notes from the studio

almost

2012-01-22T16:36:00.003-07:00

Almost. I'm almost done my stay in London. I think I'm going to visit the British Museum and then maybe Waitrose one last time... or Burough Market one last time. Monday and Tuesday and then Wednesday I'm flying towards home. It's amazing how fast time moves. And how quickly one adapts to ones surroundings. I thought it would stay all cool and interesting in London for the entire time but this past week it's slowly just become where I am, and not some ancient spot... just the spot where I am right now. Weird. Unanticipated. But telling.

It tells me that it doesn't really matter where I live, it's more what I do when I'm there. Even a super cool place like London could be small if one chooses to live that way. And although I am not enamoured with Calgary and all of her tempermental weather patterns, she's not that bad ... especially when my husband and my puppy are around to keep me company.

slipping away

2012-01-16T16:01:00.002-07:00

I can feel the passage of time just slipping away. Only 1 more week in London. I wish I had more time, but then again I wish I had my husband with me. I think I would be having more fun with him here - mainly because things are so much better when I share them with him. And I miss my dog. I keep petting every dog I see and the small one (K) asked me yesterday "why do you pet every single dog you see?" Well. Because I miss my dog.

I'd like to say I went somewhere wonderful today and did something wonderful as well, but in truth I had a headache and I spent most of the day doing laundry and making banana bread and feeling sorry for my damn headaches. But then it went away, I picked up the small one from school, the bigger one came home, we all had dinner, and we all had showers, and we all ended the day on a good note - with a sleeping song featured in the Jungle Book and done oh so well by Holly Cole.

"trust in me, just in me, close your eyes, and trust in me. you could sleep, safe and sound, knowing I am around. slip into silent slumber, sail on a silver mist. slowly but surely your senses will cease to resist. trust in me, just in me, close your eyes. and trust in me."

slipping away

Tate

2012-01-13T16:26:00.002-07:00

Finally I went to the Tate Modern. I guess there are 4 Tate Museums...Tate Modern looks like something out of George Orwell's 1984, but no matter. It was very cool. I was also impressed at the number of students taking photos with their phones for their courses. I missed out on an artist I wanted to see; his exhibit closed last Sunday, and I'm sad I missed it. Gerhard Richter http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/gerhardrichter/default.shtm

But I did manage to see the entire rest of the place and by the time I made it to the shop I was toasted and only bought a pencil, a sharpener, and a post card. And then I had to make the trek back to the flat, and I was famished so I stopped at Burough Market and picked up a couple things. Then I had a well deserved nap on the couch. And finally I downloaded the day's photos.

Tate Modern - looking up the smoke stack

warhol

lichtenstein

picasso

pollack - I was surpised

ernst

monet

kandinsky

sea of glass

2012-01-11T06:54:00.002-07:00

I haven't really planned this London trip very well - the day to day activities at least. So I typed into google 'things to do in London' and up popped and exhibit of Dale Chihuly' at the Halcyon Gallery. Holy Moly! So off I went to check it out. I wrote down the directions to get there and headed out. Off the tube at Bond Street and up at street level I realized I'd gone the wrong way (there were two exit choices) but at some point I see New Bond Street, which is the one I wanted - yay me! I kept wandering down and found the gallery, which thankfully let me take photos (no flash).

Each piece is multiple thousands of dollars, and to date I had only seen 2 of his works up close: Minnesota's Children's Museum and Calgary's Salt Lik restaurant. I only took one glass blowing class (oh, maybe you didn't know - Dale Chihuly is the best glass artist in the world - see more here)... okay so I've only taken one glass blowing glass and I wasn't very good at it but it did open my eyes to the beauty of glass, not just for the look but the form as well. I am usually left wondering "how did he do that?" when I see anything of his. I still don't know. The sculptures are incredibly massive, and delicate, and intricate. Shipping them must be a total nightmare. (yes, I always end up thinking of the practical side of things).

One of the installations was like a sea of glass, and make me think of 'Ship of Fools' by Robert Plant, so why don't you play that song while you check out the photos of the exhibit.

Enjoy!

not for the faint of heart

2012-01-07T13:56:00.004-07:00

After 2 days in London nursing a bad headache, finally it gave up the ghost and I went out with Z & the boys the Borough Market. It was so cool. I think it was about the most massive market I've ever been too. I sampled some sausage made with Red Deer meat (which is a little weird since I grew up in Red Deer Alberta!)

We wandered around a bit and found this little photo-op. Who knew hares and ducks were still sold like this? I'm not too fussed about it, since my Dad is a hunter, but I can just imagine some vegan tourist taking issue.

Anyway, we came back on the tube and stopped at Waitrose, which is an amazing grocery store. It's tempting to buy so many things right at the beginning of my trip but that would be a big mistake - since I only have so much room in my suitcase and I think my sister has dibs on some of the space!

We had chicken wings (parsley, garlic & lemon - yum), and now Z is making a cake while the boys watch Toy Story 2. A pretty good 3rd day in London.

Something always brings me back to you

2011-12-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

I know this was a few seasons ago on SYTYCD (oh, for those not obsessed with the show that's So You Think You Can Dance) but this song, and in particular this dance, resonated with me. For those of you who don't know the story behind this dance, it's about addiction. In whatever context. Not necessarily the ones you hear about most often (drugs & alcohol) but I think this applies to any addiction. Personally, I have an issue with refined carbs (sugar & flour in particular). If I go a day without them, it's really all I think about - when I can next get my 'hit' so to speak. I plan outings around them, I plan trips around them, and I go into debt for them. Stupid, I know.

When you listen to the song, and watch these fabulous dancers, you'll see just how apt this song is in referencing addiction. Kupono is the Evil Addiction, and Kayla is the Helpless Addict. The part that gets me the most is near the end, when she is falling and he holds her gently and caresses her head like a loved one would - it's such a tender moment - and the proceeds to strangle her. I'd say 'enjoy' but this time, I think it's more about sitting in the experience, however uncomfortable it may be to watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_48OKZqYzHM&feature=related

all us older children

2011-12-01T10:33:00.001-07:00

Welcome to another fiscal year of Kennedy Ink! All this really means is I now have a lot of paperwork to compile, and when confronted with a lot of work all I want to do is sleep. So here's a lullaby. Probably not the most effective way for me to gear up to do some work, but maybe I'll get a cup of tea before I attack the pile of paper... and maybe sit down ... in front of the fire .... with a book. Ah, that's so much better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MneDVgfcWyQ&feature=autoplay&list=PLB86AD84A8C73B4A7&lf=mh_lolz&playnext=3

happy accountant

2011-11-24T16:49:00.001-07:00

Year End approaching! If anyone is interested in some art, and would like a discount on the price - let me know! If purchased before Nov 30th, I'll give you 10% off. Let's make my accountant a happy man, shall we?

Album of New Canvases

Big Jet Plane

2011-11-22T18:14:00.001-07:00

The path to this next song was a little round-a-bout, but got there I did. Turns out, she's a fellow Albertan.

The video was made by Nanalew, who did an awesome video cover of Sail with her friend MeekaKitty. She used Big Jet Plane (cover) by Daniela Andrade. The video itself was made with a Canon 60D and makes me kinda wish I was up in a plane today, going somewhere nice & warm with big fluffy clouds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2qCMbSy1iE&NR=1

Enjoy.

I still believe in summer days...

2011-11-22T00:04:00.000-07:00

For the first snow fall I've seen stick to the ground this year, I found this lovely song.

Winter Song - Sara Bareilles/Ingrid Michaelson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkOKCWDJ4iA&feature=fvsr

bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum

This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon,
it rolls in from the sea

My voice; a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light,
to carry you to me.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love

They say that things just cannot grow
beneath the winter snow,
or so I have been told.

They say were buried far,
just like a distant star
I simply cannot hold.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
cause youre not where you belong;
inside my arms.

bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum

I still believe in summer days.
The seasons always change
and life will find a way.

Ill be your harvester of light
and send it out tonight
so we can start again.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
cause youre not where you belong;
inside my arms.

This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon
it rolls in from the sea.

My love a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light
to carry you to me.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

why I do what I do

2011-11-20T19:56:00.001-07:00

I went out this morning in -18degrees celsius weather... at 8:30 ... in the morning. On a Sunday. And why oh why did I do this? A friend/client wanted photos of her family and that was the time that worked, with snow in the background. And so up I got and out I went... to the wrong location. Phone friend. Rush to proper location. Pop out into the cold again. Place them just so on a small hill. Click off a few dozen photos. Change position a bit. Take a few more photos. Realize the 3 year old is going to freeze shortly and decide we're done being outside. Really done.

So then I come home and check out the few photos we did get. Hmmm.... She let me know which one she liked the most. I picked the one I liked the most, and then one showcasing her boy. Fiddle around in Photoshop Elements, pulling from textures and frames and wordart I've amassed over the past 5 years, and apply a lot from what I've learned from a few classes regarding digital scrapbooking.

And then, with trepidation (because I used so many layers and techniques and slightly grungy textures and I wasn't sure if she was into that) I emailed the samples off to my client.

And this email response, this is why I do what I do (which, like voodoo, I do so well - sorry, old song reference.)
______________________
Hi Michelle,

So I actually got tears in my eyes when I saw these, I really love them! I love the snow flakes and the border! I really did get emotional when I saw the picture of just my little K. and the let it snow, so beautiful! Can’t wait to see the finished product!

Thank you!! Sooo much!!!!!!

J.& K.& K.

And then a little later....
__________________
I'm still smiling!!!
J.

So if I ever wonder why I'm doing what I'm doing, remind me about this please. Thanks.
M

We pulled too many false alarms

2011-11-16T09:18:00.001-07:00

Slow Dancing in a Burning Room - John Mayer. I've listened to this so many times. Actually, there have been days where this was all I listened to. And this You Tube video combines the fabulous song with a fabulous dance routine by Wade Robson. The first bit that grabs you is the guitar, and then the lyrics just pull you in further and before you know it, you're hitting the replay button.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk9-qH5fyTU

Enjoy.

I'm sorry Miss Jackson

2011-11-14T13:10:00.001-07:00

Not only do I love Justin Timberlake's music (okay, well, not all of it, but most of it) ... he is also one crazy funny guy. Here he is with the History of Rap 3 on Jimmy Fallon. http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/blogs/2011/11/history-of-rap-3/#.TsFcZKFgKNM.facebook

Enjoy.

I can be the hoax

2011-11-10T23:54:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure how I found this lovely girl & her beatboxing & her singing, but find her I did. And after watching all the songs she did on The Sing Off, and other covers - I found this cover of Brett Dennan's I ain't gonna lose you and even though her voice breaks towards the end when changing notes, it is by far the better song. Her emotion is so vivid and palpable - my heart breaks every time I watch her.

Ladies and Gents, I give you to Courtney Jensen. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w3cCwhaSK4&feature=BFa&list=LLvoHHtkIp2fRo6kBfwZP_YQ&lf=mh_lolz

Blame it on my ADD, baby

2011-11-10T23:20:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPtSKimbjOU

I simply can NOT get enough of this song. A friend suggested I start listing music on my blog. Not only because I'm obsessed with music, but also because then she could get a little more 'up' on songs (and maybe, in the process, impress her kids).

I found the song because someone posted the video of the basejumper (is that what you call it?) and the crazy dude http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWfph3iNC-k&feature=related used this song. And now I've listened to it multiple times a day, over and over again, for the past 2 weeks. And in the process I found this absolutely fabulous video as well. Same song, but a totally different feel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=JaAWdljhD5o

See? Now you've listened to it 3 times, and I bet you want to listen to it again, right?

Love the song. Love. It.

Surfacing 4 set up crew

2011-11-01T17:03:00.004-06:00

Finished setting up the Surfacing 4 Exhibition of Emerging Abstract Artists today. The opening is Thursday November 3rd at 6pm - 8pm at Art Loop Gallery in Art Central. Looking forward to it, but I guess I still have work to do. A couple of my paintings I had left with the edges not painted. I'm to paint them. So sayeth Diane.

By the way: can you tell who's holding the camera? Yeah, it's me. The one with the bright & shiney face.

let down

2011-10-18T19:23:00.001-06:00

I don't like to get my hopes up most times because of the let down that can happen. But I did, and now I'm in the 'let down' phase. It's tough to do what we want to do with the real estate market being the way it is. I guess if I'd like to lose money I could still do what I'd like, but it would be a step back and I don't think we can do that right now.

On a happy note, I'm back in the studio with my puppy wrapped up in a big pink blanket with me, I have a stash of Curly Wurlys, and a good book. Poo poo with crappy real estate - I vote for escape-ism!!!

gratitude

2011-10-04T23:09:00.004-06:00

Kim Klassen's Textures - word & thursday

photo - U2's Bono, Edmonton June 1, 2011

Gratitude - not only am I grateful for music, I'm grateful Bono didn't permanently injure himself with the back injury that cancelled last year's show. And I'm grateful my husband didn't ask how much I paid for the tickets. And I'm grateful he decided to check out what the special line up was... it was for entrance to the inner ring at the concert. So yes, I had to stand for 6 hours on concret, and yes, I got a lot of beer spilled on me, and yes, I really had to pee and couldn't actually leave my 'spot' for fear of it being taken......but I was there. I sang & danced with the teenagers in front of me. I was beside the man who caught one of those white roses for his wife. I got this shot of Bono, with a little point & shoot.

And yes, we were that close. It. Was. Awesome.

fabric rainbow

2011-10-02T21:27:00.002-06:00

How inspiring! I wish I had the gumption to do this (but for my paper, as I don't have a fabric rainbow like Jamaica does). http://www.jamaicamakes.com/jamaica/2011/09/the-great-fabric-transition.html

Actually, if I could actually concentrate on one thing at a time, it would maybe get organized properly and stay that way. I think maybe I need a week where I lock myself in my studio and don't do anything else.

Winter is coming. Perhaps then? Anyone want to come & help?

Geronimo

2011-09-29T15:36:00.003-06:00

I love cows. I love their lowing, their plodding, their slow way of moving, their great bulk. So this challenge from Kim Klassen was just fabulous since she supplied the image! I've never taken a great picture of a cow - they're generally not in the city, and if I'm in the country I'm usually just passing through. But maybe next time, I'll stop and take a few shots, just to see if I can get them to look at me. (And please cows, no pooping while I'm taking the picture.)

I used Kim's texture 'ladder' and then took a painting of mine (well, the first run at it) and layered it over the entire thing, with a strong blue hue adjustment. And then I need a quote, of course! The rebel cow - no enclosures will hold her back from her dreams!

love - texture tuesdays

2011-09-25T21:45:00.002-06:00

I used Kim Klassen's 'Fall In' texture with an overlay, which warmed up the photo and added some grunge to the edges.

I love this photo because.... that's my nephew and I just showed up at his Spanish immersion school to read a story to his class and he hung off me the entire time I read the book ("Bashful Bob and Doleful Dorinda" by Margaret Atwood - yes she has some children's books!). He's such a sweetheart and is all about getting hugs (no kisses, Auntie Shell, you have girl germs) and holding hands and giving me a whole bunch of love. Which, of course, I return in spades. And I'm so excited because I get to go and visit the whole family next week! Maybe I can get a picture like this of my niece and I too!

Serendipity

2011-09-22T22:37:00.001-06:00

Years ago, while wandering through Inglewood, I stopped in to Cherry Four (http://www.cherryfour.com/) and saw some paintings on the wall. I thought "Hey, I can do that!" and promptly started painting, but painting small (like 2" x 2") and gradually went up to 12" x 12" and then 24" x 24" (yes, I like squares). But I never went in to Cherry Four to talk to the owner about maybe selling my art. And then one day, I went to Inglewood to do just that. And guess what? The store had moved to Kensington. (sigh) And the extra energy to go to Kensington just didn't transpire. But I have thought about it. Quite a bit.

Fast forward to today - 1st class of Level 2 Abstract Acrylics with Samantha daSilva. Everyone is introducing themselves. I'm last in line, and I relay the story above. Fev, a fellow student, pipes up "That's my store!!" "Really??!!" says me "Well I think you should sell my paintings!" How funny is that. But here's the issues - she's in the painting class with me, so I doubt she'll put my paintings on her walls before she puts up her own. So, even though I've met and stated my main objective to the owner of the first place I ever thought of selling my paintings, I think I still have to go and look elsewhere. I wonder when I'll get the nerve up to do that?

soar confidently

2011-09-13T16:39:00.001-06:00

Okay okay, so I've been away from the blog for quite some time. I've popped in to share an image I took last year, and I think it applies to Kim Klassen's request for us to provide an image on the theme "do" and use her Autumn texture. Here are a friend and her daughter, caught in extremely low light, hence all the shakiness and blur. However, it illustrates beautifully how KA chases after M to capture photos on this lovely All Hallow's Eve, and even more so, what she wishes for her daughter, as the quote illustrates. If you can't tell from the blur, M is a butterfly, and she's carrying her little trick or treat bag.

I'm famous

2011-07-06T20:02:00.000-06:00

or maybe 'infamous' is a better word.

I'm taking another painting class from Samantha daSilva and my neighbour and I were featured in a photo on her blog about the class, because we did something funny. Check it out to see what I'm talking about. http://www.samanthadasilva.com/4/post/2011/07/summer-series-day-two.html

Even though I've taken classes from Sam before, I still really feel like I'm learning a lot. Not that I don't get stuck and think "oh this is just crap" but because it's a 5 day course, I just keep on truckin', knowing these moments will pop up. Maybe because I'm tired, maybe because of this damn cold, or maybe because what is on the canvas at the moment is actually crap. But then I can always scrape it off or paint over it. And I get these 16 other people to work with and feed off of their energy & experience.

It's a wonderful thing.

forgetful me

2011-05-26T14:11:00.003-06:00

forgetful me
quote from Ghandi, as seen on bemorewithless.com

As I am trying to do more and more on my own, I have a tendancy to get pretty frustrated and I stop enjoying the process.

Take, for instance, my painting class. I've quite enjoyed taking Samantha daSilva's class at the Calgary School of Art. And I've quite enjoyed playing around with canvases here in my studio. But now comes the time to post the canvases on Etsy and get them ready for sale.

sigh

Maybe other people don't find this so hard, but with all the taking of photos and cropping the photos to the right size, and adding in the copyright declaration in the right spot, ... etc. etc. etc. It gets to me after a while.

Now don't get me wrong! I love working for myself and having the luxury of doing it all my own way. I just lose sight of that from time to time. And so I hopped on to Twitter this afternoon, and somehow or another found my way to http://www.bemorewithless.com/ and saw the lovely quote she had there. And I knew I had to do something fun with it. The font is LD Underwood 5, the birds are brushes 'Birds of a Feather', and the tickets and labels are from Fidget Resources. The painting is, of course, my own - now digitally altered.

Feels good to do something creative as a break.

2011-05-21T21:26:00.001-06:00

I've been working on getting all the paintings I've been working on covered with the varnish, signed, named... and then there's the pricing and the uploading to Etsy. I'm getting there. The 'process multiple images' in Photoshop kinda made the copyright a tad bit large, so I think I have to re-do that in short order.

Here is what I've discovered in the process - making the art is really fun. All the other stuff is not as much fun. It's satisfying to do all the varnishing, naming, taking the photos, posting on FaceBook and Etsy - but nothing is really as much fun as the painting itself. Pouring the blue on this canvas, after I'd let a dark orange/red dry, and then adding the white - that was fun. The way it all moved and formed little waves and peaks and valleys - that was fun. The alcohol dripped onto the surface to burn through the water in the paint - that was fun.

Dang it! Now all I want to do is go and paint some more instead of what I 'should' be doing. (sigh)

Maybe tomorrow.

ah. That's a better sized copyright note.

something borrowed

2011-05-06T20:18:00.001-06:00

So nice to have a camera again!!!!! My sister has loaned me her old Canon until I can gather up enough cash to get the 60D. That will be a while.

Caught my sister's kids in action on Easter Sunday (What, you don't associate water guns and Easter? What's wrong with you?)

My visit down to MN was a little less than fabulous - my sister got thrush and I got a hell of a cold. So not much got accomplished. Although we did watch a bit of the Royal Wedding, and I managed to get to Blick Art Supply. I could drop a lot of cash there if I lived in the area. Alas, I'm back in the Land of Snow. Although it seems to be warming up enough to actually rain, which would be great if just a great big downpour happened to clean everything up.

On the art side of things, next week is the last class in Level 1 Abstract Acrylics with Samantha daSilva, which will be kinda sad, but I've signed up for 4 days of her class in Red Deer in July - should be great!
I have a lot to learn, and have a great time trying all the techniques out. This one is (I think) 24 x 36. The tough part is naming them after I'm done.

sans camera

2011-04-10T20:43:00.002-06:00

Did I mention my camera is toast? Well, it is. And it's really hard to capture some things without a camera. Like the sunset we just saw. And the paintings I'm in the middle of. And my wacky dog and her funny antics. Can't wait until I get the hand-me-down camera from my sister. Then maybe things can get back to normal!

Well, as normal as they get around here.

sprint towards spring

2011-04-04T10:43:00.000-06:00

I've a few cards on Etsy that expire on April 7th. I could reinstate them, I guess. But I'm also thinking about the upcoming season of Craft Fairs. Which is hard to do, with the mountains of snow we still have on the ground.

But I'm thinking about them nonetheless. I think one Craft Fair per month should be enough to get everything back into the swing of Craft Fairs. I only did one last year and it was pretty successful. I wish I had more energy or courage or hutzpah (did I spell that right?) to do more and really get out there, but my inner critic pops up and I end the year doing less than I had wanted.

On a positive note, I have found a great way to frame my smaller pieces and I think that will help sell them - they're so tiny they're easy to miss, so the new framing should make them appear a lot larger, but still small enough for work cubicles. I envision these little canvases finding homes in the places I used to work - also known as Cubicle Land. A nice way to brighten up the boring beige and grey of most cubicles.

Oh, and did I tell you? My camera died. Apparently the main processor just went kaput! It's going to be tough to take photos of the upcoming spring buds without a camera, so I'm busily researching my options. Any suggestions?

for Martinique

2011-03-16T16:13:00.000-06:00

Weddings are such fun, aren't they? Well, if you're not the one getting all immersed in the details, that is. I love telling brides-to-be about some things to keep in mind. Like getting everyone's camera's sync'd to the same time (seriously, this saves so much time after the fact). And having a laptop for everyone to download their photos to, so the couple has all the photos by the end of the evening (well, not the photographer's but everyone elses').

At the dentist's office today, longtime dental-friend (yes, dentist offices can have nice people there - they're not all masocists) Martinique told me about her upcoming wedding. How much fun! They're going to Vegas, baby. It'll be blast, I'm sure. Anyhoo, that's why I've posted Harrison & Sunny's Wedding Album so she can see what a fabulous showcase a digital album can be.

Here's a little teaser... just in case you don't go to the link above.

My name is Michelle

2011-03-10T16:19:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Michelle, and I'm a magazine addict.

I have issues with magazines. I love them. I hate the environmental impact, but I love the feel and the look of the ones I'm obsessed with and even though there has been a kibosh on buying magazines in my house for the past two months, I've broken down and bought 8 in the past three days.

Cloth, Paper, Scissors
Cloth, Paper, Scissors Studio Edition
Somerset Digital Studio
Art Journalling by Somerset Studio
Somerset Studio - the Art of Paper and Mixed Media - 2 volumes
Artists' Cafe - best of Somerset Studio Art & Design
Artful Blogging- visually inspiring online journals by, who else? Somerset Studios

The fun part about all this, well besides the fact I get to read all these magazines and absorb all the fabulous information, is ... I also get to try out a lot of the techniques! I learn about so much in every issue. I want to run away to a little cottage and shut myself away and just do every single thing talked about in each magazine.

A tad impractical, so that is why I've decided this most likely borders on an actual issue, instead of just being funny. But it's an issue I'd rather not resolve, truth be told. I love my magazines. And after a few months of not buying any (I have enough to tide me over I think) I'll most likely go on another spree. And oh what fun that will be!

for real

2011-03-04T10:31:00.004-07:00

For a while now, I've been making art and making small attempts at selling it. I've created an Etsy site, I've gone to multiple craft fairs, and I've actually managed to have some commissions come my way.

And there I sit.

I attended an opening of a gallery show last night. It was at Art Central, and it was one of the First Thursdays the collective hosts. Samantha daSilva's students who have gone through Level 2 of her classes sum up their experience with a show. This was one of them.

What I saw, not just at the show of the students but all throughout Art Central, was an incredible variety of what people consider to be art. There were canvases I really liked, and canvases I really disliked, and others I was more intrigued with how the artists did them rather than the actual end product.

But what I took away from the event was the fact that I already do a lot of the same techniques. I already produce a certain type of painting. I already have pieces worth selling, worth collecting, worth putting in a show. I had, until yesterday, always considered myself a bit of a hack since I lack professional training at a place like ACAD. And truly, there are things some painters did that I simply can not do - like figure drawing or realistic paintings. But abstract? Multi-media? I think I've got a grasp on those.

I'm not saying I'm done learning - by no means! I've just signed up for a Level 1 session of classes for abstract. And I may look at a drawing class or something more outside my comfort zone.

But what I am saying is... I don't need to feel 'less than' other artists because of my lack of shows or lack of training. I'm starting out, so that's to be expected. I just need to put more work into the business side of art and I think I'll get a good boost of confidence by getting out there and being more involved in my path's trajectory. And who knows? Maybe shortly I can post about a show I'm putting on! :)

The Business of Art

2011-02-26T16:32:00.003-07:00

I was just at a class today put on at the Calgary School of Art put on by Samantha daSilva all about the Business of Art. So not just making my art in my studio…but selling it too.

The class was overfull, with 11 women looking to take thier art to the next level and I was very impressed by the information provided by Samantha, and the level of success already acheived by the attendees. Of course each of us has our own way of doing things – one described her highly organized approach to experimentation, and another professed to not keeping track of the shows she’s been in and her desire to be more organized.

As well, we spoke briefly about each going away and doing our ‘homework’ from Samantha and perhaps getting together in a month to touch base and share again. To that end, I’ve included all the websites for those of us who have sites, and for all the other ladies – they can comment to ask me to email the list if I’ve missed them in my email (which will happen after I’m done with this blog update).

Class of February 26, 2011

DarleneBeckFineArt.com
drogar.com/corevitality
PatriciaLangevin.com
LeilaMcDowell.com
VanessaKary.com
Karen-Oliver.blogspot.com
KennedyInk.ca

As for the ladies not on this list, I have their email addresses and will forward everyone in the class this list, along with the email addresses of the ladies sans websites (but not for long, right? we’re all going to set up websites, right?)

So, as for everything I learned? Well, let’s just say I have a heck of a lot of work to do, so I’ll sign off and get on it.

LLAP
Michelle

Does life imitate art?

2011-02-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

Last summer, I had the priviledge of cat/house-sitting in California and I fell in love. With a horse. My husband doesn't like this horse, and my Mum humoured me with my facination. But every chance I got, I took an apple to that horse and took his picture.

Then one day, while touring Calistoga, I found a painting and I've always wondered if it was the same horse the artist tried to capture. What do you think?

And later that summer, my Mum took this photo of my Dad's dogs. Below is a paiting from another artist in Calistoga. I am so amused by these two photos and two paintings, I just had to share!

thankful

2011-01-26T12:38:00.001-07:00

As per this blog post I recently read I was reminded to think of things I'm thankful for. Alrighty then. I think it can all be encompassed into one overall thing I'm thankful for - my ability to create. If I weren't in the position in life that I'm in, I wouldn't create what I do, and how I do. If I weren't with my husband, I wouldn't be able to pursue creativity as a career. If I didn't have my family & friends as support, I wouldn't trust that I could create as a career. And if I didn't have my little dog, my heartbeat at my feet, I wouldn't be in the mood to create anything uplifting. So that's what I'm thankful for. oh, and Thanks for asking!

so, this begs the question... what are you thankful for?

Deepest Fear

2011-01-10T00:23:00.000-07:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

~Marianne Williamson

(posted with the understanding that the word 'God' to me doesn't mean the same as what the word 'God' may mean to other people. Feel free to take it to stand for Good Orderly Direction, as I do.)

14 going on 65

2011-01-06T14:50:00.004-07:00

Mum at 14

The characters of the story - Mum, Andrea (my sister), and me. Aren't we a stylin' bunch?

Andrea at 14

me at 14

Here's Mum & me in California this past summer.

me & Mum, last summer

And here's Andrea & Mum at Pigeon Lake in 2009.

Mum & Andrea, summer 2009

I'm not sure what fun antics we're going to get up to, but Mum has requested we all be in Montreal for her 65th birthday this June. There will be dining, and shopping, and eating, and sightseeing, and dining again (I think you may see a trend here). I'm certain we'll hit a couple art galleries, and hopefully a garden or two. Because I'll have my handy camera with me and will take a zillion photos! Maybe one or two of them will be nice enough to show everyone. :)

Can't wait for June!

ribbons & bows

2010-12-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

I have a thing for old office stuff. Like my old printer's cabinet. And the dusty, musty old drawers (of which I still need about 7 or so). I love it, and was fortunate enough to have a friend with a station wagon with me on the day this was marked down to $300. Score!

The drawers, with all their little nooks and crannies, left something to be desired. Like cleanliness. I scrubbed and scoured and scraped off all the paper in each cubby, and repurposed it as my new holder for my ribbons. This is only part way through my inventory of ribbon, but I'm so excited about this I had to share now! instead of later when it's full.

I love all my ribbons, but especially the teeny, tiny ones my sister sends up in little boxes. All cute and matchy-matchy. Not enough to do much, but just enough to make something special!

the best game you can name

2010-12-11T15:18:00.002-07:00

I have a little bit of time on my hands while I sit and scan in photos for a client (1986 - present... I'm only on 1999!) So while the scanner chugs away, I thought I would get a head start on next year's batch of Christmas cards! (I know, I know, I should be cleaning up the studio and doing my books, but this is so much more fun.)

I started with the sentiment "May your holiday be filled with joy and good cheer" and then I saw my hockey sweater stamp. Perfect!

Then I coloured it in with a watercolour pencil, and donated my current glass of water to the project and wet the pencil markings with a brush.

I adhered the jersey to a plaid piece of paper, adhered it all to the card, and presto! 10 cards done and out of the way for next year.

Oh, and the best game you can name, is the good ol' hockey game! If you're from Canada, you already know this, of course.

'tis the season

2010-11-29T09:44:00.001-07:00

Best Shot Monday question - how do I keep my wits about me during the holidays? Hmm... well, I focus on others. Like my friend's guinea pigs. The best photo shoot companions ever! They sit still, and love the click of the camera. I plopped them on the dining room table, with the fibre optics Christmas tree as a backdrop, and poof! instant Christmas photo.

I plan out my December to make sure I can fit in as many relaxing evenings with friends as possible. I'm not always hosting, and they're not always hosting. A dinner for four, or an evening with 30 - it's all good just as long as it's easy and fun. I don't do a tree because I don't find it easy or fun. I have a couple evergreens on our property, so I'm good with just leaving them be. Santa Baby can slip the sable directly into my hall closet instead of under the tree. :)

The other things I do are: shop during the rest of the year and wrap & mail before December hits. I have little patience for malls to begin with, and a mall filled with impatient people doesn't exactly fill me with the Holiday Glow. I also have to wrap for extended family so I get it done earlier so I don't start grumbling about it all. As well, I have a lot of clients wanting cards made and photos altered, so I want to leave time open for them too! As for being outside in the wonderous snow, I prefer watching someone else shovel my walkway, and preparing some hot chocolate for him (my Charlie Brown, my husband). I snuggle with my puppy, and sit by a fire (we're lucky enough to have a real wood-burning fireplace!) The more I can stay off the slippy ice & snow the better. Hey, we can't all be Snow Bunnies!

Surfin' the Net, finding textural gold!

2010-11-23T17:14:00.002-07:00

Kim Klassen Cafe

So I’ve stumbled upon a fellow Canadian, and a prairie girl to boot, who does amazing things with Textures in Photoshop. I must admit, I have not been at the computer forever, due to all the crap that 2010 has been, and my focus is totally off – I’m running every way but loose. However, all that being said, I think I will concentrate on Kim Klassen and her Cafe in the coming months. These Textures and what they can do for the average photo are just too cool to not play with!

Thought you should know about them too.

So I played around with a photo I took of Ji-Sun at her wedding to my brother-in-law, Harrison.

Who could get a more perfect model? She's just stunning.

Then I took out the 'unwanted' elements in the background.

Then I added two of Kim's Textures, and played with the levels and saturation.

Then I added a subtle border to the edge.

Love it!

November already!??

2010-11-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

Where the heck did September and October go? One minute I was dealing with bronchitis and the next I was in MN to visit my sister (above) and her family & friends. This shot was taken on the last day there after visiting JKL Gifts (KA's new pop-up store) at Snuffy's. We had bacon cheddar cheese burgers and chili cheese fries and a malt. It was great! But more importantly, the trip was great. I was able to spend another Hallowe'en with Andrea's kids, connect with friends and spend some good one-on-one time with Andrea as well. And talk about a busy household! There wasn't more than 20 minutes in the whole 10 days where we inserted a little down-time. Only to be interrupted by laundry. I really do wish I lived closer so I could spend more time with all of them!

As for the studio, not much is happening right now in the creative department. Just back from one trip and on to the next! I'm hoping to have more Craft Fairs to attend (the last one was a success - yay me!) before the snow and cold makes me refuse to leave the house.

I don't like Mondays (tell me why)

2010-10-25T14:46:00.001-06:00

It's been a rough couple weeks around here, and it's not looking much brighter. Mum & Dad are of the age where their friends are getting sick and some of them have recently passed away.

Last week my sister came up from Minnesota and we attended JTMM's funeral. Over a thousand people attended, and my Dad was an honourary pallbearer. It's all too unreal - Jim has always been there, and now suddenly, he's not. I painted this large abstract landscape during this last week, and although I've titled it '103 Miles to Chicago' it sorta reminds me of the autumn mornings when Jim & Dad would go out hunting.

This morning brought more news from Mum - another life-long friend is in the hospital, along with a new friend who had a mild heart attack, and my favourite Auntie needs to have an angiogram. (sigh)

I'm heading off in two days to Minnesota to spend a week with my sister and her kids, and in the thick of things up here preparing for my trip I've gotten a whopper of a headache and have been kinda grumpy for the past couple days. The snow on the ground today didn't help either!

But then, just as I was planning on grumbling some more, the lady at Staples re-did my botched print order for free, along with two extra pages! And then the guy in front of me at Starbucks bought me my Chai - and apparently does this all the time - lucky for me I was behind him in line. So although there is a lot of clouds lately, there is also a silver lining (every once in a while).

Riverbend Community Centre Craft Sale

2010-10-19T15:07:00.003-06:00

Riverbend Community Centre
Craft Sale

Saturday, October 23, 2010 ~ 10:00am – 4:00pm

19 Rivervalley Drive SE Calgary Alberta

A wonderful variety of homemade crafts; as well as gift based home businesses. Concession sponsored by the Heritage Lions Club; drop by for a snack or lunch. Admission is free ~ advertised to all of Calgary media Donations accepted for the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank.

Kennedy Ink will have a table at the Riverbend Community Centre’s Craft Fair.

I will have a variety of art available, as well as some photography, and if I get my act in gear some cards as well. Come out and get some Christmas shopping done early!

Michelle
Kennedy Ink

http://www.google.com/profiles/KennedyInkCreative check out all my creative explorations!

consolidating

2010-10-11T22:20:00.004-06:00

In my studio, and in my business, I have a lot. I find I get attracted to new techniques and new tools, and after I acquire them I forget about the old tools & techniques... so I go back to those and forget about the new... I think you see where this is going.

Time to consolidate. I have the ability to do anything, I just don't have the time to do everything. Which is a hard lesson to learn. But with too much diversity comes too little production, what with all my resources spread so thin. Now I just have to decide what goes and what stays. No. That won't be easy at all. (sigh)

and so it is

2010-10-04T10:58:00.002-06:00

Here we are at the end of an Indian Summer, waiting for the Globe Thistle to shed the last of the tasty bits the bees like to get at. I must admit I'm feeling a little prickly myself. We had an awesome Garage Sale on the 18th of September, and that night I came down with 'something' which turned into a cold, which became bronchitis. I'm still coughing and sound like an old lounge singer who smokes a pack a day... and I'm half expecting pneumonia to be next on the list. So far my antibiotics aren't kicking this bronchitis thing to the curb. I've had to cancel a number of plans as well. Just me and my dog napping on the couch leafing through magazines and ripping out pages to keep. At some point, I expect I will start to not feel like a pile of poo, but I haven't gotten there yet. So there you have it. I'm as prickly as a Fall Globe Thistle, but still super cool. :)

end of season mulch

2010-09-26T18:26:00.000-06:00

Finally! The weediest spot in our garden was attacked by my brother-in-law in early August. A few blades of grass crept back in over the last month and a half, and were finally eradicated by my husband. To add to the no-weed look I like, he put down landscaping cloth and then went to buy bark-chips. End-of-season bark chip selection is not top knotch - we got black... which looks a lot like dirt. Oh well. At least there isn't any chance of grass growing under that bench! Next year I'll put a few pots on the broken bench and have flowers cascading down off of it. It'll be so pretty! Thanks for all your hard work Ty & Austin & Scott!

'puter games

2010-09-22T11:48:00.001-06:00

Who knew playing typing on the 'puter (or a placemat in this case) could be such fun? L came up with this idea and Scott jumped on board, and then E and my sister got in on it as well. Pretty soon there was the Coast Guard against a Secret Society bent on taking over the World! I missed out on most of it because I was busy working (on a real computer, not a wooden placemat) while all this imagining was going on upstairs. Never a dull moment when the niece and nephew are in town! Even Maggie (our dog) got in on it (she's in hot pink on the back of the sofa basically ontop of Scott).

family visit

2010-09-12T18:57:00.006-06:00

L and her other Aunties

As a favour to my brother-in-law I sucked it up and drove with my sister and her two kids to Vernon to visit the other side of the family. Kidding! I love those kids & getting to spend more time with them is a blessing, so I actually jumped at the chance.

It was nice to see the other side of the family again. I've known K (the woman looking at me taking the photo) since I was 18, and met her sister B shortly afterwards. So we were all friends and my sister knew her mother-in-law before she even met her future husband. It's a tangled web we weave, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

L was just enamoured with J, who is K's little boy. And E visited with his much older cousin S, who was incredibly tolerant of all the little ones and their lack of understanding about personal space.

We laughed, we cried, and A got incredibly sick, and then the kids got a little ill, and I even managed to attend a scrapbooking class and visit an old friend. It was a great start to the summer visit, and as a little payback, my sister helped me get my studio back in order from the renovations. I know, I know. It's been a long time coming! But having my appendix removed, and then myomas removed, and then a 3 week vacation to Sonoma, and then... well, you get the idea. I didn't do much this summer in the studio.

I did make up for my lack of actual work by taking a boat-load of pictures. Here's a couple more from my time in Vernon. I hope I get back out there next summer. What a fabulous little town!

time ticking away

2010-08-24T05:18:00.002-06:00

Best Shot Monday's theme this week is about time moving quickly. And in those small moments where we see it slipping past, what holds our attention.

Most of what has held my attention this past week has been planning my brother-in-law's wedding and the logistics involved with planning in Vancouver while I'm here in Calgary, as well as the fun of trying to get other family members to 'buy-in' to my ideas. My ego is pushing my ideas, because, of course, I figure they are better ideas than anyone else's. Hmmmm....

And then I had the opportunity to spend time taking care of Molly (above) who is, sadly, on the downward slope of life. She's thin, has a lot of lumps that may be cancer, wheezes all the time, has hips that don't work and cloudy eyes. And look at her! She's just as happy as a clam to be out for a short walk. She doesn't much care about anything except that I try to keep up with her, and give her food to eat, water to drink, and a few bellyrubs for good measure. No ego. No positioning for accolades. No hurt feelings if someone doesn't agree with her outlook on life.

So even though she's in pain and sauntering towards the exit door, she still has lessons to teach. Even if the student is a little slow and pig-headed.

Oh, and when I die, if I get to come back, I want to come back as a well-loved dog. Like Molly. With lots of bellyrubs, please.

gratitude

2010-08-16T13:30:00.005-06:00

I'm not usually grateful enough for all the wonderful things in my life. I generally get overshadowed by the non-wonderful things and end up brooding to the point I forget about the wonderful things.

However, this past July I stayed at my sister's friend's place in Glen Ellen for 16 days. This is her view up Sonoma Mountain, with the fog just lifting off in the morning, the bees buzzing on her masses of lavender, and the olives ripening away on her trees.

I am grateful I have been able to carve out a life that led me to this place. I am grateful I have a husband who supports all my weird artful follies and sees value in them. I am grateful I have a Mum who came along and made it much more fun than being alone. And I'm grateful for my sister who told me about the house-sitting option. Oh and to the owners, for letting us stay in this wonderful place. I really really hope it's a yearly thing. I could totally get used to that. :)

growth?

2010-08-09T23:35:00.002-06:00

As per Best Shot Monday, she has requested that we look at the growth that has taken place in our lives lately. The only growth I have is my ever expanding butt. Most of everything else is contracting. I've found, over the years, that I've put myself 'out there' and then promptly get put down. So I've slowed down in my zealous attempt to be flayed continually. Funny that.

And I know where it all stems from.

This is one of the very few photos I have where I know I'm pregnant when the photo was taken. And this is one of the very few photos I have where I still think (at the time, in the photo) that life turns out the way you expect it to. 6 years, 5 miscarriages, and 80 pounds later, I know life definately does not turn out the way you expect it to. And that sucks. Hard.

Hence the shrinking of my life, not the growth. Sorry. Not really playing along well this week.

best shot Monday - obsession

2010-07-26T20:56:00.001-06:00

My current obsession is this horse. He's by the side of Bennett Valley Road on the way to Santa Rosa California. And I think he's just beautiful. Mum and Scott aren't as convinced. But we've now stopped twice to photograph him. And I believe we're going to stop one last time in the next couple days. :)

my best shot Monday

2010-07-19T23:20:00.001-06:00

I am forever trying to take photos of fish, and never really getting any due to the reflection of the water. I think this one worked out pretty well. It was in the Japanese Garden in Spokane and there was no sun overhead, so there was no big glare either. It's still a little distorted due to the angle of the water and refraction and all that science stuff, but a huge koi shot nonetheless.

away

2010-07-18T00:13:00.005-06:00

I'm away on yet another holiday. Mum and I drove down to Glen Ellen California from Calgary Alberta. It was a long drive (took 3.5 days) and we've not really stopped driving since. There have been too many things to see and check out! And then, of course, there was the "let's drive up Highway 1" issue that lead to "let's head back from here" problem, that meant 3 extra hours on the road. hmmmm... Perhaps that wasn't the best way to spend a day.

Regardless, away on holidays and yet still working, so is it really a holiday, or just work in another location? It would be great if my 'work' could be always just wandering around checking out new things and reporting back (not exactly like Star Trek, but then again, I've always liked the beaming aspect of their travel).

It's been an interesting year so far - trip to Vancouver Island in April, appendix out in May, then another surgery for a myomaectomy days before our driving trip in July. And when I get back my sister will be popping up for a visit... and then it's fall. Very busy. I really feel as if time is slipping by and I'm not using it wisely. Best laid plans of mice and men and all that.

But I am taking some great photos along the way! Well, at least I think so.

best shot Tuesday??

2010-07-13T20:45:00.001-06:00

Okay so I was travelling yesterday! That is my excuse for not publishing a photo on Monday.

What have I seen through my lens this week? Well, a lot. Mainly ... rose gardens. And my Mum. We're travelling down to Glen Ellen from Calgary. That is quite a trek! Along the way, we stopped at some gardens (well, not in Redding - it was too hot to get out of the car!)

I love the lens flare on this - an automatic vignette!

best shot monday

2010-07-05T17:50:00.000-06:00

impossibly delightful?? This is a tough assignment. Well, for me it is. I'm not much in the mood for delightful. I keep having health issue after health issue with no resolution to any of it. "Uncertain medical significance" has been the term-of-choice from my GP. Currently awaiting a myomectomy at 6:15am Tuesday morning. I know some have it worse and handle it better, so I should suck it up or something. But I'm not that resiliant. So, let's see.... impossibly delightful....

Let's go with my niece last summer with the bubble maker toy. I wish I had had a bigger telephoto to catch her pretty little face better, but she's in full jump/run mode, complete with her hair still falling down from her latest jump. I find her impossibly delightful.

summer away

2010-07-04T10:36:00.000-06:00

I am not going to be here for part of the summer. And I wasn't able to plant anything for the spring, and I wasn't able to weed much either. Suffice it to say - my garden is a little weak this year. I've managed to get AC to come by and weed a couple times, and I've broken down and purchased some annuals instead of growing from seed. And then I have to leave it to (gasp!) other people to take care of for 3 weeks, and hope I don't come back to a jungle. sigh My dream is to come back to a fence painted and a weedless flowery garden. Ha! Good one.

best shot monday

2010-06-28T12:14:00.000-06:00

That's Mum & Ginger (@ 5 months) after Ginger got schooled (read: bit) by Sophie for being too annoying. Ginger even had her paw wrapped around Mum's leg. Very sweet. And so was Mum & Dad for coming down that weekend and helping get the studio practially done! With my appendix coming out, I wasn't exactly able to help much but they are workhorses and got it done, pretty much without me, but with Scott's help. Now all I have to do is load all my stuff back in. I'd like some garden gnomes in the middle of the night to come and do that for me too!

best shot monday

2010-06-21T08:41:00.001-06:00

I spent the weekend up in Red Deer with Mum & Dad. For some reason their lilacs have not yet fully bloomed whereas mine are already done. Are our weather systems that different? It's back to the grind today, with the studio in a bit of a mess, a project half painted, and a canvas of the proper depth yet to be found. Cell phone is ringing, laundry is washing, and the grocery list is growing. There are so many things to do on Monday when I take off for the weekend! I guess I had better get to it!

best shot monday

2010-06-13T15:52:00.001-06:00

I haven't participated in a while. I guess I've not had any good shots lately. But here is a bunny who sits outside my husband's window at work sometimes. I had the opportunity to sit on the floor inside and take photos of him outside. He could see me but didn't budge because he couldn't smell me. It was a great opportunity to take a bunch of photos and get really really close.

spammers

2010-06-05T09:16:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure. Should I find it hilarious or sad - the most comments I get on my collective blogs are from spammers? "Thank you for publishing this it was used as a source for a paper I am currently writing for my finals." "I've been around for a while and just wanted to let you know what a great blog you have." "Just wanted to say what a great blog you have here." All with a person's name and then a link to some site selling Gucci or something else.

I guess I'll opt to find it hilarious. I'm not sure how or why spammers got a foothold and have been able to maintain and prosper. Maybe because most of the spam I see is fear-based and nothing gets people to act faster than fear. Or maybe because they send out feelers for the naive and then hook them in (I guess this is why it's called 'phishing'. I, for one, don't give them the time of day. Delete Delete Delete. I can spot them a mile away and avoid them.

I also don't forward emails with other people's addresses still attached - this is a great way for a spammer to get all sorts of email addresses to send to. I'd like to tell my nephew to forward properly, but I'm not so sure his dad would be so receptive to my fussing. As well, I have an email address that is disposable so I can delete it and start fresh if the spammers get ahold of it and it starts to be an issue. Poof! it can disappear and a new one in its place, with my secure email address in the background quietly receiving forwards.

But one is always going to come across the aggressive sales person and their minions. A polite hand up and "I'm sorry, I'm not here to talk to you." type attitude can dissuade a few. And, unfortunately, a less polite action can stave off the others. Where did respect and common courtesy ever go?

Ah well, enough of my spammers rant. I'm supposed to find it hilarious, right? Well here's something I truly do find hilarious - my dog. She's camera shy and doesn't like to look at me when I have the camera in her face. Ah, where did respect and common courtesy ever go in dealing with taking photos of my pet? (insert evil laughter here)

bye bye appendix

2010-05-31T09:43:00.001-06:00

Yes, that is a teddy bear. My husband brought it to the Rockyview for my overnight stay while I was monitored after my surprise! appendectomy on May 8th. Thankfully, I'm semi-cleaned up here and have been weaned off the morphine a bit.

It's been a few weeks now and I'm getting there, but I'm still not back in the saddle totally. Maybe in another couple weeks, if I don't push it too much! It's been a bit of a bummer not being able to participate in everything I had planned for May, but I guess "better out than in" takes priority over silly little things like plans.

Ginger

2010-05-18T20:41:00.002-06:00

at only 4 months old, Dad's new dog Ginger is already huge. All she wanted to do was carry the bucket. Nevermind that is was full of water for her to drink and she had to knock it over and empty it first. Silly girl. Just look at those paws! She's going to be a monster!!!

Decluttering

2010-05-02T22:12:00.000-06:00

I'm starting up a little article posting spot at www.scribd.com/KennedyInk if you want to come and take a look. I'm working with Karen Biko with http://www.31daystodeclutter.com/ as well, so you will find the articles will coincide with the decluttering that's going on. If you feel so inclined, maybe join the challenge and declutter your home. Feel the call of Spring? I do. And that always involved some decluttering. Karen is taking it to the next level. Check it out!

I did my own decluttering of the studio a two years ago. I hope my renos will be over soon and I can get back to actually doing something enjoyable in my space.

best shot monday

2010-04-26T11:03:00.000-06:00

Sophie

I have to admit I stole this idea from a client I have been helping to organize her photos. Her dog, a golden retriever, was in a field of dandelions and it was such a great picture! I saw my opportunity near Cowichan Bay and had to place Sophie in all the yellow. Not bad, even for full mid-day sun!

best shot monday

2010-04-19T09:21:00.001-06:00

It seems like I can't blog lately unless it's for best shot monday. I'm blaming it on my holiday from my usual routine.

This shot was taken on the Yellowhead highway, between Edson and Jasper. It's not a snowstorm - it's sand. Yup, sand. There is this one spot where a riverbed is totally exposed and it looks like a desert at the bottom of the Rocky Mountians. Very odd. Very ethereal. Love it.

It has that melancholy feeling to it, which goes along with the end of a holiday. Welcome to Monday.

best shot monday

2010-04-12T09:32:00.000-06:00

going back a week for this one - outside of Vernon, beautiful spring blossoms!

best shot monday

2010-03-30T08:29:00.001-06:00

ok so it's Tuesday, but who's counting?

this grey beauty was wanting me to have better food than her hay. Nope. I just had the camera.

Taken in Pritchard BC, on Harrison Road.

best shot monday

2010-03-22T00:30:00.001-06:00

I have a slight obsessions with the Moon. I was trying, unsuccessfully, to take a picture of it on my birthday. My husband suggested I push the button down halfway to 'set' the brightness of the light below and then pan up to the Moon, thinking this would yield a brighter shot. Nope. But it's a much cooler shot than the grainy bleakness I was capturing before. Ah, to be able to Shoot the Moon.

best shot monday

2010-03-14T10:10:00.002-06:00

I'm not sure if I'll have time on Monday, so I thought I'd get on here on Sunday.

This photo was taken on Saturday on our way back to Calgary from Lethbridge, on Highway 3, past the turn for Monarch. Apparently, this highway is "Dead Old Truck" highway - we saw about 10 by the side of the road. Love the blue happy face on the side of this one.

best photo monday, March 8

2010-03-08T10:21:00.004-07:00

March 1964 - a photo of my Mum (in white) and her friends watching the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Shoe, whoops - I mean 'Show'

me @ 38

2010-03-01T12:01:00.005-07:00

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

RWEmerson

I am not perfect and that's alright. I try to be too many things all at once, and I lose moments. But I can see my mistakes and concentrate on what truly matters to me.

vote for me!

2010-02-18T00:22:00.005-07:00

I did a digital scrapbooking page using their free digital kit and I've entered it in their contest. Please vote for me!

not much happening

2010-02-09T23:47:00.000-07:00

"Time goes, you say? Ah no! Alas, Time stays, we go." ~Henry Austin Dobson

What a geat quote! It's already February 9th, 2010. The renovations to my space were supposed to be done already. Big sigh. The pipe had to be boxed in, the window has to be framed in and the doors need knobs and need to have moldings. I think I'll leave the floor as is. Maybe. Too many things seem to be taking up my time and energy, rather than completing this project.

I even went to a client's without business cards today - how foolish is that? It looks like a place I would like to work at. And I'm feeling hopeful they like what I've done for them so I can continue to work for them. I got the feeling that the boss wasn't impressed by the glitch in communications regarding one aspect. I think she wanted to deliver more to her client than what I provided. I'm concerned that something I've done has jeopardized my chances with them, and I don't know what it is.

I suppose, when all is said and done, that I'll find out sometime soon if we're continuing on. No real need to fret about it, is there?

Next.

alligator pie - original painting

2010-01-19T20:05:00.003-07:00

Alligator Pie

Dennis Lee

From: Alligator Pie. Toronto: Macmillan, 1974.

Alligator pie, alligator pie,
If I don't get some I think I'm gonna die.
Give away the green grass, give away the sky,
But don't give away my alligator pie.

Alligator stew, alligator stew,
If I don't get some I don't know what I'll do.
Give away my furry hat, give away my shoe,
But don't give away my alligator stew.

Alligator soup, alligator soup,
If I don't get some I think I'm gonna droop.
Give away my hockey stick, give away my hoop,
But don't give away my alligator soup.

An ity-bity canvas measuring 2.75" by 2.75". I just posted this on my Etsy site this evening!

This little painting did some great crackling that looked to me like alligator skin, hence the name, alligator pie. Not that I've been that close to an alligator. Not that I want to eat alligator pie either! But still, the crackling effect is pretty cool. To finish off this mixed media piece, I added a stamp of a bird, along with a 'love joy peace' stamp that was embossed with silver and then coloured with watercolour pencil crayons.

This little piece of art would do well in a cubicle suspended by two push pins (hence the name 'cube art'), or with the addition of a magnet or two - a fridge magnet.

studio re-do

2010-01-12T11:18:00.002-07:00

"It's easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top." Henry Ward Beecher

Half of the studio, with a wall taken down (the gaping hole beside the breaker box).

Wall built by Dad on the West of the room, to seperate the TV room (and truthfully, my husband playing Civilization on his PC).

The blessed door.

One would think we're on the home stretch, but we're not. Who knew mudding and taping and sanding was such a pain in the patootie? (well, besides drywall professionals?) So after we get that done, then there is the painting and then the load in of all the stuff I had to take out of the studio. And then, well then there is the other half of the studio. A couple doors, a casing around a window, fixing of dryway imperfections and then more painting.

And how about the flooring? Should I just put back the sticky backed tiles that were here, or should I paint the concrete, or ... (and I like this the best) just run away and forget I ever started this project.

finished advent

2010-01-04T11:47:00.002-07:00

"Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." John Lennon

Thought you would like to see the finished product. Although I did finish it about 3 weeks ago and handed it off to the client, I've just not got around to updating the blog with it! Busy busy busy. We're in the process of knocking down a couple walls and putting up doors. And just to add to the fun we've ordered new appliances and are looking at renovating all the bathrooms in the house as well. So work in the studio is of a different nature instead of the creative type of work I usually do! Enough of a break, I have to go and put up a barrier between the drywall dust and the rest of the house. :)

pocket full of sunshine

2009-12-11T23:27:00.001-07:00

"I got a pocket got a pocket full of sunshine i got a love and i know that its all mine." Natasha Bedingfield

Pretty much, there is nothing cuter than a teenie tiny little pocket. It's 2 inches by 2 inches and it's one of 24 for an Advent calendar a client ordered. My paper Advent calendar would be toast pretty quick around their 2 year old, so a fabric one makes much more sense. I've spent the past few days thinking about how to do it, and purchasing the fabric, ribbon, and threads. Now that I've started, I am just in love with these little pockets. Maybe after 24 the love affair will have cooled off, but I'm only at pocket #6 now, and I'm still smitten!

over the fields we go

2009-12-08T13:28:00.003-07:00

Dashing through the snow

On a one-horse open sleigh,

Over the fields we go,

Laughing all the way;

Bells on bob-tail ring,

Making spirits bright,

What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.
-James Pierpont

If you don't live in Calgary, perhaps you aren't in the middle of a deep freeze with a mountain of snow. It all started last Friday, the day I was to pick up my Mum from the airport. It took us 3 hours to do a half hour car trip. Great times. White outs along the road, black ice, people in the ditch. But it was warm-ish. Now it's super cold and the snow is not going anywhere anytime soon.

So here I am in the studio putting together a couple Christmas card orders and trying to fill in my Christmas cards at the same time, when all I really want to do is crawl under the covers and sleep until spring. I hear there are people who like winter, actually love it. I am not one of those people. Maybe if I'm head to toe wrapped in polar fleece and look like the little brother in A Christmas Story, then the cold is at least bearable. I guess I should be thankful that we at least are sunny through these long months, instead of cloudy like Vancouver. Oh, enough griping! On with the card assembly already! The clients await.

Mingle & Jingle, snacks & crafts

2009-11-25T13:53:00.002-07:00

In conjunction with a little open house on December 6th, I’m hosting a small craft sale from 10am to 4pm. Scott & Maggie & I will be decorating & playing holiday music & cooking up some yummy snacks. Okay, so Maggie will just be begging for the snacks, but she will be on hand to bark randomly and get snuggles from everyone.

There will be some snickey-snacks and some eggnog (provided Scott hasn’t consumed it all by the time you get there) as well as all of my paintings & cards & crafts on display for sale, at special Holiday prices! I’ll have my wrapping supplies on hand in the wrapping station, so if you’d like your purchase gift wrapped as well, I can do that too.

Come by early for the best selection of crafts (oh, & snacks!). Let me know if you can come by so I can ensure there are enough snacks for everyone. :)

Charles

2009-11-16T11:18:00.011-07:00

"A man (or woman!) should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying... that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." - Alexander Pope

Ahhh Charlie, the sweet little terrier-poodle cross from the Humane Society. Had you been the only dog in our house, this would have all worked out fine. As it stands, Maggie is the Ruler of the Roost, and you and she just don't get along. I'm sorry, little dude, but I had to take you back to the Humane Society so a family who has more space (and less Maggie) in their lives could adopt you.

Here's the back story - after realizing that children will not be a part of our lives, I wanted to add another dog to the mix. The theory being he or she would be a playmate for Maggie, our poodle from the Humane Society 3 years ago, and would help to calm her down a bit (did I mention she's kinda high-strung?). As well, caring and loving him or her would fill a little more of the empty spot in my heart, and let me love another little soul (albeit a soul covered in fur.)

Maggie, however, had other plans. She has Plans of World Domination, and her world is our house. I know she's gotten along with other dogs before; not famously, but well enough that I thought perhaps this could work. Enter Charlie. The 'meet-n-greet' went okay, but once at home the clashing began. Maggie would hide in her kennel. Charlie would eat her food. Maggie would lash out. Charlie would fight back. hmmmmm...... Not good.

There is the theory that I could have waited longer, given them more time before taking him back. Maybe things would have improved between Queen Margaret and Prince Charles. Maybe they would have worked it all out, and I was being too impulsive. But I felt so bad for Maggie! Here she was, finally settling in and not being as aggressive as before, and then I go and add another dog to the mix, and he's getting all the attention! She had to share her bed, her food, her water, and my lap, Scott's attention. And then I felt bad for Charlie! Here he was, all set to be adopted by some nice family in the near future (he'd only been there a week) and I plucked him out of there with promises of a Lady-friend and many quiet naps on the couch, and a few belly rubs too. And what he got was a lot of surprises instead.

I didn't want him (and us) to get so attached that we couldn't see that this wasn't going to work. I also knew that people who were looking at him last week would still be checking the Humane Society website, and would be happy to see him still there for them. So I decided this was just an expensive weekend for all (emotionally and financially) and took him back to the people who could best find him a good home. Sadly, we are not a "good home". But I am wiser! I will never adopt a dog while Maggie is still with us. I swear.

And so, his little bark, funny walk, and voracious appetite are meant for someone else. Good luck, Charlie (although I don't think you'll need it, cute boy!)

Advent

2009-11-12T13:51:00.006-07:00

"twas the night before Christmas, and all throught the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse" C.C. Moore

click on the above to get a larger view of the collage

I recently found a project I had started before we moved into our house (2 years ago!) An Advent Calendar that didn't involved chocolate. I incorporated the classic story into little cards and envelopes to turn around and read. It's really a lovely piece. I'm going to be taking it to the Craft Fair this weekend and see if it sells! If it doesn't, you'll see it on Etsy by Monday.

U2 360 Tour

2009-10-29T14:19:00.005-06:00

"Music is what feelings sound like." anon.

I love U2. Always have. And now I'm going to see them when they come to Edmonton next June. How cool is that? Too cool. Gotta love eBay. And Bono. And the Edge. But mostly Bono.

thank you and thank you again

2009-10-24T17:06:00.004-06:00

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone. ~G.B. Stern

Just got home from the craft sale and had to say a big "Thank You" to the people who purchased from my table - a photograph, 4 paintings, and a couple cards. WooHoo! And the people who I met there were just great too - one lady made comfy pants and another made bathbombs and soap and those bags you heat up and wrap around you - her Mom was fabulous as well. It was a great day. People were very receptive to the collage ideas I added to the paintings, which, I have to say, made me very happy. It's nice when people like what you do. I guess I'm not supposed to be attached to this type of ego boosting, but.... I am! (haven't quite reached that "be unattached to the outcome" zen like state).

craft sale

2009-10-18T22:10:00.009-06:00

I'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning... Every day I find something creative to do with my life. Miles Davis (1926 - 1991)

It’s that time of year again – craft sale season. I’m starting off in my home community at the Riverbend Community Center this Saturday from 10am to 4pm. I’m going to have a variety of paintings and collages for sale, and if there’s room on the table, maybe some photography and notecards. There’s a variety of other crafters at the sale as well, so please stop by. It’s always nice to see some familiar faces!

Saturday - October 24th, 2009

10am to 4pm
Riverbend Community Centre
19 Rivervalley Drive SE, Calgary, AB T2C 3S1
Glenmore to 18th Street South, second right onto Rivervalley Drive, large building with parking lot on the south-west side of the intersection

Kennedy Ink
Shoppe - www.kennedyink.etsy.com
Website - www.kennedyink.ca/creative
Flickr Photography - http://www.flickr.com/photos/36679604@N06/
Flickr Paintings - http://www.flickr.com/photos/43155425@N06/

happy Monday!

2009-10-05T08:59:00.004-06:00

"You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it." ~Author Unknown

I'm taking an on-line class on photography. I'm finding Manual mode to be challenging and my usual subject (my dog Maggie) uncooperative. So I took my weeping Buddha from his usual post and used him for this lesson on Focus Points. I look forward to the feedback (perhaps too much) and feel really happy to have received the comments from the instructor (below). It's nice to know it's not just myself who likes my photographs! (To see more of my photographs, you could go here.)

Class Exerpt
focus
K100D - pentaxAperature: f/5.6Shutter Speed: 1/350ISO : 800Focal Length : 55mm
I put my weeping Buddha on my Dragon's Blood Stonecrop and began taking shots focussing him on the left. It didn't look right, so I put him on the right and decreased the Aperature (the automode wanted f/5.6, 1/350). This could have a sweet quote off to the side, a texture and/or filter applied, and voila! Art.

candice*stringham
[Oct 05, 2009 at 01:01 AM]
Michelle, this is art as is. The focus on the Buddha is perfect, and from an artistic standpoint there are so many ways to interpret this photo: A tree was cut down to be carved into this statue, which is placed back into a natural environment. One can ponder why the Buddha is weeping. Typically when an item is "looking" to the right and is placed on the right, the viewer's eye drifts off the edge of the frame. However, since the Buddha's face is down covered by his hands, the viewer is stopped by the frame and is brought back into the photo. You have a great eye for combining color, texture, and composition in your photos.

is that a chill in the air I feel?

2009-09-24T21:28:00.008-06:00

The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Okay, so I'll admit it - as soon as the first leaves start to turn colour, I start to think about the upcoming Christmas season. A little early, I know, but I thought I would make up this decidedly non-holiday themed pdf sheet as a reference for card orders. I had a couple clients last year surprised by the square card overages, and a couple clients this year whose wedding invitations went over the 30gram allowance. Both situations translated into higher postal costs for them. So I thought I would be preemptive this year and do the research and post it for all to download.

Let me know if you are feeling the Christmas vibe already too! If you feel like jumping the gun on the season as well, we can talk about cleaning up my inventory of the cards I have in stock. If you’re into having a variety of sizes and non-traditional colours, I can certainly accommodate you, and your budget.

home again, home again

2009-09-22T17:54:00.006-06:00

“Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'”
samwilson123 at thinkexist.com ..... below is my guy & me

Well, we're back from our 7th anniversary trip. This time we went from Seattle down to San Francisco along the coast highway in a convertible Mustang. It was a blast. I have a bit of a farmer's tan now, but no burns. And we're a little lighter in our savings accounts, but I think that's why we work... to travel! I would do it all over again, except for trying to drive in San Francisco traffic. I didn't like that part. But everything else rocked.

I'd suggest Seattle Washington, Newport Oregon, Mendicino California to anyone. They were all great and had different things to offer. In particular, I loved the Glass Beach where we found sea glass. I guess the area used to be a dump, and when they cleaned up the dump all this sea glass was there. People have been lugging it out of there by the bucketfuls for decades, which begs the question... why isn't it regulated? oh well. The other strange thing we noticed was the size of the meals - HUGE! Do the restaurants think we don't eat for the rest of the day? It was amazing. I think one place in Seattle (The Pink Door) served a normal size meal that was actually finish-able. Everyone was incredibly friendly (even in San Francisco!) and it was hard to take a bad photograph. The weather was great, until Healdsburg, where it was 100F (so sayeth our car). We just went from tasting room to tasting room and art gallery to art gallery to keep out of the heat.

It was a great trip, and we got to finish it off by picking up our dog, Maggie, from my parent's place. We were both really happy to see each other (thanks Mum for taking care of her and giving her snuggles!) And we're both really happy to be home again. Although I could go for someone else making my bed and cleaning up after me every day! ha!

Out of Pocket

2009-09-11T10:16:00.003-06:00

On holidays from Sept 12 - 21. (A great excuse for a photography extravaganza from the Oregon Coast down to San Francisco!)

thought I would include the photo I took at a wedding I attended Sept 6th. I believe this is a Harvest Moon. I had to capture it (as best I could) as my husband and I got married under a Harvest Moon as well. Best wishes to the newlyweds!

summer wedding

2009-09-03T10:55:00.003-06:00

Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that. ~Michael Leunig

My old friend Pat got married to a lovely lady this past weekend. Although I didn't get the best photos, I did catch a few that PhotoShop just made better (I love tweaking in PhotoShop). There was a scary photographer lurking in the background of this one, and I cloned him out of there, along with the wall sconces and the ribbons galore.

I tried viewing the wedding with my camera up to my eye, but still able to take in the moment as monumental in Pat's life. Although it was a little hard with the DSLR (it's heavy, and therefore distracting), I did catch a few really heartfelt moments that made my heart go pitterpat. When he pulled a tissue out of his pocket for his bride during the vows, when he closed his eyes as she said her vows, both of them fiddling with their rings after they were put on. And then I had the "ah, this is going to turn out great" moment when they gave each other a high-five after they were proclaimed and did the first kiss. A very intimate moment between the two of them (it's probably something they do all the time and never give a thought to it) and it was on display for us to see.

I didn't attend the reception - I was a B list attendee and as such didn't want to impose on them to pay for an extra dinner at short notice, nor on my husband to attend (he's not much for crowds of people he doesn't know). So I chatted a wee bit with the people I did know, and met a nice lady who made the cake (too bad I couldn't chat more with her; she seemed really nice!) and went on my merry way. A lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Congratulations, Pat!

summer

2009-08-26T15:37:00.004-06:00

"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~ Henry James

Sophie, the ever patient lab, sitting and waiting for my sister's kids to drop their licorice. It won't ever happen Sophie. Give it up.

It's been a busy August. Scott's brother in town with his boy (and it rained - great!), and then Andrea came to town with her two kids. We drove up to Red Deer to visit with Mum and Dad, and then back down to Calgary to pick up her husband from the airport and to head out to visit his side of the family in Vernon. Then back in town, up to Pigeon Lake, get slightly burnt in the sun, back to Red Deer, then Calgary, a couple days rest and then up to the airport to collect the car seats from them. Whew! And now friends are in from Dubai, and in the middle of September I'll be driving down the Washington/Oregon coast for fun & photography.

We just don't stop around here. And I wonder why I never seem to really get anything done! ha!

visualizing

2009-07-31T14:45:00.004-06:00

"Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value." Albert Einstein

'Someone' suggested I actually get down to business and decide who I want as a client (you know, as opposed to just letting people pick me and feeling like I have to conform to what they want, instead of being true to myself). So I brainstormed the other day and came up with this list. I found a fabulous illustration on istockphoto (Dream Station 'Beauty') and after I printed it out, I did the old graphite on the back of the printout, and then sketching the important bits as a transfer onto the canvas (thank you for the idea, Cloth Paper Scissors!) I hope Dream Station doesn't mind me playing around with their image (as I'm not selling it or anything, just playing).

Here's the list...

My Clients
value my time
appreciate my work
pay FMV, within 30 days (Fair Market Value)
recommend me
repeatedly buy my services/work
give clear, well thought out RFPs (Request for Proposals)
maintain a consistent vision
trust my judgement
welcome SOW contracts (Scope of Work)
are reachable via email or cell
are flexible
provide good feedback
are open to suggestions, comments
are proactive
are open minded
can follow instructions
realize the benefits of working with me
are kind
are calm
are considerate
are supportive
are thankful and generous

new shoes

2009-07-18T13:25:00.002-06:00

"take me wandering through these streets where bright lights and angels meet. stone to stone they take me on; I’m walking ‘til the break of dawn" Paolo Nutini
I have a zoom problem. I forget I'm on zoom and I go to take a self portrait with my DSLR and I get these shots. Although they're a little funny, I love them! All these shots were taken during my hiatus from life in March 2008 on Vancouver Island. This is class 13, so I'm assuming it's the last one. The only thing I couldn't get my project to do is the colour masking like she suggested, so I'll have to try that again. I just put the coloured photo ontop of the sepia tones adjustment layer. Worked!

fly - trio

2009-07-17T13:40:00.003-06:00

“The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” Douglas Adams

The latest task in Jessica's class - a storyboard. We only did 3 images, but I'm guessing a person could do a whole schwak of 'em. I love the shots I got of the Blue Heron out in Parksville. Thank goodness for telephoto lenses!

2009-07-16T11:47:00.003-06:00

In the depths of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. Albert Camus

Day 11 - selective colouring. Way easier to do it Jessica's way than the way I was doing it! Only a few more days left of this class and I would rather it didn't end. :(

life is slow and easy

2009-07-15T19:36:00.003-06:00

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” the Buddha

How cool are the rounded corners, eh? Jessica Sprague's class - this is day 10's class. A kind of culmination of the past week. We had to come up with a finish for "Life is..." and this photo reminds me of where I took it, when life was slow and easy. More like a dream now. Ha!

the sea

2009-07-13T10:43:00.003-06:00

"Voyage upon life's sea, To yourself be true, And, whatever your lot may be, Paddle your own canoe." Sarah Bolton

Day 8 of the class - Day 7 was just a review so it was kinda boring. And although I add text to my photos all of the time, it was neat to add the texture of a folded up piece of paper over this photo. Gotta love free textures!

inevitable - day 6

2009-07-11T13:16:00.005-06:00

Day 6 of the Jessica Sprague class. TTV frame and texture, after I vintage-ified the shell photo, and added a quote from Katie Peritret (from Christopher Reeve). This is soooo cool! I love this class!

my boat is so small

2009-07-10T20:23:00.007-06:00

God, be good to me. The sea is so wide and my boat is so small.

The boat picture was layered with 3 textures and overlayed with a couple filters, and then a frame added (along with the quote). Day 5's challenge for Jessica Sprague's course.

This photo just had a little highlighting done, and then the clipping mask (see the grungy edges?) Day 4 of JSprague's course.

I had more fun doing Day 5 than Day 4, but I see the benefits of Day 4 to be sure. Had a great Skype chat with KarlaBelle while downloading today's textures. This should be a daily event!