Saturday, May 31, 2008

all grown up

this is Sam,
i've know her since she was a baby, for as long as i have been doing hair
(my other creative outlet)
i was so excited to be apart of her prom day
my favorite part of being a hairstylist is creating "updo's"
and this one is to date, one of my favorites!
i think it has something to do with the stunning model,
she looks so grown up and has turned into a wonderful young lady!
i think i have to cry now!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

taking it to the next level


since i started working more with photoshop
i'vediscovered that i can have more fun playing!
i can try out every photo first until i find just the right one
to add to one of my backgrounds as a photo transfer
it saves me time and a big mess , and some things you can only do in PS
i could play all nite but i need my beauty sleep!
there's always tomorrow!

back to basics





sometimes I can spend days just making backgrounds
i have TONS of paper, really,
and just love to rip, cut, paste, paint, glaze,
sponge, stamp, gesso, plaster, you name it!
sometimes i go too far
but i've developed the habit of at least scanning each project between layers
so i have a large collection of backgrounds ready when the mood strikes me !
the first one is pages from a magazine, masking tape and gesso
the second is a collection of decorative papers,
paint applied with a brayer and a foam stamp
the third is pages from an old "handy mans" guide i found at a garage sale,
i like it just the way it is.

Monday, May 26, 2008

enjoy

after a successful plant sale yesterday i can now relax and enjoy my garden.
i'm so happy that all my "babies" found great homes
and with all the major work done and will have more time for ART!

Friday, May 23, 2008

you've got mail!




in this day of instant communications it's nice to actually get
something delivered to your home!
i joined a photo journal group hosted by Catherine Anderson several years ago
and have enjoyed the challenge, working on a theme and
the results are a wonderful surprise in the mail!
this projects theme was "shades of white"
and of course Catherine has out done herself!
it's always exciting opening the package to see not only some great photos
but the way they are presented
it's will be fun to see what every one's interpretation of white will be

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

it's all your fault


just when i had enough on my plate when it comes to computer skills,
my friend Lennie gives me a class in brushes!!
after downloading, unzipping, opening every brush and trying them out,
i've realized that if i live another 100 years i will never get to use them all.
not only is there endless resources on the web but then i find out
that anyone of my photos or drawings can now be made into my own brush!!!!
my mind had been racing with all the possibilities!
and now my brain has turned to mush.
i'm sure i will dreaming in brushland tonight.
so thanks Lennie,
this time "it's all your fault" !

Sunday, May 18, 2008

full moon


i don't know what it is about the full moon ,
perhaps it's because i'm a Cancerian
which is ruled by the moon
What ever it is, it always gives me a creative burst!
it lasts for days and i always feel
a sense of loss when it is gone
i wish I could have a whole month of this creativity!
i better take advantage and get back to my studio!

Saturday, May 17, 2008

country roads part 2












country roads




yesterday was great.!
i finally got a chance to dust off my cowboy boots
and head up to Claremont to visit my
friend lisa and meet her new horse skippy
he's a beauty!
i got to ride "jackson"
we toured the back meadow, through the forest and visited Western town.
it's amazing that it's less than an hour away!
i like to take all the back roads to avoid the traffic and took some fab pictures
i can't wait to go again!

Friday, May 16, 2008

blue friday

i must admit i haven't had much time to sit and play in photoshop.
so with the garden almost finished and the full moon moving in,
i've felt a creative surge
thanks to my friend Marie,
i learned tons of layering techniques!
i finally created this collage with some of the photos
taken on my visit with her in NY
adding layer on layer, 8 in all,
i'm really enjoying this new process.
thanks again Marie!

Thursday, May 15, 2008


SOW WEED WATER WAIT

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

morning visitor


i find myself up early lately, anticipating what has grown in the garden over nite!
plus i love the feel of the early morning dew, the fresh smell and all the birds singing!

THIS IS MY MEDITATION!

i fill up my bird feeder and wait for my visitors
i get the usual for my area, cardinals, blue jays,
every type of sparrow and finches, red winged black birds,
morning doves and a few i don't recognize
like this guy, i've never seen him before,
i like his coloring.
i must get a book!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

more texture





i'm now addicted to textures
i love how they change the simplest picture
into something wonderful
awhile back , when looking through my favorite blogs
i came across two who really appealed to me,
and linking through all their favorites
i have been inspired every since!

Saturday, May 10, 2008

lots of texture


sometimes the simplest pictures create some of my favorites in Photoshop!
just by playing with a few "dials" you get some really surprising results!
this photo was taken at Alcatraz, lots of texture, decay and rubble, everywhere!
and of course my husband said "what are you taking a picture of that for?"
which he say's after ever other photo!
when i showed him the results
he wants to know
"where did you take that photo?"
and i tell him you where standing right next to me!
i took over 200 photos on the island and have had fun playing with all of them.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

leuty lifegaurd station



i think everyone in toronto knows the leuty lifeguard station
it's been one of the city's landmarks forever!
and i'm sure i've seen it at least a million times living just around the corner for years
i've taken lots of pictures over the years and glad i got the a "new perspective" on an old favorite

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

toying around




since making the switch to digital
and all it's advantages
i have no regrets
but recently, feeling guilty,
i dusted off my Holga and spend a day out taking photos
i found myself really thinking about every shot
and quickly went through 5 rolls
it was a good day!
i found myself excited and nervous waiting
for the film to be developed
i couldn't wait to look at every picture,
and then look again
i really liked the double exposure and working in B/W
i added some viewfinders from a TTV site
to give them a vintage feel


I should really do this more often!

Monday, May 5, 2008

patience



for the past few years i've kept a digital diary of my garden. i can never keep track of what i've planted or moved, and after a long winter everything looks so different in the spring
as i'm cleaning out my beds, i'm constantly looking at my photos from last summer to see what is what!
and of course the pictures have me wishing for summer blooms.

i'll just have to be patient!

so i decided to play and make a collage to get me through the next month!

Friday, May 2, 2008

north wind


well, with the weather change it's too cold to do anything in the garden, so i cleaned out my shed and had fun arranging all my ornamental pieces .
one of my favorites is this hanging sculpture on my back fence.
i played with this picture in PS Elements and Auto FX Photo/Graphic edges.
i'm hoping it's warmer this weekend!!! i still have a lot of stuff to do and I like getting my hands in the dirt.
 
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