i{art}u! No really I do....

Please check out the link below! I know I've been aloof, but I am thinking this might make up for my MIA shenanigans by pointing you to this super cool photographer's dream giveaway below.

i art u: tuesday feature :: four corner store (GIVEAWAY)

i art u blog is pretty sweet. I've been checking it out for a few weeks now, and it's nice to see someone who is as hooked on taking pictures as I am right now. At least I know if I went to lomography rehab, I'd know someone there. That is if I ever went, but why on earth would I!?!?!?

As for me being a bit out of sorts, I'd like to leave you with some parting words of wisdom from a sweet friend of mine, "I miss you like a fat kid misses cake."

Not quite the correct phrase, but the message is clear. My response? I miss you (Jayna) too, like a sixth grade science class. Why? because there is sooooo much chemistry!

The Loch Ness of Summer Colds - I caught it.

Again, I've been home sick. I'm not normally one of those people who reverts to an infant when they develop something as simple a sniffle. I normally like to put on the brave face and take it. This 'virus' as the doctor calls it, is quite possibly one of the most painfully debilitating illnesses I've encountered that has only involved a runny nose, and a cough. Who knew all those little things that can get screwed up due to your nose draining the wrong way!? I've been out of commission for literally days now. I'm trapped in my apartment. I tried going to the pharmacy earlier just to 'get out' (and re-stock), and holy moly was that a mistake. I thought I might have to call my Jim to come get me.

So, what have I been doing since Friday evening when this evil virus struck? I've been sitting on the couch. I've been watching movies and sleeping. I've been wiping my nose raw, and eating cough drops like candy. Seems like a lot of waste right? Well there is a window of time after taking my medicine that I actually feel (somewhat) decent. During one of these few moments of clarity I must have had the TV set to some mythical creature show, and I began to get this goofy idea. I've spent the last two and a half days throughout my intermittent moments to throw it together.

Pardon the bizarre posts while Abby is heavily surfing the cold medicine wave.

She really can't help it.

APO Weeks 18-21, Play Catch-Up & Recap

So, I've been sort of out of the loop for a month. With the launch of my business site, and my freelance getting busier I have been out of it.  To top it all off, yesterday I caught a virus, and now I'm pretty much restricted to the couch for the rest of the weekend. This is me playing catch up and trying to get back into the swing of things.

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A Cowboy is Born - UPDATE

Finally got him inked, scanned and colored. Next on to the background.

A Cowboy is Born

So, I've been working on an illustration very recently. It is actually for something, but I can't divulge as to what exactly. However, I have been feeling neglectful of my followers to tend to fancy the hand work over my photos. I've gotten some feed back lately and the consensus I've gathered is that most of you feel the same as I do.... Where the blazes are your other talents!? Honestly, they've been abused, and have refused to come out to play for some time; with the help of some R & R and possibly some 'candy' I coaxed the sucker out of hiding, and I put myself to work!

I began with the idea, and did a rough sketch. Having not worked with transfer paper in a while. I decided to try it again and forgo the whole scanning digital rigmarole. 

It really only took me about 20 minutes, and then the inking on top of that took about another hour. All in all it seemed like a pretty quick process. Oh, and yes, in the picture above, that is my nail polish in "Juicy Tomato" and a container of dental floss. I often floss and paint my toe nails when I'm blocked. Don't ask me why, but it helps. At least I feel better once I've done one of the two.

There you have it. Some pretty rough pics of my short process of getting back into the swing of things. I can assure all of you that this cowboy has a name, a story and one hell of an attitude. He's being created for a very special person who should take good care of him, and probably not feed him after midnight unless he demands it. Now I've gone and said too much. Updates on the cowboy soon.

2010 APO Week Sixteen-Seventeen

Delivering as promised, my photo recap of the past two weeks. 

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Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day

1. href="http://flickr.com/photos/47252051@N08/4552456709/">4.25.10, 
2. href="http://flickr.com/photos/47252051@N08/4553094826/">4.24.10, 
3. href="http://flickr.com/photos/47252051@N08/4552447325/">4.21.10, 
4. href="http://flickr.com/photos/47252051@N08/4553085900/">4.20.10, 
5. href="http://flickr.com/photos/47252051@N08/4553018266/">4.21.10-CO-4, 
6. href="http://flickr.com/photos/47252051@N08/4552376305/">4.21.10-CO-3, 
7. href="http://flickr.com/photos/47252051@N08/4552988352/">4.25.10-CO-3, 
8. href="http://flickr.com/photos/47252051@N08/4552988050/">4.25.10-CO-4

Above are the results of my fabulous Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day project. I'm only sharing 8 of the 25 shot I got off the roll; these eight happen to be my favorites. They turned out a tad bit too fuzzy, but I know what the problem was, and I hope to fix it for the next one. I don't have to rebuild the whole camera either. I'm pretty satisfied with the results, and I really am excited to try again. Just a reminder, if you participated in the pinhole project too, I'd really love to see your photos!

A Twist in 2010 APO

dippold pinhole camera tutorial
Originally uploaded by Dippold

I STRONGLY urge you to check out the instructions to creating your very own Pinhole camera! I recently discovered that this coming Sunday is the 10th anniversary of Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day.

What, pray tell does that mean, my pretties? Well, for starters, you can bet I am willing to participate! I'm going to be setting aside my digital SLR for the weekend, and I'm temporarily trading it in for a handmade cardboard camera!

I'm also asking that you try it for yourself. all it costs is a roll of film you can pick up almost anywhere for under $10, and some cardboard that measures one millimeter thick, which is most commonly known as chipboard. I'd love to see the results.

I'm really hoping to get some good use out of it, as my dear friend Jayna is coming to town and staying with me. Maybe she'd be willing to flash that pretty smile she has for me.

Please click on the photo to download the instructions and template. ALSO, if your feeling even more obliged, send me your photo! I might just post it on my blog and give some shout outs which I'm more than happy to do. If you are so inclined, let me know how you'd like to be credited, or any links to sites you might like linked to. I'm all about the free press, even for other people.

2010 APO Week Fourteen-Fifteen and a Tiny Update

So, I'm a bit behind in the postings. I've been working my tail off; erm, that is if I had a tail, I would be. I've been so busy lately, and I have barely had time to keep up with normal duties. I've finished quite a few projects in the last few weeks which means one thing. I'm getting so much closer to getting my new computer. For those of you who have heard me complain about my current set up of my laptop without a screen, you know I've waited a long, long time for this. It's so close I can taste it. Literally. Want to help? Hire me for something.

*wink, wink, nudge, nudge

I'm also sure that some of you are getting a bit frustrated with my lack of illustrations and mostly photo postings. Frankly, I'm getting sick of it too. I miss the feel of a pen/pencil on paper. I've had some great ideas I want to get into my sketch book, but I haven't had much time to actually flush them out so please bare with me. Once I have actually gotten my new computer I know that I'll have a bit more free time to actually draw, and not spend ten minutes freaking out because my programs are taking 10-20 minutes to merely open. It could be time well spent actually getting a bit more hands on with my craft.

For now bear with me my sweet blog friends. I haven't forgotten you, nor do I intend to.

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