April 30, 2012

Texture x 2

Ask anybody - two heads are better than one.  If I'm having trouble figuring out a solution to a problem, I talk to my husband or friend about it.  I'm not looking for answers really, just a sounding board.  Articulating out loud helps me come to terms with "it" and go from there.

I love making dolls.  I usually make one while I'm mulling over my next major art quilt.  This (these?) girls presented their own problems - I had a great time putting this together.

The heads are made of painted canvas, hand stitched and embellished with odd bits of buttons, hardware, beads, etc.  Legs made from bobbins, hand painted and cut to size.  Arms of upholstery fabric, hands needle sculpted.  The body - what to do with the body...hmmm.  Decision made - use Apoxy Sculpt - love that stuff.  A box-like form made of foam core and tape; covered it with the Apoxy Sculpt. After curing for 24 hours, it was painted.  Vintage button glued on with E-6000.   She stands 13" high.


"Lilly" texture (linear burn @19%) courtesy of Kim Klassen
My own "Grid2" texture (soft light @ 47%)

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April 27, 2012

Truly's Texas Two Step

Truly is on the road in a 1962 Chrysler Imperial.  It's destination is Gilley's Bar in Texas - to drink a little bourbon - and kick those boots!

This photo collage was so much fun to create.  It gave me the opportunity to play with Photoshop brushes, filters, blend modes and assorted clip art.

I've never been to Gilley's.  Have you?




"Paris Texture" courtesy of Pixel Dust Photo Art

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April 25, 2012

Windmills and Tulips

I have windmills on my mind.  This week's Edit Me Challenge#17 is a lovely photo of tulips.  I associate tulips with Holland and Holland with windmills and, well, you get the idea.  

I took advantage of artistic license and used one of my travel photos of windmills in Spain and combined it with the tulips.  It works, don't you think?

original photo

My edit:

What I did:

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April 23, 2012

Windmills of La Mancha

Pray look better, Sir...those things yonder are no giants, but windmills. (Miguel de Cervantes)

My husband and I were fortunate enough to vacation in Spain and Portugal last year.  We toured the lands of Don Quixote and saw a lot of windmills.

Mouse Over to see Original







"Oh My" texture courtesy of Kim Klassen; two of my own textures "Music" and "Mashed Potatoes;" Topaz watercolor filter.

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April 19, 2012

Truly Takes a Sundae Drive

Truly is taking a sundae drive in a 1940 Chevy.

This photo collage is comprised of 10 layers.  The background was created in PSE; color adjustments, layer masks, blending modes and texture added.


"Antique Farewell" texture courtesy of Pixel Dust Photo Art.

April 18, 2012

Water Baby...

Can you imagine anything cuter than a little water fairy on the beach?

This week's Edit Me Challenge#16 original photo:



My edit consists of custom shapes, blending modes, brushes, layer mask and, of course, the addition of wings!  I think she is the sweetest little thing I've ever seen on the beach.

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April 16, 2012

Inspiration...

Where does your inspiration come from?  I'm asked that question all of the time.  The only answer I have is that I keep my eyes and ears open.  When I get an idea, I jot it down.  I have notes, scribbles, drawings scattered around my studio.

I have a wonderful dress form that I make outfits for.  Usually, I make her a bustier and some outrageous "skirt".  It will be prom time soon.  It seemed appropriate to make her a prom dress complete with a full skirt (16 yards of tulle!) and a little tiara.  The inspiration for this ensemble, believe it or not, was the crystal dragon fly fan pull which is used here as a necklace.  The bodice is silk organza, the comics; stamped with large rubber stamp.  A little metal bug was painted with metal silver paint and adorns the tiara made from leftover bodice scraps.




Texture "123" courtesy of Kim Klassen.

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April 12, 2012

Truly sends greetings from Naples beach...

This week Truly is getting a few rays on the beach.

It was a challenge putting this together.  I wanted it to look like a vintage post card.  It's actually a composite of three photographs, clip art and texture.  

Naples beach.  Using the clone tool, the figures on the left removed from the photo.

 chickee hut on Naples beach - chickee hut cut out of photo;  color adjustment added; shadow added

Truly Nolen's 1952 Buick - car cut out of photo; color adjustment added

"Dream Wonder" texture courtesy of Pixel Dust Photo Art.
Post card from Digital Scrapper

April 11, 2012

Butterflies Are Free...

Edit Me Challenge - week 15






Mouse Over to see Original

The yellow flowers in the background were selected, enlarged; color adjusted to complementary color; used as texture over original photo. Script brush over top.

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April 10, 2012

Post Cards from Slovenia

I've been having fun creating my own vintage travel post cards.  I took this photo in Lake Bled, Slovenia.  It was a rainy, cold day in November.

The same photo using different papers to create the post cards.  Which version do you prefer?




"Little Things" texture courtesy of Kim Klassen.
Post card from Digital Scrapper

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April 6, 2012

Hanging out to dry...

If you know me at all, you know I love a challenge.  Branson at My Reflection of Something suggested that I join this week's Edit Me Challenge.  I didn't think I'd have the time, but obviously I did!

One of my favorite things to take pictures of is laundry hanging on a line.  In the community where I live, this is not allowed.  It's commonplace in Europe, however, and that's where I took most of the pictures in my collection.  Careful editing allowed me to "cut these clothes out" and hang them up to dry.  I hope the rain holds off for a bit...

A big soft brush loaded with black was applied over the edges of the composite layer; gassian blur at 190.0 pixel radius added.



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April 5, 2012

Truly goes for a swim...

Truly Nolen has a number of antique cars parked around town.  I've been taking pictures of as many as I can find.  It's been a treasure hunt!

Photoshop Elements is an amazing photo editing tool.  I have been having a great time combining pictures, applying layer masks, blending modes and textures.

Using a Wacom tablet, I carefully "cut out" the car from it's background.  Placed the car on the beach added texture, a layer mask, color burn blending mode, drop shadow and voila - Truly goes for a swim!  (Actually, the swim is over.  Now where did I put that towel...)



Original photo of car

Photo taken at sunset on the Naples beach

"Antique Farewell" texture courtesy of Pixel Dust Photo Art.

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April 3, 2012

Angel Soft

The challenge is the word prompt "soft".  A few years ago, I took this picture of my granddaughter, Emily, on the beach just about sunset.



Mouse Over to see Original

"Stamped Softly" texture courtesy of Kim Klassen.

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