What I’ve Been up to Lately: So-Called Life Balance

It’s been quite a while since the last time I wrote something here.

Well, there’s a good news I kept telling everyone through almost all of social media platform I’m using, except here: my illustration is officially on greeting cards and for sale in UAE! Actually it started when Mariam from Hibr Design mailed me and asked if I would like collaborate and draw for her more ‘cute and childish’ collection. I drew 4 illustrations and she turned it into 3 greeting cards and a pack of stickers accompanying each card! They are available offline in some local stores and florist. You can also buy it online through Glitz Store.

Still related to my illustration and design, a few weeks ago I decided to simplify my portfolio and keep it straight forward. I’ve also been spending my after-office-hours of last couple of weeks drawing and designing for a future project related to kids & babies stuff :3 (will spill more later!) More over, I’m currently also working on a book illustration. Please wish me luck for everything. I have to say that it’s not that easy to keep everything managed but I guess the combination of passion and responsibility never fails. :D

I’ve also been trying to beat the 2015 reading challenge in Goodreads. I planned to read 30 books this year. So far I’ve read 19 so it’s still 11 to go, hahaha. Well, I know it’s for fun, but I guess it’s a good way to put reading as one of the priorities.

I’ve been digging books from authors who are attending Ubud Writers & Readers Festival this year; Nam Le, Hyeonseo Lee, Valeria Luiselli, Chigozie Obioma, and Anchee Min. I actually planned to attend the event (mystically, it’s also because I miss Ubud) but I guess it’s not a good timing for me & A to go, so I cancelled the whole plan. However, I really enjoyed the books. I’ve also been reading #Sharing by Handry Satriago, and How Business Works.

Last weekend I decided to do almost nothing. I stayed inside the room and did cheesy & easy movie marathon (or… binging?) On Saturday night I went to watch Everest and bought a new half-priced training suit. Oh yes, I also went jogging.

I take it as life balance. You’ve got to keep letting things come inside your brain; reading, watching movies, going to places, etc. Therefore you can keep letting things flow outside; drawing, writing, making new things, delivering new ideas.

There, a life rolls.