Wishlist: Digital Cartridge for 35MM camera

I have a photoshoot coming up (yay!) for a local band and I wish wish wish there was a way to turn my 35mm camera into a digital camera with the click of a button. Right now I am forced to choose between using my decent but certainly not pro level digital camera or using expensive film and developing for something that I am doing for free to build my portfolio. It is a conundrum because I know if i use the digital camera I will have to spend more time editing. And when I don't use my 35mm I feel like I am cheating myself of some amazing photo because my digital camera does not have the control I would like to have.

 In many cases, you can tell right off the bat when someone is a newbie/ solely digital photographer (or has a cheap camera) because their images lack depth of field- usually that's because they have a cheap camera. 

So on a whim I decided to research if it as possible to find a film cartridge that would take digital photos.

I was super excited about the first website I found...

until I realized it was an April Fools joke that stayed up on the web. :( Apparently there was such an overwhelming response that they had to put a disclaimer up on the site to explain the April Fools joke.

Then I found this site which promised a tool to convert your old film slr into a digital camera...

but the Indiegogo account funding the project didn't meet it's goal amount and the cartridge itself costs as much as a new digital camera might cost (though it would have been a considerably cheaper option than the higher quality dlsr cameras I am looking into).

I'm beginning to think this is like the photography unicorn... 

I think in the end, I will have to do a combo- take my 35mm camera and some film with me along side the digital camera and take a few photos with the digital for testing purposes and then try to fit in the 35mm for the final images. 35mm will give a higher quality image in my case and better control over depth of field and perspective. 

With the right lighting and composition I know I can still get some great photos on a budget, but I really wish this technology would hurry up and get here!

If you hear of anything like this on the market, please let me know!

Twitter: @selenamarie318  

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XOXO,

SELENA MARIE

5 To Follow

I decided to give you a  little post on some of the blogs I follow and start a new series of posts as I find new and exciting bloggers to follow! Here are a few bloggers who I am reading today,who I follow on Twitter, and why you should follow them too!

1. The first is California queenie @DaintyJea

Followers: 686 (a hidden gem!)

Jealeyni aka Dainty Jea

Jealeyni looks like the kind of gal who would  be fun to hang out with! Though the font on her site is a little hard to read, don't be dissuaded. Her outfits are really cute and bohemian-eclectic. And I just think she is adorable! She's only been blogging for a year and half, so that's probably why you don't know who she is (yet). This San Diego doll is going places! Check her out on her blog too!

2. The second blog is by actress Kirsten Prout, @kcprout 

Followers: 23,670

She posts cool vintage photos, records, yummy looking food, and make up. Definitely a quick read, with more photos of things than her pretty doll face, but pretty photos all the same!

So much nostalgia on Prout's blog! Gotta love it!

 Kirsten's blog Little Gypsy, Big Suitcase is already a big hit, so go check it out here.

3.  Our third read-of-the-day goes by the motto, "In beauty we trust!" It's Kara Manos better known as @Politics_Pretty

Followers: 2,527

Her bio does not say it all! ;)

Let's hear it for this D.C. dollface, whose blog sections include "bill of makeup rights," and "state of the face," alongside, "in hair products we trust." Puns and alliterations aside, this makeup maven is a serious sistah rocking out in Washington. Check out her blog, Politics Of Pretty here!

4. Number four on our list is San Francisco sweetie, Lucy Z. of @DAILYDISGUISE 

Followers: 812

Lucy, styling it up skinny in the street!

Her mottos? "Felines for happiness. Yoga for tranquility. Fashion to feed the soul." The blog is clean lined, easy on the eyes, and photo-rich with daily style updates. Her look is quirky-glam and I love it! Check out her blog here.

5. This maven mama rocks out in an everyday way, it's Marion of @Marionberry3!

Followers: 1,804

Soft colors in her backdrop let her fashion photos pop. This stylin' hot mama is a down to earth diva who is willing to swap embarrassing stories over a cup of cafe-au-lait (okay, so maybe I don't exactly know what's in that cup- but she will say so herself when it comes to telling embarrassing tales, she is the real deal!). Check out her blog here!

Who do you follow? Who else should I be following?

Twitter: @selenamarie318  

or LinkedIn Connect with a message: linkedin.com/in/selenamarienorris
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And please don't forget to subscribe or follow by email! There's a spot in the side bar! ------->

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XOXO,

SELENA MARIE

Life Update: Cupcakes, Butterflies, & Bumble Bees

In the midst of my busy-bee past two weeks, I received a lovely email at work from one of my global counterparts (read: overseas) who announced that she reads my blog! Her very kind words stuck with me this week. It's easy to lose track of how many readers I actually have because I don't get a ton of comments. 

Sometimes the little things like this can pick you up when you are tired after a series of long days.

Thank you- you know who you are. :)

Another pick-me-up is baking. I love it. I like baking more than I like actually eating sweets. This week our team at work did a fundraiser to help an associate in need. We did a hot dog lunch out on the grill -yes in November. This is the South after all, though not the "deep South," and while the weather has been all over the place (winter coats one day, windows open the next), we got decent weather for our event. I noticed there weren't any desserts on the menu so I volunteered to make some! I can never pass up an excuse to make cupcakes!

Forgive my quick photos taken with my phone- this is for inducing hunger- not for photographic artistry. Don't they still look yummy? :)

 They were a big hit! I made a vanilla funfetti cake with blue and red sprinkles and dyed the batter blue. Then I piped on orange colored vanilla frosting! YUM! It sort of matches my company colors but in pastel versions.

 I topped them off with these butterfly and bumble bee toothpicks, my coworker Marie gave me last year. I've been saving them for just the right time. This is perfect!

I used this boxed mix for the cupcakes. Above photo courtesy of  myhighestselfblog.com

I also made Betty Crocker "Hot Chocolate" Cupcakes! It's a box mix that comes with a frosting mix that you have to mix up. I made it once before and the frosting ended up getting renamed as a "glaze". This time I was finally able to whip that frosting into shape.Whapppuchuuu (that's supposed to be the sound of a whip, if you don't know.). Pun intended (whipped frosting- get it?). And yes, the marshmallow whipped frosting stays peaked overnight.

Side note: I used to be a home-made cupcake snob, but then I found out that a lot of cupcake bakeries use the premixed boxes as a base and adjust for their recipes! So now I am open to opening up a box and whipping up a batch of semi-homemade cupcakes. I found out they taste just as good! Besides, the most important ingredient is love and you can't find that in a box. <3

Overall this past week has been a very productive (read: busy) week at work, and I've been spending my down time at home working on some Christmas presents ( 1 down, 6 to go) and craft projects. It's quite therapeutic knitting on my knitting loom. I want to get back to knitting and crocheting. It has been a while and I thought this was the perfect way to pick back up where I left off.

After a long week like that I decided I deserved a break, so Saturday morning I slept in... 

And not a stitch of make-up on either of us. ;)

Do you like baking, sewing, knitting, or any other type of crafting?

Twitter: @selenamarie318  

or LinkedIn Connect with a message: linkedin.com/in/selenamarienorris
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XOXO,

SELENA MARIE

The Numbers Game

This game has been going around social media lately, and I thought I would share it with you. Here's how you play: Leave a comment or social media @ me and I will give you a random number. You have to say that many things about you that I don't know already (you can post it to your social media and tag me if you like).

Okay, this took me an episode of "Once Upon A Time In Wonderland" and an album worth of songs on Florence & the Machine's Pandora station (plus the time to find the pictures to go along with it).  I was given 5 and 9  by two different people so I went with the harder number... Go figure. 

1. One of my favorite snacks as a child was kosher pickle & peanut butter sandwiches (on hot dog buns only).

http://photograzing.seriouseats.com/profile_post_images/peanut-butter-and-pickle-sandwichon-a-hot-dog_bc66f4a5f1a943efae7646baa8516ef9.JPG

2. I used to hate Lady Gaga but I still can't keep myself from singing along to the lyrics, "I live for the applause, applause" driving in the car alone or watching that Kia commercial. Damn it. 

Google Search: Kia hampster I live for the applause, photo: eonline.com

3. I love where I live now... however... I have dreamed of living in NYC ever since I was 13 years old. I always imagined there was a place for everyone there, a place where I could wear my crazy hats and no one would ask why. Because in New York City, everyone is on their way to somewhere else and at any time of day or night it is plausible and reasonable for someone to be dressed for any occasion, real or imagined. 

Google Search: New York City Easter Parade, photo: StarTribune.com

4. If money was not a concern, I would spend my life traveling the world to exotic places, painting in the streets, wearing a beret, dressing like a crazy person-because I can, learning foreign languages, getting to know locals, skipping all the expected tourist locations, finding unknown crevaces and hidden places and people to photograph in hauntingly beautiful ways, to show the world how to see through someone else's eyes. 

Follow me on Pinterest... Click here to check out my "Photography" pin board!

5. I am going to change the world one day. I don't know how, and I don't know when, but I know I will and no one can tell me otherwise. Anyone who tries is wrong and they just don't know it yet. 

Kindred Closets July 7th 2013 Post Art created on Sketchbook Pro, by me 

6. I am a keeper. I keep things- very clear (selective) life-impactful memories of people I may have only ever met once and may never meet again, boxes of fabric, projects and plans, random so-called-useless facts. The physical stuff isn't always useful, but the knowledge is. There is no such thing as "useless facts." That is a term made up by ignorant people who don't want to take the effort to step outside of the circle they have drawn around themselves in the sand to hold onto knowledge that they have no use for yet. 

Source: HelenJameson.wordpress.com

7. I used to believe I was ugly... And I feel guilty sometimes for feeling beautiful now. But at least I know better. And I am glad for it. I truly believe I can look at anyone and find beauty if I look hard enough. It has taken me years to see myself clearly when I look in the mirror, but I know who I am. 

35MM  b&w photography- self portrait, 2004

8. I might have been a real ballerina if I had ever taken dance lessons. Sometimes when no one is around, I pretend I did. If a tree is graceful in the forest and no one sees it, was it graceful at all? I believe it was, if the tree believes enough. 

Source: TheVivid.Tumblr.com

9. I wont give up on or let go of my childlike wonder. I believe in fairie tale beginnings, middles, and endings.

Source: Garchibald.com

Each of us has a story waiting to be told. This is a glimpse of mine. What's yours?

Twitter: @selenamarie318  

or LinkedIn Connect with a message: linkedin.com/in/selenamarienorris
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XOXO,

SELENA MARIE

Boho Chic Make-Up How-To (Bilingual English/Português)

Make-up: Miss Emanulle Souza Model: Luana Barros Photography: Edney Suiter Photography Styling: Isabela Cury

I'll admit, this post has been a long time coming. It's been in the works for longer than I care to admit. Life sometimes gets in the way of our artistic endeavors, and I wanted to be able to post this as a bilingual article, because Miss Emanuelle's fan base is primarily Brazilian. It seems like the respectful thing to do. So I apologize for the (very long) delay and I am so thankful for Miss Emanuelle, or as her friends call her "Manu" (isn't that cute?) and all her hard work on helping get this article going!

 In Brazil they speak Portuguese (or as they spell it, Português), so I am very excited that the how-to portion of this post will be featured in both English and Portuguese.

Make-up: Miss Emanulle Souza Model: Luana Barros Photography: Edney Suiter Photography, Styling: Isabela Cury

Miss Emanuelle is a beautiful and talented make-up artist located in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Here she shares a step by step how-to create the eye make-up look from the Brazilian Bohemian photoshoot post we featured in mid October with the amazingly talented Edney Suiter Photography and fashion styling by the beautiful Isabela Cury.

Now, on to the how-to!

Miss Emanuelle's glamourous make-up design face chart 

But first, a (tiny) interview:

Selena: How did you come up with this look?

Manu: I created the makeup look face chart inspired by the proposal of Boho Chic, clothing, nature, and my ideas. 

Selena: What products did you use?

Manu: Here's a list of products I used...

Kryolan Foundation Dermacolor

MAC concealer

MAC Paintpot

Jasmyne 3D Eyeshadow Palette

Emerald Shadow Mary Kay

Blush Mary Kay Limited Edition

Mascara Maybelline Colossal Cat Look

Eudora Color Lipstick Cabernet (a Brazilian brand)

How-To:

(English)

1- After preparing the skin with foundation, apply Paintpot by Mac on your eye using a synthetic brush.
2- Apply the (light green) eyeshadow from the Jasmyne 3D palette on your lid. Use a natural or synthetic brush for the shadow.

3- Don't forget to apply eyeshadow in the inner corner of your eyelid.
4- In center of eye  apply eyeshadow Gold . Use a small synthetic brush.
5- Apply Mary Kay Emerald eyeshadow using Mary Kay collection brush for the crease.
6- Blend eyeshadow into your crease using MAC 224 blend brush.

7- Finish by applying 3 layers of mascara on the eyelashes, being careful to get all the lashes around the eye (no strays!).
8- I used blush pink cherry tone to highlight the apples and match the tone of lipstick, following the proposal Autumn / Winter Boho Chic MakeLook.

9- On the lips, I used the Brazilian brand Eudora Cabernet lipstick. It combines well with darker colors of lipstick in shades of grape, wine and even brown. It is chic, looks great! 

Selena's note: I would love to get my hands on this lipstick, but I can't seem to find it in the USA. :(  You can create a similar effect with a deep purplish toned pink color in matte or light shimmer, or blend a few to create a similar berry toned color if you are like me and you don't have access to this brand because you are outside of Brazil! 

Check out Eudora on Twitter @Eudora. Maybe if I hint, they will send me a tube of this fabulous lipstick! Shameless plug! ;)

(Português)

1 - Depois de preparar a pele com base, aplique Paintpot da MAC em todo o olho. Use pincel sintético.

2 - Aplique a sombra verde da paleta jasmyne 3D em sua pálpebra móvel. Use pincel para sombra ou pincel sintético.

3 - Aplique a sombra também na parte de baixo dos olhos.

4 - No centro do olho aplique sombra Ouro da paleta jasmyne 3D. Use um pequeno pincel sintético.

5 - Aplicar a sombra Emerald da Mary Kay em seu côncavo. Use pincel para côncavo da coleção Mary Kay.

6 - Esfume a sombra no côncavo. Use pincel para esfumar MAC 224.

7 - Finalizando aplicando 3 camadas de Máscara para cílios em baixo e em cima.

8 - Eu usei blush na cor cereja para destacar as maçãs e combinar com o tom de batom, seguindo o Outono / Inverno e a proposta do Makelook Editorial Boho Chic.

9 - Nos lábios, eu usei o batom Cabernet da marca brasileira Eudora. Combine também com tons mais escuros de uva, vinho e até mesmo marrom. É chique, fica lindo!

Contact & Follow Miss Emanuelle:

Instagram @missemanuelle

Twitter @ssouzaEmanuelle

Youtube: Miss Emanuelle

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmanuelleSouzaMaquiadoraProfissional

E-mail: ssouza.emanuelle @ gmail.com

Thanks Miss Emanuelle for sharing your beautiful work!

Want to be featured in a Kindred Closets Exclusive? Contact me here or leave a proposal in the comments section below. For partnership inquiries or product reviews, please contact me via email at selenamarienorris @ gmail.com with the title: Kindred Closets Partnership Request.

Twitter: @selenamarie318  

or LinkedIn Connect with a message: linkedin.com/in/selenamarienorris
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XOXO  -  OR AS  THEY  SAY  IN  bRAZIL - beijos!

SELENA MARIE

Merchandising: Chevron

I took a trip recently to my favorite craft store Hobby Lobby to pick up some Prismacolor markers and check out their wares. Home trends often influence fashion trends and vice versa. So this is another merchandising post - a series of photos from my trip based around specific themes. You can check out some of the Americana images I took here.

Chevron patterns are showing up everywhere from home decor to fashion and Hobby Lobby is right on top of it. Here's what I found:

Send your fashion & merchandising questions to be featured in this blog with a personalized style board and get your styling questions answered for free by a professional image consultant! Interested in being featured as a guest blogger or global correspondent? 

Contact me:

Twitter: @selenamarie318  

or LinkedIn Connect with a message: linkedin.com/in/selenamarienorris
Or reply in the comment section below!
And please don't forget to subscribe or follow by email! There's a spot in the side bar! ------->

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XOXO,

SELENA MARIE

Wishlist: Chrissie Morris Ankle Booties

CHRISSIE MORRIS 'Tina' ankle boot (see more studded ankle boots)

 For the bargain price of $1,187, down from $1,696 on FARFETCH.COM you can get these "Black suede ankle boots from Chrissie Morris featuring an almond toe, green stingray strap details to the centre with stud detailing, a small platform, a green stingray chunky high heel and a leather sole." -Polyvore description.

 I love the screw stud details and the stingray texture!

What sort of things do you have on your wishlist?

Twitter: @selenamarie318  

or LinkedIn Connect with a message: linkedin.com/in/selenamarienorris
Or reply in the comment section below!
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XOXO,

SELENA MARIE