Happy 4th!

I’m not doing much today, except relaxing, and creating…just what I want to do. Saturday we had friends over for a birthday dinner, and yesterday we went over to another friends’ house for a July 4th celebration party. Tomorrow I go back to work, so today I am taking it easy and scrapping my heart out.

I have signed up for more Big Picture classes, which I am excited about. I am taking the Mother LOAD class (LayOut A Day), and I have completed my first layout assignment: Why I scrap.

digital version; template by Ali Edwards at Designer Digitals

I also did some other layouts, not for class assignments, but I had some important things to document:

I just recently found this photo of my dad, taken when he was 34 years old.

major event in our household. I get to play nurse for a while.

never seen the man smoke before. A photo-op must!

I’m having a blast creating today. I have more to do, so I’m stopping here so I can do that! I’ll check back with you later; in the mean time, have fun, but be safe!

We call ourselves “Longshadow Press”.

Monday we received our final shipment of book-making materials from Bookmakers, Inc. Once we finally determined exactly how many books we will be making, and how much of the supplies will be needed, we plunked down a hefty chunk of change to make it happen. This is a dream of ours: Micha’s beautiful photos+my handiwork= one amazing book (we hope!). We settled on 12 copies, 11 of which have been sold (possibly the twelfth, as well) before they are even made. Once we completed one copy, our first try, we were able to figure out how to improve it; now we’re using it as the “artist’s copy” to show friends what we’re doing, and that’s how we were able to sell what we intend to make.

The last weekend I was not working, we had every intention of cranking out the first complete copies that we could sell. What we turned out instead was one disaster after another. Amazing how badly things turned out, and amazing how calm we stayed! No one was hurt in the process! So, we ended up wasting some supplies, and spending more money than intended, but our goal is to get each copy right and make it as perfect as possible, as if it were professionally made. Ugh. It’s so not easy! A few days ago, however, we did it. We created the first three copies, in their entirety, without any mistakes. We were so thrilled, we treated ourselves to dinner (!!). Three down, nine more to go. Sigh. I have also come to realize that I had not yet taken a photo of the final, completed book, probably because the artist copy doesn’t really count for me. Too many flaws. So, here you go.

Not fancy, nothing award-winning. A simple way to showcase the photos my husband created that will be exhibited at the art museum beginning this August. I am one proud woman. More details on the exhibit will be coming soon; any questions about the book are welcome. Thanks for letting me share!

A trip to the museum…

a contraband photo...sssh!

A few times a year, my husband and I enjoy visiting our local museum on a Sunday afternoon. Here’s a shocker: I live in Fresno. Yes, Fresno does have culture; it does in fact have artists, a museum, and even an arts counsel! Who knew?! Anyway, I think there’s no better way to get my artistic juices flowing than to visit a museum. I come home feeling jazzed about creating some art (for me in the form of scrapbooking), and having an overall heightened sense of inspiration. I am motivated to get down to business in my studio, and later in the day I will blog some more with new layouts. 

But more than that, I believe visiting a local museum or art gallery is good for one’s soul. Art doesn’t just have to be a pretty picture; if you are so inclined, look a little deeper and find a message, a political commentary, a satirical pun, an expression of one’s soul. I often find myself thinking, “Man, how did they think of that?”, or sometimes, “Genius!”, and, “That took a lot of work…” My husband and I always look to each other to compare opinions. We agree, we disagree, we see different things, etc., and it’s fun and refreshing to be so honest without any hurt feelings involved whatsoever. So, on this or any other Sunday, my recommendation to anyone reading this: visit a museum. Soak in the beauty, let go of preconceived ideas, free your mind and let yourself be mesmerized by art. You won’t be sorry! 

Two links to Fresno’s cultural oasis:


http://www.fresnoartmuseum.org/

 
http://www.fresnoarts.net/

Enjoy!