Wanna Know How to Make National and International Calls for Free?

One of these days the free online stuff will be a thing of the past. For now though, you can do lots of stuff without spending a penny. Skype is an internet phone service. You can set up a free account and dial any other Skype user around the world and talk for free. [Free calls come in handy when you get that show in Buenos Aires, Paris or Sydney!] I’ll admit the audio quality isn’t as good as an old-style Ma Bell phone, but then again, what phone service these days does? If you have a video camera built in or attached to your computer, you can speak face-to-face with your caller. Our son really enjoys video calls with my husband when he’s traveling. If you want to get rid of your hard-wire telephone line altogether, you can buy a Skype phone and set up a paying account at a fraction of what you’re spending now. Of course, who knows how long these internet deals will last.

Great Book Starring Chelsea Gallery Owner

Sometimes spending a lazy day with a good book is the best medicine. Just read what my mom would call a good beach read—not too challenging intellectually, but a real page turner—The Genius by Jesse Kellerman. The premise of the book is that a young Chelsea Gallery owner discovers the abandoned work of an artist who’s created a single piece of art out of thousands of 8-1/2 x 11 size pages. On the back of each small page is the number of the page that should line up with each edge. Imagine a mind that can recall all those pieces so precisely. Grab a copy and let me know what you think.

Make Fabric from Photos

Ever wanted to make a shirt or a tablecloth from one of your photos? I found a neat website—spoonflower.com—that creates fabric from photos or drawings. Here's one of the designs from their library. Though I haven’t tried it yet, the process looks pretty simple. Upload a jpg, png, tif, or gif file of your photo or design. Select what size fabric you’d like (swatch 8”x8”, 1 yard, 2 yards, etc.). Then you decide whether you’d like the design to print once in the center or create a repeat pattern that will fill the area of your fabric order. The orders are printed on 100% cotton fabric and cost $18.00 per yard ($5.00 for an 8”x8” swatch). The company is a new one, so orders could take up to 3 weeks. After they get through the beta testing stage, you’ll even be able to sell your fabric on their site if you’d like. What fun. I’ve got to try this.

Insider's Look: New Beginnings

My Photo Stories
Richard chased Susannah laughing through the field below the orchard; unable to wait, he ripped off her dress.
Or…
She thought of him leaving with that young woman as she angrily threw every object in the house reminding her of their 30-year marriage into the back field.
Or…
After her last daughter chose not to wear the silk wedding gown she’d so lovingly saved, Esther gave it to her granddaughter to wear around the house.Or…what are your story ideas?

Behind the Photo
My friend Nadine Robbins loaned me her wedding dress for this shot. The orchard is very close to my home and I always enjoy the burst of flowering trees early in the spring. They should be blooming soon!

Be the first to buy a New Beginnings print and get a 50% discount on the size of your choice. This is my March 2009 home page photo, part of my Truths, Lies and Legends collection.

Black-and-White Power

Recently, I was looking for a photograph for an old client and stumbled on these portraits I took years ago. It made me think that color isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Maybe I should consider shooting portraits again. Anyone interested?

p.s. Anyone recognize the woman posing alone?

Blog-o-Meter Reading February 27, 2009

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