Poppytalk has a cool Guest Tutorial by Ruth Bleakley:
This easy (I promise!) printmaking tutorial is a great way to use up styrofoam meat trays that you are probably hoarding (or maybe that’s just me…) and it would also be a fun craft for kids, as long as you did it outside.
It’s essential that you get water-based block printing ink (it costs about $3 a tube) - otherwise this tutorial goes from an “easy” to “the-reason-why-I-never-majored-in-Printmaking” tutorial because the cleanup is much more difficult for oil-based printmaking ink - that being said, if that’s what you have on hand, go for it - actually, if that’s what you have on hand, you are probably somewhat beyond styrofoam tray printing anyway!
The rest is here: poppytalk: DIY: Easy Relief Printmaking
Pretty impressive idea, to figure out something useful to do with Styrofoam meat trays! Maybe we can get Ruth Bleakley involved in The Uncollection. A Mr. Cart meat-tray print would be cool!
Courage
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.” -Maya Angelou
Fundraising update and IT band-aid ›
FUNDRAISING UPDATE!
We exceeded my initial goal by raising $635! A reminder that there’s just over a month left for me to raise money for the International Rett Syndrome Foundation in honor of my second-cousin and goddaughter, Melaina. Let’s see if we can double that and then some by October 2nd to raise $1500! Groundbreaking research has already found that some of the symptoms can be reversed in mice (woohoo, science!), so the funds are critical to keep the research going. Funds also go directly to the care of the people affected by Rett, so every penny goes towards a good cause :)
p.s. I had to set up a new donation page b/c the first one expired it’s accepting of donations.
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TRAINING UPDATE!
This past week, I ran a lot more than I have been in the previous weeks…which was basically following the training plan (I survived a 16-mile long run! My longest to date!) But since I haven’t been consistent that means I overdid it. Apparently, my tried and true method of procrastination, followed by intense, binge-like activity does not translate well to running. Doh!
I noticed on my last two runs this week that I was feeling stiffness and pain in the IT band area.
The good ol’ Internet pointed me towards many resources on Iltiotibial (IT) Band Syndrome. This website from a podiatrist that writes for Runner’s World magazine was comprehensive and easy to understand. It seems that one of the major contributors to this problem are weak hip abductor muscles (aka gluteus medius).
When weak, the IT band basically overcompensates to provide hip stability. The two times I’ve tried physical therapy, I’ve been told that I had weak hips. So, I guess I really do have to do those exercises, huh? Here’s a link to the Livestrong website with instructions for some easy exercises like the clamshell, which is my personal favorite because while I’m doing it, I like to imagine that I’m Olivia Newton-John in the Physical music video. (Warning: this video isn’t exactly NSFW, but it’ll probably be really awkward if someone catches you watching it).
a clock made from a bicycle wheel
Want (for T)!
Losers from the Debt Deal: Students
Graduate students would be the hardest hit, as the bill proposes an elimination of the interest subsidy on federal student loans for “almost all” of them. This means that beginning July 1, 2012, grad students will be responsible for the interest on their loans while in school and during any subsequent deferment period.
Credit: AP Images
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
When you have the enthusiasm and the passion, you end up figuring how to excel.
(Source: ilovecharts)
I am about to go to the Bulldog happy hour by myself to think about this fucking manuscript after working on it all day at the coffee shop. Hoping that a drink will melt the braincicles.
Donate your support to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation! ›
I finally got a fundraising page set up through FirstGiving.com! Like I mentioned in my first post, I’m running the Twin Cities Marathon on October 2nd and am asking friends and family for their support by pledging a financial contribution that will benefit the IRSF. You can pledge $1 per mile of the marathon (26.3) or any amount that you can comfortably manage - every dollar counts! Right now, my goal is to raise $500 by October - just less than 20 people / $26 pledge.
Your support - financial and moral - is much appreciated! Keep watching the blog for more updates on the marathon training and fundraising.
