Pages

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Had To Add



It is 5:20 PM EDT. The rain is coming down so hard here in my little town right now that it has set off someone's car alarm!
Yikes!!!


And just a little later, there was hale - that's not white stones around the bleeding heart.

Miniaturization and More






Last week in the POE forum on Etsy, where I sell my photographs, someone posted a link to a photo she had “miniaturized” using GIMP. Later that day, or the next, another user posted a link to his mini-scenes, as well as a link to a Google list of tutorial links on how to do it. Both of these folks’ images turned out so cool, I had to try it. I am now hooked, it is such fun. “Hi, my name is Judi and I’m a fake-tilt-shift-aholic”. Please reply “Hi, Judi”.

I have converted mine using Photoshop, which I already own. There’s a couple at the top of this post, I hope you’ll check out a few others here.

While many Americans would say that bigger is better, rather than miniaturization, I’m not so sure that I agree. My daughter, her husband, and I were just discussing the tiny houses being built these days and how great they are in many ways. Check out Jenn's blog, scroll down a few screens, and check out the WeeBee. For one thing, the impact on the environment is much less – they use less material to build, they can be made from recycled building materials more readily as large expanses of whatever is not required, they use less energy to heat or cool, they take up less space on the ground thus providing more free space for plants and trees to grow and provide oxygen for the animal kingdom (including us!) Plus, if you have a wooded lot, you won’t have to remove many trees to make way for one of these tiny abodes – another way to lessen impact on the earth.

Of course, not building any more houses would have even less impact, but let’s face it, houses are going to be built. See my previous post on what’s happening in my neighboring town of Lexington.

Personally I’d love to have two of those tiny houses – one to live in and one for my photography and craft studio. I’d buy a small lot near the coast of Maine on which to put them. And then, maybe another couple on the left coast for the winter. Oops, there I go thinking big again. It’s going to take a while for us to change our way of thinking.

For now, I’ll stay where I am in my moderately sized home and continue making fake models out of digital photo images.

Peace, Judi

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Organizing Leads To Memories




Short and sweet – the last couple of weeks my daughter, Jenn, has been providing her fantastic organizing skills to help me get my old photographs, and eventually negatives, in order. Here’s a couple of examples of what we’ve found so far. There’s lots more to go, so please come back soon!

Peace, Judi

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Trying Not To Judge It

Happy (belated) Flag Day. Yesterday, the real Flag Day, I sold one of my Gloucester Flag note cards in my shop; a lovely way to start the day.

Following this I met some female, former co-workers for a relaxing lunch. It was a small group this time which enabled all of us to catch up with everyone; hopefully next time the other regulars will be there as well.

On my way home I stopped at a favorite ice cream stand, they make their own products at another location near-by. I just had to have a dish of Chocolate Chocolate Truffle with jimmies (sprinkles to those of you who don’t come from these parts.) After eating the entire overflowing contents of this small dish, I gathered my camera from the car and walked around the grounds snapping pictures of the resident sheep, goats, geese, flowers, and tractor. All of this walking on uneven turf caused a recent injury to my right foot to flare up worse than it had been in recent days – ah, the price of practicing one’s art.

I then drove on to my local, favorite gardening center – Lexington Gardens, Lexington, MA. I was there to buy my tomato plants – yes, I know I’m late but in my mind it’s never too late to put in tomato plants.

While wandering this place, which I was introduced to by my grandmother back in my youth, I heard folks talking about how it had been sold to a developer and soon this fantastic sanctuary to the birds, local choice of gardener’s, home of the original site of Crockett’s Victory Garden, will be taken over and obliterated. Wooden houses will replace the greenhouses, and lawns will replace the many seedlings and burlap-wrapped shrubs. My heart still is sinking when I think of the future without Lexington Gardens.

I arrived home, and after returning a phone call, I dropped my handset and of course it landed on the instep of the already sore foot. Making the best of it, I iced it down for 20 minutes. While doing so, I spoke with my sister and she discovered a great concert that was going to start in 75 minutes at a venue nearly 60 minutes away; we both hurried to get ready and made it there with 5 minutes to spare.

The venue is Amazing Things Art Center in Framingham, MA. They recently moved into what was once a firehouse; we were told they spent much of the day removing staples from the walls, no doubt placed there by the previous tenant of the space - a Boys and Girls Club. Please check out the venue's web site here.

Tony Astolfi, guitar student of the headline performer, opened the show. He did a wonderful job and didn’t get ruffled when, of all things, fire engines with lights flashing and sirens tooting, not only went by, but stopped across the street and remained there for several minutes. Were they missing their old home?

IMHO, Tony’s best piece was called “Farewell”; he did a fantastic job on it. He also arranged and played a Bach piece that was written for cello; he did a great job of playing it on the guitar. Hope you’ll get a chance to see this up and coming performer when he’s in your area. He has an online presence here.

Brooks Williams, a veteran singer-songwriter, gave us a show to remember. He can play guitar like it’s actually a part of him. I don’t know what to say but “wow”. Although I’ve enjoyed his performances in the past, this one just blew me away. He writes much of his own music, but covers others as well – for instance “61 Highway” by Mississippi Fred McDowell. If you love guitar, a smooth singing voice, a wide range of music, and an evening of relaxing entertainment, then please make of point of seeing Brooks Williams; you won’t be disappointed. His web site is here.

I hope you enjoyed hearing about my day yesterday, it was just too splendid not to share.
Peace to all, Judi

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Anniversary Sale

Hi All,

Right now I am having an anniversary sale on Etsy. June 11th will mark completion of my first year and to help me celebrate, and in thanks for those who have supported me in the past, you will get a discounted price.

I will give you 10% off your entire merchandise purchase (this does not include shipping) if you type "Happy Anniversary" in the message to seller when you are checking out.

To get to my shop, just click here: my shop or in the preview of my shop in the right hand column.

Hurry, this offer is only good until next Friday, June 13th. I hope I can help you with something that you just can't live without!

Peace, Judi