#e.g. print it out and hang it on the wall

[patchwork-crow-writes]

Any myhouse.wad sywbolism thoughts?

Firstly, sorry it took so long to get back to you! This is my first ask and so I've spent the past few days printing it out, framing it and hanging it up on my wall :p

All joking aside, it rather depends on what you mean by symbolism, I guess. I've already made a post about what I believe the mod is about ("Possessed by Grief - an essay on MyHouse.pk3", in case you wanted to read it), and a couple of comments about some of its more supernatural aspects.

If you're referring to things like the artefacts/items, which are more clearly symbols present in the mod, then my take is that they're items that meant something to both Steve and Tom, not just in the romantic sense like the wedding band (and possibly the D20, depending on how you interpret its pickup text), but also in terms of stuff like their shared childhood together (e.g the colouring pencils and baseball), reconnecting as adults (wine bottle), certain traumatic events in their lives (the pill bottle, the baby bottle, perhaps?), and even just some silly in-joke type stuff (pumpkin rick, and perhaps the D20 again). The overall effect is that as we explore these locations and pick up these objects, we start to get a sense of what their relationship was built on, which helps to set us up for the ending(s). They're like pieces of an incomplete jigsaw puzzle, if you like, and it's the player's job to try and arrange them together to form an emotional narrative that compliments the supplementary media such as the journal and the obituaries (which at least one of those appears to be largely symbolic of grief rather than a genuine obituary - you'll know which one I mean if you've experienced the mod yourself.)

I guess this question could be taken a number of ways, but that's how I interpreted it, haha. I hope that was somewhat interesting and informative, but please feel free to ask any additional questions if you wanted me to share some thoughts on some other aspect of MyHouse :)

[tabitha-tree]

ymmv, but I've recently learned how to feel my way out. There's a bit of an art to it, and it takes some getting the hang of (like it's taken me 3 years, 2 and a half of which I was in therapy). So, one of the things she told me was about how intellectualising your feelings feels like you're processing them but actually you're not.

To me as a software guy it makes sense to conceptualise it as I'm putting the inputs (my feelings) through the wrong function (intellectualising) and it's returning an error (I'm still having feelings and now I'm beating myself up for not getting over it). So I had to write a different function that's something like:

Step 0: I make sure I'm in a safe place, sometimes I get someone to be there with me as well.

Step 1: what am I feeling? like what am I actually feeling? and this input type only accepts feelings. I have one of those wheels with the feelings words on printed out. e.g. one of today's feelings I was dealing with was "inadequate"

Step 2: feel it. This one's gotten a lot easier with practice, but unfortunately - at least for me - feelings really do demand to be felt. And I've found there's a difference between a feeling arising and properly sitting in it. And it's difficult to notice because I feel things very strongly so how could the emotional agony I'm in not be feeling it properly. Well, I don't understand it but I can usually tell it's working if I start feeling worse before I feel better (this is why we need step 0). Cause for some reason if I don't do this step and the next one properly, the feeling will just keep coming back.

Step 3: validate. I've gotten really good at doing this by myself, but I used to need someone else to do it. Often I still do need someone else to do it. Obviously specific to the situation but it usually goes something like "no, it makes sense that you feel like that. It's a really tough situation. I can see that this is very painful," etc

And then I don't know why but it usually starts fading away quite soon after that. As an example, the first time after therapy that I really really noticed it happen I was feeling so crushingly embarrassed about something I said at a work social, and not only that I felt disappointed in a couple of my colleagues for not backing me up. And I tried to logic it out for days and I still felt awful, it just hurt so much inside. And it wasn't until I was sat on the couch with my flatmate at the time complaining about the situation and I said "yeah I just feel embarrassed, like really really embarrassed that I got that social situation wrong" and I knew I'd been avoiding saying that or admitting it to myself cause I felt myself tear up a bit and he said something like "shit, yeah, that sounds awful, and feeling like the others didn't have your back must've hurt pretty bad too" and I said something like "yeah it really hurts" and then quite abruptly I felt it all start to drain away.

So yeah. Doesn't work all the time especially if I'm in a super bad brain space or I don't have any of my emotional support people around, but like just the other week I processed a rejection in fuckin record time like fully speed ran that one (although man sitting alone in a room staring at the wall and occasionally crying for an afternoon isn't the most exciting speedrun lol)

it’s so stupid that you can’t think your way out of the mental health trenches. like you can know exactly what is wrong, why it’s upsetting you, and you can walk yourself through all of it logically and Understand it but your brain just responds like

[flamingo-fabrics]

Elevate Your DIY Projects with Cat Print and Floral Print Fabrics

From the whimsical appeal of cat print fabric to the timeless elegance of floral print fabric, patterned textiles offer endless ways to express your creativity. In this blog, we’ll explore how to incorporate these eye-catching fabrics into your projects, why each print is unique, and tips for selecting the best materials for your creative endeavors.

Why Cat Print Fabric Stands Out

Cat print fabric is a favorite among animal lovers and anyone looking to add a playful, quirky touch to their projects. Available in various styles—from cartoonish cats to realistic images—cat prints are perfect for:

Fashion Accessories: Create tote bags, headbands, and scarves with cat designs for a fun, trendy look. These unique pieces make great gifts for cat enthusiasts, too.

Loungewear and Pajamas: Cat print fabric is a popular choice for comfy clothing items like pajamas, robes, and slippers that add personality to everyday wear.

Home Decor: Decorate your space with cat-themed pillows, throws, or even table runners for a cozy, whimsical atmosphere.

For projects that require durability, choose cotton or canvas. Soft fabrics like fleece or flannel are ideal for loungewear and blankets, adding a touch of comfort to your designs.

Creative Ideas for Using Cat Printed Fabric

With endless design options, cat printed fabric adds a unique charm to any project. Here are a few ideas:

Quilts: Cat print fabrics work well in patchwork quilts. Mix and match with other patterns or solid colors to create a cozy, eye-catching blanket.

Kid’s Decor: Cat prints make adorable additions to kids' rooms. Use them for pillowcases, wall hangings, or blankets to create a fun, themed space.

Pet Projects: From beds to blankets, cat print fabric can be used for pet accessories, adding a cute touch to items for your furry friends.

Cat printed fabric comes in various materials, with cotton and flannel being popular choices for their durability and comfort. For items requiring a bit more stretch, consider a fabric blend with spandex.

Floral Print Fabric: A Classic Choice for Elegance

Floral print fabric offers versatility and beauty, making it a staple in fashion and decor. Floral fabrics range from bold, colorful designs to delicate pastels, allowing you to find the perfect style for any aesthetic. Floral fabrics are popular for:

Clothing: Floral dresses, skirts, and blouses add a feminine touch and are especially popular in spring and summer. Opt for small florals for a delicate look or large, vibrant blooms for a bold statement.

Home Accents: Floral curtains, cushions, and tablecloths create a welcoming atmosphere in any room. Floral patterns bring a natural element indoors, perfect for living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens.

Craft Accessories: Floral print fabrics are ideal for bags, headbands, and scarves that add a timeless, stylish touch to any outfit.

Cotton and linen are top choices for clothing, offering breathability and comfort. For home decor, canvas and upholstery-weight fabrics are ideal, providing durability and structure.

Mixing Cat Print and Floral Print Fabrics for Unique Designs

For a creative and unexpected look, try combining cat print fabric with floral print fabric! This pairing creates a dynamic design perfect for fashion-forward items and eclectic home decor. Here’s how to mix and match:

Patchwork: Blend cat and floral prints in quilts, pillows, or table runners for an eye-catching design.

Dual-Patterned Clothing: Use cat prints for the main piece (e.g., a dress bodice or blouse) and accent with floral patterns on cuffs, collars, or pockets.

Layered Decor: Pair floral cushions with cat print blankets, or alternate patterns in curtains or wall hangings for a unique, lively space.

For a balanced look, choose one dominant print (large florals or a bold cat design) and one subtle print (small florals or a delicate cat pattern) in complementary colors.

Selecting the Best Fabric Type for Your Project

Each fabric type brings a different feel and durability to the project. Here’s a quick rundown of common fabrics:

Cotton: A versatile choice for clothing, home decor, and accessories. It’s lightweight, breathable, and easy to sew, making it ideal for most projects.

Canvas: Durable and sturdy, canvas is perfect for tote bags, upholstery, and items that require strength.

Flannel: Soft and cozy, flannel is great for blankets, pajamas, and pet accessories.

Linen: Lightweight and breathable, linen is perfect for clothing and summer projects, providing an airy feel.

Satin and Silk: Luxurious and smooth, these fabrics are ideal for floral prints on scarves, dresses, and special accessories.

When working with patterned fabrics, pre-wash cotton or linen to prevent shrinking. For items requiring extra durability, select a heavier fabric like canvas or a fabric blend that includes polyester.

Where to Find Cat and Floral Print Fabrics

Finding high-quality fabrics with unique designs is easier than ever. Online fabric stores provide a vast selection of patterns, materials, and styles, allowing you to find the perfect fit for your project. Many stores offer fabric samples, so you can test the texture and color before committing to a large purchase. Handmade marketplaces like Etsy also feature custom prints, giving you the opportunity to create one-of-a-kind items.

Conclusion Whether your project is fashion-forward, home decor, or a creative gift, cat print fabric, cat printed fabric, and floral print fabric allow you to craft something beautiful and personal. Experiment with mixing patterns, textures, and colors to create pieces that reflect your unique style. Embrace the possibilities, let your imagination run wild, and enjoy the process of bringing your vision to life with these charming fabrics!

[profit-parrot]

How To Infuse Your Space With Spring Vibes

With the arrival of spring, it’s time to put away the winter doldrums and liven up your living space. Whether you want to bring in nature-inspired decor, infuse your home with vibrant colors, or create a peaceful outdoor sanctuary, there are countless ways to welcome this season into your surroundings.

So, let's explore several practical tips, creative concepts, and inspiring ideas that can help transform your environment into an inviting and rejuvenating springtime haven. From refreshing indoor spaces to designing serene outdoor getaways with cottage core decor, let’s celebrate the beauty and energy of spring throughout every nook of our homes.

Ideas For Adding Spring Vibes To Your Home

Below are some innovative ideas for bringing the freshness of spring into your home:

1. Embrace Natural Elements

Bring in plants or flowers to add natural elements to your decor. Another idea is using botanical prints, which will give off the fresh and lively vibes of this time of year. Choose houseplants that thrive indoors and match your overall design scheme well.

2. Play With Color

Change up your color palette to reflect the bright colors of spring. Consider using pastels or soft greens, yellows, and pinks for a light, airy feel throughout the space. Bring these hues into throw pillows, area rugs, or wall art for an instant pop that will make you smile every time you walk by.

3. Lighten Up The Room

Remove heavy curtains or replace them with sheer fabrics that allow sunlight to flow easily through and let as much natural light as possible flood into each room. Strategic placement of mirrors can also help bounce light around, making any space feel brighter and larger during this season; try adding one across from a window so it reflects more sun inside during daylight hours. Additionally, installing warm-toned bulbs within new fixtures will also go far toward creating cozy atmospheres after dark.

4. Give Outdoor Spaces A Face Lift

When the weather is warm enough, turn your outdoor area into a personal sanctuary. Add comfortable seating options like chairs or benches with cushions that can withstand the elements, then layer on some brightly colored outdoor rugs for added warmth underfoot when sitting around enjoying meals al fresco. Tall potted plants make it feel more like an oasis, so consider placing them strategically throughout space if possible – just be sure they’re getting enough sun during day hours. String up some twinkling lights along fences or trees for extra ambiance during evenings out here.

5. Work In Seasonal Accents

Get festive with seasonal decor touches that celebrate springtime's arrival. Hang a decorative wreath on your front door to welcome guests and signal that this new phase of nature has begun blooming around us. If Easter falls within these months, don’t forget about eggs! Display them in exciting ways, such as grouping several inside clear glass containers or vases; you could also scatter individual ones across tabletops for added pops of color wherever needed most. Bunnies and butterflies are two other popular symbols associated with rebirth during these times, too, which means there are endless opportunities for incorporating both into different areas throughout the home.

6. Clear The Clutter

Take advantage of the fresh start feeling that comes with spring cleaning by going through each room systematically and removing any items no longer serving their purpose — this is also a great time to donate anything still in good condition but not needed elsewhere (e.g., clothes). Once everything left has been sorted out according to what belongs where based on frequency/usefulness etc. take a step back and assess visually how all looks overall now compared before tackling the clutter pile-up head-on! Streamline decorations to just those key pieces that enhance the overall atmosphere during a given season.

7. Bring In Fresh Scents

Invite people's senses to embrace the current time frame wholeheartedly even further via the utilization of various scents associated with it; fill the living room, kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms alike with floral citrus or herbal fragrances either through the use of scented candles, diffusers, pots, filled with dried mixed petals, peels, etcetera. This will make these areas more inviting and help bring the outdoors inside when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Consider choosing natural and eco-friendly options to ensure healthier indoor air quality throughout the year.

8. Add Textural Interest

If you are looking for an easy yet effective way to breathe life into any space this spring, consider incorporating different textures via fabric choices, such as linen cotton silk curtains and bedding upholstery pieces. Additionally, bringing touches of nature-inspired texture could be achieved by throwing woven baskets, rattan furniture items, and wood accents like picture frames, bookshelves, countertops, and more.

Establish a snug corner or niche as a relaxation station where you can rest and appreciate the peace of spring. Include an easy chair or chaise lounge, soft blankets, and cushiony pillows to make a calm and inviting area for reading, meditating, or relaxing.

10. Make It Yours

Make your spring decor personal by injecting some of yourself into it. Put out beloved pictures, artwork, or souvenirs that bring up happy memories and speak to your interests. Use what resonates with you — books you love, old things you find beautiful, or crafts you've made.

11. Celebrate The Season

Decorate for seasonal holidays to give your space a festive touch. Put out colorful eggs, spring flowers, and bunny-themed accents for Easter. Whether celebrating spring in general or specific events like gatherings or family happenings, use themed decor and make joyful arrangements!

12. Think Green

Think sustainable when decorating this spring! Opt for organic materials in furniture and other decorations; use recycled pieces if possible, too—even better yet, repurpose something altogether different. Try shopping local so that crafters from around town benefit while also being eco-friendly.

13. Be Flexible

Lastly, remain flexible about decisions regarding how things should look during this time of year regarding design elements such as colors used together, etc. Try various arrangements until you find one(s) that is most pleasing visually but also functional, given your lifestyle needs at any given point throughout this transitional period from winter into summer.

Finding the Best Spring Decor

Use these tips to find the best spring decor for your home:

Seek Inspiration: For ideas, look through magazines, websites, social media, and stores in your area that sell home accessories.

Identify Your Style: Determine what type of decorating style you prefer — modern, traditional, minimalist, etc. — and choose items accordingly.

Add A Personal Touch: If the other elements in the room make sense, add touches like photos or souvenirs from vacations; think about adding favorite books to the mix, too!

Choosing Superior Quality Spring Decor 

Selecting high-quality décor offers numerous benefits that enhance your overall decorating experience. High-quality decor items are crafted with durable materials, ensuring longevity and resilience against wear and tear. They often feature exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to your space. Superior-quality decor provides better functionality and performance, serving its intended purpose effectively. 

They also contribute to a more luxurious, polished aesthetic and elevate your home's look and feel. Investing in superior quality spring decor ensures that your decorations withstand the test of time, maintain their beauty, and enhance the ambiance of your space for years to come. By incorporating these tips and ideas into your spring decor, you can create a vibrant, rejuvenating, and welcoming atmosphere that reflects the spirit of this season! Let us embrace its beauty together by refreshing our living environments—cheers!!!

[aangussca]

Art Studio 1 Technical Group Lecture: Completion (19.2.24)

Lecture by Harry Klein

"So how does one know when an artwork is complete?"

While it does depend on the artist themselves, it's important to step back from the work and ask yourself "How do I feel about this?"

Another thing to ask yourself is "Have I taken artistic risks? Am I expanding your field and your capabilities? Or am I simply doing the same things as before - just with a different tune, theme, topic or coat of paint?"

Always be open to objective and constructive opinions, even if you may not be able to implement every single bit of feedback into the final work.

And please give yourself time (and a few options) for your work, as not everything is within your control.

"Now that we've finished the artwork, what about the installation?"

It's best to try out various layouts for drafting up your installation (you can make a digital proof-of-concept OR you can physically use a WIP or maquette within a test space).

Consider how and if the audience can navigate the installation space.

If there are windows in the space, please consider how certain lighting conditions can affect the display of the work and keep the interaction (reflections on framed works, sunlight on paper, etc.).

"What about logistics with transporting the final work to and from the exhibition space?"

Size/weight of the artwork

Size of the passages to the destination

Any possible obstacles to destination

Transportation options:

By-hand (with or without multiple people)

Mechanically (vehicle couriers, dollies, lifting aids, etc.))

Packaging/protection during transport

Transport by yourself or a third-party?

"What tools and materials may we need for installing?"

Important tools: 

Cordless drill 

Cordless driver

Hammer drill

Right type of drill bits

Tape Measure

Pencil

Spirit level (including a small level for placing on top of framed works)

Plumber’s bob

Hammer

Pliers

Ladder

D-rings (can be attached to paintings/prints but you can also find them on the back of TV screens)

Screws, nails and anchors

Installation materials: 

Wire: steel wires and nylon fishing lines

Hanging cables

Adjustable hooks

Wall tracks and clip-in hangers

Screws can vary depending on what wall you’re drilling into: Gyprock (Gyprock screws and wall mates), brick walls and plaster (wall plug and screws), plywood/MDF/particleboard (timber screws).

"What installation options are available for 2D artworks (paintings/prints, screens, etc.)?"

Best viewed at eye level

Standard height = 1.5m from the floor

To find centre height of 1.5m: (height of artwork / 2) + 1.5 = Top of artwork

"What installation options are available for 3D artworks (sculptures and other 3D works - some of these may work for 2D works too)?"

Plinth/shelf

Suspended from the ceiling

Attached to the wall

On the floor

Customised structure

"What should we consider for workplace health and safety when installing?"

Before the installation, it's important to complete a compulsory risk assessment - this can be done via consultation/s with technical officer/s, both in your discipline and/or supporting you throughout your project.

While installing:

Ladders should be adequately supported at the base. Do not erect ladders on slippery, uneven or soft surfaces. Get someone to help secure it while you’re working at the top of it.

When lifting heavy objects, consider your ability to handle the load and the properties of the load (light/heavy, unbalanced/stable, etc.).

Don't forget to wear respiratory protection masks when exposed to dust and fumes.

Be aware of trip hazards, such as extension cords.

Avoid overreaching, overstretching and suspending.

Don't leave any installation to the last minute.

"Do we need to document our installed work?"

Yes, it is invaluable to have photographic, video, etc. documentation of the finished installation.

Such documentation can be used for portfolios, commerce (e.g. selling and/or promoting your prints), applications/grants and other future opportunities.

It is important to set up a time to learn how to document your specific work (depending on its materiality) well in advance of the exhibition.

It is important to do both photographic and video documentation (as only the former will occur during the exhibitions).

"What steps are involved in de-installing the work after an exhibition?"

Removing artwork

Removing the fixtures (screws, nails, anchors, wires, etc.)

Spacking and filling in any holes in the wall

Sanding and painting over the 'spacking sites'

Cleaning up anything else in the exhibition space

Installation Exercise (with Harry Klein and Canbora Bayraktar)

Firstly, Harry taught us how to install a TV screen into a wall (eye-level, 1.5m off the ground). After measuring the horizontal and vertical distances and the distance between the TV's D-rings, we checked the spirit level to ensure that the position was level and drilled into the wall. While hanging the TV, we checked the spirit level again.

(Please note that power would be given to the TV via an extension cord or an electrical conduit if no plug is present in the room. Same applies to a projector.)

Afterwards, we learnt how to attach a fixture (unfortunately, I can't remember the specific name of it) to a projector, which will slide onto a structure (top row, left) above the ground.

IMPORTANT FOR YOUR OWN PROJECT SO KEEP THIS IN MIND PLEASE: Harry also mentioned a tool for playing your video on either screens or projectors without having to plug your computer in (you can also use it to play multiple videos if memory serves me correctly): Lupa network switches.

Canbora then explained different ways to hang sculptures and 2D works, one of which being a split batten system (pictured below).

While the top left picture isn't very high-quality, a split batten system involves two pieces of wood (one on the work and one on the wall), each cut at an angle so they interlock and stay in place (liquid nails may be used to attach one of those pieces to the artwork but do bare in mind that it takes up to two weeks to cure and is permanent once curing is finished).

[thewestern]

Chapter 13

Kitty really had to pee. (The line for the gender-agnostic bathroom ünit had stretched the length of four school buses.) Partway through the supposed performance — this rank obscenity, a mechanical minstrel — Dandy Jim’s petite lieutenant returned to fetch the Mick and his party. Escorting them back behind the brewhouse to Jaime’s private studio ünit, she assured them he would be along shortly. 

For about another thirty minutes they sat in wait. By which point Grace was fucking starving. The Mick was comfortable, compared to Grace and Kitty, but nonetheless on the brink of melting down completely. Zeke meanwhile was patiently hoping their hostess would soon return. They were seated all four in a row on an obtusely angular white pleather sofa that contorted each of their very differently sized and shaped bodies.

If this was Jaime’s office, it didn’t bear much resemblance to Hank’s. For the first, there weren’t much hanging from the walls, except that thing which was mounted quite precariously on above their heads; set against an ornately patterned wallpaper depicting a playbook of acrobatic sexual positions seemingly plagiarized from the Kama Sutra or some similar text. It was a blaring neon sign with a cursive quotation: 

Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. 

- The Notorious R.W.E 

Excuses are like poetry, Russ always said. They’re for pussies and nobody wants to hear them.

Across the room abutted the door frame, there stood a DIY bookcase, with shelving fashioned of salvaged skateboards, stocked with a small library of titles Kitty hadn’t heard of — Zero to One, Good to Great, Thinking Fast and Slow, Outliers, Team of Rivals, The Hard Thing About Building Hard Things, the Fountainhead, Let My People Go Surfing, Barbarian Days, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Meditations. And then one she did recognize but had not herself read — Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The wall itself was lined with green astroturf.

In place of a proper desk, there was what the Mick ascertained to have once been a door, based on the protruding knob, mail slot and door knocker. It was propped up on either side with neo-classical columns of imitation granite, and arranged lengthwise against the side wall beneath a large, trapezoidal makeup vanity. Hollywood style … you know … with the exposed light bulbs. (E.g. I’m ready for my closeup, Mr. Delano. That’s great, sweetheart. Look straight into the camera and tell the folks at home how old you are.) Behind the mirror, the wall was whiteboard, like the one Kitty used at her new school. (West Middle still had the dusty old chalkboards that probably hadn’t been replaced since well before bussing. For a fact, some years prior, a student had done a graffiti spanning the full length of the board, to commemorate the last day of school. However, since the janitorial staff had been dismissed for the summer, it would remain scrawled there until the following fall, by which point the chalk was burned into the dark green surface to an extent that it could not be completely erased. Kitty went on to teach in that very classroom, where she would be forced to write Newton’s Laws and other lessons atop the faded italicized wordmark of the band KISS, reproduced perfectly.) Somebody — Jaime, presumably — had drawn out various diagrams in the multi-coloured dry-erase markers — pie charts, histograms and line graphs, the latter all trending exponentially upwards. Then there were the chicken-scratched aphorisms Kitty couldn’t quite make out, except for the largest one that read, Gratitude Is My Superpower. The penmanship was poorer than her seventh-grade students. (From her previous gig. West Middle, that is. At SciTech, all assignments were to be completed on school-issued computer and submitted via email.)    

Opposite that wall was a floor-to-ceiling portrait. The artist could be quite readily identified by his vivid color palette and screen-print anti-aesthetic. But the subject, none of them could quite make out. It was a soldier from the looks of him. Or at least by way of the uniform. Dress blues. Because this officer on deck did not have the barracks-standard issue high-and-tight haircut. No, this here warrior-beat poet — no doubt a bon vivant par excellence — had the flowing blonde locks of a flower child, with the bushy handlebar mustache to match. Accessorized by his own dandy red handkerchief, tied daintily around his neck. 

The convergence of art and commercialism. Isn’t that what we’re all striving toward? 

It’s more like a barreling. 

Oh, come on. Take some pride. We’re part of a lineage. Walt Disney, Coco Chanel … fucking [snaps fingers three-x]  … this is going to drive me crazy … who else was I literally just thinking of? 

Dandy Jim had slinked in whilst their heads were turned toward the mural. 

I don’t know … Fucking Elvis. You tell me, Jimmy. You’re the Creative Director. I’m just a brewer. 

Almost more than the new first name, it was the roll call of titles that had stuck in the Mick’s craw.

Listen, I know it’s all a little esoteric … for the likes of you, anyway … but I don’t know … Brewmaster … it just sounded so … status quo. It’s So Good To See You, Michael, by the way. Y Kitty, mi amiga guapisima, te amo. Wow. Michael’s muse … the Brewery Girl, in the flesh. You look stunning. Seriously, girl, you haven’t aged a day. 

What an asshole thing to say to a woman in her late twenties, after not having seen her for only, like, less than two years. Whatever benefit of the doubt she was willing to afford Jaime was rapidly depleting with every Spanglish word he spoke. 

And who are these lovely folks? My sincerest apologies if we’ve already met. Jaime Delano. Welcome … seriously, welcome.

Something about the way Jaime said seriously. He gesticulated his hospitality by bowing at the neck and holding his hands together in self-observance. Where and when did he acquire all these mannerisms? 

Well, J, in point of fact, these are your replacements. Meet Grace and Zeke. 

The Mick wouldn’t normally feel compelled to speak on their behalf, but in this instance he was overcome by a protective instinct. Also, he wanted to remind Jimmy there had been a time, not so long ago actually, before he coronated himself King of Shit Mountain, here. 

Ohh … okayy. Very sick. You guys are learning from the best. And believe you me, being a Newfy alumni goes a long way in this industry, unless you’re Michael and you never leave …  I’m teasing. Genuinely, I feel so much gratitude for having the Newfy as part of my Founder Story. It seems like forever ago, doesn’t it? 

Only been about two years actually. 

Kitty couldn’t resist to reset the record.

Is that all? Time fucking flies. I mean, can you believe how much all this has grown? I’ve actually been meaning to get you guys over here for the full #eXperience. Couldn’t have picked a better night, amirite? So fire.  

Oh yea, fucking totally. So Was that how come you sicked your lawyer dogs on us then? So we’d come see your fireworks show?

By now, the Mick was hot-sweating mad at Jaime, who fanned the flames by pretending not to have the slightest clue why. 

Oh my goodness, y’all. I completely forgot. It’s just been so busy around here. Never a dull moment, you know? Listen, on some real, I’m sorry to have run up on you like that, all litigious and shit. Speaking as a friend, I didn’t mean any malice by it. Just some strategic maneuvering. Kitty, I’m sure you of all people would understand.

Yeah, well, what did you mean by it? Because what it felt to me was about a pretty damn good bushwhacking, Jimmy. 

I know. I know. The optics were less than ideal. But, truly, my hands were tied, dude. Honestly we’ve never collab’d with a music brand of this magnitude legacy and audience reach, not to mention two simultaneously. I mean, who would have thought song licensing would be such a hornet’s nest. Anyway, their people had some concerns that there could be some confusion in the marketplace vis-a-vis I know You Ridah versus Rider, Pale Ale. And since Hank never had it copyrighted … 

Hold on just a goddamn second, man. You know well and good we’ve been out here brewing R,PA long since before any of this bullshit. 

Oh, for sure. But try to understand where I’m coming from is … that it technically doesn’t matter. Who was First, technically. That’s the whole reason there is such a thing as the fast follower advantage.

Demuredly, Dandy Jim shrugged using only the muscles in his face in such a way that made the Mick want to punch it oh so very fucking badly. 

But don’t worry. We’re not going to make you rename or discontinue R,PA or anything. Trust me when I say, player … it’s all good. I would never do a Day One like that. The way the lawyers explained it to me, it’s really just more of a pre-warning, legally speaking. 

I’m sorry? What’s a pre-warning?

You know … a pre-warning … the warning before the warning, legally speaking. Like establishing a trademark precedent, or whatever-the-fuck. Seriously, bro, don’t sweat it. I’m pretty sure they just wanted to prevent any future IP disputes. I might have mentioned that you guys are into the whole Grateful Dead Thing. Speaking for myself, that was never really my wave, as you know. The whole Jamming thing, I mean. Besides, it pains me to say, but rock is played out, dawg. Guitar music in general, actually. 

Dandy Jim spoke with some authority on endangered musical genres. During his brief, wholly unremarkable tenure as the Mick’s assistant brewer, he moonlighted as the backup vocalist and lead bassist of a post-hardcore musical outfit by the name of Some Pulp, a fringe player in the already fringe DIY scene. Upon their breaking up, citing Creative Differences, Jaime embarked further still into the harmonic hinterland on a solo career as quite possibly the world’s only craft beer-centric battle rapper. This under the nom de guerre, Hip Humulus Lupulus. He had invited his at-the-time mentor on more than one occasion to come and see him compete, and as a matter of course the Mick curtly declined. (This despite Kitty urging him to please, relent, and generally to be more congenial with his colleagues, or at the very least courteous.) In truth, Jaime never forgave the Mick for missing the time he narrowly lost his quarter-final matchup to the eventual runner-up finisher, Heavy Flow, who was herself widely credited with breaking the glass ceiling of the old fuccbois club that was competitive battle rapping at that time. (Coincidentally she was also a future acquaintance of Grace.) 

So when they offered me Garcia, I was like cool, cool, whatever. I mean, I feel you. Purely a nostalgia play. Has to be a pass from me, unfortunately. Space ships don’t come equipped with rearview mirrors, you know what I’m saying? But, yo, when they came through with Pac? … I mean, fuck, man. One of the absolute OGs, of the rap game. Know what I’m saying, big dawg? 

Here he was addressing Zeke, who still hadn’t any idea about, nor concern for what this person was saying, because his momentary one true love had at last returned.

Dutifully, she handed Jaime a water bottle and white towel, as if he himself had just finished performing posthumously. 

I pray the homegirl Anna Leigh has been keeping y’all company? Seriously, she’s a fucking rockstar. I’m being serious. The brains of #x_brüing, right here, for real, on some real shit. 

Anna Leigh was her name, and how pretty a name it was. 

Unbeknownst to Zeke, Grace was picking up strong sexual tension flowing in one direction from Jaime to his #eXectuive assistant. This came as a surprise to Grace, because for one thing they looked way too much alike to be sexually compatible. Of course they in the lesbian community had a name for this phenotype: Dopplebanger — [noun] slang term for a gay woman who exclusively dates other women who look like her. (Grace was certainly open to the possibility; although, alas, she hadn’t found anybody pretty as her, as of yet.) For another, Grace was also picking up major Do Me Vibes, being put down in her general direction by way of the lovely Miss Anna Leigh. This would have come at quite a shock to Zeke, who was completely unawares of the homosexual encounter unfolding right before his eyes, as he was currently well on the way convincing himself that he and this person were put Planet Earth solely for each other. For a post-modern man so susceptible to the perils of a work crush, Zeke was at somewhat of a numbers disadvantage, being how women were so woefully underrepresented in the craft beer industry. Grace meanwhile was taking full advantage of a statistical anomaly, how among that relatively small female workforce, gay women indexed considerably higher per capita, than say in the population of duly employed persons at-large. Go fucking figure. 

I don’t get it. Then what was with the Village Person? The cowboy?

Only Kitty could be depended upon to keep this detente on the rails. It cannot be understated, how much she really had to pee. Anna Leigh interjected.

Oh my god, do you mean Carl? Aww … isn’t he just the cutest? He’s an actual dairy farmer. We sell him our spent grain to feed his cows. You guys, we love Carl! Like, actually, I’m obsessed. We thought about hiring like some guy online to do it, but Carl is always asking about odd jobs to earn extra cash so we paid him fifty bucks. How freaking adorable is that? Like can you believe he’s even real? 

Hey Jaime, do you have a banana or energy bar back here I could borrow? 

Anna Leigh was about to offer to order Grace something from the tapas ünit before the Mick interrupted on her behalf.   

No time, G. We’re leaving. There’s a bag of pretzel sticks in the car. Jimmy … what the fuck, man? Do I need to lawyer up here, or are we cool?

Whoa, Michael … relax. Of course, we’re cool, bro. AL, what’s our core value #two at #x_brüing? 

No Assholes Allowed, Jaime. 

Russ used to say assholes are like poetry, but Mick couldn’t remember how come.

You already know, girl. Our douchebag policy is zero tolerance. And best believe that shit’s serious, because we made it our second guiding principle. 

What’s number three? Grace asked. 

Be a Rockstar. Anna Leigh answered. 

What about the first one? This was Zeke asking.

Do the Work, Jaime said with bravado.  

How many are there? Kitty now. 

Seventeen. Anna Leigh again. 

Which is your favorite? The Mick, heat checking.

If I had to choose just one, it’s probably #eleven. Anna Leigh accounted earnestly. Think Macro\Live Micro. It’s all about how innovating — the truly big changes — happen in small increments: microchips, micro-dosing… 

Micro penises. Grace interjected, looking directly at Jaime, who averted her gaze, glancing sheepishly down and to the left. Anna Leigh blushed.

Whelp, that’s our culture. 

And taking you to court would constitute an asshole move, Michael. That’s why I’m not going to do it, even though I’ve been advised by counsel that we have an exceedingly legitimate case. Trust me, you don’t want to see Schuster or Shanker on the plaintiff end of a deposition table. So look man, as a good faith favor to you, I’ll talk to the legal folks and we’ll get this thing squashed. But listen, while I’ve got you here, I was wondering what’s the word on the new production facility.  

Now Kitty could see what this was really about. For a fact, it was so patently obvious, even the Mick could see Jaime’s play. 

Yeah, well, what about it? 

Just that since you broke ground, what’s it been, a year? 

Been about two years, actually. 

Bonus point to Kitty for her attention to detail. 

Two years. Sounds like some serious growing pains. I know that game. 

What’s your angle, Jimmy? 

Mich-ael. Always about that business. That’s what I love about you, my guy. Alright, I’ll hit you with the straight dope. I know you’re taking the L on this. Not to throw any shade, just … well it just so happens that we’re anticipating somewhat of a L of our own. Not that kind of L, because you already know we stay winning. L as in L is for Liquidity, like a liquidity event, projecting by end of fiscal year. So, in the spirit of helping a true ride or die out, let me buy you out. Of the production facility. 

Sold. 

Whoa. Just like that? Are you tripping, Michael? I haven’t even named my price. 

Don’t bother. If it’s enough to recoup whatever Hank had us losing on that deal by a half, you can have the whole goddamn thing. What do you think, Kitty? Can we make it work, in terms of money?

In terms of money? Um, I don’t see why not. 

You hear that, Jim. You got yourself a deal. 

And a halfway-done boondoggle of a buildout, he thought to himself. The Mick exercised the restraint to withhold from gloating. This was the first and best deal he would ever make. All it took was a partner with even less business sense than he had, and boy was Dandy fucking Jim his huckleberry. At that the Mick extended his hand. He was of half a mind to spit in it. Now the tables had turned, and Jimmy was on his back foot, shoeless. 

Hold up, hold up. Let’s slow our rolls for just a sec, Mike. How do I know you’re not trying to play me? It’s not a fucking superfund site, is it? 

I’ll level with you, James. Production, distribution, the whole expansion … that was Hank’s vision. Now that he’s gone, I’d just assume have you see it through. I don’t think Hank would mind and I wouldn’t much care if he did, on of account of his being dead.

Presumably.

Now that you mention it — Hank I mean … well, I’m sorry is all. I was going to say something earlier. Hank was like an uncle to me. Real talk.

The Mick did not acknowledge Dandy’s attempt at contrition. Even if it rang surprisingly true, Hank’s being like an uncle to him. Hell, he was like an uncle to us all. 

K. But I still don’t fully buy this out-of-the-goodness-of-my-heart bullshit. What’s your angle? Wait, wait … don’t fucking tell me. Fuuck, dude. Is this about you finally doing that thing … fucking Spontaneous Fermentation, right? Holy shit … it is, isn’t it? Back on your Belgian bullshit. You’re crazy for that one, Michael. I mean that’s some truly out there stuff. You do you, though, you know what I mean? But for real though, how long are we talking … grain-to-glass? Three years? Even with the whole wild yeast, au natural thing — which don’t get me wrong, it plays, from a branding standpoint— just, it doesn’t scale, is all I’m saying. Brewer to brewer. 

Maybe. But then don’t things have a way of balancing themselves out in the end?

No, I don’t believe they do. 

Kitty reckoned this to be the first true thing Jaime had said, apart from the thing about Hank being like an uncle, which had also resonated with her.

I don’t get you, Michael. Why do you practice brewing, I mean. What’s your Why? Like do you have an exit? An end game? A liquidity event? Maybe you are just Johnny fucking Appleseed, punching a clock — and best of fucking luck with that — but still, I know you’re no fucking dummy, and you’ve been around enough to know in this Beer Shit you’re growing or you’re dying. If you want a dependable career and a steady income, go sell software with those mooks out there. 

Here Jaime was referring to his customer base. Zeke often wondered what it was all these people did when they weren’t hanging out in breweries, drinking six-dollar beers on a Sunday afternoon. Lawyers and doctors were his best guesses. Or maybe they worked at the bank. He couldn’t quite figure. His dad installed drywall, and someday so would he, at least he’d always assumed. Now here he was, the second person in his family to go to college and the first to drop out. A Social Media and Events Coordinator. Sitting in a room where there was no drywall to speak of. 

The Mick answered honestly. 

I don’t know why I make beer, Jim. Just lucky, I guess. Maybe because by now I don’t know how to do anything else. At least not nothing that pays. 

He wasn’t being modest. Really, the Mick didn’t know how to do very much. Brewing was the only steady gig he’d ever had. (Previously he had held down a summer job as a caddie at a local country club, the members of which were rich dickheads to a fucking man. He would entertain himself by performing subtle acts of civil disobedience, such as giving his players too short of yardages on their approach shots.) Jaime on the other hand was a serial career switcher. He was cagey about his pre-beer days, but word was he’d tried his hand at the dramatic arts. Acting. Beside booking a local television commercial for a regional chain of furniture warehouses though, he’d mostly had to settle for print work. When Wade and Winona first heard tell of his male modeling past they took a short intermission from watching Internet videos of hockey fights and dash cam-POV car wrecks to dig up a cheeky, black-and-white photo spread of the then James Dean Delano (the Dean was a bit of a show biz fib … Jaime bore no relation to the late teen icon — his real middle name was Drury, after his maternal grandmother’s maiden). In the picture, a sexy lady was using a vacuum to suck off his t-shirt. She’ll Be Happier … when he helps around the house. Whether or not it rose to meet the standards of irony, the campaign had been intended as a playfully feminist twist on the sexist practice of advertising home goods to housewives in the postwar suburban boom period. Maybe it goes without saying that the reference was lost on the Mick, he who had always happily done the vacuuming in his household. Every couple Sundays he’d get thermo nuclear-stoned, crank up his noise-canceling headphones to eleven and fucking regulate. As chores went, it was one of his most favourite. Ma’am, I assure you, he’d kid to Kitty, holding up the hose. This thing sucks.  

Okay, I see you. I didn’t choose this life, this life chose me, type of thing. Respect, Mick. You know we should collab on something. For Hank.

Wait, what about you? Why do you make beer?

Against her better judgement, Kitty asked Jaime, although she had been genuinely curious. Accompanied by a look that said, well obviously, what else could it be, he responded: 

For the benefit of all mankind. 

Upon hearing this, Kitty legit peed her pants.

[feralaot]

What are the character’s biggest pet peeves?

oh my god I was just thinking about this ok

AOT characters' biggest pet peeves

no warnings

eren: loud and disrespectful children that trample through stores and restaurants while the parents do nothing. seeing kids be obnoxious is annoying in and of itself but when the parents do nothing about it his blood is boiling. he genuinely wants to fight those kids.

mikasa: oblivious shoppers. like can people not take up the entire aisle when miss girl here is just trying to get some god damn yarn. MOVE.

armin: when people hint towards secrets but refuse to share e.g. "you'll never guess what I just heard.... I can't tell you though it's a secret"

jean: seeing a smoker toss a cigarette butt on the ground. that's gross stop it

connie: chewing, pen tapping, sniffling, mouth breathing, etc. there's so many sounds that just drive him up the god damn wall. misophonia represent

sasha: people who eat their steak well done. you could chew on a leather wallet and get the same texture.

historia: when people get way too close for comfort when talking. for the love of god back UP. get out of her face

ymir: absolutely NOTHING makes her blood steam quite like when she sees someone check their watch while she's talking

levi: when people leave things like the tv volume on odd numbers, particularly numbers ending in 1, 3, 7, or 9

erwin: dishes in the sink, right next to the empty dishwasher.

hange: when people make a comment like "I think you have adhd" or something along those lines, like wow yeehaw woowee thanks for the observation

reiner: he doesn't have pet peeves he has irrationally psychotic hatreds

bertholdt: people tromping through perfect, untouched snow. nobody likes the unflattering look of despoiled ugly foot prints in clean white snow.

porco: long list he is very easily pissed off but a big one is crumbs. god damn CRUMBS. the feel of them under his feet makes his blood boil and he wears slides into the kitchen just so he doesn't step in any

pieck: "should of" "could of" "would of" for fucks sake it's HAVE, or just add 've, jesus christ

zeke: people talking during movies. even if he doesn't like the movie he'd rather listen to it instead of what some dolt in the theater has to say

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

Disability and Loren

@zarohk asked for my thoughts on a Disability Studies/Media Studies perspective on the disability depictions in Animorphs.  Which was foolish, because I’m teaching an entire dang class on the subject of superheroes and mental health, so I have Many Thoughts.  [PLEASE NOTE: I am nondisabled, so if I err, please tell me so.]

Loren’s role in #49: The Diversion does a lot of things right, and a lot of things wrong.  She incurs a traumatic brain injury that results in memory loss and blindness a couple of years after Tobias is born, and lives with said injury for about ten years before Tobias finds her and gives her the ability to morph, which restores her sight but not her memory.

A few places where I commend the depiction of Loren:

It gets into the massive underemployment of disabled Americans.  Loren is smart, canny, athletic, compassionate... and working a call center job in exchange for state benefits.  Said state benefits do not afford her a decent standard of living; Tobias notes that she has few possessions and almost no time for leisure activities.  Americans with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed as those without, and those who do have jobs are ten times more likely to be paid less than minimum wage, e.g. in sheltered workshops.

It shows how inaccessible a lot of systems are in the U.S.  Tobias notes that Loren accidentally grabs an expired quart of milk — because nothing on the label is printed in Braille.  Putting raised text and/or Braille on food packaging is a health and safety issue, one that the U.S. ignores even though it violates its own laws (e.g. the ADA) because companies tend to do what they want and “what they want” is usually not to spend more money on packaging.  The call center and bus system are both marginally more accessible, especially when Loren has Champ to help, but they’re still clearly spaces set up for sighted people that don’t take blind users into account very well.

It shows some of the workarounds that help deal with accessibility problems.  Loren’s house is set up so that there are clear paths to and from all of the relevant spaces.  She’s doing that to allow herself to move around comfortably in that space, because she’s made it accessible for herself.  She memorizes the layout of the local store, and uses that to get around as well.  All of those details help show that she’s adjusted, and actively interacting with her own circumstances.

It drives home the difference between service dogs and pets.  This distinction is extremely important, and it gets ignored all the time by entitled ableists who want to bring their pets into stores.  Tobias and Marco both assume from the outside that it can’t be that hard to become a service animal — just do what Loren says to do, right? — but it takes Tobias 0.02 seconds to realize that it’s not that simple and that he cannot imitate Champ’s lifetime of training on the fly.  He says that he manages to get his mom home in one piece, and that that’s about all that can be said for his sad performance as a guide.  Champ has skills like ignoring interesting smells and applying exactly the right amount of pressure to the harness that most pets don’t have and also most pets can’t learn.  Champ is not a pet, at least not while he’s in that harness; he’s a gainfully employed expert assistant.

It rounds Loren out as a character, and definitely does not just make her into a lesson or problem for Tobias.  Loren is gently humorous, tolerating her coworkers’ teasing and Ax’s attempted juvenile delinquency with an eye-roll.  She’s compassionate, listening to other people’s problems on the phone with genuine concern and not swatting flies if she doesn’t have to.  She’s tough-minded and stupidly brave, chucking rocks at Visser Three’s head and flying at attack helicopters as a three-pound bird.  She’s fallible, unable to support Tobias emotionally even when he asks her to do so and unwilling to check in on him after leaving him with her sister.  She’s a fully rounded person, one whose personality is informed but not defined by her disability.

It talks about some of the unromatic aspects of a Traumatic Brain Injury.  Too often in other works of fiction, we see a person get bonked over the head and wake up with no episodic memory but all other brain functions intact (*cough* Rachel in MM1 *cough*).  Loren actually gets into the fact that she forgot huge chunks of language, forgot how to brush her teeth, forgot how to walk across a room.  She obviously lost her sight as well, and she mentions lifelong balance and coordination problems.  Even her amnesia isn’t absolute — she has some traces of recall, but can’t make anything coherent of her impressions.  Her injury isn’t 100% realistic, but it’s more so than many TBIs we see in fiction.

It focuses on the intersection of disability and social class.  Tobias notes that Loren is under a compounded threat because of her inability to move to a more secure neighborhood and her obvious vulnerability.  He feels a lot of disgust with himself when he and Marco and Ax are harassing Loren, because it’s so clear that this isn’t the first time she’s been harassed.  Tobias understands that his experience with poverty as a nondisabled male minor is different from Loren’s for those reasons.

A few places where Loren falls into the common traps of implied ableism creeping into fiction, as written about in Narrative Prosthesis: 

She gets “cured.”  Loren falls into the “kill or cure” dichotomy, like most of the other disabled characters in Animorphs.  In her case, it’s that she gains the power to morph and in the process regains the ability to see.  It isn’t a complete cure, true — she still has no memory — but it means that she’s no longer blind for the rest of the series.  Having the occasional character no longer be disabled sometimes isn’t automatically problematic; having every disabled character get either “fixed” or killed off inherently treats the disabled body as a problem that needs to be solved, through sci fi nonsense if no other way is available.

She implies that she’d rather die than continue to be disabled.  When injured by dracon burns, Loren initially refuses to morph out even though Tobias tells her she’ll die if she remains a bird, because (they both assume) to morph out is to return to her blind human body.  This moment buys into the stereotype that it’s better to be dead than disabled, again inherently devaluing the lives of actual blind individuals.

There’s a certain amount of mystery around how she became disabled.  It’s interesting that we never actually get a definitive answer on that one — Loren says she was told it was a car crash, but there’s also an implication that she was attacked by controllers, and we don’t know for sure.  However, the fact of her disability is treated as an aberrant state that needs to be explained, the book inherently asking “why are you like this?”  By contrast (for instance) she doesn’t ask Tobias “why are you in the body of a hawk?”

She views herself as a burden, and the narration doesn’t do enough to contradict her.  Loren says that she couldn’t possibly be expected to raise a child while also blind and coping with a TBI.  Real blind people raise kids all the time, however, including blind single parents, and it’d be nice to see some evidence in the story that Loren’s assumption is wrong.  Loren also apparently assumes that she can’t begin to play a role in Tobias’s life even now that Tobias is more self-sufficient, again because she views herself as relatively helpless and non-contributing due to her disability.  There are some hints that she’s wrong, but we don’t really see her either begin to contribute to the resistance or build a relationship with Tobias until after she’s become un-blind.

Tobias’s view of Loren is often pitying.  As much as Loren doesn’t initially view herself as a potential maternal figure to Tobias, he doesn’t view her as a potential mentor either.  He repeatedly expresses horror or sadness at her life circumstances, and assumes that her life must be barren due to the spartan nature of her home.  (Of course, that begs the question of why the hell a blind woman living alone would ever bother hanging pictures on her walls or putting doilies on her coffee tables, but Tobias doesn’t consider that angle.)  Again, Tobias is allowed to assume that her life must be meaningless if she’s disabled, but it’d be nice to see some contradictory evidence in the form of her having close friends or inane hobbies or some other proof that to lead a disabled life is not to automatically lead a lonely one.

Loren expresses bitterness and desperate desire to be nondisabled.  Again, it’s fine for any character to say “I wish my life was different,” and it’s a common consensus among blind writers/bloggers that being blind is often a pain in the butt.  However, views as extreme as “you need vision to have a fulfilling existence” or “vision is part of what makes us human” are ableist crocks of shit.  Loren doesn’t go so far as to espouse those extreme views, but she also doesn’t seem to view herself as having a well-rounded life in spite of her disability.  It’d be nice to see Loren talking about sight as handy or enjoyable or a thing that the designers of 99% U.S. environments assume everyone must have, rather than a necessary precondition for a minimum standard of life.

Loren’s disability is somewhat medicalized.  Same caveat as above: disabilities are by definition medical things that some bodies do or have that other bodies do not.  However, discussing disability primarily through “this is how your body is different from Implied Normal of Nondisabled Body” and focusing on doctor’s notes, diagnoses, physical differences, etc. can serve to disconnect the lived experience of the individual from their body.  It also tends to focus on the ways that the body is “the problem” rather than focusing on the ways that environments and attitudes are problematic, which then prevents anyone from asking hard questions about the environments and attitudes.  Loren’s doctor’s note, discussion of scarring and loss, and repeated physical descriptions are somewhat more medical than social.  It’d be nice to see a little more emphasis on the social factors that make blindness a disability (e.g. improperly labeled milk), and less on “your eyes are different from those of Implied Normal Nondisabled Person.”

[hello-brainsonwalls-posts]

10 Ways To Decorate Your Rented Flat To Make It Feel More Like Home

Rented homes can always come with goods and features that do not belong to us, our likes and dislikes, which can be deceptive if you stay in the house for a long time. It is important that the space you live in feels comfortable and modest, and fortunately, there are various things you can do to renovate the space and make the house feel like yours. Here is a write down of ten things you can do to make sure your rented home feels like your home.

Combine your drawings with your print

Rented rental buildings often come with unsightly pictures already hanging on the walls. You can take down the art that comes with the house, hide it behind a cupboard or under stairs, and hang your favorite pieces. If you are planning to buy a brand new art, try Etsy with beautiful drawings and beautiful and unique posters - most of which are less expensive. You can also find many free wall art. Help stores are ready to get high-quality photo frames at affordable prices (just remember to take your photo ratings and measurement tape with you to make sure they fit right!) The hookers say they don’t leave a mark when it’s time to move on, which means you’ll be back with the full amount! To fail, you can attach your hooks to the walls and then fill them with Polyfilla and paint over them at the end of the rental. This can be a little dangerous if the wall is painted in any other color except white; it will be difficult to match the paint (top tip: be sure to match the finish of the paint, e.g., matte or satin).

Get a new shower head and shower curtain.

Many rented buildings have small shower heads with no adjustment to do the pressure to do a bigger job than something to rest on. You can change the shower head on your rented area easily. Another great way to renovate your rented bathroom is to install another blank shower curtain, something that suits your liking. H&M and Ikea have excellent materials with beautiful paper and patterns that will brighten the room.

Buy new plants or flowers.

Beautiful green house plants are a great way to add some color to your rental home, and they look great on fireplaces, shelves, and window sills. Plants can bring life to any room in the house- why not try your favorite herbs in the kitchen, following the ivy on clothing and other drinks in the bathroom? You will save money by growing your own fresh herbs instead of buying them at the store. You can personalize your space even further by choosing certain plant pots and hangers to sit on; this can be clay with clay to match the existing color scheme or add texture to space with some raffia or wicker jars. Fresh flowers are also a great way to add some color to a room; flowers can be expensive but find new ones at the local market for lower prices, or simply display some daffodils usually costing one pound and last for almost a week.

Use soft materials to create a color scheme.

Cushions, throws, and rugs help make the space feel organized and are a great way to make your favorite color scheme into a rented home. Using a variety of molded fabrics will surely bring charm to every room; you can try velvet cushions and deep rug rugs to make space live like yours. If your item is already delivered, it may come with certain sets as well, which may not be your preference. You can lower these curtains and keep them in a closet and place them in something more in line with the color scheme you created.

Ask the householder if you would like to make a permanent change in your life

If you desire to make a permanent change to your rental land, ask the landlord to see if they would like to let you paint the walls or permanently add a shelf. Examine your lease contract to see if there are any suggestions that the landlord may open up to an employer who is making some changes to the decoration. More often than not, they’ll be happy to let you upgrade the property, as long as the change doesn’t put other employers in the future. They may want to comply with certain basic rules - perhaps the paint color and the rules that ensure that no furniture or carpet is damaged during the decoration. Many homeowners would be happy to keep good tenants for many years and come up with some interesting decorations to make them feel at home.

Upcycle circuit furniture

Showing off your craft with your rent will make the property feel like home. There is something very beneficial about re-painting the furniture and making it your own; high-quality handmade furniture can be found in bulk in aid stores, local free programs, and hardware. You can transform a bedside table or chest of drawers with some paint and new drawer buttons, giving it a new life and a new home.

Post photos and personal reminders

Nothing feels more like home than finding your souvenirs and photos on the shelves. If your equipment does not come with shelves, you can always invest in a free stand shelf that you can draw with you when your rental is over. Put your holiday reminders, trinkets, books, and photos of your loved ones on display, and you can be sure that space will soon start to feel like yours.

Use tile choices in the bathroom and kitchen.

Just one look at Pinterest will tell you that patterned tiles are very popular right now; they can turn a room into something that will never look out of place in Spain. The problem is that, for tenants, changing your tiles is a home improvement that will not just fly with the landlord - not to mention an expensive renovation. However, pattern tile choices are now widely available online and are a great way to renovate plain tiles in your bathroom or kitchen. Tile Stickers are usually made of vinyl and are very easy to use, and are easy to remove without the leftover residue, which means you can have the bathroom of your dreams without breaking the bank OR your lease contract.

Use new storage solutions.

Storage can be deceptive in rented homes; if your home is already furnished, this usually includes a small empty in terms of storage items such as a wardrobe and drawer chest. If you are renting a small apartment in the city, you will have to find a little art if you have a little space and a lot of things to put on. Underneath the bed storage in the boxes out of the amazing storage space, you’ll be amazed at how much you can apt under the bed! This will help you to feel more at home, as you will still be able to hold on to what you have without your home being overcrowded and chaotic. Baskets are woven and are a great way to store items in every room, from toilet trucks to bedding. You can find inspiration to weave a basket everywhere online; it is a budget-friendly storage solution that looks expensive and trendy.

Create an ambiance with lights and candles

Proper lighting can instantly turn a house into a home; you can add lights to bedrooms and living areas to create a soft atmosphere instead of using overhead lighting. Choosing your own table lamps and standing lamps is a great way to introduce your extra flavor to a rented house. Candles are another inexpensive way to change a room's atmosphere, placing a few candles on a coffee table and a cover to create packets of warm light and refreshing air. You can intensify the candles' light by placing them on top of the mirrored area, such as the display shown.

[taretae]

frequently asked questions!

Who are you?

I’m a teen who really likes art but, (sadly) really sucks at fine arts so has instead decided to peruse fabric arts! I’m self-taught at embroidery (started mid-2017) which is why I might not have the most credible advice. But, everything here is what I’ve learnt from my mistakes and exploration of embroidery.

What materials do you use?

DMC needles sizes 5-10. I prefer smaller needles even though they’re harder to thread, as they’re good for finer details.

For fabrics, I use chino (a cotton fabric) or calico. Chino is thicker then calico and doesn’t stretch as much, but it’s harder for me to transfer patterns onto. Linen also seems to be used by lots of people in the embroidery community but I have never used it myself.

For hoops, I prefer to use wooden bamboo hoops over plastic ones. The hoop sizes I use most commonly are 4”, 5” and 6”.

I exclusively use DMC brand thread.

How do you transfer patterns onto fabric?

After having finished a pattern, I print it out to scale, place it underneath my fabric, and trace the pattern onto the fabric over a light source (e.g. a window, computer screen, or light-box)

To trace, I use a water-soluble pen which I bought from my local craft store for $9 AUD (picture shown below). The markings don’t come off the fabric until you put it underwater, so it’s a reversible form of marking.

What stitches do you use?

For outlines I use backstitching, and for colour filling I use either satin stitch or long and short stitch. I generally use 1-2 threads.

How do you do smooth and seamless stitches?

Try using a smaller number of threads as it’s easier to make it look like one line. Backstitch tends to look more blobby when you’re using a larger number of threads.

However, don’t get discouraged; if you’re new to embroidery, then your stitching will get better and cleaner with practice! My stitches weren’t so seamless when I first started either (as shown below).

Do you have tips for embroidery beginners?

Experiment with some needle and thread and don’t be scared to stuff up! And remember—the internet is the most useful resource when it comes to learning stitches and finding inspiration.

Don’t procrastinate starting embroidery because you’re not confident you’ll be able to do it. Really, don’t be scared that you’re doing it wrong, or that it isn’t good enough. Pick up a needle and just give it a try. When I first started I was super surprised by how easy it was? Like I’d always been kinda intimidated by all the good looking embroideries on the internet, but then after I made my first one I was so SO SO proud of myself. Looking back, my first one was pretty shitty because I had no clue what I was doing, but I’m proud that I decided to start something I felt intimidated to do.

My top tip is to embroider something that you like! You’ll feel more motivated when making things that you’re interested in (e.g. a TV show or movie, a cartoon or anime character, a Kpop group, musician or band...)

Technical-wise, learn how to do a back stitch. This is the easiest stitch, and I use it in every single one of my pieces. Knowing it means that you’ll have the basic technical skills needed for embroidery. Satin stitch is a good stitch to learn second.

How long does it take you to make an embroidery?

There’s a huge amount of variation in how long it takes me to finish a piece. Anywhere from hours to weeks, to even months. The pieces themselves generally take 2-4 hours or longer (this is an utter guess). It’s just that life and lack of motivation get in the way sometimes, y’know?

What do you do with your embroidery once you’ve finished it?

If you want to hang embroidery hoops you can tie a bit of string around the metal part at the top, and then stick it onto the wall will a bit of washi tape (normal tape is fine too). Or, you can use it as a piece of decor, by leaning the hoop against things, like on a bookshelf or a window sill. 

[nytreecx]

Marinette is not a Bad Designer

Alright… I’ve seen one-too many bitter posts by fans of Miraculous Ladybug disappointed by Marinette’s deep-down costume choice to not put my thoughts on the matter forward.

When considering a design in textiles, we are taught to critically observe it through two lenses: functional and aesthetic. Simply put: how it serves its purpose and its overall appearance (usually how visually appealing it is). Despite often clashing and getting in the way of one-another, they sometimes are easier to see as concepts that blend into one another. In water colour, if you paint red and blue next to each other, they are going mix to create purple. (I blather when I explain these concepts, so if you wish to get to the analysis of Marinette and Adrien’s designs skip ahead to ***)

As an example for this outlook, I’ll use a cushion on a lounge. Its functions are to provide lumbar support; help maintain good posture; filling the gaps of a comfortable sitting space the lounge may have missed; to last continuous uses; and to complement and accentuate the design of the lounge. This means function will control the shape, size, density, and – to a degree – the fabric choices such as category and type (e.g. woven and cotton respectively) of the cushion, and provide a starting point for the aesthetics via the lounge’s aesthetics. The cushion’s aesthetic purposes on a plain lounge are to create interesting and appealing focal points; on a patterned lounge, they provide plain yet grounding points to bring focus and calm to an otherwise busy design. Aesthetics therefore controls the shape, fabric type and pattern (e.g. cotton or plush, and floral respectively), and notions such as piping and buttons. I have most likely missed a plethora of points, but I am aware I am usually long winded and am an amateur.

Of course, some designs need to heavily lean to one side of planning. A wall-hanging is a piece of art using textiles mediums; therefore it will have dependence on aesthetics planning to be successful. Its function is simply to look good. A tent taken on a camping trip, however, is going to be all purpose. It wants to keep you safe from the elements, and not take up too much room in your car or weight in your backpack. If the tent is made from chiffon, with bolts of cloth dedicated to frills and decorative drapes, it will be bulky; be even more difficult to stuff into its bag than your sleeping-bag; tear easily on the first bit of nature it comes in contact with; and metaphorically take on the properties of fairy-floss when it rains, not only drenching you, but keeping you wet and trapped as the delicate and light fabric becomes heavy and collapses on top of you and whatever unfortunate soul tried to foolishly take refuge in it. One may even say its aesthetic purpose it to look durable. The only acceptation I can think of is a camouflage design, where a specific pattern and frills that mimic leaves are necessary.

***

Through this, I have hopefully illustrated that the relationship between function and aesthetics is one of give and take. Adrien does not give a damn about this. His father may be a famous designer, and whether or not he has shared a few tips of the trade, this boy grew up on manga. He is going to hit this super-hero costume with as much magic-girl that his kawaii desu ne heart possesses. He’s got cuffs; a long-ass tail that has its own pose in the transformation sequence; paw prints on the boots; unnecessary seams and piping; morphed pupils (that may be an automatic change to give him night-vision); and a big bell that rings, for crying out loud. The only functions I can see are steel-caps, pockets, removability of the tail, and claws. Even then I suspect these were mainly chosen for the aesthetics. Even his seams are what you would call aesthetic seams. It’s a suit made from magic. You don’t need seams.

Marinette, on the other hand, is focused on the function of this being a superhero costume. She knows she will be going into battle. Taking leaf out of Edna Mode’s book and then the whole library, she forgoes the iconic billowing cape and anything else that would hinder or even put her in danger her while fighting. Seams, zipper tags, cuffs, tails, and bells can be exploited by getting grabbed by a villain or accidentally caught on an edge or pointy debris while dodging or escaping. She only has an allusion to antenna as ribbons rather long poles sticking out of her head will basically become handles for whomever she is fighting. The only fault I can see is keeping her pigtails (*SPOILER* which we know she can change from the leak of Kitty Noir *SPOILER OVER*). Even then they may serve to create some kind of barrier from the back for her miraculous. She doesn’t need such things as steel caps because her magical fabric is already all the armour she needs.

I’ve had fun creating alternative costumes for Marinette. With function in mind, and wanting to reference the beetle, I added plate armour to the front to mimic the underside of the ladybird; angled spikes on the arms and legs like many beetles have to catch blades and cause damage; white spots like on their head on a black helmet that conceals her identity better; and the red and black shell only as a detachable shield on the back. Apart from being a design more appropriate for an AU, I forgot one important thing that all these features I wanted as tributes to the source material took away. Marinette knew that a superhero needs to be recognisable. Hence, this is the goal of the aesthetics.

The simplicity of the fabric’s pattern is to be iconic. What’s the most salient part of a ladybird? The black spots on their red shell. What pattern has she chosen? Exactly that. She is supposed to be a hero of the people. Someone every citizen can recognise as she swings by so fast she’s a blur. Parisians are going to be attacked so often that the red with black polka-dots needs to inspire feelings of safety, so that when they see her they don’t instantly think she’s akuma they need to seek shelter from. When she rescues terrified and flustered citizens, or toddlers crying for their mother, she needs to be recognised immediately; to create a focus point for the panicked mind; and to inspire peace and a sense that it will all be okay now that she’s here. A plain pattern in bold colours is the easiest way to do this. Adrien has even done this with the almost unanimously black outfit and silhouette alluding to a cat with the ears and tail. Her simplicity is necessary BOTH functionally and aesthetically.

*SPOILER*

In the event they swap kwamiis, they retain their design philosophies, and yet are influenced by someone they love and care about’s take on it. They need to hold onto the established iconic design the other has come up with, yet express they are someone else with their own unique take on it. Adrien keeps the iconic spots as the main feature, but adds panels of black to accentuate the pattern; give a nod to the actual ratio of black to spots on the ladybird; suggest armour; and to add depth and accentuate muscle anatomy. Marinette turns the bells and whistles into lines on the fabric to remove the danger of them while honouring them. Her plat imitates a tail instead of a more-easily-grappled belt and the collar tells of her Chinese heritage. In the event of the mouse fiasco, she needs to alter her design philosophy from hero to “omg please don’t find out I’m Ladybug”. Her colours are the usual palette she wears to inspire Marinette thoughts for Chat; her hair resembles mouse ears and are definitely and defiantly not Ladybug’s piggy tails; and her stripes and spikes, and tail create the farce that she is an inexperienced hero by forgoing the ungrabblable and to be easily recognised as the animal of their miraculous holder attitude Ladybug adopts.

*SPOILER OVER*

Being a designer isn’t just “Ima add frills for days cuz that shit’s tight”; knowing that busy patterns next to each other clash; making things look visually appealing or stunning; or even knowing what’s hot this season. It’s about making something for and around a purpose. And through this, Marinette can indeed retain her title of “good designer”. Thank you for reading my one thousand and five-hundred word essay. I hope this has enlightened some confused and vexed fans.

[comicteaparty]

January 15th-January 21st, 2020 Reader Favorites Archive

The archive for the Reader Favorites chat that occurred from January 15th, 2020 to January 21st, 2020.  The chat focused on the following question:

What sort of merchandise are you most likely to buy for webcomics you read and why?

carcarchu

does a physical copy of the book count as merch? nothing compares to the feel of a real book in your hands and watching my collection grow is so satisfying. i like having a tangible way to show my support. after that is small prints. i rarely see acrylic charms of webcomic characters but those are nice too

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

I know I'm particularly weak for enamel pins - which happen to be the first major merch I made for my first time tabling at a con. They're definitely the most common thing for me to consider purchasing from others. I also like small prints and stickers! And if a particularly cute character is somehow made into a plush... I'd be all over that, too.

Cronaj

For me, I love physical comics. So if a webcomic creator made a physical print version of their comic, that would be the best way to entice me to buy something. Comics almost always look better on paper in my opinion, and I'm a weirdo when it comes to book smell I sniff new books like an absolute degenerate. The other thing I would buy is art prints or art books. I have a huuuuge collection of art prints from creators I admire. So keep 'em comin'! I mean, I'll buy any merch that calls to me, but usually if I can't put it on a shelf, hang it on the wall, or wear it, I probably have no use for it.

Capitania do Azar

I'm a big fan of physical copies and charms of all kinds! I also appreciate stickers and small prints (big prints are nice, but take up a lot of space). Zines with side stories or related/concept art are also a good choice

keii4ii

Storage is a big issue for me, so I tend to not buy physical books unless like... it's a comic I would love to read but can't do so online easily (e.g. if the website doesn't function properly on my computer) I really like prints that have qualities/features that can't be replicated digitally -- e.g. foil, holo coating, VERY special paper texture, etc. (I've even seen one artist offer lenticular prints which I thought was awesome -- just wasn't into the characters that were on the art) Small to medium sized prints are fairly easy to store, so that's also a big plus for me! Also, clear plastic folders? I've never bought them admittedly, but those can look SO nice with the right type of art (some artworks look so special when printed on that clear material). I wish more people offered them so I could actually buy these, but I understand they can be costly to print.

Tired Programmer

I would buy physical copies as well. About the storage issue... Well, when I understand, that there are too many of them for my humble bookcase, I just sell or give old ones away. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ And also stickers. Stickers rock. (edited)

SAWHAND

I agree! If I really like the comic I like to have a physical copy! It feels special since I think a lot of times they're limited printing. I also really like stickers since they can just get put on something I already have and thus not take up extra space. I generally don't get prints because wall space is at a premium and I feel silly not having them hung up, but that's just a personal preference. Other than that it would have to be something really cool or something with function, like a notebook or...I don't know, an apron, or maaaybe a t-shirt.

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Printed comics are definitely my go to fav especially if it's a webcomic I've been really wanting to read but haven't had the time to do it online. Sitting down with a book is a lot easier for me that sitting with my phone or pulling my laptop out. I do also like stickers a lot. I've really gotten into covering the inside covers of my sketchbooks with them the last few years X)

kayotics

I usually go for printed books, pins, or plushies. If there’s a Kickstarter happening I’ll usually splurge for a pin tier if it exists. I don’t use stickers that much but I know a lot of people love them? But it’s not my thing.(edited)

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Usually printed books and phone charms. I will always buy webcomics that go to print and I collect charms. Other things like stickers and pins are nice, but often too pricey. I will go for them when they're bundled into KS tiers with printed books, though.

varethane

Printed books for me! Sometimes stickers, and sometimes enamel pina

Pins

I dont tend to get prints because I wont really do anything with them

(But my prints tend to sell decently, so there is a market for them out there...)

keii4ii

I just like collecting prints! I don't even put them on my wall, I just stick them in a binder kind of like my own custom-curated artbook

I really like seeing the combination of certain artworks and certain paper textures!

FeatherNotes(Krispy)

omg Kei...why have I not thought of that ?? I will now do that for all the print i've collected gosh!! and I agree with Vare, books are top tier merch I go for (zines included) Prints are a second for me, with charms and pins being the thing i least go for bc of space (though I am seeing pin boards come into fashion and I'm def into doing that as well!)

mariah (rainy day dreams)

I do really love pins too, I'm just really bad at remembering to wear them. I probably should get myself one of those clear back packs con goers wear.

FeatherNotes(Krispy)

oh yes ita bags!

varethane

The problem with me wearing pins is that I normally bike everywhere, while wearing a backpack

So if I put them on a jacket, the straps of the bag will rub on most of the good pin locations

And if they fall off while I'm riding my bike they are lost forever

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I tried putting pins on my backpack for a while.... only to come home and realise they fell off at some point during the day.

varethane

Yeah :(

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Ita bag! Yes! Lol I'm always super scared that my pins will just break and I'll loose them X') so when I do remember to wear one I'm constantly checking to make sure it's still on me

varethane

I have one jacket that I've been putting most of my pins on, which I wear to conventions

And it did pretty well except my rice boy pin fell off somewhere in the Seattle airport and is now lost forever :(

Betrayal......

FeatherNotes(Krispy)

i have def...super glued pins to my backpack before and the rubber backings are so bad for pins too bc they never hold

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Oh, patches are another thing, like pins, that I love but usually have to stop myself from getting. I need to find a good patch jacket, because I really love a patch. I've been wanting to make one for my own comic merch for a while too.

FeatherNotes(Krispy)

ohhh yes same-- i stll have patches that i havent done anything yet with bc i haven't found The Right Jacket

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Same TuT

Eightfish

I've got the Property of Hate tarot postcards up on my wall right now. Also partial to a good enamel pin. What I'd love to see in merch is a well designed, stylish shirt, but haven't really found that so far. I find webcomic shirts tend to be too detailed and illustration-y to look good as shirts, and would prefer something more graphic.

Q @CecilieQMT making WAYFINDERS

I'd love to design shirts! Just haven't figured out how to get them printed properly... ^^'

RebelVampire

For me, it's digital copies. So PDFs and eBooks. Unlike many people here, I can't stand print copies for a myriad of reasons. XD But digital copies I can get behind cause it supports the artist, has some nice bonus stuff sometimes, and generally collects everything nicely so some website hiccups aren't a problem. While this has never come up because it's rare, I would also buy plushies. Cause one can never have enough plushies. But alas, I don't think the market is there for that XD

kayotics

Plushies are just really hard to produce and store, same with T-shirts

Well, T-shirts aren’t that hard to produce, but they’re hard to store and keep a good amount of sizes

Mei

I tend to buy books/physical copies of webcomics I like! I really enjoy the physical reading experience! I also really like buying enamel or non-enamel pins. I enjoy collecting them, but going off what people have already said, I also have an innate fear of losing them :(

AntiBunny

If it has a cute character, and the price is in my budget, plushies are awesome. Unfortunately that's a difficult one to do, because small batches of plush that are build by hand are going to be expensive, and a comic has to be very popular to warrant more economical large runs. And I'll also say physical books.

Mei

plushies ARE awesome

I got the coyote plushie from Tom, the guy who does Gunnerkrigg Court

I just really love it

and also I couldn't decide which of the MANY volumes of comics to buy

(i didn't and still don't have space to stock up on a lot of books so I must be prudent sometimes)

((but my bed always has space for plushies))

[lovemesomesurveys]

Describe your most recent purchase: A sweatshirt and a couple shirts. 

Did you enjoy the last movie you watched in theatres? Yesss. I loved Joker.

If you make surveys, where’s the last place you saw a survey made by you on another person’s site?

Do you take the subway train often (if your city has one)? I’ve never taken one.

What shoes did you wear today? None so far. I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere today.

Who was the last person to leave you a comment on Facebook? My aunt.

Does your sibling have a significant other? Both of my brothers are single. 

When and why is the last time you cried (or at least, shed tears)? A couple days ago. I wasn’t feeling well and I just get extra moody and emotional.

Have you ever cried at a real wedding? No.

How would you feel if a girl asked your boyfriend out for a drink? Uhhh. I mean, it would depend I suppose. Obviously I wouldn’t be okay with some random girl. Probably not even a coworker to be honest. I wouldn’t want to get in the way of him having friends, male or female, but I can’t say that I wouldn’t feel some type of way about it. I should be able to hang with who I want, so of course he should as well. Unless I felt uncomfortable for some reason with a certain person in particular, in which case I’d talk to him about it. And the same goes if he felt uncomfortable about someone I was hanging out with.

Do you use Skype? No.

What do your flipflops look like? I don’t wear flip flops.

Any idea what you want for your next birthday? botox? fuck, i’m turning 30. VOMIT. <<< Hahahah aw damn, I’m turning 31. :O Anyway, no I’m not even thinking about that right now. Christmas is coming up!

Describe a poster on your wall. It’s a painting of a giraffe in a sweater. Super cute.

Are there any gadgets of yours that need charging right now? Not at the moment.

What do you use to remove makeup? Makeup wipes.

Do you have articles of clothing that are leopard print? Nope.

Tilt your head up and look straight ahead. Describe what you see. My bookshelf. 

Which awards show would you wanna go to the most (e.g Oscars, Grammys etc.)? One of the music ones.

Any idea what time you’ll be going to bed tonight? I go to bed around 2 or 3 every night.

Do you think George Clooney is hot? Nah.

Name some models you think are hot. Alexander Skarsgard. ha. He’s an actor, but he does model for photoshoots and he’s been the face for the different products like Calvin Klein cologne and currently for Clark’s shoes.

Have you ever participated in local magazine cover girl searches? Lol no.

Have you ever bought a lottery ticket (and even better: won?) I’ve bought a few, but nope never won. Sigh.

What colour is your keyboard? Black with white letters.

Do you keep the plastic/paper/whatever bags after you buy stuff? yes, i have a plastic bag full of plastic bags that hangs on door. doesn’t everyone? <<< Yep.

Do you own any high waisted pants? No.

What’s the craziest thing you’ll ever do to your hair? Bleaching and dyeing it red was the craziest thing I ever did the first time I did it, but it became the norm.  

Do you know anyone who has two different coloured eyes? Nope.

Does your significant other like the same colour as you do? Single.

Do you wanna be a pirate or an elf? Elf like Buddy, ha.

Have you ever purchased anything online? Uh, yeah. I pretty much do all my clothes and accessory shopping online now. My Christmas shopping as well.

What’s your favourite classic Disney movie (no, Camp Rock doesn’t count)? It is a Disney movie, though. Anyway, my top faves are Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, and Toy Story.

Gold or silver accessories? Both.

Would you have minded living in the 18th century? Well, being where we are today I would mind if I had to go back and live during that time.

Have you ever been called a skank/slut because of the way you dress? No.

Name all your friends whose name starts with the 4th letter of your first name. Blah.

What websites do you absolutely have to visit daily (or at least, every time you get to go online)? Proverbs31.org, Tumblr, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. Have you ever ridden an elephant? No.

Where did you get that outfit you’re wearing now? The leggings were a gift and the shirt is from Kohl’s.

Are you a fan of acrylic nails? Not for myself.

[itakesurveys]

Survey 276

Describe your most recent purchase: oh, you know... the norm. food. large cheese pizza, large fry, large onion ring, large cold veggie sub with hots, cheese & mayo. 

Did you enjoy the last movie you watched in theatres? yes. it was dark phoenix. 

If you make surveys, where’s the last place you saw a survey made by you on another person’s site? i do make them. i enjoy making bolding surveys. 

Do you take the subway train often (if your city has one)? nope. 

What shoes did you wear today? i wore my man uggs. haha.

Who was the last person to leave you a comment on Facebook? no idea, i haven’t been on social media in about 2 months. this is my first post on social media actually. 

Does your sibling have a significant other? yes, she has a girlfriend and she is great. 

When and why is the last time you cried (or at least, shed tears)? boy troubles, and few days ago. 

Have you ever cried at a real wedding? yes. 

How would you feel if a girl asked your boyfriend out for a drink? go for it sistahhhh. 

Do you use Skype? like twice in my life. 

What do your flipflops look like? Adidas 

Any idea what you want for your next birthday? botox? fuck, i’m turning 30. VOMIT.

Describe a poster on your wall. i don’t have posters on my wall. 

Are there any gadgets of yours that need charging right now? probably all of them. lol i can’t be bothered. 

What do you use to remove makeup? soap/water/facewash while in shower. 

Do you have articles of clothing that are leopard print? hmmm... nah. 

Tilt your head up and look straight ahead. Describe what you see. the ceiling.

Which awards show would you wanna go to the most (e.g Oscars, Grammys etc.)? mtv music awards but back in the day. now they kinda blow. 

Any idea what time you’ll be going to bed tonight? in an hour. 

Do you think George Clooney is hot? nah. 

Name some models you think are hot. i don’t know models names. 

Have you ever participated in local magazine cover girl searches? i wish. ha

Have you ever bought a lottery ticket (and even better: won?) yes never won more than like $20

What colour is your keyboard? black so ugly. 

Do you keep the plastic/paper/whatever bags after you buy stuff? yes, i have a plastic bag full of plastic bags that hangs on door. doesn’t everyone? 

Do you own any high waisted pants? nah. i’m a 90s baby. LOW LOW LOW BABY. ha

What’s the craziest thing you’ll ever do to your hair? i kinda did all that already. platinum, pink, green, red, blonde, long, short, and extra long. 

Do you know anyone who has two different coloured eyes? nope. 

Does your significant other like the same colour as you do? nope. his are between green and brown. mine was 100000% brown. like a Hershey bar. lol 

Do you wanna be a pirate or an elf? elf. because they seem happier. 

Have you ever purchased anything online? dah. this survey must be 47183902 years old or written by a 8 year old. lol

What’s your favourite classic Disney movie (no, Camp Rock doesn’t count)? hmmmm, Mulan & Pocahontas to name a few. 

Gold or silver accessories? hmm.. depends on mood. 

Would you have minded living in the 18th century? sure. 

Have you ever been called a skank/slut because of the way you dress? probably. 

Name all your friends whose name starts with the 4th letter of your first name. h, -- 

What websites do you absolutely have to visit daily (or at least, every time you get to go online)? google, amazon, 

Have you ever ridden an elephant? yes, as a kid. 

Where did you get that outfit you’re wearing now? amazon. 

Are you a fan of acrylic nails? sure. 

[tonkipenny]

Ornate simple divider

#ORNATE SIMPLE DIVIDER DOWNLOAD#

Therefore, the screens are fairly opaque for privacy but still let light through. Although not actual rice paper (as in genuine shoji doors), the fabric is thin and papery yet durable. Modeled after a traditional Japanese shoji door, the Coaster Home Furnishings Four-Panel Screen is constructed of a black pine-wood lattice frame, lined with contrasting white fabric. The attractive, lightweight shoji-style Coaster Home Furnishings Four-Panel Screen is easy to use, flexible, and offers privacy while letting some light through - all for a good price. Feedback from customers helped confirm what reviewers liked about them. We researched sites that focus on home decor as well as consumer product review sites, to find top-rated models. Storage: Foldable screens and curtains are great for packing up and hiding away.Ease of cleaning: Can you simply wipe down a surface or throw it into the washing machine?.Ease of use and portability: In case you want to adjust or move the divider (e.g., open and close a curtain, widen or narrow a screen, slide it aside), avoid a heavy or fixed one.Structure: Some dividers are composed of panels that fold others are single pieces that either stand on the floor or hang from the ceiling.You'll want the divider to have the appropriate heft for standing or hanging sturdily, and possibly blocking out light (and even sound) if desired. Materials: Dividers are made of wood, fabric, plastic, paper, or any combination.Privacy level: Do you want the divider to be solid, thick, and opaque? Or, do you want it to let through some light? If privacy isn't an issue, you have more flexibility and options, such as a translucent or open-structured divider.Style: Do you need just a plain, utilitarian design? Or, do you want a more ornate divider to bring a touch of flair to your space? Does the divider fit and complement your room's decor?.Size: How large (height and width) do you need it to be? How big is the space where you plan to use it? While you want to make sure the divider is large enough, you don't want it to overwhelm the space or make the place seem crowded.When choosing among the myriad options, first, think about how you plan to use it. Whatever your purpose, there's a room divider out there that meets your needs. Hiding clutter and creating a storage area.Displaying or organizing items like knickknacks, books, etc.Adding colorful and decorative touches (prints, carvings, and other adornments).Carving out a cozy nook within a larger space.Organizing and sectioning parts of an open floor plan (by marking the border between "rooms").Creating privacy and personal space (for roommates).Designating space for specific use (e.g., a changing area, home office).Some are utilitarian structures while others are decorative pieces that offer form as well as function.īesides the obvious - dividing physical space - room dividers can be used for, but are not limited to: I hope you enjoy them.Does the term "room divider" make you think of a boring office cubicle wall? Room dividers can be more interesting and vary in size, shape, construction materials, and style. If you have any problems please let me know and I can send you the files directly. Please note my files come as Zipped files and some of them have quite a lot of detail or are large bundles No physical product will be sent to your home address, this is a digital product.

#ORNATE SIMPLE DIVIDER DOWNLOAD#

After payment, your product download links will be immediately sent to you by Etsy, and you can also access your files by clicking on the tab Purchases & Reviews. This product is being offered as an INSTANT DOWNLOAD. ⚫ Personal and Commercial use with no watermarkĪll my digital papers and clipart are drawn digitally or by hand with love and care, and can be used for an array of crafts: Card making, Party Props and decorations, Scrapbooking, Invitations, Wall Art, Backgrounds, Decoupage, Tags, Gift Wrap, Gift Bag DIY, Photography Backdrops, Stationary, Sublimation, Stencils, Logos and much much more. 300 dpi - PNG (transparent background) Each frame measures between 8 - 10 inches at the longest point, each line divider measures 6 inches in length and can easily be resized and recoloured if desired. You will receive DIGITAL FILES only ♥ģ0 Individual Frame Images and 10 Decorative Line Divider Flourishes - High Resolution Ornate Clip Art Frames and Matching Decorative Line Text Dividers.

[mandy-hanae]

the cheapest way to get / make an erasable + reusable monthly calendar overview to put on wall in your study space!

print / make only once, write, erase + use it repeatedly

no picture frames, no white boards, no cork boards, no mesh memo / mood boards, no fancy clips / tacks /pins!

This is just a thought I had that suddenly popped up. I’ve always wanted a wall memo board to put on my monthly calendar overview. So, I thought of getting a memo board last week + was thinking of which to buy: a glass picture frame, white board, cork board / a wire mesh board. Sadly, none of them seem to work for me.

Here are some difficulties that I thought I would have w/ each of them:

Glass picture frame - I don’t have a picture frame so I’ve to go + buy one that is at least A4-sized. Then, I’ve to either get a picture frame stand / a hanging picture frame. First, my study space / desk space is limited so I can’t get the picture frame stand. Second, I’d have to drill holes / put nails into my wall if I’m getting a hanging picture frame, so NO cuz I’ll definitely mess up the wall! Hence, glass picture frame is out of the question.

White board - yet again, I don’t have a white board so I’ve to go + buy it. As I’ve said before, my study space / desk space is limited so it’s hard for me to find a white board of a perfect size + fits my A4-sized monthly calendar printout to put on my desk. Besides, I’ve to reprint it every coming months (waste of paper + ink). And again, I need to drill holes / put nails if I want to hang the white board on the wall. Thus, white board is also a no.

Cork board - actually, this was my first choice. But, I’d have to get tacks + pins for it. Also, I need to change the cork board once it’s worn out / can’t be used anymore. The BIGGEST problem is that I’d have to clean up the broken pieces of cork that have fallen from the board + it would definitely make a mess on my desk. Hence, no cork board.

Mesh memo board - first of all, most mesh memo boards are HUGE + I’d have to let it stand on my desk / hang it on the wall. So again, limited desk space + no holes on my wall. Besides, mesh boards are hard to clean / wipe when there’re dusts + I’ve to buy clips to hang my calendar as well. I also need to reprint my monthly calendar every month. Thus, mesh memo board is a no too.

Hence, this is what I thought up: a cheap + easy way to make an erasable + reusable (print / make only once, write, erase + use it repeatedly) monthly calendar overview! All you need is:

an A4-sized paper

photocopy machine (optional; you don’t need it if you’re drawing the calendar by yourself)

masking tape / washi tape

white board marker(s)

a trip to your nearest stationery / book store that offers laminating service (the hard lamination type; not soft)

How to do it?

Print out an undated monthly calendar overview on an A4 paper (print double side / single side). If you’re printing double side, refer to 3rd Tips / Hacks on the bottom post. If you’re printing single side, ignore the 3rd Tips / Hacks on the bottom post. Make sure that the grids / boxes of the calendar are big enough for you to write on later w/ white board markers. Don’t write anything on the printout yet! Make sure it’s completely blank! Don’t write the dates + name of the month + year as well!

(OR) you can make / draw the monthly calendar overview by yourself. Again, don’t write anything on it!

Go to your nearest stationery / book store that provides laminating service. Before you laminate, make sure that the store provides lamination that are hard + not the soft type.

Laminate your monthly calendar printout. Make sure it’s completely laminated + there’s no small openings / slits!

Now, you can write on it using white board markers. Make sure they’re not permanent markers!

Use washi tapes / masking tapes to stick the laminated calendar on the wall. Don’t worry, washi + masking tapes won’t leave marks on the wall! Make sure that it’s within your view + you can see it easily when you’re studying. And make sure you stick it so that it won’t fall off easily but can be removed with ease at the same time.

AND YOU’RE DONE!!

Tips / Hacks:

You can also use this method to make one as your notepad, to-do list, etc!

Your writings can be erased using a rubber eraser and/or scratch them off w/ your fingernails / other suitable objects. (Henceforth, it’s called the erasable + reusable monthly calendar overview.) So, once you’re done for the month, just erase it + write again for the next month!

The calendar is printed on both sides (double-side print) of the A4 paper, so you can write on both sides at the same time / use both sides alternately after lamination!

E.g. for using both sides at the same time: for January, you use the front side of the laminated calendar. So, you can turn over + use its back side for February. When March is coming soon / here, erase both front + back sides (note that it will take some time to erase them). Then, use the front side for March + the back side for April.

E.g. for alternately using both sides: for January, you use the front side of the laminated calendar. When Febraury is coming soon / here, make sure your writings on January (front side) are erased first before writing on the back side for February. If you’re only erasing it after February (on back side) ends / March is coming soon, you will probably have to take some time to erase the writings for January (on front side). After that, you can turn over + use its back side for February.

My advice: it’s better to use both sides alternately rather than using both sides at the same time.

I’m sorry that I can’t provide a photo / picture as a reference / guide cuz honestly I just suddenly thought of this brilliant + cheap idea / hack. So, I wanted to share it with everyone as soon as possible! Btw, this is my first guidance / teaching post + a long text post. Anyways, I hope what I wrote is clear + useful / helpful to you! :)

Please do tag me if this hack / idea worked for you! I would love to see how my idea had helped you in your school, university / daily life! :D