claradead

I am a watch designer. I was born and bred in Singapore, and left to stay (alone) in Hong Kong since 2013.

I am generally strange; people often comment that I am an old soul trapped in a younger body. I prefer all my things analogue, and mechanical. This spreads to things that may cause less convenience but of more joy (to me at least).

I listen to my dusty vinyls off the record player, wind up my watches before I wear them, check my pens are inked...but do not check my Whatsapp. (I currently have 141 chats unreplied.) It seems like international snail mail might get faster responses!

I practice Wing Chun (a form of Chinese martial art - made famous by IP Man) 3 times a week, and volunteer once a week.

Martial arts to me is not just exercise - it is a form of culture, discipline, science(YES SCIENCE!) and getting to know myself better from inside to outside.

As for volunteering, I get involved with local community as much as I can - from playing board games with elders, teaching English to non-native speakers, delivering unsold food to someone who needs that meal and rebuilding homes.

On days I do not feel like socialising, I read books (only non-fiction), or do some writing. I am not very book smart, (I sucked at school) but I really love words - I do believe that knowledge is the biggest power after Love, and that the pen is the mightiest tool you can have.

I read every word my eyes lay on; as long as it is in a language I recognise. Since young, I've read nonstop from the ingredients of every packet food, to the components of tissue boxes, to every sign board..basically I read everything.

My current favourite authors include Atul Gawande and Micheal Pollan.

Note: I HATE novels. I also do not enjoy art journals, or design magazines. I will pick a science journal over those anytime!!!

Being a (product) designer, crafting..is basically my blood. I have dealt with all sorts of materials - fabric, paper, plastic, wood, metal..building anything and everything since young. And that was how I became a product designer.

However, since space is very expensive and limited in Hong Kong, I have given up those materials, and tried to keep this hobby 'minimal'. I am currently obsessed with my Traveler's Notebook, and have filled it in diligently. I do however, cannot resist inks, pens, stickers and washi but can never bear to use them - that is why I'm joining this site hopefully I can use it to decorate stuff to swap with people!!!

Things Im mostly interested in swapping now - (non-judgemental) handdrawn/handmade ATCs, postcards, journal and maybe some embroidery? Currently extremely obsessed with inks (I'm trying a lot of custom made pot inks with my glass dip pen every day when I get home!) and postage stamps! (Hong Kong has some crazy interactive stamps that when scanned with their official post office app they become 3D!)

Note: Being a designer does NOT mean I draw/paint/sketch well. I have been using the computer to illustrate my entire working life! I literally build/craft things a lot better than drawing/painting/sketching anything. Basically a 3D person.