Back in July, I experimented with screenprinting. Working at a screenprinting shop, seeing clients make their designs come to life, I wanted to dive into that feeling too. But being a pretty strict DIY kinda person, I wanted to figure out how to screenprint at home on my own terms.
I successfully made a whole stack of prints after days and days of researching and Youtube watching. I didn't only want to make prints though. I really wanted to make some shirts.

After some shopping at H&M, I grabbed a handful of shirts to play with. And I had enough fabric ink to use.

I'm not a pro, and I usually never do things the right way. Mostly because I don't care if things come out perfect. That's what makes it fun.
So quite a few are wonky, but coloring in the cherry blossoms and fixing up some important bits with pink fabric paint was a good idea.

I made quite a bit in a few different shirt colors. Mostly sticking to a teal/seafoam green theme though. You can check them out here, and buy some if you like!

I couldn't help but keep one for myself. I like the heather seafoam the most.

I'm happy to finally be sharing this!
I've been trying different ways to branch out but still do what I do but with a new twist. Super vague, I know.

During my last semester of college, I experimented with making patterns and I especially enjoyed making this teeth pattern. Since I love Spoonflower so much, I got the pattern printed through them. I thought about what I can use it for and browsed through shirts that I had.

I found a small batch of plain grey shirts, which I thought would work color-wise. Everything matches with grey.
I bounced a lot of ideas in my head on how to incorporate the two. I was just afraid to overdo it. I eventually settled on splitting the front of the shirts in half and replace the cut piece with the printed fabric. I basically took a chance and winged it.

I took that cut front piece, traced it over the printed fabric, pinned it to the shirt, and sewed it. Attached it on three sides, and fixed the hemming. Didn't take too long to figure out if it would work or not, and it worked well!

Even though half the shirt had a fun printed pattern, it still felt empty. I decided on adding a cute little pocket to them all. It feels complete.

I only made six - two v-necks and four crew necks. I finally added them to my Storenvy shop. So they're currently available for sale. I would love to make more but will figure that out if there's demand.

So there you go. Fun stuff, and I'm happy to have finally finish and post them up.

This week has been an exploration continued week. My neighbors have been taking me out and about. Explored good food, cool crafty places, late night trips to bars, etc.

01. This move has me wanting to work on minimizing. I no longer like my wardrobe and my shoes. I took out all my shoes I brought with me and made a pile of shoes I could live without. I took them to a local thrift shop and exchanged for other things.
02. So with that exchanging, I hit the jackpot with new old thread at that same shop! I'm so psyched about finding so much goodness. I needed more thread and so there you go.
03. I spent my Halloween at home with the company of my housemate and neighbors. It was the perfect evening with people I like spending time with along with the perfect amount of food, sweets, and alcohol.
04. Later that night I took a break from the courtyard hangout and went to a house party with my neighbor. It was Star Wars VS Star Trek themed and we took a fun Polaroid at the party. I didn't dress up but I put on devil horns just to add something to make it seem like I thought about Halloween.

I also took a selfie, which I never ever do, to celebrate the fact that I went food shopping.

As I said, I took quite a number of trips to crafty stores, so I really plan on getting my craft on this week while job searching. I've slacked ever since I got here and need to get some motivation back. I guess I may have passed the honeymoon phase? I've adjusted though. I've accepted the fact that I'm here and I have to be productive. So I'm trying to gain back my mojo.
I'm getting there.

I got my first iPhone during the summer. I had my Samsung Galaxy S for about two and a half years. It was on its way out and I really needed a new phone, so I switched plans and got a new phone back in July. I couldn't be happier.
I'm currently on an iPhone case kick, even though I've only bought two since I got the phone.

I put together a little wishlist of cases I really like.

                                                   ~ 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. ~

I love so many designs I've seen. I wish I can buy them all.

I bought this little storage container at TJ Maxx about a month before I moved. I love the vintage look to it, and the drawers are a perfect size to fit the little stuff I own that needs good organizing.
My brother always dug it in my head that wooden furniture and things of the sort that are wooden shouldn't be painted. You should keep the wood the way it is, and as much as I disagree (I was ready to smother it in decoupage and magazine clippings to decorate it), I felt this little guy needed to have the wood the way it was. But I wanted to do something to it.

There was no time for me to work on it before leaving, so I saved the project for after the move.
I let the idea stew in my head and I settled on keeping it simple by doing a repeat of 'be nice' with a screen I made using my ghetto screen print method.

I zigzagged where I painted since I didn't want to put my screen over wet areas. I did the same going down the sides, and left it to dry.
After the paint dried, I went back to the empty spots and painted those bits to finish it up. Top and sides.

After round two, I left it to dry.

I have a nice little corner of the room in which I rest it on. I brought my Psych bobble head dolls and a jar my friend made for me for Christmas. I put fake flowers in it to liven up the area a bit. I think it fits nicely, and the design is not overwhelming.

As I mentioned in my summary post yesterday, I'm at the point where I am starting to decorate my space. I picked a spot next to my desk in which I plan on decorating. So far I have found two items I want to hang.

I have the tendency to start projects, finish them or don't finish them, and then do something else to them. I made this shirt for a project last semester, but I haven't finished the hemmings, and so it just sat around. I wanted to hang that design and I didn't feel bad ripping it up since it wasn't done.

I've also taken inspiration from Pinterest hanging up art on yarn with clothespins.
I found a good spot to stick the walls with thumbtacks and hung my yarn with loops I tied up.

I hung up my fabric. Using another thumbtack and binder clip, I hung up a postcard (in which I shared yesterday too).

I also received this guitar pick from when I purchased vinyl from the band She's So Rad. If you haven't heard them, listen to them now! Anyway, I managed to dig up a super baby binder clip which worked perfect with hanging the guitar pick.

I plan on adding more as I go. But that's my little wall of decoration so far!

Just got through my second week living in Portland. And I realized I haven't done a summary in a month.

01. Still familiarizing myself with the neighborhoods. Found some cool places around with with Mexican folk art. There will also be a parade like thing on Dia De Los Muertos that I totally plan on going to. I'm actually getting excited for Halloween (although I don't have a costume idea yet).
02. I've tackled all the boxes. Opened up every single one. 95% of my stuff are put away. I figured I'm at the point where I can start decorating.
03. Received my first welcome postcard from a family friend of mine! It was the sweetest thing ever to read.
04. Went out and about with the neighbors yesterday. Discovered SCRAP, the most amazing store - it's a crafters paradise. Walked away with paint, binder clips, thumb tacks, fake flowers, fabric, and thread for less than $4. Seriously, it was a win.

I came across a new iPhone app that I decided to give a try called Faded. It's free, the effects are great, and it's super easy to use. I edited my morning view to test it out and I love it. The photos come out amazing. I recommend it!

I've also been getting psyched to see Slowdive in two weeks, so I've been familiarizing myself with their opening band Low. So relaxing.