Den10studio blog - a little sketchbook + a lot of miles

Sketchbook

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:11:00 +0000

[den10studio-hand lettering]

Something to remember.

(therefore, I am posting this quote for a second time, different lettering style :)

Happy Friday!

Sketchbook

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:26:00 +0000

[den10studio-hand lettering]

Running Log

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:31:00 +0000

"You have to forget your last marathon before you try another.

Your mind can't know what's coming." ~Frank Shorter

Winter Running-Training for a Spring Marathon:

Last week: 14 total miles

Didn't put in a lot of miles last week. I have been working a full time freelance job and it is kicking my running schedule's butt. Not to mention I tweaked my back.

Was it from snowboarding the weekend before? No. It was because I fell into a deep, hard sleep for about 45 minutes on my sofa! (could my job, running schedule, and kids' schedule be kicking my butt?....hmmm.)

I accidentally deleted my last blog post (see below) that mentioned some other pains, like in my knee and foot, just to fill you in...so, what the heck is going on?

Yesterday, 22 degrees and 5" of snow and my aching body. Why am I smiling?

Ice and Motrin, baby.

I was running late to meet the group because I stopped to take that picture ^ ...

This is how I feel lately. Like I can't keep up.

I made it, though, and ran 10 miles with my wonderful group of running friends. Their company make the miles painless.

Needless to say, I'm tired.

I need to get my head around the marathon coming up in April. Forget the last one. This one is its own.

Running Log

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Winter Running-Training for a Spring Marathon:

(what a great post this was...but I deleted it unknowingly when I added a title using my ipad, which obviously does not support blogger :(

Running Log

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Winter Running-Training for a Spring Marathon:

Last week: 18 total miles

Boy, it's dark and cold out there in the morning.

Boy, it's dark and cold out there at night.

It's that time of year when it takes tons of motivation to hit the road and just do it.

Tuesday was the first day of our Winter Training program. It is officially 1 year that I have been running with Lisa, coach extraordinaire.

Her group is just great!

A group like this is what it takes to get you running through the winter. On the streets, on the trails...Bah to treadmill running. As Lisa, coach extraordinaire, says, there is no such thing as bad weather if you have the right clothes.

I swear by Nike Combat wear.
Smartwool socks. (I love the thick ones)
Under Armor hat and gloves.
Although, I got the cutest Smartwool hat for Christmas. It is orange and plum, reversible. I'll give you the report on how it work in 15 degree temps. So far it is perfect!

I came across a $140 Nike windbreaker for $40 at TJMaxx that I don't know how I have been living without! It keeps you warm and blocks the wind completely (as a $140 windbreaker should).

Don't you love a good bargain.

Anyhoo...to keep motivated through the winter, it is good to have a goal...let's say, something to train for, like a spring race.

So, yes, I have signed up for another marathon!

April 28th.

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:57:00 +0000

This is my 500th post.

I have been blogging for about 3 years.

It's a new year and I ask myself (like I do every year) why do I blog?

Who cares about little ol' me, right?

But, I love blogging and sharing my ideas, my hot projects, art, my little sketches, quotes, serendipity, my journey as a runner.

This blog is kinda all over the board, isn't it?

My blog isn't a resource for fashion or decorating or travel or baking. My blog is not famous or popular or controversial.

But, if someone likes my style, a quote that speaks to them, inspiration for running, then all is good.

A win-win!

Maybe a little blog make-over is around the corner...but for the most part it will remain the same :)

Do what you love.

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:46:00 +0000

A New Year's wish for you:

A fresh start.

New hope.

Tons of happiness.

And a full heart.

All in the year 2012!

The tree is down. The decorations are put away. The house is clean.

I am ready for the new year.

It's like organizing your office or desk before starting a new project, right?

This is my mod living room back in order...

My next hot project is filling this blank wall with framed art...

I have been collecting ideas for an arrangement. Click here to see On The Wall on Pinterest:

What are your hot projects for 2012?

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:25:00 +0000

Christmas is here!

Enjoy your holiday celebrations and time with your family & friends.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our cousin, Ben, who is fighting with all his might to beat cancer. May he live to be an old man.

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:22:00 +0000

[den10studio - hand lettering]

This is such a busy time of year. Only 6 more days until Christmas.

Everyone is busy, it goes without saying, really.

Keep smiling and take it all in!

Choose to be happy.

And for those last minute gifts, here is a quote Chrissy sent me~

Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.

-Oren Arnold

Running Log

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Last week: 15 total miles

Photo For Card - Take 2

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:40:00 +0000

So, Annie didn't like how her photos turned out from the last time and wasn't too happy with me that I posted it on my blog, let alone the idea of using it for our card.

We gave it another try. Nothing fancy, no beachy vacation shot (maybe next year), just casual, in our living room.

I am using a new lens. A Canon EF 50mm. And I need to get the hang of it...

Do you know how difficult it is to get a shot where everyone is looking their best?

But, I think I got pretty close....

Look at these twinsies!

Getting In The Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:21:00 +0000

We got our tree over the weekend...

And I took some photos for our Christmas card...

We have received 4 Christmas cards already.

That's when I know it's time to get started on ours!

Running Log

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:59:00 +0000

Last week: 17 total miles

Well, we are coming into winter and there are not a whole lot of races going on until after January. The rest is wonderful, but kind of bad timing with all the delicious food that comes with the holidays. I got used to burning 1000+ calories during those long runs while training for the marathon. But, I'll cut myself some slack!

I ran my last race of 2011 on Thanksgiving.

The inaugural Pie 3.14. It was a local unchipped run. Fast and fun. RFM and a bunch of other people from our group ran.

I can't remember the last time I raced 3 miles. High School, probably. So, I'm going to count this as a PR for me:

6:42 avg. mile
around 21 minutes
1st place in my age group, 6th over all for women
(the 5 ladies who finished ahead of me were in their 20's !)

So, yes, I will definitely count this as a PR...

Happy Monday.

Serif or Non-Serif

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:56:00 +0000

A serif is a line or stroke at the ends of letters that add detail.

Lots of my prints have this style of hand lettering. It has become somewhat my font and it is somewhere in between a serif and a non-serif.

Hmm, this font needs a name...any ideas?

Flip Side

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:41:00 +0000

I thought I would share a few stamps I made.

DO NOT BEND.

Originally created to stamp my mailing envelopes when shipping prints.

While working on a typography project, I had the urge to create a stamp for a THANK YOU note card.

Happy Monday!

Quote of The Day

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:12:00 +0000

My girlfriend, Chrissy, has been sending me a quote every day for over a year now. It's part of my morning to check emails, with my ~~pot~~ cup of coffee, and read her quote of the day.

She picks really, really, good ones!

I save all her quotes. Why not have all these words of wisdom and inspiration all in one place.

And since I love hand lettering, a quote is perfect material. The combination of the two is like bread and butter.

Thank You Note Cards

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:57:00 +0000

[cards at den10studio on etsy]

Remember the post about the zig & the zag?

Ta-da! I turned the zig zag sketch into note cards.
(click here to see them on etsy)

The Perfect 10

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:19:00 +0000

I live in the best neighborhood with the best kind of people as neighbors and friends. Not only is everyone kind and supportive, we know how to have a good time.

There are block parties, a pumpkin carving party, a turkey bowl brunch, fundraisers, girls' nights out, bon fires....the list goes on.

And now we have a running team.

Rachel (sweat sister) sent out an email, a hey this race looks fun The Perfect 10 Navy Pier 10k or 10 miler who wants to do it?

A little something for everyone.

Well, look at that group!

Rachel and I picked up packets (that is my part, we have a little routine, I pick up the packets for us, she drives us to the race). Friday she came with me and we had lunch at Riva's sitting in this perfect natural light, overlooking the pier and lake and skyline...ahhh. We could have been in a movie...

We truly are fortunate to live so close to the city, just beautiful.

(talk among yourselves...)

Anyway, Rachel coordinated rides and we were off to the races, as they say, dark and super early Saturday morning. (We like to give ourselves plenty of time to use the bathroom about a hundred and eight times before the race starts.)

RFM (running friend Mike) met us there too. This was the first race I have ever run where we weren't packed in at the start and it was fabulous. RFM and I moved close to the front of the line and were able to avoid most of the jockeying around people once the race started. We ran the first few miles together then settled into our own pace.

The course headed south from Navy Pier along the lake on the bike path. Gorgeous. The weather was on the cool side and sunny. Just the right temp to run in. I love taking in that moment, looking up and seeing the buildings, the water, the sky and thinking, wow, I'm running a race.

(talk among yourselves...)

Anyway, there were a lot of firsts for the group. First time running a 6 mile race, first time running a 10 mile race, first race ever, first race in the city...PRs for everyone!

Well, I am so happy to be a part of this experience with my friends. It was my first time doing a race with such a big group and I loved it.

It was also my first time running a 10 mile race. RFM and I agreed 10 miles is the perfect distance for a race. I ended up placing 4th in my age group!

Finishing time: 1:16

Avg mile time: 7:38

ps- pls excuse all typos today, my editor has the day off :)

Whatta Find!

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:17:00 +0000

[above images belong to sycamore hill - found here]

Gotta love the upcycled vintage silverware from Sycamore Hill. Two of my favorite things in one - type & vintage.

Running Log

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:09:00 +0000

Last week: 16 total miles

On Saturday, RF Mike (RF=running friend) and I ran with Lisa (coach extraordinaire) and had a fantastic run. There is something about running a short distance after training for and running 26 miles...

Speed with ease. Well, some sort of ease :)

We ran 7 miles. Our last 4 miles went something like this:

7:53

7:37

7:07

7:04

There is also something about running with someone...

Companionship.

You learn so much hearing about other experiences. And you learn so much about yourself.

After we finished, Lisa quoted:

"Life starts where your comfort level ends."

I love sharing my running experience (that's why I blog about it!) but this weekend, talk about sharing a running experience...there will be around 15 of us running The Perfect 10 race on Saturday - 10k or 10 miles.

2 car loads of peeps, ready to run!

(I'm thinking about a "run" t-shirt design...which "run" graphic do you like?

Top image or bottom?)

Sketchbook

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:19:00 +0000

[sketch25-run]

Running Log

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:12:00 +0000

It's that time again...

Meet the Mizuno Wave Rider. I like the sound of that.

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:46:00 +0000

[sketch24-pumpkins]

Running Log

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Last week: 20 total miles

Wiggin Out

noreply@blogger.com (karyn) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:47:00 +0000

My get-up came together. So as promised, photos from Saturday night-The 4th Annual Wiggin' Out fundraiser for Children's Memorial Foundation.

Wig required!

The fabulous hosts of the evening.

Andy was there.

Good times.