Copper Patina : Pick a Color : Week 11 Let's do 52

Can you guess what this gorgeous copper patina texture is from?

Here's a hint : Chart this under Everyday  Inspiration ...

Where is this from:

Whole new worlds on the bottom of my Revereware Copper-bottomed tea kettle.

I am participating in Denise Love's 2017 "Let's Do 52 : 52 Weeks of Photo Prompts" to kick start the lull in my photography.   If you'd like to join us, find out more at the link above.  The more the merrier!

Everyday Inspiration - Earthy Abstracts

Just to show I'm still interested in photography, and that that there's "Inspiration Everywhere," I submit these abstracts found on a Sunday morning from an otherwise mundane source.

These are pretty much straight-outta-the camera with no post production manipulation other than cropping and straightening.  These were NOT run through any filters or apps to create this effect.

Hmmmh ...  This could be a new weave pattern!

Any guesses as to where these might have come from?

Scroll down for the answer ...

A flower vase!

Everyday Inspiration : Light Abstract

Everyday Inspiration : What do you think this is?
 Scroll down for the answer ...








This abstract came from some Christmas lights reflected on a groovy shade material my parents have over their patio doors.  It created these really neat abstract patterns.  This image is pretty much straight outta the camera.

Also sharing with The Texture Artists FaceBook Group.  

Visit my Light Board on Pinterest, exploring all aspects of Light

Visit my Light Board on Pinterest (other people's stuff), exploring all aspects of Light. - See more at: http://sweetleafnotes.blogspot.com/#sthash.CnMhPgCw.dpuf

Also sharing with The Texture Artists FaceBook Group and Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday. Visit my Light Board on Pinterest (other people's stuff), exploring all aspects of Light. - See more at: http://sweetleafnotes.blogspot.com/#sthash.CnMhPgCw.dpuf

Also sharing with The Texture Artists FaceBook Group and Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday. Visit my Light Board on Pinterest (other people's stuff), exploring all aspects of Light. - See more at: http://sweetleafnotes.blogspot.com/#sthash.CnMhPgCw.dpuf

Visit my Light Board on Pinterest (other people's stuff), exploring all aspects of Light. - See more at: http://sweetleafnotes.blogspot.com/#sthash.CnMhPgCw.dpuf

Also sharing with The Texture Artists FaceBook Group and Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday. Visit my Light Board on Pinterest (other people's stuff), exploring all aspects of Light. - See more at: http://sweetleafnotes.blogspot.com/#sthash.CnMhPgCw.dpuf

I am continuing my year-long study of Light.  Thanks for joining me!

Possibilities : Black, White and 1 Color

Here's how my mind works ... 
On the way "home" to my parents' house for Christmas, we drive through the Menomonee Nation (ie an Indian Reservation).  I fondly consider this ride, the fabled "over the river and through the wood, to grandmother's house we go."  I LOVE riding through the "Rez," because it's all trees.  My Cathedral with vaulted ceilings over the roadway.    The Menomonees are known the world over for their excellent forestry conservation practices.  They have a big lumber processing mill in Keshena,  WI, but they take such good care of the woods, you'd never know they were harvesting.   Clear-cutting is not something they do.   [It should be noted, there is one spot on the ride that looks like it was clear cut--very out of place for the rest of the Reservation ride.  A few years ago, there was a summer storm with such strong straight-line winds, that it broke everything off at a certain height--a big swatch through the woods essentially clear cut by Mother Nature herself.  It's starting to grow back now.]

The day we drove north was gray-gray-gray, and washed out.  With the fog, salt, and other schmutz on the window (no need to add texture to these!), the addition of the yellow road signs and the highway stripe were the only bits of color to these otherwise black and white images.  That caught my eye.  Chalk this up to an Everyday Inspiration.

After a year-and-a-half sabbatical from quilting, I'm finally starting to feel inspired again.  I'm really looking forward to Quilt Camp in March, thinking about possible projects to get ready.  Here's an idea ...

From the HeartStrings Project website.

A few days after our winter drive through the Reservation, I came across the Heartstrings website where they've been doing a black white and one color challenge.  I really like how these are turning out.  I don't think I'll do yellow, but it did serve as inspiration.   

Although the Heart Strings Black & White Project is over, it was announced here.  
See more black and white heart string quilts here and here and here and here. 

Beyond Layers Day 77 : View from Above

 

Any guesses as to what this might be?

The title of today's post should give you a hint.

Give up?  Scroll down for the answer ...

It's a street lamp reflected in an icy puddle during a January thaw.  My husband and I were going out for lunch that day.   We had just parked the car and were walking in when I spied this vision of beauty in the gutter.   I love it when that happens! I was looking down into the puddle to capture a view from above.

This revolution in digital photography and iphoneography is really amazing!  We are free to take pictures of everyday things we never would have wasted on film.   I'm lovin' it!  I could do a whole series on the interesting things to be found in gutters!

 

Here's the image straight from my camera. 

To get the image at the top of this post, 

I pulled it into PSE, then RadLab and applied the following filters at default settings : 

Variotone

POS Lens

EZ Burn Original

Antique Tone

Blueberry Cobbler

Grittyizer

No other textures were added.  I thought the texture of the pavement was enough!

There's a quote on the tip of my tongue that I might add as soon as I pin it down ...

Cheers!

Everyday Inspiration from a Small World

I am always on the lookout for patterns and textures.  I found this chunk of wood in the yard a few weeks ago.  I had to look twice when I picked it up : It looked like someone had carved a message into it.   Someone did, but it's a language I don't recognize / understand.

What do you think it says?
     Is it an old love letter?
     Bug History?
     Bug Stories?
     Trade records from bug culture?
     Schematics from an elaborate bug machine?
     Personal bug journal entries?

     Or just a hungry / nervous bug making it's mark in the world?

Everyday Inspiration : Leaf

Just a simple wet leaf on the pavement is enough to make me stop and take a breath. It's enough time to appreciate beauty. Enjoy!

Creative Cue : Peel

At first glance, this might look like more texture. Well, it is that, too!
It also fits the Everyday inspiration category.

Any guesses as to what this is, or how it fits the definition of Peel?
Scroll down when you're ready to see the answer ...





















Here's the original picture on the kitchen counter.

These are leftover corn husk, hot tamale peels ('Tis the season for yum! We get them at Lara's Tortilla Flats this time of year). The wrappers are destined for the compost bin.

Here are the basic steps in manipulating this very domestic photo into the image above ...
1) Start with a suitable photo.
2) Crop it down.
3) Turn it into black & white.
4) Use the ink sketch effect.
Viola!

See other Creative Cues for Peel.

Everyday Inspiration : Found on the Front Porch Steps

Everyday Inspiration : Another Look Down

Any ideas what this might be? Scroll down for the answer ...





















Keeping with the theme of found objects (otherwise known as trash), I took this picture at a wayside in France. It's the crushed and discarded foil and wire from a champagne bottle. I thought it looked kind of neat against the morning pavement.

Everyday Inspiration : Look Down

What do you think this is? Scroll down to find out ...












It's an oil / gasoline spot on black asphalt in a wet parking lot.
Toxic, but pretty none-the-less.

Everyday Inspiration : Moon in My Tea Cup

I've been thinking about that wonderful Wolf Moon in January.
I saw it again in my tea cup once morning.

Everyday Inspiration : What am I?

Inspiration from everyday things ... What am I?

Scroll down to find out ...




















A blue glass bowl sitting on the counter waiting to be washed with sunlight streaming through it.
Oliver's breakfast again : Yogurt.

It makes me think about using yogurt to "fingerpaint." It would certainly be non-toxic and easy to clean up. And a neat way to make surface designs ...