Comfort Cottage

Vintage Maine

I'm a little late with my Texture Tuesday project, but better late than never!  By now, you all know of my passion for all things Maine.  I took three of my photographs and turned them into vintage, well-worn postcards.

 

The first one is the marsh across from Seawall on Mount Desert Island.  I used two layers of Kim's Nature's Beauty texture over the photo.  Both layers were set to Soft Light at about 70 percent opacity.  I used the Vintage Companion texture over top of a layer of off-white for the border.  The texture layer was set to Multiply at 80 percent opacity.  I applied a brown photo filter the Vintage Companion texture at about 80 percent.  The font is Cygnet Round set to Bevel and Emboss down.  I reduced the 0pacity to fade it.  To give the photo that grainy look that vintage images have, I added added CS5's noise filter and checked the Monochromatic and Uniform boxes.  To imitate the look of worn-off color, I used the Eraser tool with various grunge brushes on the photo.  I also reduce the saturation of the photo.

 

 

My method for the second one is the same. 

 

 

I took this photo at Stonington Harbor on Deer Isle.  My method was a little different.  I only used one layer of texture over the photo - Bent Edges, set on Linear Burn at 21 percent.  I reduced the saturation of the photo and set the opacity to 94 percent.

 

 

If you would like to enjoy all of the beautiful work of Texture Tuesday's participants, head on over to Kim Klassen Cafe.  Kim offers free textures if you sign up and wonderful tutorials to get you up to speed in the wonderful world of digital artistry.

 

Until next time,

 

Pink Art for Pink Saturday

Hello everyone!  Welcome to Pink Saturday.  Before I begin, I'd like to thank Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting Pink Saturday and giving us the wonderful opportunity to get to know one another.  Many talented people participate in our weekly pink party and if you'll click on the Pink Saturday icon on my right sidebar, you will be transported to lots more pink!

 

I had the privilege of visiting Michelle over at Rosebud Quilting this week and I can wholeheartedly recommend that you check out her lovely blog.  You will see some beautiful quilts and sewn items and your spirit will get a lift too!

 

I have a few pieces of artwork to share with you today.  The first, is a pastel painting I did.

 

 

The next one is a watercolor painting I did.  I scanned it and printed it onto canvas to give it some texture.  It's called Tea in the Garden.

 

 

Finally, a digital scrapbook page of my funny fifteen-year-old kitty.  The digital kit was a free download.

 

 

That's it for today!  I hope all of you have a lovely weekend.  God bless you until next time.

 

Arthur

This is my precious kitty Arthur.  He is fifteen years young, and he still tears about the house as if his tail were on fire.  You wouldn't know it  to look at that angelic face, but he can still stir up trouble.  He's also my little buddy.  I can hardly remember a time when he wasn't perched behind my head on the sofa, purring like crazy.  His favorite game is "Pummel the Pom-Pom" which he plays with reckless abandon.  I've never seen a cat his age who can pull off the feats of gymnastic prowess that he does.  He also is a wonderful conversationalist and he usually speaks his mind.  His vocabulary of noises is impressive.  The most startling of these is his howling.  The first few times I heard him, I ran to make sure he wasn't dying.  I'm convinced now that he just likes to hear himself.

 

 

Are any of you out there as in love with your feline friend as I am?  Arthur and I would love to hear from you.  Hug your kitty today!

 

 

Credits:  Photo and layout design-Terri Morse

                 Digital patterned paper and elements-free downloads

Seeing

T. Morse - Copyright January 2011

 

Please join me in thanking our Pink Saturday host, Beverly at How Sweet The Sound.  Also, check out A Garden of Threads to view a gorgeous pink and white quilt.  Have a wonderful week!

 

Spring Will Come

To Everything There Is A Season

T. Morse-copyright December 2011

Late Bloomers

Last night, just before sunset, the sight of these beautiful blooms stopped me in my tracks.  I don't know how many times I walked past them in the last two days, but I actually noticed them for the first time.

 

I began to wonder how much beauty has lived and died before my eyes without my ever noticing.

 

Miracles are happening all around us.   Some of us have forgotten how to recognize them.

 

 

  What is a miracle?

 

 

 

 

I wish for you a lifetime of miracles.

 

 

Morning Visitor

What a gorgeous day it is today!  I went out for a walk with my gal pals and when I returned, I found myself eyeball to eyeball with this beauty.

I very carefully opened the door and ran for my camera.  He was still there waiting for me and very kindly posed for an impromptu photo session.

He is a good 5 inches long.  Maybe he came to wish me and my hubby a happy anniversary.  We are married 31 years today.

Isn't life amazing?

Blizzard #2 - The Fun Continues

The second blizzard of 2010 is underway, and it's proving to be more ferocious than the first one!  For those of you in warmer climates, REJOICE!

This was the scene at 4 p.m.  I took this from the back door.

My hubby and my darling son worked like dogs to clear a path.

I don't think the mail will be delivered until next week!

Oh well, at least it looks pretty.  It can't last forever, right?

It's now 6:30 p.m.   It's been snowing here for 25 hours straight and it shows no sign of letting up.  A state of emergency has been declared.  The kids are all happy.  They won't be going to school for the rest of the week  There's talk of another storm coming in on Sunday.  Sigh...

Of course, there's a bright side to almost anything.  There will be plenty of time to stay indoors and make art!  Take care of yourselves and God bless you until next time.

 

Credits

All photos and layouts are by Terri Morse

Digital Scrapbook Kit - Shabby Princess - Seasonal Sampler -Winter (a free download)

A Pink and White Saturday

Hi everyone!  I'm hoping you're all staying warm and dry on this blustery Saturday.  It's no secret that by the time this post is up, we'll be seeing the snow fall again.  The weather service says we can now expect about a foot  of the white stuff.   Today is Pink Saturday, and unfortunately, I forgot to notify Beverly in time.  Hopefully, I'll see some of you anyway.  Since we're in the middle of a snowstorm anyway, I've decided to share a winter's view of one of our local landmarks, Poole Forge.  It's an old iron baron's estate, and it really is lovely any time of the year. 

Before we travel to Poole Forge, however,  I'd like to introduce you to Judy at French Laundry.  She is a lovely person with a compelling story (check out her profile).  Instead of allowing adversity to get her down, she has used it as a springboard to a rich and fulfilling life and she takes none of it for granted.  She collects Limoges china, and has the most beautiful collection of hand painted porcelain buttons I've ever seen.  Stop by,  feast your eyes,  and gain inspiration for your soul!

I have one pink item today, but I'm absolutely in love with it.  Every time I see that face, I laugh.  Meet Miss Piggy Memominder.  She was made in Japan, probably around the 40s.  I've never seen anything quite like her.  In the front, she holds a memo pad.  On the side is a hole for a pen.  I'm not sure what the hole on top of her head is for.  Any ideas?

On her back she has a place to store letters.  She's a most useful pig!

Okay, everyone on the bus!  We're taking a drive to Poole Forge.  This is what it looked like in December, after our first snow of the season.

This bridge is at least 110 years old.  People still drive cars and horses and buggies over it every day.  It seems to have been a tradition to carve one's name and date into the inside.  I found carvings from as early as 1801.

The trees are tall and imposing on this farm behind the bridge.  They've probably been there even longer.  Just look at that sky.  Have you ever seen such a brilliant shade of blue.

 

A quiet place to reflect:

I often think about how much history has passed by this creek.

The caretaker's cottage:

The snowfall reveals the wanderings of God's creatures.

 

  Have a wonderful weekend and God keep you until next time!

Credits

Digital Scrapbooking items:  from the "Frosted" collection by Michelle Coleman (a free download);  I used the collection to create my own original compositions.