If any family / friends are reading this - the gift described with much pain below is a SECRET! No talkin' k?
I'm participating in another WOYWW - this one is number 274 - wow! Check out Julia's post who started this long running blog sensation here: Stamping Ground.
This is something different on my workdesk today, something which should have been fun, but has turned out to be a year of torture! You see, a very dear childhood/neighborhood friend had a great idea. He sent me a fishing fly that my grandpa tied and gave to him many many years ago. My grandpa has well since passed and dear friend thought it would be a great idea if I could make something out of the fly for my brother's birthday ... he sent this in May 2013. Dear friend even sent me money for supplies. Brother's birthday was in August 2013. Two birthdays have passed. My dear friend still speaks to me, but he must think I'm weird, or troubled, or not really a crafter. Just pretending to be.
I was stuck - really stuck on what to do with it. My original idea was shot down by dear friend. At which point I knew I was making something that dear friend actually had opinions and ideas about. That's what froze me. I not only needed to make something I would like or my brother would like, but dear friend had to (rightfully) like it too.
Yikes.
Then finally it all came to mind. Almost 1-1/2 years later I got a very simple idea and I'm hoping it will work. Dear friend approves. Whew.
I'm taking a graduation-type frame and am hanging the fly where the tassel would normally be. The photo area will hold two sepia toned photos of my grandpa fishing from the 1930's. I searched on ebay for gold foil fish that would look gorgeous with the sepia and will probably place one in between the photos. I'm keeping it all very simple and will show you the finished project soon.
My biggest problem has been getting proper sepia tone copies of the beautiful sepia toned photos I have. Every effort to reproduce them has given them a reddish brown color. It is this yellowish/brownish/gold that I'm looking for:
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| | very beginning stages | |
Thanks for stopping by!
Beautiful idea and I can see why it has taken you so long. I'm sure your friend understands. I hope you get your printing sorted but I don't have any solutions.
ReplyDeleteFAMFA 51
What a super idea. I hope you get the photos sorted out to produce the right sepia look. Thanks for sharing your workspace today. Hazel, WOYWW, #34 x
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea. I'm sure you will get there. I have lots of sepia photos - and have scanned them into the computer, and then have printed out many when doing some giant family history folders for the family. My scanner didn't have the trouble you seem to be having - I use an HP scanner; and an HP printer. Have always been really impressed with the colour reproduction. Don't know if this is any help at all...
ReplyDeleteTake care. God bless.
Margaret #22
Well you might try one of the online photo printing places, like Snapfish, or just go to Walgreens and see if you can do it there in the photo center. It is a great photo. I am the same way when I feel a little pressured to do something in a certain way! I need a lot of freedom when it comes to my crafting, which is why I'd rather do a craft fair with things I've made, rather than any consignment projects. Happy WOYWW! Sandy Leigh #55
ReplyDeleteHi Betsy, I've linked in with WOYWW for the first time and I'm enjoying snooping around.
ReplyDeleteYour 'grandpa' project is beautiful! I love heritage stuff. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.
You live in CT. What is that an abbreviation of? Where is it? In America?
Thanks for sharing your workspace.
HappyWOYWW!
Lisca #61
Hey Lisca - it is in America! I live in the state of Connecticut!
DeleteI can see why you are troubled, I have been having the same type of problem with some old photos that I scanned for a family friend. What I had to do is scan them in at the highest resolution your scanner will do and then save the photo as a jpeg then convert the photo to black & white save that as a second copy call it Black and White then convert the B & W photo to sepia and save as jpeg. going through these steps seems to convert better I don't understand why but it worked for me after converting it to B & W first then to sepia. I would then suggest you get the photo printed at a professional place as the life of the paper you use at home is nothing compared to the professional outlets. Even Kmart or a chain store have excellent quality photo paper and the printing you want to have done to last without fading. Home printing isn't the best option. So go with the pro's
ReplyDeleteHope this has helped you. Oh and I love what you are doing. Even if it has taken a little while to get to where you are, you need to be comfortable too. It all sounds wonderful and I can't wait to hear how you go.
Hugs Eliza & Yoda 49
Happy WOYWW
Thank you Eliza for your suggestions! I'm going to try this for sure!
DeleteThe photos are lovely. I agree with Eliza about converting to black and white before doing anything else, it seems to sharpen the colour and the images. I usually then put them into picasa 3 and play around with the colours but you must get top quality paper to print onto, there are lots of different types now to choose from so you may have to check them out first. There is no reason why you cannot ask the sales person which they advise for the job you are doing.
ReplyDeleteHappy crafting, Angela x 38
What an excellent idea. Getting the colors to come out the way you want on a personal printer can be tough. I hope you can get the pictures to look the way you want. April #70
ReplyDeleteUltimately, I'm with Eliza....it will take a pro shop to get the final print quality. I love the idea and I'm definitely agreeing with you about the involvement of opinions by dear friend....stifles me instantly!! It's going to be fab though girly, so press on!!
ReplyDeleteHow delightful & what a lovely project your working on . Happy crafting & sorry i'm a little late this week . Jill #11
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous project.
ReplyDelete