned to our page! Just a few weeks to go before 2021!
Close your eyes and know that plenty of good will be coming for you. All the best and stay safe.
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Did anything exciting happen in your November? Let us know down in the comments below!
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In a blink of an eye, October has already passed us by. How many of you were enjoying the autumn leaves, the pumpkin spice and the spooky delights?
On our end, we were celebrating October with our first-ever annual Mosstober!
Every year, the internet art scene gets together to illustrate for the whole month of October and this year, Mossery has released 31 prompts for all 31 days.
We are happy to announce that this art movement was a success and we are so thankful that our prompts could incite such amazing art from all of you!
Here is a special shout out to all the artists that managed to do all 31 days. We know it took a lot of energy and hard work, so good job to all of you!
Check out all the featured artists on our Mosstober page and read about the insights on their creative journey.
In addition, we have also just recently released our Writing Kit Collection with the debut of our Journaling Kit and Planner Kit!
Depending on your preferences, our Writing Kits are perfect for Writers, Planners, and Introspective Creatives! Check out the collection here.
Last but not least, with November coming around, the holidays and the New Year are coming sooner than ever. Take this opportunity to shop for festive and birthday gifts before it’s too late!
For a limited time only, all Personalised books will come in our limited edition Gift Box which includes free stickers! We also provide gift wrapping services so let us wrap and deliver your gifts to your special someone’s doorstep.
If you are not sure what to get for your family, friends, or colleagues, check out our Gift Guide where we have categorised our gifts into easy-to-understand bundles!
Whether you are looking for essential stationery items, special personalised gifts, or matching covers for you and your best friend, we have you covered. Now we are left with just two months before the New Year!
Are you all preparing for it with our 2021 Planner? Our promotions are still ongoing so grab the 2021 Kit and the discount before it’s gone!
Let’s go through the next two months with galore and soon we will be welcomed with fireworks!
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How was your October? DM us anything interesting @mosseryco on Instagram and we’d be happy to share it!
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Every year, Mossery prepares something special for the Gifting Season and this year is no different!
Alongside Fictionist Studio, we have come up with a new Gift Box that’s entirely designed using community-led data, in their words, we hope to create "A collaborative, hopeful, optimistic, humanised data story."
Equipped with the idea of using data-driven design, we published a questionnaire a few months back, asking our community members to answer over 20 questions to start our design process.
In just one week, we got over 1000 responses, and in total, we have gathered over 20,000 answers for this gift box design!
Thank you all so much for your enthusiasm and now, we are happy to introduce our 2020 Gift Box design, aptly named,
At Mossery, we are always thinking about our community members and how we can incorporate them into our campaigns.
This gift box design is entirely community-led, where we engaged you to go on an introspective journey with us.
In the end, all your answers have contributed and determined the look of our year-end gift box packaging.
We are so glad that through this collective effort, we could create an inclusive product that is both a meaningful experience and an aesthetically-pleasing packaging perfect for the gifting season!
Speaking of, for every Medium Mossery Book purchased, it will be packaged in this limited edition gift box!
So take this opportunity to send Mossery books to your loved ones. In a way, your gift becomes more special as it is packaged in the well-wishes of all our community members across the globe!
In addition, in every gift box, you will also receive an interactive sheet where we detailed the collected data of all the answered questions in the form of stickers!
Here, you can see how for every question, we have created specific shapes and colour-coded them to reflect the answers we received.
This way, you can see how although we individually had different answers, we as a collective are not so different from each other after all.
Anyway, we created these special edition stickers for you to decorate your Mossery books!
We also turned the questions into stickers in hopes that you can elaborate your answers in your journal to understand yourself better.
As gifting season draws near, we are reminded again to cherish the intent behind the act of gifting.
The idea of presenting someone with a meaningful gift not only requires deep thought but also sentiment.
With that, we wish to carry your insights forward by creating an artwork that connects people and in turn, shapes our collective introspection into a meaningful gift for the people around us.
This box is shaped by you, enjoy and thank you.
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Click here to read the interview we had with Fictionist Studio to see behind the scenes photos and insights on working on this data-driven design.
Make sure to film your unboxing and tag us @mosseryco on Instagram! We can’t wait to see your excitement!
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With the turn of the weather, it has now reached the end of September. Let’s take a quick recap of all the things we did this Autumn season.
As the holiday season approaches, we thought what better way to kick start the event than to launch our first ever Personalised Greeting Cards!
An Artist Collaboration with Bea Vaquero, she has created 16 vibrant designs that would suit any occasion!
Click here to read about what the Spanish artist has to say about greeting cards, her artstyle and what her advice is for aspiring artists!
True to its name, you can now personalise the card with greetings only you and your receiver would understand!
What’s more special than a one-of-a-kind gift? Check out the entire collection here and keep them handy for the upcoming festivities!
Speaking of personalisation, we have also just recently updated our Personalisation+ Service with Kaomoji!
Formed by the combination of two words in Kanji, “kao” (顔 – “face”) and “moji” (文字 – “character”), we are letting these Japanese emoticons speak louder than words!
In fact, try out the new personalisation on our brand new 2021 Planner covers!
Check out six of our cover designs! In particular, two of them are from our Artist Collaboration with Livia Fălcaru!
Click here to read about our interview with the Romanian artist where she talks about her growth as a creative, her three pieces of advice for aspiring artists out there, and more!
Check out all the 2021 Planners here and get your Planner in time for the new year.
Last but not least, are you subscribed to our YouTube channel?
This month, we posted our final video collaboration with @moodoodles to give you some helpful tips on how to manage your time and energy!
Make sure to click on the notification bell after you finish watching to get the latest updates!
Just like that, we’re done with our roundup! September was pretty exciting but October will be even more of a party!
With Mosstober happening, we are absolutely looking forward to the art you all will be sharing with us!
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How was your September? Let us know in the comments below or DM us @mosseryco on Instagram!
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To celebrate the launch of our new card game, Mossery Impromptu: Prompt Cards for Drawing, we thought what better way to showcase the game than to play it with you!
We partnered with Stickerrific, a local stationery store, who was gracious enough to lend us their space, to do a free Art Jam session for the occasion.
With that, we put out an open invitation on Instagram, welcoming members of our community to sign up! We were hoping you would come and play with us!
To our surprise, just one day after the announcement, all four of the Art Jam sessions were booked out! Thank you all so much for the great response.
On the day itself, we were so happy to be able to meet you all in person and have one-to-one chats before and after the drawing sessions.
It was truly heartwarming to be able to build a connection with the lovely members of our community and also witness the diversity of it!
From children, to young adults, and parents, we are thankful to be part of this great art community together.
As for the Art Jam event itself, we separated it into four sessions where we introduced the card game and went straight to playing it with our participants!
In the beginning, we started the game by playing it with the easiest card combination: consisting of Noun, Verb, and Adjective cards to gradually more complicated combinations as the session went on.
This allowed our participants to experience the game to its fullest potential. We eventually even added Challenge Cards to make things interesting!
At one point, two of the sessions had a Challenge Card where the participants had to draw with their eyes closed.
Surprisingly, the drawings were not only still discernible but were drawn with a story in mind!
In fact, after every round, our players would explain their drawing and more often than not, they have created little backstories for their drawings which were both endearing and interesting.
At the end of each round, we had a Judge award their personal winners based on the Award Card they picked out earlier.
With that, our sessions were filled with laughter and engaging stories.
Next, we even introduced another way of playing the card game where it involved our participants to guess the prompts.
How this work is by having a volunteer pick out their preferred card combination, draw it out, and the rest of the players would have to guess the prompts!
Through these different methods of playing the game, we managed to even pull in some passersby who eventually joined us in the fun as well!
At the end of the day, we left the Art Jam session feeling fulfilled and happy to have spent the few hours we had with you.
We hope you all felt the same way and would join us again if we were to do another session!
As always, it only takes a spark of inspiration to fuel your imagination so let your creativity flow on paper and draw your heart out!
Mossery Impromptu: Prompt Cards for Drawing is now available in store and on our website now. A big thank you again to @stickerrific for helping us with this event!
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Grab a deck for yourself today! Remember to tag us @mosseryco on Instagram so we can share your experience with the rest!
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Now that 2020 is more than halfway over, have you unwillingly put your goals aside?
With so many unpredictable changes, it is completely understandable why most of us have done so.
In this article, we are going to outline a few steps you can take to revive those goals and reach for the stars at an achievable pace!
Astronauts would not be able to reach Mars if their spaceship has the capacity to only fly to the Moon.
Likewise, we need to evaluate our goals to ensure that they are effective. If you have no idea whether your goals are effective or not, don’t fret! There is a useful acronym that could help you and that is SMART.
Try to be specific with your goals. If your goal is to publish an article in an academic journal, you can specify which field you would like to do that for.
For example, you want to write it for a philosophy journal, and that alone has made your path more specific!
You’d also need to ensure that your goal is measurable - for example, you could measure the success of your goal as publishing your article in a renowned journal, and set a measurable goal for each month.
For example, in January, you might like to read a total of 30 articles, and in the next month you might want to draft the first two sections of your article.
You would then need to ensure that the goal is achievable. For example, do you have prior knowledge of philosophy?
If you have not, perhaps you can start reading up on the field so as to eventually write something of your own.
Not only that, you should think about whether this field is relevant to you and your interests.
If not, you can set a goal but not find the right motivation to follow through with it! So make sure you are aligned with your goal before executing it.
Lastly, make sure to set a time limit for yourself to keep track of your progress and also keep yourself accountable.
In this case, perhaps your philosophy article should be done in three years. With that, you can plan out your schedule to make sure that can happen!
Your goal might seem daunting at first glance- after all, it takes a lot of effort and time to achieve them!
Therefore, to make it more feasible for you, try to break your goal down into smaller, more manageable sections and create your action plan from there.
For example, if you are currently working a day job and have the goal of publishing the journal article, you can break down the goal into sections like:
• Reading up research papers for two hours per day
• Draft your paper every weekend
• Approach your mentor to discuss the topic biweekly
From there, you can create your action plans - be sure to plan ahead of time so you can gauge how much time you have for each action plan.
Now that we have our goals and action plans, the next hurdle to overcome is staying accountable and committed to your goal.
Consistency is paramount when it comes to long term goals and especially the case for writing an academic paper!
If you are concerned about whether you’d be able to follow through with your goals, find an accountability partner so that they would be able to monitor your progress and encourage you to get back on track.
You can also utilise our Planner's Habit Tracker, where you can jot down whether you have met your goals for the day or month as well.
It may be difficult at first but with time, everything you do will become a habit and be a breeze eventually.
Situations change and thus, it makes complete sense for us to edit our plans accordingly.
Therefore, it is important for us to reflect on our progress frequently and evaluate if there is a need to adapt according to our circumstances.
For instance, if you realise that your mentor is only available in the month of October instead of September, when you are planning to write your paper.
Perhaps it would be beneficial for you to readjust your plans to do more research in September and draft your paper in October.
Feel free to use our Habit Tracker and Reflection pages to track your progress and pen down any changes or thoughts you have.
Reviving your goals may seem like a difficult feat at first, but as long as you take it one step at a time, you will eventually reach the stars.
Do keep in mind that life is not a race, and all of us are travelling at our own pace. What matters most is the destination but the journey.
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What are your tips to reach the stars? Let us know by commenting below or tagging us on Instagram @mosseryco
Thank you to @cosuffeeshi and @elliholi for the lovely visuals!
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Before we enter Autumn, let’s take a look at all the exciting things that happened in August.
With just a few more months till the end of 2020, we decided to launch our 2021 Planner so that regardless of where you live in the world, you’re able to get it in time for the new year!
As we are all familiar with the ups and downs of 2020 and how it inevitably changed most of our plans, we wanted to focus on what it taught us and that is to Plan For Anything.
2020 has basically confirmed our resilience and it is constantly reminding us that we can absolutely bring positive change in the world despite our circumstances.
As long as we stay on track and true to our values, we will keep making progress.
For this reason, we launched six new covers: Cat Nap, Flowerpiece, City Light, Komorebi, Stone Speckle, and Sunset Glow for your consideration.
Feel free to check out our entire cover collection of 44 designs here or get a 2021 Planner Refill if you want to keep your current cover!
Next, for our upcoming Creative Month in October, we have been planning plenty of things to get you started. For one, we have launched our first Mosstober Art Prompts! Now you may be wondering,
As most of you would know, every year the online art community comes together in October to make art based on the same prompts released on the internet.
Inspired by that idea, our team at Mossery decided that we too can start our very own 31-day art movement with prompts of our own!
Selected for their stimulating nature, these daily prompts are meant to help you generate ideas you otherwise may not have thought of.
If you are interested to join in the fun, it may be best to start thinking and planning out your illustrations from today! Here is a guide for Mosstober if you need help!
To further add on to our upcoming Creative Month, we even launched the well-received Mosstober Art Kits!
A carefully curated collection of art tools that is suitable for anyone with an interest in art, we created three boxes for you to choose from.
Whether as a starter kit, an all-in-one instrument, or a gift, we made sure to handpick the best of the best for the Gouache Art Kit, the Watercolour Art Kit, and the Paint Marker Art Kit so that you would not have to go through the hassle of decision-making.
If you need help choosing one from the three Mosstober Art Kits available, click here to read a quick guide to see which one suits you for either your day-to-day or specifically for your 31-day artistic journey with us!
Not only that, in every Art Kit you will find a deck of our first ever card game, Mossery Impromptu: Prompt Cards for Drawings!
This 160-card deck comes with a variety of prompts to essentially be your very own imagination generator.
The way this game works is by pairing the different cards in the deck, same colour or not, to create prompt card combinations that would stir your imagination!
With its randomized nature, you may come up with prompts that you probably never even thought of! All you have to do after that is to draw the first thing that comes to mind.
In every Art Kit, you will also find a set of the aforementioned Mosstober prompts in its very own Expansion Pack card deck!
Meant to act as an add on to your Impromptu deck, you can create even more complex prompt combinations that would spark your creativity.
If you were to purchase Impromptu separately, you’ll get a free Mosstober Expansion Pack with it!
In short, we are so excited to have you get your hands on our new products! To receive them in time, make sure to order them as soon as you can!
We want to mark this year as the year that Mossery creates our own tradition by celebrating art in October!
We are anticipating how our lovely community members will interact with each other and with the prompts we decided on!
We can’t wait to see what you all cook up this year! Stay creative and we hope to see your creations in October.
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How did August treat you? Let us know down in the comments below or DM us @mosseryco on Instagram! We’d love to hear from you.
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Picking up a new skill or learning something new is always a difficult task. When we are facing the unfamiliar, it takes extra energy to concentrate and dissect what is in front of us.
Hence, if you have always wanted to pick up something new but don’t know where to start, read on as we thought of five steps to help you learn anything!
For those who love our videos, take a peep at the one above!
To pick up a new skill immediately and be an expert overnight is the dream. However, since not everyone is a prodigy, it is important to then build a strong foundation by learning the basics!
So start by deconstructing the skill into smaller pieces as it helps you identify the things you need to learn first, making it more manageable to learn.
For instance, if you are learning the guitar, break it down to a few components: reading music, learning scales, and practicing chords. So take advantage of the Priority Pages in our Planner and you’ll see improvement in no time!
Here’s a memory-boosting tip, pen your notes down! By translating what we are hearing and thinking into written format, it tells our mind that this particular information is worth noting.
In fact, research has shown that when students took notes by hand, they listened more actively and were able to identify important concepts. It seems that when we are consciously taking notes, our minds are more alert!
So next time when you are struggling to learn something new, try taking notes! If you are a more visual learner, try doodling or using mind maps! Anything to keep that motor in our brain running!
The more we do something, the more familiar we are, and naturally the more it will be etched onto our memory! After all, learning requires frequency in performing the skill over and over again to know it by heart.
According to the “study-phase retrieval theory”, it says that every time we successfully recall something from memory, it becomes harder to forget. However, it’s important to remember the difference between mere repetition and deliberate practice!
Make sure to pay attention to your weaknesses, and work on the small details so you can better each time. Consistency is key so use our Planner to keep track of your schedules!
When you pick up something new, it can be handy to keep the mindset of a teacher! For instance, you can think about:
• How can I explain this?
• How do I simplify this information?
When you keep this mindset, you can either find a friend to share your teachings with, or pretend that you’re teaching your younger self. So ask yourself questions and actively seek the answers.
By doing so, you can improve your understanding of what you’re learning. This too can help increase your ability to retain the information longer as it is difficult to forget something you understand so well!
It is tempting to just spend all day picking up that new skill. However, spending tireless hours does not necessarily mean you will get your expected results! Learning is more effective when sessions are spaced out. In fact, this is called the Spacing Effect.
Experts say, dedicating between 30-50 minutes to learning new material is the most ideal. Anything past 50 minutes, our brains will start to lose momentum and won’t be able to take in new information.
On the other hand, doing anything new for less than 30 minutes is too little time for our brain to process and learn anything effectively. So learn to do things in moderation to not get discouraged easily. When you need breaks, take it!
Try using our Habit Trackers when you need a little push and when time gets rough, get some sleep!
In the end, to learn something new should not be an intimidating task. We are all after all, equipped to learn things so just keep to your own pace and be patient!
What you want to learn is always going to be there so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to pick it up right away.
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What are some new things you would like to learn? Let us know in the comments below or DM us @mosseryco on Instagram!
Thank you to @moodoodles for collaborating with us on the video!
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When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Mossery took it upon ourselves to do our part in giving back to the community in need by using our creativity.
During the early days of the quarantine, we were brainstorming ways to give back and as a result, we decided on a fundraiser!
Our goal was to raise money to donate to two particular organisations that made it their mission to help the marginalised, The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Mercy Malaysia.
In order to achieve that, we created a Personalised Portrait Commission service where our community had the opportunity to purchase a Care Card starting from $14.90, and choose a $5, $10, $15 or $20 donation towards the fundraiser.
By purchasing a Care Card, not only did you get to stay connected and bring joy to your loved ones despite the mandatory distance, you also donated to a cause that helps the disadvantaged.
We are thankful that all of you were on the same page and had taken the interest in participating in our fundraiser. We also want to give a special thank you to our influencers who generously donated their commission to the cause as well!
With that, we are proud to announce that from the duration of 13th April to 30th June 2020, we have raised a total of $630 USD and Mossery has matched the amount and donated a total of $1260 to both organisations!
50% of the total donation raised have been donated to The International Rescue Committee (IRC) to help those whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.
*Due to the remittance fee which is automatically debited in a Wire Transfer, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) received $605 USD.
The other 50% has been donated to Mercy Malaysia who focuses on providing local medical relief, sustainable health related development, and risk reduction activities for vulnerable communities in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
We are thankful for everyone’s initiative to make this fundraiser possible!
Although we may not be playing an active role in saving lives, we hope that our donation can help these organisations continue providing daily necessities such as food, shelter, medical aid, and human compassion to people in need.
Thank you all again for making this possible and we hope to do more with our platform in the future!
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Did you purchase a Care Card or donated to our fundraiser? Let us know who you sent it to in the comments below or DM us a pic to @mosseryco on Instagram!
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Humans are inherent social animals, and conversations are one of the many ways we interact every day.
In fact, conversations are gateways to creating deeper connections with those around us and better first impressions with those you have just met.
Although no two individuals- and therefore no two conversations- are exactly the same, we created this article in hopes that it will help you have more smoother conversations with those around you!
Often, the way we converse will differ depending on who we are talking to and the different types of circumstances we are in.
For example, conversations you have with business partners would differ vastly from that with an old schoolmate.
Therefore, it is important that we first understand the aim of the conversation and what both (or multiple) parties want to get out of it.
Having understood the setting of the conversation, it is then helpful for yourself to profile your conversation partner.
• Are they a private person?
• Or are they someone who is an open book about their personal experiences?
• Could they be an introvert or are they more of an extrovert who enjoys directing and creating the conversation?
By profiling your partner with whatever information they provide, it can help you decide the direction in which you might steer the conversation to.
We all want to avoid that awkward silence at the start of the conversation after the initial “Hello's" and "How are you's".
So instead of using unnecessary fillers like laughter and exclamations, start your conversations with open ended questions!
For instance, you could ask questions such as “What did you do over the weekend?”
Try to avoid close-ended questions such as “How was your weekend?” which may limit your conversation partner from expanding on their point.
Who knew these small tweaks in your questioning change the direction of your conversation so much?
Aside from that, you might also want to start with a more superficial question to avoid overwhelming or offending a private person.
It may feel like you are trying to pry even if you didn’t have the intent to!
In fact, in an exercise carried out by the Harvard Business School, it is found that a pair of conversation partners who ask a comfortable amount of questions are more likely to have a better conversation than those who ask very few.
Furthermore, asking follow up questions based on your partner’s answers can also be a fast and easy way to bring the conversation into a deeper level.
It would act as a free pass into their insights that will help you participate more meaningfully in the conversation.
How to pose the right questions, you ask? This is where active listening comes into the picture. Instead of listening to speak, try to understand what they are saying.
• Why are they saying such things?
• What are the main points being conveyed?
• How did they arrive at their conclusions?
By taking the time and effort to properly listen to your partner, it can translate into you trying to understand them. Believe it or not, your partner can definitely feel it!
Especially through both the way you reply and the points you are conveying. This shows them how you are genuinely interested in the conversation.
In this instance, action definitely speaks louder than words!
On the topic of actions speaking louder than words, our body language can convey more thought than we can imagine!
The way our subconscious picks up on these body language cues may affect your state of mind more that you are aware of.
Thus, when making the first impression, be sure to remember to smile.
According to Van Natten in her book Image Scrimmage, eye contact and smiles (with eyes, and showing teeth) make us seem more trustworthy and will generate positive impressions of us by others.
By using our body language to our advantage, we can make the process easier for everyone involved!
For instance, if your conversation partner seems fidgety, that may be an indicator that they are uncomfortable with the topic that is currently being discussed.
With that, it may be best if you back off from that topic.
If they are leaning forward and towards you with eye contact on the other hand, that may be an indication that they are interested in the conversation.
Through monitoring your own body language and watching theirs, we will end up being more aware of catching social and body language cues that would help steer the conversation into more insightful grounds.
One of the reasons conversations are tricky is because conversations are fluid, and hard to predict.
After all, there isn’t an absolute framework in which you can memorise, and execute the conversation according to plan. People are not programmed to be the same!
However, one piece of good news from all of this is that conversation and state of minds can be practised so with time, we can all improve to be better conversation partners!
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What are some memorable conversations for you? Let us know in the comments below or DM us on Instagram @mosseryco to share your stories!
Thank you to @elliholi for her lovely artwork!
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In a blink of an eye, we are already at the end of July. How quickly has the months passed us by that we have practically entered two months into the third quarter of the year!
Soon, we will be in the last quarter and then it will be a whole new year.
As soon as that may be, let’s rewind a little bit to take a look back at July.
Firstly, we started off the month with another Artist Collaboration and luckily for us, we had the opportunity to bring back one of our favourite artists, Maggie Chiang!
She returned to expand the ever growing @mcmintea collection with two new covers, Dragonfly and Tulips!
Click here to read an exclusive interview we have with the Taiwanese American artist to learn more about her artistic voice, her current favourite digital art tool, and her artist friends that we should all be paying attention to!
All four of Maggie Chiang’s covers, Moon Lake, Night Wolf, Dragonfly, and Tulips are available for Planners, Notebooks, and Sketchbooks.
Check out the entire collection including the enamel pins here!
Speaking of rolling out new things, we are also happy to introduce Mossery Rewards! For all the support we have received over the years, we figured it's time to give back to our loyal community!
Start growing your Moss Points today by spending and sharing the joy of personalised stationery. Log in now to find out more or click here for a more detailed explanation.
Last but not least, are you subscribed to our YouTube channel?
This month, we posted another video collaboration with @moodoodles to give you some helpful tips that will help you pick up any new skills or hobbies in no time!
Make sure to click on the notification bell after you finish watching to get the latest updates!
If you like what you see in July, then stay excited for August!
We have more than a few new things to introduce to you all so make sure to keep your hands and feet inside at all times; we are going for a ride!
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How was your July? Let us know in the comments below or DM us an interesting anecdote @mosseryco on Instagram!
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