By Christina VanGinkel
Sometimes, to see through the mess of a crafting room, you have to hire someone else to organize the disarray for you. This is where I found myself last week as I struggled to make sense of what I refer to as the spare room, a.k.a. scrapbook room. No matter which way I turned, I could not bring myself to even begin to make a semblance of organization. Piles of what I am sure looked like nothing more than scraps of junk to someone other than myself, looked like a pile of possibilities to me. With this in mind, I realized that I could not bring in just anybody to clear the mess, as most people would just want to scoop it all into the trash and announce mission accomplished. I had to find someone who could look through the obvious clutter and see much of what was there for what it was, scrapbook supplies, from embellishments to tools, paper is various sizes, and a wide assortment of various other scrap related broo haa haa. Here is where my plan came together.
Find Someone Who Understands the Hobby and Respects it as much as you
A friend who I have known for years commented to me that she was in dire need of some spare cash. With school starting in less than a month, and two teens in need of every item imaginable to get them going this coming school year, she was very receptive to an idea I had for her to make a few extra dollars. An idea that would work to both of our benefits, for me to gain ground on my never ending ordeal to reclaim some much needed workroom in the scrap room, and for her to earn enough to at least make a small dent in her kids list of school supplies. To make it all work as well I hoped I was relying on the fact that she is a scrapaholic herself, and sees the worthiness of those tiny scraps of paper and fibers as much as I do if not more. She is also an organizational wonder, with her home, from inside of cabinets to underneath beds, dust, and clutter free.
Therefore, today, she arrived early at my house to organize a space that I was beginning to think would never be organized. We walked through the room, discussing a few points of storage, but overall, I allowed her free reign as to what she would do. I promised not to interrupt, yet stick nearby in case she had a question or two. In the end, she did call me into the room three times to ask me specific questions about a couple of items she was unsure if I wanted to keep. She told me why she would toss the items in question, and in the end, we tossed two of them and kept the third. At the end of the day, I was blatantly amazed at the room's progression from a mess that looked to be in the middle of some major upheaval, to a space that was not only clear of disarray, but that was arranged in such a way that I could actually sit down to work on a layout, and see at a glance almost every supply from tool to paper, embellishments, and all right in front of me. She organized it all in a way I never seemed to be able to do, and in a way that will make it easy to work and still keep the supplies organized, as everything has a place.
If a family member is willing to help, this might also work out well, as they often know how much your supplies mean to you. They might also have a good understanding of the costs of replacing supplies that to others might look like nothing more than just a pile of trash in need of a good dumpster.
If You Hire a Cleaning or Organizing Agency, Plan to Work Alongside of Them
If you are a scrap booker with a dedicated space to scrap, or some other type of hobbyist whose hobby supplies have suddenly seemed to overrun the space you have for them, maybe it is time to call in some help. Because the supplies normally equal fun, the thought of spending time to organize them, to actually work amidst them, might seem almost sacrilegious. If it has come down to this though, and organization is necessary, it might be time to call in some help. If you do, try to find someone you can trust to handle your treasured supplies with as much care as you would were you to be able to sort through it all yourself. I lucked out finding someone who I knew, and it demonstrates that it can be done. If you belong to a group that is related to your hobby, consider someone from the group that understands the importance of the supplies you are trying to bring order too. If all else fails, hire someone to help, such as a cleaning agency, but work alongside of them so you know that nothing of importance will be tossed. Bringing someone such as this in will make you spend the time to get it done. Organizing hobby supplies en masse can be a job that is easier put off than tackled, but when it is all done, you will reap the rewards of an almost like new crafting space!
Monday, July 31, 2006
Recycling Unused Scrapbook Supplies
By Christina VanGinkel
No matter what hobby you participate in, supplies can have a tendency to add up dollar wise. Scrapbooking is no exception. Scrapbookers might even tend to accumulate far more unused supplies than many other crafters, simply because of the nature of how they often buy supplies, in bulk, or in groups of things. With this in mind, recycling those unused supplies into embellishments that will actually get used is necessary.
Begin by sorting your scrapbook supplies into categories of those that you know will most likely get used just as they are, and those that you wonder why you ever bought them in the first place, or ended up as unused extras when you bought a pack of something else. Letters are common leftovers, but other embellishments also end up in the idle heap pile too.
Once you have your stash of 'what ever were you thinking of when you bought it' and your other various leftovers, consider the layouts you currently have in the works, or those that you have plans to start in the future. If any of them have journaling on them, consider using some of the odd leftover letters strategically placed in with your computer generated or handwritten journaling, or even as part of a title itself. If the colors are wrong, or the sizing just not right, practice your altering skills on them. If the material they are made of can be cut, resize them by trimming away excess until they fit whatever project you have in mind. If they are too small, layer them on other letters or cardstock to build them up. If they are made of metal or other material that cannot be cut, use them as is size wise, but paint them, emboss with heat, or even use markers, such as the Sharpie Paint marker, which writes on virtually any object, from leather to paper, metal, plastic, and more, to doodle directly onto them. Metal embellishments could also be hammered for a more rustic look, or plastic or enamel ones could be roughed up with sandpaper then left as is or painted inked over the sanding for some one of a kind looks. Leather and wood embellishments can be stained, burned with a heat tool such as a wood burner.
Never discard something because the color or finish is not what you want, alter them however you can until they are a match for your style. If worse comes to worse, chalk up the attempt at distressing or altering to a lesson learned, make note of what you did so you do not do it again, and toss it in the trash. For every great scrapbook layout created, there is most likely at least a bit of trial and error, sometimes more error than we would hope.
Embellishments that you might think unusable can also be gathered up together into a collage of sorts for some very interesting effects. Depending on the layout you have in mind, a collage might consist of like themed items, such as an assortment of odd letters that you cannot imagine using, put to perfect use as a collage on a layout about going back to school or even in celebration of getting that short story or novel you have written finally published. What about all those odd die cuts or sayings? Cut apart the sayings and piece them back together into phrases that pertain to what you are working on. Do not worry about different lettering styles and sizes as this will just lend an eclectic affect to the piece overall.
If you just cannot imagine using something, no matter what you do to it, or what you might use it with, then recycle it the old-fashioned way and give it to somebody else. Scrapbookers are a friendly group overall, and love both giving and getting gently used supplies. If you do not know someone else who scraps, most teachers I know, especially those who teach early elementary, would love to have any supplies you decide you do not want. Scrapbook supplies lend themselves well to craft projects of all sorts. You could also donate your leftovers to someone on a scrap board online, known as a RAK, or random act of kindness, or an organization that has a scrap group, such as a local Girl Scouts troop.
No matter what hobby you participate in, supplies can have a tendency to add up dollar wise. Scrapbooking is no exception. Scrapbookers might even tend to accumulate far more unused supplies than many other crafters, simply because of the nature of how they often buy supplies, in bulk, or in groups of things. With this in mind, recycling those unused supplies into embellishments that will actually get used is necessary.
Begin by sorting your scrapbook supplies into categories of those that you know will most likely get used just as they are, and those that you wonder why you ever bought them in the first place, or ended up as unused extras when you bought a pack of something else. Letters are common leftovers, but other embellishments also end up in the idle heap pile too.
Once you have your stash of 'what ever were you thinking of when you bought it' and your other various leftovers, consider the layouts you currently have in the works, or those that you have plans to start in the future. If any of them have journaling on them, consider using some of the odd leftover letters strategically placed in with your computer generated or handwritten journaling, or even as part of a title itself. If the colors are wrong, or the sizing just not right, practice your altering skills on them. If the material they are made of can be cut, resize them by trimming away excess until they fit whatever project you have in mind. If they are too small, layer them on other letters or cardstock to build them up. If they are made of metal or other material that cannot be cut, use them as is size wise, but paint them, emboss with heat, or even use markers, such as the Sharpie Paint marker, which writes on virtually any object, from leather to paper, metal, plastic, and more, to doodle directly onto them. Metal embellishments could also be hammered for a more rustic look, or plastic or enamel ones could be roughed up with sandpaper then left as is or painted inked over the sanding for some one of a kind looks. Leather and wood embellishments can be stained, burned with a heat tool such as a wood burner.
Never discard something because the color or finish is not what you want, alter them however you can until they are a match for your style. If worse comes to worse, chalk up the attempt at distressing or altering to a lesson learned, make note of what you did so you do not do it again, and toss it in the trash. For every great scrapbook layout created, there is most likely at least a bit of trial and error, sometimes more error than we would hope.
Embellishments that you might think unusable can also be gathered up together into a collage of sorts for some very interesting effects. Depending on the layout you have in mind, a collage might consist of like themed items, such as an assortment of odd letters that you cannot imagine using, put to perfect use as a collage on a layout about going back to school or even in celebration of getting that short story or novel you have written finally published. What about all those odd die cuts or sayings? Cut apart the sayings and piece them back together into phrases that pertain to what you are working on. Do not worry about different lettering styles and sizes as this will just lend an eclectic affect to the piece overall.
If you just cannot imagine using something, no matter what you do to it, or what you might use it with, then recycle it the old-fashioned way and give it to somebody else. Scrapbookers are a friendly group overall, and love both giving and getting gently used supplies. If you do not know someone else who scraps, most teachers I know, especially those who teach early elementary, would love to have any supplies you decide you do not want. Scrapbook supplies lend themselves well to craft projects of all sorts. You could also donate your leftovers to someone on a scrap board online, known as a RAK, or random act of kindness, or an organization that has a scrap group, such as a local Girl Scouts troop.
A Primer on Geocaching
By Christina VanGinkel
If you find the idea of seeking out treasure, albeit small fare, exciting, or even a bit interesting, then geocaching might be just the leisure pursuit you have been in search of. The basis behind this hobby is simple enough, you search with the aid of a GPS unit for a cache of hidden 'treasure', and once you find it, you take one of the found treasures out, and replace it with something you brought along just for the purpose. It could be anything from a baseball card, to a DVD, maps, to small toys such as marbles or even a Furby. The point being that almost anything goes. Many parents do take their kids along with them though, so if you are new to the fun, try to remember that kids may be the ones finding whatever you left to discover, so be nice and keep the fun factor in it for everyone. Some treasures are meant to be passed along from one cache to another, so keep this in mind if your find includes such an object. They are usually marked and are not meant to be kept by the finder, but just transported to the next cache that finder happens to visit, be it down the road or across the country.
Some caches are as simplistic as they come, with nothing in them much beyond a log that you can sign, saying that you were able to find it, your signature your proof for those who come after you, no treasure, just the lure of discovering the hidden cache. These can be as much fun as those caches that do hold a treasure, as they are often a bit more challenging to find. Somewhere along the way though, someone thought that adding a few trinkets to be discovered would make the whole concept much more interesting than just adding your name to a log, and then logging online to post that you found the cache.
As with any pastime, rules have been created as the process has grown. Once, caches were only found in very out of the way places, with real work involved getting to them, and many of these still exist today. Others are friendlier to the average geocacher, such as those who want to bring the kids along for an afternoon search.
It is thanks to the Internet, that much of this is even possible. Online sites are gathering places for both listing the coordinates of where a cache is hidden, and a place for those who have either created or discovered a cache to discuss the whole process. For example, geocaching.com is listed as The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site, and it is a wealth of information for anyone, beginner or advanced in the world of geocaching.
Geocaching.com allows users to search for caches via zip code, by state, or even country. If your GPS is computer connectable, you can even download a waypoint file, which you can then load directly into your GPS unit. If your GPS unit is not computer connectable, coordinates can be entered by hand, which in no way detracts from the enjoyableness of this activity, as it just takes a few minutes to do so for each location you are interested in searching for.
The first time I told my thirteen year old about the hobby of geocaching, he was immediately interested. After just a short while, I know that this will be a hobby that he pursues for a long time. Other adults that I have talked to about this pastime are just as excited months and even years after starting, as they were when they first began. The thrill of finding these small treasures is addictive, and it is a great excuse to get out and do something on the weekends or anytime for that matter. When I first checked for caches by my home some time ago, there were just a few, and most of them required at least a several hours drive to reach. However, in just the last eighteen months there are now literally hundreds within an hour of my home. Geocaching is a fun hobby, and participation includes people of all ages. Be sure to check the level of the terrain if you are hunting with young children or someone with physical limitations. Play fair, and remember to bring along a treasure or two to replace any treasure that you take to keep. If an object is intended to travel from cache to cache, try to pass the item along to another cache as soon as time permits.
If you find the idea of seeking out treasure, albeit small fare, exciting, or even a bit interesting, then geocaching might be just the leisure pursuit you have been in search of. The basis behind this hobby is simple enough, you search with the aid of a GPS unit for a cache of hidden 'treasure', and once you find it, you take one of the found treasures out, and replace it with something you brought along just for the purpose. It could be anything from a baseball card, to a DVD, maps, to small toys such as marbles or even a Furby. The point being that almost anything goes. Many parents do take their kids along with them though, so if you are new to the fun, try to remember that kids may be the ones finding whatever you left to discover, so be nice and keep the fun factor in it for everyone. Some treasures are meant to be passed along from one cache to another, so keep this in mind if your find includes such an object. They are usually marked and are not meant to be kept by the finder, but just transported to the next cache that finder happens to visit, be it down the road or across the country.
Some caches are as simplistic as they come, with nothing in them much beyond a log that you can sign, saying that you were able to find it, your signature your proof for those who come after you, no treasure, just the lure of discovering the hidden cache. These can be as much fun as those caches that do hold a treasure, as they are often a bit more challenging to find. Somewhere along the way though, someone thought that adding a few trinkets to be discovered would make the whole concept much more interesting than just adding your name to a log, and then logging online to post that you found the cache.
As with any pastime, rules have been created as the process has grown. Once, caches were only found in very out of the way places, with real work involved getting to them, and many of these still exist today. Others are friendlier to the average geocacher, such as those who want to bring the kids along for an afternoon search.
It is thanks to the Internet, that much of this is even possible. Online sites are gathering places for both listing the coordinates of where a cache is hidden, and a place for those who have either created or discovered a cache to discuss the whole process. For example, geocaching.com is listed as The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site, and it is a wealth of information for anyone, beginner or advanced in the world of geocaching.
Geocaching.com allows users to search for caches via zip code, by state, or even country. If your GPS is computer connectable, you can even download a waypoint file, which you can then load directly into your GPS unit. If your GPS unit is not computer connectable, coordinates can be entered by hand, which in no way detracts from the enjoyableness of this activity, as it just takes a few minutes to do so for each location you are interested in searching for.
The first time I told my thirteen year old about the hobby of geocaching, he was immediately interested. After just a short while, I know that this will be a hobby that he pursues for a long time. Other adults that I have talked to about this pastime are just as excited months and even years after starting, as they were when they first began. The thrill of finding these small treasures is addictive, and it is a great excuse to get out and do something on the weekends or anytime for that matter. When I first checked for caches by my home some time ago, there were just a few, and most of them required at least a several hours drive to reach. However, in just the last eighteen months there are now literally hundreds within an hour of my home. Geocaching is a fun hobby, and participation includes people of all ages. Be sure to check the level of the terrain if you are hunting with young children or someone with physical limitations. Play fair, and remember to bring along a treasure or two to replace any treasure that you take to keep. If an object is intended to travel from cache to cache, try to pass the item along to another cache as soon as time permits.
Tips for Hosting a Great Home Scrapbook Party
By Christina VanGinkel
With so many different companies vying for your scrapping business, some people might figure that it is up to the consultant that they choose to host their scrapbook party to make sure that everything runs smooth and that all in attendance have a good time, but that is not totally true. As the host it is your overall responsibility to make sure that the consultant has everything at their disposal to make it as gratifying an experience for all as can be.
Plan the Date Smartly
Plan your get together as far enough in advance as you can. This way, invitations can be mailed out in a timely manner, not to early, but definitely not so last minute that everyone already has plans. If you belong to a group of friends who have busy schedules, while it will not be possible to work around everyone's schedules, it might be prudent to check with those who you will be inviting to inquire about any bad dates they might hope you can avoid in your planning. An acquaintance of mine planned a scrapbook party for the same afternoon as a local craft show. Many of her friends were actually selling at the show and yet she was very upset and told everyone who would listen that she could not believe they did not show up. While I would never expect anyone to try to plan any get together around any one particular person's schedule besides their own and the consultant giving the show, it just makes sense to avoid other large events such as a craft show.
Talk to your Consultant
Ask them what you can do to make sure that you both have as successful a get together as you can. If they have been a consultant for some time, they should be able to provide you with answers to any questions you might have before the planned event. Many companies will even provide you with a list of essentials before the big day, including postcards to mail out, and guidelines on when to mail them. See the note above with more in regards to choosing a good date.
Make sure you have Room
Whether a small gathering held at a kitchen table or a larger one, where you invite your friends to bring along their totes for a few hours of scrapping after the show, make sure that those in attendance will have enough room for the activities planned. The consultant should have space to display her product in a spot free of clutter and any hazards such as food and drink. If you plan to host some cropping during or after the consultant's show, make sure that you have the space to do so. Each person should have enough space to lay out at least one page with a bit of space to open up their tote and set down a tool or two. Set up a side table if possible for those hot tools that you might not otherwise have enough room for each participant to plug in right where they are working on their layout.
Food is Fun, but...
Having food at a party is fine, but keep it set up well away from the consultant so there is no risk of damage to her inventory from a spilled drink or greasy fingers. Asking guests to keep the food in the kitchen while the scrapbook fare is set up in the living room for example is totally acceptable. Anyone who balks at such a set up is just being rude. While bottles of drinks are often accepted at many crops, at a show where sales is the main focus, separation of the drinks and food from the consultants supplies is just good manners.
Hosting a scrapbook party with a consultant is a great way to try new products and see supplies and tools up close. Consultants often have great tips to share with partygoers, and fun, along with sales, makes for a perfect gathering. Never invite someone to such an event with the sole purpose of making a sale though, as everyone has his or her own shopping style. While sales are fun for the party host and the consultant, there are so many individual styles when it comes to scrapping that some attendees might not be interested in whatever is being sold. Make sure that your friends know up front that all you expect is for them to show up if their schedule permits, and to just have a good time!
With so many different companies vying for your scrapping business, some people might figure that it is up to the consultant that they choose to host their scrapbook party to make sure that everything runs smooth and that all in attendance have a good time, but that is not totally true. As the host it is your overall responsibility to make sure that the consultant has everything at their disposal to make it as gratifying an experience for all as can be.
Plan the Date Smartly
Plan your get together as far enough in advance as you can. This way, invitations can be mailed out in a timely manner, not to early, but definitely not so last minute that everyone already has plans. If you belong to a group of friends who have busy schedules, while it will not be possible to work around everyone's schedules, it might be prudent to check with those who you will be inviting to inquire about any bad dates they might hope you can avoid in your planning. An acquaintance of mine planned a scrapbook party for the same afternoon as a local craft show. Many of her friends were actually selling at the show and yet she was very upset and told everyone who would listen that she could not believe they did not show up. While I would never expect anyone to try to plan any get together around any one particular person's schedule besides their own and the consultant giving the show, it just makes sense to avoid other large events such as a craft show.
Talk to your Consultant
Ask them what you can do to make sure that you both have as successful a get together as you can. If they have been a consultant for some time, they should be able to provide you with answers to any questions you might have before the planned event. Many companies will even provide you with a list of essentials before the big day, including postcards to mail out, and guidelines on when to mail them. See the note above with more in regards to choosing a good date.
Make sure you have Room
Whether a small gathering held at a kitchen table or a larger one, where you invite your friends to bring along their totes for a few hours of scrapping after the show, make sure that those in attendance will have enough room for the activities planned. The consultant should have space to display her product in a spot free of clutter and any hazards such as food and drink. If you plan to host some cropping during or after the consultant's show, make sure that you have the space to do so. Each person should have enough space to lay out at least one page with a bit of space to open up their tote and set down a tool or two. Set up a side table if possible for those hot tools that you might not otherwise have enough room for each participant to plug in right where they are working on their layout.
Food is Fun, but...
Having food at a party is fine, but keep it set up well away from the consultant so there is no risk of damage to her inventory from a spilled drink or greasy fingers. Asking guests to keep the food in the kitchen while the scrapbook fare is set up in the living room for example is totally acceptable. Anyone who balks at such a set up is just being rude. While bottles of drinks are often accepted at many crops, at a show where sales is the main focus, separation of the drinks and food from the consultants supplies is just good manners.
Hosting a scrapbook party with a consultant is a great way to try new products and see supplies and tools up close. Consultants often have great tips to share with partygoers, and fun, along with sales, makes for a perfect gathering. Never invite someone to such an event with the sole purpose of making a sale though, as everyone has his or her own shopping style. While sales are fun for the party host and the consultant, there are so many individual styles when it comes to scrapping that some attendees might not be interested in whatever is being sold. Make sure that your friends know up front that all you expect is for them to show up if their schedule permits, and to just have a good time!
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Writing Letters As A Hobby
One way to get involved is to write letters. This type of hobby is one that many people take very seriously. Do not be put off by the idea that you will not be making a difference. Letter-writing is an incredibly powerful way to make your voice heard. You will need to get educated on the issues and then you can begin your own personal letter-writing campaign. The first place most people write is to an elected official. If the Senate is considering an important bill, make your voice heard. If your local council representative made a poor decision, let her know.
After you have written a few letters to your representatives, you may be willing to let other people know how you feel. For example, you may want to write a letter to the editor in your community paper. These letters typically are for the public to view so that you may share your opinion with other people. If you are going to write a letter to the editor, then you should begin by reading the guidelines that your paper has set forth. In some cases, papers will not allow anonymous letters, and they almost always have word limits. Adhering to these guidelines will help you to get your letter published in the paper.
A third place to send your letters is to government leaders. These leaders may not represent you specifically. In fact, they may not be in your country at all. Amnesty International, the largest human rights organization in the world, has made itself known for getting political prisoners released through letter writing campaigns to international leaders. If you are interested in this type of writing, you simply have to join Amnesty International. You will receive a packet in the mail every month that will let you know of dire international situations, and you will be able to select the person to whom to send the letter.
There are a few basic rules to keep in mind when you are sending letters. The first is to be polite. Calling someone names or saying decisions are stupid is not going to win you any brownie points. No one will read past the first couple of sentences, and your letter will do no good. The second rule is to make the letter as personal as possible. Perhaps you do not live in the nation to whose leader you are writing, but you visited there on vacation. Include that information. Let the person know that you care and not that you are just writing the letter for something to do.
Keep the letter short and to the point. Let us be honest. Most of the time, the person to whom you addressed the letter will not be the one reading it. The person reading it will be someone who is an assistant or even an intern. These people may have hundreds of letters to read every week. They probably will not respond to you directly. Instead you will receive a form letter thanking you for your interest in the topic. Do not be discouraged. These assistants are trained to keep track of how many people write about an issue and the side they take. That helps the person you are writing gauge public opinion on the topic.
By keeping the letter to three or four paragraphs, you are allowing the assistant reading the letter to do the job more quickly. That person will be able to know quickly where you stand, which will help your letter to have sway in the numbers game that most politicians play.
Writing letters really can become a life-changing hobby. I cannot tell you how exciting it is to see that a political prisoner for whom you wrote a letter was released from prison or how fun it is to see your Representative change his mind on a key vote when you were one of the constituents who made your voice heard or the amazement you will feel when someone lets you know that your letter to the editor touched her heart.
Sharing your opinion can be very powerful, and if you are searching for a low impact hobby that matters, then you should give it a shot.
By Julia Mercer
After you have written a few letters to your representatives, you may be willing to let other people know how you feel. For example, you may want to write a letter to the editor in your community paper. These letters typically are for the public to view so that you may share your opinion with other people. If you are going to write a letter to the editor, then you should begin by reading the guidelines that your paper has set forth. In some cases, papers will not allow anonymous letters, and they almost always have word limits. Adhering to these guidelines will help you to get your letter published in the paper.
A third place to send your letters is to government leaders. These leaders may not represent you specifically. In fact, they may not be in your country at all. Amnesty International, the largest human rights organization in the world, has made itself known for getting political prisoners released through letter writing campaigns to international leaders. If you are interested in this type of writing, you simply have to join Amnesty International. You will receive a packet in the mail every month that will let you know of dire international situations, and you will be able to select the person to whom to send the letter.
There are a few basic rules to keep in mind when you are sending letters. The first is to be polite. Calling someone names or saying decisions are stupid is not going to win you any brownie points. No one will read past the first couple of sentences, and your letter will do no good. The second rule is to make the letter as personal as possible. Perhaps you do not live in the nation to whose leader you are writing, but you visited there on vacation. Include that information. Let the person know that you care and not that you are just writing the letter for something to do.
Keep the letter short and to the point. Let us be honest. Most of the time, the person to whom you addressed the letter will not be the one reading it. The person reading it will be someone who is an assistant or even an intern. These people may have hundreds of letters to read every week. They probably will not respond to you directly. Instead you will receive a form letter thanking you for your interest in the topic. Do not be discouraged. These assistants are trained to keep track of how many people write about an issue and the side they take. That helps the person you are writing gauge public opinion on the topic.
By keeping the letter to three or four paragraphs, you are allowing the assistant reading the letter to do the job more quickly. That person will be able to know quickly where you stand, which will help your letter to have sway in the numbers game that most politicians play.
Writing letters really can become a life-changing hobby. I cannot tell you how exciting it is to see that a political prisoner for whom you wrote a letter was released from prison or how fun it is to see your Representative change his mind on a key vote when you were one of the constituents who made your voice heard or the amazement you will feel when someone lets you know that your letter to the editor touched her heart.
Sharing your opinion can be very powerful, and if you are searching for a low impact hobby that matters, then you should give it a shot.
By Julia Mercer
Taking Up Bike Riding
My husband has decided that he is going to begin biking to work. Actually he has already started. He will be able to save some money on gas if he can bike to work everyday. Right now he is doing it only once a week. Starting a biking hobby was not as expensive as I would have thought although it did require some initial investment.
First he had to get a bike. Since he is not an experienced rider, we decided to go for a base model bike. He got your basic 24-speed mountain-type bike for $80. It is red and silver, but there is nothing overly exciting about it. It will get him where he is going, and that is our primary goal.
He had a seat cover from back when we used to go to a spinners class at our local gym. It is basically a padded seat that fits over the bike seat cover. He really likes it because it makes the ride much smoother. If you have to buy that, though, they are only about $8 and are really worth it in the long run.
We also got a spare tire. I have to admit that it cracked me up. I did not even know that you could get spare tires for bicycles. I had never thought much about it. He got one for $3. I did not inspect it to see how it works, but it comes in a small box. I am assuming that we will just get it out and inflate it if he ever needs. Speaking of inflating, we picked up an air pump as well. It was only about $10, and it is a basic manual pump. It would not work for a huge job, but it will be just fine for a bike tire. He decided not to get the ones that mount to the bike for a couple of reasons. First they are a little bulky to have to fit on the bike somewhere. Second, he will be riding only the 2 and a half miles to work and back. There really is no need for a pump. I can just go get him if he needs it.
Finally, we got a bike chain. He will have to use it to lock up the bike when he is at work. He got a little magnetic box for the key while he is riding the bike. I am not sure why he got that because he put a key on his keychain. Plus he got the chain and lock.
Those were the whole of the supplies that we purchased for his new bike-riding hobby. The whole lot of supplies cost $102. Since they are everything you need to get started, that is not a bad investment.
He will be adding a couple of things in the future. He mainly wants to get some type of bag to carry with him. He will have to pack his lunch everyday that he rides instead of coming home for lunch as he usually does. That will mean that he will need to be able to carry it with him easily. I may get a bike in the near future as well, depending on how much he ends up riding. If that is the case, then we will get a small bike rack for the house so that we will have somewhere to put them when we are not riding.
We got our 15-month-old to check out a tricycle while we were shopping, but he is not yet old enough to ride. He did not understand the concept of using the pedals. It will be another summer before he is able to ride a bike. That is okay as we anticipated having to ride him on ours in one of those little baby packs on the back. That should work really well if we go out on any trails or anything or if we take the bikes when we go camping.
The bike-riding hobby is something that I support completely. It will allow my husband to get into better shape, and it will save us money in the long run. Those are two qualities that are great in a hobby.
By Julia Mercer
First he had to get a bike. Since he is not an experienced rider, we decided to go for a base model bike. He got your basic 24-speed mountain-type bike for $80. It is red and silver, but there is nothing overly exciting about it. It will get him where he is going, and that is our primary goal.
He had a seat cover from back when we used to go to a spinners class at our local gym. It is basically a padded seat that fits over the bike seat cover. He really likes it because it makes the ride much smoother. If you have to buy that, though, they are only about $8 and are really worth it in the long run.
We also got a spare tire. I have to admit that it cracked me up. I did not even know that you could get spare tires for bicycles. I had never thought much about it. He got one for $3. I did not inspect it to see how it works, but it comes in a small box. I am assuming that we will just get it out and inflate it if he ever needs. Speaking of inflating, we picked up an air pump as well. It was only about $10, and it is a basic manual pump. It would not work for a huge job, but it will be just fine for a bike tire. He decided not to get the ones that mount to the bike for a couple of reasons. First they are a little bulky to have to fit on the bike somewhere. Second, he will be riding only the 2 and a half miles to work and back. There really is no need for a pump. I can just go get him if he needs it.
Finally, we got a bike chain. He will have to use it to lock up the bike when he is at work. He got a little magnetic box for the key while he is riding the bike. I am not sure why he got that because he put a key on his keychain. Plus he got the chain and lock.
Those were the whole of the supplies that we purchased for his new bike-riding hobby. The whole lot of supplies cost $102. Since they are everything you need to get started, that is not a bad investment.
He will be adding a couple of things in the future. He mainly wants to get some type of bag to carry with him. He will have to pack his lunch everyday that he rides instead of coming home for lunch as he usually does. That will mean that he will need to be able to carry it with him easily. I may get a bike in the near future as well, depending on how much he ends up riding. If that is the case, then we will get a small bike rack for the house so that we will have somewhere to put them when we are not riding.
We got our 15-month-old to check out a tricycle while we were shopping, but he is not yet old enough to ride. He did not understand the concept of using the pedals. It will be another summer before he is able to ride a bike. That is okay as we anticipated having to ride him on ours in one of those little baby packs on the back. That should work really well if we go out on any trails or anything or if we take the bikes when we go camping.
The bike-riding hobby is something that I support completely. It will allow my husband to get into better shape, and it will save us money in the long run. Those are two qualities that are great in a hobby.
By Julia Mercer
Starting to Camp
My husband and his family went on a lot of camping trips when my husband was growing up. They had a lot of fun on them, and my husband says that some of his best memories of childhood are from the camping trips they took. It is really important to him that our children have those same kinds of memories, so we have decided to start taking camping trips this summer.
We are starting by buying our gear at the beginning of next month. We will be getting only the basics at this point, but we will be adding to what we get throughout this summer and into the next one. We are getting a basic tent. I was really shocked to see what kind of choices you have in tents. There are some that have separate rooms, tunnels, and more. We are getting one that may have a little divider in the middle but otherwise is pretty basic.
Then we will be getting this interesting little shelter that I saw. It is only $20, so I figured that we might as well get it. The shelter basically has four poles to hold everything up and a blue tarp to go on top. It will let us get a little shelter from a shower if we need to, or we will be able to sit under it to eat.
We are getting two lanterns as well. My husband says that the propane lanterns are our best bet considering our budget, so that is what we will be getting. The electric ones do not put out much light, so we will go with propane. Those are pretty inexpensive. I think the models we picked out are $15.
Then we will go luxury. We are getting an air mattress. I was not so sure about that, but the idea of sleeping on the ground is not all that appealing either. We will have to get sleeping bags to go on the air mattresses. I am honestly thinking that the sleeping bags are one of the purchases that will wait until we are more into the whole camping scene. Right now I think that we can just stick with taking sheets with us for the air mattress. Then, of course, we will have to pick up some type of battery-powered pump for the air mattress.
Those supplies are the basics that we will need for camping. Anything else that we get will be extra. We already have a cooler, so that will not be a problem. I will probably pick up one plastic storage container that will become our camping container. When we are at home, it will store our gear, and it will go with us to hold plates, cups, and the like. We will be getting paper plates. I am not interested in trying to wash dishes while we are on a camping trip. After all, it is supposed to be a relaxing weekend for all of us!
My in-laws have a propane stove that they take with them. I am not sure if we will be getting one of those or not. The basic models are not too expensive, but I am not sure how much is too much at this point. We are not doing the whole living off the land camping experience, but I do not want to just drag everything from home either. Then there really is no point in going away from home for the weekend. The one thing that I did see that I thought would make it worth the propane stove was a coffee pot that is made to fit onto the stove. Now that would be a great addition.
We will be shopping during the first week of May for the basic camping stuff that we will need. Our first trip will not be an overnighter. We will be going to a park for a day of swimming and picnicking, but we will be able to take advantage of some of our gear. I am excited for this new hobby. It should prove to be a great adventure for our family. I hope that in the years to come, our children appreciate the trips we will take.
By Julia Mercer
We are starting by buying our gear at the beginning of next month. We will be getting only the basics at this point, but we will be adding to what we get throughout this summer and into the next one. We are getting a basic tent. I was really shocked to see what kind of choices you have in tents. There are some that have separate rooms, tunnels, and more. We are getting one that may have a little divider in the middle but otherwise is pretty basic.
Then we will be getting this interesting little shelter that I saw. It is only $20, so I figured that we might as well get it. The shelter basically has four poles to hold everything up and a blue tarp to go on top. It will let us get a little shelter from a shower if we need to, or we will be able to sit under it to eat.
We are getting two lanterns as well. My husband says that the propane lanterns are our best bet considering our budget, so that is what we will be getting. The electric ones do not put out much light, so we will go with propane. Those are pretty inexpensive. I think the models we picked out are $15.
Then we will go luxury. We are getting an air mattress. I was not so sure about that, but the idea of sleeping on the ground is not all that appealing either. We will have to get sleeping bags to go on the air mattresses. I am honestly thinking that the sleeping bags are one of the purchases that will wait until we are more into the whole camping scene. Right now I think that we can just stick with taking sheets with us for the air mattress. Then, of course, we will have to pick up some type of battery-powered pump for the air mattress.
Those supplies are the basics that we will need for camping. Anything else that we get will be extra. We already have a cooler, so that will not be a problem. I will probably pick up one plastic storage container that will become our camping container. When we are at home, it will store our gear, and it will go with us to hold plates, cups, and the like. We will be getting paper plates. I am not interested in trying to wash dishes while we are on a camping trip. After all, it is supposed to be a relaxing weekend for all of us!
My in-laws have a propane stove that they take with them. I am not sure if we will be getting one of those or not. The basic models are not too expensive, but I am not sure how much is too much at this point. We are not doing the whole living off the land camping experience, but I do not want to just drag everything from home either. Then there really is no point in going away from home for the weekend. The one thing that I did see that I thought would make it worth the propane stove was a coffee pot that is made to fit onto the stove. Now that would be a great addition.
We will be shopping during the first week of May for the basic camping stuff that we will need. Our first trip will not be an overnighter. We will be going to a park for a day of swimming and picnicking, but we will be able to take advantage of some of our gear. I am excited for this new hobby. It should prove to be a great adventure for our family. I hope that in the years to come, our children appreciate the trips we will take.
By Julia Mercer
Starting An Organization For Your Interests
Starting your own organization can seem like a daunting task. With the right plan, however, you can get through it like a pro. Why would you start your own group?
Well, I am glad you asked. You could start your own group to provide a place for people who share a common interest or common goals to get together to make something happen. It also works well to meet new friends and to expand experiences.
The first step you need to take when you have decided to start a group is to decide what you want the focus of your group to be. It can be as broad or as narrow as you would like. For example, some people have general volunteerism groups or dog lover groups. Others may have hospital volunteer groups or Great Dane groups. Think about how wide you want the interests to be in your group. Keep in mind that the narrower a topic is the fewer people who will be interested, so be sure the narrow topic is enough to get interest.
Then you should start informally. Put up some flyers in the library or other public places to advertise an informal meeting. You can hold the meeting in your home if you would like, but a public place probably is a better idea. Have the meeting at a local YMCA or even at the library itself. Just be sure to check with the staff before you start advertising. Then have everyone join you for one hour or so. Explain what you thought the purpose of the group would be and get input from everyone who came by.
Try to take any criticism constructively. Perhaps others have a directional idea for the group that would be very good for the group to take. Remember that you are in the beginning stages now, so it is entirely possible to do as much changing around as you should. Also remember to bring something fun for everyone at the first meeting. I am not talking about an icebreaker here. I am talking about something that others will enjoy. You may want to consider light snacks, of course, but you should bring something related to the subject at hand. If you are starting a group for cat lovers, then bring a few magazines about cats or a couple of give-away gifts that are cat-related.
At the end of the first meeting, you should be able to gauge whether there is any interest in having another meeting. If there is, then you can determine when and where to meet. It is important at this stage to come up with a regular meeting time and place. That way people will know that the first Thursday of every month should be devoted to bird watching. You want people to be able to build your group into their schedule so that they can make it part of their routine.
You can be as formal or informal as you would like when it comes to your group. If you want to go formal, then you should elect officers at the third meeting or so. Give people time to know the others and to know who will be committed to the group. Then you can find the right people to represent the group.
Also set out some guidelines. While you may not have a formal charter, you should have a general idea of what constitutes a member and how the group is structured. While it may seem silly now, doing it will help prevent any problems that may occur from people misunderstanding how the group works. You can prevent future problems now by having guidelines already set out for the group.
Starting your own group can be a fun process, but you can find it time-consuming as well. If you start to get overwhelmed, take a step back and think about what it is that you want from the group. No group of which you are a part should make you feel disinterested or bad about yourself. If it does, then you need to re-evaluate the group. If you are successful, however, you will find that starting a group will make you feel part of a community of like-minded people.
By Julia Mercer
Well, I am glad you asked. You could start your own group to provide a place for people who share a common interest or common goals to get together to make something happen. It also works well to meet new friends and to expand experiences.
The first step you need to take when you have decided to start a group is to decide what you want the focus of your group to be. It can be as broad or as narrow as you would like. For example, some people have general volunteerism groups or dog lover groups. Others may have hospital volunteer groups or Great Dane groups. Think about how wide you want the interests to be in your group. Keep in mind that the narrower a topic is the fewer people who will be interested, so be sure the narrow topic is enough to get interest.
Then you should start informally. Put up some flyers in the library or other public places to advertise an informal meeting. You can hold the meeting in your home if you would like, but a public place probably is a better idea. Have the meeting at a local YMCA or even at the library itself. Just be sure to check with the staff before you start advertising. Then have everyone join you for one hour or so. Explain what you thought the purpose of the group would be and get input from everyone who came by.
Try to take any criticism constructively. Perhaps others have a directional idea for the group that would be very good for the group to take. Remember that you are in the beginning stages now, so it is entirely possible to do as much changing around as you should. Also remember to bring something fun for everyone at the first meeting. I am not talking about an icebreaker here. I am talking about something that others will enjoy. You may want to consider light snacks, of course, but you should bring something related to the subject at hand. If you are starting a group for cat lovers, then bring a few magazines about cats or a couple of give-away gifts that are cat-related.
At the end of the first meeting, you should be able to gauge whether there is any interest in having another meeting. If there is, then you can determine when and where to meet. It is important at this stage to come up with a regular meeting time and place. That way people will know that the first Thursday of every month should be devoted to bird watching. You want people to be able to build your group into their schedule so that they can make it part of their routine.
You can be as formal or informal as you would like when it comes to your group. If you want to go formal, then you should elect officers at the third meeting or so. Give people time to know the others and to know who will be committed to the group. Then you can find the right people to represent the group.
Also set out some guidelines. While you may not have a formal charter, you should have a general idea of what constitutes a member and how the group is structured. While it may seem silly now, doing it will help prevent any problems that may occur from people misunderstanding how the group works. You can prevent future problems now by having guidelines already set out for the group.
Starting your own group can be a fun process, but you can find it time-consuming as well. If you start to get overwhelmed, take a step back and think about what it is that you want from the group. No group of which you are a part should make you feel disinterested or bad about yourself. If it does, then you need to re-evaluate the group. If you are successful, however, you will find that starting a group will make you feel part of a community of like-minded people.
By Julia Mercer
Political Action Hobbies
Being politically involved is one of the few hobby-type activities that really can make a difference in the world. Like volunteering, political activism allows you to help the world, or at least your world. There are a few ways to get involved in political activism. Some of them are labor-intensive while others are simpler to do.
The most low impact political activism is that of membership. Become a member in an organization in whose cause you believe. Every year you will write a check. Then you will receive mailings throughout the year that will update you on the issues. You can keep up and be informed through this literature.
Writing letters is one of the simplest things that you can do when it comes to political activism. You can write letters to elected officials or to your local newspaper. Write to individuals whose stories made a difference. Write to someone in prison. You can become involved from the comfort of your home on this level.
If you are up for something that is a bit more active, then begin going to meetings. Most political action groups are starved for members. Most people would rather go about their lives and not think about the problems in the community, so these groups tend to be very small. You can help solve that problem by being willing to get active. If you find a local group, go to a meeting and introduce yourself. You can begin with very small activities until you see if you like it. Many of these groups need people to hand out flyers or to take money at the next fundraiser. You can volunteer in small blocks of time.
Planning an event takes a lot more work, but it is an amazing experience when you plan a large event. If you do not belong to a group or if there is not one in your area, then you can start one. You just need two or three people to get started. Then you can work on your own to plan events, or you can work with other established groups. Be sure that your events are well planned and have a clear message, and you will be able to get people to pay attention to what you are trying to say.
Volunteering for one specific event is another way that you can get politically involved. You would offer to help with one event and then move along. For example, your church may have a dinner to honor the ideology of World Hunger Day. You could offer to cook or decorate. You would be working on that specific event. The benefit of this type of involvement is that you can do as much or as little as you would like. No one will be put out with your lack of participation, and you will find that you enjoy your involvement more.
People who are really serious about political involvement often make it a huge part of their lives. Every decision becomes in some way political. You may only shop at certain stores or refuse to shop at others, for instance, because you are not comfortable with labor or production practices. You will make an effort to be conscientious about everything in your life. In that way, political activism becomes a lifestyle decision instead of just a passing hobby.
Whatever you decide to do, be sure that you are reliable and that you give your new hobby everything you can. This hobby is not one for people who do not want to be depended upon. Others will rely on you to carry through with plans and to do the things that you said you would do. That means that you should think hard before agreeing to devote your time and energy, or even money, to a cause. If you cannot do something, speak up and say so. Doing that is better than having people think you will do something only to find out that you will not be available.
Political activism as a hobby is something that will stay with you for life. You will never get too old to be politically active. Instead you can learn to enjoy the time you spend changing the world now and have something to do for the rest of your life.
By Julia Mercer
The most low impact political activism is that of membership. Become a member in an organization in whose cause you believe. Every year you will write a check. Then you will receive mailings throughout the year that will update you on the issues. You can keep up and be informed through this literature.
Writing letters is one of the simplest things that you can do when it comes to political activism. You can write letters to elected officials or to your local newspaper. Write to individuals whose stories made a difference. Write to someone in prison. You can become involved from the comfort of your home on this level.
If you are up for something that is a bit more active, then begin going to meetings. Most political action groups are starved for members. Most people would rather go about their lives and not think about the problems in the community, so these groups tend to be very small. You can help solve that problem by being willing to get active. If you find a local group, go to a meeting and introduce yourself. You can begin with very small activities until you see if you like it. Many of these groups need people to hand out flyers or to take money at the next fundraiser. You can volunteer in small blocks of time.
Planning an event takes a lot more work, but it is an amazing experience when you plan a large event. If you do not belong to a group or if there is not one in your area, then you can start one. You just need two or three people to get started. Then you can work on your own to plan events, or you can work with other established groups. Be sure that your events are well planned and have a clear message, and you will be able to get people to pay attention to what you are trying to say.
Volunteering for one specific event is another way that you can get politically involved. You would offer to help with one event and then move along. For example, your church may have a dinner to honor the ideology of World Hunger Day. You could offer to cook or decorate. You would be working on that specific event. The benefit of this type of involvement is that you can do as much or as little as you would like. No one will be put out with your lack of participation, and you will find that you enjoy your involvement more.
People who are really serious about political involvement often make it a huge part of their lives. Every decision becomes in some way political. You may only shop at certain stores or refuse to shop at others, for instance, because you are not comfortable with labor or production practices. You will make an effort to be conscientious about everything in your life. In that way, political activism becomes a lifestyle decision instead of just a passing hobby.
Whatever you decide to do, be sure that you are reliable and that you give your new hobby everything you can. This hobby is not one for people who do not want to be depended upon. Others will rely on you to carry through with plans and to do the things that you said you would do. That means that you should think hard before agreeing to devote your time and energy, or even money, to a cause. If you cannot do something, speak up and say so. Doing that is better than having people think you will do something only to find out that you will not be available.
Political activism as a hobby is something that will stay with you for life. You will never get too old to be politically active. Instead you can learn to enjoy the time you spend changing the world now and have something to do for the rest of your life.
By Julia Mercer
Following Politics
Following politics can be an interesting hobby if you are interested in something that never gets boring and mostly is not repetitive. When I was in college, I was very politically active, even interning for a national political campaign. That meant that I had to be up on the issues. There was no way around it as my work depended on my knowledge of what was going on in the world.
Now I am getting a graduate degree in public policy. I find yet again that keeping up with political happenings is a requirement for me and not just a luxury. Because of that, I am keeping CNN on more than usual. I occasionally flip the channel over to Fox News when I want to get the far from fair and balanced view they provide. I can check out the conservative viewpoint and get my blood boiling before I begin thinking through the issues on my own.
My son finds watching news shows fascinating, which I think is really funny. If you put on a cartoon, he will bolt and play. C-Span, though, captivates him. My husband, too, is very political, so we enjoy watching political shows and then talking about them. We usually are only small degrees of the same position apart, so it makes the conversations interesting for us, though I am sure they would seem tedious to others.
Following politics closely can be a full-time job. I find myself very impressed with political show hosts because they often know about so many issues. I am not talking television hosts here. I am talking about radio hosts. They are more educated in general about the issues. Their callers may bring up any topic, and the radio host must know what is going on.
If you are going to start following politics, I would advise you to begin by getting to know the major players. You should find out about the president and his background. Also study powerful senators and Cabinet members. Find out who everyone is and where the person generally stands. That is the best way to get a good idea of the various political positions out there. Know who is Democrat and who is Republican so that you can begin to anticipate how they will respond to certain issues.
The second step is to learn about the major topics in the news. Check out the major newspapers, such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. Read The New Yorker and Time magazine. Find out the issues that are happening right now. When you come across an article about which you know little, find out. If you are not sure what FEMA does exactly, read up on it. Use each article you read as a starting point for learning more until you can read through the papers and be familiar with the major issues being discussed.
Then you should get an idea of the general issues that are important. Go to the party websites for the major political parties. Go to the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and other small parties as well as the big ones. Find out the party platforms. The platforms are the overall issues that are important to the members of the party. You will find, for example, that civil rights is an on-going issue in some parties. The Green Party members believe that environmental sustainability is an important topic. It has been in the news only recently with discussions of oil prices, but there are other planks on that platform. Read the research and get informed so that you know what they mean.
Finding out about party issues through independent research will help you to see both sides of the issues. You will learn how to make sense of everything going on, and then you can follow politics by understanding where everyone stands.
Politics is very important to our lives, but few people are committed to paying attention to politics. That is unfortunate because it is vital to the survival of our governmental system that the people are involved. So if you are looking for something to occupy your time, think about following politics. It is one hobby that is very important.
By Julia Mercer
Now I am getting a graduate degree in public policy. I find yet again that keeping up with political happenings is a requirement for me and not just a luxury. Because of that, I am keeping CNN on more than usual. I occasionally flip the channel over to Fox News when I want to get the far from fair and balanced view they provide. I can check out the conservative viewpoint and get my blood boiling before I begin thinking through the issues on my own.
My son finds watching news shows fascinating, which I think is really funny. If you put on a cartoon, he will bolt and play. C-Span, though, captivates him. My husband, too, is very political, so we enjoy watching political shows and then talking about them. We usually are only small degrees of the same position apart, so it makes the conversations interesting for us, though I am sure they would seem tedious to others.
Following politics closely can be a full-time job. I find myself very impressed with political show hosts because they often know about so many issues. I am not talking television hosts here. I am talking about radio hosts. They are more educated in general about the issues. Their callers may bring up any topic, and the radio host must know what is going on.
If you are going to start following politics, I would advise you to begin by getting to know the major players. You should find out about the president and his background. Also study powerful senators and Cabinet members. Find out who everyone is and where the person generally stands. That is the best way to get a good idea of the various political positions out there. Know who is Democrat and who is Republican so that you can begin to anticipate how they will respond to certain issues.
The second step is to learn about the major topics in the news. Check out the major newspapers, such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. Read The New Yorker and Time magazine. Find out the issues that are happening right now. When you come across an article about which you know little, find out. If you are not sure what FEMA does exactly, read up on it. Use each article you read as a starting point for learning more until you can read through the papers and be familiar with the major issues being discussed.
Then you should get an idea of the general issues that are important. Go to the party websites for the major political parties. Go to the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and other small parties as well as the big ones. Find out the party platforms. The platforms are the overall issues that are important to the members of the party. You will find, for example, that civil rights is an on-going issue in some parties. The Green Party members believe that environmental sustainability is an important topic. It has been in the news only recently with discussions of oil prices, but there are other planks on that platform. Read the research and get informed so that you know what they mean.
Finding out about party issues through independent research will help you to see both sides of the issues. You will learn how to make sense of everything going on, and then you can follow politics by understanding where everyone stands.
Politics is very important to our lives, but few people are committed to paying attention to politics. That is unfortunate because it is vital to the survival of our governmental system that the people are involved. So if you are looking for something to occupy your time, think about following politics. It is one hobby that is very important.
By Julia Mercer
Building A Library
My husband and I are addicted to books. We cannot help it. We simply love books, and there is no way around it. We have tried to stop buying books. Then we see a book warehouse or some type of book outlet, and we cave. A book clearance is a sure way to get us to stop in our tracks. Our library is having its semi-annual book sale in three weeks, and I get excited every time I go to the library and see the sign.
For a long time, we gathered books in a sort of haphazard fashion. We simply worked at gathering books we saw on sale. If the library put out a rack of books they were getting rid of, we picked through them and got out all of the books that looked interesting to us without any regard for a plan. During our college years, we managed to collect a bunch of books simply because we needed them for classes. We never sold our books back. I would not because I felt it was akin to selling my soul.
Now, though, we are grown-ups. We have a child, and hopefully we will have another one on the way soon. We are collecting for our son, too, of course, but we are at a point of wanting to settle down elsewhere in our lives. We are hoping to make a permanent move in the next year, and at that point, we want to begin putting together a library in our home.
Right now are book hobby is taking up our entire bedroom. We have collected enough books that our bedroom is covered wall to wall with bookshelves, some of which are beginning to overflow. Our son has a small bookshelf, and he needs a new one.
Anyway, we have decided to take our hobby to the next level. We are getting organized. We are making our book hobby something that we do regularly and with a purpose instead of just something to sidetrack us everyday.
Our first step is to beef up our fiction section. I had not realized that we had so many more reference and non-fiction books, but I guess that it makes sense. We have all of the books John Grisham has written, but he is the only author whose collection is complete. Over the next couple of weeks, before the library book sale, we are going to make a list of the books we have of some of our favorite authors. For the most part, these authors are mainstream fiction writers. We will get all of the books by Tom Clancy, Dean Koontz, and Patricia Cornwell at least.
Then we will begin to look at more non-mainstream authors. I enjoy Lia Matera novels, and she is a bit eccentric as far as novels go. She probably will go on our list although it will be large as we own only one of her books.
Then we will look at our non-fiction sections. We could stand to beef up several areas there. We could use more devotional and religious books. We find religion a very important topic. I also want to add some home improvement and decorating books as well as a few craft books. I find now that I write full-time, I often am looking for something non-writing to do, and a good craft book would help me come up with ideas.
Then we will begin our Spanish library. Well, we have already begun it, but we do not have much. We have four books that are intended solely to teach Spanish. Our son has a Thomas the Tank Engine in Spanish, but that is all we have. I am hoping that we have a large enough Mexican population that the library book sale will have a number of books in Spanish there. I want to begin adding them to our library so that we can have a bilingual library in our home. It will help me and our son to improve on our Spanish.
Building a library is our new structured hobby. If you love books, you understand. The process of building a full library in our home is so exciting! I cannot wait to get started.
By Julia Mercer
For a long time, we gathered books in a sort of haphazard fashion. We simply worked at gathering books we saw on sale. If the library put out a rack of books they were getting rid of, we picked through them and got out all of the books that looked interesting to us without any regard for a plan. During our college years, we managed to collect a bunch of books simply because we needed them for classes. We never sold our books back. I would not because I felt it was akin to selling my soul.
Now, though, we are grown-ups. We have a child, and hopefully we will have another one on the way soon. We are collecting for our son, too, of course, but we are at a point of wanting to settle down elsewhere in our lives. We are hoping to make a permanent move in the next year, and at that point, we want to begin putting together a library in our home.
Right now are book hobby is taking up our entire bedroom. We have collected enough books that our bedroom is covered wall to wall with bookshelves, some of which are beginning to overflow. Our son has a small bookshelf, and he needs a new one.
Anyway, we have decided to take our hobby to the next level. We are getting organized. We are making our book hobby something that we do regularly and with a purpose instead of just something to sidetrack us everyday.
Our first step is to beef up our fiction section. I had not realized that we had so many more reference and non-fiction books, but I guess that it makes sense. We have all of the books John Grisham has written, but he is the only author whose collection is complete. Over the next couple of weeks, before the library book sale, we are going to make a list of the books we have of some of our favorite authors. For the most part, these authors are mainstream fiction writers. We will get all of the books by Tom Clancy, Dean Koontz, and Patricia Cornwell at least.
Then we will begin to look at more non-mainstream authors. I enjoy Lia Matera novels, and she is a bit eccentric as far as novels go. She probably will go on our list although it will be large as we own only one of her books.
Then we will look at our non-fiction sections. We could stand to beef up several areas there. We could use more devotional and religious books. We find religion a very important topic. I also want to add some home improvement and decorating books as well as a few craft books. I find now that I write full-time, I often am looking for something non-writing to do, and a good craft book would help me come up with ideas.
Then we will begin our Spanish library. Well, we have already begun it, but we do not have much. We have four books that are intended solely to teach Spanish. Our son has a Thomas the Tank Engine in Spanish, but that is all we have. I am hoping that we have a large enough Mexican population that the library book sale will have a number of books in Spanish there. I want to begin adding them to our library so that we can have a bilingual library in our home. It will help me and our son to improve on our Spanish.
Building a library is our new structured hobby. If you love books, you understand. The process of building a full library in our home is so exciting! I cannot wait to get started.
By Julia Mercer
Book Collecting
Books are not one of those items, like stamps, that have become synonymous with collecting. Still there are a lot of people out there who enjoy a good time collecting books. If you want to be among them, there are a few things you should know first.
Books are not as common as other items that you may be thinking about collecting. Some people believe that there are tons of copies of every book out there just because they see hundreds in mass market bookstores. That has not always been the case, however, and is not even true with all books printed today. Indeed, many books had runs of only a few hundred or fewer copies. These books are not as easy to find, which is part of the thrill for the book collector.
If you are going to collect books, then you should begin by determining what types of books you want. You may want to start generally. You can collect books from the 1880s or books about Hawaii or something similar. Begin collecting, and when you have a decent number of books, then you can sit down and figure out how you want to focus your collection.
Another strategy is to begin with a small scope. You may want to gather all books about a certain species of bird or all books by a certain author. By doing this, you will be limiting your scope to only a few books. For example, let us say you pick Walt Whitman as the author whose books you want to collect. Well, you are in luck. Whitman only wrote Leaves of Grass, but there are a number of editions of it. I believe there are 12, but I am not absolutely right on that. You would have those 12 editions to collect. Of course, the first couple will be tough to find, but you get the idea.
Collecting contemporary books may be more your thing. You could collect all of the Tom Clancy books there are. He has written, say 20 or 30 books. Start with him and get them all. Go to garage sales or to secondhand shops to check out what they have. Then once you have his books, look for similar authors. You may want to pick Robert Ludlum, John Gardner, or Jack Higgins. Collect their books and then move outward. You would be creating a collection from a very narrow interest to one that has a wider appeal.
To begin your collection, make a listing of the types of books that you would like to collect. Then think about how you will begin your search. Perhaps you will raid the homes of family members. Offer them a little money for every book they have that fits your collection. Then go to the library and find out when they have book sales. Every time you see an ad for clearance sales at bookstores, check it out. You also can check used book sales online, though with shipping, this option may be more expensive.
You can house your collection in a simple bookshelf, which is the beauty of collecting books. If you collect very rare and very valuable books, then of course you will want to keep them in a glass case. Otherwise, you can pick up an inexpensive bookshelf unit and put your collection there. Arrange it so that you can find what you need and then let it sit.
One of the best parts about a book collection really is the fact that you can use the collection. Some collectible items are just for show, but books are useful. On a rainy Saturday afternoon, you can pick up that novel you found but have not read yet. Your children can never claim to be bored, and you have your whole retirement planned with reading.
This collection will be useful in many ways, and it is one that you can keep in a public area of your home. People will be able to check it out anytime, and you can be excited about putting up your new finds. Those reasons are only a few of the ones for you to enjoy your book collection, however. You surely will find more.
By Julia Mercer
Books are not as common as other items that you may be thinking about collecting. Some people believe that there are tons of copies of every book out there just because they see hundreds in mass market bookstores. That has not always been the case, however, and is not even true with all books printed today. Indeed, many books had runs of only a few hundred or fewer copies. These books are not as easy to find, which is part of the thrill for the book collector.
If you are going to collect books, then you should begin by determining what types of books you want. You may want to start generally. You can collect books from the 1880s or books about Hawaii or something similar. Begin collecting, and when you have a decent number of books, then you can sit down and figure out how you want to focus your collection.
Another strategy is to begin with a small scope. You may want to gather all books about a certain species of bird or all books by a certain author. By doing this, you will be limiting your scope to only a few books. For example, let us say you pick Walt Whitman as the author whose books you want to collect. Well, you are in luck. Whitman only wrote Leaves of Grass, but there are a number of editions of it. I believe there are 12, but I am not absolutely right on that. You would have those 12 editions to collect. Of course, the first couple will be tough to find, but you get the idea.
Collecting contemporary books may be more your thing. You could collect all of the Tom Clancy books there are. He has written, say 20 or 30 books. Start with him and get them all. Go to garage sales or to secondhand shops to check out what they have. Then once you have his books, look for similar authors. You may want to pick Robert Ludlum, John Gardner, or Jack Higgins. Collect their books and then move outward. You would be creating a collection from a very narrow interest to one that has a wider appeal.
To begin your collection, make a listing of the types of books that you would like to collect. Then think about how you will begin your search. Perhaps you will raid the homes of family members. Offer them a little money for every book they have that fits your collection. Then go to the library and find out when they have book sales. Every time you see an ad for clearance sales at bookstores, check it out. You also can check used book sales online, though with shipping, this option may be more expensive.
You can house your collection in a simple bookshelf, which is the beauty of collecting books. If you collect very rare and very valuable books, then of course you will want to keep them in a glass case. Otherwise, you can pick up an inexpensive bookshelf unit and put your collection there. Arrange it so that you can find what you need and then let it sit.
One of the best parts about a book collection really is the fact that you can use the collection. Some collectible items are just for show, but books are useful. On a rainy Saturday afternoon, you can pick up that novel you found but have not read yet. Your children can never claim to be bored, and you have your whole retirement planned with reading.
This collection will be useful in many ways, and it is one that you can keep in a public area of your home. People will be able to check it out anytime, and you can be excited about putting up your new finds. Those reasons are only a few of the ones for you to enjoy your book collection, however. You surely will find more.
By Julia Mercer
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Introducing a Child to Astronomy
By Christina VanGinkel
If you have a young child interested in astronomy, the best way to indulge that interest is simpler than you might think, and best yet, it involves very little, if any, money whatsoever. First, save those funds that you might have earmarked for a telescope for the time being. While a telescope might be of interest sometime in the future, for the very young, or just newly interested in astronomy, all that is really required is a night sky and a set of interested eyes! The secondary advantage of not running off to buy a telescope immediately is that if the interest in astronomy wanes, you will not be stuck with a telescope you do not want. In addition, by waiting, if their interest is true, you can rest assured that spending a bit more money down the road on a top quality telescope will not be wasted money. You can spend the extra time shopping for the perfect telescope that will last your young astronomer for many years to come.
If you do feel the need to buy at least one physical thing to peak the interest of a young learner though, invest a few dollars in a good beginners guide to astronomy. Choose one that will help them discern the different stars and planets that they can view, or that suggests some simple projects for them to take part in involving the night sky.
A couple of book suggestions include:
Exploring the Sky: Projects for Beginning Astronomers, by Richard Moeschl
Astronomy for Beginners by Jeff Becan and Sarah Becan
A Beginner's Guide to Astronomy, by Alistair Glase
A bit pricier than the others, but an excellent edition for those who are showing a positive attitude towards this lifelong hobby is, Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe, Fifth Edition, by Eric Chaisson and Steve McMillan. This book is a bit on the pricey side at close to one hundred dollars, but if you check eBay frequently, or it's sister site Half.com, you might be able to find a copy for much less.
Other than books, you could also pick up an Orion Star Target Planisphere. It is best described by the manufacturer, who states that it is a detailed star map showing all of the constellations visible from the mid-northern latitudes. Simply dial in the date and time that you want to match up the map to, and you will have an accurate map of the night sky right in your hands. It is printed on a dew-resistant coated cardboard, perfect for late night star gazing when damp may settle in. Slightly larger than eight inches, it is easy to handle, yet large enough to read with ease, and is a perfect tool to add to any budding astronomer's cache.
While the Orion Star Target Planisphere, or one of the listed books or any beginners guide to astronomy for that matter, can all be excellent building blocks for your young astronomer, all that you absolutely need is a clear cloudless night, in a spot away from the city lights, and the time and patience to show off the sky to those who want to learn.
When my oldest son and daughter were about six and eight years old, my husband's cousin was visiting with us for a few days. I heard him ask them if they knew what the Milky Way was and if they knew the names of any planets yet. Later that same afternoon, the kids came running in the house asking how late they could stay up amid some chatter about stars, planets, galaxies, and more. As evening approached, they walked around our yard, settling on the slightly sloping piece of yard directly in the front of our house's exposed basement. From there, the three of them all lined up on their backs, one child on each side, as he pointed out various observations in the night sky above. To this day, all of my children, both the older ones, and my youngest who was also shown how interesting astronomy could be in much the same manner, only years later, have a love of the night sky and astronomy in general. All with no money initially spent, just time and patience by one adult who was willing to share his knowledge.
If you have a young child interested in astronomy, the best way to indulge that interest is simpler than you might think, and best yet, it involves very little, if any, money whatsoever. First, save those funds that you might have earmarked for a telescope for the time being. While a telescope might be of interest sometime in the future, for the very young, or just newly interested in astronomy, all that is really required is a night sky and a set of interested eyes! The secondary advantage of not running off to buy a telescope immediately is that if the interest in astronomy wanes, you will not be stuck with a telescope you do not want. In addition, by waiting, if their interest is true, you can rest assured that spending a bit more money down the road on a top quality telescope will not be wasted money. You can spend the extra time shopping for the perfect telescope that will last your young astronomer for many years to come.
If you do feel the need to buy at least one physical thing to peak the interest of a young learner though, invest a few dollars in a good beginners guide to astronomy. Choose one that will help them discern the different stars and planets that they can view, or that suggests some simple projects for them to take part in involving the night sky.
A couple of book suggestions include:
Exploring the Sky: Projects for Beginning Astronomers, by Richard Moeschl
Astronomy for Beginners by Jeff Becan and Sarah Becan
A Beginner's Guide to Astronomy, by Alistair Glase
A bit pricier than the others, but an excellent edition for those who are showing a positive attitude towards this lifelong hobby is, Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe, Fifth Edition, by Eric Chaisson and Steve McMillan. This book is a bit on the pricey side at close to one hundred dollars, but if you check eBay frequently, or it's sister site Half.com, you might be able to find a copy for much less.
Other than books, you could also pick up an Orion Star Target Planisphere. It is best described by the manufacturer, who states that it is a detailed star map showing all of the constellations visible from the mid-northern latitudes. Simply dial in the date and time that you want to match up the map to, and you will have an accurate map of the night sky right in your hands. It is printed on a dew-resistant coated cardboard, perfect for late night star gazing when damp may settle in. Slightly larger than eight inches, it is easy to handle, yet large enough to read with ease, and is a perfect tool to add to any budding astronomer's cache.
While the Orion Star Target Planisphere, or one of the listed books or any beginners guide to astronomy for that matter, can all be excellent building blocks for your young astronomer, all that you absolutely need is a clear cloudless night, in a spot away from the city lights, and the time and patience to show off the sky to those who want to learn.
When my oldest son and daughter were about six and eight years old, my husband's cousin was visiting with us for a few days. I heard him ask them if they knew what the Milky Way was and if they knew the names of any planets yet. Later that same afternoon, the kids came running in the house asking how late they could stay up amid some chatter about stars, planets, galaxies, and more. As evening approached, they walked around our yard, settling on the slightly sloping piece of yard directly in the front of our house's exposed basement. From there, the three of them all lined up on their backs, one child on each side, as he pointed out various observations in the night sky above. To this day, all of my children, both the older ones, and my youngest who was also shown how interesting astronomy could be in much the same manner, only years later, have a love of the night sky and astronomy in general. All with no money initially spent, just time and patience by one adult who was willing to share his knowledge.
Craft a Project Keeper
By Christina VanGinkel
If you have been a crafter for a number of years, whether sticking to one basic hobby or dipping your fingers into this, that, and whatever happens to strike your fancy, there are probably those days when you just do not have any clue as to what to work on. I have such varied interests when it comes to my crafting hobbies, delving into various paper and fiber crafts, amongst many other genres, that at one point in time, I found it hard to believe some days, that I just did not know what to work on. Say I had an hour of free time. Instead of taking that hour and spending it productively, or even leisurely, pursuing some interest, I would instead while it away wondering what project to spend my time on.
Let me make a quick disclaimer here first though, that I am a firm believer in spending time doing nothing, nada, just kicking back and relaxing. I am not talking about those hours, but the hours after those, when your hands actually itch to get at one project or another!
Hmm, maybe scrapbook for a while, or I could crochet, though I really should spend some time on those stamped note cards I promised my sister. Then again, I picked up all of the materials I needed to begin the cross stitched poem I want to make my daughter for Christmas, and not to forget the dream catcher a friend of a friend asked me to make for her daughter's bedroom. Just thinking about this short list of projects is enough to while away the hour that would be wasted without having spent any of the hour actually accomplishing anything.
It is not that I had to work, or should I say, play, every day, but it seems like some days, when I really felt the need to distress, impatient to get my hands on a project of one kind or another, that I just could not narrow it down to any one thing. In the end, I often wound up wasting a lot of time. Part of the issue was that deep down I liked to be organized. With this in mind, I decided that by reason of need, I would work on one particular project until it was finished, and once that was accomplished, it would, I hoped, help me better plot what project should win those slips of time I had to give. That project was 'My Project Keeper'.
Not only has it helped me decide what to work on when I have some free time, it has also helped me to know whether I have the time to commit to one more project, big or small, before I take yet another on. It has also helped to keep track of things like craft related websites that I find of interest, and my newest addition to it, an ever growing and constantly changing shopping list and inventory of craft supplies that I have on hand. Anyone that has purchased yet another skein of this, roll of that, or pack of embellishments what have you, only to get home from the store to realize that you already have the same item, possibly already in multiples, will soon realize just how handy such a list could be.
My Project Keeper was crafted from a three-inch deep binder. I decorated the outside of it simply because I thought it would be nice to do so, but this is not necessary, especially if you are already short on time. I chose this size, as it seemed large enough to accommodate numerous pages, each one representing a craft project, with spare space for extras such as the inventory list I have since added since the Project Keeper's inception. Whenever I begin a project, I assign a plastic sleeve that is stored in the binder to it. In the sleeve goes a sheet with the details of the project at hand. What it is, who it is for, if it is a gift, when it needs to be completed. I might also list supplies I have, and supplies I need. I also make note of how long I think the project will take to complete, and then what I consider one of the most important parts of the Project Keeper overall, I keep a log of just how much time I actually do put in. This has helped me immensely when it comes to delegating my time.
I also use a three-hole punch to alter a Ziploc style bag and insert this next to the sleeve. It might store anything from scraps to empty paper sleeves from DMC thread so I know at a glance what I need to replace. I also used my three-hole punch to alter several sheets of medium weight cardstock, which I added to the back of the binder. I run each through my printer first, adding lines that are similar to those found on traditional writing paper. These are used for my shopping list, and other notes I decide to make. I am appreciating my Project Keeper so much, that as I finish a project, I snap a picture of it completed, and add it to a secondary file, which I just started. I also transfer over any notes that I feel might help me in the future if I choose to make a something similar, along with my log of the time it took. If organization is something your crafting time is lacking, create your own Project Keeper today!
If you have been a crafter for a number of years, whether sticking to one basic hobby or dipping your fingers into this, that, and whatever happens to strike your fancy, there are probably those days when you just do not have any clue as to what to work on. I have such varied interests when it comes to my crafting hobbies, delving into various paper and fiber crafts, amongst many other genres, that at one point in time, I found it hard to believe some days, that I just did not know what to work on. Say I had an hour of free time. Instead of taking that hour and spending it productively, or even leisurely, pursuing some interest, I would instead while it away wondering what project to spend my time on.
Let me make a quick disclaimer here first though, that I am a firm believer in spending time doing nothing, nada, just kicking back and relaxing. I am not talking about those hours, but the hours after those, when your hands actually itch to get at one project or another!
Hmm, maybe scrapbook for a while, or I could crochet, though I really should spend some time on those stamped note cards I promised my sister. Then again, I picked up all of the materials I needed to begin the cross stitched poem I want to make my daughter for Christmas, and not to forget the dream catcher a friend of a friend asked me to make for her daughter's bedroom. Just thinking about this short list of projects is enough to while away the hour that would be wasted without having spent any of the hour actually accomplishing anything.
It is not that I had to work, or should I say, play, every day, but it seems like some days, when I really felt the need to distress, impatient to get my hands on a project of one kind or another, that I just could not narrow it down to any one thing. In the end, I often wound up wasting a lot of time. Part of the issue was that deep down I liked to be organized. With this in mind, I decided that by reason of need, I would work on one particular project until it was finished, and once that was accomplished, it would, I hoped, help me better plot what project should win those slips of time I had to give. That project was 'My Project Keeper'.
Not only has it helped me decide what to work on when I have some free time, it has also helped me to know whether I have the time to commit to one more project, big or small, before I take yet another on. It has also helped to keep track of things like craft related websites that I find of interest, and my newest addition to it, an ever growing and constantly changing shopping list and inventory of craft supplies that I have on hand. Anyone that has purchased yet another skein of this, roll of that, or pack of embellishments what have you, only to get home from the store to realize that you already have the same item, possibly already in multiples, will soon realize just how handy such a list could be.
My Project Keeper was crafted from a three-inch deep binder. I decorated the outside of it simply because I thought it would be nice to do so, but this is not necessary, especially if you are already short on time. I chose this size, as it seemed large enough to accommodate numerous pages, each one representing a craft project, with spare space for extras such as the inventory list I have since added since the Project Keeper's inception. Whenever I begin a project, I assign a plastic sleeve that is stored in the binder to it. In the sleeve goes a sheet with the details of the project at hand. What it is, who it is for, if it is a gift, when it needs to be completed. I might also list supplies I have, and supplies I need. I also make note of how long I think the project will take to complete, and then what I consider one of the most important parts of the Project Keeper overall, I keep a log of just how much time I actually do put in. This has helped me immensely when it comes to delegating my time.
I also use a three-hole punch to alter a Ziploc style bag and insert this next to the sleeve. It might store anything from scraps to empty paper sleeves from DMC thread so I know at a glance what I need to replace. I also used my three-hole punch to alter several sheets of medium weight cardstock, which I added to the back of the binder. I run each through my printer first, adding lines that are similar to those found on traditional writing paper. These are used for my shopping list, and other notes I decide to make. I am appreciating my Project Keeper so much, that as I finish a project, I snap a picture of it completed, and add it to a secondary file, which I just started. I also transfer over any notes that I feel might help me in the future if I choose to make a something similar, along with my log of the time it took. If organization is something your crafting time is lacking, create your own Project Keeper today!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Creating a Multi Exposure Collage
By Christina VanGinkel
I love taking snapshots. Some are actually quite good. Others are so-so. Some, I might like, but I am unsure what to do with them. Some might land in my scrapbooks; others end up blown up in size and framed as gifts for the grandparents or aunts and uncles. Some might even land on my very own walls as forms of what my own idea of art is. It was with this last idea in mind that prompted me to delve further into the technique of Multi Exposure Collages once I came across an image that someone else had made.
The picture that I saw was of a forest scene interwoven with a very nice snapshot of a large whitetail buck. The exposure of the piece was such that it gave the scene a very dreamlike feel. I absolutely loved it. When the photographer who had created the piece told me that I could accomplish this same technique at home with nothing more than a couple of photographs, my computer, and a graphics program that held the capability to do so, I was stunned. I have been an amateur photographer for so many years now that I lost count a long time ago, yet somehow I had never really noticed this technique in any of the many graphics programs I have, or if I saw a finished piece, it must not have been intriguing enough to catch my attention. That was until I came across the collage of the forest and whitetail. In effect, a Multi Exposure Collage allows you to layer several photographs, yet still see the elements of each snapshot.
I decided that I would love to try to create my own multi exposure collage, and I had a couple of perfect pictures in mind. Just recently, I had snapped a few very early morning shots of the cloudy sky and their dramatic pink color as the sun rose, and the very same morning I had been lucky enough to take a picture of a black bear sow up a tree. I thought that the image of the sow, superimposed on one of the pink cloud sunrise shots would be an ideal match to try this technique.
Looking through the software installed on my computer, I discovered that Picasa 2, a free download available via the Internet, actually had the capability to create a simple multi exposure collage. I simply chose the pictures I wanted, from the various files that they were stored in, and put a hold on them in the included picture tray. Once I had selected the snapshots, I wanted to use, I simply clicked Collage from the buttons across the bottom of the programs front page. From there, I had a choice of three different types of collages, which one happened to be the multi exposure I was interested in. I was able to use two or more snapshots, though I was limited on any real fine-tuning.
Still, the results were fun to see, and I tried several different combinations before I created a collage that might not have been as good as the first one I saw that intrigued me so, but that was nonetheless pretty good if I must say so myself.
If you love to experiment with your digital photos, and are bored with the more basic cropping, contrasts, and red eye removal tools, check to see if your graphics software is capable of helping you create your own multi exposure collage. If not, download Picasa 2 free and try it. Now that I have tried it, I am brimming with numerous ideas for even more collages. Some I might be able to do via Picasa 2, while others might require a more refined graphics program. Either way, I now realize that if I have been missing a technique as interesting and as fun as the Multi Exposure Collage, I wonder what other method of altering digital photographs that I might be missing with just as interesting results. For now though, I have to go and pick up a couple of frames, as the results of my sunrise and sow in the tree turned out so well, I plan to frame and hang one in my living room, and give another one as a gift to friend who enjoys the local bear population as much as I do.
I love taking snapshots. Some are actually quite good. Others are so-so. Some, I might like, but I am unsure what to do with them. Some might land in my scrapbooks; others end up blown up in size and framed as gifts for the grandparents or aunts and uncles. Some might even land on my very own walls as forms of what my own idea of art is. It was with this last idea in mind that prompted me to delve further into the technique of Multi Exposure Collages once I came across an image that someone else had made.
The picture that I saw was of a forest scene interwoven with a very nice snapshot of a large whitetail buck. The exposure of the piece was such that it gave the scene a very dreamlike feel. I absolutely loved it. When the photographer who had created the piece told me that I could accomplish this same technique at home with nothing more than a couple of photographs, my computer, and a graphics program that held the capability to do so, I was stunned. I have been an amateur photographer for so many years now that I lost count a long time ago, yet somehow I had never really noticed this technique in any of the many graphics programs I have, or if I saw a finished piece, it must not have been intriguing enough to catch my attention. That was until I came across the collage of the forest and whitetail. In effect, a Multi Exposure Collage allows you to layer several photographs, yet still see the elements of each snapshot.
I decided that I would love to try to create my own multi exposure collage, and I had a couple of perfect pictures in mind. Just recently, I had snapped a few very early morning shots of the cloudy sky and their dramatic pink color as the sun rose, and the very same morning I had been lucky enough to take a picture of a black bear sow up a tree. I thought that the image of the sow, superimposed on one of the pink cloud sunrise shots would be an ideal match to try this technique.
Looking through the software installed on my computer, I discovered that Picasa 2, a free download available via the Internet, actually had the capability to create a simple multi exposure collage. I simply chose the pictures I wanted, from the various files that they were stored in, and put a hold on them in the included picture tray. Once I had selected the snapshots, I wanted to use, I simply clicked Collage from the buttons across the bottom of the programs front page. From there, I had a choice of three different types of collages, which one happened to be the multi exposure I was interested in. I was able to use two or more snapshots, though I was limited on any real fine-tuning.
Still, the results were fun to see, and I tried several different combinations before I created a collage that might not have been as good as the first one I saw that intrigued me so, but that was nonetheless pretty good if I must say so myself.
If you love to experiment with your digital photos, and are bored with the more basic cropping, contrasts, and red eye removal tools, check to see if your graphics software is capable of helping you create your own multi exposure collage. If not, download Picasa 2 free and try it. Now that I have tried it, I am brimming with numerous ideas for even more collages. Some I might be able to do via Picasa 2, while others might require a more refined graphics program. Either way, I now realize that if I have been missing a technique as interesting and as fun as the Multi Exposure Collage, I wonder what other method of altering digital photographs that I might be missing with just as interesting results. For now though, I have to go and pick up a couple of frames, as the results of my sunrise and sow in the tree turned out so well, I plan to frame and hang one in my living room, and give another one as a gift to friend who enjoys the local bear population as much as I do.
Chalk Art
By Christina VanGinkel
As the heat of this summer roars on, finding activities to keep occupied, without risking overheating can be a task all on its own. Staying indoors is often preferable, but even the most contented air conditioner hugger may suddenly find themselves longing for the outdoors even in the blazing heat. When that happens, try to choose an activity that will provide some relief from the boredom of being cooped up, yet allow you to express some creativity at the same time. Try sidewalk chalk art! An inexpensive hobby that can bring back memories of childhood and that can be done any place you have a sidewalk or paved expanse such as a driveway. Whether kids, adults, or both are involved, if you are using any surface for a canvas that is normally a place that vehicles travel or are parked, be sure to keep safety at the forefront of your activities. Cordon off the area, and move vehicles out of the area. If this cannot be safely accomplished, choose an alternative place to create and play. Also, with the heat an issue, do try to choose an area that is predominantly in the shade.
Almost any craft store or five an dime will carry at least a rudimentary box of colored chalk. I actually picked up a big plastic tub of fat, easy to handle colored chalk sticks at the local dollar store. Yep, I bought a whole bucket of chalk in a rainbow of colors for only a dollar. I ended up picking up several tubs actually, keeping a couple at my house and dropping off a bucket at my young grandsons. Once you have your chalk in hand, begin.
One of the greatest things about chalk art is that the sky is literally the limit. If you have a bit of graffiti artist in you, express yourself away. Artist incognito? No problem, as you have a completely wide canvas before you just waiting to be filled. You will even begin to forget the heat of the day as you lose yourself amongst the rainbow of colors. Moreover, what happens if you make a mistake? Grab a bucket of water and wash it away. Other summers, this would mean waiting an undetermined amount of time for your concrete or paved canvas to dry up, but most places this year, you will be all dried up and ready to start over in about half an hour at the most.
If you have small children, get them going in their own corner and create them a display that will wow their socks off. My son in law did just this by drawing a huge dinosaur and crocodile along the front walk to his house the other afternoon. My young grandson was given the task of drawing apples and other fruits to feed the two creatures. As hot out as the afternoon was, by keeping to the shaded areas of the pavement, they managed to while away over an hour outside. For the next couple of days, their creation was the talk of anyone who happened to walk by. Yesterday morning they awoke to rain, something much needed by us, and my grandson came flying away from the window to exclaim that the croc and dinosaur had gone! Even as the chalk was being washed away, they were still entertaining.
Chalk art can be a fun hobby, allowing just about anyone, no matter their age, to have a bit of fun and express their creativity. For those who might want to take this type of creativity to the next level, be sure to check out products such as the newest spray chalks. Similar to spray paint, spray chalk is applied in much the same way, yet is easily washed off, allowing that aforementioned graffiti artist yet one more level of expression, yet without the permanence, that lands many of them in trouble. Available in a variety of colors, spray on chalk can be used on virtually any surface and washes away with ease, no scrubbing required, just water, and is great for decorating everything from windows to vehicles, even the grass in the front yard. When the heat of summer is gone, spray on chalk can still be fun, as it can even be used on snow, perfect for decorating snow forts and snowmen! Have fun!
As the heat of this summer roars on, finding activities to keep occupied, without risking overheating can be a task all on its own. Staying indoors is often preferable, but even the most contented air conditioner hugger may suddenly find themselves longing for the outdoors even in the blazing heat. When that happens, try to choose an activity that will provide some relief from the boredom of being cooped up, yet allow you to express some creativity at the same time. Try sidewalk chalk art! An inexpensive hobby that can bring back memories of childhood and that can be done any place you have a sidewalk or paved expanse such as a driveway. Whether kids, adults, or both are involved, if you are using any surface for a canvas that is normally a place that vehicles travel or are parked, be sure to keep safety at the forefront of your activities. Cordon off the area, and move vehicles out of the area. If this cannot be safely accomplished, choose an alternative place to create and play. Also, with the heat an issue, do try to choose an area that is predominantly in the shade.
Almost any craft store or five an dime will carry at least a rudimentary box of colored chalk. I actually picked up a big plastic tub of fat, easy to handle colored chalk sticks at the local dollar store. Yep, I bought a whole bucket of chalk in a rainbow of colors for only a dollar. I ended up picking up several tubs actually, keeping a couple at my house and dropping off a bucket at my young grandsons. Once you have your chalk in hand, begin.
One of the greatest things about chalk art is that the sky is literally the limit. If you have a bit of graffiti artist in you, express yourself away. Artist incognito? No problem, as you have a completely wide canvas before you just waiting to be filled. You will even begin to forget the heat of the day as you lose yourself amongst the rainbow of colors. Moreover, what happens if you make a mistake? Grab a bucket of water and wash it away. Other summers, this would mean waiting an undetermined amount of time for your concrete or paved canvas to dry up, but most places this year, you will be all dried up and ready to start over in about half an hour at the most.
If you have small children, get them going in their own corner and create them a display that will wow their socks off. My son in law did just this by drawing a huge dinosaur and crocodile along the front walk to his house the other afternoon. My young grandson was given the task of drawing apples and other fruits to feed the two creatures. As hot out as the afternoon was, by keeping to the shaded areas of the pavement, they managed to while away over an hour outside. For the next couple of days, their creation was the talk of anyone who happened to walk by. Yesterday morning they awoke to rain, something much needed by us, and my grandson came flying away from the window to exclaim that the croc and dinosaur had gone! Even as the chalk was being washed away, they were still entertaining.
Chalk art can be a fun hobby, allowing just about anyone, no matter their age, to have a bit of fun and express their creativity. For those who might want to take this type of creativity to the next level, be sure to check out products such as the newest spray chalks. Similar to spray paint, spray chalk is applied in much the same way, yet is easily washed off, allowing that aforementioned graffiti artist yet one more level of expression, yet without the permanence, that lands many of them in trouble. Available in a variety of colors, spray on chalk can be used on virtually any surface and washes away with ease, no scrubbing required, just water, and is great for decorating everything from windows to vehicles, even the grass in the front yard. When the heat of summer is gone, spray on chalk can still be fun, as it can even be used on snow, perfect for decorating snow forts and snowmen! Have fun!
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
On Woodcarving
One of the main reasons woodcarving appealed to me was that it was fairly inexpensive to get started. A good beginners set of carving tools can be purchased for less than fifty dollars and if you're good at searching for bargains at eBay, you can pick up a set for less than twenty.
So, what do you need to get started? Basically, a few chisels and a good knife. Many people begin with nothing more than an X-acto knife set and these can serve the new carver very well until he or she decides what other tools are needed for their style of carving. A google search on woodcarving tools can turn up many possibilities ranging from cheap imports to high dollar specialty tools.
Since I live way out in the boonies, miles from the nearest large city, finding a carving club close by is next to impossible. So I do the next best thing - I buy books and subscribe to a carving magazine or two. These take me step by step as I learn to take a block of wood and turn it into something special. There are also several web site forums that are devoted to wood carving and dozens of Yahoo groups where beginners can seek advise.
The best book I've found for a beginner like me is:
Whittling and Woodcarving by E. J. Tangerman
This book was written back originally back in the 1940s, but is still in print today.
Woodcarving Illustrated and Carving Magazine are the two carving print magazines I subscribe to and I really look forward to each issue.
Chip Chats Magazine comes with membership in the National Woodcarvers Association and is a real bargain at only fourteen dollars a year.
Basswood seems to be the choice of most carvers as the wood is straight grained and relatively soft (as compared to other hardwoods). But, basswood can be a bit pricey if you have to order it online; shipping alone can sometimes cost more than the wood. I've heard the larger hobby shops carry basswood at a reasonable price, but since I don't have one nearby, I haven't been able to check this out.
Since we own a sawmill, my wood of choice at the moment is cedar. We've been sawing a lot of that lately and it is simple for me to cut the sizes I want. I've also carved pine and maple, but unless the wood is green (freshly cut), it can be a bit hard to push a chisel through.
Once you begin carving, it won't be long before you become addicted to it. That's when you'll begin looking for better tools. Chisels and gouges can become expensive, but honestly, the better the tool - the easier carving can be. The cheap Chinese imports are truly a waste of money; they won't hold an edge and dull tools will quickly frustrate any carver.
Woodcarving can be enjoyed by the young and the old alike and everyone in between. Children, of course will need adult supervision as they will need to be taught how to keep their fingers away from the ends of the sharp chisels. There are special gloves that can be purchased that help protect the hands from accidental slips of the tools, which can happen to anyone.
Many woodcarvers have advance to what is known as power carving. Using Dremel like rotary tools, the pieces they create are awesome. There are also attachments available that will turn the rotary into a reciprocating carving tool. That's something on my 'wish list' of future wants, but for now hand tools suit me fine.
Some carvers paint their projects and others leave the finished piece in its natural state. How you finish your piece is entirely up to you. Right now, I'm doing simple relief carvings so a finish is not really needed. But, I will probably dig out the craft paints should I ever try my hand at caricatures.
Carving is a fun and relaxing way to whittle away a few hours. As you sit and chip away the unwanted wood, you'll find yourself letting go of the stresses of the day. Once your project is completed, you'll have a sense of pride everytime you look at the piece; knowing that you made that.
So, what do you need to get started? Basically, a few chisels and a good knife. Many people begin with nothing more than an X-acto knife set and these can serve the new carver very well until he or she decides what other tools are needed for their style of carving. A google search on woodcarving tools can turn up many possibilities ranging from cheap imports to high dollar specialty tools.
Since I live way out in the boonies, miles from the nearest large city, finding a carving club close by is next to impossible. So I do the next best thing - I buy books and subscribe to a carving magazine or two. These take me step by step as I learn to take a block of wood and turn it into something special. There are also several web site forums that are devoted to wood carving and dozens of Yahoo groups where beginners can seek advise.
The best book I've found for a beginner like me is:
Whittling and Woodcarving by E. J. Tangerman
This book was written back originally back in the 1940s, but is still in print today.
Woodcarving Illustrated and Carving Magazine are the two carving print magazines I subscribe to and I really look forward to each issue.
Chip Chats Magazine comes with membership in the National Woodcarvers Association and is a real bargain at only fourteen dollars a year.
Basswood seems to be the choice of most carvers as the wood is straight grained and relatively soft (as compared to other hardwoods). But, basswood can be a bit pricey if you have to order it online; shipping alone can sometimes cost more than the wood. I've heard the larger hobby shops carry basswood at a reasonable price, but since I don't have one nearby, I haven't been able to check this out.
Since we own a sawmill, my wood of choice at the moment is cedar. We've been sawing a lot of that lately and it is simple for me to cut the sizes I want. I've also carved pine and maple, but unless the wood is green (freshly cut), it can be a bit hard to push a chisel through.
Once you begin carving, it won't be long before you become addicted to it. That's when you'll begin looking for better tools. Chisels and gouges can become expensive, but honestly, the better the tool - the easier carving can be. The cheap Chinese imports are truly a waste of money; they won't hold an edge and dull tools will quickly frustrate any carver.
Woodcarving can be enjoyed by the young and the old alike and everyone in between. Children, of course will need adult supervision as they will need to be taught how to keep their fingers away from the ends of the sharp chisels. There are special gloves that can be purchased that help protect the hands from accidental slips of the tools, which can happen to anyone.
Many woodcarvers have advance to what is known as power carving. Using Dremel like rotary tools, the pieces they create are awesome. There are also attachments available that will turn the rotary into a reciprocating carving tool. That's something on my 'wish list' of future wants, but for now hand tools suit me fine.
Some carvers paint their projects and others leave the finished piece in its natural state. How you finish your piece is entirely up to you. Right now, I'm doing simple relief carvings so a finish is not really needed. But, I will probably dig out the craft paints should I ever try my hand at caricatures.
Carving is a fun and relaxing way to whittle away a few hours. As you sit and chip away the unwanted wood, you'll find yourself letting go of the stresses of the day. Once your project is completed, you'll have a sense of pride everytime you look at the piece; knowing that you made that.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Whittling - An Old Tyme Past Time Rediscovered
You very seldom see a whittler these days. Seems our lives are just too busy. I remember when I was a child, I loved to watch my grandfather or my uncle pick up a stick of wood, whip out their pocketknife and begin turning that stick into something special. Many of my favorite toys were animals and people that were previously nothing but a discarded wooden stick.
Now that I'm older (and with a grandchild of my own on the way), I've dug out my pocketknife also. Picking up sticks or blocks of wood from my husband's workshop, I'm slowly teaching myself how to whittle. My goal is simple, to make my grandchild toys that are special in their simplicity and unique from the mass market toys that every other child has.
But first, I started with a heart. I thought it would be simple. NOT! Who knew, that cutting away a small amount of wood would be such a challenge? Certainly, not me. But I persevered and a day later, I handed my husband a two inch heart engraved with our initials. (Speaking of which, remember when kids used to carve their initials in trees - stating their undying love in a heart? Now it seems they do it mostly with spray paint on bridges and overpasses. Sigh.)
After that first whittling, I decided it was time to invest in a better knife. I took a day or two to read through the many different carving and whittling websites to attempt to figure out what I really needed. I found out, I just needed a better knife than the one I had as my blade was really too thick to accomplish much. So off to eBay I went.
After searching through every category I could find on woodworking, I finally found a set of knives that I knew I could not live without. The set, made by Warren Cutlery, included nine blades with interchangeable handles. As an added bonus, there were also six wood carving chisels included. I put my snipe bid in and waited.
I was one happy camper when I discovered I had won the auction for less than half of what I was willing to pay. And that made the total of my set about one fourth of what it would have cost me retail. So, for around twenty bucks, I was ready. All I could do now was wait and hope the seller was a fast shipper.
He was indeed. My new tools arrived three days later and I have to say I did good. My second attempt at a heart took me less than three hours from start to finish. What a difference a good tool makes.
I wish there was a whittling or carving club near me. But alas, since we live way out in the boonies far from any city that isn't an option. So to learn my craft, I'm relying on books. (Back to eBay once more.)
And I'm having fun. I actually whittled out a piece today that truly resembles the little dog I had in mind when I started. My better half built me a lap desk, to catch the shavings, so I can sit on the couch in the evening and whittle while he watches television.
For someone who could never draw anything, I'm finding that I can truly make something out of a little block of wood or a stick I find laying in the yard. That's kinda cool.
The best part is that my new hobby is a cheap hobby. Unlike my husband's woodworking where tools can cost in the thousand dollar range, I can pick up replacement blades for my handles for less than five bucks each. The handles I expect will last me for the rest of my life and everything stores in a little cedar box that I can plop in my purse any time we are on the road to go visiting or whatever.
I don't know if picking up whittling was my answer to a mid-life crisis of some sort or another or not. I do know that it is a wonderful stress reliever and it allows me to create. And that's a good thing.
Hopefully by the time by soon to be grandchild is old enough to play with my creations, he or she will be able to recognize each one without Grandma having to tell them it's a dog, cat or whatever.
Now that I'm older (and with a grandchild of my own on the way), I've dug out my pocketknife also. Picking up sticks or blocks of wood from my husband's workshop, I'm slowly teaching myself how to whittle. My goal is simple, to make my grandchild toys that are special in their simplicity and unique from the mass market toys that every other child has.
But first, I started with a heart. I thought it would be simple. NOT! Who knew, that cutting away a small amount of wood would be such a challenge? Certainly, not me. But I persevered and a day later, I handed my husband a two inch heart engraved with our initials. (Speaking of which, remember when kids used to carve their initials in trees - stating their undying love in a heart? Now it seems they do it mostly with spray paint on bridges and overpasses. Sigh.)
After that first whittling, I decided it was time to invest in a better knife. I took a day or two to read through the many different carving and whittling websites to attempt to figure out what I really needed. I found out, I just needed a better knife than the one I had as my blade was really too thick to accomplish much. So off to eBay I went.
After searching through every category I could find on woodworking, I finally found a set of knives that I knew I could not live without. The set, made by Warren Cutlery, included nine blades with interchangeable handles. As an added bonus, there were also six wood carving chisels included. I put my snipe bid in and waited.
I was one happy camper when I discovered I had won the auction for less than half of what I was willing to pay. And that made the total of my set about one fourth of what it would have cost me retail. So, for around twenty bucks, I was ready. All I could do now was wait and hope the seller was a fast shipper.
He was indeed. My new tools arrived three days later and I have to say I did good. My second attempt at a heart took me less than three hours from start to finish. What a difference a good tool makes.
I wish there was a whittling or carving club near me. But alas, since we live way out in the boonies far from any city that isn't an option. So to learn my craft, I'm relying on books. (Back to eBay once more.)
And I'm having fun. I actually whittled out a piece today that truly resembles the little dog I had in mind when I started. My better half built me a lap desk, to catch the shavings, so I can sit on the couch in the evening and whittle while he watches television.
For someone who could never draw anything, I'm finding that I can truly make something out of a little block of wood or a stick I find laying in the yard. That's kinda cool.
The best part is that my new hobby is a cheap hobby. Unlike my husband's woodworking where tools can cost in the thousand dollar range, I can pick up replacement blades for my handles for less than five bucks each. The handles I expect will last me for the rest of my life and everything stores in a little cedar box that I can plop in my purse any time we are on the road to go visiting or whatever.
I don't know if picking up whittling was my answer to a mid-life crisis of some sort or another or not. I do know that it is a wonderful stress reliever and it allows me to create. And that's a good thing.
Hopefully by the time by soon to be grandchild is old enough to play with my creations, he or she will be able to recognize each one without Grandma having to tell them it's a dog, cat or whatever.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Expand Your Photography Hobby: Construct a Darkroom!
With the popularity of digital cameras over the last number of years, more and more people are switching to that kind of photography. There remains a select group, however; those are the avid photographers who will use nothing but a 35 mm camera. Some of those 35 mm photography enthusiasts inevitably will want to set up their own personal darkroom at one time or another.
One thing that's fun to experiment with is the use of and then developing of black and white film. Some types of pictures turn out very stunning with this kind of treatment. It is interesting to experiment with various developing methods, too. When the photographer experiments with things like different filters on the camera, being the first to see the results is often quite memorable.
Having a darkroom is something that appeals to many people who still enjoy taking traditional pictures. The darkroom area can be as elaborate or primitive as you wish but there are just a few things that every darkroom has to have in common.
What are some of the things that you will need to have in order to start developing your own pictures?
(1) The first thing you will want to think about is whether you have a suitable area for a darkroom. What type of area will it have to be?
- The perfect area, of course, will be dark enough. You will be taking steps to block any bits of light that still come into the room later, but starting with a dark area will be a plus. This is often a section of a basement, and some people will use a spare bathroom. Most bathrooms have just one small window, so it tends to work well for a darkroom, but having no window at all would be the better option.
- If you will be using the basement, it is a good idea to block your darkroom area off from the rest of the basement unless you are 100% sure that no one will be opening a door at any time of your developing.
- Another consideration is the temperature of the area you will be using. Your darkroom should remain a steady 67 to 70 degrees. It should not be an area that will have high humidity.
- Your darkroom should be in an area where there will not be a higher amount of dust than is normal in a room. Be sure to keep the area clean and free of dust as much as possible.
- Plan enough space so that you will have room for a "wet area" and a "dry area."
(2) Your darkroom will need to be equipped with a source of water and electricity. If you have hard water, check with a photographic supplier to see if you will need a filter for the water. You need to use clear water for the developing processes. If it is impossible to have a water source directly in your darkroom area, make sure the source is as near to the area as possible.
(3) You will need ventilation. Use an exhaust fan or some other kind of fan that will take the chemical fumes from the room. At the very least, make sure there is some kind of air vent that will not allow any light to come into the vicinity. This is why a spot that doesn't have space for a fan of some kind isn't the best choice for a darkroom.
(4) Check online for various ways to block the light from entering your darkroom. No light at all should be allowed to come in. You will be using things like weather stripping and very dark plastic to keep every bit of light away from the darkroom. If there are tiny beams and cracks of light remaining, there is black photographic tape (opaque) that you can use.
(5) Decide where you will be buying your equipment and chemicals. Starting with black and white developing is a good choice due to color developing being more difficult for beginners.
(6) Strongly consider taking a class for this. The class will not only teach you everything you need to know, but also provide you with the lists of the things you will need to buy for your darkroom. If you can't do this, at least pick up a good book on the subject so that you will not be starting blind.
One thing that's fun to experiment with is the use of and then developing of black and white film. Some types of pictures turn out very stunning with this kind of treatment. It is interesting to experiment with various developing methods, too. When the photographer experiments with things like different filters on the camera, being the first to see the results is often quite memorable.
Having a darkroom is something that appeals to many people who still enjoy taking traditional pictures. The darkroom area can be as elaborate or primitive as you wish but there are just a few things that every darkroom has to have in common.
What are some of the things that you will need to have in order to start developing your own pictures?
(1) The first thing you will want to think about is whether you have a suitable area for a darkroom. What type of area will it have to be?
- The perfect area, of course, will be dark enough. You will be taking steps to block any bits of light that still come into the room later, but starting with a dark area will be a plus. This is often a section of a basement, and some people will use a spare bathroom. Most bathrooms have just one small window, so it tends to work well for a darkroom, but having no window at all would be the better option.
- If you will be using the basement, it is a good idea to block your darkroom area off from the rest of the basement unless you are 100% sure that no one will be opening a door at any time of your developing.
- Another consideration is the temperature of the area you will be using. Your darkroom should remain a steady 67 to 70 degrees. It should not be an area that will have high humidity.
- Your darkroom should be in an area where there will not be a higher amount of dust than is normal in a room. Be sure to keep the area clean and free of dust as much as possible.
- Plan enough space so that you will have room for a "wet area" and a "dry area."
(2) Your darkroom will need to be equipped with a source of water and electricity. If you have hard water, check with a photographic supplier to see if you will need a filter for the water. You need to use clear water for the developing processes. If it is impossible to have a water source directly in your darkroom area, make sure the source is as near to the area as possible.
(3) You will need ventilation. Use an exhaust fan or some other kind of fan that will take the chemical fumes from the room. At the very least, make sure there is some kind of air vent that will not allow any light to come into the vicinity. This is why a spot that doesn't have space for a fan of some kind isn't the best choice for a darkroom.
(4) Check online for various ways to block the light from entering your darkroom. No light at all should be allowed to come in. You will be using things like weather stripping and very dark plastic to keep every bit of light away from the darkroom. If there are tiny beams and cracks of light remaining, there is black photographic tape (opaque) that you can use.
(5) Decide where you will be buying your equipment and chemicals. Starting with black and white developing is a good choice due to color developing being more difficult for beginners.
(6) Strongly consider taking a class for this. The class will not only teach you everything you need to know, but also provide you with the lists of the things you will need to buy for your darkroom. If you can't do this, at least pick up a good book on the subject so that you will not be starting blind.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Collecting Comic Books
By Christina VanGinkel
When my husband and I were first married, I came to the marriage with a small collection of comic books, including a few Disney and a decent sized stack of Archie Comics. Anyone who has ever read the trials and tribulations of Jughead, Veronica, and the rest of the gang, knows just how important a collection of comic books can be. I also was the proud owner of a few Star Wars comics, along with a sampling of various other titles. I still have every single one of those comics today, along with a few more that I have picked up through the years.
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of pitching a tent in the backyard of my Maple Street address, and pouring over the latest newsstand find. With flashlight in hand, I would stay up well past traditional lights out reading. Well, actually, we had a small store devoted to comic books in our sleepy little town, not a newsstand. The guy that ran the place looked a lot like what you might expect to find running some out of the way tattoo parlor, but he was always good about even us youngest kids coming in to browse the racks, as long as we behaved ourselves. He even came to learn what kind of comics I liked, and would set aside the last copy of certain issues if I had not been in for my weekly visit yet, as he knew I had to wait to come in until I received my allowance for washing pans at our family owned bakery. He also sold sodas and had a decent candy counter, but I rarely bought any of that, saving all my money for comics.
Collecting comics is not something I set out to do to make money at, though I have a few that are now worth considerable more than what I paid for them. I have also browsed the racks of various collectible stores and online sites such as eBay, and have come across some very impressive numbers. I always think that if I had worked a bit harder and earned more money, who knows, my collection might now be worth enough to retire on, instead of just being a continued form of amusement.
I do not own any that are top value though, but a few of my earliest ones could be classified as at least reasonably attractive to someone looking to expand their more modest collection. Collecting comics as an investment can and is done, though that was never my intention. I collected the ones I did purely for the joy of it. All the comics in my own collection are well-read and far from perfect condition. Not only have I read them, but I have also shared them with my children, as they got older. We read them at bedtimes, and rainy afternoons, and just for the shear pleasure. One thing I did do though was to take care with their storage.
Early on, I bought a package of plastic sleeves with cardboard inserts to keep each book as wrinkle and crease free, and dust free as possible,. Later, I graduated to a couple top quality archival quality boxes. I kept the comics in their plastic sleeves, along with their cardboard inserts. The comics are stored upright, and I never overfill a box, making sure that each has plenty of room to allow me to find any particular comic I am in search of and not have to struggle to remove it or replace it back between the other issues stored within the same container. I also took the time to label the outside of each sleeve with any particulars related to the book inside. This has saved me wear and tear on them by not having to handle them unless it happens to be the copy I am searching for.
Collecting comic books is a timeless hobby. It is also something that can be shared across the ages. If you are looking for a hobby for either yourself or something to share with a child, collecting comic books might be the perfect hobby for you to give a try. With subjects across a wide scope of genres, and both old and new titles just waiting to be discovered, collecting comic books is sure to appeal to nearly everyone in some way or another.
When my husband and I were first married, I came to the marriage with a small collection of comic books, including a few Disney and a decent sized stack of Archie Comics. Anyone who has ever read the trials and tribulations of Jughead, Veronica, and the rest of the gang, knows just how important a collection of comic books can be. I also was the proud owner of a few Star Wars comics, along with a sampling of various other titles. I still have every single one of those comics today, along with a few more that I have picked up through the years.
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of pitching a tent in the backyard of my Maple Street address, and pouring over the latest newsstand find. With flashlight in hand, I would stay up well past traditional lights out reading. Well, actually, we had a small store devoted to comic books in our sleepy little town, not a newsstand. The guy that ran the place looked a lot like what you might expect to find running some out of the way tattoo parlor, but he was always good about even us youngest kids coming in to browse the racks, as long as we behaved ourselves. He even came to learn what kind of comics I liked, and would set aside the last copy of certain issues if I had not been in for my weekly visit yet, as he knew I had to wait to come in until I received my allowance for washing pans at our family owned bakery. He also sold sodas and had a decent candy counter, but I rarely bought any of that, saving all my money for comics.
Collecting comics is not something I set out to do to make money at, though I have a few that are now worth considerable more than what I paid for them. I have also browsed the racks of various collectible stores and online sites such as eBay, and have come across some very impressive numbers. I always think that if I had worked a bit harder and earned more money, who knows, my collection might now be worth enough to retire on, instead of just being a continued form of amusement.
I do not own any that are top value though, but a few of my earliest ones could be classified as at least reasonably attractive to someone looking to expand their more modest collection. Collecting comics as an investment can and is done, though that was never my intention. I collected the ones I did purely for the joy of it. All the comics in my own collection are well-read and far from perfect condition. Not only have I read them, but I have also shared them with my children, as they got older. We read them at bedtimes, and rainy afternoons, and just for the shear pleasure. One thing I did do though was to take care with their storage.
Early on, I bought a package of plastic sleeves with cardboard inserts to keep each book as wrinkle and crease free, and dust free as possible,. Later, I graduated to a couple top quality archival quality boxes. I kept the comics in their plastic sleeves, along with their cardboard inserts. The comics are stored upright, and I never overfill a box, making sure that each has plenty of room to allow me to find any particular comic I am in search of and not have to struggle to remove it or replace it back between the other issues stored within the same container. I also took the time to label the outside of each sleeve with any particulars related to the book inside. This has saved me wear and tear on them by not having to handle them unless it happens to be the copy I am searching for.
Collecting comic books is a timeless hobby. It is also something that can be shared across the ages. If you are looking for a hobby for either yourself or something to share with a child, collecting comic books might be the perfect hobby for you to give a try. With subjects across a wide scope of genres, and both old and new titles just waiting to be discovered, collecting comic books is sure to appeal to nearly everyone in some way or another.
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