Sunday, November 29, 2009

Playing with Photoshop


I have been playing with photoshop again. I got one pic I really liked from a photograph of a grid imprinted in cement, I changed the color, then distorted it with "pinch", then with "wave" It came out very interesting. So now, what do I do with it? Just use it for a printed fabric? Add something on top of it? Print it and do some thread painting on it? Decisions, decisions?

Palm trees

Went to California for Thanksgiving, got a good photo of Mt. Shasta in the snow, and lots of pictures of a group of palm trees. When is this Orgeonian girl gonna have another chance to take pictures of palm trees? Played with Photoshop elements some more, got it to layer pics finally, will need alot more practice. I tried to layer the palm trees with a sunset photo. But my sunsets are all horizontal and the palm trees are vertical, oh well. I'm using several quilt/photo books to get instructions, each one has a different way of going about it, and assume you know stuff that you don't. I'm trying to go about it a little systematicaly, but we'll see. It is not too simple, the options are overwhelming. Wish me luck with the program. I'm really enjoying the photography, I used to do alot of it. I have a really good Cannon 35 mm, with great lenses, but I was always getting behind on film developing, I still have about 5 rolls left to develope from 1-2 years ago. With the digital camera, it is so easy to take 100 pics. And putting it on fabric is a breeze, with the computer printer. I had two quilts designed in my sketch book, but those are some of the pics I lost when transfering to the new computer. I'm trying to get an idea of what will combine in an interesting way, I have alot of good background pics, and textures, but not much fore ground options. Except alot of seagulls, and ducks from the local pond. I may have to go abstract with the different filters, to get started.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Photoshop Elements6




Wow, my new computer is awesome!!! I got the Photoshop Elements installed, and just started to play with it a little. I took a photo of a "Forth of July" Rose, changed the color and saturation, then distorted it with "Liquify" Wow!! Oh My God!! What fun, the picture actually swirls and marbles as you drag the cursor across it. So you can add as much distortion as you want. Now I could spend all day playing with this. It will be a challenge to go do the dishes.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

CD Bag


A few more pictures of my CD bag, The quilting is really highlighted by the paint.

New Computer


I have upgraded my computer finally! To a Pentium 4, old one was a One, very slow!!!! It is nice to have speed, and a wireless connection. I splurged and got a bigger monitor, a 19", WOW is it ever big and clear. I took some pictures of a little bag I made for my CD player. I like carrying it with me when I go for a walk, but don't want to hold on to it. I still need to add a shoulder strap. I have always wanted to try quilting a piece of fabric and then painting it. This highlights the texture and detail of the quilting. I used a foam roller brush and metallic copper acrylic paint over a deep blue fabric. I used hot pink cotton thread for the quilting, so this adds extra color too. I added a twisted ribbon, yarn, netting, for a wrapped look, across the front of the piece and added beads and vintage buttons. It will hold my CD player and a few CD's, a strap will help, I want to find a nice cording to use, and twist it with several yarns.