Free - Photo Manipulation

Sub title: Flying not falling

This is an odd one... I looked out from my back door this morning and saw this arrangement on the paving slabs and it said to me "Free". It's a natural diptych to boot. LOL For those times in life when we make a decision that frees us and for a brief moment we feel free and like we're flying before real life crashes into it with consequences and we begin to fall once again...

Very little editing was done apart from the action and a couple of textures.

Credits

• 6 Faves Texture Sets # 3 by Shadowhouse
• Retro Actions by Apples & Sisters

All other photography and textures my own.

MCN: C7ARY-8A5CU-X3X8Q

The Dream Lord's Gift - Photo Manipulation

Illustration for my poem of the same name, The Dream Lord's Gift

 

Credits

Model 1

• TWS_1 by AttempteStock

Model 2

• yellow 4 by rammkitty-stock

Stock

• Rugged Male Hand Extended by FantasyStock
• Butterfly 3 by Sammykaye1sStamps
• Veil Stock Package 2 by almudena-stock
• and more birds by mimose-stock
• Whitby Abbey Ruins 3 by FoxStox
• cathedral by bloodydawn
• Remnant by Elandria
• Fingers to the Sky by Elandria
• The moon crescent image is no longer available on DA, but it was downloaded from Stormpenguin-Stock.

Backgrounds and Textures

• field 5 by F3rd4
• Darkness Descends by Book-of-Light-Stock
• Sky 46 by Sed-rah-Stock
• Mixed Sets 1 & 2 by Shadowhouse

Brushes

• Hair brush set by para-vine

All other images/textures/stock/brushes my own.

MCN: CJKYV-SPYYH-SM44H

In the Garden

I spent yesterday afternoon in the garden drawing. It was just too sunny and beautiful outside to sit on the computer...

Here are some of the seedlings I planted with a friend a couple of weeks ago. Once they're grown to the right size they will go into the allotment to grow properly... Click on the images to see a larger version.

Mostly everything is growing well - the parsley is still in hiding so is Good King Henry and the mini cucumbers, but chervil, beans, courgettes, tomatoes and lettuce, peppers and all sorts of other things including sunflowers and lupins are thriving with the glorious weather.

I need some new designs for my Envelop shop, so I've been doodling to see what I can come up with. The first one is for cushion covers and I might transfer to the computer so I can upload it to my shop. The second is a border that will come in handy for all sorts of things... LOL

The templates/actions I used to present these photographs are from The Coffeshop Blog and can be downloaded here.

Red Williams Pear - Still Life

I just loved the pears I bought the other day so had to take a picture and turn it into a still life.

Credits

• landscape 4 by night-fate-stock
• remember by CKdailyplanet
• mr youngstrom by CKdailyplanet
• Mixed Sets 1 & 2 by Shadowhouse
• Raggedy Paper Texture Set by Shadowhouse

All other textures/images my own.

MCN: CDC4E-FY7KT-2T22E

Purple Magic Necklace

I wanted a necklace to go with my Purple Magic Bracelet (see bottom) so here it is....

Girl with Bird's Nest

Sub Title: The Clock is Ticking

A suitable image for Easter you may think, but not so, this image is in fact about the body clock most women hear ticking away in their heads. I think women are more aware of their own bodies and also of the fact that their child bearing years are only for so long and that at a certain age having a child may be difficult if not impossible.

This is not to say that all women want children, but even just the possibility of still being able to have them if you want them. Hence the nest, which sits squarely on her head with the eggs prominently displayed the same way the idea of maybe having children one day is squarely in many women's heads.

However, nowadays having children also has become a 'fashion accessory', which is why the nest is shown like a chic little hat and why I've chosen a fashion style portrait for the model. Having children, self esteem and career are all intertwined if you are a woman. Having children often means a break if not a stop to a career, which changes your view of yourself. Suddenly, after being a woman with her own career and own 'life' you become a mother and nurturer, which changes relationships and your view on life.

The pocket watches symbolise the body clock ticking away inside...

Credits

Model

• Anya stock II by DxlogicL

Stock

• Egg nest by Basically-Birds
• egg stock 3 by hatestock
• Steampunk Objects 17 by pinkpaint-stock
• Stock 198 by sophia-T
• watch 5 by Luna-8-stock
• Stock- Dragon Pocket Watch by idolhands
• Stock- Gold Pocket Watch by idolhands
• Bows PNG by AWorldOfMagic by aworldofmagic

Backgrounds, Patterns and Textures

• Floral pattern by Snufver
• two week heat by CKdailyplanet
• Backblech 01 by sundel
• grunge textures 01 by buzillo-stock
  
• Daguerreo Texture Set by Shadowhouse
• 6 Faves Of Mine Texture Set # 3 by Shadowhouse
• All Hallows Eve Texture Set by Shadowhouse

Brushes and Actions

• 17 Grunge Border Bars Brush Set by Shadowhouse
• Feathers Brushes Set 1 by Falln-Stock
• Mesh Lace and Fringe Brushes by Falln-Stock
• Ropes n Chains Brushes by redheadstock
• 5 Floral Ornament Brushes by idealhut
• Perfect Portrait 3 Action by TheCoffeeshopBlog

All other images,textures, brushes etc my own.

 MCN: CNLHA-SBTTY-2PB6J

Wild Wood Necklace

 

This is the necklace to go with my Wild Wood Bracelet.
Click on the image below to see details for the bracelet.

Necklaces and bracelets in this style are available for commission. Colour scheme can be to your requirements. Please contact me for pricing (click on the contact button in the top right-hand corner to send me an e-mail). I don't bite... :-)

Girl With Hummingbird (Photo Manipulation)

Sub Title: The Betrayal

 

 

 

I think I might need to explain the sub title. This image - although very pretty and seductive is actually about the way we 'deal' with beauty. It's more often than not something we use and abuse rather than just admire. The flowers (my own pictures of cherryblossom) symbolise the lure whereas the hummingbird symbolises, the 'vampires' that feed on the beauty. Of course beauty isn't always seen this way, but open a magazine or watch the ads on TV and you know exactly what I mean.... In part it was inspired by Madame Butterfly, a tragic opera by Puccini about a geisha abandoned by her American lover, hence the slightly 'oriental' feel.

Credits

Model 1

• Kimono 31 by Kechake-stock

Stock

• Hummingbird Stock 02 by rml-stock
• Gothic Lace fan by allyekhrah-stock

Backgrounds and Textures

• mr youngstrom by CKdailyplanet
• just gave it to him by CKdailyplanet
• blood red bokeh by DyingBeautyStock
• floral embossed texture by beckas
• BlueTextures by letinhastock
• Oriental Black 1 by inspyretash-stock
• 6 Faves Of Mine Texture Set # 4 by Shadowhouse
• Rich Tones Texture Set by Shadowhouse

Brushes

• 17 Grunge Border Bars Brush Set by Shadowhouse
• Hair brush set by para-vine
• czchagas decorative curlys by caiojosechagas

 All other images/textures/stock/brushes my own.

MCN: CUAUP-CHRBR-2J22E

Spring in Paris Earrings and Black Rose Deco set

 Here's a new spectacle chain (commissioned) in black with a flower again and lots and lots of different beads, including some fabric covered Kimono beads and a crochet covered bead.

Here are the matching earrings for the Spring in Paris spectacle chain (or for the Spring in Paris necklace) and the Black Rose Deco spectacle chain. You can commission your own set for £45 either with a spectacle chain or with a necklace. A bracelet can be matched to it by request. Please enquire/order by clicking on the contact button at the top right and sending me a detail with your requirements. 

To see the necklace design see the Spring in Paris necklace at the bottom.

 

The earrings are very light weight, set onto a verdigrised filigree and with earring hooks in silver plate and specifically designed to make the flowers sit perfectly.

Spring - Crabapple and Japanese Quince

Another double feature from the woods and the garden...

More from the woods... I couldn't resist this beautiful tree. I took loads of pictures of this particular tree, but these two are the ones I liked best.

Credits

• Freebie Actions (Valikva) by Apples & Sisters
• Freebie Textures by Apples & Sisters

All other - photographs, textures etc are my own.

MCN: CK9HY-U79ER-GF8YM

... another from the visit to the neighbour's garden. I love, love the intense red of the blossom against the dark branches. 

Credits

• Raised Paper Texture Set by Shadowhouse
• Skeletalmess Grunge Kit 2 by Shadowhouse
• Retro Actions (Autumn) by Apples & Sisters

All other - photographs, textures, etc my own.

MCN: CKFVG-DHTPP-K29HH

Spring - Hawthorn and Bleeding Hearts

The hawthorn images are from a little excursion into the woods...

My favourite image from all the ones I took that day. :-)

Credits

• Subtle Tones Texture Set Part Two by Shadowhouse
• Vintage Oil Painting Texture Set + Tutorial by Shadowhouse
• Retro Actions by Apples & Sisters

Photographs, other textures etc all my own.

 MCN: CUJCA-JTRWR-LY1SQ

The bleeding hearts are pictures I took in a neighbour's garden. :-)

Credits

• 6 Faves Of Mine Texture Set # 4 by Shadowhouse
• 6 Faves Of Mine Texture Set # 1 by Shadowhouse
• Retro Actions by Apples & Sisters

Photographs, other textures etc all my own.

MCN: C5YFE-KFWWN-E2VS4

Ring a Rosy... More jewellery

 Some rings for a change. They are all copper with handmade little 'bowls for the gems to sit in.

  Blue chalcedony with blue opalescent seedbeeds - size N - £12 + P&P

 Pink chalcedony with pink filled seedbeads - size N - £12 + P&P

Shell and copper - size M - £10 + P&P

 To buy any of these rings, send me a mail using the Contact button on the top right. Payment is by PayPal or cheque (UK only, item will be sent when cheque has cleared).Matching necklaces, bracelets and/or earrings available upon request

Spring in Paris II - Spectacle Chain

I was asked to make a spectacle chain in a design similar to my Spring in Paris necklace. It's one of my favourite necklaces I've made. I thought it was time that I showed you how much effort and attention to detail goes in each of my jewellery designs. Here's the original Spring in Paris necklace, however, because I never replicate any of my designs exactly, I made a few changes.

In both cases I started off with a handmade verdigris finish for the vintage brass filigree:

 Here you can see the verdigris finish with a layer of varnish to protect it:

The organza flower is an integral part of the design. Here are the petals, cut and singed, ready to go onto the filigree.

Next, I selected the beads I wanted to use in the design. I always mix them up in a bowl so I can see how they all go together. Once I am happy with the mix I start putting it all together.

Here's a closeup of the mix. I've used fabric covered beads, vintage lucite and glass, jade, ceramic wood, paper beads and beads with all sorts of finishes and textures.

Here I've laid them out on a beading mat. You can see that I have started assembling the beads.

 This is the finished spectacle chain. Complete with little loops to attach to the glasses.

A detail picture.

A design like this takes me around 5 hours inlcuding all the prep work but excluding drying times and choosing the beads.

This design was a commission but Spring in Paris (necklace) is still available and I am happy to make other designs for you based on a previous design or on colour schemes etc. Please use the contact button at the top to send me a mail for more details.

I've also made some rings but haven't taken any pictures yet. I'll post them soon. :-)