Wednesday, January 31, 2007

On another note...or two

Each night as the day winds down, just when I think I'll have a moment to do some writing here, I seem to get distracted by other creative pursuits.  Words lately eluded me on every level...spoken, written and read.  Drawn in by the magnetic energy of images I've whiled away countless hours following dreams and mystical glimpses of imaginary and distant places...and time.  All for my soul, in search of finding balance to counteract the less than positive influences projecting into my life.

And, I'm happy to report, it's working.

Two nights ago I finally finished reading True Believer by Nicholas Sparks.  Not one of his best and nothing compared to The Notebook (my favorite) or Message in a Bottle but a fair read to pass the time.  Next on my ever growing "Read Me" pile is Sparks' Three Weeks with My Brother, but I see Diana Gabaldon recently released  A Breath of Snow and Ashes (published in October 2005 I see...now how did I miss that?) from her Outlander series and that's been three years in the waiting for so I'll likely head in that direction.  If I do I'm certain it won't take me 6 months to read....six days is highly possible given my previous track record with Diana's books.

But, I've gotten distracted again.  In my tootling, or doodling meanderings of late I've re-awakened the child in me who loved to draw.  Granted all those years ago my subjects were always horses which drove my older sister nuts <grin> but I got over that and moved on to different things.  The image at the beginning of this entry is the result of my current tootling behavior and from this I've learned a whole new venture for my photography and acquired another use formy vast gallery of personal photos.  No more dull, boring and mediocre images...no siree Bob!  I'm currently turning Dilynn into a forest fairy, but haven't quite aligned all the right elements to make it work (well, at least not to my satisfaction anyways).  Anyways, from the original photos below its easy to see the foundation on which the image above was formed.  I don't know why, but scenes from the film The Great Gatsby kept playing in my mind as I worked on the image...something about the car.

 

Funny thing about the graphic editing program is I've had it for over ten years but never used it that much; basically for just touching up photos and such.  It was so complicated and had so many functions to learn I always felt a bit overwhelmed and intimidated by it.  I'm glad to have crossed that bridge and tackled the program because the payoff is so rewarding.

I've also been in my scrapbooking zone lately and decided to offer some of my layouts for purchase on eBay for those who love the idea of scrapbooking, but haven't the time or inclination.  The first layout I listed sold...boom just like that (it was a pet theme).  Frankly I think that was a fluke but, hmmmmm, this could lead to something.  The second layout didn't sell so I re-listed it as well as others and revamped the listings themselves.  We'll see whether it takes off or not.  If not, no loss since I'm certain the layouts will not be wasted.

Well, gotta go, lunch time is over.

 

 

 

Okay...I hear the grumbling.  If you really want to see the layouts available on eBay, click <here>.



 

 

"This is happiness: to be dissolved into something completely great."  -- Willa Cather

 

 


 

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

You make me smile...and also crack me up!  Love your creativity.  I know about being overwhelmed by a photo program...I got one way over my head.  
Going to ebay now...bye!
Nancy

Anonymous said...

I'm glad your technique is working to find that balance you seek.  We benefit from the results by getting to see this great work on your graphics.  Nice work, Dona!
Sam

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pics! I've been MIA because I have a writer's block. Just like you, I concentrated my undiffused energy by taking the wallpaper and cottage cheese ceiling off my bathrooms. I'm not done but the painting is going well and I already bought new hardwares. Just dropping by to say HELLO.

Anonymous said...

Great entry.  Thanks for sharing. Your Scrapbooking pages are very nice.
Hugs, Barb  

Anonymous said...

Hi Dona,
Everytime I get a chance to visit your journal I find out how much we have in common.  We are both such avid readers and creative souls. Hugs,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

It's so nice to sit back and observe when someone has the creative juices flowing. I love everything you've done here...very artistic and expressive. I hope that part of your brain keeps exerting itself!

Jimmy

Anonymous said...

   Sigh ... I gotta try altering some photos ... I'll have to put that on my "Gunta List" ... things I'm gunta do when I get a round tuit.  You've given me something to shoot for.
LOIS