Rici's box of Pandora

Snow, Snow, Snow

2011-11-28T09:42:00.001-05:00

Snow, Snow, Snow by patriciastuever featuring button boots

American Eagle Outfitters crew neck sweater
$50 - ae.com

American Eagle Outfitters bootcut jeans
$40 - ae.com

American Eagle Outfitters button boots
$50 - ae.com

Dorothy perkin
£12 - dorothyperkins.com

Dorothy perkin
£10 - dorothyperkins.com

Camera Upgrade

2011-11-06T16:33:00.000-05:00

About a month ago a light bulb came on and said "Why don't you use a wireless card to make your life easier." So I went to go find a wireless card for my camera (currently a 400D aka Canon Xti) Guess what? The eyefi are only made in SDHC so I thought maybe there's another brand... no such luck that I can find. So the obvious solution was to upgrade my camera. Either go with what you know or something else.

I don't know why I stumbled upon the Sony Nex I think it was in the process of looking at what cameras eyefi was usable in... but either way it's what I've decided to get as my upgrade. I'm not like every photographer out there I don't have to have THE most expensive Pro camera out there. I just don't want or need that...it's over kill to me. So what's cool about a Sony Nex?

For the last I don't know ten years?!? I guess I've been wanting a smaller camera. I always put it off because I wanted the quality of a larger megapixel SLR The first thing I disliked about any of the SLR camera's I owned(and I've owned 7 different Canon SLRs now starting with a clunker film from the 60's to a digital-screen film to the digital I have now. I've also used FUJI once upon a time.) was the size and the weight. They take up a lot of space and add 2 or 3 lenses you're practically toting a suitcase around with all that paraphernalia. They are usually heavy which causes the neck/back to hurt by the end of a shooting day. The second thing I have disliked is the time it takes to get from camera to ouput(be it print/blog/facebook or whatever). I decided the eyefi would take care of the second demand if I resolved to shoot in manual which I have made myself do for the past few weeks...well for the most part except for "point and shoots".

On the website this is a quick blurb from Sony regarding the NEX:

"Mini body, mega sensor. The bigger the sensor, the better the picture. Experience the quality and performance of a DSLR in about half the size and half the weight of one. The NEX is the smallest interchangeable lens digital camera capable of handling a mega-sized Exmor(TM) APS HD CMOS sensor for gorgeous imagery and incredibly well-lit shots even in low light situations."

I kept looking at it and compared the size to my current camera size I thought for sure...no way it's still at least almost as big as what I have. Then I saw this video:

And was in love. I later found that best buy has them in stock in the store. I checked it out the same day and sure enough it is T-I-N-Y !!! Not to mention the price is perfect even if I get all the lens' I want I'll still be spending less than what I would on a new outfit of my prior name brand. I'll be getting one for my Christmas present to myself just as soon as the house business is finished.

Tutorial: Thanksgiving Bunting

2011-11-04T07:12:00.000-05:00

Buntings have been everywhere it seems for the past year or two or three. I always thought they were cute but couldn't think of a way to use them. Until now that is.

This won't be about sewing because I'm no seamstress. The only sewer in this family is my Husband that's right I said Husband. About a year ago he decided he wanted to be the den leader for Alex's cub scout den so we were running around getting patches and stopped in a dry cleaning place to have them put on. I don't remember how much it was going to cost but it was around $50 or so. He decided to purchase a machine instead and do it himself and he's good at it. The thing is a MACHINE and I swear they were made for men to use. ;) They do not like me and I do not like them. This is the other reason I never even bothered with buntings. Then a light bulb came on and it said "Why not just make them from paper"?

A couple weeks ago I spotted one on pinterest that I really liked. I could have always bought the thing but I have no patience and I am a do it yourself-er. It gives me pleasure and satisfaction being able to make my own. I'd also found this Martha Stewart Craft Idea which I'm going to give a shot closer to Christmas.

The clip art from that project was perfect for this project as well and with this bunting templateoff to Photoshop I went. I selected the bunting with the magic wand tool and copied it onto the clip-art image. Then I used the polygonal lasso tool and selected the inside of the bunting and deleted it. Then I turned on the grid and used Times New Roman font in 220.36 point(I had to select and resize) I printed each letter separately and I chose scale to fit for each page after each letter I went back into Photoshop and changed to the next letter. That all sounds like it would take a long time but it took only a few minutes in reality.

Things you'll need for this project:

computer & printer
paper
scissors
photoshop or other editing program
bone folder (not necessary but helpful)
bunting template
clip-art
hemp string or ribbon
the ability to spell
a glue gun or the patience to wait for elmer's
big cup of your favorite drink

After everything was printed I took the papers to the kitchen counter and went to work. I cut each page out separately. Took a sip of my tea and using my bone folder I folded each flap over neatly.

You go to your ribbon drawer and look through a million options of mostly Christmas red and realize the hemp string will work just as well.

I roughly measured how much I'd needed for it to hang just so on my mantle and made the cut. side note: I have this nail on one side of my mantle that's super hand it's right next to the brick and it sticks up about an inch great for tying things to it or hanging lights or extension cords behind it. Now for the hard part... the hard part is actually knowing how to spell the word correctly and realizing after you've already glued them down that they are all backwards and you have to start completely over again. So don't be like me and be impatient. Make sure you have them laid out properly in advance. Which is backwards from what you'd think it would be. Like putting on a one sided necklace or your bra or something. I used a heavy-weight metal ruler you can find at the craft store to weight them down so the string wouldn't slide down and I used my handy-dandy glue gun because it's quick.

And basically that's it I hung it up and took some pictures.

10 things

2011-11-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

10 bookmarks I find useful:
I'm going to leave off the obvious ones: Google, Gmail, Facebook and Twitter. Actually I don't really use twitter I have it set up to automatically post what I post on facebook or at least it used to I haven't checked it in years because I can't remember my password and I really don't like Twitter.

So here we go:

1. Pinterest Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. I use it for inspiration primarily. I have boards that I "pin" all types of things to for example: photography, decorating, fashion, recipes, DIY/crafts, the possibilities are endless. Here's a screenshot of my "blue jars" board.

2. Amazon Who doesn't know what Amazon is? Amazon began as an online bookstore but has morphed into what it is now selling just about anything. What do I like about Amazon? What's not to like? ;) Seriously I have a 3rd generation Kindle and when I get a chance I'll be upgrading to the new Kindle Fire. I love the 3rd generation because of the ease of use outdoors I can take it to the park or outside on the patio while my kids are playing and it stores more books than I'll probably ever read. I've also been able to get most of the books I read completely free. The other thing I like about Amazon is it's Wish List which conveniently lets you maintain a list or multiple lists of things you might be wishing for. I keep lists of the toys my kids are currently wanting.(great for when Christmas time rolls around and I need ideas) I keep lists of movies I want to add to my collection, books I'd like to read, Christmas movies, camera equipment, a general list of things I'm wanting....you get the idea. And best of all you can add anything from ANY website even if it's not on amazon. Then you can also email your list and it's searchable(or private if you prefer). bonus: check out CamelCamelCamel for price drop alerts!

3. Polyvore Polyvore is a site where you can make sets of items. Most people use it as a fashion collection but some make art from them. It's sort of like a digital scrapbook of sorts. They describe themselves as a community of taste-makers where people can discover their style and set trends around the world. Here's a set I made a while back with basically what I wore today.

4. Etsy Most people know about etsy which is a social commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. You can buy and sell here listings are about .20 cents each. Here's a front page screenshot. That's my item in the bottom right corner.

5. Stereo Mood stereomood is a free emotional internet radio that suggests to me the music that best suits my mood and my daily activities. it's much more than an online radio, it's a tool to create playlists for every occasion, a tool to share my emotions through the music.
6. Merriam Webster yep just your regular dictionary/thesaurus here nothing more to see folks.
7. Life-Hacker tips and tricks to increase productivity in all areas of life.
8. TinEye a reverse image search engine. Want to see if anyone's swiped your image this is the place to do it. You can also search google images.
9. Way Back Machine a digital time capsule created by the Internet Archive
10. Lego Building Instructions Ever loose those instructions or can't find a certain ripped out page or are you like me and just want to go paperless? This is the place!

Halloween: Costumes 2011

2011-11-02T12:51:00.000-05:00

Some of you out there know from Facebook that back in September our kids decided to be "Plants Vs. Zombies" this year.

L-R: The Doom Shroom aka Thomas, The Cherry Bomb aka Trever, The Gatling Pea Shooter aka Christopher, The Walnut aka Alex

Look around on the web trust me there are no Plants Vs. Zombies costumes to be found. I found some Angry Birds yesterday in Wal-Mart though.

So I made a list of supplies I had vs. needed for each costume. A little overwhelming with four. I had not attempted to make a costume since well...I can't remember when I guess since I was a kid myself and then my Mom did the work.

For the Walnut (Alex who wasn't thrilled about it he thought he'd be "fat") I bought a XXX T-shirt on sale at ACMoore for $2! Add a box of rit dye and it cost me $5. (More on the mask later)

For the Gatling Pea Shooter(Christopher) I purchased some camo sweats and t-shirt at Walmart for about $5. I thought I'd make leaves from felt which I had already and paint the mask which I'd make from paper mache. I had plenty of newspaper from Jeremi's former subscription of the Wall Street Journal for a class he took.

Doom Shroom(Thomas) was the easiest I already had gray sweats and his mask would also be paper mache.

Cherry Bombs(Trever) also got a camo sweat set and the cherry's would be made from paper mache with some felt leaves.

I also bought a face paint set for about $6 and 2 bags of balloons for $2. One bag would have done it but the boys got to the balloons and they were all gone before I actually got to make the masks.

This all sounded easy in theory. Saturday morning I started working on the masks. Three of the kids were at Grandma's so this gave me the perfect opportunity to work at it. If there is any word that describes paper mache it's MESSY! I got the materials together (newspaper strips, water, a big bowl, flour. I mixed it up I used my mixer but it's not necessary I'm just severely impatient. The website I used said 2 parts water to 1 part flour I actually like it 1 to 1 better it's thicker.

And I cut and pasted, cut and pasted, cut and pasted. Then I waited. And I waited. And I waited some more. About 13 hours. The next day they were dry and I painted the first coat of paint. (I used simple craft paint that I already had on hand they are usually $1 or less a bottle) While they were drying we went to pick up the kids. We got home a few hours later and the kids were very excited (except Alex who still thought he'd be fat).

Halloween morning Alex was still upset and getting more grumpy by the minute. It finally dawned on me that I had not intended to make him a mask because I had intended to put the eyes on his outfit and that he was feeling left out that he didn't have a mask. So I got the bowl out and started mixing. I told him I didn't know if it would be ready in time but I'd try really hard and that even if he didn't have a mask I'd still love him anyway...he thought that was funny. (Alex is the joker in the family it's my fault he's the walnut in the first place I should have let him pick whatever but he wouldn't decide on a character so I picked for him. I wanted him to be happy with it and in the end he was.) I worked ALL DAY on this. I had to make a trip to the store for a few things that I was missing. Some elastic 97₵ for masks and the bottom of Alex's costume, a Paint Pen($4-I actually got a stain pen to work on the table-more on that later) Safety pins $1 (I needed a large one to thread the elastic through the shirt tail) and the face paint which I was hoping to get on clearance but no) Anyway...I had already put the strips on the balloon for Alex's and was waiting for it to dry while I was out and about. When I got back after putting the few groceries and things away I went to work on making adjustments. Christopher's took the most time as it was the largest and most detailed AND he's very picky on things being JUST so... I ended up using an embossing gun to get Alex's mostly dry so I could paint it and that was at about 4 o'clock...getting right down tot he wire at that point. Then I began painting faces...another MESSY project that I don't know if I ever want to repeat although they were adorable. To top it off... it was raining. Paper Mache + rain = UHOH Where in the parent manual does it cover rain on Halloween? We went anyway it drizzled the entire time. I wore black and a magenta witch hat with rainbow socks and a rainbow feather boa(I got it 1/2 price at ACMoore).

Halloween: Cake Pop Disaster

2011-11-02T08:07:00.000-05:00

So last week Christopher's Webelos Den had an achievement party with a Halloween theme. The night before Jeremi told me we needed to bring a dessert. I had been eyeing tons of cakepop recipes on pinterest. I made a list headed to the store and returned home with all the supplies I thought I'd need. I baked the cake and left it to cool overnight and in the morning started making the cake balls per the instructions, put them in the fridge to chill and went about my business. After the chilling period I proceeded to begin the dipping process. I had my chocolate ready and I attempted to color the white almond bark green, orange and purple...mistake #1 forget the food coloring it changes the chemical composition and basically hardens the almond bark instantly...ugh!

So what to do right? I'm down to the wire I have limited amount of time here. I'm freaking out in a major way! Well we made lemonade from lemons. Repeatedly heating the candy over and over again finally seemed the solution. They were really scary cake pops but the kids LOVED them. And the adults thought they were delicious. Ugly or not they were a success all around. There were 55 made I took maybe 1/4 of that home and they were all eaten by the next day.

spider,multi-eyed monster, one eyed brain, bat, ghost, Frankenstein, witch, pumpkin, vampire, werewolf

I learned:

next time just spend the extra $ on the candy melts of various colors
if you are going to use some type of bowl or something to put the sticks into put rocks or something heavy in so it doesn't tip over (I should have known this I've worked with lots of floral arrangements before and that is the same situation but I was in a hurry)
If you have a little kid working with you give them one or two cake pops to work on it will keep them busy all day.

Accomplished

2011-11-01T20:11:00.000-05:00

Did you know that making a list of things you did during the day or a time period will help you feel accomplished? Who knew?

Today (so far) I have:

got the kids up/ready for school/drove them to school
bought some coffee
changed my garden flags for the first half of November (I had some pics of these for you but we're having technical difficulties here so that and my Halloween post is on hold until tomorrow)

worked on the blog "goals" post
worked on the blog layout(again with the technical difficulties)
cleaned off the kitchen island (which took so long I almost burned my sandwich)
almost burned my sandwich
ate my sandwich
worked on some upcoming posts
figured out the picasa problem
took a few photos-tried to upload them blew up my hubbies computer
cleaned off the dining room table
took the dog out
fed the dog
picked up a bazillion Halloween candy wrappers, french fries and a fork off the floor
swept the dining room floor
put some kid papers away
started a grocery list
picked up a bajillion toys, costumes and other kid related items
put the dog food away from when I brought it home and dumped it in the dining room yesterday
hung up the kids jackets
put shoes away
emptied the roomba aka Alice (highly recommend this one of our best purchases ever)
cleaned out the big blue plate (plate that sits on my island that gathers all kinds of stuff)
found the missing netflix movie
started a load of clothes in the washer
found about a cup of laundry detergent all over the top of the dryer
cleaned up the mess
swept the kitchen ( I had pics of the mess but they'll have to wait! :( )

searched for my camera for 15 minutes ...
found it on my tripod in the hallway right "under my nose" (SMH)
took irritating strap off of the camera
put the hair dryer, embossing gun and the mixer away from the weekend of crafting
emptied Halloween buckets
bagged up the candy
boxed up the Halloween decor
put all the misc. craft stuff away
threw a load of clothes in the dryer and started another load in the washer
found the laundry detergent was leaking again
cleaned it up and moved it
picked up stuff in the living room
picked up stuff in the den
got the mail
went through the mail
threw out 4 bags of trash & put the trash cans back from where the trash guys moved them
messed on the blog more
started a 3rd load of clothes
made a quick trip to the new house to check progress-cabinets were installed!
fixed the wreath on the front and side door for November
fixed dinner for the family
ate dinner
helped kids with homework
sent kids off to bed

I'm sure there was more :D Some pics of the Cabinets. The quality is horrible thanks to my phone. I actually squealed like a teenager when I saw them! :D

Goals

2011-11-01T09:33:00.000-05:00

So I guess there is no better starting post or shall I say *re*starting post than one about goals. And what better way to check yourself than to put it out there for the world to see.

Long term goals:
*find a reasonable way to make a living with the education I already have.
At the start of the school year well back up even way before that early summer I had worked and researched tirelessly a college to attend that would fit my needs and work with the schedule around the kids being in school. I thought I'd found one and registered for classes. Everything was in line. Trever was/is/has started Kindergarten, Christopher is in 5th yes 5th! grade. Alex is in 2nd grade. Fast-forward to a week or two before school started and I finally receive the letter I'd been waiting for regarding Pre-K status for Thomas. Our city/state apparently made some serious budget cuts and cut out hundreds/thousands of Pre-K spots this year. The same school that Trever and Alex attended was cut (also the closest to us) as well as who knows how many more spots for other 4 year olds within the actual school system. Thomas was put on what I call the "smart" list...no Pre-K for him. I made a lot of phone calls did the math on what it would cost to put him in a private program and swiftly called the college and withdrew. With the house situation(more on that later) and everything else going on it just wasn't the best timing and probably a message that it wasn't meant to be anyway. Here it is 4 months later and after a lot of thinking I have come to the conclusion that I probably just don't want to go back to school anyway. (I know not very decisive that's me it's how I roll. *wink* ) I'm not sure what direction I'm going from here exactly. I'm just going to roll with it and see what happens. I know some directions I'm NOT going in because they haven't worked out for me in the past. I'm just going to see where things take me. I guess. Either way if I go find a job next year or work on my own I still have to work around the kids schedule which can be pretty daunting at times and with them all getting older it's not going to get less-daunting :D. Thus the next goal...

*make photography a part of daily life.
Jeremi will probably bite my head off because he thinks I miss the moments because I'm behind the camera....so...I'm going to work to balance it as much as possible. All about the compromise right? I want it to be more about what I'm doing (crafts, decorating, wardrobe, books, whatever my crazy addiction of the moment is, etc ...and not necessarily the kids although I do want to take some shots of them from time to time when I see something I just can't resist. Like this shot...or these or those other ones on the *must have* list whatever that may be.

*get healthy.
more on that later in another post sometime.

I'm sure I'm missing something.

Short term goals:
*try to take blogging seriously.
Is this even possible? I don't know I don't take much of anything seriously but I'm going to give it a try...again. First order of business easy image transfer from camera. This is what has always fouled me up in the past if the process isn't easy, takes forever, etc I'll end up hating it, get bored, get frustrated and eventually quit because it takes too much time away from the important things in life. The easiest process is in the works but probably won't occur until after Christmas...it calls for a camera upgrade YAY and once that happens I'll be sure to post about it. BUT, in the mean time maybe I'll be using my phone to post pics as soon as I figure out how to connect to Picasa... or something as even this is proving too difficult for my little pea brain to figure out.

*start packing the house.
Whew I'm tired already. The sheet rock is up the siding has started to be put on the cabinets have been delivered. Our closing is tentatively Dec. 21 so we'll have a new house for Christmas. BUT shhh! don't tell the kids. ;)

*clean up this house for a showing on Sunday. (the real priority)

*get groceries (the other real priority)

*write a post about Halloween

*write a post about the Cake Pop disaster.

that is all...I think...for now at least.

I did manage to get picasa to work as you can see with the photos however not ideal the pics aren't "great" and I have to walk into the office to upload because wireless is ~~shitty~~ horrible today one more time consuming step that I'm trying to avoid.

Around the House: Organizing Ideas

2011-09-09T11:46:00.001-05:00

Jewelry: Using a 5 rod slacks hanger.

Scarves: Using a regular suit hanger with $1 pack of shower rings.

Stuff

2010-09-08T20:06:00.000-05:00

American Eagle

eparator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

Tutorial: How to make a watermark brush

2010-05-10T10:29:00.000-05:00

1) Choose FILE>New from the menu and make the image size 2500x2000

2) Make a new transparent layer.

3) On your layer palette on the background layer right click and choose delete.

4) copy your logo or type your text on the transparent layer using black (if you use text you'll need to do a LAYER>RASTERIZE>TEXT.

5) choose the rectangular marquee tool (the dotted square) and select the logo/text

6) choose EDIT>DEFINE BRUSH PRESET

7) choose EDIT>PRESET MANAGER, click on your logo to highlight it and click on the save set option and label it logo and save.

8) open your photo you want to watermark and choose the brush from the brush palette and watermark your photo changing the size to whatever size you wish and the opacity to whatever suits you. I like to use black at 7% or white at 13%.

Polaroids

2010-04-15T19:46:00.000-05:00

Thoughts

2009-08-14T20:34:00.000-05:00

I've neglected things here I know I'm half way through the unravelling e-course and I haven't posted a thing because well it turns out it's well rather personal and private.
So I'll tell you about my day instead. On Friday's I like to take the kids to get breakfast somewhere and stop by and get a Frapp on my way home. There is always the same guy at the window it seems (I do see lots of girls there on the weekends too) anyway. This fellow has a thing with voices one day you'll stop and he'll be Irish and the next he'll be Russian. He's very good with the voices. I know not very exciting eh? LOL

After getting home I watched Mansfield Park via Netflix because I was too busy working on my Style Statement(a must read) to read it and too busy window shopping on etsy for things that would match my style. I've narrowed down my 80% word to either poetic or romantic and my 20% word to bohemian. And I'm happy with that they are very similar but different too. My "root" word was nostalgic if you have a copy and want to really dig to figure me out.

This evening we of course had our traditional Taco Bell night and the movie of the evening was "Step Brother" with Will Ferrell...hilarious movie. Now I'm off to see another and probably retire for the evening.

25 Places: London, England

2009-08-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

1. Tower Bridge, 2. ATZ Eliot // No.8, 3. Westminster's Twilight, 4. London Eye 01

25 Places: Washington D.C

2009-07-27T08:57:00.000-05:00

1. Lincoln Memorial // Polaroid, 2. capitol , 3. Iwo Jima, 4. Untitled, 5. mall., 6. The seed is sown, 7. white house, 8. Polaroid photo, 9. Untitled

25 Places: San Francisco

2009-07-20T08:55:00.000-05:00

Decided to go with a Polaroid theme for this weeks spot.

1. USA, San Francisco | Golden Gate, 2. schmoopy out takes, 3. Palace of Fine Arts, 4. Untitled, 5. lombard, 6. Meta-cliché, 7. Cable Car, 8. 40th floor, 9. pier 39 b

Portrait Sneak Peaks

2009-07-15T18:06:00.000-05:00

The Ward family are friends of ours. Here's a sneak peak of their family session.

July 4th 2009: Travel: Atlantic Beach

2009-07-14T10:34:00.000-05:00

Has it really already been over a week? Where DOES the time go?

We took a much needed mini-vacation. Spent some time with a friend I was reacquainted with through facebook. Took the kids to the Fort (which was the first place JC and I went together). Then the aquarium and the beach. Somehow in the process of trying to not get all worked up and stressed out I managed to leave the CF card wallet sitting on my desk and the card that goes in my camera still stuck in the computer. Over-all I managed to remain unstressed the entire weekend which is MAJOR progress for me. I had a PLAN. My PLAN involved not planning...intentionally not having any agenda to worry over and yes it worked. Even the lost card didn't even bother me. I had 2 packs of Polaroid and was just as happy if not happier with those than the digital.

25 Places: Yellowstone

2009-07-13T08:54:00.000-05:00

I'm actually kinda freaked out by Yellowstone. I don't know that I would actually go because I'm scared it will blow sky high or that I'd fall in a pit of steaming hot something or other. Beautiful has a price I suppose.

1. Trees Mist and Bronze grasses, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA., 2. Yellowstone - Old Faithful, 3. Buffalo In Golden Field, 4. Yellowstone

Inspiration: Red

2009-07-12T08:04:00.000-05:00

I totally thought that I had already done red and maybe I have so if I'm repeating myself oh well. The thing is I'm obviously running out of colors unless I start getting picky. I guess I'll have to come up with some ingenious crazy idea for future sunday threads. Anyway!!!

I had a lovely drop in the bucket type of relaxing vacation weekend last weekend. Whew that was a mouth-full. We also had a day with friends yesterday which included a session with their 6 children 3 theirs, 2 nieces+1 nephew. I'm starting Susannah's Unraveling class tomorrow... So lots to blog about coming up soon.

1. Red Polaroid, 2. Untitled, 3. imperial_red, 4. Gerbera, 5. Independence Day, 6. Untitled, 7. ., 8. raspberries, 9. Hello Ladies, 10. cherries, 11. ., 12. ♥ is in the air, 13. ., 14. red chair project: henna, 15. ., 16. *me-me

25 Places: Yosemite

2009-07-06T08:52:00.000-05:00

I chose 9 images for Yosemite simply because I could choose a 1,000 and it still not be enough.

1. Half Dome at Sunset, 2. Yosemite National Park, California, 3. Dying of the Light, 4. Three Brothers, 5. The Fallen Sequoia Redwood becomes a Tunnel, 6. Lookin' Up!, 7. Fall at Multnomah Falls, 8. Solar Rainbow in Yosemite Valley, 9. Wall of Granite

Inspiration: Orange ♥

2009-07-05T08:48:00.000-05:00

1. orange on light blue, 2. Retro Ride, 3. Polaroid - Orange Car, 4. orange_tree_dyptich, 5. Polaroid - Vespa, 6. The Orange Shop, 7. good morning with an orange, 8. 93//365 : orange roses, 9. Take a Look, 10. orange hair, 11. SX-70_47_DianaF+polaroid_filters, 12. goldfish, 13. for leah, 14. the orange light on the third day, 15. Orange danish, 16. rhino on orange, 17. Amanda Enjoys Orange, 18. only an orange, 19. I Have an (Orange) Crush on You, 20. Polaroid Orange, 21. Orange TZ, 22. muffin, 23. Polaroid - Orange Van, 24. Oranges | 2006, 25. Orange you glad?

Our Babies: Alexander

2009-07-01T08:39:00.000-05:00

My Mom called me the last day the boys were at VBS. She said they were each asked what they learned by the director. Christopher said he learned about how people in Africa need clean water. Alex said he learned that the toilet in the Men's bathroom doesn't work. (LOL)

25 Places: Grand Canyon

2009-06-29T08:51:00.000-05:00

1. Horseshoe Bend, 2. Grand Canyon & Desert View Watchtower, 3. The Grand Canyon, 21Feb08, 4. Grand Canyon at the Tapeats Creek & Colorado River confluence looking east, 5. Grand Canyon - behind Ribbon Falls, 6. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, 7. The Skywalk of Grand Canyon, 8. Grand Canyon - Nankoweap Trail - The Granaries, 9. Grand Canyon Person, 10. Grand Canyon Sunset, 11. Havasu Falls, 12. P1010158, 13. Mooney Falls From Above, 14. Colorado River Sunset Spires, 15. .Train approaching Potash, 16. Phantom Creek Waterfall

Inspiration: Purple

2009-06-28T08:28:00.000-05:00

1. train tracks at dawn - polaroid, 2. Time for walking !!, 3. rhapsody in blue (or is it purple?), 4. Untitled, 5. Untitled, 6. Untitled, 7. Take me (where the wind blows), 8. Untitled, 9. innocence, 10. ., 11. interlude, 12. polaroid <3, 13. wispy winds, 14. Untitled, 15. Untitled

Inspiration: Video

2009-06-27T01:12:00.000-05:00

My Favourite Things from kidswithcrayons on Vimeo.

I've had an exhausting week.
I decided to take a step away for a bit and try to recoup.
Gone Fishing Series now in the SHOP
I made a mailing list (please subscribe so I won't be lonely). [see top left corner]
I conquered one thing off my 1000 things to do list.
I found Nikki again after four years of searching!
That makes me VERY happy.

Polaroids

2009-06-22T08:55:00.000-05:00

I took some time out after the baby shower Saturday to shoot a few images. The shower was at my Grandma's house which is on the Albemarle Sound.

Regular travel post is coming too.

25 Places: New York City

2009-06-22T08:35:00.000-05:00

Somewhere I've always wanted to go is New York City during the holidays. It's a no brainer right? What could be better than that?

1. Statue of Liberty with New York City Skyline, 2. Rock_Center_1, 3. Grand Central, 4. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 06, Turkey - MDPNY20061125, 5. Rockeffer Center Christmas Tree, 6. Wall Street: American Flag on the New York Stock Exchange Building, Manhattan, New York City, 7. landscape, 8. Brooklyn Bridge I | HDR, 9. Flatiron Building, New York City

Inspiration: Green

2009-06-21T08:05:00.000-05:00

1. Springtime, 2. Singin' In The Ivy - 2nd version, 3. My polaroid SX-70, 4. ., 5. save polaroid, 6. Yellow Chair, 7. Cozy, 8. Cool, 9. Design, 10. Untitled, 11. sea green sky blue, 12. natsu-iro #03, 13. Picnic Accessories..., 14. Glass with Apricot, 15. Borgata Gombe, 16. Green Polaroid

I have SO MUCH to share. I know I didn't ever get to the photos in the banner last week but I took a bunch of Polaroids yesterday and I can't wait to share them with you. Stay tuned tomorrow is gonna be fun!

Inspiration: Video

2009-06-19T07:20:00.000-05:00

I don't know why but I'm totally ready for the weekend. Tonight I'm sure we'll be watching a movie. Tomorrow my Brother & Sis-in-law + a baby shower. Sunday Father's Day and rest.

So for today's inspiration video:

Polaroids

2009-06-18T04:29:00.000-05:00

Christopher and Alexander: Lightning Bugs

2009-06-17T06:21:00.000-05:00

Things have been a bit slow around here. The house is looking pretty clean for a change. Probably due to the rain yesterday. I took these last week during the red hair salesman episode. Not feeling very inspired to write at the moment.

Photography

2009-06-16T11:28:00.000-05:00

Rainy day = house work and boringness.

Two I put up on etsy this morning both are seen in my blog banner. I'll be putting up others in the banner throughout the week.

Two more I posted last week:

25 places: Cumberland Island, Georgia

2009-06-15T07:02:00.000-05:00

A few weeks back I was googling looking for places to shoot feral horses. I came across Cumberland Island and Dungeness Mansion in the process. So today when I was looking for some new places to discover I remembered seeing it and had to go back and try to find where that place was (having forgotten that I was looking for feral horses this was somewhat difficult). This place is just magical to me.
This mansion was built in 1803. Here's a photo of it in 1958.

And a few from flickr:

1. Untitled, 2. Untitled, 3. Untitled, 4. The Road Less Traveled, 5. twinkies, 6. Feral Horses at Dungeness Ruins, 7. dungeness ruins, 8. Dungeness, 9. jc6822.JPG

Inspiration: Yellow

2009-06-14T10:15:00.000-05:00

1. crayon lips, 2. Day 124/365: Hobbit, 3. polaroid .02, 4. JOE JONAS POLAROID, 5. Maura, 6. Untitled, 7. Editing my book, 8. I'm waiting., 9. 05/31/2007, 10. Untitled, 11. SUNshine, 12. <3VIOLET CORY<3, 13. Oncidium, 14. Untitled, 15. .story of my life., 16. Maura

I took this a while back somehow forgot about it.

This one is from yesterday.

Tutorial: Stat-Counter

2009-06-14T01:38:00.000-05:00

1. You can see where people come from to get to your blog.

Ex. Most people come from Phaunt to get to my blog (duh) Hi girls ;)

2. You can see what people search for that leads them to your blog.

Ex. A list of the keywords people type in google(yahoo, msn, etc) that lead them to your site or blog. (for me this goes something like: SX-70 tutorial, rarindra effect tutorial, light ray tutorial, port campbell, transparent logo tutorial, rici five minutes (WTH?) So this helps me decide what kind of content to try to put into the blog/site and what kind of "fluff".

3. It tells you how long people stay and what pages they look at (visitor paths).
This will give you an idea into the mindset of "how" people are viewing your pages and where/why they take particular paths.

4. You can see where they are coming from (this isn't necessarily precise) but it's cool to see that people are reading your blog from all over the world. I know I'm not super popular but I've had 147 US viewers, 14 Canadian, 6 Australian, 5 Philippines, 4 Venezuela, 4 Indonesia, 3 Nepal, 3 UK, 3 Italy, 2 Malaysia, 2 Germany, 2 Spain, and 1 from 9 other countries. WOW isn't that cool?!!

5. You can find out system stats which will help you develop your page to suit your viewers better. Ex. most users are using 1280x1024 on my blog.

and

BONUS:

It's fun! ;)

I use stat counter but I know there's a google version and other's out there just search stat counter and make your own decision.

Miscellany

2009-06-13T14:38:00.000-05:00

1. If a guy with red hair knocks on your door he wants to sell you an alarm system ...my advice is don't open the door.

2. Sure Chick-fil-A tastes divine but you'll still regret it later.

3. Buying a yoga mat and strap doesn't guarantee you're going to do a work-out but it might give you more incentive to do a work-out.

4. Does eating left-overs allow me to have a Frappuchino?

5. Sources tell me eating organic may cure what ails me but how exactly do I do that?

6. New stuff in the shop.

Inspiration: Video

2009-06-12T06:04:00.000-05:00

I started this email earlier today and somehow got busy with life. Encouraging my 8 year old to do the laundry for some hours(he earns time to watch tv/play games/etc), getting him and the 5 year old food. Traveling to the boyscout store to pick up tickets for the game tomorrow. Getting lost with no cell phone and backtracking directions. Driving back home, stopping at an antique shop. Listening to them whine for me to buy them toys. Finishing the drive home. Starting laundry again.

And I still don't remember what I had planned to write about. But today IS Friday so for now I can share a video with you.

OH and I'm going to extend the contest until next Friday. Maybe I'll come back later and add some more. I think I'll go take a nap first.

Polaroids

2009-06-11T09:33:00.000-05:00

5x5 Notecard set includes these four SX-70 images:

Postcard set includes any of the four from the Secret Garden Dreamscape series

Photography

2009-06-10T10:28:00.000-05:00

I keep going back and forth about posting my items on etsy but I think I've learned some lessons and I'm going to try it a while longer before giving up. This will mean some blogging changes for me but will just be additional fluff for you. Everybody likes fluff right? ;) With that said hopefully each photo will be clickable so if you decide you can't live without it you can click right to the shop.

So here's a new one I posted today. It's titled Line Up.

And one more called Slipper

Inspiration: Vision Board

2009-06-09T08:21:00.000-05:00

*I blurred out a couple things they are a little more private to me.

Last month when I started reading Christine Kane's blog I became pretty obsessed with living life with intent. I was tired of being down about everything and wanted to make some changes. Actually I started this way back in December when I decided to fix some issues that had been haunting me health-wise. This is an on-going effort. It takes WORK and lots of it but it is SO worth it. One of the first things I did after beginning reading her blog was to make a vision board. When you get to her website be sure to fill out the form that pops up she'll send you some freebies to help you get started.

Anyway... back to my vision board. It was probably the next day that I decided to make my vision board. Which by the way is basically a board that you put ideas for things you want to BE/HAVE/Do with your life. You can find images in magazines etc. So I made my board and put it in the corner of the office. A few days later my 2 and 3 year old de-constructed it and I later painstakingly reassembled it. I then asked JC to please hang it up before they decide to rip it up again. Which he did pretty immediately. (thanks sweetie)I then decided to add my Polaroids as further inspiration. I'll probably change it up now and then. And while I was out doing errands he hung up a coat rack that I had purchased to help clean up an area of our house that has become a pile of junk (shoes, coats, backpacks etc) I still am looking for a better solution for shoes but for now this has been a great added addition. Did I just say added addition? Yea I did didn't I? Oh well.

So surprisingly yesterday I got an email from a customer via etsy.com. The person was wanting 3 of my dance photos printed 16x20 by Wednesday for an upcoming scene to be filmed for a Disney movie called "StepUp 3D" Little did he know that I was jumping up and down as soon as I hung up the phone. How cool is that? Man that board sure did work fast!

The images are:

"grace"

"pointe"

"style"

Tutorial: Photoshop Brushes

2009-06-09T07:59:00.000-05:00

Basic steps:

Step 1:
Pick out the object you want to make into a brush.
It can be practically anything a part of a photograph, a graphic, etc.

Step 2:
Open a new document size 2500 by 2500 300ppi in CS2 or CS3)
(In Previous versions like CS, 1000px is the limit.) And you might have to scale it down if "define brush" is grayed out when you go to make the actual brush.

Step 3:
Take your photo or graphic make it grayscale and erase areas away that you don't want to include OR select only the part you want to include.

Step 4:
Copy and paste your photo or graphic onto the larger file and size accordingly. (Of course the 300ppi and size will vary depending on what size file you started with because you don't want to pixellate the brush later but want to make it as large as possible so that if you do need a huge brush later on you'll have it.)

Step 5:
Edit your new file adjust brightness and contrast, exposure, levels whatever you like until it gives the image lots of punch.

Step 6:
To actually create the brush select it and go to EDIT: DEFINE BRUSH PRESET and give it a name.

Step 7:
So you're wondering where it went so you don't loose it next time you change your palette right?

The brush you just made was added to the end of whatever brush set you already had open. Now you need to Define a new Brush Set to actually save it. On the brush set click the down arrow and select "PRESET MANAGER" or select PRESET MANAGER from the Edit menu. Find your brush it should be the very last one. SELECT IT and any others you want to put into a particular set. Click the SAVE SET button and save your new set of brushes.

To Organize your brushes:
This is a pita but basically just load up what you want to put into a set and follow step 7. I have my brushes saved in two places both inside the big folder with all my photo backups and in another folder on my external usb drive and I load them from there so if my PC crashes I have an extra copy of them so IF I were to organize them I'd make a new folder to save them into and delete the older sets as I got them organized so I didn't confuse them later. But I'm too lazy to organize them and I have about a billion or so.

25 Places: Gatineau Park Quebec Canada

2009-06-08T06:36:00.000-05:00

For those of you that missed it check out my POLL here and my CONTEST here.

Gatineau Park Quebec Canada

1. The roots of the enchanted forest, 2. Autumn Ruins, 3. Enter, 4. Willson's Ruins., 5. Remains of the day, 6. Wilson's Ruins, 7. longwayin, 8. Gatineau Park 06, 9. Autumn Waterfall, 10. Gothika, 11. Covered Bridge, 12. ~Gatineau Park hike...enjoy!~

Inspiration: Pink

2009-06-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

For those of you that missed it check out my POLL here and my CONTEST here.

Pink + Polaroid

If you don't already know by now I love PINK it's my favorite color with various shades of blue running a close second. So I decided to put together a inspiration collection of my two favorites pink+polaroid today. I hope you find something you like that inspires you.

1. pink dress, 2. Pink Flamingo Polaroid, 3. ocean flamingo, 4. The Battle Between Boys and Girls, 5. pink breakfast, 6. my pink bicycle, 7. phalaeonopsis, 8. "magnolia" (tulip tree), 9. pink shoe, 10. Pink Daisies, 11. Shades of purple, 12. tea in portobello, 13. cosmos, 14. pinklemonade, 15. Pueblo Pink, 16. dreamy girl

Polaroid

2009-06-06T15:23:00.000-05:00

I had some time earlier today while I was waiting for a meeting that was actually suppose to be tomorrow so I put my new SX-70 to use again and took a few pics. Here's one:

Inspiration: Video

2009-06-05T14:22:00.000-05:00

Almost forgot it's Friday:

Inspiration: Polaroid

2009-06-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Lots of people mix up Polaroid Emulsion Lifts with Polaroid Transfers they are actually two different processes entirely.

A Polaroid Transfer uses a certain type of film and revolves around the film being peeled apart prematurely and then the negative pressed onto a different surface usually watercolor paper.

Here are a few Polaroid Transfer's from Flickr:

1. tree, 2. clyde beatty circus, 3. Camille, 4. closer in, 5. junk, 6. sea tree, 7. a walk under the kites on the Algarve, 8. Thistle One, 9. The Cotton Boll Grill, 10. Untitled, 11. Untitled, 12. hausboot, 13. Balloons- Polaroid Transfer, 14. ska bus, 15. England winter 1962, 16. Hope Cove

Here's two I've done:

Inspiration: Polaroid

2009-06-03T08:01:00.000-05:00

Another Polaroid technique is Emulsion Lifts. Basically you soak a certain type of Polaroid in hot to boiling water for a certain amount of time and the emulsion eventually comes apart. There's more to it than that but that's the basics. Then you transfer it to a different medium of your choice. Lots of people use watercolor paper but you can use almost anything. Glass, fabric, tile, ceramics, etc.

Here's some that I found on flickr:

1. Paris for Keico, 2. Untitled, 3. . . ., 4. Fragment, 5. 4x, 6. downtown lift, 7. the_field, 8. Untitled, 9. Old Emulsion Transfer, 10. S N Ö, 11. Two chairs, 12. Emulsion heart ♡, 13. Mississippi Trees, 14. polaroid emulsion lift, 15. My first polaroid emulsion lift, 16. Green Chair.lift

And here's one of my own:

Inspiration: SX-70 manipulation

2009-06-02T15:41:00.000-05:00

If I could pick any type of photography to do it would be SX-70 manipulation. At one time Polaroid made a film called "time-zero". Sometimes you can find it on ebay but usually at outlandish prices and out of date. A new type has been made in Europe however it does not have the same properties of time zero. Time-Zero was unique in that the emulsion was soft for about 20 minutes and could be manipulated with items like:

☺ burnishing tools
☺ wooden dowels, cuticle sticks, skewers
☺ Dental tools
☺ clay tools
☺ whatever else you could get your hands on

They could be put in the freezer and removed and heated with a coffee mug and manipulated further. The resulting images resembling a mini-Monet albeit a impressionistic looking Polaroid.

Here's a few manipulations I found on flickr:

1. Big Chicken, 2. Raggedy Ann, 3. Athens Agora.jpg, 4. baby sunflowers, 5. Pear Triplet Posing on Books, 6. Rose, 7. Summer's End (SX-70 manipulation), 8. Mid-Winter Blues (SX-70 manipulation), 9. Old Farmhouse, 10. Upstairs, Downstairs.., 11. Ava dreams of flying (SX-70 manipulation), 12. Branching Out (SX-70 manipulation), 13. N.C. Red chair sx70, 14. Grape Kool Aid Iris - Polaroid Manipulation, 15. Leaves, 16. save polaroid

Here are a few of my own manipulations.

Tutorial: Rounded Corners in Photoshop

2009-06-02T07:54:00.000-05:00

This may sound very complicated but once you have done it a few times it's very easy. Making a one size fits all action with this is not a simple ordeal because there are so many different file sizes and one action will not work on them all. Once you are familiar with it you can usually make an action from it that will fit your own particular file sizes. I have four 2 for files that come from RAW and 2 for files that are normal JPG one each for horizontal and one for vertical. They also include reducing my file size and saving for web. With all that said here are the instructions if you have any questions just ask.

Step One: Promote your photo to it's own layer on the layer palette. (If you can't see the layer palette on the right side of your screen from the menu choose Window>Layers
(right click and select layer from background)

Step Two: Create a new layer.
(Shift+Ctrl+N) or in the menu choose Layer>New>Layer)
Say Okay to the New Layer Box.

Step Three: On that new layer draw a rounded rectangle box.
(Choose the Rounded Rectangle Tool from the Tool Palette)
On the Tool Options bar(usually at the top of the screen) select the tip that says Paths(it's the one in the middle that looks like a calligraphy pen tip)
Make the box exactly how you want the corners to appear on the photo(you can use this to crop a bit also if you wish to make it square for ex.).
Fill Color does not matter at this point.
Whatever falls into the box will be seen.

Step Four: On the layer palette double click on the box layer.
Once you see the layer style menu move the slider on
Advanced Blending>Fill Opacity to zero
Click Okay

Step Five: At the top of the palette box choose the paths tab.
(If it's not there go to the menu and choose Window>Paths)
Click on the path that says Work Path.
Right click and choose make selection.
In the next box Feather Radius should be set to 0 and anti-alias IS checked.
Click Okay

Step Six: From the menu choose Edit>Copy Merged

Step Seven: From the menu choose Image>Crop

Step Eight: From the menu choose Select>Inverse

[there are two ways you can go from here depending on how you want this to display]

Step Nine(Vs1): IF you want to display this as a transparent PNG file for web make another transparent layer and move it under your photo(if your photo is still a background layer right click on it and choose layer from background) Back on the photo layer (your selection should still be selected) hit DELETE this will remove the sharp corners and your photo should be rounded.
Choose File>Save For Web> a menu will come up and you will choose PNG-24 from the preset box. Click SAVE (choose your location, make your name and you are finished)

Step Nine(Vs2): IF you DO NOT want to use this as a PNG file and you would like the color of the corners to be the same as whatever background you are displaying it on so that it appears transparent then with your selection still chosen go to the tool palette on the set foreground color box at the bottom choose the color which your background will be. Next from the menu choose Edit>Fill make sure in the box Use that foreground is chosen and that the opacity is at 100% click Okay and save your file.

Here's an example...

25 Places: Great Ocean Road Port Campbell National Park Australia

2009-06-01T13:06:00.000-05:00

Great Ocean Road/ Port Campbell National Park Victoria Australia

1. Sun, Sand and surf, 2.The Grotto, Great Ocean Road , 3. London Arch, Great Ocean Road, 4. Prince of Billabong, 5. The Island Arch, 6. Pastel Moonset, 7. Warning Sign, 8. CapOne IMG_0351, 9.Australia - 12 Apostles = 12 Apostoles

Best Movie 2009

2009-06-01T05:13:00.000-05:00

So last night I stayed up and watched the MTV movie awards. Twilight won tons no surprise there. Next year...

I'm predicting...

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Polaroids

2009-05-31T07:25:00.000-05:00

Polaroids

2009-05-30T11:14:00.000-05:00

Today we were working on cleaning out some over-grown bushes. Little abandoned nest was in one. The eggs are faux. No birdies harmed in the making of this photo.

Inspiration: Video

2009-05-29T13:26:00.000-05:00

kidding...

Since the Photo History can be somewhat boring I think I'm going to start a new thing in addition.

It's called: (drum roll) Inspirational commercials!

ha ha

first up: Kohl's Vera Wang Spring 2008

Photo History Part 5

2009-05-29T05:31:00.000-05:00

1840- Peter Friedrich Voigtlander of Vienna puts an improved lens on the market. The image being 22 times more brilliant than Daguerre's.

1841- George W. Prosch, an American instrument maker and daguerreotypist notes that when using "quickstuff" he was able to shorten exposure time from four minutes to twenty-five seconds.

Hippolyte Louis fizeau enriches the tones of the daguerreotype by gilding the plate.

By June, 1855 over 403,626 daguerreotypes had been taken in the state of Massachusetts.

"The History of Photography", Beaumont Newhall

Miscellany

2009-05-27T08:31:00.000-05:00

Top 10 Bodacious Ways to Be Nice to Yourself
by Christine Kane

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 4,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.

Just as there was a time when "google" was not a verb, there was also a time when "bodacious" was not a word. Bodacious is a blend of "bold" and "audacious" created in British English dialect late in the nineteenth century.

Still, I'm glad it was created! Some days we need to be bodacious! And some days, we need to remember to apply it to how kindly we treat ourselves. Trust me: You'll thrive tomorrow because of today's kindness.

Here are my top 10 bodacious ways to be nice to yourself:

1- Flowers!

This is so simple - and yet so powerful! Fresh flowers beautify any space. I always have an orchid on my coffee table. I see it the minute I walk in the door, and it reminds me to take a deep breath and cherish the beauty of my life. Have a Sunday practice of getting fresh flowers to get your week off to a bodacious start!

2 - Take a nap

Favorite thing: I climb into bed for a nap in the middle of the day. Within minutes comes the soft ploop of cat paws on the cover. I can hear the cat thoughts: Hmm. The human has decided to lie quietly. I'd like to take part. Then the paws walk all around me until they find the very best spot for settling.

Cats know the truth: Naps are bodacious!

3 - Pay full price

The amount of energy we waste on trying to get "deals" is often not worth it. If you see something you love, then get it. I'm convinced that we'd all be so much happier and wealthier if we just got exactly what we loved without looking at price tags and wasting time looking for sales. (We'd probably have much less stuff too!)

4 - Trampolines and swings.

I was at a cocktail party last year. The adults were up on the deck watching the kids jump on the trampoline. At one point, all the kids ran inside. I kicked off my shoes and ran for the trampoline. Three other women joined me. We laughed and jumped for about 15 minutes. It was the most fun I'd had that week.

Swings are fun, too. And they're easy to find! Who cares if you look or feel stupid? Being an adult doesn't have to mean being boring!

5 - Truncate your To-Do's.

How many items are on your to-do list today?

32?

20?

67?

A day should have no more than two or three mission-critical priorities for completion. The rest are extra credit! Giving yourself the gift of completion is the ultimate self-kindness.

6 - Order out.

I love preparing meals. But some nights, it's just necessary to let someone else do the cooking. We have a great delivery service in our town. I don't mind the extra expense if it allows me a night of no clean up, and a little extra time to write or just be with my husband.

7 - Take a long walk with your dog.

Are you one of those people who gets home from work and marches your dog around the block with a grim look on your face? (Another to-do item checked off the list!)

Try this: Take your dog for a long happy walk. Revel in the delight and presence of your dog. It will absolutely lift your spirits.

8 - Go on a retreat.

Many of the women who come to my Unstoppable Power of Intention Retreats show up frazzled and nervous. They've never done something so bodacious in their lives! They leave refreshed and renewed. One woman hugged me as she was about to drive away from the March retreat and she said, "This was the best money I've ever spent on myself."

It doesn't have to be one of my retreats, of course. (Though they are pretty great! And the October retreat is already half-full!) You can search google for all kinds of bodacious retreat getaways in your area.

9 - Read for fun.

Do you relish your days on the beach because it's the only time you'll allow yourself the joy of a trashy novel or some "light" reading?

Why not get a little bodacious and bring the beach to your work-week? Curl up at night and get lost in some fun fiction.

10 - Step AWAY from the computer. (And the phone.)

Everyone needs a break from social media and blogs and email. (Yes, even this e-Zine!) Don't include your computer in any of the above activities. And turn off your phone, too! I promise, your computer and phone won't take it personally!

Tutorial: Photoshop Transparent Color logo

2009-05-26T06:58:00.000-05:00

Say you want a logo that is solid color but transparent (by transparent I mean there is no background behind the letters/shapes/etc)

Step One: Open your color logo file.

Step Two: If there is a white background (or any other SOLID color) click on the white area with the Magic Wand Tool. In the settings the Tolerance should be 15. This should select only the white background. Click on your delete key and that area should be deleted. Sometimes you will have to manually go in and select areas inside of letters and delete them separately.

Step Three: IF your background is NOT transparent (you should see the checkerboard grid if it IS transparent) Click on your BACKGROUND layer and right click and choose Layer from Background and click Okay.

Step Four: Make a new layer the color should be NONE.

Step Five: Delete the old background layer.

Step Six: Save your file as a PSD with a new name to an easy to find location so you don't save over your old file.

Step Seven: Open your photo that you will put the logo onto.

Step Eight: From your menu choose FILE>PLACE and choose your new file

Step Nine: You should see now your logo on a new layer over your photo with a box with an X in it now you can shift+drag the box to scale it to whatever size you wish to use click enter and you now have a transparent color logo on top of your photo.

note: IF you wish to make the color logo opaque simply click on the layer and slide the opacity slider to your desired setting.

25 Places: Antelope Canyon Tuba City, Arizona

2009-05-25T10:29:00.000-05:00

Well here we go. I have a billion places in the US alone that I'd like to see somewhat topping the list is Antelope Canyon

1. Illumination, 2. Tse Bighanilini, 3. sandfall, 4. CorkScrew, 5. Dance of the Dragon, 6. A Ray Of Light, 7. Lower Antelope Slot, 8. Nature's Abstraction, 9. Sand Flowing in Antelope Canyon

Tutorial: 5 things to spice up your photography

2009-05-24T07:03:00.000-05:00

Feeling bored? Uninspired? Here's some things to try.

1. If you're using a digital take some painter tape or masking tape and cover that viewfinder. Limit yourself to 24-48 shots. (as if you were using film and only had a couple rolls)

2. Put down the digital and try film. It's very invigorating to not be able to see what you have shot and having to wait builds lots of anticipation. With digital we're more likely to say I don't like that and toss it out but with film you gain a new perspective and realize that sometimes art happens by mistake.

3. Use a camera you've never used before. Try an antique camera do some research on how first. Maybe try a TLR with 35mm film in it or a polaroid) Check out your local thrift shop and pick up a camera you would never normally have tried. Other fun things are plastic diana or holga or a Pop 9

4. Try making a pinhole camera.

5. Try something new no matter what it is. If you normally do portraits take a walk and try shooting anything that catches your eye. If you do weddings try going somewhere new you've never been and do the same or for a bigger challenge try shooting 2 year olds. ;) The best thing you can do is just GET OUT THERE and shoot.

Photo History Part 4

2009-05-22T04:28:00.000-05:00

Hercules Florence

Hippolyte Bayard

Hans Tøger Winther

TV

2009-05-20T13:37:00.000-05:00

Adam: typical, very talented, BUT I can only see him performing in Vegas.

Kris: I hope he wins.

that's all. ;0

ETA: HE WON!!! YAY

and

That was an amazingly awesome ending show!

Top 2 Finale Performance - Performances

Shared via AddThis

Miscellany

2009-05-20T07:14:00.000-05:00

Last week I stumbled upon Christine Kane via another blog I frequent. I cannot tell you what a difference some of her writing has made in my life. I'm still reading back logs of her blog and every entry has something good to say that is so incredibly helpful. If you are feeling overwhelmed be sure to check out her website.

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 4,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.

Overcoming Overwhelm: 5 Practical Secrets to Peaceful Productivity
by Christine Kane

Overwhelm is one of the toughest things my coaching clients face.

No surprise, of course.

The people I work with - whether they’re in my Platinum Mastermind, or my Uplevel Your Life Mastery Program, or at one of my women’s retreats - tend to have one thing in common:

They’re creative types with lots of great ideas and a deep desire to be of service in the world. (If you’re reading this, you’re probably that kind of person, too.)

Creative types are often challenged by the practical day-to-day stuff of life. To-do’s, organization, finances, getting things done. NONE of this comes easy to them! Overwhelm becomes a way of life.

Only problem is this:

Overwhelm leaves you emotionally drained, constantly feeling like you’ll never quite catch up.

As a creative person, you might have to accept that you’ll be overwhelmed on a regular basis, but you can also take a few practical steps to overcome overwhelm. Here are five secrets I’ve learned along the way that have helped me get back on purpose in my daily life.

1 - Get out of the weeds

If you’ve ever waitressed, then you know what it means to be “in the weeds.” So much is happening so fast that you can’t even pause to regroup.

Many of us live our whole lives like this! We wake up and just start reacting.

If this is you, then it’s time to get out of the weeds and into the habit of something I call Self-Summits.

A Self-Summit is a weekly 30-minute practice - Sunday’s are perfect! - during which you connect with your intentions, remind yourself of your goals, and get clear on your priorities. You look at the week ahead and:

· List your top three priorities (not your 57 to-do’s!) for the week.

· Get clear on upcoming appointments.

· Schedule your work-out time, your writing time, your downtime, etc.

This one practice does wonders for keeping you on track. Even if your week doesn’t work out exactly as planned, this is better than not having any plan at all!

2 - Project vs. Task

Is this your to-do list? –>

“Re-paint house. Create website. Write book. Eat healthy.”

If so, then it’s time to discern between a project and a task. A project is something big…like a website. It looms like a monolith on your to-do list, with its own foreboding theme song that plays every time you glance at it.
A task, on the other hand, is something you can actually complete. Like, “Write bio.” Or “Call Photographer.”

Learn to break down your projects into tasks during your Self-Summits, and you’ll reduce your overwhelm by at least 75%!

3 - Experience Completion

I often make my clients set their weekly goals so small that they laugh at me. I do this because most of the creatives I work with have never allowed themselves the bold luxury of simply experiencing completion.

When you experience completion, then you can maintain your motivation. When you are always running to keep up with your 73-item to-do list, then you are prone to overwhelm and burn out. Make your goals and your to-do list small so that you can revel in getting complete!

Think of completion as an essential vitamin that makes you immune to overwhelm!

4 - Set the Timer

This will sound so simple and stupid that you’ll think, “Yea, yea yea. Got it. A timer. Duh.”

But hear me out!

Let’s say you’ve scheduled 2 hours to write Chapter 4 of your book. Set the timer for 55 minutes, and write. Don’t go one minute over or under. Take a five-minute break. Then set your timer for another 55 minutes.

When the clock is running, you won’t be as tempted to go downstairs to put the clothes in the dryer, or see if the mail has arrived. It’s an effective mind game that keeps your butt in the chair and your focus on the task. Even my most skeptical clients have become believers in the timer.

5 - Eliminate All-Or-Nothing Thinking

Many creatives see only two options:

Either be fun-loving, chaotic, creative and spontaneous…

OR

Be a totally boring robot who never experiences love or joy.

This is called All-or-Nothing Thinking. It is also a “Limiting Belief.” It is downright untrue and even destructive, and it will keep you playing catch-up forever!

The trick to overcoming overwhelm is to play with these new habits. Tweak them so they work for YOU. Many people use all-or-nothing thinking as an excuse for not even trying. They give up on themselves way too quickly.

Don’t expect to be perfect when you first start digging out of overwhelm. But DO expect yourself to keep practicing these habits.

WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Christine's blog - Be Creative. Be Conscious. Be Courageous - at ChristineKane.com/blog.

Featured

2009-05-18T20:24:00.000-05:00

I don't know what it is about this ferris wheel but the etsian's love it. This time it's another treasury featuring only ferris wheels. Thanks to ruetabega another etsian for including me. She has a very unique style with a mix of felted wares and jewelry so go check her out!!!

25 Places: Brighton Beach AU

2009-05-16T23:00:00.000-05:00

While stumbling across Brighton, UK it was intermingled with Brighton Beach, AU while I'm sure there are many more places to visit in Australia I wanted to focus on this small beach and at a later point I'll focus on other destinations because this would probably only cover a day there. As usual credit given below.

1. Manly New Brighton Hotel, 2. I see through you, 3. A Little Color, 4. My loyal assistants on a reconnaissance mission to scope out prospective angles :), 5. Brighton Beach, 6. brighton yacht club, 7. Jam-a the huts, 8. Dry Dock, 9. Heatwave, 10. the phone call, 11. Untitled, 12. seaglass, 13. Brighton Beach Jetty, 14. High seas, 15. re-waken

Polaroids

2009-05-13T10:06:00.000-05:00

Taken this morning on my porch steps. I tried repeatedly to get the cute pink color in my converse to show but it's so creamy-pink that it doesn't so I thought it unusual that the magenta streak to the left actually shows it almost. How odd. I also love how you can see on the bottom step the letters ale the first 3 letters in my 3rd child's name. Also odd that I didn't notice them as letters until I read them upside down in the photo. Just goes to show my favorite line is true (see Dorothea Lange quote to the left)

TV

2009-05-13T07:29:00.000-05:00

I forgot... AGAIN.

But I watched the videos online.

I hated the version of One.
Cryin' was just the same to me.
You Are So Beautiful was just okay
Dance Little Sister was an odd choice IMO

I loved both of Kris's songs and if I could vote it'd be for him.

Featured

2009-05-11T16:57:00.000-05:00

Thanks to EllieLee (another etsy artist) My print "Pink Sugar" is featured in an etsy treasury. You can check it out here: Summer Amusements: Ferris Wheels and Carousels....summer dreams

25 Places: Brighton UK

2009-05-10T23:00:00.000-05:00

Week 3 of 25 places I want to go: Brighton, UK I stumbled onto Brighton while browsing someone else's blog and subsequent flickr and I have fell in love. I'm a sucker for a carousel and ferris wheel though and the West Pier story just breaks my heart. I think I'll have to check out London as well because I'm 3/4 English and if I'm going to England I have to go there too of course! ;) AND I'll also be doing a spot on Brighton Beach AU so stay tuned! :D

As usual credit following.

1. From East to West; New Brighton, The Wirral, 2. Framed same as a polaroid using Flickr Toys - Brighton, The Blue West Pier -, 3. all in a row...that's Brighton, 4. Free Ride, 5. Brighton Rock!, 6. Rock on!, 7. Coast Guard, 8. Flying High in the Blue Sky, 9. Untitled, 10. Relaxation, 11. 8th wonder..., 12. desolate..., 13. watching..., 14. helter skelter..., 15. Brighton Pier <3

Thoughts

2009-05-10T05:15:00.000-05:00

Thursday I got swallowed up by a whale and he spit me back out.

Okay not exactly but it sort of seems that way. Thursday morning I went and had two blood tests to check the state of my hormones. All you ladies know what that might mean. This aside the last three days have went rather well. I'm hoping it continues. I'm hoping it means the recent medication change is working. So since it finally stopped raining I took Friday to play around with the Polaroids. I went to a couple antique shops looking for some stuff and hung out with my 2 year old most of the day. I also did something major. Saturday I did basically nothing other than cook some quick cinnamon rolls for breakfast, make sandwiches for lunch, run to the store for a battery charger and go to the gym... (insert scratching record sound here) Go to the GYM!!! Holy cow. I haven't been to a gym in over 7 years. I said major and this is major. We've closed our gaming accounts and are canceling our cell phones to make room for this lifestyle modification. So I'd say that's major. I'm slowly trying to modify our diet but the gym is the easier of the two. Yesterday I did 10 minutes on a treadmill, 10 on a bike and a few on a stair stepper that was about all I could take. This is going to be a long journey but I already feel like a new person. I have (gulp) almost 50 pounds to loose. I had made a big start to that at the beginning of the year and then I went through about 4 colds and my hypothyroid took over my life again. So anyway that's what I've been up to just plain feeling good. I thought that was worthy of a post on mother's day.

Photo History Part 3

2009-05-10T04:40:00.000-05:00

Yeah I'm late sue me. ;) More on that later.

William Henry Fox Talbot

Talbut was the inventor of the negative/positive process. This process is the "father" to most modern film processes. He was also a good photographer himself.

This print is the oldest known negative print in existence. It was taken at Lacock Abbey in 1835.

Talbut was experimenting in 1834 well before Daguerre in 1839. Talbut showed his images(which were four years old) to the Royal Institution of Great Britain Jan 25, 1839. Within two weeks he had revealed the details of his process. Daguerre not revealing his until August.

His process the calotype or talbotype uses a silver iodide coated paper. Calotype is greek for "good impression". In 1841 he gave the first license to Henry Collen as the first professional calotypist. Many more would follow in Britain.

The Open Door c. 1844

Other notable names: Frederick Scott Archer, Joseph Bancroft Reade, Martin Laroche

Polaroids

2009-05-08T13:08:00.000-05:00

I had high hopes for today. It finally stopped raining. I was ready I had 2 polaroid cameras in hand. I got to the first destination and the first camera's print all black. :( So I pulled out the other one it took me 3 shots to get this one. I still have more ideas but if it takes the same amount of shots I'm in big trouble. I got to the 2nd destination and the flowers I was going to shoot were dead. :( Third location my film got stuck partially in the camera. 2nd try produced somewhat overexposed image. 2 shots left. So I'm now searching for a better camera. It's always something. ;)

Polaroids

2009-05-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

Tutorial: 5 things to make Blogger more beautiful

2009-05-07T07:05:00.000-05:00

So you have a blogger blog what now right? Why does it look so boring? Why can't I do all the cool stuff other people can? I see a lot of you with normal templates and I know I wondered all these things when I started blogging and it took me years to figure them all out. I knew html when I started and I still couldn't figure them out. I did a lot of googling and I found: It's all in the coding. Most of these steps involve going to your Layout tab and then the edit html section. I suggest saving a copy of the code in a word doc in case you mess up.

1. How do I get rid of the ugly search bar? That search bar actually takes users AWAY from your blog!

Scroll down until you see this:
----------------------------------------------- */

then insert this next line:

#navbar-iframe{display: none !important;}

Poof and the ugly search bar is gone.

2. You want a pretty background?

Scroll down until you see this:

body {
background:$bgcolor;
margin:0;
color:$textcolor;
font:x-small Georgia Serif;
font-size/* */:/**/small;
font-size: /**/small;
text-align: center;
}

Insert the next line(make sure to load your background to somewhere on the web, your website, flickr, etc.) below the background: $bgcolor; line:

background-image: url("http://www.locationofyourbackground.jpg");

3. Don't like the templates offered? Do a google search for blogger templates(there are tons of free ones out there) download the code and paste it over the current html. (make a backup first just in case) yes I'm using a template other than a blogger template. Also do this before you make other changes.

4. You want bigger images? Change the size of the wrapper for horizontal 4x6 images 1000px is a good size. (Each wrapper changes a different section so play around a bit with it)

5. Go into your layout, fonts and colors section match your colors to your liking, use a font that works well with your page. Move your elements around and add them as you like. You can add images and use html to make your images become links as well. You can also use more fonts than are listed with some more html tweaking they have to be fonts that are typically web friendly or are usually already installed on a computer.

TV

2009-05-07T05:07:00.000-05:00

1. So what's your opinion what did you think?

2. My thoughts "Umm WOW".

3. Shocked that Allison is gone.

4. I think the majority of voters are female.

5. Her bon voyage performance was off the charts compared to Tuesdays.

6. Have I said I love my new blog layout?

7. I did decide to consolidate another one and considering some posts from my 4th.

8. That's all 4 now...I think...

ETA It's still raining, I'm considering another camera purchase, I have to go take a hormone test and I'm really worried about that.

Things I love

2009-05-06T07:06:00.000-05:00

I'm switching days sorry for the delay. Things are still really crazy for me here. I have also consolidated 2 of my 4 blogs...still considering the other 2.

So...today...vintage broaches (that sounds odd) These aren't really in order if I were to put them in order the cameo would be first I collect those.

1. vintage czech blue green brooch by second chance studio

2. Vintage Gerry's cameo pendant, pin by tonightinparis

3. CUT GLASS RHINESTONE BUTTERFLY BROOCH Gorgeous Vintage Cathe Designer Signed Pink Butterfly Costume Jewelry Bug Pin Broach by yosemite vintage

4. Vintage Pin Brooch Crystal from apagefromthepast

5. FREE SHIPPING-Old Vintage Blue Green Stone Silver Broach by chialucollection

Polaroids

2009-05-05T13:11:00.000-05:00

I had this great post planned to kick start Roid week and *POOF* 1) It rained and ruined my opportunity and creativity 2) I was going to scan the manual to the very popular SX-70 and my scanner needs some sort of update that I have to get my sweetie to do. *sigh*

Not to mention I really need a ND film filter. My eye site is horrible it seems at least through that particular view finder. I didn't get to take a shot yesterday because I totally forgot we had a cub scout pack meeting and when we got home it was dark. I was going to make up for it with two shots today but I'm scared to death to use the film (what is WRONG with me?) LOL

So without further adieu...meanwhile I'm getting absolutely no housework done at all.

25 Places: Get Your Kicks on Route 66

2009-05-03T23:37:00.000-05:00

My second installment of 25 places I want to go. From here out these are in no particular order just fly by the seat of my pants-whatever I'm in the mood for at the moment-when I'm browsing through flickr. As before credit where credit is do listed with links at the bottom.

1. ranch01, 2. Historic Route 66 Highway Folk Art, 3. Angel Degadillo's Barber Shop in Seligman, Arizona Along Route 66 (Sepia), 4. Untitled, 5. Route 66 Memorial, 6. Just driving along the South Rim, 7. Untitled, 8. route 66. meteor crater, az. 2007., 9. pops, 10. Catoosa's Blue Whale, 11. The mother road, 12. rides at the end of the road, 13. Hackberry General Store, 14. Sno Cap Drive In - Seligman AZ, Route 66, 15. USA Oklahoma Private swap

Inspiration

2009-05-03T20:28:00.000-05:00

Okay so I'm really bored (again as usual). I went through some Flickr contacts. The rules are much the same as the 10 things I ♥: find either a photo on explore or one of your contacts photos from that contact within their contacts find another contact and a photo etc, etc. I decided on nine this time. Since I'm on a polaroid kick and Polaroid week is starting up I decided to try to find polaroids or at least muted colors in a similar look. I found lots of new contacts this go around and that was really cool. How neat is it that I ended up with teals and pinks?

Once again credit noted at the bottom. ;) thanks to all the wonderful talented artists.

1. Untitled, 2. eloise, 3. When the heart floats, 4. Farewell to winter, 5. babette, 6. Grandma used to sit here., 7. patience., 8. Untitled, 9. but you left

Photo History Part 2

2009-05-01T08:32:00.000-05:00

Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre was a French artist and chemist.

In 1829 Daguerre partnered with Niépce to speed up the process of making his own dioramas. After many years of experimenting Daguerre announced his Daguerreotype process at the French Academy of Sciences in 1839.

At the same time William Fox Talbut in England was perfecting the calotype process.

"Boulevard du Temple" was the first image of a person taken in 1838 or 1839 in Paris by Daguerre. The image shows a busy street corner but because the exposure was over 10 minutes in length the traffic does not appear. The man at the bottom left paused to have his shoes shined which lasted long enough for them to appear in the image.

Steps in his process
1 silver-coated copper plates were exposed to iodine, obtaining silver iodide.
2 they were then exposed to light for several minutes.
3 and next the plates were coated with mercury vapor heated to 75° Celsius, which amalgamated the mercury with the silver
4 finally fixing the image in salt water.

The plate from this process became a mirror-like replication of the scene. The image was an exact mirror of the scene. It was necessary to view the image at an angle and it needed protection from air and fingerprints and so was encased in a glass-fronted box.

The Daguerreotype was the Polaroid of that time. It produced one image which was not reproducible. Even so millions of Daguerreotypes were produced. Daguerre died in 1851 and Fox Talbot's negative process was refined with the development of the wet collodion proces. Which made a glass negative and enabled an endless number of prints to be made. These developments made the Daguerreotype obsolete and the process soon disappeared.

Next week Fox Talbot.

TV

2009-04-29T20:44:00.000-05:00

Why is it that I always miss the Tuesday show? I really have no idea. I even PLANNED to watch this week. What is up with that? I think way back when it started there was only one show a week and somewhere along the way I got busy with the kids and quit watching but was still stuck in that first year or two mentality.

SO...n-e-way... I was going to discuss who I think should win but considering I really haven't seen much of them (other than as a group) I really can't or don't have an opinion yet. I have the feeling we'll be seeing more of all 5 of them though.

Things I love

2009-04-28T01:47:00.000-05:00

Okay this is seriously addicting. Want a new easy post for your blog? 10 things I ♥ Tuesday!!! Go to etsy.com pick one thing maybe from your favorites it's #1 go to that persons fav's pick one #2 etc etc. OMG I am in serious trouble. I seriously hope noone buys these because I want some of them really bad. O.O

1. Embrace Your Journey by BellaWish

2. Vintage Seltzer Bottle by greatfindz

3. Lost Your Marbles by cupcakedalink

4. Ann by uknowuneedanother

5. Jar full of thread by KatsFabricsnMore

6. Vintage Artone Radio by vixenandprudence

7. Vintage Cine Kodak by vixenandprudence

8. Vintage Polaroid Land Camera

9.Guitar Pic by shama

10. Coffee Cozy by Bellflower Textiles

25 Places: Paris

2009-04-27T08:08:00.000-05:00

Another weekly spot. 25 places I want to go. I figure 25 will last me through 1/2 the year and I don't want to plan for more than that yet. I want to travel all over the place. I want to take millions of photos and not have any given agenda other than lounging and shooting said photos. One day I'm going to have more time on my hands than I know what to do with and hopefully more money. So I'm going to plan for what I want to do with it. ;) If you're going to dream, dream BIG right?

The first place I want to go is Paris. I've already told him we're going it's just a matter of when. I tried to persuade him for our 10th but we probably won't have enough savings by then so it will maybe be 15th. So this week I'm focusing on Paris-of course. Some inspirational images from flickr and some of my favorite artists.(credit where credit is due at bottom)

1. Paris street, 2. typically Parisian, 3. La maison rose de la Butte Montmartre, 4. The Last Breath of a fading Sun Over Paris HDR (II), 5. WWII Paris April 3, 1945 Arch de Triumph Flyover, 6. Jardin des Tuileries - Paris, 7. Paris Bridge, 8. , 9. Eiffel Tower, 10. Paris calling, 11. Belle epoque, 12. Carrousel, 13. Untitled, 14. Untitled, 15. Cafe de Flore, Paris

Photography

2009-04-26T12:11:00.000-05:00

Remember when we used film? I long for the days of the cool dark room. The smell. The site of the picture coming to life on the page. It's becoming a lost art. It's a very sentimental journey for me. I didn't really care to develop the film itself but going into a darkroom is like lying in a tanning bed or reading a really good book on a breezy beach.

For the past several months I've been trying to find a way to put that same spark back into my photography. I was drained. Burnt out. Washed up. Okay maybe not washed up but definitely bored. AND it wasn't the first time and probably won't be the last. I had to find something that changed it from the digital standard to an artistic never know what you're going to get kind of thing. I'll admit I get bored very easily. TTV has really helped and been a big help with that. I have this fabulous "contraption" that I'll share as soon as I figure out a way to take a photo of it. I was considering doing some slide film sprocket photography and cross-processing it but the logistics of actually doing it became too much for me to think through logistically er something like that... I still may at some point. I have taken a few Polaroids and I'm looking forward to doing more of them as soon as I can get more film.

So what IS TTV? TTV simply is taking a photo "Through The Viewfinder" of another camera. More specifically a camera with a large viewfinder works best. You can use any digital camera practically an old Kodak Duaflex(ebay is a good place to find those) works well as do many other types for the viewfinder itself. There's a lot of info out there on the web about TTV.

And last but not least here's another TTV image.

Photography

2009-04-25T16:01:00.000-05:00

Today has been an "off" day. Here lately all my days seem to be "off" days you know the ones where you just aren't firing on all the cylinders or is it pistons? I forget. Yep that's me...off. I've been battling Hypothyroid issues for months (probably years) and I've been on medicine since January to control it. Although my blood tests fine ALL the symptoms are still there. Depression, Fatigue, Dry Hair, Dry Skin, Weakness, Irritability, etc, etc. Did I mention Depression, Fatigue and Irritability? Oh yeah I did...sorry memory loss (oh yeah that's another one) Sigh. I'm so sick of feeling this way. Feeling like I'm on the edge of passing out but not. It ruins everything I do and I do mean e-ver-y-thing. If it's not the fatigue it's the depression if it's not the depression it's the irritability. I just want to be normal again. NORMAL would be good. Normal I say!!! NORMAL!!! Normal would be a blessing. I'll keep plugging along one step at a time. I'm not giving up I'm NOT giving up. That girl in the mirror on the left is still in here and she's going to get out. I'm going to find her she's what I see and hear in my head and she'll be back. (In my best Schwarzenegger voice) ;)

Photo history Part 1

2009-04-24T05:08:00.000-05:00

So I've been thinking about what things I can do to make this blog interesting besides my normal banter. I'm going to try a few weekly things and this will be one of them.

The First Photograph

The first photograph titled "View from the window at LeGras" was made by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1825.

Though this was his first permanent image his first attempts were as early as 1793 he invented a process called heliography which translates "sunwriting".

Niépce did not have a steady hand and could not control a camera obscura a device that in those days allowed one to trace inverted images.

In 1829 he began collaborating with Louis Daguerre.

Thoughts

2009-04-23T13:29:00.000-05:00

but somewhere along the way I lost my writing touch. I started blogging way back in 2004. Since then I've gone through five different various blogs but my original was much more interestingly written(at least I thought so). I just lost interest at some point and slowly it dwindled to nothing. My main reason for starting that blog was to record my kid's milestones somewhere where I would have them but not have to run for the baby book each time something happened. I guess now that my youngest is two the need for it other than sharing with family has made it that way.

I want this blog to be different how to achieve that I really don't know but I'm definitely going to try.

Photography

2009-04-22T09:13:00.000-05:00

If you're in our little blog love group you've officially been tagged. The only thing you have to do is take a pic of "what's in your bag" you can take the pic however you like and make it "yours". Just a fun way to get to know us all better. And...here's mine.

contents: twilight bag:diapers, wipes, book: currently New Moon which I'm into for the 3rd time, reject poloroid bookmarking, moleskin for ideas, purse: Phone case: Motorola Razor debit, DL, etc. pony tail holders,keys, deoderant, sansa mp3 player, measuring tape, old 512 compact flash, mirror, CK sunglasses, lots of pens, meds

My other bag: LowePro Terraclime100 which is made of recycled plastic bottles! How cool is that? It has a folding wrap that goes around your camera it's the green under the two cameras. So normally I carry around the Duraflex IV for ttv and my Canon 400D(Canon ft shown for reference only), lense cap, CFcards, light trigger, batteries, notepad, bandaids, pen

I wish I could say I kept my Polaroid SX-70 in there but alas I'm out of film. :(

Photography

2009-04-22T05:16:00.000-05:00

Featured

2009-04-20T19:53:00.000-05:00

The weekend went by fast at the camporie it was fun but I'm glad it's over now if I can get in a few makeup hours of sleep. It was FREEZING Friday night!!!

I want to thank eyeshoot for making me an alternate in her etsy treasury and on her blog.

Last week I was featured on akane

Way back before Christmas I was also on this blog

And a few springy images I took last week.

Photography

2009-04-16T06:44:00.000-05:00

We'll be going to a boy scout camp this weekend so I'll be a little busy tomorrow.
I want to get this done before I totally forget to post something so here goes!! ;)

First up last week I sold an art print to a sweet lady in Canada. So you know I just have to show it off! I'm still bubbling over with excitement! Ashley thanks SO MUCH for your purchase. What a boost to my confidence! It's on it's way and you'll be receiving it soon.

And secondly just to prove I haven't been slacking off this week here are a couple images.

Third you see that pear up there? Well I got that pear at Pier One a few weeks ago it's exactly the color of the opposite wall and I love it so. Well the boys snuck in the room and somehow it is now broken. :( It's actually broken in the photo you just can't tell. So I have to figure out a way to fix it. Ideas anyone? glue? epoxy? Sigh.

Photography

2009-04-09T10:38:00.000-05:00

Here's to a fresh start!

Welcome to my new blog "Fine Art by Rici" I'm going to try to post at least weekly and I'm hoping that this will give me the kick in the pa-tooty that I need to actually do some work.

As you can see I have a little etsy shop I'm giving a whirl and I hope to update that regularly with new work as well.

Here's what I've been doing this morning other than spending too much time on the internet! Hope you enjoy and hope you'll drop by again soon!

Rici

Photography

2009-03-30T20:17:00.000-05:00

Eye Candy	Azalea	Dogwood	Journey
Azalea1	Pink1	Pink2	Vacation

Signed Fine Art Prints	Fine Art Canvas
8x8 $35	8x8 $85
8x10 $35	8x10 $95
5x5 $17	10x10 $100
12x12 $$65	8x12 $105
16x16 $95	12x12 $120
20x20 $130	11x14 $130
notecards/ postcards	14x14 $160
4x6/5x5 $5ea	12x18 $175
notecards four $19	16x20 $200
postcards four $10	16x24 $245
custom orders accepted
please email me for inquiries regarding wholesale and licensing.

♥ About Me ♥

2009-03-30T18:03:00.000-05:00

I love this old image of me it was on the very first roll of film I developed by hand back in the fall of 2000 my first semester of school. You can see the development area in the background if you look close.

I've been blogging since 2004 right after my second son was born. I needed a way to write down his and my older son's milestones and a way to keep in touch with family on the other side of the states. I started before I even knew what blogger was just posting on my web site. My messages somehow were more meaningful back then it seems. I'm trying to get back to that. I'm like to write but I don't know that I'm really any good at it.

Anyway back to "about me" Hi *wave* I'm Patricia aka Rici, Ricius, Pat, Tricia or Patty depending on your relation to me. We have four boys and we live in a University town in Eastern NC.
I've been taking pictures and making photographs as far back as I can remember. These images were enlarged and toned from 8mm film my second semester of college. They are of me at my 3rd birthday party taking photos with my own camera. Around 1998 I started playing around with digital manipulation and I had a small 35mm camera with a tiny zoom. It was about then that I started getting somewhat serious about wanting to learn more about photography. Late in the spring of 2000 during a time when I needed a different direction in life I decided to go for it and enrolled in CCC's Photographic Technology program. I met the love of my life that same summer and we have been together ever since. I spent three years at CCC while he was in the USMC and graduated just before we moved to San Diego in 2003. He attended school during those years and I spent a lot of time doing portraits and weddings and raising babies.

Now-a-days(I'm from the south don't you hear the accent?) my situation has led me to a renewed interest in fine art photography. I'm enjoying macros of flowers as well as some Polaroid work and digital when the money doesn't allow for film. I'm trying to embrace the journey I'm on and live for the moment instead of letting it pass by.
I love a venti Mocha Frappachino, a day at the beach alone (like that ever happens) a pair of yellow box flip flops with pink sequins or pink converse, a good book preferably Twilight or Harry Potter. I'm dying to go to Paris and have no plan what-so-ever just time to walk and take photos and have romance. I am incredibly messy, although I like to be neat it just doesn't happen... I keep hoping that I'll have more energy after my medication is regulated and that will change but I'm doubtful because I just really just hate cleaning. My favorite flowers are roses. My favorite photographer is Dorothea Lange I did a project on her my second year of college and although I know a lot about several others she always sticks in my mind. I miss California maybe we'll go back some day. I'm half tom-girl half girly-girl the tom-girl side is winning...I *think*. We okay...*I*... have a yorkie-pom named Pepper. My enemies are procrastination and indecisiveness.

Stuff in my bag::
Polaroid SX-70
Canon 400D
Duaflex IV
Polaroid 600 film
Photoshop CS3

This last image was taken by my 7 year old.

Our Babies: Alexander Pre-K

2009-02-24T06:44:00.001-05:00

Alex LOVES school. His favorite things were coloring with paint, playing outside and eating.

Our Babies: Alexander

2009-02-18T10:15:00.004-05:00

I got a call last night and there is finally a spot open and Alex can start Pre-K. He'll start on Friday. He's pretty excited. He's been asking to go to school for a while now so it was sort of odd how the call came about.

Recipes

2009-02-08T22:13:00.008-05:00

I found this site: Meals Matter back in January when I was looking to start our New Year of healthier eating.

It always takes me about an hour to make a meal list for the week and then a grocery list to go with it. This website has simplified the process although it still seems to take about the same amount of time. It's really cool you should check it out. It allows you to pull recipes into your meal plan and then add the items to a grocery list. For me it has helped to add incredible variety to our meals as well.

So for the past month here's some of the things we've eaten:
Week One:
Taco Salad(okay)
Spinach Lasagna(I added chicken to this I believe can't remember)
Spg w/Shrimp&Sun Dried Tomato

Week Two:
Beef Enchiladas
Honey Pork Filletsokay
Spinach Stuffed Flounder (we sub'd salmon and nixed the mushrooms)
Feta stuff chicken (can't remember)

Week Three:
Chicken in Creamy Gravy (A WINNER)
Green Chile Shrimp Lasagna(kinda gross)
Broccoli Cheese Quesadilla(okay)
Tangy Barbeque Pizza (good but too spicy for the kids)
Grilled Tomato&Cheese Sandwichs(okay)

Week Four:Sweet Chops(okay)
Turkey Chipotle Chili GOOD
Strawberry Shortcake(for breakfast Saturday)WINNER-sub'd canned
(rerun the creamy chicken)

I must say that other than the creamy chicken nothing has really won me over but it has been really interesting trying new things. Three weeks ago we kicked out the fast-food although JC caved for Taco Bell tonight. Also if you see something that is missing something from a food group (usually the grain group) I usually fix rice. We have also had salad for Sunday dinner the past three weeks with either nuts for protein or grilled chicken. Also sub'd wheat noodles for regular. Not sure if we've lost anything or not as I can't find my scale. I should just pull out the Wii Fit but laziness prevails...that's the next thing to conquer.

WEEK FIVE:
Rosmary Oven Fried Chicken this just turned out bad it was my fault I mixed it up wrong.
Chicken Enchilada Bake just ok
Golden Bake Porkwith
No Bake Macaroni&Cheese just ok
Mini Spinach Calazones a hit
Grilled Swordfish w/ Salsa(sub flounder) just ok
Shrimp Scampi wasn't as good as my own normal turned out like soup
Bacon Cheese Stromboli(Sat Breakfast) a hit
home made doughnuts(Sun Breakfast) these were a hit I used canned biscuits we made them again this past week with big biscuits and filled them with creme filling.
Valentines Day Meringues forgot to make these

WEEK SIX
This past week I got lazy again. I tried to keep up with the healthy dimension but the new recipes started wearing me down.
We had spaghetti, Caesar salad, hard shell tacos, pizza and taco bell

WEEK SEVEN
This week we're having
spaghetti, enchiladas, salad, tacos somehow I almost always have a meal left over from the week before. This weekend we'll have muffins for breakfast.

Thoughts

2009-02-06T06:33:00.000-05:00

Don't you just hate your computer? I know, I know it's a great tool and all that jazz. But just think for a minute think about how much we use the darn thing. We play games on it, we watch movies on it, tv on it, we read books on it, we research on it, we have journals on it, we use it for work, we use it for play, we have portable access on our phones for goodness sake!

Ever get the feeling you're in a hospital strapped to an IV with an ever increasing amount of wires? That's what I feel like. I just want to unplug but really this is only the beginning. Have you seen Wal-le? The future's kinda scary isn't it?

Photography

2009-01-16T14:23:00.000-05:00

Two-sided post card custom designed to meet your specification and needs. Please inquire for a price quote. Design work only printing not included.

I'll use your photographs and logo to design the perfect post card for your business or family.

After I receive your order we'll converse via email or telephone to specialize your order just for you. Custom color, text, photo(supply your own or use mine color or black/white, sepia, etc)

Photography

2009-01-16T14:20:00.000-05:00

Price depends upon materials used and design please inquire for a quote.

I'll use your photographs, logo, colors, style and theme to create a unique folder to present your DVDs with.

After I receive your order we'll converse via email or telephone to specialize your order just for you. Custom color, text, photo(supply your own or use mine color or black/white, sepia, etc)