Scavenger Hunt Sunday

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 A back problem threw me under the bus and I needed some inspiration to get me going after two weeks of doing very little, so I joined Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  Ashley Sisk lists five topics for inspiration and challenges participants to share their views.  So here's what I saw through the lens...

1. Stacked Up

 I love simple, everyday things that can be turned into a lovely sort of thing like pink and brown ribbons stacked up on top of each other with trailing tails.  Textured with Kim Klassen's Sweet Tart and Foamy Chocolate Milk from the Coffee Shop.

2. Winter Wonderland

Winter wonderland was a tough one.  Like most of the US we've had very little snow here in nw Ohio.  We did wake up to a skiff of white powder on Friday morning that's hung around for a couple days.  Not quite ready for long walks down icy/snow covered roads, I grabbed the shadowy shot in the back yard. 

3. Sweet

Marachino cherries, left over from Christmas baking winked at me from the 'friidge saying, "Oh come on...make us pretty before we spoil."  So I did. 

4. Hole

I have a hole in my sock, darn it! Nah...I don't darn socks.  I added The Coffee Shop texture, Old Whisk.

5. Frozen

 I cheated on frozen.  I took this photo a year ago before we moved into a house that's tight and doesn't create beautiful frost flowers on windows when the world outside is frozen solid.  I am fascinated with the feathery patterns that frost makes.  

Take a jaunt to Ramblings and Photos: Scavenger Hunt Sunday and enjoy the views of other amazing photographers. 

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Bad Photo

Sooooo....I didn't have a lot of time today to take a photo to use with Kim Klassen's  texture, Rejoice. Nope, it was a rushed affair.  I've been taking a photo everyday rather than delve into my stash. Anyhow...the photo turned out bad and it didn't fit with the texture at all. No matter which way I tried to spin it I had problems getting the look I wanted.

Bad photo, that's what it is.

So what to do... hide it in the trash, tell everyone a stranger grabbed my camera and shot this hideous photo, or go ahead and stick it on the blog saying to the world....  Hey I'm not perfect!  I chose the latter.

So without further adieu let me introduce to you the Charlie Brown Christmas tree of photos...

Eeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww......

Now if you want to see photos that really make Kim's textures pop head to her website blog.



 

PS You will not find this photo on my flickr photostream.

Christmas Greens

The fresh smell of pine wafts through the house when the tree is brought in to be decorated.  It was an exciting time when we went off to find the Christmas, whether it was cut-fresh from a tree farm or selected from a local Christmas tree vendor it's what I imagine the bringing in of the yule log must have been like from the Christmases of long, long ago.  The stories of ancient Christmas traditions fascinates me.  I prefer to use fresh greens over artificial.  Fresh white pine that reminds of me of spidery fireworks in shades of green creates a base.  The legendary holly bearing plump red berries is so lovely to set upon window sills and add to garlands, wreaths, and in arrangements.  And then, English ivy, the little evergreen with so much spunk that it will grow up stone and brick walls.
  


So I gathered a few greens and those bright berries that wink at me outside my window. Placed in an English trug the greens and berries could be from the Christmases of Eleanor of Aquitaine or Anne Boleyn.  I love that about Christmas...the tradition, the legends, the lore, the memories.

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The textures used on the photo are Kim Klassen's new one for today, Providence layered twice, and then Edward to add a timeless look.  You'll find more tantalizing textured treasures at....

Make a Joyful Noise

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  Around the age of 7 or 8 I taught myself to play the piano.  I was gifted with the ability to play the piano by ear. My sister, B, started taking piano lessons.  She came home, sat at the old upright and practiced scales and songs.  I listened closely and waited with anxious anticipation for her to be finished.  Now it was my turn to pick out the notes through trial and error that she'd just played. It wasn't long until side-by-side we sat at the piano, B showing  and teaching me how to read music.  I never learned correct fingering, but I learned to play the piano well enough without ever taking a lesson from a teacher besides my sister. 
I played trumpet and French horn in the band, but it was always the piano that enchanted me. Then one day I had a little girl of my own. She learned to play the piano through the instruction of several area pianists, but  she wanted to play the flute.

 And boy...could she play the flute.  Her sound was rich with lush bravado.  To this day I love the sound of the flute, the violin, and the piano, my three favorite instruments.

When I think back music enriched my life from the deep baritone of my dad's voice to the sweet lilting notes of my daughter's flute.  My sister went on to get her degree in music and teach.  I went on to play the piano in the solitary confines of the parlor, and my daughter...once in a great while she picks up her flute and makes a joyful noise that this mama adores.

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Oh that Kim Klassen!  She's done it again with yet another lovely texture titled, Lola.  The flute photo is layered with Lola and also Kim's Wonderful Magic Stars.  Search for more textured beauties here...

More Texturizing

I'm collecting each of Kim Klassen's textures, but I've not had time to put them into action so I'm behind.  Here's a couple photos I with a couple of her textures.
 
The first one, Snow Globe, has been textured with first storm and then more magic scratches.


The second photo has a layer of storm also and then a layer of wonderful magic scripted, another charming texture created by Kim Klassen. 


I hope each of you are making merry as the holidays approach on a fast sleigh of time.