{ if on a winter's eve...}

There seems to be no more magical time of the seasons then at the winter solitice.

Blessings

{Photoshop Workshop with DJ Pettitt}

I will be taking this fantastic Photoshop Workshop with DJ Pettitt 

these photos are just a couple of examples of her work.  It starts January 4th and I am sooooo excited.

My art work in the coming year will be taking on a new flavor based on the things I will be learning with DJ.  I have taken a workshop in person with her before and she is wonderful instructor.

{Finding My Own Style}

Learning about Payne's Gray, angular brushes and water soluble crayons.  I have to smile when I think about
trying to paint portraits without them.  It would be like saying to a seamstress "you mean you were trying to sew without a seam ripper".  This portrait was far less stressful.  It's on watercolor paper rather than fabric so I am not sure what to do with it now.  I will for sure scan onto fabric and perhaps try to frame her in some interesting way.

{Fa,la,la,la,la, la,la,la}

I like to add a new Christmas tree to our holiday decorations each year and this year it is this hand made tree I got on Etsy .  I have bought a few items from Middleburg over the last couple of years and they have all been splendid. I change them out through the seasons.

{New - Old Explorations in Fiber Art}

Taking some time to go back to the simple basics.

Just a little simple hand stitching.  My creative energy is moving away from bright colors and larger pieces as in my art quilts.  I have been gathering paler, neutral colors but still batiks which I have been eager to start using.  The hand stitching projects will probably end up in art journals of mine and those I create for resale.  I will also be exploring more machine stitching such as words, flowers, hearts, stars, wings maybe even bird cages, houses and windows. 

{Kathy have you seen this garland}

I got this garland a couple of years ago and would like some more but can't find it here.

Maybe you can find it on the other side of the country

just for the details

{Mistletoe}

More Photoshop photos of the holiday festivities.

Photos have taken on a whole new beauty just waiting to be used.  I want to start art journals

using old family photos.  They will need to be scanned first.  But the art journal will be well worth the time

and effort to scan and alter the photos.  I think I'll starting with Christmas family photos.  A Christmas art journal has such potential.

{Images of the Season}

Our little "Charlie Brown" tree.  I love the natural imperfections of Christmas trees that are not shaped to perfection.  I like the "holes" - it gives some space for the bulbs to actually hang free.

{Oh' Tis the Season}

Even with just a simple one step Mask with Photoshop Elements a plain photo can be transformed

into Art. 

O morning, you beautiful glorious-skied heaven,

how fortunate I am to open my eyes to you