Stitching My Story

Learning to Retouch Photos...

Here's the original. I swear I didn't write that "g" in the upper left-hand corner. I think I will blame it on my big brother who is also a g. *grin*

My assignment in class was to list four goals for retouching, then mAKe tHeM HaPPeN. As you can see, the orignial photo was pretty badly damaged. Fixing rips, wrinkles and smudges was my first goal. I also tried to improve the tonal values, and got rid of that "g" (ok.... it does kind of look like my little-kid handwriting, but still.... it COULD have been my big brother, right???). Finally, I replaced the red stripped border frame with a less decorative, less formal one. I wanted the orignial photo "fixed", but I still wanted it to look old, too... like something my dad maybe would have carried in his wallet. To accoomplish this I added back in a sepia filter.

Below is my retouched version of the photo. I'm sure those of you that are experienced in retouching can see a  million ways to make it better but, being new at this, I am really happy with how it turned out.

My dad would frequently comment on how much Unit 3's eyes looked like my mom's. This photo really shows that to be true. So beautiful.

As I was working on this project, I kept thinking that maybe I would remember what my mom sounded like, or what her mannerisms or expressions were like. I kept waiting for her face to feel familiar to me in some way but, if it did, it was an extremely distant sort of familiar.

Since doing this project, I have been repeatedly pulling memories of my dad's voice, hands, walk, and smile into my mind... as crystal clear as possible. I want him etched there. I want him to always be familiar to me.

View From the Little House...

Unit Four went to visit his big brother earlier this month which left {dear cowboy} and I CHILDLESS (sigh... don't even get me started on this topic).

One afternoon we visited a couple of antique stores in a neighboring town and I fell in love with a jar of old game pieces.

When we got home, I decided to gather up some favorite game pieces of my own.

I am thinking that, besides being yummy to look at, grandbaby B will enjoy emptying the jar from time to time to spell out words.

Nonno Stuffie ...

Grandbaby O's other grandpa ("Nonno") headed back to Italy this past week after a two month visit. Baby O grew very attached during the visit and he is now speaking Italian like the language BELONGS to him!

To make the parting a little easier, I stitched up a stuffed Nonno so they could still play "together" until their next real life visit.

P.S. I got a new Canon Rebel camera. (Thank you, Hilary!!) Don't my pictures look a million times better?! (Thanks also to Nicole for showing me how to turn it on *grin*).

Yarn Bombing and Photoshop Frustrations ....

{dear cowboy} and I took a stroll through the neighborhood yesterday evening. We were admiring all the gardens and chatting, when we came upon the above ... YARN BOMBING taken to a whole new level! This creation is wrapped around the entire tree and was held on with a purple button-- It is actually BUTTONED to the tree. Fabulous. I felt almost GIDDY the rest of the night.

On another note, I love working with with Photoshop CS5.5, but crud..... so frustrating when I just want my old simple steps for editing blog photos. I could edit in my sleep with Elements.

Fall quarter I have an entire class devoted to working with Photoshop CS5. I can't wait!

(Forgive the blurriness. My cell phone camera didn't quite capture the image the way I'd hoped.)

 

Images from Spring Quarter

In one of my classes this quarter, we started learning how to manipulate photos in Photoshop. Below are some of my altered photographs. Most of these photos were taken with the camera on my Blackberry Bold cell phone.

Warm/Cool/Complementary Baby O

Grainy Cup and Hands on Burlap Texture

Unit Two in a Garden

Linen Cloth Textured/Bordered Cup

Studio in Spring

High Contrast Baby O...

 
Garden Visitors...

Grainy Coffee Shop in Color...

The View From My Desk Chair....

Happiness looks like this. In a round-a-bout way, a gift from dad.

Perfect for what I'm doing at school.

Notice the reflection of Syd's paintings in the screen? I love that. Even when the computer is off, it is colorful and fun to look at.

Now.... I just need to get used to all these little MAC quirks. It's like my fingers are having to learn a new computer dance!

When The Kids Are Away...

The parents STILL eat pizza!

All four units were otherwise occupied over the long weekend. {dear cowboy} and I stayed busy with household projects, a day trip to the big city, and LOTS of yummy food.

View from my Journal and Italy....

I have to apologize for not writing down where I got this quote from. It was tucked at the bottom of a journal page and struck me as perfect as I prepare to head off on an art retreat. I am looking forward to lots of time for relaxed art-making with friends.

Still..... It is hard to leave home, {dear cowboy} and the units. I have never been a very good traveler.

 
Unit Two will be flying back from Italy just as I am leaving town. I love how easily she travels... how small (and HUGE) the world has become to her because of it. BUT.... a long drive and a short ferry ride is perfect for me. I am a nest-er. I get home sick at the drop of a hat. An art-filled, close-to-home adventure is my favorite kind.... at least for now.

THIS was my request from Italy... pictures of the Leaning Tower of Pisa being held up.... Soooo funny!

 

Loving My Titanium Cowboy....

Mike's blog is always a fun read. Great writer... Great sense of humor. And what can I say? Even if biking is not your first love *raising my hand*, these Titanium Cowboys are just plain eye candy.

; )

Today I am Lovin' On.....

... Grandbaby O.

... goopy acrylic paints that just last week I hated.

...Unit One and his (our!) Sweetheart.

...{dear cowboy} and really good beer on tap.

...The BFF who makes sure I lift weights twice a week, run further than is easy for me, and laugh so hard I snort.