julia's senior pictures

We just didn't have our act together in time to get a picture of Julia to the school for the yearbook. The deadline was November and we were still getting settled then. When I got my new photography equipment, I had the idea to take her pictures. At least if she couldn't get them into the yearbook, she could print them out and give them to her friends.

Julia is our adorable Swedish foreign exchange student. So when I approached her about getting her picture taken, she was less than enthusiastic.

I told her that besides having nice pictures of the way she looked at 17, it was a big deal to have your pictures made when you are a senior.  I told her that my birthday present would be allowing me take her pictures - with no sass. Meaning, I could take as many pictures as I wanted with no grumbling. She agreed.

Jackie came over and did her hair and makeup and she looked amazing. Her eyes lite up when she saw herself in the mirror.

She loves to do origami. She told me that she sent 1,000 cranes to a sick girl in Japan, believing that she would get a wish. She is always folding paper into some of the cutest little creatures.

She's been studying karate for quite some time and is a avid Xena fan. She is a brown belt and studies karate at a studio here in Saline.

I got down my Xena sword and she was in love.  She kept wanting to be-head my Santa. 

I'm making some props for a Xena pose It's not completed yet - but she's modeling one of the wrist guards. It has the word "Courage" on it, in Japanese.

Next weekend - the big Xena shoot. Can't wait! In the meantime, I'm really proud of how well she adapted to being in front of the camera.

She sure is a sweet heart - and we love having her.

Tiffen ND Filter

I received the SamSung NX30 camera as a Christmas gift from my fabulous husband. So I did what most every new photographer does - watch every you tube video I could find. Of course, I do want to point out that I've always had camera and a flare for taking pictures - but my new equipment aspired me to new heights.

I watched a video on neutral density filters and after looking at many reviews, I settled on a Tiffen ND Filter. It was a little more expensive, but everyone thought it was worth it, so I took the plunge and it arrived a week later.

Once I got the new Tiffen filter, I realized that I had ordered the wrong size for my camera. So after receiving the filter, I had to wait another week before my step up ring appeared at my door.

Yesterday was my birthday and first thing, I grabbed my husband, the tripod, and the camera and headed down to the Mill Pond in Saline to start using the filter. The above shot was one of the betters ones. It was shot at ISO 100, f16 and a 30 second exposure. It was a beautiful sunny day so I had the filter had the max value.

Here a shoot of the same scene with the filter dialed all the way down to the min and a 1/5 sec exposure.

Big difference right? Unbelievable.

Here's another. Shot with the filter dialed up to the max value. ISO 100, F22, and 30 second exposure. See what looks like rocks? Some of those are - but there's a flock of ducks there too.

And here's the shot at 1/200 exposure. Still beautiful scenery but I just love the creaminess that the Tiffen filter gives. Just super cool.

I just walked around and took some shots with the filter dialed down to the min value. I really just love the polarized look it gave the photos.

So far, I'm really happy with the filter and the Tiffen works great with the Samsung NX30. Just remember to order the correct size for the lens you're using.

transfer images to canvas

I searched and searched trying to figure out a good way to transfer my photos to a canvas for my painting hobby. I not only wanted to transfer the photos but also to enlarge them. Here's two solutions I came up with, just using things I already had.

First thing I tried was using several version of tracing paper and my laptop. I used the Palette paper for the actual tracing from my laptop screen. And then the seamstress tracing paper to put it on the canvas.

I enlarged the picture by using my zoom until I got it to the desired size. For larger photos, you'll have to trace in sections.

Just use your mouse to position the photo to the next section without touching the zoom.

And trace away! I would match up the drawing lines to do the next section.

Then transfer the image onto the canvas using the seamstress tracing paper. The image will come through light, but you can go over it again with pencil. And it worked just fine, but I thought - there's got to be a better way.

During my searches many suggested to use a projector. I have a big projector at work, but it was going to be difficult to find time during work to transfer images.

Then I remembered I had bought this neat little video camera for my daughter's birthday when she turned 13. It's a 3M Shoot and Share camcorder. She wanted to do videos. I believe I paid about $100.00.  I think what I liked most about it was that after she shot the video she could project the video on the wall, on the tables, on her hand.

It has a slot for a micro SD card. I bought her a 64 gig card to store her movies on. Being a decent video camera - it also did still shots. She used it all of a day and it was banned to the techno junk drawer - Until ....

We got a tripod with the camcorder. I popped my photo on the SD card, attached it to the projector, and VOILA! Super awesome! I think this is the best yet. And the cool things was that I already had all these tools and didn't have to invest in anything else.

sweetwater

To date, I think this is my favorite quilt. I made it for my son's birthday last year. It was also my first quilt using my new Brother PQ1500S. It took me about a month of weekends to complete it, including the quilting.

I love the colors. When I picked out the fabrics, I thought of circuity colors. My son is a fellow technology geek and likes the color black. I choose the green to compliment it. I really like the black with the words written on it. It's just random words in different languages. I found it at Joann Fabric.

I choose the pattern sweetwater listed in the quilt pattern book by Fons and Porter. The pattern was designed by Debbie Outlaw who works for Moda Fabric, and it was easy to follow along.

I always embroider the name of the person the quilt was meant for.

I completed the quilt well before his birthday and thought I would paint something to go with it.

So I choose a misty forest type of scene. Acrylics painting - Green and black. If you look close, you'll see slender man behind one of the trees. Also, is the heart of some poor animal hanging from a branch. Holly and Jason talked me into doing that.

I also had enough scraps left over so I made the little throw pillow to match. It's zippered so it can be removed and washed.

I think you can see the quilting here. I just did loops. The quilting alone took me about a weekend. It was fun doing free motion quilting for the first time. Getting used to the movement of the needle. I was able to do a Queen size quilt on my Brother with no trouble.

Happy 24th birthday son!

bat cave

Jackie has called Matthew "Bruce Wayne" since he was born. She never worried about him stating, "he'll be fine, he's Batman".  Matthew was born premature and also had to have emergency surgery when he was about 1 month old.

I was at my mother-in-laws for Christmas and my niece had made one for her son, who is exactly the same age as Matthew. "Well, I'm stealing the idea!", I told her. She told me she fond it on Pinterest, The next time Matthew was over with his carrier - I made one.

I went to the fabric store and found some batman material. I had to do a batman one and now we call it his bat cave. :)

Here's the link for the detailed instructions on how to make yours. It is nicely done and filled with a lot of step by step instructions. It's done by a young lady named Chelsea, and her site is Life With My Littles.

The only thing I did differently was put a piece of fleece in between the 2 pieces of flannel. It can't be too warm with our Michigan winter. And warm it was .... I used it in the car seat when he took a little catnap and when he woke up - he was sweaty.

So now, our little Bruce Wayne has his very own bat cave.

favorite memories for Christmas 2014

Growing up, we spent many Christmas s with Aunt Dottie. Some of my most memorable ones in my life were spent with her and Uncle Frank, Darlene, and Barbara Gail. One year, Nick (her son-in-law) has a ruptured ulcer and was rushed to the emergency room. It delayed Christmas for us which was traumatic for a young, eager girl. 

Another year, my dad had sent us 3 of the very same dolls for Christmas that we wanted so badly. It was there in Cincinnati that I received that doll. He did that every year - we all 3 got the very same thing. But those were the coolest dolls ever - they talked.

Every year I get more and more content with my life and this year, Christmas was filled with my family - all of whom I just adore - a perfect Christmas recipe.

During my two weeks off work, I decided to put all my Santa s under the tree and do a special photo shoot. These are all the Santa s Burke has bought me over the years - some of them came bearing gifts.

I got a new camera early for Christmas so I was happily learning how to use it. I must have took 25 pictures of our tree. I never really got the one I liked the best - but this one will do.

Burke shot this one of the Christmas stocking. Sometimes he can be very clever, often taking the opportunity to shoot photos as I am complaining about not getting good pictures. I made the Christmas stockings for everyone in our family.

I made this one for Julia. I found a cool image of a combined American/Swedish flag and embroidered it on her stocking. I told her she could have this and take it back to Sweden when her student visa is up.

We went to a new church this year for Christmas Eve. It was called the Unitarian Universalist of Ann Arbor and I really enjoyed the Christmas Eve celebration. We sang Christmas carols, talked of the Christmas Story, and the message was that every child born brings light into our worlds.

Our dog Butters, who sat patiently at home and waited for us to return. We all stayed up past midnight and I had no problems sleeping that night.

First thing Christmas morning, I headed up the stairs and was greeted by our cat Q who always runs me down to fill up his food dish. He always freaks out if there is the smallest of missing food.

Burke set up the tripod and we took a few family pictures before the unwrapping of gifts began. This one I was more interested in talking with Matthew than looking at the camera.

Jason got a Chuck Norris movie from Jackie. I think he really liked it. We got him a new desktop that he asked for.

Jackie calls Matthew "Bruce Wayne", so she got him this bib. I love it!

Julia opening her presents. She hates it when I take her picture - but she lets me.

I didn't get a good one of Jenny's family, I'm so mad about that. Jen sent me this picture the next day. Aren't they gorgeous?! We got Bobby a new coat, Jenny got some dog grooming supplies that she really loved.

This present was for lil Bobby. It was the video game chair that he really liked. I bought 2 for our basement for when the boys come to spend the night.

Jackie and Mel with Matthew. I really like Mel's present from Jackie - it's a NASA space camp jumpsuit. I got Jackie some clothes and Mel got a herb garden.

The boo bear. It's so weird I have to wake her up every year for Christmas morning. She turned 14 this year and is more beautiful every day. We got her a new desk chair for her room and some new headphones.

William played Santa this year and did a great job. He got a chair just like Hollys.

I got a new Santa from Burke, bearing some rolled up money in his hand. :) I think he might be my favorite one so far. God, I'm getting so fat..... *sigh**

We went over to Burke's moms house later that day for Christmas dinner. It was great to see Maryann, Sean, Peter, Molly, Noah, Archer, and Chuck. A small crowd considering there are 7 brothers and sisters in his family - but nice all the same.