Browsing Archive: June, 2015

The unusual experience of having a photo featured on Flickr Explore (29 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Monday, June 29, 2015, In : Technology

So an odd thing happened yesterday. One of my index cards was featured in Flickr Explore, and it was a very interesting experience ...

I first realised something unusual was going on when I started getting phone notifications for 'likes' (favourites on Flickr) at a much faster rate than usual, and from people that I didn't know. There were just 3 or 4 to start with, and my first thought was perhaps I was getting spammed. I actually had a quick look at Explore on my phone, but couldn't see my p...
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Special collections at the William Angliss Institute (28 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Sunday, June 28, 2015, In : Professional

One of my first library jobs after completing my Grad Dip was at the William Angliss Institute. For those who don't know it, the William Angliss Institute in Melbourne is a training institution that specialises in food and hospitality courses. They specialise in vocational education programs, but also conduct a range of short courses for enthusiastic amateurs :)

There were two main perks to working at the William Angliss Institute Learning Resource Centre (Library). One was ready access to the...
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Prevaricated Frequencies (26 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Friday, June 26, 2015,

I popped into the city to run some errands yesterday, and as I'd heard of a new art installation called Prevaricated Frequencies by Victoria University's Skunk Control in the Flinders St station / DeGraves St subway art space, I decided to make a detour and check it out.

Although the sign had a start date of 24 June and a few pieces were already set up, they were still in the process of constructing some of the displays. Skunk Control's Facebook page says the installation begins on 30 June, s...
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#ICAD2015 week 3 round up (26 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Friday, June 26, 2015, In : Creativity

I mentioned my battle with watercolours last week, and in this week's #ICAD2015 (Index-Card-A-Day) round up you can see some of the results:

Index-Card-A-Day (#ICAD) 2015 Week 3 round up

I've been trying to master the swirly abstract watercolour background effect. Nope. That isn't going to happen apparently. But I keep trying, and sometimes the effect is quite pleasing. Unfortunately the two cards with eye motifs (one in black fineliner, the other using masking fluid) required me to do the watercolour background last. No second chances! S...
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200th post :) (25 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Thursday, June 25, 2015,

If my enumeration is correct - and I think it is - this is my 200th blog post!

So I made an index card to celebrate the occasion :)

Short and sweet tonight.

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Stitching Snoopy (24 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, In : Creativity

I loved Snoopy and Peanuts when I was young. In fact, I still love them. So when I saw a sweet cross stitch pattern of Snoopy and his doghouse on eBay, I snapped it up.

I completed the stitching in January this year, and found a neat little blue photo frame that suited it just right - it matches his collar :)

The pattern had called for 14 count Aida fabric, but I decided to use 16 count instead. This reduced the design down to just the right size for a standard photo frame. The stitches were sm...
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More on library blogging, and why I want to write about cool stuff (23 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, In : Professional

Yesterday I wrote about changing direction and being myself. Basically, I realised that it was time to stop trying so hard to write big issue opinion posts that I don't enjoy writing (and that other people are better at than me). Instead, I'm going to focus on writing blog posts that I enjoy, both as a writer and a reader. I want to write about cool stuff.

[Note: my definition of cool stuff is quite possibly not your definition of cool stuff :) ]

Blogs that I love / have loved

As I mentioned in ...
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Changing direction and being myself (22 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Monday, June 22, 2015, In : Professional

So I did that thing again ...

That thing where I start writing a blog post, or maybe drag out a half-finished draft. I start writing. I fact check. I realise I don't know as much about a topic as I thought. I research. I read. Hours pass. I have now completely lost confidence in my ability to write knowledgeably about said topic. I go to bed. No blog post.

I promised myself I would stop doing this. I've steeled myself against perfectionism time and time again. I told myself I would be brave and...
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#ICAD2015 week 2 round up (20 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Saturday, June 20, 2015, In : Creativity

Well, it took me a little longer than two weeks to create two weeks' worth of index cards for #ICAD2015 (Index-Card-A-Day), but I'm catching up :)

Index-Card-A-Day (#ICAD) 2015 Week 2 round up

I nearly didn't post the first index card I made - the one that says "Be brave" on it. I wasn't at all happy with how it turned out (apparently I can't write in a straight line, even on lined paper!). And then I tried to 'fix' it by adding some arrows, but they came out all wonky. Anyway, after nearly binning it, I gave myself a stern talking to abo...
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A day at NGV International (19 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Friday, June 19, 2015, In : Travel

I had a fantastic Friday last week, catching up with my friend Julie at NGV International.

After a short pause to stick my finger in the water wall (very important), and gawk at the Great Hall's beautiful stained glass ceiling, we headed to the NGV cafe for a cuppa and a chat. We went to the fancy one upstairs, which is a bit quieter than the ground level cafe, so we had a lovely long chat :) The drinks (tea and hot chocolate) were lovely, and generous.

Stained glass ceiling of the Great Hall, NGV International

We visited the NGV to see the Exquisite T...
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Tea. Earl Grey. (15 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Monday, June 15, 2015, In : Food & Recipes

The next line is obviously - Hot. Right?

I wonder how many fellow Gen Xers thought of Captain Picard when they tried their first Earl Grey? I know I did. And I've had it on good authority that I'm not the only one.

Go on, 'fess up :) Did Patrick Stewart help to get you started on Earl Grey?

Anyway, for me it's - Tea. Earl Grey. Milky with half a sugar thanks.

Tea. Earl Grey. Milky with half a sugar thanks.

Hello possum (11 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Thursday, June 11, 2015,

Ringtail possums. So cute. We often see them on our phone and power lines at night.

Luckily we don't have any possums inside the house or roof any more. We used to have a couple of resident brushtail possums living in the wall cavities (they even chewed holes right through the weatherboard for ventilation). Paul the Possum Catcher took care of that years ago with his humane one-way exit system, and we haven't had a problem since. They still visit and eat the fruit in our garden. But we don't m...
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Some thoughts about library blogging (8 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Monday, June 8, 2015, In : Professional

I've been blogging (sporadically) for just over 6 years now. Blogging is different to the other ways that I share information online, in part because I can bring lots of things together here (words, images, videos, etc.). But it also feels more permanent - or at least longer lasting - than transient tweets and Instagram photos. It's my 'home' on the internet.

In terms of content, this blog is my personal blog. It has always been, and will remain, a random assortment of things that I'm doing or...
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Why I love #blogjune (8 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Monday, June 8, 2015, In : Professional

There have been quite a few blog posts and tweets this year about why people are still participating in #blogjune (or why they aren't). And indeed on why people are blogging at all (or, again, why they aren't). It's really interesting to hear people's thoughts on this, as we all have slightly different perspectives and motives.

Kate Davis' post on Libraries Interact is a good place to start if you're interested in this discussion, and it includes a couple of links out to other posts too.

For m...
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#ICAD2015 week 1 round up (7 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Sunday, June 7, 2015, In : Creativity

I've just finished my first seven cards for #ICAD2015 (Index-Card-A-Day). I've been posting them to Flickr and also to Instagram this year. A collage of my first week's efforts is below.

Index-Card-A-Day (#ICAD) 2015 Week 1 round up

It's always difficult for me to think up ideas for this. Even when I have them swirling around in my head, it's not easy to work out the execution. And then to whip something up in an evening after work / commute / dinner / etc. - especially when I'm trying to write a blog post every night too! So sometimes I ...
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10 years in libraries (5 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Friday, June 5, 2015, In : Professional

This year I passed my 10 year anniversary of working in libraries. I've been thinking about the journey I've taken over that time - the things I've done, the skills I've learned, the places I've worked, the people I've met, and the friends I've made. So please forgive the listy-listy-list nature of this blog post, as I take a trip down memory lane ...

I have worked in university, parliamentary, TAFE (vocational education), special, and corporate libraries. I also did a work placement in public...
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Molecule of Light (4 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Thursday, June 4, 2015, In : Travel

Last week I posted a couple of photos of a strange new art installation in Federation Square (known locally as Fed Square). It reminded a few people of H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds, for obvious reasons! The information signs were mysterious, simply saying that more details would be revealed soon ...

Well now it has a name! Officially launched on 1 June, it's called "Molecule of Light" by artist Chris Levine. This laser installation radiates a constantly moving series of colours and patterns,...
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Silver Princess (4 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Thursday, June 4, 2015,

I recently showed this photo of a neighbour's Silver Princess (Eucalyptus caesia) to my great friend Anna-Maria.

Not only was she able to identify it for me, but what a delightful surprise I got when she also bought me one as a gift! Fingers crossed it thrives in my garden and grows beautiful gumnuts like these :)

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Cabbage (2 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, In : Food & Recipes

Yesterday I bought a cabbage. I was pretty excited about it.

I think cabbages are underrated - they make some pretty yummy recipes. Okonomiyaki is one of them. Coleslaw is not. But curried cabbages and sausages is another one :)

Curried cabbage and sausages
Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

1-2 tsp oil
1 onion, sliced
1 Tb mild curry paste
1/4 cabbage, roughly chopped
couple of sploshes of boiling water
4 vegetarian curried sausages, sliced into 2cm pieces

Method:

Heat the oil in a large frying pan, and cook the o...

June is here again (1 June)

Posted by Sally Cummings on Monday, June 1, 2015, In : Creativity

And with June, comes the annual #blogjune daily blogging challenge! I'm taking part again this year, and like last year I'll also be doing the #ICAD (Index-Card-A-Day) challenge over June and July.

Sadly last year my Mum's health suddenly worsened, and she passed away at the end of June. Of course this brought an abrupt end to my participation in both challenges as I concentrated on spending time with my family, grieving, and finally administering Mum's estate.

I did create a few more index car...
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