Tutorial 4 : How to start customising a shirt

This tutorial has been long overdue, I’m sorry its coming late but I had to learn from the masters of the art before putting this up.(thanks ozee clothings).

First of all when customising a shirt, whether t-shirt, crop tops, shirts two things are involved , the materials used and the design for the clothing materials. Polyester or cotton is used, cotton is usually of more quality the medium used to reflect the design is another important factor there are ususally 3 types used
Flex
Flock
Luminous

Flex is a printing technique where the design is cut from a colored foil and then pressed onto the shirt under high heat. It is not as expensive as the other forms..

Flock is a printing technique where the design is cut from a colored foil and then pressed onto the shirt under high heat.  (more tutorial lessons on this later).
Luminous printing lights up the cloth, it is said to be more expensive than the others. (more tutorial lessons on this later)
Other mediums include, direct to garment (DTG) printing and sublimation printing which are more expensive and rare.

Also to succeed well in this business, one needs to be computer literate. The knowledge of corel draw skills, good colour combinations, good imaginative skills e.g such an individual must know that certain colours do not go together e.g two light colours yellow n white won't come out well.
If you are not a tailor you also need good tailors to sew your shirts. To the desired forms and sizes.

Below are a few steps to starting:
Get customer's measurement (size)
Get desired material (cotton or polyester)
Cut and sew to taste and size
Design on computer using corel draw
Insert flex, flock or luminous into the PLOTTER
The plotter is connected to the computer which has a software that enables it to work
Cut design through flex, flock or luminous depends on which you decide to use
After cutting, the PRESSER is used to paste the designs on the cloth.

In conclusion, customising clothes is a lucrative business although can be time consuming and stressful too. Be ready to learn from other people's works and creativity to excel.
Hope this article was beneficial..

Diary of an Ibadan corper 2

So I started work in the wonderful city of Ibadan , putting aside my transportation wahala, I settled down to enjoy serving my fatherland. I remember how much that statement (serve your fatherland) had haunted me when I first got posted to Plateau  (watch out for diary of a Jos corper). How does one serve her fatherland dutifully in this country where almost all the states have been infested by robbers, bad roads, kidnappers, ritualists and suicide bombers? That’s what I say to anyone who asks me why I left the beautiful land of Jos.

Settling down at my local government was another palava. How is it possible that one will never get anything done in this country with a bit of ease, without having bribed the officers in charge? When CDS  or clearance days approach every week I usually dread the long queues, the pushing, the stress.. not forgetting some annoying and corrupt NYSC officials who have sworn to frustrate your life whenever you are needed at the local government.

I remember my first payment voucher signing as a relocated corper in Ibadan north local government, I almost cursed that day. I got into this queue, you know those kinds of queues where you don’t even care who is watching , you struggle for survival, those kinds of queues where you make friends with the closest reasonable person, those kinds of queues when you do not know when you will get out? Those queues where some people just arrive from nowhere to tell you they were in front of you since forever, those kinds of queues where you are not the only one with lipstick stains on your cloth ? that’s the kind of queue I’m referring to.

That day, I realized the power of a woman. They came in different shapes and sizes, some with letters from the LGI, some came with their babies or pregnancies to get sympathy , all some had to do was flaunt their beautiful face and body, bend and whisper stuffs into the ears of the officer in charge and in a flash he stands up and leaves with them carrying the files where everybody had to sign. But then some young men who had none of these offered cash in camera. So yours truly who wasn’t ready to use any of these wiles, queued  and endured for about 4hrs  before eventually signing that day. leaving some others in the struggle, as tired, dirty and rough looking as I was, I managed to  get to the bus stop. My earlier feeling of relief drastically turned to anger and contempt at the crowd waiting for something to convey them to Apata where I reside even if it was a bicycle. Another struggle?  Here was I thinking I’d put my transportation problems aside…chai! God.... My heart sank.

I love November

Why is the 11th month of the year so special one would ask? Although according to Gregorian calendar November was the ninth month of the ancient calendar. (November from Novem which means nine). A lot of people who are aware of my love for that month have asked me several questions, it is not as if I can provide a definite answer to that question. As a matter of fact this may sound childish and naïve but my first attraction is the name of the month, I like the pronunciation, the sound of it… there is also this celebration mood that brews in this month… the thought of the new year ahead, the thought of Christmas in December, the end to the rains and the birth of harmattan.

The weather is usually beautiful for sporting activities this month. Although presently since almost everywhere in the world is suffering from messed  up weather conditions, climate and season and especially in Nigeria where we now have extremities of weather, November has not been acting like November but anyways I m still hopeful. The month has not ended.

 November ushers in the realization that the year is coming to an end, farmers already know if their year has been successful or not.  According to some scientific studies there are claims of empirical evidence suggesting that November-born children are likely to be overachievers in their own fields. (every month is special in their own way).

My November born pals have constantly wondered why I take so much joy in this month, it is not even my birth month but I’ve come to realize that it is the month that gives the opportunity to plan and prepare for the new year ahead. Come to think of it, in December one is so carried away with the merriment and activities such that a handful of people complain of being broke in the month of January.
Bottomline, this month provides great opportunities , especially for good planners, even religious bodies encourage fasting for the new year this month. You might say it’s a psychological thing for me, you might not be total convinced with the little I’ve said but really I just love November!

 I LOVE JANUARY  too (smiles)

The training season

The assumption:  when you and everyone assume that all that one goes through is a normal occurrence, no big deal.  Note: Nothing happens as a normal occurrence, nothing happens by mistake, everything that happens has been predestined, pre-planned and prepared by God.


The uncomfortable phase: when you begin to face certain situations, that appears abnormal and unpalatable. When you long desperately for a change.

The lamentation phase: when you get tired of the situation and begin to complain to everyone, every person that is willing to hear and join the pity party ; which obviously won't help you.

The pre-realisation phase: when you begin to see that this particular situation, the series of event has been experienced by you earlier and you probably reacted the same way you are reacting.
Note: God makes us repeat examinations which are majorly life lessons in the spiritual just as we repeat examinations in real life if we keep failing.


The non- challance phase: after realizing especially by the help and ministration of the holyspirit of God that the particular situation is a training and that life is in stages and phases, that one needs to pass successfully from stage to stage i.e  higher level in the spiritual, there comes another spirit which makes one forget and relax.


The post-lamentation phase : the same spirit that made one forget and relax, encourages more lamentations and complaints. Because if you do not react to the situation, if you do not react to the situation, if you do not study and prepare, for the examination, one will remain fixed at that point.

The realization phase : here is when you return to the point of realizing that you are still in the examination room and you cannot afford to fail again.
How then do you pass the exam? How do you convince your trainer (GOD) that you fully understand all of the lessons you have been taught?

Do something different : you have been complaining in the past and it has only brought you more pain. Why not call on the trainer? Plead with him to give a clue…. Afterall he sees it all.

Diary of an Ibadan Corper

Stepping into the largest city in West Africa, I was overwhelmed by the thought that this our very own Yoruba speaking city in the west could be awarded such accolade as “largest city in Africa”. I desired to drive around town to see everywhere in this city but I knew that wasn’t possible in one day. Consolation was, I wasn’t leaving anytime soon.
My joy and excitement at residing here and being stationed here began to reduce when I took my first bus, Apata to Dugbe. I must say,This bus looked very good on the outside, deceiving a not suspecting me into getting in. I sat down and felt like I was sitting on steel, unfortunately I couldn’t get off anymore, the bus was on the move what would I have given as excuse for wanting to get off all of a sudden?

As more passengers got in, the real inconvenience began. We had to squeeze into the vehicle. A fat woman got in on the back row where I was and life became totally miserable in the bus. We hadn’t moved 10mins when we got into this terrible hold up, we were sweating inside the bus and out of the blues a foul odour was released. Joining the various odours that had  been circulating in the bus.
After this first discouraging experience I decided to limit my means of transportation to just cabs and bikes, but  I was disappointed to find out that cabs do not run everywhere in this town. The many bike accidents  I had witnessed and heard of made me decide against bikes.

I decided to always avoid the backseat in any bus,but like they say “we don’t ALWAYS GET WHAT WE WANT. I kept experiencing this bus discomfort of a thing , I began to wish I had other options, a personal car, a permanent lift giver like is the case in the society today. Some set of people make sure you give them lift everyday.

Why exactly do buses in bad condition ply our roads? Have you ever been in a bus during a heavy downpour and still feel as if you are directly under the rain? You begin to wonder if you are actually in the bus or on the bus...Why is 80% of the commercial buses in this city in such conditions? To add insult to injury you come across drivers who are cheats, thieves,dirty, Mannerles and unreasonable. Can all of this be blamed on the standard of living in the country?

To be continued...........

Misunderstandings

Misunderstandings are inevitable kinda.. ever wondered why today you are friends with someone and it seems as if there is no one like them and the following days you wonder how you ever coped with them ? They become like total strangers in some cases.. as much as we all long to live together peacefully and lovingly especially with loved ones, I ve come to realise we still step on each other's toes. Whether we expect it or not, I personally hate being mis understood.  Like adults say, the teeth still bites the tongue as together as they are. The most important thing is to strive to settle disputes amicably. With consideration, maturity and giving benefit of doubts  misunderstandings should be settled. 

As long as an individual is on this planet and alive, he or she will get into misunderstanding situations.The ability to settle differences amicably is what gives birth to love, joy and peaceful co-existence.

Maintaining balance

I remember when I was in primary school, we had this seesaw, where two kids could get on at once. Each kid had to sit on either sides and when one goes up the other comes down. I realized as young as I was then that I didn’t always feel comfortable when I was either too high or down, I always preferred when we both maintained a balance, when we were on the same position.
Maintaining a balance is really a big deal, I have come to the realization that if everyone in the society strives and try their best to live a rational and normal life, the society will be a better place to live in. how often do we come across people who are rich, successful, intelligent yet sad, hostile and bad tempered? How often do we  come across unreliable, selfish but intelligent people? How often do we come across intelligent, brilliant, magnanimous and wise people who do not have a good relationship with God? Do we get the picture?
I know a lot of us might think it is not possible to attain perfection, like they say no one is perfect. But are we then going to fold our arms in the name of that and live life carelessly? Asides that matt 5 vs 48 states how much living perfect like Christ is expected of us.
We all popularly say our lives are in what I like to refer to as “compartments” spiritual compartment, social compartment, academic compartment, emotional compartment  to mention a few. As much as

I support all round  growth and living the good life, socializing, since even the bible testifies to this I still believe that making moderation in all things key is the best and most ideal.
How do we then maintain a balance amongst these compartments we have created in our lives and at the same time fulfill our calling? Human beings as we are, are complicated beings, our temperament, our beliefs play a large role. How do we manage our complex structure yet still succeed at life endeavours and be happy? How do we live our lives such that all those who encounter us will never regret they did?

The benefits of having the gift of understanding cannot be overemphasized, this is why the first thing we need in maintaining balance is understanding God.
Understanding God’s plans for our lives is a major approach to maintaining balance . the God that knew us even before he formed us in our mother’s belly, wouldn’t it be great to find out what he has in store for us? What he gave us as gifts?
The knowledge of what God has in store for us helps us understand ourselves which is another important factor. If we understand ourselves, our chances of being successful in life is increased by 30%. Knowing oneself helps to maintain peace within and on the outside. Relating with others and the society becomes easier, total dependence on God, submission to God as well as an improved self worth becomes our lot.


The reason we have emotionally imbalanced people in the society is because these people don’t understand God and what he has in store for them, they don’t understand themselves thereby allowing themselves to be tossed around by people’s opinion and actions.
Another important factor is understanding people. If you don’t understand God and yourself, you cannot understand other people. If you don’t understand other people you cannot relate with them and if you cannot relate with them you are imbalanced. God didn’t create us in an isolated world without people because he knew we cant fulfill purpose without interacting with our fellow human beings. Even Adam got Eve.
A successful life is that life that is lived fulfilling one’s calling, managing and investing time wisely. The successful life is that life that was lived as designed by the creator. All in all let us all ask for the grace to live our lives such that we will be celebrated while on earth and even when we finally leave the earth.

NATURE'S GIFT

Nature’s wildest gifts are best seen when you are not exactly looking for it. You just come across them by mistake, unannounced, unsuspecting like two snails mating in the early hours of the morning in their humble abode, amongst the green grasses. As I got ready for work that morning, my mind flashed back to the mother hen I had seen guarding her chicks from behind as they scavenged for food on the streets the previous day, it looked like they were just straying about, each looking for what to eat but then it looked very much like the mother hen guarded the younger chicks from behind, since she was leading them and at the same time going from behind. Or perhaps it was me, maybe I over interpreted the whole scenario, maybe my missing and longing for my mother affected my reasoning.


I woke my brother up as usual to lock up the door after me, I usually had to leave very early for work, my brother often went back to sleep after I was gone. As I trekked the lonely, dark path to the junction where the staff bus picks me, my mind wondered mischieviously at what nature had to offer me that morning. I looked around carefully for anything unusual or distinct, I smiled when I thought of what I was doing. I held my phone properly making sure that the light it generated saw me through the road. Just then a scary thought came to mind, what if there were dangerous animals in this bushes on both sides? At that thought, I quickened my pace and almost ran to the road. My mind gradually settled as I got to the faimiliar junction and started coming across people, drivers rushing to work early, local food sellers hurrying up their cooking and some other artisans opening up their business centers and shops.

Just then Nature gave me another gift which made me smile, a very rounded large rat ran out of a local canteen by the road dragging bits of food with it,it almost ran into the fire being made but then quickly retraced it steps. Isn”t that what we sometimes do even as humans? Run from frying pan to fire...despite the gift of making wise descisions?

As I boarded my bus that morning, I remembered it was the beginning of a new month, as someone greeted me. As some of the other workers dozed off since it was still a long way to work, I made up my mind strongly to be a different human....

Feel Good

“What am I ever going to be good at? All my life I have always had to applaud others but no applause for me. I never get noticed, even when I’m noticed its by not so very important people like me. Will I ever make it big, will I get to the top of my career? Why can't I sing like Onome? Dance like Ekaette, be humorous like Yemi , be beautiful like Ola, act in dramas like Moni, captivate the audience with my wonderful speech like Cynthia? Write widely appreciated books and articles like Ibukun? Why? Is there something wrong with me?

I can't even lead my class in tests and exams, I can't cook perfectly like my sister, I cant even attract the right people. Why does someone have to beat me in everything I do? Was I born to be a mediocre?  Or a lowlife?  My life is so pathetic.

Twenty year old  Mofe complained to her aunt. She had gone to spend her session holiday with her aunt. Her aunt who had noticed her behaviour asked her what was bothering her and what you just read was her outburst.


"Definitely  Mofe  you have not been feeling good about yourself and you still don’t. I want you to know that it is important you feel good about yourself no matter the circumstances. You complained about not being able to attract the right people, you definitely will attract the right people only when you feel good about yourself. This is because cheerful and positive attitude sends a signal to the environment that says I love myself and I love life, and this attracts lovely people and things into your life.

Moreover you have to have a goal. This helps you to work towards  a mission, this further improves your self esteem because you possess  this “I am important, “I am not just an ordinary person”, “I have a goal”, “I have a destination”, I am going to be this and that" vibe. This also makes you feel good about yourself. You also have to take actions towards your goal, visualize yourself, how you want your life to be . Repeating  this also helps a great deal.

HOW CAN YOU ACHIEVE THIS?
First feeling good as to do with your thoughts, your thoughts  decide whether you act positively or negatively. Your actions affect your emotions which affects your physical body. So this means that if you don’t feel good about yourself it affects your physical body as well as your thoughts. Your thought is affected by what is going on in your body.

The brain has a part to play in your thoughts too. You think with your mind and your mind is in the brain. Food sometimes affect the brain making it lose focus this affects positive thinking. Excessive eating is what makes the body gain extra fat. Extra fat as a way of making the individual who has it feel bad and think negative about his or herself. Exercise is one of the things that helps to reduce fat and increase the rate at which  one feels good about his/herself.
Now my dear,  the reason you spoke the way you did the other  time is because your ego or your self esteem has been wounded. So this ego wounded self got addicted to negative thinking which makes you feel anxious and depressed. First you need to get over yourself, no matter what anyone as done to get you into this mood  get over it. According to Virginia satir “we must not allow other people’s limited perception to define us. Our beliefs is a function of our thoughts, feelings and actions. Then you must begin to focus on good thoughts say this to yourself often &often.


I am important, fully competent and capable.
I am highly creative, intelligent, attractive, energetic, witty, smart, healthy, wealthy, wise.
I love myself unconditionally despite all my flaws.
I don’t rely on approval of others.
I am fun and exciting to be with
I am comfortable talking
I do not feel guilty about my desires
The more I like myself, the more others will like me. Mofe's aunt concluded...

Yeepa!

So I decided to share one of my movie reviews for Nollysilverscreen here...

Title : Yeepa!
Genre : play/ drama
Director :  Niji Akanni
Year : 2014
MELODRAMATIC
 Yeepa! Is a filmed Tunde Kelani Play, a fusion of stage and film technique adapted from Femi Osofisan”s classic literature “who is afraid of Solarin” interpreted as Yeepa! Solarin nbo.
Without many locations and scenes, one can say this play is a tribute to the late Disciplinarian Tai Solarin but at the same time its an expose  on the level of moral decadence and corruption in the country. From the council chairman (Ropo Ewenla),  to the pastor with secrets (Ebun Oloyede olaiya) down to the various councilors. Their quests to bribe the public complaints commissioner and the manner in which  (Bayo Bankole) appeared as Isola Oriebora, the fake commissioner deceiving not only the councilors but the pastor”s innocent daughter cecilia all depicts this. Humor in the play, the funny cast names, Polycarp the semi- moron houseboy , well acted humor scenes by the trained nollywood actors and traditional theatre artistes all added to the overall success of the play.
Except for the imbecile councilor”s wife whose intruding  in the movie seemed to have been over done, the play is a perfect political x-ray of a corrupt country.

Handling embarrassments

“I was already midway my speech when I abruptly stopped, I had totally forgotten the next lines and it was to be recited offhand. The audience started clapping for me, deep down I knew they wanted me to get off the stage because they were young people mostly students and when they clapped like that, that is exactly what they mean especially when it was accompanied with laughter and jeers. After stuttering for about 2mins, I gave up and climbed down from the podium. That was my first speech to an audience of young people and I had never been more embarrassed my whole life”. Tara says.
When Femi was called to speak in front of the whole congregation at a campus fellowship he didn’t know his trouser’s zip had worn out and his underwear were revealing. It was when an usher came to whisper in his ears that he knew the reason for the congregation’s chuckles. Femi confessed how embarrassed he was.

To be embarrassed is to be disgraced, ashamed, nervous or uncomfortable in a social situation especially when it involves a large number of people. Shy people are more embarrassed than their counterparts. Being shy is another issue entirely which would be discussed later. But a lot of people believe that being shy is being modest, you don’t want to come out of your shell you like to be hidden so that no one will see you and condemn you, sorry to burst your bubble but no! Being shy doesn’t portray you as modest but as selfish. When you are shy all your feelings, emotions and actions are revolving around you, what you feel, think and what other people say about you. Being shy makes you concentrate more on your weaknesses and what other people will say about them. This brings me back to embarrassment. The reason we feel embarrassed when something unusual happens to us its because we think of how other people who witness it react to it and what they say about the situation. We also think of how much its going to affect our self esteem even our ego.

Some people even go about months after still carrying the image of how they were embarrassed in their heads so that when someone acts funny towards them they think “oh why won’t he do that to me when he obviously saw my show of shame” then they go over self pity, depression, self condemnation all over again.
How can we then handle embarrassment? Truth is embarrassing situations will always come, especially when you are moving up the ladder of success only stagnant people never get embarrassed . Besides , being stagnant is embarrassing. The best thing to do as recommended by a psychologist is to do what others around you are doing at that moment

LAUGH. Laugh with them, even when they are not laughing just laugh all the same at yourself. Humour is the best weapon to use. You could also do yourself good by avoiding potential embarrassing situations for example if you know you will be embarrassed if a man sees your underwear, do not spread it where he will see it.
You should also correct yourself immediately or change the subject. if someone jests you, do not argue or allow it get to you, shrug it off, remember it will definitely pass away and be forgotten.

We all have our experiences and a lot of moments we’ve been embarrassed. But that is a pointer to the fact that we are alive, growing and moving forward. The way we handle embarrassments determine how well we grow and how far we go.