Orange is the happiest colour...

According to sweetie Frank Sinatra, orange is the happiest colour...and the theme for this week's Texture Tuesday too...so with that in mind, I made my way to the 'Hot Garden' at Sissinghurst Castle Gardens yesterday to take a peek at what was in flower...

I've always loved orange, the colour of creativity, warmth, mellow Autumn leaves and sunshine...I used the texture 'Warm Sun' on the last two images and 'Chamomile' on the first one...these are a bit different for me, I like that Kim made me change things up, I really enjoyed using the warmer textures this week...

Shooting RAW!

So, my first steps into RAW photography happened today...part of learning to use my new Nikon and part of learning in the photoshop Essentials course with Kim Klassen! So much to learn, it's all good :)

Linking with the Creative Exchange, Your Sunday Best and Macro Monday...

Prayers of peace...

I know that some of my friends in the U.S are facing nature at her most fierce at the moment, with hurricane Irene on the war path along the east coast. My thoughts, heart and prayers are with you all my friends...

...white feather's remind us that our angels are near, providing us with courage, strength and peace. Here's hoping for a miraculous and peaceful weekend for everyone...

linking with show off your shot and...

The Rainy Day...

Yesterday was a very rainy day here in Kent U.K. It was so dark all day, but still and very peaceful...I like days like this! Eventually, by the afternoon, the rain ceased and I was able to sneak out for a while with my camera...

...it was beautifully quiet and nature had jewel drops hanging from every leaf, stem and bough. Soon after I returned, it began to rain again, I felt very at peace and in sync with the world!

linking with fabulous friday, macro friday

Let the beauty we love be what we do...

For this week's Texture Tuesday, the theme is 'Back to school'...so I thought and I thought...and I decided to take it from my own personal journey this time...

I'm learning to allow myself to do more of what I love, which is photography...I chose these photographs because I'm learning to use my new Nikon, Raynox 250 macro attachment, layers in photoshop and to trust that it's OK to do it my way :) I hope you like them...

I used two layers on this first picture, 'Dust Cloud' and 'Golden' which gave  a lovely worn, soft feel. Thank you Kim...

I'm also starting Kim Klassen's Essentials course today, so I am back to school there, I can't wait to get started...

...linking with weekend exposure, at Jillsy Girl Studio, go visit!

Changing Seasons...

Have you noticed that the season is beginning to change? Here in the U.K, I can always feel it by August, the slight sweet dampness in the air at night and the berries and seed heads forming on the plants...I do love Autumn, my favourite time of year I think, the mellow warm golden sun, sometimes needing to light a fire in the evening to take off the slight chill in the air...

...digging out my favourite woolies, socks and boots! A lovely time of year, I do hope you're enjoying it wherever you are! Have a great weekend...p.s this is an Allium 'Purple Sensation'...

Linking with The Creative Exchange, Macro Flower Saturday , I heart Macro and  Macro Monday

Purple Prose...

I discovered this new blog French Kiss Textures who are having a challenge, using one of their lovely textures called 'purple prose', so here's my offering...

Go visit and see all the lovely textures they have to offer! Hope to see you there...the voting starts Friday 19th , I'd love it if you voted for me!

Gone with the wind...

Such fun to be thinking about a film that I could tie in with these new macro images I've been taking to link up with Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday theme this week...

An old fashioned, vintage look for an old classic movie, using Kim's texture 'Maysee' on the top image. I thought dandelions were a good topic, with their beautiful seeds floating off into the distance, carried along on the wind...

A misty morn...

Happy weekend! I hope you're having a great time and the weather's being kind to you...a few more macro offerings today, did I mention how amazing I think the details in nature are? :)

I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to spend time outdoors in nature, taking photo's, so lucky...

Linking with the creative exchange and macro monday...


           

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Wonderful world of macro...

I do love taking macro photo's, yes, you may have heard me going on about this before...and that I recently treated myself to a Raynox macro attachment...well, it arrived in the post yesterday, so here are the first experiments...

...so, what do you think? I'm pretty excited and feel it's going to open another new door to seeing nature a different way, in even more detail...I'd be so pleased to hear your thoughts!

Linking with Sunday Best at A Rural Journal 

Sugar Frosted...

..a few more pics with the textures that remind me of sugar frosting on old fashioned sweeties!

Yummy...

It's the little things...

Well, this week's Texture Tuesday's theme leaves the subject matter wide open...so many little things make a day happier, lift our spirit's or make us think about things in a new way...a smile, a thank you, a letter from a friend, a special moment with nature, seeing beauty in the detail of a flower...these are some of my favourite little things, including getting together with family for a nice cup of tea and a chat...how very British of me...

This picture has Kim Klassen's 'Trust' texture and a sepia tint layer to give that old fashioned look to the old stack of tea cups and saucers, hover over to see the before image!

Thanks again Kim, for supplying all your lovely free textures, those of you that have visited my 'work' blog will know that I believe we must all look for the little things to be grateful for in life and that when we focus on the good, more comes our way! Have a wonderful week...now, time for some  tea and cake...

Small is beautiful...

I love working with macro, looking at the details, the little things that are so beautiful in nature...

Lisa Gordon's Creative Exchange  inspired me to share these photo's...go visit her, she's a truly gifted photographer...

I'm waiting (trying to be patient) for my new little treat, a Raynox 250 DCR Macro attachment so I can get in really close. The top photo is my most recent, (you can see the difference in using a DSLR here, the other two were taken with my amazing little Lumix TZ7 point and shoot!) taken at Pashley Manor, Sussex. It's such a beautiful place, the gardens are so beautiful, all of which are currently filled with lilies. I was in heaven! The smell of the lilies was so strong, it was a very healing place...

Hopefully the macro attachment will arrive this week and I can start experimenting...so much fun!

Also submitted at The Simple Things , communal global and Macro Monday go and visit!

Gentle hues...

Hi everyone! I hope you're all having a great weekend? I've been enjoying playing with Kim Klassen's textures again, especially loving the 'magic' ones that give the white dusted effect, so clever!

I do love to be beside the seaside...

Oh yes, I do! Especially when the weathers scorching hot as it's been here in the U.K over the last week or so. We ended up taking a trip down memory lane too, some places just don't change do they? It was like going back into the seventies, when I loved the seaside holidays we used to have when I was a kid...

...the only differences were that they now have these great coloured rubbish bins and I wasn't allowed on the trampolines. That was my best thing ever as a child on holiday! Sometimes being an adult isn't as fun...plus I did come back with a unique sun tan including various strap marks from camera straps around my neck and shoulders! 

I hope you're enjoying the summer wherever you are, thank you all so much for taking the time to visit me and for all the supportive comments, I really appreciate it...

Tangled Terrier!

Hi everyone, I'd like to share this photo with you all, he's adorable isn't he? As you can see, he's got into a bit of a tangle...

We saw him the other day when we were out looking around some galleries, I couldn't resist taking his picture! Yorkie's always look old fashioned to me, lovely little dogs...

A beautiful day...

Hi everyone, I hope you're all having a great week? I think my grumbles about the poor summer here in the U.K were heard upstairs as since that post, we've been having scorching weather! Lovely, some heat at last. And when it gets sunny and hot, the butterflies and moths flit about, so lovely...

This is a six spot burnet moth being very kind to me, posing beautifully. I so love nature...he really was that bright too!


Linking up with:

Meadow Lace with Kim Klassen...

Yes, I know...another picture of Meadow Lace...but it's so beautiful :) and Kim Klassen offered this wonderful free magic texture which I felt finished it off perfectly...







..a lovely free set of textures just in time for Texture Tuesday! Thank you Kim...mouse over for before and after!