26 June 2015

Life of Art SitRep #281 Begrudging Inspiration

Family visitors have been taking up my time this week. I begrudged a bit being pulled from my work. However, it's good to be driven outside to different stimuli, particularly when it includes a cool contemporary art museum on one day and a sculpture park on another. I created a lot of photographs this week and a few short video clips.

I still need to upload them all, a process a bit more involved with my current computer issues. If my Mac boots up OK, I'll endeavor to do that after I finish here.

Even with the disruption this week, I managed to get a fair amount done.

Note to self: Get out more.

Finished adding select designs and photographs to the new iPhone 6 battery cases:

Rocklawn Arts blogged New iPhone 6 Battery Cases now at Rocklawn Arts!

Created a new collection: Stylish iPhone 6 Wallet Cases:

Created vertical version of Black Stripes and Chevrons fabric:

Revised descriptions for Blue Abstract products.

Read/viewed California: With Classic California Writings by Ansel Adams.

How was your week?


Two years ago on TTaT: Oh, Supreme Court

22 June 2015

84, Charing Cross Road

84, Charing Cross Road49. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Fast, enjoyable read. I've always been a sucker for reading letters, of which this book is a collection.

I'd seen the movie years ago and enjoyed it. Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins star. It's an improbable film based on this book of letters about books that spans 20 years.

The book alone is quite entertaining. Highly recommended for anyone who loves actual physical copies of books.


3 years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #124 Powers of Two

20 June 2015

California: With Classic California Writings

California: With Classic California WritingsCalifornia: With Classic California Writings by Ansel Adams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Splendid collection of Ansel Adams' photographs of California. I enjoyed nearly all of the "classic California writings" as well, short essays, poems, letters, folk tales.

Tip: Keep an eye out for annual book sales at museum shops when they are clearing out older stock at heavy discounts. Choose carefully though since I think these tend to be "up to" sales, as in up to 70% off where many books may have lesser discounts. A good way to score notoriously expensive art books though.


A year ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #228 Crazy-making

19 June 2015

Life of Art SitRep #280 iPhone 6 Battery Cases

Segments of Completion this week. Headway achieved by way of completing lingering tasks, huzzah! Enough so I feel like I'm looking ahead again rather than mired down.

Finished individually creating the rest of the Black Equal Sign Geometric Pattern on White products:
Stylish Black Geometric Pattern on White Accent Pillow
Stylish Black Geometric Pattern on White Accent Pillow by RocklawnArts
Find more Black and white Accent Pillows at Zazzle

Shot some photographs of flowers.

Started adding my designs to new iPhone 6 battery cases which add 13 extra hours of talk time to your iPhone 6:
Black and White Chevrons iPhone 6 Case
Black and White Chevrons iPhone 6 Case by RocklawnArts
Browse for another iPhone 6 Case at Zazzle
Abstract Blue Polygons iPhone 6 Case
Abstract Blue Polygons iPhone 6 Case by RocklawnArts
Shop for Blue Casemate Cases online at Zazzle.com

Finished adding my designs to Accent Pillows:
Red and White Zigzag Accent Pillow
Red and White Zigzag Accent Pillow by RocklawnArts
Check out Home decor Accent Pillows online at zazzle

Finished creating White Equal Sign Geometric Pattern on Black products:

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Black Equal Sign Geometric Pattern on White, New Accent Pillows now available at Rocklawn Arts!, and New White Equal Sign Geometric Pattern on Black design.

Revised tags/descriptions for my gingham pattern products.

How was your week?


EIGHT years ago on TTaT: The Butcher Conspiracy

13 June 2015

Birds of Prey, Vol. 1: End Run

Birds of Prey, Vol. 1: End Run46. Birds of Prey, Vol. 1: End Run by Gail Simone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wow, this story comes out charging and doesn't let up.

It's volume 1 but there's back story that ties all the way back to a previous run of Birds of Prey. Those volumes are well worth reading and give End Run a lot more emotional heft. Start with Birds of Prey Vol. 3: Of Like Minds also written by Gail Simone.

So great to have our main trio back (Oracle, Black Canary, The Huntress) with Simone writing.



A year ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #227 Rock it out!

12 June 2015

Life of Art SitRep #279

This week, I...

Shot some photographs of a bearded iris. Haven't uploaded them yet so I'm not sure how many exactly.

Was one click away from finishing last set of Black Equal Sign Geometric Pattern on White products when there was a glitch that wouldn't let them publish. They were saved but I have to add them one at a time now so it's more time consuming. Making good headway though.

Created some more Accent Pillows:
Black and White Zigzag Accent Pillow
Black and White Zigzag Accent Pillow by RocklawnArts
Check out Home decor Accent Pillows online at zazzle
Purple and White Meander Accent Pillow
Purple and White Meander Accent Pillow by RocklawnArts
Check out other Home decor Accent Pillows at zazzle.com

Made monthly backups. A bit later than usual but it's become more involved with PC to Mac transfers.

When was the lasts time you backed up your computer?


4 years ago on TTaT: Poppy profile

09 June 2015

44. Libraries

Libraries44. Libraries by Candida Höfer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The intro essay is a bit strange and I would've culled some photos to make the collection tighter thematically, but overall it's a wonderful group of photographs of spectacular libraries.

They really knew how to build them back in the day in Europe and South America. I'd love to visit a number of these.

ETA: Having reviewed all the photos I bookmarked (14 libraries), I've narrowed them down to the top two libraries I'd most like to see in person: Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland (p. 35); and Narodni knihovna in Prague, Czech Republic (p.153-5). Runners up include BNF (Bibliotheque nationale de France) Site Richelieu-Louvois in Paris, France (p.195-7); and Biblioteca Menendez Pelayo in Santander, Spain (p. 243).


Two years ago on TTaT: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

08 June 2015

Manners FTW

Last week I bought some new tires. I got paranoid after reading in a number of places that you should change your tires after 10 years even if they don't show wear. Some tire manufacturers specify 6 years. My tires were over 12 years old.

Tip: you can see when your tires were manufactured by looking at the sidewall and reading the string of numbers after DOT. I think of it as Date Of Tire. The last four digits in that string of numbers are what you're looking for. The first two numbers are the week and the second two are the year.

Finding where to get tires was a bit of a saga and I think I couldn't gotten a better deal, so after they were installed (another saga) I was ready to be done. But when I looked at the invoice it read in red, "WARNING: Lug nuts/bolts must be checked and retorqued immediately after the first 25 miles of use."

Sigh.

I called to make sure they weren't going to charge me more (they weren't) and to see if they were busy today. "It'll take two seconds. Come any time," he said.

When I walked in, there was a good looking guy I hadn't seen before behind the counter. Longish short black hair, lean, maybe 30, sleeves rolled up, a tattoo on his forearm peeking out. He looked more like a mechanic than the heavyset older guy I dealt with last week.

"How can I help you?"

"I bought tires last week and had them installed, and the receipt said I should get the lug nuts...," I lifted the invoice to find the right phrase.

"You need your lug nuts retorqued."

"Yes."

"I'll be back in a minute," he said. He slipped out the side door to the car bays.

I waited at the counter not sure if he'd need my keys or my receipt.

He opened the front door behind me holding a long tool and said, "Which one's yours, Miss?"

Damn, that's kinda hot. I've never been one of those women horrified to be called "ma'am." I just view it as respectful. Which is how it struck me when Kyle called me "Miss" despite my old cargo pants and untucked long sleeve t-shirt.

Respect is hot.

"Uh, the Corolla," I answered, pointing behind him.

For future reference, getting your lug nuts/bolts checked and retorqued merely involves pulling your hubcaps off and cranking your lug nuts tighter. The tool he used was long to make a good lever and had ratcheting action. I'll probably never be able to get them off and hopefully won't ever need to.


Two years ago on TTaT: Change will be thrust upon me soon enough

06 June 2015

Move Your DNA

Move Your DNA43. Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I read a brief excerpt from this book which had me worried it was going to be a very technical read but was pleasantly surprised by its conversational tone. Very readable. The more detailed bits are either in sidebars or are woven nicely into the text.

This book had some missing pieces for me regarding positioning and outlook when it comes to mobility.

Exercise is only a very small part of movement; it's what you're doing all the time you need to keep in mind.

That said, the book does contain exercises to help get your body back to its natural state (i.e. not sitting most of the day for one). I like the calf stretch on page 97. I'll be trying out more of them while incorporating more movement throughout the day.

Highly recommended.


A year ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #226 Waylaid but persevering

05 June 2015

Life of Art SitRep #278 Lots of Bits

Finished or made headway on lots of bits and pieces this week. Little unwieldy keeping track of various states of progress on different tracks though. Something to work on next week.

Finished creating Black Stripes And Chevrons With Monogram On White products for my shop:

Added my images to more Accent Pillows:
Abstract Green Water Accent Pillow
Abstract Green Water Accent Pillow by RocklawnArts
Look at Home decor Accent Pillows online at Zazzle.com
On The Golden Gate Bridge Accent Pillow
On The Golden Gate Bridge Accent Pillow by RocklawnArts
Check out Home decor Accent Pillows online at zazzle

Made Cool Geometric Samsung Galaxy S6 Cases collection:

Added some products with new designs Black Equal Sign Geometric Pattern on White and White Equal Sign Geometric Pattern on Black:

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Black Stripes And Chevrons With Monogram On White pattern.

How was your week?


5 years ago on TTaT: Rockin' the single life