week 42: Patterns

A while back I got CS 6 on my computer, it stands for Creative Suit 6 and has the programs Indesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. They're the programs most used by graphic designers (like me). Illustrator is my alltime favourite!

In Illustrator they added a lot of extra's to make patterns. So I had to dive in! It's always been my secret wish to design wallpaper and fabrics! Let me show you what I've made so far:

I started with the one above. I tryed to make a retro style. It's a little static (don't know if it's the right word). But nice to begin with :) (I thought of a teatowel)

Then I tryed to make a design, where you wouldn't see the repeat of the design so clearly. That's very difficult, I didn't succeed, but it's a beginning. (my next challenge!!)

Then I tryed to design a few patterns, that would make a good combination together. (Just in case they become fabrics one day, and I want to make a quilt of it ;) )

Another one

and another one.

And this is what my future quilt would look like :)

Please, tell what you think!

Illustrator tutorial

Lately I've been doing a lot of tutorials in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Just to keep me sharp and updated.

I found a tutorial on the internet that was a combination of Illustrator and Photoshop, but after step 3 I couldn't figure it out anymore. (they skipped so many steps). So I thought: I think I can make this, just in Illustrator (my favourite anyway :))

Well, here's the result:

Tell me what you think :)

My best friends wedding: part IV

And the last part...

The flowers and the rings.

There was a great party at the beach at night. Nancy, Frank and I agreed that is was time to party for me too. So I've put camera away and partied like it was my best friends wedding :)

Looking back on this day:

First of all it brings a big smile on my face! It was the best day!

Second: I was sooooo nervous, and usually that blocks me. It did in the beginning, but then I saw some pictures on my screen an I thought: I NEED to make better pictures!! And this is the only day you can do that! So I did a checklist in my head: What kind of light is this and how do you set up your camera for that? What kind of filter do you put on your camera? Because I was so busy with this I 'forgot' that I was nervous and then suddenly I was having fun!

I'm very pleased with the result and so are newly weds.

But, of course, there still is a lot to learn :)

My best friends wedding: Part III

... and part III (one to go) The actual wedding! It was in a lovely little church in Heiloo. Nancy is from Castricum and Frank is from Alkmaar, Heiloo is in the middle of that. Great choice!

It was a beautyful ceremony, with lots of music (their both in a musical-perform-group, that's where they met) and time to congratulate them and have piece of delicious cake or a cupcake (made by Taarten op Texel)

My best friends wedding: Part II

We went to Alkmaar to take pictures. Frank is a policeman (on a motor). His colleage-policemen escorted us to Alkmaar. Which was very cool!

My best friends wedding: part I

As you might know, it was 'My best friends wedding' on the 20th of april 2012.

I made their invitations <see here> and they also asked if I wanted to make the weddingpictures. 'No!' was my first response, 'You should hire a professional'. But, to make a long story short, I finally said yes.

I was very nervous, so I thought: The only thing I can influence is PREPARATIONS. So I took a course how to use an extern flashlight. (I've already done a few other courses in the past)

Made a list of all the moments that would be important on their weddingday and looked at a lot of photo's on the internet. And of course made a lot of pictures. I also went to the church they were getting married, to see the light.

The week in advance, I had a horrible stomach ache, couldn't sleep, couldn't think of anything but 'The Day'. There was some serious nerve-racking going on.




Then the day was there! And.... it went well. The weather was very grey, that was a pity. And at the last moment there was a change in location. I also went location-hunting in advance, but we never went there :(

But... I like the result. And more important: the weddingcouple loved the photo's!

So, after some doubt (I wasn't sure if I would show these on my blog) here is part I of my best friends wedding:

PS There will be more parts. This was the first part of the day.

To think about

On this blogpost I want to give you something to think about. I saw this phrase once on pinterest and it hit me. This is exactly how I think about life. So I made a design for it.

A few of my thoughts:

I think everybody knows the phrase: "The grass is always greener on the other side". I think many people look too much at what other people have and what they don't have. Try to look at the things you DO have, is my motto :-) It's an endless story if you always look at others.

And second: 'If you put energy to something it will come back to you.' A lesson my father told me a lot! My father is the most optimistic person I know. And he's right about this.


And third: it's funny! 

What are your thoughts about this?