Designing in Life

Website Work

I have been working on our website at work, trying to learn the ins and outs.  I have a class scheduled in a couple of weeks to learn cascading style sheets and html.  Sounds kind of boring?  Well, not all the things I work on are boring.  I find it exciting to learn new things, and I really do like taking classes.

Today I worked on artwork for an upcoming sale.  The diversity of this work is making me pretty happy.  As long as I can still create artwork for different aspects of the business, I'll have a smile on my face.

Here's what I did today.  Pretty basic, but it was fun.

Inspired by the fact that when I got up this morning it was Zero outside!!

Photography

I am not a professional photographer, but have been working with one for the past 10 years.  I think I've learned a thing or two from him.  You know, like not shooting photos of people with trees or lamps or other things growing out of their heads!

My job requires me to go on photo shoots to either shoot single ties or interesting shots with people, places or things for the catalog.  I also shoot my own background photos that I use in the catalog to give it some interest. And as I move towards doing more for the Beau Ties website, I am shooting more background shots myself. 

One of the things I create each time a catalog comes out, is a series of "slide show" images that rotate across the top of the site.  Below is an example.  (Visit here to see more examples.)

I shot the electric guitar at home on the floor.  I used natural light by a window.  I knew I would be using low opacity, so the shot did not need to be perfect, but I did not expect to see this when I opened the photo to use it.

Yup, that's my hair.  Originally, I used the photo as a background for a full page, so I had no choice but to open it in PhotoShop and painstakingly remove my hair.

So here is my advice to all those who are trying their hands at getting good shots.  Look at the subject carefully if it is a portrait. Use the background as an interest, but remember what it is your photographing.   Action shots?  Well you can't always get exactly what you want, so you just have to shoot, shoot, shoot as the subject is moving to make sure you get the shot you want.  And practice, practice, practice...which obviously I need to do.

The Little Things that Make Me Happy

There are things in my every day life that make me smile.  Phone calls from children, grandchildren and sisters, an unexpected hug from Nick, having dinner with a close friend, a note from a sister-in-law, a sunbeam that has made its way to me – yes, the little things really do make me happy and make me smile.

We had more snow this morning and are about to go into the deep freeze.  If there was ever a day for finding things to help me smile, today was it.

A bit out of focus, but a geranium that is happily blooming on a window at work.

An amaryllis that is blooming for the 3rd year.  How is that possible?  I have never been able to get an amaryllis to bloom a second year at home.  I was told (by someone watching me take these pictures) that I just don't ignore it enough!

And then I found this, and laughed a good long time!!

If laughter is the best medicine, I'm more than good to go!

Working Away

Nick is working away at building the laundry room downstairs.  As of today, this is what he's accomplished:

It might not look like much now, but things are progressing along pretty nicely, and this will be done before Christmas.

While Nick was working away at home, I was working away at work...sort of.

We needed a birthday card quickly so I whipped this one up.  I like taking a little time to get away from catalog work to do something fun.  Oh, and speaking of fun, don't forget to leave a note so that your name gets put into the drawing.  (See the post on November 14th!)

Pool Time!

About this time of year – every year – I help Nick open pools.  Most of them take about 2 hours, on a good day.  Tonight we opened a pool not far from our house.  They're the best...close by!  The in-ground pool's cover was easy to roll up and as we finished rolling at the end of a pool – YIKES – a whole herd of enormous snakes emerged from a crack in the seam of the cement.  I've said this before, I don't have a major fear of snakes, but I do have a fear of those things that suddenly appear and race for your pant legs.  Honestly, I felt like I was in a Harrison Ford movie, except the snakes weren't cobras, and, well the truth is there were only four.  Two managed to fall into the pool.  I got the net and managed to pick up one and toss it into some bushes.  After trying to scoop up the other one and missing,  it was obvious the direction of my lob would land the next snake on Nick.  He immediately scooped the snake on a screwdriver and tossed it into the bushes.  Snakes aside, this pool's view is wonderful.

Here is the path to the pool.

And below we have Nick cleaning the pool

Oh and here is one of the remaining snake in the crack.  Can you see it?  Better yet, can you tell how big it is?

Okay, it wasn't so big after all. 

Home Again

I returned from my trip to Jersey City this past weekend, and I brought some baby cold germs with me.  They're deadly, you know.  Phoebe had the sniffles, but was still as cute as ever.  Chloe was her funny cute self.  Okay, I was too busy playing to take pictures but here are a few.

Chloe was busy talking to her friend Bella (she has the orange pants) and Chloe has the pigtailswith her head turned.  This is Soccer Superstar - one of the funniest hours I've spent in a long time.  These kids have a lot of energy and this is a great way for them to play it out.

Uh, this is how Chloe showed up for dinner.  Curlers in her hair!

And this was Phoebe when I was leaving - actually Jim was taking Chloe and Phoebe to a birthday party at the Zoo in the city.

Here is one design I worked on before I left:

Hmm, definitely a retro feel!  It's good to be home...tomorrow, maybe a picture of those almost finished drawers!!!

Remember Those Paint Chips?

I came up with another idea of how to use the paint chips that I got when I was looking for paint recently (see my January 13 post) Actually, I ended up getting more from the hardware store in a variety of colors for this:

I am constantly rummaging around the house to find things to include in tie shots for the catalogs I work on.  It's not always easy finding just that right something to go with the fabrics, but the chips worked out great in this shot.  If only it could always be so easy!

Photo Shoot

Today I spent the afternoon at an off-site photo shoot at a store in Middlebury that sells pool tables.  Why, you ask?  Well, the shoot was for the cover of the Beau Ties spring catalog.  One of the bow ties worn in the shoot has billiard tables on it.  Seemed appropriate to do it there.  I was able to get the husband of one of my co-workers to model and, hey, Nick said he'd do it to.  I will post the cover when the catalog is finished, but for now, here's a picture I took of the guys in their ties...

Also on the work front, I've made my television debut – sort of.  WMUR is a station in New Hampshire that broadcasts a small segment called "The Chronicle."  A while back they came to my workplace to film.  I happened to be pretty busy the day they were there, so I figured I was not in it, which was fine with me. While I was working, my boss brought them by to see what I was doing.  I didn't realize they were filming. So if I had to be in it, they at least got a great shot of me...the back of my head!  So here is the link to the broadcast.  About 5 minutes 20 seconds into it is my debut.  Sorry, no autographs today!