Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Keep a diary of what you're hitting, what's frustrating you, and your goals.
Post Reply
User avatar
bluevampire101
Multidex Master
Posts: 230
Joined: 26 Jun 2013 15:53
Location: State College, PA

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by bluevampire101 »

Ryan: Yayayay! Come back soon!


Yesterday was the first group session in a while - Ben, Ryan, Khoa, and myself at IST. Personally, I felt like I wasn't really playing well, but I've been in a sort of slump since Arts Fest Jam. Hoping to change that soon, especially after hanging out with Ben and Ivan at Shredhaus and talking about footbag and random stuff.

Hangout at shredhaus was very fun and entertaining. Random talk about belly buttons and nervous farting, as well as different footbag mentalities - how to go about learning, etc. Playing with the rats and eating cookies. Watching footbag videos and all that good stuff. We should have things like this more. :D

But yeah, that hangout helped me with how I should/could approach footbag. Very inspiring. Thanks Ivan and Ben for good talks :)
April Tou
kicker, stitcher, footbag enthusiast, baker of PSUFC

"Drill until it's ingrained." -old Indian proverb according to a book I read
boyle
Post Master General
Posts: 3173
Joined: 19 Sep 2007 23:42
Location: Canberra, Australia
Contact:

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by boyle »

Hi April, really enjoy your blog. Sounds like you are improving a lot and having fun with a great club.

Those cookies sound very tasty as well!
User avatar
bluevampire101
Multidex Master
Posts: 230
Joined: 26 Jun 2013 15:53
Location: State College, PA

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by bluevampire101 »

Daniel: Thanks! :D


So, I haven't kicked since Saturday. Then again, it's only Monday... But I'm thinking I should kick sometime soon. I haven't really been feeling "it" lately. Slump. I'm hoping to get myself pumped to kick tomorrow.


Time seems to move really slow when you don't have much to do. Since I only have one online class right now, things are slow. I have one quiz or assignment per week, and there's not much to prepare for it besides reading and listening to music (it's a popular music course that only goes up to the 1950's). I tried copying notes for each lesson at first, but that wasn't working well since my arm (elbow) started hurting from the strain I suppose of writing so much and propping my elbow when I write, so I stopped doing that (even though I was retaining information better).

Aside from that, I don't have much else to do besides watch shows all day and eat regularly and other free time. I've been feeling a bit unmotivated to do anything, and I'm not sure what to do outside, so I pretty much stay inside all day unless something beckons me to go out (group sessions, appointments, etc.). That gives me a lot of time to reflect, especially since Ben's out for half of the day either at school or at work. I suppose I could try to get a job, but I can't really picture myself working. Not because I'm lazy (I admit I am quite lazy), but because I'm picky, and I can't imagine getting hired by any place. And not to mention transportation to and from "work."
I've also tried working my freshman year (last year) and that didn't work out well because it deterred from school work, and I did very poorly (school-wise), and I was also transitioning (in the sense that I had never been to the East Coast until last year, so the humidity/climate/environment change was a biggie for me, as well as the ease of high school to the difficulty and newness of college).

Background to my start at Penn State:
I didn't know anyone coming to Penn State, except that there's one girl from my high school, who I didn't and don't personally know who also attends. (She was a cheerleader at my high school). I flew from San Diego to State College all by myself because my family didn't want to (or didn't know how to go about it or couldn't afford to) come with me. But, the connecting flight from Washington Dulles to State College got cancelled due to mechanical issues with the plane (I guess - this appears to happen semi-often).
Image
I ended up pitching in for a rental vehicle with about four other students (who I didn't know - they just happen to have the same cancelled flight as me) because we all needed to be at Penn State pretty much the next day, and all the other flights that day/weekend were filled.
Image
By the time I got to campus, it was about 5PM, and I had a lot of stuff that I had to lug to my dorm room only to have a bloody nose (because of the pressure? temperature change? stress?) and told that I had to get my room key from a different building. Also, my bedding stuff got put on the flight to Altoona, so I slept on a bare bed for three days. But that first day, I hadn't had anything to eat for dinner either because I didn't have a PSU ID yet (my orientation day was the next day), and I didn't know where the dining commons (or any other food place) was, and didn't want to venture after that long, long day.
Image

Wow, and that was only the first couple days.

As for the time before Penn State, I had senioritis during my junior and senior years of high school. I guess I did anyway. I found it ridiculous. High school, that is. There are the kids who care too much about how they look on an application that would cheat their way through classes, or the smartasses (pardon my language) who felt that they didn't need to study to get good grades. Which was pretty much completely true, for them. Or, it was a mix of both.
I also didn't (don't) agree with the grading system. Just because you get an A doesn't mean you tried for it, or even if you did, your hard work doesn't show off because it's just a letter grade that means good. I even had a teacher that gave me at least half credit on all of my assignments and tests even though I wasn't trying and didn't get the answers right.
In terms of work, I didn't really need to. I wasn't forced to. My parents are very lenient and protective and I'm pretty much the youngest spoiled child of the family. I did volunteer though, at a hospital, and a film festival, but that doesn't count for much outside of high school, outside of an application for college.

Me with my family at graduation!
Image

So from this background, I feel like I am not at all prepared for a job now, just like I wasn't when I started at Penn State. I kind of need to get my shit together.
...I don't know.
*rantrantrant*
This also got sidetracked from what I originally wanted to talk about, which would be weird for me to bring up now, so I'll just do it on some other post in the future.

Edit: Here's a semi-inspirational song! Dealing with changing your life. Or lack-thereof.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7xuhA3cj78[/youtube]
Last edited by bluevampire101 on 24 Jul 2014 09:34, edited 2 times in total.
April Tou
kicker, stitcher, footbag enthusiast, baker of PSUFC

"Drill until it's ingrained." -old Indian proverb according to a book I read
User avatar
bluevampire101
Multidex Master
Posts: 230
Joined: 26 Jun 2013 15:53
Location: State College, PA

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by bluevampire101 »

Okay, okay. After posting and then reading other posts, I'm convinced to make a separate post about something else.

First off, yes, thank you very much to Allan Haggett. I remember registering for Modified last summer, and being confused as to answering the question which I wasn't sure I answered correctly (Toe Stall?). Anywho, that resulted in my admittance onto (into?) Modified and a couple of email replies to and from Allan. I definitely was and am in the good hands of PSUFC. Thanks again, Allan! You're very awesome and I hope to meet you one day. You've put great and wonderful work into this site and I am grateful.

Also, this was me before anyone in footbag knew me! (Beginning of freshman year)
Image

Now, I will talk about my plans for footbag. These are my own personal plans, so don't get your hopes up.
I've been thinking that I would like to pretty much make a footbag collection. I want a footbag from every stitcher, though I know it's not entirely possible (since some people stop, etc. etc. etc.), so it's like.. a dream thing, but not necessarily a needed thing. It would definitely be cool, but I'm in no rush. Plus, I can't really afford it. Poor college kid.

Something else that was brought to my attention (again) is chainmail(le)! I had a friend who did (does?) chainmail stuff and it looked cool. Nick Landes brought it to my attention once again with saying that it's good to practice with a chainmail footbag. I would like to get into the hobby of making stuff out of chainmail, especially footbags... eventually. Hopefully sometime soon/in the near-ish future.

Bringing up making footbags. Stitching footbags. It would be cool to get more colors. Eventually! Again! Ivan's been nice enough to throw some our (mine and Ben's) way - Thanks Ivan! I'm thinking there's a way to get more colors... More on this later in the post. But yeah, more colors = cooler bags... or at least more variety, options, and stuff. I wish Fields had more.

Stitching footbags, different topic. 92 panels. I eventually want to make one. It just looks unattractive to stitch. What I'm saying is, I'm not ready yet. But, when I am ready, it'll be awesome! And if I'm up for a second one, I might plan to make it a spike bag. With small spikes. So it's not too distracting.

Footbag events! There seem to be more and more of those. That's great and awesome and cool! I want to go to all of them! (Case: I am jealous of Cassy for being able to go to so many!) But yeah, transportation and cost are big factors. It seems that no one in PSUFC has a car. I don't even have a Pennsylvania license. And, I'm an Asian female. (Stereotypes) But I do hope to go to more in the future. When a college education isn't costing me at least $30K a year. (Soon... Another year and a half...)

Semi-lastly, video camera/editing. I was talking to Ivan about it just a bit, and I'm convinced to start soon. I don't have a camera, but I'm hoping to be able to rent from the school. And start editing videos! I hear that's not many of those around, or at least, we could always use more. It seems like a cool, fun, and rewarding hobby, plus, I love footbag. It would also just be handy to know how to use a camera and how to edit footage. Work my way up the editing food chain. And now I'm going to start wasting time by blabbering on about things that have nothing to do with editing besides me mentioning editing because I have no idea what else to say on the topic. Because I don't know anything about it.

Lastly, lastly for this post, I will say that perhaps sometime soon I might try selling bags that I make. I'm thinking of making a deal of every fifth bag sold gets a matching bracelet, or something to that extent. All homemade... Just not the thread, or the ultrasuede, or the other thread/floss used for the bracelets, or the fill. Okay, semi-homemade.


To get your mind off of all these words. The trick: Porque.
It's funny because it's like... why?

Get it? Por Que? It's why in Spanish.
Ha Ha. Ha...
Last edited by bluevampire101 on 24 Jul 2014 09:36, edited 1 time in total.
April Tou
kicker, stitcher, footbag enthusiast, baker of PSUFC

"Drill until it's ingrained." -old Indian proverb according to a book I read
User avatar
Cass
Egyptian Footgod
Posts: 1218
Joined: 07 Jan 2007 20:44
Location: London, Ontario

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by Cass »

Wow interesting post!

I have a hard time relating to this because I have been working since I was 14 and have had little help financially from my family. That being said I think that getting a job could only be a positive thing for you. It would be great personal growth and I'm sure you could learn/improve some life skills. It will also keep you busy and I feel like the longer you wait to get job experience, the more difficult it will be to get your foot in the door.

I found high school to be rather trivial also. It's a shame, really.
User avatar
Cass
Egyptian Footgod
Posts: 1218
Joined: 07 Jan 2007 20:44
Location: London, Ontario

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by Cass »

Okay so I just read your second post and now have an even better reason for you to get a job - so you can afford to make it to more events of course!

I totally want a footbag&matching bracelet combo. Also a chainmail bag if you start making them.
User avatar
bluevampire101
Multidex Master
Posts: 230
Joined: 26 Jun 2013 15:53
Location: State College, PA

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by bluevampire101 »

Cassy: Thanks! Although I do agree with you, I'm not sure if it would only be positive. Also, although I am free for now, it is only until next month, mid-August, since school starts again. I think that by the time I find a decent job, I would have classes and just thinking about it makes me stressed already.
I was thinking that perhaps I can start selling bags by the start of the school year and invest in the money gained from that (by being able to buy more fabric, as well as fund other start-up hobbies and transportation to events). I know I probably wouldn't make too much, but it's something at least. And since footbag is already a passion for me, it's not much like work, and it's not as demanding away from school work.

I would definitely keep a different job in mind and have an eye out for such jobs around campus for when I do have a handle on things.
As for footbag&bracelet combo, and perhaps chainmail bag, I'll give you a heads up for it. ;)


So, today I watched the Eurotour Request videos and they were awesome! I didn't know Jay sounded like that, so that was a surprise. I hope to meet him (and everyone else) someday!.. soon? :D
That inspired me to kick today. For now, I'm waiting for Ben to get out of class and figured that I should do something productive. I re-checked my planned schedule for the spring, and came up with some back-up classes. I like planning... So, I have it planned out that I would have 4 classes, with only 1 class on Wednesday and no classes on Friday. And basically 1 class on Monday, but with different portions (lecture and recitation?), for longer. Then 3 classes on Tuesday and Thursday. That seems pretty ideal and lax. I don't know when I can start scheduling for it though since the fall semester hasn't even started. Penn State needs to up their organizing game :P
After that, I looked back on my list of hobbies/skills I want to have, and looked up what some entail (I forget). The one that seemed most easy to learn at a computer was the NATO Alphabet, which is pretty easy. The Wikipedia page also includes the matching Morse Code to each alphabet, so that's cool.
You can learn too! (Meaning instead of having to search the internet yourself, I will post the alphabet here, not the morse code though).
A = Alpha
B = Bravo
C = Charlie
D = Delta
E = Echo
F = Foxtrot
G = Golf
H = Hotel
I = India
J = Juliett
K = Kilo
L = Lima
M = Mike
N = November
O = Oscar
P = Papa
Q = Quebec
R = Romeo
S = Sierra
T = Tango
U = Uniform
V = Victor
W = Whiskey
X = X-Ray
Y = Yankee
:arrow: Z = Zulu!
April Tou
kicker, stitcher, footbag enthusiast, baker of PSUFC

"Drill until it's ingrained." -old Indian proverb according to a book I read
User avatar
bluevampire101
Multidex Master
Posts: 230
Joined: 26 Jun 2013 15:53
Location: State College, PA

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by bluevampire101 »

Today, there was only Ryan, Ben, and me. Khoa's sick and Caz works until five p.m. (we had the session 3:45PM). It was a nice session today because it's the first time since the Arts Fest Jam that I've felt kick-able, and what I mean by that is that I feel like my legs weren't shitting on me. They actually got warmed up and felt like butter, even though I wasn't hitting much. I wasn't as focused on actually stringing (in that I wasn't heartbroken about length) and was just happy that they could be making progress.

Which, later on, I ended up hitting PLO strong side. And I've hit it before, but this time my pixies are better. (The first time I hit PLO, it was moreso just to say that I've done it, and I hadn't really had experience with pixies).
This would be the second to third time that I've taken pixies seriously as part of a session. I have a video that Ben took of my attempts before actually hitting it, but I'm not sure if anyone would want to see me not hit anything.

I had also planned on trying to film for the Hot Tricks: Osis x4 competition, but I felt like I wasn't really ready today. Perhaps soon. One week left...
April Tou
kicker, stitcher, footbag enthusiast, baker of PSUFC

"Drill until it's ingrained." -old Indian proverb according to a book I read
User avatar
DC Clinks
BSOS Beast
Posts: 337
Joined: 01 Jun 2014 19:26
Location: NY

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by DC Clinks »

Oh hell yes I would buy the shit out of a footbag/ bracelet combo. Sounds wicked sick.

I agree with Cassy about the job stuff: more money = more opportunity to go to footbag events! I imagine it's decent to have on a resume too. Like if they see you work hard at some average minimum wage job, they'd probably be like damn, just imagine what this chick could do at a job she actually likes!

But it's up to you really, chilling and stitching footbags is cool too.

Props on all the kick sessions! Keep it up!

Hand touch.
-Daniel C. NY, USA. "Sacrifice a goat to our Lord and Savior Evan Gatesman".
User avatar
bluevampire101
Multidex Master
Posts: 230
Joined: 26 Jun 2013 15:53
Location: State College, PA

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by bluevampire101 »

Dan: Cool! Sounds like people are interested in this type of thing... Cool. Cool...
Haha, job. I've been keeping an eye out for a job, but there's not many choices in this small college town, that are easy to get to. There have been jobs that I'm interested in, but I would have to take the bus, and the bus isn't that reliable, and don't run too often (some run every 70 minutes, and there are even some that run 4 times a day).
And thanks! :)
*hand touch* Bzzt!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlthVn0jeoI[/youtube]
This is a song I like. It sometimes helps me get through hard times because I feel like I could kind of relate to it. (Also, I will be putting more AJJ onto my blog. They speak truths.)

Anywho, something else to talk about - yoga! Some people have recommended yoga, and it seems pretty cool. Ben took a yoga class this summer and has guided me through some stretches/poses. I've also heard that it could help with flexibility and stuff. I would like to get into yoga and perhaps that would help me with footbag, particularly with doof, which would be awesome. Then Doof>Zulu Doof would be closer to my reach perhaps.

And pets! I would like a pet, but I don't think I'm really ready for that kind of commitment. But that's mostly because I don't think I can take care of a big animal (like cats, dogs, and micropigs). I've never really taken care of anything, besides taking care of frogs for two weeks during winter break for my friend, which wasn't that bad. My thoughts on bigger animals is that I don't have enough money to care for them right now, and I also am not sure how to handle the whole transporting them if/when I move back to San Diego after I graduate. In the meantime, I wouldn't mind taking care of smaller animals, like rats, axolotls, and the like, especially after seeing Kat's rats at shredhaus. :) They're adorable.

Although I cannot get cats or dogs right now, here is one that I would've liked:
Image

I like animals. Another thing, ferrets! They're illegal in California. :cry: Plus, Ben says they smell and doesn't seem to like them. (Whatever to him!). I'm not sure about foxes in California, but they also seem like cool pets/animals. It would also be cool to hold a sloth. I wonder how Lon Smith did it... And I'm not sure how I feel about chinchillas.. I haven't seen one in real life. They seem nice though. Big enough that I won't hurt it (compared to small animals. I'm afraid I would step on them). Another cool pet to have would be a chameleon. I went with my sister to a Reddit Global Meetup in San Diego and this guy who had a chameleon told us that it was pretty easy to take care of them and house-train them. My sister even got to hold it.

Image


As for footbag-related things, something I recently thought of is that it would be cool to get pictures with footbaggers. Group photo, individual photo, etc. Photo with footbaggers. :D It'd be cool to keep track of events and people I've met, as well as make a memory of it. :) So long as it's not necessarily forced though. Forced pictures are kind of the worst :c

Another thing, I'm planning an online competition (not in the near future, but some time eventually) based on riddles. Like, I give a riddle for the first post on the competition, and leave my email address. Hidden in the riddle(s) is a link that people are supposed to film themselves hitting, and submit it to my email. I would personally reply back on whether or not the submission was correct. If it is correct, they get another riddle(s) with a perhaps either tougher to solve riddle, or a tougher link, and they go on to the next level. If it is incorrect, they will receive a reply saying that it was not the right link, and to try again (if they so please). This would go on for a set amount of riddles, and the video would consist of all clips submitted (whether right or wrong) and the dwindling numbers of correct submissions until the winner. It wouldn't be a time-based deadline online competition, but rather a race to the finish.
~Just an idea~

And! East Coasts! I am excited. It sounds like a lot of people are going to be able to make it! :D It also supports my thoughts of "right time, right place" events. Sometimes, it's just a matter of whether people can make it based on time, place, money, etc. rather than a nobody-wants-to-go situation. PSU Jamps this year had a lot of people go! Which is awesome. USO this year didn't have as many people go, but that's not a negative thing. I would've liked to go, but it just didn't work out. Perhaps next year or the year after that. East Coasts sounds like it's jumpin' because there's also a lot of people who are likely to go.
Sometimes, it's just more convenient and does not mean that footbag is dying or has anything inherently wrong with it. :) People have their own businesses and lives that sometimes just gets in the way, as a priority. Life goes on, footbag goes on.

All in all, I'm excited for East Coasts! :D

Also, I'm not sure if anyone noticed, but I sometimes edit my posts and put in pictures/videos/etc. because it fits and perhaps I had planned to put the picture there before but didn't have it at the time. *surprise!* (now they're like easter eggs?)
Last edited by bluevampire101 on 24 Jul 2014 09:37, edited 1 time in total.
April Tou
kicker, stitcher, footbag enthusiast, baker of PSUFC

"Drill until it's ingrained." -old Indian proverb according to a book I read
User avatar
Cass
Egyptian Footgod
Posts: 1218
Joined: 07 Jan 2007 20:44
Location: London, Ontario

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by Cass »

Yoga is great! Feels so good.

I try to get as many pictures with footbaggers as I can, cause yeah they are awesome memories! Most of the photos I take end up being candid ones though cause I agree that forcing them is weird haha.

Gerbils are amazing. Just saying. Cats are probably one of the easiest pets to care for though.

Just because USO wasn't a crazy huge turnout doesn't mean it wasn't a good event of course. In fact, it was one of my favourite events ever (second only to worlds 2013).

It's true that sometimes that's just how it goes with event turnouts. Also, a large turnout doesn't necessarily mean it will be a great event. Small jams can be way better because you really get a chance to bond with the people that attend. Either way I'm totally stoked for East Coasts also, should be awesome! It's cool to see so much interest in the event.
User avatar
bluevampire101
Multidex Master
Posts: 230
Joined: 26 Jun 2013 15:53
Location: State College, PA

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by bluevampire101 »

Cass wrote: Gerbils are amazing. Just saying. Cats are probably one of the easiest pets to care for though.

Just because USO wasn't a crazy huge turnout doesn't mean it wasn't a good event of course. In fact, it was one of my favourite events ever (second only to worlds 2013).

It's true that sometimes that's just how it goes with event turnouts. Also, a large turnout doesn't necessarily mean it will be a great event. Small jams can be way better because you really get a chance to bond with the people that attend. Either way I'm totally stoked for East Coasts also, should be awesome! It's cool to see so much interest in the event.
Huh. Gerbils... I feel like they might be too small, but I know they're super cute :D

And yeah, I agree! Turnouts definitely don't correlate with the amazingness of the event.
It's a lot easier to get to know other players if there are small jams, like Arts Fest! :)

And yeah! East Coasts! It's nice because I don't feel as bad or awkward about competing, as last year's (I definitely wasn't ready last year). And NYFA's just really awesome. Also, the attendees of course. Excited to see new faces there! :mrgreen:
April Tou
kicker, stitcher, footbag enthusiast, baker of PSUFC

"Drill until it's ingrained." -old Indian proverb according to a book I read
User avatar
bluevampire101
Multidex Master
Posts: 230
Joined: 26 Jun 2013 15:53
Location: State College, PA

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by bluevampire101 »

This past weekend, Mikie visited PSU as he was passing through. He arrived Friday and we kicked at Old Main with Ryan, Ben, and Khoa also there.
I made poppy seed muffins for the occasion.
Image

After kick, we ate at Rotelli's for dinner. Rotelli's is basically an Italian restaurant - pizza, pasta, soup, and salad.
Then, we headed to shredhaus to meet up with Ivan and hang out. After some talking and stuff, Mikie suggested watching Dead Set, which is a UK zombie show/movie. I ended up having Ben ask if I could play with the rats rather than watch it (I'm not very fond of zombies/the apocalypse) after a while.

Image

Also, during the weekend, Mikie ended up buying a bag from Ivan, Ben, and myself. Cool :D Hope those treat him well, and vice versa!

On Saturday, Mikie had to leave early, but Ben and I managed to make pancakes (like with Nick P. and Ryan T.) - seems to be the start of a tradition :) And then we kicked shortly after breakfast at the tennis courts within Ben's apartment complex area. Groovy.


Lastly, plan for footbags:
I'm thinking of selling 14's for $15, and 32's for $18. Matching bracelet option: +$2 to set prices.
Chainmail bags: TBD There is also the possible option for colored chainmail bags.
Every fifth bag sold with/without a bracelet purchase gets the option of having a matching bracelet or bracelet with colors of purchaser's choice. Up to 6 different colors.
Ben and I are probably most likely going to have a duo-shop thing, where it's conveniently located in one spot for the two of us to sell both of our bags. Buyer's choice.

Example of matching bracelet/footbag (except Ivan made the bag - it's the prize bag from Jamps):
Image
April Tou
kicker, stitcher, footbag enthusiast, baker of PSUFC

"Drill until it's ingrained." -old Indian proverb according to a book I read
User avatar
Cass
Egyptian Footgod
Posts: 1218
Joined: 07 Jan 2007 20:44
Location: London, Ontario

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by Cass »

$18 is NOT enough for a 32 panel. Don't undersell yourself :)

I would recommend $25 since you are a new stitcher. Your bags are really nice and I think that is completely reasonable. You could bump it up to $30 or $35 once you're more experienced. $2 also seems kinda low for the bracelet. They look like a lot of work.

That's just my opinion. This is coming from somebody who doesn't stitch but appreciates the effort that goes into it. I don't like to see awesome stitchers get burned out because they didn't charge enough for their bags ;)
User avatar
bluevampire101
Multidex Master
Posts: 230
Joined: 26 Jun 2013 15:53
Location: State College, PA

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by bluevampire101 »

Cassy: Thank you very much for the feedback :D

After contemplating your post and discussing it with Ivan, decisions have been made.

Ben and I will be selling our footbags at the same price, at one convenient location. We will distinguish which of us made which bags (by labeling A# for April, B# for Ben).
14 Panels will be sold for $15
32 Panels will be sold for $20
Matching bracelet option: +$5
Every fifth bag sold (from either April or Ben) receives a bracelet, matching or buyer's choice of colors.
Bracelets - up to 6 different colors.
Custom bags can be made upon request and availability of fabric colors.
Shipping: +$5
Chainmail bags still TBD

Keep an eye out for updates! :D (bag-wise)
April Tou
kicker, stitcher, footbag enthusiast, baker of PSUFC

"Drill until it's ingrained." -old Indian proverb according to a book I read
User avatar
boats
BSOS Beast
Posts: 329
Joined: 25 Jul 2010 16:29
Location: New York
Contact:

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by boats »

looks like im buying some bags
User avatar
krustykrakk
BSOS Beast
Posts: 374
Joined: 14 Jun 2013 09:12
Location: Bethlehem, PA/State College, PA

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by krustykrakk »

April is a seamstress while I am a seamster
Benjamin J. Babyak

I kick, therefore I am.

Did ya look at it?
User avatar
bluevampire101
Multidex Master
Posts: 230
Joined: 26 Jun 2013 15:53
Location: State College, PA

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by bluevampire101 »

Wowowowow.

So for the past few days, I hadn't really been feeling up to kick, so I ended up stitching some bags. They're still in the process because I've been making them in an order different than usual. I didn't really want to finish a bag in one go, so I cut out panels enough for five (four and a half at the time) bags one day. The next day I continued a bag that I had started before the prize bag for Nick's funny trick comp. I also started a new bag or two. The day after that, I did the same thing with the two other bags (still leaving that half bag - since I didn't know what design I wanted for the hexes). There ended up being five bags that I now have ungathered. Yesterday, I gathered three of the bags. I kind of quit for the day after the thread to one broke. Then today, I fixed/redid the flower that broke, as well as gathered that bag, and the last of the five bags. Then I also figured out a design for the last last bag last night and cut the panels out today. Hopefully (most likely), I will be done with all six bags by this weekend.

I also ended up filming for the hot trick (osis) competition today. I had some footage for the camera that I wasn't quite satisfied with, but ended up being fine with the last Osis x4 that I hit. Oh well. Practice, practice, practice. Overall, my Osis still needs work.
After the Osis filming, I practiced Pixies. I finally understood/tried Ben's method of the 90-90-90 thing, and my Pixies felt better. As well as the advice of having the bag under my knee. And other things kept in mind. I made attempt after attempt at Magellan and must have tried over fifty bajillion times (exaggeration). At one point, I accidentally kicked the bag off of the ledge (three stories) and had to go down all the half-floor stairs (they're weird) and jump the fence to get my bag, then jog back up all the weird stairs.

Highlights:
:arrow: Filmed for Hot Trick Comp. (Osis x4) - not satisfied, but content with final footage for the day
:arrow: Pixie practice - tips
:arrow: Footed Rooted Magellan -type thing - several times
:arrow: MAGELLAN - WOOO! F'YEAH! (one side, but STILL)

Very excited with the progress today.

Edit: I also made myself a chocolate-banana smoothie as a reward. And I made Ben a peanut butter-chocolate-banana smoothie too. :D
April Tou
kicker, stitcher, footbag enthusiast, baker of PSUFC

"Drill until it's ingrained." -old Indian proverb according to a book I read
Add Block
BSOS Beast
Posts: 413
Joined: 07 Feb 2014 03:04

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by Add Block »

For pixies, there are two types of people. Some people raise their thighs and push the bag upwards, releasing it at knee height. Other flick their ankle and don't raise their leg at all.

I'm not sure if any of these are considered wrong, but I can tell you that pigbeaters and smogs are really easy with the second method.

A good method I find is to do all pixie tricks you can and not just stay with PLOs and Smears. One trick that helps the most is Pixie SS Mirage. I don't know why this one, but others have said it (Ken for example I think). It might also be a good idea to swap bags, do a couple of pixies with an XL bag.
I hate bad form and I'm a hypocrite.

Vojta
User avatar
DC Clinks
BSOS Beast
Posts: 337
Joined: 01 Jun 2014 19:26
Location: NY

Re: Set Phasers To Love Me! [April's Footblog (PSU)]

Post by DC Clinks »

MATCHING FOOTBAG AND BRACELET :O

Image
-Daniel C. NY, USA. "Sacrifice a goat to our Lord and Savior Evan Gatesman".
Post Reply