Shannelle Chua

I do hand-lettering. See my full portfolio

[shannellechua]

My enamel pin store is open!

I’m so excited to share these little things to the world! They’re both so important to me

The Grow Up pin was born out of a lot of anxiety about graduating in my last year of college. I just wanted to make the idea of growing up seem cute and comfortable, and my first enamel pin suddenly came together

And the Bubble Tea Heart pin! I’ve wanted to declare my love for bubble tea in forever, and this was it! Working on it got me through a horrible depressive time in my life

They’re on a launch sale, so if you have any questions about the pins, just let me know!

[shannellechua]

Hello! If you missed things, I graduated last May. June so far has been pretty quiet and restful, but it's been wonderful having the time (I actually have TIME!) to talk with friends I made from school. But I also got the chance to touch in with some friends I made in old blogging days, and it just blows my mind that I still have strong friendships years and YEARS later with people I never met . So here's a little greeting card to all the friendships that I've grown through the Internet. Thanks for sending all the memes, all the funny videos. Thanks for all of it ❤️ . P.S. Maaaan making this reminded me how rusty I am. But oh well, back to my hibernation AKA playing Stardew Valley and scrolling through an endless hole of Blackpink memes

[shannellechua]

Participating in #goodtypetuesday! I’d definitely trade lettering for any sort of learning opportunity. I did do that with @jordanelisheva for her case studies course, and in general, I love volunteering at conferences! They’re great places to learn and actually interact with people! I’ve only done it once, but I’d love to do it again

[shannellechua]

So, here’s a confession: I grew up thinking Filipino movies were bad 🤭 But God, was I WRONG, and now that there a bunch of Filipino movies on Netflix, I thought I’d talk about one of my favorites, That Thing Called Tadhana . Not only is it beautifully, but the script and acting is also just as beautiful. It’s such a slow, thoughtful look at fate (tadhana) and love and getting over an ex. It’s got funny moments, but at the end, it always leaves me feeling a little more hopeful about people . So if you’ve watched it, LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS MASTERPIECE. And if you haven’t, it’s on Netflix!!! Go watch it and come back and tell me what you thought!

[shannellechua]

I support Muslims. I don’t really have all the words, but if you’re Muslim, know that you have all my love and support. I hope you’re doing okay after #christchurch ❤️

[shannellechua]

Milk tea sparks joy ✨ And in the *non-existent* chance that it doesn’t, I’d love to help milk tea stores out with sparking joy . Like, seriously, there’s plenty of space for brands to do fun stuff with milk tea. You could do special things with the cups! And I’d buy anything from a T-shirt to a water jug if it was about milk tea, and I’ve got a lot of friends who feel the same way! . So honestly, it would be a DREAM to make stuff for a milk tea store ✌️ So here’s hoping I can somehow make it happen #homwork . P.S. Let’s get to know each other AKA what are your favorite milk tea stores and drinks? This is very important information. I don’t have a favorite store, I just need plain milk tea with pearl and pudding with no ice and 50% sugar 🥛 🍵 ⚫️

[shannellechua]

A very important note to self! ✨ And is it just me or does helping other people out just give me energy instead of taking it? . I’ve been helping out a little with other students trying to get better policies for sexual misconduct, and I’m a senior: I’m cynical about things! But seeing how driven these people are to get much-needed change was really inspiring, and volunteering to make a poster didn’t take much from me . So here’s a little reminder to us all that it doesn’t hurt to help ✌️ No matter how much time and effort you can give, it can mean a lot to other people

[shannellechua]

IDK how else to say this, but turns out I’ve been depressed for a while. The things add up: the general feeling of hopelessness, the constant fatigue, not to mention my lack of excitement to create. Hell, I should have known something was wrong when I didn’t want to read . In some ways, though, I’m glad to put a label on it. I can work with something I’ve identified. I guess I just really hate how it’s affecting my enthusiasm to make things. I mean, how am I even supposed to sell my enamel pins or make lettering when I’m not excited about anything? . So, I don’t know if it’s time to declare a total break. There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to let go of the idea that working can help me, and another part says I’m always feeling guilty about having nothing to upload. I don’t know. But here’s the reason for my general inactivity, and if you read this far, thanks for sticking around . P.S. If you’re going to Graphika Manila this weekend, I’d love to see you! Connecting with people is always wonderful

[shannellechua]

I think I broke myself trying to do draw for this week’s #homwork? I can’t really draw, if that’s not obvious, but I tried to draw to make this pile of everything I like a little more interesting . So, do we like the same things? 😁 Fellow milk tea stans UNITE

[shannellechua]

The start of a new piece and the slow demolition of a very good calamansi (it’s like lemon!) pie . But no, really, I slowly ate it over three hours instead of eating it whole in a minute because I wanted to work in the coffee shop 😂 But seriously, though, just getting outside of my house and having nothing to do but draw because I had used up all my free WiFi really got me drawing and that was nice . I’ve been in a horrible slump and there’s a part of my head that wants to apologize for not doing anything and the other half is like, “Girl, you *really* don’t want to make anything.” And I genuinely haven’t sorted it out, but it’s nice to know I can still draw 😌 If you read this far, thanks! And I hope your doing better than I am

[shannellechua]

Joining in the #topnine train, and it's cool to see what resonated with people. A lot of #homwork in here, and I'm also really happy to see my #36daysoftype and the little flipbook I made (second pic) in here! I'm not gonna lie, this year has been brutal, especially for the last half, so I thought it was a good idea to just make something only when I have something to say . And I still have no idea what I reall have to say, but I'll get there. And hey, while it has been a horrible year, it's ending! So thank you, 2018, but next . P.S. Currently in Manila until early February, and I'd really love to meet up! I also remember some people asking for workshops, so if you're around the SM North/Banawe area, let me know if you're interested?

[shannellechua]

You know you’re an adult when Christmas isn’t fun at all 😭 I mean, there’s deadlines and there’s the stress of preparing presents and so on. But it’s the final haul! It’s December! I’m just inching towards a vacation! . But also, let’s be real here, I’m so excited to start a new planner 😂 Have you got a planner picked out?

[shannellechua]

I’m holding another lettering workshop! 🤯 And it’s gonna be FREE, *but* I’m just looking for 1 more person because I want to keep this intimate so that people can ask the questions and I can get as much feedback as possible (I’m still figuring out what works and what doesn’t, after all!) . It’s going to be held next Sunday at Sproutworks in Shanghai, from 2-4 PM. And as mentioned, it is free, so please bring your own pencils and erasers 😂 . So if you’re interested, DM me to let me know! Or if you’re not in Shanghai or can’t make it, feel free to tag a friend who can . P.S. Can I scream that I’m excited now? FRIEND I AM SO EXCITED

[shannellechua]

#thoseseniorfeels Funny how I made this when I was going through the same vicious cycle of anxiety about my future that I'm going through now. It just feels like I don't have any real choices, if I look closer at everything going on at the moment, and I'm just an average nobody who's a little tired of making things. Am I actually going to make it out okay???? . And while I honestly feel like a wheel grinding to nowhere, lettering is still therapeutic when I take something that's bothering me and I make it into something else. It's like by doing so, I'm telling myself to quit that spiral by the time I finish the piece, and that conviction is still there when I look back at things. So if you're as tired as I am, I hope this quote and this piece can make you feel a little better today

[shannellechua]

Throwing my hat in for #passiontopaid2018. I’m graduating next year and I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I want to at least know how to steer it towards what I want . But unfortunately, my perpetual problem is how I don’t know what I even want 😂 That’s always been my problem—I never knew what job to want as a kid, and I can only plan a week in advance. I definitely like and do too many things as well . And while I tried to do some of that mixing here (digital stuff + watercolor), I’d love some feedback (or as I say, I need someone to unfuck my life). So hell yes, I’d love to join @homsweethom’s course and figure out what I want to say

[shannellechua]

Austin Kleon is just such gold every time I reread Steal Like an Artist ❤️ Rereading is something I like to do because it’s cool to see what resonates for me, and that thing about productive procrastination really has me thinking right now . But that’s for me and my reread! Have you read Steal Like an Artist before? If you have, what resonated with you?

[shannellechua]

How can I learn how to handwrite? What is handwriting exactly?

I have no idea how to even answer these questions, but I’m pretty sure there are videos for practicing your handwriting online.