How do I feel about airbrushing?

How do I honestly and truly feel about airbrushing?

I'm for it. Bring it on. In moderation.

This photo on the cover of a Costco Connection

magazine bothers me.

What woman says put me on the cover of a magazine

and show all my flaws? Would a little airbrushing

here of her smile lines and creases hurt?

Wouldn't we still recognize her as 

Caroline Kennedy? Well...yes, we would.

We re-touch pimples on kids school pictures.

It still looks like our kid. Who needs the zits in

the picture. Do we need to remember those?

A picture is a memory. It's a time capsule.

It's there forever. We all want to be remembered 

as looking fresh and rested...at our best.

So Caroline is older. She has wrinkles. We all do when

we smile. Even babies. We crease up. That's what forms 

those lines after years of smiling and crying too. 

(and I'll admit...gravity too...It keeps us

grounded in more ways than one.)

We have them. We earned them. We own them.

We see them in the mirror everyday.

They are there. We all know it.

I'm not saying deny the truth. But if your dress has

a tear or stain we didn't notice, would they

air brush that out? Sure they would.

When I take a photo of some work I've done and

there is some lint or misplaced junk in the photo, do

I use that retouch button in my iphoto?  Yes.

I also use the "enhance" and "exposure", "sharpness" and

"de-noise" features to get the best photo. 

It doesn't change the integrity of the original. It

just makes it nicer to view.

Most of my pictures of my work are pictures of 

inanimate objects. They don't care.

But if I take a picture of a person and it has

a flaw or two, I fix it. It's still the same person.

They look at their best at that moment in time.

Whatever age they are.

You can't change them into babies if they are

grandparents. That would be crazy and unreasonable.

But why not bring out the best in them.

That's why folks wear nice clothes. To bring out

the best. That's why we comb our hair before we

take a picture if we have the chance.

We want the picture to reflect us at our best.

Now really...do you think this photographer and 

whoever was in charge of putting this photo on the 

cover really wanted Caroline to look her best?

I think not for some odd reason.

Do they think it makes a better cover?

Well not in my opinion.

Here's a really sexist remark (sorry): But I think

maybe it was a man who made that decision.

Could it be a woman who made that decision?

I would hope not. But maybe.

People can be mean to each other. 

Look at all those tabloid magazines.

But this was on a Costco magazine.

Really...Costco? It's not a tabloid.

It's also not a Glamor magazine, I know that.

It's about everyday people and everyday things.

Was that what they wanted to show?

"Everyday Caroline"? 

Party Centerpiece Construction Instructions

Here's an example of an "instruction

sheet" we send with items we make.

We assemble everything and take

a picture and then take it somewhat apart

for the shipping process.

I add any notes on anything that looks

like further instructions would be

helpful or mark where things go.

Here's an assembly page I send out with

our elevated guitar centerpieces.

This page I can use over and over but this next 

page was specific only to this centerpiece.

I often end up with lots of these pages because

most everything we send out is unique and

different each time.

We're in a niche. 

Our niche is "custom themed party

centerpieces and signs". Pretty specific.

Not something you'd find

on a big box place Amazon.

I'm sometimes so amazed folks can

find us on this big internet...but they do.

Google must like us. If they know us.

Hey Google, do you know us? 

Do you "like" us?

Hey...I forgot for a moment this 

wasn't Facebook.

:)

Apple's iWeb is bad...what the heck?

Let me say first that I'm a HUGE Apple fan. I have Mac computers, an iphone and an ipad. I would NEVER...repeat NEVER....switch back to a Microsoft computer. You couldn't drop one in my lap for free and make me use it. That's how much I love my Mac computer and all things from the Apple Store.

That's why I'm so bummed and really surprised that their software iWeb is so darn bad.

I've tried about 6 different variations of website building software. By far my favorite is Bravenet. This isn't an ad for Bravenet but I've had websites with them for going on 7 years and I love how easy it is to have a website with them. I can't say the same about that iWeb software that came on my computer and their soon-to-be-fazed out Mobile Me.

How can it be so bad? They do things so well....most of the time. But iWeb they really missed the mark.

I understand they know they missed the mark and iweb won't be shipping with new computers coming out next year. I've heard that from hanging around in the Apple Store.  It's a happy place for me. I take classes and drool over their stuff as often as I can get that into my schedule.

Give me a day to work on a Personal Project in the Apple Store with an Apple expert there to help me out...well...for me...that hangs close to the top of my favorite things to do. I come home filled to the brim with new information and problems solved.

But I digress.....

I know that you learn something best by just jumping right in. So I bought a pretty website template. A template only available to use with iweb though. First mistake. But I'm riding my learning curve.

I struggled with the site and learned stuff. It wasn't great. But it wasn't like I needed it to be great. I was taking it for a test ride. I played around with ideas then I just left it hanging around out there on the web.   I just left it out there to Google along. Recently I headed back to it and made some changes.

Since Mobile Me will be fazed out next year I had to transfer it somewhere. So with the help of an Apple Store instructor,  I FTP'ed it to Bravenet. But since it was an iWeb-made website, I had to keep using iWeb to update it and then re-send it over to Bravenet after each change.

Again, I struggled along. It was really annoying so I only made a 6 page website. The list of what I don't like about this software is long but the worst is that you can't work much "behind the scenes"... even if you want to. Apple believes in protecting you from yourself so they only let you go so far. Then you are blocked out.

I'm not an HTML genius or webmaster extraordinaire. Not even close. I'd consider myself an intermediate. Middle intermediate at best....not a high level one. But I do know some HTML code. I wanted and needed to get behind the scenes. Just a little more. But nope. Not allowed except for their crazy little "snippets". They know us middle intermediate types needed to be stopped at the door.

I won't go into all the boring details or spend time on a constructive critique of some software that I've heard is not going to be updated or improved.

But one page of my small little 6 page website inspired me to write an About Us page.  Check it out until I screw up the link and it doesn't work anymore.  It looks like this but if you go directly there you may be able to read it better and see the other pages of my test-run website devoted to Party Placecards.

 

http://www.barmitzvahplacecards.com/Party_Placecards/About_Us.html

My first Party Decoration and how I got started...the good and bad of it.

Here's the VERY FIRST

party decoration I ever did.

It was over 20 years ago.

I find it funny and a quirky coincidence (?) that

it was something to do with guitars since

we now have a complete website devoted to 

guitar centerpieces.

We've done many other themes thru the years.

So why was the first thing I ever did a guitar thing?

Hard to figure.

I didn't make the decision to make this boy with 

a guitar. Someone asked me to.

How it came about was that I was sitting at

the bar of our favorite restaurant with my husband.

We were eating a late afternoon Saturday lunch and 

enjoying the surrounding

company and having a drink or two.

A party planner was doing a party in the downstairs 

banquet room which was an extremely 

popular party venue at the time. 

She kept coming upstairs about every 1/2 hour (or less) and 

ordered a drink and was chatty and friendly. 

We struck up a conversation. 

She asked what I did and I told her one of the things 

I had recently done was paint the doors of 

this restaurants ladies and mens room with a caricature 

of a woman and a man...sorta

vintage 1920's style people. 

A 40-ish man with a moustache and a big busted elderly 

sophisticated woman with a hat.

(It was that kind of restaurant....kinda colorful and funky and fun. 

Darn...I wish I could find a picture of those doors now.)

She asked me if I could do a figure of a boy playing a guitar if she

gave me a photo of his face.  I  figured I could try.

I have to say I worked really hard on it for hardly any money.

But it worked out well and she asked me to do more stuff.

I did and I did and I did some more. Wow... she kept me busy.

Actually she kept me very busy until things fell apart for her because

she had a drinking problem...and some other issues too like a chronic

"runny nose" and a need to wear sunglasses indoors. I was slow to catch on to

the "issues" and the fact that her 2 employees were doing their best to keep

the business going until even they gave up. They branched out on their own

and she went to rehab and then into another line of business.

Isn't life so messy sometimes?

By then, my name was getting known around town as 

someone to call for themed bar/bat mitzvah and sweet 16 party 

decorations and I started working with lots of people. 

And here I am today. 

Still working with lots of people.

Foamcore Letters for Signs in 2 different ways

COMPUTER LETTERS or HAND CUT LETTERS?

(Here's some answers to the question I often need to answer.)

Both use foamcore.

One uses the computer.

One uses paint and glitter.

The computer letters work well for
smaller letters or more intricate fonts like 
these curly letters and can be simpler to work with.

Here's a sign done all in computer letters.

Here's a close-up.

 These letters were printed on the computer and

then mounted on foamcore.

Then they were cut out around the shape of

the outline around the letter. 

Another way to do it is to cut out each letter.

Then paint and glitter those letters.

Then mount those letters on 2 or 3 more layers.

Like this one here.

Here's a close-up of the Joshua letters.

Both require a sharp knife to 
cut around the foamcore.


We like both styles.


We can suggest which is the best option to 
fit the sign situation for both the budget and 
to get the best look.

CANDY Centerpieces for Parties

 Making candy centerpieces for parties is hazardous to my health. We have to buy too many sample boxes and then I just eat too much candy. Yum Yum.....I like my job....hazards or not.

Big boxes elevated up on poles or low centerpieces sitting under eye level...both work.

I can't think of any flavor of candy that won't work for this theme. 

We've done all chocolate. That's good.

We've done assorted. That's good.

My personal favorite candy is Good 'n Plenty. 

I love black licorice.

I also like Sweet Tarts.

Don't let me near those. I'll eat the whole box.

I think these boxes of candy look cute all by

themselves but when there is other candy added, 

I think it just goes over the top.

I think other centerpiece themes are healthier but

who wants to do a broccoli party? I've never heard of one.

Maybe we should stick to foamcore lollipops like these?

We also make many Sweet Shoppe signs that
look great sitting on your candy table or sweet table.
Click on this picture if you'd like to read that
Blog Post.

Or, send us an email if you'd like
some of our designs for
YOUR PARTY or other
big party signs with sweet ideas.

marlyss@mac.com

Artsy Gazebo

When Jacob and I were in Arizona we went to the Desert Museum.

They had the most wonderfully artistic gazebo with a beautiful view.

As someone who really likes twisted wood and things built with them, I

had a hard time moving on from this spot. 

I would have like to take it home and put it in my yard. 

I'd hang some plants and put some natural wood 

furniture underneath it. 

You know... the kind you'd find at an art fair.

Maybe hang a swing....although I'm not sure where.

It's wild and crazy looking, isn't it? Maybe the swing isn't

such a good idea.

Airplane trip to Arizona

Assorted random thoughts on our trip:

AIRPLANE:
1. I love flying on an airplane. The flight attendants are old. I always thought they were young and pretty but I haven't seen one of those. They all look around 40-60 years old and tired. That surprised me.

2. Food in the airport is pretty good. Good coffee and good variety. I had some taco thing with great re-fried beans..not those mushy dog food like kind.

3. Nobody checked Jacob's I.D. either coming or going. But they patted my body down once on the way home and scanned my water bottle for "vapors" and emptied my backpack to look around it. I was fine with it all. Neither was an intrusion or anything that offended me. In fact, I like the diligence. Go for it.

FORGETTING THINGS:
I didn't forget one thing. Of course, as I said before, I pack like Monk. My suitcase weighed 44 pounds on the way home. I checked it, of course. I loved the fact that I didn't have to lug it around the airport or try and squeeze it into some overhead compartment because I had packed lighter so I wouldn't have to pay the $25. For me, it was worth it.

TUCSON AIRPORT:
Wow! Great signs everywhere. It was so easy to navigate thru. You'd have to be brain dead not to figure out how to get anywhere.

Great electronic charging station counters. I loved them and received wonderful WiFi reception.

JACOB...My TRAVELING COMPANION:
What can I say. He's the best person I've ever traveled with.

OUR TARANTULA CONFERENCE:
That's for another blog but it was unusual, interesting, informative and a well planned event. I got a kick out of it.

THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT HAVING TO GO HOME:
1'm going to get to install Lion on my computer.

TUCSON, ARIZONA:
Beautiful...absolutely breathtaking beautiful. If I couldn't live on water...which I do...I would want to live by mountains. They do what water does...change with the clouds in the sky and where your body is viewing them and every view is a good one. There is no bad view of a mountain or no bad view of a body of water.

The Raffle

We sat at the pizza dinner/raffle at the same table as the lady who started The American Tarantula Society in 1991. She is an 8th grade science teacher right now.
She had 2 sons that shared her tarantula hobby as they were growing up.

She had 1,000 (yes, that's not a typo) tarantulas when her oldest son got meningitis at 18 years old and died in 1998.

Since it was a shared hobby with her boys she couldn't even go into her tarantula room any more and they started dying. She lost over half of them before her youngest son helped pull her out of her well of despair and they could start caring for them again.

This was the 13th annual Tarantula Society Conference and the first one she was able to come to even though she was the original founder of the idea and others had to take over when her heart breaking tragedy occurred.

She's on the other side of the pain...as they say....but her story stabbed my heart.

You sure can't just look at a person and see what scars they may be carrying inside.

Tarantula burrows

Are you interested in knowing about tarantula burrows in the Arizona desert? If so, read on. If not, then run away to something else on the web. Hey...speaking of "web".....that's what this is about.

That's how you identify a tarantula hole from a hole that is not as much fun to explore. You look for the soft webbing across the hole. It's a very subtle thing and hard to spot...at least for me....not so much for Jacob.

Then you insert a tiny soft stick inside and "tickle" it out. It thinks it food and is intrigued and either comes out fast and quick or more tenuous and slowly. You never know.

You can also pour a little water into the hole and that encourages them to come out.

Jacob will sometimes start digging to discover the tunnel of the burrow if he thinks it went way down into it's hole. He gets in that hunter mode.

Now wasn't that interesting?

Night hike and Arizona scenery

Jake and I took a long night walk in the dark of night (with a guide) into the mountains looking for tarantulas in their burrows and scorpions under a black light. It was an incredible adventure. Knowing that there were rattlesnakes around us, we treaded carefully.

It was a lovely 85 degrees with a slight breeze. Nonetheless, walking up the gradual incline made me sweaty. Or, maybe it was the thought of the snakes, I'm not sure.

I really liked walking in the dark. I'm not sure why. Usually I don't like the dark. I leave lots of lights on in my house. But this was a beautiful adventure.

I even took one of those scenery pictures that probably a million people have taken just before we set out. I think I'll make it my new computer desktop picture.

Ken The Bug Guy

Jacob got to meet Ken The Bug Guy. The celebrity of the tarantula world who had the tv show.

Weird pointed kid-friendly plant?

Not touching tarantulas or sharp prickly things. Nope....he's definitely not. I won't let him and definitely wouldn't take picture.

Tarantula holes in the ground

Jacob has had amazing success in finding live 

tarantulas in the wild on our visit to Arizona.

Jake looks for small round holes with webs over them and then goes for it.

Sometimes putting some water in the hole helps the spider come to the surface.

Here's a video of Jake in action.

Tarantula coming out of it's hole from Marlyss Hollyer on Vimeo.

Type in the word 'tarantula' in the search bar if you want to
read more about Jake's adventurous hobby.

Tarantula in hand....straight from the ground