Literary License Blog

One Year on Keto, Fasting – Body Recomposition and Migraines

February 29, 2020 by in Keto

It’s been more than a year for me of keto and fasting! How did it go? Am I continuing on?

While it’s a little tough being on a strict diet for the long-term, I have benefited from keto and fasting in many ways – my daily energy levels are up, and my migraine frequency and severity is down greatly. An unexpected outcome for me was finally getting rid of my adult acne (which I have had since I was 13!) I am no longer overweight, and a few body scans over the last year helped me tweak the diet (increasing my protein intake) to allow for some body recomposition to happen (meaning, I decreased my fat mass while increasing my muscle mass!) I rarely get sick these days!

Here I am now, don’t I just look fantastic?!

michelle chandra

Do I still get migraines and headaches? → Read more

Make 100 Kickstarter – 100 Generative Spirograph Prints

January 28, 2020 by in Generative Design, Processing

Since last  year, my approach as an artist in regards to “business-ing” has been “go big, or go home!” Naturally, the next step in this mantra is a Make 100 Kickstarter.

In fact, my Make 100 Kickstarter is live now through February 26th!

What is a Make 100 Kickstarter?!

This is when makers around the world commit to making 100 of something (anything really) during the months of January and February. I will be making mostly 100 generative spirograph prints. A Make 100 Kickstarter is a BIG but SMALL project. Making 100 of something is still a bit of a feat, but not too overwhelming either.

The Rewards

I haven’t quite convinced you yet? Well, you should definitely head over to the Kickstarter page to check out the rewards. But if you need a little extra motivation, you can see some of the rewards below!

Inspirational Riso Print
15 Backers – $18

Riso Print

→ Read more

Endless Forms Most Beautiful – Generative Spirograph Prints

November 19, 2019 by in Generative Design

“from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved” – Charles Darwin

Since graduating from ITP – NYU in 2015, I have been meaning to revisit a generative art project I worked on while in graduate school. Over the past few months, I did just that culminating in a new print line – Generative Spirograph art prints! These prints are currently available for purchase as a limited release.

spirograph generative art print

It’s been fun transforming this project from an animation I programmed while in grad school to a physical print years later drawn using an Axidraw drawing machine!

axidraw generative art print

This print line is the result of a 100 day project I documented on Instagram. You can follow me on Instagram @dirtalleydesign where I continue to post a new generative spirograph design several days a week.

What the heck is generative art? Or Processing?  → Read more

Intermittent Fasting for Migraines

August 5, 2019 by in Keto

I started out my alternative health journey in 2019 with the keto diet, which is a high fat, moderate protein, and low carb diet that has been shown to have neuroprotective benefits and is being studied for the treatment of conditions like Alzheimers and migraines. After being on the keto diet for 6 weeks, I decided to add intermittent fasting to the mix.

Why Fast?

There are a lot of known, scientifically backed reasons to fast including regenerating stem cells, increasing BDNF (brain derived neurotropic factor), autophagy (cell spring cleaning), reduced insulin and reduced blood sugar, and weight loss. Studies have shown that those with migraines have higher insulin levels (ie. insulin resistance) and impaired metabolic pathways when it comes to processing glucose (ie. carbs). To tackle my ongoing headaches, I decided to approach it from the perspective of becoming metabolically stronger and leaner as being overweight has also been linked to increased headaches. → Read more

6 Month Keto and Intermittent Fasting Update

July 9, 2019 by in Keto

Today is quite a milestone! On January 2nd of this year, I set out with a goal to transform my health and reduce my chronic migraines. At the beginning of the year, I was having frequent migraines every week especially if I didn’t eat every 3-5 hours, I was often extremely hungry and headachy at night, and fatigued by mid afternoon. Since switching to the keto diet and intermittent fasting, how am I doing?

→ Read more

Marketing for Artists – Sell Prints, Make Some Coin

June 7, 2019 by in Business

After graduating from ITP – NYU in 2015, I was eager to get a “real job.” Things like “steady paycheck!” and “super good healthcare!” were exciting at the time. However, it wasn’t too long after I got my full-time startup gig that I started working on an artistic side hustle. In the process, I ended up launching my own business – Dirt Alley Design!

ironworks_exhibit_small

At Dirt Alley Design, I transform street maps into solvable mazes. I screen print each maze map, and sell the handmade art prints online on my website and on Etsy, at events like craft fairs, and wholesale via local gift shops in the Bay Area.

sanfrancisco_blue_gold_small

Through the process of selling my art prints since December of 2016, I have been forced to learn a lot about marketing a product, and the business side of being an artist..it’s not easy!

If you are an artist exploring selling your work, here is a summary of the various sales and marketing endeavors I have undertaken, along with the pros and cons of each tactic. → Read more

3 Month Keto Diet Update

April 16, 2019 by in Keto

It’s been 3.5 months since I started my Keto diet experiment! My main goals were a reduction in headaches/migraines, and weight loss. How am I doing so far?

coyote hills park

→ Read more

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