Foto Friday - Macros

It's Foto Friday at Renaissance today. Each Friday the participant's in the challenge link their photographs to Rebecca's blog to show how they have faired in the challenge posted the week before. This week's challenge was "Macros (close-ups).

It is said that a collection of a photographer's work reveals as much about the photographer as it does about the subject. If that is so I fear that what this collection shows about me is that I don't know how to choose. I was not near as pleased with this weeks collection of photo's as I was with my collection last week. These for the most part seem very "lack lustre" to me; nothing seems to really "POP". So Rebecca, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE give your input.

The second thing this collection reveals about me as I look at it is that I love textures -- I'm very tactile. If I am interested in something, I have to feel it. Is it soft? Is it rough? Is it prickly or downy soft. Does it feel icy-cold or is it warm and soothing?

For those of you managed to get this far, I will reward by sharing a little tip I figured out while photographing the seed pods below. You will notice that the seed pods below are VERY blurry. This is only one of um'teen shots of these that turned out blurry. It was just too small to get the camera to focus on it.

I kept trying because I'm bulldog-stubborn, but it just wasn't working. I was getting plenty frustrated until I finally struck upon an idea. I asked my daughter to rest a index card directly over it (as shown). so that I could focus on the card (which was larger, yet thin). She then took the card away, and I snapped the picture without moving the camera.

Voila, a fairly decent close-up (at least better focused than it had been).

Okay, now it's time for you to head over to Rebecca's to take a look at what others have done. The challenge for next week will be posted there as well. Why not join us for the fun? It's a great way to improve your photography!!

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - Last Half of November 2009

For all of you who, like me, are procrastinators and haven't finished up your sewing projects for Christmas, I just want to remind us all that the time is growing short. (Don't shoot the messenger. . . that was just a gentle reminder) ;D Not to worry. . . patterns can still be found for a good price at JoAnn Fabric Stores on the following pattern sale days.

Saturday - Wednesday

Novermber 21 - 25, 2009

McCall's Patterns $1.99 each
(MSRP $5.25 - $16.95 ea.)
(Limit of 10)
No special orders -- Excludes "Easy Stitch ‘N Save”"

Simplisity Patterns $199 each

(MSRP $6.95 - $17.95)

(Limit 10)

No Special orders

Excludes "It's So Easy", "New Look", "Burda", & Simplicity Books

Thursday - Saturday

November 19 - 21, 2009

Vogue Patterns $3.99 each
(MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 ea.
No special orders
(Limit 10)

Time to Leave

At long last, creative juices and opportunity have merged supplying me with some photographs and enabling me to join Rebecca for her Foto Friday challenge. This first photo is of the small oak tree in our yard that reminds me of living death each late fall and winter. It wears its dead leaves all winter until the new buds push them off the limbs in the spring.



Our maple tree only had four leaves clinging to it. As I was focusing my lens on one uncooperative leaf, it had the audacity to let loose and drift out of the frame before I could even snap the shot. THIS ONE was a little more cooperative.

Some of you have already seen pictures of the leaves of this tree on a recent post, but I went out again this morning to take fresh shots. The folage on this tree seems to set it ablaze and persistently cling to the limbs long after other leaves have abandoned their trees.

I must be honest and admit that this pic was staged, but I liked the stark contrast. I am truly excited about the photographs in this post because none were retouched or cropped -- something that is very, very, very (Did I say VERY???) rare for me. While the pics are far from top-quality, still they are very good for ME. I usually have to do a lot of fudging to make them look half-wise decent.

And now we come to that last variety of leaves that is so dear to my heart. . .

The LEAVES of a good book.

Thanks to Rebecca for hosting FOTO FRIDAY. Visit her and check out all the other great photos there.

Hmmm, What did ya say?

There are certain things I, as a child, was told a hundred times by my mother.



There are certain things that I have, in turn, told my own children a hundred times.



I remembered one the other day.

DON'T PICK!!!!!

Were my children "picking" in the French's Fried Onions I was using to make a green bean casserole?

Nope, but I was.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of November 2009

As I typed the title of this post, this one thought came blasting into my mind

How can it possibly be NOVEMBER already?

Well, ready or not, here it is, and there's not a whole lot of sewing time left before the gift-giving season is upon us. If you need patterns to make some gifts for those you love, you'll be happy to know that Simplicity Patterns are on sale at JoAnn Fabric and Craft stores from Sunday through Saturday, November 8th through 14th for just one dollar each. This is a pretty good deal, considering that the manufacturer's suggested retail price for these patterns is between $6.95 and $17.95 each.

As usual, this does not include special orders, and there is a Limit of 10 patterns. Also, excluded from this sale are It's So Easy, New Look, and Burda patterns, as well as Simplicity books.

My holiday wish for you. . . May your seam ripper gather dust and your thread never break.

Y Blessings,

Nanci