Monday, January 31, 2011

Photoshop Elements Nine


I lent my old Photoshop to my daughter-in-law who was editing some photos for our album. Then, my computer crashed. DIL left with the Old PS to North Carolina just before my baby (aka the Laptop) went to a friend for hard drive wipe. The old PS was Elements 3 and old enough I couldn't remember when I bought it. So, I thought – Oh what the hell, I’ll spring for a newer version and get Elements 9.

For a good two weeks I wondered what I’d gotten myself in to. I’d look for familiar clues and although many were similar there were plenty that had long since been changed to new words or eliminated in later versions. Oh just shoot me now, my mind rambled in-between frustration (I’ll have to get the old version back and restore it) to despair (I’m about two notches above the local village idiot), and all the way to guttural anger (I’m an artist not a computer whiz – why can’t I just MAKE THINGS!).

Hallelujah, it passed!

I called to sign up for a Photoshop 101 class – damn if it wasn’t full with students. That’s when the guttural rage hit me since DH and I were the ones who suggested the class be offered to the adults at the local center and talked to the teacher (who was teaching children) and the Department Head who schedules those things. And there I was – I couldn't even get in the class. Not even if I brought my own computer, my own program, paid the same price, and only used electricity. I asked – teacher was totally willing – we know her and she knows I’m the silent type. Head down, work hard, and full speed ahead when I want to learn something. It was the Department Head who said “No, please sign up for the ‘wait-list’! Hell, the last time he needed people interested in a class he was delighted to let me sign up as as overload – LOL, I have my tool box and don’t exactly need all of their equipment to fabricate metal either.

Okay, I don’t like being told “No”. But then, I’m pretty sure no one else does either. I absolutely detest computer issues. Computer issues make me insane. And although I tend toward procrastination and firmly do not want to be the one to pick out the restaurant in a group I am anything but wishy washy and don’t like when people in power (usually the ones above me!) are that way. Do not tell me yes once and then get feeble minded and tell me no the next time. It just burns my buns. It also fires up my juices…..and in ten minutes I had the first photo edited.

That’s all I needed – a good challenge – a temporary call to arms. I’ll still go and buy a Photoshop for dummies book – I still don’t “get” a great number of the new bells and whistles but we’re moving in the right direction.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Should I roll this to Metal Fabricating Class?

Okay, I'm a tool Wh_ _e. I'll admit it and I probably need a step program for it but that's not going to happen in this lifetime. To organize the tools I need a place to put them and an organizational system in which I can find them. I have doubles of some because I couldn't find them and bought a second one. If this doesn't take care of that I give up! It should.
.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Resolutions

If I could I'd say that I had made these great resolutions to fill January's postings with lots of conversation I would. Thank goodness that wasn't one of my resolutions (to blog more) because I'd of blown it big time. I did resolve to get my buns moving on my Etsy for Valentine's Day since I love hearts so much. Check out the Etsy shop.....bingo. Actually I have lots of subtle hearts all over my house but you'd have to look for them. Okay, that's one resolution I've kept. Now I just have to keep it going.

Winter - UGH! But it sure is a great time to redo studio areas and I'm hot at cleaning mine. Sooner or later I'll get a new photo for you of my new tool case....it's on wheels! And, it's nearly as tall as me...closed. Open, it's taller. Sounds interesting, huh? You'll love it and I'll fill it.

Work load willing I'll be back tomorrow...................

(((Hugs))) - Sharon

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

New Etsy Listings



Sorry for the absence - just been chalked full of busy busy....too busy. Here is a little eye candy while I work at wiping this hard drive and getting rid of my glitches. Don't you just hate computer problems? I started on the Sock Monkey series a while back and then the colors just smacked me one. OMG - to quote the popular silliness. Those are my high school colors.

Red and Gray...and we were called the "Bathers". Okay, now tell me that is not the most unique name you have ever heard. We were named after the local spa hotels that thought the sulphur baths were a cure all. We apparently had a lot of sulphur springs. There were places in town that just STUNK. But, that's where we got the name.

So here are my ode to the Bather's beads....LOL

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Beadfest



I've been holding back until Interweave announced the line-up but here it is....Susan Lambert and I will be co-facilitating classes at Beadfest this year. I love doing that show, and we've done this before, so I'm delighted we have decided to do it again. We're in excellent company as usual.

We are very excited and one of our submissions made the first on-line press release!


This is the "Stone-Faced" bracelet we'll be teaching and the other one is a great upcycled belt bracelet.

Great way to start 2011 !!!