Life of Art SitRep #247 Game On

Happy Halloween!

Life distractions have abounded, but I am determined. Starting to get back on track as I write this which feels good.

The week started with an update to the – wow, computer just crashed as I typed that. sigh. Let's get this done.

The week started with an update to my Wrapping Paper line. The rolls have been increased from 24" to 30" and are now available in more paper types. This is great but required a significant amount of rejiggering and recreation of products to fit the new size.

Changed out some photographs and reordered by 2015 Black and White Calendars:

2015 Black & White Photography Calendar by RocklawnArts
View other 2015 Calendars

2015 Black & White Photography Calendar – Long by RocklawnArts
Browse 2015 Calendars online at Zazzle.com

Finished adding select designs to my Tissue Paper line.

Red and White Zigzag Tissue Paper 17" X 23" Tissue Paper by RocklawnArts
Check out Decoration Tissue Paper online at zazzle

Green and Red Diamonds on White Tissue Paper 17" X 23" Tissue Paper by RocklawnArts
Shop for another Zazzle Tissue Paper

Created new templates for Ribbons, Tablecloths, Paper Plates, Fleece Blankets and started adding designs to them as appropriate.

Red and White Chevrons Satin Ribbon by RocklawnArts
See other Chevrons Ribbon at zazzle

Abstract Teal Polygons Satin Ribbon by RocklawnArts
Browse more Teal Ribbon at Zazzle

Green and White Gingham Pattern Satin Ribbon by RocklawnArts
View another Fleece Blanket

Black and White Chevrons Fleece Blanket by RocklawnArts
View Cozy Fleece Blankets online at zazzle

Navy and White Gingham Pattern 9 Inch Paper Plate by RocklawnArts
Check out another Paper Plate

Rainbow Chevrons 9 Inch Paper Plate by RocklawnArts
Browse more Rainbow Paper Plates

Green and White Chevrons Tablecloth by RocklawnArts
View another Tablecloth

Abstract Blue Polygons Tablecloth by RocklawnArts
View another Tablecloth at Zazzle

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Decorative Tissue Paper now available at Rocklawn Arts!

Culled my photographic archive a bit more. Worked some more on a winter photograph coming soon to you!

Updated LOA and links files.

How was your week?


(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)

Two years ago on TTaT: Inner Badass

America’s National Parks: An Insider’s Guide to Unforgettable Places and Experiences

70. Inside Our National Parks: Beyond the Trailhead by The Editors of NPCA

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Hmm, this has a different cover and title but the same ISBN number as the book I read so maybe the interior is otherwise the same?

I read America’s National Parks: An Insider’s Guide to Unforgettable Places and Experiences also by the editors of NPCA (National Parks Conservation Association).

It is mainly a book of photography of many of the national parks broken down largely by terrain. The photo captions often have tips about specific parks, what there is to see, transportation, and lodging, etc.

The chapter intros are a little cheesy but they're only a page long each.

There's a lot of spectacular stuff to see out there and there's a map in the back to give you a sense of where all the parks are.

It's the perfect thing to look at while waiting for any reason. Unlike many photography books, this one is about the size of a notebook.


4 years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #38 Mojo time

Life of Art SitRep #246 Tissue Paper!

This has been a crazy week but I managed to get some things done, so yay!

Finished adding my photograph Snow Falling to my store:

Snow Falling Print by RocklawnArts
Make custom prints online at zazzle.com

Snow Falling Greeting Card by RocklawnArts
Browse Snowflakes Cards online at Zazzle.com

Snow Falling Spiral Notebooks by RocklawnArts
Look at other Snowflakes Notebooks at zazzle.com

Snow Falling Clipboard by RocklawnArts
Shop for another clipboard at zazzle.com

Made Tissue Paper templates, added select photographs to them and starting adding select designs to them:

Purple and White Meander Tissue Paper by RocklawnArts
Find more Tissue Paper

Red, White, Green Meander Tissue Paper by RocklawnArts
Find another Zazzle Tissue Paper

Red and White Gingham Pattern Tissue Paper by RocklawnArts
See more Decoration Tissue Paper

Disco Ball Ornaments Tissue Paper 17" X 23" Tissue Paper by RocklawnArts
Check out another Tissue Paper

Epimedium Flowers Tissue Paper 17" X 23" Tissue Paper by RocklawnArts
Check out more Decoration Tissue Paper at Zazzle

Snow-covered Trees Tissue Paper 17" X 23" Tissue Paper by RocklawnArts
Check out more Decoration Tissue Paper at Zazzle

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Snow Falling photograph.

Weeded out 2 winter photos from possibilities for store. Started work on a 3rd winter photo, like it, will take it all the way through. Look for it next week!

Updated links and LOA files.

Watched short video on close up photography by Bryan F. Peterson. Use a tripod, use mirror lockup and a cable release.

How was your week?


(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)

A year ago on TTaT: Fortunately, the Milk

Tip of the year: floor drain

If anyone ever asks if you want a floor drain installed below your washing machine, say yes!

Before this week, I'd never given a thought to floor drains, but I can see how useful they are now. If your washer fails, the water will go down the drain instead all over your floor and through the ceiling below.

If you can't afford a floor drain, then pick up a water sensor at a hardware store to put under your washer. Dad thinks these exist and are only $10, but I confess I've yet to see one. Mom and I started to look at Home Labyrinth today but I had a 6'x8' roll of vinyl flooring on my shoulder and soon decided an aimless wander did not seem like a good idea.

Why didn't we get a cart? Initially, we thought we'd just be getting a small piece cut, but they didn't have any available that way. Then after we'd found the rolls they had, Mom went off to get a cart but instead snagged an associate to find where the trim/connector pieces were. By then, I figured what the hell, here's my weight lifting for the day. I'm probably going to be so sore tomorrow.

Other tips:

Run your washer while someone is home. Then if it fails and starts dumping water everywhere (get that water sensor!), you will have a chance to stop it before it gets too bad. Assuming you notice early on that there's a problem.

Know where your water shutoff valves are and make sure they are in working order. The one for the washer was frozen in place and required Liquid Wrench. Know where your main house water shutoff is in case you need it.

If you have buckets, make sure they are easily accessible, not impossibly stacked together in a closet while acting as a platform for stuff you have to move that is next to a shelf that prevents you from pulling them straight out of the closet. Any storage choice that requires you to unstack the buckets before you can lift them over the top of a shelving unit and out of the closet is a bad idea!

Triage! If water is rolling down your hallways, set up barriers in front of your closets because the water will roll right under the doors.

Better yet, head the water off as close to your machine and as fast as you can. Alas, sometimes this is not possible if too much water has poured out. Get your rugs out of the way!

When you buy new towels, keep your old junky ones somewhere handy for emergencies such as this.

Shop-vacs that can suck up water are handy.

It will bum you out, but make sure to check any floors beneath your washer. You may, like I did, discover water streaming through the ceiling into your garage or basement, or both.

Most importantly, with all the hassle, expense and water damaged items, remember this is a very first world problem to have. You have a machine that washes your clothes for you in your house (or had one anyway): life is good.

What Every Body is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People

69. What Every Body is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People by Joe Navarro

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Enjoyable and informative book that covers how to read body language with photos and examples from the author's time as an FBI agent.

What I appreciated most about the book is that he stresses that you must consider people's behaviors in context. No particular action means someone is lying all the time.

It's easier to gauge whether or not someone is feeling discomfort which could be caused by a variety of factors. Knowing someone's baseline behavior is also important so that you can recognize deviations from it.

I may have to read this one again.


3 years ago on TTaT: The PreHistory of The Far Side: A 10th Anniversary Exhibit!

Nature's Javelin

Krack! K-thunk!

I turned with a start to look out the window in the direction the crash seemed to have come from.

Something falling over in the shed? Maybe a branch falling? Seemed too loud for that.

I walked over to the window for a better look and spotted a 3 and a half foot long, 3 inch diameter branch embedded in the ground, standing slightly off from vertical.

It probably could've killed someone.

I'm grateful no one was in the yard when it fell.


A year ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #193 Where were we then?

Life of Art SitRep #245 Roam where you want to

There were surprise goats this week when I was out on a meander, huzzah!

Shot 173 photographs and did some useful experiments.

Surveyed my archive picks from last week and post processed my next photograph, Snow Falling. I've got another section of products to add to my shop, so I'll show it to you next week. It'll show up in my Winter Photos category if you want to see it sooner.

Added customizable monograms to some of my Geometric Christmas Wreath items:

Geometric Christmas Wreath Postage with Monogram by RocklawnArts
Design your own custom mailing stamps online at Zazzle.

Christmas Wreath Holiday Card with Monogram by RocklawnArts
Browse Christmas Cards online at Zazzle.com

Christmas Wreath with Initial return address label by RocklawnArts
Browse Christmas Labels online at Zazzle.com

Geometric Christmas Wreath Postcard with Monogram by RocklawnArts
Look at other Christmas Postcards at zazzle.com

Updated links and LOA files.

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Disco Ball Ornaments photograph.

Watched Creative Wow: Macro Photography with Jack Davis and first section of Creative Wow: Aerial and Copter Photography with Jack Davis.

Finished reading Popular Photography Sept. 2014 issue.

How was your week?



(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)

4 years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 51

Life of Art SitRep #244 Into the Archive!

This week I was reminded of the importance of culling and rating your photographs after you take them. When you do, your best photos become much easier to find. I really need to go back and do that for my earlier digital photos when I didn't have a methodology in place. I deleted some but for this week, I focused on scanning through 4 years, pulling out possibilities for Rocklawn Arts.

I picked one, post processed it, and added it to my shop. Tiny disco balls, anyone? With a bit of luck, they should appear online in a day or so.

Well, hot damn, some of my new Disco Ball Ornaments products are already showing up in my back end. I don't have a link to the category with them all yet, but I'll share a few here with you first. :)

ETA: here's the Disco Ball Ornaments category link.

Disco Ball Ornaments Card by RocklawnArts
View other Mirrors Cards at Zazzle.com

Disco Ball Ornaments Wine Gift Box by RocklawnArts
Browse more Mirrors Wine Gift Box at Zazzle

Disco Ball Ornaments Tough iPhone 6 Plus Case by RocklawnArts
Shop for Mirrors Casemate Cases online at Zazzle.com

Disco Ball Ornaments Guitar Pick by RocklawnArts
View more Guitar Picks at Zazzle

Also shot 24 photographs. Ditched 9 so I'm getting more ruthless with culling, but I haven't been as good about rating them this year.

Made a couple more 2015 Calendar Magnets:

Rainbow Chevrons 2015 Calendar Magnet by RocklawnArts
Create picture magnets for refrigerator doors on zazzle.

Checkered Rainbow 2015 Calendar Magnet by RocklawnArts
View more vinyl magnets

Rocklawn Arts blogged New 2015 Calendar Posters!

Made monthly backups.

What are you working on now?


(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)

A year ago on TTaT:

Japanese Painted Ferns

When's the last time I just posted a photograph? I don't remember either though I suppose it'd be easy enough to find looking at my tagged posts. In any case, here are some Japanese Painted Ferns for your enjoyment. Below them, I'm not sure... possibly Hay-scented Ferns.

Two years ago on TTaT: Brand Failure

Life of Art SitRep #243 Momentarily Caught Up

The notion of being caught up is relative, I suppose. There's always something you could be working on. I try to fill my reprieves with learning and improvement. And photography!

This week, I shot 140 photographs capturing a bit of autumn. Wrong time of day really but scouted some locations, thought of things to bring to do better in future and had a good time.

Finished adding selected photographs to new iPhone 6 Plus Cases:

Rippling Gold Water Abstract iPhone 6 Plus Case by RocklawnArts
Find another iPhone 6 Plus Case

Puffy White Clouds On Blue Sky iPhone 6 Plus Case by RocklawnArts
Browse Durable Casemate Cases online at Zazzle.com

Winter Trees iPhone 6 Plus Tough Case Tough iPhone 6 Plus Case by RocklawnArts
See other Durable Casemate Cases at zazzle

Light Reflections On Water iPhone 6 Plus Case by RocklawnArts
Browse another iPhone 6 Plus Case

Made 2015 Black & White Photography Calendar long and standard formats:

2015 Black & White Photography Calendar by RocklawnArts
Find another Calendar

2015 Black & White Photography Calendar – Long by RocklawnArts
View more Calendars at Zazzle

Made Construction Crane 2015 Calendar Magnet:

Construction Crane 2015 Calendar Magnet by RocklawnArts
View Black and white photo Magnets online at zazzle

Rocklawn Arts blogged New iPhone 6 Plus Cases at Rocklawn Arts!

Zazzle changed my ProSellers status to ProDesigners which is a distinction I appreciate.

Watched segment 2 of Real Estate and Architectural Photography with Mike Kelley. He walked through how he shot a particular image of a huge theater. Oh, the compositing, light painting and Photoshop involved.

Listened to Positioning Call by Tara Gentile.

Finished reading Popular Photography August 2014 issue.

How was your week?


(Links to my products are affiliate links.)

4 years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 49

Random Act

After dinner out with my parents, my dad drove into a small parking lot with a few stores to turn around. Remembering the ATM on its corner, he said, "I can get money," and then asked my mom, "How much do you want?"

She answered and in jest, I said, "I'll take twenty."

I wondered for a brief moment if he'd indulge me but remembered I can rarely get him to stake a whole dollar for a bet.

He got out and Mom and I chatted while we waited.

After a few minutes, Dad got back into the car and handed Mom some bills. Then he pulled out his wallet to put his money away. I was about to tease him that he'd forgotten my money when Mom reached back to me with a twenty in hand.

"Oh," I said, "You don't have to do that."

Mom said, "I think sometimes you should be able to make an idle wish and have it come true."

Love you, Mama.


3 years ago on TTaT: Another one, eh?