Three Little Birds

Rise up this mornin'.

Smiled with the risin' sun.

Three little birds pitch by my doorstep.

Singin' sweet songs...

...of melodies pure and true.

Sayin'...

"This is my message to you."

Don't worry about a thing.

'Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.

Baby boy, my head can't wrap around the idea that you're now officially 2 years old.

Let's face it, you hit the terrible twos around 18 months and it's all been a d

DIY: Beginner's Photography Backdrop

I don't have any WIP shots for this because...um...I suck.

Honestly, I got WAY way way into it once I started and there was just no time to go get my camera.
Plus, Kyle had to leave for work in a matter of hours and I wanted to make sure I got it done.

This was something that just sort of sparked in my head and I went with.

I used:
2+ yards muslin fabric ($5.89)
Sewology Eyelet Kit ($2.99)
Sewology Eyelet Refills ($3.49)
Tea (FRESH BREWED, over the stove)
Sewing machine + Thread

Things you should use to make your life easier:
Iron

This is literally thrown together. Work with me.

Step 1. Seam all the edges to one nice, flat, level seam. Or, as even as you can get.
Step 2. Pick which side will be your top. Double it over an inch. Sew it into place.
Step 3. Attach your eyelets following their directions in the 1 inch top.
Step 4. Tea dye the fabric (I used the tutorial here).
Instead of tea dyeing, you could just dye it with fabric dye. Throw some tye-dye swirls in there!

Then mount it using hooks onto a bar or even shower curtain thingies. Easy and simple for a beginner to use.

Also, to give you a size ratio, this will work for my kids in portrait all around. Landscape, however, will be a bit difficult. It'll have to be close-ups or them sitting on the floor. Individually, of course. Like I said, this was a "BAM in my head let's run with it" sort of thing, so size wasn't a huge deal for me. If/When I make another one, I'll make it much bigger.

However, I'll need some area to make it work.
Yeah, I heard it in Tim Gunn's voice, too.

I don't have the structure to mount it (yet, that's a WIP) so here's a thrown together set up to give you the idea.
Also, please excuse the lighting.
Double also, my typical sit down for photos child is in school right now. I had to use Gabe. I apologize.

This would be great for a beginner photographer that's wanting to grasp some studio photography practice without shelling out an arm and a leg for backdrops.

Or, you know, the SAHMs like me who try to do everything on a budget, including photographing our kids.

Crafts + Life Update

I'm just going to go ahead and post the pictures of the craft stuff first.

Like, my new coffee mug cozy that I free-crocheted. Not perfect, but it does its job.

And some more resin rings because I get to wear them all the time. /sarcasm

And that's the end of my crafts.

Life...is tough right now, to say the least.

We have bills. A lot of bills. A majority of our things have been shut off. In fact, I'm posting this over someone's unsecured WiFi connection.

Our vehicle isn't working right and we have the repair estimated at about $250 or so.

The kids are growing and need clothes.

To say that shit has hit the fan is an understatement.

So I probably won't be posting much. This WiFi isn't all that stable. Hopefully, I'll end up with the ability to get back on track to blogging, but I'm not sure how that'll pan out.

It came. She went.

It finally happened.



There's no turning back now.

She was ready to go.

She's at school.
Gabe's becoming more and more independent and wants me less.
Riah and Dot are in Arkansas.
Jesus. I don't know what to do with myself.

On the upside, no tears were shed from anyone.

No Neglect Here.

I swear, I'm not. But right now, money is TIIIIGHT. AT&T sideswiped us with this ungodly high bill, it was like 2 or 3 payment cycles rolled into one. We can't afford it. Or much of anything else.

So all our services are shut off. And I'm borrowing WiFi right now.

From the comfort of my own bathroom.

BUT. I have this rant that I want to get out. Just real quick.

If I had a dime for every time one of my Facebook "friends" bought a DSLR, and then on the same day started their new photography business, I'd be the richest bitch in the world.

No lie.

It's none of my business. It's whatever floats your boat, right?

Right?

Fuck. It's one of my biggest pet peeves.

Alright, listen. I'll probably receive a TON of hate for saying all this and, I will openly tell you 100% that:
1. I'm no professional photographer.
2. I'm no one to critique a photographer's work.
3. I have PLENTY about photography I still have to learn.

But what it boils down to is this.
You buy a brand new DSLR. You take some pictures. You throw them up on Photobucket or whatever free editing program online and do a few "enhancements". You slap a "watermark" on there, which is typically beyond pointless and redundant and makes your work look more like that of a 5 year old. You open your photography business that same day, claiming your "PASSION for photography" has always been your life's dream and you have a "NICE camera" to work with."

No.
You're an effing fauxtographer. People are beyond stupid to be paying you money for your shots.

Folks, fauxtographer's are a dime a dozen.
A PHOTOGRAPHER? They're worth the money.

/end rant.
Oh. And I was a photographer at Sears Portrait Studio for some time. I still won't claim that I'm a photographer. I'm an amateur hobbiest, so-to-speak.

You'll always be my baby.

In the sunlight or the rain, brightest nights or darkest days,

I'll always feel the same way.

Whatever road you may be on, know you're never too far gone.

My love is there wherever you may be.

Just remember that you'll always be my baby.

Yeah. I may be tearing up. My kids are starting kindergarten.

KINDERGARTEN.

SCHOOL.

No.

Coffee Talk: Starting School

I'm a little shocked that it's time.

It's time.

Time? Time for what?

These two little beauties are starting kindergarten.

WOAH. Stop time. Just stop. STOP.

Because just a few days ago, they were itty bitties.

And then next up, there's...

...and then...

..and from the looks of it, Gabey's meaning serious business.

When did my babies turn into kids? :(