Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

With the changing of the seasons my life is entering into a new chapter in this book called "Life". Unfortunately, I'm not the author - matter of fact - it's being ghost written by an author I did not choose.

On September 9, 2009 I was given my "60-Day Lay Off" Notice. I'd like to say that I didn't see it coming but I did - it didn't make it any easier to accept the news but I wasn't surprised (upset, yes.) I've had time to digest the news and have decided that "being cast out in a sea of uncertainty" is not the end of the world. I'll be able to get unemployment and will be able to make my mortgage and pay my bills , my husband has his job and he didn't remove me from his insurance program, I've got a 6 weeks of vacation pay and, most importantly, I've got options. To be honest, it will be nice to have some time to think about where I want to go and what I want to do with my life.

So...if I don't have a job before my the last day of my job (very unlikely) I'll start looking for a job to tide me over until a) I get a full-time position or b) all of a sudden there's a huge demand for my jewelry and photography and I don't have to return to full-time work and will be able to work part-time at Starbucks. Option "A" is more likely, but it doesn't hurt to have a dream - which would be option "B".

Hopefully, this time next month, I'll will have been able to maintain my positive out-look on life. As I like to tell people "Where other's see adversity, I see opportunity."

Chamomile

Chamomile, originally uploaded by Martha {Dancing Monkey Jewelry}.

Sometimes I get caught up in capturing the perfect image and will reject every photograph that I have taken during a particular outing. Even during a successful photo outing I'd say only about 25% of my photographs turn out. This would be a real problem if I were shooting with film as the cost would be prohibitive with the cost of developing. With digital photography there a certain freedom knowing you can take as many photos as you want and it doesn't cost you thing to "develop" them. I love that.

Sometimes though, I embrace "The Blur" and am taken with a particular image such as this one. I don't know what I was trying to accomplish when I took this photograph - but I like the results.

Vacation Myth #1: They're relaxing

What do you do when everything seems to be going wrong for you? Me? Well, I can't seem to hold back and next thing you know I'm calling my family, texting my friends, posting on my social network sites and writing about it in my blog. For some reason it's very therapeutic for me - let's me work out my angst and get words of encouragement from those who know and love me. The problems don't go away but it's nice to know that other's have similar experiences and have come through relatively unscathed.

I've been on vacation for the last week. We have family visiting from England - Amar's sister and her family. For the most part it's been quite nice getting to spend time with them. Throw in a couple of illnesses, a cranky old dog (as seen on the left) who isn't tolerating small children and the transmission going out in my car in the middle of an outing and I'm telling you I'm seriously considering not taking a vacation for a very long time.

What's even more stressful is that I've got one week left of vacation and I don't think I'll be able to survive week two if it is like week one.What are my plans? Well...I'll be relying on public transit to get to work and home for the new few weeks. Transmissions repairs are quite expensive my web research has told me - so there will be a fair amount of scrimping and saving. And then I'll be trying to generate some sales in my on-line shops (hint, hint). All in all, this hasn't been a banner year for me (along with a lot of other people) so I'll be happy when 2010 rolls around - I just want to be done with 2009.

So...if you want to help out a fellow crafts person/photographer/blogger and make a purchase from one of my shops (or even leave some words of encouragement on my blog) I'd be most appreciative. Right now I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a swamp and I've lost my path to land in front of me and there are alligators snapping behind me. Not the best position to be in but at least I'm still standing.

What to do with all those photos??

I have so many photos in my collection - it's hard to display them all. That's why I love Animoto videos - you choose the photos and the music and Animoto does the rest. Take a look at my latest video.

Walking Warriors - Breast Cancer 3 Day Fundraiser

Alright, so the sales at yesterday's craft fair weren't all that robust. Matter of fact, I only 10% of the sales I wanted to make for the day. So, I've decided that I'm going to try and raise more money for this very worthy cause.

I am hosting a fundraiser for a very worthy cause: 2009 Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk - Walking Warriors team. From now until September 10th I will be donating 10% of all my sales to the Walking Warriors to help them reach their goal $13,800. Please help me by purchasing items from my shop Dragonfly Photography. Your name will be included on the list of donors and you will have the satisfaction of helping a good cause.Please visit their web-site for information on the 2009 Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk - Walking Warriors team.

I'll Never Learn...

I took yesterday and today off from work. So far, I haven't accomplished much. Today I'm spending the bulk of the day getting all my stuff ready to go for the show tomorrow - at least that will give me a sense of accomplishment. In my defense, I have lots of stock so if inspiration doesn't come along I'll be fine...I think.

On a positive note I got this message from one of my new contacts from jpgmag.com:

From: Craig COYLE
Subject: CCP-IA

A simply magnificent set and almost flawless one at that , really enjoyed looking through your works and I can clearly see you have an eye for the lens other than a certain bikie image your overall ability and drive seem to shine through your camera.Thanks for allowing me to view your works

Craig Coyle

That was pretty cool, eh? The "certain bikie" image he was referring to is this one:

At least, I think it is - I didn't ask. I chose to focus on the positive in his message and it was definitely a positive message.

Admittedly, it's not my best but it's a favorite of mine. I like Harley's and I like this one - "Old Skool" - and it was the first photograph I took of a person I did not know.

So, now I've got to get back to work. Tomorrow morning will come awfully fast and I'm never as prepared as I should be. This will be the first show that I sell my photographs - the jewelry market is so saturated it helps to have something more to offer. What's left to do on my list:

1. Polish tarnished jewelry.
2. Box up supplies: credit slips, receipts, earring cards and business cards.
3. "De-Fuzzz" velvet displays.
4. Wash table clothes.
5. Pack up photographs and jewelry.
6. I'm contemplating taking baked goods to offer to all who stop by my table. It's a little ploy I use - it encourages loitering and loitering is a good thing at a show.

There's more to do but this will get me started and keep me out of trouble. Off I go.

Talk later!

On Saturday, I'll be participating in my first craft fair of the year put on by a good friend of mine, Claudia Lindsey. I'll mostly be selling my jewelry but will take along a few photographs and my greeting cards to sell. This is a great group and I participated in their craft fair last year and I can honestly say that I had a lot of fun hanging out with Walking Warriors and the other crafters. I'm excited to be participating again. My biggest hope is that the turn out will be good and people will spend lots of money as they will be supporting good cause.

Your Invited to:

~A Craft Fair to benefit~

Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Walking Warriors Breast Cancer 3 Day Team

Saturday, July 18, 2009
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
6016 N Highlands Parkway
Tacoma, WA 98406

This year the event will be sponsored by the Waverly Inn. We would love to see our family and friends stop by throughout the day. There will be wonderfully handcrafted items for sale in the support of the fight against breast cancer, because everyone deserves a liftetime!

Thanks, Claudia & Tom Lindsey

Click here to visit my personal page.If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/SeattleEvent2009?px=1323269&pg=personal&fr_id=1300&et=tsApuQSkV0DH8KJLlUw9Mw..&s_tafId=85002

Click here to view the team page for Walking WarriorsIf the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/SeattleEvent2009?team_id=80250&pg=team&fr_id=1300&et=bQ_3_wVIIxlVkNBb3yAejg..&s_tafId=85002

For more information about the Breast Cancer 3-Day, Susan G. Komen for the Cure or the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund, visit http://www.the3day.org/ or call 800.996.3DAY.

© 2009 Breast Cancer 3-Day. 205 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2640, Chicago IL 60601

Dragonfly Photography on Trunkt - Beautiful Giftware Created By Amazing Artisans

Dragonfly Photography on Trunkt - Beautiful Giftware Created By Amazing Artisans

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Seeing the World Through My Eyes

Slide Show of the Week - May 18, 2009

Cherry Blossoms

You can always tell when it's spring time in the Pacific Northwest - the cherry trees start blooming! With our fickle weather it's not always easy to tell - this is supposed a temperate, maritime climate but it snowed last week.

Yesterday was a typical day around here - it rained off an on until the later afternoon. In between the rainstorms the sun would come out, the waterdrops were glistening on the leaves of the plants, the sky would turn blue and there were big fluffy white clouds floating about - it was pretty while it lasted. Luckily, my timing was right and I was able to capture the lovely cherry blossoms on the tree in my garden. I especially like this photograph turned out. I was focusing on the blossom in the center of the photograph - hoping for some interesting use of depth of focus and like how the out of focus blossoms frame the photograph.

I'm thinking of offering this photograph for sale in my Etsy and 1000markets shops. What do you think? Is this photograph a hit or a miss?

On The Front Page!!!

See that photograph of the orange dog over to your right? That's my dog, Bruce. A couple of days ago I submitted that photo to my local newspaper, the Tacoma News Tribune, and "lo and behold" it made it to the front page of the on-line version !!! Out of all the readers photographs that were submitted they chose mine. It's in the "Gallery For Photos That Make You Smile" and the "Gallery For Your Favorite Dog". Do I stand to gain from having my photograph in the newspaper? Nope, I'm not credited. Do I still think it's cool? Yep, because it means that someone else liked my photograph aside from me. I've decided to look for the good where ever and when ever I can. It feels good when I'm successful.

5000 Views and Counting!!!!

A) Is it odd to be excited about getting 5000 photo views on your Flickr account? B) Is it even stranger to download a screen shot of your Flickr page showing the 5000 views? Well, I hope not because A) I am and B) I did!!!

Now if I couldn't only get more of my photos in Explore ( and/or make some sales on Etsy or 1000markets I'd be a happy woman.

Explore'd On Flickr

1. Urban Ruins - V2, 2. Weeds II, 3. Before the unfurling..., 4. Untitled, 5. Cherry Blossoms, 6. Cherry Blossoms - University of Washington, 7. Cherry Blossoms II - University of Washington, 8. Bridge of Glass - Museum of Glass

Winter's Cat Tails

Finally, a day with blue skies and fluffy white clouds!!! The Pacific Northwest has a well deserved reputation for rain and grey gloomy days - especially in the winter. For the most part, I don't mind our winters. But this one has been pretty cold, wet and miserable. I'm ready for spring flowers and summer sun.

Today I took advantage of the sunshine and went on a little photo safari. Most of my images weren't that great and that was a little disappointing. However, there was that one image that exceeded my expectations - it's right there, on the left. I think this is one of my new favorites. Of course, it didn't come straight out of the camera looking like this - a little photo manipulation was needed.

Wise Words...

I'm tired of the gloom and doom that I've been getting from the media - it's wearing on me and my spirit. I'm going to do what I can do to lift my spirits and find the inspiration to help me create the life I want to live. I'll start with this quote from Teddy Roosevelt:

"The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasm, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worth cause; who, at the best, know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls that know neither victory nor defeat."

I don't want to be one of those "cold and timid souls". This weekend I shall go out and take photographs and I will enjoy my time with my beloved woods, with my loyal canine companion (my husband will enjoy the comfort and warmth of having the bed all to himself).

Have a great weekend and keep up the good fight.

Hello.

Just thought I'd check in as it's been a while since I've posted anything. Life around the studio is pretty much at a stand still. I haven't taken any new photographs (too rainy and gray on the weekends - too dark when I get home from work). I'm really looking forward to spring.

I've opened a new shop on 1000markets and I've got my shop on Etsy - they've been pretty quiet (read: no sales - none whatsoever!). I've joined several networking groups and uploaded a lot of my photographs to their sites - received some constructive criticism and lots of great comments. I'm hoping to network with other photographers and polish my skills.

However, it's not all bleak and a couple of really nice things have happened to me. The first one being that Dragonfly Photography was accepted by Trunkt and I now have a portfolio with them (please check it out - I'm craving attention - more so than a sale right now). AND one of my photographs has been featured in a Treasury on Etsy. See, right below there's a screen capture of the Treasury. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Megzytred of Tredlight Photographs chose my lovely Poppy Bottoms photograph. I love her shop - and the concept she came up with to sell her photography. You'll have to check it out as it's "a whole different approach to art photography!".

And how could I forget to mention - my husband bought me a new camera for Christmas. I'm now the proud owner of a Nikon D40 - I love it! It's taken some getting used to - it's a little more complicated. I loved my point and shoot camera - a Fuji FinePix A900 - an amazing little jewel of a camera (and I still use her).

So, all in all, life isn't bad. It's pretty good - I've got so many nice things happening in my life and, most importantly, I'm gainfully employed, have lovely home (and reasonable mortgage), a supportive husband and good friends and pretty darn nice family. I'm blessed and feeling selfish because I want to make a sale or two.

All Set Up and Ready to Go!!!

Dragonfly Photography has, hopefully, established a presence on 1000markets. Last night I added some lovely photographs to shop (a fairly painless process). Created my banner. Sent my request to join the Trunkt Market (they accepted me). Now I'm just sitting here watiting for 1000markets to approve me.

I'm not very good at waiting but I have improved since I've started selling on-line. Matter of fact, it's becoming a skill that has served me well in other aspects of my life.

Still...I'd rather be doing something else other than wait. Like selling.

PS: As of 12:35pm my shop was approved

Pretty Pictures - Moments in Time Caught in a Photograph

Slide Show of the Week - January 28, 2009

My Father's Hands...

People's hands tell a story about what kind of lives they've lived. Are they smooth and unblemished like the hands of a banker? Or are the calloused and ragged looking like the hands of laborer?

For me, when I look at my father's hands, the story they tell me is that he's a tinkerer, a craftsman, builder of boats and go-karts for his children.

I can tell when he is in deep thought when he twiddles his thumbs - it helps with the thinking process. I also know when he's fully relaxed and content - he sits with his hands clasp and out front. I know he's fully present in the moment and ready to have one of those long meandering conversations that we like to have.

It drives me crazy when he picks and scratches at the skin graft that was the result of skin cancer. I'm always yelling at him "Quit Picking!!" It stops him for a nano second and then he's back to picking and scratching. I'll wait a few minutes before I tell him to "Stop Picking". Yes, I'm bossy but he's stubborn.

We both have the same sausage shaped fingers.

Paris

The Face Behind the Photographs...

This is me - it's a self portrait and I quite like it (despite the "Bad Hair Day"). My usual complaint is that I look very dour and without humor in any of my photographs. It might have something to do with the fact that I don't like having my photograph taken. So, now you have a face to put with the photographs.

The story behind the photograph:

My husband got me a new camera for Christmas - a Nikon D40 - my first digital SLR. Before I had been using a wonderful point and shoot camera - FujiFilm A900. Having had not so many opportunities to use my camera and because I'm a world class slacker, instead of cleaning the kitchen, cooking dinner, or doing some paperwork one night I decided to have some fun with the new camera. So, my priorities were not exactly in order - but I had fun.