Life of Art SitRep #238 Purple preparation for the iPhone 6

Made good headway this week while discovering there's so much more work to be done. That's a sign autumn is rapidly approaching.

Embracing my love of geometric shapes, I created an Abstract Purple Polygons design for my shop:

Abstract Purple Polygons MacBook Air Sleeve by RocklawnArts
Browse more Purple iPad Sleeves at Zazzle

Abstract Purple Polygons Rectangle Acrylic Keychain by RocklawnArts
View other Purple Key Chains

Abstract Purple Polygons Table Lamp by RocklawnArts
Shop for another lamp

Abstract Purple Polygons Tee Shirts by RocklawnArts
Look at Purple T-Shirts online at Zazzle.com

Started adding my designs to new Slim iPhone 6 Cases, Wood iPhone 6 Cases, and Wood Samsung Galaxy S5 Cases:

Black and White Gingham Pattern iPhone 6 case by RocklawnArts
Browse more Black and white iPhone 6 Cases at Zazzle

Light Blue and Black Meander iPhone 6 Case by RocklawnArts
View another iPhone 6 Case

5 Bisected Black Lines Cherry iPhone 6 Bumper Case by RocklawnArts
View other Black and white Wood Cases at Zazzle.com

Blue and White Chevrons Maple iPhone 6 Bumper Case by RocklawnArts
More Chevrons Wood Cases

Horizontal Black and Transparent Zigzag Cherry Galaxy S5 Case by RocklawnArts
Check out Black and white Wood Cases online at zazzle

Red, White, Black Diamond Pattern Maple Galaxy S5 Case by RocklawnArts
See more Diamond pattern Wood Cases

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Royal Purple and White Rectangles pattern and New Abstract Purple Polygons design.

Updated links, LOA files.

Watched days 2-3 of Market, Launch, and Sell Your Next Big Thing with Tara Gentile and its bonus videos.

Watched days 1-2 of Photographing America's National Parks with Ian Shive on Creative Live. Day 3 starts on Friday, Aug. 28 at 9 AM Pacific time.

How was your week?


4 years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 44

More Miss Fisher

Watching the Emmys last night made me think of my favorite mystery show set in 1920s Melbourne, Australia. Alas, it doesn't air in the US (and hence presumably is ineligible for Emmys) but it's available on DVD.

Have you watched Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries yet?

Series 2 was even better than the first. And I'm psyched that they are now shooting Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries series 3.

The costumes and sets are amazing and the characters are a delight to watch. Each mystery takes place in a different slice of 1920s Melbourne life.

Watch it!

Series 2 was selling at Costco a few weeks ago, but it's also on Amazon and my local library network has it. So get on that request list!

UPDATE: Apparently Miss Fisher does air on some PBS channels in the US, so keep an eye out!


A year ago on TTaT: A Glimpse of Summer

Batgirl, Vol. 2: Knightfall Descends

54. Batgirl, Vol. 2: Knightfall Descends by Gail Simone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Really enjoyed this volume. Covers a bit of Batgirl's origin story as well.

Gail Simone writes such a believable, great inner voice for her: everything a non-super-powered person would be thinking from Barbara's unique point of view. I love the humor that comes through Simone's writing for Batgirl.


A year ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #185 Caught up!

Life of Art SitRep #237 Regal

After a series of waylayings the past few weeks, I'm finally getting back into gear slowly but surely.

This week, I created a Royal Purple and White Rectangles design and added it to my shop. The white is transparent so you can change it if you like.

Royal Purple and White Rectangles Square Wall Clocks by RocklawnArts
Browse another Wall Clock at zazzle.com

Royal Purple and White Rectangles Pendant Lamp by RocklawnArts
Check out Checkered Lamp-In-A-Box Lamp online at zazzle

Royal Purple and White Rectangles Stone Beverage Coaster by RocklawnArts
See here for stone coaster

Royal Purple and White Rectangles Cases For Galaxy S5 by RocklawnArts
Find more galaxy s5 covers at zazzle.com

Royal Purple and White Rectangles Reusable Grocery Bag by RocklawnArts
See more Checkered Reusable Grocery Bag at zazzle.com

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Checkered Purple and White pattern.

Updated links, LOA files.

Watched day 1 Market, Launch, and Sell Your Next Big Thing with Tara Gentile on Creative Live.

How was your week?


4 years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 43

Life of Art SitRep #236 Purple!

It's been kind of a crazy week with not enough recovery time, but I still managed to get a few things done.

Created a Checkered Purple and White pattern and added it to my shop:

Checkered Purple and White iPad Mini Case by RocklawnArts
View other Purple Cases

Checkered Purple and White by RocklawnArts
Browse more Purple Smartphone Pouches

Checkered Purple and White Cards by RocklawnArts
Shop for a card with zazzle.com

Checkered Purple and White return address label by RocklawnArts
Check out more Purple Labels at Zazzle

Checkered Purple and White Journal by RocklawnArts
View more Purple Journals at zazzle.com

Checkered Purple and White Stone Beverage Coaster by RocklawnArts
Check out Purple Stone Coasters online at zazzle

Checkered Purple and White Ceiling Lamp by RocklawnArts
Look at another lamp at Zazzle

Finished adding my designs as appropriate to Pieladium Speakers and Tyvek Wallets:

Rainbow Bullseye Billfold Wallet by RocklawnArts
Check out another Tyvek ® Wallet

White Polka Dots on Red Billfold Wallet by RocklawnArts
More White polka dots Tyvek® Wallets

Checkered Navy and White Bluetooth Speaker by RocklawnArts
View other Navy Pieladium Speaker

Faded White Stripe on Black Speaker by RocklawnArts
View another Bluetooth Speaker

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Wallets by Claire Skinner at Rocklawn Arts! and New Pieladium Speakers at Rocklawn Arts!

How was your week?


4 years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 42

Coot Club

51. Coot Club by Arthur Ransome

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Though this is listed as the fifth book in the Swallows and Amazons series, be advised there aren't actually any Swallows or Amazons in it. The two new characters, Dick and Dorothea, introduced in the fourth book Winter Holiday are carried over to Coot Club where they have their own adventure on a river with a host of new characters.

The nautical jargon is easier to follow in this book so it could be a good starting point. There are a few references to characters and action from the previous book but nothing you'd overly miss if you hadn't read them.

I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this one without the original set of characters but the new river scene and people populating it soon won me over.

I liked that the parents and adults were more present in this one. The kids still have a lot of freedom while the adults are more engaged and available if need be.


4 years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #27

Twenty Years Ago

Mom was telling my Dad and I about an episode of Project Runway where the designers had to create something as though it were the fashion 20 years in the future.

She told us about some of the designs and thinking behind them and then said that the show had gotten photographs of all the designers from 20 years ago.

"Some of them were so young!" she exclaimed. "One guy was maybe 3 or 4."

"That doesn't surprise me," I said.

"Yeah, some of the designers are almost right out of school."

Then she described the photo of an older contestant, 36-40 now?, in short shorts with a big afro that made me think of the 1970s.

I caught myself though and said, "Twenty years ago is only 1994."

With disbelief my Dad said, "No, it's not."

"I bet you five dollars it is." I responded too quickly, with too much conviction, and too high a proposed bet to hope he would take it.

He thought for a moment, presumably doing the calculation in his head, and said, "Oh, I guess you're right."

I do understand the feeling though. 1994 does not seem that long ago.


A year ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #183 Watches and The Slog!

Life of Art SitRep #235 Wallets and Speakers

Revised and added photograph Vintage Curved Colonnade to my shop:

Vintage Curved Colonnade by RocklawnArts
Browse for another Galaxy S4 Pouch at Zazzle

Vintage Curved Colonnade Serving Platter by RocklawnArts
See more Columns Serving Tray at zazzle.com

Vintage Curved Colonnade Magnets by RocklawnArts
Find additional refrigerator magnets at zazzle.com

Vintage Curved Colonnade Gift Wrapping Paper by RocklawnArts
Browse additional wrapping paper

Rocklawn Arts blogged Vintage Curved Colonnade photograph.

Created templates and started adding my images to new Pieladium Speakers and Tyvek Wallets:

Rainbow Chevrons Speaker by RocklawnArts
Shop nowfor Speakers

Puffy Clouds On Blue Sky Speaker by RocklawnArts
View another Bluetooth Speaker at Zazzle

Blue Abstract Bluetooth Speaker by RocklawnArts
Look at other Blue Pieladium Speaker at zazzle.com

Light Reflections On Water: Black & White Billfold Wallet by RocklawnArts
View more Tyvek ® Wallets at Zazzle

Brown Suede With Strap And Buckle Tyvek Wallet by RocklawnArts
Find more Brown Tyvek® Wallets at Zazzle

Light Blue and Black Chevrons Tyvek Wallet by RocklawnArts
Browse for Tyvek ® Wallets at Zazzle

Updated LOA for end of month.

Updated links file.

Watched first half day of Creative Wow: Motion Blur and Freezing Photography with Jack Davis and all of Creative Wow: Night and Star Photography with Jack Davis.

Made monthly backups.

Have you backed up lately?


A year ago on TTaT: Back at Cheers

Digital Sleuthing

"Come here," Mom said, "Who is this actor?"

I scanned the tv and saw that she was watching an old episode of Law & Order. Mr. Big was watching Lenny question someone through the interrogation room glass.

"Wait a minute," she said. "I want to know who the victim is. ...I mean the suspect."

"OK."

They were shooting most of the scene from the other side of the interrogation glass so it wasn't a good view. I waited patiently.

Finally there was a better shot though the actor kept his head down for most of the scene. He eventually looked up, but I didn't recognize him. He looked like a guy who had been on Charmed for a season or two, maybe when he was younger?, but that was mostly the hair.

"What's the character's name?" I asked.

"Oh, umm... Danny, I think. I know him from somewhere else."

My gears were clicking through ways to find out the episode name so I could find the actor on IMDb.

"The only guy I'm thinking of was on a show you didn't really watch. I'll try to look it up."

The WEtv logo was on the corner of the screen, so that was a starting point.

I considered and discarded a couple of approaches opting for one that seemed most promising. I googled "WE tv schedule." The page was slow loading, but I was rewarded with an episode title, "Promises to Keep."

I searched it on IMDb and discovered it's 21 years old. I found a Dan in the character list, clicked, and suddenly recognized Frederick Weller from In Plain Sight, a show both my Mom and I had watched.

I relayed the news.

Mom exclaimed, "Yes, that's it. Thank you!"

"What would we do without the internet?"

"I don't know."


Two years ago on TTaT: Still computerless....

Life of Art SitRep #234 Confounded

Well, I was going to finish out the week of under-the-weatheredness, thunderstorms, power outages and so forth strong, but my templates in my shop won't load so it's a bust. I'll take it as a sign to watch some more of Orange is the New Black season 1. No spoilers please!

So how did the week shake out?

Made a Meander Pattern Stone Magnet Set: Red, Blue, Green, Purple:

Meander Pattern Set: Red, Blue, Green, Purple Stone Magnet by RocklawnArts
See more Marble Stone Magnets

Redid the post processing of one of my photographs now that I know more and revised its description, tags, and title. Naturally I deleted my initial products right before discovering my templates aren't working. sigh.

Watched Water Photography with Jack Davis workshop on Creative LIVE. Makes me want to try shooting things but I need some gear first.

I hope your week went more smoothly.


4 years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 40