My little nephew Max is obsessed with machinery: school buses, garbage trucks, cars, tractors, helicopters, fire trucks, bikes, Bobcats aka "dig digs"---these are all things to get very excited about and say the names of a thousand times until you are acknowledged.
This print by Marion Billet would be very cute for him.
.
So, here are the results. I was actually surprised at how many of y'all aren't using actions. Though I'm not totally anti (actions are muy necessario when it comes to batch editing and Photoshop has, in a sense, replaced the dark room which is kinda cool), this was somehow reassuring to me. Thank you for all the wonderful comments and input.
I feel like many of you: I agree that the exposure has to be good to begin with. And that actions are about ten times cooler if you're making your own---which means your photos won't look like everyone else's. I think that's what I've always been afraid of: losing individuality and relying on effect.
New Truth or Truth in the sidebar! Another one I'm always curious about for various and sundry reasons.
.
Some nice "film stills" from "The Exchange," J. Crew's latest creative marketing piece or short film by Andy Spade and Anthony Sperduti. It's a pretty little thing.
.
Lately I've been a little under the weather. I cheered myself up by browsing through the Real Simple covers gallery on their website. The other galleries are fun, too. Especially the one featuring the fabulous paper construction of Matthew Sporzynski.
.
If you know me at all, you know that I work in writing and editing, primarily. That said, I like to be lazy on my blog and break all the rules since it's not "in print" and I have no one to answer to but myself.
Even so, it's driving me crazy that I left an entire word out of a sentence in the survey to your right and that I can't edit it without erasing the whole thingy.
I just needed to get that off my chest.
.
And whilst I was perusing over here, these gorgeous totes and coinpurses by Ivana Helsinki caught my eye. The diamond-print fabric is so chic and fresh and bohemian. It looks good in dress-form, too.
I cannot buy one---not even a coinpurse---so instead I will put it on my blog and love it from afar. :)
I am a semi-curious person by nature. I ask a lot of questions. Mostly because I'm a fan of learning. So I'm going to start mini surveys in the sidebar from time to time. This new segment will be called "Truth or Truth," dubbed after a game my sisters invented on a roadtrip when they ran out of daring options in their confined vehicle.
So, here we go. My first question deals with Photoshop Actions. Nicole can attest that when I first discovered Actions, I was flabbergasted. I learned that I had perhaps been attempting to photographically accomplish the un-accomplishable---as far as effects are concerned. Especially for an amateur like me. That is, un-accomplishable unless you use a fancy Action that will upgrade your photo from drab to fab in a matter of seconds, as I witnessed with my own eyeballs. It was amazing. Nicole can also attest that my jaw hit the floor.
Though it's been a little of a moral dilemma for me (because a. I can be dramatic, and b. I'm surprisingly old-fashioned), I've come to realize that maybe I'm the only one not using Photoshop to my advantage, and that I need to get on the Actions train. You know, live a little. Have some fun. That's what technology is for, silly.
Here's question number one: Whether or not you create your own or if you have purchased someone else's, do you use Actions to get your photos looking the way you want them to?
Remember, it's just for the sake of curiosity. And fun. Truth or truth. Answer the question in the sidebar. And share some thoughts below.
If I was a party-throwin' hostess-with-the-mostess like Jordan or Chelsea or Marta or sister, I would probably keep some of these seemingly adorable placemats by Carrot & Stick Press on hand. The lobsters are calling my name. Who's ready for a clam bake?
Anyone seen these in real life, or photographed? I like to think the images on the website aren't doing the real ones justice. If they look anything like the folded notes, then I'm sold.
A 25-pack is $14.
.
My writerly sis Lane lives in New York City but has a Western heart. She couldn't shake it if she tried. Actually, she does try. (Two years there have now turned into four.) Late at night, I like to re-read the thoughts she posts on her blog. In her West-meets-East way, she quips about perfect spring days and heinous winters, breakfasts of butter and sugar, unicorns on the subway and almost-physical battles with Manhattan's Postal Service workers.
Usually, I read her words in their entirety and walk away feeling refreshed, reinvented, amused, pensive or smarter. If you've ever moved to the city or thought about moving to the city or visited the city, or simply missed home, I think you'll like these:
Groped
Sun Day
Field Trippin'
Back ... Home?
Me vs. USPS
Spooks Night Out
Sunset Over the Water
"It is quite possible to be less-than-rich and have a perfect Saturday in New York. In fact, it is quite possible that sometimes the less-than rich have the most perfect New York days." -- Lane
.
I know tis not the season for looking at such things since spring is here to stay, but I want this adorable cloche (just $39, and loaded with details) really really really bad. Good job, Liza Rietz.
p.s. Did you know "cloche" is French for "bell-shaped"? I didn't.
.
Since I wear these earrings at least three times a week (and even more now that my hair is super short. And when I say super, I mean super-dee-duper), I often get compliments on them and inquiries as to where such lovelies were purchased.
They're aptly named Simple Hoops and made by this nice girl. I love them. The most. Even more because they were a gift.
.
I thought they were my favorite summer shoe. Until I saw the Tiny Toms and especially the buffalo print. Holy cow. They stole my wee heart.
.
In my next photo sesh (whenever that will be....), I want to put something pink at the top of the frame and make it all blurry so as to mimic the cool effect in this photo by Julie Chamton.
I think it's lovely paired with the blue water, don't you? Anyone know how this is/was accomplished? Is it the film?
.
For art and books & marks and cards and especially notes, Art School Girl is my latest obsession. Apparently I am not alone because when I visited the site today, I saw that their card catalog was featured in Lucky. Sweet!
If you already blogged about this and I'm not giving you proper cred, then I apologize. I'm way behind on my reading and need to hop to!
.
This is way nerdy, but sometimes I like to pop by Etsy just to see what the color choice is for the day. I love the above shade of blue/green.
.
image by yours truly
01. the sunniest skies and warm winds; no jacket necessario.
02. a lesson in baking from sister---the baking queen.
03. putting the sold sign on my condo. yahoo!
03. finishing the daunting task of putting my entire life in boxes.
04. a nice place to stay in the meantime.
05. crisp sheets.
05. baking a decent birthday cake.
06. finishing my fitness regimen and enjoying cake ever since.
07. making up for it at the gym without any lack of energy. huh.
08. spring blooms are so welcoming.
09. another birthday for me, with high hopes for a fresh new year.
10. did i mention the cake? It was devil's food.
p.s. Remember me? I used to blog like every day but then I got really busy with boring stuff, which made me really tired and uninspired and sick of everything. Maybe I am back to normal now. :)
.
