504 Main: entertain, cook, create, kick off your heels!: Tickled Pink 40 - Spotlights

504 Main: entertain, cook, create, kick off your heels!: Tickled Pink 40 - Spotlights

Sharing from my blogger friend, Holly at 504 Main

Published for a Great Cause!

I have had the privilege for the past few years to be involved with a great project.  I submitted photography to the Photosensitive cancer awareness travelling road show.  The photos went all the way across Canada and back and they are now publishing a book.  My dear friend Alison, agreed to be the subject and although her cancer has returned, I hope and pray that she recovers and leads a long and healthy life. The link is below.

Photosensitive page

This image will be in the book



This photo and the one below were taken at the Vancouver show last year.



Random Photo Tip

Yes, I think its time that as a fine art photographer I start to share some simple tips for my reader base. Many people think that you have to have a high quality slr (single lens reflex) camera to get great shots. I will make several posts in this regard and share what I have accomplished with just a simple 12.1 megapixel point and shoot. The salesperson at the local camera store may have tried to convince you otherwise and that is their job. Yes, there is a huge difference in quality between a Canon Powershot 12.1 megapixel and a Canon 7d or 5d Mark II. The question is, does the difference matter in your everyday photography? Not really, in fact you can make art quality images with a point and shoot. The trick isn't the camera its how you take the picture. Next time I post on this subject, I will share my thoughts on simple techniques for successful results.  The photo below was taken with a point and shoot, processed with HDR software and that's it.  No photoshop or filtration or editing of any other kind.  Until next time...

Heart of a Lily 2

Heart of a Lily 2

I saw the snow and though its pretty I decided I was going to take a tropical vacation with my artwork and create the lovely Heart of a Lily 2. Enjoy it for its simple elegance.

MFD what is it and can it be cured?

Okay, I've discussed MPD which stands for "Multiple Passions Disorder".  Today we are going to talk about MFD which in my world stands for Multiple Fabrics Dilemma.  Friends, thankfully this is not a disease.  This dilemma is a symptom of a disease, no I'm just kidding!!  Are you creative?  Do you love to sew?  Do you have multiple rubbermaid containers, cardboard boxes and Ikea storage solutions filled with lovely fabrics?

How can this dilemma be fixed?  Like my friend, Dr. Anderson says in her blog, "Practice handling just one thing at a time. Fully complete that task and then move on to the next".


If you start 20 projects and never finish them, you will get overwhelmed.  I have decided now that I will not start any more projects to have them sit around my work space cluttering everything up.  I am taking an oath, I will finish what I start.  Okay, realistically I will finish at least 50% of what the projects before beginning a new one.

10 Tips for When Life Gets a Little Too Crazy

This is from my dear friend Dr. Carolyn Anderson, some great tips, we can all do well to practise.
10 Tips for When Life Gets a Little Too Crazy

In the Fall fine art print.

I know, wrong time of year but I love it anyway.  This was taken on the first day of the digital photography class I taught last fall.  I was showing my students how something as simple as a leaf in grass can be an artistic image.  I love sharing ideas with people.

I struck Gold, okay Amber!

Vintage gold, I like to call it.  It's beautiful amber art glass, so collectible and so lovely.  I found these at a thrift store on Friday and had to share my finds.  I love them for serving pieces.  Next time I lay the table out, I will take more photos.  Vintage finds, I love them.

Trouble with Friendship?

Okay, not in the real sense of the phrase but if you have had problems following my blog or leaving comments, I think I may have fixed the issue.  A few kind people pointed out the issues and I did some research so hopefully, problem resolved.  I know mac users can often have issues with windows based blogs.

myPANTONE

myPANTONE

I love nature, it's where I get most of my inspiration from!  Check out the Pantone color palettes I have created from my photography.

Art imitating Life

What's the old adage about art imitating life?

Well, after 19 years of marriage, I'm feeling vintagey but in a good way.

I don't get the $100 plus fresh rose bouquets any more, I get the Safeway brand planted mini roses.  I'm okay with that, there's a certain charm to being in a marriage that by certain standards would be considered "vintage charm".  My lovely planter of mini roses reminded me of the absolutely adorable vintage feel, shabby chic rose print fabric I found in storage.  I even tried out a little project with my embroidery machine using this lovely fabric, maybe I should make a cushion.

The Heart Patch Part II

Last week I shared about the heart patch for the coach of the Cloverdale Colts.  I just wanted to share the photo of the team wearing their patches and yes, I snuck into the photo.  They loved their patches.  What a great thing to do for Coach Bose.  He has an awesome team.  Happy Valentine's Day boys.

Cloverdale Colts wearing their Heart Patches

The Lovely in Nature

Nature's Delight

Such beautiful scenery here in B.C. This was taken last spring in Chilliwack.

The Bride was beautiful!

Last week, Wednesday, was just one of those highlight days, you don't soon forget. I spent the morning at our church listening to a dynamic speaker and enjoying a lesson in drawing, fun, fun, fun. The afternoon was spent with Esther, the beautiful bride from my summer wedding shoot finalizing her wedding album, so much creativity, such a great time.

Radiant Bride

The Ceremony

Bride with her Flower Girls

Pondering

Beautiful Bouquet

The Pick up line

Stunning Dress!

And the mens' accessories

The gorgeous couple



Oh no, I have MPD

MPD stands for Multiple Passions Disorder.  It is the clinical dx for any one who can't decide what they love to do most in life.  I am over 30, okay, way over 30, and I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up.  I love to create, craft, design, build, help, showcase, produce, redesign, rebuild and reproduce, oops, did I really say that?  I always know what "my bad" is but what is "my good"?  Maybe I will enlist the help of my blogging world friends.  I can showcase a new project every time I blog and get a vote, what do you think? Google Sari McNamee, go ahead, its pretty safe.  I love being an artist, I love selling my work around the world and making friends online with fellow art admirers.  I love creating for others, things like baby blankets and bibs and of course Mocha Mitts (more on those later).  I also love helping out with fundraising, for organizations such as my kids' school, the local hospital foundation, the Canadian Br. Cancer Foundation, among many others.  I love collecting vintage goodies, repurposing items and shopping at thrift stores. 

Maybe I am analyzing this way too much.

Maybe for now, I will just spread my wings, be curious and ride the wave. 

Until next time, when we discuss MFD.

The Heart Patch

Wednesday February 9, I received a phone call just after business hours. I answered my cell phone expecting a personal call and soon discovered it was all about business. I am so glad I took that call as I was completely taken by the idea that Ric, the owner of Game Day International, shared with me. To make a long story short, he asked me to design and develop a heart shaped patch. The patch is to honour the 16 year veteran Coach of the Cloverdale Midget A1 Colts hockey team. Coach just had open heart surgery and his team is going to be wearing the heart patch on their sleeves on all of their home and away game jerseys. He ordered 50 patches total.  I am attending the game on Sunday and can't wait to see the results.  Will post more on this one...

It's okay to cheat once in a while...

Ha ha, you thought I was talking about my taxes or my diet, well no, I cheated making guacamole.
We had a lovely (and super easy) dinner of nachos. No, we don't eat such comfort food often. I kept the calorie count lower by using ground turkey for the meat, yum yum.

My guacamole was such a hit at a potluck a few weeks ago, I decided to try it on the family. Start with 2 or more ripe avocados, peel, remove the pit and then smush away. Add salsa, a little kosher sea salt and the cheat was a dried, pure lime powder. One tiny envelope equals one lime wedge.

Speaking of Weight Loss Surgery

 

So here we are in San Diego Zoo spring Break, 2010, can't believe how much my body has changed. I am so thankful for my trip to Mexico for weight loss Surgery June 2010. Here's a peek at what I have morphed into in the last 8 months.

Newspaper article about my Br. Cancer Fundraiser

Bed rest puts fundraiser into shooter's focus

Enjoy the read and share the info with your friends. I'd love to resurrect this art print for its intended purpose. Social networking is the way to go.