My favorite Spring color combo...and a little encouragement

I have been drawn to the color combo of Spring-green and Pink for some time now, but am finding it more and more in the colors I wear and even in the colors I surround myself with... throw in a little robins egg blue (or turquoise) for contrast and I am one very happy camper.

This is a digital collage that I made up this morning before I take my kids in for a day of errands (school conferences=no school).

I just loved the sentiment...I found it on a vintage scrap card and then added the background and image from there...

"Our greatest glory

Is not in never failing

But in rising every time we fall"...

I hope that encourages you as it did me today! and I would love to hear what are your favorite color combinations also !!

floral design book...prepare to be inspired

There is a wonderful new book by Minna at blomsterverkstad that has really caught my attention. Her photos are so inpspiring and to top it off, she is having a give-away of this fabulous book! It really doesn't even matter that I can't read her language... her photos speak for themselves...although she has interpreted most things on her blog with English also!!

Signs of Spring...entry for Mind Wide Open

Gail over at the Mind Wide Open blog is having another wonderful challenge.

This time she is offering up her fabulous altered background to use and the word "spring" for the challenge word. Here is what I came up with.

I was in the mood for something cheerful and bright and this was really fun for me to work on my day off B)

We haven't had too many sign of spring here in Central Oregon but I am sure looking forward to digging in a little dirt and getting some gardening started.

Thank you Gail for the challenge!

New art and some beauty shots of Central Oregon's Suttle Lake

It's about time I popped in here and gave an update about what I've been up to...don't ya think?

I've been working at a new floral shop since the first of the year because my ex-boss has closed up shop and retired. The new flower shop job is a blessing but they do things differently and I am having to re-learn some styles and designs that makes my days somewhat challenging, but keeps my brain exercised all the same. To steal a quote 'it's a good thing.'

As far as my art goes, I have only been able to eek out a few minutes here and there at the computer, but I'm really liking what I have been coming up with. I have been toying around with the idea of putting together a line of cards or journals or something...I'll have to keep working on that thought. In the mean time here is a small sample of one of my designs I have been working on above.

And finally, on the way back from Portland after taking our youngest Logan up to OHSU childrens Hospital for more testing on his kidneys, we took a quick stop at Suttle Lake.

The sun came out and I snapped a few photos. The main Lodge was incredible and we walked around the grounds which had cabins with lake front views. Up the road was a campground for tenters, and we were impressed enough to maybe plan a trip back in Summer.

It also didn't hurt that they had Spa facilities on site. (Tee Hee)

Hope everyone has an artful day, until next time XXOO

Happy New Year...and warmest wishes!

May your year ahead hold promises bright and may your heart be filled with hope...

Snowflakes...breathtaking designs...miracles of beauty

"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty ; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated., When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind" Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley 1925

Snowflakes in their unaltered style and form are little design miracles...they take my breath away. I have a feeling that they fascinated Mr. Wilson Bentley as well. Click on his name above to read more on this man who studied these amazing crystal sculptures.

Click here to visit a site where you can make your own digi-snowflakes. You can add a message and send them to someone if you wish. They get kind of addictive if you are going for perfection though! Fun for kids too...

I meant to add that the photo below is of the last few crab apples on our tree. I digitally enhanced the tint/saturation to make it more bold. Then adjusted the contrast and finally added two masks over the top. I rather like how it turned out...reminds me of the olden days somehow.

Hugs to all!!!

To live life...

"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else"~ Emily Dickinson