Reed College Canyon

This is where I am going today. I loved this place two years agao when I went regularly with my son's class when he was in sixth grade. Today I am going along with his class now that he is in eighth grade. Hoping it clears my mind.

It's Studio Sunday Again

Here's what has been in my studio most recently (as in today and yesterday): 

This is the latest bedroom door sign I've gotten to do. This time for Adam. It is on it's way to California. 

I took one of the leaf photos from yesterday's blog post and played with it, adding a phrase I remember a friend of ours sending to her then boyfriend (now husband) with a note and a leaf... and added it to the shop. Planning to hang it in our golden yellow living room soon. Here's hoping both leaves and love are in the air this autumn.

Next up should be pendants. I got chains to go with them but they are 24" long and that just seems too low to wear with most outfits. Someone tell me if I'm wrong. I'm hoping to return for shorter chains but for now I may just sell the pendants, allowing folks to add to chains they already own or going out and finding ones they love to go with my pendants. 

Hopefully 3rd time is the charm. I've had two attempts so far following a tutorial. First time didn't work well at all but I figured out that I needed to work on wax paper and hadn't been told to cut the photo quite a bit larger than the glass and cut down later. 

Second time was better but I found that the way the tutorial told me to trim the photos didn't turn out as well as I liked. Luckily, I experimented and got one good pendant (Country Door) and figured out to use my matte knife rather than scissors or nail clips for my trimming. Wish me luck. If they work out, a handful of pendants just may show up in the shop this week. 

Ciao for now, 

Mama Zuzi 

Ode to Autumn

It is a gorgeous autumn day in the NW. Sunshine and 71 degrees. I am busy but still wanted to snap a couple shots that remind me of this time of year. I want to go out in search of a lot of differing colored leaves but for now I found these on our in-need-of-repair back deck:

 

And then there's Penny, our rescue dog. Something about her Golden Retriever color just always says autumn to me... but especially when she is falling asleep on the deck in the October sunshine. 

Hope you are enjoying a nice fall nap or some time in the outdoors. 

Ciao for now, 

Mama Zuzi 

What a Shot Wednesday

This is perfect for me today. I took it a couple of months ago and then played with removed the color from the background. It took me 1.5 hours to get home from work tonight so I didn't really have the time, the light or the energy to take a new shot. 

And speaking of photos I love... how can you not love this baby with parents reflected in these sunglasses? I LOVE it! Too bad my kids are too old to do this to/with! http://www.favething.com/christine/photo-ideas/baby-photography-2/

And then there's this guy (PeeTee): 

And now this extremely tired Mama is gonna watch a little stupid television and head to bed!

Sweet dreams,

Mama Zuzi

Tutorial - How I Make My Backgrounds for Listings

Since I started re-shooting my listings for the shop (at least the card ones so far), and had some interest in the process, here is a brief tutorial (if you will) on setting up and taking listing photos for my shop. Here's an old listing: https://www.etsy.com/listing/68167526/bleedings-hearts-blank-card-mini-set-of?ref=shop_home_active

1. I started with the top of our refrigerator

2. Add a fairly neutral but beautiful art paper with magnets

3. Add a photo note card (magnet hidden inside)

4. Add an envelope (tuck behind card - with or without magnet

5. I added a branch for a little interest and perspective

6. Zoom in and finish! 

I hope you have enjoyed peeking inside my creative process. I like the results but would be interested in hearing your opinion as well. I am weighing whether or not to use this same backdrop presentation in some way for my photo prints. Check out the actual listing in the shop... https://www.etsy.com/listing/67386771/photo-note-card-sunflower-photo-card?ref=shop_home_active

I hope you'll share your thoughts in a comment below! 

Ciao for now, 

Mama 

Things I'm Liking Sunday - Cinco de Mayo Edition

It's that time again. I know you've been counting the days. It's time for "Things I'm Liking" Sunday! 

To tell you the truth, the #1 thing I'm liking today is the gloriously windy and warm Portland weather. I know it is at least 85 degrees outside at 5 pm. This weather is going to make it VERY hard to go back to the office tomorrow. I'm also liking the fact that it appears our dopey puppy Olivia has yet again beat the odds and seems to be back to her old self -- as bouncy as ever. Go figure. I'm starting to call her "Super Dog." No better canine play mate for Bat Penny than Super Dog! 


It also just happens to be Cinco de Mayo and in honor of the day, I bring you my most favorite of items that marks the occasion with a great message (wish I had one right now): 

I didn't find it in time for this year, but maybe I can order and have it ready for next year! You can see more fun signs by the maker of this great one at: Kickstandsupsignco.

And speaking of celebrations, I'm trying to think of just how to celebrate my birthday which is coming up next month. Maybe I should call up Prince and ask him what he's gonna do, since we share the day ;-) Of course I'm kidding. I don't have his phone number. I do need to figure out what I want to do to mark my big day. If I was gonna have a party (which I don't really want to do), I'd  buy myself this gorgeous dish and serve something in it! Gosh help me, I have fallen in love with a bowl.

If you are into vintage, such as this beautiful bowl, and don't have the time to go out and scour the yard and estate sales for yourself, give a look at this fun Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RinnovatoVintage?ref=seller_info.

Last but not least, I'm madly in love with the process of re-taking photos for my note card listings in my shop. I went to Paper Source on 23rd in NW Portland and the reviews were all true. The staff was totally nice and helpful and I finally found gorgeous card stock and envelopes and other goodies that I needed. I'll likely post a photo essay on my process tomorrow but for today, let me just leave you with this teaser... 

To see more, just hop over to the shop. You can also see more images and get more information by following Mama Picture This on Facebook! And if you are more a twitter kinda person, there's always https://twitter.com/mamazuzi. 

Happy Easter Peeps!

Happy Easter! Enjoy the day, whether as a religious celebration or a day that bunny's bring you chocolate or even as a beautiful sign of spring and summer to come. As so often happens with holiday cards and photo images... I took this yesterday of an egg we made for the Easter Bunny to hide. Of course, now it is Easter and tomorrow it is over for yet another year. So... maybe next year this will be a card in the shop. I suppose it could also just be an image for Spring without the Happy Easter parts or it could be both. Regardless, I enjoyed making the egg and the image and so I am sharing it with you! I hope you have a wonderful day today, no matter what you choose to do. 

June - What a Wonderful Month!

This month has been a whirlwind of activity for me. Despite having reached an age that I cannot believe I actually am, I have had a great month.

And what is so great, you might ask. Well, I'll
tell you what. 

1) School is out and we found a great nanny to watch the kids one day a week (big sister of school mates).

2) I got to celebrate my birthday not once, but TWICE this year at Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop (Thank you Sarah)!

3) I had (and the photos are still up) my FIRST EVER photo show at Fizz called "Eye Candy." (Thanks so much to Thomas Webb my wonderful painter friend for helping me through the process! The show isn't over yet... runs through the end of the month (or a day or 2 shy).

4) I sold 4 images from the show thus far (see photo collage): Shine Exposure (upper left), Tulip Trail (upper right), NH Dragons (middle) and Shine (bottom)!

5) If you like my Mama Picture This Facebook page in June, you will be eligible to win one of my "Eye Candy" pieces through a random drawing in early July... don't miss out. Like Mama Picture This today! 

6) I am beginning to list the images from the "Eye Candy" show in the Mama Picture This Etsy Shop.

7) I am open to any of my photos being made available for special order or by request in the shop. Just email me.

And not only are there 7 great things about this month so far, but my birthday is on the 7 th and  7  is my favorite number. Rock on my peeps! Thanks to everyone who has made this a month to remember.

A typical day in SE Portland

Loving the leaves

The most popular card set ever is back in the shop!

In the Etsy Shop...