Sunday, July 31, 2016

Sip&Chill

Last Friday, I gather with my friend (from work) and my sister to have coffee and talk about what's up with our lives and just sit enjoy our coffee and relax from our busy four-day work week.
 Its nice to enjoy the day, especially in the morning because it's still a week day and everyone is heading off to work. Also, the coffee house is partly empty and can enjoy the less crowded place. 
My friend, Scottie of whom I met through my work. Is a humble, nice, patient, funny gal and she loves coffee. My sister and I all work together and even though we work in the same room, same dept. we hardly get to talk because it's pretty strict, talking at work is not an option. We try to set up a day to have coffee, luckily Scottie, was able to get away from home to come and have a cup of coffee that Friday morning.



I have a section in my blog about the coffee houses I visit called Sip&Chill, and I thought about writing a two-fer today about my daily adventure. 
You might think different when talking about coffee houses in the states, it's not like the ones you see in pinterest, instagram, or any other places in social media. They show cute, quaint, hipster romantic coffee houses. Here in Utah. I live in Utah county, they don't really have coffee house unless it's Starbucks and just a very few like I mean three-or-four coffee houses I know. Its because its predominantly a Mormon county and they don't drink coffee. Well, I don't want to get into the religion aspect of it.
 Anyway, Karen and I picked Beans&Brews, in American Fork, (we just found out their building new one near point of the mountain in Highland). This location is near a shopping plaza, quite busy with fast food places and costco is just walking distant. Also, a drive-thru. I guess if you're on the go, you must have it like it's a mickey "D's" just saying. I detest drive-thru's it's doesn't make it like a coffee shop. At all. This one particular, they have booths inside to your right, but yet it feels like a restaurant when I walk in, they have couple of stand alone tables in front of you and cushion chairs to the side on to the left. 
 I've been here of couple of times, it looks like they downsize of some things. They use to have quite of selection of pastries but now carry some breakfast items. Use to have a shelf of different kinds of beans, that's gone just a handful of carefully selected coffee beans. Their selection of coffees, I had a drink called the Caramel Cielo. Just a latte with caramel syrup and marshmallow syrup with caramel sauce on top. I don't like a drink that is very sweet, I always tell the barista half the syrup with my choice of milk. I like to have mine with soy, this time they had almond milk. I also had a breakfast burrito, just a typical egg, bacon and cheese. (I don't get why there is cheese in breakfast burritos but anyway) because I didn't eat that morning so I had that. It looked pre-made just heat it up and its done, it's was actually pretty good I had it some chile sauce (YUM!) I was happy with my selection. 
 The barista who help us was nice, she was helpful. Not to bad. But the music was pretty loud, that's why we sat outside so we can talk and hear each other. I wish the patio was a patio, was just one table on a sidewalk and was blocking the walk-way for passengers. 
It was a kinda loud area, just a lot of activity around us in the parking lot. People doing their errands and the hustle and bustle of a suburban life. I don't mind coming here again, its was just the convenience for our friend to meet. Even though Karen and I drove half-n-hour to get here. It's okay it was well worth it with friends and sister time who enjoys coffee.
coffee shop in AF/Lehi here is the link of the shop I went to, sorry I didn't get a image when I was there I was too busy enjoying my company with my sister Karen and my friend Scottie.  
 I hope you enjoy your coffee time


Sunday, July 17, 2016

My Saturday: ALTPRESS FEST

Just yesterday, on Saturday. My sister and I went to a event in Salt Lake, at the public library in downtown. The AltPress Festival, its a once a year event that is held in the library foyer. They had several artists that showcase their zines, writing, photography, and art. It a small festival that had a handful of zines artists at the event. This is the only event in the city that I know that has a small following for this type of artwork (there probably are some but I don't know any beside this one). Even the library carries zine books on their shelves, just gotta ask where their located in their library. If you don't know what is a zine is, can find it here
  This year, there were art displays from the artists, make-n-takes, discussions and some were selling their zine books, prints, and apparel. I had the chance to make a little bookmark and played bingo or "zinego," Karen and I had to visit the artists booths and have your card stamped and when you're done filling out your card, we had a choice of either a poster or a print on a bandana; I chose the bandana. 
 I had fun, I always had fun at these kinds of events. I wish they would have more like this closer to me, I mean I don't mind traveling into the city for one event. Plus it's an excuse to get away from the suburban life, we like to enjoy something different and always try new things.  Anything that deals with paper, ink, and creativity. I'm always down for it. I'm glad I went out and enjoy the fun of it, I just wanna come home and make something out of paper and use all my inks and cut and cut all into the night. 
 Hmm, I think I might just do that, make something since I having nothing else to do besides sleep and watch tv. 
 Enjoy the rest of your weekend, I think I will go make something right now.


 Here we are at the Altpress Fest in Salt Lake.


  I bought Karen a poster from these artists, they had pretty cool prints.

 We went to the lower level of the library to check out some of the art displays they had, there were pretty cool and there were also pretty big.

  Leftside: The top part of the piece, was the original print and the bottom was the copy. Rightside: was just copies of some prints

 In the library itself, they had a little ink drawing type of thing going on, you can see mine. It was the tiny flowers on the center bottom can't really tell, just did a quick little doodle on the paper.


 This artist here, was printing on t-shirts. The customers would check out her plates and chose what kind of  art they want on their shirt and she would print them out right in front of you.
We wanted to make a book out of scraps of paper but the wait was too long and it was getting pretty warm waiting around so we left and check out the other artist. 

 




 One artist was making prints on muslin (I think??) and used a steam roller to print out his work. Was pretty neat and look at the print he made, pretty awesome.

  


Monday, July 11, 2016

DIY: gift card holder

Sorry it's a bit late, I was planning to post this last week but I got busy with work and other stuff, and ran out of time.
 It's been a long time since I post something this cute, I like to make things for other people. It's fun to see their faces all lid up when they get a little thank you from me.
 I actually made this last year, when I was shift manager. I wanted to give a gift card to my co-workers. But I end up finishing half way like the rest of my crafts and stash among my other un-finished projects.
Finally! I completed them last weekend, yay!  I was so excited to actually get something done. It was pretty easy, I found the apron template here and an example of a starbucks logo here (I appreciate the sites I used and letting me use their images to make this little apron, thank you!!) . I used felt (I bought at any craft store that sells felt), I thought it would be easy. I actually used a sewing machine, but it kept bunching up. I end up hand sewing all twenty-five aprons. I guesstimate the string and loop for the top. It was kinda a stress relief but getting towards the end I wanted to be done. I used a fabric transfer found at any craft store, Just remember that there are two different kinds of transfer for fabric light and dark. I bought a transfer for light fabric.
 When I printed out the image, I had some trial and errors. If you want perfection, I would totally use it on white fabric not felt. I tried printing all at once but it was mess, I had to cut one-by-one. I didn't really care at this point I just wanted to be done. I had a little craft iron I had for awhile now I didn't want to lug a bigger iron with me just for this small of a project. So I cut one-by-one and press and lift the image when it was still hot because when it start cooling off the image wasn't that clear and wouldn't come off the backing. So kinda had to be quick, place the image down and press and lift the backing unto the next.
 Afterwards I cut the logo out, that was a challenge because there were small and I felt like I had huge giant hands. I just used some tacky glue to adhere to the felt. For the pockets I just cut out some green squares and used the same tacky glue and I was done.
 The way I explain it might sound like a lot of work, but its not. If you're doing less than I what I made then it shouldn't be too much. I just use the less expensive materials such as felt, and bought white embroidery thread to sew them up. I was planning to use a blank white felt circle for the logo, but I thought ohhhh! maybe go the extra mile and make it more detail.
 It was fun making them, I don't think for awhile now I will make another, maybe I will use paper next time. hahah. I hope this will make you think of something to give to some awesome person, for a friend, coworker whoever you think deserve a cute little thank you from you.
I tried looking for the owner of this printable on Pinterest but I couldn't find the rightful owner. but If you look up "printable starbucks" that's where I found this gem.
I found this on Pinterest, but there is array of printables found on web or Pinterest. I found a link that I posted above an example of a starbucks logo.
 After you print your image onto light fabric transfer, I cut them out with scissors.


I used white felt, I used another fabric underneath so I wouldn't burn someone else's table.


place your iron on top of the transfer for maybe 10-15 seconds and lift.(maybe longer if needed)


While still hot lift the backing and peel away, slowly making sure all the image had transfer on to the fabric.

Ta-dah! isn't it cute, 

Finally, cut them out one-by-one.

With a fabric scissors cut them out, this was a bit of time for me to cut all of em' out. But I did it!

I actually iron the transfer right on to the green apron, can tell it didn't work on dark felt. So make sure you're using the right transfer paper for the right color of fabric.

So many, so many almost done.

finally!!! this is how it looks, all by hand. It was well worth it. So cute I think.
I hope you like this little idea, maybe go out and start thinking what to make for your awesome friend who deserve a little thank you from you.