2013 Goals Update

I have been horrible about keeping up with some of my goals lately.  To set me on the right track again, I'm doing an update.  I hope this helps motivate me to refocus on those goals I am still lagging behind on (or have forgotten about alltogether).

• blog 4 times a week
• complete my 365 Days of iPhone Photos project 
• complete one photo-an-hour post for each month Okay, I keep starting these the last few months and forgetting half way through the day, or going to a movie, or something else I can't photograph.  But what can I say, most likely that day there was ihop, thrifting, a movie, and some kind of beer.  I'm cool like that.
• save my pennies and purchase a new laptop to replace the 8 year old glorified paperweight 
• take a trip  Guess who booked A WEEK IN PARIS for this October?!?! I am insanely excited.  I just found out yesterday that Montmartre, where Eph and I will be staying, is holding their annual wine festival over the first few days we will be there.  Concerts and fireworks at the Sacre Coeur! 
• create more, and consume less Netflix (or knit while I watch!) hahaha! Well, I did paint some super sweet costume designs.  And to be fair, Civilization V has been preying upon my free time worse than Netflix, these days.  
• read 6 books (this makes me sad.  how did it come to this?!) I read The Walking Dead compendium 1+2 over the last couple months (devouring each in a matter of days, to be clear).  They're over 1000 pages, containing 8 volumes each, so I am hesitant to call them each one book, or each of them two.  Let's say between the two, I have covered three books, okay?  I have 4 other books on the go right now.  I keep putting things down for too long that I get disinterested.  Slap me on the wrist.
• create an online portfolio No, but I did redo my hard-copy portfolio over the weekend.  Then went to an Anthropologie store that was looking for a new display coordinator and sat on a couch until their visual manager would see me.  Too bad they were already in process of hiring someone else, but I think I made a good impression. 
• look into continuing education After significant research, I decided the program for me is Yale's masters in visual design.  Now, I just need to get a truly impressive portfolio together, because no way can I go to Yale without a significant scholarship. 
• take my camera with me more (and invest in a serious camera bag) I did indeed pick up a sweet camera/laptop bag for my birthday, and more recently, invested in a new camera as well! I made the upgrade to full frame, and I am so glad I did, even if my own father said it was ridiculous.  I've been loving the shots I'm getting with my new camera, the fact that it has video capability, and the learning process of moving beyond and entry level camera.  Growth!
• invest more time and effort into friendships, old and new I'm trying.  I need to move back home.  
• send 6 pieces of snail mail 3/6.  I need to write some letters.  I know a certain lady in a small town in Alberta I miss like the dickens who I seriously owe some correspondence. 
• build a small business I honestly didn't think this one through enough.  I started a side business when I didn't have the time and energy to properly devote to it.  I've got saved up stock and other pieces midway through being produced, and I will reopen when I have my head on straight. 
• exercise twice a week  I was doing so well, then I got sick and very busy with The Lover, missed a few weeks, and somehow psyched myself out of going back.  I'm working on it, and doing some reading on weight lifting while I'm still chicken shit.  
• take life drawing classes Classes are sadly not offered during the summers here.  The ONE TIME we wouldn't need a space heater and warming lamps to keep our model from freezing in the art centre.  *Sigh*
• get a car

Life Drawing (Very Nude)

1 minute gestures from week 2.  Gesture drawings are a quick representation of the movement of the body.  Every artist does these TOTALLY differently.  Some people draw squiggles, or cage like forms of the body.  You do these first to loosen up, and get used to looking at the body as a complete unit capable of so many different angles that play off each other. Claw/noodle hands optional (unless you're me). 

One of my biggest goals for this year was to start taking life drawing classes again.  I did life drawing classes as a degree requirement for a few years in University, but otherwise did not pursue life drawing as a hobby and devoted practice time outside of my studies.  This is something I really wanted to change, as my rendering style as a costume designer is something that I find really important, and can be a great opportunity to express your individual aesthetic as a designer.  And, well, you have to know what the human body looks like, if you're going to design clothes for it (and then try to draw the whole thing so someone else can build it!).  This is why drawing naked people for a few hours every week is a good idea.  Plus it's incredibly relaxing and fun.  I've been taking a drop in life drawing class for about 5 or 6 weeks now (not counting the ones where I didn't make it to class), and I've already seen quite a bit of improvement.  Here are my favourite works from each session.  

Week 1// conte crayon and newsprint.  I enjoy drawing breasts from real life, because the light and shadow has to be just right to express fullness.  Most women's breasts are not perfectly identical, and capturing this, or the way the pose changes the breasts (such as the pose on the left) is really tricky. 

Week 2// Conte crayon, chalk and grey pastel paper in 2 shades.  Sometimes your model is a fidget, and you end up drawing their hands and feet and flippers because the moment you go to flesh them out, they start moving the part you're focusing on.  True story.  #lifedrawingproblems

Week 3// Pencil and Newsprint.  I have always loved the illustrative style of comic books, but never really had a handle on doing shading in such a graphic way.  I tried to approach the drawings with this in mind, this week.  Also I find drawing eyes difficult, especially from observation.  Is it just me, or do the models tend to look around a LOT? 90% of the time I end up with something vaguely crosseyed.  It's so much worse if the face is at 45', Anything beyond the nose is constantly shifting!

Week 3// Pencil and Newsprint.  I likewise tried line as expressively as possible, to imply depth without shading and additional contouring.  I am not by instinct a minimalist, which makes cartooning and water colour very difficult mediums for me.

Week 4// black and white charcoal pencils and kraft paper.  After the success from my experiment drawing highlights and shadows on coloured paper, I picked up some charcoal pencils and large format kraft paper while in Toronto.  Living in a region with no dedicated arts supply store makes classes like this difficult, and I have to stock up before things become dire. 

The first couple weeks of this class I tried to focus on using different mediums, to find something I really enjoyed working with.  I knew from university that I liked conte crayons, but I found quickly that I was trading exactness and detail for quick brushy shadows a little too much for my liking.  Then after that I discovered how much I LOVE being able to put in highlights, by using chalk on a coloured paper.  I found that working off a "medium" tone instead of the bright white (or close, haha) of newsprint, made me feel I could push my shadows more, and really sculpt the body.  So far so good! I had some old charcoal pencils hidden away in my drafting table at home from a kit a friend gave me years ago, and loved the balance of control, fluidity and tone: being able to buy something in "light" "medium" and "dark" made laying out blocky shapes and continually refining really easy and less stressful if I made a mistake.  I do not use an eraser for life drawing, so if it's a dark line, it's there to stay.  And suddenly, your drawing has 3 arms...oops!

Week 5// Blacka nd White Charcoal on Kraft paper.  This was the same model as the first week, with a sweet new haircut.  I immediately notice how much more balanced and connected her shoulders and clavicles look here, compared to the first class.  I still need to work on laying out my darkest darks first, as gradually building them takes too much time.  Even in a 20 minute pose like this, I don't get the whole figure fleshed out. 

Week 6// Sometimes, a pose is too similar to be worthwhile, or I feel I'd get better practice working on something more specific.  Hands and feet are notoriously difficult, so I'm trying to dedicate more time to sketching just these from life.  I'm particularly happy with the foot on top.  The balance of light and shadow around the ankle gives the bone a crisp line, but indicates the fulness around it.  The model flexed her toes every time I tried to draw them.  It drove me nuts.

So far in this process I've been focusing more on accurately laying out the body and keeping things proportionate, than I have developing style.  I finally feel like I can start delving into that more, now.  As a challenge to myself, this week I tried to start a drawing not with the shadows, but with the light.  I think that because there tend to be fewer stark highlights on the body, I find it easier to keep the distances between them more accurate, and I think it lead to my best life drawing to date (below).  I'm particularly happy about her right arm and bent wrist.  I think the weight resting on it looks plausible. 

Week 6// black and white china marker on kraft paper.  China marker is like the awesome freak-baby produced if oil pastels,  pencil crayons and permanent markers managed to spawn.  Glides beautifully over paper, makes it very easy to get bright brights and dark darks, but only offers a small range of responsiveness to pressure.  So, you can cross hatch, but traditional shading is out of the question.  But it makes you strangely bold to work with something so accepting of a heavy hand (like mine). 

Though I've only been doing life drawing regularly for about 2 months, I can already see how drawing the body from observation offers the greatest insight to how the body is constructed, and how this can inform any drawing of people outside of class.  I see this time helping me reach my own goals as an artist, with the incredible work I get to see every day motivating me to keep pushing myself and to try new things.  I can't wait to get a couple more sessions under my belt and then apply what I've learned to the 3 shows I will be designing this summer. I'll do another bulk update on life drawing in a couple months, but if you want to see what I'm up to, I instagram my favourite piece or two from each class (@efgerofsky)

Are there any skills you have been working on lately?  And any other artists in the house?

--Erin 

April (in RetroSpecs)

Back when I started this blog (nearly a year ago, whoa),  I had a weekend review feature called "My Weekend in Retrospecs".  Shortly thereafter it was changed to " My Month in Retrospecs", as a pun that good should only be used so frequently.  Recently I've been feeling better prepared to choose my favourite posts of the month due to a stronger posting schedule (eep, except for this week! I'm in Tech Week for a show at work, which includes some 13 hour days and has certainly meant a lot of photoshop time for me! After editing things all day, the last thing I wanted to do was edit at home) but I think that finding 5 favourite posts for the month should be doable, haha!  Plus, I think that having a monthly recap would be a nice thing to look back on.  So... I'll be better about that, starting right now.

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 I'm also combining my yearly goal updates as part of the retrospecs feature.  It just seems like a good fit.  So let's see what was up with those the last 4 weeks!

• blog 4 times a week  Hahaha.. that's all I have to say about that! Let's not worry so much about this one going forward.  
• complete my 365 Days of iPhone Photos project
• complete one photo-an-hour post for each month Totally on top of this one.  Editing my April photos as soon as photoshop seems... not like the only thing I ever do.
• save my pennies and purchase a new laptop to replace the 8 year old glorified paperweight 
• take a trip  I'm writing a grant proposal that would see me going to Calgary for a couple weeks in the fall.  It'd be for work, but, y'know, mountains, so... fingers crossed!!
• create more, and consume less Netflix (or knit while I watch!) Been working on that dress on and off, but I've been feeling so burnt out from work as we're in tech week for a show that starts previews late this week.  So tired...
• read 6 books (this makes me sad.  how did it come to this?!) I read the first compendium of The Walking Dead this month, which covers the first 8 trade paperback volumes.  I devoured it in a week, and I regret not buying the second compendium at the same time! I'm not sure how to count it, toward my goal of 6, however! But at over 1000 pages, calling it 2 books instead of 1 (or 8) seems fair!  I'm also working my way through Stiff, by Mary Roach.  Blog, Inc. has been put on the backburner, after hitting a couple chapters that feel below my experience, and feeling a bit discouraged as to the value of the advice given.  Not leaving it behind forever, though.
• create an online portfolio Umm... nope.  
• look into continuing education I looked more into doing my masters, this month.  Should I get to travel to Calgary to do some work this fall, I'm going to take the opportunity to head to Edmonton and see if the University of Alberta seems like a good fit for a place to do my masters. 
• take my camera with me more (and invest in a serious camera bag) Still waiting for this Epiphanie bag I ordered a couple weeks ago.  I had it shipped to my work, and the USPS says it's been delivered, yet I do not have it yet... If I don't have it by the end of the day, I'm going on a hunt.  I want my bag!
• invest more time and effort into friendships, old and new I'm too tired for other people.  Fact.
• send 6 pieces of snail mail Or to write letters.
• build a small business
• exercise twice a week  I actually talked to my dad over dinner last week about weight lifting goals I'd like to achieve.  It's been a good motivator!
• take life drawing classes
• get a car

 **Editing this quickly to say, I just realized that my birthday is less than a week away! And though my birthday tends to bring some bad things (possible voodoo curse type territory, it's bad) I am really excited.  I'm staying in NotL this year, I mean really, nothing ever happens out here let alone anything bad! But let's not tempt fate.  Just... eee! I'm excited.**

--Erin
 

2013 Goals: March Update

 Well, we're another month through 2013, so it's time to check in again and see how my list of goals has been going.  It's been a weird month, with lots of holiday time derailing my schedule, so I know before I even go to fill this out that some of these goals have fallen by the wayside.  Let's hope this just encourages me to get back on that bandwagon as we get cracking with April, hmm?  Alright, let's go!

• blog 4 times a week  I've been averaging about 3 posts a week. I decided not to worry so much about how many times I blog, but rather to encourage myself to get better about scheduling my posts in advance and not letting myself leave gaps because I got lazy. So far, so good...ish.
• complete my 365 Days of iPhone Photos project Oh, this one is SO dropped! After I forgot my fancy iphone lens in Toronto for a week, I just never got back into the habit of taking a neat photo every day.  Plus, the model building I was doing for work has been very finicky and doesn't photograph well.  So.... not so much.  This one's as good as over!
• complete one photo-an-hour post for each month Yes, yes and yes! Hoping to get April's day photographed this coming weekend.
• save my pennies and purchase a new laptop to replace the 8 year old glorified paperweight 
• take a trip  This one's still far off, and nothing has been booked yet
• create more, and consume less Netflix (or knit while I watch!) It's February March.  Lay off me.
• read 6 books (this makes me sad.  how did it come to this?!) I'm working my way through Blog, Inc, and loving it.  Looking like I am more into non-fiction right now, which is why I was having SUCH trouble getting through the novels I was trying to make myself read (and enjoy..)
• create an online portfolio No progress on this one, this month.  But I do now have a substantial number of edited photos to use!
• look into continuing education Internship didn't pan out (being overqualified is a gift and a curse), and I don't think that school is on the docket for next year, but the idea of doing my Masters in Scenography (set and costume design) is sounding more and more appealing all the time.
• take my camera with me more (and invest in a serious camera bag) I've definitely been trying to take my camera with me more.  My birthday is in May, and a new camera bag is at the top of my list, for sure!
• invest more time and effort into friendships, old and new It's been a good month, in this regard :)
• send 6 pieces of snail mail 2/6, I sent a little package off to Amanda of Salvaged Strawberry this month! Also sent Lisa of Lala Faux Bois her embossed leather banner necklace that she won from my first ever giveaway! Not sure that that one counts, though :P
• build a small business Premonitory Dreams opened in March! I'm still working at designing new items, to be added to the shop as soon as I have a solid day to cut, paste, and photograph.
• exercise twice a week  I started taking Zumba on Wednesday nights, to help keep me obligated to exercise at least once a week, making that second trip to the gym no big deal.  I am loving it, by the way! 
• take life drawing classes I'm SO loving taking life drawing classes at the niagara pump house.  I've spent the last couple weeks trying out a couple different mediums and focusing on accuracy, and now I'm feeling better equipped to play more with style.
• get a car

You know, that's actually not as bad as I thought! But I could still stand to do a bit of rededication to some of my goals.  I will begin by dragging my sorry butt to Zumba class tonight, and then an exciting evening of cleaning my room and clearing my head.  Really, after 2 weeks spent mostly in Toronto, returning to NotL only to swap out my clothes, it's well beyond due.  Laundry is a thing, too.  Ugh, but all I want to do is watch Veronica Mars!!

How are your goals for the year shaping up? Is the change of season botching up your plans a bit, or have you stayed the course?

--Erin

Down on the River: The Niagara Pumphouse

Every time I look at this door, all I see are donuts.  I shouldn't go on an empty stomach, haha!

 A couple weeks back, I started taking a weekly life drawing class at the Niagara Pumphouse Art Centre.  I had never been down by the pumphouse, despite having lived in town for a year and a half, and now that I go every Tuesday night, I really regret that it's taken me so long! It's a beautiful short drive from my house (admittedly walking distance from my work, but with class starting at 6:30, a girl has got to get her ducks in a row [and some food in her belly] before heading to class), right along the river and just down street from the historic Fort George.  I decided to head over a little early last week so I could take a few photos before class started. 

The building itself is really beautiful, and I look forward to seeing how the scenery changes through the months, as  the pumphouse is located right on the river, where you can look across to New York state.  The pumphouse generated electricity for the town until the 1910's, and pumped water for the town until the early 1980's.  The building was later sold to the town for $1, and massively renovated into an arts centre.  They offer all kinds of regular classes and special workshops, including a metalsmithing workshop I'm looking forward to taking, in early May.  In the meantime, I am loving getting back into life drawing!! I'll have to post some of my favourite sketches that have come out of class here, but if you don't want to wait for a big roundup, I post my favourite sketch/es of the week on Instagram every Tuesday after class (@efgerofsky).  Tuesday has quickly become one of my favourite days of the week!

Have any of you gotten back into an old hobby recently?

--Erin

Reminder: Premonitory Dreams Giveaway

Hey guys.  I hope you're all having a nice weekend! Personally, I'm having a weekend without Ephraim, and I've been trying to use that time productively.  Today I'm having a friend over for brunch, and work on my "Sew For Victory" muslin or I'm not going to make the deadline!

I just wanted to stop in and remind you guys that the Premonitory Dreams giveaway is still going on! Your chances of winning are still good for this (if I do say so myself) awesome prize.  So if you haven't already, head over to the contest page and enter yourself! I'll be drawing a winner this Tuesday, March 12th, at 5 pm EDT.

I also realized I never explained the name of the shop!! As you all well know, this blog is called Predictions for the Past.  I wanted to continue the theme of premonitions, but for myself, also wanted to make the name a bit about follow through, which I sometimes have difficulty with.  The name Premonitory Dreams is about not only dreaming of things, but making them your reality. 

And with that, I'm off to go realize a few more dreams!

--Erin

Introducing: Premonitory Dreams, and a GIVEAWAY!! ***CLOSED***

At long last, good people of the internet, I am pleased to present to you, my new labour of love (and profit? Hopefully?) Premonitory Dreams. 

Premonitory Dreams is my new Etsy shop, where I will be selling my original art, and my craft endeavors, including jewelry.  My efforts and inspirations are shaped by the materials at hand, and thus some items will be available in limited quantities only.  I aim to use re-purposed and second hand materials, keeping waste out of landfills and breathing new life into old things.

I'm pleased to present the maiden designs offered in my shop! These handmade leather and suede necklaces are a simple and elegant way to dress up a casual outfit, or add a little bit of edge.  The neutral colour schemes mean they work with a wide range of outfits, through all seasons.  And best of all, there's some customization to be done! The Leather Banner Necklace is custom embossed with the word or words of your choice (up to 15 characters, including spaces) for an off-kilter personalized look.  Embossed with your name, your pet's name, your blog's name, or your superhero alter ego, this necklace is sure to get you noticed.  Also available now is the Leather and Suede Fringed Chevron Necklace, in black and caramel.  I love to dress this necklace down with a chambray top for day, or wear it with a maxi dress and my black leather Litas at night.  It's a little bit country, a little bit punk rock, and a whole lot of awesome.

And because I couldn't have dreamed of starting something like this without the unwavering support of my readers and interwebz friends, I have a couple things to offer you today to say thank you!

First up is this blogs FIRST EVER GIVEAWAY!!! As my numbers teeter near 100 followers on GFC and 50 followers on Bloglovin', now feels like the perfect time to give a little somethin' somethin' back.

Up for grabs: A custom embossed Leather Banner Necklace from Premonitory Dreams.

How to Enter: Follow Predictions for the Past through Bloglovin' or Google Friend Connect.  Leave a comment below telling me what you'd like to have embossed on the necklace (max. 15 chars including spaces) if you win!  Also be sure to leave an email address so I can get in touch with you :)

Who Can Win:  This giveaway is open to readers world wide!!!

For Additional Entries: Tweet about the giveaway (be sure to include me in the tweet, @ErinGerofsky), blog about the giveaway, or post about it on facebook, all with a link back to this page.  Be sure to leave a separate comment below for each entry.

The winner will be chosen at random on March 12th and announced here shortly afterward.  Good luck, and as always, thank you for reading, and for your support in my creative endeavours!!

As a second thank you to you all, I'd like to offer you 15% off anything in the Premonitory Dreams Etsy shop.  Just use the code GRANDOPENING at the checkout for 15% off from now until MARCH 19TH.

2013 Goals: February Update

The end of another month!! Let's see how my yearly goals are coming along...

• blog 4 times a week  I don't need to tell you that this one has slipped recently.  It's all been in order to put that time and effort toward other goals, however.
• complete my 365 Days of iPhone Photos project Check my updates HERE
• complete one photo-an-hour post for each month February's post coming next week!
• save my pennies and purchase a new laptop to replace the 8 year old glorified paperweight 
• take a trip  I think I'd like to take a long weekend trip in Chicago, perhaps over the Canada Day long weekend.  That way, it won't be crazy busy in the states, I can drive, and Ephraim will hopefully be able to join me as there won't be auditions those days anyhow because of the holiday! Fingers crossed.  I have family in Chicago, and love to go and visit every couple years.
• create more, and consume less Netflix (or knit while I watch!) It's February.  Lay off me.
• read 6 books (this makes me sad.  how did it come to this?!) err, no... *shame*
• create an online portfolio I had to scan a bunch of stuff and organize it for a CD portfolio I had to create, so let's call that progress on this front.  I'm working on it.
• look into continuing education I think I should rename this "consider life after Shaw".  I applied for an internship this week, so we'll see how that pans out.  Anyway, I am thinking about it, and that's really the point.
• take my camera with me more (and invest in a serious camera bag) This has been more difficult with the volumes of snow we've had.  it's very cloudy, and tends not to be great photo taking weather!
• invest more time and effort into friendships, old and new I have had a lot of friend time this month.  And it has been rad.  I miss living close to people!!
• send 6 pieces of snail mail 1/6, with a little mail exchange with Erin of Charlie Foxtrot :)
• build a small business I've been working hard on this one! Nearly ready to rock and roll.
• exercise twice a week  This one hit the backburner the last couple weeks.  I have got a new roommate, and getting the house/my life in order took the rest of my evenings. 
• take life drawing classes I'm getting a drawing board and a new pad of newsprint this weekend so that I can take Tuesday's class.
• get a car got it!!  I am now the proud owner of a decade old Volkswagen Golf, which I have named Gertrude, or Gerty for short.  I am still learning the nuances of driving standard, and need to build some confidence and skill before I'm ready to drive to Toronto or anything.

OOTD: Braids and Elbowpatches like a Badass

I took these outfit photos half an age ago (I'm SO behind!), and though this was my first time using this bridge as a background, I just absolutely adore it!! I like having something to interact with while taking photos, and I think that the shots turned out really pretty.  I really need to venture beyond my front yard a bit more often, as comforting as the shelter of my hedges may be!!

This chambray shirt has been an absolute favourite of mine since I picked it up last summer.  I had been on the hunt for a light denim shirt for a couple years, and finally found this perfect one at J Crew.  At the time I was a little sore about the price, but as it has become a staple in my wardrobe, I got over it pretty quickly.  It's perfectly light for the summertime, but paired with a cardigan shapes up nicely for the winter.  Plus, it looks totally awesome with a bow tie.  Yeah, I'm in love.  I'll quit gushing about it now. Just know that while you've seen this shirt a few times already, you'd better believe you're going to see it again.  I'm obsessed.

I scored this skirt as part of that big donation that the theatre couldn't use, which I talked about a bit here.  I can't wait for warmer weather, so that I can bust out some of the more ridiculous pieces!! The skirt is 150% polyester, like most of the items in the donation, and I'll be honest: I kind of love it.  It's just so bloody easy to wear!! And the wee little polka dots are so charming.  I own so many polka dotted things, and it's just never going to feel like I have enough.  

The warm colours in this outfit made it seem a perfect opportunity to debut this necklace!! Let's just say, that this here necklace may have something to do with my upcoming very special announcement.  I was so excited to pick up a set of letter stamps to do a bit of embossing, and naturally, I had to put something a bit cheeky on my personalized little banner.  So, I proclaimed myself a BADASS.  I like it.  A lot. I've got a pile of these bad boys just waiting to be custom stamped and sent off to their forever homes (a phrase which makes me think of the humane society), and I simply can't WAIT to open shop.  Soon, soon.

THE DEETS

Elbow Patch Cardigan: H&M (Remixed)

Chambray Shirt: J Crew (Remixed)

Skirt: Vintage

Belt: Vintage (Remixed)

Tights: TopShop

Boots: Vintage, Kingpin's Hideaway (Remixed  Remixed)

Custom Embossed Banner Necklace: Premonitory Dreams (Coming Soon!!!)

Now as a bit of a bonus, here are some pictures illustrating how unbelieveably cold it was while we took these photos, and what my REAL face looks like when I let down the human facade.  I do not like the cold.  Well, scratch that, I do not like being inadequately dressed in the cold.  Not cool, man, not cool.  In fact, very cold.  That wasn't funny.  But my face below, is.  So, enjoy!

I hope you're having an excellent Monday! I'm spending the day running around town trying to source some model building supplies for a project I'm working on.  All I can say is, so many tiny trees!!! They're way adorable, heehee!!

--Erin

Coming Soon...

Friends, I have been busy.  I'm still working out a few details on my business plan, but coming soon, a new adventure for our young heroine (that'd be me). 

--Erin

Photo An Hour: January 2013

One of my goals for 2013 is to complete a photo an hour post every month.  And well, while I didn't POST this during January, this was a late January Sunday in my boring life.  SO HERE YOU GO!

9 am// Getting my craft on

10 am// Also getting my tea on.  Very important!

11 am// Vacation daydreaming.  Take me away!

12 am - 1 pm// Brunching with friends.  Brunch need not be fancy.  Sometimes you just want all of the breakfast, you know?

2 pm// Car ridin'

3 pm// Zelda playin' (well, Ephraim is.  He's almost finished! I'm so excited for him.  Ocarina of Time 4 lyfe)

4 pm// Playing with a bit of lens flare on an outfit photo shoot.  It was cold....so cold.

5 pm// This was shaping up to be such a beautiful sunset, and then the sun dipped behind that cloud and none of the pretty colours were visible.

6 pm// More craftin'.  This is how I roll.

7 pm// Leftover home made roasted veggie pizza for dinner.  This is one of my favourite things to make.  Yum!!

And that, my friends, is a boring day in my life.  The rest of the evening was spent crafting and watching BBC's The Hour on Netflix (Ephraim returned to Toronto after the attempted sunset photography), nice and quiet!  Working all day certainly makes doing photo an hour posts difficult, as I have to wait for the weekends and hope I don't forget part way through the day!! Yeah, I have a rough life :P

--Erin

2013 Goals: January Update

Well folks, we're all but one month through 2013.  I'd like to say that it's going by too quickly, but the weather in Ontario through January and February is totally miserable, so, can we just skip right ahead to March already? Please?

In the mean time, the nasty weather has kept me indoors more, and I have tried to keep busy and make a little progress on some of my goals.  So let's see how things are shaping up!

• blog 4 times a week  so far, so good! Steadily writing 4 posts per week!
• complete my 365 Days of iPhone Photos project Check my updates HERE
• complete one photo-an-hour post for each month Sunday Jan.27! Will post soon.
• save my pennies and purchase a new laptop to replace the 8 year old glorified paperweight Okay, Technically I didn't save up in the new year, but finally decided to spend some of the money I already had saved on a new laptop.  BEST DECISION EVER.  Blogging and photo editing is so much easier now! I got a little 13" Macbook Pro, and named him Verne. ♥♥♥
• take a trip  I've been looking up dream destinations in the USA, but no solid plans yet.  I can't travel till October, so there's no real rush.
• create more, and consume less Netflix (or knit while I watch!) Verne has made watching some New Girl (I think I finally get that show.  maybe?) while I craft into my evening me-time perfection.  I'm working hard, and have something funny to listen to all the while!
• read 6 books (this makes me sad.  how did it come to this?!) Only made a 100 page dent into Dune.  I need to dedicate solid blocks of time to reading, instead of just reading before bed for 30 mins or so, on and off.
• create an online portfolio No progress here, yet!
• look into continuing education Nor here, either.
• take my camera with me more (and invest in a serious camera bag) I'm trying, but without the camera bag this is tricky.  I have been using my iphone camera more, of course! Instaspam like whoa...
• invest more time and effort into friendships, old and new I've made some real efforts here, but I'd like to see myself working at this harder, and dedicating some time every week to Skype dates.  After all, Verne has a webcam (livin' large, folks).
• send 6 pieces of snail mail 0/6, but getting some goodies together to get started on this...
• build a small business There may be a big announcement coming... but I can't strike this from the list until then!!! (watch as I try to hide my excitement!!)
• exercise twice a week  I've been going to the gym 2 or 3 evenings a week.  Ephraim and I both have memberships to the gym near my house, and it's great motivation to be able to go with him when he's in town.
• take life drawing classes This sort of hinges on the car thing, so that I can get to and from said classes.  So, no drawing naked people this month...
• get a car Any day now!! My Dad has been teaching me to drive stick shift (I have my full license but have only driven automatic transmission), so once I get my car (My uncle is upgrading and giving me his old car.  How nice is that?!?) I'll still have a couple weeks of slow and steady country driving before I feel comfortable driving to Toronto, but I'm getting there.  I just get nervous too easily about making the next jump in skill level.  Practice, practice, practice! 

I'm really happy with how I've been doing with my goals so far.  Many of these are lifestyle changes, so they'll never really be crossed off the list, but checking in every month or so (I'll likely cut it down once I feel like these new habits have set in) will help keep me on track.  It feels pretty good!

--Erin 

365 Project: Days 15-28

15// Brick Layin'  16// Chainsmoking Pug Is Out Of Cigs

17// I'm Just A Little Rusty  18// All That Glitters Is Not Gold

19// Fly Away Home  20// A Little Birdie Told Me

21// Seated In Fields Of Blue Flowers  22// Condensed Nation

23// Sugar And Spice  24// Without

25// Why So Serious?  26// And My Head Is Swimming

27// Atop Sugar Mountain  28// Stabbed Through The Heart

I'm starting to really appreciate being able to see phases of my year through these photos.  So many of these shots were taken in my home studio.  I'm really into jewelry making right now, and these photos remind me of that.  I look forward to seeing photos of painting supplies, when that phase hits me! 

As yet, not all of the photos are created equal.  I'm really getting the hang of the macro lens, it's by far my favourite of the three offered in the Olloclip.  It creates a lovely shallow depth of field, and a bokeh effect on what's out of focus that's just buttery smooth.  I love even photographing lights completely out of focus with it, as seen on day 26.  Dreamy.

I keep wondering about what I'd like to do with my photos after this 365 project is over.  Initially I had wanted to make a book of all 365 photos, but as the quality of photo currently ranges pretty widely, I think I may prefer to be a little more selective and make collages of some sort for the best or most meaningful photos of each month.  Anyhow, I've got over 330 days to decide!!

Are you working on a year long project?  How is it going?

--Erin