Thursday, January 10, 2013

Enjoy a Moment...

 I've treated myself to an early birthday present and upgraded to Photoshop Elements 11 (I had been using PSE9), so this evening I've been playing around with some photography.

Kim's challenge today in Beyond Layers was for us to take a photo that included a coffee cup, books and some other object.  Does anyone out there recognize what the blue disks are that are strung on an old shoe lace?

The books are old Ontario Public School books from the early 1900s.  The brown one makes me chuckle because it's all about hygiene!

The photo has a couple of Kim's textures layered over it.  They're called chaos and calamity, which is ironic since the photo gives me a very peaceful sense of calm...

I've included the 'before' pic so you can see what I started with.

BTW, the blue disks are Canada Rations disks for meat from the WWII era.
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64 comments:

  1. BonnieJanuary 11, 2013 at 1:04 AM

    What an interesting bit of history, Linda...and a lovely photo.

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 11, 2013 at 8:45 AM

      Thank you Bonnie. I love the charm of old books!

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  2. charJanuary 11, 2013 at 2:14 AM

    You create such interesting projects. I love this picture.

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  3. BarbaraJanuary 11, 2013 at 10:47 AM

    Oh, this is such a wonderful vignette! I love old books. These just make me want to pick them up and leaf through them. I have never seen ration disks. I love the way you wove them through the image.

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 11, 2013 at 11:03 AM

      Thank you Barbara. I love old books too, and enjoy seeing some of the funny, outdated things you find in some of them.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2013 at 12:32 PM

    I love these texture exercises you all do for Kim Klassen. Great composition, interesting tidbit about the blue discs. xox

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 11, 2013 at 4:09 PM

      Thanks Corrine. Yes, Kim challenges us to do some fun things and in the process we learn so much about using Photoshop, etc.

      Delete
  5. MiriamJanuary 11, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    I love this still life Linda, you did a great job with the textures here.

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  6. Currie SilverJanuary 11, 2013 at 1:05 PM

    This is a treasure, Linda!! I really enJOY the story BEhind it. Visiting your website always make me break out in smiles!!!

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 11, 2013 at 4:11 PM

      Thanks Currie. So glad I can bring you a smile. I don't know if I've said this before, but I'm pretty such if we ever met in person we'd hit it off!

      Delete
  7. SylviaJanuary 11, 2013 at 1:29 PM

    Beautiful editing, Linda, interesting story too !
    Wishing you already a Happy Birthday :-)
    Nice weekend,
    Sylvia

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 11, 2013 at 4:12 PM

      Thank you Sylvia. My husband and I always laugh because birthdays around here start a week before and continue for a week after the day too. Have a great weekend!

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  8. QuiltbugJanuary 11, 2013 at 3:29 PM

    It's beautiful. I hate that I'm old enogh to remember the discs.

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 11, 2013 at 4:13 PM

      Thanks. You've got me smiling. I'm actually a bit too young, but my husband remembers them.

      Delete
  9. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2013 at 4:03 PM

    I really like the style of this photo and the processing is wonderful!

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  10. LaurenJanuary 11, 2013 at 4:24 PM

    Love the finished surface

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  11. Roxi HJanuary 11, 2013 at 6:44 PM

    looks like you're entitled to a lot of meat. Love that cup!

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 12, 2013 at 8:53 AM

      Thanks Roxi. I've wondered why my husband has all those meat disks. Perhaps his family was vegetarian for a time. LOL

      Delete
  12. BarbaraJanuary 11, 2013 at 7:52 PM

    Congrats on the new software, looks like you are getting a hang of it. Love that you showed the before, such a wonderful processing

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 12, 2013 at 8:54 AM

      Thanks Barbara. Fortunately the jump from PSE 9 to PSE 11 isn't too different so I'm figuring most things out as I go.

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  13. Lissa ForbesJanuary 11, 2013 at 8:04 PM

    Yes, Linda ... a stack of books and a cuppa ... is the best way to treat oneself in my estimation. Lovely composition!

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 12, 2013 at 8:55 AM

      Thanks Lissa. And I couldn't agree more. 'Me' time must include those basic ingredients! Perhaps a bit of chocolate too :o)

      Delete
  14. Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed.January 12, 2013 at 10:54 AM

    Photography and digital editing are such perfect ways to make use of and 'memorialize' (is there such a word?) treasured artifacts. Beautiful work Linda.

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  15. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2013 at 6:03 PM

    The textures softened your original photo so nicely. I love how just an addition of another element gives photos a different quality! Nice job!

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 12, 2013 at 8:54 PM

      Thanks Jan. It did a lot to get rid of the messy, busy background. Have a great weekend.

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  16. Andrea DawnJanuary 12, 2013 at 9:36 PM

    I really love the softness of your image, Linda. Very inviting. It was great to visit here again.

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 13, 2013 at 8:24 AM

      Thanks Andrea. I'm so glad you came for a visit.

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  17. IdaJanuary 13, 2013 at 12:56 AM

    Very nice work. The piece has a lovely vintage feel to it. Plus I learned something since I did not know what the blue disks were for.

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  18. PatJanuary 13, 2013 at 4:01 PM

    A lovely still life!

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  19. KiaJanuary 14, 2013 at 12:05 PM

    A really lovely edit.

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  20. ceeveeJanuary 14, 2013 at 9:03 PM

    Nice job on the photo. I took some of Kim's classes a while ago. I am also a photoshop nut and longing to get back to it, before I forget what I have learned. Lovely lovely blog! I don't have a blog, just read them.

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 14, 2013 at 10:35 PM

      Thanks Carol. I really enjoy Kim's classes and I take notes on things I want to remember that I won't use too often. That way I can always look them up.

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    2. ceeveeJanuary 15, 2013 at 8:18 PM

      Linda, I just fussed with a cup and added it to Texture Tuesday. I am so rusty with the editing. Got to do some reviewing!!

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    3. Linda KittmerJanuary 16, 2013 at 7:49 AM

      What a clever take on the challenge Carol. BTW, are you behind bars somewhere? Need rescuing?

      Delete
  21. eileeninmdJanuary 15, 2013 at 5:04 AM

    Happy belated Birthday! The Photoshop sounds like a wonderful present! A very inviting scene, love the image and what you have done! Great job! Have a happy week.

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 15, 2013 at 9:40 AM

      Thanks Eileen. Actually, my birthday is tomorrow (the 16th) so you aren't late at all. I'm loving the upgrade to PSE11. So glad I treated myself.

      Delete
  22. Lori_ZJanuary 15, 2013 at 9:06 AM

    Beautiful use of textures, nicely done.

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  23. JanineJanuary 15, 2013 at 9:31 AM

    Wonderful photo. Love your use of textures.

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 15, 2013 at 9:41 AM

      Thanks Janine. I certainly like that I got rid of the busy, messy background.

      Delete
  24. UnknownJanuary 15, 2013 at 9:40 AM

    Nice shot!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  25. HazelJanuary 15, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    I love your talent! Your work is beautiful and charming, my kind of art, my kind of objects.

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  26. HazelJanuary 15, 2013 at 10:00 AM

    I love your talent! Your work is what I call beautiful and charming!

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  27. Fun60January 15, 2013 at 11:11 AM

    Well done. I really like the still life you achieved. You've obviously got a good eye for putting objects together.

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 15, 2013 at 11:38 AM

      Thanks so much. It also helps to have neat old 'stuff' around ;o)

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  28. The Artful DivaJanuary 15, 2013 at 1:06 PM

    Happy Birthday, Linda. I've been using PSE11 for a while now. It takes some getting used to, but I do like it.

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 15, 2013 at 1:09 PM

      Thanks Pat. I know what you mean. Most things I'm figuring out, but occasionally I get stumped for a minute and wish I had my old familiar... My actual birthday is tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to a nice day. I've already got a great friend and my husband and son lining up to spoil me :o) So nice!!!

      Delete
  29. Candy C.January 15, 2013 at 2:58 PM

    What a beautiful image and a fun bit of history! :)

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  30. BarbJanuary 15, 2013 at 5:34 PM

    Great feeling of age to go with the "old" in your tableau. I thought at first the blue might be Chinese currency! Enjoy Photoshop!

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 16, 2013 at 7:51 AM

      Thanks Barb. Chinese currency was an interesting guess. They certainly have holes so they could have been strung like that.

      Delete
  31. Prairie JillJanuary 17, 2013 at 12:40 AM

    Lovely composition! That's a beautiful cup, and I love old schoolbooks!

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    1. Linda KittmerJanuary 17, 2013 at 7:31 AM

      Thanks so much Jill. I just got that cup for Christmas.

      Delete
  32. Mrs. T.January 19, 2013 at 4:22 PM

    Very creative photo. The composition is excellent.

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Linda

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