what I have been up to.

Uh, not too much right now.  I am still working on my “sideways” peyote stitch band necklace.  Sometimes I just have to set it down for a while and do some other projects…like chores.

Okay, also I have been sewing a little, and I will take some pictures of that.  I love to look at some sites that show very old historic clothing that shows the actual sewing done from the 1800’s.  Of course I don’t sew like that, but I do try to imitate it.  It has been years since I did needlepoint work, or thread work for the design element.  This project was just joining some similiar fabrics together to make something.  So I made a bandana.  I’m doing a lot of bandana wearing these days, but I just happened to have obtained some quilting scraps that had similar colors and most of the pieces were “squared” or “rectangled”, so it is easy to band a few pieces together to form a large square for a bandana.  I will proceed with that and take some close up photos.  Oh, by the way, the site I love to look at with the very old sewing is called www (dot) vintagetextiles (dot) com.  If you look up the “early” section and click on an item that will take you to the history of the item, as much is obtained at the time of purchase, and also some incredibly detailed shots of how the garment is sewn together.  I love it because it shows the beautiful gorgeous fabrics, that are put together with human hands, not to pristine sewing maching of the later years.

So anyway, that is why I am behind on my peyote band necklace….

One of the few pictures you will see of my husband.  He is detailing the truck he just bought us recently.

Okay, this is what happens when I push “large” photo.    As you see I take like 35 photos of every angle of the truck.

One of the flowers that are blooming on campus.

part of the columns and Jesse Hall.  Taken about three weeks ago.

Yippers.  We found out recently that he is ill.  I’m taking as many pictures as possible.  This was taken end of May 2009, same as these others.

Another gorgeous flower that has been blooming on campus.

This is my sweet little (crazy) girl, Whiskers.

We were at Cooper’s Landing, and we saw this team there. This was May 2009.

See you later, thanks for tuning in

C

Sideways peyote stitch

Okay, I’m not sure what you would really call it.  I decided I wanted the flow of the necklace to be long-ways instead of “short-ways”.  Instead of across the shortside….anyway, I am confusing myself.  Here is how this necklace started out.

Okay, so first picture is my row of beads, this next photo shows my two drop peyote on the long side.  I wanted this necklace to flow along the length of the necklace, instead of across the necklace.  These are some of those hex shaped delica beads size 11’s.

This one shows a nice close up shot.

Here it is with about six rows.

Here it is with 12 rows added.  I wanted to show also where I am adding some 6 mm bicone crystal beads periodically along the length.  The length of the bicones is about three beads across, so I am creating little windows  as I bead these in. Then I am reinforcing them by stitching them into the piece a couple of extra passes.

Another view.  I have now got about 20 rows on this one worked up, but have not taken any pictures in a week or so of this project.  In the meantime I’ve been shooting these kind of pictures.

no no, not really.  I was just testing the camera on this guy.

I work in the building to the left, the two windows left of the left lampost.  See I’m trying to figure out all the buttons on the camera to see what they do.  This must have been the over white wash out button.

but obviously this was the “I will do everything for you” button.  See I can take a better picture.

I’m just trying to figure out the “creative zones” of the camera. See, I’ll show you.

See told you.

See…automatic settings.

This is Swallow Hall.  It is the middle section of the “Geography”  and “Geology” buildings.  Both were some built as some of the orignal campus buildings built from 1892-1896.  I don’t know if Swallow Hall was built as a joiner building to join the two.  I will find out.

Bye for now

C

art in the park, farmers market saturdays

This Saturday was filled with a few adventures.  Since I have a camera to experiment with these days I have been trying to get some good shots in.  Haven’t taken nearly as many as I expected too.  I think it is the whole carrying around a camera at all times I have to get used to.

So here is a few.

I got some crowd shots.

more random crowds.

Here is some colorful artwork….I didn’t know if I should be posting these though?  That is why I took alot of crowd shots.

rather than specific pieces of artwork.  Though I loved this.  This guy is covered in all kinds of recycled materials.  So fascinating.

This is the body of the fish.  At least a close up.

I saw this kid!

actually I know this guy.

Here is another one of him.  I took a few of him, but only got a couple of good ones of him.  He moves quickly.

Lynn was there showing some kids technique on the pottery wheel.

Before Art in the Park, I went to the Farmers Market.

Okay, for now I am going to rest.  This has made me get sleepy.

Thanks for tuning in.

C.

Working on another necklace…imagine….

Okay, I finished an anklet for a friend of mine at work.  She requested purple.

I was trying out the new camera, see how my focus is more intricate than with my point and shoot?

This is a little bit more spread out shot.  This is peyote stitch with fringe on one side and picot edging on the other.  I finished it with shell lentil bead and loop closure.

See, well the bead is out of focus, but the loom part is in sharp focus.  The black necklace next to that is my next project.  I will show you a little more detail on that one tomorrow.  I have alot of photos of that one.

Thanks for checking in.

C

what I did this weekend!

I took photos.  Okay, with the point and shoot I think I racked up about 447 photos, hey, though who’s counting?

Okay Me.

But you may realize I have 87 shot of Goblins, 44 shots of The Dude, 62 shots of Yippers, 14 of Whiskers and 10 of Roscoe, oh and some Farmers Market shots as well.

Whanna see?

See I’m trying to use the “Creative Zones”.   Obviously I have lots to learn.

Okay enough…she says.

I took pictures of my dad.

He’s making dinner.

The lens is a 60 mm f/2.8, which I’m learning a little on.  You have to stand back kind of far away it dad’s kitchen.

oh….please….

go away!

This is after I had taken 30 continous shots of him in a couple of minutes.

The Dude was not falling for it!

Whiskers is shell shocked after 14 pictures with the flash on….she’s stunned!

Okay, here is one of the Dude, outside no flash.  Took me about 30 photos before I got five of them with no blur.  I had my elbows propped on my knees just trying to get the no blur look.  This was close.

I’m giggling so hard doing this post, seeing these larger pictures of my kitties expressions that Roscoe wanted to see what was up….oh he is up, see above!

I ain’t buying it…here’s a hairball…aaach….aach.

Bye for now, tomorrow river shots.

Thank for tuning in

C.

Are you ready?

Okay, I’ll let you in on the surprise.

My husband was able to buy this beauty from one of his dear friends.   It is previously owned but superbly works for me.  So far I am reading the manual and some other user guides from the internet….but now my head is fried and I just have to get out there and try it out.

Luckily this little baby loads pictures into my computer with this white cable ( I guess Digital Cable) just like the other Canon camera that I have been using for the past year and a half.  Sweet.  I was afraid to try it, but it works exactly the same.  That way I can shoot photos, load them in my computer instantly, and keep you informed of what I saw today, or yesterday, or last week.  I’ve already practiced a couple of hundred shots with it!  I love that continuous shot…I’ve been using that on my on my powershot as well.  It really helps when you have kids, or kitties that move or just won’t pose properly.

See, like this was an nice close-up of Roscoe’s ear.  Love it!

Tried for some close-up of the Dude, but he was a little hard to shoot, because of his incredibly dark coat, and was having a little bit of an issue with the strobe effect of the flash.  This was not with flash….

but, see this one was, as was the freakish expression on his face after the third flash photo….the strobe effect was always a surprise, even after repeated shots.

So reading the book led to some questions, which I need to experiment with….pages and pages of “white balance”, hey I just want to know how to change the fstop.  This camera is so much more automatic than the last one I had in my hand over 16 years ago.  I am so glad this is not a film camera as well.  I love the digital.

Here is our gorgeous girl….no flash can you tell…I did have the lamp on though.

Either way I have some practicing to do….as well as some steady hands.

as well as learning what “white balance” means, and how to use the setting.  I thought I was setting the fstop, but I figured on the lcd screen, when the number is low, I get more white, the higher the number, it doesn’t get so washed out.   More pictures to come….

C

Some surprises coming up…

My husband surprised me the other day….I will let you know in a couple of days.  But here is a hint.

can you tell?

What a cutie!  This is Roscoe.

With flash….

or not?

Farmers Market Saturday….looking west.

Looking east.

Ken

Jim…I like his sprouts, and his wife makes nice soap. I smell nice….

a new project…finished.

vintage glass button closure.

a little bead bag I made for my tape measure.  Made with delicas.

Anyway, I will tell you my surprise soon….It was a beautiful weekend….Happy Memorial day all.

C

Another project done.

Okay, so I’ve been working on another project, though way more simplified, so it is not taking three weeks of my time, on and off.  I started this last night, and finished tonight.  I could have done it all in one night, but sometimes, you have to put a project aside to get some of the beads right.  I would still have liked a little more contrast though.  I am becoming incredibly monochramatic as of late.

Any who…Lets see what pictures I have taken lately.

At the end of a school year our company puts together a little get together so all the units can see each other.  We get to work at other units at certain times of the year so it is a chance to see some of the other co-workers.  Here is Angie and Adela.

Here is Shelly working at one of the stations for an “Iron Chef” type competition.

Sonji and Rob….

this is where the batteries decided they didn’t want to shoot any more photos.  This was only 30 minutes into the event.  Sadly I missed some good photos….

Here is where I work.  Come and visit me if you are in the Reynolds Journalism Institute in Downtown Columbia on the University of Missouri Campus.  This is the J Cafe…Come on by.

Our staff is there to serve you.

Here is our new boy Dude.  He’s becoming a little bit of a cuddle bunny.  Though with his feral nature I approach this cautiously.

Thanks for tuning in.

C

I’m almost finished.

All I have to do is put on the closure glass button and them I’m done.  I’ve re-inforced the uppermost row with double stitching, mainly to tighten it but also to make it stronger.

Sorry, I’m going to take some better pictures of it tomorrow.  This was just a quick shot showing my progress.  I know it is silly to take a picture of it in a silver tray, but I will change my set up later.

I finished up my work for the week, and now I will be able to have a few days off.  Today I was able to enjoy a long walk, a little gardening, and shopping at the farmers market.

Our Farmer’s Market at the Arc has become quite a colossal event.  Usually there are about fifty booths and sometimes there is not a lot of parking.  Mainly because the Junior high school next door has events timed at the same time, and they share parking space.  Today wasn’t so bad if you parked further away you could find something easily, but walked further.

Here is a picture of the Peonies on Campus.  This is near the Geology building at the Francis Quadrangle.  I had my camera around for a couple days.  I wanted to take pictures of some of the kids I work with this week.  Two of them are graduating, one is staying for the summer though, but one of them is leaving for his future adventures.

Here is P and B talking shop.  This is the inside view of the cafe.

This is the view the customers see.  Inviting!  If you in the School of Journalism or nearby, come on in.  We make you sandwiches toasted and made to order.

We will reopen on June 4th after a brief holiday.

This was taken looking toward the Switzler Hall.  The oldest building existing on Campus, built 1870.  I will take more pictures of the building.  These are some of the flowering trees that are blooming right now.

Okay, found a side view of the Switzler Hall.

I’ll show you more tomorrow.

Later C

farther along….

This weekend I tackled the clear and pink necklace a little bit more.  Actually I am farther along than this picture, but this was the last shot I took on Saturday.

and later…..

So I’m a little further along.  But today we took a little trip.

The River!  The Missouri River.

looking north….

looking south….

and I spotted this little guy on the edge of the trail.

This is usually how my husband poses for me….

We got to see Lee Ruth tune his guitar.

We like to leave the river before it gets too dark…the roads are narrow.

He snapped this photo of me.

Well, hopefully I can finish this necklace this week.  The girl I want to give it to is graduating from college, and I wanted to make her something.

Thanks for catching up on our weekend.

C