Texture Thursday | Ancient Remedies

Well, it's been a little while since I've entered the Texture Thursday challenge, but here I am!  We've had a busy summer getting to know our new daughter-in-law, as well as getting them all settled in after moving back home from California ... they say the weather out there was much better compared to the heat we've been having here!  It's just too hot for me!  I'm so thankful for air conditioning here in our home ... the one in our car just 'died', and I'm not overly excited about going anywhere lately!  I do hope you're all finding ways to beat this heat.  Honestly, I'm ready for the cooler days of fall!  If this heat keeps up, it can't come soon enough for me!

For this weeks entry, I decided to use an image of old medicine bottles, although I do notice an old English Leather box, and a couple other things that wouldn't be considered remedies.  It was pretty much SOOC, but I did brighten the colors just a bit, then used a texture from Paul Grand.  I love all things old, and thought this would be a fairly good choice to share.  To see more interesting textures, or to add one of your own ... come on, you know you want to ... just click on the logo below the photo! :)  Have a blessed weekend, and we'll see you again soon!

Texture Thursday | Framed

Another Thursday, already! It's hot here, and it just seems the days and weeks are flying by ... melting into yesterdays.  Is it me, or do you all feel the same, too?  Nevertheless, it's upon us and for this week I wanted to share a photo 'of a photo' of some sweet friends of ours.  We were at their house for a picnic and I adored her flair for decorating ... there was a touch of 'Paris' in every room.  When I saw this shelf and the photo of the two of them, along with a couple of old books, I couldn't resist.  I played around with this image in PSE7, and although I liked it without a texture, I found that using one added so much more.  First I tweaked the colors a bit, then added this layer that I got from Shadow House Creations.  Jerry has a nice website there, and some really pretty textures you can download for free.  I liked the effect this particular one added.  I really enjoy using texture layers to give an image even more character and depth. If you'd like to see what others do with textures, or to share one of your own, hop on over by clicking on the button below!  Have a blessed day!

The virtue of the camera is not the power it has
to transform the photographer into an artist,
but the impulse it gives him to keep on looking.
~ Brooks Anderson ~

Texture Thursday | A Moment in Time

'A moment in time' captured forever .... my husband and I went to a living history museum and we had a wonderful time talking to this lovely lady.  She spoke as if she actually lived in the 1800's ... she was in her early 90's, and so very knowledgeable and informative about many things.  I do love studying and hearing about the past, and I loved talking with her!  I just had to capture the moment we shared.  A moment, I must say, that will be forever imprinted on my mind.  I've edited this image in a couple of different ways.  I really like it in black and white, and finally I added this texture in order to enter it over at The Daily Wyatt for the Texture Thursday Challenge.  To see what others have entered, or if you'd like to join in, just click the button below.  Hope your day is blessed!

Photo Challenge | Before & After - Texture Thursday

It's been a little while since I've posted, and I sure have missed it!  We've had a lot going on here, not to mention storm after storm that has blown through.  Wednesday was one day I'd not want to repeat any time soon, or ever!  I've been off more than on the computer these days because of the constant warnings.  Lightning and computers do not go together, but thankfully, we've had nothing as serious as other parts of the country.  So much devastation, and loss for so many ... they all continue to be in our thoughts and prayers!

Well, needless to say, I've missed a few of these photo challenges.  I've wanted to get back here to share some before & afters, and some textured images with you, so I thought I'd do both today.  I enjoy browsing through antique malls, and when I came upon a booth full old cameras, I couldn't help but stop to look over a few of them and snap a couple of quick shots for old-time memory's sake!  Here is one of the images I took but as you can see, it's not very appealing when it comes to composition, or lighting.  It was a bit dark and shadowed in the area where these were, so I had before me the challenge of giving this image some much needed character ... oh, but I do love an editing challenge!  First, I straightened and cropped it up a bit then went to work on fading out the color, adjusted contrast, and lighting, then finally added the texture layer to give it an even more 'weathered' look ... reminds me of something you'd find in an attic!  To add your own creations, or to see more 'Before and After' and 'Texture Thursday' images, just click on the links below.  Hope you all enjoy a blessed weekend!

Before ... SOOC

After ... Vintage Cameras Textured

Change is good ... but, not always easy!

Ah, a new year, a new beginning, time to turn the page, start with a clean slate, and get a fresh web design ... yes, we're under construction around here, and things keep pulling me away from the computer, so I haven't gotten too very far.  I'm learning how all the gadgets and gizmos in Blogger work, and that, too, has taken time.  I even went so far as to open up a new web site here, just to practice on ... that way I don't totally mess things up here on my main page!  Figuring all of this out, is not what I would call simple ... but I do like the challenge!  I finally figured out how to add the tabs to my other pages along the top ... now, to get each one completed! 

Currently I'm working on a new logo/banner/header for the top of my page.  If anyone has any tips, or tutorials, on how to make, and add one, by all means, do share!  I can tell you, I am certainly no web designer, but like I said, I'm always up for a challenge!  The one I have up there now still needs a frame, or something, and may very well be temporary, although I do like the simplicity of it, and it's all about simplicity these days ... for me, at least!  Well, it's time to get back to work ... but first, I'll leave you with an image I took of a friend's bouquet that she's had drying since her wedding this past October ... I thought it fitting to add a texture to it ... this one came from Shadowhouse Creations.

Have a blessed weekend ... and stay warm! We're in a deep freeze here ... but still, I do love the winter! :)

A Portrait of Emily

Emily is a very sweet girl, so helpful, kind, and considerate of others ... she comes from an amazing family!
I've always wanted to play the violin ... I have many younger friends, who do!
Always wanted to play the acoustic guitar, too ... *sigh, maybe someday, 
but, for now, I'm absorbing all I can about this thing called photography!
I added a bit of texture to this photo ... Emily was waiting to play at a ceremony
where some friends renewed their wedding vows ... it was a beautiful day!

Before and After

I've been loving the flowers this spring, so, I went back through some files from the past couple of years, to see what I could find to play with, in my editing program.  I came across this beauty ... with a little 'friend' attached.  These are all of the same image .. the first one is SOOC ... (straight out of the camera) ... no editing here at all ... sorta dark, and dull.  On the second image, with a few clicks, I let PSE7 do a little 'auto' processing of it's own ... nothing too exciting, but it did bring out the colors.  On the third one, as you can see, I changed the color up a bit, added a fantastic texture, by Jerry, from Shadow House Creations, tweaked the blending mode, and opacity, and just had fun with it ... it's all for practice, and not every time, but sometimes, what we end up with is kind of nice. I'd like an opinion, or two, here, so, let me know your thoughts on the last one below! =) Constructive criticism is always helpful!