Miss Match Week 4: Red

Left: Andrea Despot
Right: allieart (me)

To check out the other incredible pairs from the fPOE Diptych Project look here. Have a terrific weekend! ♥, allie

Miss Match Diptych Project - Week 2: Joy

Left: Carey Shaw
Right: me

I am thoroughly enjoying this project! To visit Carey's Etsy shop, click on her name above. The themes this week are tiny, joy and vibrant. To see the other incredible diptychs from week 2, visit the Miss Match blog!

Have a wonderful Sunday!
♥, allie

Miss Match - fPOE Diptych Project - Week 1 - Body

Left: me
Right: Meganzii


I am very excited about being a part of this fPOE (female photographers of Etsy) diptych project - Miss Match. Each week, those who are participating are paired and create a diptych together. I am really enjoying working with and getting to know the incredibly talented fPOE members. This project is also challenging me to stretch and step out of my photography comfort zone, which is also a good thing. Take a look at the other Week 1 images here.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend! ♥, allie

Thinking of you....

Today is my mom's birthday. She wold have been 69 today. I lost her 2 years ago, this April 22nd, and I think about her every day.



Springtime was her favorite season - her garden was amazing. I remember her going through seed and bulb catalogs every year. Seeing all the blooming things around me now makes me feel like she is near, which is comforting.



I know that she is alright now, no worrying, no pain, at peace, and for that I am very grateful.



I miss you mama. Happy Birthday. I love you always, me

i ♥ faces Week 13 - "Dramatic B & W" Photo Challenge

Even though it was very windy, we had to go to the beach and put our toes in the sand. I love this photo - simple and really emphasizes the peace and the beauty of that day. It also captures her determination - head down, pressing on toward her goal.

To see the amazing B&W entries, or to add a photo of your own, head over to the i ♥ faces blog, or click the button above.

Thank you so much for stopping by!
♥, allie

i ♥ faces Photo Challenge: Week 12 - "Focusing on Angles"

I love how his little hands are in motion - he was just beginning to wake up.

To see more interesting angles, visit the i ♥ faces blog, or click the button above.

Thank you so much for stopping by!
♥, allie

p.s. I had to smile when I saw this week's challenge title. My mom always misspelled "angels" as "angles," so all of her boxes said "Christmas Angles." I lost her almost two years ago, and remembering things that made us laugh together is good. Thanks ~ allie

I Heart Faces Constructive Feedback Friday

I have been really working on improving my portrait skills, so I am very excited to participate in this week's Constructive Feedback Friday from i ♥ faces. During this feature, photographers offer each other constructive criticism on a photo. The photo I have chosen is one of my favorite portraits I have taken, but I want to appeal to a larger audience. I'd love to hear your comments.


Straight out of the camera





edit one


edit two
I used the camera bag application to edit this photograph, and I used my P&S to shoot this. I do not currently have PS or a DSLR, but am working on it! Exif data (please excuse me if I have left out something or included too much. I am totally self-taught, and still learning.): f/3.2, exposure time 1/160 sec., ISO 80, focal length 16 mm, max aperture 3.4.

To see incredible portraits and the suggestions made, visit the i ♥ faces blog or click the button above.

Thank you so much for stopping by!
♥, allie

i ♥ faces weekly photo challenge: "hands on fun"

hot cross buns

I have been very excited about this week's challenge - "hands on fun." I LOVE taking photos of little hands! I took my entry photograph while we were baking for Easter - we were actually making hot cross buns. Seeing my children's hands together was one of those moments as a mom you never forget. They are all growing up so quickly. I am so grateful to have captured this moment of cooperation, family, comfort and love. This photograph hangs in our kitchen as a reminder of where our focus needs to be.

To see many more incredible entries, visit the i ♥ faces blog here, or click on the button above.

Have a great week! And thank you for stopping by!
allie

i ♥ faces week six photo challenge: "We Heart Kisses"

When she was just learning how to kiss.......

To see more sweet smooch photos, go to the i ♥ faces blog or click on the button above!

Thank you for stopping by!
xo♥, allie

i ♥ faces fix-it-friday

I have really enjoyed participating in the i ♥ faces weekly photo challenges. I am learning so much from their contributors and their resource pages, and am enjoying seeing all the other entries so much. This week I discovered the camera bag photo editing application, so I thought I would give fix-it-Friday a try.





This is a beautiful photo of a family facing a tremendous challenge - they recently learned that their father has terminal cancer. You may read more about this family's journey at Adrienne's Blog, or you may visit Jeff's Caring Bridge Page. You may see the i ♥ faces contributors' fixes here or click on the button above.

I used the camera bag application - the magazine action, and then adjusted the contrast, and cropped the photo a bit with picasa. Here is my version.



I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Thank you for stopping by,
♥, allie

i ♥ faces week 3 photo challenge "We are Family"

My entry is a photo from Mother's Day, 2006. My husband, our children and I were about to move across the country for an undetermined period of time. My mother's family met so we could visit our grandmother and see everyone before we left. It was a bittersweet day - good to see everyone, exciting to be beginning a new chapter in our lives, but sad to be leaving a place that had been home our whole lives, and leaving the people we loved most in the world.

This photo pictures my grandmother - a truly amazing woman - her strength, faith and ability to view life as a glass half full are inspiring to everyone lucky enough to know her, surrounded by her seven great-granddaughters. I love their expressions. This photo is also bittersweet for me - to see my grandmother aging is hard, but to see her influence on so many is remarkable.

To see more incredible photos, go to the i ♥ faces blog or click on the button above!

thanks for stopping by!
♥, allie

Happy New Year!

I hope that all of you have enjoyed a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones! I am excited to start this new year and to show you some of my new work.

Looking ahead a bit to February - I've been working on some new images for my Valentine's Day cards.......Here are a few for you to enjoy. I would love to hear your thoughts!

What are some of your favorite Valentine's Day traditions?

Take care, and Happy New Year to you and yours!
♥, allie

Take a look at this gorgeous treasury!

I scored a treasury for the first time in forever! Enjoy the gorgeous colors.....the Etsy POE team has such talent!


It makes me happy just to look! Wish I could buy them all! Click on the screen shot above to visit the treasury! From there you can visit the shops of all these amazing artists! Clicks and comments are welcome and appreciated!

Have a great weekend!
♥, allie

And the winner is...........

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in our Spirit of Christmas Treasure Hunt! I truly appreciate your taking the time to stop by and look at my work. Your kind words made my day, and I loved hearing about your favorite holiday traditions and activities. Thank you for sharing them with me.

Here is a list of those who qualified for the ACEO drawing on my blog:

angelandspot
lilyhydrangea
Linda Pruitt
Splendid Little Stars
Noble Beeyotch
pinkglitterfae
ArtistSueTaylor
patk860

And now, the winner is........

ArtistSueTaylor

Sue has won her choice of an ACEO from my shop. You may see my ACEO's here.
Congratulations, Sue!

Be sure to check at the other blogs to see if you have won there too!

readingsully2, alwaysartistic, tapestry316, lazyhawk

I will be taking a little break from the treasure hunts in order to focus on some other blog posts. I have enjoyed getting to know my treasure hunt team members very much, and appreciate their patience, kindness and friendship. I am thankful that Etsy brought us together! You are all incredibly talented and tremendous fun, and I feel honored to know you!

Take care, and thank you again! ♥, allie

I ♥ Faces: Week 49 "Pets Only" Photo Challenge

My entry:

This is Biscuit, one of our new dogs. We adopted him from a shelter in July after our sweetheart, Dodger, died at age 14. Biscuit is such a sweet puppy - as gentle as can be. He is a fairly tall dog (Australian Shepherd and English setter mix), but he tries very hard to sit in my lap. You can also see Gabby, our other rescue puppy, coming into the background. I love this photo of biscuit - it shows his patient, loving side very well, I think. (And I love those whiskers!)



Now for a look at both of them. This photo says a lot about their personalities - Biscuit blinking during the picture, and Gabby smiling! Gabby is also an Australian Shepherd mix (we think a type of spaniel, or maybe spitz). We found both dogs through petfinder - a terrific resource! Gabby came from TEARS. For more information on the TEARS shelter, look here. It broke our hearts to lose little Dodger, and we will always miss him. Gabby and Biscuit are helping us heal, and for that we are very thankful!

To learn more about this weekly photo challenge, and see other incredible challenge entries, click on the button above or here to visit the I ♥ Faces blog!

Thank you for stopping by! ♥, allie

I ♥ Faces Week 48 - "Sweet Dreams" Photo Challenge

To learn more about this weekly photo challenge, and see other incredible challenge entries, click on the button above or here to visit the I ♥ Faces blog!

Thank you for taking the time to stop by!
♥, allie

The Spirit of Christmas Treasure Hunt - Group No. 1 Celebrating

Comment at least once at each of the 6 blogs by December 11th at 12am EST to be eligible to win 1 or more ACEO's, one winner will be chosen from each blog.

readingsully2, alwaysartistic, lazyhawk, tapestry316, allieart4children, calzephyr

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
~ Norman Vincent Peale

These photos were taken last year at our local zoo's light festival! It is truly amazing how lights can make everything look magical! We love to go "Christmas tree lighting," which means driving around and looking at all the holiday decorations.

What are some of your favorite holiday activities?

The Spirit Of Christmas Treasure Hunt - Group No. 3 Nature's Gifts

Comment at least once at each of the 6 blogs by December 11th at 12am EST to be eligible to win 1 or more ACEO's, one winner will be chosen from each blog.

readingsully2, alwaysartistic, lazyhawk, tapestry316, allieart4children, calzephyr

It snowed and snowed, the whole world over, Snow swept the world from end to end. A candle burned on the table; A candle burned.
Boris Pasternak from 'Dr. Zivago'

Each season has its own wonder, it's own special place, and purpose in the pattern of creation. Anonymous

The frost performs its secret ministry, Unhelped by any wind.
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Some of nature's most exquisite handiwork is on a miniature
scale, as anyone knows who has applied a magnifying glass
to a snowflake.
- Rachel Carson

These Winter nights against my window-pane Nature with busy pencil draws designs Of ferns and blossoms and fine spray of pines, Oak-leaf and acorn and fantastic vines, Which she will make when summer comes again-- Quaint arabesques in argent, flat and cold, Like curious Chinese etchings.
- Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.
-Robert Frost

What is your favorite part of the holiday season?

The Spirit of Christmas Treasure Hunt - Group No. 4 Loving and Giving

Comment at least once at each of the 6 blogs by November 6th at 12am EST to be eligible to win 1 or more ACEO's, one winner will be chosen from each blog.

readingsully2, alwaysartistic, lazyhawk, tapestry316, allieart4children, calzephyr

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."
~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more."
~ Dr. Seuss From 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'

Mankind is a great, an immense family... This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas."
~ Pope John XXIII

Thank you so very much for participating!

Wishing you all joy and peace this holiday season!
♥, allie

And the winner is.....

Thank you so very much to all of you who participated in the Fabric of My Life Treasure Hunt! We always have fun putting the hunts together, and enjoy seeing our friends return and meeting new people!

And now, drumroll, please........ The winner of her choice of ACEO from my shop is....... Pinkglitterfae!

Please take time to visit pinkglitterfae's delightful blog, Pinkglitterfae Art, and her enchanting Etsy shop, pinkglitterfae, to see her incredible paintings, prints and ACEO's.

Thank you again for your kind words! Please come back the first week in December for our next hunt!