Ministering Angels

What a few enhancements can do for an image.

 I'm so happy with the editing techniques I'm learning from Kim Klassen.  This time I combined a "recipe" from Beyond Layers with inspiration from Beyond Beyond and Texture Tuesday.

Enhancements include the filters high pass and gaussian blur as well as layer adjustments to levels, saturation, gradient and color fills. This was topped by Kim's texture layer Mary from the Downton Collection.

Cropped only, no enhancements.

 Even though this picture has a cluttered background and a dark exposure, I had hope for it because of the highlights on the angel's head, praying hands and tops of the wings.
Using the gaussian blur helped push the background back and when I erased the angel from the blur layer exposing the focused layer, I gave it the emphasis I desired. (I'm still working in PSE 4, an old version of PS Elements that doesn't have the masking capabilities that new versions have which is why I literally erased the blurred angel.)

There were ten layers when I completed this image.

A few years ago Mom gave me this garden angel to thank me for helping when she had health issues.  I placed it by roses in my garden. One of my sisters and I had a great day selecting the roses. A pretty yellow variety was to remember my Grandma by, but the rabbits and Japanese beetles have taken their toll on it.  I think last summer's drought finished it off.  Obviously, this angel doesn't have mystical powers to ward off enemies in my garden, including the dandelions popping up around it... But it reminds me of Mom and how when we give of our self to others, we may seem like an angel to them.  The Bible tells us that God sends angels as ministering spirits to help us in time of need.

Earlier today I finished a novel on my Kindle called "Not A Sparrow Falls" by Linda Nichols which is a free download from Amazon at the time of this posting.  I wasn't sure I liked it when I was in the first couple of chapters, but I decided to keep going.  Soon I was hooked.  There are references in the book that go with this image very well.  If you have a Kindle, you should check it out.

Whisper Truth to Myself

It seems ironic to me that I'm posting this image today.  It's the first day of Spring; a time to celebrate the bursting forth of the renewal of green.  I took a tour of my flower gardens today.  I tossed most of the dead sunflowers off to the side.  We are having a record setting heat blast in Iowa, and there is a premature surge of new life in the garden.  Plants that don't normally produce new growth or buds until later in May are displaying infant leaves.

I am torn.  I know from life experience that this just ain't right.  There could be snowstorms in the next few weeks.  More likely, killing frost and freezing temperatures will come. I haven't been liberated from these thoughts to celebrate the early spring to its fullness.

Honestly, I do have fear.  Fear that fruit crops will suffer.  Our crab apple tree stood naked all winter because last spring a hail storm destroyed its blooms when they should have been pollinated.  There was not one marble sized crab apple on that tree. I missed the kisses of cranberry red against the winter sky.  I missed the flocks of robins or cedar waxwings stripping them away in late winter.

So now I must pray, knowing the Lord IS my helper.  He can and will help me through disappointments and loss.  He has been faithful in the past and he will be again.  Sara Groves sings it so well.

This image was shot in my winter garden.  I processed it with Photoshop Elements 4.0 to convert it to black and white and enhanced it with Kim Klassen's texture layer Flourish.  In Kim's eCourse, Beyond Layers, we were prompted by the word "whisper", which is what inspired me to choose this image from my archives.

Kim will be offering another round of Beyond Layers and I highly recommend this course.  There is technical information as well as artistic insight and exploration.

ButterflyGarden

I love to see the butterflies dance in my garden when I look up from painting the house. Here are a couple shots I took during a break last week. The Monarch is on my Carefree Beauty Rose. Japanese Beetles have tried to devour the roses, but I keep picking them off into soapy water. When asked why I don't just put chemicals on my plants, I tell them there are too many insect friends - butterflies, bees, dragon flies and others.

This butterfly is on my butterfly bush. I can't remember the name of this butterfly, but welcome your comments to remind me.

Late Spring Garden

Do you ever forget that you've got a stash of images on your digital camera's memory card? Tonight I took some shots of a custom jewelry design I've been working on. Then when I went to download the images to my computer I realized my card was almost full. Here are a couple treasures I found.

The top photo is what my garden looked like a few weeks ago. Isn't it gorgeous! It's my favorite time in the garden. The colors are so Monet.

The white rose belongs to my sister. It was extremely fragrant - that wonderful old-fashioned rose scent. This shot was taken a couple weeks ago when our family gathered for my niece's graduation.

Many of the flowers that you see in my garden came from my sister. She's a walking encyclopedia of plant knowledge. Several years ago she shared divisions from her gardens. I've since shared divisions from those plants. It's so wonderful to have plants to give away. Right now my Stella d'Oro day lilies are blooming in profusion. I think I need to share again.

Central Iowa Art Fair Coming Soon!

On Sunday, July 20th, I will be exhibiting my work at the Central Iowa Art Fair in Marshalltown, Iowa. The show runs from 11-4. There is art, music, food & wine. What more do you need?
I like the casual atmosphere of this art fair. This will be my first time to participate, and it will be only the 2nd time I'm setting up outdoors. I'm praying for good weather.
Last year at this show I met Brandie, a talented and sweet artist, whose collages attracted both my husband and me. She has become a valued friend. She inspired me to carry through with my thoughts of starting this blog. Be sure to check out her "Little Pieces of Art" blog and Etsy store. We are hoping to be neighbors at the art fest this year.

At this show most of the space in my booth will be devoted to my jewelry designs. I have some beautiful pieces that are shown to their best in person. In the meantime, here's a sweet charm bracelet that features Czech glass flowers and Swarovski crystals on a Sterling Silver base. You can contact me if you are interested in purchasing Rosy Garden.

Signs of Spring

Yesterday I took a few minutes to enjoy the sunshine and capture signs of spring. We have a grouping of old fashioned lilac bushes that promise to be loaded with blooms in a few weeks. Seeing the multitude of tight groups of buds was thrilling. The lilacs came from shoots that we harvested from hubby's parents' plants. They had started their lilac hedge from shoots that came from their parents. I love the connection to family in our yard.

Not so thrilling was the realization of how much work awaits me. Our largest perennial bed needs a lot of clean up. I need to make a temporary home for some perennials from a bed next to the house. We'll be replacing siding and windows in a few weeks. I don't want my hostas and siberian irises to be trampled. Several years ago, one of my sisters gave me divisions from her garden. When I think of us moving from this property one day, I have a hard time thinking of leaving my plants behind since the majority have a tie to family.

I'll share more of my treasures in the weeks to come. I also have an update on the graphite portrait to post once I scan it.