instant photo gratification

Taking this Remains of the Day class got me thinking about easier ways to journal photographs. Although digital cameras are very convenient and I no longer have to leave the house to get film developed, there are times when I just don't want to go through all the steps to get a photo printed (wait for computer to boot up, find the right cables to connect the camera, curse at crappy photo editing software, curse at printer for running out of ink halfway through the picture, curse at myself for not taking a better photo in the first place, etc). I recently found out about the Fuji Instax Mini Camera which looks like a fun and simple alternative and would be great for journaling on the go.

And because I would have to embrace the wabi-sabi nature of instant photos, my perfectionist self can just accept what comes out of the camera and not have to fuss with editing, etc. Now if I can just get someone to buy one for me...

Creature Comforts is hosting a giveaway of your choice between a Fuji Instax Mini or SLR Sloop camera bag - go to this post to make your entry.

looking forward

make your own obama icon here

another cool freebie

As you may already know, Polaroid is discontinuing production of their instant film. Sad news for those of you who use the real thing in your artwork...but if you're just wanting to mimic the look, Poladroid is a wonderful free software download you can use to make your digital photos resemble those icons of yesteryear. Above is an example of what a converted photo looks like (if you click on it, you might even be able to see the texture of the frame, just like a real Polaroid). That's one of our Goldens, Ruby, hanging out in our snow-filled yard when we were still living in the Northwest.

happy new year!

photo credit: serious eats

In an effort to simplify my life, I've decided to consolidate and keep just this one blog, so welcome to my new digs! Please bear with me as I tinker with the template and learn some new-to-me Blogger features. My main goals for this blog are to post my projects (crafts, cooking, etc) and share cool stuff I come across on the internet. Speaking of the latter, here's a fun free screensaver featured in the photo above. I love that it even has crackling fire sounds!