Photo Play

I bought a new book today and just had to try out some things in it  using Photoshop Elements .  I used Feathering, the Gaussian Blur Filter, Impressionist Brush and layers.  I took my original photo and applied Feathering and the Gaussian Blur Filter to blur everything but the American Horse.  Then I created a new file and used the Impressionist Brush and painted a background with various colors.  Then I brought in the American Horse with about 90% opacity just so I could get a little bit of the background effect.  Next step was creating another layer, used the rectangle marque tool to create a frame and inverted the selection.  The paint bucket tool was used to fill the "frame" with a color I had selected from the American Horse.  Not sure I am 100% satisfied but it's a learning experience. I see that red shirt needed to be toned down.

This is the original

My finished product.

"Sanibel Scribbles"

"Spend a semester in Spain." "Acquire the world's largest shoe collection." "Lose five pounds." These are some of the life dreams young Vicki Brightman and her best friend Rebecca giddily scribble on a paper tablecloth one night at the Till Midnight Cafe. A charmed childhood and a semester of college behind her, Vicki thought she had all the time in the world to pursue her own sweet pleasures. But a single event later that night shocks Vicki into putting aside her "to-do" list and confronting her mortality. The ensuing six-month journey -- at times harrowing, uplifting, and enlightening -- send Vicki to a remote island, Spain, and deep into her soul. Her experiences and the colorful strangers she meets -- a happy-go-lucky Spaniard named Nacho, the ever-charming but mysterious Rafael, a courageous matador, a saucy senora -- challenge her views and alter the dreams she once held dear on her list. This novel has all the elements that readers have come to love from Christine Lemmon, namely life-changing moments that demand women re-examine their priorities and live life with gusto.

This book took a little while to get moving but by the 2nd half I could not put it down.  One of the reasons I bought this book was that two of the places the Vicki lived was Holland, MI and Sanibel Island, FL.  Holland is close to me and I've been to Sanibel Island.  I found the book in a gift shop in Fort Myers, FL. 

The author states at the beginning of the book that she did not have an editor and had self-published it.  That shows occasionally in the book but it didn't bother me because I had been warned by the author.

Fabric postcards

I've joined a group that trades fabric postcards.  They are so fun to make.  These are a few I've made.

 This one is for a 1st quarter birthday swap.

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This one is for a Ribbon Weave theme swap. 

I used crystals attached with heat to jazz it up a little.

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 Another one for  Ribbon Weave swap,

Violets in March: A Novel by Sarah Jio

Since Judy Laquidara at Patchwork Times announced her Whatcha Reading? I've really started reading more.  In fact, I've read 2 books in less than a week.  Violets in March: A Novel is my 2nd book.  Finished it tonight after starting it Friday.  It was a page turner.  Following is what Amazon said about it.


A heartbroken woman stumbled upon a diary and steps into the life of its anonymous author.
In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after.

Ten years later, the tide has turned on Emily's good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life.

A mesmerizing debut with an idyllic setting and intriguing dual story line, The Violets of March announces Sarah Jio as a writer to watch.
Here's my additional 2 cents worth:

It's a story within a story.  The reader gets to read the diary along with Emily.  It got a little confusing with a lot of names starting with an E but I was able to finally keep them all straight.  The ending was not at all what I thought it would be.  Lots of surprises (for me anyway) along the way in this book.  One of the things that made me want to read it was the location -- Bainbridge Island in WA.  I've been there and I always enjoy reading books that take place in locations where I've been.  Oh, and did I say it was also a love story within a love story. 

The Light Between Oceans

This week I am reading The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman. It is the story of a four year  WW I veteran, Tom, who becomes a lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock off the shores of Australia.  I'll give you a little bit of the blurb on the inside front cover.

"To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel.  Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby's cries on the wind.  A boat has washed up on shore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

"Against Tom's judgement, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy.  When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world.  Their choice has devastated one of them."

At this point I am almost half through the book where they have decided to keep the baby as their own.  In the beginning of the book there are little vignettes that make me wonder why they are included but I'm told, by a friend who loaned the book to me, that these are important to the rest of the book.  From what I understand, it is the author's first novel.  So far, I am loving this book.  A nice read at 343 pages. 

It's been a LONG time

I've decided to try to get back into this blogging thing again.  We'll see how it goes.

This has been a very strange winter.  It took a long time for it to get cold.  I mean really cold.  Then last week we had temps in the single digits and we finally got some snow.  Yesterday it started to warm up and then last night we had thunderstorms with rain.  Today was more rain and thunderstorms and temps in the upper 50s.  Needless to say, the snow is gone except for the piles.  By tomorrow night, it is supposed to be snowing again and back into the 20s.  Like I said, strange.  But that is Michigan for you.

A UFO checked off the list

Finally, after 4, 5, I don' know how many years I have finished one of my most favorite quilts. I started it with no particular recipient in mind. It was my vacation project at my friend Mary's house. She has a machine that I could do the embroidery on. I got all the blocks done there and maybe even the top done. I don't remember that long ago. My #3 (in age) niece was visiting and asked what my latest project was. I showed it to her. She immediately fell in love with it and asked who it was for. I just said for a special baby. She assumed it was intended for someone already. I decided right then and there it would be for her baby whenever that time would come. Her dad told me that last summer she commented to him about the quilt and wondered if I would make another one like it. I won't have to. I have decided to give it to her when she graduates from her Master's program in May. She can put it in her hope chest. Or who knows, maybe she will want it hanging in her home. One of my prayers for her is that one of these days she will meet her Prince Charming, they will marry and have one or more babies who will enjoy the quilt. Now I worry that I might have to make something similar for her brothers when they begin having kids. Maybe I should start real soon.

Shutterfly and me

I love using Shutterfly. I've used it for calendars and gifts using my photos. Tonight I made a card to use to encourage (I hope) friends of mine who are going through tough times. Check out the above card link. Try one for yourself some time.

Time for more pictures

Just a few I like. I need to get out more though.

The butterflies are blooming

Every year at Meijer Gardens in March and April, the butterflies bloom. I love that time of the year. I head out there several times even if it is only for an hour or so (memberships are great). These didn't pop in exactly in the order I wanted but it really makes no difference.

This little guy seemed really intent on letting me take his picture. I think I took about a dozen.

I've only had one person be able to tell me what this is. I know. Do you?

Pretty cool flower. I think it is something new out there.

I tried a new "filter" on this one. It is called Posterization. Sure changed the original photo.

This one is probably my favorite one. It has gotten the most comments for the folks at work.

I have all these photos cycling through on my screens. It is so much fun to share my photos with others.

Where is the year going?

Can you believe that it is almost the middle of March already? We've had an easy winter -- so far. Only 70" of snow. And this last week we've had temps in the mid to high 50's. Not bad. Course they are saying more snow the last part of the month.

I made a quilt in the last week. It is for the baby of the son of a friend of mine. They are having their first... a little boy. This is the first quilt I've made in over a year. It may be the last. Oh boy!!! What could go wrong did. Well, a couple things went right. I had all the fabric in my stash. I didn't slash the fabric when I was ripping out quilting. I do like the way it turned out. I think the little guy will like it. The baby shower is tomorrow afternoon. I was sweating the finishing of it. But I have time to spare.

I've been doing some photography and was going to upload some tonight but the pictures I wanted to upload are in the bedroom and I am too lazy to get up and get them. So I'll save them for another post, which hopefully won't take as long to do.

The Halls Are Decked

This is the first year in ages that I've really decorated my livingroom. I've put up maybe a few but no tree for over 15 years. I have to thank some friends for some of my decorations. They have spent hours making them and I truely love them.

The above tree wallhanging and potholders were made by my friend Mary out in MA. The barn wallhanging that is on the right is also a gift from her. Mary has made me so many things over the years we've been friends. What a blessing she is to me.

Here's my tree. I splurged last year on New Year's Eve and bought this pre-lit tree. Three of the decorations on it are shown below. They were cross-stitched by my friend Karen in NJ. She's given me one each year since we've become friends. They are a treasure as is she.

I have this thing about snowmen and Santas. And bears too. The hanging Wedgewood is new this year. It's from my friend Mike. No, he didn't make it, but I love it anyway. He has really good taste.

2008

2009

2007

A new lens

For a few weeks months I’ve been wanting to buy a new zoom lens for my camera.  I finally was able to purchase one.  (I sold my old d-slr.) I bought a 70-300 zoom.  I think my first shoot came out pretty good with it.  I had some willing subjects and some not so willing.

 

 

 

 

 

I found a spot overlooking Grand Rapids that is great for taking pictures.  I’m sure I will return many times.

A long time coming

It was brought to my attention last night that it had been 3 months since I last posted.  Boy time sure flies.  Much has happened since the last post: a couple of vacations, a stay in the hospital (while on vacation) from which I have completely recovered, Thanksgiving weekend with a trip to OH, a big snow storm today for our first significant snow of the season.  There was anywhere from 4” to 15” in the area depending on where the measurement was taken.  I got maybe 7” or 8”. 

A couple weeks ago was the first night of the Christmas tree display at Meijer Gardens.  One of my favorite exhibits of the year there.  The other is the butterfly exhibit in March/April.  It was a great night for photography and I had a great time.

The above picture was taken in the conservatory part of the gardens.  That’s also where the butterflies come alive in the Spring.

This is a section of the lights in the ceiling of the restaurant.  Pictures don’t do them justice at all.

 

One of the many trees inside the building.  I think there are about 50 trees on display.  Each is decorated for a country. Can’t read the sign for the country this one represents.

 

I had rained off and on most of the day so the walkways were wet and reflected the lights perfectly for taking pictures.  The rain had stopped and the temp was not too bad.

 

Leonard DaVinci’s American Horse is probably my favorite sculpture in the gardens.  I have no idea how many pictures I have of it taken at various times throughout the year.

Another sculpture in the gardens is this one of Fred and Lena Meijer.  The gardens are named for them.  They have donated a very large amount of money for the gardens and continue to do so.

 

My morning walk today

Friday evening I went for a walk on a nearby bike path and saw all these wonderful wild flowers and berries. Of course, I had not brought my camera. Silly me. So I got out this morning before the sun was very high (or hot) and took pictures. You can click on the picture to enlarge it.

This one above is an experiment with zooming while taking the picture. I needed a tripod. It was in my trunk about a quarter mile away.

To see more of my pictures click Here