PDF-ing & all that jazz

This post is for you lovely peeps who’d like to know how to turn a wordy-type file into something you could put into a WordPress blog post for readers to download at home. Like maybe a recipe . . . 😉

Mind you obey your country’s copyright laws!

Always preview your post to be certain it looks the way you want it to look. Sometimes it might be better to use the PDF version, depending on the reason you’re including it. (Been there, done that. 🙄)

I can speak only as an Apple ios user, but will give what I hope are generic clues for all the MS bloggers, too. 😉

All best wishes to both!
del

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Going from document to Photo format:

The easiest thing to do is type up your recipe (or whatever), print it out, and take a photo of it. Photo-to-WP you already know!
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Apple’s word processing program, Pages, has the option File/Export to/ and PDF is the first on the list.
Easy peasy!

(MS Word should have the same option, also under File.
Ages ago it used to be File/Save as/.
PDF was one of the choices. Just hunt it down.)
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Getting from PDF to JPEG/JPG:

Using Apple’s PDF program Preview, open the PDF file you want to convert to JPEG.
Then go to File/Export as…/
And you get a popup window.
In that window, rename the file if you want, decide where you want the file to reside, then choose the Format. JPEG, PNG, and TIFF are some of the choices. You’re done!

(MS Word may still have a similar process, using their current standard PDF reader program.)

Hope this helps, Lovelies!

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Riffing . . .

. . .  on Nana Cathy’s Monday post, Morning Pages, in which she refers to Julia Cameron‘s book, The Artist’s Way.

In her post Cathy asks how people cope with their inner critic. She  also talks about a newer book (by Cameron) that I haven’t read, The Artist’s Way for Retirement: It’s Never Too Late to Discover Creativity and Meaning.

This newer book’s title is something I’ve promoted forever, so there are searches going on . . .   expect further comments anon.

Getting back to that inner critic — those are the bits I chose to write about in my older blog.

[Older blog?, I hear you ask.  Let me explain . . .

Before I started writing about sewing, I blogged about classical singing, because I’ve spent my life studying, teaching, and coaching classically-trained singers and musicians.

When I switched to sewing I decided to keep some of those earlier blog posts, and that’s how Del’s Other Stuff was created. Later, I also used it for the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge, which eventually ended, may it  R.I.P.  😿]

Please understand — the posts I’ve listed below were written from a classically-trained musician’s point of view; however, I think you can easily replace music with your own area of creativity.

Going back to Cathy’s query, ‘how do you deal with all the nagging negativity?’

You turn each statement around and replace it with its’ opposite, the positive. Do that firmly. Repeatedly. LOUDLY!

Stomp around and yell if you have to! Just be sure you’re being positive. That’s the only way the other leaves: It’s forced out and replaced with the truth.

Which might explain why a brisk walk can sometimes be a good thing. 😉

In no particular order, below are some of my older posts on Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. I hope you find them useful.

• Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” – handling an artistic life
• Performer vs. introvert: handling both
• Feeding One’s Soul & Mae West
• A Singer’s Mental Work

Squidgy package ! ! ! 🤗

And just so’s you know there’s still fabric and sewing and all assorteds going on here, I’ve included a sneak peek at the next stage of my current soft furnishings project. . . . . he-he!

Hope all you lovely readers are keeping going with your own creative pursuits. Being constructive is a positive activity, with all sorts of positives attached for yourself and others.

I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts and comments!

Can you spot the third fabric hiding between those gorgeous top and bottom layers?!

 

textiles to the moon & beyond

TEXT’ILE, adjective [Latin textilis.] Woven, or capable of being woven.
TEXT’ILE, noun That which is or may be woven.

My favourite dictionary has these two definitions for textiles. The later reminded me of something I discovered whilst researching on Cornell’s HEARTH* web site: Style Engineers.

Style Engineers is a fully developed and free short-course for girls and young women who like fashion and fabric, and might also be interested in a career in the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

There’s a companion section to train prospective leaders (teachers).

If you’ve wondered what textiles are used in space, here’s your chance to have a peek behind the helmet. Scroll down this page for these short videos:

• We are engineers!
• Movement Improvement
• Marvelous Materials
• Smart Clothing
• Patternmaking Tools & Tech

Your mission, should you wish to accept it, is consult your local guild or club or WI and see if there’s any interest in this course.  Good luck!

Partnering with Wild Daffodil for Textile Tuesday.

(*HEARTH led to my series on fitting, which I mentioned in last week’s post.)

denim: 🥰 or ☹️ ???

Do you love denim?

Guess you could say I love the colour, but not the heavy fabric itself.

I’m all into soft and flowy fabrics. Perhaps part of my non-appreciation of denim is due to not seeing good quality denim fabric, but a lot of it is sheer ignorance. You can find anything on the web, but you gotta know what to look for, right?

So curiosity, and knowing I would get solid facts presented intelligently by women that know their fabrics had me listening to Love to Sew’s latest podcast on denim.

And I got all the info and links anticipated, plus a lovely surprise that had me looking at denim fabric, just out of curiosity, you understand… . . 😉

How long have I been a fan of Helen and Caroline, the hosts of Love to Sew? Probably not that long, considering they’ve been presenting a podcast a week for two years. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ! ! ! 🥂 💐 But I’ve done a lot of listening to older podcasts, and have recommended some to friends, too.

The photo (she said we could use it) is Helen wearing a dress she refashioned in 2016 from three pairs of her partner’s old jeans. Her blog post details how she did it. Definitely a woman who knows her way around some denim!

But the best news for denim lovers is Caroline (who owns Blackbird Fabrics in Vancouver) is doing a Denim Drop tomorrow. Yep. FRIDAY! (Now you know why I went browsing. hehehehee!)

Earlier this summer I ordered a bit of non-denim lusciousness from Blackbird but am caught in August’s intense heat so haven’t made it up yet. Blackbird’s U.S. shipping is good, and all you lovelies in U.K. and beyond should check their rates before automatically turning away.

Blackbird is a Canadian shop, and they know how to make it all happen for sewers around the world. Their packaging is well thought out and recyclable.

See you Lovelies tomorrow at the sale?!

Edited Friday noon: Just checked out Blackbird and don’t see any label of major sale or new denim as yet… but there’s a 100% viscose that looks drapey interesting…

needed: inspiration

 

I took a break from work yesterday afternoon and spent an hour listening to current YouTube clips of Dame Eva Turner, British soprano absoluta.

Why? Because her “In questa regia” never fails to move me.

Listening to the glory of her  deep, rich sound, the resonant freedom of those high notes evident even in 1920‘s & 30‘s recording technology. . . always uplifts & refreshes me.

That’s what grand opera used to be all about.

Petite Dame Turner didn’t need deafening amplification, strobe lighting, or smoke. She did it with her vocal technique and her inspiration.

The secret in singing lies between the vibration in the singer’s voice and the throb in the hearer’s heart… Kahil Gibran

That’s communication beyond words.

one thing led to another, or tetrazzini in san francisco

A look around the trio of web sites from this prolific blogger reminded me of a story about a soprano singing on the streets of San Francisco over one hundred years ago.

Memory proved accurate, and I can now suggest another site for piccies next time she’s on Market Street with a camera.

Famed soprano Luisa Tetrazzini (1871 – 1940) loved San Francisco, and had a knack for creative programming. During a contractual dispute on New York City, she reportedly said, “I will sing in San Francisco if I have to sing there in the streets, for I know the streets of San Francisco are free.”

On Christmas Eve in 1910 she did just that.

To an audience of somewhere between 200,000 and 300,000 San Franciscans, she sang ~ no microphones in those days ~ for 30 minutes.  And was heard blocks away. The lady had technique. She had heart.

The concert also recognized the rebuilding of the city after the 1906 earthquake. Her final song was “Auld Lang Syne.”

From all I could gather, the bronze plaque commemorating that concert is still attached to Lotta’s Fountain, on Market at Geary & Kearney.

An artist who used her art to help heal a city.

References include:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luisa_Tetrazzini
• http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Luisa-Tetrazzini-s-gift-ends-S-F-era-on-high-note-2452300.php
• http://www.glopad.org/pi/en/record/digdoc/1003888
• http://www.artandarchitecture-sf.com/tag/luisa-tetrazzini
• http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ggb2006003131/

More reading at Project Gutenberg:

• Caruso and Tetrazzini on the Art of Singing by Enrico Caruso and Luisa Tetrazzini
• How to Sing by Lilli Lehmann
• Great Singers on the Art of Singing by James Francis Cooke

establishing rapport

José Carreras
click for photo source

Plácido_Domingo
click for photo source

 

Was reading over at Uncle Spike’s blog, and came across his Nessun Dorma post, which immediately reminded me of a video with more behind-the-scenes details.

Wonder of wonders, and perhaps because it’s still only available in VHS, the entire piece is available on-line here.

I guess the 58-minute video is too large for wordpress to upload. My apologies for making you click over to watch, but please do. It’s well worth it!

It shows the original three tenors meeting for the first time,  discussing possible repertoire, clowning & rehearsing with conductor Zubin Mehta – long before they rehearsed with  orchestra. It also details some of the obstacles event producer Mario Dradi had to surmount.

Event producers, be aware of those details. And of how many rehearsal hours were scheduled with these four hugely successful artists.

Was their rapport infectious? Yes. Why?  Those maaany hours of rehearsals, besides lifetimes of study and performing.

Don’t think it can be equalled without those rehearsal hours!

further reading

• José Carreras
• Plácido Domingo
• Luciano Pavarotti

Tavis Smiley: Talking with musicians

Mr. Tavis Smiley, courtesy tavistalks.com
click to go to web site

“Mr. Tavis Smiley: …  the reason why I love music artists is that you get the most authentic conversations with them…  Because what’s in them typically comes out in one way, shape, or form.“

From Mr. Smiley’s interview with Mr. Ben Harper and Mr. Charlie Musselwhite earlier this month.

Au*then”tic, a. [OE. autentik, OF. autentique, F. authentique, L. authenticus coming from the real author, of original or firsthand authority…] 1. Having a genuine original or authority, in opposition to that which is false, fictitious, counterfeit, or apocryphal; being what it purports to be; genuine; not of doubtful origin; real; as, an authentic paper or register…

montalbano: internationally successful

actor Luca Zingaretti
from wikipedia
click to go to article

If you haven’t seen Detective Montalbano, try looking around your local telly channels.  In the U.S., MHz stations frequently include it as part of  their international mystery series.

The opportunity to watch and learn from a meticulously crafted ensemble of performers, both behind and before the camera, is invaluable to anyone involved in the performing arts.  And the music is great!

Now there are 2 hours of videos on how it’s done, led by insights from actor Luca Zingaretti (Montalbano).

Series viewer caution:  This is an Italian television series.  Some viewers may find portions objectionable.

Conversation with Luca Zingaretti (45 min)  A subtitled in-depth conversation with Luca Zingaretti on theatre and screen acting, the importance of one’s soul, the character of Montalbano, and much more.

Detective Montalbano – Making Montalbano (27 min)  From the director’s point of view.

Detective Montalbano – From Page to Screen (29 min) From other artists behind the scenes.

Detective Montalbano – True Sicilians (24 min)  The Sicilian supporting actors add immeasurably to the overall production.

opera or ?

so what makes an opera singer these days?

let’s talk vintage!

used to be an opera singer’s voice would/could fill an auditorium seating 4,000 plus, and float over an orchestra with no microphone.  just their trained understanding and use of the human body’s natural resonance. along with a bazillion other minor details.

anybody every heard a newborn cry?  instant attention for a quarter mile, right?  wonder how??

anne midgette, musical critical & writer for the ny times and washington post did a handy dandy little audio about this very thing for the times.

in a brief 4 minutes she explains & gives 2 examples of just one factor involved.

have a listen.

(Audio, MP3 format)

if above got you thinking, you can read more here.

singing is healthy

here’s an article from last july’s los angeles times about more research into music’s special effects. it seems music, and singing in particular, can have specific health benefits.

“The new research… is the latest to explore the health benefits of making music.”

i’m not a doctor, but i know what students have told me for decades: “you’ve done it again.”  done what?  “i came dragging in here, and i’m leaving feeling great.”

mission accomplished.

Arts, Education & a TED Talk

An entertaining 2013 TED Talk on education and the arts, given by Sir Ken Robinson. Takes about 20 minutes, and was recently on public television stations in the U.S.

Here’s another talk from 2006.