Creative Chaos

Hello friends,

I'm back....2 days in a row... woo hoo. Things are looking up!!

How are you?

Today I thought I'd share some photos of my studio... I must warn you.... if clutter and chaos make you squeamish... you should probably just walk away..... now....

I'm told my photos are quiet and calm....  Today... not so much. Busy, busy..... busy....

My studio is pretty much my mother's worst nightmare.... Have I told you .... we are polar opposites? She wouldn't argue that statement either.... 'smile'....

Anyhow, way too many 'things'.. I know.... But I love all the bits, bobs...and treasures.... so much.... Each and every little thing...every book, notecard, postcard.... bottle, bobble, button, stamp, stencil, saucer, cup....all pieces I adore.

Anyhow, I love peaking into people's spaces...each so unique.... So I thought what the heck... It's been awhile since I've posted some photos of my space.

Finding it hard to breathe? feeling panicked? so much clutter..... grab a paper bag, breathe deep ....and walk away from the screen....
Don't say I didn't warn you. 'smile'

my new kelly bag - 2 Sues.... it's amazing... i use it as a purse/camera bag....

 and finally a peek at my 'newish' cup shelf in the north room... 

And so... This is where I spend my days. :)

Thanks so much for all the replies to yesterday's post.... I am going to have a difficult time picking just a few to chat with.... I think I am going to have to call in help to figure this out. I'm honored so many of you would like to connect with me.... thank you so much.

Also, I'm super excited to hear your response abo9ut the Lightroom class!! It's a GO... details to come very soon..... I think it's exactly what I'm needing to create next.... 

Happy weekend.... xo, 

p.s. 

thank you dear Cheryl for the beautiful birthday gift... it just arrived...and it's PERFECT.... seriously perfect. xo

Desperately Seeking Creative Connection

Hello, how are you?

I hope well. I'm still fighting the blahs.... pulling inward.... the weather isn't helping... Snow on April 30th...for my birthday? Seriously.....?? I know...I know... it's only a little bad weather...I have much to be thankful for... Yes indeed....

Sigh.....

Two things I know for sure....

I'm desperate for sunshine....and creative connection...... A little face to face chat....  There's nothing like connection to get a person back on track. Quite honestly my real-life creative friends are few and far between around here. I had no idea how important connection was ... until I attended Camp Shutter Sisters in 2011. It was like a whole new world opened up ..so many women... just like me..... I had no idea!! And since then, I've longed for more. A few trips a year is no longer cutting it.

I've been working on my Birthday list (45 wishes)... one of the things on my list is build creative friendships right here at home. I'm positive there's gotta be other creatives feeling the need to connect as well.

But in the meantime.....I thought there may be someone else out there feeling the same way. We are so lucky these days to be able to connect through our screens.

Would you be interested in a little skype chat with yours truly? If so, please leave a comment below. I'm not sure how many may be interested...but I would love to talk with a few of you..... one on one.... via skype.

Let me know if you are interested by leaving a comment below......

Also I have a new course in mind.... a Lightroom creative pro-cessing class.... start to finish edits.....sharing ideas behind the image set-up and my editing choices.... a no-rules approach.... just following the creative heart/eye....What do you think? a possibility? Interested? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Oh dear, before I go... I almost forgot... the winner of the Cloth & Paper Collection is the lovely Kim Stevens. Drop me a note my friend and I will hook you up.

Okay friends.... looking forward to finding my way back here....

If you are interested in a creative connect skype conversation... leave me a comment below.

I'd also love to hear your thoughts on my LR editing class ideas as well.... Do tell!

Always.... a truly grateful heart.

xo,

 

{Texture Tuesday} Wise Words eDition & a Give Away

textured with several layers from the cloth and paper collection......

Hello friends,

Welcome to TT.... The Wise-Words eDition.

This week's TT challenge details are...

Your photo must contain words... either in the photo or added in post..... and as always one layer of any of my textures..... that's it, that's all....

To share, simply add your link below using the inlinkz gadget down at the bottom of today's post.   

It's time we had an official IG hashtag. If you are interested in sharing your TT photos via IG feel free to use the hashtag, #kktexturetuesday.

Before we start linking up, let's talk next weeks TT Theme.

Tuesday, May 7th theme is POP....

What does this mean?

Your photo must POP and contain at least one layer of any of my textures....

I will leave the pop details up to you....whatever comes to mind..... :)

Sound good? 

::

Give Away

How 'bout a little give away?.....  a chance to win the Cloth & Paper Texture Collection.

To enter, simply leave a comment (note: the comment link is now uptop) below with a wish...any wish for your day, your week, your month or your year? :)

Your thoughts always inspire me.....I will announce the winner.... here in a few day...

xo

::
 

Okie doke, let's get this week's TT started.

New to Texture Tuesday? 

To share your photo in the link up you must first post the image on your blog, flickr or a photo sharing site. Once you upload your image you can then add the direct url of the photo to the link up below.

To access the direct url, click on the photo in your flickr stream or the title of your blog post that you uploaded your photo to, then copy the url from the top of your browser address bar by highlighting it, then using the keyboard shortcut command c (mac) control c (pc). Pop back to the link up and click on the blue inlinkz icon at the bottom of the posting. Place your cursor in the image address box and add the copied url using the keyboard shortcut command v (mac) or control v (pc). Complete the rest of the form, then hit next step. Next choose the thumbnail photo you wish to appear in the link up, hit select. You will then have the option to tweet or facebook your link up. Feel free to skip this step if you like. And that's it. Scroll to the link up and your link should be there in just a few moments.

Please note, the TT link up will remain open until Saturday, May 4th...  plenty of time to link up.

xo,

  

{Wise Words} One More - for Hope......

Often....... it's the tiniest gifts....at just the right time...... that keep us hoping, dreaming, trusting...and believing....

BLESSED....

xo.... 

Reflecting on this..... xo

{Texture Tuesday} Another Free & Easy eDition

mouse over to see the before....textured with Sunday.
 

Hello friends,

Welcome to TT.... The Free & Easy eDition.

This week's TT challenge details are...

Your photo must contain at least one layer of any of my textures... that's all. :)

To share, simply add your link below using the inlinkz gadget down at the bottom of today's post.   

It's time we had an official IG hashtag. If you are interested in sharing your TT photos via IG feel free to use the hashtag, #kktexturetuesday.

Before we start linking up, let's talk next weeks TT Theme.

Tuesday, April 30th theme is wise words.....

What does this mean?

Your photo must contain at least one layer of any of my textures...and  some form of words...whether it's in the photo or added in post....... totally up to you... 

Sound good? 

 My Uptop Recipe

I desaturated the reds with a hue/sat adjustment..... then I added a curves adjustment....bringing in a little warmth by pulling the blue channel down just a tad.... next i added an empty adjustment layer and changed the blend mode to screen at 22% opacity for an overall lightening effect. Finally a layer of kk_Sunday (from the 2012 collection)....at soft light 77% opacity. 

p.s. the quote font is Rather Jazzy.....  

Okie doke, let's get this week's TT started.

New to Texture Tuesday? 

To share your photo in the link up you must first post the image on your blog, flickr or a photo sharing site. Once you upload your image you can then add the direct url of the photo to the link up below.

To access the direct url, click on the photo in your flickr stream or the title of your blog post that you uploaded your photo to, then copy the url from the top of your browser address bar by highlighting it, then using the keyboard shortcut command c (mac) control c (pc). Pop back to the link up and click on the blue inlinkz icon at the bottom of the posting. Place your cursor in the image address box and add the copied url using the keyboard shortcut command v (mac) or control v (pc). Complete the rest of the form, then hit next step. Next choose the thumbnail photo you wish to appear in the link up, hit select. You will then have the option to tweet or facebook your link up. Feel free to skip this step if you like. And that's it. Scroll to the link up and your link should be there in just a few moments.

Please note, the link up will remain open until Saturday, April 27th...  plenty of time to link up.

xo,

  

Finding My Way Back

Hello friends, how are you? I hope well.

It's been so long since I've shared anything here….. other than my regular TT postings. My oh my, I've missed you.

I'm not sure how life got so out of control…. everything building up around me….one thing leading to the next… so many deadlines…. so little time….. John's been under the weather, fighting insomnia that came out of nowhere...... a few family bumps in the road.... Oh my.... Top all that off with some tech troubles....and BAM....

Here I am...writing this post....

I know this is the story of most at one time or another….. it can happen so easily…. life gets off track…..and before you know it.... you aren't sure what the heck happened?

But thankfully Ben remains my constant... makes me walk...twice a day... no matter the weather.... (as I type this the wind is howling and flakes are swirling....sigh)....but he will not take no for an answer....which is a good thing.

I find the more I have on my plate… the quieter I become...…stillness... silence....  just BE-ing …. 

I can go days without connecting with anyone other than John and the boys. I'm pretty sure I could manage quite nicely on a mountain top….. provided I had a good internet connection…. 

'smile'

It goes back to the whole I am an Introvert thing……  So comfortable just being with myself…. I put up unintentional walls….it just seems to happen….. I pull back....find myself so out of touch.....

Looking back.... I see this is a pattern in my life... just who I am.. I suppose...

I'm slowly finding my way back.... feelng a need to connect....longing for real-life creative connections right now.... sooooo desperate.

Anyhow, I'm babbling... I really just wanted to pop in and say hello…..  share a little random happenings.... 

Picture Pro-cess is heading into the final week….. Oh my... this course was big for me...  doing both the cs6 and elements 11 version was a big load.... But it's been good.

The Texturize class is going well….a few bumps along the way...but it's all good….. I have hopes for big stuff at the Test Kitchen….some new classes and a new site name…. soon to be revealed.

On the home front....I've been doing the Paleo thing…. up until this past week I was 100% following the plan…for almost a month.... this past weeks been a little hit and miss with all the busy-ness…. I hope to get back on track…it works well for me. All of my carb cravings just disappeared....

I found this yummy recipe for a muffin in a cup (cooked in the microwave)... just flax, an egg, coconut oil, baking powder, maple syrup (sweetener of choice) and cinnamon.... seriously it's such a treat.... When I'm in need of a little extra special something I add bits of dark chocolate….. I will always need chocolate. I should be caught up in another week.... I know this will help.... you need to be prepared when doing this plan... cupboards and fridge stocked.... 

Brett just finished his first year of university...He's so relieved... Woo hoo. Bryce just moved into a new place.... it's much nicer..... John is finally getting some sleep.... and Ben..... the only thing that changes with him...is his coat..it's long and curly again...ready for a trim.... before the mud season begins....

I mentioned some technical trouble....  sigh.... My iMac was giving me major trouble last week....  so frustrating.... I'm not sure if it's the fact that I was running so much at once..... or what... but I didn't have time to trouble shoot. So, I ended up purchasing a thunderbolt display to go with my Macbook Pro Retina. I just bought it back in September....loaded up .... so it's newer and faster than my iMac. Wow... the change has been a treat... so fast... zippity zip... it's nice because everythings all together now.... I just eject the macbook and take it into my room or whatever as needed. It can even sit at the desk with the top closed....and still run on the thunderbolt display.... It's great!! Honestly it feels like I'm on a iMac...the screen is pretty much identical. Definite thumbs up.

Oh and while we are on the subject of techy stuff, did you know Lightroom 5 Beta was released. If you've been considering lightroom, I would say download the beta and play with it..... Because it's Beta you can use it until the updated version is officially released..... FREE. If you are running 4, you can install 5 and play with it.... just start a new catalog and give it a go. There's some great new features.... but no major interface changes... so it would be easy to move into..... I LOVE the new radial blur option.

I fall more and more in love with Lightroom everyday. :)

Okay friends....I've babbled on long enough......I'd love to hear whats new in your world..... Please do tell...

We are off to John's moms for a family dinner..... I should get ready and take Ben out before the winds get any stronger... Yeesh........

I will be back soon with some new textures and perhaps a few other goodies I've been working on.....

Until then...  be well ....

gratitude always...

xo,

p.s. are you waiting for an email response from me? It's possible it was lost in the shuffle....feel free to resend and I will do my best to get back to you asap.... thank you so much....xo

serious Benny. :)