Wishful Thinking

I'm not big on gifts, but who doesn't like to 'wish' for a few things every now and then.

I've been keeping a wish list on Google for a while now. Amazon too. And on a webbie called Digital Designs.

Right now I've got my eye on a Zoom H2 Recorder (above). I do have a Zen Stone mp3 player (below). It's nice w/2G of space and it can record. The recording component is not bad, but it's not as clean as I would like for it to be.Also, I've been living w/o Photoshop for a few months now. I'm kinda feenin for it. So I need to get some kind of basic version. I don't need all of the bells and whistles. I just want to play around w/some actions and create some digital hybrid stuff for my card making.

Oh, and these shoes. They're from Target. I will probably have them soon. I do like them. I have tried them on. I want a better fit, but I can stand the height. I thought that they would be too high, but no. I saw them on Donna Downey's blog and fell in love w/them. Thanks for being an enabler Donna.

What I've Learned Lately

I'm working in Photoshop more these days. Finishing up a 4-week course w/Jessica Sprague. It has been a huge help. I like working w/flourishes, grunge frames and the brushes, oh, the brushes. And the actions too.

I'm doing more w/Dreamweaver too; it's a software program for web design. Would love to link to that page, but it is top secret. Actually, it's just a sample page and quite basic.

Oh, and I am working on some video tutorials. I'm already started. I am using Adobe's Premiere Pro. Do you see a theme here - I have the Adobe Master Collection CS3. It's pricey, but it has all of the bells and whistles. Another thing I've learned (actually I've known, but haven't taken advantage of) is the abundance of software at reduced rates that I have access to.

I've learned that if someone says that there is a sale at a store, if you don't get there pronto, the item that was on sale will be all gone; it will be an item that is discontinued and you will have totally missed out.

I've learned that taking my Pilates classes is doable. I'm taking them at least weekly; I think I'll get there just once this week due to a last minute scheduling of a dental cleaning. Ugh! But the following week it will be two Pilates classes per week. Plus I am adding a spinning class. It is getting time to 'flaunt it'; I should be ready.

I've learned, better yet, realized, that I have more things than I need. I surely don't need four pair of new shoes, yet I have them. Guess what? There will be four pair leaving the house at some point this week - never to return (and don't rule out the fact that I might 'return' a pair that was just purchased). Though the shoes I bought were cheapies - purchased at Target and Payless. So not much damage to the finances.

There have been more lessons learned, but you get the picture.

Playing with Photoshop

I teach a multimedia course and we've been using Photoshop for some assignments. I like the program though it can be intimidating.

I've discovered 'actions'. Which has made my life in Photoshop so much easier. Actions are recorded steps of things you want to do to an image - like make the image black and white from color.

So check out the action that I applied to this photo (and noticed how I added my watermark; I need to do that more often).

Also, I want to do some digital scrapbooking and I signed up for an online course with Jessica Sprague. The course is called "Up and Running". Good stuff. I've learned a ton so far.