Mixed Media Mayhem

I can hardly wait for  Roben Marie's new online class ! 

It's called Mixed Media Mayhem and looks like a real kick!  Registration starts on October 7.

Sketchbook Project with Amanda

My daughter and I both signed up for this! Her theme is "things found on restaurant napkins" and mine is "secret codes." We're really excited to do it together. I'll post our progress.

I found out about it on Roben Marie's blog, so you'll have to check her progress as well. Let me know if you decide to jump in on this.

Absolutely amazing art!

Most Exciting IPhone Collages!

I just bought the Autumn 2010 issue of Somerset Digital Studio, where I found the most exciting collages, made with iphone apps, by Nettie Edwards!  She gives  step-by-step directions, as well as a screen shot of all the apps she used.   Her article is on page 45 of the new issue.

Well, naturally, I couldn't wait 2 seconds before hitting iTunes and buying every one of the apps that she used.  It does take a bit of practice, but it's great fun to use all these really cool apps. 

I am showing you my first one, even though I know my technique needs a lot of polishing.   Here are a few of the steps I went through:

 My original blurry iPhone photo of sweet Amanda trying on her wedding gown.  I even cut off her head!

So this much less than perfect photo went into the PhotoStudio app, where I applied the Photo Styles>Amsterdam #114.  Wow!  Much cooler already.

I imported the filtered photo into Juxtaposer app as the bottom layer.  Then two of my own photos, a magnolia and a rose, became the second and third layer. Then one of my Monarch shots for the last layer.  Lots of experimenting with the eraser and the stamp tools.  Obviously, I wasn't very good with the eraser, so into pic grunger app to add creased and aged textures.  This worthy app covered up all my mistakes with the eraser!

Finally, I added a bit of one of my favorite poems, He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven, by William Butler Yeats, with the TypeDrawing app and fini! I think the vintage frame came from Juxtaposer, but I'm not sure. I am sure that I love it.  This was just so much fun and I am very excited to find these cool apps.  Really, I am just completely blown away by these.

  Nettie Edwards blogs as lumilyon and you can see  her fabulous blog here!    Check it out and let me know what you think of her iPhone art.  I'd love to see your art too.

Love, Deb

Consolation...

My favorite, the hydrangea, has two new blooms--thank you, Lord!

An antique shrub rose, Louis Phillippe. Smells like the best thing you've ever smelled!

Mandevilla growing on my trellises--so fresh

Finally, the orange bougainvillea blooms!

Tibouchina--Princess Flower.  Not a clue how to spell it, but oh, so velvety and gorgeous.

And last, the porch fern is coming back from my lack of watering...I'm consoled.

This last chemo treatment was not pleasant...but I have consolation in a walk around the garden first thing in the morning.  Life is about the normal, everyday pleasures that are so precious. 

Go find something beautiful today, even if it's in your own backyard--'specially if it is. 

Deb

Do you love being alone?

I love being alone.  I know lots of people don't like it, but I find it so invigorating.  This is my very favorite poem/video by Tanya Davis and Andrea Dorfman.  I can just watch this over and over.  Hope you love it too.

Deb

Blogging for Bliss

I'm reading Blogging for Bliss, by Tara Frey, which I checked out of my local library.  I've enjoyed it and I've gotten several helpful tips for blogging.  I'd like to link back to Tara's blog, but a password is required, oddly enough!

This book. along with my class with Jessica Sprague, encouraged me to make a new blog banner that was more ...ME...   So I took my first painted journal page, turned it landscape, and started adding some swirls, brushes, and my blog name.

I'm very happy with it, but that doesn't mean it won't be changed any minute now!  As I frequently say, the only thing I'm consistent with is change.  After which my husband always remarks, "As long as you don't change me, honey, that's ok."

I won't.

Deb