Little Scraps of Magic

Photo-Heart Connection: January

Over at The Kat Eye Studio, the "photo-art" connection is in full swing! I've spent the last few days revisiting January photos, from a New Year's Day celebration to a one year old's birthday to my own birthday and more. Quite a few photos grabbed my heart, especially those of that one year old. But, I kept coming back to this one:

Meet the one year old's mama. The sheer happiness on her face grabs my own heart. This mama worked for her happiness and her little family's. A difficult induced deliveryand a newborn who landed in 3 hospitals in the first month equalled one whopping care of post partum depression and feelings of self doubt, which of course leads to more problems. Therapy, support groups, and sheer grit to become healthy followed. Now, she simply dotes on her baby and is reaching out to other young mothers. Not techincally a great photo but it is one that works my heartstrings big time!

And, just a bit of an aside. The above photo button is the first one I've successfully "grabbed." I knew it had to be easy, since these buttons are here, there, and everywhere, but they eluded me, that's for sure! With Kat's help, and the good folks at Typepad, I did it. It's shamefully easy, and I'm a bit embarrassed that I avoided it for so long, but at the same time, I'm patting myself on the back. One tiny fear conquered!

Today

 

It's war today...me and technology.

I've won a few and lost a few battles over these past several hours.

So far, technology's winning the battle of trying to upload a journal page scan to share with you.

That battle's being fought on the downstairs computer. It just occured to me to wander upstairs to see what would happen.

Downstairs...the scanned image will NOT upload.

Upstairs...this picture uploaded almost instantly!

Hhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnnn....

Should I mail the image to myself?

At one point all computers in this household (and there are far too many!) were networked. Ever since FIOS, only certain computers will talk to each other. Sort of like families...right?

So, admire this picture of the sunset, taken just a week ago yesterday. Don't you just want to sigh?

The colors are true...I didn't do a thing in photoshop but add juat a tad of contrast.

As the saying goes, "Who can improve on Mother Nature?"

Juicy Watercolors

So, watercolors and I have an ongoing love/hate relationship. I absolutely love what others create using them. I hate the results when I try to recreate the look. Talk about not being in control! Diana Trout's little video below had me hauling out the watercolors yet once again, just to play!

 

 

You can see the results on the right...more about the page in a bit.

I used a photo I shot of a tulip a few years back to create the background for the left side of this spread. The lady comes from one of the Somerset Publications which I cheerfuly cut up for journal fodder once I'm done reading them. I journaled with a white Sigma pen.

The little tiny page in the upper left corner of the right side of the spread began its life as a cover for a Strathmore drawing pad. I created this journal in a class with Diana, and I love all the recycled bits and pieces that found their way into it!

 
I used another Somerset image on the back of the bitty page. You can see more of the watercolor play here. I created the white lines by lifting off the color with clear water, a technique in the video above. I'd won another fun little journal and some juicy pens from Dawn Sokol, which I hope to share later this week. I'm terribly behind here. Dad's ongoing issues from the stroke have all of us on a real roller coaster ride, and I seem to be putting out "fires" of one sort or another each and every day. I'm trying to play catchup, but I feel like the queen in Alice in Wonderland...I'm running as fast as I can just to stay in place! Every now and then, though, I squeeze in a bit of play!

Paint. Cut. Glue. Repeat. WONDERFUL THERAPY!

Sunday's Musings

Outside my window there's a beautiful blue sky. Pansies are appearing outside stores and are begging me to take them home.

I am thinking how very much I have to be grateful for, despite all the craziness and despair around me. I am thinking that I really need to hold onto all that is good.

I am thankful for lazy Sunday mornings with Phil and time to journal while waiting for my dye job to take.

From the kitchen fresh strawberries and blueberries await, along with a chicken to be roasted.

I am wearing a pair of Chico's clearance jeans ($9) and a yellow tshirt.

I am creating pages in my journals and am glad for the time to sort life out a bit.

I am going to be typing up a math practice test very shortly.

I am reading Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult...just beginning it, really.

I am hoping to get through this Daylight Savings Time bit without too many headaches.

I am hearing the steam cleaner from downstairs where Phil is doing the carpet.

Around the house all is clean and tidy. Phil, God bless him, cleaned while I had my hair done.

One of my favorite things is a trip to Anthropologie for some visual inspiration.

A few plans for the week: type and correct math tests, get some packages into the mail, and begin to clean out a closet or two.  Oh, and of course, make some art!

A picture I'd like to share...

 
Alex and Uncle Chris share a smile.