Sunday, February 22, 2015

Alternative use for your iron

20150222_161809
My iron + gorillapod + my camera

This was my setup for taking photos last weekend for the Pattern Review activewear contest.  (Voting is open and runs through Tuesday 2/24--I'd be honored to receive your vote!!)

The iron was perfect because it is heavy and won't fall over under the weight of the camera.

That's my poor ruby red point and shoot.  It's 5.5 years old, which is pretty old for a little point and shoot.  I was running across an intersection when it fell out of my bag hard onto the pavement.  It hasn't been the same since.  I feel a bit sad to retire it, but it can't handle certain light situations anymore.  My last camera met its end when I slammed the car door shut on my purse--the display took the impact.  And I feel I am usually so careful with my things....


blurry
I took ~150 photos the morning of 2/14 for the PR activewear contest but half of them turned out like the above and had to be deleted from the start.    It's like it can't focus in natural daylight anymore.

I also use the 10 second timer on my camera, which has to be the most inefficient way of taking photos.

I know some bloggers have an interest in photography and sewing... I just care about sewing but need to find a more efficient way of photographing my work, like the remote I've seen some of y'all using!

My coldest temp ever!
Er, isn't there a digit missing?  No?  1F on Friday morning is the coldest temp I've ever experienced.

In other news, I am having the coldest winter I've ever experienced.  The cold has been sustained for a long time now.  Last winter was definitely snowier in NJ but this winter is much more cold.  Typically it's in the 30's and 40's F all winter with a week of single digits or teens in January.  All of February has been in the single digits, teens or 20's F except today when it was a glorious balmy 45F and sunny to boot. Speaking of boots, I've worn my snow boots every single day for quite a while now even if it wasn't snowing, because they are tall, fuzzy and warm.

Tmw:  22F with a low of -2F.

Then I read KLine's blog where she said last weekend was -40 where she lives, and that -40 is where F and C are the same.

Ok, that puts things in perspective!!

What's the wackiest thing you've ever used your iron for?  What's the coldest temp you've ever experienced?

Be well!!!

24 comments:

  1. -40'C or F - all the same once it gets below -10'F.
    I was an exchange student to Finland during high school. My host family took me skiing (so not the same as Mt. Hood or Mt. Rainier) when it was -30'F or -40'F and windy. I don't even want to think about the wind chill. It was sunny though.

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    1. The sun! Yes, the sun helps TREMENDOUSLY!!!

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  2. Stay warm Kyle. I can't image the cold you're experiencing right now.

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  3. -28F my first winter in Boulder, the first time I lived here. The high hit -24F that day! After 3 days of below 0F weather, the mercury moved into positive territory.

    Some friends convinced me to go mountain biking to celebrate the balmy weather. Uphill was tough as my breath froze in the balaclava. But, my face just about froze off when going downhill.

    Thereafter, I enacted a rule. Below 0F, I telecommute. Below 10F, I don't ride my bike or ski.

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  4. Last winter we had some -30 ish days with windchills at around -55 or so. And they actually closed school! LOL!

    Stay toasty!

    I take pics with my iPhone and use a remote that connects via bluetooth.

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    1. I have a droid but will have to check out some remote options.

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  5. What a hilarious and clever use of your iron! Ha!

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  6. Not to make you feel bad, but it's in the 70s here in AZ. But I voted for you! :)

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    1. Thank you for voting for me!!!
      70F...soak up all that warmth for me!!

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  7. I think you win the most creative use of an iron award!

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    1. Thanks Anna Christina! I felt quite clever.

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  8. I have a Kodak camera just like your Sony. I understand completely about using the 10 second timer!! I was even using tape on the floor to get to my spot quickly enough before the camera took the picture.
    Hang in there with the weather. Here in Maryland, we also have had very cold temps. I invested in fleece tights and knee high socks :)

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  9. Its cold here too...I think the whole Northeast is frozen over. I've used my iron for as a pattern weight tons of times...but the stupidest thing I've done is left it on unintentionally. I now have it set up with a power bar where the lamp is plugged into as well. If the lamp is on, the power bar is on...and the iron too. An easy solution that took me forever to master.

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    Replies
    1. That sounds like a good system. I use my Elna Press (which does not have auto shut off) more than my iron (which has auto shut off). Thankfully the Elna Press makes a lot of noise so I know when it is still on.

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  10. I just might get my gorrillapod out again; I couldn't get it to wrap around anything without falling over. Thanks for the idea. And that 10-second delay -- just isn't enough for me. I'm like you, I want to sew, and I have no interest in photography except quick snapshots. Cold? I think it's in the single digits *again* today. Makes me cold to even think about leaving the house.

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    1. The gorillapod is fun--for my outdoor shots in summer time, I fill a watering can partially with water and then wrap the gorillapod around the handle. :)

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  11. -1 F? Bwhahahaha. Newbies. Friday morning, it was -22F. Thank goodness there was no wind. As I drove into town, I watched the temperature gauge in my car drop 1 degree every 500 feet. It was crazy and amazing (cramazing?) at the same time.

    I am with you on the desire to get better with taking photos. My little point-n-click is 5 years old and I just can't get good photos. Though it takes fabulous motion shots, it stinks with night photos and is only so-so with the timer.

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  12. Haha! It's -38 with the wind chill this morning. I'm not even blinking. I think it's been down to -50 with wind chill at some point or another, but that doesn't happen very often (Saskatchewan, Canada... both °C).
    I know exactly what you are talking about with the photo situation. I haven't posted on my blog in weeks and I blame it all on photography. I don't have anywhere in the house with good lighting and it's too dark before work and usually after work all winter. It's a struggle!!

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    1. Woof! That is super super cold!!! Impressed that you know how to make the degree symbol in blog comments--I don't!

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