swimming along

summer, sweat, and exploring connections

happy summer everyone! i hope we are all holding up ok or leaning on loved ones for comfort.

its good to be back. i took the month of june off to spend time with friends and family back home in california. it was great to have a break but as soon as i got back to portland, it was nonstop work. i have been expanding my studio, making new plaster molds, and making more mugs and matcha bowls for a restock. read on for info on the restock this weekend, tidbits of studio stuff, and favorite things in june!

july restock

the shop will be restocked this friday, july 11th! substack subscribers will get the secret code at 9am PST on friday to access the shop before it goes public at 12pm. everything except eggplant matcha bowls and ube and napa mugs will be restocked. i had some issues with these two mug colors but hope to resolve everything and have them available in the august’s restock.

i will be donating 10% of sales from this restock to Immigration Counseling Service. ICS provides accessible services to immigrants and their families in Oregon to ensure their legal rights are upheld. as a child of immigrants, i know firsthand how much folks sacrifice to provide opportunities for themselves and their families that are otherwise unavailable to them in their home countries. waking up everyday to yet another descending step into the pits of fascist hell is incredibly distressing. but despite feeling defeated, i know that participating in the fight back will fulfill and carry me through the dark. please consider donating on your own accord, go to a protest, call your representatives, educate yourself on what to do in case you witness an ICE raid. don’t be a bystander. immigrants are part of your community and they deserve to be protected.

moldmaking

as mentioned in a previous newsletter, i have been expanding my studio. i’ve always shared a studio so being mindful of how i take up space was first priority. now i have the entire place to myself, no one to consider or consult. gaining more space means more room to spread out. everything has a place. i have a designated shipping area, a dream!!! its been wild to take a plunge and feel that its really right.

with this new change, the biggest thing i wanted was more slipcasting molds. previously, i was limited by square footage which dictated how many molds i could utilize. the extra space has allowed me to have more molds. this means i can produce more pieces per restock, and more chances for folks to get a piece. making molds in-house is very time consuming and all encompassing. its a 3 week project with little room to do anything else on the side. its been a lot of legwork upfront to get my studio back up and running even better than before. but all of this work makes my job easier in the long run and means i can actually enjoy our precious portland summer and still feel capable of getting through the hectic holiday season.

june favorites

love island

its nice to feel community lol. just something to indulge in and escape. however, it has wholly consumed me. amaya and bryan are my favorites right now but WE WILL SEE! you can never be too sure. this season has actually drained me emotionally but i must see it through.

liquid iv

crystal light reincarnate. i never think about electrolytes but my low blood pressure is begging me to. the passionfruit flavor is that girl! but i dilute it 100% because its too sweet for my liking as is.

swimming sandwich

one of the best things about summer is the swimming sandwich. after i emerge from the chilly river water, i love to tear up a sandwich straight from the cooler as i air dry in the blazing sun. my choice as of late is ciabatta, prosciutto, mozzarella, pesto, tomato, arugula, and balsamic.

deodorant

WITH ALUMINUM! please i’m begging everyone to wear antiperspirant this summer. the summer heat is no joke and i think we are all dealing with enough without BO. i switched to secret outlast unscented gel and it has changed my life for the better. completely dry underarms even after intense exercise. apply at night for maximum effect. its all love but i had to be real for a second.

thanks for hanging out with me for a bit! i’m excited about the restock this weekend. stay tuned on here for the early access code at 9am PST on friday. hugs!