Through Antonellas Lens

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-20T17:31:00.000-08:00

Looks like tonight (February 20th) is the last total lunar eclipse until 2010, so take a gander if you get the chance. It looks like you might be able to see Saturn too, and if you have a telescope you can probably see Saturn's rings too.

From what I have read,

"A total lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes into Earth's shadow and is blocked from the sun's rays that normally illuminate it. During an eclipse, the sun, Earth and moon line up, leaving a darkened moon visible to observers on the night side of the planet."

It is supposed to last about an hour and on the East Coast of North America we can see it at 10:00 pm EST. On the West Coast they can expect to see it at 7:00 pm.

Information has been excerpted from Yahoo!News, Lunar eclipse to Occur Wednesday Night.

I hope you get a chance to see this total lunar eclipse!

Museum of Modern Ice

2008-02-19T16:57:00.000-08:00

You have to check out these great pictures that Latharia took of the Museum of Modern Ice in Chicago. This is from artist, Gordon Halloran and is part of the Paintings Below Zero series. Here is one of Latharia's pictures that she took during her visit, she has more on her post, but something about this calls to me.

The museum website states:

This February, experience Chicago’s new winter celebration in downtown Millennium Park. The free, month-long outdoor festival features the U.S. debut of Canadian artist Gordon Halloran’s work, Paintings Below Zero.

Click here if you want to read more information about the museum, you can read more here.

There is also a blog, Paintings Below Zero at Millennium Park, where they have lots of pictures
and history behind it all.

Way Cool!

Rhondamum's Giveaway

2008-02-18T18:47:00.000-08:00

It is incredible the wonderfully talented and generous bloggers out there. Here is another giveaway for Rhonda's 50th post.... Click here to see the details, stop by and visit and read some of her posts while you are there.

I love these giveaways, and am planning my next one as well... I am looking to do something in March. :-)

Hugs,
antonella :-)

Scrapbook Journaling

2008-02-17T10:53:00.000-08:00

What is Journaling?

In it's purest sense, journaling is the "words" found on the page. Journaling captures a moment, thoughts, feelings, emotions or simply information. Journaling is the link the viewer of the scrapbook album has with the person who created the page and the people and/or events that are displayed. Journaling preserves the memory for current and future generations and is one of the most important elements of scrapbooking.

The reason to add journaling to a scrapbook page is so that people will know what happened that day, they will understand the moment that has been captured and why it is important to the person who created the page. Journaling is the most intimate or personal aspect of scrapbooking, it enhances the moment with information that would have otherwise been forgotten.

Historically, photo albums and scrapbooks capture family history. The person designing and creating the scrapbook page is considered a Family Historian, this is the individual who preserves the family history for generations to come. The information that is captured and shared on a scrapbook page provides information to the viewer on many levels, journaling provides:

* The context of the images displayed
* Information about an event
* Faces to the names behind the stories
* A glimpse to the way people lived
* A look at the love that was shared
* Insight into the challenges people face

Journaling includes the quotes or poems that someone chooses to accompany their page. The words don't always have to be unique or your own, quotes are an effective way to enhance a layout. The important thing is to add words to accompany the photographs on the page.

Where Do I Put My Journaling?

There is no right or wrong answer to where journaling should be on a page. There is also no correct way to add journaling. The following are some effective ways to use journaling:

Handwritten - this means that the person creating the page has added journaling that is written by them or someone else, generally the person who is shown on the page. Some examples:

Recipes, it is always interesting to see a version of the recipe written by the person who provided the recipe

Children's pages - who does not want to remember the beginning writing of young children. Save those Thank you notes by scanning them in before sending them, perhaps a letter to Santa?

Actual letters and cards that were sent or left for someone. Sending letters may soon become a thing of the past, but sharing those that exist and have special meaning add a wonderful touch to a page.

Computer or electronic journaling - This is any type of text that is printed from a computer or typewriter and added to a page. It is distinguished from handwritten because a person or pet did not put it down on paper directly.
Cards or Framed Prints - Look through greeting cards or framed poems and add them to the scrapbook page.
Rub ons, stickers, Phrase booklets - there are so many places to look with sentiments and phrases that require only your adhesive, brads, or eyelets to attach them.

There is much debate about whether journaling should be handwritten. There is no hard and fast rule that says it should be. If the person creating the page does not like their handwriting, there is no reason why they should not use computer journaling or pre-printed quotes.

My personal preference is to find a way to hide my journaling on a page when it is handwritten. This is easily done by adding an envelope or creating a mini-book and placing the journaling inside. Often by raising a photo, the journaling can be added to a tag and slipped under the photo or some other element.

Be creative, share a piece of yourself, and make the page personal so that future generations can always have a piece of your heart to make that special connection with their past.

The attached 2-page layout is from when my girls were younger and we used to sing the song “Just What Makes That Little Old Ant” at bedtime. This was a song that held special meaning to me and was one of the few songs I remember from my childhood. The song always symbolized for me the strength of my parents who immigrated to the United States and represents what they always told me growing up: “You can do anything you want.” I have used many different fonts on this, including: Tempus Sans (Microsoft), and many others free from the internet: Bizzy Bee, Carolinga, Enviro, FunStuffXitalic, JoyCards, Angelica, CanyBits BT, Canadian Autumn, Fontdinerdotcom Sparkly, BulletHolz, Eyesis. Can you see a glimspe of the font addiction I also have?

For the journaling on the page I have included the words from the song and have used a variety of free computer fonts downloaded from the internet. I cut the paper into 6” x 12” sheets and printed the lyrics directly onto the paper. I have included journaling that talks about the background to why the song is special to me and have included additional journaling that is on a folded tag that is placed behind the large journaling block.

I am a member of the Scrapbooks, etc Wiki How page and added this content to the journaling page there as well.

Let me know some ways you get creative with journaling.

Happy Valentines Day

2008-02-14T14:51:00.001-08:00

Today is the day for lovers, I hope that you have been having a very happy day!

On my way into work this morning I heard a discussion about the "history" behind Valentines Day. The story goes something like this...

The Roman Emperor, Claudius the Cruel, was convinced that his soldiers would be more willing to fight if they didn't have loved ones at home so he banned engagements and marriages in Rome. Our Saint Valentine secretly continued to marry couples, unfortunately his kind deed was found out and he was sentenced a horrible death.

The story goes that he was killed on the 14th day of February, and before his execution he sent a note to the jailers daughter and signed it "your Valentine"

So today we celebrate the celebration of lovers on this day.

The photo I have attached to this post is from my giveaway for the One World, One Heart that ended today. I send you and your families very Happy Valentines Day wishes!

My son and I baked Strawberry Cupcakes from the recipe that Farmchick posted on her site. We baked last night and brought them in this morning. They were very well received by his class, yummy!

Since I haven't won the lottery yet, we still have to go to work every day, enough said.

My wonderful hubby and I will have a nice dinner on Saturday (with grandma as the babysitter). What could be better?

Why not share a little bit of your day or valentine plans?

Over the next few weeks I will begin posting some of the pictures I have taken and share with you the joy I get in the pictures I take.

Through Antonella's Lens

2008-02-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

I have been inspired by the One World, One Heart event this year. This is the first time that I have participated and I love it! I am in awe of all the wonderfully talented people out there. The event has led me to create this blog.

This is a more personal view into the world. I love taking pictures and this will allow me the opportunity to share them with all of you.

I am very excited and cannot wait to see how the days unfold.

Hugs,
Antonella :-)