Wordless Wednesday...Whitewater sand storm

Our Photography class went on a field trip to White Water Preserve in Southern CA. It was a very cold windy day. I was photographing with the Black and White Film camera and my daughter was photographing with the Digital. This is me, in a Sand Storm:

Trying to get these pictures:

I'm not sure I have it in me to be a Landscape Photographer.

Free Digital Scrapbook kit

I love Free stuff. I seem to be acquiring plenty of Digital Scrapbook kits. The one below is courtesy of  MyMemories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software, but you don't have to own the software to use the Free templates below. They are in .png and .jpg format you can use them in any software that you might own.

They have started a program were they will be sending me new kits every 14 days, so that I may share them with you. The kit below will be available for 14 days and will then be replaced with a different kit, so go grab it now if you like this one.

If you would like to see what the MyMemories Suite software can do feel free to click on the link on the side bar, and if you order don't forget to use the Code for $10 off.

I can wait to get pictures to put in these new templates! I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Feel free to post a link in the comments showing us what you have done with the Scrapbooking kit.

Scanning Film Negatives

I have shot rolls up on rolls of Black and White film for class. I love pictures, and for some reason feel that every picture deserves a chance to be printed and shown, but at $1.00 or so for each sheet of paper and the fact that I ruin 2 or 3 sheets to get a good printed picture plus the fact that it takes me at least 30 to 40 minutes of working with the image to get it right, I didn't see how each of my pictures were going to make it out to the light.

Until I saw one of the 2nd semester students scanning his negatives, at least that is what it looked like he was doing, and sure enough when I asked him what he was doing, he said "duh, scanning my negatives" gotta love those 19 and 20 year olds. And then I asked him a question that I knew was going to get me a stare down, but I was ready for it. 'How do you scan negatives?'

Sure enough he looked at me funny the whole time he was attempting to show me how to scan negatives. I'm very competent with computers so his words didn't need to make sense, and believe me they didn't. I was able to see what he was doing and come to my own conclusions.

First you need a special scanner or a scanner that has the ability to change, the one in the classroom is a scanner that adapts for scanning negatives.

The scanner comes with a special tray to place your negative strips on.

Then you use the scanning software (or Photoshop) the same way that you would scan any other item. EXCEPT because the image is so small you need to scan at a really really high DPI if you want to end up with a picture large than 1 inch wide. My 19 year old tutor neglected to mention that. To be honest I don't think he knew why he was doing things he just knew the steps someone else showed him.

I have come to the conclusion that a dpi of 4800 will get you a good 8 x 10 printed resolution. This was learned by trial and error so if someone has a text book answer for this please let me know. I couldn't find the information any where. Needless to say it takes for ever to scan at that dpi but I'm not wasting paper and money! It will be worth the invested time, all of my pictures might just end up seeing the light.

I love these that I snapped when I was trying to get my Action assignment done:

A Teacher's Quote to live by...

I came a cross a quote on a blog a while back that can apply to our every day lives not just those of Teachers.

"I have come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crises will be escalated or deescalated and a child humanized or dehumanized."

~Haim Ginott

I'm not entirely sure who the author of that quote is, but it make for the best of life motto's.

Modest Eve Pattern Giveaway Winner

I'm so glad to announce that my two biggest supporters are the winners of my Pattern Giveaway:

Becca became my Facebook Fan number 100:

And CK was the only other person to comment on the post, so I didn't do a Random.org, Let me know if this isn't Ok with you Becca ;)


Ladies let me know which pattern you would like from my Etsy shop send me an email to soniabartondesigns at yahoo dot com.

Thank you ladies for all your support!!

Wordless Wednesday...Alberto Giacometti

I have a 3 page report and a 5 minute presentation due Tonight on Alberto Giacometti, Am I ready? Nope!

Barbie Scale Doll House Pattern

It has taken us a while, but we finally finished the DIY instructions for the doll houses my husband makes. It was an interesting process to work together, we both think very different. I have taken his information and written it, in a manner that even a beginner at working with wood can understand. I wanted to make sure that anyone that is not afraid of saws can follow the instructions. I figure if you have the guts to make it you shouldn't have to learn what my husband calls the 'woodworkers language'. I tried to give it to you in English.

With step by step cutting layouts:

You can visit our Craftsy Store or Etsy Shop to purchase the pattern for $3.95

Wordless Wednesday...Stressed

I think I might have just figured out why my pants are fitting a little tight! There is plenty of stress around here with Midterms...

Giveaway to the 100th Facebook Fan

Thank you all for you support, even though it has been light on the blog posts around here, you are all still supporting me. For that I would like to Thank you with a Giveaway.

My Facebook Fan page is at 99 - the 100th person to become a fan can pick a Free Pattern from my Etsy shop.   All of my patterns would make great sewn gifts.

AND

For those not number 100 I will do a random pick from the comments entered on this post. Winner will be chosen on Wednesday November 16, 2011 at 9 am PST.

Wordless Wednesday...Stephanie and Santana

Lately my brain has been truly Wordless, it's all about processing tasks and getting them done, one after the other. At least there is always something to Photograph Stephanie and Santana:

I would post more, but I don't think that you want to read a 7 page English paper or want me to post and identify works of arts from 1860 to 1960....I find out the results of my Modern Art History Midterm tonight, not looking forward to it. I hope everyone is doing well out there....