Knotted

My daughter and I both discovered knitting a few years ago, and I have been fortunate to receive some beautiful gifts knit by her over the years. Both of us have drifted away from knitting in the last few years- me, because of hand issues and my other obsession (photography) and her, because she is an incredibly busy mom of two little boys (as well as being a preschool director).  I was searching for photo inspiration on Flickr and found that KNOT was a topic this week. I immediately thought of knotted fringe and this beautiful scarf, made by my daughter. I think the pattern is lattice lace, and it is made with a beautiful, soft mohair.

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I searched for a quote, and found this Japanese proverb.  I’m not sure how true it is right now with the polar vortex (receding, I hope?), but like the sentiment.

I am linking up with Friday Finds today, not because I found the scarf (it wasn’t lost- I wear this scarf!), but because I discovered a new processing technique! I had already posted this image to Flickr, but this morning I added a frame, with an easy technique I learned from Kim Klassen’s Test Kitchen. I love how you can still see the image through the frame!

Textures are from Kim’s waterfront collection.

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Downtown

Looking for inspiration, I coerced my husband into taking a walk around the downtown area late the other afternoon.  I had a Flickr challenge in mind- PURPLE, and gave my husband the task of looking for purple items for me to photograph.

How about this one?

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And here is a bonus shot of Granite Creek, which I used for the topic- SOUND OF SILENCE (although it certainly was not silent when I took this photo along Prescott’s main street).

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Outside

I had some GREAT news this week!

To back up, I enter a lot of photo blog contests. Please note that I did not say PHOTO contests- what I do is comment or tweet or Facebook share someone’s blog posting in order to be entered in a giveaway. I have never won.

Kim Klassen announced a giveaway last week. I almost didn’t enter this one, but I was in the mood- and I didn’t have to share on FB or tweet; I just had to share my 14 for 2014 (fourteen things I wanted to happen in 2014), and there were to be two winners (chosen randomly, I assume).  The prize was a year’s membership in her Test Kitchen (a members only site where you have access to textures, brushes, storyboards etc. that Kim creates, as well as some tutorials and discounts on other products) AND a texture collection of your choice.

As you have guessed by now, I was one of the two winners.  I am now a Test Kitchen member and a proud owner of Kim’s Waterfront texture collection.  Yay!  Thank you, Kim!

BTW, she let me know by commenting on my blog Monday- telling me to check HER blog and send her an e-mail.  Whaaaat? It was very exciting to see my name there!

So that’s the good news! I’ve been in kind of a photo rut lately.  This happens periodically, and I have learned to just go look for the light.  But the light in our house isn’t terrific, and the outside light has been either harsh or flat (on the one cloudy day we had recently).  The landscape is pretty brown and bare- and it just hasn’t been calling to me.  Excuses, excuses! So today I just decided to embrace the harsh light and walk around outside with my camera. I used one of Kim’s storyboards to create a collage in Photoshop. Yes, I even took photos of my garage windows and roof. . .

yard

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Beyond Beyond 38- Triangle Composition

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I used more of my finds from my walk last weekend to create this still life, using a triangle composition, which was part of this week’s Beyond Beyond lesson. I then textured it with magicfilm, one of Kim Kassen’s magic textures from her Cloth and Paper collection.

Another part of the lesson was on using the Wacom tablet, which inspired me to hook mine up again.  I normally use it a lot, but I had not really arranged my desk the way I like it since I moved in- and the tablet wasn’t being used regularly.  I have carpal tunnel and other hand issues, so using a mouse isn’t a good idea for me.  My desk is now clean and organized, and my Wacom is back where it belongs.

Linking up today with Texture Tuesday

Melinda10 Comments

Word

true

I decided on my one word for the year! It is meant to encompass all my intentions and goals, and, since I’m recording it here in a cool logo-ish thing, I should remember it.  To me, it means staying TRUE to my intentions, being TRUE in my words, being TRUE to myself, etc. etc.  BTW, I used an iPad app called Notegraphy to instantly create this graphic- easy and fun. It took maybe 2 minutes, of which 1 minute 50 seconds were spent deciding which design I liked.

Do you have a word this year?

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Yesterday we took a walk around a small part of Watson Lake, which is a mile or two from our house.  It was a great way to begin the new year. Part of the lake backs up to the Granite Dells, those otherworldly rock formations you see above.  In the background you can see the San Francisco Peaks (by Flagstaff).  This was a midday shot; I intend to return here for a late afternoon or snowy day photo at some point.

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Hello, 2014!

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It all begins today- another chance to get it right this time.  Actually that happens at every moment, but the coming of the new year reminds us of our opportunities to start over or improve our lives.  I have no resolutions yet for this year.  There is an internet thing, at least among some creative folks, to choose one word to focus on for the year.  This didn’t work for me last year- I forgot what it was!  Maybe it was move!  Move would be a good one for this year too, in the sense of exercising more.  I’ve thought of health, commitment, create, do.  I can’t seem to make up my mind.  Kim Klassen also asked us to list 14 things we want to happen in 2014.  Maybe that one will get done (can you see why commitment might just have to be my word?).  I’m still pondering my list- but health and commitment are right up there.

Today’s photo was taken last month at my friend, Carol’s house (she will be surprised to see it here!).  It is textured with bamboo from Kim Klassen.

Much joy and happiness to you all in 2014!

Melinda2 Comments

Macro Playtime

Santa was good to me this year- especially in the photography department!  Under my tree, I found some Cokin ND filters, a download code for onOne’s Perfect Photo Suite, and a ballhead for my tripod!!! Within a day or two, I had the ND filters figured out and the new software installed, but attaching the ballhead to my tripod required a trip to the hardware store for the correct sized Allen wrenches. Yesterday, I put the ballhead through its paces when I used it to set up some macro shots.

The first is a detail shot of a small Christmas tree made from gold wire, and the second is (obviously!) a pinecone.

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Looking Back

I seldom take photos in our back yard.  When you look out our back windows you see a nice patio, a low wall, some rocks, a couple birdhouses- and then an abrupt rock covered slope.  One of this week’s Flickr topics is looking back, so I decided to do a literal interpretation and take a photo looking into the backyard. I actually looked UP and back and found a tree (ours? our upslope neighbors’?) which I liked silhouetted against the blue sky. I had fun doing a collage of two different photos of the same tree in color and black and white, then added two layers of anne and one of she loves you yeah from Kim Klassen.

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I’m linking up with Friday Finds on kimklassencafe.com.

Melinda3 Comments

‘Twas the day after Christmas. . .

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas! We had a great day- full of gifts, cooking, and eating- and we even caught a movie! It was just the three of us- my husband, our son and myself.  We were sorely missing a big chunk of our family (our daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons), but were able to connect with them through facetime, texted photos, and a phone call. All in all a lovely day.

Today’s photo is a detail from the beautiful and fragrant sage wreath made by our daughter for our front door. It is so pretty- and so special to us because she made it herself!  Thanks, Caity! <3<3<3

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Textured with ecru from Kim Klassen’s Cloth and Paper collection.

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