Ebony meet Ivory

I love all colours of the rainbow and I have a hard time seeing in Black & White. Today, I challenged myself to take a few photos from my photo library and make them black and white. I like black and white photography a lot. I just don't usually see what the photo looked like before it was processed to lose all its colour. So, when I try it I usually want to revert my photos to their full-fledged colourful glory. Here are my finished photos. What do you think?

Photo Walkin'

I've heard about photo walks before but I never knew of one in my city. By accident, I heard of the 5th Annual Worldwide Photo Walk organized by Scott Kelby taking place on October 13th. I found one taking place only minutes away from where I live. So, I went.

My reservations on going were many:

1. I didn't know anyone going.
2. I'm just a hobbyist photographer. 
3. I don't really know how to use my camera fully. 
4. I didn't know if I'd be with a group of people obsessed with their gadgetry and know-how, who expected me to be the same way. I'm not. I just like to take photos. I don't have a budget for a super high-end camera, several lenses, and I haven't taken classes.

I showed up despite my concerns. Yay for me and my shyness. Within minutes of starting our walk, I was encouraged by the walk leader to not use my display screen. I guess my obvious "chimping" was offensive to her. Chimping is when you look at your display after you take a photo. I personally do not care if people want to look at their photos as they take them. I can think of several things in this world I do have issues with and "chimping" is definitely not one of them. However, I did completely appreciate her tip on how to focus the viewfinder of my camera so that I could actually see out of it with my glasses. Brilliant, I had no idea I could do that. I would actually use my viewfinder more (mostly to save on battery life) but I hadn't been able to see out of it clearly. So, that little nugget of wisdom made the whole walk worthwhile for me. I kept my display off the whole walk. I figured I'd might well as embrace trying things differently and challenging myself. Plus, if I'm totally honest, I didn't feel like being judged. By the end of the walk, I was shooting everything in manual mode. It was a good feeling to know that I was figuring things out.

What I didn't enjoy were comments I overheard. To each his own, I suppose. I need thicker skin, I know. The one comment I heard was a criticism of Instagram. The people talking couldn't understand why people put their bad photos on Instagram and then think they're great. They didn't know why people would bother. I kept my thoughts to myself and if I had been bolder, maybe I should have shared my thoughts.

I am a big fan of Instagram. It really hadn't entered my thoughts that people would be offended by the quality of people's photos. 

What I should have told those ladies: I take photos to communicate. I take them to show my perspective on the world; my interests; my daily life; what makes me happy. I would love if every photo was perfect. That would be great. My goal as photographer is to document my life. To show what is meaningful to me. It is a visual reference of the content of my life. I want to share that with friends, and even with strangers. To me, photography is about sharing and communicating. I don't photograph to be judged and I don't go on Instagram to critique. I enjoy the aesthetics of a good photo but that is always a bonus. I encourage anyone who wants to share a bit of their lives in a creative way. I think it is kind of sad that people put so much energy into dismissing the creative works of others, or making rules about procedure and technique. I say, do what makes you happy and enjoy the process.

So, would I go on a photo walk again? Maybe not. I did meet a couple people who were nice. One woman I hope to run into again. I think I'd rather do more photo walks with my husband and kids as they get older. Or a photo walk with scrapbookers. That'd be good too.

I didn't take many photos that I liked. Here are some of what I took:

Tale of Two Ducks

Watson's Mill.  I have no idea what I did to my camera settings.

Canadian Geese, eh?

Dreamy Porch

Inukshuk on Main St.

Vintage Car

Have you been on a photo walk and blogged about it? Share a link to your blog so I can see!

Doc Martens walking me down memory lane.

I realized just two days ago that I started college exactly half my life ago. A friend from my art program at college had posted happy birthday wishes on my Facebook wall. I turned 19 on the fourth day of school. To me, that moment is the bridge between my childhood and adult life. The number of days of my entire childhood equals the exact amount of time passed since that day. No wonder I feel tired. How much have I learned in those years?

Me at 19 (photo by Jenn from my art class)

I think about my childhood. I was lucky to grow up in a loving home. I was gratefully sheltered from things that other peers were not so lucky to escape. I only had an inkling of how good I had it. Like any child, we all grow up thinking what we experience is pretty much how it is for everyone else.

I stare down at my feet. For the most part, I wear them bare. I like my feet to be firmly planted on the ground. Especially outside. Unless I'm working/gardening near spiders or anything creepy crawly. Bare feet makes me feel connected to the world. Same reason I like open windows I think. When I'm closed off from nature, or fresh air, I feel isolated and start to ruminate. When I feel connected, a space opens in my chest where I can breathe more easily, and feel more at ease. I don't know if everyone else feels that way. It's how I am. It's how I need to be.

On that day I started college, I was wearing 8 hole Cherry Doc Martens. Scuffed and worn. They were tied so tight I had indents in my legs above the ankles where the shoes ended. I loved those boots. They were very trendy but I was always proud to say I got mine before the trend exploded. You know you're the trend setter if people insult you. I remember in high school, a boy told me I looked like a wrestler. I got a lot of weird stares from the in crowd. Then the trend arrived at our school, and I still got weird looks from the in crowd but now they meant "hey, you poser, you're trying to look cool, like one of us" as they'd forgotten I had them before they did.

I was not popular in high school. I certainly didn't make it easier for myself by blending into the background. No, I always had a bit of flair and enough pride to stand out just enough to make more trouble for myself.  Wearing mismatched socks and standing up in auditoriums to speak my mind on various issues was probably not helping the situation. I'm guessing I prided myself on being an outsider even though it tormented me to not be one of "them". Whoever "them" is.

When I think of my childhood, I remember the sights, impressions, and smells. I mostly remember my close ties with family. Then there is school and friends. That is a more painful experience for me. I was a very cute little girl. Very timid and naive. When I was little, maybe 7 or 8, I was teased. Normal for everyone. Most kids have enough sense to recognize teasing for what it is. Not me. So when some girls told me I was ugly, I believed them. To the core. Not to be forgotten. To affect me forever. I think when you let yourself believe something like that, it sets the course for how you let people continue to treat you. It is a snowball effect. Things do not get easier. I think bullies sense this weakness.

On the first day of school in Grade Four, I was so excited that I was on the "senior" side of the playground. The school had their playgrounds separated into primary (grades 1-3) and senior (grades 4-6). A girl, new to my school, came up to me, hovering over me by at least a head or two and nastily told me that I wasn't allowed on the senior side and to get back over there. She said other things too I'm sure but I just remember wondering who the heck she was to rain on my parade. She didn't let up on the bullying for another 6 years. It only ended because she transferred high schools in grade 10. It is amazing to see how much my life improved when three of my bullies transferred that year. I tell myself now that those girls were not happy. They were not from loving families. They were not sheltered and their souls were damaged. I try to focus on compassion but even now sometimes I get angry remembering.

I had a best friend during those years. We walked to and from school. Spent all our free time together. Sleepovers and even some vacations. Went to summer camp together. She had this rule that we weren't allowed to associate when we were at school. I didn't like it but I never questioned it. It only occurred to me yesterday that this was probably an indirect result of my being bullied. I always thought it was just the bullies that really disliked me and that it only affected me directly. I thought I wasn't overly popular because I was flawed or because the other girls were snobs. During my "Aha moment" yesterday, I realized that maybe, just maybe the bullies had really marked me as someone to not befriend. I wonder....

My best friend always loved to tell me that she was smarter than me, and that everything I could do, she could do better. If she said it, it must be true, right? I guess I was able to mostly tune it out and focus on how much fun we had. Or maybe part of me was just glad to have a friend. I took friendships very seriously. I was loyal. On my 12th birthday, I started Junior High. On our walk to school, my best friend announced that we were no longer friends and would not associate with one another again. Luckily, I'd celebrated my birthday party the weekend before. That was a crushing blow. Extremely crushing. My first real heartbreak. The ultimate betrayal. To top it off, when she saw me in the hallways at school, she'd ribbit like a frog. She got her whole class to do it. One by one, they'd file past me "ribbiting". I think it had something to do with a sweatshirt I had with dancing frogs on it. I can't think of anything else it could be. In Grade nine, she tried to get her new classmates at our high school to continue the ribbiting but I'd had enough. I told her she was lame and to knock it off. She did. She even tried to be friendly with me once in Grade 13, getting nostalgic about our earlier years. I was so stunned, I just nodded and politely excused myself. She acted as if nothing bad had ever happened.

One thing I regret when it comes to friendship, is the best friend I made when I was 13. We had fun but sometimes I felt a bit stifled. She didn't always take subtlety well and I wasn't one to be brutally forthright. I became friendly with another clique of girls when I was 14. I was really only friends with a couple of the girls but they were a group... did everything as a whole. Gossiped, walked to school, ate lunch, listened to music, conspired... as a whole. One day, one of the girls I wasn't overly fond of told me to stop being friends with my best friend. I was already annoyed with my best friend and I went over to the dark side. I gave her the cold shoulder. I will always regret how I treated her. I got the payback though. The group of friends dropped me and added her to their clique. I think she is still close friends with all of them. I really didn't belong in that group. They adored the New Kids on the Block. Boy Band music made me cringe. Really, I had a negative physical response to hearing boys crooning while making cheesy side stepping dance moves. Even now as I type I'm started to feel nauseated. However, my regret at mistreating a friend remains.

I found a new group of friends. I was a camp counsellor. It took me a couple more years to make friends that really shared similar interests. Things improved and I managed to have a bit of fun in my last couple years of high school.

Those were some memories of childhood and how relating to people was difficult for me. I look back now on the second 19 years of my life and I can see the same struggles and patterns pop up again and again. Interesting. The themes that follow one through life. What do I want to do the same, and what can I change for the next 19 years?

I didn't plan for this blog post to cover some of these painful moments but I'm glad I talked about it. It is some of the stuff that weighs me down. It is on my mind right now as my sweet little daughter is entering school. I want her to be a stronger, more secure and confident person than I am. I want her to also be compassionate and understanding of herself and others. Thinking about how to help her achieve these tall orders has me thinking about my past. I am reading a book called "Little Girls Can Be Mean: Four Steps to Bully-Proof Girls in the Early Grades by Michelle Anthony" and I'm hoping it will provide some insight. Maybe it might even help me heal the little girl I once knew.

At some point, I'll write the second part of this blog post. It will be about the teachers in my life... for better or worse.

The return

Months have passed, haven't they? Seasons even. I have struggled with having two blogs... a personal one and a business one. When I get my act together (someday, someday) I will revamp my blog and merge it into one. In the meantime, I will pick and choose which posts get placed where. In order to do that, I must actually have something to say.

I have so much to write about over the past few months. I just don't have enough hours in the day. No one does. I envy those who are able to multitask so well.

I have lots to do and I get all freaked out when I am overwhelmed (consumed) with a deadline. Yet, do I focus solely on getting the task done? Of course not. I have noticed lately that when faced with a deadline I decide it is a great time to pick up a new hobby, or start a new project. I thought there was something very wrong with me until I started reading Austin Kleon's "Steal like an artist". He writes about being creative and productive. Every page is filled with genius/common sense but the part I want to mention here is his advice to have hobbies and side projects. He puts a whole new spin on procrastination that I'd never considered. Taking time away from the main project to explore other interests, or to attend to mundane tasks, frees your mind to come up with new brilliance. Ok, that's my take on what he said... whether that's what he meant or not, is an entirely different matter. Read the book and see what you think. I do think every artist would benefit from reading what he has to say. Even if some of what he says you possibly already knew, it serves as a good reminder.

Got a deadline, start up embroidery, tackle the art of Project Life-ing, take an online journaling class, decide to start up your blog again, and oh uh, maybe find time to get your work done. Oh the agony and ecstasy of procrastination.

Forget the shoulds. I should be cleaning the house; playing at the park with my husband and children; making lunch; doing a million things all worth doing. Yet I AM usually found doing these other things. Sometimes wishing I had just a moment to work on my art. When I have that moment, I fret the time away "shoulding" all the things I'm not doing.

My original point of blogging today was to say "hey, I'm back". I am hopeful I'll get back into the swing of things. I hope to update you on just exactly what I've been up to for the past half year or so. I have a list of things I want to write about. Stick with me, I might actually get it all out of my head.

For now, I'll share a photo from last night when my family celebrated my special day.

Things I want to do....

Excuse me... need to drink my coffee before it is unbearably cold... ok, where was I? Right, things I want to do. I need to be an octopus. One arm to snap a photo of my kids being cute, one arm to make a scrabble move on my iPod, one arm to hold my coffee, another arm to plug in my power cord when my battery starts to run low, and two arms to type. Do octopi have large brains? Maybe they don't multitask. Those arms of theirs must be a bit under utilized. Do they just help them swim faster? Did I spell Octopi right?

So, I have a list of "want to do" things as long as my human arm (not my wishful octopus arm). I don't get a lot of items checked off my list. Sure I have limited time. Who doesn't? Mostly, my procrastination is due to not being sure how to approach completion. I want to redo my first floor bathroom. It's a small room with just a toilet, window and sink. I'd like to add wainscotting and paint it all pretty and whimsical to match a rug I bought last year. I can't decide what colour for the walls, what artwork to add, or how to even fathom putting up wainscotting. I am at a loss.

Kitchen table, front door... all similar stories.

I have three shadow box frames that need filling. They had scrapbook layouts but I took them out for some reason I forget. I'm thinking I'd like to put a collection in each. So now I have to think up what collection I'd like to showcase. What do I have that is totally eye worthy and spiffy enough?

I have four square collage frames in my living room. There are four photos of my kids in them and the other 12 photos are some random boy who came with the frames. If I don't get my act together and add photos I'll have to give the poor kid a name. I can just never decide which photos I want to add.

The list goes on and on and on and on.

You know, I forget what my grand point about all this was going to be. I can't end this blog post even... see what I mean?

Thank you Cake4Breakfast!!!

Just a quick note to send a "shout out" to a most wonderful seller on Etsy known as "Cake4Breakfast". She sews tablecloths and other beautiful items.  In the spring I had a tablecloth made. I love it so much! Then a month ago I decided I need a Christmas themed tablecloth. I can't buy my table size in stores so custom made is the way to go for me. I decided I deserve to treat myself to something that can be a heirloom. Now I am the proud owner of a most wonderful Christmas tablecloth that will be cherished for years to come!

I received the tablecloth yesterday and was so excited I made a scrapbook layout about it just last night.

Here it is:

 credits:
Oh Joy kits - by creashens and paislee press
Shop till You Drop kit (and alpha)- Lisa Sisneros
Dear Santa kit - Little Butterfly Wings
Holiday Template #10 - Simply Tiffany Studios

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Do they think I don't notice?

 I have a pet peeve. It's a small, rather unremarkable one. Ok, I have a ton of pet peeves but tonight I will just mention the one. I'm not even sure how to describe/categorize it. Movie props for American movies filmed in Canada.

Well, let me explain. So, for a long time I've enjoyed watching Christmas movies. I don't care if they're theatrical releases on TV, or made-for-tv. They don't even have to be any good. They just have to be Christmas-y. Maybe I'm just becoming a Scrooge, or I'm too tired, or more likely, I've already seen every movie made. This year I can't seem to sit to watch a movie for more than 10 minutes. What is bugging me so much? It's the props.

I have a running joke with my husband about movie props. Years ago I surprised him by my keen ability in telling if a movie was filmed in Canada, merely seconds after the movie begins. Finally I told him my secret. If I see a US mailbox within the first 10 seconds of a film, it is almost definitely filmed in Canada. They (whoever the movie people are) use it to set the scene. Watch a show filmed in the United States and you'll rarely see this. It's true... check it out for yourself. What I found irritating (besides the low budget quality of the movie, and the cheesy dialogue... ok, maybe I am a bit Scrooge like) is seeing all the inconsistencies in their "scene setting". The movie I watched tonight (for 5 minutes)  showed the mail box. Ok, so good, we're in the United States... phew, I thought we were in Ontario for a second there. As I'm staring at this mailbox, a lady wears a plastic bag as a hat. The plastic bag belongs to a retail chain called Dollarama, which is based out of Quebec. Then behind her, across the street is a Canadian post office truck. But don't worry, they've posted over the logo with American stars & stripes. On the building behind them, they've hung Stars & Stripes banners. Do they even do this in the States in December? Isn't that more of a 4th of July thing?

I found all of this so distracting, I couldn't follow the lame plot and so I turned off the TV. I'd rather scrapbook anyway.

Yes, I AM a scrooge!

I'll stick to Claymation and White Christmas for my holiday movies from now on.

Anyway, here are the layouts I've made this past week (Click to enlarge):

This sort of layout is WAY out of my comfort zone but I was trying something new. I'm not sure if it worked or not. Not very Christmasy but it is part of my December Daily.

Credits:
Holiday 2011 Template #4 - Simply Tiffany Studios (Tiffany Tillman's Holiday Templates 2011 Class at reneepearson.com)
Life is a dancefloor - Ju Kneipp & Laura Banasiak
Fairytale dreams kit - Mari Koegelenberg 

There isn't anything particularly exciting about the topic... just documenting my days.

Holiday 2011 template #10 (from her class at Renee Pearson)- Tiffany Tillman (Simply Tiffany Studios)
Snowy Day papers - MellyBird Designs
Winter Woodland kit - Lisa Sisneros

credits:
holiday 2011 template #13 - Simply Tiffany Studios (Tiffany Tillman)
winter's garden papers - nancie rowe janitz
sugarplums - nancie rowe janitz & aja abney
guilty pleasures - fei's stuff
joy & glee - sherrieJD
adorned - paislee press

This is a crazy layout... try not to get vertigo looking at it. I think it must be a tribute to my Grandma's bathroom at the time of the photos taken, which was a eyeful of bright pink. So, I guess it is fitting.


Credits:

Holiday 2011 Template #8 - Tiffany Tillman (Simply Tiffany Studios)Oh Joy kit - creashensSnowy Day Papers (and some elements) and Alpha - MellyBird Designs Peace & Joy kit - Nikki BoudreauHoliday Magic and Merry Merry brushes by Nancie Rowe JanitzSnowflake brushes by Julia Makotinsky (I think they're packaged with a kit... don't recall)

Ok, these two (a two-pager) are from two weeks ago:

My musings on past Christmases and how they relate to my life now.

Credits:

Peace and Joy by Nikki Beaudreau Designs (Guest Designer @ CatScrap)

Simply Tiffany Studios Elegant Holiday #6 template by Tiffany Tillman (at Design House Digital)

I did this a few weeks ago:

Merriment (Holly Jolly and Countdown paper packs, Solid Papers, Girl Stickers, Date Labels, Tabs) by MellyBird Designs @ CatScrap

52 Templates #5 by Simply Tiffany Studios @ DHDframes: Dirty Pockets No.1 by creashens @ CatScrapCookies for Santa word art by One Little Bird @ OScraps

On the first of December...

... I began my most favourite class of all! Tiffany Tillman's Holiday template course at ReneePearson.com is now in its third year. All new kits, templates and daily lessons. I have taken all three.

The first class in 2009 was a present to myself. I wasn't used to taking classes online. I had dabbled briefly in digital scrapbooking but preferred paper. My intention was to use the templates for paper scrapbooking. Or maybe do hybrid pages (a term for the type of scrapbooking I tended to do already without knowing it). My photoshop skills were rusty and I hadn't scrapbooked in a while as I'd had my first child that year so I was pleasantly surprised when I fell in love with digital. Mostly I liked that I wasn't making a mess that my daughter could get into.

Once I took that course, there was no going back. Since then, I've taken most of Tiffany's classes. I've learned so much from her. Plus, in searching for Christmas kits to use in my first template class I found a designer I loved and did a google search on her. That is how I found CatScrap. Months later during a summer template class I got the nerve to post one of my layouts in the CatScrap challenges and got noticed for a BOB (Best of the Best) nomination. I was all psyched to try and get that honour but before it could be decided if I'd won, I had applied to the creative team and got a placement. That was exhilarating and intimidating. I hadn't spent much time online or in galleries since before my daughter was born. Even then, I never posted.

As an artistic person in general, I had always imagined how great it would be to create my own kits. I had no idea how to approach that so I was happy enough just to be part of a creative team at such a talented stop. I had some fun spots as a guest on creative teams, and on Log Your Memory. Then one day I couldn't help myself and started to design a kit. That's how I became a CatScrap designer. I've met some amazingly talented and kind women in this community: Scrapbookers, bloggers, artists, designers and educators. So much is available at our fingertips if we are open to learning. I'm so excited to see what the future brings. Although I have to admit I am struggling to balance kids (#1 priority), design and sleep. Sleep is really lacking and unfortunately it really does affect the other two priorities.

All this ramble just to say that it has been a busy year and I am so excited that December is upon us and I can take some "me" time to document our holiday season. I love Christmas and enjoy sharing all the magic of the season with my family. I am going to share with you my layouts made this month. I'm also trying to get some design work finished up too... so make sure to check CatScrap and my other blog www.mellybirddesigns.com to see what I'm up to there. Leave a meaningful (or even just friendly) comment on any of my posts here and maybe I'll share a coupon with you (make sure to leave a way for me to contact you).

Here is my first layout (it's a 2-pager) which is something I rarely do:

Credits:
Holiday Template #1 - Tiffany Tillman (Simply Tiffany Studios)
Everybody loves Christmas papers and elements - Echo Park
These moments at Christmas - Elle's Studio
Jolly Golly Candy little alpha - Cosmo Cricket
Oh Joy - Cosmo Cricket 

I know JUST where it will go!

So, I HAD to try out Nancie Rowe Janitz's Subway Art Workshop when I saw it in her store at CatScrap. How could I not? I love the subway art style, I love Nancie's artwork, I have ALWAYS wanted to learn transfer techniques, and I loved the sentiment of the text. It had to be done. So, last week I took my daughter on a trip to the local craft supply store to gather supplies, just in time for their doozie of a sale. Yippee!

I wasn't able to do the project until this afternoon when I forced myself to face my fears. I get scared when I try new projects. I put my son down for a nap. Gave my preschooler a cookie and told myself to get my butt in gear.

Where to start? Step One: Be Prepared. Step Two: Think you're prepared? Think again. I printed off the artwork. I sent it from my computer to my husband's printer but the cat got to the printer before I did. She swatted the paper until it jammed. A pain but no problem, right? Well, somehow in that jam I missed a page and skipped an important step... uh, painting the canvas!!! Ooops! So I cheated...  shhh, don't tell! My 3 year old daughter helped me with some gesso fun! It was after I applied my print outs that I realized my missing step. I would have cared more but I was on a mission to be "chill" about such things. After supper, my husband bathed the kids while I frantically ran around the house raving about my missing spray bottle. Where DID it GO? I gave up on finding that and thought I'd use the bottle I kept from the hospital when I had my son (if you have to ask why they gave it to me, I'm not telling). I spent more time raving about not being able to find THAT bottle too. It was under the kitchen sink. I don't know why. So I got down to the task of revealing the transfer and I WAS IN INSTANT LOVE. So super fabulous!

Now I had to remind myself to be gentle with the paper removal. I have always had a very heavy hand in artwork. Digital art is good for me because I can't smudge, smear, tear and destroy art that was looking oh-so-fine until I took it a step too far. So, I was very nervous I'd screw up this project too. Well, sure I did rub some parts off more than I'd like but overall, I think I did a good job. I added some distressing ink and called it a day. I have this blank spot next to my computer monitor that I've been wondering how to fill and this project is PERFECT for that space. Now I can be continually inspired by the words and art of Nancie. I'll use this technique again and again for sure. Thanks Nancie!

One reason I am really thrilled to have done this project is that I have wanted to get more into my hands-on artwork again. I want to learn mixed media. This felt like a great introduction into that world. When I was a pre-teen I was given a beautiful book on art methods. There was a section on image transfers. I wanted to learn how to do it so badly. I tried and it was feeble. I tried again and then I never tried again. I don't think the instructions were in depth or very good. It only took me nearly 30 years to try again. Unlike that book, Nancie's instruction is detailed, simple to follow, and even relaxing. Made me pine for Bob Ross a bit. Ok, maybe not but I did enjoy her instructional style.

Additional information:
soundtrack while working on project: Christmas playlist on random shuffle with the occasional miscategorized Barenaked Ladies song.

A little more love for Nancie Rowe Janitz

A while back... ok, nearly a year ago, I oohed and aahed over how much I love Nancie's brushes, overlays, and designs in general. She is a fabulously talented artist, designer, instructor, and person. I like her.

Well, I've been trying out her Mixed.3 Madness photoshop series workshop. It's a 16 page pdf with step-by-step instructions (with some of her hard learned secrets) on using her media backgrounds with her masks and brushes. She even includes some brushes and masks (and maybe more??? hint hint)... that alone is worth the generously low price.

I really could have used this workshop when I was first getting into digital scrapbooking. I was so overwhelmed and question marks were constantly flying through my mind as I struggled to figure out how all these cool effects on layouts were created. If only I'd known of Nancie then. If only her workshop had been available.

So what do you get from this?
- Instruction in Photoshop. She is very clear in her instructions so even beginners can follow along. A great way to learn more about Photoshop. If you're more advanced then you'll love the workshop too because it will show you new techniques.
- high-quality products she's included
- an end product you can feel really proud and excited about... gorgeous photo treatments, and your own custom-blended papers. It is pretty cool to be able to customize your papers by learning to blend her overlays together. And might I add, the quality and detail of the texture is quite incredible.

Here are some of my photo treatments that I made while following along with her workshop.

Here is Nancie's workshop. Click on it to see it in her store.

Oh, and just so you know, Nancie didn't put me up to this... I am one of her biggest fans and I want all of you out there in digi-land to find out just how great she is and how you can take your scrapbooking to the next level.

Thanks for reading!

CatScrap's Fall Catwalk Blog Hop! Get your QP freebies here!

Welcome one and all to yet another stop on the CatScrap Fall Catwalk Blog Hop! You are in luck... I am hosting not one but TWO quick pages created by the talented Bek and Raji who reside on the CatScrap creative team. Before you get to download such lovely goodies, please take a moment to check out all the wonderful Catwalk offerings created by the CatScrap designers:

Here is Bek's Quick Page. Click on it to download:

Supplies used: Trail Map Collection 1 by Roadside Designs and A Measure of My Love by Jazzmin Designs.

Here is Raji's Quick Page. Click on it to download:

Supplies used:

Thanks for stopping by! Next up is Elaine's Blog

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An enchanting Thanksgiving drive

We had a lovely weekend at the lake to celebrate Thanksgiving. Here in Canada, we celebrate in October. We were treated to unusually warm and balmy, t-shirt weather. While my kids and husband puttered around the lakefront with their uncle, I joined their aunt for a local walking studio tour. Not that anyone could walk from location to location. A little too rural for that. Our drive was very scenic as the trees have changed from green to various shades of gold, orange, and red. We stopped at our first chosen group of artists: A potter, a stained glass artist, and a cast stone artist. We had made this stop last year and I was enamored with the latter artist's cast stone mushrooms which I bought as gifts along with a cicada. This year I purchased 3 mushrooms and a set of little rectangle pieces with a butterfly, a bee, and a ladybug. I'll have to take photos of these later.

Then we headed down the road some more. Had I known the territory we were about to enter, I'd have brought some Arlo Guthrie to listen to as we drove. Or maybe a little Country Joe and the Fish. I thought we were in rather conservative country folk territory. Not so. Not so. We had entered Hippieville. Who knew all this time I was just a couple of left turns away from some creative free thinkers? We visited a studio displaying the works of 4 artists (a clothes designer, a potter, a jewellery maker, and a printmaker. I enjoyed the clothing designer's artistry the most but I have no desire to buy any clothing right at the moment. So we continued on to what turned out to be the artistic highlight of the trip.

We arrived at the studio of multi-media artist Carol Lee Riley. This woman should be uber-famous. She is soooooo talented I wanted to grab the art off her walls and run away with it. She transforms everyday objects into intricate designs. Most pieces are themed. She'll do a piece that involves only pieces from the kitchen. Or materials related to sewing. My most favourite piece involved a rice bag and so many other little details that made up the piece. I wish I could give her art a better description. I'm in love and I want the art world to know about her. Incredible. Truly. She has a piece with bread tags in it. It might just inspire me to finish my mini kit involving bread tags... we'll see.... Her studio was so big and airy with a huge front porch. She had a whimsical garden of metal. Pots of painted metal resembling flowers. A garden of utensils. Everywhere you turned, there was something new to see. It was at this point in the trip that I began to think there were other artists living in this neck of the woods... perhaps a community even.

Next stop... the enchanted forest. Well, there you go... my suspicions confirmed. This place was something out of a TV documentary. I think the Barbapapa family may have built this house. I believe it was run on electricity produced by the windmill atop the hill next to their circular yurt-like home. Their tangled garden of plants, mosaic tiles, hidden buddhas, and ornaments was an overload for my senses. Ok, not fair... I already had a migraine impairing my vision. Again I cannot do justice to explaining the construction of their various buildings. I had a friend once in Japan. His name was Daichi. All I could think was how much Daichi would love this place. This of course doesn't help explain the place unless you know Daichi. I can't help you there. Anyway... this place was host to four artists. A fibre artist and photographer who I believe were the inhabitants/builders of the place, a potter and a wood sculptor. The potter was quite talented but I liked the wood sculptures the most. He would take coloured pieces of thin lightweight wood (balsa or something... I'm not a wood expert) and adhere them together and then mould/sculpt them into shapes. Most of the pieces were colourful schools of fish adhered to a piece of coloured wood. Again my description is lacking. Trust me, they were beautiful. I really wanted one but the price tag was not speaking to me. We left the enchanted forest (which was its actual name) and headed to the village of Westport.

We stopped for a quick and late lunch. Then stopped at our final spot on the tour map. It was a beautifully located B&B. If you're ever in Westport looking for a B&B this place looks like quite the find. I'm not one to feel easily at home and I wanted to stay here. Definitely a good sign. The historic stone building has a lake out its back door and another one out its front door. They serve a yummy sounding (and presumably yummy tasting) menu, have beautiful rooms and decor, a wonderful sunroom I want to have transported to my home, and an inground pool. That's all I saw in my brief visit but I'm sure it is even more impressive than that. The owner also quilts fibre art and throws. I wanted one of the throws.... I tried not to drool on the fabric.

Then we headed home for our Thanksgiving meal which we had smartly prepared in our homes the day before: A turkey for the meat eaters; a Tofurky for the veggies; oodles of potatoes and veggies; and a pumpkin pie to finish off the meal.  Then off into the nearby foliage we went in search of mystical night creatures. I'm not kidding. Funny how the creatures we found looked remarkably like the stuffed dolls kept at the cottage. My 3 year old caught on but we had fun anyway.

I am indeed feeling very thankful.

I got published!

I'm super excited! I had three layouts published in the Autumn edition of Somerset Digital Studio. I've always wanted to have my scrapbook layouts published in a paper magazine. Whoohoo!!!!!

That's all I wanted to say. I know I'm a bad blogger. I know.

A CatScrap Catwalk and Blog Hop!!!!

Happy July!

The CatScrap Creative Team is hosting a blog hop with free quick pages to download made with new releases from the CatScrap Designers. Nicole from our creative team is super talented and has made a quick page for you to download. I am lucky to host it here in this post on my blog! Feel free to grab it. Leave a comment... we'd love to hear what you think!

Here is the quick page (click to download)

Thanks for stopping by!

You came from MellyBird Designs (my other blog) and next up is Leah's blog.

YAY! I am on Tiffany Tillman's template team!

It's been announced. I made the cut. I'm on Simply Tiffany's creative team. Tiffany has created the label "page artist" for her creative team members and it could not be more fitting. Much better than creative team member. I get to play with her scrapbook templates! YIPPEE! I've noticed most of my favourite layouts that I've made are using her templates. Sometimes I rely heavily on them and other time they are a starting point, or guideline. I am so honoured to be on her team. She is such a professional as an artist and as a teacher. I'm definitely one of her biggest fans.

Anyway, here is my first layout using her Modern Master's #6 template:

Credits:
Modern Master Template #6 by Tiffany Tillman @ Design House Digitals
Dear Mom by Valorie Wibbens @ CatScrap (May Guest Designer)
Word Art 5 by KStudio @ CatScrap

International Scrapbook Day is almost here!!!!!!!

and do I ever have some fabulous and exciting news! I am debuting as a digital designer at CatScrap.com. Yes, it is true!!! Such perfect timing as there is lots of deals and events planned for the International Scrapbook Day!!!

Here is my debut kit called My Little Bento:

This is the paper pack included in My Little Bento or it can be bought separately on its own:

And the word art:

Stay tuned for more wonderful happenings.