Objects in Life

Issey Miyake Perfume／　以前我很喜歡 Issey Miyake 的香水，連這香水辦的小盒子也特別地留起來．這瓶迷你香水，當時珍惜地用著，只留給約會或重要的日子．現在的我已經不再喜愛這牌子的香水了，可是盒子的獨特設計讓我不捨得扔掉它，就讓它在我的畫紙上佔一個位置吧．

This is a vintage sailor clothing from the 60s of America. I used to love the look of sailor a lot. To me, sailor is a symbol of freedom and leisure. I obviously had some luck to have found a sailor shirt on an online shop that fits me perfectly. It must have been a shirt of a small sailor guy! I restored it with some mending. And it becomes my favourite shirt for holidays!

little pin /   There is someone from New York who is missing me and sent me a beautiful pin! She is illustrator Thoka Maer. I miss her too. The pin reminds me of a piece of cheese cake.

Manufactured in the Southwestern United States, "Incense of the West" is my everyday incense. The incense, when burning, provides a strong wood-burning odour. It is similar to a mountain fire. But to my surprise, the "after-smell" is fresh and clear. It stays in the house for a long time. There are 7 types of incense in this series. All of them were made from native woods. I love to use the incense while taking shower or brushing my teeth. The smell in the air will wake me up. There is a time I was with my good friend un. After we bought a box of incense together, we took a walk to Tai Ping Shan Street. We sat down and lighted up an incense. It was a perfect moment to enjoy.

text by Tang Ho Lun | illustration by Furze Chan

Tea Strainer/ 　This is also my little gift. Just open the tea strainer and put tea leaves. Then it's ready for tea-brewing. The tea strainer is already rustic, but I love it. so I am thinking about a new way to use it.

[ Chapter 13 ] 鉛筆 作為一個插畫人員，當然要介紹一下畫具．這就是我最常採用的四款靚筆，這張畫正是用它們來畫的． Creatacolor Monolith 2B／　此筆在 BLANK 尋得，一整支 2B 的石墨棒再加上一層透明的薄 Coating，我認為它是鉛筆界裡的水彩，能畫出粗線或用於大範圍填色，出來的效果既粗糙又溫柔，有化開的感覺． Rotring 600／　這是很出名的鉛芯筆，在 hue ofs 老闆荼毒下入手，拿上手很夠份量根本沒理由錯過！我獨愛「墜手」的工具呢，正如吃飯時我是用韓式不銹鋼筷子的．用 Rotring 600 來畫極幼而冷靜的線條就最適合不過． 2B 筆／　這是中學生常用的 2B Staedtler 素描筆，一般文具店有售．此筆是介乎以上兩者間的緩衝工具，我常用它來畫一些需要粗幼度變化的線條，以及小範圍填色． 筆竿／　當鉛筆用到尾段太短的時候，我希望有一個筆竿能套著短鉛筆讓我繼續使用到尾，這個超級有型的筆竿在倫敦某文具店尋獲．另外 Caran d'ache 亦有推出同類筆竿，中南有售．

[ Chapter 11 ] 小鳥衣夾／　媽媽在超市看到這有趣的小鳥衣夾，立刻買回家．這衣夾不只是設計可愛，夾起衣服上來也十分穩妥呢． 開運守／　橫跨 2015 和 2016 的一刻，我在日本敲響了一家寺廟的大銅鐘，還得到了寺廟贈送的開運守，現在我時常把它攜帶在身，相信今年會是平安而愉快的一年． 尖玉露／　漂亮的多肉植物尖玉露，自三年前買回家之後，每年的春天都會長出一條長長的花莖，慢慢開出幾朵素色的小花．聽說植物是有記憶的，可能她覺得上年在這裡開花感覺挺舒爽的，今年也不用客氣了！另外值得一提的是這形狀特別的盆子，一位做陶泥的好友不小心燒壞了一些陶杯，底部剛好出現了原本不該出現的小裂縫，也正剛好成為了尖玉露的屋子．朋友呀請你多燒壞點杯子啦！ 鳥形玉／　這兩顆鳥形玉在中環一間舊雜貨鐵皮檔尋得，鳥兒形態樸素，加上雕工純熟而有力，更顯優美． 黃銅小扁匙／　在岡山倉敷市的雜貨店尋得，黃銅是我最喜歡的物料之一，加上手製的質感，實在難以抗拒，一下子買了幾支．她會是享受甜點的好道具． . Birdie Clothespin / My mother bought these interesting birdie clothespin from the supermarket. They do not only look cute, but also provide a tight grip! Amulet / At the moment between year 2015 and 2016, I had the luck to ring the big bell in a Japanese temple. This amulet was given to every visitor as a souvenir. It is now in my wallet so I can carry it with me. I believe this year will be a great one. Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera / This little plant has a rather long name... Since I brought it home three years ago, it blossoms in every spring. Its small humble flowers are the most beautiful. I heard that plants actually have memory. Maybe she remembered her last blossoms were great, so this year she is doing it again! By the way, the interesting plant pot was given to me as a gift from a ceramicist friend. In a firing, some cracks appeared at the bottom of her cups - that means they became plant pots for my succulents! Jade Birds / I found this little pair of jade birds in a metal stall selling old stuff in central. The birds have simple plain shapes and the carving is skillful. They are just graceful. Brass flat spoon / I found these small flat spoons in a zakka shop in Kurashiki, Okayama. Brass is one of my favourite materials, with the handmade textures, I just couldn't resist. I bought several of them. what is better than using this spoon to enjoy desserts?

1940 Tokyo Olympics Souvenir Metal Box \ This old box is tiny. The size is just enough to put sewing needles. I found it from a beautiful antique shop in Japan. The treble clef on the box is vivid, telling me to bring it home. Now I use it to put my sewing needles and needle threader, as same as its original use. Triangular Tailor's Chalk \ It's a mystery I have obsessions to tailor's chalks. I found this chalk in the same antique shop. It is possible the chalk is older than me! I enjoy looking at the tailor's chalks. Their appear to indicate a certain kind of pure existence. Prodent Dental Care Advertising Pin \ In the old days, people used to use stick pins and badges to advertise products and services. These pins will be given out for free at shops or delivered together with newspapers. (ah! so good!)

蕎麥麵的吃法是一個獨有而完整的用膳方式，當中充滿靈巧的智慧。 期望在下次的日本之旅能體驗更多。

Muji Rice Biscuit / Little Japanese soy sauce flavor rice biscuit wrapped with seaweed. I can eat this snack non-stop! But there's only around 20 pieces in one bag...it's just not enough! Staedtler Wood Pencil / HB pencil made in Germany. This is a pencil without coating. It feels warm when I hold it in my hand. I like to make drafts with it. Duncan Yoyo / "Satellite" Yoyo from American in 1950s. The original string was already broken. I re-installed the yoyo with a new string that i made. So now I become an old-school youngster... with a yoyo! Redecker Mushroom Brush / This brush was designed to dry-clean mushrooms as they may not be suitable to be washed. But instead, I use it to clean my desk after pencil drawing. The brush hair never falls off. Perfect! Duralex Glass / In 1930s, the French company Duralex invented their own tempered glass formula. The new glass could bear rapid temperature change and was not easy to break. This glass fits my palm well and it feels really good to hold this glass when I brush my teeth everyday. Hair Clips / Hair clips are something that will be lost during use. In half a year I lost 7 clips out of 12 clips in half a year. Blue Paper Clip / I draw this clip just to make the drawing looks better... haha

Spring Rabbit / This is the earliest rabbit doll I have made. She likes to talk and she is naughty and mean! Sock Darner / This is a wooden sock darner that I use to mend my socks. If you are interested, read this article I have written before: http://site.obscura-magazine.com/en/stories/detail/Object-Lesson-Sock-Darner komaboko Cheese Sausage / Little snack sausages from Japan! There are tiny cheese bits in them. Delicious~ Wittner Metronome / This small Metronome was made in Germany. I like it because of its appearance and it produces smaller sounds comparing to the big regular metronomes.

[ Chapter 6 ] Tide To Go Pen ／　有一次在外吃飯的時候，白衣袖不小心沾上了咖哩汁，就在沒來得及反應之際朋友迅速從袋子裡掏出這支專為衣物而設的去跡筆，並細心地替我除去衣袖上的咖哩跡，整件事就像賣廣告一樣，而此筆他是隨身攜帶的呢！ SANTAL SOAP ／在倫敦Labour and Wait 店買的檀香味香梘，由於只買了一舊，很珍惜地用著，每次洗手時都會像道友般吸索著它美妙的香氣！ 木偶筆／　很明顯他剛剛講大話了... ... 這黃色木顏色筆是在倫敦的一家大型書店買的，應該是買光就斷市的舊品，頂端有著手繪的木偶面孔． 陶杯／　我偷偷地去做陶藝了，這杯子將會是我每天的茶杯，非常期待． 黃銅哨子／　在倫敦的 flea market 找到，看似簡單的形狀，實質設計很仔細．

[ Chapter 5 ] Gundam Marker ／　這支油性防水的幼黑色 Marker 是哥哥（專業模型友）的好介紹，在大學時期我曾用這款筆畫了好幾件 tee！現在我在寄郵包時常常用它來寫回郵地址． POM Stamper ／　在舊文具店買的日製「DO NOT BEND」原子印，盒子超好看，它也是寄郵件的好幫手． Muji 鋁質杯／　以舊時 camping 用的杯子作藍圖而設計，外形簡單而實在，我一口氣買了三隻放在書桌上做筆筒！ 木鋼琴仔／　來自舊年代，以純木製造的鋼琴小擺設，琴鍵則用薄鐵片做成，是個敦厚又優雅的小東西．

Radiometer / This is a small glass device with a tiny windmill inside. Instead of wind, sunshine is its power. The radiometer has a semi-vacuum. In this space of reduced friction, the windmill is able to move freely under sunlight. <Arsène Schrauwen> Comic Book / Comic artist Olivier Schrauwen composed a wonderful story of his grandfather. The whole book was printed with red and blue colors only. This is a super awesome book that I have no words to describe... (Thank you again for Mr. Chihoi who told me about this comic artist.) Thin Plastic Ruler / This 15cm ruler was found in an old stationery shop in Diamond Hill few years ago. At that time the shop was about to shut down. The ruler is thin and can be slightly bent. It is a good tool for drawing. Pencil Sharper / Fantastic! The pencil sharpener has three holes to adjust the sharpness of the pencil. The blades are sharp too.

[ Chapter 3 ] KENYA tee／貪得意買的二手背心tee，上面印著 kenya 及 mombasa 字樣，它很像女排球手的隊衣，最意外的是，這 tee 原來真是 made in kenya (肯亞) 的！ Brewer's Fizz apple and herbs cider／果味全天然的梳打飲料，在流汗的活動過後便會想大淡喝一支！在比較像樣的超市有售． 灰布帽子／我自己縫製的，摺疊起來可放在袋子裡，郊遊伙伴． 小菊花手帕／一直想找一條輕便的小手帕能放在口袋裡隨時使用，尤其在夏日．剛好在舊籠底翻出了小時後用過的棉質薄手帕，上面印有清淡的菊花圖案，現在她已經成為了我心愛的重要小物．

[ Chapter 2 ] milan 大大舊擦膠／　這應該是我最愛的擦膠，我也從來沒想過可以發生「愛上擦膠」這回事，只因為它擦去鉛筆痕的性能太好了，大大舊扼在手裡的感覺很實在． aesop 潤手霜／　這是我每天用的潤手霜．它的氣味像行山時經過溪流混合樹木．這天然的味道顯然不太能討大眾喜歡，有好幾次我在乘地鐵的時候使用它，坐在我旁邊的人總是掩住了鼻子（太不識貨了！）． edox 上鏈表／　60年代瑞士製的小巧女裝錶在香港一間舊錶店尋得，簡而準的線條讓人一看見便愛上了，這是非常 furze 的手錶． 舊劍球／　美國製的原木劍球，玩起上來感覺比現代劍球笨拙，可是那古木的質地是無可媲美的．