Life of Art SitRep #225 Creation

I created my first new design in a while, minimal and sleek Faded White Stripe on Black.

In so doing, I was inspired to create a new series. I just uploaded the first one tonight, so it'll take a day or two before it turns up in my shop, Rocklawn Arts. I'll be sure to include it in next week's LoA post, but to see it sooner follow me on Twitter at @RocklawnArts.

In the meantime, here are some of the latest additions to my shop:

Faded White Stripe on Black Cover For iPhone 5 by RocklawnArts
Check out Black Graft Case online at zazzle

Faded White Stripe on Black Galaxy S5 Cover by RocklawnArts
Browse Black Casemate Cases online at Zazzle.com

Faded White Stripe on Black iPad Mini Sleeves by RocklawnArts
Look at sleeves for the iPad Mini online at Zazzle

Faded White Stripe on Black Hanging Lamps by RocklawnArts
Find another lamp online at zazzle.com

Faded White Stripe on Black Bicycle Playing Cards by RocklawnArts
View additional Playing Card Decks online at zazzle.com

Faded White Stripe on Black Clipboard by RocklawnArts
Look at another clipboard at Zazzle

Updated links, LOA files.

How was your week?


A year ago on TTaT: Fractional Storytelling #15

Veronica Mars: The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line

34. The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Spoiler Free Review:

This mystery picks up after the events in the Veronica Mars movie, so it's best to watch that first. Fans of the TV series will more deeply appreciate the back stories and character references in the book, but you could read it as someone new to Veronica Mars. I'd highly recommend seeing the TV series and movie first though.

The story unfolds in an ever hastening pace. I read the last 100+ pages in one sitting. Could not put it down.

Thumbs up! Always a pleasure to experience more of Veronica Mars' world in whatever form it takes.

And Rob Thomas, as one of your 91,585 Kickstarter backers, thank you for the dedication. It made me laugh. Long live Veronica Mars!


A year ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #172 The Reception

Life of Art SitRep #224 Put a Ring on it!

This week, I felt a bit more on my game.

Shot 17 photographs.

Added my photographs and designs to new sterling silver plated Rings in my shop:

Western Auto Half Cylinder Building Ring by RocklawnArts
Browse more Sterling silver plated Ring at Zazzle

Green and White Gingham Pattern Photo Rings by RocklawnArts
See other Sterling silver plated Ring

Black and White Diamond Pattern Photo Rings by RocklawnArts
View more Photo Rings at zazzle.com

Green Water Rings by RocklawnArts
Browse more Sterling silver plated Ring at Zazzle

Blue and White Chevrons Photo Ring by RocklawnArts
Look at other Sterling silver plated Ring at zazzle.com

Updated LOA and links files.

Watched Creative Wow: Infrared Photography and Creative Wow: Panorama Photography with Jack Davis.

Also watched segment 2 of day 1 and segment 2 of day 2 of The Lighting Challenge: Natural vs. Studio with Sue Bryce and Felix Kunze also on Creative Live.

How was your week?


A year ago on TTaT: Fractional Storytelling #9

But Enough About Me: A Jersey Girl's Unlikely Adventures Among the Absurdly Famous

33. But Enough About Me: A Jersey Girl's Unlikely Adventures Among the Absurdly Famous by Jancee Dunn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A very funny, entertaining read with stories from the author's life interwoven with celebrity tales.

If you want to interview famous people for a living, you should read this book. Dunn incorporates lots of hilarious yet practical tips for keeping a celeb's attention, when to ask the the tough questions, how and how not to break the ice, etc.

With 15 years of reporting for Rolling Stone under her belt, she's accumulated a lot of great stories.

Her family stories are just as engaging though as they take you along for the ride from Jersey to Rolling Stone to time as an MTV VJ and beyond.

Thumbs up!


A year ago on TTaT: Fractional Storytelling #5

Life of Art SitRep #223 Slow ride

Has anyone else been grogged this week? The weather changes coupled with allergies and sinuses have been knocking me out.

In more conscious states, I renamed, tagged, added metadata to photographs from 18 rolls of scanned film. In one case when I'd only noted the year and month of a shoot over a decade ago, I was able to come up with the exact date! I love the sleuthing that the internet makes possible. (In this case, the key was knowing that I'd gone to the Huntington on their free day of the month.)

Calibrated my monitor.

Changed flowers folder cover photo from dianthus to epimedium photograph.

Watched Creative Wow: Shape the Why and How with Jack Davis on creative LIVE.

How was your week?


A year ago on TTaT: Fractional Storytelling #4

Life of Art SitRep #222 Nice set of two's

Here we go.

This week, I shot 21 photographs and renamed and tagged 6 rolls of scans from, good grief, over twenty years ago. Mixing the old and the new.

Also finally finished adding the rest of my appropriate photographs to the new Reusable Grocery Bags:

On The Golden Gate Bridge Grocery Bags by RocklawnArts
Shop for more reusable grocery bags at zazzle.com

Field of Basalt Market Totes by RocklawnArts
See market totes online at zazzle.com

Double Arch Grocery Bag by RocklawnArts
Find other Eco friendly Reusable Grocery Bag at zazzle.com

Bokeh in Spring Grocery Bag by RocklawnArts
Find market totes online at zazzle.com

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Reusable Grocery Bags at Rocklawn Arts!

Read Popular Photography April 2014 issue.

How was your week?


Two years ago on TTaT: Free Comic Book Day for those who missed it

Found Time

Over the past few months, I've gained roughly 2.25 hours per week.

First, I decided I'd had it with CSI and deleted it from my DVR.

Next to the chopping block was Bones.

And then NCIS. It started with scheduling conflicts since Glee and Marvel's Agents of Shield all air at the same time, but I found I just didn't miss it.

I haven't missed any of them.

These shows have all been on so long that I've gotten tired of the antics they use to "stay fresh." I've had enough. What's really awesome is that I gave them all up mid season when there was a time I would've felt compelled to finish out the season.

Remember when shows were lucky to last 5 years? The 10+ year network tentpole shows are wearing on me.

I still watch Grey's Anatomy, but it'll be on the fence after Sandra Oh leaves this year.

One new mystery series I love is The Bletchley Circle. It just finished airing season 2 on PBS. Each season has 4 ~45 minutes episodes. Set mostly post-WW2 in London, it follows women who used to break German encryption codes at Bletchley during the war and the lives they now have in part because of the Official Secrets Act. (I.e. they can't tell anyone what they really did during the War. And that part of these characters is based on real women who did code breaking work at Bletchley.) They are uniquely qualified to see patterns in crimes.

What I love also is that it's crime solving without the benefit of cell phones and computers. They have to do the legwork. Their approach is smart but not always valued because they are women.

So often on network crime shows, I find myself yelling in my head at the TV because these highly trained operatives can't get within 20 feet of a suspect without tipping them off or calling their name so they can do an elaborate chase.

The women in The Bletchley Circle never make me feel that way. Well, maybe once, but there were good reasons for it. It just feels a lot more plausible than most present day crime shows.

Highly recommended.

And if you're looking for some extra time? Take a look at what takes you the longest to get around to watching on your DVR. Good hunting!


4 years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #13

Milkshake?

I'm not sure what it is, but I've been craving chocolate milkshakes lately. After dinner tonight, I stopped at Ben & Jerry's to get one.

When I walked in, a young woman behind the counter spied me scanning the wall menu and asked, "Are you going to need a minute?"

"Yes."

"That's fine, take your time," she said with a smile.

All their various frozen concoctions had prices next to them except for milkshakes. Hmm.

"Excuse me, how much is a milkshake?"

"It depends on what size you get. It's $4.80 for a small up to $5.30 for a large. And it's 30¢ extra if you want whipped cream."

"Well for that I may as well get a sundae."

She smiled at my logic.

A banana fudge royale was $4.95 and included ice cream, banana slices, whipped cream, hot fudge and/or caramel sauce, nuts, and even sprinkles if you wanted them (though who in their right mind would?).

It was a simple value assessment and very tasty.


3 years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #65 Time sneaking past

Life of Art SitRep #221 Eco friendly

I went for a walk and saw something that made me go get my camera. It's been a while.

Shot 98 photographs and 2 videos.

Though I still have more photographs to add, I finished adding my digital designs to the new Reusable Grocery Bags.

Rainbow Bullseye Grocery Bags by RocklawnArts
View more Eco friendly Reusable Grocery Bag at zazzle.com

Checkered Rainbow Reusable Grocery Bags by RocklawnArts
Check out another grocery bag online at Zazzle

Purple Diamonds on White Market Totes by RocklawnArts
Browse another market tote

White Circles on Blue Grocery Bag by RocklawnArts
Shop for reusable grocery bags online at zazzle.com

Green and White Zigzag Reusable Grocery Bag by RocklawnArts
View other Eco friendly Reusable Grocery Bag

Watched The Lightspeed Workflow System with Kevin Kubota on Creative Live.

It felt like I did more this week, but maybe not.

How was your week?


Two years ago on TTaT: Where Everybody Knows Your Name...