SummerSchool: Make-N-Create Days 5-12 ... Potpourri

No, not that kind of potpourri!

Haven't had much blogging time this past week (notable exception - new View From My Pew entry a couple of days ago), but I have spent part of each day doing creative stuff.  Lots of activity centered around the Ministry Spotlights for St Matthias - other ministries asked me to shoot them in action, or send some of my stash of stock images.

I also FINALLY finished up the Carnival Thank-You cards - The images looked OK, but I'm now finding that the transparency that was present in the images while still in Publisher (specifically, the dissolve area around the sponsor signs on the blue textile mat) translated in the JPEGs as white ground - originally thought this was a Costco issue, but it was clearly me.  Here are the generic card fronts (the 80+ sponsors receive cards with their own signs):

(BTW, the white band down the right side was cut off to fit the card size)

Today brings some different activity - haiku and a sympathy card to mark the passing of Sunshine Capaccione, at the ripe old age of 18 (well, old for a cat), and a birthday card for Richard ...

Feeling peaceful!

SummerSchool: Make-N-Create Day 4 ... Photography

Today, Pentecost, found me filling a full 8GB card at two Masses.

Besides some special stuff going on - two First Communions, three Confirmations, Pastoral Council installation, and farewell to graduating Altar Servers, there were extra pictures taken to capture the Bell Choir in action, Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors in service for the Liturgy Spotlight slide shows, and a father and son before the young man reported for USMC basic training today.

I'm still working on the Carnival thank-you notes, so at best, I'll download the images later today.

So grateful for this gift!

SummerSchool: Make-N-Create Day 3 ... Paper Crafting continues

Instead of embellishing the note cards, I came up with a different option - using paper punches to remove the ares of the cards with the initial.  I'll back the cutout area with a sentiment, and still use a vellum insert for the interior verse.

Not bad!

SummerSchool: Make-N-Create Day 2 ... Paper Crafting

Didn't get quite as far as I would have liked with today's project - spent more time in Fords than was part of the plan.

I did come up with a concept, though, and even some early design work.  I received some notecards a couple of years ago as a gift that have my initial on them - they don't quite fit in with my general needs, so I've not used them.

It occurred to me that I could embellish the front of the card to cover the initial, add a sentiment printed on vellum for the interior, and get almost immediate use.  While the actual style of the embellishment is still fuzzy, I'm on the path.  More tomorrow!

In the meantime, wishing you peace ...

SummerSchool: Make-N-Create Day 1 ... Photo Editing

Just spent about 15 minutes having some fun with an image I shot of a rose at Colonial Park yesterday ...

I started by playing around with the raw image, shifting everything from the white balance to vibrancy.  Such different results!  For these cutouts, I went back to the near-original image, with just some shifts in brightness and black balance.

So many of my photography projects lately have been for others - it was nice to do something just for the sheer joy of it!

PS - I also spent some time updating the look and feel of this blog.  Along the way, I found out that Google has a great source for some fonts (and I absolutely LOVE getting new fonts!) - http://www.google.com/webfonts

SummerSchool: Make-N-Create

Summer arrived in Jersey this year before the calendar was ready, prompting some thoughts these past few days about how I've spent time from June through Labor Day Weekend in times past.

Yes, I spent close to 20% of those summers marching, or doing things related to marching.  Earlier this year, part of me was even thinking about heading down that road (or field) again, but real life got in the way.

Another favorite?  Those summer reading lists in grammar and high school.  Talk about giving a book junkie an excuse!

By far, though, one of the activities I've missed the most in recent times is the Arts and Crafts Day we had at least once a week at Woodland Park in Fords.  From potholders to stained glass, I couldn't get enough!

Time to get back there - my goal is to spend time each day from now through September 9th doing something creative.

Have some fun with me!

Investing in One Another: Engineering Innovators without Borders (EIWB)

The third Share Solutions ... Invest in One Another award winner for 2011 is the EIWB - Engineering Innovators without Borders - program at Rowan University's College of Engineering. 

I've heard of Doctors without Borders, but can't recall any personal knowledge of EIWB before this morning.  According to a post in today's NJ.com, there are several groups of engineering students working on what I would call practical technology - leveraging what's available to a given locale and maximizing its use.  Projects mentioned in the article range from heating briquettes made from peanut shells to rope-operated water pumps, with lots others in between.

As of today, this link will work for you to see more on their efforts:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/group_of_rowan_university_stud.html

Should that link fail, Rowan University is located in Glassboro NJ (it was previously known as Glassboro State College).

Pax vobiscum - and Happy Valentine's Day to all!

mbp

Investing in One Another: Ferdinand Achacon

The second Share Solutions ... Invest in One Another award winner for 2011 is Ferdinand Achacon.

While we've known this day has been coming for awhile, it's still tough ...

I just received an e-mail that reads, in part, "Ferdi went home to God early this morning."  He fought pancreatic cancer for several years - and a good deal longer than any doctor had faith that he would.

Known as Ferdi to his American friends, and Bong to fellow Filipinos (the name has no drug connotations!), he walked among us as a prophet and someone whose faith in the Almighty was unshakable.  When we first met, he politely called me "Lola" until I told him I was NOWHERE NEAR old enough to be his or anyone else's grandmother.  Next, he tried "Tita," and again, I didn't let him get away with claiming to be a generation younger than I (although I am old enough to be his aunt).  Finally, we settled on "Ate" (that's Ah-Tay) Marilyn - meaning the eldest sister.

This entry, while I've drifted off-track a bit, is about how Bong shared solutions and invested in others during his all-too-short life.

It was probably a good five or so years ago that our parish, the Catholic Community of St Matthias in Somerset, first got involved in supporting the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) here in Central Jersey.  Bong worked with Sr Patrice Feeney to make sure we served as able hosts to our guests for a fortnight each summer ... families without homes who migrate from location to location while seeking permanent housing and sources of income.

As a very busy parish, we've faced our share of scheduling conflicts - even with a fairly large physical plant.  Bong was always poking a stick, making sure we removed sometimes self-imposed barriers to fulfilling our commitment to provide shelter to the homeless.

IHN is just one of the many efforts important to Bong.  He lived sharing solutions.  He lived investing in one another.

Left behind to celebrate his legacy are his wife Carol, children Kyla and Daniel, and all of us who ever laughed, sang, worked, played, and prayed by his side.

Maligayang Viernes, hermanito Bong ... God is with you - you are with God.

Ferdinand, Daniel, Kyla, and Caroline Achacon

March 21, 2009

Sanctuary, St Matthias Church