Caught in a Road Block

On the way to visit our Grandson's last weekend, there was a road block for the construction along our road to town. We caught it just right and only had to wait about ten minutes. I put my window down and saw this face on the side of the hill. Of course I had my Nikon Coolpix S60 handy so I quickly took a picture of it. I wasn't sure if it would show up or not and the traffic started moving. Later that day I pulled it up on the screen and there he was. The Indian Chief.

We all need to slow down a little on the highway of life and take some memories. This week is our County Fair. I am looking forward to being off work on Saturday and taking some time to just sit and visit with friends, watch the Quilt Auction and eat some junk food....................Have a fun weekend. DIANE

Random Thoughts

I have recently joined a group of artist in a broad effort to STOP ART PIRACY http://www.flickr.com/groups/stopartpiracycampaign/ Please stop by this site and add your support. Support in numbers not money...we are raising awareness to the problem of people stealing art and posting it as their own. How low can you go. Our aim in the art world is to inspire, teach, learn and share techniques. Maybe along the way get some art published and always to meet friends with the same interest.

I found a few other places to check the rules of copyright. Respect the rules. Dig deep into your creative imagination and be original. You will find your own style and more than likely people will distinguish you and your style. I know a lot of us in groups are doing the same theme of art, and it is fun to see how many ways you can cut it, but always stick to your own style. DIANE

http://www.unc.edu/~unclng/public-d.htm
http://reviews.ebay.com/COPYRIGHT-INFO-for-POSTCARDS-in-The-Public-Domain_W0QQugidZ10000000004222864?ssPageName=BUYGD:CAT:-1:LISTINGS:6
http://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm
The Best Hearts are Crunchy http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/

Blowing Kisses

I can't believe June is half over. We have had unusual weather this June, alot more rain than normal and alot cooler. Oh how I love it. However I know we will be in for some HOT HOT HOT July and August. I thought my little side yard looked so pretty in the dappled sunlight and I always love my little garden children.

I have been busy, with a new project that is top secret. I am having a blast and can't wait to share with you what I am working on. But until I finish them and get them on my Etsy you will have to wait. Stay tuned................DIANE

ONE INCH BIRD SWAP

One inch bird's are ready to leave the roost. They are many colors and many different personality's. However they are my last inches, just too small for me. Now I remember why I pretty much left the world of ATC's, I wanted to work bigger. More in my comfort zone, my eyes just don't have it anymore. So fly away home little one's I will be flying around in the big bad world of 4 x4's and postcards and canvas of many sizes. I worked in miniature for many years. Made miniature houses and stores all in one inch scale and believe it was the beginning of my eye problems. That would be a good post in the future my little world of miniature's. Shine on.... DIANE

Strange Weather

Strange weather here of late. We have had about two weeks worth of pouring rain and lighting storms and hail. I mean it was fierce. The rain came down in buckets, so hard you couldn't see across the street. I don't plant a garden but I did wonder how the gardens were doing here. I am sure that they had a set back with the cool weather and of course hail can be very damaging to all the work that goes into the process. Growing a garden in the mountains is always a challenge, which is why I gave it up years ago, when my fist size tomatoes froze on the 4th. of July

I did manage to get a picture of our Purple Locust tree which was loaded with flowers this year. And just imagine how it looked before the storms, it was amazing and still beautiful. Have a colorful weekend. DIANE

Shasta Lake

You might say the LAKE IS LOW.....I couldn't believe how far they had to drive down to get to the water. Still it is beautiful. The air was unseasonable warm, just a touch of breeze. No crowds, just fresh air and beauty. The rain today and yesterday is a blessing, but much more is needed to get us up to a normal season. Rain or Snow..........have a beautiful day. Diane

Mother Nature Has the Last Say

Well, I got to see my Grandson make a snowman..........but it was via E-Mail. Our son and daughter-in-law got snowed in the worst snow storm in 58 years!!!! I was so disappointed, but in the end glad that they were safe in their own backyard. We mailed their gifts yesterday, so their Christmas from us will be a little late. We won't get to see them opened, hear the giggles or make the gingerbread house that I wanted but there will be other days to share. Days warmed by the sun. Memories for them of the Christmas that they didn't make it to the Grandparents house and all the fun they had playing in their own backyard.......................... Diane

Christmas Kisses

CHRISTMAS KISSES....................DIANE

The Magic of Fall

Like a curtain that has dropped is Fall. We were down in the valley for a week and when we came home fall beat us to it. The back porch was inches deep with leaves from the 60 year old pear tree. The days are shorter and the temperatures much cooler. The colors are just starting to change. The air feels different, fresher..........After a summer full of smoke from the forest fires it would.

My Dad had his 90th. surprise birthday. It was fun to see my whole family together, three new baby's and one more on the way and two new boyfriends. Families grow and change. Love is the glue that holds us all together through the laughter and the tears. Today my brother is having a huge party to celebrate BEING ALIVE. He is cancer free for one year. He is the bravest person I know, a strong and quiet man. Celebrate LIFE today....it is precious. Love, Diane

Three Minutes of Wonderful

Once again here is my Sunday Postcard. The challenge was to alter a real postcard. The old postcard I used was a pair of Sarus Cranes. The postcard was from the Bird Park on Santa Catalina Island, California. I am not sure the date of the postcard but the place to put you stamp is one cent....Have a JOY FULL day....Diane

Beauty All Around Us

I just wanted to share a couple of shots that I got while over on the coast. These were taken at our hotel, I love the Neptune fountain and the great piece of drift wood. We stopped in the Redwoods while over there. They are so grand and you really feel small in the whole picture of things. After all they have lived here for 100's of years, if you cut one down dozens come back on the stump and they have to be tested by fire before a seed can even grow.
Now I am feeling bad that I didn't even go to the beach while I was there.......It was so o o o o windy I don't think I could have stood still to take a picture, and the beach will be there next time..... but those buys that I got while antiquing would not... I received my first returns for the GOT BLING SWAP. And I am telling you they are great, and its not too late to join. There are only 9 members and I would love 10 people, really open for 15 and its still early so if you like making 4x4 pages or would like to try them, sign up.... Have an artful day. Diane

Creative Cropping

You haven't seen the last of my lily's yet.....They are grand this year.. so many blossoms. Maybe they liked that shade the smoke created or something. The white one has a big bud on it that I check every morning before I go to work. I can't wait for it to open. I hope it isn't windy. When taking this pink one, I had to hold the top bud so it wouldn't move in the wind. Pretty tricky, to hold it and shoot at the same time. Wasn't sure what I would get. I really cropped out a lot of background, mostly the peeling paint of my 100 year old house. Beauty is all around us, look for the little things. Diane