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Here's my first real sewing project (one that isn't, essentially, a pillowcase). It's based on a pattern in Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing -- of course, I couldn't just follow the pattern as is, I had to deviate and make something exactly how I wanted it. I suspect, though, that even if I had followed the pattern, it'd have turned out just as crappy.
It took me about 43 tries to rethread the machine after making a new bobbin with canvas-colored thread, and my sewing skills leave much to be desired. Everything is crooked: the pockets themselves, their positioning on the background, the stitching. The backstitching is atrocious, and I didn't even know what "topstitching" was, so the hem is completely visible on the bottom. It was hard for me to even cut the fabric out -- I must have recut one of the pockets three times.
The first time I sewed it all together, I realized I'd sewn the rod pocked into the inside of the backing (instead of on the outside, where it would be useful). Good thing I got that seam ripper.
Also, ironing down a 1/4" seam? WTF? So hard! (Let's just ignore the fact that I hadn't actually even used my iron in...well, I don't remember the last time I used my iron.)
Nevertheless, I did it!
The following photos are from a photo shoot at the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall of China. For me, it was my eighth visit to the wall (and seventh different section). This particular visit was memorable, though, as my good friend Doug (whose shots, coincidentally, are MUCH better than mine: www.dougmcmillen.com & www.flickr.com/photos/mcmillend/ ) came to visit China for the first time. This particular day trip happened to be on his birthday and, hopefully, it was memorable for all.
Personal notes aside, the Jinshanling section is in Luanping County, 125 km northeast of Beijing. It connects with the Simatai section in the east. The Mutianyu section is a little ways to the west (along with the Jiankou section, which is still my favorite). This section is on the border of Beijing (politically treated as an independent city that reports directly to the government, as are Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing) and Hebei province. I believe Jinshanling is actually in Hebei, but I’m not 100% sure.
The section is 10.5 km long and to hike it from end-to-end (which we did) takes about 4 hours at a snail’s (or, in my case, old man’s) pace. That being said, if I can hike this, then I imagine most anyone can with very little difficulty.
The Jinshanling section was originally built in 1368 (around the same time as the majority of nearby sections) and was restored in the 1560s. Most of the structures you see here were built in 1569 (though a few say 1551 in their annotations). It underwent further renovation/restoration in the 1980s so, in reality, visiting the Great Wall is visiting someone’s idea of how it was. The farther along the section you hike, the less noticeable the restoration and you get a more “natural” feel as you near Simatai.
An interesting (pop) cultural note: The Chinese, as most know, are very nationalistic. Some would say that what the Chinese love most is…being Chinese. Every morning at sunrise and sundown in Tiananmen Square, there is a show guard that marches the national flag out for raising and lowering, during which the national anthem is played. (I’ve been down to Tiananmen for the raising and have to admit that it’s pretty cool.)
More pertinent to these photos is that on CCTV (the state-owned tv channels) every morning they play the national anthem with all sorts of patriotic themes/symbols of China, one of which is the Great Wall. The shot of the wall that they use is the East Square Terrace of the Jinshanling section.
At any rate, I hope you enjoy these shots. If you have any questions, comments, or interest in them, please feel free to contact me.
With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy. Lope de Vega (With winter on its way, here is an old spring shot)
This photo represents direct lighting becuase you can see where the light is hitting the cross. It gives the cross a shadow.
This photo is part of a set I'm making following the course of the Roman wall, based loosely around the mid 1980's tile panels that the Museum of London put up.
This photo is number 41 of a set of 60 following the line of the wall and points of interest along the way - www.flickr.com/photos/jimgunnee/sets/72157600537571233/
I have never seen a Pronghorn close to, so I took this photo of a Pronghorn "head" mounted on someone's wall. I don't know if it had been hunted or maybe it had died from another cause, but I never like seeing animal head "trophies". However, I saw my first Pronghorns in the wild a few weeks ago, but only from a distance, so this head did enable me to see what these animals really look like.
INSPIRING WALLS: New VeggieTales Wall Graphics from WALLS 360!
blog.walls360.com/inspiring-walls-new-veggie-tales-wall-g...