Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

In honor of Dr. Seuss, whom I have loved since I was a little girl  I am reposting a post I did a few years ago when my little on was learning how to read:

Enjoy!

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Dr. Seuss, we do love you.
You make us rhyme with new blue goo.

Green Eggs and Ham
That Sam-I-Am

A Cat In The Hat
how about that?

My youngest is now starting to read
And a book from you is just what she needs.

She created a reading area in the hall
With stacks of books around her all.

I had gotten these books out from in a box
That belonged to her sister, including Fox in Socks.

I myself had read them here and there
When I was young I read them everywhere.

Fox in Socks is my favorite one.
The tongue twisting.....I got it done.

And here my youngest is, reading Green Eggs and Ham.
She loves the book, especially Sam-I-Am.

So Dr. Seuss, thank you so much for your wonderful words.
Your drawings, rhyming and odd looking birds.

Pin Up Photo Shoot

Back in high school I would admire all the Guess ads that were in all the magazines and loved the way they looked in black and white, with the classic "pin up" look. I would tear them out of the magazines and tape them up on my wall (along with all my other posters I had)

. 

I had always loved the classic 1950's Pin Up posters as well.

I'd always been interested in doing a photo shoot like that, but never had the guts to approach any of my friends to dress up and allow me to photograph them.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I was approached by someone asking me to do a Pin Up Photo Shoot!

I eagerly accepted!

The photo shoot itself, went well.   Processing and editing the photos?  Well, now that too a LOT more time and energy.

I had a vision in my head of how I wanted the final product to look like in Photoshop.  I tried many different techniques, to no avail.

Then I did a google search and, lo and behold, I found a Photoshop Pin Up Tutorial!

And the result was this:

Once I had the look I wanted, I then experimented with other photoshop techniques and came up with this black and white one:

I like it because it looks like it was actually taken in the 1950's.

And then I was having fun with the different effects I was able to achieve using Photoshop Actions.

I don't always like to do the traditional poses and like to get a little off center, only show part of the face, just a little different.

She was a fabulous model for me and I was so privileged to do this photo shoot for her.

Oh!  And I can't forget the car that was loaned to her for the photo shoot too!

GTO

You can also find me on Facebook here:  Tina Louise Photo

I learned so much with this photo shoot, mostly with Photoshop and my love for the program has only deepened, as well as my love for photography.

Word of the Year - 2012

Textures by Kim Klassen

Word of the Year.

This is a word that encompasses you and what you want to have as YOUR word for the year.  This word belongs to you.

It can be a word that helps you get through things.

A word that will give you strength throughout the year.

A word that describes you.

It can be whatever you want it to mean.

Last year my word of the year was:  CHOOSE.

A powerful word.  A word that gives me ownership to what I do.  I don't HAVE to or NEED to do it, I CHOOSE to do it.

It was a word that resonated with me from the year before and followed me into last year.

Last year another word started resonating with me.

The word was: PASSION.

This word describes ME.

It's a word I use in my descriptions of me, whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, etc.

I am so passionate about so many things.

From my children to my beliefs.

From my art to my creations.

From my family to my friends.

From love to even, yes, loathe.  (I dont' like using the word hate)

Passion is what keeps me going.

Passion is what helps me to aspire to what I want to be.

Passion is what describes my feelings.

Passion is, ultimately, ME.

What is your word of the year?

What is that ONE word that can describe you and what you want to use to help you get through the tough times, the wonderful times,  and just everyday life?

Try finding a word.

It helps.

Trust me.

My Fly Tribe Gals and I are each doing a post about each of our Word of The Year.  Please take some time and read about each one of our words.   Thank you Kelly Rae Roberts for bringing us together.

All you have to do is click on this Fly Tribe Logo/Button and it will take you to our culmative page with all of our blogs.  Thank you.

From The Heart

The Original Mrs. Claus

In my opinion, the best presents are the ones that come from the heart.

Oh sure, there are those presents where you are like WOW, I can't BELIEVE you gave me that!  That is SO AWESOME!

Yea, everyone loves to get those.

But the presents that I will always remember the most?

The ones that are given from the heart.  Where you put your heart into it.

Whether it's something you looked high and low for, knowing that that person would absolutely LOVE it, whether it's something you made, or whether it's something you did for that person.

I love to give.

I love to see the smiles on their faces.

I love to make things for people as well.

Every little stitch, every little bit of fabric, or the photo I created.

Almost 7 years ago my mom passed away.

6 days before Christmas.

I can't even remember what was in those presents that she gave that were under the tree that year.

You know what I kept?

The tag that had her writing on it.

That's what I remember.

Her writing.

That's what I kept.

When my sisters and I went through her belongings and divided up the decorations there was Mrs. Claus.

She made this as a decoration for our house one year.

I always loved it. Correction....we ALL loved it.  But that was the only really one thing I wanted.  So my sisters let me have it.

But I knew my one sister truly loved it too.

So I set out on a mission.

Through ebay.

And found the exact pattern that my mom had to make it, many years ago.

And I made my sister one for Christmas.  And I was able to find most of the same exact fabric that my mom used, to make the original one years ago.

And it made me so happy to make it for her and surprise her and give it to her for Christmas.

And it's not how much it cost me to make it, it was about giving her something, from my heart, that would bring a smile on her face.   And believe me, it shocked the hell out of her when she first saw it, lol.

And, truly, that's all I want for Christmas.  Happiness and something from the heart.

Shining Through

I have embarked on a journey this year that actually started a while back.

A journey of my creativity.

A journey that has started and stalled here and there.

A few years ago, a dear friend of mine encouraged me to create, using my crochet skills.  I opened an etsy store,  with some scarves, beanies and headbands.  I actually had one of my items show up on the front page of etsy!  This was the item:

And while I had the encouragement and support of friends and most of my family, I had negative energy that caused me to doubt myself, and I thus abandoned this store.  I also didn't have the knowledge of how to pursue, showcase, network myself effectively out there.

During this I also had decided to pursue my photography as well.

I became immensely interested in sports photography.  Here is one of my pieces:

And during that time, I made a few connections.  I was doing this.  I was going to pursue this.  But then yet again, negative energy entered and, while I didn't completely abandon it, I let it fall wayside.

This year, I decided I wanted to pursue my creativity.  But which path?  Which creative endeavor to follow?  What would I do?

I was discussing this with my dear friend Stacy delaRosa.  In these talks she highly encouraged me to take this e-course by Kelly Rae Roberts, Flying Lessons: Tips and Tricks To Help Your Creative Business Soar.

It was within this e-course that I found my creative self.

It was within this e-course that I found my encouragement.

My dreams.

My wishes.

What I wanted to do.

Photography.

It was there I found the tools I needed to help me along the way.

My journey.

I was also steered toward this book:  A Place of Yes, 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life, by Bethenny Frankel.   This book spoke to me.    It helped me to realize a lot of things in my life.

I was simultaneously reading this book and taking Kelly Rae's e-course.

It helped me to realize that while there is negativity that will intrude in my life,  I can still shine.  I can choose to go with the ebbs and flows of life, and keep pursuing my dreams.

During the start of Kelly Rae's e-course one of the gorgeous ladies posted this of which I wrote down:

"I believe in myself
I believe in my dreams
I believe in me!
I believe in my talent
I believe in my creativity
I believe in my skill
I believe in my heart
I believe in my soul
I believe in my life
I believe in love
I believe in happiness
I believe it is possible
I believe I can do it
I believe....I just do"

This is a mantra I have written down so I can  see every day.

And speaking of these gorgeous ladies, I have come to forge bonds with these ladies.

These gorgeous, wonderful, creative, inspiring women.

We encourage each other.

We support each other.

We are taking this journey together.

We will make it happen.

So please visit them as well, and show your support for them, for me, for all of us.  We are living our dreams, we are going to make them come true.

Amaranthine Violet http://magic-gypsy.blogspot.com/

Amy Hillenbrand  http://amyhillenbrand.blogspot.com 

Beatriz Peñas B. http://beatrizbepe.blogspot.com/

Beth Cougler Blom www.sobliss.wordpress.com

Carmen Patti – www. carmenpattistudio.com

Carol Bray     http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com

Christina Fajardo http://christinafajardo.blogspot.com/

Cindy Jones Lantier -- http://www.lantier.org 

Connie Rawlins - www.dabblinginlife.blogspot.com

Dana Brock - http://www.dzynbydana.blogspot.com

Deborah Velásquez-http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com

Elissa Brown- http://thefreckledarmy.blogspot.com

Hillary Courson -- http://www.hillarycourson.com 

Jacquie Williamson - www.jacquiewilliamson.blogspot.com

Jane Paynting  http://inkspiredwings.wordpress.com

Janet Forrest http://tatterednworn.wordpress.com/

Jennifer DeVille http://jenniferdeville.com/blog

Jill Lambert - www.jill-lambert.blogspot.com

Julie Hamilton   http://spaark.wordpress.com

Kanchan Mahon - http://Kanchan-Mahon.blogspot.com/

Karen Claverie http://giddyupletsride.blogspot.com

Kari DeSaulnier - http://karidesi.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Conard http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/

Kathleen McKinnon- http://harmonyschoolhouse.com/expressions-blog.html

Kathy May-http://kathymaydesigns.org

Kelley Miller www.kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com

Kelly Corso- http://birdinatreecreations.blogspot.com/ 

Kelly Hoernig - www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com

Kim Hyer-http://www.apaperaddict.com/

Kris Lanae Binsfeld -  http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com

Lenore Angela -http://www.lenoreangela.blogspot.com/

Linda Barutha --http://lindabaruthadesigns.blogspot.com

Lisa Michele Products - http://www.lisamicheleproducts.blogspot.com/

Liza Zeni Baker - www.lizazeni.wordpress.com

Lori Leissner--http://leissnerart.blogspot.com

Lori Moon -- http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com

Mary Sterk - http://justmarydesigns.wordpress.com

Megan Schmitt www.schmittenwithwords.blogspot.com

Melanie Douthit www.douthitgallery.blogspot.com

Michelle Dwyer http://www.magnetisedbylife.com/

Michelle Reynolds - http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com/

Rachél Payne (Rae)  http://collectingyourself.wordpress.com/ 

Rain Hannah - http://honeyandollie.com/

Rhiannon Connelly - http://www.starrybluesky.wordpress.com

Ruth-Mary Smith http://patchworkfamilieshub.blogspot.com

Sherry Richert Belul - http://simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup

Shirley Ann http://leonardarenaissancewoman.blogspot.com/

Stacey Chadwick Brown -  http://staceybrownarts.blogspot.com/

Susan M. Walls-Beverly - http://www.susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com

Teresa Cash-Czech www.asmilemaker.com

Tonya Love - www.passport2creativity.com

Ursula Smith http://www.EasyScraps.com/blog

Zulma Cadena www.edustory.wordpress.com

A New Path Is Forming

Our lives are one continuous path.  One road.  That road may twist and turn a LOT, but it's still a path we must take.

Today I took a step on a new path that I have been wanting to take for a long time.

My beautiful magical friend encouraged me to take it.

She has been pushing me to take this path for a long time now.

She inspired me to take it a few years ago.  And that path, while it was a small one, was a start of a journey I am on now.

That path didn't dead end for me, but it did come to a standstill, for the time being.

I am hoping to pick up that path again very soon.

And while I'm not sure if the path will entail the same elements it did before, it is a path that I feel I am ready to start back up on.

A path for ME.

A path that I have to believe DO believe is meant for me.

A path of creativity.  Of success.

A path where I have the confidence of showcasing that part of me and believing in it.

I know it won't be an easy journey.

There will be many ups and downs, self doubt, worries, highs, lows, but I CHOOSE to believe that  this is something for me.

I still can't quite put my finger on exactly what it will be, but I have friends who see me down the road, being successful.   They can feel the energy that will be there.

And if they believe..............

Then I must as well.

Not for them, but for ME.  For me and my girls.

Here we go.

The Journey.....What Lies Ahead........

Our life is a constant journey.

The journey doesn't end until we do.

Lately I've been feeling a pull in my direction.

It was a little tug, but the more time that goes one, the more I feel that pull.

A pull back into the scrapbooking world, but not like it was before.

Before, for me it was creating pages to showcase the pictures of my girls.  My family.

Wanting the latest and greatest supplies the scrapbooking world had to offer.  But always having it surrounded with family photos.  I am attaching a couple of pages I took a snapshot of, of my work.

Simple pages, really.

But it's what's on those pages that inspire me.

And I'm not just talking about the pictures.

I'm talking about the mediums that are on there.

The paper.....Oooooh, the paper, have always loved the paper.

The embellishments.  Acrylic flowers, brads, flowers, ribbon, and paint.

Such an endless array of items beyond that to create with.

So what if I used those in some sort of way to showcase other things?

I wonder how it would turn out?

Stay tuned, to find out.

What lies ahead for me?  I have no idea.  But I'm looking forward to it.

Life is a journey that you can choose to embrace or fear.  I choose to embrace it.

I choose to embrace it with people in my life who make me smile.   People in my life who make me think.  People who I love for who they are.  People who inspire me.