Focusing On Life 52 Weeks~ Week 13~ Have Faith

My faith runs deep and strong

It sustains me in uncertain times

Calms my fears

Quiets the noise in my head

Directs me in the ways I should go.

I have faith in a power greater than myself

One who holds the master plan that I am not privy to

I realize that each of us has to walk our own path in this life

Find our own way

Deal with the pitfalls and obstacles and detours

Inherently ours alone.

That for as much as we would like to spare someone

the experience of what we perceive to be mistakes and bad decisions

and the subsequent growing pains sure to follow

we must let them go

 and  hold onto the faith that we are all right where we should be

when we should be there

learning exactly what it is we need to learn

every step of the way.

Join the rest of the faithful at The Studio Sublime

Focusing On Life 52 weeks~ Week 12~ Observe The Curve

 

Much like a roadmap,

a sewing pattern is a guide,

full of twists and turns and curves,

stop signs and markers and directions

taking you on a journey.

 

A little confusing at the start perhaps,

even overwhelming at times

but if you trust in the process,

and in the mapmaker's skills,

have a little faith,

you will end up right where you need to be.

 

This past weekend, I was lucky to attend The Sewing and Quilt Expo in Lakeland with my Mom.

I have been inspired to do a little more sewing ever since going to the ACC show in Baltimore a few weeks ago with my friend Bette.

 

At that show I fell in love with several handmade garments, gorgeous tunics and jackets that were unfortunatley WAY out of my price range.

When I saw the sewing expo advertized I jumped on the chance to go and I was not disappointed, as a matter of fact, I wish I had found out about it sooner as they offered many classes over the course of 4 days,  a good number of them in garment construction.

I may try to get to the one in Baltimore when it comes there and pick up a few classes  if I can get away.

 

I was able to pick up several designer patterns and some wonderful fabrics that I don't usually see in the average fabric shop.

I opened one of the patterns and immediately saw the answer to this week's prompt.

I have also wanted to use the posterization affect on a photo and the graphic nature of this photo lent itself perfectly to that.

 

Observe the rest of the curves over at The Sudio Sublime.

Focusing On Life 52 Weeks~ Week 11~ The Possibilities Are Endless

 

"Each morning we are born again.

 

What we do today is what matters most"

 

Buddha's Little Instruction Book

 

 When pondering this weeks prompt,

 

The possiblilities are endless,

 

I thought, had I been home I might take a picture of a new block of clay,

or perhaps my stash of beads or art supplies, all affording endless possibilities

of creation.

 

 

But then I thought a little deeper, and took a picture this morning of the sunrise and then this evening of the sunset, the hours between, the possibilities are endless as to what we make of them.

How many do we foolishly waste on unimportant things,

always taking for granted there will be another one right behind it?

 



 

I hope to be ever mindful that I have been given this day,

 this hour,

this minute, only.

 

Go explore all the other possibilities at the Studio Sublime

 

 

 



Focus On Life 52 Weeks~ Week 10 ~ All Wrapped Up

Wrapped up and trapped in their own skins

kraft paper camellias

 

Frozen in time

Never to realize their full potential

Yearning to open and bask in the warmth of the sun

To show their true colors

Alas only to find they are

a faded memory of what will never be

Youth and beauty lost.



This week's prompt was all wrapped up and while this initially conjured many other ideas,

when I saw my camellia bush, which stands a stately 10 or so feet tall by my front door,

covered in buds that never had the chance to open due to the freezing weather, I knew I had my subject.

Since this is a photography challenge, this week instead of shooting several photos, I chose to stick with one and experiment with some post processing to see what I could evoke.

The last photo is the photo I used in it's as shot, straight from the camera condition.

This shows me that when you take the time to frame the photo right when shooting, you will have a good strong dynamic image to work with which is then open to many opportunities to explore in post processing with very little effort.

Now grab a cuppa, wrap up in something warm and cozy and head on over to The Studio Sublime and visit all the other talented photographers on this journey with me.

Focus On Life 52 Weeks~ Week 9~ Knock Knock

A door opened and I went through it. ~Temple Grandin

Sally's prompt for us this week-

"Let's open some doors to see what awaits us on the other side.

Is it a door that holds opportunity?

A door that holds a story?

Is it a door you have been hesitating to open?

Is a gate to a new life?

A door to a new adventure?

Is it a door that holds a memory?

Is it the perfect door for a simple picture?

You have arrived at the door for a reason, open it up and step in!"

I knew it was only a dream

and yet I found myself wanting,

no,  needing 

to step over the threshhold

walk through the archway

see what awaited on the other side

Now I find myself thinking

 Was it really a dream?

Or have I been awake the whole time?

The vision is etched in my memory

haunting

lingering.

Last Sunday, as I was on my way to Baltimore to the ACC show,

I passed what looks like an old cemetary with one wall still standing of a chapel perhaps?

As soon as I saw that doorway, I knew it was the one.

It was raining still at the time so I stopped on my way back home and grabbed a few shots which I then played with in post processing.

Step inside The Studio Sublime to see what everyone else captured this week