Quilting!

Last week I went to Tyjo's and picked up too much fabric with my aunt. I wanted a prop for kids photos which would also double as a lap quilt for the living room. I found these great retro fabrics and had to have them all. And I found an easy quilt pattern.And this afternoon, from about noon to 2:30, I ironed, cut, and sewed my quilt top. I will wait for my mom and aunt to get back from Ontario so that one or both can help me do the batting and backing.

I'm very excited to get it totally finished, it will be my first finished quilt.

Anime Convention Part 2

I've posted all my pictures from the con on my smugmug site. I had a headache after lunch today and by the time Kerry got home I was goosebumps and vomiting foam. Sorry if that's too much info. I had a nap and am feeling groggy but much better.

Highlights in point form of the weekend...

- on the way home I got teary eyed because all three kids know

and sang the words to...

1) Billy Joel's For the Longest Time,

2) Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and Fat Bottom Girls

3) Journey's Don't Stop Believing

- Emily ate and seemed to enjoy lamb (ick) and lasagna with spinach in it.

- I appreciate my air conditioner 100% more.

- Emily got a 'drafting' table with a light table built in from Ikea, S

h

aun and Illiana used their Tetris skills to get it in the van.

- I thought a guy wanted to take my picture at the con, he was actuall

y asking Shaun.

- I found a rainbow umbrella at the Richmond Night Market, I d

on't think we will go back there, it's too crowded and we just go for the food.

- I found rainbow socks at the con, so I can have double rainbow le

gs. Emily does not appreciate this.

- My RS-W1 was awesome, double rainbow awesome, for my ne

ck.

- I found Bib and spent some time enjoying con activities with

her and realized I need to sit in on more panels so that I can become a pro con mom.

- I realized that the best way to get shots is to do what everyone else was doing and run up to people and just ask "Can I take your picture?" and then they pose! Crazy posers! But makes for better pictures. As you can see below...

DUCK

I interrupt the Anime Convention to bring you DUCK. She won the Kelowna Worldwide Photowalk contest. So far so good, 2 contests entered with my photos, and 2 contests where I placed, maybe not big placement, but still, not to shabby.

Anime Convention Part 1

I have hundreds of shots from the weekend. I'll probably post all of them to my smugmug gallery by the end of the week. Here are a few SOOC. All were taken with my 28-75mm f/2.8 lens. So thankful for this lens, there's not much room to back up in some of these situations.

And sooooo thankful for the Black Rapid RS-W1 strap, it was amazing!
We stayed at my aunt's and drove in to UBC each day. 1/2 of driving, doesn't seem that long but when you are in a van of geeks excited to be with their kinds, it takes forever.The girls quickly found some of their kind. They are from Touhou, I'm not sure but I think it's a video game. I could not stay for the panel on Touhou as 97% of these kids don't use deodorant and sitting in a small un-aircondinitioned room with them for 90 min. was not my idea of fun. ( I made sure my 3 were showed, and deodorized.)They found their friend from home. Got lots of picture taken. If you like a character or costume, you run up and say "Can I take your picture?" and then the subject poses for you and you thank them and run away. Oddly enough, I did not get asked once. Nor did I get hugged.Capt'n Jack is not an anime character but he's been at the convention every year we've been.
Professor Whovianart! What a neat guy. He had the most amazing things. And cheap!

Got these to babies from the professor!

Love this, I'm all about the cute characters, but found out that sometimes the cute ones aren't the 'good' ones.

Thought Kerry might like this one. It was licensed and ran.

Always a few Star Wars fans, and some Trekkies were there too.

We had to hit Old Navy, Sakura Media, and Chapters and then a big stop at Ikea where we shopped, ate and shopped some more before heading home.

I have more pics and these are just a few of the highlights.

I think we are all very tired, our legs and feet hate us and we were so happy to see our own beds and sleep in air conditioned splendor last night.

Today?

So far I have not packed a thing. I've made my lists, see previous post. I've bought snacks for the trip down and while we are there. I've done all the laundry. I've decided we are probably leaving today, providing the van's check up is positive. I've made a list, printed maps, and decided where I need to go and where I don't need to go. I've discovered I may not need to stay at the convention for 3 straight days because Shaun is an 'adult' now and the girls can legally follow him around without me right behind them. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

I am excited to use my new bag and strap on my camera. I've been doing a lot of "Kerry, check this out!" "How neat is this strap?" and he genuinely seems impressed by the thought that went into the RS-W1 and my Crumpler. Shaun was very impressed with the velcro silencer.

I will have a full review on both after this weekend.

Better go and start packing!

Night time list making

Before big events, I like to lay in bed and not go to sleep. I like to think about what I might forget to take with me. Okay, I don't really like it, but I was trying to embrace it.

I'm taking my new Crumpler bag to the Anime Convention. Not because it will be filled with all my camera stuff, but because it's big enough to carry other thing too, like...

- 1 or 2 lenses

- camera, which will be on me most of the time thanks to my new strap (LOVING IT)

- water bottle

- money

- id

- extra batteries

- snacks

- phone

- ipod

- gum, floss, lip gloss

- all the things the kids buy and can't fit in their bag

- and whatever else I'm forgetting, if you can think of something, let me know.

And then there's the other stuff, what to pack in the van...

- snacks

- drinks

- pillows

- cots

- camera bag

- but leave room for what we might buy at Ikea

There's the list of places we must go, which has changed since last year...

- a scrapbook store, not 3 or more

- Metrotown, and M&M Asian Market, we love it there

- the Anime Convention

- somewhere to eat out at least once

- maybe a camera store, but I don't need anything

- Ikea

- shoe store, gotta check the new Keen selection out

- Old Navy

And then there's the 'should we leave early Friday or late Thursday?' question.

Shaun says Thursday but he can be up early, 3:30 am to leave on Friday. I can be up at 7 am.

If we leave Thursday, we can go bright and early to the convention. This is a pro and a con.

We may be able to register Thursday.

OH, and let's not forget that the van is going for servicing on Thursday. What if someone forgets to put a lug nut back on or a cap on my oil?

And don't even get me started on the wedding shoot!

It's no wonder I've been up later and later but why do I still wake up at 7?

RS-W1, I think I love you!

I think it was very fitting that I got my RS-W1 camera strap today from LaRae Lobdell's contest. I had told Kerry that if I didn't win the strap in the contest, he could buy it for me for my birthday. Black Rapid decided to give everyone that entered LaRae's contest a strap and my free strap came today on my birthday. I will try to take a picture of me with the strap all set up. It's so awesome, it will be great at the Anime Convention this weekend. I could write a sappy blog post about how on this day just a few years ago, my parents welcomed me into the world. But instead I'll tell you about my selfless cake day. Normally, I get an ice cream cake, I don't even like them. But everyone else does. This year, with picky kid in Vancouver for my birthday I decided to think of my cake needs. And so I got a big ol' Costco carrot cake for my birthday. And as it is when ever a Costco cake is at a party, there is about 1/2 of it left. I'll try to pawn some off to the girls tonight.I don't drink alcoholic beverages. But Palm Bay seems to make it to our fridge almost every week. I open a can, drink a few sips and declare alcohol putrid. Yesterday was a different story. I drank 3/4 of a can, and when asked how old I was by Dave (aka Mad Dog) I said 28. He laughed and said he didn't believe me. I said what the heck? What's not to believe? My dad was laughing and Dave kept saying nope, I wasn't 28. I was offended and then said "What? Did you ask me if I was 28, because I'm not! I'm 38!" Which made them both laugh harder. I was cut off.

Birthday weekend begins!

I'm hard to shop for. I don't NEED anything, I already have the best husband, the greatest kids, and most well behaved dogs, so finding something for my birthday is always hard.

And I have the best sense of humour.

I do need a bigger camera bag. I've got my most beloved Shootsac, but nothing to hold all my goodies when travelling down the Oregon Coast. Or just to store my camera in when not in use, which is hardly ever, but you get the idea.
So I got this for my birthday! I love Crumpler stuff and after much debate, this is the bag I got, a 7 million dollar home.
It has snazzy Velcro Silencers, Crumpler thinks of everything.
And I can fit everything I own that is camera related in this bag. And Kerry said there's room for more lenses, what could he mean by that? I don't NEED any more. Only problem is I can hardly lift the bag.
And to make it sweeter/bittersweet, I don't know. It had a very noticeable(to my critical eyes) pen mark on the flap. I asked about another bag, there wasn't one and I got a 10% discount. It bothers me, but I could always put a big button or something on it.

Woofs and Meows

Everyone knows I have a million pictures of Sally and Linus. I'm sure you've seen a few. They are some of the most photographed dogs in history. They are the most willing and co-operative photo subjects I know so I practice all my skills on them.
So don't fall over with surprise at the following photos. All are SOOC, taken with my Tamron 28-70mm lens. Such a good, sweet girl!

He's talking to me, he wants me to throw his stick. Woo woo Woo.

This little girl was posing all over the place for photos.

And not to be too baised but this guy is my favourite cat. I'm not a cat lover, but I'm a cat liker. This is sweet baby Tucker. My maiden name is Tucker. This cat is a lover! Just look at that face! Kiss kiss!

Oh, what? No kisses?

Have camera will travel

It's no secret that I love to take pictures. I love to practice my skills and will bring my camera
EVERYWHERE. With that big purse I made, it's possible to take my camera everywhere now.
A few weekends ago, the local mountain bike club opened a skills park, MTBCO. It's not to far from where we live. We went down and checked out the opening ceremonies. And of course, I took a few pictures. You can see the rest at my smugmug gallery. I've discovered I like action photography and I've made some doing it. It's not the same as babies, mmmm babies, but it's less stressful than weddings.
Just as we were leaving, Kerry says "See that guy in the blue, that's Cody, he's a pro rider." All I can say is at least he pulls his pant up and wears a belt! SOOC with a little crop here and there.

Smoked out

It's been unbelievably smokey due to forest fires burning all around, but not too near to us. Being in a valley, we tend to see a lot of smoke. It makes for lots of indoor excursions, movies, shopping, naps.

And gives me more time to re-do Karen Russell's Photographers' Workshop. Marina and I are doing it again. I think it's taken me 3 weeks to do week 0-1. I took Baby Bear out to the back yard to do the assignment. He's so willing. He got to sit in my new basket, which went well with my old thrift store blanket.

I ran a few actions on the first one.
And for this one, I used textures, which I haven't done before.

On Monday, because it was a holiday, we went to the bird sanctuary. With all the smoke, the animals were hiding. I was not impressed. The only things in the bushes were humans.

But I did see this....

And as always, ducks....

And boardwalks....

And red winged black birds....
And one lonely painted turtle...
More boardwalks....
And lots of bugs. Kerry was bit far worse, I had one bite on my arm. I think the smoke does not affect the mosquitoes one bit.

It's oh so quiet here.

Things are in the works right now...
1. another trip to the happiest place on earth, most likely driving down so that we can eat our way to Disneyland
2. my birthday, I was asked what kind of cake I want, and I want carrot cake and instead of picking something that everyone loves, I stuck to my guns and said "I will have carrot cake!"
3. the anime convention (which means I had to turn down 2 photojobs, both involving love)
4. photographing a wedding at the end of the month
5. weeding my garden so that my 4-6 beets will thrive
6. went to a 'funeral' for a life cut too short
7. Dad busted his "swelbow" on his bike
8. Emily is going to Vancouver 5 days before Shaun and I are (I'm nervous for her)
9. killed 8 or more ants in the bathroom
10. took a bunch of things to the Salvation Army as donations for those that lost their appartment in the fire

I'm an Auntie.

I know what you are thinking, those kids can't be related to you! And you'd be right. Do I love them any less? No.

Kerry has a niece and nephew that we don't see very often and they are teenagers, that says it all and there aren't any other kids on my side. If my cousins would get on that soon, a lot of Aunties would be happy. With our kids being older, it's not so cool to do what mom wants to do. So when my bff asks me if I want to hang out at the water park with her and her 2 kidlets, I go. And when they call me "Auntie Kelli" (or Ke-yee as the little ones says) I get a warm tingly feeling, and it's not because the big one wrapped her wet, warm self around my legs. It's my heart growing 3 sizes!The kids had a great time, I got soaked and I got a few pictures. Sadly, I don't have pictures like this of my kids. Those poor kids grew up in the day of film and parents who more often than not forgot to bring the camera or forgot to put film in it. Case in point, a trip to the PNE. We took so many pictures only to find out the unlimited roll was also an invisible roll.
I do have pictures like this of my kids, with similar un-happy faces due to the fact the camera is pointed in their direction. Only this isn't un-happy...

It's pure joy!

A great response to "Your camera takes such great pictures!"

Interesting blog post by a fellow photographer...here. I've had the occasional "I've got the same camera that you have, why don't my pictures look like yours?" or "You just hold the camera and push the button, why would I pay for that?" I'm not professing to be a pro or to know more about anything than anyone else, there's a lot I don't know about cameras, but I love taking pictures and I hope it shows in my work.

I'm really bummed. My far away friend, Jenn is getting married in Aug. and she asked me to shoot the wedding. I'm so touched that she would ask me and I'm so po'd that it's the same weekend as the Anime Convention. I love going to the convention, it's a feast for the eyes, both a good and bad meal. But I love weddings too. And I'm so happy for Jenn! I need a time machine!

Sunday was the grand opening of the Mountain Bike Skills park and we took Linus and my busted elbow dad down to check it out. The really neat part is that is really close to us. The sad part, Kerry and dad are too cautious (scared) to ride it.

Gallery reminder

If you want to see the rest of my photoshoots, like the baptism or May's wedding, don't forget to check them out in my smugmug gallery.

World Wide Photowalk

Yesterday was World Wide Photo Walk day. Anyone with any camera can go. We met at the Eldorado and wandered around inside and out taking pictures. I woke up late and didn't have my mojo or something. But I did get a few pictures. I took less than 70. This is on the putting green at Manteo Resort.I think out of the 70 pictures I took, 20 were of ducks.We had brunch afterwards and looked over our pictures, and talked camera talk. I got this picture because Kerry's favourite beer is Stella.
It was a nice walk, doing what I love to do the most, and it was really neat that out of the maybe 14 people that actually came, I knew 4 of them. I hope Derek, Marg, Marina, and Kelly got some great pictures, and so sorry that Terry couldn't make it. I think it would be neat to do something like this in the fall too.

I'm so excited to share that I sold a couple of mountain biking photos, and had one of my Pathfinder camp photos in the Girl Guide newsletter.