v.f.y.design

Focus and Concentration

2009-04-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

For those that know me, they know that these are the bane of my existence...only because these qualities elude me most days. I know I have it in me...they came in very useful when delivering my babies (one of which was 9 lbs. 4 oz.) at a birth home with no drugs...and it was a conscious decision to do that way. So, of course, I'm even more frustrated because I know the qualities exist within me, I just can't seem to access them at will...very frustrating for a control-freak! And there are so many distractions...facebook, email, iphone, the internet in general, messy house that I know I need to clean up...

So I Google-d (imagine that verb didn't exist 10 or so years ago) Focus and Concentration How To. There is actually an App available to me via the iPhone. Ironic considering the iPhone is a HUGE resource for distraction (new name...iDistract). Anyways, the App is called "Total Focus & Concentration". It is comprised of a series of exercises to do to increase your focus and concentration. I haven't bought yet, but boy I'm desperate! My daily task list isn't getting any shorter!

I Left My Heart...

2009-04-13T19:47:00.000-07:00

It never fails. When I go back to the City, I fall in love all over again. It inspires me...refreshes me. I love the curved windows.

...the attention to detail

...the mix of organic and structured.
I guess there will always be a part of me that belongs to San Francisco.

Keep On Looking

2009-04-13T19:40:00.000-07:00

It's amazing. My aunt and uncle live on the side of Mt. Diablo. Beautiful.

Fish Stories

2009-04-10T18:40:00.001-07:00

We made a new friend. His Name is Dr. No No. If you stand in front of him and shake your head as if to say, "No" he'll tell you, "No." You can check him out in the Kneisel's Auto Body lobby in Citrus Heights.

Happy Easter

2009-04-10T18:29:00.000-07:00

May your easter basket overflow with wonderful surprises!

P.S.: I shamelessly stole this idea from another photo from a pro photographer...hey, imitation is the highest form of flattery!

Playing with Light

2009-04-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

Eric and I went to a photo club gathering last night and was able to play with some of the strobes and reflectors...but the best was catching the last bit of natural light that streamed into the studio.

Photo Inspiration

2009-04-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

I am really loving looking through my lens. I got this email from Design M.ag full of beautiful photos for inspiration. Check it out!

Talent. It's all in the family.

2009-04-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

I guess it not only runs in the family by blood, but by marriage, too. As you may know, I'm a designer, my aunt (by blood) is a designer, my cousin (by blood) is a designer and, now I'd like to link to my cousin (by marriage), Mara, who is an artist. She lives in the Philippines, but has a great eye and a great hand. Please check out her work at http://www.spraygraphic.com/maranepomuceno

Also, I'm lovin the tips and articles at http://designm.ag/ Always looking to learn something new! Check them out.

Daylight Fill Photos

2009-04-04T20:06:00.001-07:00

I'm practicing what I learned at my photography lighting workshop. I had the girls stand outside with the sun sort of backlighting them (more like top-lighting). Anyways, I used my speedlight as fill-light. This first one worked out well, but I kind of blew out the background on the following one. I really like the way this first one turned out.

Yummy, Marshmallows

2009-04-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

I went to lunch recently with my parents at their golf club. It was a nice visit, and the food was delicious. My son asked for dessert, and when we asked what he would like, he said, “Marshmallows.” That wasn't on the menu, but they were kind enough to accommodate him. I love watching my kids enjoy simple things like MARSHMALLOWS.

I've been away...but not far.

2009-04-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

Finally, I'm posting to my blog. It's Saturday morning, and my family is still sleeping, so this is a good time to catch up on things. First, I finished my first amigurumi doll...cute, ain't he? My son has since captured it. And now my other kids want one each. Maybe on the next one I won't overstuff his head so he'll actually stand on his legs without tipping forward :-) Enjoying working with my hands and being away from the computer screen.

Also been taking photography classes and workshops...loving that as well. I took one on basic lighting a couple of weeks ago. That was great. Took another one on depth of field a couple of nights ago...learned a few things from that one as well. And, to top it all off, I'm meeting some nice people who share my enjoyment of photography.

And May I Present to You

2009-02-21T14:52:00.000-08:00

The beautiful...Amelie.

We are so glad to welcome our new niece.

Panning for Gold

2009-02-09T19:11:00.000-08:00

For a Gold-en shot, that is. I went to a photography club meeting this weekend. We learned (are still learning) how to pan a shot. The bad news is that I had to leave early because my camera wigged out on me. The good news is that one of the instructors let me borrow his Nikon D200 to practice with. I took a bunch of shots, but only got these two that were at least decent enough to show as beginner’s work. I’ll keep practicing.

Photo of the Day

2009-02-08T21:49:00.001-08:00

I attended BackStage 2009 at Northern California Dance Conservatory and took some photos...this one is one of my favorites.

iLove my iPhone

2009-02-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

I got a new toy for Christmas (yes, I still believe in Santa Claus). I got an iPhone (crowds go wild, seraphim rejoice!) I resisted for quite some time as I thought my Pearl is "just fine". "I don't need anything else...just a phone with my contacts list and as long as it has good reception and it doesn't drop calls, I'm good." And I was right. I don't need anything else. But, this thing isn't just a phone. It's the be all end all of multi-functionality. I don't have to carry anything else (okay, except for cash and ID). It's a phone, an address book, a web browser, a directions finder, a game center (who needs a NDS?). Set aside for a moment the simple fact that I can see an actual web page as opposed to Blackberry's non-aesthetic interpretation of one. I can do so much more. My Pearl had a map function, but it wasn't as simple or as pretty as the one on the iPhone. I have a baby sitter, too. Thanks to the App Store, my kids (ranging in age from 14 to 4) can be kept occupied while waiting at the doctor's office or in line, etc. We just started training for a marathon, and I downloaded an app to keep track of our progress. Heck, when I'm bored (procrastinating is more like it) I can get lost in Fieldrunner or Facebook. It's #$%^&*() amazing! A friend of ours has the first gen iPhone. She says the novelty has "just" worn off. She still loves the thing, but the "ooh ahh" or "heeheehee" that I get right now has JUST worn off...that's what? 3 years?

Here are some of the apps I currently have on my iPhone:

Palettes

You can take a photo (either one already on your phone or take a new one) and it will create a palette for you. It will give you the colors in RGB, CMYK and other formats. It will give you the option to choose other similar colors. You can also type in a website, and it will give you the palette for that site.

Font Shuffle

Say you're looking for a serif typeface, but don't want to use just Times or Baskerville or Bodoni...click on FontShuffle, select "serif", select a style and a short list of typefaces is listed. Don't like any on that list? Shake the phone (yes, I said shake the phone) and another short list of typefaces shows up. Cool. The list isn't comprehensive, but it's pretty decent. The app is from FontShop.

Fieldrunners

A fun little strategy game where you have to prevent the enemy's forces from getting across the field. You set up a maze using various types of weaponry. Darn thing is addicting. Not to mention...it's really rather funny to hear the little guys go "ooh" when they die. I'm not sadistic, but it is cute.

Crazy Penguin Catapult

This is my daughter's favorite game to play on the phone. You have to launch these kamakazi penguins into the air to knock out the "mean, old" polar bears. The characters have goofy looks on their faces. The penguins are wearing helmets as the wait in line one by one waiting for you to fling them into the air...and the music is catchy...like theme to Giligan's Island kind of catchy.

Anyways...gotta go. I'm losing ground on Fieldrunners. I've got to upgrade my weaponry.

Sew What

2009-01-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

I started my sewing class. Mind you, I learned to sew when I was a kid, but I felt it was time to clear out the cobwebs on my sewing machine and my memory and maybe learn a few new tricks in the process.

Okay. So, it's a basic project, but that doesn't diminish the sense of accomplishment. In addition, I learned a little more about fabric and thread and this cool way to finish the border without topstitching.

Have to go get my supplies for the next project today.

My New Friend

2009-01-14T10:10:00.001-08:00

I'd like you to meet my new buddy, Hayden. He's a very happy boy and a joy to be around. My baby fix is satisfied for at least another day.

Great Minds...

2009-01-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

Well, we joked about who was going to get these up on their blog first...she won. But I thought it was interesting that this was not the first time we took similar shots of the same subject at completely different times and completely unaware (at least at the time we took the shots) that the other had done the same.

Holiday Inspiration

2008-12-19T06:39:00.000-08:00

Hi again. Wow, 2 posts in 2 days! That's a record.

I'm on the e-mailing list of CreativePro.com, and their most recent newsletter featured the holidays-1959 style. Great inspiration to take something old and make it new again. Click here to read the whole article.

Just Finished a Poster Design...I Feel Like Dr. Frankenstein!

2008-12-18T19:24:00.000-08:00

Well, I know I haven't posted in a while...been busy...go figure. So here are the excuses: kids (hello! it's the holidays!), husband, house, managing the husband's business and designing...yup...finding time to do that, too!

My latest creation:

So, first the disclaimer...the NCDC logo and the BackStage logo are not my designs.

I have to say, I'm having so much fun putting this stuff together! Next on the task list: the e-blast, the web page and the program.

Sometimes Life Gets in the Way of Your To Do List...

2008-12-06T17:37:00.000-08:00

Today was the day we set aside to get some work done inside and outside the house. The neighbors have put up their holiday lights.

So we planned to do the same as well. But as luck would have it, our day got rearranged.

One of my darling daughters had a little accident. She was “skating” along in one of the aisles at Home Depot and took a spill..right on her face...SPLAT! No serious injuries, but she did manage to poke a tooth through her upper lip...right through to the outside. As beautiful as she is (inside and out) the mark is hardly noticeable. But as this photo shows, she took the trauma quite seriously.

Foggy Day

2008-12-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

Just stepped out of my house and was greeted by the fog...a thick, soupy fog that blanketed my street. As I was looking around, a bird flew into my neighbor's tree. Nothing unusual, but what struck me is that the bare tree (with the exception of a few clusters of berries) looked almost like a cut-out from the plain gray, foggy background.