Easy Photography Backdrops

We had a Snowball Dance recently at school and I was the photo booth photographer! It was a blast. I had ideas for the backdrop and C [above with the white hat] came through! She made this simple but gorgeously effective backdrop from ribbons that she bought from Michael's. She tied ribbon to dowels and we hung them from the ceiling. I loved it. I made up the moustache on a stick from my templates from the Halloween blog hop. So fun. C and her family were so awesome to photograph too! Thanks, C, for the great backdrop and frame. Big A had to get in on the action too! 

For Valentine's Day, I made fans and taped them to my background for a fun effect.

It is really quite simple, inexpensive and easy to make simple backdrops. Give it a try and have some fun!

xo, L

Awesome, Amazing, Wonderful, and Fabulous

Congratulations to all of the winners! Wasn't it a fun blog hop? Thanks for hopping along. What should we celebrate at the next designer blog hop? Spring? Summer? Christmas again?

This week, a lot of people inspired me. I don't want to sound sappy but it all warmed my heart and inspired me to do better and to live and work better. As a designer, reading the hundreds of fantastic comments was a great boost. Thank you for that. Others inspired me by their passion, strength and generosity.

McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India

Copyright 2010 Umesh Bhatt

My friend, Umesh, came back from a trip to India. It was an awesome trip. He took a trip to take photographs of the Himalayas. Wow. I'm not sure his latest photos from the Himalayas are up yet but do check out his people gallery. Awesome. I'm sure that he'll update more on his website soon. Afterall, he just got back! I admire his passion for photography and I always enjoy seeing his perspective in the things that he photographs.  He also brought back this lovely little quilt that was made in Dharamshala, a city in northern India. McLeod Ganj, pictured above, is a village within the municipality of Dharamshala and is the home of the Dalai Lama and the exiled Tibetan government.  Thanks, Umesh! For those of you who missed it, his wife Roopa had her Dad come to the US with this quilt for me two years ago. Lovely.

On to a bit of sad news. My friend Justine, owner of Angelfirestudios, is going through a tough time. Her husband was fixing a car and it fell on top of him. She's been at his bedside for a week and a half now and she's had amazing help from friends to keep the store going. She has an inspiring store and her enthusiasm is contagious. She's one creative entrepreneur, wife and mom. Her strength in this time of difficulty has been amazing.

Another friend summed it up best on Ravelry:

"Many of you may not know, but Justine’s beloved husband Ted has been in a terrible accident.All her time is now being spent at his bedside in an ICU. We all love knitting and we all love Justine. Here is how we can help:

“One Project Please”

The purchase of just one project from Angel Fire Studios can put food on her table and buy diapers for her son. Another purchase could buy the gas to get her back and forth from the hospital.

As a customer and friend of Angel Fire Studios and Justine I am hoping that along with your thoughts and prayers for her and her family each of you might consider One Project …Please. Just drop by her store or log onto the online store, www.angelfirestudios.com"

The ladies at the store, including designer, Kristen Kapur of Through The Loops, are planning on releasing an e-book where all proceeds will go to benefit Justine and her young family.

Also, my wonderful friend, Amy Butler, is so fabulous. Did I say fabulous? She didn't hesitate to help out when I asked her last week. She is donating some fantastic items that will be used at a future fundraising event at the store. Thank you, Amy!! Love you!

Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart.

xo, L

New Talent In The House

[All photographs, copyright 2009 by Little A.]

We were at a tae kwon do tournament this Friday and Little A wanted to use the video camera.  He's always loved taking photos but he's had limited time with my camera because he puts his little fingers on the lens. Reno let him have a go at it. Wow, his video coverage was terrific. [Plus, Big A won one second place ribbon and two third place medals. Little A got a spirit medal in his Pee Wee Division. Awesome! Congrats!]

Today I went to get my haircut. I thought that the hair looked good so I wanted Reno to snap a couple of photos that I could use on my blog or new website. Let's hope that there isn't some theory about the correlation between how one perceives you and how he takes your photo. If there is, then we're in big trouble. There will never be a public display of his said photos.

Little A wanted to give it a go. I must say that they're not bad at all. Some are a bit fuzzy because he doesn't have full control.  I did crop them and applied the Seventies Action courtesy of Pioneer Woman and that was it.

Funky, edgy and cute. What a great job and he's only five. xo, L

Distractions

As I was sitting at my desk trying hard not to think about the cold and all of the work that I have ahead of me in the next week, I started playing with Picnik.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the site, it is a photo-editing website where you load up your photos and have some fun [for free!]. Well, you can buy into the premium package but the free one is just as fun.  There's lots to do. There are greeting cards and collages like the one above and you can add text and stickers to your photos.  Try the Polaroid frame like I did below. [How sad that Polaroid film is no longer being made. However, some enthusiasts are trying to make new film fit for the old cameras. I digress. Read about it here.]

A simple drop shadow frame is cool enough.
Wait a minute, what does this have to do with quilting/sewing? Pick any or all answers below.

a) Not a lot.

b) I did buy 7 Polaroid instant cameras from a lady who was having a garage sale as I was driving back from a quilt shop in Pennsylvania a few years ago.

c) You can print these cool pics onto photo transfer fabric paper and make wee gifts for Valentine's or any other special occasion.