#custom printed butcher paper

[customboxes01]

Custom Freezer Paper to Boost Retail Packaging

In the food sector, packaging is vital in maintaining freshness, ensuring hygiene, and aiding brand recall. The right packaging solution can create an impact for retailers dealing in perishables on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. Effectively used packaging material like custom-printed freezer paper is durable, food-safe, as well as good for marketing. Whether you sell fresh, frozen, or deli products, the right freezer paper can help you improve your product’s shelf life and presentation. 

If you want to gain a broader competitive advantage in business, consider the benefits of custom-designed packaging. In this blog, we will be discussing how investing in freezer paper is how retail packaging can help make your packaging game much better.

The Importance in Retail Packaging

Food retailers require expertise in packaging products that not only preserve the quality of the food but also reflect a branding image. The most widely searched option in food preservation is meat freezer paper which protects foods from moisture and exposure to air. This specialty paper protects fresh and frozen meat from freezer burn and spoilage. Freezer paper, however, is formulated to keep the product’s flavour and texture intact. Custom printing on them enables businesses to project their logos, brand messages, and product details with top packing standards. Special packaging solutions such as custom freezer paper can help businesses be noticed in the market while maintaining freshness and aesthetic appeal.

Perishable Food Products

Freezer paper is crucial for food companies that freeze and sell food products. Freezer wrap paper is particularly effective in creating a moisture-resistant barrier, preventing food products from getting dried or spoilt. Most food retailers use this kind of paper to keep their products looking fresh and safe. Freezer wrap paper is also used so that leaks do not reach other items and contaminate them, with butchers and supermarket companies preferring the thick composition of freezer wrap paper. Using personalized branding options, companies can improve their packaging and provide high-quality goods to their clients. Investing in premium freezer paper delivers more customer happiness and product reliability.

The Appeal for Butchers and Meat Retailers

In the meat industry, hygiene and product safety are crucial and packaging is essential for such industries. Butcher freezer paper sheets are those used in meat shops and grocery stores because of their strength and non-stick properties. The freezer paper protects the meat from environmental elements and also prevents it from getting spoiled up to the time it reaches the consumer. Butcher shops use freezer paper for the same reason: It holds ink well, so they can print important product information right on the packaging. For meat retailers, custom-printed butcher freezer paper amps up the product presentation and opens branding opportunities. Utilizing quality butcher paper helps businesses positively discourage their customers from taking their meat elsewhere and aligns themselves with providing their customers with fresh and well-packaged meat.

The Other Benefits of the Food Packaging

Perhaps the best feature of freezer paper is that it keeps moisture in and prevents leakage. Waxed freezer paper is made specifically to seal in freshness and it prevents freezer burn. This wax coating helps to protect against outside contaminants as well as make the paper stronger. This feature is especially useful for businesses using them to store foods for a prolonged time. If greater care is needed for perishable items, waxed freezer paper can be used for wrapping fish, cheese, etc. Businesses that choose wax-coated options can keep their products in optimum condition, while also adding a touch of professionalism to their brands.

Bulk and Wholesale Processes

Buying bulk freezer paper is a good choice for companies that want to reduce expenses, without sacrificing quality. Bulk options permit retailers to purchase premium packaging materials at cheaper unit rates, which is optimal for food business spending when at higher quantities. Purchasing freezer paper wholesale is when restaurants, butcher shops, and grocery stores buy freezer paper in large quantities so they always have a fresh supply of packaging materials. Wholesale freezer paper, on the other hand, provides bulk savings for those organizations that use a lot of packaging. Wholesale packaging solutions allow businesses to focus resources on other areas of their operations, while still ensuring a high level of food safety.

Custom Printed Paper for Branding

For any business that wants to establish its market identity, custom branding is an important step, and custom-printed butcher paper gives all businesses a great way to represent their brand identity. Branded freezer paper used in restaurants, delis, and grocery stores creates a lasting impression on customers. For example, you can print logos, slogans or product details on the paper, ultimately enhancing brand recognition and customer loyalty. Along with that,wax-coated freezer paper will provide the printed designs to remain in form without any smudges, which is also a vital element in the entire presentation. Integrating functionality with decorative and aesthetic elements can improve product appearance and create an experience that lives on in consumer memory.

Conclusion

Using custom freezer paper as part of your retail packaging strategy provides many benefits, from keeping your products safe to improving your brand image. Bulk and wholesale options help retailers optimize their budgets while ensuring quality. 

Therefore, when you are investing in your custom-printed freezer paper, you are investing in your professional image, product longevity, and customer satisfaction as well!! If you’re in the food retail industry, upgrading to high-quality freezer paper is a no-brainer for giving your brand a competitive edge.

[petermorwood]

Is "Uh, nope" a frequent US response to lamb?

Or is US lamb somehow different?

This is just a vaguely mystified response to some comments here.

I'm guessing the "G-word" is gamey. I've smelt gamey meat, I don't like it, and Irish lamb definitely isn't that. Also, most people I know don't need to screw up their courage before cooking or eating it.

Mutton, mature sheep-meat, has - or so I've been told, because I've never found it in any local butcher - a much fuller flavour, still not gamey, but more ... robust, pronounced, emphatic, choose your descriptor. It is, after all, a more mature meat.

For terminology reference (though this may not be current any more), "lamb" is up to one year old, "hogget" - remember the farmer's name in "Babe"? - is up to two years old, and "mutton" is over two years.

*****

As I said, I haven't seen mutton anywhere, and haven't HEARD of hogget.

This might be, as I hinted, because terminology has been simplified and all meat from sheep is now "lamb" - and that may answer my own question. Sometimes US lamb has a fuller flavour than, say, Wicklow lamb in Ireland, because sometimes US lamb is hogget or mutton instead.

If so, it restores a possible original meaning to "mutton dressed as lamb". That's now best known as "an older woman dressed inappropriately young", and though the meaning has been around for a long time (this Rowlandson print is dated 1810)...

..."dressing" is also the term for preparing meat for sale.

And THAT makes me wonder if the critical phrase goes beyond fashion into the fine old tradition of adulterating food, and wily butchers transforming elderly sheep into the semblance of younger lamb then charging undiscerning customers accordingly.

I don't know how they might have done it, but if they could then they would. The ways in which 18th-19th century foods were fiddled with is amazing, and more than a bit Yuck.

Or in this case, Ew.

Comments, corrections, criticisms and all the rest are cordially invited.

:->

*****

Side-note; in keeping with the way nicknames get attached to surnames - "Chalky" White, "Dusty" Miller etc. - anyone called Curry usually ended up as "Mutton".

Two brothers at my school had this happen; Tom Curry, the older one, had been "Mutton" for a couple of years, and when his kid brother Will started school he became, of course, "Lamb".

Oh, how we laffed...

*****

ETA: @bellyoftheblast just messaged me this:

It turns out, and I only learned this very recently (I think it's in Hannah Glasse) that "dressed" used to mean "cooked" rather than "prepared for sale". Which would mean "mutton dressed as lamb" would be fast-cooked and thus greasy, unpleasantly tough and decidedly stringy. (Meanwhile I'll never waste good lamb on stew again now that I have a source for mutton -- MUCH better flavour for slow cooking).

Thanks for this snippet! We've got the Prospect Books facsimile of Hannah Glasse 1st ed, so I pulled it down, blew off the dust - it's been a while - and yes indeed, I found the following recipes in just four successive pages:

"To dreſs a Leg of Mutton à la Royale",

"To dreſs a Leg of Mutton to eat like Veniſon",

"To dreſs Mutton the Turkiſh Way"

"To dreſs Veal à la Bourgoiſe"

Mutton dressed (or dreſsed) as Lamb doesn't get mentioned, probably because Mistress Glasse knew better, though that business of Mutton to eat (taste) like Venison is interesting.

It involves cutting the leg of mutton "in the shape of a Haunch of Veniſon" then steeping it in the sheep's blood "for five or six Hours" before wrapping it in layers of buttered paper and roasting it, basted frequently with butter or beef dripping.

Not quite mutton as lamb, but still mutton disguised as something more expensive...

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Unraveled 1

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as noncon/dubcon and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: A curious man wanders into your dress shop with a lot of questions.

Characters: Sherlock Holmes (Cavill)

Note: I hope you all enjoy this random idea.

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Please do not just put ‘more’. I will block you.

I love you all immensely. Take care. 💖

One hand guides the fabric as the other turns the wheel. Your work is slow but steady, every stitch perfect, every seam precise. Your fare may be modest and your product simple, but its quality cannot be contested. Your labour as yourself is honest and plain.

The noise of the machine is your only company. The one-room shop nestled behind the butcher’s rarely sees a customer through its door. Instead, the orders are sent from the factories, returned with the printed adverts you disperse outside their doors. The writs are sent along with an envelope of pence and shilling and you complete each with equal diligence before sending them back bundled in paper and twine.

The operation isn’t especially fruitful but the profit is enough to subsist. Enough to guarantee your independence; a small apartment just above and a pot of stew to last you through each week. This humble existence is preferable to any marriage you’ve witnessed. 

The letters from your sisters reaffirm your spinster’s fate. You’d rather a hand wheel and a needle than a brood and broken back. A husband seems to provide several jobs at once, you’ll happily settle for one.

As your hands work from memory and your head wanders from tedium, the bell above the door gives a single sharp toll. You ease the wheel to a halt and leave the seam unfinished. You peer up above the black iron machine, reminding yourself to fix your hunch as a client enters. You can’t but wonder if he may have come to the wrong shop.

By his attire, he is a class above the factory women who require gray skirts and simple stays. His waistcoat is embroidered and his jacket is pressed and clean. He is tall, locks part tidily so his curls lay gracefully. His face is fresh-shaven, square jaw with a cleft, and shoulders broad and strong. He does not share the same sinewy gauntness as the labourers with the coal-dusted noses.

He carries a fine leather bag. Another clue to his status. His shoes, another. Polished and without creases.

You stand to greet him, “good afternoon, sir. Might I help you with something?”

His answer is not prompt. He takes in the finished dresses hung by the east wall and turns to examine the rolls of wool and cotton. At last, he returns his attention to you.

“Afternoon,” his deep timbre fills the small space, “you are the dressmaker.”

It isn’t a question, but you answer, “I am.”

He narrows his eyes as he approaches your desk, the sole fixture in the space. From without, the shop is just as bare. The blackened windows offer not insight into the business, its only suggestion the sign hung above the door, though the paint requires a fresh coat.

“And the shop owner?”

“That is me as well, sir,” you assert. The presumption is not uncommon.

“Ah,” he accepts your explanation without comment, “so, you will have sewn this.”

He puts his bag on the desk, nearly knocking your shears from the corner. You try not to flinch as they teeter near the edge and he pulls open the top of the leather bag. He pulls out a swath of grey. You recognise it and he rolls the cuff to show your initials sewn within.

“Sir,” you say precariously, “is there some issue with it? Is it your wife’s dress?”

“Wife? No, no,” he dismisses, feeling the fabric between his fingers, “rather I am in search of the dress’s owner. The initial must belong to them, yes? So you would have a name for the buyer.”

“Mm, no, those are mine,” you point at the letters, “as it is my handiwork.”

“That makes sense,” he frowns in disappointment. “So you wouldn’t know who would wear it?”

You rub your chapped lips together. You find your tongue sliding over them often when you work, turning them raw with the habit. The man’s lips are rosy and smooth, as well-kempt as the rest of him. He is no factory worker’s husband.

“I might… would you take it out?” You ask.

He obliges as you pluck up the metal cylinder from your desk and unfurl the tape measure from within. He shakes out the dress, holding it by the shoulders to reveal salt stains along the skirts and unleashing a dingy smell in the shop. You wiggle your nose at the stench but worse roils in from the butcher’s on hot days.

You take the measure of the sleeves and the waist, then to the hem. You scribble the numbers on a scrap and take that to compare with your ledger. The measurements are in now way defining but might narrow it down. He keeps the dress aloft and you return to him to check the thread along the seams. A few months ago, you changed the thickness as the factory workers complained of splits under the arms.

“Hm, it is a recent purchase,” you assure him and return to the ledge. 

He lowers the dress and approaches. You snap the book closed and turn your face up to consider him once more, “why do you need to know, if it is not your wife?”

“You are very discerning,” he remarks as he folds the dress and drapes it over his bag, “I’m certain then you can surmise the woman who wore this dress did not meet a kind fate.” He tugs up the hem and shows a tear trimmed in scarlet, the colour not obvious from a distance. “Holmes, Sherlock Holmes. I’m a detective and I’m trying to identify a poor woman found not far from here. I believe it is in your own interest that I discover her assailant.”

“I cannot say for certain which she is,” you turn over the scrap and re-open the ledger. You write down three names which match the measurements and hold the paper out to him. He takes it, his thick fingertips brushing yours. “Those are the ones which align with the dress.”

“Mm,” he hums as he tucks the paper into his chest pocket, “and your name? I couldn’t make it out on the sign.”

You recite your name flatly, “it isn’t on the sign.”

“It requires new paint,” he admonishes, “I could hardly find you.”

“I am aware,” you reply. “Thank you for noting.”

He’s quiet, “being a detective, however, I did indeed put together the clues.”

Is he making a joke? You cannot tell. He folds up the dress completely and puts it back in the leather bag. The smell persists.

“What are you prices?” He asks abruptly.

“Sir, I sew dresses for factory women, sometimes a few communion pieces, but I’m afraid I don’t do much suit work.”

“My sister requires a dress,” he sniffs, “as simple as it is, I can see your work is fine.”

“I have only wools and cottons,” you counter.

“Do you always turn away business?” He challenges.

“I wasn’t, sir, I’m only clarifying what I currently do. My prices are set for those fabrics,” you explain.

“I will pay for the muslin and velvet,” he waves his hand staunchly, “you will be paid for your labour. Can you sew with more than wool and cotton?”

“I can, sir, but you could find a ready-made dress in a market boutique if the dress is required promptly.”

“I can afford the time and coin,” he insists. “You are not a talented advertiser, are you?”

You’re taken aback by his bluntness. Often, his ilk have that demeanour. It’s why you’d rather the factory workers and the fish sellers’ wives.

“I suppose not,” you agree, “I would need measurements before I begin. You may send the numbers along with the fabric, then. And I would require a style. Perhaps your sister is a purveyor of fashion magazines?”

“I will send a messenger,” he shrugs. “Thank you for your time. I shan't get in your way any longer.”

“Good day, sir.”

“Good day to you,” he takes the bag from your desk and the shears fall to the floor with a clatter.

You skirt around to grab them as he bends and swipes them up first. You recoil as he closes the blades with a snap. He examines them before placing them back on the desk.

“Apologies,” he says, “and miss,” he looks at you, “take to heart what I’ve told you today. Keep away from the allies and perhaps you may consider locking your door.”

“Thank you, sir, your concern is appreciated.”

“Rather you might just keep those close, eh,” he points to the shears and his cheek dimples.

Again, you can’t be certain of his humour. You keep a placid expression, neither smiling nor scowling. He clears his throat and runs his hand down his jacket, gripping the lapel.

“Very well then, I’ll be off.”

He turns on his heel and marches to the door. You stay by the desk as the bell rings with his departure. Once the door closes, you cross the shop. You turn the lock into place, his foreboding lingering with the stale scent of dirty water.

🪡

Despite the unusual visit, your days roll on like a hand on a clock. The thought of the woman’s tragic fate looms like a shadow but fades. You have too much stitching to do to fret over that man and his ominous words. You assume his interest in your work thereafter was wholly feigned as he does not return.

That day, you pass off six parcels to Eustace, the driver who takes them down to the stacks to hand off to the floor bosses who will parse them out to the women they’ve been cut for. You pay him his toll before he climbs back into the seat of his cart, his horse kicking impatiently.

“Excuse me, sir,” another driver clops up along the other side of the street, a narrow squeeze between the slanting buildings. “I’m in search of a dressmaker. I believe the store is tucked behind the butcher’s and…” the man’s voice drifts off as his eyes flit to the meat sellers marquee.

“Right here, good sir,” Eustace responds, “wouldn’t ya know, she’s right here.”

You lift your chin to see past the cart and spy the driver. He removes his cap as his gaze meets yours. Eustache dips his chin as he adjusts his own hat and snaps his old mare into a canter. As you're left alone with the carriage driver, a vehicle rather lofty for a block like this, you fold your hands behind you.

“Sir, you hardly look in need of a work woman’s dress,” you say.

“Miss,” he ties the reins off and jumps down from his seat, “I am sent for you, not a dress.”

“For me?” You echo.

“Mr. Holmes has sent,” he crosses the muck and nearly slips. “He said he made an appointment for a seamstress.”

“An appointment? I wasn’t informed of the time,” you rebuff. “I’ve a shop to run, orders paid for. I can’t simply leave.”

“Ah, yes, Mr. Holmes made mention of a fee,” the man feels around his striped coat, “he said a deposit would be needed.”

He takes out a brown envelope and hands it over. You take it, a small weight within. You look at the driver before you pull back the flap and peek inside. A large gold sovereign sits in the corner of the paper; a whole pound. That’s at least three days work.

You hold your breath, trying to maintain some composure. If that’s the deposit, what is he offering for the rest? You slip out the folded paper within, a page torn from a fashion journal. The dress is elegant if not extravagant. You don’t often do off-the-shoulder or ruffles like that but it isn’t beyond your skill.

You fold the flap closed again and lift your chin to face the driver, “I must lock up, you see?”

“Take your time, miss,” he says kindly. “Mr. Holmes isn’t expecting you to hurry.”

“Thank you, sir,” you bow your head and turn away.

You measure your steps along the facade of the butcher’s shop and curl around to the alleyway. You let yourself into your shop and tuck the envelope into your apron pocket. You take your sewing bag from under the desk and shake off the dust. You don’t often have reason to use it.

You open it up and pack away your shears, a measuring tape, pins with a cushion, your notebook, and a few other bits and bobs. Just in case. You grab a role of linen from against the wall. It’s heavy but you can manage.

You take the key from your desk drawer and switch off the overhead light. You lock the door and continue back out to the street. The driver puffs smoke from a pipe as he waits.

“Miss, allow me,” he snuffs out the pipe and puts it in his pocket. He nears and reaches for the roll of linen.

“It’s quite alright, sir,” you say.

“I insist, miss, can’t have a lady doing all that,” he takes it, not forcefully, and you let him.

As he goes to the carriage and opens the door, you give pause. You don’t know if you should be so easily swayed on a gold coin. Mr. Holmes hadn’t been entirely pleasant and you do prefer your simple work. Still, you can hardly turn your nose up at a pound. Not with the summer fizzling to a finale.

You lift your skirts and cross the street to the open carriage, “sir, might I have a name?”

“Gavin,” he answers, “and I have yours. Mr. Holmes made sure of it.”

“Yes, very good,” you say as you approach, another sliver of doubt trickling through. Mr. Holmes claimed to be a detective but is that really the reason he was strolling around with a dead woman’s dress? You gulp and look at Gavin then the carriage, “might I keep the window open?”

“Surely you can,” he agrees amiably. “Mr. Holmes lives quite a ways, shouldn’t mind the air. I’ll be certain to stay away from the stacks.”

“Thank you, sir,” you accept his proffered hand and he helps you up into the carriage. 

You settle on the bench as the door shuts and you open the window from within. You lean back, your hand grasping the top of your bag. You unclasp it as you feel Gavin climb up on the driver’s seat. You dip your hand inside and clutch your long shears.

You don’t forget all of what Mr. Holmes said.

[remembertheplunge]

"Greenlights: Your Journal. Your Journey" a review

2/27/2024

I bought a copy of Matthew McConaughey’s book on journaling last Saturday. It’s called “Greenlights” Your Journal, Your Journey”. The book consists of a number of pages that are largely blank but that contain a writing prompt. Although Mr. McConaughey begins with an explanation with how reviewing his journals in preparation to write a book from them was inspiring, the book results in a resounding thud.  Mr. McConaughey begins by saying that he has been keeping journals for 37 years.  He states in the book’s introduction that the value of journaling is that we get to know ourselves. “When we put pen to paper and share our feelings, thoughts, and opinions with the page, we begin to understand ourselves more clearly, and then begin to customize our lives around who we truly are."

Writing prompts are stifling. That’s what I meant by “thud” above. The true writing prompts are the burns in the day. The insults. The fury over embarrassment . The outrage that has no voice in the avenues of the day, but that must be expressed. I save them to the end of the day. Just before bed. I can hardly wait some nights to let them out onto the page.

So, what I do is open to a blank page in the note book—journal—I date it, and I might start out with some of the details of the day. This can be even writing about the howl of a distant train whistle as I begin writing. And, then I’’ll dive into what was burning from the day. I’ll use the energy from the event to fuel and inform my writing. The writing itself then becomes cathartic. Healing. But, it also leaves a record of the day. A foot print. 

If you do use a writing prompt, trying writing it in the center of a large piece of butcher paper. Draw a circle around the prompt and quickly, draw lines like spokes from a wheel coming out from the circled prompt. As you draw each line, at its end write whatever comes to your head that the prompt invoked. In this way, you can escape the editor in your head and get down a true expression of where you are at with the prompt.

Then , take these prompt insights and weave them into a journal entry.

[thelearningcurvephotography]

Books and Bistros and Butchers No 2 Color Version Posters by The Learning Curve Photography on Zazzle. In a row of buildings constructed between 1889 and 1893, Nos 232 - 236 Queen St E in The Moss Park area of Toronto Canada are now home to a book store, a restaurant and a butchers. The row of buildings were designated a Heritage Property by The City of Toronto in 1973. Original photography using a Canon EOS RP body with a Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM Art lens. Processed using Lightroom. • Gallery quality Giclee prints • Matte finish with an acid-free smooth surface • 45 lb 7.5 point thick poster paper • Available in sizes up to 60" • Custom framing options • High Resolution Downloads in PNG, JPG or PDF file formats #posters #prints #zazzle #zazzlemade #toronto #photography #architecture #canadian

[testingblogforadmiraltests]

Preparing a Freesewing pattern for laser cutting using Inkscape

I don't really know the best place to put this but i figured a tumblr post would at least be mobile-friendly and easier to move once I do know lmao.

Other vector editors will work, but Inkscape is free and open source, and even if the software updates and changes, you will still be able to download version 1.4, which I wrote this tutorial using, so you can still follow along. It will also work on Windows, Mac, and most Linux distributions.

This tutorial assumes a basic familiarity with your specific laser. I have a very cheap Creality Falcon 5w laser with no safety features at all, so I always cut in a ventilated space that pets and people cannot access easily and wear a respirator and eye protection.

This was written with LightBurn as the intended output program for your laser. I strongly recommend at least giving the Lightburn trial a shot. It's expensive at $99 but you only pay for it once-- Linux support will be dropped after version 1.7, but even that version is still very robust. The Perforation Mode setting is what I use to mark where seams go, so if you don't need this, you can skip almost everything that mentions the seam line.

Those who already have familiarity with generating FreeSewing patterns can skip to step 4.

Dial in your FreeSewing measurements. Before you start a full project in FreeSewing, you should always make sure your measurements are correct. Think of FreeSewing less like a pattern website and more like a giant calculator. You're drafting from scratch every time, not using well-tested ready-to-wear patterns, so you need to approach this like drafting (just without all the math and specialty rulers). Generate something quick and fitted-- titan for checking pants, a very basic sven for your torso and sleeves, bella or noble for tight fits to the torso. Use paperless mode to cut them out of butcher paper or print them out for a quick tape up, and adjust if necessary. Then do a draft cut out of old sheets, clearance bin fabric, or whatever you can find at the thrift store, using pins as closures. I also strongly, strongly recommend asking in the FreeSewing discord's #need-help channel if you have any questions at all, even if it's just for a quick sanity check, BEFORE you get frustrated. The community is extremely helpful and kind and the original designers of patterns tend to be active members. Once your measurements are right, you'll be able to do a tape-up and then a cheap-fabric-draft of the design you want.

Pick a design and adjust Core Settings. For this project, I'm going to be using yuri since it's got a lot going on. As a laser user, the very first thing you'll want to do is make sure that your User Experience option is set to "Give Me All Powers, But Keep Me Safe". Once that's done, you'll be able to open up the Core Settings options.

Change the "Include Seam Allowance" option to "Yes." This will cause the "Seam Allowance Size" option to appear. Change this to your desired seam allowance. Since I am sewing for dolls, I use a 6mm (roughly 1/4") seam allowance. If you prefer imperial, there's a "Units" option a little further down. Selecting the "Paperless" option will display key measurements in your selected units. Checking your physical body against these measurements will help make sure the pattern you're about to cut will fit correctly. Disabling the "Details" option can be useful for laser cutting later, but for now leave it set to "Yes." The "Expand" option is only used in a few patterns, but if you're doing 100% of your cutting on the laser, you'll need it set to "yes." Since I am sewing for dolls, I also need the "Scale" setting to be lowered. This does not affect the pattern pieces, but it makes the text smaller so that it's easier to read.

3. Adjust your style choices. Increasing the Ease on a pattern will make it looser-- FreeSewing tends to skew towards a very custom fit, but if you're used to Ready-To-Wear clothing you may prefer things to be looser. If you ever feel like the pattern looks weird, you can use the cloud button on the left to save all your adjustments, and then generate a new pattern using one of FreeSewing's curated measurement sets.

People tend to be shaped very differently so things might not be as strange as you think.

4. Export to Inkscape. Once you're done and checked everything, use the Download button on the left to Export the pattern. You'll get a list of options. Under "Export for Editing," click the "SVG" button.

An .svg file will download. If you're making a yuri, the file will just be called "Freesewing-yuri.svg" so take the time right now to rename this file to something more descriptive, then open the file in Inkscape.

5. Set up your inkscape work area.

Once in Inkscape, you can use your scroll wheel or use a pinch gesture on your track pad to zoom in and out. We're mostly going to be making use of the right-hand panel. Use the two dots on the outer edge of this panel to expand it out a bit, then use the down arrow in the upper right-hand corner of the panel to make sure you have tabs for "Layers and Objects," "Fill and Stroke," and "Path Effects" visible. Then, go to Edit>Preferences>Behavior>Steps.

Set the "Inset/Outset by:" setting to half of your FreeSewing seam allowance. My seam allowance is 6mm, so I set this to 3mm.

6. Orient pieces with the grain line going the same way. Don't worry yet about whether pieces will fit on your laser bed-- this step simply eliminates the need for the grain line marker and will make that step easier when we get to it. For yuri, the only piece with a grainline that isn't vertical by default is the hoodCenter part. Select the "Layers and Objects" tab and expand the "fs-container" Group. Then, from the list, click on "fs-stack-yuri.hoodCenter" part-- this will select the part, popping up arrows that will allow you to stretch the part. We don't want to stretch it, so click on the part itself-- any of the lines or text will do-- which will change the selection box to have curved arrows at the corners.

We want to make sure we're rotating at clean angles, so hold down the ALT key while clicking and holding one of the curved arrows and dragging it until the piece is fully rotated. By default, the ALT key will snap to 15 degree angles, unless you changed this in step 5.

7. Clean up each pattern piece. Select the "Layers and Objects" tab and expand all the Groups in this window. Decide on a piece to start with and click on its Group. This will select the object and make it easy to find so you can zoom in. Select each object inside the group to find them and determine what they are

7a. Delete the grain line by selecting it either in the document or in the Layers and Objects window and pressing the Delete key. This is usually but not always the first Line object in the group (in the above screenshot, it's "fs-11"). Select it first to find it and make sure you're deleting the right thing.

7b. Next, we need to delete all the text, but there's sometimes important information there. Zoom in on the text to read the cut instructions.

You can then double-click on the part's Group name to rename it, and add the cut instructions into the group name. The Group name is only for your benefit, so you can also clean up the "fs-stack-yuri." prefix if you like. Once that's done, select all the text layers and delete them.

7c. Delete the FreeSewing logo and the two boxes for checking scale that appear on some larger pieces. Save your document after cleaning each piece!

8. Prep your cut and perforation lines. Doing this now instead of at the end will make transferring marks easier and more accurate. The purpose of this step is to get your file ready for transfer into LightBurn. By default, LightBurn will try to honor any Layers set in your svg document, but FreeSewing has these nicely laid out Groups that are already well-organized, and we want to be able to keep each seam line attached to its cut line, so we're going to fall back to LightBurn's backup method of determining layer, which is by line color.

8a. Pick a piece to start with that you'll base all your other pieces off of. Select the dashed line. This is the line we're going to want to cut along. LightBurn has thirty different colors it can use as layers and store different cut settings in. I tend to leave Layer 00 black open for testing materials, so I store my perforation data for fabric on Layer 01 blue and my cut data for fabric on Layer 02 red. These are arbitrary and you can pick any of the thirty layers you want for this by using a close enough color.

8b. Select your cut line. This will be the outermost line, and by default FreeSewing makes this a dotted line. Then, click on the "Fill and Stroke" tab. There will now be three sub-tabs underneath this. You shouldn't need the Fill sub-tab as it will already be set to "no fill." The "Stroke Paint" sub-tab should be set to "flat color" in the upper left corner. Below, you'll have a robust color picker with options to switch into cmyk or rgb mode, as well as an option to open a color wheel if you prefer. You just need to get it close enough to the layer color you're using in LightBurn. The HSL values in this screenshot will always map to Layer 02 red.

Optionally, select the "Stroke style" sub-tab and change the "dashes" drop-down to a solid line. LightBurn cannot differentiate between solid and dotted lines and discards that data, so this is purely a personal choice.

8c. Repeat step 8b with a different color for the seam line. This will be the inner line on a part, and by default FreeSewing makes this a solid line. Choose a strong blue color (such as HSL value 240,100,50,100) to map to Layer 01 blue.

If you're having trouble selecting lines, it might be helpful to use the Node tool, which is right below the select tool on the toolbar. The default shortcut key is N.

It may be easier to select individual lines between different Groups with this tool.

8d. Apply this same line styling to all your other pieces. Inkscape includes a way to do this very quickly. Start by selecting your colored seam line and press CTRL+C to copy it. Then, select the seam line on another piece and press CTRL+SHIFT+V to paste only the line styling. Repeat with all other seam lines, then go back to the cut line and press CTRL+C to copy that and CTRL+SHIFT+V to paste the styling to all the other cut lines. Save your progress.

9. Add stitch guides for hems. This entire step is optional, but I prefer to have it, and you may find the techniques shown to be useful. Select the stitch line of a piece that has a hem, such as a sleeve, and press CTRL+D to duplicate it. Then, click on Path>Inset. This will move the duplicate inside your seam line by half your seam allowance if you set your Inset/Outset correctly in step 5.

9a. We only want to keep one segment of this line, in our case the one parallel to the cuff. Switch to the Node tool and select the far right-most point of the line you want to keep. From the Node tool's ribbon, click "Break path at selected node," then press the Delete key.

This should delete the part of the line past the one we want to keep. If it does not, press ctrl+z and manually click on the point again and press Delete one more time. Keep deleting nodes until only the line we want is left.

9b. Switch back to the Select tool. Hold down Shift and use one of the horizontal arrows-- not the diagonals-- to stretch the line out to the cut line.

9c. Use the same method as in 9a to delete the line that marks the bottom edge of the garment. This lines up exactly with where the edges of the hem start to taper inward, so you can recreate this line after cutting by simply folding from one corner to the other.

You can also use this method to shorten the amount of fabric in the hem. By default, FreeSewing puts three times your seam allowance in the hem, meaning your final hem folds up into four layers of fabric. This can be way too much for things like dolls or when using very thick fabric, or if you want to finish with a binding or facing instead of a hem.

10. Transfer any notches. There are a couple of different ways to do this, the simplest of which is to print out a copy of the pattern, cut out the piece along the seam line, and then fold or cut the pattern piece as needed to create templates you can trace onto your fabric with chalk or a frixion pen. However, you can also get away with doing most of it paperlessly. In yuri, the sleeve piece has two separate notches, which you can see better by zooming in:

Select the Star/Polygon tool from the toolbar on the left or by pressing * and use the following settings in polygon mode:

This will generate a triangle. Place one that's about the size of the notch marker, then switch back to the Select tool by clicking its icon or pressing S, and move it so that it's centered over the notch, and rotate it so that it's pointing outward toward the cut line. Don't worry about the line style, it won't matter.

Slide the triangle in the direction it's pointing until it's sticking out of the cut line. It doesn't have to be precise.

With the triangle still selected, hold down Shift and select the cut line. Both objects should now be selected. Go to Path>Union at the top of the screen, or press the CTRL key and the + key (or CTRL+SHIFT+=) to merge the two. The triangle should take on the style of the cut line if it doesn't already have it. Save your progress.

The other notch is marked differently to indicate that it needs to be distinct from the first notch. To do this, simply add another triangle and continue holding shift while selecting it include it in the Union.

You can see in the above screenshot that these are not perfectly lined up. This is fine, as these sleeve cap notches don't need to match up perfectly with the arm holes; they are just to indicate which side of the sleeve cap touches the front of the jacket, and which side touches the back. Other patterns may have similar needs, so plan accordingly after reviewing the pattern's instructions. Once your notches are marked in the seam allowance, you can delete the originals. Save your progress.

11. Add any other marks. Try using a circle or a dovetail, or an inverted notch cut into the seam allowance for marking things like stitching or gathering stop/start points. Remember that anything in blue will be done in perforation mode, so you can even try adding things like letters in the seam allowance. Buttonholes will be cut open after they're sewn, so you can safely use a perforated line to mark where those go. If you're cutting scrap fabric for a rough draft, there's nothing stopping you from using perforations for every single pattern marking. Save your progress.

12. Unfold any pieces cut on the fold. While it's possible to line up pieces on a laser cutter on a fold by simply cutting a marker line on your base, lining the fold up against it, lining up all your pieces along that line in LightBurn, and then excluding the line from the final cut, it's a lot more precise to have these pieces unfolded. Make sure this is the very last edit you make! Inkscape's Live Path Effects feature makes this whole process very quick.

12a. Select the cut line in the Layers and Objects tab, then open the Path Effects tab. From the drop down, select Mirror Symmetry.

12b. By default, the piece will be mirrored as if flipped along the highest X coordinate of the piece. FreeSewing always puts the fold on the left, or at X coordinate zero, so it will appear backwards.

To fix this, simply set the X value of both the start and end points of the mirror line to 0. The default values are automatically generated, but if you get stuck, you can also get the correct result by changing the Start point's Y coordinate to zero, and the End point's Y coordinate to 1.

12c. Once the piece is correctly mirrored, check both the "Fuse opposite sides" and "Fuse paths" boxes to erase the center line. If the center line is still present, increment both X values by 0.01 until it disappears. Then, from the drop down in the upper right corner next to the trash can icon, select "flatten" to merge the two into one continuous path. Save your progress. Repeat this process with the seam line.

13. Lay out your pieces. At this point, we can be done in Inkscape, and the .svg file can be imported into LightBurn. However, you can do all of your layout work ahead of time in inkscape so that there is no work to be done after importing.

13a. Set your document size to your laser's bed size. Go to File>Document Properties or press Shift+Ctrl+D to change the document's width and height. At this point, you may want to save an extra copy of your document so that you can prepare multiple layouts if not all of your pieces will fit on your bed at the same time.

13b. Read through the pattern's Cutting Instructions on FreeSewing to make sure you're cutting the correct quantities. To cut multiples of a piece, first select the highest level Group of the piece you want to duplicate to make sure all parts of it are selected, then press CTRL+D to duplicate it. Use the Select tool to drag the duplicate out from under the original.

To create a Mirrored version of a duplicate, press M to flip the selected object horizontally. Make sure that you remove any marks that shouldn't be duplicated-- in yuri, the button hole only goes on one of the two front pieces.

13c. Rotate and move your parts to fit them inside the laser's cutting area and reduce fabric waste as best as you can. Remember that we already arranged the pieces with the grain line running the same way, so make sure any rotations are done by 90 degree increments for normal wovens, and 180 degrees for stripes. If your fabric has a clear right-way-up, you may not want to rotate any parts at all. Save your progress.

14. Save as an .svg, and import into LightBurn.

[mylarbags]

What Everyone Ought To Know About Custom Kraft Mylar Bags

Kraft mylar bags are a great packaging and storage solution for tea, coffee, sundries, snacks, and food. They are made of eco-friendly kraft material. You can promote your business and build a positive reputation with the help of biodegradable kraft mylar bags, which are famous in the food industry. These bags are available in different elegant designs and styles according to your product specifications. Printed mylar bags are customizable, top-quality, and reasonably priced.

Eco-Friendly And Durable Kraft Mylar Bags

These versatile bags are eco-friendly compared to plastic bags. Their durability makes these kraft mylar bags ideal and more popular for business products.  Mylar packaging is sturdy and convenient packaging. Butcher paper is inexpensive compared to freezer paper in mylar packaging. Eco friendly mylar bags are an excellent choice for freezing beef. Kraft pulp is used to make butcher paper. It is a thick paper that works appropriately wrapped around meat. It is commonly white but is available in different colors.

Entice Your Customers With Popular Eco Friendly Mylar Bags

The mylar bags are a perfect choice for your product presentation. These fantastic bags keep your packed products safe from moisture and heat effects. Kraft mylar bags help enhance the visual appeal of your products. These kraft bags are adaptable and completely configurable. A window cut option is available to design in different shapes. Eco friendly mylar bags with a window make your product fascinating and eye-catching for your customers. These bags are sturdy and non-reactive to take care of your goods. You can store hot and frozen food items in sustainable kraft packaging bags. These packaging bags are robust and flexible, with a perfect barrier to humidity and oxygen.

Versatile And Protective Printed Mylar Bags For All Your Packaging Needs

Kraft mylar bags are available in distinctive shapes, styles, sizes, and printing options according to the customer's specifications. Biodegradable material is used to manufacture these sturdy bags. Kraft mylar bags are versatile bags that can package dry goods. These bags ensure multiple protections for your products. The printed mylar bags are perfect for herbs, supplements, and food against dust, moisture, potential damage, and temperature. They are a reliable packaging solution for long-term food preservation. You can store sensitive products in these durable bags that maintain freshness and quality. Kraft packaging bags are ideal and functional, with exclusive printing and customization options. They are resistant to puncture, tearing, and scuffing.

Customizable Mylar Bags With Exclusive Add-On Options

You can customize these mylar bags depending on the specifications and size of the items. Customers can use these versatile bags with different add-on options like debossing and embossing effects on the kraft mylar bags. Foil stamping is another excellent choice for these mylar bags. You can increase the visual appeal of printed mylar bags with a window die-cut option. You can package different marketing materials with these durable custom mylar bags. If you are packing edibles or food, the fantastic kraft packaging bags will keep it fresh and safe for an extended period. These sturdy packaging bags are convenient for transport. Logo-printed bags are perfect for your brand.

High Quality And Affordable Kraft Mylar Bags For All Businesses

These customized bags are made of high-quality materials. It is an affordable packaging solution for all sizes of businesses. You can customize the kraft mylar bags with elegant designs, alluring logos, and branding elements. They are coated with different stocks to give properties like enhanced printability, improved scalability, and maximum protection. It is a sustainable packaging solution to store wet and dry products. Eco friendly mylar bags are biodegradable, smell-proof, and air-tight. These bags are becoming famous as stylish, high-quality packaging alternatives for different commodities. These customized mylar bags are incredibly robust, lightweight, and resistant to puncture and dampness. These mylar bags can be used for multiple purposes.

Durable And Sustainable Kraft Packaging Bags For Maximum Protection

Custom mylar bags are moisture, odor, and child-resistant. It is a sustainable packaging solution to secure your environment. Kraft mylar bags are excellent for securing dry food, salts, herbs, and more against moisture, oxygen, and light. These bagsprovide durability and barrier properties. Custom kraft packaging offers customization and lightweight properties as well. These packaging extend the shelf life of your products. These durable packaging protect against humidity, light, and air. The printed kraft packaging is resalable and incredibly flexible. They also store your products in perfect insulation. They are available in different sizes to meet your needs. These are reusable and an ideal option to ensure your food's freshness.

Order Fully Customized Kraft Mylar Bags With Eco-Friendly Packaging Solutions

Get fully customized kraft mylar bags with great packaging solutions. Our sustainable packaging is perfect for storing hot or frozen food. We offer biodegradable, eco-friendly custom kraft packaging with customization and printing options. You can store your products for a long time. Place your order with free shipping and design support.

[cricutcreate]

How to Use Cricut Infusible Ink: A Comprehensive Guide

Eager to learn about infusible ink and create a project with it? Here, you’ll get it all in detail. I’ve been using Cricut machines for the last five years, and there is nothing left that I haven’t used to date. I also started as a beginner, but soon, I experimented with many Cricut accessories. Today, you’ll learn how to use Cricut infusible ink to make a personalized T-shirt. You’ll get a step-by-step guide to learning how to use infusible ink.

Before I move on to the final steps, I would like to share with you something that you need to know about Cricut infusible ink, like what it is, how it works, and how you can best utilize it to create your projects. Let’s get started!

What You Need to Know about Cricut Infusible Ink?

I know creating a new project seems exciting, but at the same time, the chances of silly mistakes increase, too. It’s always better to learn before you start. Infusible ink is a different type of ink used for creating professional-looking projects using a range of materials. You might have used iron-on vinyl or HTV, which are usually applied over the surface or your material and then peeled off, leaving the design.

However, there is a different case with infusible ink. This ink works on the sublimation principle and fuses with your material without leaving any residue. Thus, it gives you a typical printing look but with ink. To make an infusible ink project, you’ll need to use infusible ink sheets and infusible ink pens.

How to Use Cricut Infusible Ink to Make a Shirt?

You know what infusible ink is and how it works. It’s way better than the vinyl projects and leaves a permanent design on your material. Get ready to learn how to use infusible ink transfer sheets on shirts and create customized T-shirts.

Step 1: Select an Infusible Ink Material and Apparel

You have two options: Either you can cut your designs onto an infusible ink transfer sheet or draw the designs using your infusible ink pens and markers. In this guide, you’ll learn to cut and apply your infusible ink transfer materials to your final project. Note that I’m not teaching you how to use the infusible ink and markers here. So, if your main focus is on them, I’ll recommend you move on to another tutorial. Here, we go with the other steps to learn how to use Cricut infusible ink.

Step 2: Draw a Design in Cricut Design Space

This step includes making a desirable design using special software from Cricut. I’m mentioning a few steps here that you can go through to understand how you can use this software.

Step 3: Cut Your Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets

It’s time to use an infusible ink transfer sheet to cut it. To proceed, use these steps:

That’s how you’ll finish the cutting process. Let’s continue learning how to use Cricut infusible ink transfer sheets.

Step 4: Get Ready With Your Materials

In this step, you’ll have to use a Cricut EasyPress to transfer the design onto your shirt. Follow the steps below to learn how to apply the transfer sheet.

Step 5: Preheat Your Blank

The first step to transfer your project to your blank is to preheat it as per the instructions in the Cricut Heat Guide. This process will remove the wrinkles and moisture from the blank and won’t interfere with the design transfer.

After that, take off your heat press from the apparel and also remove the butcher paper. Allow your blank to cool. Don’t be in a rush, and let your blank space fully cool down.

Step 6: Transfer the Infusible Ink

In this step, you need to put your cut design on the apparel. Make sure that the shiny side is facing down. Then, follow the steps mentioned here.

Finally, your customized shirt is ready. One more thing I want to suggest to you is that you can also use a pair of tweezers to lift the transfer sheet from your apparel. It will safely remove the material.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you’ve learned how to use Cricut infusible ink to create a customized shirt. The whole process is easy, and even beginners can perform it very well. Moreover, there are some tips and tricks that are useful while creating your project with the Cricut machine. For instance, always remember to mirror your design. Plus, always preheat your blank before applying the heat properly. The most important part is not to forget to weed off your cut design before using it for the final project.

Visit: install cricut design space app www.cricut.com setup login cricut create connect to computer cricut setup create account

Source: https://desincricut.wordpress.com/2024/04/30/how-to-use-cricut-infusible-ink-a-comprehensive-guide/

[cricutmachinemaker]

Beginner's Guide to Cricut Infusible Ink Pens

Cricut Infusible Ink is a permanent printing technology that generates vibrant and crisp designs on various surfaces. It's also resistant to heat and water. Use the new Cricut's infusible Ink line of products with your Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore Air to make professional-looking shirts, bags, coasters, and more from the comfort of your home.

Cricut Infusible Ink line products consist of pens/markers and transfer sheets. The transfer sheets are similar to a heat transfer vinyl sheet, but Cricut Infusible Ink pens differ from regular Cricut pens. We are sure you have many questions related to Infusible Ink Pens. Continue reading our blog to find answers to your questions.

What are Cricut Infusible Ink Pens?

Cricut Infusible Ink pens or markers are designed to work with the Cricut machine. Load them directly into the accessory clamp of the Cricut machine and let them both do their job. The Cricut pen and markers have a special ink that fuses with the base material during the sublimation process. During the sublimation process, when heat and pressure are applied, the solid ink in the pen goes through a chemical transformation and turns into a gas. The gas penetrates the base material and dries back into a solid state, becoming a part of the material. It won't peel off or crack, and the colors will stay bright even after many washes.

What is the Difference Between Cricut Pens and Markers?

The only difference is the nib size; the invisible ink pens have a 4mm tip, whereas the infusible ink markers are 1mm thick. Use the ink pens to write and draw thin lines and the marker to fill in the designs drawn with the pens. Super fine lines aren't great with Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets, as cutting and weeding tiny lines is difficult, and it works best with thick solid images. The Cricut pens help you achieve the result where the transfer sheet failed. Both the pens and markers come in two colorways: traditional colors (green, red, black, purple, and brown) and neon brights (yellow, blue, green, pink, and orange).

What Supplies Do You Need for the Sublimation Process?

The first and foremost thing you will need is Cricut Infusible Ink pens and markers. A Cricut machine, Cricut compatible blanks, heat source, Cricut EasyPress mat, laser copy paper, LightGrip mat, heat resistant tape, butcher paper, Cardstock, scissors, lint roller (for fabric projects), and lint-free cloth (for coasters). Theoretically, any polyester or poly-coated base material will do the trick. However, Cricut only guarantees the brightness and durability of its blanks with infusible ink compatibility badges.

These blanks include T-shirts, tote Bags, coasters, and baby onesies. These compatible blanks have been through rigorous testing, so you can be ensured that you will get the best results. The infusible Ink system was calibrated to work with Cricut EasyPress 2. You could use a regular household iron, but it doesn't get enough infusible ink. Also, the heat is not evenly distributed. The Cricut EasyPress 2 can generate heat up to 400 degrees, which is the most appropriate temperature for most infusible ink applications.

The original EasyPress can generate heat up to 350 degrees, but it was not hot enough for infusible ink. You can still use it, but you may not get the desired results. Laser copy paper is designed to handle a high level of heat and has a special coating that keeps the ink from bleeding. You will need Butcher paper to protect the EasyPress machine from any escaped infusible ink. To protect the EasyPress mat from escaped Infusible Ink, use 80 lb or heavier Cardstock.

How to Customize a Blank T-shirt With Infusible Ink Pens & Markers?

The first step is choosing the Cricut-compatible blank (in this case, we are using a Cricut T-shirt) and any infusible ink pens or markers. Try to be creative by choosing thin pens and thick markers from the Basics and Neon color packs. The Next step is creating your design on the Design Space app. The infusible Ink pens can only draw your designs, so you need to use single-layer shapes without any 'fill.’ If you want your images to be colorful, you can color them by hand once Cricut does the outline drawing.

Click the 'Projects' button to create a pre-designed project. Size the image to fit the size of the t-shirt. In the space, attach all the graphic elements and click 'Make.’ Ensure to mirror your design before heat transfers. Choose 'copy paper' for your material. Into Clamp A, load the pen or marker suggested the pen or marker. Onto the LightGrip Mat, load a single sheet of laser copy and load the mat into the Cricut machine. Hit the Go button to start drawing. Once the machine finishes drawing, unload the mat and remove the paper from the mat.

Pre-heat EasyPress 2 to 400 degrees. Cut out the extra white space off the design to your blank. Place the piece of Cardstock inside the shirt and place the EasyPress mat between the Cardstock and the back of the shirt. Clean the T-shirt with a lint roller. On top of the shirt, place the butcher paper, then place the Cricut EasyPress 2 on top of your design for the recommended time. Lift EasyPress 2 carefully and let the shirt cool. Then carefully remove the tape and copy the paper.

Visit: cricut.com/setup

Source https://cricutmachinemakersetup.blogspot.com/2023/05/beginners-guide-to-cricut-infusible-ink.html

[customboxes01]

Custom Freezer Paper With The Ultimate Solution For Food Storage And Packaging

Freezer paper plays a critical role in the storage and preservation of meat and other perishable commodities within the food storage and packaging sector. Unlike traditional wrapping fabrics, it includes a surface coating (specific) that prevents the leakage of liquid while preventing freezer burn. This is an option for butchers, slaughterhouse personnel, and food businesses. No matter if you are in search of the rolls, the big sheets of paper, the custom-printed sheets for the branding, and so on, the freezer paper will be the winner of absolute versatility. It has changed from the butcher houses to the kitchens of the homes as a main food product for preservation. But how do you discriminate the freezer paper from others (e.g., wax paper, plastic film? The answer lies in its unique composition and durability. Using personed printing, this idea can be further developed into giving the concept of brand identity to firms. In this article, we are going to cover the different forms of freezer paper, what it is used for, and why there is still a need for the use of freezer paper as a packaging solution.

Behind Paper

Meat preservation necessitates specific vessels to ensure freshness and avoid contamination. Freezer paper for meat consists of a plastic/wax coating (one side) and exhibits a barrier property to both moisture and air. This is the one prevention of freezer burn that can alter the taste and the texture of the meat. In contrast to traditional paper, thanks to the rigidity of freezer paper, it can be used at very high temperatures without ripping. However, they also employ it for masking other meat products such as steak, poultry, and seafood, and as such, they extend their storage of products. Besides, thanks to its non-stick characteristics, it is easy to handle (that is, it is easy to package quickly and easily). Nowadays, a lot of food companies have been applying customized freezer paper to apply label designs (e.g., loo and ad texts) on their packages. However, this does more than enhance the consumer product presentation; it also promotes brand identity among consumers. Irrespective of the use, freezer paper remains at the tip of the spear for home use or use for commercial purposes in meat preservation.

More Than Just Storage

Freezer wrap paper is more than just a way to store food; it is also a protective component from contaminants. The paraffin-coated side prevents water loss and thus ensures the freshness of foods over extended periods. In contrast to plastic wrap, which is known to retain too much moisture and result in freezer burn, freezer wrap paper provides a permeable barrier. It is an excellent tool application for fish, birds, and terrestrial meats. It has a rigidity that gives it shear resistance, and therefore, it is a strong choice for packaging. Bulk freezer paper is a cheap way for a company to maintain the quality of food and sustainability. There is now a large number of brands that offer eco-friendly alternatives to freezer paper, which offers environmental benefits while maintaining performance.

Must-Have For Meat Shops

Meat shops and meat processors, with the aid of freezer paper, efficiently seal off fresh cuts. Nevertheless, butcher freezer paper is stiffer than other wrapping products and should, therefore, be preferred for applications where a good grip is wished for. Its ability to prevent leakage without damaging the meat's's freshness is the main benefit of the market. The merit of butchery freezer paper is that it is still possible to retain the juicy and natural appearance, color, and texture of the meat. In contrast to plastic bags, which can result in discoloration, butcher paper guarantees that the meat stays appealing from a visual point of view.

Custom butcher paper wholesale (with the brand mark as packaging) enhances packaging. That is, but with the cost of butchers and meat wholesalers being able to market themselves using premium packaging. Whether to use it for steaks, sausages, or deli meat, butcher freezer paper is essential in every butcher shop.

Long-Lasting Freshness

Waxed freezer paper is coated with a film of wax that protects against freezing injury. The wax layer is impermeable to loss of moisture. Therefore, food retains its juiciness and its flavor. Such freezer paper is used widely in the manufacture of cheese oish or pastries. Among the more striking properties of waxed freezer paper is its ability to flex/twist. It can be further employed in both primary and secondary modes of cryopreservation and cooking in a chef and home cook kitchen. Also, it is non-adherent materials that prevent the foodstuffs from sticking to the packaging. Containers of frozen foods are commonly sealed with waxed freezer paper due to their high barrier property. It ensures freshness of the food even during extended storage periods, which directly translates into reduced losses and improved quality index of the food product.

A Cost-Effective Solution

Bulk freezer paper is a feasible, economical solution that is suitable for use in large-scale food businesses and kitchens. Bulk procurement of packaging materials reduces the cost of packaging, but it, on the other hand, takes care of the continuous supply of high-quality wrapping material. Wholesale freezer paper is available in an array of sizes that enables businesses to tailor their packaging requirements. Rolls to pre-cut sheet stock, bulk freezer paper facilitates ease of handling and high efficiency in food processing. Besides cost savings, bulk purchasing also diminishes environmental waste. The era of disposal freezer paper substitutes being limited to manufacturers is over, as many are now developing recyclable and compostable freezer paper substitutes and are,e therefore, a sustainable option for companies willing to contribute to a greener environment.

Conclusion

The selection of an appropriate freezer paper has decisively the most significant influence on ensuring the food quality is acceptable and shelf life is prolonged. All types I, NC, including butcher paper to waxed papers, have types of which some are used for the storage and packaging of food. Companies purchasing good quality freezer paper consequently guarantee such products do not spoil, keep a good flavour and are neat in appearance. Custom Flavored freezer paper is thought of as the best compromise between utility and brand for consumers seeking to elevate their packaging/slogans and logos. It is quasi-professional looking and also prevents the food from freezing. Bulk purchasing (having a lot of packaging needs to be filled) is a very cost efficient approach to be used.

[eopederson]

Carnicería, mercado central - carnisseria, mercat central, Valencia, 2019.

There is a story to go with this photo, one which has nothing to do with butcher shops, markets or Spain. Many years ago, shortly after the opening to China by Tricky DIcky and a tightly regulated tour in the People’s Republic, I was beginning to study Mandarin Chinese (普通话 中文). We used a textbook for English-speaking, school-age learners published in the People’s Republic, one printed on some very strange paper. As common in such books, there was an English-speaking pair of children learning the language. The boy had some ordinary name like John, but the girl’s name was Palanca (杠杆). That is a personal name I had never before, or since, encountered in an English-speaking area, and one I had great trouble placing amongst European languages. In Spanish palanca is a simple machine of a kind that might be used in a butcher shop, but I have never seen it as a personal name in any Spanish-speaking area. I wanted to ask the butcher about the name, but he was entirely too busy with real customers to deal with my halting Catalan or even my slightly more polished Castellano.

[newsiegirlscout]

Lightfoot Quarantine Headcanons

(These are a few headcanons to pass the time with some more optimistic friends; stay safe and wash your hands!)

--So as suspected, Barley ropes the others into playing Quests of Yore first thing, as often as possible.

--Colt infamously waged a short-range attack on the gelatinous cube. It. Did not end well.

--Barley is an essential worker and he jokes about it being the first time he’s been considered essential once before Ian threatens to show up at his job and pull the whole “Barley special” bit.

--”What is this? A brother coming to pay calls at my place of work just to inform the other village folk how adeptly I handle my profession?”

--”Barley, be quiet and appreciate yourself or I’ll intentionally go the wrong way up aisles.”

--Laurel and Barley come back from work with masks at the same time, coincidentally in the same patterns. Ian walks down to Target immediately after he sees them just to get a mask that doesn’t have a dragon on it. 

--Barley quotes The Princess Bride at work in response to any reference to his mask and the customers love it.

--If Laurel and Colt don’t have to enforce the “No magic in the house” rule every other Tuesday--

--Many shenanigans ensue with using random things (moss, wildflowers, cool rocks) as assist elements to see what happens.

--Once Ian forgot he still had a splinter from practice and accidentally cursed Barley with a tickling cantrip. He never did hear the end of that one.

--Laurel jokingly "grounded" him for that one, to which Barley immediately declared since they were all on indefinite lockdown, the world was a lawless place and revenge-tickled Ian.

--Sometimes when Ian is really stressed out, Barley invites him to go for a “quest”. There, they drive past Ye Olde 7-11, grab some ice cream on the way up to Raven’s Point, pop the trunk, sit in the back, and just...watch the world go by for a little while.

(A la this amazing fanfiction which is *chef kiss*....I have read it....five times since lockdown? I’m okay.)

--Ian dislikes online classes, but Barley always counters with "Still better than shilling out $800 for textbook PDFs."

--It's also more entertaining than it should be to watch Barley rant about the scandal of charging full price for textbook PDFs.

--"I am a history major!! I should feel the ink and parchment beneath my fingers as strongly as the satyr playwrights of Greece did when they first penned the script! TAVISH OF ATHENS DID NOT WRITE 'OF SERPENTS AND STARS' TO CRASH WHEN TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THE WI-FI."

--Blazey gets sooo many cuddles and has learned to squish under doors.

--Colt was unofficially kicked off the wi-fi during the most frequent overlapping Lightfoot class hours, so he plays with Blazey. As a result, Colt is now one of her most favorite people ever.

--The first time Ian got Blazey, Colt whistled for her, and she scrambled off Ian's lap and up to Colt, Ian pretended to be scandalized by her treachery.

--Blazey is also the best hot-water bottle for a cold night. Colt's friendship has absolutely nothing to do with the fact centaurs sleep in, essentially, nice stables.

--You think you need a haircut? Poor Colt’s tail got long enough to tangle with his back legs when he galloped five weeks in. While centaurs can wash and brush their tails easily, they are not quite flexible enough to cut them.

--The Manticore's Tavern is tragically understaffed for courtyard delivery; Barley pulls a shift now and again between his usual job and classes and the Manticore is unbelievably grateful.

--This boy can move orders like all-get-out, double the tip jar in three hours, and still spend most of his time on his phone or messing with Quest of Yore cards.

--Laurel and Barley pick up groceries and essentials weekly, but are notorious for forgetting that One Thing. Or two. Or five. Or vaguely remembering the list and happily checking out with a cart full of fruit juice and snack packs.

--The last few days before the next shopping trip inevitably become slapdash cooking competitions between two or three people at a time (or, if it’s really unsuccessful, pizza nights).

--Everything Laurel makes has a smiley face on it. Waffles? Sunny-side up. PB&J? Happiest meal of the day. Salmon piccata? Smiley face, comes with a note reminding you to do your best and show someone your friendly smile if she’s working on autopilot.

--Ian always attempts something elaborate, and it ends up as A) a decent four-star meal or B) fire.

--Barley’s entries always slap. You give him an egg, a pack of bacon, and half a box of spaghetti and he comes back with pasta carbonara. Nobody knows how he does it (there’s a rumor going around that he just throws it away and MordorDashes something when nobody is looking), but he does work with what he have and has a few sneaky cooking tricks.

--Every one of Colt’s entries is some form of queso griffin skillet, and there’s always way too much of it. He has a near-perfect record of wins by unanimous vote and Colt’s entries are lowkey anticipated all week.

--Near-perfect means he lost, once.....to the time Laurel and Barley teamed up to make a better queso griffin skillet.

--There wasn’t even any actual queso in the house, good lord. 

--The boys stay quiet and inside for one (1) day and it's because they were building a LEGO castle.

--At some point Laurel changes into pyjama pants in the middle of the day. Ian asks her about it ("Mom, shouldn't you, uh, be wearing pants?") and she counters with "Why?"

--Ian leaves and comes back in pyjama pants.

--Colt has some kind of squad groupchat which he checks for a minute once in a blue moon. (There are few calls to go on, so it’s mostly, “My girlfriend’s kids liberated my hair clips and are serving a three-minute house arrest.” or “The eldest just put peanut butter on scrambled eggs, now that’s a crime.”) 

--Long story short, someone offers a giant roll of butcher paper and even as he trots over to pick it up, Colt knows it’s the worst decision he’s ever made.

--It is.

--Ian and Barley get super excited when they first see it and spend days drawing or playing games on it in table-length sheets. 

--Laurel gets tired of scooting past them every time she tosses something in the overflowing recycling, so she tapes them up like wallpaper with gold stars and compliments .

--Ian gets embarrassed when he first sees them, but Barley takes five seconds to pull a turnaround power move and start making a big deal about his stickers, especially in comparison to Ian’s.

--”Dearest mother! As you see here, Iandore has earned a green star for his magnificent drawing of a hippogriff--”

--”That was a hippogriff? I thought it was Mr. Nakamura, from the dry-cleaner’s. He loved it on FaeBook, even has it printed out and framed in his apartment!”

--”Ian has earned a green star for his magnificent drawing of Mr. Nakamura, but my, very similar picture of a pegasus has been acknowledged with but an orange star. Orange is the colour of defeat.”

--Absolutely, they would do faerie lights and bunnies in windows.

--Barley unsuccessfully proposes that fencing, ultimate frisbee, and archery are socially distanced sports (until you hit someone, that is), but he and Ian are kings of geocaching.

--Ian is content to read or draw by himself, but Barley is always a fairly affectionate person. He got a minor cold at some point and had a six-foot yardstick propped up in his bedroom just to lightly smack Barley with when he got too close.

--Ian reads the entirety of that one really long fantasy series (yes, that one, with the dragons) and soon becomes more or less illiterate.

--Too many conversations have opened walking in on Barley throwing sticky hands at the walls (yes, like Alex Hirsch) and asking, “Can I have some?”

--Colt is about six feet long and is infamous for asking in full Cop Manner whether people who won’t wear masks or want to see managers are “having a problem.”

--Laurel manages just to keep her sanity mostly because she is always down for a pillow fight.

[thedenimdentist]

Flame Panda: worth the hype?

Introduction

For those of you who are pretty invested in handmade, hand welted, MTM boots, Flame Panda needs no introduction. In fact, if you aren’t already familiar with this small boot making family out of a small village in China, then maybe you aren’t actually the boot enthusiast you believe yourself to be. lol just kidding. But really, for anyone interested in high quality, beautifully built boots, Flame Panda is a brand worth looking into. Their main source of advertising and business is through their instagram @flamepanda11, which is run by their Peng. They're still a relatively small family owned business, but they’re following is growing exponentially (and for good reason). 

I would go more into the background of their business and what they have to offer, but nothing I could write would compare to the information covered by Jake @almostvintagestyle on his blog: his review of his beautiful chunky monkey boots and an interview with Peng himself. So, if you’d like more background information on what Peng and Flame Panda have to offer, head over to his blog. Otherwise, on with the unboxing/review!

Ordering Process

As with most boot brands out of Asia lately, Flame Panda boots can be ordered via DM through his Instagram @flamepanda11. Unfortunately, there is no website or catalog listing all the patterns, leathers, or customization options he has available. Luckily Peng is very helpful and open to discussion regarding your MTO boots. He takes an active role in creating you the best boots possible, giving constructive input and suggestions rather than just mindlessly giving you whatever you ask for. Peng knows his materials and abilities best, and has a solid grasp on how to combine the two to create a quality product that meets both yours and his satisfaction.

The following are the exact details I requested regarding these black boots:

Model: 6 inch boots

Last: 181 last

Upper leather: black Maryam horsebutt

Upper stitching: black

Hardware: 5 copper eyelets, 2 quick hooks, 1 eyelet

Toe design: brogued cap toe, unstructured

Welt construction: 270° 2 row stitchdown (beige)

Lining: kangaroo

Midsole: single leather midsole

Edge finish: natural edge

Sole: black Dr. Sole half sole/heel

Heel design: incline curved

Sizing

For those of you who haven’t read my reviews before, my feet are stricken with large bunions on the pinky sides of my feet. As a result, picking shoe sizes have always been extremely difficult. (See my previous reviews for details). Below I’ve listed my sizes for all the other boot brands I own.

Thursdays - 10.5

Onderhoud - 45E

Benzein - 45E

Red Wing, Iron Ranger - 9.5EE

Truman Boot Company - 11EE

Viberg (1035 last) - 10.5

In trying to determine what size I would be in his boots, I sent Peng all the following images/information:

As many helpful measurements I could think, with images of how I took those measurements.

I also informed him that I wear this thick, memory foam orthotic in all my footwear.

And lastly, I provided him with a photo and the dimensions of the removable insole of another pair of boots that fit perfectly (in this case, my Onderhoud derbies). I also took photo of how my orthotic relates to these insoles, as well as a photo with my ugly foot. (TMI? Possibly. But I’d rather provide too much information than not enough, and it definitely paid off.)

Now that I think about it, I don't even know what size Peng ended up making for me. Regardless, these boots ended up fitting perfectly. This goes to show that Peng really knows what he’s doing, and can size you appropriately if given enough information. 

Price & Shipping

For this particular boot in black Maryam horsebutt, Peng charged $685 USD including global shipping. I purchased these boots on 6/29/2020, and was quoted an unusually specific 95 day wait time. However, I didn't end up receiving these until 12/29/2020. While this is significantly longer than expected, Peng kept me up to date in his progress via Instagram DMs, so I never felt forgotten. (He told me that he and his family were moving locations during this time and production was running behind schedule. I didn’t mind, as I COVID was keeping me home majority of the time and didn’t have any reason to wear these boots anyway.) These days, I believe his wait time is closer to six months (which still really isn’t too bad for MTM boots).

Unboxing

Securely packaged, with tape as no object.

A box inside a box. A nice touch, actually. A lot of other boot companies simply ship the single boot box wrapped in butcher paper and tape, which often results in some minor box damage. In this case, the outer protective box took all the beating during transit, leaving the actual boot box in pristine condition. While this doesn’t have any affect on the quality of the boots themselves, it’s a good demonstration of the care and thought that Peng puts into all aspects of his products. He really holds himself to a higher standard, and I appreciate it.

Another reason to love Peng. He typically includes a small gift with every boot order! In this case, this nice little wallet. 

In addition to the complementary thinner, cheaper single boot bags that most boot companies provide, Peng also included a larger canvas drawstring boot bag with a screen printed logo.

These boots came with three sets of laces. They were pre-laced with some standard width, flat, waxed cotton laces. Included in the box were two additional sets of laces: a pair of wider flat waxed cotton laces, and some round waxed cotton laces. 

360 Degree View

Left boot:

Right boot:

Sole:

The Leather

The black Maryam horsebutt Peng used on these boots is absolutely gorgeous. The leather feels very substantial and hefty, and has a very nice sheen. The horsebutt also has a very subtle marbling and grain that shines through from certain angles. It’s a little difficult to capture in photos due to the deep black coloring of the leather, but you can take my word for it. These are incredible.

From what I’ve seen, I believe Peng is one of the best in the business when it comes to hide selection and clicking. He is extremely picky when determining what portions of each hide he actually uses on his boots. For instance, here is an example of him picking apart a hide, circling all the imperfections that he plans on excluding during clicking for boots.

This critical eye for detail increases Peng’s overhead considerably, as a significant portion of his leather is filtered out as unusable and unfit for boots. While this does increase the cost of his boots relative to other smaller boot brands coming out of Asia, it is also a big reason why the leather on his boots consistently break in and age so well. I have yet to see a pair of Flame Panda boots that have any unsightly creasing or loose grain, and I’m sure my pair will be no exception.

The 181 Last

Here’s a closer look at the tope shape of the 181 last. It’s got a nice almond toe shape without going overboard with pointy-ness. The outer sweep of the toe box has a more gradual, soft curve than the Onderhoud last, and even more so the Benzein Kujang last. It’s a clean and strong shape, with more of a sophisticated vibe than your typical work boot.

Outsole

Nice and clean outsole stitching by hand, with no overly wonky stitches.

The Liner

I chose to have this pair fully lined with a warm brown kangaroo leather. This makes the upper feel even more robust and structured (especially noticeable around the ankle/shaft of the boot), and gives them a bit more of a luxurious feel when on foot. (Also, note the half gusseted tongue. I highly prefer gusseted tongues over the standard floppy tongue. I specified during my order that I wanted a gusseted tongue, so I’m not 100% sure this tongue would come standard. Might be worth asking when/if you do order a pair for yourself.)

The Brogued Cap Toe

This is my first boot with a brogued cap toe. While I still think I prefer plain toes on my boots, I do like how this brogued cap looks here.

270 Degree Stitchdown Construction

Peng is probably most known for his 360° storm + embedded eversion welt. However, it is on the chunkier side, and I felt it would take away from the clean, sleeker look of this boot. Thus, I opted for double row stitchdown construction, which I think turned out quite nicely.

Peng’s welt stitching is very tight, parallel, and uniform, with a higher stitch count. Esthetically, I think it looks pretty similar to the 270° veldschoen stitching on my derbies from @renavgoodsco (seen at the 12 o’clock position below).

12 o’clock: Renav 270° veldschoen

2 o’clock: Truman 270° stitchdown

4 o’clock: Ostmo boots 270° custom welt stitching

6 o’clock: Benzein 270° veldschoen

8 o’clock: Role Club 270° flat welt

10 o’clock: Onderhoud 270° veldschoen

Inclined Curved Heel

If you haven’t been able to tell already, these are not the inclined curved heels (aka woodsman heels) that I had initially requested. While this is a pretty significant misstep on Peng’s end, I actually don’t mind too much. For low block heels, these appear to have been executed very cleanly, and it does complement the rest of the boot pattern quite nicely. If I had been dead set on having woodsman heels on these boots, I could see this being more of a dealbreaker. 

Upper Stitching

Overall, the stitching on the upper is clean and tight, with a very uniform stitch count. There are a few spots where there are a few mis-stitches, which I will point out later. For now, here are a few macro shots to appreciate Peng’s stitch work.

One area on the upper where the stitching isn’t exactly perfect is along the left cap toe. As you can see below, there is one spot in the broguing pattern where it gets a little too close to the double row of stitches, and the thread actually tore into the brogue hole. Functional issue? No. But just something small I noticed.

A second spot that might be considered less than perfect is this stitching on the right boot, where the quarters meet the vamp. It looks like there may be an extra stitch in the vertical line extending beyond the horizontal stitch. This is seen on both the inside and outside quarters, and only on the right boot. (I included a pic of the stitching on the left boot a few photos back, where you can see the stitch lines come to a perfect T.) Again, this is being extremely nit-picky, and has no real bearing on the durability or quality of the boot itself.

A third and possibly the (relatively) biggest stitching imperfection was this loose thread on the front corner of the inside right quarter. It appears as though the end of the thread came out of the stitch hole. I later trimmed the loose thread and singed it with a lighter to prevent it from progressing, but there is still an empty stitch hole in the leather where the thread once was.

While we’re on the topic of imperfections, there is also a little bit of what appears to be black polish smeared along the brown welt of the right boot. Not a big issue, nor is it even a stitching or construction issue. Again, just thought I’d point it out to be thorough.

On Foot

First off, I would just like to praise Peng for absolutely nailing the fit of these boots. My feet are ugly and stupid, and sizing any footwear has always been a nightmare. However, using just the measurements and information I provided above (since getting measured in person was not an option), he still managed to build a perfectly fitting boot for my imperfectly shaped feet. I’ve worn them a few times now, and I’ve had zero pain whatsoever.

That being said, these boots are by far some of the stiffest boots I’ve ever worn—in a good way. I can tell these will require a good amount of wear to really break them in and have them relax and shape to my foot, but I’m looking forward to it. (Note, I’m in no way saying that this extended break in period will be at all painful; rather, just that it’ll take some time for the upper leather and sole to soften up.) These boots feel like tanks, and lacing these up make my feet feel invincible. I felt like Steph Curry wearing double ankle braces when I first tried walking in these, but the shafts are slowly starting to break in and roll with wear. The soles were also initially very rigid (like I was walking on planks of wood), but are beginning to flex more as I continue to wear these. Also note that I had these built on single leather midsoles! I can’t even imagine how stiff these would be if they had 1.5 or double layer midsoles (which are a quite popular request, from what I’ve seen on Peng’s Instagram).

Conclusions

I know it’s still early, but I can confidently say that these Flame Panda boots are one of the highest quality boots in my collection. They are definitely the most robust, and despite a few minor finishing issues, the level of cleanliness and finishing by Peng and his family is unmatched by the majority of boot makers worldwide (at least from what I’ve seen on Instagram). Other than maybe Goto-San of White Kloud (@show_goto), Peng is one of the best at not only sourcing beautiful leathers, but clicking as well. I have yet to see a pair of his boots with any unsightly creasing or grain, which gives me the confidence to recommend him to anyone who may be interested in purchasing a pair of these, or any of his other boot patterns. 

I apologize if this has started to sound like a sponsored or endorsed advertisement, but I genuinely love these boots, and I believe Peng is a great dude who deserves the recognition he has been receiving lately. He is super generous and genuine, easy to talk to (albeit sometimes slow to respond, with the sheer volume of DMs he now receives), and is constantly striving to improve his materials and skills. And with a personality and passion like that, how could anyone not want to support him? These may have been my first pair of Flame Pandas, but they definitely aren't the last. (In fact, they’re already not. lol)

Anyway, hit me up via Instagram if you have any questions about Peng, Flame Panda, or anything else denim/boots related. Also, follow along over there to see how these stunning black Maryam horsebutt boots age with wear. I’m excited to see how they break in, and so should you. Ttfn!

[neocityfics]

2096: Zodiac

Chapter: Chapter 2 < ❝  Chapter 3 ❞  > Chapter 4

➥ Chapter List

Genre: Cyberpunk inspired, mafia, not-so dystopian, angst, slow-burn

Pairing: Doctor! Taeyong x Reader

Warnings: Violence, stalking (last part)

Note: This chapter is mostly for getting to know Taeyong and a little bit more about the Zodiacs. Next chapter will be a lot more action packed! I’m also starting a new college term, so updates may or may not be shorter, depending on how classes go. I hope you enjoy!

⠀

⠀

▶ Ambience

⠀

9am again on Monday morning, the usual routine and the usual walk, but thankfully alongside Lucas this time. Though not as bustling as it is on Friday nights, the clinic is up on its feet, ready to take in an influx of patients. First thing in the morning after clocking in for the shift and prepping some equipment for the nurses, I check to see where Taeyong might be hanging around. Lo and behold, he’s already been moving hurriedly between wings tending to patients who have been admitted overnight, many for burn wounds from a big fire in one of the cell phone stores at the other side of the building. Nurses in low voices chat about what happened, though I don’t feel the desire to butt in and join the conversations. The weekend was tiresome, and I didn’t want to start my week with more exhausting things than I needed to. For a moment, Taeyong eyes me while preparing a syringe with a pale yellow liquid. It’s justifiable that I can’t look at him the same at work, right? He’s got my best friend and me wrapped around his finger. I tell myself to try to be professional at work, but the icky feelings pop up whenever I see or think about him. That split second of eye contact sends me away, walking over to the receptionist’s desk to ask for more duties until I feel a tug at my scrub. “Dr. Taeyong wants us in Meeting Room 3 in half an hour,” Lucas starts. The serious expression on his face turns into a grand smile as he says, “and he’s got donuts! The really fancy brand from uptown apparently.” I breathe out a long sigh, though a donut sounds good to my stomach right now which is close to empty. My typical breakfast consists of an apple or orange and no more than that. As if on cue, the lions in my stomach grumble. Nodding my head as confirmation, he and I swiftly work on spraying the rooms with a quat disinfectant and wiping down surfaces. 

Time’s up, I say to myself looking at the chunky clock fixed on the wall behind the front desk. Lucas and I give each other a fist bump and start towards the meeting room. When we arrive, the door is ajar and the two of us slip inside. As Taeyong promised Lucas, on the table lies a box of donuts intricately designed with fancy yet hard-to-read lettering. Taeyong sits across from us, hunched over a few documents, a small case to his left. “Close the door, please,” he asks and beckons us to sit down. Lucas gives me a reassuring look, closing the door behind us and guides us to our seats. Without another thought, he grabs two donuts, one for himself and one for me. He remembers my favorite flavor, and I happily accept it. “Glad to see you’re enjoying the donuts. Now that the three of us are here, let me show you this.” Taeyong rests his chin in his palm, the other hand sliding a document over to our side of the table. Lucas and I lean over  to see the tiny print on the paper. It seems to be a list of tools I recognize instantly. Medical equipment? Scalpel. Vital sign monitor. Centrifuge. Why does he need a centrifuge? Twenty items. I wonder what he’s scheming. Taeyong laughs and I shoot him a glare. I look at Lucas and realize that he and I just gave the same face. “Anyways,” he clears his throat, “I need you two to find all of these things by the end of today. But here’s the catch. You cannot gather them all up at once. Space it out, leave it in my office behind my desk.” He peers over our shoulders as if to check nobody would hear his next words. “If you do that, suspicion will be raised. Remember, this is a tiny clinic and we don’t have much.” Then why steal stuff if it’s important to keep up with the patients? This plan doesn’t make sense to me, but it appears I have to comply.

“So you’re saying that I,” I pause to look at Lucas and correct myself, “we have to go on a scavenger hunt throughout the day, on top of our already tiring work?” A loud scoff escapes my mouth, maybe louder than I thought since Lucas nudged me. But I don’t care, I will air out my opinions. “I’m just a messenger. Why can’t you do this yourself? Plus Lucas shouldn’t have to do it since you’re literally experimenting on him.” Crossing my arms and leaning more forward, I stare down Taeyong who seems to shrink away.

“I know I’m asking for you two to do more than you probably bargained for. But you realize… I’m one of the very few licensed practitioners, right? Most of the others are merely college degree holders.” Those words sting as they remind me that I haven’t finished, same with Lucas whose shoulders I noticed droop at his statement. “Plus, if I do this by myself, the potential for suspicion raises. I need you two.” I rub at my forehead. He makes valid points, annoyingly. Now isn’t the time to be selfish, especially with Lucas and a possible promotion at stake. Looking at it from a broader perspective, I’d be putting my own feelings over the clinic’s as well as patients’ well-being. I’m not going to let those emotions rule over me. Taking Taeyong away from his work here would make others suffer, a scenario that would only lead downhill into chaos.

Lucas finally chimes in, “We’ll get it done! Won’t we?” He looks at me with those damned puppy eyes he does whenever he wants me to be nicer. After an eye roll and a light punch to his shoulder, I agree to take on the mission. Lucas gives me a reassuring pat on the shoulder and pushes himself off the chair. “We should get started.” He stuffs his mouth with another donut and grabs another one of my favorites and urges me to get up. “Let’s make this into a competition!” he excitedly suggests. I don’t think I can turn down a good opportunity to play games, especially since shifts feel so long and tedious. I nod, looking at Taeyong to see if anything else needed to be said. The doctor simply readjusts the glasses on his face and shoos us away. Lucas and I turn and leave the room.

As we leave through the door, I slightly turn to him with a hushed “Also,” I whisper over to Lucas who’s already in a giggle fit, “you’re going down!” With that, we tend to our duties for the day, grabbing things on the way out of rooms we work in, and putting them in the designated area for Taeyong to collect. We keep a mental tally throughout the day, and I’m winning-- or so I thought. Lucas ends up winning the scavenger hunt, finding eleven items. I found nine. The prize? The rest of the donuts at the end of shift, which is a bummer. Though Taeyong, Lucas, and I are heading over to Electric Egg, my stomach growled embarrassingly loud while Lucas snacked on the extra fancy donuts. Shifts at Pearl Park drain you, but they always made trips to Electric Egg much more rewarding.

⠀

▶ Ambience

⠀

We arrive where Sicheng diligently works away at the grill, skewering bits of chicken onto kabob sticks while flames wildly dance beneath the assortment of meats. After Lucas and I hop out of the car, Taeyong drives it down a street to park, uneasy about where the food stalls are for fear of getting hijacked. Three of us place our orders, and Sicheng makes his own food to accompany us for a chat. Now a party of four, we sit at a round table and Lucas introduces Taeyong. “This is Dr. Lee, he’s the coolest doctor at Pearl Park! Smart and handsome guy,” he says, his elbow playfully nudging Taeyong’s arm. The doctor simply sits there and inhales his food, a sight I did not expect from him. But he must be hungry, having the top practicing position in the clinic. Thinking about the things he has seen working there must be nauseating at times, though he’s probably used to it. Sicheng nods, introduces himself as the Electric Egg man, ‘Eggman’ for short, and holds out his hand for the doctor to shake, maybe too unabashedly as the neon lights hovering over us highlight the shiny grease on Sicheng’s hand. Taeyong, who notices the slimy-looking texture, pinches his pointer finger and thumb around one of Sicheng’s fingers. They shake, timidly, and Sicheng lets out a laugh while Lucas hands Taeyong a napkin. The doctor roughly wipes the food oils off his hand. For whatever nostalgia I’m experiencing, this moment feels nice. Two friends, an acquaintance (or boss, whatever he may think I call him), and myself. Right now it feels… normal. 

Right after introductions, Sicheng boasts, “By the way, I stole this from a butcher’s shop, don’t tell anyone. It’s premium meat!” Lucas exaggerates a gasp which earns soft laughs from the rest of the table. Taeyong jokingly scolds Sicheng for stealing, though it doesn’t seem he’s totally against it. After all, we live and breathe in Neostone, a hot spot for crime. He shifts in his seat, checks his phone, and the screen turns off in a split second. Repeatedly poking my shoulder, he explains that he’s about to work a graveyard shift.

“Rent’s due at the end of this week, so I’m picking up an extra shift,” he says while he collects his coat. Paying rent at our micro-apartment complex has always been a rough rollercoaster. Some months are easier than others, and it’s getting harder especially with more acid rainfall than usual. Damage to buildings requires higher rent. I nod and tug at Sicheng’s sleeve to let him know of Lucas’s sudden departure. He notices and gets up to grab a container for the remainder of Lucas’s food. I help pack up some of the food while Taeyong also starts to put on his jacket. Lucas and Sicheng exchange goodbyes and Lucas takes off for the clinic. That leaves Taeyong and I next to thank Sicheng for the food, shaking hands as we leave. He deeply bows and goes back to the other customers.

Stopping outside of his car, Taeyong turns to me. “Thanks for taking me here, the food’s really good. Sicheng is pretty cool, too.” He softly smiles, my own lips reciprocating. It came as a bit of a shock hearing those words when I’ve gotten accustomed to his usual harsh tone. I’m glad he’s comfortable around Sicheng. Despite the low chance of them ever interacting further than meals at Electric Egg, it’s good to know he probably won’t involve Sicheng in our state of affairs. Plus, it must’ve been exhausting having to work, work, work all day. Living alone, too, and getting to know other people outside of the clinic bubble might be good for him, though I’m not one to dictate what and who he’s comfortable with. I still am wary of his behavior and intentions, but… I think it might be okay. He seems more warmed up than when we first met. Taeyong opens the door for me to slip into the passenger seat. He takes the wheel on the other side and drives us to his apartment where our plans will be sorted out.

⠀

▶ Ambience

⠀

Taeyong and I trudge up the stairs, lugging boxes of the equipment we gathered from the clinic earlier. Upon reaching the apartment, he sets down his boxes and unlocks the door, pushing through to the interior. The very few times I’ve visited here, there’s such a stark difference between his place and the world surrounding it. Warm, inviting, cozy, luxurious. Not like the cold streets or the dingy micro-apartments, a neverendless blanket of smog and musky smells weighing down on the mega city. But here, it felt like home, the one I used to have, and all the comforts that came with it. Taeyong gently tugs my sleeve to pull me  in, taking off a few of the smaller boxes off my stack I’ve been carrying. I utter a low ‘thanks’ before placing the equipment in the room where I first discovered his whole operation on Lucas. Since we’re alone and Lucas isn’t here to stop me from running my mouth, I decided it’s time to get to know Taeyong better. There’s no deadline, no timeframe, no plan provided, so if I have to continue this messenger job under him for a long time, I might as well get to understand him better. For future references. Taeyong plops down on the sofa. “Make yourself at home. You’ll be here a lot from now on, anyways.”

I comply, making myself comfortable on a plush chair adjacent to his seat. He seems tired out, but I decide to press on. “Doc— Sorry. Taeyong, since we’re working together, I feel like we should know the basics about each other. Where we came from, what life was like before 2094, why he’s a doctor, why I’m stuck at the clinic, stuff like that,” I pause, examining any signs from his face. But he’s blank-faced. He points a finger at me, insinuating that I go first. Well, it’s not like I’ve kept my story a secret. Pretty much everyone I’ve become close to, including friends from the food stall street, knows everybody else’s life before all went to shit. Sharing our struggle stories is what makes us closer. Plus, despite being one of the twelve megacities, Neostone felt small, like being trapped in a bubble with no way out. “Me?” Taeyong simply nods, and I begin to tell him every detail, from growing up to college to now after the disaster. I tell him about Lucas and our friendship to which he responds with no words, but a soft expression. Even for someone who’s most likely weary from the day, he seems to listen intently. His elbows perch on his knees, his torso leaning forward and head tilting at different points of my story. When I run out of words, I gesture to him that it’s his turn to spill. A long sigh fills the space.

“You already, don’t you?” I raise a brow at his question, a heartbeat in my chest skipped. “The page of my information, you have it.” I shifted nervously, playing with the trim on one of the arms of the chair. “In any case, you are only aware of my achievements. But I was pushed a lot as a young child by my parents. I do love them, but my childhood felt restricted. From then on, I never sought out others. I either let them come to me, or I never talk to them. Ever.” A faint chortle follows a brief silence. “Though I have one close friend who sticks with me even to this day. Doyoung, you’ll meet him this week when the shipment arrives.” He must have a personal and trusting relationship with this person. I couldn’t imagine this Dr. Lee being anything but playfully mean and cold. Doyoung must be a good person. Taeyong proceeds further, “Oh, also, I was part of the S.O.G Project.”

“What the hell is S.O.G?”

“Special Operations for the Gifted. It was a series of supposedly non-invasive and supposedly safe trials where children who performed extremely well throughout their early education were put to the test. How far can you go without breaking the limits? Natural law?” He removes himself from the prior position and relaxes his back against the sofa cushions behind him. “Do you know why I’m part of the Dragon Zodiac?” The answer is not as evident as I shake my head in disbelief. “Each person in the Zodiac has gone through the S.O.G. Those of similar abilities banded together, and now we have the twelve Zodiacs. Dragons are those who are able to manipulate objects in one way or another. For me, metal manipulation.”

The pieces start to fall in together. That’s why his handiwork is so seamless. Should I be shocked? Taeyong is full of surprises, He speaks again, “There are hundreds of us in Zodiacs. Some children don’t even remember they went through S.O.G. Myself included. Doyoung, who was in mostly the same tests as me, recalls everything. It’s not fun to think about.” Questions run through my mind, but the pain in his face tells me to keep quiet. “These mutations plagued us even before 2094. I don’t know about the progress made or the research done, but the project was abandoned right before the disaster.” He detects the confusion on my face to which he brings up again that he knows nothing else about S.O.G. Another heavy sigh loads the room. “I’m sure you have questions.”

As sure as he is, I don’t want him to feel like he has to expose everything about himself to me. This already appears to be a lot for him, especially now that it’s late. But I do want to say something, though not centered on him. After a small pause to gather my voice, I ask about someone who’s close to him and seems to be comforting, “So what’s Doyoung’s special power? What’s he like? What Zodiac is he in?” Taeyong tilts his head, as if expecting me to ask more about him, but he smiles at the gesture.

“He’s a Rabbit, known for their hyperawareness. Their reflexes are out of the world and their attention to details make them very clever. Doyoung is a very calm and collected person, but is very lucky with getting what he wants. It’s annoying, really.” He rubs the back of his left hand with his right thumb. “But he’s helped me a lot through the S.O.G tests.” Listening to Taeyong talk about Doyoung makes me miss Lucas, though we have not been together for as long as the other two have. But it makes all the difference having someone, especially in your roughest patches and darkest of times. I think I can start to mostly trust Taeyong. Of course, I have to keep my guard up, but listening to him talk makes me feel a bit more at ease about us working together. Taeyong closes his eyes. The ticking of the clock becomes louder as it strikes eleven o’ clock. “Anything else you want to ask?”

It’s time to call it a night, I say to myself. But in that same thought, I remember the encounter with Jaehyun and decide to ask. It might be better to ask now rather than later, to avoid a potentially bigger mess. Johnny warned me not to get myself too involved with the man, but it’s scratching at the back of my head. “Well, do you know Jeong Jaehyun?”

Taeyong’s eyes widened in an instant, snapping his head from its resting position to look at me. “Jaehyun. He’s the leader of the Ox Zodiac. Why?” I gulp. This is serious then. “Was he at Club Zone? Please tell me you did not talk to him.”

My voice lowers to a wavering whisper, “Well… Just a little,” while I hold up to make my pointer and finger close together. Maybe it was more than just a little, but he doesn’t need to know all the details. Just that I met him. The look of concern on Taeyong grows.

“He’s dangerous. You should stay away from him as much as possible.” The uneasy feeling is back. That night is a bit fuzzy from the light drinking, the noise, the dancing, the whole atmosphere. If any information slipped that I shouldn’t have, or if he caught on with what I’m doing for Taeyong, it could mean big time. Taeyong rubs his temples, lowering his chin. “He’s a very important part of our operation.” He inhales sharply and lets the built up air back out the second after, “Jaehyun and I made a promise that if I can show him I can make a fully functional prototype, a.k.a Lucas, he will provide me more of his men. The Ox Zodiac is known for extremely enhanced strength. They’re brutes, not to be messed with.” My head starts to feel dizzy from the amount of information combined with the exhaustion from work. He continues, “He’s an assassin, but covers for himself by working in real estate. Jaehyun is the closest one could get to the top. He’s our only connection that can help, unfortunately.” To my shock, he seems very distressed at this topic. “Word spreads fast between the Zodiacs, and we can’t afford to lose Jaehyun. You need to be careful when you’re doing your messenger duties. But remember, know your boundaries. You work for me, not him. Not the entire Dragon Zodiac either.” He accompanies his demanding tone with a pointer finger firmly pressed to the coffee table. Now, I understand the true gravity of the situation. I can’t risk Taeyong and the operation going under. I can’t be careless.

Speak of the devil.

My phone buzzes loudly in my pocket, lighting up through the fabric. With a vexed sigh, I pull it out and read the name flashing across the screen from the caller ID. Jeong Jaehyun. I take a peak at Taeyong who’s staring at me. “It’s him.” He simply tells me to pick up.

“Let me know what he says.” I nod. Hesitantly, I press the accept button.

“Missed me?” Jaehyun’s voice pierces through the line.

“Jaehyun. Why are you calling me so late at night?”

“So there’s a mansion party, and I have admissions for two. But as of right now, I’m going solo. I was wondering if you’d be able to come with me. It’s a really important event for real estate agents and upper class entrepreneurs.”

I quietly relay the information to Taeyong, the phone pressed against my chest to prevent Jaehyun from hearing. Taeyong rubs a finger to his chin in deep thought. “Are you okay with going? I know I said to stay away, but this is a good opportunity for us to make more connections.” I nod, but a little frazzled at the thought of being put in another uncomfortable situation. Isn’t my job simply to send information back and forth between him and other Zodiac members?

I breathe in deeply. “What time and where?” Jaehyun the describes the location, making it seem very grandeur and huge. This Saturday at 7pm. My stomach starts to hurt again from the nervousness. He says it’s formal attire, but will have something for me upon picking me up. Taeyong paces back and forth across the room. I note all the information in my head, making myself more dizzy than I already am. What makes me freeze is Jaehyun’s next query.

“Are you with Taeyong right now?”

I stood there, Taeyong and I keeping each other’s stare.

“No. Why?”

“You’re lying.”

“How do you know? I’m by myself at home.”

“I see you with him. How’s the brown sofa? Comfy right? And that green coffee table looks exquisite. It looks like it’s from that expensive brand, what’s it called... Boca Do Lobo?”

Jaehyun continues to taunt me, my eyes verifying that the coffee table indeed is from that brand, and then lowering to the floor in perplexity. Taeyong immediately springs into action. He closes the blinds and curtains and ensures all doors are shut tight. He’s locking down the apartment.

“I have my eyes on you. I’ll come pick you up on Saturday at 5PM to get ready for the party. See you soon,” he sings into the call, ending it before I could get another word out.

The blonde-headed doctor and I both have widened eyes at what just happened. My voice croaks out of fear, “How can he see us?” Taeyong presses a palm to his forehead and pushes his hair back, revealing small sweat droplets.

“I don’t know. But you can’t go home. He might follow you and find out about Lucas and take him for himself. You need to stay here.” His tone drops low and gentle as if to not wake up his neighbors in the rooms next to his. There’s no other way, and I obviously don’t want Lucas to be snatched. Taeyong, seeing that I’m visibly shaken and overloaded with information, pulls me into a hug which surprises me. At first, the wariness from the phone call heightened, but this silent embrace makes me feel a bit more relaxed. I trust that Taeyong won’t let Jaehyun hurt me, so I think staying here will be the best option.

“Okay. I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Camping here. This is your apartment.”

“But your safety is most important, I still need you for this project.” Though the reminder that I’m bound to this chaos hurts, I let loose the remaining tenseness in my body. I’m falling asleep in the warmth that radiates from his hug. My head is heavy. My eyes are closing. I feel myself being lifted up. Taeyong’s voice is merely a murmur. “I’ll put you in the guest bedroom. Rest up well.” The plush sheets underneath me feel like I’m laying on a cloud, my hands automatically circling the softness and gaining some sort of consolation. I can no longer string coherent thoughts. Taeyong pulls a comforter up to my chin, turns off the light, and leaves the door ajar. “Let me know if you need anything.”

I was not expecting such hospitality, but I’m damn grateful for it. The day has been a lot, and the rest of the week ahead will be nerve-wracking as Saturday will come closer and closer. There’s no way to avoid it now. I’m going to have to deal with Jaehyun again.

I wonder what Lucas is up to. I’d love to call him, but he’s still at his shift. I hope he comes home safely, unharmed, happy. The phone in my hand keeps slowly dropping, but I try to fight it to press on Lucas’s contact while my surroundings darken. But I didn’t get to press his name. I let the fatigue take over me, at least for now until the next day.

⠀

Jaehyun’s going to pay for this.

[theamericanparlor]

This Image Was Used As Propaganda To Drive The Colonies Closer To Rebellion ~

The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street, Boston on March 5th, 1770 by a party of the 29th Regiment

Hand-colored print based on engraving by Paul Revere, silversmith and messenger for  the Battle of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. Revere engraved the original depiction of the Boston Massacre within days of the attack, beating fellow engraver Henry Pelham by a few days. An inaccurate portrayal of the actual event, the image was used as propaganda to drive the colonies closer to rebellion. It features the Old State House in the background and portrays British soldiers deliberately attacking a peaceful, unarmed people, massacring them. A  sign above the Customs House reads “Butcher’s Hall”.

In reality, a crowd armed with rocks, clubs and snowballs, taunted and  jeered the British soldiers standing guard outside the Boston Customs House. Many of the soldiers were moonlighting as dock workers, further enhancing anti-British sentiment. More troops were called and the panicked soldiers fired into the crowd, killing three and wounding six others who eventually died. The first to fall was Crispus Attucks, a  former slave, who was both African American and Native American. He  escaped his owner around 1750 and went to Boston to work in the maritime trades. Attucks helped lead the mob to the Customs House. His name became widely known as the first hero of the American Revolution. He is buried in Boston’s Granary Burial Ground along with John Hancock, Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.

The  Boston Massacre, which followed years of unfair taxes and other forms  of British tyranny in the minds of many colonists, pushed the American colonies closer to revolution.                                          Paper.  L 25, W 19.4 cm  Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, ARHO 1675

[wellesleyunderground]

Wellesley Underground’s Holiday Guide to Wellesley-Owned Businesses: November 2019

The Good Supply / Image Credit: The Good Supply

Looking for your holiday gifts? Check out Wellesley Underground’s crowd-sourced list of Wellesley-owned businesses (updated for 2019)! Compiled by Hoi-Fei Mok ‘10, WU Managing Editor.

Pinterest Board of the Shops (incomplete)

Jewelry

Alumnati Jewelry by Stephanie Christie ‘00: Handmade Wellesley lamppost earrings

Ecru Collection by Kara Templeton '12: Jewelry, home decor, and stationery

Kindred Spirit Studios by Michelle Davis Petelinz '78: Jewelry, home decor

Lauren Wimmer Jewelry by Lauren Wimmer ‘98: Jewelry

Mala Shah Design by Mala Shah ‘98: Metalworks and Reiki-infused jewelry

Ready-Made by Jenn Meng ‘13: Materials-focused jewelry brand offering minimal, everyday pieces that are affordable, hypoallergenic, super strong, and tarnish-free.

Porcelain and Stone by Kimberly Huestis '05: Nautically inspired jewelry

Space Mermaid by Stephanie Carbone '93: Sky and sea inspired jewelry

Urban Witchcraft by Elena Gauvin ‘13: hand fabricated sterling silver gemstone jewelry with a gothic feel 

Wellesley Voices For Disability: Wellesley earring and necklace set, scarf and hat set, fountain pen, bookmark, keyboard covers and more. 

Art & Crafts

A Riot of Color by Susan Eiseman Levitin '85: Hand-dyed yarns

Achiaa Paper and Pen by Rebecca Amponsah ‘08: Handmade paper goods and lettering

Alyssa Sketch’d by Alyssa Torres ‘09: Original illustrations/art and jewelry

Art Without A Frame by Hoi-Fei Mok ‘10: Original illustrations/art from the Dragon Fruit Project, an oral history project of queer and trans Asian Pacific Islanders

Cardiology Cards by Tamar Zmora ‘11: Break up Cards

ChemKnits Creations by Rebecca Brown ‘06: Hand dyed yarns

Connie-Chen.com by Connie Chen ‘17: Calligraphy commissions, prints, bookish apparel, oblique holders, penmanship lessons 

DisaporicArts by Jenny Jean ‘13: Modern digital art prints

Fran Decker by Fran Decker '80: Original paintings, prints, tiles and notecards

Genevieve Calligraphy by Genevieve Goldleaf ‘12: Botanical illustrations and custom calligraphy

The Grey Fox Studio by Katherine Grey '08: Printmaking, drawing & painting

KT Obermanns by KT Obermanns '07: Illustrations, portraits, pinups, and caricature

Leslie Ordal Fibre Arts by Leslie Ordal ‘04: Handspun yarns, handwoven scarves, and other fibre arts. Lessons and workshops in the Toronto, Ontario, area.

Map Attic by Alex Azzi ‘15: Block-printed holiday cards, resin jewelry, vintage map crafts, ceramics, and abstract fluid paintings.

Misc Midwest by Marie Clymer Sarnacki '13: Wooden coasters and fridge magnets with a Wellesley design

Miyun Makes by Gena Hong ‘12: handmade pottery inspired by Korean traditions.

Monica Starr Creations by Monica Starr Feldman ‘14: Leather luggage tags, metal flower bouquets, embossed stationary, scarves, mason jar cozies, metal & wood working

My Big Pink Crafty Box by Sophia Giordano '09: Feminist crafts

Pick Two Pottery by Dana Lamb ‘99: Pottery

Singing Whale Stained Glass by Amy Putnam ‘90: Handmade stained glass art and shattered glass pins, plus chainmaille bracelets and earrings, including Wellesley inspired pieces.

Stephanie Hessler by Stephanie Hessler ‘84: Wellesley inspired prints, apparel, homewares

Tiny Small Joys by Alyssa Kayser-Hirsh '14: handmade books, calendars, notebooks, and planners

Wear I’ve Been by Samaa Ahmed ‘13: Art designs on throw pillows, prints, mugs, tote bags and more.

Kacie Lyn Martinez by Kacie Lyn Martinez ‘09: fiber artist who weaves tapestries and other fiber art 

Photography

Az Bulutlu by Eylul Dogruel ‘07: Skyscapes, travel and abstract photography, prints and merchandise.

JezRebelle by Jess Planos '10: Wellesley photos on prints, apparel, homewares

Meera Graham Photography by Meera Mohan ‘09: Nature Prints for Sale, Headshots & Candid Portraiture

Vero Kherian Photography by Veronique (Chau) Kherian ‘05: Professional Portraits and Headshot Photography in the SF Bay area  

Health & Skincare

Beautycounter by Jen Askin Pollock ‘99: Safer, high-performing products for the whole family

Box Naturals by Irene Kim ‘99: Luxe towelettes with organic essential oils

Cocofloss by Chrystle Cu '05: Flavored dental floss

EmmGerri by Karen and Kristi Jordan: Skincare lotion

Eu’Genia Shea by Naa-Sakle Akuete ‘08: Shea butter 

Just Botanicals by Sonya Funaro ‘00: Handcraft organic, ethically-sourced skincare  

Hubba Hubba by Megan (MJ) Pullins `94: The oldest alternative adult store in New England, stocking everything from corsets, club clothes, lingerie, and all sorts of sex toys.

Lioness by Liz Klinger: Smart vibrator

Maum Goods Co. by Helen (Tak) Kingery ‘01: Handmade essential oil products for wellness and balance

TATCHA Beauty by Victoria Tsai ‘00: Japanese based skincare products

Fashion and Apparel 

A Gifted Baby by Amelia Gray ‘03: Online boutique for babies and little people focussing on small and emerging designers, ethical production practices and women-owned labels. Alums are friends and family, use code “weloveyou20much” for the 20% f&f discount:).

Baby Blast Off by Emily Bennett: Baby clothes

Catie’s Natives by Jennifer Roesch ‘92: Shirts, hoodies, and accessories that show city pride. Developed and designed by Jennifer’s 10 year old daughter. Featured in Time Out NY. 10% of profits support Hartley House which provides social services to residents of Hell’s Kitchen, NY.

Charlotte and Asher by Laura Hahn ‘06: Fashionable diaper bags

Cliobags by Alejandra Zambrano: Handmade bags

Emma Finney by Kristin Bunce ‘00: Bags and clutches

Orange Soda Baby by Dorothy Hsiung '05: Whimsical children's clothing

The Outrage by Claire Schlemme ‘06: Feminist clothing and accessories with a portion of profits to women’s empowerment orgs.

Satya Twena by Satya Twena ‘05: Hats and millinery 

Stoptiques by Olga Vidisheva '07: Apparel and accessories

Wellesley Class of 1990: Purple W capes!  Made of durable material - great for wearing as a cape, using a picnic blanket, keeping your car seat clean, etc.

Wellesley Class of 2003: Wellesley lamp post shirts, baby apparel, and accessories

Wellesley Class of 2007: Wellesley apron (“We can stand the heat!”), baby and kids apparel

Wellesley Club of Columbus, OH: Wellesley insignia whistle

Swells Swag by Sarie Hale-Alper ‘04: Wellesley-themed designs on a variety of apparel and accessories.

Food & Care Packages

ChocolatesU by Amy Camargo ‘94: Chocolates

Ice Cream Jubilee by Victoria Lai ‘01: 6 ice cream pints, shipped nationwide

Montecarlos Estate by Carlota Batres ‘09: Coffee

Off The Beaten Path Food Tours by Lizzie Bell '03: Food tours in MA

Sky Vineyards by Skyla Olds ‘99: Wines

Sunny Exchange by Connie Su ‘09 and Jennifer Lim ‘06: Care packages

Takeout Kit by Rachael Blanchard Lake '07: Shelf-stable meal kit

Tranquil Tuesdays by Charlene Wang '03: Tea and teaware

Toys

My Muse Dolls by Torlisa Jeffery ‘06: Customizable dolls

Animal Care

Newbury Paws by Andrea Fowler '07: Harnesses for large dogs

Wellesley DC Club: Wellesley pet bowls

Domesticat: Rocío Garza Tisdell ‘07: modern-design cat furniture and accessories

Books & Zines

DefinitiveLeigh by Leigh Morrison '15: Feminist zines

Children’s photo books by Cristi Carlstead ‘01: Colors, alphabet and numbers from various countries around the world Romance Novels by Kate Broad ‘06, writing as Rebecca Brooks: sexy contemporary feminist romance

Jambo Book Club by Mijha Butcher Godfrey ‘98: Receive two-three age-appropriate children’s books each month that feature a child of color as the star. Jambo books show children of color in situations where children’s literature rarely places them - making friends, raising pets, loving grandparents and fighting dragons. The books arrive with a personalized letter in boxes beautifully decorated with art that celebrates the joy of childhood. We serve children aged 0-13.

General Home:

Domesticat by Rocío Garza Tisdell ‘07: posters, more products in development

TAIT Design Co. by Audrey Elkus ‘18: Toys + Homewares designed and assembled in Detroit and 100% made in USA. Minimalist, mid-century modern, built to last and make great gifts. Thanks for checking us out : )!

Professional Services

Abilities Dance: Boston-based physically-integrated dance company. Able to perform at holiday parties, fundraisers, and all types of events. Always willing to negotiate rates for W alums. 

Grace Astrology by Elisabeth Grace ‘83: Professionally certified astrologer; life strategist. Astrology is a powerful tool for understanding why you are the way you are; what you need in order to feel fulfilled and why things happen when they do. Improve your timing and your relationships. Based in New York -- available for parties, fundraisers, speaking/teaching engagements.  

Leslie Ordal: Writing and editing, with a specialty in medicine and science but other fields also welcome. Ad copy, journal manuscripts, etc.--my clients have ranged from Big Pharma to artisans to graduate students. Discount on my usual rate for W alums! Makefast Workshop (Maura Atwater ‘08): Prototyping consultancy; hardware, software, and musical instrument design.