Handlebar Tape

Purchased some beautiful red cork handlebar tape from Back Bay Bicycles today.  Everyone there was helpful, and one cashier passed on a helpful hint, students get 10% off!  I had a coupon for 20% off so I stuck with that for now, but it will definitely get me back in the store, a good shocker since I had always (mis)judged the place as being pricey.  It is Back Bay after all...

A quick google search and I found some videos that taught me how to wrap the tape.  Here's the finished product:

I wanted red to hopefully bring out the red of the Fuji logo, and provided some much needed color to the bike.  It is beautiful, and I am actually quite a fan of the silver, but I like color!  Not pink so much though...which unfortunately is what the tape can sometimes look like...

But, the other option at the shop didn't look as cushy or sweat-resistant, so with a recommendation for the good ole cork I stuck with this color.  So far so good as the ride I took was much comfier than the previous trek.

I still need to change out the seat, but that will have to wait until I get my little set of Allen Wrenches back.

Off to Cape Cod tomorrow!

OUCH

Well, it is a beautiful bike, that is for sure.  But the previous owner took off the handlebar tape!  Now I had never noticed the importance of this little feature, but after just riding a 2.5hr round trip ride to my new internship in Waltham, I really get it.

There were a variety of issues with this ride.

1. No handlebar tape.  My palms feel a little like they were smashed and all the bones have spread out.
2. The seat is definitely male.  Double ouch.
3. I converted it to a fixie yesterday.  That means awkwardly backward pedaling to stop (thank god there is a front brake still) and SO MUCH ENERGY on the hills.  I haven't gotten the hang of standing and pedaling on this baby yet.
4. I'm not use to pedal cages and for now can only get 1 foot in, probably because I'm too busy trying to ride this fixie.  Hopefully it will click in a week or 2 and I can start avoiding the "does she know how to ride a bike??" looks.

So, for now I shall cease riding the new Fuji until I get some handlebar tape.  And I'm waiting on that until I am sure the previous owner won't be returning to claim this beauty.

My first venture in dyeing!

Well, unplanned at the beginning of the day, this marks my venture into the world of dyeing (apart from past Girl Scout Tye-dying).
Being a usual college student, I am constantly trying to figure out ways to live on the cheap.  So when my mom suggested buying new towels because mine were grungy/bleached looking (they ARE clean by the way, just have developed a slight grey tint....on previously white towels), I rebelled!

But not immediately.

First I came back to Boston, moved into my new place, unpacked, cleaned, organized, and found packets of half used RIT dye!  Now, from the brief research I just did on dyeing, I've learned that RIT is considered quite the inferior dye.  But, it's here, it's free, I know (in general) how to use it, and Marisa on www.newdressaday.com uses it!  So how bad could it be?

Anyway, I luckily learned that I probably should be a good roommate and not use our bathtub for this adventure, so instead I went on a hunt for an appropriate vessel.  Our sink seems to be missing it's plug, so that was out, and the bathroom sinks are porcelain, a big no-no.  So, I did what any other college kid around move-out day would do, I went to the trash room!

Now you may be thinking, "ummmm, WTF, who does that??"  But you should know that the trash room can be a wonderland around move-out time.   Just 2 days ago I got a perfectly good plastic, 3-drawer chest.  Complete with textbooks in the drawer, one of which I just sold for $20.  So yes, I <3 the trash room.

And it didn't fail me today!  I got a giant plastic drawer, relatively clean, which is now my dye tub.  I also utilized a plastic pitcher that belongs to my roommate's friend, a metal spoonula found in the kitchen, dish washing gloves and a metal bowl also unearthed in the kitchen!  And so the dyeing began.

I loosely based my process on RIT's own suggestions.  Since I had about 3 half used packs (blue, purple and orange), I used the blue and purple, and threw in some of the soda ash I also found for good measure.  One site said RIT doesn't work with soda ash, but since I couldn't stop it from bleeding I decided it couldn't hurt.

This was a VERY water intensive process, which made me quite sad, but since I haven't showered yet today, we'll call it even for now.  After a good hour of soaking, stirring, rinsing, rinsing, rinsing...and then washing, I THINK that the 2 hand towels and 2 shirts I did might be complete.  They are now laying out to dry, and my work looks pretty good for now!

EDIT:

Just had to share.  Look at this beauty!

Summer Projects

I've found myself sewing a lot lately.  As soon as I got home from school I began sewing these amazingly handy foldable bags that I learned from Crafty Ady.

My mom had helped me make one before I went to Peru, and I used it daily there.  Used as both as luggage and a shopping bag the bag held up remarkably.  I made that one out of what I believe is Polyester Lining fabric (a remnant I had bought back in my Barbie clothes days).  The fabric was perfect and I was even able to wash out a pomegranate juice stain in a hotel bathroom!

Unfortunately I couldn't find the same fabric anywhere (at least in the 3 stores I tried), so instead I just bought some nice cotton remnants from JoAnn's.  I'm making the bags as Christmas gifts for my family, so I am trying to somewhat cater to personalities, but so far I've only made 4.  I'm also making reusable produce bags based on Wendy's design.  For both bags I've made some adjustments (ribbons instead of the button+flap, ribbon+snap instead of drawstring) and it has taken some trial and error but they are coming out well!

I also just made a bike seat cover based on this design.  Since my bike is hanging out with a friend in Boston he sent me the measurements and hopefully it will work!  If not I'll be trying to hand sew one up there...

Today I made myself a delicious lunch of GRILLED CHEESE!  Sounds sad, right?  Not at all!  Heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella (from our brand-spankin'-new Trader Joe's!), freshly picked homegrown Basil and some 12 grain bread!  Delicious.  Unfortunately I didn't layer it correctly, so the cheese didn't melt through to hold the sandwich together, but still tasty!

Can't find my camera cord so phone camera
will have to work for now,
doesn't look too bad though...does it?

Next on my to-do list is this skirt (just found Freshly Picked yesterday and I think I'm in love!), also would love to make this for my pens+pencils and maybe a lace shirt similar to this one!