Learning Makes My Heart Sing

Exuberant praise for educating? Yes! As school years wind down, it's a good time to reflect on education. I think I have a great deal of curiosity about the world. It tuns into taking a lot of classes as well as poking my nose into a lot of stuff. Sure, sometimes I make mistakes,; but, I try to mind politeness. Formal classes are one place where curiosity and nosiness really are safe. I just waxed eloquently, or at least verbosely, LOL! in comments on a recent Paperclipping podcast episode about some of my favorite on-line scrapbook learning sites: Debbie Hodge's Get It Scrapped/Masterful Scrapbook Design, Noell Hyman's Paperclipping video tutorials and Big Picture Scrapbooking. I like Renee Pearson's site a lot, too. There is a mix there of very technical classes along with simpler material. When I participate in more challenging classes like learning the ins and outs of Adobe Illustrator, I really feel I've learned a lot!    I am finally feeling comfortable enough in Photoshop to plunge into Digi scrapping more. It has, to this time, been much more of a toe dip. PSE is pretty easy as well as powerful but I really want to get to know  the formal program. I just have wound up design class at a local junior college. I've one assignment to finish. My back has been a real problem for me with college classes, especially with missing two weeks going to see Mom. My Pilates instructor will not be pleased with all the spasms I'll need to work out! Even one day a week for a class is physically challenging but I love learning too much to stop! I just cannot spend too much time working at a computer. of course, good ergonomics are important for everyone.
I think that art and history classes are my favorites, Cousera and The Teaching Company have some wonderful classes. Naturally, the free part makes Cousera very appealing. Some of these classes are long and formal. I decided to try out a class on the history of Rock music on Cousera and have been delighted. The lessons so far have been 6-12 minute lectures. Of course, since I go hunting and listening on You-Tube for all the great artists it really works out to 30-45 minute classes. 
I'd love to hear about any of your favorite class sites and will offer a $10 gift certificate to Big Picture classes for comments on this post. Don't forget to comment on my last post for a chance to win thescrapbook  shopping gift certificate in celebration of Scrabooking month. 
I'm writing this post on my iPad as I sit here in bed this am. I'll try and add links and photos later today, when I get to a computer. 

View out the plane window on the 11 minute flight from Seattle to Victoria.

Yes, after 3 months in the hospital and just before discharge the decision was made that Mom could not return to assisted living and needed a nursing home. So, off I flew to Victoria, BC to get that done. Way too much pressure! I'm not sure how long it will take to recover and I still have so much to do. I'm anticipating a trip back in early June. Meanwhile, a lot of details to take care of. I lost Mom's good jewelry, not much but it was a consequence of my rushing and trying to get things done. Sigh!
Oh, well. She is in a safe and good place with lovely gardens.
I'm behind in my classes and my pain level has gone up a notch. Still, life is pretty good.
The newest grandbaby seems to be thriving, the second oldest one turned 21 today and we are going to a ballet performance tomorrow that the eldest grandchld is in. She's graduating from college. Hard to believe that much time has gone by! All the grandkids seem to be healthy - and that makes us happy!
Victoria was lovely as usual and I got to spend some time with several family members - always fun.
At the last minute dashed to Berkeley to Scrapbook Territory for National Scrapbook Day. Had a lovely time, Daniela Costa was a great hostess, as usual.
I'm participating in Lain Ehmann's Layout a Day scrapbook challenge for May. All my LO's are in my photostream on Flickr. You can link here http://www.flickr.com/photos/46661359@N03/
So, a little late for NSD but just in time for Memorial Day I think it's time for a give away.
How about a $25 gift certificate to Scrapbook.com? Just make a comment on this post to enter. If you do not provide an e-mail address with your comment you will not be entered into the drawing. Too hard to find winners without that info. Prize winner will be determined on Memorial Day, May 27th. Good Luck!

Getting a Little More Scrapbooking Done

Yes, this has been on Facebook. It's a page inspired by Debbie Hodge's class at Get It Scrapped called "Scrapbook Coach" http://classroom.debbiehodge.com/. I like learning how folks develop their pages. I always add my own twist, kinda like using a sketch. I should credit the products I used here. The papers, blue letters, and stickers and twine are from Lawn Fawn. The yellow letters My Little Shoebox and the gems from TPC Studio. Buttons are stash. The adhesives are all from Scrapbook Adhesive 3L used the EZ Runner for most of the project, the foam dots on the arrow sticker and parts of the banners and and Dodz for the buttons.

I think templates in digi scrapbooking are basically the same thing. 

I'm trying to learn photoshop and digi scrapping. Here's a recent example from a class at Jessica Sprague http://www.jessicasprague.com/.

Do you sense a recent theme? LOL! Having little grandchildren is the best inspiration. I've got to visit the young ladies on the coast. They make delightful pages, too. Not that the "old fart" grandkids don't get pages made about them, their photos just tend to be more self-conscious, as so many of ours are, as we get older.

Now, I do firmly believe that scrapping one's own stories is important. In fact, in my attempt to learn more about Adobe Photoshop I'm taking Cathy Zielske's "Clean & Simple" class at BPShttp://www.bigpictureclasses.com/clean-simple.php . I'll try to post some of those pages, as I complete them.

Hope everyone is having a great spring. What plans do my fellow scrappers have for National Scrapbook Day?

Then and Now, two layouts

Here are two layouts. This first is the final (except for maybe some small staples at the bottom of the "and" element as suggested today in the "Office Hours" at Masterful Scrapbook Design. Cindy says I offer a lot of free advertising; but, only for products I believe in; so, it does benefit me if they keep going!

At any rate, the layout offers a bit of Bohemian Style. The multiple colorful patterns and mix of elements give that feeling. The problem with the first iteration is a lack of cohesiveness among the elements. There is in both layouts an underlying block structure with half inch borders with some irregularity on the sides. The second attempt brings that irregularity more evenly along the right. The darker elements are not balanced in the first layout. In the final one the "and", the leather fringe and the dark photo with the flower tag make a visual triangle. Shapes are repeated more in the final page, too. There are now three circles and three bracket shaped elements. The multi-colored dots and the yellow dots show up in three locations as well. Arrows and clustered tags are also seen in three groups and colors repeat around the page. The journaling has room to breathe in the final layout and using only one feather is more effective in the design. Additionally, I think I would have had to add the word "feathers" to my sub-title and while Metis people did use feathers they were not as prominent a feature as they are for First Nation people.  Our Metis culture had its origins in the fur trade and certainly fringe and floral beading patterns are prominent  parts of traditional costumes. I think the story of the Metis sash deserves it's own page and is not a part of the displays I saw at the museums I visited. Metis are not well known in the USA but I believe it was Robert Kennedy who ensured our recognition in the USA. In Canada, of course, we are a prominent part of the history of our confederation.

The layout is a good example of non-vintage  photo heritage scrapbooking. 

I need to make more scrap pages about other areas of my heritage. I think knowing where we come from gives us better insight into who we are, though it's only a small part of our makeup.

I did do genetic testing and my Metis/First Nation genetic makeup is pretty tiny. Not surprising since one of the earliest Iroquois family I can race was a captured white guy. Nonetheless, the cultural input was there.

Interestingly to me was how much of my genetic make-up was from the Viking contribution to my Acadian and French Canadian background. Makes me appreciate my high school experience at LCBI (the once Norwegian Bible College). Funny how heritage and experience can collided!

Getting in that second post of the month

 I've been so good about it, I'd hate to stop now. So, before midnight I'm composing a bit on my iPad.
I've been a bit tired and not feeling my best today. I did get a few chores done though my fatigue has most to do with the thunderstorm and rainwe had lst night. Didn't sleep well. We need the rain and the snow at high elevation so no complaining here. Everything looked so brigh and fresh today.
So much is in bloom around here. While the daffodils have come and gone the camellias linger and there are still many trees in bloom. If the weather is nice I may try a photo shoot tomorrow.
I'm definitely planning a grand baby photo shoot tomorrow. Cal got a cute photo of the young grandgirls today that looked so cute. We must get to visit them sometime soon.
So, lots of photos ahead. Since I'm not very adept with the iPad I'll not likely add any photos to this post tonight. Something I need to work on.Always so much to learn!
I like that though. Life long learner  is definitely a label I can live with.
Not much crafting this past week -just one scrapbook layout which I did post over on Flickr. I knew it needed work and got a lot of inspiration from a talk at Masterful Scrapbook Design. I love to layer but I don't always get it right. I learned a bit about shapes that I utilized to strengthen the design. Both examples are over at Flickr. Visual triangles and color repetition are good to keep I mind. I like learning and that's one of the things that makes me happy about scrapbooking. Not that it's the ideal for everyone. Some folks just like to follow another's design or go with just a couple of basic designs. As long a one has fun I think any approach is great. I do that with my art pieces, too. Have fun, see what works and if I'm in the mood really work on making the project "better". If you are a Scrapbooker, and sometimes want things "better" you should check out the classes offered at Get It Scrapped and Masterful Scrapbook Design.i have a lot of fun there. This is a unpaid ad for those sites, LOL! Really, if you are a Scrapbooker check it out.
Well, I did say i was tired; so, I ought to weapthis up. I promise not too many blog posts in the future without photos and I'll try for more than two in a month. I do promise two though, even at literally the 11th hour, LOL!

Blah not Blog?

 Yes, I'm still around. My husband suggested the title of the page when I complained that I wasn't getting any blog posting done.
You see, we took a trip to NYC. Now I'm recovering from that. I went to an American Medical Women's Association meeting that was fantastic! Great speakers and nicely paced.

Got there a day early because I do not do jet lag well and stayed a bit to take in some of the sites. We were there over St. Patrick's Day and staying at the Palace Hotel (facing the rear of St. Patrick's Cathedral). Since the parade goes by the front of the cathedral on 5th Ave, you know we went.

I was reluctant to miss much of the meeting so only stayed a bit. Cal watched a while, went for lunch and then returned to the parade. It goes on for about 6 hours and is watched by 2 million people. So many people celebrating Irish America, it's astonishingly wonderful.  Apparently, the largest parade in the world. It was just great! I am a parade-aholic. I even go sit and watch the Arden-Arcade Fulton Ave. Fourth of July parade. That is a short and pretty boring, uneventful, and sparsely attended parade but I watch it anyways. I keep hoping for more decorated bicycles and maybe a band and a float or two at the Fulton Ave. parade. Maybe this year. 
"How was NYC?", you may be asking. Fabulous. Taxis are so wonderful. I really have trouble walking and even with taxis I did too much walking, a reason I'm still recovering. Nonetheless, the taxis got us around and  museums have wheel chairs when you cannot walk more so it was OK. Restaurants, the theater and Harbor Cruises are sit down events with reasonable get up and move breaks, too. So, not impossible. We ate at Fig and Olive, Morsoand in little Italy at one of the neighborhood's oldest restaurants, Grotta Azzura.Breakfasts were often at Toasties by the hotel - though I went to Starbucks by the hotel side entrance for coffee. We caught bites at various spots like corner or museum cafes. I only had the conference food and one room service dessert at the hotel. It just looked too pricey!
Great hotel though and a perfect location. Did the city tour seeing all the highlights and went to the play Ann, a one woman show about Ann Richards at Lincoln Center and saw Jersey Boys, on another night, too. 

The Cooper-Hewitt is closed until next year which almost made me cry. Guess I'll have to go back! We did get to The Museum of Natural History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Museum of the Native American. Naturally, we visited the 9/11 Memorial.Of course there was a lot more.

 A fun special event for us was the Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens. I loved it and Cal found it interesting even if there were only a few citrus and bananas (he's mainly into edibles). The orchids were so varied and beautiful and the conservatory so lovely that I think anyone would have like the show.

Now I've got to scrapbook all of those memories, LOL! . Maybe not all, just a few. You know we have a LOT more photos
Great to be home. Love the gorgeous sping weather - it's COLD in NYC!

Evolution of a Page

 Hi, folks! Congratulations to Paula who should have received her access code from May by now. Hope you are enjoying the e-book.
So, I am taking a class at BPC about easy Grammar Free Journaling. Well, the journaling was easy; but, I did struggle a bit with the page construction. I am quite happy with the finished product. I'll walk you through my process.
First was the strategy of comparative lists - pretty easy. Next was finding papers.

Started thinking of radial symmetry and opened a "Little Black Dress Kit Club" kit. Papers - pretty easy. By now you all know that I like primary or near primary color schemes. Cal loves red; so, I picked the red and its co-ordinate from the "B" side, found the yellow-orange (gold) papers. I especially liked the gardening themed one. The tint of blue-green background paper with the growing plants also seemed very appropriate. I kept my color theory chart book close at hand to focus on the tints and shades.

Next were stash elements to build the page.

Then I started winnowing down my choices.

Next I started considering the page structure.

OK, got this far and put it aside.Next I printed the photos and really started to lay things out. I had tried an embellishment group in the lower left but that seemed too busy. I ettled for a splatter of red paint there and repeated the splatters at the bottom right and top left. Red paint splatters can look a little bloody but I think they work here. I added the strip across the middle and decided a little bit of twine worked here. You know i love fibers or ribbon on a page. The title "2" glitter thicker was a bit too blu of a teal so I added some Glimmer in green to more closely match the background. I was very careful in placing my elements to try to avoid trapped white space. There's a tiny stamp in the upper right between those faceted Glitz pieces that didn't really work but I added the small glass heart and it seemed good enough. I do love the little hearts I stamped on the wood veneer people. Wile there are just two embellishment areas the way I clustered the elements gives a nice visual triangle. You'll note my small photo as an embellishment attached with a paper clip. An element that is part of my style.

At this point it was clear the arrangement of the photos and papers was not working. I had tried centering the photos in their blocks earlier but that had not worked. I decided to put both photos on the left and slipped the right paper edge under the left one on top. This looked much better.

And, finally, the journaling lists that had started this whole process and the finished page. Yes, the edges of the papers, photos, journaling and some of the embellishments are inked.

I do like this, despite the time it took, and hope you enjoyed following along with my process. 

It's been a busy week, went to Canada last weekend to see Mom in the hospital and then there's always so much to do when one gets back home. I do have some photos of the new grandson and some of my Mom and Aunt to scrap so I know I'll continue to be busy!