Rocked the Rapids

Hard to believe this was a year ago. Shout out to the future groom, Mr. Joe Buys!

The Conclusion... COMING SOON!

Remember this guy?

After 150+ hours of mind-blowing detail work over a 6 month period, HE IS COMPLETE!

Why the h-e-double-hockey-sticks did it take so long? Between [Fashion Has Heart], the Sebago contract, freelance projects, plus everything else life throws at you, sometimes this sort of specialty project has to take a back seat. But not any longer!

The painting is done, but its time-lapse video is not, yet. Until then, I'll leave you with this blurred out preview of the final 8ft. x 5ft. painting:


Get caught up from the previous updates:
Part VIII
Part VII
Part VI
Part V
Part IV
Part III
Part II
Part I

Carhartt-WIP Illustration Campaign

This is awesome. I've been watching Carhartt Work In Progress for a couple of years trying to figure out how and why they're able to do what they do. They're transforming a workwear company more into a lifestyle and streetwear brand, but yet still keeping their authentic workwear side of the brand available.

Anyways, this is just my appreciation for their recent campaign which features the artist, SHOHEI, who uses a single ballpoint pen to create this elaborate and realistic illustrations. To me, I appreciate this time and effort much more than a simple photography session. This way of marketing clothes has a fine appreciation for the details and artistry of it all. Kudos to Carhartt.

Living a Dream

Dream Impossible is more than just a "slogan," it truly is a lifestyle and mentality. When Joe Buys and I promote the notion of "Follow your dreams," we mean it. 

If this isn't the first time you've been on this blog, then you know what the journey has been like. From the very first custom shoes in my freshman dorm room with Sharpie markers, to my first NBA client (Tayshaun Prince), to LeBron James and Chris Paul -- there's been a lot of peaks of the good. To the people that are closest to me, you've also seen the not-so-goods: the symptoms of the "Starving artist," the "Not sure where to go from here," and of course the worst of them all, "Maybe I should get a normal job," diseases.

I'm humbled and honored to share with you another peak in this dream has been reached: I am contracted as a Product Development / Designer for the Sebago brand under the Wolverine Worldwide umbrella.

I know you are all familiar with their iconic Dockside boat shoes, but they also have an incredible line-up of footwear products for all four seasons of the year (which is important if you're living in Michigan).

If you've been following my Instagram (@twayco), Twitter (@TWAYco), and Facebook (www.Facebook.com/TWAYcollection) accounts, then you've seen tidbits of images that showcase sneak peeks of the leathers, colors, materials, sketches, notes, laces, and prototypes of shoes. Well, now you know of what and why!

The contracts are in increments of 90-days. We just concluded our first contract and resigned last week for another 90-days. So far I've been able to work on creating new shoe designs and concepts, re-design previous uppers, choose colorways and materials for their Docksides and Spinnakers, and more.

(Of course I cannot show you everything behind-the-scenes, but a blurred image at least allows a taste.)

You'll have to wait until Autumn-Winter 2013 to buy any of these products, though, since they work 18+ months in advance of when they're sold in stores.

Truly, it's been a dream come true.

Now, go LIVE YOUR DREAM.

Ergonomics FTW!

I recently was blessed with the opportunity to pick a new office chair from Herman Miller. My decision was dwindled down to two: the Aeron and the Embody. It wasn't an easy choice, but I decided to go with the "Design of the Decade" chair, also known as: the Aeron.

Here's the kicker... Remember this adventurous find: A Large Square Peg in a Small Square Hole? A little over a year ago I discovered a vintage gem in a classic Steelcase tanker desk from a local Salvation Army. The amazing part of the story is that the building that this $20 steal (or steel -- pun intended) was in is the original Steelcase building from way back in the day. That means this desk may have never left the building since its birth...

To add to that, a couple months after hauling this tanker up to my office, Adrienne and my mother discovered this perfectly-matching chair during an antique excursion in Northern Michigan.

As hard as it is for me to break up this pairing, but for the sake of my back and ergonomics, I had to make the move.

Yes, it feels a little rebellious and scandal'ish, but hey, what's a guy to do?

So, this morning a beautiful box arrived to the office with one of my all-time favorite brand logos on it. Yup, you guessed it... Herman Miller. (How'd you know?)

The best part about this was that no assembly was required. I opened the box and, BOOM!, my Aeron chair was all ready to go.

If you are familiar with the furniture industry and/or live in West Michigan, you know of the rivalry between these two. To put it in perspective, by having a Steelcase desk and a Herman Miller chair is comparable to wearing an Ohio State Buckeye jersey and rooting for the Michigan Wolverines, wearing Nike shoes and Adidas socks, or wearing a Mitt Romney shirt while voting for Barack Obama. To say the least, it just does not, or should not happen.

Nonetheless, it's a win-win for me. I still have that vintage, mid-century tanker desk that has a great back-story while now being able to sit and work in comfort during those long days (which often times may turn into nights).

All I need now is a new Herman Miller desk and maybe some pieces from the Herman Miller Collection to completely win me over (hint, hint).



UPDATE: The Steelcase chair has since been reassigned to the artwork department of the studio: