Try a New Photo Effect Today

If you like to take photos, you might enjoy adding textures to give them different types of creative effects. I really love the vintage feel they give to the photos.

Today is Texture Tuesday, a weekly feature by Kim Klassen at Kim Klassen Cafe. These photos used one of Kim's fabulous textures called Serendipity. If you haven't been to her site, please give it a visit to see the gorgeous photos and check out her textures. Very inspiring!

Having had a long weekend with an extra day off, I spent some of my time shooting more flowers. What great subjects they make for applying textures.

Not bad on the kitty, either. What's a photo shoot at my house without my Miss Gracie joining in?

Just Pretties

Tea and cupcakes, flowers and pearls, and the kitty who loves frosting. So how was your day today?

Memories of Easters' Past

Wishing all a happy Easter and Passover today. 

Can you guess which one is me? I'm the little one of the far left with the Easter basket in my hand. I can only guess that since I'm the only one with a basket in the photo, that I probably wasn't going to be too happy without it. My older sister is on the right in a matching dress and the other girls were our neighbors. 

Each Easter, we got a new Easter dress (matching for my sisters), shoes and hat. Oh, those were the days. A surprise basket with chocolates from See's Candies and colorful jelly beans and tiny foil wrapped chocolate eggs, dressing up for church, and a ham dinner in the evening. You can probably guess which part I liked best - yes, getting up in the morning to find the basket that the Easter bunny brought filled with goodies. 

I have to admit that I do pine for the old days. Things were just so much simpler then and holidays were more special. Luckily, my dad was a hobbyist photographer and I have wonderful old photos to remember those times. It's just not the same eating vegetarian tacos on Easter!

Another Day, Another Flower

I know I've been really focused on shooting flowers lately. But, it's Spring and what better time to buy flowers? When I enter Trader Joe's for my weekly shopping trip, they just seem to call my name. Into the cart they go as they make their way to my home where they add a little "happy" to any room. And out comes my camera because I just have to photograph them. This week ranunculus, next week who knows? This little guy was "nipped" out of the bunch by my dear sweet kitty Nipper. Little did I know how well this name would suit her!

This flower is actually much brighter with an orange hue, but by fading the color once I uploaded it into Picnik, it took on this beautiful vintage feel. Picnik is one of my favorite programs for photo effects - it's so easy that I find I'm using PSE much less these days. Have you tried Picnik yet?

Nipper, the Tulip-Eating Cat Strikes Again

The tell-tale (or should I say tell-tail?) signs were all there. No, I shouldn't have been surprised to find my delightful tulips in this condition when I entered the kitchen one morning last week.

Nor should I have been surprised to see this.

Or this.

And it's all because of this. Well, I should say her. Nipper, the tulip and gerbera daisy eating cat. I avoided the daisies since I knew she could not resist their tender petals. So I bought tulips, one of my top three favorite flowers. She hadn't eaten the daffodils nor the other tulips I had purchased the week before (although I did catch her with pollen on her head!). 

And so this is what became of my beautiful flowers in just a few days. 

I guess it's back to daffodils. 

Ah, It Feels Like Spring

Waking up to a beautiful sunny day, I had flowers on my mind. I assembled some of my favorites just for you. Hoping this brings a smile to your face today!

Flea Market Treasures

Boxes Galore

Last weekend's trip to the flea market proved successful with these finds. Just loving these pretty boxes, waiting to be filled with a little of this and that.

Almost Ready for a Party

A vintage pinkish/apricot colored cake stand was a wonderful find with its detailed design. A small saucer will be used to make a cupcake stand and the pink dish will hold trinkets. I nabbed the petite fork and ladle set by Reed and Barton as it was being eyed upon by others. It was so pretty with its decorative handles, I knew it had to come home with me. 

Buttons, Buttons and Bows

Oh, what fabulous buttons were awaiting me! Clear lavender, some rhinestone squares and a variety of styles. Add some tiny lavender flower bows and purple velvet flowers and it makes a wonderful package of buttons and bows.

New Animal Friends

One of my favorite finds was the chef pig. He looks right at home on my kitchen counter. Mr. Rabbit is ready for Easter and welcoming all in my home. The butterflies and pink birds will make sweet embellishments on cards sent to friends. And the rubber bunny-duck? Well, I couldn't resist this little fellow for a co-worker who collects ducks. She had helped me with a project last week and this was my little thank you for her.

Yes, Mr. Pig was a great find. Sometimes you just have to buy things that make you happy.

Flea Market Treasure

Just one of my fab finds this past weekend at the flea market - a set of three fabulous nesting storage boxes. These are brand new; the seller had a large truck with lots of new products. In fact, some still had price tags on them from Marshall's. They must have been an overstock item but this guy was doing a great business. And I'm very happy with these lovely boxes. Just one of my treasures - more to come.

Happy Birthday to the Nip

Nippy, or Nip as we call her, celebrated her sixth birthday yesterday. She received her favorite treat - lots of strawberries! As much as she could eat - which actually turned out to be just a half of one very large berry. No matter - she got lots of birthday greetings and petting. She's one adorable tuxedo kitty.

April = Flea Market Time

Flea Market Time

Woo Hoo! This upcoming weekend is the monthly flea market. It's been several months (since last fall) since I've been, and it's been an intense week of work, so I am so looking forward to losing myself in the pursuit of treasures. 

Walking the entire market makes me feel like I'm getting exercise, too. However, I wore a pedometer once and was somewhat disappointed to discover it was not nearly as many steps as it felt. No matter, I'm out in the fresh air doing one of my favorite activities. And it's always followed by a trip to one of the larger Whole Foods Market stores for a delicious lunch. 

After last week's beautiful Spring flower purchase from Trader Joe's, I'm anxious to stop and get some more after the lunch. What a difference it made to have that lovely bunch of daffodils on my desk while I  worked on the new budget all week long. You just can't help but smile when faced with a bouquet of sunny, yellow flowers.