{Life & Musings}

In School

(My assignment 1 project...a birthday card)

Ok, I'm not really in school, but I am taking an Illustrator 101 class at JessicaSprague.com.  I did take a rather extensive Illustrator class a few years ago, but as technical as the class was, it didn't really have the practical applications that I was looking for.  I think I might find what I'm looking for in this class.  It is a self-paced class, so if you have ever wanted to take a class on Illustrator class, you can when you have some time.

An update on my 365 project...this is a photo a day one. 
Well, I'm not doing so hot.  I've missed more days lately than I've remember.  I decided that I was going to cut myself some slack on this.  So I might end up with a 265 project come the end of the year and that is ok.  How are you doing?

Enjoy!

How's It Going?

So, how are you doing with your Project 365?

I'm kind of behind on uploading them, but here is today's photo:

I was scrapbooking today and it made me happy that I was using up a bunch of chipboard letter's today.

Thanks to everyone who voted for Max' company.  They made a respectable showing in the popular vote and were one of the top 10 finalists in the judges vote. 

Enjoy!

The Moon

Today's photo

Ok, I have to fess up.  Max actually took this picture, but I love it so much I'm claiming it as my own.

Is anyone using shuttercal.com for their 365 pictures?  I'm also posting my picture a day there.  I kind of like looking at a calendar format and seeing them.

Enjoy!

Trick or Treat

Jack Skellington from a Nightmare Before Christmas

 

Scooby Doo

 

Kind of says it all.

I got my digital layouts back from Scrapping Simply today.  OMG!  They are GORGEOUS!  I definitely be using them again to print my digital layouts. 

Now, I need to find a post bound album that I like.  The album that I was going to use is much too big.  It is an American Crafts binder and my almost 30 pages are swimming in it.  I think a post bound album will be better.

Enjoy!

Did You Miss Me?

(Yes, that is me in the teacup, waving with my youngest.)

I've been at Disneyland. 
We just got home yesterday and I'm still "recovering" from my vacation this morning.  (The laundry is already started.) 

I only took 250+ pictures during the trip.  But maybe I would have taken more if I had a lens like this....

They are giving one away here: mpc actions blog.  (Yes, this is a shameless attempt to enter a contest to try and win it!)

I'll post more from my Disney vacation later. 
Peace. Out.

Art Journal Entry #3 - Staycation

I did another art journal entry today:

We actually did one of the things on my list here yesterday.  We went to visit the new California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.  It was pretty cool.  We became members so we can go back again this summer.  I didn't get to see the Living Roof but I guess that is something for next time.

Of course I took my camera with me....

I caught an albino alligator, a butterfly and a lizard.

Peace. Out.

Rookie Move

So this weekend, I did something that I don't do very often.  I made a photo book.  I think I've only done this once before and it was though apple, so it was pretty easy.   This time I made it through My Publisher.  I liked the styles that they had available and it wasn't super expensive, and best of all they gave me a coupon for a free book.  (Gotta love the freebies!)

So I created a 5x7 brag book of graduation pictures for my daughter. { I would love to share the cover here, but for some reason I can't. :-(  }

Here is where the rookie move comes in....The book is 5x7 and I made at least 2 pages of it where their are 3 pictures in a vertical layout, with lots of white space around them.  I woke up in the middle of the night, Saturday night, realizing that the pictures are going to be  REALLY small.  Bummer.  Well, at least the book wasn't expensive.

Doing more updating of the blog here.  I'm adding a catagory word cloud.  Not sure that it will be an actual use to someone reading this blog, but I think it looks cool. :-)

Peace. Out.

A Reminder to Me

to sign up for JessicaSprague.com's FREE photo editing class on Monday.  I've said it before, and if I haven't--I'm saying it now.  LOVE JessicaSprague.com's digi classes!  I had taken a few digital scrapbooking classes before (ie:  scrap-a-faire, and BPS) but digi scrapping really didn't click for me until I took Jessica's class.  So if you've never tried digital scrappng, here is your chance for FREE!
Plus, she always has some great freebies :-)

I also changed the banner today.  This is a picture of some tulips that I took at the Keukenhof gardens outside of Amsterdam in April.  If you are ever in Amsterdam during tulip season you MUST GO HERE! It's only open 45 days of the year, but it's like Disneyland with tulips.  FABULOUS.

Peace. Out.

Tripods

Do you have a tripod? 
We have a big old tripod that we've had since college.  I think we drag that thing out at least twice a year and use it. 

I have a mono-pod too, that I got last year as a present for all of the sports photography that I've been doing.  I have to say that I'm not a big fan of it though--I find it kind of cumbersome to use. 

While we were on vacation, Max brought a long a little, flexible tripod that he got somewhere.  I have to say that we used that thing all of the time with his smaller digital camera.  It was great for taking pictures with long exposure like this one:

Or using your camera's timer to get pictures with both of you like this:

{Can you tell that I uploaded pictures from our trip to my laptop finally?}

I was inspired to write about this topic when I saw this at photojojo.com

It's a little tripod that you screw on top of a water or soda bottle.  I think we always had a water bottle with us when we traveled.  This would be a great thing to throw in the camera bag if you travel this summer.

I did a quick search and found a tripod similar to what we took on our trip.  Its called a Gorillapod and they have them available in different sizes.  {hmm.  I wouldn't mind one of those for my DSLR.}

So do you have a tripod and do you use it?

Peace. Out.

Pictures of works of art

If you opened this post and hoping to see works of art you are going to be disappointed.  As I've been visiting A LOT of museums here in Paris and Amsterdam, I've noticed a trend.  The trend to take photographs of these works of art and it makes me wonder....Do people do anything with these pictures?  

I mean I understand if you are an art historian or student and maybe you might want a photograph of these masterpieces, but really, couldn't you get a better picture/copy of it online somewhere?  But what about the average joe, who is taking a picture?  Do you think they do anything with it?   

It's kind of annoying when you are in these museums, and people are taking pictures.  First there are signs posted EVERYWHERE about no flash photography.  Do you think anyone reads them or understands why those signs are there? That would be a big "NO".  Second there is the factor that while you are taking the picture, you are blocking a big area to get the perfect shot, sans annoying people.  HELLO?  I paid the same price for my ticket as you, why do you get to clog up the area while I'm trying to view the picture too?

Max was telling me about "zombie-ing" yourself in other people's pictures.  You know it's when you are at a photo op and people are taking pictures and you know that you are in it and you just hold still like you are part of the image and ruin their shot.  (Technically, you are ruining their shot, they just don't know how to frame it).  Ryan, one of Max' business travel buddies, was telling him about zombie-ing and said there is a website somewhere, but I can't find it.  Have you ever heard of this? 

Well, it's time to go out again. 

Peace. Out.