#and some items i reuse here for their illustrations

[dudukbazaar]

Stellar herigault Value ●●●○○ ; Size ●●○○○ The fabric is soft, embroidered with purple and blue shiny stones. Userul for apprentice sorcerers, it offers protection against evil spells.

[inestheunicorn]

Art vs Artist! 🍄🌿 Reusing the same photo from last year because I never take any photos of myself and I just noticed I didn't have any that's not a selfie making a weird face 😂 a very short 2023 recap of my art 🌠

This year has been weird, but with many new learning experiences! I got to illustrate another children's book and also got some cool client projects that I haven't shared here 🐦

I mostly did digital art this year, but I really miss my gouache paints and markers, so I hope I can play with them again next year! But thanks to all the digital art I made, I finally tried some new merch items like washitape, zip pouches, acrylic charms and wood ornaments, so I got the chance to learn about the manufacturing process too ✨

I got burnt out in the middle of the year and I was totally uninspired to create, but this made me learn to accept projects more wisely and manage my time better.

And to wrap up the year, me and my boyfriend moved in after 6 years together! The move was pretty stressful, but it's been such a rewarding experience and we're loving it so much!

With all of this, I'm being gentle on myself for not having created a lot of bigger traditional illustrations, but I'm so looking forward to it next year!! 🌟

I'm so grateful for all your love and support throughout this rough year, and I hope we'll be together for some new and exciting adventures in 2024!! Wish you all a Happy New Year!! 🌠

P.s: I'll be taking a little break from social media in the beginning of January, but I'll still be working so the shop will be open as well as my inbox ♥

[phoebepheebsphibs]

Snow Day

Title: Snow Day Prompt: There's a snowstorm, and someone's been gone since before it started. They were supposed to come home hours ago, so a member of the group heads out to find what happened to them. Fandom: ROTTMNT Word Count: 3681 Author: PhoebePheebsPhibs Rating: Gen Characters: Casey Jones Jr, Raphael, Leonardo, Baxter Stockboy cameo Warning: Casey gets real freaked out and has a minor anxiety/panic attack Summary: Casey goes out just before a snowstorm happens and gets caught right in the middle of it... Notes: No Beta, We Die Like Gram-Gram! Reused old art for illustration lol, you can see it on AO3

@cheetochild989 @tmnt-write-fight

Posted on AO3 <-

"I won't be gone long," Casey promised. "It's only a few things."

"Still, it's your first time buying groceries alone," Leo mumbled, the tap tap tap of his crutch echoing against the floor. He didn't always need it, but some days were harder than others. "I could go with --"

"No," Casey interrupted him, holding a hand up and stopping Leo in his tracks. "If I'm ever going to figure out how to live in this time period, then I need to learn to do these things on my own."

"Sheesh, alright!" Leo joked. "And don't say 'time period', this isn't the Victorian era! It's only what, 20-plus years into the past? Time period. Woof! You make it sound like we're ancient wizards or something..."

Casey laughed at the idea. The only one he could truly call a 'wizard' was Mikey, but he hadn't really gotten to that stage just yet. Mage, yes. Wizard? Maaaaybe in a few months, if he kept up the training with Draxum.

Casey and Leo went over the list one more time, adding one or two last-minute items that Leo suddenly thought of as they made their way to the exit. Casey stuffed the list into his pants before shoving a large and slightly oversized jacket over himself, struggling slightly with the arms.

"Don't forget your hat and earmuffs," Raph reminded him as he walked past. "It's really cold out today."

"Gotchya," Casey nodded, handling the earmuffs like they're some new and exotic species. "We didn't really have cold weather in the future..."

"Really?" Leo asked, his head tilting to the side. "What were winters like?"

"I dunno, like 60 degrees at the lowest?" he shrugged. "What with all the planetary devastation and laser blasts and global warming... weather became sorta nonexistent."

Raphael shuddered at the thought of such a thing. No weather meant no rain, no snow, maybe even no real wind or cloudy days. 

"Well, try to be home soon okay? I think there's a call for heavy snow later."

"Sure thing," Casey replied, half-paying attention to Raph as he walked out the door. After all, this is the past, and everyone has it so cushy! There's nothing dangerous here except for idiot muggers and a few mutants. What could possibly go wrong?

"And don't forget the mittens!" Raph called after him. Casey walked back into the lair, retrieved his gloves, and then walked back out.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ❄ ⁺₊⋆ ❄ ₊⁺ ⋆

Casey Jones Jr was starting to really like New York City, circa 2020. It was a different kind of hectic, but Casey had lived his entire life in chaos.

Instead of dodging missiles, he was dodging taxi cabs.

Instead of wild krang dogs, there were people walking a dozen angry chihuahuas and poodles and dobermans to earn money.

Instead of corpses laid to waste on the ground, there were a few homeless people sleeping in cardboard boxes.

Differences with small similarities.

The biggest difference was the turtles. Sensei Leonardo was no longer a tall and hulking king of the apocalypse with a robot arm who took no slack from anyone or anything -- he was now an ego-stripped teenager with a knee that had been so twisted up that it counted as a physical condition and they could qualify for disabled parking with the tank. Master Michelangelo was no longer someone who looked older than time and could create lavish magic spells with a flip of his hand, but an untrained child with an unbridled adoration for drawing and reality cooking shows. Uncle Tello was not the cybernetic scientist in overalls with a hundred extra technological advancements, but a nerdy teenager with 'secret' plans for anarchy against the US government. Raphael... well... Casey couldn't remember Raph firsthand. There were some photographs and video recordings of him, a few stories passed down, but the big red giant had been killed in action a few years after Casey Jr was born.

But this time period -- er, the past was still nice. It was crazy how many people he recognized. Baron Draxum, Commander O'Neil, Master Splinter, Todd 'The Sasquatch' Capybara, Big Mama... Casey would just be walking down the street and he'd see a couple with a child, and he'd realize the kid was one of the medics that helped him when he'd broken his leg. He would be buying pizza and the cashier was one of Uncle Tello's tech apprentices. In the Hidden City, an octopus Yokai would offer to sell him some mystic potion and Casey would recall they were one of the cooks in the mess hall who always gave him extra portions to help him grow, even when rations were low.

Casey reached the end of memory lane when he found the grocery store he'd been looking for. He casually walked inside just as a few unnoticed flakes of white began to fall from the sky above him.

"Hello, and welcome to the Stock & Shop!" an older woman greeted. "Holler if you need anything!"

Casey nodded with a smile as he started to gather everything on the list.

Chicken soup: got it.

New batteries for the remote: donezo.

Flaming-hot chips: three bags procured. 

Four different brands of soda: orange blast for Mikey, sugar-free cola for Raph, flavourless juice for Donnie, and diet blueberry bubble waters for Leo. Check.

Popcorn for movie nights: not yet.

The popcorn in question was placed on a hard-to-reach shelf high above him. Of course, this one particular brand that Mikey so desperately needed was at the very top. As Casey was reached up for the requested snack, a voice chimed in behind him.

"Better hurry, there's supposed to be a wicked snowstorm tonight!"

Casey jumped back, startled by the sudden sound. He looked down and saw a short, scrawny kid with a comparatively huge head looking up at him.

"Oh, hey. You look familiar...?"

"This is my parent's store, I work here all the time. Or maybe you've seen my videos? My channel? STOCKBOii?? Cybersleuth??"

"Stockboy? As in Baxter Stockboy?" Casey wondered, his eyes widening as the corners of his mouth turned up.

"Yeah! You've heard of me?" the child asked excitedly.

"Kind of," Casey replied, not exactly sure how to explain that Baxter had worked as one of Donatello's apprentices to create warships and mechas during the golden age of the Resistance, despite Sensei's reluctance. "I heard about the whole 'Mutant Menace' fiasco."

Baxter groaned loudly.

"Uggggh, that whole thing. My parents still won't let me leave the house unsupervised. It's ridiculous! One mass panic and riot instigation, and they turn on me! At least the judge agreed to let me work off community service in the store..."

Casey smirked just a little.

"Hmm. Anyway, you said something about a snowstorm?"

"Oh, right. The weather report says it might get up to two inches."

"What might get up to two inches?"

"Um... the snow? Look, it's started snowing already!"

Baxter Stockboy pointed out towards the front entrance. A small sprinkling of white could just barely be visible beyond the glass.

"Oh," Casey shrugged. "Doesn't look too bad."

"You say that now, but it's supposed to get below 30º Farenheit!"

"Oh. That is kinda cold," Casey agreed. "...But I'm sure it'll be okay."

⋆⁺₊⋆ ❄ ⁺₊⋆ ❄ ₊⁺ ⋆

Ten minutes had passed.

Raphael received a notification from the weather app, informing that the previously predicted 'heavy snowfall' was now a full-blown snowstorm.

That probably wasn't good. But it wasn't terrible, either. Just some snow.

"Boys, it looks like tomorrow is another snow day!" he announced to the rest of the Hamatos.

From various rooms in the lair, Raph heard them shout in excitement.

"Yes!"

"Alright!"

"Snow day, hooRAY, baby!"

Raph smiled. He couldn't wait to introduce Casey to his first snowfall...

⋆⁺₊⋆ ❄ ⁺₊⋆ ❄ ₊⁺ ⋆

Casey had finally gotten all the items on the list and was preparing to check-out, when an announcement went over the loudspeakers.

"Attention shoppers -- we encourage all patrons to finish up their errands, as we will be closing soon due to the weather. Thank you."

Huh. They sure were getting all riled up over this 'snow' stuff. Casey had witnessed a few storms before in the months prior, but it was never too bad. Thunderstorms were freaking terrifying, but only because they were loud and Casey's first thought was always that an air attack was happening. But he loved watching lightning. It reminded him of a few magic spells Master Michelangelo had performed on occasion...

Casey finished up the last of his errand and purchased the items. He needed a little help when trying to decide on paper or plastic, and for a moment he forgot the pin number for the card Splinter had given him, but other than that all had gone well.

He stepped out of the store, the glass doors sliding past him gracefully.

And he was greeted by a harsh blast of cold. It almost knocked him over, the icy wind biting his face so much he dropped the bags of groceries in order to cover his face with his regrettably un-mittened hands.

Okay. He was starting to see what people meant now. He hurriedly pulled his mittens on and scrambled to cover as much of his head as he could with his hat and earmuffs.

It had been cold these past few months, sure, but not like THIS! This was arctic.

And what's more, the sky was raining ash. That only ever happened when Uncle Tello sent missiles to blow the Krang vessels to kingdom come. So why was no one terrified, or hiding? Besides, there were no more Krang ships to incinerate. So then, what was...?

Casey happened to glance to the side and saw a kid sticking their tongue out. Their parents did the same. They caught a few of the flakes on the tips of their tongues, laughing as they shivered. Casey watched in wonder. He held a hand out. A single fleck of white flittered down to his palm, delicately touching down onto him, and melting upon impact with the glove. Casey was gently bewildered. He looked up at the sky. The heavens above were masked over with clouds of grey, hiding the universe from him, guarding him from the wonders he couldn't understand or comprehend. And yet, the universe deemed this wonder fit for him to comprehend?

Casey's mouth hung open as he gazed at the sky, confused. Snowflakes fell against his cheeks, his eyelashes, his lips, his chin. He stuck out his tongue and closed his eyes. It took a few minutes, but finally he felt one land and melt in his mouth.

...Underwhelming, if he was honest.

It was just water. He kind of expected a flavour.

The wind suddenly whipped against him. It had calmed for the brief moments that Casey stood there, but now was circling back in full fury. Casey gasped at the fierce chill, bundling himself up more and more before gathering the supplies and shuffling back to the lair. The wind swirling around him, the snow raining down with a vengefulness.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ❄ ⁺₊⋆ ❄ ₊⁺ ⋆

Twenty minutes had passed.

Raph had started to feel like he was forgetting something. He wasn't sure what, though...

Donnie had re-fortified the lair and central heating system, so now it would stay extra cozy despite the freezing temperatures outside. You could hear the wind start to roar if you went to the exterior tunnels and big exit door.

Raph remembered how in the early years when they were all teeny tiny turtle tots, Splinter had them all stay in the same room to conserve heat. He'd set up tons of heat lamps and space-warmers, bundle each one in extra-fuzzy blankets... Looking back, he could clearly see the panic that Splinter would be hiding at the idea that maybe they could all freeze to death if they weren't careful, or maybe that the power would go out when they weren't expecting it and he'd only have a few minutes to come up with a plan before hypothermia could creep in like a ghost. It was probably extra terrifying considering that they had minor cases of brumation when it got way too cold. They got better at combating it, wearing warm clothes to help stay warm. And it helped that they also had some minor mammalian DNA too, meaning that they had to be utterly and agonisingly cold for brumation to actually take effect. 

Still. Raphael had mad respect for Splinter now. He'd kept his cool and kept his calm, never once displaying the fear that probably filled his mind day in and day out. Raph wished he knew how to do that...

⋆⁺₊⋆ ❄ ⁺₊⋆ ❄ ₊⁺ ⋆

Was Casey even going the right way?? He couldn't tell anymore.

The downpour of snow particles was starting to get so heavy that Casey couldn't even see ten feet in front of him, even with his mask on. Constantly blinded, he relied mostly on the lights from cars or neon signs to help guide him down the sidewalk. He couldn't remember the last time something like this had happened...

Maybe... during the dust storm incident. Sensei and Casey were in a losing battle against the Krang one day and in a sheer panic, Leonardo portaled them away and into some random place far, far away. Leonardo had initially assumed it was some inhospitable desert in the middle east or something, based on how much sand and wind there was. But after a quick look at the tracking device Donatello had installed, they realized that it was actually just New Mexico. Or, what was left of it. Sensei Leonardo had sent them right smack-dab in the middle of a dust storm, where the drought-riddled land had become so dry that the wind created massive walls of dirt and dust that engulfed everything. It could suffocate you, dehydrate you, blind you, etc. The might've died if Leonardo hadn't thought quickly and found a shelter for them to hide out in. He'd dropped one of his swords during the storm, so the two were forced to wait it out. Sensei Leonardo never did find that other sword. He'd had to create a new one with his ninpo.

Anyway, this snowstorm felt like the exact opposite of the dust storm.

Rather than hot and dry, this was cold and wet. But the stabbing sensations of small things constantly flying into you was the same. The wind that threatened to carry you away was the same. The loneliness was the same.

Casey was convinced that he'd gotten turned around somehow... He wasn't sure where he was.

Forget being able to see ten feet away, he could barely see his own hands in the storm!

This was not good. Casey reached up, feeling around his mask for a specific button that would activate a distress beacon. He'd modified it so that Donnie's tech could receive the call, and hopefully it would go through. But if the storm was as severe as it felt, then it was possible that the lines would be down and the lair's internet access and phone lines wouldn't get the message.

Casey found the button. He'd have to hope that they'd get the signal.

He pressed it, and then pressed on, hoping that he could find his way home on his own...

⋆⁺₊⋆ ❄ ⁺₊⋆ ❄ ₊⁺ ⋆

Thirty minutes.

The lair was starting to get terribly frigid. Raph waltzed into the kitchen, shuddering from the chill as he did, hoping that maybe Mikey would start making something hot to eat and that in turn would warm up the kitchen. He only found Leo in there, swirling a mug of hot cocoa that he'd heated up. 

"Brr-rr-rr, it's cold! I thought Donnie fixed the heat?"

"He did, but it's still pretty frigid," Leo sighed. "I'm starting to get worried..."

"You think the power might go out?" Raph asked.

"No, I'm wondering where Casey is."

Casey?

OH SHOOT, CASEY.

"Raph completely forgot that Casey was out!" Raph screamed, hands flying through the air. "I thought he came back fifteen minutes ago! You mean he's still out there?!"

"Relax, it's just snowing. Not that big of a deal," Leo said as he took a long sip of cocoa from his mug.

"Leo, you do realize that Casey's never seen snow before?!" Raph reminded him. "And this ain't no ordinary gentle snowfall, this is practically a blizzard!" 

Raph huffed angrily before rushing to the lair entrance. He grabbed a coat, some galoshes, a scarf, gloves, snowpants -- the whole shebang. Leo followed casually, sipping his cocoa gently as he walked after him.

"Where'ya goin'?" he asked with a smile.

"I'm goin' after Casey, of course!" Raph yelled.

"Do you know where he is?"

"I got him right here on the little tracker thingy."

Raph held out his phone to display to Leo the small signal coming in from Casey Jr's mask.

"Mhm," Leo hummed. "Okay. Well, when you get back, maybe bring home a pizza too."

"Leo, can you be serious about this?!"

"Okay, fine. When you find him, call me and I'll portal the two of you home. Okay?" Leo suggested. "No sense trudging through the cold back and forth."

"Great, thanks," Raph grumbled before running out the door, pulling his collar up to prepare for the wind and wet.

Raphael ducked out. Down the corridors, up a ladder to the top of the street. He pushed the manhole cover aside with ease. He was instantly met with a barrage of wind and ice, the snow and slush that had been atop the cover sliding down and splashing onto his face.

Raph sputtered softly, wiping his face off before heading into the fray...

⋆⁺₊⋆ ❄ ⁺₊⋆ ❄ ₊⁺ ⋆

Casey was huddled against something. A wall, a stone, a tree, a car -- he could hardly tell. It was so cold, his skin felt like it was peeling off. His eyes stung from the wind, his feet ached from the chill, his arms hurt from the cold and from carrying all the groceries with him this whole time. The straps on the plastic bags were digging into his arms, cutting off his circulation. It was so windy and loud, he couldn't hear the traffic of the city anymore. His jacket was coated in white.

He'd hoped that he could shield himself with whatever he was leaning against, but the wind came from all sides.

It was terrifying. Being alone. He hadn't felt alone like this in so long...

He remembered sitting alone, like this, long ago...

The wind whipping around, the sky dark, the battlefield torn and scarred, white flakes of ash raining down from above. It was cold that day, too. Casey couldn't be older than four years old at the time.

The ground was covered in grey and white from all the ash and cinder. Casey was covered in the powdery residue himself, his face white as a sheet, his messy and greasy hair holding in the flakes and embers from the explosion that had decimated the world around him.

But the worst was the silence that followed. Nothingness. Loneliness. Agony.

Casey started crying. Four years old, having watched the world end, having seen his mother die, and so many of her comrades, and only to be left alone and scared? Of course he was crying.

In the distance, a figure began to move. Casey gasped, trying to cover his mouth and keep silent as the looming creature lumbered towards him. The monster was huge, it must be a krang mecha or --

"Casey?"

He recognized that voice. It wasn't Sensei, but it was just as comforting.

"Casey, where you? Casey!"

The child meant to answer. But his voice was lost in his own throat.

"Casey! I see you! I'm coming, kid, I'm coming!"

Casey reached out for the Red Giant to take him home... The silhouette of his figure in the smoke and smog that surrounded them...

But as the figure stepped through the fog, it wasn't a red giant.

"Casey! There you are!! I was so worried, what happened?!"

Casey Jones Jr was taken back to the present moment, and stared at Raph in shock.

"R-Raph..?"

"Geez, Case, you look frozen solid! Are you okay?"

Casey nodded softly, getting back up on his feet as Raph gave him a hand.

"I'm fine," he whispered. "It... it, uh, started snowing."

"Yeah, I see that," Raph chuckled. "Sorry, we had no idea it would get so bad."

"It... it's okay," Casey responds quietly. "How did you find me?"

"Well the snow's dying down a bit, so it ain't as hard to see," Raph mentioned as he pointed up. Casey did notice that during his anxiety attack, the wind has calmed a bit more and the downpour of frozen particles was much gentler. "Besides, the tracker helped. Although, I am curious how you managed to get all the way into Central Park?"

"Wha-huh?" Casey gaped, turning around and examining the area.

He had been huddled against a tree trunk, and a few feet off in the distance was a playground. Ahead of him was the cityscape, behind him the rest of the wooded little area.

"Wow. I didn't realize that I came this far..."

Raph chuckled as he grabbed the groceries from the ground.

"So, you ready to get home? All I gotta do is call Leo and we can be back in the lair with some hot chocolate!"

Casey glimpsed at the park behind them. It was... actually quite lovely.

It was a magical world, sparkling and quiet. Undisturbed. Serene.

Raph noticed Casey's stare and looked back at the scene, smiling knowingly.

"It sure it pretty, ain't it?"

"...It's peace," Casey awed. "It's absolute peace. This... I've never seen anything like it before."

Raph took in a deep breath, inhaling the peace with gratitude for a world that could give you something so gorgeous after something so terrible.

"Yeah. It's really beautiful. Tell ya what, the guys can wait for a bit. Want me to show you around the Winter Wonderland for a bit?"

Casey nodded with a dumbfounded smile on his face.

The two walked out into the park together, enjoying the peace that they both had fought tooth and nail for.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ❄ ⁺₊⋆ ❄ ₊⁺ ⋆The End⋆⁺₊⋆ ❄ ⁺₊⋆ ❄ ₊⁺ ⋆

[creative-injection-12]

Graphic Design Services - A Hiring Guide

You no doubt really have to enlist a visual depiction administration. You might have an extraordinary item or administration however in the event that your marking and it is glaring "custom made", getting a deal will be more earnestly to showcase material. Initial feeling of your organization is conveyed by the visual effect of the showcasing guarantee, including print notice, handouts, lists, bundling and web composition. Refreshing or making new promoting security can be a powerful method for making new fervor around your organization and its items. On the off chance that you as of now have an illustrations fashioner, returning to the person in question for new designs is regular. Be that as it may, to inject new reasoning and a new look, taking into account new designers is fitting.

How would I choose a visual creator?

Look for visual planners on the web at places like Google, B2B commercial centers or the business index. Additionally ask your business partners and companions for suggestions. Waitlist around four planners for additional assessment. There are various things to remember prior to recruiting a visual computerization administration.

Really look at the portfolio: Initial phase in assessing an illustrations configuration administration is to request their portfolio and survey explicit tasks that are of a similar class as your plan project. A visual planner's style is obvious from the portfolio. The material she makes for you is probably going to be in a similar style, so it is vital to feel OK with it. On the off chance that you will recruit a plan firm, demand evaluating arrangement of explicit originators who might chip away at the venture.

Check for ability in website composition: Assuming your venture incorporates website composition, ensure the visual communication administrations organization has programming engineers acquainted with great website composition standards. Try not to be intrigued with great website compositions that utilization a ton of mixed media, weighty designs and high level elements. Such plans normally raise a great deal of difficulties, crash frequently and are frustratingly slow.

Settle on the quantity of idea plans: A decent visual planner will make a few ideas for you to survey prior to concluding the plan and making the end result. What might occur on the off chance that you could do without any of the ideas?

Visual Creator ought to be a decent audience: to give input before the plan cycle, ensure the visual fashioner will invest the energy to tune in and think about your thoughts. She really wants to figure out some kind of harmony between requesting input from you and utilizing her innovativeness and creative mind to foster the ideas.

Actually look at references: It is critical to really look at references prior to recruiting somebody for the undertaking. Explicitly inquire as to whether the visual architect is great at figuring out the necessities, consolidating your input and giving updates.

Here are a few hints in regards to working with a visual fashioner.

Likewise with some other task, characterizing the extent of the venture and positive achievements with expected deliverables is significant. Additionally settle on the quantity of anticipated modifications.

In what shape and structure would you say you will get the visual computerization? Explain record types, estimates and favored variety conspire if any. It is for the most part smart to take responsibility for delicate duplicates of the plan. They will prove to be useful to make minor changes later or reuse the plan. To keep away from any future struggle, additionally take copyright responsibility for material produced for you.

Discuss often with the visual originator and give persistent criticism. In the event that the task isn't going true to form, meet and resolve issues right away.

For more:

Graphic Design Company

Graphic Design Agency

Graphic Design Specialists

Graphic Design Services

[gorringe]

Finalising Furniture Upcycling starter kit

From my tutorial the next steps to focus on is making the illustrations make sense. By framing it and creating the branding for it. I started to play around with some basic layouts. Tweaking and adjusting colour schemes and placement. 

I wanted to have the starter pack items together and the main focal point. As that its what your purchasing. I adjusted the green colour background to a lighter one. Although still not keen on it so needs some work. I wanted the font and layout of the typeface to be similar to the upcycling guide so they matched which I have done here.

I thought about splitting up the green background with a white section where the type is. Although I feel the full colour background is more consistent and flows better. 

I wanted to make clear what comes within the starter pack. So I added a text box to show you what's included. 

After some more adjusting I changed the shade of green. Also added a darker version to the illustrations background. But like before wasnt keen on the two tone. Also added a price tag, which I feel is important to the product. From previous tutorial I remember discussing about having the barcode on the back. As I do feel its is ugly and does draw too much attention. So I have left it.

I rethought what I was actually creating, was I making the packaging or an advert for this Upcycling kit? So decided to create the packaging for it. I felt like  I needed to include that the kit comes in. So after quite a few attempts I drew out this box which would act as the tool kit. Which all of the tools would be in. 

Adjusting the scale of the tools to fit within the box was a task but they fit. Ive also adjusted the scale of each item so they are more realistic looking as it was mentioned in previous tutorial. 

Added some colour to the box to match the colour scheme of the packaging and upcycling guide, so they are consistent and match. 

From looking at the starter packs and upcycling guide. I realised that the illustrations just a bit bland. So I thought about experimenting with adding some colour to the illustrations. Using red as that's the brand colours of creative reuse. I used two shades of red and a grey. I feel these colours have really brought the illustrations to life a bit more. So I am going to add colour to the rest of the illustrations. 

I feel this looks so much better with the hints of red, showing the brand indemnity through the products and packaging. Improving them massively. 

Here is the the upcycling starter pack version I am at now. I feel the red works really well. Even though my style was going to leave the illustration black and white. I feel the colour has really made a difference in creating the brand identity it was previously lacking. 

This is how the upcycling starter pack will be displayed showing the packaging of the starter pack on the left and the kit on the right. 

[countrystylerecyclin]

Helpful Resources For Recycling Environment Protection

We sporadically discard trash without reconsidering. be it our standard usage of canned food items, our electrical machines, our vehicles, or other conflicting things. It is ordinarily recognized that the waste is irrelevant and simply garbage stacked on top of each other. Notwithstanding, this is a time of turmoil. Due to the impression that the meaning of metal reusing is dependability for various social, monetary, and typical purposes, reusing centers have become an undeniable industry. What was before seen as a specific waste of time is now a flourishing degree of business and a remarkable methodology for shielding and securing our eco-system. The cash-related advantage of reusing is monstrous. The reuse centers in Denver are home to various normative and cash-related focuses, making care available to the general public. The reuse centers basically incorporate four fundamental parts, which are comprehensively delegated.

Beginning getting:

Yet again, reusing gets Trucks are used to go through the city streets and get reusing holders that revolve around getting together a mix of metals, plastics, cardboard, and various materials that can be bound and reused. This helps the city gather various things that, in any event, should not be discarded as waste. They act like trash collectors on any occasion, and their importance is exceptionally high when you are separated from them. These finders don't dump the trash immediately, yet they are an immense piece of time sent for extra making due.

Drop-off and Segment

After the combination of these reusing focus, different bexley recycling center are used to detach the things into different orders, restricting the metals from the plastics from the cardboard, etc. With the things detached into different depictions, they can then be managed further to be reused to make new things once cleaned and disinfected. These things are, at this point, ready for additional treatment.

Buybacks

Next, these things are proposed to affiliations, which can subsequently take them and change them back into useable things that can be sold and reused at last. By and large, different sorts of things are traded at a set expense for each pound. Again, from here, they are taken to a treatment area, cleaned and disinfected, then thickened, illustrated, or reshaped together, and from that point on, used.

Reused

Again, now the things are used in things that you and I use constantly. These things can be made into different things, for instance, the bits of paper you make, the holder that your crushed orange comes in, or even the shoes you are wearing today. The potential results are truly enormous concerning what things can be ceaselessly reused in various ways.

The advantage of these reusing whirls around Denver is the way that they hugely reduce how much waste is discarded, save the soil from ruining, help to make new things perfect, save how much energy is consumed, and help with changing into a sort of pay for some.

For More Info:-

dry mixed recycling

company waste disposal

Source URL:- https://sites.google.com/view/countrystylerecycling41/home

[radiosaturday]

Re: difficulty handling the machine, there's practice sheets you can download and print it make your own. Here's a link to some. You'll unthread the machine and just sew along the lines to help practice controlling the machine. I used these when I was a kid and it helped a lot.

Re: patterns, if you've got a Joann's nearby they often end up being really cheap. Also keep an eye out at secondhand bookstores for books like this one, which have patterns that you trace and then reuse, as well as robust and heavily illustrated instructions.

Re: cost, it's very true that for most of your day-to-day items, it's not necessarily cheaper because of the rampant labor rights problems throughout the garment manufacturing industry but you do have a lot more control over fit, style, and material, often for a comparable price, which I think is worth considering. And definitely repairing your own clothes is a great step! As you learn more about how clothes are made, it gets easier to understand how to repair them.

I hope this is at all helpful!

hi! loved your post about not giving up on learning new things as an adult. do you have any resources you could share about making your own clothes? thanks 💞

Hmmm.. I don't really have specific links and I've only been doing this for like.. a month? I made three pieces of clothing so far that I actually wear in public. But my starting pointers would be:

You need a sowing pattern and you need to follow the instructions. You can not just trace your favorite t-shirt and expect it to look good. (which is what I did when I started). New patterns can be expensive but if you have a printer, you can find free sowing patterns online. If not, thrift stores and online markets will have cheap old patterns and pattern-magazines. One magazine often has over a dozens of patterns.

Youtube is amazing for tutorials.

For me, half the trouble of learning how to sow was learning how to handle a sowing machine, getting the right tension on the threads so it doesn't break or get stuck, etc. I'm still getting the hang of all the things that can go wrong when handling a sowing machine. Again: Youtube is great.

If you don't have a sowing machine: ask older relatives before spending money on a new one. A lot of people have an old machine lying around and those old heavy machines are really good. And bonus: you might get a free class in how to use that damn machine.

In my experience, slightly thicker fabrics and unpredictable patterns help camouflage beginners mistakes. Loose baggy clothing is also easier because the fit doesn't have to be perfect. My first project that I actually wear in public is tartan dungarees (yay, punk). Do consider: cheap modern sowing machines aren't always capable of handling thick fabrics.

You can make your own clothes for many reasons but honestly: don't expect to save a lot of money. Nice fabrics are quite expensive and then there's all the tools. Of course you can recycle your old curtains, get fabrics from thrift stores, etc. But in my experience the cheapest of disposable fashion is so ridiculously cheap that most home made clothing can not compete.

If you wanna save money, reduce your impact on the environment and/or start easy: try fixing and resizing clothes you already own! @wastelesscrafts has a lot of tutorials, like this post full of ideas about how to upsize your clothes: https://www.tumblr.com/wastelesscrafts/700971177595830272/upsizing-clothes-there-are-a-million-upcycling/

That's my starting points for now, maybe more experienced people can leave more advice in the comments?

[dianasson]

hey there! do you happen to have more spells for finding lost objects? i lack the talent and am not really comfortable praying to st anthony. thank you in advance!

Hiya! In many European and American cultures, when an object was lost or stolen people would sometimes consult the local wise person or service magician to locate it. This wise person would use divination (scrying, sieve and sheers, bibliomancy, etc.) to find the item or thief. I recommend trying some divination. If you don’t feel comfortable doing divination, but you know someone else who is effective at it, consider reaching out to them.

That said, here’s a ritual without any saints or Jesus in it. I got this spell from the blog Witchery, but I made some edits to it in these notes:

Find a biodegradable cloth. Tie a knot in the cloth, while you imagine closing the knot tightly around your missing item, as if you were pulling the item to you. Then take this to your backyard (or to a potted plant if you don’t have a yard) and dig a hole. Press the knot into the earth and say, “Back to the earth, back to the ground. I won’t untie you until you are found.” Cover it up with dirt. Leave the knot buried until the object comes back. Then dig it up and give thanks to the spirits (with prayers or offerings). Clean and wash the rag to reuse.

Cassandra Latham-Jones describes what she calls “Pinning the Devil.” In this spell, you write the name of the missing item on a small piece of paper. Then, take a long pin (or hatpin) and run your finger repeatedly down the pin toward the sharp end, saying the name of the missing item over and over again. Thrust the needle through the paper and stick it to the back of your sofa (or other upholstery). Leave it there until your item returns.

I won’t share it here, but for information’s sake there is similar method performed with the dead where they are bound to find the item for you. There are still other options but many of them involve the supernatural cast of characters found in European and American folk magic (namely Jesus, Mary, the Devil, etc.). I assume if you don’t want to deal with St Anthony, you don’t want to deal with them either. 

If this is not what you’re looking for, try writing your own spell. If your goal is getting the object back, and you couldn’t care less about the magical side of this, then I might suggest that you find someone who can locate it for you. ... [Image descriptions: (1) Black and white woodcut of two hands holding up old fashioned sheers with one finger per hand. A round flat sieve is held by the blades of the sheers. (2) Black and white illustration of 5 old fashioned hatpins of different sizes and shapes. End descriptions.]

[littlepotsticker]

Cool Lamps For The Home

Lighting has turned into a more conspicuous element in spaces for inside plan nowadays, with many appearance interest in lamps, old style and imaginative. I generally recollect my lovely floor lamp with enormous creased conceal was acquired from a relative and was fabulous to peruse under. Not at all like roof lights, numerous lamps are significantly dimmer and assist with underlining light to a click here specific region of a room or help to add aspect to a space. As its prominence develops, a few inventive lamps could nearly be viewed as bits of craftsmanship or even multipurpose items.

Maintainability has been the word on each one's lips today, with individuals searching for ways of making the home delightful without being a weight on the climate. Do-It-Yourself and reusing has been a major pattern recently and should be visible from inventive lamps produced using pre-cherished pieces and weaves, grateful to be given another life. Stand lamps are an illustration of this. Planners have taken a wooden mount once utilized for looking over and included a light bulb top to change it into a to some degree post-present day creation. The legs and pieces from the casing make it a somewhat modern looking piece however it is that viewpoint that will carry character and life to a room.

Carrying on from Do-It-Yourself, utilizing family things, can mean concocting insane manifestations. For exceptional events where you need to utilize something somewhat more invigorating than candles, it is basically as straightforward as filling an old container with water, cutting a glow stick and emptying the items into it, (be cautious that the skin doesn't come into contact with the enlightened fluid). It may not be so exceptionally supportable as the fluid is very poisonous, however is most certainly an imaginative approach to enlightening a room. Remaining on the basic practical track, alternate approaches to making special and imaginative lamps is pretty much as simple as putting flimsy pixie lights into old wine bottles.

Bend lamps have additionally been well known over the course of the year with their incredible dipping curve changing the state of standard straight floor lights. They are presumably best for front rooms with the bulb curving over a seat or couch, as the lamps tend to be very huge. Other comparable plans are additionally accessible, for example, adjustable plunging lamps with direct bars appending the light to the focused pole associated with the floor. Creators have likewise messed around with the house product thing joining common sense to the standard bedside table lamp by making them extra book rests. No requirement for book checks now, as you can put your sleep time book on top of the lamp, safeguarding the page, while changing the light into a little house. Exceptionally adorable.

[curioskitty]

THE・Chonk Tie

We all know about Midoriya-kun's iconic tiny chonky tie. Horikoshi-sensei has already explained it away as Midoriya-kun just being bad at tying it. In Japanese he uses the word "ヘタ" (heta), meaning clumsy or unskilled.

But, just for the helluvit, I'm gonna speculate on this a bit. I think there's actually a ton of stuff packed into this tiny tie.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Midoriya-kun went to a middle school with a gakuran uniform so he likely never needed a tie. On top of that fandom likes to speculate that since his Dad isn't around, no one can actually show him how to do it. I can't disagree with Midoriya-kun just being a clumsy fashion disaster. It's a very straightforward explanation.

But in this age of tutorials and YouTube, part of me just can't let it go. And Midoriya-kun has friends now that would probably teach him if he asked. Heck, Mina-chan taught Midoriya-kun how to dance, and you're telling me she can't teach him how to tie his damn necktie???

But almost everytime we see this kid in a tie, it's always tied like that. In almost every illustration or sketch where Midoriya-kun is wearing a tie, even the gender bend one and random fun sketches posted to twitter, Horikoshi-sensei has him in some variation of this tie. He has been very meticulous about it and it's details like this that make me such a huge fan of Horikoshi-sensei.

(It's such a small detail, but it's one of my favorite parts about his design. I always see fans going on and on about his adorable face, freckles, green eyes, green curly hair... But no one talks about this damn tie!!! It's one of the best things about his design IMO. )

In fact, the only time we don't see this is the culture festival performance. That's the only time I've seen this kid with his tie on properly. Look at this perfectly tied nonsense right here!!!

(Granted, these costume ties do seem to be a bit shorter than the uniform ties. On Ochako-chan, Tsuyu-chan and Mina-chan, the ties seem even shorter.)

But assuming that he didn't get someone else to help him, or it wasn't already tied and ready to slip on (that's actually the likelier scenario, but, shhhhh!), then he actually tied that tie on properly. Considering all the practice, they had to have taught him how to tie the tie at some point.

But that said, if this kid KNOWS what he's doing, why is it that the chonk tie still lives?

(Back after the culture festival and even more glorious than before?!)

Consider that a normal tie you could get away with just loosening it and just re-wearing it, but this chub version has to be re-tied every day. So why does Midoriya-kun do it, if he knows how to tie it properly?

He does it on purpose.

In 2009, there was a trend among British uniformed school kids to tie their ties improperly as a form of rebellion.

Midoriya-kun's tie is actually called "the superfat style".

Odd coincidence or did Horikoshi-sensei make our boy a hidden rebel?

We all know Midoriya Izuku has a baby face with a hidden rebel side. And it must be noted that in Class 1-A, everyone else, except a certain gremlin child (yes, Bakugou-kun, I'm talking about you, now shut up, I'll get to you later), has a properly tied tie.

Midoriya-kun doesn't express his rebellious nature outwardly and seems to be in line with the stereotypical cooperative Japanese rule abiding citizen. But, despite his cherubic baby face and outwardly tame veneer, Midoriya Izuku is a known feral, law-breaking, quirkless hero society outlier. AND HE ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

All Might said I can't be a hero? Prove him wrong, win his quirk. Iida-kun's in trouble? Laws? What laws? Todoroki-kun looks sad? I'll just break some bones so he'll feel better. Villains are attacking, so I should go back to camp? Hard pass, there's a kid I need to save. What, Kacchan's in danger??! My arms are broken, but that's what I saved my legs for. All of Class 1-A doesn't want us to go save Kacchan? Well, just watch me and my worst yakuza impression ever as I wear this fake goatee, break curfew and sneak into a villain hideout packed with several noumu and one very scary AFO.

Just what part of Midoriya Izuku isn't a rebel?!

Going back to the prototype oneshot of Boku no Hero Academia, "Boku no Hero" Horikoshi-sensei re-used the main character Jack's design. This character was actually similar to Midoriya Izuku in a lot of ways. A quirkless salary man who wanted to be a hero and used support items to fight.

Horikoshi-sensei loves paying homage to his earlier works by reusing old character designs. Tenko, Snipe, Gang Orca, and more were recognizable concepts that found their way into Boku no Hero Academia. Considering Horikoshi-sensei's heavy emphasis on the theme of 'remembering one' s origins,' it really comes as no surprise the author does this himself. He has done that quite a lot before and it's not surprising at all.

(Considering he was a professional salary man in a suit, the chonk tie is even more of a visual symbol of the maverick nature of this character.)

What came as a surprise to me is that Midoriya-kun's prototype Akatani Mikumo actually didn't have this feature. Both he and Gougou Katsuki (Bakugou-kun's prototype) wore their ties properly?

Well, I guess it's close enough on proto-Bakugou, considering our Bakugou-kun lost his tie completely... (I said, shut up Bakugou-kun, I will talk about you NEXT! Geez, this brat).

So why did Horikoshi-sensei decide to ressurect the chonk tie? Remembering his origins? As an homage to Jack? Hidden rebel? Maverick thinker? Clumsy kid? Fashion disaster? Extremely successful iconic shounen protagonist design feature?

Or maybe, all of the above...?

Either way, Midoriya-kun just wouldn't be the same without his tiny tie. And I'm here for it.

Chonk on tiny tie. I see you. I appreciate you.

Horikoshi Kouhei: ORIGIN

[kvngkarla]

Cool Lamps For The Home

Lighting has turned into a more conspicuous element in rooms for inside plan nowadays, with many appearance interest in lamps, traditional and creative. I never forget my wonderful floor lamp with huge creased shade was acquired from a relative and was incredible to read under. Dissimilar to ceiling lights, numerous lamps are much dimmer and help to accentuate light to a specific region of a click here room or help to add aspect to a space. As its notoriety develops, a few creative lamps could almost be viewed as bits of workmanship or even multipurpose articles.

Maintainability has been the word on each one's lips today, with individuals searching for ways to make the home delightful without being a weight on the climate. Do-It-Yourself and reusing has been a major pattern of late and should be visible from creative lamps produced using pre-cherished pieces and weaves, appreciative to be given a new life. Mount lamps are an illustration of this. Architects have taken a wooden stand once used for studying and included a light bulb top to change it into a to some degree post-modern creation. The legs and pieces from the edge make it a somewhat modern looking piece however it is that angle that will carry character and life to a room.

Carrying on from DIY, utilizing household things, can mean concocting insane manifestations. For exceptional events where you need to use something somewhat more energizing than candles, it is all around as straightforward as filling an old container with water, cutting a gleam stick and emptying the substance into it, (be cautious that the skin doesn't come into contact with the illuminated fluid). It may not be so particularly manageable as the fluid is very poisonous, however is certainly an inventive way of illuminating a room. Remaining on the basic practical track, alternate ways of making unique and inventive lamps is just about as simple as putting slender pixie lights into old wine bottles.

Circular segment lamps have likewise been well known over the course of the year with their great plunging curve changing the state of standard direct floor lights. They are most likely best for lounge rooms with the bulb curving over a seat or couch, as the lamps tend to be very huge. Other comparable plans are additionally accessible, for example, movable diving lamps with direct poles appending the light to the focused bar associated with the floor. Creators have likewise messed around with the house product thing joining common sense to the standard bedside table lamp by making them extra book rests. No requirement for book stamps now, as you can place your sleep time book on top of the lamp, watching out for the page, while changing the light into a little house. Exceptionally charming.

I could continue everlastingly with every one of the unique plans available determining in indoor lamps. It is a household item that a ton of architects are messing with, from coordinating it with different items to give it a post-modern feel, or messing with what the motivation behind a lamp is, for example, the book rest lamp. They are presently leisurely transforming into a household item that not just fills a down to earth need of illuminating a room yet additionally is transforming into the primary focal point.

[bircoltz]

Cool Lamps For The Home

Lighting has turned into a more noticeable element in rooms for inside design nowadays, with many appearance interest in lamps, old style and inventive. I never forget my delightful floor lamp with its huge creased shade that was acquired from a relative and was awesome to read under. In contrast to ceiling lights, numerous lamps are much dimmer and help to stress light to a specific space of a room click here to learn more or help to add measurement to a space. As its ubiquity develops, some creative lamps could almost be viewed as bits of workmanship or even multipurpose items.

Manageability has been the word on each one's lips today, with individuals searching for ways to make the home delightful without being a weight on the climate. Do-It-Yourself and reusing has been a big pattern recently and can be seen from imaginative lamps produced using pre-cherished pieces and weaves, appreciative to be given a new life. Mount lamps are an illustration of this. Designers have taken a wooden mount once used for reviewing and included a light bulb top to change it into a to some degree post-modern creation. The legs and pieces from the casing make it a fairly modern looking piece however it is that perspective that will carry character and life to a room.

Carrying on from DIY, utilizing household things, can mean concocting insane manifestations. For extraordinary events where you need to use something somewhat more energizing than candles, it is pretty much as basic as filling an old container with water, cutting a sparkle stick and emptying the substance into it, (be cautious that the skin doesn't come into contact with the illuminated fluid). It may not be so particularly reasonable as the fluid is very harmful, yet is certainly an inventive way of illuminating a room. Remaining on the basic reasonable track, alternate ways of making unique and imaginative lamps is just about as simple as putting slender pixie lights into old wine bottles.

Arc lamps have additionally been well known over the course of the year with their great plunging arc changing the state of standard straight floor lights. They are likely best for lounge rooms with the bulb arching over a seat or couch, as the lamps tend to be very huge. Other comparable designs are additionally accessible, for example, adjustable dipping lamps with straight poles appending the light to the focused bar associated with the floor.

Designers have likewise played around with the house product thing joining reasonableness to the standard bedside table lamp by making them extra book rests. No requirement for book stamps now, as you can place your sleep time book on top of the lamp, keeping the page flawless, while changing the light into a little house. Exceptionally adorable.

I could go on perpetually with every one of the unique designs available indicating in indoor lamps. It is a household item that a great deal of designers are messing with, from coordinating with it with different items to give it a post-modern feel, or messing with what the motivation behind a lamp is, for example, the book rest lamp. They are currently leisurely transforming into a household item that not just fills a functional need of illuminating a room yet in addition is transforming into the fundamental focal point.

[bothnelinda]

What is Automation Engineering?

Mechanization designing is the joining of standard designing fields. Programmed control of different control framework for working different frameworks or machines to decrease human endeavors and time to build precision. For additional subtleties click here.

What is mechanization designing in gadgets? , or a modern plan measure utilized in the assembling of electronic segments. Robotization engineers intend to make machines that settle on choices utilizing data accumulated from human information instead of programming — a change made conceivable by progresses like man-made reasoning and large information innovation. These frameworks will be capable however much inside the space of days that they might have done last year yet requires critical ventures with numerous conceivably problematic issues confronting organizations this decade. Here we inspect three key regions: growing new assembling measures for robotized gathering; making devices simpler so individuals can reuse them without recruiting help if necessary; improving on creation lines such specialists can't sit on planks of flooring while at the same time pausing (the "line shift").

Mechanization designing is the joining of standard designing fields. This incorporates the utilization thereof with non-conventional positions and additionally any sort that require specific abilities, such as being a medical caretaker at a mechanical office, yet additionally anything which requires robotized information assortment strategies; correspondence between PCs where they impart through SMS application comparable applications utilized by specialist's workplaces ; innovation from different associations over neighborhood radio utilizing PC illustrations, videoconferencing and so on; advancements, for example, 3D printers since its been shown what happens when you print these items out... how can it influence proficiency? Since now there are a greater number of apparatuses included than previously... It drives us all to contemplate making robots autonomous skilled creatures who can perform errands straightforwardly related through their product composed dialects/programs.. Such capacities could result into expanded efficiency due itself since a lot more prominent sum per task finished makes conceivable less expensive machine plans, less need required material costs.... 2) Mechanical Engineering: 1 - Advanced Machinery Manufacturing : Manufacture apparatus items made totally inside industry standards without dependence upon materials cost contemplations so modest creation things become accessible quicker instead of agonizing over discovering reasonable segments required every get together necessities once producing measure starts.

There are less individuals managing straightforwardly w machine needs than previously - yet we improve results! Most people can look for some kind of employment elsewhere in case need be :) The last thing I would add about us people attempting new things constantly - - if into our own vocations I imagine that is true.We're wired diverse way...we have advanced freely approximately 100 million years... so normally advancement will toss alert aside :- )

[thereisanangelinyou]

Hello, loves...

It's been a while. I don't really have any "aesthetic" or artsy photos to share this time. I was finally able to find work, at a local thrift shop. Which honestly, is kind of a dream for me. I get to see all the amazing antique, vintage, and wonderful junk items come through and sometimes get first dibs on things I really like. The book pictured is a late 1800s Swedish bible. The inside is filled with pristine pages of illustration after illustration and beautiful typing. My mother collects old books so she absolutely loved this. The picture is a vintage print of a Margaret Keane painting. A Little Kiss. I've adored her work for a long time and finding this was so cool.

The fruit tart is the first ring I've baked in weeks. It felt good to put my heart into something again. It's a shortbread crust coated with a layer of semi sweet chocolate, filled with fruit topped custard, and glazed with apricot jam for shine. It wasn't too hard to make, just took a lot of time. Which is okay, it was on a day off. It's been weird to go from being in school and working 20 ish hours a week to not working, then graduating online, then nothing for 4 months, to working full time. Tomorrow is my third week and I still find myself so very anxious to go to work everyday. I'll get used to it soon, I've always said I hate a monotonous environment but now I'm not so sure. The thrift shop changes everyday and nothings really solid. I can leave my register pristine and come back after a day off to find it covered with clutter or unfinished work. I really don't mind that part though, I like the kind of work we do. Check out customers, hang shirt and shirt after pant after pant, organize my counter, mark our used piece tags to reuse, repeat. Its steady and even and sometimes that terrifies me and sometimes that comforts me. Everything is chaotic and lively yet sometimes it feels like nothing moves at all. Maybe it's just me standing still while everyone is walking and running, maybe sometimes I just take to long to blink so when I open my eyes the world kept turning and forgot to wait for me. Not that it should, who I am to hold up the metaphorical check out line of the universe.

Also, I've been on a Minecraft kick. I downloaded a beautiful resource pack and it's really kicked up the minecraft inspiration that wobbles around my head every now and again. Its so relaxing to play minecraft after a day of social interaction and standing on my feet for 8.5 hours. I'm not really complaining though, I'm lucky enough my parents bought me nice shoes to wear at work so it doesnt hurt my feet and back so badly now.

Since the store is closed every sunday I've been making that my self care today. And today I really needed it, seeing as I had no motivation to do it. Usually I start my lighting a candle, doing so with intention, then I light my incense and walk around my room filling every nook and cranny with its gentle stream of smoke. While I do this pray and focus on light and love, asking God to fill this room with positivity just as the smoke fills the room. It puts me in a better headspace to ask for peace and guidance like this. Then I put on a show and wash my face, exfoliate, face mask, paint nails while mask dries, and moisturize my face and body. Of course I do this in my comfiest pyjamas or whatever outfit I feel inclined to wear to fele comfortable. I make sure to drink a nice cup of tea or cold glass of water. Sometimes a candy or little snack while I watch my show. I do some yoga and sometimes a light workout to get my blood flowing to refresh my mind. Its sets the tone for the week, or at least I try to let it. This was as lot of silly rambling but I hope you dont mind. If anyone evens reads this, which its okaybif you dont. I have a hard time talking about my personal like to anyone at all, so this is like a little positive vent if there is such a thing. I just like sharing some nice things here and there. Anyways, I love you. Stay safe. xx

[standfortheangels]

the way you draw hands is amazing! do you have any tips for how to?

Ohhhhh my goodness thank you so much! I’m freaking out a little (a lot), I think this is the first time I’ve had a message about my art from someone I don’t know x) So thanks for dropping in!

The first part of my answer is going to be to look at references, but don’t worry, it’s not just a throwaway line x)

If you know roughly what position you want a hand to be in in what you’re drawing, seriously, don’t be afraid to find photographs similar to that to guide you~ (and if anyone tries to tell you references are cheating, print it out and make them eat it or something)

I’d also recommend that whenever you find a photo with a good shot of hands, save it into a folder somewhere (just for your own private use of course). Sometimes searching for something specific can be awkward when you’re just looking for hands, so having a collection saved can be useful~

Something else I do as well pretty often is ‘life drawing’, using line-of-action.com. You can select the option for ‘hands and feet’, choose one or both, set time limits, and off you go~ These are some of mine:

They won’t always turn out the way you want, that’s the nature of art after all, and I tend to find that I draw in a more realistic style here than the way I usually do hands, but it is really useful for getting more comfortable with how hands work in general. Plus, you can reuse your sketches as pose references later!

Okay, that’s the ‘boring stuff’ over~ Now for the more... hands-on approach? x‘D_______

For my own art style, I don’t tend to think about it too much, but there are a few key things I tend to do or pay attention to. I sketched up a couple of quick examples too that should illustrate all these points~ (plus a cupcake. Just because.)

Try to avoid straight lines where you can.Obviously this doesn’t mean never use a straight line. Sometimes, you can’t avoid it. But you can exaggerate curves, or invent them where it looks natural, which just helps your hands not to look too stiff. When I draw the ends of fingers for example, I curve them inwards a bit where the nail would be.

Fingernails are optional for me, you have to use your best judgement in each thing you draw. Maybe the angle makes the nail look weirdly thin, or adding a nail might make the position of the finger or thumb clearer. Try it and see! The only clear-cut rule I use is that I don’t outline the nail the whole way around. It makes them more subtle, and when combined with soft curves for the fingertip, it gives the hands a more gentle feel to them~

Anatomy-wise, a good rule of thumb (no pun intended), is that while fingers do technically have 3 sections, you don’t always need to draw all three. If a finger is bent in the middle, but not at the tip, it can work to just show that one bent joint, and ignore the one nearest the tip. And a straight finger might not need any joints at all if you can get away with curving it backwards. Just simplify wherever you can~

Draw through! If one finger or an item passes in front of another, I’ll faintly draw some lines to guide me, and then erase them afterwards. In the example hand on the left (under the cupcake), I left these lines behind to show you. One is just the finger as it bends behind, and the lower line follows the general curve of where all the fingers should be starting from.

Always remember to start the thumb further down (Closer to the wrist), or it’ll just look like another finger!

The wrist and the hand sit kind of off from one another. If you look at the two block shapes on the top right (which is based on the sketch on the left), you should see what I mean. There is no perfect corner between the wrist and hand either, which is why they meet with two lines that curve inwards towards each other.

Fingers typically take up around half of the hand’s length. It can vary depending on your art style- I tend to make my fingers slightly longer than the palm.

Lastly, if it isn’t working, don’t stress out~ Hands are one of the most infamous challenges for artists of all skill levels- it isn’t a sign of your worth as an artist. They’re just plain hard to draw! So if it just doesn’t seem to be going right no matter how many lines you redraw, set it aside, take a break, and come back later with fresh eyes.

(I actually recommend doing this with any art thing. Sometimes our brain gets so used to the image we’re seeing, that it just stops telling us if there are problems with it, or what they are. You might come back to it later and see something that needs fixing, or another way to make it look better, and it can often feel so obvious in these moments that you wonder how you missed it the first time.)_____

Well, this turned out to be a bit long, so thank you if you read this far~ I hope it all made sense. But if it didn’t, I’m always open to more questions about this- or any other topic- so feel free to stop by again if there’s anything you’d like cleared up or anything else you’re curious about! And again, thanks for your support and for sending this message in~ It really made my evening~ ^u^

[queerautism]

Commercial Zero Waste trends and greenwashed consumerism promotion

Zero Waste is a philosophy that seeks to reduce the amount of trash we produce by using resources more efficiently and avoiding unnecessary or single use stuff. Things like plastic or excessive packaging are common targets Zero Waste is against.

As a philosophy, it is generally quite positive. It does focus way too much on individual changes and individual responsibility, however, when most of the waste produced in our society is commercial waste produced by businesses and corporations. But hey, little changes, right? Helping people be more aware of the waste they produce is definitely a good thing.

Then we have Zero Waste stores. Here I'm going to be talking about them, and especially my experience with the one in my city, as a way to illustrate a pretty awful trend of capitalism co-opting eco friendly ideas for its own means.

Zero Waste stores typically sell dry goods (like rice, pasta, flour, beans, baking soda, spices, etc.) by weight, with people bringing their own reusable containers, plus a variety of household items.

In theory, this is something I'd be super into. In practice, though, going into the store you'll only find 'organic' versions of everyday staples, which are about x10 more expensive than what you'd find in a regular supermarket. The latest 'superfood' fads, and products imported from countries all over the world.

The focus on all the nice sounding but completely unnecessary 'organic', 'all natural' foods hikes the price up in such a way that the whole thing becomes extremely inaccessible to anyone without a lot of disposable income, like myself. For about the same price I can get 500gm of their organic wholegrain flour in my own little glass jar, or 5kg of chapatti flour at my local Tesco supermarket which already comes in a recyclable strong paper bag, for example. Just ain't worth it.

Reducing some amount of packaging just isn't that great either when you factor in the carbon emissions produced by the transportation of all this stuff from all over the world into England. Convenience and preserving the amount of choices you're offering to the consumer are a way bigger consideration than focusing on offering what can be grown locally or in our own country. The Morrisons supermarket near me already does better just by having eggs from local farms you can buy for a reasonable price.

Then we have the reusable bags, metal straws, compostable sponges, beeswax food wraps, etc... Which are all well and good except, again, expensive as hell. You don't actually need a £10 metal tupperware for your food leftovers to be zero waste, especially when you already have some random plastic ones at home you can keep reusing. You don't need a cutesy £5 a piece set of bamboo cutlery, when you can get a second hand set for 50p in any charity shop around. It's all designed to make you think you can buy your way into a more eco friendly lifestyle, without any of the actual work.

Using your own old clothes to make rags, sew a reusable bag, or a washable face cloth is way more 'zero waste'. Or using newspapers to wrap your sandwich. Keeping the plastic things you already have for as long as they're useful. Repairing things. Sharing things. Pretty much anything but buying more shit.

But this is more work, for something that doesn't look as pretty and glamorous, and businesses can't really make money off that. So they 'greenwash' their message of increased consumption, paint it as the better option for the environment, the woke choice, with any words majority white, upper middle class people will have a positive association with, and pat themselves in the back for all the good work they're doing for the planet.

It pisses me off so much because a community oriented cooperative buying the staples wholesale for people to access at better prices would be such a better idea ugh and it'd still reduce a lot of waste.

Oh, and for this store in particular - I got angry too because they have some succulents around for decoration, since it's so trendy, but they were in the shittiest no drainage pots in a very low light environment. It's a real bad look to keep flaunting how much you supposedly care about nature when you're using living plants for the aesthetic while they slowly die because you aren't actually caring for them.

Anyway I said my piece, fuck capitalism real hard and be wary of any business that wants to use progressive ideas to sell you overpriced things you don't actually need!