The perfect shot....

My Dad is a bit of a camera nut.  He has a TON of cameras....vintage, new, digital, manual, lenses, flashes, tripods, you name it; he has it.
He even built a dark room at my grandparents house when he was in college.

Yes, a DARK ROOM.

I like to think that I inherited even a smidge of my Dad's photography genes.  After all, it was he who bought me my first REAL camera.

  Taken with my Kodak C310

A really cute Kodak C310 that got the job done.

Over the years though, he watched as I struggled to edit my shots in Picasa.  Manually increasing the quality of each shot after I had come to the conclusion that the camera just wasn't able to accomplish it on it's own.

Last Spring he had noticed my shots were lacking where Macro was needed and he ended up letting me borrow his super,super fun and easy Kodak CX7530 Zoom.

"Borrow" is a relative term in regards to putting a camera in my hands.

Honestly, that was almost a year ago and he has yet to get HIS hands back on it.

Taken with the Kodak CX7530 zoom

I LOVE that camera.  The macro is crazy good and the landscape shots that it can make happen are so pretty.  There really isn't much that don't like about it. If I had to choose one area that I felt a bit disappointed in, it would be taking indoor shots.

Indoor night shot, taken with the Kodak CX7530 zoom

If it was daylight, the shots were awesome, but if it wasn't,  I spent a lot of time adjusting the lighting and contrast in Picasa.  Even then, I still was a bit let down with the shot's grainy-ness.
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Not too long ago, my mom directed my dad to my Flickr, and as he browsed through some of the THOUSAND+ shots that I have taken and posted....I swear, he must have been able to sense the itch that I've been feeling lately.

The itch to get my hands on a more high tech camera.

And so now,  he has offered me his Minolta Dimage 7i.

I swear....I almost fainted.

I started using it yesterday; fiddling with all the buttons and settings...reading the manual and a photography book....absorbing all of the tips and tricks.

It's enough to make your head hurt.

Seriously.

In a good way though.

Taken with the Dimage 7i

This camera does have a Pro setting which will let it be a "point and shoot"; Automatically making the shot good, focused, lit and contrasted in just the right way.  But, I wanted to figure it out on my own.  Manually focusing and setting up the shot.  I never really realized the skill that it takes to get a good shot when the camera doesn't do the job for you.

Taken with the Dimage 7i

I mean, I knew that it took skill, but really....this is hard work.

 Taken with the Dimage 7i

But, I'm getting there and I am super impressed with it's capabilties already.  It is truly like having Picasa right there.....in the camera.  The time that I spent editing my photos has been cut drastically.

 Taken with the Dimage 7i

I know that it's not just the camera... it is a combination of countless variables that add up to the perfect shot.  Now though, I feel even one step closer to taking one.

And hopefully my dad will continue to be my number one supporter.

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What camera helps you take your perfect shot?

Display....

 Yesterday, after visiting my grandmother in-law at the hospital, I stopped by the Antique store in town to see what they had.  I had been there before, but always on a time restraint.  I had found it a bit overwhelming in it's shear volume; and surprised at how many beautiful things that were hidden in such a huge space.  Nicknacks, kitchenwares, silver, a large amount of furniture, tables, and paintings, etc..

Have you ever come across something and then realized that it was exactly what you were looking for, all along?  

My eyes gravitated to a propped up piece of wood leaning with a stack of framed prints on the left side of the store.  I walked by it a few times and then finally moved the few large prints that were in front of the piece of wood.

To see what it was, exactly.

When I turned it around, I grinned from ear to ear.

I looked the piece over twice, but could not find a price listed.  I had been eying similar type setting drawers at other antique stores but was really not up for spending fourty-plus dollars for it.

I was afraid to ask how much this one was, since it was in such great condition.

I scooped up the drawer and brought it to the counter where the proprietor was sitting.

I asked him (with my nicest....if-it-isn't-obvious-enough-to-you-already-I'm-not-here-to-spend-a-ton-of-money smile,) "How much does this drawer cost?"

He smiled back at me and said.."Oh that.  Hmmm, does twelve dollars sound reasonable?"

And I smiled back and asked him if he accepted local checks.

I stopped at the hardware store on my way home to pick up some spray paint in a beautiful shade of purple.

 When I got home I set the drawer on a boulder and blew off the cobwebs and dust that had accumulated in each little crevice.

It is pretty as is, don't get me wrong....I love wood on it's own.

But I had plans for this little drawer and I wanted it to pop when I was done with it.

I spray painted the drawer and let it dry in the cool Fall air for an hour. After a few more touch ups and another drying, it was ready to hang in the sewing room.
 

 And fill with the assortment of lovely wooden spools that I scored last week at another antique store.  Now, I know that I had told you all that I'd keep my eyes peeled for more spools for you...but really, I just couldn't part with these.

They were the absolute perfect mix of hues for my sewing room.
 

 I put one spool in every spot.

Moving them from square to square

Until I had found the combination that made me happy.

And it does.

Make me very happy.

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What is making you happy right now?

Best Shot Monday...

I know that this is a late entry, but it has been one of those days.

Busy. 

But, I just couldn't go to sleep without posting my entry in Tracey's Best shot Monday.

After all, it is one of my favorite parts of the week.

So here it is.

Dusk

See you tomorrow for a new project!

Happy Monday to all of you.

A Tisket, A Tasket....

I don't know it I have ever shown you my beautiful sewing basket.

I know that it's been in photos of my sewing room.  But it was never given the justice of a post all by it's lonesome.

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Before Laura and I got married and had our boys, we were heavily into making quilts.  We would go over to each other's apartments and sit together, needle and thread in our hands, laughing and hand sewing little quilt squares together that were perched in our laps .

As a gift for being her maid of honor, Laura gave me this gorgeous sewing basket.

Over the years it has held whatever craft is currently occupying my time..... knitting supplies, felting supplies, paint and brushes, yarn, etc.

Last week, I decided to empty it of all non sewing nonsense and just use it for it's original purpose.

Sewing.

And so now, it is my trusty sidekick.  Right under my sewing table.... ready to assist in any way that it can.

Needles....Check.


Thread.....Check.


Bobbins...Check.


Pins........Check.

I really love it.  I am so thankful to have such a thoughtful twin sister who knows and loves me as much as I do her.

Around here....

Waiting for the boys to get off the bus at Laura's house.

 I was shocked that so many trees up here still have their coats on...

despite the cover on the ground.

The view from her driveway never fails to amaze me.

Looking DOWN on the town below. 

SO high in altitude that I am parallel to the neighboring peaks.

Knock your socks off winds made the boys giggle and poke fun at each other's funny hair do's as they got off the bus..

When they had had their fill of the mountain gusts, we went inside and had a snack. 

Sitting together chit-chatting about our days.

My day was pretty eventful, making a few more pairs of baby pants.

To fill the store in a few days.

I wish you all a splendid weekend. 

For Heather...

This saucer was hard to part with, it held my little frog Limoges trinket box on the window sill.

This pillowcase was a vintage find....I wished there were two.

Then came a set of 4 cocktail napkins with such pretty blue flower detail.

and two more white napkins with the teeniest silver cocktail fork monogrammed with an "H" for Heather.

And lastly, Heather mentioned how she loves vintage children's books.

I do to.

Even before Eben was born I began collecting any old Golden Books that I could find.

I remember my Gram Hough had a stack that I loved that included "Words" and "Jingle Bells".  Over the the years I have been able to make my own little library that includes some that she had in her little stack.
  

I always look for a ridiculously low price in the corner, and that they don't have a barcode.  Then I look at the copyright and for any renewed copyrights.  Finally, I check for missing pages and to see that there wasn't any excessive coloring (or teething for that matter) done to the book.

THOSE are the most obvious signs of a good find. 

For Heather, I chose two of my favorite.

I always wanted to live in the hills like "Heidi"....and who wouldn't love to hear a story about a "Lively Little Rabbit" and his shenanigans.

They just don't make sweet books like they used to.

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This swap was a real treat....

And a special thanks to the other.... ever inspiring Heather for orchestrating it.

Even better than I had hoped...

 My Swap gift from my vintage swapping partner Heather came in the mail the other day.  Tomorrow I will be posting my pictures of what I sent to Heather, but today I wanted to share the beauty and thought that she put into my package.

I was overwhelmed with the smorgasbord.


(Do you see those knitting needles, size 10......I love.)

And I can't even bring myself to mail these cards to anyone.... I am so smitten with them.

I think I might frame them in teeny frames and hang them in my sewing room.

Fun and fabulous stuff, I tell you.

Like this pretty pillowcase and a few yards of gorgeous floral fabric....fabric that I can't wait to have my twin turn into some more fabulous dresses for ETSY.

I have been trying to decide what to do with all of the goodness that filled the priority mail box.

And today, I figured it out....

I used some of the pretty blue flannel to embellish a few flour sack cloth hand towels.  They match my kitchen to perfection.

See, even Gracie can't keep her eyes off of them. ( couldn't you just eat that little orange toe?)


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So, Thank you Heather, I am so happy to have been paired with you.

Best Shot Monday....#2

And now for my attempt at Tracey's best shot monday.

  To participate in Tracey's Best Shot Monday, just click on this badge for more information.

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Waiting for the bus with my boy this morning.

$5 Dollar scarf and favorite cup of coffee to keep me warm.


20 degrees outside today.


Burr.
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Tell me, what is your morning drink of choice?

Walk....

The other day I drove down a long dirt road to one of my favorite spots.

The trail that I have walked so many times with the boys, felt different this time.

It felt.....Dare I say......

even a bit better.

The trees were shedding their summer canopy of shade.

Letting the ellusive sun toast me on my walk.

A walk that I enjoyed so fully....Just me and my friends.....the crunching, crackling leaves underfoot.

Complete silence is a treasure in those hours that occupy my boy with school.

A treasure that I am slowly growing very accustomed to.

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"Eben, how do you like school?"  I asked him as we were brushing our teeth for bed.

" Oh Mommy, school is the BEST.  School is my favorite, my favorite- favorite!!!!!"  He sputtered through a mouthful of foam.

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The next day I got his interim report from his teacher in the mail.

Mixed in with the rest of his glowing report of his progess in Kindergarten

was written....

" He has a smile that lights up his entire face."

and

" Keep doing what you are doing at home, it is working so well"

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And suddenly, I was hit with the realization that he was telling me the absolute truth.