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Documentary photos showing attendee and vendor interactions at the Tinley Park Reptile Expo, part of the North American Reptile Breeders Conference. Tinley Park Reptile Expo Photos Attendees and vendors enjoy the North American Reptile Breeders Conference, at the Tinley Park Convention Center. Guests are often seen handling animals and chatting with vendors. Photos of the fall 2025 Tinley Park Reptile Expo. Visitors examined reptiles, insects, and supplies while vendors provided demonstrations and information. The images convey the overal vibe, enclosures, and displays that define the event’s commercial and educational atmosphere. See details for the Spring 2026 event here. Corky Lorenz October 14, 2025

A collection of photos discovered, documenting The Elkhart Rubber Company, machinery, factory workers, and Lyndon Adams of The Anchor Packing Company. Originally kept by Thomas K. Burton. The Elkhart Rubber Works Company Historical Photos & Documentation A collection of photos discovered, documenting The Elkhart Rubber Company, machinery, factory workers, and Lyndon Adams of The Anchor Packing Company. Originally kept by Thomas K. Burton. Found I discovered a box labelled "Elkhart Rubber" with many photos indside, spanning several decades of time. Originally possessed by my great grandfather Thomas K. Burton, who was president of the Elkhart Rubber union for a time. Contents A collection of group portraits from 1928. Documentary images related to Elkhart Rubber Works, also known as The Elkhart Rubber Company. Printed material related to Lyndon E. Adams, relating to The Anchor Packing Company and Garlock Locking Company. Topics documents include machinery , gaskets, building interior/exterior , factory workers in the 1920's and what conditions were like at that time. If you have interest in or knowledge on this topic, you can contact me by email corkylorenz@gmail.com I will photograph and post more of the collection, and link to this page. Bookmark this page to come back to later, for updated images and captions. Corky Lorenz December 26, 2025

Make a reusable pad that actually works. Start with a folded washcloth for an emergency option, or sew layered fabric pads with snaps and waterproof backing for long-term comfort. How to make reusable cloth menstrual pads Making your own cloth pads can be as simple or as detailed as you want it to be. You can fold a washcloth for a quick, no-sew option, or sew layered pads with fabric, snaps, and waterproof materials for long-term use. You can make reusable cloth pads as simple or as detailed as you want. Some people sew them as an art form, while others make them out of necessity using what they already have. If you need something fast, wear snug underwear or bathing suit bottoms and fold a washcloth inside. This is the simplest reusable option. If you have a waterproof fabric like PUL or vinyl, layer that underneath to help prevent leaks. For a sewn version, trace the shape of a disposable pad that fits you well and use it as a pattern. Cut two or three layers of absorbent fabric for the inside and one layer of waterproof or moisture-resistant fabric for the bottom. Sew them together and add wings that wrap around your underwear. Attach snaps, buttons, or Velcro to keep the pad in place. Some people like to make their pads look pretty with colorful fabrics, while others design systems that reduce waste or make it faster to clean and reuse. However you make yours, the goal is comfort, absorbency, and reliability. Corky Lorenz November 7, 2025

In cloth pad sewing, pinking shears are used to trim the seam allowance before turning the pad right side out. The zigzag edge helps reduce bulk so curves lay flat and the pad topstitches smoothly. What are pinking shears used for? When sewing reusable cloth pads, pinking shears are used to trim the seam allowance before turning the pad right side out. The zigzag edge helps reduce bulk and allows the seams to lay flatter inside the pad after turning. Using Pinking Shears in Pad Sewing If you’re sewing your own cloth pads, pinking shears are most useful right after stitching your layers together. With the turn and topstitch method, you place all the layers of the pad right sides together, sew around the shape, and leave a small hole to turn it right side out. Before turning it, you trim the seam allowance. Some people like to use pinking shears to remove excess fabric so the pad isn’t bulky once flipped and topstitched. Why Trim the Seam Allowance Trimming the inside edge helps the pad turn more smoothly and sit flat when topstitched. It also prevents that stiff, lumpy feel that can happen when too much fabric builds up inside the seam. You’ll also want to clip into inner corners to release tension so the fabric doesn’t pucker after turning. And if your pad shape includes sharp corners, clip those tips off so they form clean points when topstitched. Which Pinking Shears Actually Work I’ve tried a few pairs, and my favorites are a cheap set I bought on Amazon years ago for around $12. They cut cleanly through thicker fabrics. The pinking shears I’ve bought locally, like from Hobby Lobby or Joann, didn’t handle multiple layers well. When sewing with cotton velour or bamboo velour layered with fleece or flannel, the Fiskars ones especially had trouble cutting through that thickness cleanly. Things to Watch Out For Don’t trim too close to the stitch line, you don’t want to weaken the seam. Pads go through a lot of washing, and if you cut too close, the edge of the pad can fray, especially if made with woven fabrics.. If you don’t have pinking shears, you can just use regular fabric scissors to trim down the seam allowance evenly, then clip curves and corners to reduce bulk. The pinking shears just make the process quicker and keep the inner seam more uniform. Corky Lorenz November 11, 2025

Photos inside recreational vehicles at the RV Hall of Fame including a full interior look at the 1974 GMC motorhome. Wide angle layouts, color details, and close up shots of vintage RV design. Inside Recreational Vehicles & Vintage RV Interiors A collection of photos inside recreation vehicles on display at the museum, shot with a fisheye lens for a full view of the interior layouts. 1913 Earl Travel Trailer Interior This is the inside of the 1913 Earl Travel Trailer, considered the oldest travel trailer ever made. It was custom-built for a Cal Tech professor and later restored to match its original wood interior. The long bench layout was designed to seat four at the dining table and could convert into a double bed. 1974 GMC Motorhome Interior Wide interior shot of the vintage 1974 GMC motorhome. The interior has the same bright yellow color as the exterior paint. On the left you can see the kitchen, with a stainless steel sink, and yellow counter top and cabinetry. The dinette and seating area sit between the kitchen and pilot chairs in the front cabin. Airstream "Der Kleine Prinz" Interior view of the prototype for this body style, on display at the RV Hall of Fame, in Elkhart, IN. The smallest Airstream ever made, and it was thought to have been made for the owner, Wally Byam. 1958 Airstream Flying Cloud 22' Interior This 1958 Airstream Flying Cloud was built in California and came with a gas heater, refrigerator, cooking stove, pressurized water system, and a 110-volt electrical setup. It was the first full year Airstream switched the end-caps from 13 panels to 7, giving the trailer its updated look. The 22-foot layout is still considered one of the most sought-after floor plans for vintage restoration. 1935 Bowlus Road Chief Interior Interior view of the 1935 Bowlus Road Chief trailer, one of fewer than 50 remaining. This early aluminum travel trailer was designed by sailplane builder Hawley Bowlus, whose work later influenced the Airstream clipper style. The curved wood interior, narrow sleeping areas, and compact dinette show the original streamlined approach to living space inside recreational vehicles of that era. Corky Lorenz November 19, 2025

The Northern Indiana Event Center is open during its posted business hours in Elkhart. Here’s what I saw on site and why the online website looks confusing right now. Is the Northern Indiana Event Center Open? The Northern Indiana Event Center is open during its posted business hours and still operates on the RV/MH Hall of Fame campus. During my visit this week, the main building was open and staffed. The entrance off Executive Parkway is the same, and nothing about the physical space looked closed or inactive. The only confusing part is the online footprint, because the older website link is still floating around on Google’s profile, and that URL no longer loads. If you need to reach someone about an event or rental, the front desk staff were answering questions in person. The hours listed on Google matched what I saw on site. I didn’t see any construction or signs suggesting a temporary shutdown. The venue is open, but the website and domain seems to be in transition right now. Corky Lorenz November 16, 2025

Acrylic paint works on fabric but is not durable. Here is what happened when I compared acrylic paint, Lumiere fabric paint, and screen printing ink for adding dots to tie dyed shirts. Can you use acrylic paint on fabric? Acrylic paint will stick to fabric, but it isn’t durable and can crack or peel with regular washing. For shirts, screen printing ink or fabric paint holds up better and can be heat set for long term use. Testing paint on fabric I was looking for a way to paint dots on my ombre tie-dyed shirts. The look I’m going for is a tropical fish pattern or a rainbow trout pattern where there are usually two layers of color. I use dye for the ombre and then add contrasting dots with fabric paint because it is opaque and stands out on top of the dye. Acrylic paint on shirts In my research, acrylic paint technically works on fabric, but it is not long lasting. It can crack and peel with normal washing. It does not need any heat setting or curing, but it also does not bond deeply, so it is not going to last forever. Jacquard Products The two options I tested are screen printing ink that is water based and the Lumiere fabric paints that are specifically made for fabric. Screen printing inks are also meant for fabric, but they are usually aimed at professional screen printers using a totally different setup. You do not need any of that equipment. You can apply the ink however you want. I put mine into a tie dye squirt bottle and watered it down so it would flow the same way as fabric paint. Working with ink The fabric paint comes thinner right out of the bottle and is probably easier for beginners. It also comes in a wider range of colors in smaller bottles, which is nice if you want a lot of options. The screen printing ink starts thicker, but I do not mind thinning it to the consistency I like. I also do not mind mixing colors. Both the screen printing ink and the fabric paint will be more durable than acrylic paint. Both need heat setting so the pigment bonds to the fibers. I prefer the feel of screen printing ink once it is dry. It reminds me of a regular screen printed shirt. How I painted this shirt On the orange shirt in the photos, I used the tie dye bottle to dot turquoise screen printing ink all over one side. It took around ten minutes. It will probably go faster on the second side now that I have the rhythm down. After the ink dries completely, I run the shirt through the dryer to set it. Then I wash and dry it normally. If it survives that first wash, you know it is properly set and you will not have any slow failure later. How much water The only experimenting you need to do is figuring out how much water to add when thinning the ink. There is a point where too much water weakens the bonding, but I have added close to 40% water and it still worked fine on the sweatshirt where I used gray dots. Corky Lorenz November 27, 2025

Before you dye, here's what you'll need: Get soda ash and then proceed. One cup of ash, one gallon warm, will make the mix in proper form. How much sodium carbonate do you mix with water? For tie dye, mix 1 cup of powdered soda ash (sodium carbonate) with 1 gallon of water. It dissolves faster with warm or hot water. Enjoy a soda ash poem below. Before you dye, here's what you'll need: Get soda ash and then proceed. One cup of ash, one gallon warm, will make the mix in proper form. Just stir it well with gloved-up hands, till every clump dissolves as planned. Now soak your cloth right through and through, then wring or spin (what works for you). It won't get old, won't go to waste. Add water if it's lost some space.Wear gloves and mask when mixing in. Keep covered well from nose and skin. Your colors now will bond for good. The ash has worked just like it should. Corky Lorenz October 8, 2025

Learn how to ice dye using soda ash, powdered MX dye, tall scrunch folds, and a fleece backing for smoother flow. This guide walks through folding, ice height, dye placement, and when to rinse. How to ice dye To ice dye, soak your shirt in soda ash, fold it tightly, cover it with a tall layer of ice, and sprinkle powdered dye over the top. As the ice melts, it carries the dye through the fabric and creates a flowing pattern, Folding for ice dye A common way that people like to fold their T-shirt when ice dyeing is to just crumple it, to get organic watercolor results. I like to lay a piece of fabric called polyester fleece under my shirt before folding it in order to get smoother results with the dye flow. Corky Lorenz December 3, 2025

Hognose snakes are harmless but dramatic reptiles known for their hissy personalities and playful bluffing behavior. Learn what to expect if you’re thinking about keeping one as a pet, from temperament to feeding habits. Are hognose snakes good pets? Hognose snakes can make good pets for people who appreciate their dramatic, hissy personalities. They’re harmless, expressive, and a little theatrical, which some people find charming and others find annoying. Surprising behaviors The first time I encountered my friend's hognose, he knew I was about to be surprised. He held the snake out to me, and when I got close and touched it, it hissed and startled me. He didn’t miss a beat. It didn’t scare him at all, and he laughed and said that happens with every new person who meets them. Some of his baby hognose snakes can be very entertaining, with their hissing and bluff strikes. When they are trying to scare you away, they will pretend to strike at you. They also flatten out their head and body to appear bigger. Not all hognose snakes will be like this, it just depends on the individual's temperament. Hognose Personality Hognose snakes are known to be dramatic and hissy. When you approach them, they’ll start hissing and sometimes pretend they’re going to strike, but for the most part, they’re harmless. They just like to make a big show. If you’re looking for a snake that won’t startle you, the hognose might not be for you. But if you enjoy that personality and think their turned-up nose is cute, you’ll probably like their temperament. They can be a little trickier to feed than snakes like boas, which usually eat easily without persuasion. Most hognose snakes eat well, but sometimes it takes patience if they’re not in the mood to eat. Hognose handling Whether a hognose is good for handling depends on the individual snake’s temperament. My friend has two adults. The female is handleable but sometimes looks like she might strike or bite, and she has envenomated his hand once. The male is calmer and will even snuggle in his hoodie while he sits on the couch. Corky Lorenz October 18, 2025