The 13th Annual Knights of York Golf Outing & Dinner was held on Thursday, July 15, 2010, at the Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington, NY, to benefit the New York Child Learning Institute (NYCLI) and The Phoenix Center.

22 Foursomes competed in a day of golf for the highest prizes and trophy recognition.

Andy Cioffi and Kenny Rein, Knights of York, organized this successful event. And, while delivering their standup presentation, thanked everyone for their generous sponsorships, donations and prizes.

Dr. Sue Veneer from NYCLI and Dr. Geri Gibbia from The Phoenix Center in turn thanked the Knights for their continued support in deeds and donations. Steven Kantor, a parent of a child with autism, gave a touching account of his son’s daily activities, explaining how donations like the ones made by the Knights of York create opportunities for him to learn things that we may take for granted with our own children.

Belinda Rubino and Nicole Fielbig, SweetSpot Marketing, photographed the event. Please feel free to download your photographs, and contact us if you have any questions. sweetspotmarketing.net

Honoring the US men and women who gave their lives for our country, Long Island’s SweetSpot Marketing advertising agency photographed the 56th Annual Memorial Day Parade, sponsored by the American Legion Post 1738, Monday, May 31, 2010, in West Islip. The opening and closing ceremonies honored our distinguished Veterans, and the parade was jubilant in celebration. The marchers included representatives from the West Islip Chamber of Commerce, West Islip Daisies, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Soccer and Little League, West Islip HS Marching Lions, Bicentennial Committee, KICC, WI Beautification, LINinjutsu, Youth Enrichment Services, Herbee Motors, Long Island Road Gents Car Club who chauffeured some of our Veterans, West Islip Fire Department and Marching Band, Suffolk County Police Department, American Legion and local politicians, not to mention the large turnout of community families and friends who cheered them on!

Click here to view photos of the event!

Most ready-made photography backdrops measure 10′ wide by 10′, 12′ or 20′ long. They can be expensive to buy, however, if you follow these simple to follow step-by-step instructions you can make your own backdrop for a lot less money.

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SUPPLIES

6 yards – 100% unbleached cotton muslin (120″ or 108″ wide)

1 – 14 Gallon Rubber Storage Container to dye fabric

2 – 8 oz. Bottles Rit Liquid Dye in the color of your choosing ( 1 bottle is required to die each 2 lbs. of dry weight fabric). I purchased 2 bottles of dye, 1 Navy Blue and 1 Black.

Small Rubber Bands (the kind you get from an orthodontist for braces)

2 Cups Salt

1 Qt. Vinegar

1 Pair Rubber Gloves

Cotton Twine

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FABRIC PREPARATION

1. For a long backdrop, I bought 6 yards of 108” wide muslin at Jo-Ann fabric and craft stores, and saved 40% by printing out a discount coupon from their Website www.joann.com.

2. Pre-wash fabric with laundry detergent in washing machine, do not add fabric softener, and do not dry.

Lay damp fabric on a flat surface (cover surface with plastic if you don’t want surface to get ruined). Distribute the fabric equally over the table, hanging one half off one side and the other half off the other.

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CREATE THE PATTERN

3. Beginning in the center, gather the material one handful at a time, securing bunches with small rubber bands.

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4. If the muslin begins to dry, mist it with a spray water bottle.

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5. Continue to gather fabric until you have gotten to both ends.

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MUSLIN DYE BATH

6. Fill container half-way full with the hottest water you can get out of the faucet; the hotter the water the better the fabric will dye.

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7. Add 1 cup of salt to the water and stir.

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8. Pour an entire bottle of Navy Blue Rit Dye into the solution, stir again. Be careful not to splash the dye. it may be difficult to clean up.

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9. Put the muslin into the container, pushing it down into the bath until it is completely submerged.

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10. Let the fabric soak for 30 minutes. For a darker color, turn fabric over in dye bath and soak for another 30 minutes.

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11. Wearing rubber gloves drain the dye bath out of the container, then rinse fabric until clear, first with warm water and then with cold.

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12. To set the dyed fabric, fill the sink with clear cold water, add one quart of white vinegar, stir and let stand for 30 minutes. Rinse with cold water and squeeze dry.

13. Remove rubber bands, then dry in the clothes dryer.

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14. This is the backdrop after dying it Navy Blue.

There is no need to finish the selvage edges because you won’t see them in your portrait photographs, but you may want to trim the loose threads.

If you are pleased with the way the color and contrast look, you have just completed your Muslin Photography Backdrop; Congratulations!

If you want to create a more dramatic backdrop, graying out the lighter areas, then go on to the next processing steps.

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OVER DYING MUSLIN WITH A SECOND COLOR

1. Beginning in the center of the material, swirl dampened fabric into a circle until you have gathered it all.

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2. Tie the fabric with cotton twine, moderately tight.—

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SECOND MUSLIN DYE BATH

3. Pour a bottle of Black Rit Dye into container that is filled half full with hot water and one cup of salt, then stir.

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4. Put muslin into the dye bath.

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5. Let fabric soak for 30 minutes.

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6. Rinse water until clear, squeeze dry, then dry fully in clothes dryer.

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7. This is the result of the Muslin Backdrop after a second dying process with Black dye. Notice the blue has been toned down, and the lighter areas have grayed.

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8. Voile’, you have just created a perfectly dyed two color muslin photography backdrop!

Have fun shooting!

Last night’s “Dress to Impress Fashion Show,”  was well attended by friends, family and community notables of West Islip High School’s Junior Class of 2011, which was held to support fund-raising efforts.

Students, teachers, and Principal Dr. Anthony Bridgeman were witnessed “Puttin on the Ritz,” donning their formal evening wear generously donated by local merchants.  The models, in true Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers style, gracefully swept the stage, turning and spinning, flipping and dipping, keeping the audience riveted. SweetSpot Marketing was privileged to photograph this event, we hope you enjoy the pictures.

This fun-filled evening, a first at WIHS, would not have been possible without the foresight and dedication of Katrina Anderson, Fashion Show Director, and Jax Frazier, Co-director, and the many volunteers who helped.