Making an Attempt ~ Making Brushes

They used to talk about "the blue screen of death" when your computer monitor would just show a blue bank screen if you had your PC on when a buried virus was set to activate.  Well...I had the failure of an external hard drive...four years of photographs!

Did I have it backed up?  Of course...but I hadn't backed it up for 5 months...and off to The Disk Docktor it went.  So with limited access to photos, I want to show you a few of the brushes I made in my class with Kim Klassen using my Wacom Bamboo tablet.

A year ago I read Susan Cain's Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That is Always Talking...coupled with my Ali Edward's class of One Little Word 2013...my word was "embrace."

So in honor of embracing my introversion in 2013...I made a brush set with "introvert" words.

Introverts re-energize by stepping away and spending significant time in solitude.

We are most "active" in our inner life...

Our minds are very active...even if we are quiet.

Does the saying "still waters run deep" come to mind?

Very little is done without forethought...at least the important things.  We have intention...

We love to reflect and process experiences...

And in our authenticity...we embrace who we really are.

A Cuppa Challenge Connected to One Little Word

My Beyond Layers class is coming to an end...it's been an amazing year...learning so much about editing, photography, life, and myself...plus meeting some wonderful women.

Day 101 brought a specific Challenge from Kim...

Make (or take) a photo with the following 3 items: a cup, a book, and an accessory. (think creatively on the accessory.... perhaps a favourite thing or even something unexpected.)

Experiment with different light and perspectives until you create the just right look and feel for your photo.

Edit the photo using one or both of Monday's textures (chaos and calamity).

  

 

 

I knew I wanted to incorporate this book...I have just begun to scratch the surface in reading it.  It is Susan Cain's book name Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Cannot Stop Talking.  Knowing the book had strong colors of gray, bold red, and white...I knew my accessory choice would be limited.  I chose these red carnations.

 

This mug I had found just yesterday...I love the theme and the type was consistent with the font type on the book's dust jacket.  I loved the repeat of  the "Life is good" on the inside of the mug, as well.  I turned the tag on the teabag around to the plain side...typing the word "embrace"...my one little word.  Reading yesterday's post, you can see my reflection about embracing life and just to be born is a compliment from God.

 

But today it was around 60 degrees in Ohio in January...unheard of!  And I thought I would take my still outside to photograph...

 

 

The issue of introversion in a world that values extroversion is a new area of exploration for me...answering a lot of questions about myself and questioning if I've felt, at times, as if this value of extroversion has pressured me to live a double life at times?  This will be part of my year's pursuit in My Little Word in embracing who I truly am...with the unique gifts God has given me.

 

 



 

 

And then I wanted to bring to the forefront the words "a World That Can't Stop Talking."  I could not help but think about my son, Caleb, who cannot talk, but says so much, to people who stop and listen.  He communicates continually, if one takes the time to know him and read him.  He has touched many and has made lasting positive impressions on others in his own silent way.

 

But there is not a single person born who does not have a valuable contribution to the world...who has something to say.  As Susan Cain says, "Those with the best ideas are not always the ones doing all the talking."

 

This is going to be an interesting year!