Friday Finds

kk_DayDreaming

"For most of life, nothing wonderful happens, if you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then chances are you're not going to be very happy.  If someone bases his/her happiness on major events like a great job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris that person isn't going to be happy much of the time.  If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness."  -  Andy Rooney 

I found a few things to put a smile on my face this week...

We had a lovely holiday weekend with family at the lake, boating, making ice cream, sitting by the fire... the older I get I realize how special these times really are.

I was at the Antique Mall (I think they recognize me now) and found a sugar bowl with a 'M'.  

kk_Still

The book Hans Blomquist In Detail: Inspiring Ideas For Creative Interiors arrived at my doorstep (check it out here).  It is filled with still life beauty. I haven't made it through the whole book, I am savoring each page.   My leaf and peony image was inspired by the book.  

My parents are coming next week for a visit and I will be taking a little break from the computer... but I will be back the following week.

Today I am joining Kim Klassen's Friday Finds.  

Thank you so much for your visit!

Have a great day!

Michelle

Nature Abstracts

'Everywhere we look the complex magic of Nature blazes before our eyes.'  -  Van Gogh

      Sunday it was rainy.  Between the storms I grabbed my macro lens and headed out the door.  

 I captured my irises in a way I had never looked at them before.  

I am joining Kim Klassen's Friday Finds.  I used Kim's Lightroom presets DM_ Autotone and DM_kk_Sunday (with some tweaks) on all the images.  My Finds are my beautiful irises and realizing if I just take the time to stop and look, I will be amazed at what I find.

I am spending time with my family this long Memorial weekend, so it may take me longer to stop by and visit your blogs... but I am looking forward to seeing what you have discovered this week.  

Thank you for stopping by!

Have a happy and safe weekend!

Michelle

Memories

'Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.'  

 -  Dr. Seuss

I stepped out my back door to look for flowers to photograph.  I found some chives, a spirea bush (maybe?) and peonies.  

As I was getting things together for a still life with the peonies, I got a whiff of their wonderful fragrance.  Their subtle perfume transported me... to my grandma's house.  I don't remember the peonies at my grandma's house, but the smell brought me into her powder blue living room so long ago.  

The peonies smelled good all weekend and I couldn't help but think of my grandma, with a smile on my face.  

Today I am joining, Texture Tuesday, Life thru The Lens and Wordless Wednesday.

My images were all processed in Lightroom using Kim Klassen's new presets, breath (lightening the shadows) on the peonies and breeze on the chives and spirea images.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Have a great week!

Michelle

         

Friday Finds

On this image I used Kim Klassen's Lightroom preset kk_still and her texture kk_100 in PS Elements

I was straightening up last night and came across a book I haven't looked at in a few years, Living Artfully by Sandra Magsamen.  I opened it and found a passage I previously highlighted:

We have been conditioned to focus on whatever little thing isn't quite right about ourselves, our creations, and our surroundings.  Instead, let's decide to focus on what is right, lovely, and beautiful.  This is a simple concept, yes, but it's transformative just the same.

Isn't funny how we come across things right when we need them.  I have a habit of looking at what needs to be changed, in my pictures, my house, myself...  I am going to take her advise and try to 'focus on what is right, lovely and beautiful'.

I am also going to reread her book. 

On this image I used Kim Klassen's Lightroom preset kk_DreamLike and her texture kk_0603.

I made a trip to the Antique Mall this week.  I have always loved mismatched teacups stacked in pictures but only had one teacup.  This trip I found two cheap teacups to add to my props and used them for Kim Klassen's class Be Still, the prompt was 'tea and change from above'.  My coins are from the Bahamas.

I had also been keeping an eye out for an old chippy window.  I found one.  I used it with The Studio prompt 'potting bench'.

Today I am joining Kim Klassen's Friday Finds, The Studio and the class Be Still. 

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Michelle