Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern
Pattern. This week I actually took a few photos to respond to the weekly challenge instead of sifting through the archives.
It was a wonderful Mother’s Day with an unexpected trip to meet the family at The Wilds in Cumberland OH but stay tuned for that post. No time for uploading tonight. Using the iPhone camera tonight, looking around the kitchen for patterns. Came upstairs and saw the afghan on the bed. Impromptu pattern photos.
Traffic pattern- coming back from The Wilds we were totally stopped on Interstate 70 around Zanesville.
China pattern. I used to like the idea of mismatched china. Service for 12 in twelve different patterns. It was an idea.
Silver Pattern. My grandmother’s Moonglow and some random pattern in my drawer. Used to be you would select a silver pattern when you were getting married. Lots of couples choose stainless these days.
Knitting, Sewing and Smocking Patterns from yesteryear- another life. I used to do all these things when the kids were small. I still knit.
Knitting Smocking and Sewing Patterns
Pattern in Nature
A Chevron pattern- the crocheted afghan that a coworker’s mother made for my mother. I call it the Good and Plenty afghan.
Pattern in the lid of the jam, sitting on the kitchen table
You can see some wonderful pattern in fellow blogger’s posts for the challenge this week
Light through Glass Block Windows
Carpets Architecture Leaves and Details
and see Rockaway Six Months After Sandy at Nylondaze
Divertido – If you Need Russian, Chinese, Hebrew, French or Greek Building Blocks
Divertido means fun in Spanish.
Saturday afternoon I drove down to the Lawrenceville neighborhood to photograph this fun shop on Butler Street. I’d met the owner, Mary Ellen, when she attended the Christopher Jones house concert at my home last October so this had been on my “to do” list for a time. I knew visiting the store, photographing it and blogging it, would be a good project. Six months can fly by before you know it, though. I needed a college graduation card, too, so what better time to go shopping and blogging? The greeting cards are definitely out of the ordinary and this was a special one for my friend’s daughter.
I loved the Uncle Goose wooden building blocks with the different languages- French, Russian, Chinese, Hebrew and Greek were some of the languages represented.
Everything about the store is fun! The front windows with the swim noodles and inflatable swim rings as well as the trophies in aqua displaying the jewelry in a case are designed by Sean L. Miller.
The turquoise trophies took on a life of their own, like an installation art piece.
I took the window designer’s business card from the counter which has the words imprinted -Think Outside the Box. He definitely does and gets you thinking that way, too. The eye catching colors and design were so inviting.
Mary Ellen wasn’t sure she wanted her photograph taken but she graciously consented. Here she is in front of the counter with a cool, antique door on the front.
Thanks Mary Ellen. Another shot for my People at Work series.
You might have visited the store when it was down the street but Mary Ellen has been in business for nine years. And if you live out of town, no worries, she has online shopping at her website and you can LIKE her on the DIVERTIDO page on Facebook, too.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Change
Have you ever tried to?
Change your mind about something or someone?
Change-the only constant of our lives.
Oh, you changed your hair.
“You’ve got to change, baby”
Change trains.
I have a friend who can change the subject on a dime.
Many people don’t enjoy change.
I can change a diaper. Four quarters for a buck. Switch directions in the car when necessary. Change lanes.
But change?
Really truly change. Change my ways. Change my habits. Change my thinking?
Lots of people are worrying about Climate Change.
Subtle change, drastic change.
Here are some suggested change illustrations-
Hot Dog Vendor checks his supply of change.
Architecture changes over time.
The window dresser changes the window.
Waiting for the red light to change.
And you can always count on the weather to change,
the seasons to change-
although sometimes the pace is agonizingly slow.
Thanks to everyone who sent good words for the milestone 1300th post. Now what? Can’t change it up now, so here’s #1301.
This is a sad change- what it looked like about 7 years ago
On the way into school Friday morning. Steeler umbrella, daffodils, new green grass and a Spring rain NOT snow! A change for the better.
Portrait of Husband Who Waits for Wife While She Shops in the Shoe Department
How about this department store for ambience? Hospitality?
Von Maur Department Store in Columbus, Ohio at Polaris Mall. This is Donald, my son’s father-in-law waiting in a comfortable chair by the fireplace in the shoe department. I was shopping too and saw him sitting there and had to photograph him in this elegant setting.
A few weeks before, Anna had told me that a Giant Sock Monkey was on sale at Von Maur. (What’s a grandmother for?) Making sock monkeys for all the grandchildren had kept me busy but this one was giant.
My sister and I drove out from NYC the day before. Early Friday morning we went and and picked up the Giant Sock Monkey and had taken it to the car as a surprise for later. He’d been in the Customer Service Department where they said they were feeding him bananas daily. A couple of weeks ago, I’d called from Pittsburgh and ordered him by phone and asked them to save him for pick up at Easter time. There was a thank you note from the sales associate Taylor attached to the huge package. thanking me for my purchase. The Customer Service at Von Maur is excellent.
Anyway, Anna wanted to show me something in the Children’s Department but when we got to the spot, whatever she wanted to show me was GONE. Little did she know that the Giant Sock Monkey was already wearing a seat belt in my back seat. It was a fun day.
NYC Afternoon
Corey is filming his cousin Michael and his brother Justin is resting up for his ride. Watched this effort for awhile. They used to skateboard. I talked to them and asked if I could put them on the blog.
And now it is Justin’s turn
E Rossi Co doesn’t have any pictures of the new pope yet, but are expecting delivery soon.
Seems everyone is on some sort of device.
The hair color (above) matches the shoes on the man below!
And a Fiat 500 but not sure what year? Anyone??
Bleecker Street West Village
On a cell phone while making a delivery.
Good thing it isn’t the Sunday Times
Suzanne Creates Upcycled Sweater Scarves
Upcycled sweater scarves!
Talk about transformation. I never really knew the word UPCYCLED but that’s the term. Makes sense.
These two scarves were created by my friend Suzanne from a couple of tired, holey sweaters in my wardrobe.
Suzanne cuts the sweaters(after she washes them) into pieces and then crochets sock yarn all around with a little or a lot of fancy edging.
I was preparing to mail the green scarf to Laura in Columbus and had my own red scarf in the car on the passenger seat. They looked so good together I took a few photos (before I mailed the green one. No E, I wasn’t driving!)
Last Christmas I sent a couple to friends as gifts. I get a lot of compliments when I am sporting the red one. I fold mine in half and loop the ends through. Cozy!
Old cashmere sweaters that no longer fit or have a couple of moth holes are the softest to make into a scarf but lambswool or merino is nice, too.
Unfortunately photographed with the iPhone instead of the proper lens but still pretty and colorful contrast.
Closeup of detail on the green scarf.
And the red scarf detail
Matching Satin Bows
From the wedding archives- a little more than 3 years ago. Chair sash and flower girl.
The matching satin bows caught my eye.
A Pick-Up Truck Bed Filled with Legs on a Snowy Highway
Guest blogger again today. The blog has been a family effort as of late. I’ve been out here for ten days and going back home New Year’s Day.
Today”s guest blogger is none other than my nine year old granddaughter Anna who shot this scene with her mom’s cell phone from a moving car.
She saw this pick-up truck on the way to swim practice. What I love is that she saw it, got her mom’s camera on the phone going and captured the shot and THEN she texted it to me saying “I just blogged for you”. People write to me and tell me they see something and think, ahh Ruth would photograph this. People have called or emailed suggestions of things to consider photographing for the blog. If I had seen this truck filled with a pile of fake legs in the back
And then there are these moments of serendipity.
I asked her where she thought the truck was going
Her reply “Probably a dummy store.”
Anna has shown me photos before to be on the blog but I said We’ll know when it is right! Today it is perfect.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Green
Emeralds. Emerald City. The color of money. And some mold.
Green as the grass. Green as ecologically sound. Green seems the color of Spring.
I’ve already shown my Green eggs on a spork for Dr. Seuss day (the ham was regular pink!)
The weekly photo challenge often inspires me to shoot specifically for the challenge but today it was archives except for the dresses on display last night at the Fairfield Commons Mall out side Dayton, Ohio.
Retro Storefront- Men’s Shop
New views on the way to school.
Brownsville Road, Mt. Oliver (which is a “borough surrounded entirely by the city of Pittsburgh.”)
The Family Jewels in NYC
New York City- Tuesday August 21st. School starts for me in Pittsburgh on Friday so this is the LAST of the summer vacation.
My sister and I were shopping for a corded landline. Good luck with that! You think you have something in mind but your choices are dictated by what is produced AND what is in stock. But that ‘s another whole story.
As we walked by this Vintage Clothing and Accessories store on West 23rd Street, The Family Jewels, we saw a young woman working on getting the padlock out of the security gate. We chatted for a minute and said we’d be back. The vintage tablecloths caught our eye.
Meet Liz. She graciously consented to be photographed. She patiently explained the different ways they procure the vintage items. And you know how I like to ask people how they get started with their collections. She has a collection of poodle items that were gifts from friends who know she likes poodles. She had a poodle and that’s how it all started. See her tattoo and necklace! She had the most beautiful green eyes, too. Thanks, Liz!
Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside
Inside seems simple enough. Until you start to read all the definitions and think about the multi-meanings
Cut and pasted from Your Dictionary - the dictionary you can understand
noun
- the part lying within; inner side, surface, or part; interior
- the part closest to something specified or implied, as the part of a sidewalk closest to the buildings
- INFORMAL the internal organs of the body, as the stomach and intestines
adjective
- on or in the inside; internal
- of or suited for the inside
- working or used indoors; indoor
- ☆ known only to insiders; secret or private: the inside story
- BASEBALL passing between home plate and the batter
adverb
- on or to the inside; within
- indoors
in or to the inside or inner part of
within the limits of: inside an hour
Murphy inside the van looking outside.
Cool enough on Friday to take Murphy to the Post Office so I could mail something. He WAS in the back seat. Moved himself up to the passenger seat while Maura and I were inside and wouldn’t budge for the short trip home. Yes, I worried about air bag deployment and the seat belt dinging alarm sound the whole way. We made it. He does have a harness that attaches to a seat belt for car trips.
We were safe inside the house as Mark held the iPad showing the violent storm while I shot the rain and blowing trees outside. This is the storm where Laura and James lost power for 5 days and Marlene and Donald( Roanoke VA) lost it for 8.
Maura waits inside looking outside for the guests.
Here is the inside of the ceramic fruit bowl Mary gave me when I visited her at Easter time.
The Jesus statue contained inside the clear box was photographed on this trip.
Old fashioned hats in Bedford Springs Resort display with the stairway banisters reflected
Challenge- How to show what one is feeling inside?
Check out fellow bloggers posts. Get the inside scoop.
Sisters Separated at Production in the Doll Factory
or What Love Looks Like-
It’s been almost two years since I posted Baby Doll (the loved doll) and her “sister” who was bought as a replacement but never really played with or looked at as far as I know.
Baby Doll (b. 1979) belonged to Erika when she was little and now Anna has loved her for 8 more years. I just stitched her arms up as they were coming off. And since I’m visiting the family and not driving around the city today I am showing the effects of two more years of loving. Maybe someone who reads this post will send a photo of the same doll in a similar condition.
One thing I know is they are most cooperative when I set them up to pose for the shooting!
Mannequin Feet Require Upsize Shoes
We popped in to the local Old Navy store so my DIL could return something. My DIL’s mother Marlene was the spotter for this shot for the blog today. Thanks to Tim who didn’t mind that I snagged his putting the shoes onto the uncooperative mannequin. He is the one who told me you need larger shoes for the feet.
Six Months After the Wedding
I couldn’t be the mother-of-the-bride AND the wedding photographer last November and their photographer did a fine job but I wanted to photograph the bride and groom myself.
Laura and James agreed to let me shoot some “wedding” pictures on another occasion. Not exactly a Trash the Dress shoot. James knew some good spots to go to in the city. When he asked me I said I wanted the mood to be urban sophisticated.
Turns out it is almost 6 months later. It was not stressful or pressured and we had a relaxing time together. Even returned to the field as the sun started to set to get a different light, something not possible on a wedding day when everyone at the reception is waiting for the bridal party.
Costco white roses for 16.99 with some white floral tape and ribbon and a floral pin from JoAnn’s another ten dollars but the flowers added to the shoot. I had a boutonnière for James and promptly cut the flower head right off as I tried to pin it into his lapel. So much for props..
People called Congratulations and honked their horns, cheered them on and told them they looked nice. Laura said if you want to feel good about yourself, put on a wedding gown and walk down the city street. I asked them what was the best part about being married. And I asked them what is the worst part of being married. Their answers were forthright, frank and touched my heart.
Afterwards we ate at Giorgio’s in Clintonville. They changed before we went.
Laura said, “I like a little direction” so I said Jump on three. One, two, THREE.
I had to ask what the name of the river is. Scioto.
Rusty the Long Hair Dachshund Chases a Spot of Light
While in the middle of a friend’s photo shoot of vintage clothing, her mother’s long haired dachshund started following my watch reflection and chased it all around. I’ve never seen a dog exhibit this behavior. Trying to capture it was spontaneous and difficult as the watch was on my left wrist and the camera in my right hand. No chance to focus. It was just happening. Stop action seemed the best way to try and show the motion. Min Pin Tigger makes a cameo appearance.Wish I had a real video to show it better.
Such Expressive (and Unexpected) Taxidermy
Beware of Fox!
It’s been up on this porch roof for at least a couple of days.
I was driving to the zoo from school on Monday.
The story I heard from the guy out in front of the house next door?
The guy who lives there does demolition and probably got it from some home he was tearing down. It is the season of demolition around the city as you know.
A photographer has no choice but to pull to the curb and shoot the scene. Remember the days of women’s stoles with fox heads dangling and tiny paws with claws? Beady eyes? Ugh. Wonder if they take him in if it rains?
The last book we read in 2nd grade Intervention Group was the Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl.
Tie-Dye With a New Generation
Eighth graders in the art room.
Rubber bands and string. Buckets of color. Vinyl gloves.
Bought more shirts tonight to take to school to try again.
They’ve got the hang of it. The practice.
I tell them - no design turns out exactly as planned.
Friday morning in the hallway a blur of t-shirts walked by.
I felt satisfied.
Did you ever tie-dye anything in your life?
Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue
One photo, spot on, would be just right. I usually have no problem choosing one image.
Until almost midnight on Monday night. Blue.
Yes, that is a leather bodice. NYC shop window. I was focusing on the shoes but the blue dress caught my eye when I was looking for a blue photo.
Trackbacks & Pingbacks from fellow bloggers. You can check out how they responded to the challenge.
Flat Ruthie got in on it this week, too. Click here
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People at Work: Body Artist
This is not your ordinary face painting!
Last week one of my student’s moms came in to create a special gift for the Communications student teacher as a farewell present on her last day of student teaching. The timing of it fell on Friday afternoon when they were scheduled for Art class and they asked if it would be okay and I agreed it would be fun to see an artist at work. ( I think she is going to return for Career Day, too)
Michele Johnson is the owner of 7 Heirs Body Art Co/ 7 Heirs Media and was telling us about how she was doing body art painting during the Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears concerts, drawing a crowd as concertgoers looked on at her work. It is true, she is quick and creative and the design appears rapidly and beautifully and the addition of jewels tops it off. The students gave a nice round of applause and it took no time at all!
Have an event and need some pizazz, call Michelle 412. 586.5006 or email her – kristal_klere(at)yahoo(dot)com
Bleecker Street Hat Shop
My grandfather wore hats. So did my dad. My sons and son-in-law all enjoy wearing hats. My grandsons sport baseball caps. My cousin Jim loves hats and I know my friend E’s husband collects them. I have purchased hats to cheer myself in winter. To provide shade in summer.
I walked by Goorin Bros. storefront on Monday and went in, learning that their first hat was sold off a horse cart in Pittsburgh PA in 1895 (according to the story on their website). I live in Pittsburgh so this caught my attention. The woman behind the counter was coaxing a flattened straw hat back to life after a shot of steam. She showed me the old tractor seats that are now stools in the store. I was waiting for my sister to complete some work and walking around the West Village, exploring. The photo of the exterior on Monday had the cellar metal doors open so I went back Tuesday afternoon and took another. The door was open and there was a young man sporting a hat behind the counter. I asked if I could take his photo and he said okay, (as I’m sure tourists ask all the time) So this is Ryan selling some very cool hats. Jessica, I will photograph you next time!
The store interior. Check out the white tri-cornerd hat, although it seemed rounded corners so I am sure there is an official name for it.
And they have a blog
Mismatch Day and Green Eggs on a Spork
T
The ham was eaten but the green eggs disposed in the trash by this student
Here I am celebrating by wearing the Cat in the Hat Costume. Click to see post
In the Crosswalk at Night- Black and White
Night photography is a satisfying challenge to me.
Two Mannequins, Two Men
Walking along Carson Street on the South Side, a slight movement caught my eye. I stopped. The man on the phone looked up.
I “asked” if I could take a picture with mime-like camera, he gave a nod yes, went back to his phone as I fumbled in my bag for my real camera, not my iPhone. Had the settings wrong, took another one quick. Got his attention and acted like I was typing, conveying I would email it as I hurried back to my car across the street. I was thinking about the cookie jars in the second hand store across from the post office but I felt this was the shot of the day!
Southside Shop Window Like a Live Stage
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