Halloween - Creativity passed down.

Okay, My creative world is not so digital at moment. I have to see if you can tell what I just finished.

Okay. crappy cell phone picture .. But anyway. I was always impressed with my mother and her inventive Halloween costumes. I remember being a Halloween cheerleader. She made the costume .. cute pleated skirt and all. Shirt said "University of Halloween". Anyway. I thought I would do that with my girl.

As huge Wizard of Oz (clue) fans. I set out to make this year a family costume event.

I went simple and stuff we could re-use at latter dates - I am a recycler.

Aren't we cute. Dorthy, Toto, "Daisy" Munchkin, "Tennessee" Scarecrow.

Yes I made the hat only. I am a busy girl. But overall not so bad. And she loved it.

Comparison Shots -

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She was correcting everyone all night. "No, I am a Munchkin." When they thought she was a princess or Glenda.

The Family as a set was a big hit.

My escape to Photoshop

Life has been even more hectic since last blog. Lost a month somewhere, with two new kids in the house I am busier than ever.

But I can always escape into Photoshop.

The world of Photoshop is a great place to be. You can be stronger, skinner, have friends over, and make a lasting memory that you didn’t experience first hand.

Thru some of my photo manipulations you can see that Photoshop make the world a better place.

 

Client’s dad always wanted his truck photographed in front of a cotton field. Since the truck couldn’t go to the field, the field was brought to the truck.

Make a perfectly good snapshot turn into a picture worthy of sharing.

Make an EX go away.

Make a small town car show become a studio shot.

Have the picture taken that we just never got around to doing.

I just love the world of Photoshop. Guess I have to get back to reality.

Where do you escape too?

Tin Photos - Surprised me on detail!

I haven't blogged in a while. Sorry, I have been crazy busy.

I thought I would drop a quick blog in as I was reminded today of a TinType project.

If you don't know tintype pictures where the rage in 50s. I have always been intregued with older pictures but never actually got to hold tintype.

First time holding one was an experience. It is amazing the detail that can be held by the metallic silver crystals.

Below you can see how it oringally scanned in and what could be done to bring out even more detail the eye couldn't see.

Maybe one day I will get to see and hold a ambrotype photo. I know I am weird when it comes to photos.

Preserving memories just means so dang much to the world.

Till next time.

Precious adoption memory saved

As my husband and I got approved for foster/adoptive, it reminded me how precious adopted kids can be. Made me remember this awesome experience from a few years ago.

A local Crossville, TN woman ran across a friend of mine that I had restored many pictures for. She was so impressed she called me up to see if I could fix the most precious item in her house.

I went to her home and she was excited to see what I could do. She came back in the kitchen and placed a cautiously wrapped throw on the table. As she took extreme precaution removing the throw, she began to explain.

"This is my only copy of this image. See I am adopted and on the day my parents got the official paperwork that I was theirs, they took me to the local photography studio. We had our first picture taken as a permanent family. My parents are gone now but I still love them for choosing me. Since their death I have traveled to many places.

I take extreme care with this image because, well, it was caught in a house fire. Luckily the fire didn't destroy the image. But the water from the fireman extinguishing the blaze has caused the glass to stick to the picture. I found it under a pile of rubble and cried.

Do you think you can get me a copy from it.?"

I was overwhelmed with emotions from the story and to see this picture. It was still in the frame. The glass was shattered and most of the glass was missing. Leaving a large section that the picture was stuck to. I had no idea if I could get anything resembling the original from it. But I took on the task with her full understanding that I wasn't sure.

After scanning the portrait thru the glass there was lots of color differences. There was more damage that the eye could see. But as always the scanner found it.

I was amazed how it came out and unintentionally made her cry once I provided her with my loving care in the final product.

She still keeps the original wrapped up carefully but has the new on display. This is one of my fondest memories doing the small task of preserving memories.

Below are before and after pictures - let me know what you think.

Photography "Eye"

I have learned to take a compliment seriously. I have had some people tell me that I have an "eye" for these things. Let me know what you think of some of the projects I have been given. Please review some of my photos below. 

 

Let me know if you might be interested in me taking a few shots for you. 

Murals and Painting fun

I know I don't really need another creative outlet but I just love learning.

I also enjoy painting. A few years ago I enjoyed taking One Stroke painting classes here in my home town.  My goal was to learn enough to make some personalized gifts. I have made numerous and all have been a hit with the recipients.

Then a friend approached me for a mural for her downstairs. I was nervous but knew my philosophy in life, "Always try your hardest" as well as it was just paint would triumph. And of course it could be painted over if disaster happens.

Going down the steps you see her favorite flower, morning glories, winding down the staircase.

You find the morning glories origin at the landing with this pot. I added the shepard's hook and bird feeder just for height. You can see this from the den area. One humming bird here.

A couple other humming birds on the opposite wall flying toward the feeder.

With my friend being happy with the very first mural, I branched out and have done a few things for our church ministries and props department.

Let me know what you guys think?

Beautiful belly

Too much fun taking photos. Taking pictures is so much fun for me that I feel like I am going to explode.

Again in my creative world it is another outlet for me just to have a blast.

Here are some shots of my latest, victim, LOL. Tiffany happens to be my best friend and we took belly shots with her first pregnancy, too. Some shots below of both. First time I just took two sheets as the backdrop. This time I found a bolt of fabric at a yard sale as the backdrop.


Tiffany is very happy this theses as she was with the originals.

I can't help myself I took all the pictures into photoshop and cleaned some small stuff up. (wrinkles, brightened the color, changed color of a few things, brightened eyes, etc.)

Anyway.. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Let me know what you think.. Would love some other opinions on them.

Grayson - Boy #2

Alec Boy #1