Merry Christmas

from Dark Decors...

New listings at...

...Dark Decors

Hand painted Tapered Candles

Festive Witch Hat ornaments 

(more designs in shop)

Who wouldn't want a 

pair of these...

...oh how we laughed.

Wee Little Bird

Lately here in Las Vegas we've had some spectacular clouds (which is very unusual) so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to snap this shot not only of the clouds but of the "wee little bird" perched upon a tiny limb.

I shot this with the camera on my cell phone and edited it in Snapfeed and also PicMonkey.

I do enjoy my early morning walks with my dog at the park.  Everything looks so fresh and new.

Where and when do you find some of your photography inspirations?

Capture Life!

Dark and Dreamy

During my morning walk at the park the other morning, my dog stopped and I just happened to look up.  This tree and it's branches were just to cool not to snap a pic.  

I edited this pic in #Snapseed.  I uploaded it to #Instagram and someone commented on it, that's where I got the title from.

Sometimes it pays to look up every once in awhile.

                   Capture Life!

Into the Mist

I pass this tree daily while out walking my dog.  Today, I decided to stop and take a picture of it.  Actually for some reason it just jumped out and caught my eye and I thought, "Why haven't I notice how fabulous this tree is before?"  I took the photo with my phone (unfortunately didn't have my DSLR on me) then I edited it in "Snapfeed".  

I'm planning on taking a picture of this tree with each season.  I have another photo of a tree that I'm going to do the same with.

I don't know why, but I'm really drawn to trees and have decided I should start photographing them, maybe it's what I'm suppose to do...lol.

What type of things are you just drawn to that you feel the need to photograph?

Capture Life!

Photo Art Friday

Yeah...I made it!

I'm joining in on the fun over at Pixel Dust Photo Art for Photo Art Friday.  We have the choice of posting any piece of photo art we please or a piece with the theme "new life" (interpret anyway you wish). 

I cropped the picture just a bit (mainly because some of my hair fell in the shot).  I  edited this in Picmonkey using "Focal blend" to give it that funky focus and then I added Bonnie's "Happy Day" texture blending mode Multiply at 100%, lastly I added a vignette.

Come join the fun...you have until Sunday to get your submissions in, see you there!

Capture Life!

Project 52 - 2012 (Week 7)

Oh my where has the time gone?  I've been really bad about keeping up with all my challenges that I promised myself I was going to do this year...sigh.  Is it bad to break a promise to yourself?  Anyway, not to make excuses, but I've been in a bit of a photography rut, so to say.  I think because there's so much I don't know and want to know and well it overwhelms me at times.

I did go out this week and took a few shots of these trees that are blooming beautiful flowers.  I just couldn't believe it for this time of the year (but we haven't had a cold winter at all).

Here's my submission for this week...I know it's suppose to be about love, but I "love" taking photos of nature.

This is a close up of the flowers that are blooming all over these trees.  I'm not sure what kind of tree it is.

Here is part of the row of trees...just beautiful.

If anyone knows what type of trees these are, I'd really like to know...thank you.

Have a wonderful day and week!

Capture life!

Scavenger Hunt 101 - SH 40 - Glorious Fall

I've joined a group on Flickr called Scavenger Hunt 101.  I've been working my way (very slowly) through the list. 

Here is my submission for #40 (definitely not going in order) Fall/Autumn.  I did a little adjusting on the color of the sky.

A few days after shooting this beautiful tree, the winds picked up and all the leaves fell off.

Bright blessings!

The magic of textures....

It's been a long time since I've posted anything new.  My business received a huge order, so we were working steady for over a month to make sure it was out by the deadline...whew!  It did get out and the customer was very pleased...yeah!

Due to my work load I was not able to participate in any of my challenges, but still would sneak off to see what was going on and everyone's amazing photography and editing work.

Anyway...here is a photo I took of this most beautiful tree that I'd pass everyday taking my son to school.  I finally remembered to bring my camera so I'd could stop and photograph it.  So glad I did because a few days later it was really windy here and all the leaves were blown off.

Roll mouse over to see original

I used Bonnie from Pixel Dust Photo Art's amazing "free" texture "Wicked" using blending mode Difference at 100%.  I just loved her examples of what this texture can do, that I couldn't wait to try it out.  The blues and purples it makes is beautiful.  If you haven't been to Bonnie's blogs be sure to check it out.  She has some truly amazing photography and textures available.

Here are a few more shots of the tree...

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope everyone is having a safe and wonderful holiday season!

Ciao!

Fun...fun...fun...Photography Art

It's Photo Art Friday!

Roll mouse over to see original photo

I took this photo during the day at a friend's house.  I was in her backyard photographing some of her cool bird feeders and looked up and thought that it was a great shot.  I decided to give it a bit of a dark side look and feel to it. 

I first desaturated the photo.  I used SkeletalMess textures "There be Ghosts"  blending mode Multiply at about 80% and Shadow House Creations "BlueTopia", blending mode Color Legacy at 100%.  Then I used my owl paint brush to add the owl.

Here's is another version...I made the owl's eyes glow (sparkle) and added a few sparkling stars with "Sparklies Brushes by Project GimpBC" in GIMP.  Which do you prefer...without the eyes or with the eyes glowing?  I can't make up my mind, so I'd love to hear what your choice would be.

 

If you're interested in Photo Art Friday click on the button below...or just curious...or want to get inspired.

Creativity in Bloom

We are pleased to announce the completion of a very special piece, "Creativity in Bloom". It was commissioned by an incredible jewelry designer and dear friend, Suzanne Colucci of Belandaria Designs Inc. in LA.

Her wish was to have something inspiring that could be used to hang her works in progress. She envisioned a whimsical, magical tree in a place where anything is possible and the imagination is free to roam.

Carrie did all the work on this piece with lots of suggestions from me :-).  We work so well together...two creative minds can sometimes be just as good as one!

Here are a few more shots of this whimsical tree...

The tree stands 18" tall and is made almost entirely of sculpted polymer clay, over a frame of wood and wire mesh. It also includes examples of our work with our molds, (You can get our molds at http://theclayshoppe.etsy.com) metallic pigments and alcohol inks. Jewelry findings have been added throughout to encourage extra sparkly inspirations!

If you or someone you know is interested in a custom design display please contact us via this post or at ametista_etsy@live.com

Bright blessings and happy Spring!