playnature productions

This blog is dead.

2010-01-22T21:53:00.002-05:00

Although it barely ever even breathed, this blog has now died.

Announcing the new debut of PLAYNATUREPRODUCTIONS.COM!

00.001 ::::: ONE DOLLA MANDALA - Tricia

2009-11-13T21:46:00.004-05:00

LazyTcrochet
The first daring soul to ante up a dolla for mandalas, was Tricia!

She sent in this picture of Lichen.

FOUR UNIQUE MANDALAS FOR ONE SINGLE DOLLA::

Thanks Tricia for braving the uncharted territories of ONE DOLLA MANDALA MONTH!!

Her etsy shop (LazyTcrochet) is full of amazing crochet items

In the CLEVELAND area??

Visit LAZYT at:

Christmas in the Woods, Maplewood Career Center, Ravenna, Nov. 20th and 21st
and/or
Cleveland Handmade Market, Nov. 22nd at Valley Art Center, Chagrin Falls.

One Dolla Mandala Event

2009-11-13T21:39:00.002-05:00

****FIRST EVER ONE DOLLA MANDALA EVENT****

heres how it works:

For the ENTIRE month of NOVEMBER for ONE dolla you can email me photos of your choice and I will use my mandala making mastery to create 3 individually unique Mandala designs.

With no obligation to buy prints, however prints are available to purchase with FREE shipping. Also rights to the mandalas I create can also be purchased, so you may make endless prints yourself at cost!

ALSO for everyone who pays a dolla and submits a photo will be featured on this blog. I get about a double dillion hits a day so the advertising itself is worth the dolla.

go here for more info..

Music Mini Movie 002

2009-02-07T14:37:00.002-05:00

WOLF PARADE
"Modern World"

My very first HDR (hi dynamic range) photograph

2009-02-07T13:55:00.003-05:00

Ever seen a beautiful sunset and grad the camera to capture the award winning shot, only to find disappointment at the photo lab counter, or in front of the computer screen??

Or maybe a dark storm was rolling in over a bright afternoon sunshine, and the dark contrasting with the bright moved you to snap a shot, but felt like you were a terrible photographer because your exposure sucked? Or maybe you just blamed it on your point and shoot camera?

Well its frustrating finding the perfect exposure in photography.

And unfortunately cameras meter for light in such a way that in some cases is very difficult almost impossible to represent the scene you actually experience with your eyes. Simply, a mechanical lens is just not capable of adapting to wide ranges of light, the way an eye can.

Hi-Dynamic Range photography is a way to collage multiple photographs into a more realistic atmosphere. The key is to "bracket", or take sequential photographs using various exposure settings. If you expose for the darkest shadow for one photograph, and expose for the brightest highlight in another, and perhaps a third or fourth image taken somewhere in between, you can collage the tones and construct an image with a much wider tonal range.

Often times you will see examples of HDR images pushed to the max, and the images seem surreal, almost fake and color saturated. Although HDR photos can have a stunning and electrifying effect, they can also be a very practical method for shooting in any mixed light.

For instance, Taking a portrait in front of a window, which is usually a nightmare if it is sunny outside.

So i've know about the process for a long time, and today I have finally sat down, devoted the time and put one together. It takes some time and a decent knowledge of photography, but I am convinced it is something anyone can learn how to do within a few hours.

Check out my results:

Click the image to enlarge. The top three are the original source photos, and as you can see no exposure captures the whole scene, the bottom image is the Collaged HDR image!

NEAT! huh?

New things on the horizon!

2009-01-31T18:21:00.008-05:00

Erika and I have recently announced the beginning of a line of collaborated items involving my mandalas and her jewelry/resin skills! First are these cute Mandala Glass Pendants that we both have for sale in our etsy shops. They started selling the first day we had them available!! And have had a couple inquiries for custom ones. In the future we plan to create magnets, and maybe coasters! We are both really excited about working together like this!! You can view her shop here and mine here!

Music Mini Movie MMM01

2009-01-03T13:07:00.001-05:00

CALEXICO "two silver trees"

The love of my life!

2009-01-02T17:16:00.006-05:00

Miss erika laine hansen is the featured artist this week on the mother ship, cleveland handmade! Here is an fragment from the wonderful article:

...Nature is one of my biggest inspirations. As a biologist I love organic forms and try to incorporate bits of shell, sea glass, and found objects into my work. I also believe in reclaiming the past and incorporating it into current work. Salvaging and recycling vintage and antique beads and images is both an ecological and philosophical inspiration...

In addition to being an amazingly talented artist, She also has a giant heart that is filled with warm yumminess. I will marry her this coming spring, and feel like everyday I am winning the lottery. You can also visit her online shopping, here: erikaoriginals!

Cleveland Handmade :: Last Minute Market

2008-12-06T11:43:00.004-05:00

Still looking for unique handmade gifts this season?? Think you are running out of time??

Cleveland Handmade says THERE IS STILL TIME to find awesomeness!

We proudly present the very first show of its kind:

saturday . december 20th . 2008 . 5-9pm

871 Canterbury . Westlake . Ohio . 44145

Cleveland Handmade members’ shops specialize in a wide range of fine and funky craft, including jewelry, clothing, handbags and other accessories, fiber arts, handmade glass, ceramics, paintings, prints, photography, home decor, bath and body products and repurposed vintage pieces.

DO THE PEOPLE ON YOUR SHOPPING LIST A FAVOR!!

Cleveland Bazaar Bizarre 2009

2008-11-29T18:17:00.003-05:00

Dec 13 12-9pm
Dec 14 12-6pm

78th Street Studios:
1300 W. 78th St to
1305 W. 80th St.

I am really looking forward to this show, and it comes in perfect timing for all your holiday handmade shopping needs.

Playnature Productions (thats me!) will be selling (hopefully) brand new 2009 Mandala Calendars!

Lots of my friends from CLEVELAND HANDMADE will also be showing, so be on the lookout for the awesomeness that is :

erikaoriginals
LeahAna
Stacie Pate
Valerie Tyler
Ramona
Beautiful Era

Treasury Cleveland style

2008-09-07T22:06:00.002-04:00

Treasury 002 - Lemon and Lime Cleveys

2008-07-13T12:30:00.003-04:00

This blog is going to be updated regularly, I swear it. Please do not give up on me yet.

Love
PN

something new

2008-05-07T21:46:00.002-04:00

i want to try making something new and exciting. but i need YOUR ideas..

wow me and win something!
inspire me and win a couple somethings!
blow my mind and win ALL the somethings!

seriously, though, im itching..

Lakewood Art Walk May 17th

2008-04-27T20:40:00.004-04:00

I will be showing six Mandalas at the Pop Shop Gallery in Lakewood. Details in the annoying advertisement below:
The show runs till June 21st!

Here is a Map with everything listed::
Click it to See it!

Unfortunately I will be out of town that weekend, so will not be able to attend the walk, however, I will be doing something way more awesome. erika and I will be staying in a cottage in the woods of hocking hills for our anniversary, getting side by side massages and delicious meals cooked for us! mmmm we are staying here

B is for Beth; C is for Califone

2008-04-27T13:09:00.003-04:00

My year long obsession with Califones cover of the Pyschic Tv's The Orchids has now come to an end. Only to be replaced by Beth Orton's Stolen Car. Just thought you should, ya know, know.

Treasury 001 - Stained Glass

2008-04-21T22:38:00.002-04:00

First Grill

2008-04-21T22:13:00.004-04:00

today i busted out the charcoal grill for the first time this spring. BBQ chicken, carrots, and stuffed portobella mushrooms. mmmmmm i am a huge fan of grilling, and now that i am working first shift, i can hopefully do so more frequently during the week as well as weekends. It was a nice afternoon to be out too. this is what the sky looked like at one point:
it didnt take long for my blog to become uselessly annoying. ha! better luck next time kiddo.

Meet n Greet v.01 - The Pets

2008-04-17T18:59:00.008-04:00

The Meet n Greet series will be ongoing and devoted to showcasing individuals or groups that deserve attention. This is the Playnature Productions version of show and tell, except with less brown bag lunches and no volcano science projects. If you know someone that needs a gold star, suggestions are always welcome, however, typically self-appointing-suggestions are usually scoffed at.

In my family, conversation is rather difficult and often forced. Holidays are usually filled with small talk about the hosts' pets' antics. So, being that this is the first Meet n Greet naturally I am a bit awkward, and wish to make small talk about pets.

ErikaOriginals, and I live upstairs with Zilla, Brody, Fatty Liar, Stashes, Bunnix, Alger and Arden. Recently deceased, the beautiful Mama.
This is our family!

And now the close ups!
BRODY::

I am a bit slow, and extremely affectionate. I am needy. I will not or rather can not learn through conditioning. I pick on and claw at old ladys and am afraid of things that move.

FATTY::

Im from the streets yo. I use to gang bang around in the alleys of the west side of Lakewood, I fear nothing unless you are a veternarian, or a small child. I walk with a swagger, and I am large and in charge. Other pets bow to me. I also lay in the sink.

Zilla::

I am precious, I am a delicate lady, and I have very few teeth left, they call me toothless-tucky. I am old, and my hobbies include being orange, having the runs, and pinochle. I will do anything for a piece of your chicken.

Alger and Arden::

We are from two brothers from Chile, and we our naturally diabetic. We bicker over food but snuggle every night. We are a more friendly, portable, browner version of chinchillas. We like be called jeugiss-ba-toogiss, and to eat sunflower seeds.

Bunnix::

I am a dwarf lop. I am very quiet and cuddly. I do not like to be groomed, and I do not play well with other bunnies, but I have a love for Zilla that is unparalleled in the animal kingdom. I am so black I look like a shadow in my cage. My favorite word is 'pellets'.

Stashes::

I have a brown mustache. My daddy thinks I look like John Wilkes Booth. I shed all the time, and do not want you to touch me. My hobbies include eating everything, and pushing your hand away with my head. I am the daughter of the late Mama.

THANK YOU, GOOD NIGHT!

a start

2008-04-16T21:48:00.005-04:00

i am starting this how i start most things, with no real tangible idea of what i am doing. i put no limit on myself or this blog; there will be no intentional goal or theme. this will be whatever it ends up being. so sit back and enjoy the ride, otherwise click the fastest link out of here.

PN