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Happy Hands Project

Calligraphy by Pauline Ibarra

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Stationery Lover’s Guide to Kakimori Tokyo

It was the tail end of spring, and the day was turning out to be surprisingly warm when I dragged my insanely supportive family to Kuramae Station to visit Kakimori Tokyo. Outside, there were benches thoughtfully placed just outside the ...
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Calligraphy & Wax Sealing Workshop with Café Mary Grace

In a world that rarely hits the pause button, finding a moment to slow down and join a cursive calligraphy workshop is a gentle gift to oneself. That was exactly what we did at the inaugural The Art of Slow workshop series, hosted in partnership ...
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Learning French Roundhand at the Manila Pen Show 2026

If you’ve been following me here at the Happy Hands Project, you probably know that I’ve spent years learning and practicing Copperplate, Spencerian, and brush lettering. But lately, I’ve been feeling the itch to step out of my comfort zone and ...
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A Weekend at the Manila Pen Show 2026

If you heard a collective sigh of contentment (and maybe a few wallets crying) coming from Makati, it was likely the aftermath of the Manila Pen Show (MPS) 2026. Held at the Fairmont Makati, this was my second time attending the show since ...
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Calligraphy on Capiz Shells

There is a unique, iridescent magic in seeing a guest’s name written on capiz shell calligraphy place cards, bringing an organic kind of elegance to the wedding table. As a calligrapher, I’ve had the joy of writing on almost everything ...
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Sheaffer Calligraphy Maxi Set Review

I have new pens! Please welcome the Sheaffer Calligraphy Maxi Set. My thoughtful husband picked up this set for me, which is an affordable and useful addition to my practice kit. If you’re looking for a good calligraphy set for beginners ...
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Pen Review: Honey Glass Pens from Thailand

It’s time to share with you all a review of this glass pen that I got from Honey Glass in Thailand. Have you tried writing with glass pens? These writing instruments are not only a joy to use but also a work of art in themselves. I was ...
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Discovering The PIPS Café in Bangkok

Bangkok, a city renowned for its vibrant street life, delectable food, and bustling markets, actually has a hidden gem for fountain pen enthusiasts and collectors: The PIPS Cafe. During my recent visit to the Thai capital, I made it a point to ...
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Thailand Printmaking Festival 2025

I was at the recent Thailand Printmaking Festival 2025, held at Central Chidlom in Bangkok, Thailand. It was a great showcase of artistic talent and different printmaking techniques. For anyone passionate about art, design, or unique handmade ...
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A Sailor Ink Blending Experience in Manila

The Sailor Ink Blending Workshop took place at the Manila Pen Show this year. I’m so glad I was able to secure one of the most coveted slots. Usually, the Sailor Ink Blending event is held at Ancora Ginza, so having it right here in Manila ...
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Manila Pen Show 2025

The Manila Pen Show 2025 made its return this past March at the The Peninsula Manila, fondly called “Manila Pen” by us, locals – and what a fitting venue it was for this event. As a first-timer to the Manila edition, I was ...
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Hello! I’m Pauline and welcome to the Happy Hands Project! I’m a lettering artist and calligrapher located in Manila, Philippines.
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Calligraphy by Pauline Ibarra 🖋️ 
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I was expecting sunflower yellow… 🌻    Instead, Su I was expecting sunflower yellow… 🌻 
 
Instead, Sunflower Fields surprised me with a warm amber that turns into a burnt-orange shade as it dries. It’s like an entire sunflower field under the late afternoon sun. 
 
It’s warm and earthy, and I can see that it’s perfect for autumn journal spreads, cozy letters, and sketchbook accents. I tried to paint a rose with it, too! 
 
Sometimes the best inks are the ones that don’t match our expectations. 
 
Ink: Sunflower Fields (Sibol) by @inksbyvinta 
 
What would you have named this color if you didn’t know its name? 🌻🧡 
 
#VintaInks #SunflowerFields #FountainPenInk #inkswatches
If you’re visiting Tokyo for stationery, don’t ove If you’re visiting Tokyo for stationery, don’t overlook Loft Ikebukuro! ✨
 
While the Shibuya and Ginza branches are popular, I found the Ikebukuro location easier to browse because it felt less crowded during my visit. It also had a great selection of notebooks, pens, inks, and journaling supplies, so I never felt like I was compromising by skipping the busier stores. 
 
It’s four levels within the Seibu Department Store and is just beside the train station. There’s also a small cafe where my kids hung out, while my husband and I took turns shopping.  
 
If you only had time for one Loft, which would you choose? 
 
#loftikebukuro #tokyostationery #japanstationery #penandink #tokyotravel
✨ Kakimori Inks, first impressions! I finally got ✨ Kakimori Inks, first impressions!

I finally got to try the two inks I picked up from @kakimori_japan in Tokyo—Tototo, a rich deep magenta, and Harvest Gold, a warm golden mustard.

Both are beautifully saturated and flowed effortlessly with my glass pen from @auneda. Which one would you add to your collection? 💛💜

#Kakimori #FountainPenInk #inkstandbykakimori #cursivepractice
It’s Friday! ✨    Practice has been non-existent l It’s Friday! ✨ 
 
Practice has been non-existent lately, hence my uncial’s a little shaky. So I’m pairing this with some Michael Jackson to make up for it.  
 
Friday night means we get to order kebabs for dinner and afterwards I can sit and watch Netflix while eating a slice of sticky chocolate cake (which I learned is a Swedish recipe, and I made it myself).  
 
Yay weekend! 
 
#uncialcalligraphy  #uncial #sheafferpen
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