The Shoe Box Version of Noah's Ark

For the past two days I've been putting the finishing touches on the latest pair for Rip Hamilton. The difference with this pair than from his four others includes a custom display/shoe box that I've been having the great pleasure of designing and help build. I've spent the past couple days covered in sawdust and making runs back-and-forth from Lowe's and Home Depot. The real master carpenter behind the box is Shane Law, the bassist from Souldub - the dopest "dark reggae" band in the world. Day 1 consisted of making all the cuts and measurements and then piecing everything together. For the majority of Day 2, we sanded down every single grain of the wood and then stained/polyurethaned it. All that is left is the final coat of sealant and then securing the hardware pieces. Tomorrow after picking up the box at Shane's shop, I'll be transporting the shoes and box to the Palace of Auburn Hills to the Pistons game versus the visiting New Jersey Nets. I'm definitely looking forward to Rip's reaction on this pair! Come back soon for the pictures...!

I Love Monopoly!

Lately I've been nearly obsessed with this on-line Monopoly game on Pogo. I've always been a Monopoly tycoon but it's too hard to get people together to play and it takes foreverrr. So next time you're on-line looking for a competitive game, just find my username: TWayCustoms and I'll own you. Hahaaa.

P.S. Keep the look for a great project with Rip that's just being finished up!

Special Message

Upon receiving an e-mail on Christmas from an extremely influential and powerful name in the NBA-world, he included these words of wisdom that all should hear (or read in your case):

"We don't choose the tests we're given, but we choose how to fight them. Do not stop until the fight is done. Everyday presents a new challenge. Kick it in the pants and enjoy the family!!!!!!!"

I encourage you and yours that as the new year is right around the corner and the economy continues to struggle, that you take things day-by-day and above all, appreciate what are the truly important things in life: Faith, Family, and Friends. God bless & be easy!

It's Christmas Time...

I hope you're reading this following a great Christmas holiday thus far!...Mine has been great being back in Brighton with the entire family, grandparents, and dogs. I've tried to spend as much time as possible doing nothing but eating, watching movies, and football & basketball games...and thankfully I've been very successful at all of the above. Take some time to just relax and enjoy your time with friends and family away from the stresses of life. Just chill & appreciate the true meaning of Christmas! God bless & be easy!

Detroit Pistons Widget

JBiZzNys on the Ellen Show??

Yes, it is true...and hilarious. Joseph Buys (also known as JBiZzNys - the "Up-&-Coming" hip-hop recording artist) was on the Ellen DeGeneres Show today. But he wasn't one of the special guests - not yet, not this time. Instead he was one of the Santa Clauses that were apart of Ellen's "Santa Musical Chairs," hahaaa. Watch the YouTube clip below and you'll see this shirtless wonder, haha. I can't wait till BiZz blows up then I'll be able to bring him back to these ole' days, haha. He's the third Santa from the left and is the one that seemed to always attract the two ladies fighting over the chair...or the Santa, ha. 

Puzzled...

Following Kate's wedding I've stayed up North for these past few days to be with my family and grandparents. I've spent most of my day/time working on Rip's shoes and just carrying on with normal business things - e-mails, website maintenance, etc. But last night I took a break from work and decided rather to try a 500-piece puzzle that my grandma started last week. She and my sister had a very hard time with it because it was such a difficult puzzle, and it was maybe 1/3 of the way done before I went at it last night. Now I can't remember the last time I've ever worked on a puzzle, let alone a 500-piecer, ha. But before I knew it, I spent hours on this thing. It was freakin' hard! If you looked at all the pieces laid over the table at one time, it was very overwhelming. But if you took it piece-by-piece and gradually worked your way down, then it was more manageable to handle. My saving grace was the puzzle box because I used the finished picture to basically place each piece. When I completed putting together the remaining 300 or so pieces together and reviewed my hours of work, then I began to look at the puzzle in a much deeper way.

Not meaning to preach or get all philosophical, but for some reason that puzzle related to me and its meaning very comparable to my life. Life would be so easy and understandable if we saw the finished product. We would be able to see how and why things happen and their ripple-effects. The Bible says God knows the final picture of everyone even before conception (not a direct quote because I don't know where it was located, ha). If we try to look at our future (all the pieces on the table) then we get overwhelmed because we can't see what piece will go where or for what reasons and how. But if we take it day-by-day and strive to live life the right way, then gradually we will accomplish piecing together the pieces God lays out for us. For me personally, when I look back to the past couple years and the journey I've been on in creating T.WayCustoms, then I am able to see the pieces and where they fell into place and for what reasons, etc. But at the time I had no idea or even a thought to why. I've realized that's why lately I've been stressing about where and how to build T.WayCustoms from this point. Instead of taking it day-by-day I've been worrying about pieces on the table that I can't hardly even see let alone know where they go. So my challenge for myself, and for you as well, is to not worry about the future pieces but to concentrate on the current ones in hand. In doing so takes trust...trust in God, trust in yourself, and trust in others. But when you live for the right reasons, then you know God will take care of you - even in a world as scary as it is today.

Congrats Kate and Paul!

On Saturday I drove from Grand Rapids up to Big Rapids to catch the first half of the Hillsdale v. Ferris State basketball game in which my brother-in-law is the assisant coach of the Top-1o nationally ranked Hillsdale Chargers women's basketball team. Then I drove another couple hours up to Charlevoix for my cousin Katie's wedding to her hubby Paul. It was a beautiful wedding and reception at the historic Castle, and it's always good to spend time with the countless cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents in the Way family. My dad also did a great job officiating his first wedding - I'm sure it's the first of many, especially with such a large family! Congrats Kate and Paul, and wish I was in that Key West sunshine you both are able to enjoy this week on the honeymoon!

 

Picture courtesy of sister-of-the-bride, Kim Way. Thanks Kimmy!

Eminem x Brand Jordan Interview

I found this on NiceKicks.com, and since I'm both a Detroit guy and a Brand Jordan fanatic, I thought this was T.WayCustoms Blog-worthy. Enjoy.

Last Final Exam!

The Fall 2008 semester is officially complete! I just finished a presentation for my last class and it feels pretty dang good to be one semester closer to graduation! So now I have about 4 weeks off for the Christmas season until the next semester starts...so what will I be doing? SNEAKERS! These next few days I'll finishing up a pair for Rip (Hamilton), and after that I'd like to begin on the LeBron project. Things are still up in the air with dates, locations, times, etc. for the LBJ pair, but I'm not too concerned with it - I just want to start designing and working on them. We tapped the first portion of the LBJ video at the All City Kicks sneaker boutique in Grand Rapids not too long ago, and worked on editing it earlier today. The goal is to finish editting that video up Friday and getting that posted for you to view. Make sure to finish strong on any exams you may have my fellow college peers, and for you others: do work.

God bless & be easy!

The Lanthorn News Article

Lakeshore's Next Top Entrepreneur business competition brought about some more press coverage for Tyler Way and T.WayCustoms with a featured article in the News section of the Lanthorn newspaper (Grand Valley State University) on December 8, 2008. Read the article on-line HERE.

Limited Christmas Special!

Make this T.WayCustoms "Santa" your profile picture on your Facebook, MySpace, Youtube, etc.! Don't forget about the very limited Christmas t-shirt special!...only a few left, so make sure you take care of this convenient Christmas gift for you brother, sister, girlfriend, boyfriend, cousin, friend, or maybe just for you as a gift "From Santa" Hurry now and the T.WayCustoms elf will even gift wrap it ready to go under the tree - simple as that, shopping made easy!

Limited Christmas Special!

Some how we saved & stocked away just enough T.WayCustoms shirts for you this Christmas season! Remember, these shirts are so exclusive that each one is numbered 1-of-50 and signed by artist Tyler Way. The sizes remaining are very limited. Get your gift as soon as possible for your brother, sister, boyfriend, girlfriend, cousin, friend, or maybe just for you “from Santa” before they’re history. As a Christmas bonus, we’ll even have our Elf wrap your gift ready to go under the tree for FREE! Not only the ultimate gift but also convenient! Merry Christmas!

Johnny Cupcakes

Hopefully you've heard about Johnny Cupcakes by now - they have been around for a few years and have created a huge following of a very dedicated fan base. I've been watching them for awhile now just staying up to date, etc. but recently decided to see why so many people love them. I purchased some of what you see below on-line - the tee, winter gloves, and the gift box. The funny thing was that with any purchase you also receive humorous little trinkets & cards. My package came with a Saved By the Bell trading card even, haha. It's funny things like that people can really relate to and appreciate. Another major reason why they are able to sell so many shirts with cupcakes on them is their attention to detail in the packaging. That was the aspect I was most impressed with. Every brand has to tell a story, and this one certainly has developed a unique experience to go along with it.

Rapid Growth article

Kind of as an after shock of the Grand Rapids Press article, the on-line news source Rapid Growth also did a small write-up on myself and T.WayCustoms for the Lakeshore's Next Top Entrepreneur business competition. Click HERE to view the article.

HAHA! - Hypnosis Tom DeLuca

Last night the Spotlight Productions group at Grand Valley State University hosted nationally-known hypnosis Tom DeLuca. I've seen a hypnosis show during my high school senior night and laughed the cookies out of my mouth. Last night I didn't have cookies, but I did have a candy cane that I sucked on until it was so sharp that when I stabbed Adrienne with it she screamed in shock and then in pain. It was hilarious. So this Tom DeLuca guy - I hadn't heard of him before last night, but he's been on numerous talk shows like Good Morning America and featured in different magazines likes Rolling Stone, etc. Anyways, the 15 or so GVSU students that got hypnotized were freaking hilarious, haha. We were rolling around, jumping up and down in the stands with just crazy-laughter at them. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to video tape so I just found a YouTube clip to give you an idea. You gotta be there - it's egg-crackin hilarious, haaa.

Grand Rapids Press article

Here's a little article about the Lakeshore Top Entrepreneur competition written in the Grand Rapids Press the just came out today. Once again, congrats to my man Brian from Digital Wingman, and thanks to reporter Myron Kukla and photographer Lori Niedenfuer Cool from the GR Press.