Journalfest 2010

Where do I even begin with Journalfest?  I have wanted to go for awhile now, and I even looked at going to Artfest, but it just seemed really overwhelming to me.  Journalfest seemed smaller, the choices not as varied. Plus the whole retreat was called "JOURNALFEST", and since that is my gig, I figured these would be my people, my village, folks who understand the need to sit for hours writing and journaling in a book, without ever saying a word.  They would GET me!!!....these conditions seemed perfect.

 And perfect they were!! Journalfest was such an amazing experience. From the location: Ft. Worden in Port Townsend, WA; the activities: bonfire, journal party, vendor fair and masquerade ball; my classes: Ingrid Dijikers Humanis journal, Dan Essig Appalachian Ethiopian journal, and Lisa Cheney Jorgensen "Learning to See" sketch and watercolor!! All were amazing, all were exactly what I thought they would be, and all fed a little piece of me. The food was great, the company better, and out Hosts, Teesha and Tracy Moore, (and crew) went above and beyond!

 I will definitely be back next year....no question!!

I did spend every minute that I was not either in class, eating or sleeping: taking pictures. The grounds are beautiful, and I really enjoyed exploring through the lens of my camera.

My favorite class was the sketch class.  Lisa was amazing, and she gave me an incredible gift.  With the  amount of confidence she gave me in sketching a blank page, I can now journal without having to make sure I have pages prepped at all times.  Plus, I have signed up for the Sketchbook project, and I have started to actually sketch in that book.
Attached are the best of the photos I took, and my favorite journal pages. 
Goodbye Journalfest, I will miss you.  But I will see you again next year

Random Pictures

f/4.5       1/150       ISO100

F/13     1/125          ISO 100 PANNING

f/11                1/125                      ISO100

f/5.6                 1/160                     ISO 400

f/5.6                 1/160                     ISO 400

f/4.5        1/60             ISO100

f/4            1/250                ISO 125

f/5.6              1/80, 1/250, 1/80           ISO 100    HDR

f/5.6               1/100              ISO100

f/13                   1/60                     ISO1000

f/13                 1/125            ISO 5000

f/5.6         1/250          ISO 6400

f/5.6                1/250               ISO 6400

All pencils crayons are HDR with 3 different exposures and combined

f/4.5              1/2                 ISO 400

f/4.5            1/1600           ISO 400

HDR              f /5            1/160, 1/640, 1/40      ISO 200

f/11                1/160                 iso 400

f/11                1/160                 iso 400



HDR              f /5            1/160, 1/640, 1/40      ISO 200



HDR              f /5            1/160, 1/640, 1/40      ISO 200

HDR              f /5            1/160, 1/640, 1/40      ISO 200

Loving my new Canon Rebel T2i

Temporary New Direction

So I was introduced to a little photo technique called "TtV" "Through The Viewfinder" photography, from my friend Julie Bergmann, (check her blog out here). The process seemed fascinating to me, so I started looking into it.

 It involves using an old box camera, a digital camera and a cardboard tube to block light. The point is to be able to take pictures that have the old school quality of a 620 film camera, but do it digitally.I found a Kodak Duaflex camera on Ebay for 10 bucks. To buy the film, have it respooled, and processed, cost me over 30 dollars, so I am hoping to be able to do just that. The camera I bought is in mint condition and it takes great pictures, so I will still do that from time to time also. Here are a few of my favorites from the process. I still have some tweaks to make in the tube, but it's coming along.

 

  

 But since I have purchased 2 new cameras, and all the "stuff" that comes with them, I have not spent a whole lot of time doing any journaling. So tonight, after hubby is off to a weekend men's retreat with church, and the boy is in bed, I finally had a chance to do a little art journaling. 

 

 I love these two pages!! My new friend Kimberly, (who is an amazing artist as well, check her stuff here), said they reminded her of a "big stick" ice cream. I agree!! The colors are tasty!

Back from Vacation and Back to School

So this week it's back to school for the boy. Hello 4th grade!! We didn't find out who his teacher was or who was in his class with him, until the first day of school, becuse we missed registration while we were on vacation. (more about that later).

  So we checked in at the office, headed up to his class, and all of us parents stood around taking pictures while our kids unpacked their backpacks with shiny new pencil boxes, folders and clean, fresh packs of paper.  Oh and kleenex that his school insists we buy every year.  I know for a fact the boy does not use it, I can't get him to blow his nose to save his life.  Oh well. Now..................................

About that vacation.  It was amazing.  We spent a week at the Montage Hotel in Laguna Beach, and it was worth every penny! The service and treatment at that hotel is like no other I have ever experienced. 

They call you by name, cater to your every whim, have the best kids club EVER, and as you walk around the grounds, the staff stops, and moves aside for you to pass....Like I'm somebody!!!! They don't know I'm nobody..but they treat me like I'm SOMEBODY!!

Hubby and I spent our days lounging by the pool, taking naps, eating the most amazing food, and sleeping in.  I took a ton of pics with my Iphone Hipstamatic app.  Somehow, the beach just calls for it.

The boy spent his days (and I mean ALL of his days) at "Paintbox"...the kids club. They kept that kid entertained from 9am until 10pm almost every night.  They went to the beach, the tidepools, did crafts, watched movies, had relay races, waterballoon fights, tie dyed shirts, swam in the pool.  He loved it!!

We made S'Mores by the fire pit, drank after dinner coffee listening to live music, and tried just about everything on the menu!  It was the best vacation ever.

I had all the time in the world to read, work in my journal, taking daily walks on the beach, take plenty of pictures and just try to find new and exciting (or not) ways to relax.  I think I found them all!

This last photo is a little bit of fun in Photoshop I had with five or so pictures I took this week, plus one random journal page for a background texture.  It really is Summer's End!