Detroit Pistons: Feed the Children Benefit

I got an e-mail update today from Larry Jones and the Feed The Children organization. A headline caught my eye that read "Hungry Michigan Families Get the Help they Need." Obviously since being from Michigan this struck a cord with me. Feed the Children normally works in povershed areas and countries (like Africa, or somewhere NOT close to my home), but things have gotten so bad in Michigan that this is really happening. The good part of the story was that the Detroit Pistons held a telethon during one of the previous games this month and raised over $450,000 to benefit Feed the Children organization. Their efforts on this day enabled the organization to help 25,000 Michigan families (approximately 100,000 people) meet their basic needs. Yes, the economy is horrible and definitely hurting everyone, but if everyone comes together and begins helping those out most in need, then maybe, just maybe, we can turn this around. 

If you have but the faith of a mustard seed, you shall move mountains.

LeBron "Preview" Painting

I completed this painting to serve as the "preview" of what LeBron's Olympic-inspired AF1 was going to resemble. After its completion however, we decided that the tour/sneaker project will not be themed to commemorate LeBron's leadership role in Team USA's golden 2008 Olympics. The new theme is still being developed and should take place this Spring - stay posted for more information. Much more to come! Below, I decided to take you on a brief step-by-step process of the different layers and sections of the painting. I used both oil and acrylic paints on 18X20 canvas.

Step 1: Blank Canvas

Step 2: LBJ Logo Background, AF1 Sole & Outline

Step 3: AF1 Panels, American Flag Background

Step 4: LeBron Salute, Panel Colors

Step 5: LBJ Logos, Shading, Stitching Details

Going to church on Sunday is the best way to stay focused and on track in life. It re-energizes the soul. 

Blast from our Past

Probably my all-time favorite cartoon is...Doug! Not much more needs to be said other than to expect something unique in the future. You're probably asking, "Huh, whatchu talking about, T.Way?" Don't worry about it - just wait and see someday. PEACE!

Why be like the rest when you have the opportunity to be the best?

Artist Spotlight: James Foster

My dude James Foster (JFost as I just started calling him) is a heckofa art'tist. I met him through the fam at the All City Kicks sneaker boutique (Grand Rapids) when I was interning with them last spring. JFost is on his grind while trying to make his dreams a reality while also being a full-time college student. I wanted to post of few of his paintings to introduce him to you. Some of these paintings are for sale and some have already been sold. For more information, either shoot me an e-mail (tyler@twaycustoms.net) and I'll forward you to him or try his MySpace page: www.myspace.com/artistliyfe89

Quit chasing the dollar and start chasing your dream.

"T.Way, What Have You Been Doin Lately?"

There haven't been any new custom sneakers lately because of some new developments and projects that I'm working on - sorry! But let me explain why: Of course there's the LeBron project that you've been kinda hearing about the past couple months - that is definitely still coming soon! Ha. The original idea was to commemorate and celebrate LeBron's role in the Olympics last summer as he was a core leader in the ReDeem Team. I completed a "preview" painting of what the shoe would have looked like, but now that we are changing the overall "theme" of the project (which is still a secret) - that Olympic shoe is on hold. But I'll be in contact with LeBron's people shortly and we will work out something special this spring. So don't worry. 

"Is that it?"

Nope! Recently I've been messing around with doing some work with oil and acrylic paints on flat canvas. So I'll get some pictures of some works I've completed recently sometime this week or early next. Also I've been busy with working with a creative group of Grand Valley State University undergrad and grad students to develop the future apparel line and to get some PR projects together.

"Is that it??"

Nope! Being a full time student at GVSU also keeps me busy (which I'm growing tired of going to classes everyday in this freaking cold weather that really just needs to become warm and spring-like soon). There is also a business plan competition that I'm gathering materials for to hopefully bring back the $5K prize money that will always help to the business for you to benefit! So overall there are plenty of things going on even though the website may not seem like it. But that is what this blog and Twitter are both for: to keep you informed while giving you behind-the-scenes access with the latest news and developments. And it's all for YOU! So stay up, keep working hard, and continue to follow your dreams! God bless & be easy, my fam.

Sometimes a normal 9-to-5 job with a consistent paycheck seems to be the easy way out. But if I took the easy way out, then who would be left to change the world?!?

Champions, Home Makeover, Remodeling

The last few days have been fairly busy for the Way family. My baby sister Jenna (15) helped her Charlevoix Rayder Varsity basketball team win the District Championship with some clutch shots and free throws. Not bad for a freshman, huh? I have been helping my parents these last few days get work done on their remodeling project - which they are in the process of completely redoing a house in almost every sense possible. My mother has been busy with her consignment store in Petoskey that she and her friend opened this fall. My father's Pine River, Inc. company (maker of the e-log) will be featured once again on the ABC series Extreme Makeover Home Edition. This time their e-logs will be siding the entire outside of the home. He and my other younger sister, Aubrey (18) are currently en route to the work site in North Carolina where they will be managing the team of volunteers and monitoring the construction use of the e-log product. As for my older sister Sumer (25), her husband Coach Tim Wells' Hillsdale College basketball team defeated Michigan Tech University to win the GLIAC Conference Championship. The Hillsdale team has been nationally ranked in the Top-10 all season and will be traveling to play Northern Kentucky next week in the national tournament. Tomorrow I will be returning to Grand Rapids and back to my usual grind which I'm bitter-sweet about. It's always nice to get back and get things done, but I've certainly enjoyed my time in Charlevoix the Beautiful these past few days. I am also looking forward to seeing Adrienne as she'll be getting back from her getaway in Toronto! (Please drive safe Rehm'er, ha).

Best Day-Roadtrip EVER!

Tuesday I made a trip to Detroit for the day with Adrienne as my right-hand navigator - who also happens to be the best travel partner ever with her strong vocals over-taking the radio tunes and greasy bag of old-fashioned potato chips, hahaa! Anyway, the main point of the trip was to meet with WWES. We went to his home, had some lunch (his cook makes the best potato soup I have ever had - sorry mom!), and soaked in some business wisdom from the "Most Powerful Man in Sports." I wish I could share the discussion, but that's confidential stuff that some day you will reap what we are sowing. Altogether it was a successful and meaningful meeting, and it's always good to stop through Uncle Wes' while in town!

 

While we were in the Detroit area we made a point to visit the other sneaker boutiques I haven't gotten to yet. The first stop was at Burn Rubber in Royal Oak (which is also my place of birth!). It was a dope little shop with some good goods, and the people there were real cool. So make sure to stop through - it's worth the trip. I borrowed a pic from their site to give you an idea:

Next we traveled a little north to Birmingham to visit Revive. They seemed to specialize in  The Hundreds gear and had some nice sneakers and Jordans on consignment. I forgot until I saw the owner, Aaron, that Rip Hamilton's cousin had introduced us earlier this season at a game at the Palace. So it was cool to see what's been good with him lately. Definitely a shop I'll stop by again next time I'm in the area.

Adrienne and I then decided not to go to the Pistons' game against the Nuggets because we had to get back to Mt. Pleasant that night (a two-plus hour drive). Plus with the new security policy, it'd be difficult meeting with Mr. Big Shoot. He's got my card anyway, so I'm sure I'll hear from him at some point! Ha. Instead we went over to Lansing and had dinner at Adrienne's all-time favorite restaurant: Omi Sushi. It was my first experience, so I played it safe with a pretty good teriyaki chicken. After doing a little shopping while in East Lansing, we finally made the drive back up to her home base. It was a long day, but a very efficient and all around enjoyable day!

The more doors that get shut in your face means you're getting closer to the one that opens.

Boat Show

Last week was the annual boat show in Grand Rapids at the DeVos Convention Center. My uncle owns a boat marine (Dry Harbor) up north in Charlevoix and every year shows some of his Formula and Chris Craft boats. We spent a couple hours at the show with my aunt & uncle as well as the numerous Way cousins. Immediately following our boat show tour we had Adrienne's surprise birthday dinner in which her best friends from the University of Michigan made the cross-state trip to surprise her at a local restaurant. All around great time and weekend. I would tell more but frankly I'm exhausted and about to go watch the movie Quarantine! 

Picture courtesy of Kim Way as Adrienne and I are talking with my Aunt Kris