Thursday, September 29, 2011

Little Boy's Superhero Sign

Do you have a son who loves superheroes, or at least the idea of them? I do! He said he wanted a superhero room, but there wasn't a particular superhero he wanted, it was more the idea, and the superhero colors, apparently. Needless to say, his room is progressing slowly.

So I decided to make him a sign for his room and next up is working on a cape and mask to hang in there too.

I love how it turned out, so I decided to share it with anyone who might be interested.

I had it printed as an 11"x14", had it mounted and lustre coated.


I have uploaded the jpeg to mediafire, a free file hosting site, so any and all are welcome to download it for free. Enjoy!

http://www.mediafire.com/?dpalpqrd6xc3kc3

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

52 Week Project - Week 32

*Just as a reminder, this is a personal project I am undertaking this year, in order to shoot more and share more. Each week of 2011 will have a corresponding favorite photograph.


This photograph was taken on the morning of our official moving day, August 13th, 2001, far too early in the morning!

We did not move far, in the grand scheme of things, but it signified a lot of change for our family. We had to leave behind the most wonderful school for our children, some of our best friends, and a comfortable way of life that we had become quite used to. The rhythms and patterns and routines that made up our family whilst we lived there, have changed significantly.

The change is not bad, but it is change and it takes time to transition as a family to a whole new way of life.

My little disclaimer. I have enjoyed finding quotes to go with each photograph for this project, but I always make sure to find out who the person is that I am quoting, if I do not already know them. I won't be quoting anybody who I find totally offensive or who I consider inappropriate. I can assure you I had no idea who Dave Mustaine was! But it did make me chuckle and the quote was completely relevant...even if his style of music is not quite my cup of tea! ;p

Monday, September 26, 2011

How to make a Camera Strap Cover

A few weeks ago, when I was exhausted from packing up a house as we prepared to move, my husband had to unexpectedly fly out of town for the weekend to attend a family funeral. There were 101 things that needed to get done, I was overwhelmed and I just needed a break. I realized I needed a creative outlet, a new little project. It was a good time to make myself a camera strap cover!


I was bored of my standard strap, and let's face it, black and yellow do not exactly coordinate nicely with the majority of outfits, not a high cuteness factor going on there! (I guess now would also be a good time to apologize for my lack of makeup or cute outfit...I was home alone with three kids, no husband, and no plan for leaving the house - thank you for your understanding!)

This was an easy to make item. It did not take long at all and could be kept as simple, or jazzed up as much as you would like. I have not attempted a tutorial before and in hindsight realize it would be better to take more photographs along the way, but you get the idea. Let me know if it all makes sense or if you have any questions.


I started out knowing that I wanted something kind of neutral for my background and went exploring my fabric stash. But I also wanted a pop of color to prevent it feeling too drab, so I bought a couple of spools of ribbon (at only $1 each) from Michaels.


Start by cutting two rectangles. Each should be 1" longer than the length of strap you want covered and 1" wider.

I'm not sure this next step is entirely necessary, but I had fusible interfacing on hand so I cut it to size and ironed it to my black and white fabric, which was just a simple cotton. I thought it would give it some reinforcement and help the finished cover keep it's shape.

Iron and hem the ends of both rectangles.


Place both rectangles, right side facing right side and stitch along the entire length, on just one side. Open and iron flat, as above.

These next few steps are completely optional, but I wanted to add color and texture, so I decided to add ruffles.

Cut ribbon to twice the length of your rectangles.


Use a gathering foot and stitch along the length of the entire ribbon. DO NOT back-stitch at the start or end, or you will not be able to gather. Remove the ribbon and holding one thread at the bottom, gently start pulling the ribbon away from you, pushing it back onto itself. It should start to gather up and you can push the gathering up and play with it to roughly even it out along the length of the ribbon.

Sew in place, down the center of your top fabric strip.


Repeat with second ribbon, if using. Also, in case you are curious, this is what a gathering foot looks like.

If you do not own one and have no interest in buying one (mine came with my machine) you could also use your longest stitch length and lower the tension of your thread (check your owner's manual) to do a gathering stitch.

Once again, fold your (now attached) two rectangles so that right side faces right side again, sew along the entire length, thus creating a long tube. The ruffles are on the inside.


Turn right side out. I used the eraser end of a pencil to help gently ease it through the entire length.


Slip onto your camera strap, re-attach strap to camera and look way cuter than you did before!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

52 Week Project - Week 31

*Just as a reminder, this is a personal project I am undertaking this year, in order to shoot more and share more. Each week of 2011 will have a corresponding favorite photograph.


My baby girl. She is a tough cookie. From very early on she would take the knocks and the bumps and the falls that would send other kids her age wailing for mommy, dust herself off and keep going. With two older siblings, she has always been convinced that she can, and should, do anything that they able to do too.

We moved about six weeks ago and she now has lots of new friends her age to play with, when her brother and sister go to school. She is surrounded by little boys and she plays as hard as they do; she can be a pirate and swing her sword and do everything that little boys do. She is not intimidated, or reticent in the slightest, she is just a little go-getter.

Yet, she still loves to be told how pretty she is. She loves to put on a lovely dress and twirl and dance. She comes to life in a different way and I love it! She is growing up so fast and changing by the day, becoming more confident and more beautiful. She is truly amazing.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

52 Week Project - Week 30



My kids LOVE their cousins. Of course they love their friends too, but it really is different with the bonds and familiarity of family. Add to that the fact that life is so busy and we do not get to see them nearly as often as we would like, which brings in an almost-novelty-effect.

They are as thick as thieves, especially the two older girls who are also both little daredevils and risk-takers. The teenage years will be an interesting time for both our households, I sense.

The picture above was taken after some serious make-up experimentation (as only a five and six year old can do) necessitated some hardcore cleaning, they most certainly could not leave the house looking like this.They were happy little campers though!

God made us cousins because he knew our moms couldn't handle us as sisters! - Anonymous. 
This might be the more fitting quote.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

52 Week Project - Week 29

*Just as a reminder, this is a personal project I am undertaking this year, in order to shoot more and share more. Each week of 2011 will have a corresponding favorite photograph.

I have a lot of catching up to do in terms of posting from my 52 week project. I cannot believe that we are already in week 37, this year is speeding by! So without wasting any more time, here is the picture from week 29.

This was her first day of school. Officially a kindergartener! She was excited and ready to go. She felt confident and comfortable. She had spent the past two years watching her older brother at this school, in the very same class, with the very same teacher. As a K/1 class, she was even familiar with half of her classmates.

For me it was, and is, so bitter sweet; my baby girl growing up and leaving home (well not quite yet, but almost). I love the quote I found, which describes raising children from my perspective, so perfectly. We have to let go, to let them grow up and become the people they are, in their own right. Yet at the same time we keep holding on, keep loving, keep being there for them and encouraging them to their full potential. What an honor and a challenge.

Love that little girl and so incredibly proud of her!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Wedding - Ben and Hannah's Sneak Peek {Bay Area Wedding Photographer}


Theirs is no ordinary love story...it is the stuff that movies are made of. She was born in England, to American parents; he is Scottish, but grew up in Holland. They did not meet in any of those countries however, they met in Africa!

She was a volunteer nurse and he was a teacher, on the Africa Mercy Ship. Their first kiss was on Deck 7 (the outdoor deck) very late one night, and their first date was at a Thai restaurant in Benin. He proposed last year in San Francisco at the Top of the Mark, we took engagement photos a few days later...then he had to leave.

Wedding preparations went ahead, in faith. It must have seemed like an eternity, and thank goodness for modern technology and the many hours of phone calls. The weeks leading up to the wedding they were still anxiously awaiting his INS interview and for him to be granted his fiance visa.

But this was a love that was meant to be, and in the end it all came together for a glorious occasion; a beautiful bride, a day full of joy and laughter and tears, as speeches touched our hearts. They gave the glory to God as they were surrounded by friends and family from near...and very far. All the waiting was finally over.

They are now Mr. and Mrs. Calvert! Thank you for letting me document your special day...enjoy your sneak peek of a few highlights.

Fellow photographer, David Nelson, took photos of the guys as they got ready.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Excuses, excuses...

To those of you who have been checking in...and finding nothing new, I am so sorry! The last month or so has been crazy busy as we prepared for a move, shot a wedding, moved...the kids started a new school, the hubby is now back in school, and we are still trying to unpack.

Keep checking back, I have an awesome sneak peek from the wedding to share (any day now), as well as many weeks of photos from my 52-week project.