Latest Digital Page

Sorry the post will be a bit disjointed for a bit as I am having cataract surgery. One done, great success and one to go this weekend. So after that I hope to be back to normal again.
I have managed to finish my latest page though on the subject of music. The required elements seemed to need singing so I have chosen words form my favourite hymn. How Great Thou Art. Thereby hangs a tale. When I wasabut 12 at Grammar School we had a very good school choir that even broadcast from time to time and it was my ambition to join it, although there was a waiting list. Well, one day the class were singing for the teacher and it was this hymn. I was in my element and completely lost in it, to the extent that I didn't even notice that I was the only one singing! :-) The upshot was an invitation to join the choir, which I did and thouroughly enjoyed. (I'm afraid that I was subsequently made to give it up for being naughty. :-( Our school was a long thin building and if one left by the normal door it was a very long walk to the bus stop. So along with half the rest of the choir I climbed out of the window instead. I was the last to leave and was seen and as I wouldn't say who the others were I had to take the rap and was eveicted form the choir. Poor little me.
I still love that hymn though the words are very meaningful. Here is my page

The bird was a vintage image extracted and made to look like an added stamp. The sun image was recoloured to brigghten it and I used a huge swirl as a symbol of the bird's singing from the heart.

Playtime

I have been playing with Photshop Elements again. Here are some altered iris petals.

 

Changes

I was taken out for lunch at the weekend to a nice pub restuarant at Gilmorton. Lovely sunny day but I am not sure I like what these are doing to our countryside these days. I suppose they are better to look at than electricity pylons but as we still have to have those as well, it seems to me like another intrusion we do not not need.

Beautiful blue

Iris reticulata which I saw in my niece's garden today.

Fresh new growth

I love to see the lovely fresh new shoots appearing. I don't know what this shrub is called but it's pretty just now.

Straight to the heart of the matter

There is a new one out today. Here it is in close up

Spring is coming

Lok what I found in the garden today. Lovely sunny day has brought them out

Update on my sampler

This is the next stage of my mixed media sampler. At the moment I don't think I have done it a service... but hopefully I can recover it. It looks rather flat at the moment

Above is the whole piece. As usual, click to enlarge. I don't know if you will be able to see it, but the section with the French Knots on it has also been overpainted with irridescent paints and has improved the look a little. There are more additions to be made next time. 

Closer view of top section

Middle section

Bottom section

Watch this space!

New Journal Page

This is my latest page for my Digital Art Journal on the subject of Inheritance. My Dad had a big influence on my writing as he used to like writing too. His handwriting as  younger man was really beautiful. Mum liked making things and she was able to sew. She played the piano a bit too, mainly hymns but she could amuse herself for an hour or two that way, especially if we had upset her!
As you see in the page I have made, I think I owe my love of crafty things to my forebears. I still have Grandma Gibbs's sampler which she made at school in Wythburn on the edge of Thirlmere Lake in Cumbria.

Beetroot Soup Anyone?

Yum this is going t be loverley!

A Bit of Colour

This should brighten your day a bit! :-)

Brief Outing

I went out for  little while today to go to the local farm shop. It was a lovely day but bitterly cold. Here is a quick 'guerrilla' type shot I took on the way back. It loooks quite 'stitchy' doesn't it?

Halcyon

This was the title for the next page and it was fun deciding which of my most memorable happenings to record. In the end I settled for when I saw Der Rosenkavelier at the Vienna State Opera. As I was in Vienna to give a lecture, and I didn't know in advance about this treat I felt very under dressed for the occasion. However, once inside the magic overtook and I forgot about such mundane things for the most part. So here we go....

This event was in the days before digital cameras so the photos are from the web I'm afraid.

The background is one of Nancy's provided for the class and I have made additions of my own to that.

The font for most of the text is made from my own printing.

Today's offering

This is a poem I have always loved and which seems appropriate for the current weather. Snow is not ALL bad, although it may seem so if one is stuck in a snowdrift or other such hazard! :-)

As Time goes by

Here is my latest digital journal page. I hope you enjoy looking at it as much as I did making it.

On This occasion I have been painting with the eraser tool as well as with brushes and making scallops amongst other techniques.
I also had a lovely time searching for quotes .

Bath time and last time

I was watching the birds this morning through my kitchen window and they were having so much fun in the currently unfrozen bird bath. This one was there for quite some time and she knew I was watching too. I had stealthily gone to get the camera.

My this is GOOD!

You looking at me?

Come on in it's grand!



And for the last look at the amarylis now really open and there is a second too with a third coming

It's a double

And in close up





Ta Da!

She's arrived.... isn't she beautiful? The bukb was a Christmas present. Thank you Joy and Ken.

Just opened this morning

And a closer look

Favourite things

The topic for this page is all about favourite things. I had a job to choose but opted for flowers, birds and music this time, so that I could use some of my own images in the work.

Among the techniiques learned or reprised for this session were:-

1. Extract a scan of corrugated card

2. Use Outline type

3. 'Hang' objects form the top of the page

4. Create elements

5. Cut holes in a shape and fit elements inside

It Snowed!

Yup - it snowed and I loved it! Several images today as I forgot to do one the day before :-(

Birds - please note- the pool is closed today!

Scalloped snow

Snow patterned planters. Can you see the dwarves trying to disguise themselves as snowmen? :-)

Getting there

Here is another picture of the buds I showed the other day.... they are getting there!

I can't wait to see the result. :-)

Introspection

I have to say I am not much into navel gazing but I think the following possibly fills the remit for the next digital art journal page. I hope you agree?