Another Failed project

My blanket had such promise. I spent too many hours on this project. I had just finished my 4th ball (out of 6).

After laying it out, I realized that my tension was off and the first row was 34 inches while the latest row was 35 inch. Blah!

 
This is why I don't cut or weave until the end.  

Not sure if I want to tackle this blanket again for a while :(

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Free Friday Night Concerts

For years, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has been hosting free Friday night concerts and we never make it out there.  To be honest, the bands that play are usually one-hit wonders or "old" long forgotten bands.  Ok, they usually still have a following otherwise they wouldn't draw a crowd, right?

This summer, we bought our daughter a season pass to the Boardwalk and have only taken her twice, so we had planned on going this past Friday night.  Since I am a fan of the Boardwalk on Facebook, I seen that Berlin was playing.  My husband didn't know who I was talking about and well neither did the kids.

The bands play twice--once at 6:30 and a second time at 8:30.  We caught the tail end of the first concert and my husband did recognized the song "Take My Breath Away" which was featured in the film Top Gun--and for the record, I have never seen that movie because in 1986, I didn't see the fuss in Tom Cruise and still don't :)

Terri Nunn rocked a more modern Black with Blonde hair style.  (Those Berlin fans will remember her black tipped blonde hair.)

We came back for the 8:30 show and seen her walk into the crowd.

I hope I look that great when I am 50!!!  Shoot, I want to look like that at 38 :)

Oh right, this is a photography blog...Well everytime we go out there, I bring my camera but usually fail at taking great photos.  This time I brought my D50, but I took my kit lens that came with my D300.  The lens was probably heavier than the camera!  ha ha ha.  I tried using Aperture mode then Shutter Mode, but went back to the handy dandy Auto Mode.  And I normally try to stay clear from using the flash, but during the concert it actually helped even though we were pretty far back from the stage.  I did a little cropping and some slight color correction in Paint Shop Pro X2. 

Side note, I always thought that RAW was the best way (and I still use it all the time), but I couldn't figure out why my photos were always so drab and flat.  I thought I was doing something wrong until I read an article letting me know that when you shoot in RAW, you NEED to edit--and all this time I just thought the pictures were supposed to be awesome straight out of the camera.  I wish I could find the article I read, but I can't.

Driving Projects

We recently came back from a 22 1/2 hour road trip.  The "original" route was supposed to take 7 1/2 hours one way, but it took us 11 1/2 hours to get there because of a couple of stops and LOTS of traffic.  On the way home, we decided to go another route and make some more stops along the way plus there was added traffic--blah!

The weekend prior to our trip, I picked up a nice supply of yarn at Michaels which was on clearance.  Each of these 8 skeins of yarn were 99 cents a piece!!!  Total score.  The "Over the Rainbow" Lily Sugar'n Cream is normally $1.99, but the Lion Brand Yarn Cotton-Ease is normally $7.99!!!  AWESOME

I search for the perfect patterns before pairing each with a color I had in my stash. 

For the rainbow yarn, I knew I wanted to make a bag, so I found this cute pattern via Ravelry by ~sarahndipities~.  Using 2 balls of the rainbow ombre and a partial ball of white Sugar'n Cream, I was able to complete 3/4's of this bag on the way to our destination.  Unfortunately, during our trip, I was unable to locate a Joann's or Michaels to purchase more white, so the bag had to wait to be completed.

Along with the Maize Cotton-Ease, I used some Cream to start a Child's Chevron Throw via Lion Brand Yarn. (you may have to be logged into the Lion Brand website to see the blanket.)  I was only able to complete about 1/3 of the blanket on our way home.

Over the years, I have enjoyed many hobbies, but crocheting is the one hobby I am happy to be able to do while being a passenger in the car or while waiting around place. 

I cannot wait to show the completed projects. 

110 Film

In 2001, McDonald's was giving away Spy Kids Cameras with their Happy Meals (and I see that you can buy one online for $16!).  Cool...except it took 110 film.  Way back at the turn of the century (2001), some stores like Walmart still carried 110 film.  My kids could not wait to use their "cameras", so I bought a pack of three 110 film.  They used it...the photos came out crappy and they were done with them.  The cameras hid in their toy boxes, then went into a box.  A couple of years ago, I came across one that we still had and dug into my box of film (yes, I still have film that I am sure is expired.)

So 2 summers ago, I loaded the expired film up and headed to the park to just play around.  Well then the film sat in my purse for months, then on my desk for months.  I finally found a place online, Swan Photo Labs,  that I could send the film to get developed.  Well then that information sat waiting to be used.  Finally, 2 years later, I sent my film in to get developed and burned onto a disc.  I didn't need the prints, I just wanted to see what "art" I could come up with.  For the mere cost of $16 (includes both shipping to and back), I got my images--Now maybe I can sell this camera online and recover my cost--ha ha ha. 

1.  I knew this was a crappy camera.  2.  I knew the film was expired to begin with.  3.  The film tossed around my purse and desk for a couple of years.  So, no, I didn't get any artsy photos...just blur and noise and a line through most of them :)

I am kinda bummed that they aren't square photos, but it was fun playing with the camera and maybe someday I will play in PaintShop a bit to see if I can do anything with them...my guess would be no--oh well.  It was worth a shot :D  I will just stick to my iPhone and the artsy filters on that :p

Current favorite iPhone photo app

I came across this article in the Mercury News newspaper by Chris O'Brien.

The best part is that the app is FREE!!! I love the different frames and effects.

I even have 4 followers-whoo hoo. (1 is my brother though.)

The app can be found in the app store under Instagram. Find me as linmom.

Mini Album ~Prom~

I have not scrapbooked in a long time.  Scrapbooking was my first hobby!  I have so much stuff because I think shopping for supplies was my second hobby :-p  Whether it was time or my other hobbies getting in the way, I just haven't scrapbooked in a while.

Then, I bought the latest issue of Mini Albums.  I normally try to steer clear of buying these because 1. they are kinda pricy 2. I have too many idea books already and 3. I never use said idea books I already have!

But this issue, not only caught my eye, it was 10% off (ok, free tax) and my awesome Aunt had given me a gift certificate to Joann's...so really it was free--she rocks!

Well I have a ton of idea books that I like things, but never go back and actually do them.  But this time, I seen a mini album for a prom and the light went on!  Last month, I took pictures of my Goddaughter before her Senior Prom.  I was totally going to make her one.  Problem, it was already late Monday and I wanted to give it to her on Saturday.  Plenty of time for normal scrapbookers, but I usually take forever to get something together.

Timeline:

~Monday--only time to print some pictures (I really need to calibrate my monitor because all my pictures are so dark when I print them!).  I also pulled out the perfect chipboard book that my equally awesome Scrapbook Bestie gave me a while back.  It is now discounted, but I finally found something cool to do with it. Cloud9 Board Book 8 x 3.25

~Tuesday--we had plans and didn't get home until late :(

~Wednesday--I went "shopping" in my craft room to find the perfect papers (DCWV All Dressed Up--totally old, but perfect!), ribbon, and looked for anything I thought I would love to use!  I started the book and only finished the front and back covers.  I was kinda bummed I hadn't finished more.  I didn't think I was going to make the deadline.

~Thursday--Finished the box and a few more pages in the book.

~Friday--Got into a rhythm and finished it in no time (like in 2 hours!)  Then I was so excited that I had to share a sneak peek to my aunt...even though I wanted her to be surprised as well.

The book comes in a box, so here is the front    

and the back

 

The DCWV papers are pretty thick and luckily the box had some extra room, but the booklet snuggly fits inside

The front cover 

Showing off the details including her beautiful shoes and his comfy sneakers.  The journaling (the only journaling I did because I hate that part of the process) says "Important Details *Hair *Makeup *Shoes Beautiful Perfection".

Her and her girl friends

Her, her friends and their dates

Her and her boyfriend

More of her and her boyfriend

Last page is a picture of her boyfriend carrying her shoes and her and her parents

Back of the book.

I really had a great time doing this book.  And I was so excited that it didn't take me forever to do!  I hope she enjoys it as much as I do.