APRIL PHOTO-A-DAY

I completed April photo-a-day (give or take a few days I didn't want to do). Looking through these photos, they represent really well how my April felt. I am taking a break for May, but it's my goal to do at least five months with this challenge. Two down (you can see January here).

You can follow along with other photo-a-day's and daily snapshots on my instagram: jessemcknz

24 THINGS IN 2013 // FIRST QUARTER UPDATE

1. READ 12 NEW BOOKS
I am...not really working towards this at all right now. I have started two books and have every intention to finish them...to finish one of them. Oh well. This goal was more exciting to me at the beginning of the year, and certain other ones have become more important to me. 

2. TAKE MORE MORE POLAROID 300 PHOTOS AND FIGURE OUT MY DIANA MINI
I haven't taken more polaroid 300s due to the film cost. And I think my Diana Mini is messed up beyond repair. But I did buy a new little film camera and took a roll of pictures already. I have another roll in and in progress.
3. FINISH DECORATING OUR APARTMENT AND GETTING EVERYTHING ORGANIZED

I have worked on this goal a good bit so far, but want to take my time decorating and get it how we want it. Pictures hopefully soon after that. 

4. RE-OPEN THE ANYKIND SHOP AND UPDATE IT WEEKLY

I have re-opened the shop and am so proud of it. This was one of the goals most important to me since it's what I work on every day, and I want to feel good about what I'm doing. I am excited about creating new things and regularly updating it. 

5. EXPLORE 6 NEW HAMPTON-ROADS THRIFT STORES

I had the intention to document trips to new thrift stores with at least a quick phone photo. But I have been to so many thrift stores since the beginning of the year, whether it was looking for specific things or just browsing, that it slipped my mind. But this goal is definitely accomplished, and I still have most stores to visit. 

6. RENT AND WATCH 25 NEW MOVIES/SHOWS FROM THE LOCAL VIDEO STORE

Well on my way. I have been renting movies and shows constantly, and also watching new things on Hulu/Netflix. I am keeping a list, which I have never done before. It's fun to go back and see what I've watched all year. I'm excited to share the list at the end of the year, too. 

7. MAKE AND STICK TO A WEEKLY CLEANING ROUTINE FOR THE APARTMENT

I made a schedule, and while I don't stick to it compulsively, I have been doing a way better job keeping up with cleaning as I need to instead of waiting and doing a lot of work at once. It's been a huge change and makes me happier. 

8. SET-UP MY SCREEN PRINTING STATION, DESIGN, AND PRINT FABRIC

I got all my supplies together and set up my station! I have printed labels for the inside of bags. I have also made a geometric pattern that I love and have tested. Can't wait to start making bags with the printed fabric. I have a few patterns ready to go to print my own fabric. 

9. GO ON FIVE DATES WITH DOUGLAS BEFORE HE LEAVES FOR DEPLOYMENT (STUFF WE HAVEN'T DONE YET)

We have gone on two dates so far that have been completely new things we haven't done together before. And we have a lot of ideas of things we want to do!
10. GIVE AWAY/DISCARD UNWANTED CLOTHING AND HOUSEWARES EVERY SEASON

I have two bags ready to donate. So I'm doing good for winter...just have to...actually donate it now.
11. GET A DOG!

This goal just didn't turn out how we planned. We had the best intentions when we adopted a sweet, little dog. She was four years old and had a really hard time adjusting to life in our apartment building. It was just too stressful for her, and she was always unsettled. We found her a loving, new home in a quiet house with a wonderful couple...with no noisy, rude neighbors. She is very happy now. We are putting dog parenthood on hold for now because, honestly, that experience was really, really hard and stressful, and it's just not the right time.
12. DO A DIY BLOG POST AT LEAST EVERY OTHER WEEK

Maybe I haven't kept this schedule exactly, but I have been doing DIY posts more regularly, and I'm excited about doing more.
13. GET A NEW SLIP COVER FOR OUR FUTON

Done! We just did this this past weekend. It's a nice olive green, and we love it.
14. TAKE REALLY GOOD PICTURES OF OUR APARTMENT ROOM BY ROOM

Working on it. See #3.

15. VISIT SAM AND KATIE IN AUSTIN

I have a date that I want to visit. Waiting for a few things before I make reservations. 

16. FIND AND MAKE 10 HEALTHY RECIPES I LIKE AND WILL EAT

I have made a few. If you have any yummy vegetarian recipe favorites, let me know!
17. GO TO ZUMBA AT LEAST FOUR TIMES A WEEK

I have done this every week, except when I was sick. And most of the time I go five days a week. So yay!

18. MAKE FRENCH MACARONS UNTIL I AM SUCCESSFUL

Haven't even tried yet. I am scared our gas oven is too unevenly heated to do this successfully. But I still want to waste a whole day and attempt to do this. 
19. EXPERIMENT WITH NEW KINDS OF BAGS AND MAKE BIGGER PURSES

I have made a larger shoulder bag that I love and am excited to make more. Still want to experiment with tote bags...my favorite thing to make in high school.
20. PARTICIPATE IN A MONTHLY PHOTO-A-DAY CHALLENGE (EVERY MONTH!)

I completely January, and immediately failed at February after losing interest. Right now I want to do April's photo-a-day and am really excited about it. We'll see how I feel in a few days...
21. PARTICIPATE IN 8 CRAFT MARKETS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

I have participated in two craft shows so far: Great Bridge Craft Show and Art Craft Design Norfolk. I have a third lined up - Spring Bada-Bing in Richmond. And I am SO excited.
22. DYE FABRICS USING SHIBORI METHODS

Still excited to do this.
23. PRINT INSTAGRAM AND PHONE PHOTOS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND DISPLAY THEM THROUGHOUT THE APARTMENT 

I printed a batch of photos from our time in Saratoga and trips to NYC. And a few from our first months in Norfolk. I put a lot of them in a grid in a square frame. I also made these photo cubes to display them in another way.
24. KEEP UP WITH MY WRITING/LIST/DRAWING NOTEBOOK ALL YEAR 

I have been keeping up with my planner and list notebook pretty well. So I feel really good about keeping up with this for the coming months, too.

How do you feel about your goals for 2013 now that we're a quarter of the way through?

ANYKIND SHOP RE-OPENING

Today my Etsy shop is finally re-open! After posting a picture from my workroom or markets here and there, I'm excited to finally have everything posted and ready to share. I temporarily closed my shop in December to get reorganized, but left it down longer than expected to plan some new ideas and get everything just right.  A few months, yards of fabric, and one shoddy light box later, here we are. 

Some new things I've added to the shop are smaller hair bows, shoulder bags with leather straps, new pouch sizes (big and small), and men's bow ties. And of course, there are lots of new fabric colors and patterns, too. I also added a sale section, and I have a lot more to add to it. 

My new favorite thing to make are these men's clip-on bow ties. It's really fun to choose fabrics that aren't for bags...that are pretty much intended for females. There is some overlap in the fabrics, but I've found a few really perfect fabric for bow ties. 

I hope you enjoy looking through everything. I'm so excited to finally get it together and have this to work on again. Thanks for looking!

FINALLY SCREEN PRINTING!

I finally got all my supplies and equipment together, attached clamps to my table, and started printing! Technically I had all of the stuff together for about a week but put off making my first screen because I was nervous about messing up. Yesterday I got over it and worked on my first printing project - a simple design to print on the inside of my bags. I am still working on new products and getting my online shop re-open, and this feels like a huge step in the right direction. I have been wanting to do this forever. I am so excited.

I have so many ideas for fabric designs I have been saving for when I have my station set up, so now I have to actually have to do it. For this first screen, as simple as it is, I'm extremely thrilled that everything worked out - it was hard to get the timing of everything right the first time. I am not an expert, I make huge messes...and I duck tape a work light onto our bathroom sink as my "exposure unit." So my process could be slightly refined, but I couldn't be happier with the little screen printing station I've set up.

JANUARY PHOTO-A-DAY

Today I successfully completed the photo-a-day challenge for January. You can see the list here. You can follow along with my February photo-a-day on instagram @jessemcknz. I can't say I'm sad to see January go. But I really enjoyed doing this. 99% of these photos would not have gotten taken if I hadn't been following along with this.