Filed under: Friends, Inspirations, Life, Mama Monday, Tangents | Tags: 35mm, diana mini, Julie Afflerbaugh, lomography, photography
C and I went hiking on our Thankful Thursday right after music class last week. I had been telling him that we were going to take photos. He has this little plastic one-time-use style camera in the toybox at his Agi’s house and is always chasing us around beckoning “Say Cheese!” I loved photography class in college and had a great teacher, Baldwin Lee. This was real 35mm film photography, developing my own photos in a darkroom, I remember a high grain Illford film being a favorite. I loaded up the old Pentax K1000 with some film that I found, who knows if it is any good {or really where to even get it developed?} We set out and I taught him how to advance the film after each shot. He struggled a little with the weight of this metal beast, but was thrilled with the sound of the shutter. I am thinking of getting him one of these Diana Minis for his birthday. Digital cameras are great, I love the technology, but there is still something special about a limited number of frames and waiting to see the image.
Now for the professional side of photography, my dear friend Julie Afflerbaugh, who has taken photos of C since he was just sitting up, is launching seasonal mini-sessions starting this weekend, email her and get professional shots of your little one at a great price. Check it out:
Filed under: Inspirations, Life, Tangents | Tags: Buttercup, Daffodil, Jonquil, Narcissus, Paperwhite, yellow
If you noticed yesterday’s post, the Year of the Tiger stamp features Narcissus flowers which apparently have significance in the celebration of the New Year in China. Furthermore, note that the special flower of the Rabbit is the Jonquil, which happens to be my favorite flower in the Narcissus family. The BirdDog Press color palette is inspired by the colorful southern culture experienced growin’ up below the Mason-Dixon line, smack-dab in the buckle of the bible belt. Y’all ain’t never heard of a Jonquil? {well, you might call ‘em Daffodils, but either way, it’s a nice shade of “yeller”} And while we’re on the subject, yellow just happens to be C’s favorite color. Do you like how I just tied all of that random information together? Here is a little flower fact sheet in case you are curious about these aforementioned bulbs:
Paperwhite Narcissus
- Narcissus: The term narcissus (Narcissus sp.) refers to a genus of bulbs that includes hundreds of species and literally tens of thousands of cultivars! The Narcissus genus includes daffodils, jonquils, and paperwhites, among many others, so when in doubt, this is the term to use. However, when someone says “Narcissus,” they’re usually referring to the miniature white holiday blooms of Narcissus tazetta papyraceous, known as paperwhites.
Daffodil
- Daffodil: This is the official common name for ANY of the plants that fall into the genus Narcissus. So, if the plant is considered a Narcissus, it is also considered a daffodil as well. However, most people use the term “daffodil” when referring to the large, trumpet-shaped flowers of the Narcissus pseudonarcissus. These are those big, showy, familiar bulbs that bloom in spring that we all know and love.
Jonquil
- Jonquil: This term actually refers to a specific type of daffodil known as Narcissus jonquilla, although the name is often used as a more general term for daffodils in certain parts of the country. They are most easily identified by their dark green, tube-shaped leaves as compared to other types of daffodils which have flat leaves. Jonquils also tend to have clusters of several flowers, instead of just one bloom, along with a strong scent.
Buttercup
- Buttercup: This is actually an incorrect term when referring to daffodils or Narcissus bulbs of any kind. Buttercups are a totally different flower (Ranunculus sp.) that consist of an herbaceous perennial (that can also be an annual) that has small yellow or white flowers with five separate petals. Buttercups also flower in the spring, though they may continue to bloom throughout the summer.
*this information was learned online from Julie Day
Filed under: Feedsacks, Handmade Revolution, Life | Tags: hand me down, jeans, sewing
Do I even have to say that anymore? I guess I could have worse addictions. Here are some recent feedsack knee patches that I sewed on a pair of C’s hand-me-down jeans. He loves hand-me-downs! Good boy. And I’m observing that it stems from the story behind it … “Mom! Keenan gave me these!”
Today is Granny Lou’s birthday! I wish I could take her to one of these awesome places {that i just discovered, *gasp!} to celebrate. She is a huge inspiration to me. Happy Birthday Granny Lou!
Filed under: Craft Biz, Inspirations, Life, Tangents | Tags: Shrinky Dinks, valentine
I am blown away by how many people I’ve run into this week that have never heard of Shrinky Dinks! So much fun. We used them on our valentines this year along with funky edge scissors & loads of glitter! I’m bringing this sev’ craft back!
Treehouse Point, Snoqualmie Valley
Oh! what I would give to be able to *wiggle* my nose Bewitched-style, tear down the deck in the back yard and re-purpose it into something like this for C & I to play in. One of these days, I will build a treehouse, for now maybe i’ll settle for this?
Filed under: Feedsacks, Handmade Revolution, Life, Tangents | Tags: eBay, feedsack
one little, two little, three little feedsack auctions on eBay. yippee! and sadly, the above isn’t one of them. I want it really badly, but the seller {whom i’ve bought from before, paid promptly & gave positive feedback to} says that she won’t sell to me b/c I somehow lowered her “DSR ratings” – what does that even mean? She actually said I “punished” her. Why would I do that? I just want to buy an old piece of fabric! Bizarre. Anyway, If someone wants to buy this and then turn around and sell it to me, I’m a guaranteed customer.
… and that’s all i have to say today. MUST get caught up on design and custom projects … the year is off to a dynamic start!!
Filed under: BirdDog Press, Letterpress, Life, Mama Monday | Tags: children, work
C has good days and bad days at the studio. Just like the rest of us, some days he enjoys work and others, well, he would rather go home. It is a perk of working for myself that I have the ability to take him to work with me and that he is a part of my routine at the studio. I really like the idea of a family business and learning responsibility and the hard but satisfying work it takes to make a living. C enjoys helping me clean the press and putting ink on it, especially if it is yellow! He understands that mommy has to print and the dangers of going to close to the press when it is running. He gladly kisses me goodbye at home when I am headed to the studio without him and seems to take pride in agreeing to print one more run before we break for lunch. Obviously I am not advocating child labor, but the comprehension of a profession and skills that make up a job are valuable lessons in my book. What are your thoughts about impressing a work ethic upon your children?
Filed under: BirdDog Press, Letterpress, Life | Tags: chalkboard paint, etiquette, thank you notes, wood type stationery
Thank you notes are essential. All gifts should be acknowledged with a handwritten note within a week of receipt of the gesture. Email is NOT sufficient. According to Emily Post, one exception would be if the gift was opened in front of the giver and you had the chance to thank them in person. For me, I still write a note. A thank you note is just an expression of gratitude. It doesn’t have to be a long letter. A simple “Thank you so much for the hand-knitted orange scarf. How did you know that was my favorite color? I can’t wait for my trip to Colorado so I can wear it.” will go a long way toward making the giver feel appreciated for their thoughtfulness. Here are two rule-of-thumb lists.
Always send notes in the following situations:
- Wedding gifts.
- For sympathy letters or flowers.
- To the hostess after a party that was hosted in your honor.
- For bridal or baby shower gifts.
- For gifts that were received by mail.
- After being entertained by your boss.
- Gifts or flowers received during a hospital stay.
- After being hosted as a houseguest.
It is a nice gesture to send notes in these situations:
- After being a guest at a dinner party.
- After a job interview.
- For birthday gifts that were received and opened in person.
- When a friend has helped you out with a special favor.
- To someone who has entertained you personally as part of a business relationship.
My little one loves to write thank you notes, well, he draws, I write. We talk often, especially on Thursdays, about what we’re thankful for and whom we have to thank for what, using our kitchen chalkboard and recording in our gratitude book. His “C” wood type stationery {pictured above} that I made for him came in really handy for the long list of thank yous we wrote over the holidays. I never want him to see it as a daunting task, rather luck, because we have a lot to be thankful for.
