you can't catch me...

Sharing another part of my life.....

So aside from my sedentary life of crafting, gluing, pasting and sewing, I’ve also picked up another new “like”…. not love yet… definitely not love… (more like a like- hate relationship)Running…Yes, running… That’s what I’ve been working on for the two months. I’ve never been a runner. Sure, I can be on an elliptical for a couple hours with no problem. I can run on the sand, barefoot at the beach effortlessly. Thanks to my calves…But man oh man… I have horribly flat feet. No arches at all. So flat that I am embarrassed when I leave my footprints on the ground by the swimming pool, or in the sand. I hated running. Even in my more active younger days as a volleyball player, and we were having practice, the running portion sucked. So when I started running recently, it was hard. My ankles were hurting, and now my knee hurts, but I’m keeping at it. I run in intervals. I need to slow down and catch my breath. I run with Ginger, and she hates me after. But when all is said & done, and I’ve finally caught my breath & have managed to not pass out, it does feel good. 
Getting accustomed to the treadmill was the hardest part, and I think I’ve gotten that part down now. I still think I stomp relatively loud, but eh… I turn on my music on louder, and I hope that I’m not irritating anyone else at the gym around me.
I bought Sketchers Go Run shoes that claim to be close to running barefoot. Those weird frog looking ones just weren’t as appealing to me. I like my shoes. They’re comfy on my Fred Flintstone feet. They are light, and if I really wanted to I could wear them with no socks. The only regret that I have is that I should have gotten the bright orange ones instead of the less flashy navy blue with lime green accents. Still…. I like them. Whether or not they have encouraged me to run and keep on running, I can’t determine. Why this push to run? Well, the hubby & I, along with a couple of other friends, have signed up for the local “Color Me Rad” 5K run this September, so being able to run (even a portion of it) would make me feel good. 
 I asked the sales lady at GNC if it was normal to feel like you were dying after you slow down from a run. She told me yes, and proceeded to tell me that she could never run. That she sees people all the time and wishes she could, but can’t. So it made me feel better to know I can actually do it. I just have to keep at it. So even though I have to argue with myself to push the button to a higher speed on the treadmill I’m surprising myself every day as I reach personal goals that I have set. As I said before… I like running… LIKE….

I'm not one to mention my weight loss & weight gain, but I'm pretty happy with the side effects of running as well..
Now that I've gotten a lot more comfortable though... Why does the treadmill shut off when I run at 7.5mph? It's getting a little frustrating, but maybe it's saving me from the embarrassment of falling off. 

And with that said, here's a video of one of my favorite songs... 
excuse the quality.. it's bad... 



Just a quick update...
We did it! Our first 5k before and after pics at Color Me Rad San Jose 2012...

It was so much fun! I feel so accomplished... Now on to the next one. The Firefly run September 22. 


shen

List! Do! Done!

Aside from my own personal use, I’ve been adding a lot more things into the etsy shop.

It’s fun, but I’m taking advantage of the time I have before it comes few and far between.

I feel the need to list things. It makes me feel like listing things out make me obligated to complete these things.

I love making lists actually. I have a “want list” which I list everything I want to purchase (latest purchase was a glass bowl for my kitchenaid mixer. It’s so purdy!!!), a  daily to-do list, a “complete when you can To-Do list” and of course my crafty ideas & my “crafty to-do” lists. And still I find myself saying, “I’m bored! There’s nothing to do!!!” Silly me.

Lists, in my eyes, are fantastically awesome. They are useful.. You can’t convince me otherwise. When things need to get done.. List, do, & check off.. Simple & to the point.

So I will share this current Crafty To Do lists with you…

Crafty To Do list for home:

·         Make 2 more accent pillows for couch

·         Make cement garden stones with the family

·         Start on guest bathroom word signs “sun, shells, sand” or “sun, sea, sand” <

·         Finish Anthony’s comic book letters for shelf display

·         Get shelves from ikea for Anthony’s room

·         Finish subway art for kiddos’ floor

·         Finish last two garden markers

·         Heart string wall décor

Crafty To Do list for the etsy shop/ girly spazms :

·         Finish cutting, assembling, and packaging misc. cupcake toppers (3 designs in the queue)

·         Finish designing new kraft labels when the labels come in

·         Explore possibility of new business card designs

·         Finish sriracha dog & cat plush toys and  make a few more. (about 10- 15 total)

·         Make bento box napkin/lunchbox

·         Add Sriracha apron & hoodie to the shop

·         Finish Ginger’s note cards

·         Work on a gocco print design ( starfish print & possible sushi design)

And that about sums it up for the next couple of weeks… Will I get it all done?

We shall see…

You know what I need.. A house with a pool… That way I can sit in the pool  & hang over the side and craft…

Yup, I’m convinced that’s what I need. Especially during the nice summer days. 

shen

A short blurp of silk-screening advice..

Wow! We’re already in the month of July?!?

How did that happen so fast? In a little more than a month the kiddos will be back in school again, and then we start the cycle all over again…

It’s been a very eventful summer thus far. It’s just too bad it’s passing by so fast. We’ve already had our share in sunburns and soon those fun days will be over.

In the meantime, we’ve been keeping busy with the summer plans & of course, our crafting on the side. It’s really nice to schedule a day just for crafting, but it’s hard when it’s so beautiful out and all I want to do is play.

So far, I’ve learned how to use liquid emulsion with the yudu & yudu products. I’d make a video of it but I think there are plenty of tutorials online that are pretty self-explanatory. I would only make a tutorial if I could add more valuable information. The only advice I have is BE PATIENT. Silkscreening takes time & patience. You aren’t going to learn how to do it overnight. It’s a “practice makes perfect” kinda thing. Even after 3 years of experience, I still screw up & sometimes I just don’t want to bother with it at all. We have a love hate relationship, and although I keep insisting that I WILL do this.. It sneaks up on me and says, "oh hell no bitch, not today" & there I am with a sad face and another ruined screen to try again....  =/  Although the yudu commercials make it looks so easy, trust me when I say it’s not. This is where the internet comes into play, check out “hacks of the yudu”, discussion boards, and tutorials on liquid emulsion, etc.. etc… It’ll all be worth it when you use your money wisely instead of blowing it on brand name products that don’t work properly. I’ll admit, the yudu is convenient because it puts everything in one spot, but you don’t necessarily need to have that to make a simple screen print. Depending on your design sometimes you just need contact paper and your design.. I’ve done that too!  My love pillow.... &  My Aloha pillow for example! 

If you decide to try out liquid emulsion I absolutely encourage it.  You can buy a cheap $20-25 starter kit, and advance to the huge jug once you’ve mastered it…  Read the little pamphlet that comes in this kit. It has a lot of valuable information which I wish I could have had when I first started silkscreening…

I am proud to say I can use the liquid now, and I can’t wait to make more shirts… The sriracha shirt is still in demand, and so that’s a good thing for me.

At this current time, I’m testing out a “brine” technique to make the shirts I print on softer, and more vintage-y feeling. I’ll know by the end of this week, if this is a favorable method I’d like to continue.  You think my customers will appreciate this new method too? I hope so…

This weekend is the Obon Festival in SJ’s Japantown. I’ve been taking the kiddos to practice at the buddist temple, and so we’re excited to take part in it this year. Usually we’re just spectators. Sam will be dressing up in a yukata outfit which with some local expertise, we were able to put together. We managed to avoid costly purchases, and I made a few articles of clothing for her outfit.  We’re doing a dress up rehearsal tonight, just to make sure we got everything.

Other than that, more sunburn is in store for tomorrow. I took the days off because we had originally planned on going to SD for comicon.. Didn’t happen this year, but next year for sure. We’re planning on staying there for a few days..

I’ll end for now. Hope everyone is having an amazing summer.

Drink lots of water, and have an amazing time with your friends & family!

Bye for now!

shen

Admit one..

Pretty simple..


Shadow box from local craft store.. 


Designed a scrapbook back ground. I love the ticket shapes...
I was tempted to put a mini 3D popcorn box in there, but opted for the non-cheesy. I wanted to avoid the rolling eyes.. 


ADMIT ONE..


Saw a 3" slot at the top for easy "deposits"...


DONE! 

I made this for my teenage kiddo... She likes to keep all her ticket stubs...




shen