RedDancer-Studio

Follow your bliss - layers & brushes - PhotoShop

Practice helps to move toward perfection. Maybe I won't reach the level of perfection in my photography and image editing that I am striving for; however, the process is very entertaining. Here's another layer image w/a textured background from the wonderful Kim Klassen (see sidebar for link to her site).

I've combined my love of vintage dolls, beautiful cut flowers (luscious pink peony from Trader Joe's in Scottsdale, AZ) and PhotoShop brushes for a gentle image. Maybe one brush stamp would have been enough, but two or more is always better, in my way of doing things.

10 Truths about me today

As part of a challenge from Kim Klassen's Beyond Layers II online class, I'm listing 10 Truths about me.

1.    I have loved photography since I was in high school. The love affair continued into my community college days at Yavapai College in Prescott, AZ. When I moved to Flagstaff and didn't have a darkroom, I needed to switch to digital image editing with Adobe Photoshop.

This rose is handformed and is approx. 1/2" in diameter.

2.    I have 3 beautiful grown sons and 1 beautiful grandchild - Emma Madison Morgan. She's 2 years old and can often be found in my blog posts.

3.    I retired from full-time employment as an academic advisor 3 years ago but continued to work p/t until this past March. Loved working with students.

4.    I got my first digital camera in 2000 or 2001 and still have the Nikon. Don't use it now that I have a Canon DSLR which is marvelous.

5.    The favorite subject of my photos is general flowers. Sometimes I visit the local grocery store and shoot images. Sometimes I purchase flowers to bring home and photograph.

6.    Love using the camera on my Blackberry. Until I get a new and more powerful Droid smartphone.

7.    I thoroughly enjoy living in Northern Arizona, USA, in a college town of 50,000 full-time residents even when the students aren't in residence. When the university and community college students are in classes, we swell to about 65,000.

8.    I really, really wish we had outdoor flea markets with vintage goods for sale. Alas, not in Arizona.

9.    I was raised by a single mother as an only child. Mom just turned 90 on Saturday, May 26, 2012.

10.    I am owned by a little blonde shih tzu, Molly, who often appears in photos on my blog.

Adobe PhotoShop brushes & layers - Kim Klassen

More layer fun with Kim Klassen's BEYOND LAYERS II. The flower images are from my collection over the last several years. The words are brushes provided by Kim Klassen. Enjoy.

The smoke brush was downloaded last year from the Internet. I know there is a better way to use the smoke brush so I'll have to search for the instructions on the Net.

Kim Klassen "Stay" texture layer

Played with another Kim Klassen texture. Used an older Christmas Cactus flower. Still have lots to learn. Adobe PhotoShop is a powerful piece of software and I've only touched on a tiny portion of the possibilities. Learning tips and tricks from Ms. Klassen and her textures.

More handmade books in my Etsy shop

I just finished creating two beautiful cloth handmade books and listed them in my Etsy Shop. Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Marrianna.

Each book also comes with a small paper journal of 4 pages folded in half and stitched along the spine. This was done so that the lucky owner of my book could have a special place to write her own notes. I also include one of the special pens that I purchase only at Office Max.

Here are photos of both of the books.
This is the front of book 1.

Inside front cover.

First full page spread

Centerfold spread

Third page spread

Inside back cover.

Back cover.

And here's the 2nd book - just as lovely as the 1st one listed.

Front cover.

Inside front cover.

First full spread.

Second spread/centerfold.

Third page spread.

Inside back cover.

Back cover.