Making shirts

A couple of days ago we received an order for t-shirts so today we woke up early to work on it. I took a couple of shots so that I could show how the process works. The actual printing of the shirt is not hard or that time consuming. The part that takes a lot of time is the making of the screens(the stencil) and registering (aligning) the screens so that each color is exactly lined up with the other colors to make the print. After running a few trial prints to ensure the print is right the printing goes rather smoothly. We easily completed 50 of the prints in about 2 hours. We have another set of shirts to make for this customer later today. Then Monday we will ship them to Idaho. It's fun to see the shirts we make on the streets. We get to let a little creative energy out making them.

Bill is adjusting the platen(the place the shirt goes to get the print) to ensure proper alignment and print placement.

A shirt is placed on the platen. The shirt is placed carefully so that the print will be straight and centered on the shirt. This placement takes a while to learn. I have placed shirts where the print is neither straight or centered. It get easier with time and practice.

The lightest color is printed first on this pattern. The ink is spread over the screen with a squeegee and then is pulled or pushed at a 90 degree angle so the ink passes through the cleared stencil area and on to the shirt.

Each color of a print is a separate screen(stencil). The more colors the more screens needed for the print. This print is a 3 color print. This is the second color.

Here is what the print looks like after the first two colors are printed. You can see the giraffe and the monkey.

On the third screen you can see the stencil without ink over it. The areas without the emulsion (pink ) on it is where the ink will pass through making the print on the shirt.

This is the completed print. Now there is one more important step setting the ink.

The printed shirt is carefully taken off of the platen and heated under a press the shirt must reach 325 degrees to cure the ink. Or the ink will smear or come off in the wash.
Now the shirt is finished only 49 more to go.

On a day when I make new screens I'll explain how we do that part of the process.

Project Finished at Last

This morning at about 1:00 Emily finished her science fair project. Yes it was due today. Emily has been working on it for some time. Thursday night we had to have take out because she had it spread all over the kitchen, using the stove and all of the counter space. It's been a project that started out to seem a simple set of experiments. Then the experiments wouldn't work and the project became frustrating. She came up with new experiments then finished one trial on each, then she found out she needed three tests runs for each experiments. Last night all she wanted was to be done, and never to see sugar substitutes again. This morning before she left for school I saw the her display board. She did a great job. It looked like all the work was so worth it.

4 Years and Counting

picture taken in 2007 in front of natural history museum
Today is our anniversary of moving to Virginia. After living our entire lives in the west,on this day 4 years ago we boarded an airplane. For the first time for our children, we landed at the Dulles airport to begin our adventure.

It's been wonderful for our children. Their attitudes and ideas have changed and they have had experiences that have broadened and enhanced their lives. They have made new friends. They have had wonderful leaders that have strengthened them.

Bill an I have grown rounder and closer together. We have learned to silk screen shirts and started a small business. Bill has taught early morning Seminary for almost three years. We have worked on various home improvement projects. And we enjoy our weekly date night.

We love to be together with our children. We have visited so many historical sites and museums. And have visited many of the sites in Washington DC. We all love the many trees and beautiful scenery. We love going to the Shenandoah national park and to the beaches of the Assateague island. We love that there is so much to do and see.



We have truly found wonderful people who help us and guide us, who serve with us and whom we serve. We have found generosity and friendship in and out of the church. We are grateful for the good friends our children have found to hang around with.It's truly the people who have helped us make Virginia home.

We have made many memories and will continue to enjoy our life here for any more years!! It's been a great 4 years!


Pictures taken 2008 Shenandoah National Park




Picture taken 2009 Bull run regional park

Picture taken 2010 Kirtland Ohio

Hear the world

Lydia and I went to the Audiologist today. She went into the sound proof booth and she raised her hand every time she heard the sound of the little birdie . She was so cute and in such a good mood. She kept looking at me through the window so happy and content to please the DR. When she was finished the doctor was so glad to tell us that her hearing was now normal. The surgery worked and she can hear the world like she should. What a blessing!!!!

Girls Pine Wood Derby Races

Yesterday afternoon Emily, Jessica, and I melted lead and poured it into a hollowed out area of a pine wood car. Pretty good for a group of women. They finished painting and detailing their cars for the big race.
For Young Women's they raced their cars. Emily is the great cheerleader for everyone. She yelled for everyone. Jessica has out grown these type of events and spent most of her time trying to do homework. She is at the point that she wants to put away childish games.



Cars ready to race.I think they had fun because their dad was there to help and support them.



Jessica's, Katherine Snyder's, Emily's. The cars looked Sweet each with their own style and flair.

Sunday Drives

This afternoon Bill asked, "Where would you like to go for a drive." A memory flooded my mind from many past Sunday afternoons and I replied, " I want to go over the river to grandma's house to watch Disney World and eat popcorn with the cousins" I truly wish I could recreate those wonderful Sunday evenings at Grandma Christenson's house and visit with my cousins and watch grandma pop the corn over the stove in the kettle. I can still see grandma poping the corn and making carmel to go over it. We always had so much fun with all those cousins in grandmas small house with the gigantic yard and garden.

Well, since I couldn't bring all that back, in reality we took a ride to a nearby park. The kids watched a movie in the car and I took pictures of the beautiful day as the sun was about to set. It was gorgeous as the sun danced off of the snow. It's days like today that I love the beauty of Virginia in the winter time.

Snow is Calling: Play Today

Snow falling gently from the sky gliding ever so slowly to the white earth. So beautiful and yet so tempting. You can't help but go make footprints or play in it. It calls to you. I think because it's new, it's different. It beckons to you, play, take the day off, and jump in. Put everything away and laugh, even scream. You sled faster and faster down the hill. Get up, climb the hill with heavy legs. Find exactly the right spot plop your body onto the round sled, get a push, and some where between the top and the bottom you loose your self in the moment letting go of everything feeling nothing but exhilaration. And then the moment is gone. Crash landing plowing into the piles of snow at the bottom of the hill. You shake it off ,the pain the cold, the wet, and off you go again trudging up the hill. Loving every minute of the cycle smiling, laughing, screaming, chatting. Over and over again up the hill down the hill. You can't walk away until you're so cold and wet that your fingers and toes are numb and every ounce of energy is gone. Walking up that hill is just too much. However you stop build a small snowman and throw a few snowballs at each other. Not wanting the moment to pass but knowing there is no more to give. Wanting warmth and hot chocolate. Yet you are still reluctant to leave. Wanting to enjoy the moment to linger just a little longer. Their faces say it all!!!!

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Jessica's good friend Virginia Rose joined us on our adventure. We had a great time sledding.