Initial Thoughts on Scrapbooking

This month, I'm focusing on scrapbooking, trying to figure out where it fits in my creative life. I really appreciate all the comments you left about how you are thinking about scrapbooking and memory keeping. I got out a note book and started to jot down some thoughts and to-do lists.

My thoughts drifted to three themes: the old Creative Memories Philosophy "Start Current, Stay Current"; the idea that "Done is better than perfect'"; and the need to get something completed while organizing and figuring out where I stand with my unscrapped photographs. So, I decided to start by scrapping the photographs I received in this year's Christmas cards. I kept the layouts simple. I took a couple 6x6 Christmas paper packs and used them on top of plain card stock to create my back ground pages. I used little cut aparts that were included in the paper packs as my embellishments. I have a sample above.

 I have been scrapping Christmas card photos every year since 2001, and I am up to four albums of photos. I love looking at them each Christmas. I had fallen behind in this project and scrapped about three years worth of photos at a crop earlier this year, so it was nice to get this year's photos done so quickly. 

I also did some clean-up and catch-up in my older Xmas card photo albums. Even though I scrapped three years worth of Xmas card photos earlier this year, I hadn't done the journaling on them. So, I needed to go back and do that. I also had to put some pages back in an earlier album and create the cover of my currrent album (above) because it was a naked cardboard album. I created a Christmassy background using patterned paper and cardstock and then added a variety of hand made Christmas cards and post cards that I have received. I do that sometimes - incorporate the artwork sent by my blog and scrapping friends into my Christmas layouts. I kindof wish I would have painted the album cover edges, but, hey, done is better than perfect!
The other thing I'm working on this weekend is making three very simple photo books at Shutterfly featuring Clara's track and cross country photos from the last three seasons. I'll probably print out some running photos and scrap them on paper, too, but I really want to get the bulk of her photographs printed in a format that she can keep.
I also ordered some photographs from Shutterfly off my iphone of recent events that I can work on scrapping once they arrive. It was a somewhat frustrating process and am looking for alternatives. I also worked (unsuccessfully) on figuring out how to order photos from a new photo lab because I really like higher quality prints of photographs from my big camera. I'd welcome ideas from people in the U.S. about which photo labs they use for higher quality prints and also where you print photos from your iphone.

In the Land of Dreamy Dreams (focus, textures and light) (Be Still #4)

My favorite still life from this part of the lesson

This week's lesson in Kim Klassen's Be Still 52 class included a wealth of technical information to get a dreamy feel in your still life photographs. A lot of this was a good review for me. I've taken all my photographs for this class so far using my fixed 50mm lens and shooting to give the depth of field I wanted.

Deconstructed faded hydrangea blossom

I did learn a new trick about where (and why) my camera focuses in aperture priority mode.

And I really liked pairing this information with past lessons on finding good back grounds to add texture and visual interest, cropping and using white space. This photograph and the photo up top use some lace-edged doilies made by my Abuelita and a tile sample from when we redid the bathrooms last summer.

I kindof like the second one better because of the light and color story

And I unintentionally created a really nice comparison about the lighting inside and outside my home. These two photographs with very similar composition were taken within a few minutes of each other. One taken inside (door open, on the floor) and one taken 3 feet away (outside on the deck railing). Such a different feel (partly from the background and perspective, but also from the light).

So that's it from week #4 (check out my earlier post on week #4 here). As always, feedback most welcome - anything from as simple as your favorite photograph to thoughts on focus, texture and light!

Perfectly Imperfect (Be Still 52 #4)

This week's lesson in Be Still 52 included some wonderful technical information, which I will blog about in another post. And it also included a challenge to incorporate the Japanese notion of Wabi Sabi or perfectly imperfect. I decided to harvest some dead hydrangea blossoms from my yard and pair them with an odd, chipped, perfectly imperfect deer vase I have to create a still life like this:

I decided to do some set-ups outside and, while my back was turned, Luna decided that the hydrangea blossoms were great toys.
Sigh.
I picked up detritus and decided to breathe, let go and trust the process. I took the deconstructed blossoms and made these still life photographs, which I really love (as well as the one up top).

It was a wonderful reminder to trust the process.

Even  when the puppy eats your props.
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p.s. I think the last one is my very favorite. What about you?

Pairs #5: Outside/Inside (Winter Photography Scavenger Hunt)

When you walk up to my front door, with the sun at your back, this is what you see:

Once inside, if you turn around, you see this:

We have beautiful stained glass windows in our front door.

And I knew I wanted to photograph them for Item # 13 Stained Glass Window in the wintertime photo scavenger hunt.  In addition to this basic picture, I want to share a few other photographs which give you a better sense of the beauty of stained glass.

Close up, with light streaming through

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Colors bouncing on our interior walls

We used to have seashore-themed stained glass in these window, but we replaced it last year with this geometric shape designed by Johnny Gordon from Louisville, Kentucky. It was such fun to work with an artist to come up with something that really fit our home and our aesthetic. I'm linking up this week with Helena's Photography Pairs meme and calling the top two photos: outside/inside. 

I'm also linking up with the January end of the month Link Up for the Winter Photographic Scavenger Hunt. As for my progress, I only have six left (in bold below).

1. Reflection in water - done
2. Someone wearing a funny hat - done
3. Ornate door knocker
4. Breakfast - done
5. Something that is over 100 years old - done
6. Winter weather
7. Someone dressed for the season
8. A fish - done
9. Festive lights- done 
10. A letter shape in nature or in an object - done (not blogged yet)
11. Polka dots - done
12. Silhouette - done
13. Stained glass window - done
14. Partly built new building
15. Bunting
16. A collection (of anything) - done
17. Texture - done
18. Shadow - done 
19. Street musicians
20. Nativity scene - compulsory and can't be substituted - done
Alternative A - new life - done
Alternative B -  a decorated tree - done

Still Life Backgrounds (Be Still 52, #3)

Part of this week's lesson in Be Still 52 was about gathering and using interesting backgrounds for Still Life Photography. Besides the washboard, which I featured here, I also took some shots on a plain wooden table. My favorite is above.
I have a huge collection of antique linens.

I used a pale gold one in this photograph.

And a white one with yellow embroidery in this one. I really liked how the yellow provided some visual interest in the background.
Finally, I thought about how my yellow walls provide a nice  background when I am shooting horizontally (like in the first still life in this post). So, I shot a few photographs with my large stone fire place in the background.

I have a lot more photographs from this week's lesson, but I think I will call them "done" for now. I'm sure you'll see more of them on my blog throughout the year, as I cull and edit them. But, for now, I'm looking forward to lesson #4, which goes live tomorrow.

Checking in with the dogs

Aria seems to have put herself in charge of the house hold. She tries to keep all the dogs in line. It can be a little stressful, as Luna is such a puppy.

But a good puppy!

Gypsy just puts up with everyone,

And Aria rests when she's done making sure everything is a-okay.

Setting an Intention for February: Scrapbooking

In January, I spent time on sketching to figure out where it fit in my artistic life. I found that I enjoy it and plan to continue with it. But, quietly, in the background. I also spent a lot of time with photography (especially still life photography) and found that I definitely plan to continue with this in a fairly major way.
In February, I want to focus on scrapbooking: where I am, where I want to be, and how I want to proceed in the future. Scrapbooking (after photography) was my first foray into the world of art and craft. It's faded from my life in the last few years, and I want to figure out where it fits. And this is the month to do that.
Any advice welcome.