Dive into the Colorful Magic of Kawaii Art

Caran d’Ache unveils «Kawaii Sweetness», a new online creative course with Geneva based artist, freelance children’s illustrator and graphic designer Katia De Conti. Mix and layer textures and colours using Gouache paints and Neocolor™ II pastels. This workshop offers enthusiasts the opportunity to discover the basics of the kawaii style, which originated in Japan.

Discover all the secrets of bringing objects to life by transforming them into cute characters (Kawaii in Japanese) using illustrative methods that are both simple and fun. In this class, Katia will take you step by step through the key principles of the Kawaii style and encourage your personal expression. Arm yourself with your Neocolor™ II gouache and wax pastels, and let yourself be guided into the sweet and colourful world of Katia’s studio. The creative online course «Kawaii Sweetness» is available on the Creative Class platform. For more information and to register, visit creativeclass.carandache.com.

Creative Class: An International Creative Hub
Since its launch in June 2023, Creative Class has attracted many colour enthusiasts. With online creative classes available in 3 languages (French, German, and English), Creative Class caters to hobbyists and enthusiasts by offering various online workshops led by illustrators, teachers, or artists. It offers a relaxed and accessible approach for those who wish to enjoy a moment of relaxation and unleash their creativity. This new course continues Caran d’Ache’s commitment to inspire and cultivate creativity for all generations.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Caran d’Ache
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A Perfumed Poem for Valentine’s Day

«Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own
H. Jackson Brown Jr.

On February 14, we celebrate the life of Saint Valentine of Rome, who was actually incredibly unlucky and ended up being beheaded. Today it is a celebration of all things romantic, mostly for lovers. But why not thank a dear friend for their friendship or their trust in you. Actions speak louder than words. Personally speaking, I love the written word and the act of taking a beautiful pen to actually write a heartfelt message, is a meaningful sign, something that stays. If you add a spritz of fragrance, it will evoke all senses.

This amazing fragrance by SHALINI «Amorem Rose» is guaranteed to add a serious dose of sex appeal to your Valentine’s Day. Inspired by love, it is the most opulent rose perfume, although different by adding an element of smoke. Besides, it centers around Bulgarian Damask rose, Saffron flowers, Baltic amber and Mahogany wood.

Created by Maurice Roucel, who designed one of my favorite scents Musk Ravageur, SHALINI says in her own words, «it’s a perfumed poem dedicated to the greatest love stories. The Rose has the highest love energy of all the flowers, often referred to as the Queen of Flowers, the symbol of the divine feminine love. The smoke brings a sense of mystery and intrigue reminiscent of a great love… the love that touches your soul deeply and alters your very being

Amorem Rose by SHALINI is available at Spitzenhaus in Zurich.

My personal note to SHALINI KUMAR, a former Indian actress, was written with CARAN D’ACHE‘s Ecridor Doré Rose ballpoint pen that is adorned with a new brilliant rose-gilded finish.

Happy Galentine’s Day – to all my girlfriends around the world!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Caran d’Ache x Mizensir – Scented Pencils

In partnership with Mizensir, the Geneva-based specialists in candles and ambient fragrances, Caran d’Ache unveils its new edition of pencils made from fine woods and scented with the «Mémoire d’Ecolier» fragrance.

Interesting to know is that behind Mizensir, there is no other than master perfumer Alberto Morillas, who started along with his wife the family business in Geneva in 1999. The two initially set up a scented candle workshop and combined their skills to turn fragrances into wax. Today, the brand boasts more than one hundred different products, including a collection of perfumes, each creating a specific ambient message.

Alberto Morillas favours the very finest raw materials, paying homage to his Andalusian origins, his family and the numerous journeys and encounters that have marked his life. Now he has joined forces with another Swiss company for which craftsmanship plays also an important role: Caran d’Ache, the master craftsmen of drawing and writing.

Driven by a shared passion for creativity, excellence and Swiss Made ideals, the two family businesses have combined their unique know-how to create a new scented edition of four graphite Caran d’Ache pencils, that are delightfully scented with the retro fragrance «Mémoire d’Ecolier», whisking you back to a time when you were still sitting in school.

Me on my first day of school holding a Caran d’Ache pencil.

Bringing back childhood memories, this scent reveals notes and essences of Virginian cedar and Atlas cedar, underpinned by the sweetness of liquorice, rosewood and the freshness of birch. This unique scent of freshly sharpened pencils combined with sweet notes of candy hidden in school bags or desks offers aficionados of rare pencils the chance to recall their carefree childhood days.

The Caran d’Ache pencils edition no.8 set will be available for CHF 29.00 from mid-October from all Caran d’Ache boutiques and points of sale, as well as from the eBoutique.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Caran d’Ache and © Sandra Bauknecht

The Swiss Pencil Sharpening Machine in Red

CdA_MachineATailler_Rouge
Today, I would like to introduce you to something very Swiss: the iconic pencil sharpening machine by Caran d’Ache, an instrument that has become a cult object for its precision and its design. Now, it get’s a new look in red to give it a truly Swiss appeal.

For more than eighty years, the Caran d’Ache pencil sharpener has been a favourite tool of generations of schoolchildren, artists, and lovers of writing. The machine has retained the charm that has been strongly linked to innovation and excellence since 1933.

The collector edition is limited to 4478 pieces symbolizing the altitude of the prestigious Matterhorn. In stores now for € 210 / CHF 199. I really would love to get one. It is so vintage and so fashionable for your desk.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Caran d’Ache