28 December 2019

A Nice Week

It's been a nice week. Enough snow pack for a white Christmas despite temperatures over freezing. Even a couple days that got up to 40˚ F. A most welcome reprieve from the alternating rain, snow, and temperatures that didn't get out of the teens for most of the rest of December.

Some blue skies and sun now and then.

Rain returns tomorrow followed by ice and then another snow storm a couple days later.

I am thankful for this week of moderate, dry weather.

I hope you are enjoying the holidays!


9 years ago on TTaT: 57. Bridgman's Book of 100 Hands

27 December 2019

Life of Art #514 [Featured Custom Photo 2020 Calendar Magnet and Your Logo Supplies]

I am proud to announce that my Customizable Photo and Name Black 2020 Calendar Magnet was featured on Zazzle's home page December 23rd through 25th, 2019:

You can personalize the magnet directly here:

There are also background color variations of white, grey, beige, and navy blue for the bottom half of the magnet which you can see by clicking through and tapping the colored dots under "design theme" in the sidebar.

I also created a green version, Customizable Photo and Name Green 2020 Calendar Magnet, this week:

Also created more Custom Business Company Logo items (iPhone cases, business cards, return address stamps, mouse pads, and more:

Made a banner for Custom Logo on Dark Background Business Supplies collection. Click through to see it:

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest.

Shot 251 photographs and 4 videos of winter lights display, culled 44, rated rest.

How was your week?


14 years ago on TTaT: Thank yew

24 December 2019

I evaded The Little Drummer Boy this year AKA I Won!

It seems crazy, but I've been playing The Little Drummer Boy Challenge since 2011.

The rules from the site:
It’s very easy: So long as you don’t hear “The Little Drummer Boy,” you’re a contender. As soon as you hear it on the radio, on TV, in a store, wherever, you’re out.

The game begins the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) at 12:01 am and continues until midnight, Dec. 23. If you haven’t been puh-rum-pum-pum-pummed, you win. For this year, anyway.
The first four years I won which made me cocky, then I lost 3 years in a row. It was wearing on me. Last year after I won, I swore it off, but once you know the rules to the game you can't un-know them.

I approached this year sort of Russian Roulette style, watching xmas episodes, perusing stores and letting chance fall where it may. However, I have not set foot in Walmart since before Thanksgiving. (They always seem to have it playing as part of an ad for themselves.)

Last night, I lucked out when I spent two hours walking through a winter lights display that not only had Christmas songs playing but medleys! That was like three times the song exposure. But The Boy was not there and I prevailed.

Happy Holidays!


8 years ago on TTaT: An xmas eve glimpse

20 December 2019

Life of Art #513 [Your Logo Supplies, Custom Photo 2020 Calendar Magnets, and Gifts]

This week I created some new custom logo name plates and name tags which I added to a Custom Logo on Dark Background Business Supplies collection (click to see more):

In the gift realm, I designed a Modern 6 Photo Collage with Monogram Coffee Mug and Create Your Own Pet Photo Pattern Socks (click through to customize them):

I also created color variations of custom photo 2020 calendar magnets in grey, beige, black, green, and navy blue in 4"x6" flexible magnets and 5"x7" magnetic cards:

Click through to see other color variations. Just tap the colored circles under "Design Theme" in the sidebar on the product page.

Also created some Custom Business Logo Flasks with white and black backgrounds:

And some new custom logo ribbons:

Also created a new Custom Logo on Dark Background Business Giveaways collection:

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest.

Uploaded 32 photographs, culled 3, rated rest.

Read and watched "Photoshop 2020 1-click wonders. Quick tips to combine photos" by Colin Smith.

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT: Last minute wrapping tips redux plus bonus tips

13 December 2019

Life of Art #512 [Custom Photo 2020 Calendars]

Created an array of new wall calendars and calendar magnets which you can personalize with your own photos. They make great gifts or stocking stuffers for family or friends.
Click through to see other color variations (green, burgundy, black, white, navy blue, and grey). Just click the colored circles under "Design Theme" in the sidebar on the product page.

Click the Your Photo 2020 Calendar Monogram Name Blue Magnet to see other color variations. Just click the colored circles under "Design Theme" in the sidebar on the product page.

Also created an Add Your Business Logo Branded Latte Mug:

and a Simple Pink White Monogram with Circle Border Golf Balls:

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest.

Shot 92 photographs plus some I've yet to upload.

How was your week?


14 years ago on TTaT: The truth I can't deny

05 December 2019

Life of Art #511 [Lip Balm and iPhone Cases]

Posting a little early this week since lip balm and iPhone cases are on sale 40% Off and 50% Off, respectively, right now. Click through to check for the code below the product price.

Created Christmas Red, Green, and White Candy Stripes Lip Balm; and Modern Red White Candy Stripes Lip Balm. Click through to choose your own flavor! They make great stocking stuffers.

Also created some new iPhone Cases:

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest.

Shot 17 photographs, culled 1, rated rest.

Made monthly backups.

Have you backed up lately?


10 years ago on TTaT: Gettin' My Groove On... (vol. xiii)

02 December 2019

Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less

Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less39. Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As the subtitle says it is a book more of why than how. He does get into the how but mainly by way of historical examples of people who were highly productive and prioritized rest. Most of the examples are men of privilege who died over a hundred years ago, so your mileage will likely vary. (Even the writer who had a full time job at a post office still had the means to pay a servant to wake him up at 5 every morning with a cup of coffee prepared.)

There is a chapter on napping to increase productivity but in the examples that suggest a 1.5 hour nap, those seem designed to double the work day instead of decrease it. Also, every book on sleep science I've read says naps should be kept to 30 minutes at most to avoid screwing up your nighttime sleep.

So I appreciate the message and the scientific studies he references and will endeavor to prioritize rest more, but you sort of have to pick and choose which methods will work for you as there are a number of contradictions.


10 years ago on TTaT: Hiccups and epistaxis

01 December 2019

Thanksgiving Fusion

So I discovered a new favorite Thanksgiving dinner combination this year: a forkful of sweet potatoes (the kind with bourbon, brown sugar, and mini marshmallows on top) with a maraschino cherry from the curried fruit. Yum!


9 years ago on TTaT: 43. Half Empty

29 November 2019

Life of Art #510 [Black Friday Sales at Rocklawn Arts and New Products]

Well, hello Black Friday. Welcome, friends.

There are several sales going on at my shop Rocklawn Arts on Zazzle. Some highlights are below.

Use code: BLKFRIDAYNOW
Valid until 11/29/2019 11:59 PM PST.

I am thankful for your interest and for everyone who chooses to #ShopSmall to support small businesses like mine.

50% Off Calendars

Add your own photos for great custom gifts or enjoy cool fine art photography. Click to see the whole collection.

60% Off Fleece Blankets

Stay cozy this winter with a soft, warm fleece blanket. You can add your own photos to the one below for a personalized gift:
See more Fleece Blankets at this link.


60% Off All Cards & Invites

See more Cards here.

See Invitations for birthdays, graduation, reunions, weddings, and moving announcements here.


60% Off Canvas Prints

Check out the Canvas Prints at this link.


50% Off Phone Cases, Pillows, Mugs

Click to see the Phone Cases.

Click to see the Pillows.

Click to see the Mugs.


40% Off All-Over-Print Totes



New Products

Do you have a logo which looks best on a black or dark background? You're in luck, I've been working on a new set for white or light colored logos:

Created Rustic Lumberjack Red Black Buffalo Check Name Case-Mate iPhone Case, click through to customize and choose your model:

Created Beautiful Pink Flowers Blue Buds Spring Photo Magnet:

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest.

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving with tasty food and fun company if you celebrate it!


14 years ago on TTaT: tip worth the time...