Welcome Back... 2018 the Year to Write

Crafting and art has taken a bit of a back stage in the last few years, but I am headed for change in the new year.

My goal this year is to write my first book and figure out all the challenges that go into transforming myself into a published writer.

As such I started by -
  Joining Willamette Writers (thanks to my Mom for an early Christmas gift)
  A local meet-up group Power of the Pen
  Began gathering sources to grow my craft...

Writers Forums 

• Absolute Write

Query Letters 

• http://queryshark.blogspot.com/ 
• http://queryletterhell.tumblr.com/

Beta Readers

• Still researching this one... 

Young Adult Writing 

• Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Oregon or SW Washington Chapter was recommended. 
• Bonus - apparently there are Saturday's meet ups just down the street at the Cascade Park Library and offers workshops.

And now I must write!

Fused Glass @ Aquila

Today Mom and I took a fused glass class at Aquila, compliments of a Groupon.

Instruction was straight and to the point, I liked the varied of projects they included to give you a feel for what you might enjoy. I would have to say my one qualm was that the glass selection felt very limited for our projects. 

Here is what mine looked like pre-kiln:















Curious to see the final result.

Getting near to the bottom of my craft list as I have been trying to clear our my queue before the babies arrive.

Painting Mt Saint Helens (Acrylic @ Vine Gogh)

Today Mom and I took at class at Vine Gogh in Sellwood another Groupon find.

I was really looking forward to this class, because I felt they had a wide variety of different styles (particularly with a more muted palette and replicas of asian style paintings)  and well it is super close to home (which allows for even a quick week night jaunt).

Our experience started off poorly. It turned into one heck of an ordeal trying to get them to accept my Groupon. I started truing to book in January and it seemed every class was booked that we tried to get into (and I tried about 5 getting put on wait lists). Finally I called in early/mid-February to be told all classes were full and there were over 300 people who bought the deal who waited to the last minute "like me." Too bad I would just have to redeem the face value at the next available class. When I went to use it just to get something booked out (so I could use the voucher before my babies get here), my voucher did not work on the website. Again I called back and got the lady at the front told me it was not her problem and I needed to get in contact with their webmaster. That was when I got pissed - what awful service! She was not only rude on each attempted contact, but accusing that I was slacking, and telling me to fix the problems of her site.

That is when I reached out to Groupon as I felt something was not right. I was trying actively trying to to book and after many rounds with the battle ram at the front desk I pulled Groupon into the whole ordeal who said I was right that I had the right to book a class at full value and if none were available as long as I booked before the expiration date they should make others available.  I forwarded the email to the store who forwarded it to the owner (Jenny) who took quick action to intervene and resolve the situation. Now she was very professional and resolved it with a kind manner with real customer service. Just a shame that it took the whole time to get to her! I was seriously ready to walk away from this place and she made me reconsider.

March's selection was disappointing to the previous months selections I had seen advertised, but was so glad to finally get enrolled that we picked one I thought the content was decent, but could play with the palette and darken it a bit to fit more the style I enjoy.

We got Paul for our instructor and he made the class very enjoyable. The teaching style was laid back and very free-flow. Less "teachy" then some other classes I have been to. Audience seemed to be a co-workers getting tipsy and going artsy vibe.

All-in-all mom and I were able to sit in our own space uninterrupted and do our own thing which made the night pass quickly and we both agreed we would go back and try again on a night the painting subject matter inspired us a bit more.

My work in progress -

The final result - 

 Mom putting the final touches on her painting -

Playing with Photo Print Options (Picaboo)

As an avid fan of social coupons to support my artistic passion I purchased a LivingSocial Deal for Picaboo some months back. My grand vision was to create a photo book from my adventures in Belize (from October of last year). Unfortunately, time has been passing in a frantic manner with twins on the way, work super busy, and our home re-model (which my husband is working on like a maniac). And for anyone who has designed a photo book - it is a fairly time intensive and cumbersome process if you are a perfectionist (such as myself).

So instead of using this coupon for a full photo book, I found a project more suitable to my time line and ended up exploring some of the other options Picaboo has to offer. I ended up doing two posters for Mom and I (my Belieze companion) to add some color to our cubes.

Voila... (very similar layouts but the one for me is on the left, and the one for mom is on the right)


With the remaining value, I explored their panel prints getting two for Mom (as an early Birthday present to go with her trip), one for our home, one for my desk, and one for Greg's desk. I liked the prints though one thing I would have to say is the color was a little washed on some of them and did not come out as vibrant as I anticipated. Here are the ones I chose to print:

Mom climbing a Mayan temple (one of my favorites of her on our Belize trip) -

Mom on top of the Caracul temple -

A photo of Crater Lake taken on our road trip (with Dave, Steph, and Liam) this summer - 

 A photo for my desk at work of Greg at Ruby Beach during our Olympic Peninsula trip -

 A desktop photo for Greg (for his future desk) one of my favorites from our Honeymoon in Hawaii -

Mission accomplished, I really liked the results!

Though the Belize book is still on the list...for another day.

Vintage Style Broaches

Pintrest has been a great forum for finding neat ideas and for some time I have been yearning to work on making some felt flowers. So last weekend my friend Tiffany braved a few differnt patterns.

• Dahlia
• Vintage-ish Broach
• Basic Five Point

After our brief exploration in the world of felt flowers I set out to do a batch of cute broaches for my girlfriends (to add to their holiday treat baskets). All-in-all I created about 10 broaches in one evening.

Here is what it took:

• Tools: Scissors, Hot Glue
• Materials: Felt, Stiffened Felt (nice backing for flower), Center Piece(s) (I like vintage buttons..but found a great look alike in covered bradlies), Something to Attach the Flower To (Pins, Barrettes, Ponytails, etc.)

Here is a shot of how they turned out:

<insert shot of vintage style broaches>

Photography Workshop for my B-Day!

Today I am taking a seminar on "Capturing True Emotion." This is my first training in photography. I have never taken a photography workshop or class really...though I did take a physics class once, "The Physics of Color Photography," but that was more a study of spectrum color.

I have decided it is time to actually learn formal technique and how to use all the power my equipment has to offer. Funny I spent so much time researching what to buy (from a technical perspective), yet I have not really taken the time to fully learn to use the equipment. I want to learn a lot this year!

The workshop was fairly basic, but it did force me to grab my manual to look up some things on my camera. After the workshop some of the group met to go put our skills to work at the zoo (though I think the zoo was a fairly odd selection for what we actually were trying to shoot). It was interesting, and I met a fellow photographer (Dave) that helped me stumble through finding some of the settings on my camera. This makes me realize I really should join a photo group to improve my skills.

For those who are interested in learning more (and summarizing helps me learn):

• Light - in every aspect of photography you are playing with light. Think of it as being an artist and painting with light!

• ISO - image sensitivity best correlates to the film speed in traditional photography this is how sensitive you want to image sensor to be to light. The higher your ISO, the more light it lets in. This does impact the quality of you photo (in grainy-ness/noise) so unless that is the desired effect you want to pay attention to the ISO you are shooting at.
• Low ISO (100-200) is for bright light days and high image quality.
• High ISO (>400) is for low light situations and reduce the image quality.

• Aperture - impacts light (low aperture lets in little light, high aperture lets in lots of light) and depth of field (i.e. what is in or our of focal range). If you want to blur objects in the background you have a short depth of field (much of this is controlled within your lens). If you want to see everything you need a shallow depth of field.
• Large Aperture (f/1.8,2,4,5.6) = shallow depth
• Practice using this, you want to zoom in and get close to your subject
• Small Aperture (f11,22,32) = longer depth
• Practice using this, you want to zoom out and get far from your subject

• Shutter Speed - impacts light (slow lets in little light, high lets in more) and controls motion.
• To freeze motion use a fast shutter speed (>1/500)
• Practice using this, water is a good subject.
• To blur motion use a slow shutter speed (<1/30)
• Practice using this, animals are a good subject.
• Note: if you are not using a tripod, you do not want to shoot below 1/60 to focus on your subject.

How this translates into digital photography (the modes on your camera):
AF Point: selects where you want to focus (center-weighted, spot, evaluate)

Metering Mode: measure the light for a specifics area in your scene that you want to use, then set to that desired metering mode for your image.

P (Programmable Mode): You control ISO (camera does the rest - watch the impact ISO has on aperture and shutter).
  *Practice by shooting in differnt light conditions. 
      If the shutter is slow, raise your ISO! (1/60 or faster if not on tripod!)
 
A/AV (Aperture Priority Mode): You set ISO + Aperture (camera controls the shutter speed).
  *Practice setting ISO and a desired aperture to accomplish different effects.
      If the shutter is slow, raise your ISO! (1/60 or faster if not on tripod!)

S/TV (Shutter Priority Mode): You control ISO + Shutter Speed.
  *Practice setting ISO and a desired shutter speed to accomplish different effects
      If the aperture can't open large enough, raise your ISO! (1/60 or faster if not on tripod!)

M (Manual Mode): You control ISO + Aperture + Shutter Speed.
  *Practice here is a mnemonic device to remember a good order for shooting in manual, remember -
   I AM So Freaking Cute:
     1) ISO - set based on lightening conditions (i.e. sunny, rainy, night)
     2) Aperture - set based on how much light you need for effect (i.e. short or deep field)
     3) Meter - measure and see light in a specific area of scene.
     4) Shutter Speed - set based on how much motion (try to get needle in the middle)
     5) Focus
     6) Compose

General Tips:

• Use your histogram to see the exposure levels (left is under exposed, right is over exposed).
• Your display lies.
• Things you want in composition: line, shape, form, color, texture, value, space.
• There are many elements, but start with mastering the above.
• Check out the Golden Section and Rule of Two Thirds for composition.
• Many examples out there to learn more.

Happy Birthday to me :)

Cupcakes

For Steve & Skye's 30th I signed up to do cupcakes.

With the fine help of Jason & Sara cupcakes were requested and we made some delicious Key Lime, Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Rainbow Cupcakes with Moustaches.

 

I think they turned out fabulous and the chocolate peanut butter was a hit for sure!

Spring

Walking back to my car from the meeting this morning it felt in slow motion and I was caught off guard by the splendor. It is not often one would describe a dreary grey morning with the sky drizzling on your sweater as beautiful. Somehow I intuitively dressed to mirror the day and I could not help but let the thought of this paradox muster a smile. All the warmth escaped me as the wind blew across making the small hairs on my body rise from the chill. It was bright, so my eyes took a defensive stance against light and windy elements retreating into their squinted position. I felt intrinsic in that moment as though I were one with all the elements around me. Stopping for a moment to take it all in I watched as the cherry blossoms elegantly twirled across the rough concrete and made their way in little whips of air to surround me. It felt almost as though spring was working to enchant me as she danced around me ever so slightly brushing my cheek with her effervescent kisses.

I stopped momentarily savoring the complex layers of perfection. It is rare that you notice when such moments cross your path as we are so often caught up in the rest of the world. Spring in the air passed into my lungs and filled my body with a strange fulfillment. I promised myself to capture this image. Closing my eyes I panned across the scene retrieving each synapse as a still frame in my mind. I knew the memory could not entirely be capture this experienced in all the sounds and sensations. So I write this today as an observer and documenter.

Somehow I feel like I a meant to write this to capture today for some reason. Only time will reveal the mysteries of spring...I am excited to see what secrets she is yet to unravel.

Easter Eggs

Pig chicken - a miraculous creation during our Easter egg decorating adventure.

A basket full of died and glitter eggs :)

 

Some swirly eggs too!

Mommy Sierra

Today my best friend is having a baby! She is such an incredible person and I am so excited to see her share that warmth with Sander.

I remember the day we met. Tall person walking in the hall, who looked a little lost. I too was lost, not sure who to sit by. Strange how the simple things when you are young stay true through life. Who do I sit by in the lunch room, who do I talk to, what do I do to look like I don’t care, what’s the right way to show I do care.

The days flipping through magazines on Saturday morning looking at the pics of a life more glamorous than our own. Talking about dreams and goals that we are now living.

She is still the poised, artistic, and compassionate person I always looked up to. So interesting how one day you open your eyes and realize that the dreams and goals of yesterday are what we are living today.

I am proud to be a part of her life and now she will be the most wonderful mommy.

Congratulations!

Tatting

Tonight Sara and I took a tatting class! It was really pretty fun. The teacher was not the greatest, but it was for sure quiet an interesting and different skill to learn. It was just the two of us and an old lady (that the teacher called by name - though I do not think she got our names through the whole evening).

Tatting is done with a shuttle. This is a small plastic or metal contraption with a hook on one end. The whole process is done through tieing very detailed small knots.

The end product is a hand lace, often used on the end of hankercheif or fine detail work for the hems of sewed items.

Here is a sample of the different thread sizing for reference:


I will describe the full technique and how to do it very shortly and provide some more images. For now I am reminding myself how far I am behind on my blog and putting placeholders to get caught up!!!

My First Wedding Photography Gig

Pictures to come shortly!

Woodland Critters for Sander

I was at first a bit fearful of free patterning so many critters, but the results (if I do say so myself) were adorable.

A few woodland critter bodies:

 

Woodland critter faces:

 

The mobile mounted in Sander's nursery:

I am really happy how well this turned out!

Rainbow Cake with a Dark Side

For my hubbie’s B-Day, I decided to take on a new creative challenge and created a rainbow cake. Yes that is right, rainbow cake.



To add the final touches to the rainbow cake, we frosted the top and made it look like grass. To top of the loveliness I played with the fondant and added a surprise in the sweet grass knoll.

It was my idea a little knee slapping humor letting my husband know he was well into his “turdies.”

Cake Pops

Oh how cute the picture was, but a total fail in the making of our attempted dog pops.

A couple lessons learned in the process of attempting cake pops:

• Sizing – I wish someone had pointed this out before, but you need really precise sizing for the pops to stay on the stick!
• Moistness – I think I added too much frosting (getting over zealous with the left over third of frosting I added it all), it falls of the stick if it is too moist.
• Freeze the balls – it works wonders.
• Dipping – I am an amateur in working with chocolate and dipping is not my talent, but we did have to thin the candy out quite a bit so have some crystallines on hand to do this if you need to.
• Frosting – we had issues using the warm chocolate to get items to adhere to the cake pops, so instead we used dabs of frosting, which worked great!
• Styrofoam – find some good Styrofoam (heavy enough to balance) to support the pops once they are done and ready to dry.

The process seems fairly straight forward –

• Make a cake (you can use a boxed cake set if it is easier)
• Frosting (you use about ¾ cup)
• Roll the balls *Freeze the balls (an extra step we found helped tremendously)
• Heat chocolate/candy coating
• Adhere ball to stick
• Dip and cool

There appearance was a little touched, but they were a hit and very delicious.

Dog Shaped Sugar Cookies

Cookie cutters were a bit deceiving!

I got a four pack of doggie themed cutters to make some cookies for Benny’s first birthday. It was only after making the recipe that we found the dog paw looked like a clover, the doggie looked like a cow, and the dog house was mysterious. The bone was fine, but we served the final results and they seemed to go over well.

In the end, the cookies were delicious and devoured by many little cookie monsters!

(218) It's A Doggie Day

I can't believe our nephew is already 1!

Tonight I cut out Benny's Birthday high chair hanger (aka a mini banner). It turned out pretty darned cute if I do say so myself!

I ended up using a green/white cross pattern on clouds, a cute swirly font, with the piece de la resistance being an adorable dog cut out (that will be a magnet for the keeping).

Tomorrow we are going to try to make some doggy sugar cookies to go with the theme and Wednesday an attempt at a rainbow cake. Wish I would have had enough time to do the cupcakes for Benny too, but with this week being my big boys birthday too it was a bit of a challenge.

And now time to put my dogs to sleep...

(223-219) Little Ladies for a Little Lady

At long last after months of construction I finished Karly's or should I say Addie's mobile!

It was a smidgen behind schedule, but I can wait for little Addison to enjoy the cuteness of the little ladies! Each lady is hand crafted out of a baby/toddler sock. The wing base is from felt and a cross pattern patch of material is embroidered to the felt. Faces are also embroidered and the bugs are given slightly different personalities. To bring out their feminine charm they have pearl necklaces. And what bug is complete with out some pipe cleaner antennas!

 

 

So cute to see the beautiful Miss Addie enjoying her mobile!

(226-224) Balms Away!

Sara and I have done 3 batches of balms and they are awesome!

Our first batch was a cucumber melon in a hot pink mica. The color is super cute, but we did not put an opaque so it mostly does not show once applied. The balm is very smooth when applied, though we are going to play with a couple elements in the recipe. One thing in particular we want to look in to is a sweetening oil so it tastes as delich as it smells!

Following out first run we did another of butter creme and got a little flirty with a Margarita with a copper glitter mica.

We still need to perfect our pouring techniques despite trying several options, it seems like pipettes might be where it's at.

(234-227) Baby Showers - Like Butter!

This weekend I started out by making a Welcome sign for the upcoming shower! It turned out super cute...picture to come soon :)

Saturday was a Sara & Amber craft experimental day. We started in Sara's lab making soap (we made about 64 bars this weekend). We did a double batch of lavender/rosemary glycrin soap and beeswax lemon verbana. Both turned out wonderful and I think will be added to the final book of recipes for our business launch. Tomorrow we do the final packaging of the soap.

After a quick jaunt around town grabbing some delicious subs at Eastside Deli (yum!) and checking out the Decorette shop to see their latest inventory of molds we headed to my kitchen and made delicious whipped body butter. The recipe contains: Shea & Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Vitamin E, Essential Oil, Liquid Glycrin, and distilled water. The results were a wonderfully soft body butter!

We chose to use a grapefruit essential oil and instead of the resulting scent we had been intending, the lotion turned out to smell more like a chocolate covered orange. The kind you get around Christmas, so I tilted this variety Christmas Orange. We make about 40 ozs and packaged 23 for the shower I am hosting next weekend. I hope to add some shower themed stickers if time permits.

On a side bar...I wish we had the branding ready for our new business! We are not quiet there yet, but we spent a few hours planning. Thus far we have a domain and are working to link it to the blog. We checked out some preliminary site designs and started to discuss ideas and look at competitors. This week we are focusing on site linked and working on some design (we need a logo). Stay tuned for our new business launching mid this year! Sara and I have much work ahead of us :)

In tow with the rest of the weekend crafting projects was more shower preparation. I worked on customizing two game ideas I had come across online. One was "pin the sperm on the egg." I had a great time creating a sperm Dan and egg Sierra (was cracking up the whole time):













The second was a customization of an attributes game where you list the different attributes parents have and then you have the attendees guess which attribute the mommy will want the baby to share. No photoshop there though I had contemplated creating some combined images with Sierra's favorite physical traits (kind of old school Conan Obrien style with the celebrity babies).

All was a success until it came to the chocolates...but that is another tail all together and it is past my bedtime.