Shadow Shot and a Fab Necklace

Well hello there.

Time for another shadow shot.  This is a photo of one of our sunflowers before my hubby harvested the seeds.  I think it's a pretty darn cool thing that sunflower seeds come out of a ...umm.... flower... but not just any flower... a pretty flower.  Maybe that's where they got the inventive name, huh?  Sunflower seeds.  Yeah, not enough coffee in my system today.   So moving on...

To join in the Shadow Shot Sunday fun, go here.

What's this beauty you ask? 

 It's a fantastic necklace I won from Fanciful Devices.  Oh man, she makes the most incredible jewelry.  I can't believe I was lucky enough to win this!  I love everything about it, including the double-sided pendant.  You have to see all the pretties that this woman cranks out... amazing!!  Oh, and it was wrapped all pretty-like too.  I loved it so much that I wore it that night to dinner... and we stayed home!!

Oh, by the way, the cool background that the necklace is sitting on (no not me, the other one!) is my latest painting.  It needs a few more lil' touches then I'll share it with you.  

Tree Tunnel Shadow Shots and a Painting Peek

Hi there!

Yesterday was a good day!!  I painted more!!  Yay!!  It feels SO good to finally be getting back into my studio regularly.   The house is a mess, but eh...who cares?!! (sorry honey).  And I may have finally finished a painting that's been eluding me for quite a while.  It just wouldn't tell me how it wanted to be finished, but yesterday I was determined to GET IT DONE!!  I got into that lovely flow and had the best time working on it.

More of that later, let's get to those cool shadows.
These were taken on the way up to a client's house in Crystal Cove (the one I painted the furniture for this summer shown here and here).  I love how the trees formed a beautiful, leafy tunnel to drive under.  Pretty, yes?

Check out more shadow shots or join in the fun by heading over to Hey Harriet's for Shadow Shot Sunday HERE.

Ok, back to the painting...I still need to take photos of the piece I finished (well, it still may need a few more finishing touches first), so you'll have to wait a few days, but to hold you over here's a lil peek.  I'm so darn excited about it, I can't wait to share it with you!

Until then...

Shadow Shot Sunday : Pretty Column

Hi there.

I'm still getting caught up from the past few hectic weeks, so I had to dig in my stash for an old shadow shot.  I love this column (why is that word spelled so funny?).  This is part of a church in Pasadena that I showed more photos of here and here.

If you want to join in with your own shadow shots, go to Hey Harriet and tell her hey from me!

And thank you VERY much for all you sweetness and love on the last post.  It means a lot to us... seriously (my husband read and appreciated your comments too).

Sorry it's taking me a long time to get back to you all, but I will visit everyone who comments.. even if it takes me a while.

 Oh, and I snuck into my studio today and painted, YAY!!  It was only for about 15 minutes, but that's better than nothing, and now a painting that's been almost finished for quite a while is 15 minutes closer to finally being finished!

Shadow Shot Sunday : Chairs

It's time for Shadow Shot Sunday again.

This was taken in Pasadena this summer (I know... Pasadena...shocker right?)  Hubby and I were walking along on a date, eating our gelato (yum!) when I suddenly stopped and just stared at the ground. 

 Ooh, a swirly shadow!!  Can't pass up a swirly shadow now can I?

Actually it's hard for me to pass up a good shadow of ANY shape or size.

Totally addicted to shadow shots!

To join in with your own shadows, just pop over to Hey Harriet's for Shadow Shot Sunday.

I'm Back.. And I've got Some Shadow Shots!

Hi there.  

Sorry I went MIA on you, but I've had quite a bit going on these past several weeks. 

 I had to finish up a furniture painting job (photos to come soon), my husband went back to school (he's a teacher), and a few weeks back I  unexpectedly lost my 40 year-old cousin.  We were good friends as teens, and even though we had lost touch many years ago, I'm going to miss him.  And him being only a year older than me has really got me thinking about what's truly important in life and to not let it slip by mindlessly.

"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.  This makes it hard to plan the day."

                        --E. B. White

Just found this quote and I love it.  It makes me smile.

Ok, moving on. 

 Here are some shadow shots that we're taken at my client's gorgeous home (the one I painted the furniture for).  I love the scroll shadow within the palm shadow.  Can you see it (above)?  It was caused by the ironwork on the balcony shown below.  A shadow within a shadow.  How cool is that?

To join in Shadow Shot Sunday drop by Hey Harriet's and tell her "Hi" from me.

And speaking of painted furniture, here's a lil' peek at what I painted on the front of an armoire.  I'll show you more this week.  See you then.

Shadow Shot Sunday : Tree+?

Hi there.

I would like your input on today's shadow shots.

At first glance these two photos look the same...BUT if you're very observant (and I know you are), you'll notice the tree is in the center in the first photo and a bit on the right in the second photo.  I usually try to go by the rule of thirds in my photos, which tells you NOT to put the main subject dead center... BUT once in a while I like a photo better with the subject in the center, not on the side.  Like in these photos.  I like the centered one better, but I was going to ignore that and post the other one because "the rule... don't ignore the rule!"
 I think sometimes we need to break the rules.




















I would really like your opinion. Which do you prefer out of these two photos?  Sorry to make you work on a Sunday ;-)  but I appreciate your input.  Thank you!!

For more shadow shots or to join in with your own shadows, go on over to Hey Harriet's for Shadow Shot Sunday!

Shadow Shot Sunday : Lettuce

Hi there!

This gorgeous, yummy lettuce is... uh scratch that... WAS from our garden.  Tasty stuff.  There's nothing like fresh veggies picked right before dinner.  

 So... lettuce cut out this chit chat and head on over to  Hey Harriets for Shadow Shot Sunday.  

Sorry... I tried hard to control myself by NOT using any lettucy puns, but I just couldn't help myself.  

Ok, I didn't try THAT hard, hee hee.

Shadow Shot Sunday : Church

Here is my shadow shot for this week.

 This photo was taken of a church in uptown Whittier, Ca.  I was driving by and noticed the strong shadows being cast on the church by the tree.  So of course I had to turn the car around and park, and take a few photos.  Do you blame me?

To see more shadow shots, or join in with your own, pop on over to Hey Harriet for Shadow Shot Sunday.

Plaster + Burnt Umber(brown) = Happy Goodness...And SSS.

 This week's color for The Summer Of Color challenge is brown... rich, warm, luscious brown.  But to be honest, when I first heard it was brown I thought "blah" (even though I love brown... weird).  But then I realized brown = burnt/raw umber, chocolate, latte, etc.. Ooh, now we're talkin'!  I also realized I didn't have to make the WHOLE piece brown...just the main focus.

I've been longing to work with plaster again since I did this piece for green week.  It's so much fun.  I learned so many cool techniques in the "Plaster Studio Workshop" and needed to start using and experimenting with them more.   So I decided to work with plaster again for this week's color challenge (happy for an excuse to play with the stuff really!)

This piece combines several techniques from class, mainly transferring with CitraSolv (above), and carving into the plaster.  After I did the transfer, it wasn't as sharp as I wanted it to be, so I carved in details (the white lines) over the transfer with a sharp tool.  I also carved other details like the frame, etc..., then antiqued the whole thing (except the transfer) with Burnt Umber paint.  Mmm hmmm....happy goodness.  As a bonus challenge we could incorporate a "pop of color" to our brown piece.   

 With that in mind I added some aqua blue.  I don't know if it qualifies as a "pop" (huh..Kristin..?), especially since you barely notice it in these photos (argh), but it's definitely there and I really like the effect of just the two colors. 

 I know the above photo has a bad glare...it's not really that shiny (I think the sealer was still wet), but I like how the photo shows some of the depth and texture created by the plaster.

Ok, moving on.  Sadly I've missed several Shadow Shot Sundays (SSS), so I couldn't let another week slip by. So for this week I have several photos.  The first two are of an amazing door that I saw at Arte De Mexico last year.  Beautiful, beautiful doors, sigh.  The first photo is the one I used for my CitraSolv transfer on my plaster piece. 

Aren't the details on this door amazing?!  

In these photos you notice the highlights more than the shadows, but where there is light, there is shadow, eh?

But just in case you aren't satisfied with the above shadow shots (hmphh!),  I wanted to find a shadow shot from our Kern River trip to keep with the brown theme of this post.  This was the closest I could find in the brownish tones.  Do you see how hard I was working while my husband was lugging us and our trailer up to Kern?  Yes, it's another shot taken with the Hipstamatic app.  Sorry... you'll be seeing a lot of these. ..it's way too much fun (is there such a thing?!).  To join in our shadow shot fun, go HERE.

Next week's color for the The Summer Of Color is RED in case any of you want to play with us!  It's not too late!!

Shadow Shot Sunday : Arches

Hi!  Time for another Shadow Shot Sunday!

I love arches.  

I love shadows. 

 I love light.  

Where there are no shadows, there is no light.

Any questions?

If you'd like to join us with your own shadow shots, visit Hey Harriet for details.

Shadow Shot Sunday and WIP

Hello again!  Another week has flown by so quickly!  

I love the movement in these photos created by the iron pergola and it's shadow.  And the textures (you know I love texture!) of the brick wall and flowers contrasted by the smooth, cool flower pots.

Isn't it pretty?  

We walked right past it and I slowed down and turned to my husband and he knowingly said "It's a great day for shadow shots"!  So I grabbed the keys and ran to the car and grabbed the camera to take these.  This is why I have so many darn pictures of Pasadena... because they seem to have loveliness like this around every corner!

To join in with your own shadow shots, hop on over to Hey Harriet.

I'm so sorry that I haven't been posting that often.  I have multiple projects going on right now.  Of course I'll share them with you as I finish them... or maybe even some in progress shots along the way.  Yeah.  Good idea.

 Here's a work in progress that I was working on last night.  It's a large 36"x24".  I had done several textured layers on it months ago, but put it aside to work on other projects.  I got inspired to bring it back out last night (and ignore all the other unfinished projects around it!)  I think it's calling for some gold leaf.  Yeah... it is. 

 I'll be back in the next few days to share more of the happenings around here.  See you then!

Oh, and there's still time to enter my giveaway!!  Go here to enter.

Shadow Shot Sunday : Iron Scrolls

Time for more shadow shots! 

This is part of a beautiful bakers rack that we have outside that used to hold plants.  No plants on it now (don't ask).  But it does create some pretty great shadows against our house.

The ironwork has gotten nice and rusty over the years, yay!  

It's a long weekend for us here in the States!  Yipee!  Hope you're all enjoying your weekends!  

To join in Shadow Shot Sunday with your own photos, go here.

And if you're interested, I'm having a giveaway for my one year blog-o-versary/birthday.  Either scroll to the post below or follow this link.

Shadow Shot Sunday : Horse Babble, or is it Babbling Horse?

Hi there.  Welcome to Shadow Shot Sunday.  

These were taken from our yard, peeking over our neighbors wall... shhh.... 

I think it's pretty darn cool to have horses just right next door to us.  Except on the nights when one is feeling rowdy and kicks the METAL feed bin over and over.  And over.  And over.

Then it's not so cool. 

 But most of the time it's cool.  Like this time, when the horse was posing for his shadow shots.  He's pretty vain actually.  Or maybe it's a she.  I haven't checked.  Then I would call her a diva.

Anywho... enough of the nonsense.  You're probably thinkin I got kicked in the head by the horse.

 Nope. 

 Just me babbling... this is how my brain works.  I've been sparing you guys for a while now, but... well... that's boring.  Welcome to my bizarre sense of humor.  Please don't be scared.  

Is sniffing a horse like sniffing glue?  Is that what's happening here?  They make glue from them right? Yipes! From the hooves I mean? Do they still do that?!  Sounds mean.  But it seems like that's the effect that's happening here.  hmmm...  Something to ponder. 

 Hey, where'd you all go?

I'd like to blame all this on the horse above.  He typed this.  I was just an innocent bystander. 

To pretend the above didn't happen and go find some normal shadow shots click here to go to Hey Harriet for SSS.

Shadow Shot Sunday : Columns

Hello there.  It's time once again for Shadow Shot Sunday.

Boy it sneaks up fast.

I took this photo a couple of weeks back at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. I love it there, it's such a nice place to wander around aimlessly.

  

Well... not completely aimless... 

we did HAVE to make sure we went to Anthropologie.  If I could only move in ... at least to one of their catalogs... sigh....

I went there with my friend Manya on a gorgeous day and took a few shadow shots to have on hand for cloudy days like today.  I loved the way the shadows from the pergola were creating stripes on the columns.  

Oh, and I think I have a fascination with columns, but I won't bore you with that ; )

To join in with your own shadows visit Hey Harriet.

Shadow Shot Sunday : Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day.  I can't help but go back to the time when my son was first born.  It doesn't seem like it was over two years ago.  How quickly it has flown by... as it has for all you in your lives too, I'm sure.  So to celebrate this day and these memories that are flooding over me today, I wanted to share a few personal photos with you.  

This first one is of me and my son when he was still in the hospital.  I love this photo so much.  I look so peaceful and full of love, so caught up in the moment that I'm not even sure if I knew our photo was being taken.  It almost looks like a painting to me.

 This first shadow shot self-portrait was taken by my husband of the two three of us, while I was pregnant with my son.

This next shadow self-porrait of me and my son was taken last September while my son was 20 months old.

This last one was taken today.  We had to stand outside and wait for the sun to peek from behind the clouds which lasted for about 6 seconds before it disappeared again.

To see more shadow shots stop by Hey Harriet for Shadow Shot Sunday.

I hope all you Mothers out there are having a wonderful Mother's Day.  I was treated to a yummy breakfast souffle, Chocolate cake, fresh coffee and a handmade card.  What more could I ask for for : )

Shadow Shot Sunday : Altered Image

For this weeks shadow shot I dug in my photo stash from my photography classes from about 6-7 years ago.  This was one of my first assignments.  We had to take a photo of something, then figure out ways to alter the photo in different ways.  The original photo is above.  

No photoshop her folks, all printed in a darkroom (I miss it sooo much!)  with some hand-altered goodness.

For this second one (which I LOVE because it looks like it has shadows from palm trees!) the developer was brushed on loosely.  So cool!

 The one above was bleached.  I love how soft and faded it is.

For this forth one I used oil paint that's specifically for photos to color it.  There were no brushes so I had to paint it with cotton swabs.

And the last one that I'm showing you from this assignment shows that my love of collage was already creeping in at that point.  To do this I printed the photo twice.  One in black and white and one in sepia.  Then I tore the black and white one and glued pieces of it onto the sepia and folded the edges over a bit here and there.  

I have many more versions of this photo, but these are my favorites.

To see more or join in with us for Shadow Shot Sunday go here.