24 BLOGS .... I DID IT

This is my last blog, at least for this class.

I didn't think I would ever be able to blog, probably because I had trouble finding everything I needed to first, create a blog, then find my way back to where I needed to be to do the next one.

I was so frustrated with the whole process, that I avoided blogging.

But, like anything else, the more you practice, the easier it gets. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed it in the end.

I didn't like taking all those handwritten notes in class but eventually I saw the method for the madness in it. I realized that it made it necessary for us to go through the notes as we wrote them. It was probably better than being handed a printed sheet that we may or may not have later picked up and read. It was a good thing!

I learned a lot in the ITT class and feel so far ahead of all my senior friends!

I'm thinking about starting another blog. I don't know what the theme will be yet, but I'll come up with something.

I don't think I'll go play in Second Life again but it was an interesting experience that I probably would not have had without having taken the ITT class.

I'm looking forward to my week off between semesters.

Have a Good Summer,

Polish Princess

HTML

Maybe I need to barter with this gentleman.

I love to cook and feed people.

That'll work !!??

See, even a cat knows what HTML can do!!

How intimidating.

Sure wish the guy with the code tattooed on his neck had been sitting in front of me during the quiz.

Our two classes in html

went by too quickly for me. I never thought I'd catch on to this stuff. But after concentrating

long and hard on the code, I think there's a possibility that I'll be OK with it. I see the light at the end of the tunnel! Maybe

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to work a little harder, and really master html. I may grow to enjoy it someday.

Family Montage

One of my Graphic Design projects was a montage. I opted to use old photos of my mother's and my father's families.

My mother and her parents are on the left. Their photos were all taken in Philadelphia. That's little me, top center, standing under a window in New Jersey. Next to me on my right is a photo of my father and his two sisters. My father's family, all but one of his sisters, was killed during the second world war when Poland was invaded in September of 1939. The photos of my father's family are on the right side of the montage. All of those photos, except for the one of my father with his arms around two woman on the boat (lower right) coming to America, were taken in Poland. I'm so glad that my mother kept these photographs for me. I think it's important to know as much about your family history as possible so the following generations will be able to pass on that information.

In the center is a photo of a book, Revolution From Abroad, written by a professor by the name of Jan T. Gross who teaches at Princeton.

In that book he mentions the deaths of my father's seven family members. I placed the excerpt from the book over the picture of my paternal grandfather on bottom, right.

I plan to email Professor Gross and see if he can provide me with some information about the tragedy. I would someday like to visit Poland and see where my family lived.

BIG MEATBALLS!

Something I always thought I'd like to do was to write and illustrate a children's book. This project, an exercise in scale, is one that I did for my Intro to Visual Arts class.

Doing this illustration made me realize that I really would enjoy creating a book for my grandsons. Eric and Ryan are so much fun. They do and say some surprising things that really tickle me. I've asked Ryan, the five year old, to come up with a title. So far we can't agree on one. That will be the easy part once I get started, that's the hard part.

My grandsons will probably be in college by the time I get around to doing this!! I should start documenting their antics now so I can have enough material when I'm ready to get started.

Reed Drawing

In an earlier blog I mentioned a reed drawing class I had attended. I'd like to show you the drawing I did in that workshop. I loved the technique and plan to use it in the future. The instructor was kind enough to cut me some nice reed pens. His pens were much better than the ones that I tried to cut myself. He also provided me with a jar of his homemade walnut ink. (You can't buy the ink and making it is a long drawn out process.)

Drawing with reeds is great because the slightest turn of the pen gives you great variation in line, as you can see. This was my first attempt at reed drawing. We were not allowed to use pencil at all, just the reed. That was tough to jump right in without first planning your work. But sometimes those spontaneous pieces turn out OK because they're not overworked.

Foam Rollers

I recently injured my back carrying heavy books in a bag over my left shoulder. Off to PT I went.

In addition to using heat, ice, electrical stimulation and exercising, I get to use a foam roller.

It really takes some getting used to. Teetering atop a foam roller can be very interesting the first time around.

Once you get used to the feeling of balancing on it, it really feels good, especially when you get off!! It really does

help to align your spine. Exercising on the thing is kind of tricky, especially lifting one, then both legs at once without using your hands for balance. I still need help getting on it, but once I'm there, I 'm pretty good at it.

I bought one to use at home and I fell off onto the floor, so I still am not confident enough to fly solo without someone there to help me get situated. I'll get it yet. So, if you want a new and interesting experience, get yourself a foam roller. You can go on line and see all the other possible uses for this product. Enjoy!!

Sketchers Shape-Ups

Shape Up While You Walk

I don't know about you, but exercising is not one of my favorite things. So when my physical therapist suggested that I needed to stand straighter, I decided to purchase these wonder shoes to make me start walking sloped back instead of leaning forward.

I never realized the diference a shoe could make with posture. But that's not the best part of wearing these shoes. They actually make you workout as you walk!! How great is that!!! I've been wearing the style shown for a week, walking on campus and shopping; just all day normal wear. Let me tell you, I feel like I've been working out at the gym. Plus, they are very comfortable and well worth the money.

They come in lots of styles. so look on line to see if there's one to suite you.

Happy Walking.......... Don't I sound like a commercial?? (No, I don't get a commission.)