Coming Soon!

So, Michelle and I are starting a new business venture. As you my long time readers know I love taking pictures, so much that my camera travels with me everywhere. I have a small Panasonic camera I bought at work at a discounted price as it was discontinued. That was a little over two years ago. Unfortunately it's starting to look its age. After dropping it a few times and always being carried either in my pocket but mostly in the back pocket of my tote back the images are not coming out the way I would like them.

However, during these two years I have captured thousands of images with it and have published a huge amount of them in my Arizona... But it's a dry heat! photo blog. During the peak days of Bix.com I entered many of them in various contests and I had many top places including a first place for a sunset in Rocky Point, and some third and fifth places for cars I photographed at a local car show.

My dear friend ChrisJ has even taken some of my images and done some drawing renditions of them. Now Michelle on the other hand has a talent, actually she has so much talent that she doesn't even know what to do with it so I have taken it upon myself to explore it and exploit it -- lol. While I had taken to photograph inanimate things, she is great at photographing people. She is like a candid camera that captures good image after good image.

So, that's why I came with the idea of investing $100.00, the idea was to go buy a couple of frames then enlarge a couple of our images, frame them and then sell them. Well, the first hundred dollars only completed about four frames so I put another $100.00 dollars and that gave us at least six big pictures and some smaller pictures.

I started to advertise with all my family and friends and so did Michelle, I made it sound like we are doing something that has never been done -- lol and it kindda worked. A lot of my family members wanted to see them. Michelle and I have planned for an exposition to be held on the first weekend of April, I was hoping that by then I would have at least 12 frames.

Michelle held a party for her daughter Arielle last Sunday and since most of my family was here they wanted a preview. Needless to say the preview was a huge success, half of what we had sold on the spot and some wanted additional custom work. They will go ahead and let me keep them until we do the expo in April buy told me to make sure to put a SOLD sign on the ones that are spoken for.

To date I have spent a little over $250.00 but we expect to make a good profit once all the pictures sell. Before the month is over we will also launch a blog to showcase all the images that we have framed so far. Our starting price is $20.00 for a framed regular size photo. To our most expensive being $50.00 and then different prices in between depending on the frame and mat size. All the mats have been custom cut and color coordinated to complement the image, and so far we are working with 8 X 10 and 11 X 14 but once we get the funds in we will re-invest and explore with 14 X 16 and bigger.

I have asked Michelle to photograph some of the frames that are already done so we can post them, trust me you will be amazed that my $125.00 camera has captured such frame worthy images. At first they kept asking if we bought the images and framed them. "No, I was there and captured them myself" was my answer time and time again.

So, look for our new blog coming soon and tell us what you think. We are looking for feedback and critiques.

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Top Eight

Wow, top eight, just like that Jasmine, Alexis, Michael, and Megan are gone. Supposedly the top three spots are taken so the show right now is all about Anoop, Matt, Allison, and Scott surviving one more week, as they try to build a fan base.

Tonight the sing songs from the year they were born, that could be interesting. With a group like this the judges keep saying it all comes down to song choice. Choosing the right song is key and I agree with the judges that sometimes they picked horrible songs. Don't they have any advisers that will let them know a certain song will cut their chances to go on?

The way I see it:

Danny Gokey: Again will be safe. His designer glasses and trademark smile are already safe. Yep, I really like this guy but keep thinking he is too much of a Taylor Hicks type. But that's just me.

Kris Allen: I can never remember what he sang but the judges always go ga ga over him so he must be good. I say he is going to be safe... again!

Adam Lamber: I am most intrigued by this contestant, although not my type of music at all I always want to see what he will do next. So, will he stay clean cut tonight or will he go back to the rocker look. We'll soon find out. Oh and he should be safe.

Lil Rounds: Has not grabbed me at all. I still can't see what the fuzz is about. Jordin Sparks was a sweet heart I alway liked, Mandisa always great, Doolitle the queen without the crown I had to always watch her performances again, Lil Rounds has not given on performance I want to watch again. But I know as a fan I am a minority. She'll be safe.

Anoop Desai: Anoop has taken half the votes I have casted. I really hope he moves on but his days are counted. Possible bottom three.

Allison Iraheta: In my opinion the best female in the competition. Not a favorite though and two time bottom three contestant. She is another possible bottom three.

Scott MacIntyre: My hometown guy. He has gotten the other half of my votes. He'll probably get some more tonight. His days are also counted.

Matt Giraud: This guy has surprised me before, but he is not consistently good. In his case is I like him or not based on his performance. Another possible bottom three.

We'll see how they do tonight, I man or may not want to re-think my forecasted choices.

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