this is what my weekend looked like

I have been itching since Friday to cook up some whoopie pies. Ever since I saw it in a wonderful recipe book that same day at the shops. I tried a recipe that I found online and it was a disaster, I wish I had the time today but I am still in my pj's and I still have so much to work to do for uni.  I have a photojournalism exercise due tomorrow 'people & public events' that I went into the city for.  We walked the entire harbour bridge for a drug free walk.  I haven't been brave enough to look at the photos yet and I hoping with all hope there are six that are fairly decent photos that I can hand in tomorrow...yikes!

It is time to get out of these pyjama's and maybe step outside into the sunlight as I have had my eyes on my iPhone this whole weekend reading busily (and a little crazily) 'the help' and I got to say love, love, LOVED it! It was truly enchanting and the time I wasn't reading it I was thinking about Aibileen and Minny the whole time. It was hard putting it down and the last chapter had me in tears...I was glad I was alone for that, I always feel a little silly crying while reading a book. I can't wait to watch the movie and I might take myself to watch it tomorrow after class although little sis will be upset with me, she wanted to take me to watch it.

I finally was brave enough to check out the photos...I am getting tired just looking at that bridge, it was a long walk!

op shop finds & mail

originally I went to the op shop just to find an old shirt (to make a pillow) for my design issues assignment but seeing as I don't have a sewing machine and I didn't want to sew by hand I quickly changed my mind and bought old cutlery AND ended up with a little more than old cutlery in my shopping basket....oh dear!










Isn't the baby sheet simply divine? I love how adorable it is! and this is the end result for my uni assignment



AND when I got back home I found lovely surprises in my mailbox :D eek! it is always a good day when mail arrives. Thanks Ezgi :D



and this was a book order...wrapped so adorably making it so incredibly hard to open

my long weekend

I have been awake since very early today. My love & two of my boys went camping this morning, the sun was shining and I really wished I was tagging along too.  I am to spend this weekend here in my house without being able to go anywhere as my love took my car.  His work van has three seats but only two seat belts so I can't take my other two anywhere and the blue car has no registration. We really need to get registration soon and sell it once and for all!  So at around 12 I decided to go for a bike ride with my daughter and I took my camera and its bag plus another camera in a tote bag. It was the worst bike ride ever! I barely made it. My bottom was so sore and it got me thinking either my bottom is getting to accustomed to luxury seats or that bike seat was extra hard and the tote bag was swinging all over the place, I really didn't think that through too well.  We stayed for the briefest moment at the park, it was far too windy and cool, so utterly disappointing! I got back home (barely) and made lunch for us and now just sitting around noticing how painfully quiet it is without my other two boys, it is funny how much difference it is with three people missing.

So here is hoping that the weather gets a little cooler and it maybe starts to rain a little...and they will be forced to come back home.  I am truly very terrible.

Time for a hot chocolate I think....I'm freezing! and a little reading in bed, it is the perfect weather for it.

how to make an animated gif in photoshop

this little tutorial is especially prepared for Gracie...I'm sorry dearest that I've taken so long to get around to it :(  but I didn't forget. I hope you understand it all, if not let me know and I will explain in more detail.  I will be using photoshop cs5, I prefer it to gif animators as the images turn out pixelated

[+] so the first step is to take various photos trying extremely hard not to move the camera (use a tripod if it makes it easier) of anything you would like to animate

[+] open your images in photoshop that you will use for your animation. It can be as many as you like and apply any effects that you like

[+] create a new blank canvas with the proportions of your photos, here is a screenshot of the dimensions I usually use for photos



[+] Go to Window and select animation, you will see a little animation dialogue box appear and it is here you will do all your animation.  On the bottom right-hand corner select 'convert to frame animation' it should look like this



[+] In the animation dialogue box, at the bottom (next to the trash can) select 'duplicate selected frames' with the number of images you will be using.  I am using four for my animation so I have four frames.

[+] Select your first image and paste in your new blank canvas, select the second photo and paste in the blank canvas and do this with the rest of the images, you should have four layers in layers palette with your four images




[+] Now go to the animation window selecting your first frame and in your layers palette hide all the layers except layer 1 (as shown in picture above).  Go to your next animation frame and again in your layers palette hide the first layer and select layer 2 and hide all the other layers.  Continue to do this with all the remaining animation frames.

[+] Below each animation frame is a frame delay time, select the time you would like I am using 0.5 sec, you can make it as fast or as slow as you like. Change the looping options to 'forever' as pictured below




[+] To save your animation go to file > save for web & device. This will save your animation as a gif without it becoming pixelated.

this is my result...there was a slight movement in the camera...can you see it?

sweet doll

Boy am I glad this photo shoot is over! I'm exhausted. My tummy was in all sorts of knots this morning and I have hardly slept all this week (although that could be the fault of the bed). Now time to relax...and sleep

finally

I'm finally taking the time to post..so many things that are and have happened that are keeping me so utterly busy and occupied that I haven't had the opportunity to blog much. Some bad things, some a little depressing and others just plain boring. Too numerous to mention though.

The photos below are of my props for my next photo shoot this Thursday...unless the strike also affects Uni lecturers. It is a doll inspired photo shoot and it will be wonderful to have professional make-up and hair done :) I still have a few more things to get ready but I hope it turns out well, well one can only hope.

he

He makes me melt like a popsicle on the 4th of July (still) ~ Little Rascals