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Sweet Shot Tuesday

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Last Thursday I went in for some needed surgery. I knew that there would be a few difficult days afterwards, but I really expected to be back on my feet and moving around by now. The truth is that I am relatively pain-free as long as I stay put, but as soon as I try to get up and move around, it’s still pretty painful. Fortunately, I have a super caregiver so there’s been little need to do much. I am truly thankful for a laptop and a huge pile of magazines and books. We don’t have a television in our bedroom, and it’s been six days now since I’ve seen any TV. Except for the news, I don’t really miss it. I am a huge fan of college basketball, however, so I’m hoping to make it to the living room for the beginning of March Madness.

I’ve spent a lot of time perusing blogs and getting lots of inspiration for cards and scrapbook pages. I hope it doesn’t leave me by the time I get back to my studio. I’m also hoping that tomorrow I’ll be able to take photos for last week’s Project 64 (plum).  Here’s my shot for Sweet Shot Tuesday this week. It’s one I took when I was at the George Eastman House to take photos for Picture Inspiration. As I was leaving I noticed all the winter anconites blooming through the snow.

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They were the first sign of spring. Since then our daffodils have pushed up through the soil, and most of the snow has finally melted. Today it was sunny and 50°. I’m so ready for spring!

Online Classes: Take 2

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This week’s prompt for Picture Inspiration was to Find Some Rhythm. Tracy shared part of a definition for rhythm with us:  “a harmonious sequence or pattern of masses alternating with voids, of light alternating with shade, of alternating colors, etc.” The words “haromonious” and “pattern” made me think of the staircase in the George Eastman House. My brother-in-law gave me a year’s membership for Christmas so I can go as often as I like this year without any admission fees. It’s quite the lovely gift. I’ve been three times since mid-February. As it turns out I found two shots, one inside and one outside, that seemed to fit the prompt.

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I love the patterns of the columns, arbor, and all the shadows. I took a few other photos there I’ll save for another time. One of the things I’m enjoying a lot with this class is working my way through the gallery of photographs posted by members of the class. Talk about inspiration!

Participating in Finding Your Way has proven to be pretty motivating for scrapbooking. I finished three more layouts for the house album. It’s already getting frustrating, however, because I can’t find photos I thought I had! For instance, I have photos of how our first house looked when we moved in, but almost none of how it looked by the time we sold it seven years later. We had a beautiful kitchen put in that house, and I can’t find any photos of it. I’m sure there are negatives of the photos, but I have several boxes of those and no easy way to examine them. Oh well, I’m trying to embrace imperfection, and just get on with it.

RobertQuigley

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Inheritance

I’m definitely not a fan of my handwriting, but Karen G. is right, it does speed up the process considerably. Now that I’ve started it in this album, I’ll maintain it. The journaling is hard to read so here’s what it says: It was cheap and in a nice part of the city. Those facts combined with the fact that I had just been laid off due to decreasing enrollments meant we took on a huge renovation porject when we bought the house on Werner Park. These photos give a flavor of what we inherited. The previous owners wanted to turn the house into a double but couldn’t get a zoning variance. They went ahead anyway and cut doors through walls, cut off the plumbing to the upstairs bathroom as well as other poor decisions. I took us years to get through the whole house with needed repairs and remodeling.

I’m continuing to enjoy the Silhouette 101 class. It’s nearly over, and I’ve learned everything I hoped to. This week I learned out to use the print and cut feature. I printed some cute tickets on my printer and then ran them through the Silhouette which cut them perfectly. You’ll see them in a project soon, I’m sure.

I’ll be away from the computer for the next few days, but will catch up with your blogs early next week. Have a great weekend.

 

Project 64: White

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Project 64

This week’s prompt at Project 64 was white, so I didn’t need to carry a crayon around with me.

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Initially I thought I would take photos of my white pitcher collection, but in the end didn’t use them at all. Here’s what I found.

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Aside from the leaves this meets Brooke’s additional challenge of white on white which I use frequently. I bought this cyclamen for a friend, but took advantage of it before I gave it away. Here are a couple of close-up shots.

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Finally I was inspired to set up a little still life.

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I was happy with this, but added one of Kim Klassen’s textures, Gray Day Slate, with a blending mode of Hard Light at 80%, and this turned out to be my favorite for the week.

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I’ll be submitting this for Sweet Shot Tuesday as well.

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Capture the Sky

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A week ago my friend, Kat, posted another of her Exploring with a Camera series on Capturing the Sky. I’ve always been fascinated by the sky so I went through the archives currently on my laptop (many are archived on an external hard drive) to see what I could find. Interestingly, most of the shots were taken with my point and shoot since I always have that in my purse. Here are eight shots of the sky.

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Actually the sky figures in both the top and bottom of this photo. This was taken with one of my first Canon point and shoots from the deck of our townhouse on Kiawah Island.

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Here the sky is captured in reflection. This was taken with the same camera during a vacation in 2007. I’d like to be there right now!

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I took this one from my car one morning; another point and shoot. The sky was so dramatic I pulled over on my way to work.

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I could never print this photo; there’s a lot of digital noise, but I love the colors on the horizon. I took this as we flew into Atlanta one night.

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This I took with an iPhone app; probably the Hipstamatic since I’d just gotten my iPhone. This was from Sarah’s patio in California. I’m always looking at the sky there since it’s almost always blue–quite different from the typical gray skies of western New York in the spring.

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This is one of my favorites. This was taken with my DSLR on a tripod early on Halloween last year at Conesus Lake as the sun came up.

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And another favorite, also taken with my DSLR on a tripod in the Badlands. I waited a long time that night for this shot, but it was worth it.

What about you? Do you watch the skies?

Online Classes: Take 1

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Despite my intention not to start any new classes, I am in fact taking three. The first is a class at My Creative Classroom on using the Silhouette, and it has been fantastic. I’m learning just what I needed to know and am amazed at the capabilities of this machine. The other two are both at Big Picture Classes. I broke down at the last minute and signed up for Karen Grunberg’s Finding Your Way. I’m already happy with that decision because I’ve decided to use the assignments to work on one of my biggest 2011 FINISH albums. The last is Picture Inspiration because I’m always looking for photography inspiration and conversation. My plate feels too full right now, but I know it will ease up as I get going with each of these.

One of Karen’s first assignments was to identify the things you use on your pages so you can focus on making those accessible and stop spending money on things you don’t use. I did that when I moved my studio and did one of my first big purges. But before I started the Home Album I gathered up all the supplies (kraft paper for the basics, patterned papers, stamps, and embellishments) from my stash that I thought I might use. It has really expedited the process.

HomeKit

Here are the first layouts I did for Finding My Way with some Silhouette work as well.

HomeLO

This isn’t the title page which I’ll do later, but it’s an introductory page to the album. I scraplifted it from a layout I saw on Kelly Purkey’s blog a long time ago. I also incorporated journaling stamps and my own handwriting—two things Karen suggests as ways to speed up your scrapbooking process.

Here’s a close-up of the journaling.

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Circa1931

This page shows photos we received after a visit from the man whose family built our house in 1931.  The journaling documents the people in the photos as well as how we came to have them.

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One of the things I’ve learned how to do in the Silhouette class how to cut my own titles using the fonts on my computer. This week we learned how to weld the letters of a script font and create a shadow for the title. The chipboard accent is from Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934, which seems appropriate.

The first week’s assignment for Picture Inspiration was to take a self-portrait. I avoid these as often as possible and I didn’t take this until the last day possible. But I’m not unhappy with it and will eventually change my avatar since I finally have a photo that doesn’t use a mirror. I used my tripod and my remote and took it in my studio.

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Team-up Thursday: Everyday Beauty

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It’s hard to believe it’s Thursday already. The days are flying by! This week’s prompt was Everyday Beauty. I walked around the house and took some photos of things that give me pleasure. (No cameras, since I posted those yesterday.) Nancy sent the photo of the wreath on her deck with the note that, “This beautiful wreath has been on my deck since early Dec. and has looked pretty much like this every day!” We can’t decide if all that snow for three months is a good thing or not! I chose my MacKenzie Child clock for the diptych. It’s the same shape as Nancy’s wreath, and one of my favorite things in my studio. Sarah and Adam gave me a gift certificate for my birthday last year, and I knew exactly what I wanted. You’ll see by the other photos, that I’m a fan of MacKenzie Child as well as black and white checks!

EverydayBeauty

Just for fun, here are the other contenders:

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A stack of red paper suitcases that hold Papertrey ribbons and twill and a collection of Letterpress tags.

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Folk art heart boxes on our bedroom bookshelf.

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This funky sheep was sent to me by a good friend. I’ve had the birdhouse for ages, and bought the MacKenzie Child cream pitcher about a year ago. If (when) we redo our kitchen black & white tiles are on the wish list.

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And two shots of the tray on the coffee table in the living room.

 

Three Things

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First off, my shot for Sweet Shot Tuesday (and P52). It’s the same shot I used for Team-up Thursday, but it was my favorite of the week.

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I also like this one, taken the same evening.

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Second, a layout I completed for Shimelle’s 4X6 class on 2Peas, that I also posted on the Scrap-Mart blog. I usually wait until they’ve posted there before I post here.

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CuresLOJournaling

I followed the sketch pretty closely and used a lot more product than I usually do on this layout. I made the pocket from two of the dies in the Spellbinder’s Creative Book dies. I used a new Quickutz die for make the rose from Vintage Cream felt that I sprayed with a Perfect Pearls mist. I cut “Cures” from the Calendar cartridge with my Slice, and used embellishments from October Afternoon, Jillibean, Pink Paislee, and a Scrapbook Circle kit. I’m hoping to get the next sketch completed in the next day or two.

And finally, an update on my One Little Word: FINISH. Here’s the February page in the tag book.

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And the record page:

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I’m very pleased with this month’s progress. I finished two big projects (Sarah’s Birthday album which I never listed on this record page, and Matt’s Rossie Album–which I’ll post soon.) I finished all the lessons for Kim Klassens’ Essentials Photoshop class where I finally grasped the concept of layer masks. I’ve been quite successful in using them as well. I’m taking a Silhouette 101 class at My Creative Classroom which has been terrific, and I’m current on all the lessons there. I read one book from my 2010 list and finished our Book Group book as well. Now I’m into Cleopatra:  A Life, which is the Book Group pick for March. I fill out a project card for almost everything I make, and there were 27 of them in the February envelope.

Project 64 and Happy Birthday

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Project 64

Let me tell you how excited I was to see that my photo for indigo was the winner last week on Project 64! Totally unexpected and totally delightful! I had lots to choose from last week, but this week was a different story.

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This is lavender, although almost no one I’ve talked to this week would give this pinkish crayon that label. When I went to the box of crayons to look for my idea of lavender, I pulled out wisteria. Perhaps purple mountain majesty would be close, or even mauvelous. This seems way too pink, and it’s a strange pink. I’ve carried the crayon around all week again.

As it turns out I was staring at some lavender all week without it registering. Several of the flowers in my Valentine’s Day Bouquet are very close. By the time I realized it the flowers were fading, but I had taken an earlier photo.

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Then Saturday night as we were leaving to go to dinner at friends, I noticed the cap to the Woolite for Dark Clothes.

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It’s nearly a perfect match. But my favorite is the tulips I bought for the kitchen table. And yes, I held the crayon next to them in the grocery store. I wonder what people think . . .

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Today is Matt’s birthday. Happy Birthday to one of the kindest, nicest men I know. He’s . . .

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Cardstock: Simply Chartreuse & Pure Poppy (PTI), navy from stash; patterned paper: “Campfire” (October Afternoon); dies: Numbers (PTI); stamps: Big Birthday Wishes (PTI), Williamsburg Numbers and Punctuation (Technique Tuesday); star punch; Chamomile Tea Dye ink (PTI)

 

 

 

Team-up Thursday: In the Distance

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We’ve been really busy cleaning, organizing, and purging. The living room and dining room are repainted, the new TV is installed, and we’re really enjoying the new look! It’s meant there hasn’t been much time in the studio except for the photography challenges.

Teamup

This week’s prompt for Team-Up Thursday was “in the distance.” I laughed when I saw Nancy’s photo last night. In Rochester, when there’s a clear day and it’s above freezing, the line at the car wash is always very long. Nancy’s comment read, “In the distance, there will be a clean car!” I took advantage of the clear day as well and drove up to Cobb’s Hill last night after dinner to take a photo of the Rochester skyline “in the distance.”

  DistanceDiptych

 

Sweet Shot Tuesday and P52

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It’s the day to choose the best shot from the last week. My favorite shots are, again, of flowers. Tracy gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers for Valentine’s Day. It was filled with gorgeous flowers and each side of the bouquet was different. Nonetheless I feel like that’s all I post (with the exception of the Project 64 photos) so I chose this one for Sweet Shot Tuesday and P52 this week.

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I made apple and walnut pancakes from this mix on Sunday.

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It’s time for another trip to Ithaca as there’s not enough left for another batch. We had it with our favorite Boar’s Head bacon cooked in my beautiful red cast iron skillet that Tracy gave me for Mother’s Day last year.

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Fortunately for our waistlines this is a pretty rare treat, but the perfect breakfast for another cold, snowy Sunday morning.

And because I can’t resist, a few photos of the Valentine’s Day flowers.

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Project 64: Indigo

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Project 64

  Wk7 Feb14_20_Indigo

This week’s color at Project 64 is indigo. Indigo has always been one of my favorite colors. It was very easy to find in our house:

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1. Our couch 2. Bowl from Mexico 3. Ornate bowl my father bought for his mother when he was stationed in the Coast Guard during WW II 4. Our mantle decorations: indigo candles from Target, indigo in the quilt; indigo pitcher 5. My mother’s indigo cut glass vase 6. Jug with indigo design and indigo flowers 7. Indigo and yellow vase

And another indigo bowl with blueberries:

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Truth is there are other examples in nearly every room in the house. I doubt there’ll be another color that’s so prevalent here.

Team-up Thursday: Blue

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Teamup
I keep a little list on my desk of things I think I’d like to photograph. Blueberries has been there for awhile, and although we usually have some in the fridge I hadn’t gotten around to it. “Blue” was the perfect excuse, and you’ll see another shot of blueberries soon for a second challenge. Nancy took this shot of her brilliant blue pitcher in front of a photograph she took of blue flowers.

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Now, I’d like to see a bright blue sky, but although we have much warmer temperatures forecast for the next two days, there’s no sun in the forecast.

 

 

Sweet Shot Tuesday and P52

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I’m using the same shot again for Sweet Shot Tuesday and P52, and yes, once again, it’s a photo of a flower. I can’t help it, they’re the only thing around here that has any appeal by mid-February. This rose was part of a larger bouquet I bought at Wegmans, the local grocery store. Tracy surprised me with a beautiful arrangement of many different kinds of flowers yesterday, so I’m sure there’ll be another one next week!

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Here’s a shot of the whole bouquet. These are such a bargain and last for days!

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Project 64: Apricot

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Wk6 feb7_13_Apricot

I carried this crayon around with me for several days wondering when I would discover something that was apricot. It’s an odd shade and there’s nothing in my closet or jewelry box that comes close. The first thing I thought of was my great-aunt’s china which I inherited. And, yes, one of the flowers is pretty close.

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When I opened a package of dried apricots, they really looked too orange, but when I put the crayon next to them, it’s not bad.

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Then I was at the mall, and noticed the banner Anthropologie had hanging outside their store. VERY close, I’d say.

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But finally, on Friday night, we went to the George Eastman House for an opening of the new Civil War photography show. While we were there we wandered into the mansion where the annual Dutch Bulb Collection is in bloom. I have no idea what kind of flower this is, but the veins are definitely apricot, and it is a lovely, lovely flower.

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So in the end, I found quite a bit, and had some fun in the looking. I’m really enjoying this project, and both Tracy and Matt are on the lookout with me for the color of the week.

Project 64

Team-up Thursday: Celebration

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Another interesting mix this week for “celebration.” I decided on Valentine sprinkles (haven’t made the cookies yet) and Nancy photographed one of Highland Ave’s snow sculptures. Thank goodness for folks who celebrate the winter around here. We need a few bright spots during the long, cold, snowy winters in Rochester!

Celebration Diptych