A Little Bit of Magic - Day 34 2 B

I don't know....I think I need to play with this 'magic' a litle bit more.  

The top is the final.  This lower is the original.  It's not hitting me in a 'magical' way for some reason.  Maybe I need to try a different photo, a different 'magic' layer maybe.  

Or maybe....working on it at late hours of the night after a day of brain work really does affect my creativity sometimes.

But..another thing learned...for future 'masterpieces'.

A Bit of Sunshine for Kim

This, my dear friend, Kim....is truly for you.  A bit of sunshine to brighten your day...as much as it possibly can considering the current events of your life.

I am sure each and every one of us are praying for you and John and the boys every day in hopes that you, our major inspiration, can one day wake up and breathe....breathe in the fresh air....breathe in the awesomeness of the surroundings of 'home' with everything that makes it home....studios, creativeness, John...healthy and happy, the boys to visit and laugh with....Ben so anxiously awaiting to go for a romp in the woods, through the fields of familiarity.

Your mantra....

"What good shall I do today?'

My goodness....the good that you do every day with the inspiration and friendliness and creativity that you share with us in each and every post, picture and lesson...and life story that you share with us.

I wish that I could share so well...if even a simple daily story of my life.

Some day, maybe....I'll learn from you that it is okay to open up...but for now...I'm okay with having just learned all the awesome creativeness that you have inspired me with to date.

That is what good you do each and every day with each and every post and lesson that you share with us!

I pray for you and for John's speedy and full recovery.

Have faith, Kim.
Have faith, my dear.

Thank you for the lovely textures.

(photo edited with a couple layers of Franklin and a final layer of frosted and then back to LR with reduction of clarity for the added softness.)

DOTS - A Friday Find

https://www.bagsunlimited.com/p-6023-dot-tape-runner-double-sided.aspx

I don't know that I particularly found this on a Friday but I know it saved me on a Friday and I'd like to share it for my Friday find.  If you are an artist or a photographer that likes to share your creations in a 'matted' perspective, you know how expensive it can be to have a third party do that work for you or the expense of selling precut matts at the local craft shops.  I sure do...with the amount I put into matting pictures up for a local craft fair or a recent competition.

So I do shop around on line for some less expensive matts...but not so inexpensive that they would be an embarrassing addition to my creations.  I found some reasonably priced at this bags unlimited website where you can buy the front mat and a backing matt.

Often times I use double sided tape to do the matting to hold everything together.  Not necessarily the fastest way to do it and not necessarily inexpensive.  If just for a competition and I want to reuse the mat, I will just use some of the painters tape - which for the most part can removed easily to allow reuse of mats for the next competition or display.

Well...i found these adhesive dots.  They roll on like the correction tape does and it is so much faster than applying the double sided tape.  I matted up 50 photos combination of 8 x 10 and 11 x 14 using just two of these.  You can buy one and then buy refills which is great.  Be sure to buy the permanent one though and not the removable - at least if you are matting for final presentation - for sale.  I wouldn't use this for competition purposes unless I know I want to frame them and sell them afterwards.

For competitions where I want to reuse the matts, I would still use the painter tape.

Share an idea you have to make our creations less costly and still professional and salable/presentable.

I hope this is useful to you.

2B - Day 32 - Autumn Tree Life

I love autumn.  It is, hands down, my most favorite season.  From the more moderate temperatures, to the crisp air, the awesome palette of colors that Mother Nature blesses us with, the sound of the wind rustling the leaves, watching them do aerobatics in the air, piling them in piles and jumping in them, (despite the work of keeping them cleaned up - always a good reason to have a boy toy around), to the smell of fall in the woods and the sound of the forest under foot.

One of the most fascinating things about fall that always captures my photographic eye is the nakedness of the trees...showing their every curve, every blemish, openly, gracefully, beautifully...down right awesome, peaceful, serenity.

So of course, this would be my choice of photo to edit for my 2B challenge today.

Once again a classical Kim inspiration.


Below....the before in its true original, crooked state...until I figure out the mouse over steps again.

Heart Warming Memories

...so after my rebellious day of pretending to be six again.....

I did get back to cleaning.  My house has been on the market for a year and half.  Things were boxed up thinking I wouldn't be here at this time of the year.  But I am and I'm tired of being without some of the stuff.  Winter is just around the corner.  I don't want to mess with the chance of someone wanting to see the house in the winter....or maybe I just don't know where to go next.  I'm guessing not many showings would happen at this time of the year anyhow....so I've decided to take it off the market for the next few months and...well....regroup....see what the winter will bring (other than cold and white fluffy stuff...yeah for white fluffy stuff....booh for COLD.

In the continuing effort of trying to get organized enough to find something again...it was time to get into the closets and go through things.  Thoughts of a rummage sale arose and I got into boxes that haven't been opened in over six years (hmmm...must be a six kind of week).

 I have boxes of Tom Clark Gnomes that I need to find a buyer for (in case anyone is interested).
Started a nice pile of hopefuls for the rummage sale.  In a box of scrapbooking paraphernalia, I started finding old photos...which of course slowed the progress down a bit.  Amidst it all, I found a box of smiles accompanied with a few tears....

My one and only awesome daughters....

Bronzed.  So glad I did that.  What a photo op waiting to happen.

Love notes from my little guys.....  The oldest......

...and my youngest, most sensitive....

Really Moms.....don't throw them away...there is always a day when a smile is needed...or a memory to trigger the soul cleansing tears.


To my threewonderful children...I love you now and forever, unconditionally, always and always!!!

(Warning...it may mean your household chores will not get done.)  Oh well...there is always the next rainy or cold winter day.

....Be Six Again

It was a beautiful fall day on Sunday.  After a very very hectic and photography filled October, I had major need to catch up inside the house.  I hate it when I can't find anything and unfortunately have no one but myself to blame.  Run here.  Run there. Throw this here.  Don't put this where it belongs.  Do it later. Shove that in the drawer.  I'll remember where I put it...when I can't even remember what I had for breakfast that same day. (Sure Trisha...keep believing.)

So I woke early and started in the back family room...or should I say...throw all room.  Boxes of photos packed up after the craft show.  Lenses here.  Lenses there. paperwork piled on the table waiting to be tackled.  Dresser drawers filled with 'let's hide it here items'.   But I tackled it and made really good progress....until...

Lexi needed to go outside.  I grabbed a cup of my addiction and walked outside to let her relieve herself and throw her Kong for her for a bit....

and picked up some pears that are now saying they need to be picked and canned...

and couldn't find my way back inside.....

Oh, yeah, mom needed help taking her gazebo cover down and I knew she needed help raking leaves....

Off we go.  Temps in the 5os.  Sun shining.  Little to no wind.  Birds calling my name.

My mental prison bars went up and locked me out of the house......oh no.  (Smiling.  Smiling. Smiling.)

Thank you Dear Lord for a beautiful day and leaves that needed to be raked.

As I went to rake the last of them into the last of the pile...something hit me.

Oh yes...camera in car.
Camera out of car.

It didn't even take much urging to get her to sit in the leaves...and not so much help to get her out either...

....and we were both Six again.  Throwing leaves in the air.  Taking in the fall fragrance.  Lexi got excited and started running circles.  Mom...laughing hard.  My heart...happy to see her laugh.

Where are the kids that should be enjoying these simple moments.

Inside...on a computer...texting their friends...

Thank you Dear Lord for giving me the memories of childhood.

Thank You.