Imagine This

Texture Tuesday - on Friday!

 Daily News

I decided to do Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday this week. It is a free and easy theme, meaning that we were to use one of her textures on any photo. This is a shot of downtown Houston I created with my iPhone5. It's edited with FilterMania2 app, DramaticB&W app, Kim's Serendipity texture, and French Kiss' Wild Rose texture.

This was the original shot:

Original iPhone5 Photo

This is my favorite shot of the Houston skyline - at least the favorite of any shots I can get. I always take this shot through my windshield as I approach Houston on my way to Mother's house. I know, I know - don't take photos while you are driving. Well at least I'm not texting! (Does that count?) Ha.

More Give-Aways!

Photo by JoAnnA Pierotti

 

There's nothing better than a give-away during Christmas shopping time unless it is TWO give-aways! My friend, JoAnnA Pierotti is offering two copies of this Home Decor issue. JoAnnA is on the creative team for Ice Resin, Susan Lenart Kazmer's fun company. JoAnnA has five how-to projects in this issue ad there are others from other artists, too! How cool. Read all about the giveaway on JoAnnA's blog here: http://mosshill.blogs.com/joannas_journal/

Good luck!

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Book Giveaway

 

My friend, Susan Tuttle, has announced a giveaway on her blog. She is offering a copy of the book she and Christy Hydeck have had published. Susan is a brilliant digital photographer and Christy is an equally gifted mixed media artist. I can hardly wait to get my hands on a copy of their new book.

You can check out the giveaway here: http://susantuttlephotography.com/photo-craft-book-giveaway/

 

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You Are the Light of My World

You Are the Light of My World

Look who did a whole piece of art. Jeepers, how long has it been? This is a 24"X36" acrylic and mixed media on canvas that I created for the major art exhibit at church. The theme selected by the Arts Ministry for this year's show is "The Seven 'I AM' Statements of Jesus in the Book of John."

Upper Left Corner (Detail)

Dove Representing the Holy Spirit (Detail)

 

The images above show the detail of the upper left corner of the canvas. I'll start there and move around counter-clockwise with details of the canvas.

When I started this piece I only knew that I wanted to use my iPhone photos somehow. First, I decided to use the "I AM" statement, "I am the light of the world," with my photos of sunsets. So, I printed small copies of the photos about two or three inches tall, mounted them on cardboard, and sealed them with gel medium.

Middle Left (Detail)

 

After I had the photos ready, I worked on the background for the canvas. First step was to apply modeling paste with a palette knife making a heavily textured background. That dried overnight and I painted the canvas with three colors of Golden acrylics, Quinacridone Crimson, Yellow Iron Oxide, Turquoise (Phthalo) - generally moving from lighter color in the center of the canvas moving to ever darker color on the outer edges all around.

Lower Left Corner (Detail)

 

At this point, I began applying collage pieces and the magic started. In my studio are four or five large drawers of random pieces of decorative papers and images - all garbage, really - like an old cleaners ticket and lotto numbers from a fortune cookie, pieces of paper doily, etc. I pulled one of those drawers out and just started placing items from it randomly on the edges of the canvas. Picture me humming, dancing, and slapping down collage pieces onto the colorful background. This is my very favorite part of the collage creation process. It honestly seemed like the magic of the Holy Spirit that morning. The whole piece took shape in a couple of hours - from painting to gluing the whole collage.

Lower Center (Left)

 

Lower Center Right (Detail)

 

Lower Right Corner (Detail)

 

When the collage pieces were affixed, I painted over them with liquid acrylics in the same three colors I used on the background.

 

Lower Right Center (Detail)

Background and Collage, Stage One

 

As I placed the photos in the cruciform shape, I realized that no matter how much I loved all the pastel colors of the background (see image above), the contrasts needed to be deeper in order to make the photos pop and make the cross seem lighter than the dark areas.

Because I was afraid of messing up what I had done so far, I decided to use technology to see how it might look with darker edges. (See image below.) I loved how the app made it look. In fact I almost covered the whole thing with wax because the digital image looked like it had subtle cracked wax marks.

Digital Image with Dark Edges

 

So I deepened the darks around the edges (still using only the three Golden acrylic colors - a magic all its own.) Finally, I added some more collage pieces to brighten certain areas.

Upper Right Center (Detail)

 

Upper Right Corner (Detail)

 

Below are some of the sunset photos on the cross that can't be seen in the images posted above, starting with the top of the cross (sorry, the only photo I got of it is blurred.) You will also notice that I used tiny, single, beveled rhinestones to simulate nails or tacks on each photo making it look as if that was my method of attaching it to the canvas rather than just gluing it. That is just a faux effect which added yet another symbol of light.

 

Upper Cross (Detail)

 

Center of Cross (Detail)

Notice the collaged "Eye of God" in the center of the cross. This is a personal symbol signifyimg to me the approval of God the Father. (Unfortunately, I can't recall the artist who originally created this particular image of the eye. If you recognize it, please let me know so I can give credit.)

Lower Cross (Detail)

There are also a few images signifying the presence of our Lord Jesus such as the chalice of communion and the Madonna and child. Stepping back to view and evaluate the piece, I realized through the process of collage and the pieces I selected, I had inadvertantly included symbols of the presence of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That exemplifies what I meant by the " magic" of the process.

Bottom of Cross (Detail)

 

As I worked on the piece, the meaning of " light of the world" was not only developed in the photos but by the cross itself - meaning that Christ and His work on the cross is the light of our world. He illuminates the dark corners and various elements that pull our attention away from Him.

In this artful collage representation, all the diatribe around the edges pulls our eye and take our attention but the main focal is the cross with its light, both literally in the photos of light and figuratively with the light of Christ's cross. Ultimately we settle on its brightness and hope - a metaphor of our lives in Christ. Amen. As my minister often says, "That'll preach, my friends!"

You Are The Light of My World

 

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What's for Lunch

Wowza! Can you say yummy? No, actually, I don't cook much and I really don't like salads. So, it's crazy that I seem to be on a salad kick lately and have even been making new ones.

Grapefruit and Avocado Salad with Creamy Sweet Onion Dressing

Dr. Oz has been on a tear about diet and fat busting this past week. I learned that two good things for me to incorporate in my diet are grapefruit and avocado. This awesome recipe was on his website and I thought it looked great - just what the doctor ordered - so to speak.

Avocado-Grapefruit Salad with Creamy Vidalia Onion Dressing

Ingredients

Serves 4

Dressing

1 small sweet onion (Vidalia or Walla Walla), chopped

3 tbsps Silk Plain

1 tbsps canola oil

1/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons vinegar

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/2 tsp whole celery seed

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

 

Salad

2 heads Bibb lettuce

2 avocados, halved, peeled, thinly sliced

2 grapefruits, peel and pith removed, cut into sections

1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted, if desired

Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste

 

Directions

Prepare dressing. Boil 2 cups water in a small saucepan, add chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes. Remove onions from water with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl of ice water to quickly cool. Use slotted spoon to remove from ice water and place blanched onions in a blender. (Blanching the onions increases their sweetness.)

 

Add remaining dressing ingredients to the blender and blend until completely smooth, about 3 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Chill. Makes 1 cup dressing.

 

To prepare salad, arrange lettuce leaves on 4 chilled plates, drizzle with several tablespoons of dressing, and arrange avocado slices, grapefruit sections and toasted almonds on top of salad. Season with salt and serve with extra dressing on the side.

 

Nutrition Facts
266 calories
4g protein
35g carbohydrate
15g fat (50% calories from fat)
2g saturated fat
0mg cholesterol
598mg sodium
8 g fiber

~~~

Now, I didn't make the salad dressing from this recipe. Instead I bought Marzetti's new Sweet Onion dressing and love it. Nor did I toast the almonds. Raw and chopped worked just fine.

 

As salads do, this got bigger than I intended even though I just used 1/4 the recipe. So, what did I eat with it?

 

Roasted Chicken and Green Beans

Guess you could say I had salad with a side of chicken and beans! Anyway, I recommend the salad and the new dressing I found in the refrigerated area of my Kroger grocery store. By the way, this dressing is sweet with a wonderful aftertaste of onion and pepper. I will be making this salad again for sure.

 

[All photos - except the one with the recipe from Dr. Oz's site - are my copyrighted iPhone photos edited with iPad apps. You can see the larger size by clicking on any of the images.]

 

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Small Haul

 

Small Haul

Can you resist an estate sale? I can't. I don't go out looking for them but once in a while there is a samll sign announcing one in our neighborhood. "Just drive by," I think to myself but when I get close there is lots of buzz and many people going in an out. I think I might be missing something good. So I go in.

This time I bought several items for use in my art - some sewing notions, a couple of boxes and contatiners, two frames, a cooking stone, a ceramic cutting board, etc.

But the pièce de résistance? Without a doubt, it is this Art Deco style glass punch bowl:

Isn't it fabulous?

And the cups are small replicas of the bowl, really demitasse size and all twelve are there without blemish. O-o-oh, I'm so lucky.

I didn't know the family but Jer was friends with them through golf and loved both husband and wife. So that makes my purchase that much more special.

Moral to the story: Don't ever just "drive by" an estate sale. As an artist, you will find items only you would want and you might just find a real prize!

New App - Harris Camera

Really??!!?

Hey, I found a new, fun, photo app for my iPhone. It's called Harris Camera. I shot these with it just to try it out. For some reason I'm really attracted to it. Maybe it's the wild color? Or maybe it's the nostalgia of the old 3D comic book look?

1950's Comic Book Page

The Ones I Wore Back Then (photo source unknown)

Or maybe it's just that I shot it with my new iPhone?

iPad Home Page in 3D

I know, there's no accounting for taste, right? Just call me goofy.

Iphoneography Central

 

Home, Home on the Range

 

 

Ye Olde Pizzeria

 

 

Bloom Where You're Planted

 

 

Dead Tree Series #3

 

Toward Bliss (Dead Tree Series 2B)

 

Happy Lord's Day

This is the Day that the Lord's Has Made

Give yourself permission to do nothing (rest) after worship service today (the sabbath).

Enjoy the REST of the day!

iPhone Photo Offering

Cosmic Condos

(iPhone4 native camera shot from the moving car on Allen Parkway in Houston, Texas. Edit done with iPad 2: Jazz, Healing Brush, CropSuey, A+ Signature)

 

 

Light Patterns

(iPhone4 native camera shot from the moving car on HWY 59 in Houston, Texas. Edit done with iPad 2: Jazz, PS Express)

 

Hazard Bridge

(iPhone4 native camera shot from the moving car on Hwy59 in Houston, Texas just as we were driving under the Hazard Street overpass. Edit done with iPad 2: Jazz, 100 Cameras in 1, CropSuey, )

 

~~~

 

P.S. Do you know that after trying millions of versions of  thousands of apps, liking hundreds of them, and finally selecting ONE to post, it is very hard to remember which apps were used in that particular version of your edited photo? Well, golly, it is!

Tuesday's Offering

 

Fall Leaves Keep Falling on My Head, They Keep Falling

 

Something Purple

 

 

Don't Fence Me In

 

 

Chocolate Afternoon

 

 

My Uppity Friends

Happy Lord's Day

Camp T: The Big Girls, Day 1

  

The First Ever Camp T Threesome!

Met the gang at the Woodlands Cafe Express to pick up our three teenagettes!!

As you can see we have added a new camper, the effervescent Angela (front row left). Returning for the sixth year are the vivacious Mairead (front row middle) and my darling, scintillating granddaughter, Carly (front row right). Of course, that's Mimi and PapaT in the back row.)

We met Clint, Stacy, and last sesson camper, Korie, (Kade had gone to the beach with friends so we didn't get to see him - boohoo. But his Camp T will come next, so Yea!!) Anyway, we met at the Woodlands Cafe Express to pick up our three campers for this week. These three girls have been friends for 10 years as the three of them were in gymnastics together from age three!

The Fine Ride to Camp T

We had to borrow the kids' Expedition because now that twe are having THREE campers at the big girls' Camp T, we need more room in the vehicle for our camping "Expeditions!" (Notice that Mairead brought along her beaded headdress in honor of Camp T past. See photo below. Aw, they look so young. Korie was still in a car seat!)

Beaded Jewels from 2009

~~~

Carly, Mairead, and Angela's Day 1 at the Camp T site:

OH, We've Shown Angela the Nerdy & Sundglasses Drawer

A Huge Nerdy Tradition at Camp T, Day 1

The dig through the sundglasses drawer has been a favorite of the grandkids since before Camp Turlingtons even began. Naturally, it has been a tradition for the first day of each camp since then. Check out one of the first pics of findings from that drawer:

Original Exploration of the Sunglasses Drawer

Back to Camp T:

First Things First

Hey, we've goofed around 'til we're hungry again! Let's hit El Chico, a family favorite, but a first for any Camp T. Way to go, Carly! We went to her mom's favorite restaurant in Huntsville - El Chico (where Stacy worked while she was in college here.)

Speaking of food, let's show Angela that Camp T traditonal "Grocery Store Romp."

Angela Marvels at the "Anything-You-Want" Rule

The first order of business at camp Turlington includes the famous trip to the grocery store. This year the big girls made a menu for the week before heading out to Kroger which included a request that PapT make them a roast one night (Yea, I'm always for that!)

(Click on the image to see a larger version)

Hazing the Rookie

"Oh, yeah, Angela - We have to eat carrots at Camp T, it's a rule!!"

Ha, showing the ropes to Angela is going to be fun!

Games and Olympic Games

(Sorry 'bout the burry pics but the cameralady gets excited during these games, too!)

The fun first day ends with a new card game that Mairead brought called, Swish. Competition got so high, we had to bring in a little fan to cool things off! Of course, there were many interruptions in the game to watch the Olympics. Go America!

 See Ya later for Day 2 and more . . .

As seen on the Streets!!!

 

 

Camp T, The Final Day for 2012 - Day 5

Work with Paintings on Canvas

Actually, we've been working every day a little bit on our paintings and two other art projects. Mimi just forgets to take photos of everything - especially during the exciting parts of working in the studio! But for sure, we get photos of the final products.

Sunset on the Golf Course (16"X20" Acrylic on canvas by Liz)

Remember last year when the girls wanted to make paintings on canvas of sunsets? Instead we created handmade books and painted one of the pages with sunsets. Well, this year, the girls still wanted to do those paintings on canvas. So we did! Both of the girls knew exactly what they wanted to paint and after a few suggestions from Mimi on perspective and texturing, the pieces were awesomeness on a canvas!.

Road Through the Woods (16"X20" acrylic on canvas by Korie)

During periods that our canvases were drying, we took on two minor projects. One was acrylic painting on a smaller canvas.

Liz and Her Canvas, My Big Eye (5"X5")

Bird in a Tree (5"X5" Acrylic on canvas by Korie)

The other small project we did was a plaster on guaze encaustic collage. We first shaped the gauze which is empregnated with plaster by wetting it to activate the plaster and doubling it over a wire. When it was dry, we paintied it, and did a small wax collage on it. Lastly, we "antiqued" it by rubbing it with dark with oil paint to make it look seasoned and old.

Feather & Egg (4"X3.5" Encaustic on Plaster on Guaze by Korie)

Dragonfly (4"X3.5" Encaustic on Plaster on Guaze by Liz)

[These photos do not do the artwork justice - especially the small ones. I'm sorry for my lack of photography skills, girls. I'll do better next time.]

 

So Then We Had a Gallery Show for PapaT

[Click on this image if you want a better look.]  

 

The Final Art Journaling Session

Sadly, it was time for the campers to gather all their belongings and pack up.

Tote Bags and FlipFlops We Bought the First Day

Paris tote bags and silver flipflops were official camp gear. We shopped for them at Katy Mills Mall before we ever left Katy for Camp the first day. How cool is that?

Dividing up Candy and Groceries for Packing

Of course, there is always left over food and candy. On the last day, they eat all they can and pack the rest! And then . . .

The Sad Part

My granddaddy used to always say as we were getting in the car to leave, "Well, the sad part's here." That meant it was the final goodbye for that visit. At Camp T we are really sad at that part.

Camp T isn't like anything else. It isn't like a regular visit to the grandparents' house where the adults talk and hang out a little with the kids - like to go eat out or something. No. Camp T is where the adults become kids and do everything with the kids! EVERYTHING!!

If the campers are in the kitchen, Mimi and PapaT are in the kitchen. If the campers are in the living room, PapaT and Mimi are in the living room. If they are in the art studio -- well, Mimi is in the art studio & PapaT is taking a break (ha) -- Anyway, it's different because wherever the campers are, whatever they are doing -- PapaT and Mimi are right in there doing it with them . Not just watching -- playing a game, making a movie, doing art, taking photos - whatever. And at Camp T, the campers are in charge of the schedule and where to have fun next! There's nothing like it! We all love it!!

The Trip Home with Our Beautiful Campers

So long, sweet campers. We'll miss you.

Till Next Year

(BTW, Sam Houston TShirts are a traditional parting gift. Go Bearkats!!)

Camp T, Korie and Liz - Day 4

Finally! Incredible Pizza Day!

Yes, indeedy! The event we always look forward to for camp T - the major fun for the girls - Incredible Pizza.

Photo Op and Food -- Our priorities for starting off the fun.

 

Seems we alsoways Start with Golf - Yea, fun.

There is Ice Skating and Games, games, and more games. We love "Deal or No Deal."We can't take pictures of Laser Tag but that has become a favorite this year. And don't forget bumper cars! Woohoo!

  

Play Each Other and Watch Each Other Play

Last chores at Incredible Pizza include tallying up all our winning tickets to see how much we have for buying goodies at the toy bar before we go. And then -- have a little dessert just before we hopscotch our way out of the building! Yes!!

Last Minute Things to Do

Of course, our little angels are very tired on the way home. 

A Pretend Nap, Eh?

 

After a shower and some supper, it was time to take advantage of Mimi and PapaT's new recliners and do a bit of journaling.  

A Great Journaling Spot

Camp Turlington Day 3

Korie and Liz, Day 3

Darling Friend, Sam Houston Museum Park

Photo Ops

One of the highlights of our annual trek to the park at the Sam Houston Museum grounds, is the awesome opportunities for photographing flora and fauna.  BTW, do you like the hiardo that Korie did for Liz? Yes, they are growing up  -  working on becoming real teenagers ~ but not yet, please.

Look Out, Chicken.

 

New Life at the Park

 

Morning Coffee Clatch

 

Park Citizens

 

So after the leisurly stroll around the pond, taking many photos - all of us, we turned our attention, as we always do, to the historic home of General Sam Houston and his wife, Margaret.

The Girls Get a Shot of the Kitchen Garden at the Houston Home.

Downstairs: Master Bedroom (top), Living Room (middle left), Sewing Room (middle right)  Upstairs: Girls' Bedroom (bottom left and middle), Boys' Bedoom (bottom right)

Upstairs Breezeway in Sam Houston Home

Over the dogrun downstairs in Sam and Magaret Houston's woodland home, is a breezeway between the children's two bedrooms. 

Sam Houston Steamboat House

A visit to the Steamboat House is a tradition at Camp Turlington. This was the home the Houston's lived in when Sam Houston died. His funeral was here and then innmates from the prison carried his coffin to Oakwood cemetery for the burial as that is where this home was located at the time. It was later moved to the museum grounds.

 

Lunch at Kings, We Call It.

Though the place is no longer King's Candy, we still call it that. It's under new ownership and is still a great place for lunch - especially if you like candy. They still have candy, though not handmade. Sandwiches, old fashioned drinks, and an ice cream palor atmosphere complete with the ice cream and sodas make it ok in our book.

Waiting for Our Lunch Order

Last, but by no means least: The Girls Select Candies to Go!

And a Good Time Was Had By All!

Next, we head out for the swimming pool at Elkins Lake.

Stop for a Shot with the Lake Behind

Then the girls walked over to the pool, started to put a toe in when the life guard's whistle blew. "Thunder, everyone out of the pool for thirty minutes." Oh NO! No swimming today.

Everyone Out of the Pool While it Thunders!

 

At the Setting of the Sun

After changing clothes and having a snack or two, we head out for our sunset photo shoot.

READY . . .

 

AIM . . .

FIRE . . Woah! . . . Wait . . . WHAT???

OH, I wasn't supposed to let them play on the freeway? Oops, I'm so sorry, Liz.

Well, the fall not withstanding, we loved our evening shoot.

 

. . . and We got some Awesome Photos

 

Thus, Journaling Endth the Awesome Camp Day 3

Happy Lord's Day

 

 “I have told you these things,

So that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world.”    

~ John 16:33

 

. . .

 

Have a Blessed Day!

Beyond Layers: Themed Instagram-ish iPhotography

Something Pretty

I thought I'd backtrack and show you the photos I submitted for Monday and Tuesday of the "Instagram-ish" theme last week for Kim Klassen's Beyond Layers class.

Monday's theme was "Something Pretty."  I uploaded my iPhoto of the duck pond at the Sam Houston Park on the campus of the Sam Houston Museum and Home in downtown Huntsville, Texas. I shot this using the native iPhone camera. I used the PSExpress, CropSueyHD, and HealingBrush apps to crop it, clean it up, and add the vignette. Then I took it into Instagram app to use the Earlybird filter, which gave it the soft retro look with frame.

Tuesday's theme was "Something Blue." Below is the shot I took at High Island, Texas using my iPhone native camera and the Snapseed and LensLight apps to adjust color and add the moon. Then I took it into Instagram app to apply the Hudson filter which enriched the color.

Something Blue (Instagram Lo-fi filter)

 

Want to see the originals?

Duck Pond (Original iPhone Photo)

Sea Gulls (Original iPhone photo)

Another version of the Something Blue photo, which is one of my favorites, is the one below where I used the Hudson filter in Instagram. To finish it off with a frame, I used the FrameMagic app. I like the shades of green in this one:

Something Blue (Instagram Hudson filter)

 

Hope you enjoyed my little Instagram-ish photo week. Come back anytime to see what's up in my world.

 

Beyond Layers, Friday - Dreamy

The theme for today in Kim Klassen's Beyond Layers class is "Dreamy."

Dream Sequence

The original photo was shot at the Bird Sanctuary at High Island, Texas. Below is the original shot:

Original Photo

I don't know about you but when I see edited photos, I love seeing the original shot for comparison. Some effects are absolutely magical. Don't you agree?

Beyond Layers, Thursday - Water

Sierra at Surfside - This is Instagram-ish week in Kim Klassen's Beyond Layers online class. My photo edit this time was done on a shot I made at Surfside, Texas. With the Hipstamatic camera on my iPhone. I used Big Up film with the Watts Lens and then ran a filter action from Totally Rad and a couple of textures from Kim Klassen on it in Photoshop. Then I posted it in Instagram using the Sierra filter. (The second picture was the original.)