Picture of Contentment

Hi,

This picture is dedicated my partner, Chris. The day I took this picture the weather was wonderful and I was up on a cliff in on the Oregon Coast and just felt all the stress leave as I watched the ocean. OK I watched the ocean through the lens of my camera, but to me that is joy and wonder.

Chris is a grief/loss counselor and also makes prayer beads. She just opened up a website at ContentedLife.esty.com

Clarity

This photograph is one of my personal favorites. The crystal clear old Queens Anne stem as the ocean shines behind with its jewel-toned color. I currently have this as my desktop background. That way I can look at it and just relax and remember the day I took the photo. The sun was warm and bright over the Pacific from the Foulweather Lookout (south of Lincoln City, Oregon).

I really appreciate all of you for supporting me this week as I begin blogging journey.

I'm always open for suggestions on what you'd like to see on my blog. Or ideas of different photo art you'd like to see.

Also if you'd like to have a link on my blog, please let me know.

I hope this blog continues to grow and you get some of the same delight as I have in posting it.

Cee

A new look

Hi Everyone,
I've changed around my right column a little bit. I've split up my links into three categories. The top link list has various links to my own personal website and storefront.
The next link section lists other crafters, artists and photographers.
The third link list (below About Me) has a few person links I use for my own energy healing practice and personal growth.
Have a wonderful day!!!
Cee

What Photo Art is

I recently took a test from the University of Pennsylvania’s Authentic Happiness website, the VIA Signature Strength Questionnaire, which measures 24 character strengths. My top character strength reads as follows: "Appearance of Beauty and Excellence. You notice and appreciate beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to everyday experience." (See Authentic website at http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx.) This actually explains me in a very concise way and helps me understand my drive to have beauty in all aspects of my life. That's why I call my photography "Photo Art". I make bookmarks, prints and cards. To me photography and nature thrills and delights me, and I hope it does you as well.

I love walking all around my house and seeing the freshness of my photography. I just want to share it with everyone. I'm increasing my art to scrapbooking paper and collage backgrounds using my photography. See my site at InsideRedesigns.esty.com for a few more samples.

Adorable Pets

Pets bring such a joy and delight to my life. And give me endless hours of attention, love and entertainment. Actually all animals do. Here are some shots I've taken some of my own pets and some candid shots I've just taken of other pets. Animals give me plenty of photography practice because they are always doing something adorable or cute.

I have two pugs. Both pugs are fawn girls and were rescued. Mac was found in Bend, Oregon wondering the streets and weighing about 10 lbs after having a litter of puppies. The puppies were nowhere to be seen. I have had her almost 3 years now. And Shadow our newest pug we rescued from a puppy mill. Shadow had 4 litters in 5 years and the last time she had a litter she had 8 puppies and nearly died.

My one cat that was adopted lived in a cage (while waiting to be adopted) for 3 months or longer. He's still afraid to jump but is the most loving cat. I wake up with him sleeping on my side or stomach a lot. We've had him now for about 7 years.

I met this wonderful artist on line Tina, http://www.zhibit.org/tinawill. Her paintings are so fun and whimsical. I just adore them. She also recently adopted an unwanted dog and has created some delightful pieces of art.

Blowin' In

I have had the most remarkable weekend after getting some of my photos posted on InsideRedesigns.etsy.com .

Yesterday, I checked my Etsy site and noticed I had a message from Kay at kayskrafts.etsy.com. She added my “Blowin' In” photo to her Treasury, "Colors BlueGray no not on my hair" found at http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=55002. Now how cool is that!!

Kay works with fabrics and makes memory boards. Kay has many different fabrics and can enhance any color scheme in a room.

Anyhow, I'm entering into a new world of excitement and challenges. I love the idea that I can help promote other people's work as well. People are so very talented and all so varied. I just love it.

Bee Mine

Welcome to my blog!!!

This is a favorite picture of mine. When it is enlarged (14x11 or larger), you can actually see light yellow flecks of pollen on the white petals. It is a wonder to see.

For those of you who know me, this photo is even more amazing, since I'm afraid of bees. I was attacked by wasps when I was six years old, while building a bridge over a little stream on the north shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. I saw this bee and quickly snapped the shot and ran...and it turned out so well too!!!!!!!