Say Cheese!

I know it seems crazy to believe but I'm a shutter bug.

I will take a photo of just about anything.

Seriously, I once took a picture of the grease floating in a pot I had soaking with water.

It made the neatest pattern.

I owned a simple point and shoot camera for years.

Even though it was a simple camera it still had a few bells and whistles.

I learned to tinker with the settings.

I was beginning to understand a little more about cameras and photography.

Then my camera died.

I did not get a new camera right away because my smart phone took decent photos.

Deep down I still wanted a good camera. I was just a bit intimidated by the choices.

After some research, we finally took the plunge and bought one.

I was so excited!

I could not wait for it to get here.

In the days waiting for the camera to get here some unexpected sadness crept in.

Seriously?! I was excited and saddened at the same time.

My dad, being an avid photographer, owned a few decent cameras.

Every time I see one, I think of my dad. (Even this photo brings tears to my eyes.)

He would have been so thrilled about my new camera.

We shared a love for photography.

He would tell me which of my photos were his favorites.

He would share shots he had taken...

and the adventures that went along with them.

He would give me advice.

(He repeatedly told me to read the camera's manual.)

Thankfully, I plan on spending more time behind the camera than looking at it.

:)

With that in mind here's some random photos I've taken in the first few days.

I've decided to stick with the auto setting for the time being.

I want to get used to how the camera works before venturing into changing settings.

She wanted me to come out and play...not take a photo.

Silly dog.

There's so much this camera is capable of doing.

I have a lot to learn.

I'm off to read the manual. It has nearly 400 pages!

It might take a while.

Dragon

It has been a challenge trying to figure out how to quilt and work full-time.

We need silly things like meals, clean clothes, and clean bathrooms.

Dwayne and the boys have been excellent at helping around the house so I can have quilting time.

With that said...

A couple of weeks ago I finished hand sewing all of the dragon pieces to the background.

It took me approximately four months.

Three of those months I was working four, ten hour days in a steel fabrication shop.

There were some of those shop training days that I was too exhausted to sew in the evening!

When my three months were up I went back to normal office hours.

I was able to work on the dragon during my lunch break.

I'm so excited to get this far on Nolan's graduation quilt.

I told him it will not be done by graduation.

My goal is to finish this year. ;)

I cannot take credit for drawing this thing.

I found a free-for-my-use image.

I imported the image into my quilting software and traced it.

Then I was able to print templates.

I drew a grid on both the pattern and the fabric to help with the placement of each piece. 

If you look closely you can see faint lines that were used to outline each piece.

There are also some red marks by the eye.

All of these markings will wash out.

A close up courtesy of my new camera.

:)

I'm nowhere near done with the dragon quilt.

There are 16 of these Celtic blocks that are spaced around the dragon.

I made a practice block.

Actually, this was my second attempt at this block.

My first try was so bad I needed to start all over.

At least I learned what not to do!

Don't worry, the blocks for the dragon quilt are not pink!

Besides these blocks, I'm also making Nolan's name in blocks as well.

I want to get the Celtic blocks done first.

One step at a time.

Royalty

 

A couple of weeks ago both of our boys were on the basketball homecoming court.

One was excited.

One was not as excited.

He was honored but not thrilled with the idea of walking out in front of the crowd.

(I can't say I blame him.)

There was a wheelchair game between the middle school and high school games.

See number 2?

That is one of the new teachers at the boys' school.

He teaches history and economics.

The students love him.

He's a wounded Marine veteran.

Let's just say he's a little on the competitive side!

Connor and his counterpart.  

We were all surprised to hear Nolan's name for king!

Apparently the student body votes on the ones that the teachers nominate.

Not bad for only being in the school for 3 years!

Happy king!

I found this on the front page of the paper in our break room where I work.