Be Mine - Sunday Snapshot and Beyond Layers

{Vintage Valentine}

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching I thought I'd
capture a little love.

The vintage Valentine was found in my late Mother-in-laws things.

I thought it made a pretty still life
with the antique cake plate and flowers.

Textures used are Kim Klassen's 'Simplicity' and 'Lookup,'

both at soft light. I also added Kim's custom gradient...
 was very happy with the effect it gave the image.

6/52 and Texture Tuesday - Free and easy

{Daisies in vintage vase}

We've had what the weather people call a 'mild' Winter

in Wisconsin.

Mild in being in the 30's opposed to 5.

I still define the 30's as cold but know that Spring can't be too far away.

Daisies are one of my favorite flowers and these surely make me smile.

I used two of Kim Klassen's textures,

one layer of Revolution and one

of Providence, both on 'Soft Light.'

5/52 and Beyond Layers - Storyboard

This week for Kim Klassen's Beyond Layers class

 we were challenged to make a storyboard with our photos.

The antique cloisonne dragon teapot that we brought back

 from Guangzhou in 2008 inspired me for the theme of my storyboard.

With 2 children adopted from China we've been all things New Year in the last 2 weeks or so.

I happen to love that many different celebrations are still on going.

Wishing you health, happiness and many blessings in this new year!

1/52 - journey

It's a new year and pretty natural
for self reflection and looking ahead.
I was recently thinking about how it was just about 3 years ago
that I received my first DSLR camera.

My journey with photography has been interesting to say the least
and I couldn't have possibly ever seen what was ahead.
I've had a fun year, and my photography continues to change and grow.
I'm very much looking forward to learning more
 and seeing what 2012 brings.


Probably the best part for me personally has been that I've been able to give back.
A few months ago I was asked by An Orphan's Wish to be
one of their photo editors.
I have the great pleasure of choosing and editing photos each month
for their web site home page.

An Orphan's Wish provides a loving, caring environment for orphaned children in China.
It specializes in helping children with medical conditions, special needs and cerebral palsy.
I hope you'll click on the link and meet these special children.
The huge bonus is that I get to fall in love with these precious ones
as I edit away.


Hoping the New Year is all that you hope for and then some!

Kodak Brownie Hawkeye camera (circa 1950-1961).

Texture Tuesday - Celebrate

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world,

and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

~ Norman Vincent Peale

 


Ornaments from my husband's Grandmother that have been handed down.
I don't hang these on the tree, I put them
in a bowl or on a platter in the dining room.
Up high from kitty paws and doggy tails.
The glass ornaments remind me of days gone by and of a simpler time.
And I hope to pass them down to my children some day.

I'm linking to Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday where her theme
is 'Celebrate.'
First I desaturated the image to my taste,
then added two layers of her texture 'Lookup.'
the first at soft light at 35%
and the second at exclusion at 11%.
I loved the vintage feel they gave to the photo.