Cinnamon Pink

Day at the Outer Banks

Yesterday, Ron and I spent the day at the Outer Banks. The weather was beautiful for walking on the beach.

My two editorial assistants, Tia & Teddie, were not interested in posing for photos after their run on the beach.

We also went to the Vintage Bodega by the Sea which is a three-day Arts Market. Vendors offered vintage furniture, handcrafted items, antiques, jewelry, snacks and more. I wasn't able to score that special find. But I discovered a vendor new to me: Country Boy Antiques who specializes in wonderful  architectural salvage. Alvin Jones' shop is in Norfolk, VA. I plan to visit the shop soon.

Earlier in the week I acquired this vintage Pepsi crate at a local antique store. I plan to use the crate for storage in my Studio. I love the small cubby holes. Only the bottom row of cubbies is deep. The other three rows of cubbies are shallow. I just have to figure how to add some wood to make these three rows deeper.

Artistic Benefits of Walking

Cluster of Trees Encountered during My Walks

For many years, I have been taking long daily walks primarily for the health benefits. However, I've discovered that walking also benefits my mixed-media art in a variety of ways.

During a walk, I often come up with solutions to an art project that I'm currently working on. I also get new ideas for future art works. Sometimes, when I think about a project that I recently completed, I may come up with a new twist to enhance the project.

I call all these thoughts my daydreaming. Often, I get so absorbed with these ideas that I become startled when I come upon a fellow walker.

How do you get your ideas for art?

Recent Blossoms of Hydrangea

Here are two photographs of a bouquet of our most recent blooms of Hydrangea. We usually get pink blooms but my husband added different fertilizers - and the blossoms are displaying their beauty in a variety of colors - ranging from bright pink, to pale blue, to lavender and deep purple.

We have six bushes of the Endless Summer variety. Originally, we had eight bushes but in the first year of planting, two bushes succumbed to the hot, humid heat of North Carolina. I guess you can tell that Hydrangea are my favorite flower.

 

Hydrangea & Photo Experiments

Our Endless Summer Hydrangea are nearly in full bloom. Every year I am amazed at the beauty of the flowers. 

Inspired by the book, The Creative Photographer, authored by Catherine Anderson. I decided to take some photos of the fresh blooms. I heard about this book from my TAG Art Group. Many of the members raved about the book. And I concur. It is an inspiring read with both instruction and hands-on exercises. Above all, Anderson encourages readers to experiment and play with their cameras.

One of her exercises tells readers to choose one thing, e.g., a flower, a bowl of eggs - and to take at least one hundred photographs of this one thing. She says to take the photographs at different times of day, in different lights, in different places and at different angles.

As you can see, I took a few photos of my hydrangea. The sun was quite bright and it was rather windy. So I think I'll take some more photos later in the day. I don't know if I'll make it to 100 photographs but I believe it's going to be a fun experiment.

Experimenting with Sepia Tone Photographs

Earlier today, I experimented with sepia-tone photographs. I used a photograph of my brother Roddy's vintage car. The top image is the original photo.

I created the second photo in Photoshop Elements (PSE) by playing around with the brightness/contrast function and color curves.

For the third photo, I did an automatic sepia tone in Picasa. I wasn't satisfied with either of the two sepia tone photographs. I think I may do some more fine tuning in PSE, using the original photo.

Cousin Tia and Cousin Koda

When my brother (Roddy) and sister-in-law (Colleen) were here visiting, we attempted to get a photo of the two cousins. But as you can see, neither Tia (my Shih Tzu) or Koda (their Beagle) were cooperating.

My brother tried to get them to face the camera. After many takes and retakes, this was the best shot we could manage. Ben Franklin seems to be taking it all in stride while Tia is having a bad hair day.This photo was taken in Smithfield, VA.

  

 

 

More Vintage Plates

Here are three more vintage plates which I purchased from the (now defunct) Victorian Tea Room in Pennsylvania. I had talked about the Tea Room in my 7.22.08 post.

I use these plates as a soap holder in my guest bathroom. I also use vintage tea cups as water glasses in the bathroom. By displaying the china in my bathroom, I get to enjoy them on a daily basis.

Have a Creative Day, Darlene

 

Vintage Vignettes

I like to create Vintage Vignettes in my home with items that have personal meaning.

The basket, and porcelain roses, in this photo once belonged to my grandmother.

I purchased the plates from a Victorian Tea Room in Pennsylvania. I used to love taking Afternoon Tea at this place. Sadly, the owners closed their business a few years later. After they closed, they held a special sale of their china, silverware and inventory. And I was lucky enough to purchase these plates.

The framed image of an Angel is actually the admission ticket from the day that we visited the Vatican.

I received the Victorian table from my friend's father a long time ago. And I picked up the doily at an Antique Shop.

Have a Creative Day, Darlene