My Weblog

 
 
playing, playing, playing....

 
...dragging vintage dresses, a vintage hat, a rusty chair, and what not into the backyard to snap some photos...and then playing some more using my newest textures from Kim Klassen...

...whoever invented digital cameras....i love you....i seriously love you...but i only wish this technology was available when my kiddies were wee ones...or i had been able to afford a better camera...

...but should i ever be so blessed to some day have little grand-babies, watch out!

... hopefully there will be a little granddaughter in the mix so i can dress her up in my stash of vintage dresses...or i guess a grandson with a good sense of humor {!} would work too....but come to think of it, way back when the little boys wore dresses all the time... 

 
...meanwhile, i'm absolutely enjoying {obsessed} with learning to use Photoshop Elements...

 
 
...but every now and then i wonder what the neighbors think as they see old dresses and rusty chairs set up in our backyard... oh well....

And as long as we're on the subject of photography, if you love beautiful photographs that inspire, you've got to visit ZuZu's {A Cottage in the Woods blog} newest Tumblr blog. I've been meaning to share this as it is that special... She did a post here, explaining the concept. Be prepared for some serious oohing, aahing, sighing, and inspiration...

 
There's something about heading outdoors after a hard rain...I love that smell...

 
 
 
...and the way droplets of water puddle and glisten...

 
...and with each passing day, more and more signs of summer being over begin to creep into the landscape...

 

But heading outdoors to enjoy all the sights and sounds after a rain does have its down side as well...

 
 ...especially when my constant companion is with me...the little girl who doesn't care that we just paid to have her groomed last week...

 

 ...and who doesn't understand the words, "please!!!! stay out of the mud..."

All she cares about is someone tossing her the next tennis ball to chase...

...in fact, at one point, she actually laid in this puddle..........

 

 

 

She cleaned up rather nicely, don't you think? Thanks to the magic of photoshop you'd never guess this little girl was caked in mud now, would you?

Wouldn't it be fabulous if all of life's messies could just be photoshopped away? I thought you'd agree....

Credits: texture from Kim Klassen, vintage ticket from Cathe Holden.

Postal Joy!

Anytime mail arrives with stamps like these...

 
...you are smitten and then grinnin' almost as if fun HERSELF had come knocking on your door. Seriously. That's how my world spins... I so enjoy little details like this...

Not long ago, Linda hosted a week long giveaway. One of the prizes that Patty won  was this delightful deck of playing cards. You can read about them here. Linda had some extra decks she was offering up to anyone interested.

 
Well, I was interested and my deck arrived today!!!

 
Linda had the cards wrapped so cute in some vintage crepe paper...and snuck in one of her adorable embroidered buttons she blogged about here.

But as I was opening the box, there was another complete surprise inside...

 
Linda's BFF, Virginia, included something FOR ME! Linda often features some of Virginia's beautiful handiwork on her blog {Virginia isn't a blogger}. It's quite evident that these two Texas  girls have a lot of fun together. Once, after seeing something very special Virginia made or did {or probably both!}  for Linda I left a comment asking how I could become Virginia's BFF too!

Well girls, I think I'm inching ever closer.....

 
Are these not the most adorable [wool felted] acorns you've ever seen?

 
And lookie at the little pouch they arrived in....the turquoise bead is being used as the button! Love it!

 Linda and Virginia, you are both dolls! Your little package added so much happy joy to my day!

I wish for heaps of blessings on you both...blessings as perty as this beautifully faded vintage crepe paper....

And just as a little added tidbit, Linda & Virginia both live in the same neighborhood where hubby and I lived over 25 years ago! [But we didn't know each other then.] It's a small world sometimes, isn't it?!

Xo, Sue

 

Permission to play... {and free image, laptop repair...and...}

You gotta LOVE the bloggy world...I think....anyway....LOL!

Whining about my "must do" lists was met with.............go play...go play........only boring women live in immaculate houses..............ha ha ha! So with your royal permission[s] {or is it a co-dependency, enabler kind of permission?!!! Naw...couldn't be THAT...}  

I played some more...

If you're signed up to receive Kim Klassen's texture freebies, her latest, featured in my digital creation, are words from a song by Celine Dion. The birdie I snagged from a newly discovered freebie site called Vintage Printable. 

Here's a copy of the birdie if you'd like to save him in your files and use him some day when you too are trying to ditch some housework....

Not long ago, Terri shared one of her beautiful backgrounds that I placed in my files. And just for more fun, I added it as a layer and then bumped down the opacity...loved the effect! Thank you, Terri! You can grab your own copy here. She and her friend Roc have been putting together some fun videos on different artsy techniques as well....check 'em out!   

 
Didn't it add a fun dash of color-drama?

And speaking of color............and DRAMA...............and more excuses to ignore my must do lists....and more reasons to PLAY! Scream with delight......

 

The Mister of the house {who is sooooo organized, think: opposites attract} for no reason whatsoever, surprised me with a new IPAD! This is the coolest...........and I haven't even bought any of the zillions of apps you can add.............

And to make it even sweeter, he wrapped the gifts himself....with paper he purchased...in colors I adore...and even added bows!  Seriously sweet.

In my book, the thoughtfulness of his actions were as delightful as the gift itself. Took me completely by surprise...He does a lot of thoughtful things for me, but we don't usually get this extravagant...

So much for that TO DO list anytime soon...

But as I'm busy playing, I'll be doing this....

tee hee....{these are actually kitchen matches}

switching gears completely...

And to make this rambling post even longer, stay tuned if you have a laptop that got dropped or the screen got stepped on OR hit by a basketball. {All three have happened at our house!}

DID YOU KNOW that many times you can still access the info, or even work off the laptop still by plugging it into a computer monitor? Simply unplug the monitor's USB cable from your tower and plug it into your laptop's USB port. This is also a great way to enlarge your viewing size even on a functioning laptop. 

Here's looking forward to another week of creative fun {and a bit of housework perhaps!}

xo, sue

Searching...

...found that quote in some free publication that was in our mailbox...thought it spoke volumes...

...meanwhile, instead of knocking off important stuff on my to do list, {which will soon turn into a list renamed as "it's now on fire!" if I don't get busy soon} I keep playing with my camera and textures and pse...

...but I will keep searching for that girl who is organized, on time, and strikes a healthy balance between "should do" and "want to do"....

Xo, Sue

credits: textures by Kim Klassen

Online Photoshop Elements Course {& a free image!}

 

My latest little play time creation in Photoshop Elements {PSE}...

Long ago I purchased a very old children's picture book...a bit ratty, missing pages, but the lithographs that were left......just beautiful.

Cropped it down to just the little yellow bird...{please feel free to save it for your own personal use}...and employing some of the new "moves" I'm learning in Kim Klassen's online course for PSE...

 
...the ingredients that went into my creation shown in the first photo...1. my image 2. my image 3. flickr-free texture  4. flickr-free texture  5. flickr-free texture

Even though I've barely begun working my way through Kim's class, I am learning a lot about PSE. I am taking her "skinny" ecourse. Here's a quote from the class description:

if you do not understand photoshop, it's brand new to you, you are just getting started, or find it completely TOO MUCH...

 first.gear photoshop - the "skinny" eCourse is for you!

A perfect description of me and my competency level with PSE. If this sounds like you too, and you've been wanting to learn Photoshop Elements, I highly recommend her skinny course. It is self-paced and is basically taught using videos. Step by baby step she shows you where to click, how to adjust this, how to change that...what this tool is for, how to add layers, etc. etc. In other words, THE BASICS!

Click on the "skinny" ecourse link above for a complete description of the class and how to sign up! In my estimation, bargain-priced at $29!

Maybe I'll see you in e-class soon?

Xo, Sue

Never forget...

Weekends rock at our place. College kids, their friends, their friends' dog, high school boy and his friends often fill the house with constant motion on a Saturday. But I wanted to sneak away for a quick minute as I remembered I had made this digital collage earlier this week to commemorate the 9th anniversary of 9-11 here in the states.

Starting with my own photo of fresh baby's breath I added a texture from Kim Klassen's collection, a time piece that was a freebie from Cathe Holden, and a free image from Suzee Que off of Flickr. 

And sadly enough, today, 1200 miles from where I live funeral services were held for a childhood friend of mine. Would have really liked to have been there...

He flew for one of the major airlines and I had spoken with him by phone only a few days before 9-11 back in 2001. When the awful news of what was transpiring began to hit the airwaves, how well I remember being sick with worry that he was aboard one of those aircrafts...wracking my brain trying to remember if he mentioned where he was flying next. And now today, on another 9-11, he's gone.

These sad times always drive home for me how precious is our time with those we love and for whom we care so deeply. And my heart and prayers go out to all those who are still struggling with the aftermath and loss of 9-11.

Another digital image from this week {kim klassen texture used} ...

May we all find peace for those harder questions in life.

xo, sue

Birthday Boy...

Our baby boy turned seventeen today. He's always been the "detail guy" and the more layers you add to a celebration, the better the celebration. And the more days you celebrate something as important as his birthday, the better the birthday!

Way back when, little things like a fresh peach and a crispy bagel loaded with cream cheese for breakfast were how you added the layers. Balloons hanging from every light fixture, having the family wake you by being sprayed with silly string, a special note tucked into your snack for school, mom showing up at school with cupcakes with three inches of frosting....sigh....those were the days.

What constitutes a good layer has changed quite a bit over the years. This year it was having a better sound system installed in his wheels. 

But that didn't stop me from adding my own little layers today...a birthday balloon on his front seat and a little hurdy gurdy that plays happy birthday when you crank the handle...

Some traditions are hard to let go of, 

no matter

how

big or old they get...

 
 
 

My dream job{{s}}...

Through the years I've worn a lot of different "work hats"...everything from retail to waitressing to elementary school teacher to corporate business woman to you name it...and I must say I've enjoyed all the varied experiences each had to offer. Some more than others...

But right now, on this given day, if I could pick my dream job{{s}}...

I would work at the altered book factory! There are no "bosses" and virtually no rules to speak of other than JUST HAVE FUN!  

Despite the fact that there's lots of sewing involved, no previous experience is necessary. In fact, the lady who teaches you the ropes for this job refers to her type of sewing as guerilla warfare sewing {or something close to that concept}...

But she ain't like one of these.....Sorry if that offends any blondes...I thought it was hysterical myself and I'm legally blonde. But I do pay a pretty penny to my hairdresser to perk it up a bit. Grin.

  If you enjoy whimsical...or the chance to join papers with fabric and any other type of material you can sew, glue, clip, staple, stamp, or nail down...

I think you would love Mary Ann's online class: REMAINS OF THE DAY!

Once you're finished with your journal and its all been binded together, your imagination is the only limit as to how you might use your new little book.

Personally speaking, I've already dreamed up in my head about 6 different books I want to make....One for garden notes, another for my favorite inspirational quotes, travel journals, for gifts, and on and on...

And as soon as I finished my shift at the altered journal factory, I would head to my next full-time job...

...that being, Kim Klassen's CAFE.................oh my. More on that tomorrow, or the next day, or the next....depends when I get my next day off! That is one of the down sides to these dream jobs, you never want to go home!!!!

Buying time... {Mentionable Giveaways & Free Image}

...does anybody know where I can buy more time?

Oh, if only it were that easy. No doubt the line would be long and the scuffles in the store would make for some great comedy show episodes.

Well, sometimes TIME is for sale...and these are two of my most recent "time" purchases. I found them both at the Scott Antique Market this month. 

And speaking of good finds...

Look what I dragged home from an antique store. It's not antique...and it's not in any color {lemon yellow} that matches my decor...but look at all those yummy curves, details, and frenchy-style to this piece. And the best parts? It is in mint, like-new condition...a high end piece of furniture with a low end price tag on it. Pennies on the dollar for what it originally cost...my kind of deal.

Love the hardware...a creamy white distressed finish...Which is exactly the type of paint job that will eventually be given to this piece...............

I think I mentioned that we are going to "re-fluff" the nest a bit. Partly because it needs some updating and also to FINALLY repair/replace furniture that our 22 month old Lab chewed to pieces during her puppy months. GRRRRRR....

Not sure if I'll tackle this one myself or pay someone to do it. Time will tell...

And while we are on the topic of TIME, there's still time to enter these two wonderful giveaways by two darling bloggers. 

Patty at THE MAGPIE'S NEST is a Virginia cutie-pie who is celebrating having posted in excess of one thousand two hundred posts..........whew. That girl has her fingers in every sort of artful adventure known to man and has such a creative spirit! {and a sweetheart of a person to boot!} She's offering up three of her beautiful wool felted heart pendants. Click here to enter the drawing! I've thoroughly enjoyed having met Patty through blogging many months ago.

Linda at Linda Jo's Obsessions is a Texas cutie-pie who is celebrating 500 posts! As we all know, everything is bigger in Texas so she's stretching her party over five days. Each day this week she'll be showcasing yet another giveaway! So far there's a copy of Tracie Lynn Huskamp's beautiful book NATURE INSPIRED, a darling little embellished notepad and a gorgeous lace heart. I've recently become familiar with Linda Jo's blog and she has the most deeee-lightful sense of humor and has lots of artsy adventures going on as well.

Go visit both for the prizes but stay for the inspiration....

Here's a photo of my large clock face I'll share with those of you who collect old images for your artwork. Please feel free to save it to your computer for your own personal use. This girl was way too big for the scanner bed...

The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen all at once.  ~Albert Einstein {What? My life feels like living proof that it can all happen at once...I see you nodding your head in agreement!}

Xo, Sue 

 Credits: Textured onlays from Kim Klassen's collection