freebie Archives - Keeping With The Times

Bath Salts DIY and a Free Download

September 27, 2017 by Barb 20 Comments

Here’s a little bath salts DIY for you! I know, I know, there are tons of ideas for bath salts on Pinterest and yes, I even went there myself ;) but every recipe is a little different and I thought I’d add mine to the mix because I actually use and love it (plus I have a label download for you.)

It all started the other day when I was browsing my favourite book store (a bookstore that shall go unnamed) and I came across a display of spa products. They were absolutely delightful and I spent several minutes sniffing my way around the bath bombs and various soaps.

And although I enjoy smelling the smells, I don’t really love using scents myself (strong ones anyway.) So when I spied the bath salts I started to get a bit more interested. The packaging alone was enough to draw me in. But then I saw the price and (gasp) over $20.00 for a little test-tube size bottle (I kid you not!) of what really amounted to Himalayan Pink Salt.

I’ve never used plain old salt for bathing, but I always use Epsom Salt:

Epsom salt, named for a bitter saline spring at Epsom in Surrey, England, is not actually salt but a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate (Saltworks) (this site has a ton of interesting information about bath salts.)

There are many claims made of Epsom Salt and it’s health benefits and I cannot agree nor dispute any of them. I just know that when I use a cupful of these salts in my bath it makes the water feel softer and I’m not squeaking around in the tub ;) so it’s more relaxing. I also throw in a squirt of unscented Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash. Please note: this is not an ad! I just really use these products.

So I’m thinking … I already have Epsom Salt and I also have a bag of Himalayan Pink Salt which I picked up at a discount store, and that I use in cooking, and I also have some fresh Rosemary still growing in the garden. Time to get my DIY on!!

DIY Bath Salts with Rosemary

1 cup Epsom Salt
1/4 cup Himalayan Pink Salt
2 tablespoons rosemary, chopped finely (if you don’t have fresh rosemary, just leave it out)
Combine and throw into your bath as the water is running. Add a squirt of your favourite body wash, ease into the bathtub, and enjoy!

This would make an awesome hostess gift or dare I say (Christmas) gift! Just don’t put any fresh herbs in the bottle if the salts are not going to be used right away.

You could include a small potted rosemary plant with the jar of the salts and when packed in a pretty jar with a hand printed tag like mine * your recipient will love it (you:)

Include directions on how to use them together.

*Please feel free to download the tag (for personal use only please :)

There are two versions: one with rosemary, one without.

Label #1

Label #2

Pin for later ;)

Meeting Online Friends: Making it Happen

January 26, 2017 by Barb 11 Comments

Meeting online friends these days has become pretty common … and when said new friend visits you in your home, you make lemon loaf, serve tea, and then you shoot it ;) (that is, if your new friend is a fellow photographer and lover of still life styling!)

Meeting online friends is easy ... serve tea and lemon loaf ...

I’m loving the new Lightroom presets by Kim Klassen. Today’s photo edited with kk_claro: click, boom!

I met Kathy @kpardell at #findingstillness2016 with Kim @kimklassen back in September and I was immediately struck by her enthusiasm and determination to learn everything she could; from styling, to photography, to editing. She was already styling beautiful images which I’d been noticing online in The Studio 2.0 and I was curious to discover who this new talent was!

So after a few days of getting to know her (in real life), and because she lives in the same province as I do, I invited her to come stay with me “someday”. Well, with Kathy Pardell “someday” is not a day of the week ;) quote by Denise Brennan-Nelson

As soon as I uttered the words, the wheels were in motion! So after spending several months trying to come up with a mutually agreeable date, we finally settled on a late January visit.

Suddenly, I was nervous. Very, very, nervous. I (would have said) Kathy and I are on opposite ends of the personality spectrum. Kathy being a Type A, and me being a Type B. And while there may be a bit of truth to that analysis, it certainly wasn’t a problem. We got along famously!

She arrived around noon so I had homemade soup simmering on the stove, ready to warm hearts and hands. A perfect way to break the ice!

I also had a lemon loaf I’d baked just that morning, so I suggested we use it to create a few still life images around two friends enjoying tea and cake. That kept us busy for hours … shooting, editing, and finally eating some of that yummy loaf.

After lunch we took a walk to soak up the bright January sunlight and work off a bit of the sugar high from the cake we’d eaten. I also wanted to give Kathy an idea of how I live—quietly, on the shores of a small lake, in a somewhat secluded area.

For dinner I made a simple salad (recipe to come later this week). I’d marinated a salmon, which I barbecued and served with asparagus and rice. Easy, but elegant.

With bellies full and feeling like we’d known each other for ages, we retired to the living room where we talked and talked: about food, photography, and life. We enjoyed tea, wine, and a roaring fire.

Yesterday I took her around to visit my favourite little stores: one a country store about 5 minutes from my home, and the other a junque store in a small town about 20 minutes away. A few purchases and a delicious lunch later, we headed back to relax for the evening (but not before a few more still life images were created and shot.)

Today I find myself alone at the kitchen table … basking in the beautiful sunlight pouring through the windows and thinking about this new world we live in; where meeting a new friend does not depend solely on geography. You can simply remain on-line friends (which is great), or when possible, you can take it to the next level and meet in real life … you just have to make it happen … because someday is not a day of the week.

This has been a bit of a ramble, I know, but I wanted to document our visit before the details fade into oblivion. I’m still in the processing stage … and writing this post has helped so much.

Click image to download.

**Word Art is for personal use only :)

Banish Those Winter Blues!

January 17, 2017 by Barb 24 Comments

I’ve finally come to the conclusion I’ve got a case of the winter blues, or blahs. Whatever you call it, I’ve got it. And the strange thing is I started writing this post on Blue Monday without even realizing it was Blue Monday. In case you haven’t heard of it:

Blue Monday is a name given to a day in January (typically the third Monday of the month) reported to be the most depressing day of the year. The concept was first publicised as part of a 2005 press release from holiday company Sky Travel, which claimed to have calculated the date using an equation (Wikipedia)

**The idea is considered pseudoscience, with its formula derided by scientists as nonsensical

No matter. I feel lethargic and irritable, and I’ve totally lost my mojo (which I find extremely distressing.)

And as usual I have that guilt trip going on in my head about how could someone with my life and privileges ever be depressed, and what could I possibly have to complain about? and on and on and blah blah blah. Well, what can I say, I don’t understand it either. But there you have it.

And it won’t just go away. Nope, not over night at any rate. And so, I must take action.

So what to do about these winter blues? Well, the first thing I do is admit it.

There was a day I thought if anyone knew I was feeling (blue, anxious, sad, or depressed) it would cause the earth to come off its axis and fly off into outer space. So I suffered in silence, and let me tell you that’s the worst thing you can do. NOTE: I’m talking about a blue funk here (if you think you’re suffering from something much more serious, please, get up off your chair, and go see your doctor.)

Tips on how to beat the winter blues

Recognize it. Talk about it. Admit it.
Exercise. Preferably outdoors. I was reading about SAD on WebMD, and one thing that really stuck out was how important exercise is (which I know) but also how important it is to go outside, preferably in the morning, and for at least 15 minutes. I did not realize time of day made a difference, but apparently it helps to reset your circadian rhythm.
Watch your nutrition. I’m still cleaning up snacks and sweets from Christmas! Time to purge the freezer and fill up the fruit bowl instead.
Drink lots of water. I know I’m dehydrated because my skin has become so itchy, my lips are cracked and my nose is dry.
Take care of yourself. Get a haircut, a massage, or a manicure. Or try a home Spa Day.
Keep in touch with family and friends. Now is not the time to hibernate.

One of the things that has really thrown me this month is that I don’t feel like creating.

Some days it’s simply too much effort to set up a scene to photograph, and the thought “I’m done” keeps rolling around in my head. But I don’t want to be “done” and so I show up.

Showing Up is how the photo for this post came into being. I showed up and did the work. I was happy with the results, but please be aware that I have a hundred photos I’m not thrilled with; quite the opposite actually. But I did manage to get this one image and it will find its way into my portfolio. That alone has lifted a bit of my creative funk.

So to finish, I want to share this quote by Ann Tyler. Such simple sentences, but so so powerful!

*for personal use only

Please help yourself … just click on the image to download :)

What Sets Your Soul on Fire?

August 22, 2016 by Barb 6 Comments

What sets your soul on fire?

When presented with that question, I think we all assume we must come up with the most amazing and astonishing answer. But the truth is, we don’t. Maybe what sets your soul on fire is reading a good book (and having the time to do it.)Lots of things set my soul on fire … like a drive around the countryside listening to oven birds as they flit along a fence line, or the grasses as they sway in a gentle breeze.

One of the biggest things that sets my soul on fire is autumn and that “new beginning” feeling.

I know, it’s still mid to late summer and I don’t want to to rush it, but … I’m seeing slight changes in the landscape and feeling those old excited stirrings in my heart.

For me, autumn feels like a new beginning, and I suppose it harkens back to childhood; returning to school and the new clothes, shoes, books, and pencils it brought. Our family didn’t have a lot of money and any time we got new stuff it was a big deal.

I grew up on a farm and harvest was the biggest event of the year. I’m quite sure I picked up on the energy of my parents as they brought in the crops and put the grain safely away in bins. My mom would start baking bread, and hearty soups and stews. It was a satisfying time and I felt safe and secure.

So I’ve decided it’s time to craft an autumn bucket list of sorts … something like my 30 Ideas to Make June Magical post. I’d love it if you could join me (if only in your mind and on your private journal pages.) I’ll be posting mine in bits and pieces as we get closer to September.

And because I love quotes and word art, I’d love it if you could share some of your favourite quotes … and maybe, just maybe one or two will appear here as a freebie ;)

*****

I think this quote is by Jennifer Lee

Lightroom Template Download

December 19, 2015 by Barb 21 Comments

Good morning, today I have a free Lightroom template for you!

I was up early (it was very, very, dark outside) so I found myself puttering around in Lightroom and thought I’d compile a few Christmas images.

We’re enjoying the snow and cold … and yes, I did just say that … with beautiful snow-covered trees and pristine landscapes, it’s hard not too. Hubby has plans to clear snow from the lake for skating purposes, and I’ll be out there cheering him on ;) (with camera in hand.)

Of all my decorations this year, I loved my vintage collection the best!

Does not everyone have rusty bedsprings? They make for the cutest little “Christmas trees” …
Roaring fires are always welcome this time of year, so here’s celebrating beautiful birch, pine boughs, and pine cones in vintage bread bowls …
… hot coffee helps … … and so do cute little Charlie Brown Christmas trees in vintage coffee cans …I love my cardboard snowflakes (made from old cardboard using a die cut machine at a scrapbook store) …

Lightroom Template Download*

(*for personal use only please)

Download template here.

Have a wonderful day!

My Art is not Frivolous

November 25, 2015 by Barb 22 Comments

I often wonder why I do what I do, and is it frivolous?

frivolous \

of little weight or importance
lacking in seriousness
irresponsibly self-indulgent

I puzzle over why I get up in the morning so eager to set up a still life and take photos …

But it seems I’ve been staging “still life” images my entire life. To me “still life is real life is still life.” To have a chippy chair sitting in the dining room, an apron draped over the top, and treasured linens stacked on the seat is calming. And those poppy seed heads … I grew them, I picked them, and I dried them. What is more real than that?

Right from our first apartment I’ve decorated my home; from the kitchen, to the living room, to the bedroom. I’ve always liked to surround myself with pretty things and while the objects have changed over the years, the passion has not … in fact it has grown to such proportions I can hardly contain myself. And it’s because I now love photography.

I can no longer dismiss this (photography) passion as “frivolous“. It’s become as much a part of my life as creating a comfortable home for my self, my husband, and my children and grandchildren. It’s as important as a home-made meal … as important as freshly baked cookies coming straight out of the oven … and as important as a bouquet of wildflowers sitting on the windowsill for no other reason than to delight the senses.

It’s as important as anything I do because it fills me up, and then spills over into my life.

It gives me purpose at a time when I could be feeling lost. I could be stressing over the fact that I’m aging and my face and body are definitely not what they used to be. But I don’t have time. Where would I find the time to stand in front of the mirror agonizing over sags and wrinkles when there’s a still life waiting to be brought into the world? Oh, and before I bring that still life into the world, I may have to bake something, or paint a background, or find the perfect new semi-opaque curtains for the dining room … the list is endless.

And I mustn’t trivialize the fact that I’ve spent over six years learning how to use a dslr so that I may bring these images to life in as creative a way as possible. I can’t count the hours I’ve spent learning this craft … and I cannot think of one other thing in which I’ve invested so much of my time and effort (unless it’s my blog.)

That’s why the quote by Henry Miller spoke to me … it sums up how I want to live my life. I want to live as artfully as possible … and that’s not frivolous.

#stilllifeisreallife @stilllifeisreallife

Day 25 #nablopomo

Artful Blogging Magazine Winner

November 10, 2015 by Barb 3 Comments

Hello! I’m excited to announce the winner of the Artful Blogging Magazine—it’s Libby Wilke! Congratulations Libby, I’ll have it in the mail tomorrow (thank you so much for getting back to me so promptly!)

A million thanks to all who entered the draw, and for your kind and supportive comments. Wow, I so appreciate each and every one of you!

I wanted to thank you with a gift of the word art I made and used on one of the photos published in the magazine … enjoy!

Click on the image and you will be taken to Box.com where you can download it:

**for personal use only**

Day 10 #nablopomo

3 Tips for Blogging Regularly

October 15, 2015 by Barb 27 Comments

Today I have 3 tips on how I keep blogging regularly. I’ve been blogging for five years and my schedule developed rather intuitively … it just feels right, and it works for me.

*Blogging Bits and Bytes” newsletter subscribers will have already received this information, as well as a free Lightroom Template (for personal use only).

*free Lightroom template for current subscribers

I read a few interesting posts and comments generated by the first newsletter I sent. One that caught my attention was from Petra of Sharing my Reflections. A certain subject was brought up in the comments, and Petra answered with something I’ve always thought but never had the courage to say! Here it is:

Susan, thank you for the praise. Once I read somewhere that a blogger should never start their post saying they are sorry for not posting that long and I heartily agree with that. I also used to think I should apologize when posting after longer time than usually but I’ve changed my attitude. Firstly, I would have to apologize all the time, and secondly, it’s really annoying when you read these apologies on other blogs, exactly as you’ve mentioned. We all have our lives, not just the blogging, right?

Petra

Oh my goodness … every time someone apologizes I cringe, which I why I sneakily wrote in my first newsletter “You are the boss of your blog. NO apologies OK?” I didn’t have the nerve to say what not to apologize about. Ha! that was it! Thank you Petra.

My schedule is quite loose. There have been weeks where I’ve blogged every day, and a (very) few where I haven’t blogged at all … yikes! So I did a quick calculation (keep in mind I’m not a genius mathematician) but so far this year I’ve averaged 3 posts per week. Interesting, because I start to feel uncomfortable if I don’t get at least one post up during the week as well as one on Sunday. So my gut tells me 3 posts per week is best, 2 is OK.

So here are my top three tips on how I continue to blog regularly:

Every post does not have to be a blockbuster. You don’t have to write a novel, a poem, be wise, or have secret inside information every single time! No. A simple “hello, here’s what I was up to last week, and here’s a pretty photo to go with it” will be enough most of the time. One week I wrote 5 posts about a trip we took. Not earth-shattering, but I now have a journal of that trip which is part of what my blog is about. Remembering my life.
Create a series. It’s a great way to keep on track. It could be weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly. But it’s something. And it doesn’t have to last forever and ever. If after a few weeks you find interest is flagging, perhaps it’s time to switch gears. Go with it. I’ve had several series that ended, and at first I felt it was a failure. Not. In fact, I now start a series with the end in mind.
Create one big post every so often. Put as much effort into it as possible. It could be a crafty tutorial, a behind-the-scenes description of a photo shoot, a recipe … teach your readers something! Then, after you hit publish, start promoting it. I tweet it, post it to Facebook, Pinterest, and sometimes Instagram. I also have a list of blogs I link up with when they have their parties (but remember, you should only link a project once.) Then I keep promoting it. If I have a post that seems to resonate with people, I’ll promote it weekly as well as yearly (if it’s seasonal.) Just because a post is a year old, doesn’t mean it’s not relevant. It most likely is. My 5 Wardrobe Ideas (for Women of a Certain Age) has been popular, so I’ve already pinned my “pin-worthy” image more than once.

Just a note on #3. Why bother to promote? I do not get tons of traffic, and I am not making money on my blog, so why would I bother to promote a post? The short answer is that it’s fun! and it’s encouraging! When I see that my stats have gone up on a certain day, I feel good about it … new people are finding my blog, and hopefully liking it enough to return.

#3 is how I grow my readership, and you never know who is watching! I’ve had a few sponsored posts by some great companies and I enjoyed the attention and the little bit of merchandise that came with it. A few (bigger) bloggers have come across my blog, liked my stuff, and promoted it on their site. Recently one of my favourite magazines noticed my blog, and now I have an article in the upcoming winter issue of Artful Blogging (my heart and head bursts with that one!)

Everyone says they are not about lots of readers … that’s fine, but we want some right? But don’t stress about numbers. Enjoy them … big, small, huge, minuscule, medium. One new reader is one new reader.

So, have you ever written a “big post”? one that teaches? Did you promote it in some way to grow your readership?

If so, how’d you do it? I’d love to hear! I’ve created an Inlinkz link-up on the “Blogging Bits and Bytes” page if you want to link any posts related to to this series.

I hope this will encourage you to define what blogging regularly means for you, and then to become comfortable with it. Your schedule will be different than mine, and you need to decide what works for you. It may be one post a week, it may be five. But it’s your blog so don’t apologize!

I’m off to do a bit of promoting …

#BlogShareLearn at Living With Batman

Sunday Sundries and a Free Download

June 27, 2015 by Barb 22 Comments

Hello, and welcome to Sunday Sundries! I’m here to ramble on about my week, it helps me be grateful and to “celebrate” all the small (and large) extraordinary moments in my life. I started this practice as a result of “My Word for 2015” and it has had such a positive influence on the way I’ve lived my life this year. One word.

Earlier this week I published a newsletter which included the link to download a Photoshop template. If you received it, and tried the template, I’d love to see your creation (link up below). Also, today I’ve included a link to some word art (which you’ll find at the end of this post.)

If you post on Instagram, use the hashtag #sunday_sundries, tag me at @keepingwiththetimes, and list one or more things you’re celebrating – I’d love to see!

OK, onward! How about celebrating a beautiful herb garden!?

Sunday Sundries, Keeping With the Times, Photoshop Template Download

kk_QuietDreams

… and peonies … oh my … I have a bumper crop this year …
From the moment they started to pop …
to the first blossom …I’ve practically been wallowing in them …a little Bella Grace love …
and summer love …
So what else am I celebrating this week?

Summer days.
Hot hot hot summer days.
Huge thunderstorms that roll through at midnight, causing no damage (just a lot of blinding light and house-shaking noise.)
Seeing a bright moon at the edge of said thunderstorm … it was a wild night … .
The rain that followed … watering my garden and once again filling my rain barrels.
Reaching over 2,000 followers on Instagram! I’m so in love with that community, and all the inspiration it provides.
Becoming an affiliate with Digital Scrapper – truly, I’d promote their products and services – affiliate or not.

If you like the word art I created, you can download it here (for personal use only).

Thank you so much for dropping by!

Hyacinth Print Download

April 9, 2015 by Barb 6 Comments

Just popping in with a quick note to let you know I’ll be including the full resolution file of my “Hyacinth and Tulip Fling With Spring” in my next newsletter as a free download.

It’s approximately 8″ x 8″ and I printed it on plain white photo paper using my colour laser printer. I was pretty pleased with the results.

It now brightens up the table at the entrance to our condo.

Original:

Then of course I had a bit of a play in Lightroom using Kim’s presets, and because you will have the full resolution image, you could edit it too.

How fun! I’d love to see what you do with it!

Please use it any way you want – as a framed print, card, journaling material … all I ask is that you use it for personal use only, and give credit to me if you post it online.

So, if you haven’t signed up for my newsletter and would like to have this print – check the sidebar for details!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Barb

PS … my copyright won’t be printed on the image …

How to Write an Action to Re-size and Save Images for your Blog and a Special Offer

February 16, 2014 by Barb 25 Comments

Writing Actions in Photoshop I’m pretty sure most of us know that our images need to be re-sized before uploading to the web. The photo needs to fit within the width of your blog, and it needs to load fast or you will lose readers. True story.

I’m no expert on this subject, but I found a great article at photoshopessentials.com which gives an in-depth look at why, and how to do it. It’s very informative and enlightening and explodes a few myths about size, resolution, etc.

However, I thought I’d go over how I do it and show you how to write an action to automate this task. One click of a button and your image is re-sized and saved in a folder. Perfectly sized and hard for someone to steal it for printing purposes, although they could steal it and use it for the web, but that’s just not cool.

Actions can only be written in Photoshop, but don’t despair, I have a little surprise for you and you’ll find it at the end of this post.

Since Photoshop CC has a bit different dialog box, I wrote this action in CS6. So here we go:

How to Write an Action in Photoshop to Re-size and Save Images for Your Blog

To start with, make sure you have a folder created where you want to save your re-sized images.

Open a photo that you have already adjusted exposure, white balance, and cropped etc. Make sure all your edits are complete before re-sizing.
From the Actions panel, make sure that Button Mode is not checked. Actions can’t be written in Button Mode.
Click on the down-facing arrow and choose New Action. In the Dialog box, type in the name you want to use for your action. I’m using the name “Resize and Save for Web”.
Choose Default Actions as the Set. This will save the Action in the Default set (of course). You can create your own sets, but I won’t go there right now.
Choose None for the Function key, and choose a Color if you like. This will give the Action a Color when in Button Mode. For this Action, I did not choose a color.
Click Record. Everything you do from now until you press the Stop key will be recorded. It doesn’t matter how long you take, PS will sit there and wait all day if it has to so you can go slow and make sure you take only the steps that you want recorded.
In the Menu Bar, choose Image > Duplicate, and click OK.
Choose Image > Image Size.
Make sure that Scale Styles, Constrain Proportions, and Resample Image are checked.
Click on the down-facing arrow and choose Bicubic Sharper (best for reduction).
Set the Resolution to 72 Pixels/Inch.
For the Pixel Dimensions, set the Width. I set the width to 760 Pixels/Inch because that is the maximum width for images that will fit on my blog. Yours will most likely be different. Accept the Default Height to maintain proportions. Click OK.
In the Menu Bar, choose File > Save for Web. Choose JPEG, Medium with a Quality of 45. Click Progressive. I left the rest of the settings at the Default. Click Save.

Free Photoshop Action

Navigate to folder where you want to save your re-sized images. Accept the default name of your image. If you give it another name, the action will save every image with that name and of course will end up overwriting every image you run the action on.
Close the duplicate image, then close the original image (do not save the changes).
Click the Stop key.

Here are the final Pixel Dimensions for my image. Notice that the file size went from 28.7M to 1.11M. The other thing to note is that I do not touch the Document Size dialog box when re-sizing. It gets reduced automatically.

Free Photoshop Action

Clean as a whistle and faster than a speeding bullet!

But the fun part today is my little give-away! I will write a custom action for the first 10 people who comment. I can only record it to the point of re-sizing the image since I can’t create a path to a folder on your computer. Once you run this action on an image, you will have to then save it yourself.

If you want a custom action, make sure you say so in the comments, and make sure that I can contact you.

You give me the info – I give you the action!

Want a few more tips on Photoshop? Check out my page “Photoshop Tips”!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Autumn 2013 Recap and a Free Template

October 31, 2013 by Barb 17 Comments

I’m offering a free template to use with your autumn photos! Please enjoy … for personal use only!

It’s a *fully layered psd template, compatible with Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop.

As October draws to a close, most of my autumn photo opportunities are over. Our “show” starts early, and ends early.

This year I was particularly inspired because our weather was warm, dry, and calm, which resulted in some spectacular colours. I also had a my new D7100 to play with, and oh, does it ever do bokeh well! I’m excited for (then next season) and another chance to rock the bokeh!
barb brookbank, free template, adobe photoshop,

I made up a template to showcase some of my favourite shots, and you can get it here for free!

It’s a *fully layered psd template, compatible with Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop.

barb brookbank, free template, adobe photoshop,

bb_9 photo template

*For personal use only

Happy Halloween!!

BPC Phone Photography Fun!

July 7, 2013 by Barb 10 Comments

I’ve been having a blast participating in the BPC Phone Photography Project “32 days of challenges, inspiration and app reviews“. Members come from all over the world; Canada, USA, Australia, United Arab Emirates, and on and on. This world we live in is a bit unreal, don’t you think?

Every day brings new and exciting app reviews and I’ve almost completely switched over to using Camera+ because it gives a lot of control over DOF (gotta love that)!

I just finished the Photo Hunt, where there are 10 prompts, ranging from “cold” to “symmetry”. To be eligible to win a prize, you have to have them posted by the end of today.

I processed this lemonade image in Afterlight, then I added text using “Over” (which I already had).

big picture phone photography

See what I mean about DOF? These candles are a perfect example.

big picture phone photography

Afterlight warmed up and enhanced the dappled effect on this image of my garden shed.

I processed the pansy image in Afterlight using light leaks, then put it all together with Pic Frame.

IMG_3645-copy

…and here’s my 10 finds: red, summery, initial, symmetry, sweet, texture, wheels, odd, sign, cold:

bpcphotohunt

How fun is that?! If you want to see my Instagram stream check it out @keepingwiththetimes

I had trouble finding the perfect template to display 10 pictures so I made one, and you can get it here for free! It’s a fully layered psd template, compatible with Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop.

Just click on the image below to download.

Enjoy!!

Friday Finds, and Gratitude

June 28, 2013 by Barb 21 Comments

We had another rainy week which gave me lots of opportunities to get my house in order, but after a while, I simply had to get outside for a bit.

I threw on the old yellow raincoat and hat, slipped on my rubber boots, and grabbed an umbrella. Yes, it was raining that much.

As I was standing at the edge of the garden, I spied the poppy I had been waiting for… it had decided to bloom in the rain. I guess it just couldn’t help itself.

I thought it would be a shame to leave it in the garden where I couldn’t appreciate it, so I snipped it off and popped it into this old blue bottle. I can’t remember where I found this bottle … but it’s a real treasure; old, blue, scratchy and filmy.

A real “find”!

Gratitude Word Art

This crazy poppy is so big I had trouble photographing it. I must have taken 75 shots and deleted 70…

It makes me think of a giant butterfly with its feathery petals and the wild way it opens them.

poppy butterfly

… gorgeous details…

depth of field … amazing details..

… it looks like velvet.

Speaking of rain. The southern part of our beautiful province of Alberta was hit by some of the most torrential rains it’s ever seen. Rivers went wild, spilling their banks and causing serious, widespread, and devastating floods. One whole town (population of over 12,000) is under water. Many more towns and villages are suffering the same fate.

The City of Calgary was hit hard too, and is still under a State of Emergency (as are all the hard-hit areas). The whole downtown core of this city of over a million people was evacuated, as well as thousands of others in various communities. The zoo was flooded. Giraffes were standing in water up to their chests. It’s being called a disaster. It’s going to cost billions of dollars, and at least ten years, to rebuild.

Four lives were lost (so far). There’s no rebuilding that.

One week later, news of more and more devastation continues to surface. As I write this, I feel tears welling up and I am fighting to control them. I hurt for the people of our province.

Our area was not affected (physically), and right now I look outside and see the sun shining, green grass, and pots and pots of cheerful flowers. I feel a lot of things, and one of them is gratitude. Gratitude for my family, my clean home, my beautiful yard, and even my life.

This word art is a brush in .abr format, which can be used in both Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop. Simply click on the graphic above to download.

Friday Finds at Kim Klassen dot com

kk_3003

Be the Reason

June 25, 2013 by Barb 17 Comments

word art, texture, texture tuesday, clematis, still life

Some days when I sit down to write a blog post, the words just aren’t there. So I’m just going to go with it.

It’s not that I don’t have much going on, because I do (it’s summer, and I live at a lake…)

I also have lots of ideas and projects lined up, and no less than 3 classes starting in July, all of which I’m very excited about.

But for today, a quick “hi, hope you are well” and another little bit of word art.

I hope I made you smile.

If you want to see more, check out the Word Art tab at the top of my blog.

This word art is a brush in .abr format, which can be used in both Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop.

Simply click on the graphic above to download. If you have any questions/problems please ask them in the comment section so others can read them and perhaps find help too.

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

kk_lettherebelight (LR Preset)

kk_cora x 2

What Did You Find This Week?

June 21, 2013 by Barb 30 Comments

clematis

Another week has flown by, and here it is Friday already. And that means it’s time for “Friday Finds” hosted by Kim Klassen at Kim Klassen dot com.

I think about this all week. Kim’s meme has ignited a fire in me (or should I say, fanned the flames). I’m always hunting around for treasures, and now I get to share them with everyone! I swear, if Kim ever abandons this linky party, I’m going to have to host it myself…

So, anyway, last Saturday I went to our town-wide flea market where I scooped up the best bargain, and I wrote about it here. However, I didn’t reveal my little teacup. Isn’t it ever so pretty?! A lovely lady sold me two cups and saucers for $5.00, and they were just what I was looking for. Oh my, I can’t wait to reveal the other one…

After I left the market, I had to stop for a few groceries. Somehow I found myself in the garden center, and what did I see, but this beautiful, healthy clematis. My plant dies of winter kill every year and I wasn’t sure I was going to replace it this time, until I saw this beauty. I was instantly smitten and “Diana” now resides happily in my garden.

There are just so many “finds” here! A teacup, a flower, and a new location with great light for photos (it’s been there all the time and I just didn’t see it).

Oh, and yes, some more word art! So please help yourself, my friends, and thank you for stopping by!

free word art

If you want to see more word art, check out the Word Art tab at the top of my blog.

This word art is available only in .png format, which can be used in both Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop.

Simply click on the graphic above to download. If you have any questions/problems please ask them in the comment section so others can read them and perhaps find help too.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

June 18, 2013 by Barb 14 Comments

A phone call at 1:08 am is never good, right?

word art, free

I literally had a wake-up call. Not that I need one, because I am always grateful for everything that is good in my life, and grateful for each new day.

But last night I woke up, thinking I had heard the telephone. I’ve done that before, but it has always been a dream (a vivid dream, nonetheless). But just in case, I glanced over at the phone, and it was lit up… omg… it did ring…

It’s 1:08… omg…

Heart pounding furiously, I reached over and turned on the light. Then I leaped over the bed and grabbed the phone and looked at the display. It was my youngest daughter’s cell phone number. Sheer terror gripped my heart. I feel it even now, as I type this.

I grabbed my glasses from the night stand and in the process tipped over a small vase of flowers. I fell to my knees on the floor and hit #1, and then the “talk” button. An eternity passed before I heard her voice. It was small, and weak. Oh, god…

“Mom”, she said, I’m so sorry!, I just got out of bed and stepped on my phone and it dialed your number. I wasn’t sure if it went through, and I didn’t know what to do.

Absolute relief washed over me, and all I could think was “thankyou, thankyou, thankyou“.

After a brief chat, and laugh, we both went back to our beds.

I was a bit shaken up, but I just laid there and thought “thank you” over and over again, like a chant, or a meditation, and it wasn’t long until I drifted back to sleep. And when I woke up this morning, I said it again.

I created some word art to share with you. If you want to see more, check out the Word Art tab at the top of my blog.

All word art is a brush in .abr format, which can be used in both Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop.

Simply click on the graphic above to download. If you have any questions/problems please ask them in the comment section so others can read them and perhaps find help too.

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

kk_sybil, and a few LR adjustments

The Best Find Ever!

June 14, 2013 by Barb 17 Comments

I have never in my life seen peonies for sale, so imagine my surprise when I walked into Superstore and found these beauties! Be still my heart…
White-Peony

There was no way I was going to leave without them.

I do have some plants in my garden, but they won’t be blooming for at least three weeks, maybe four. Oh, no… these babies were coming home with me.

They started to open up almost immediately, and once I re-cut the stems, they exploded. Beauty.

And the scent… oh the scent. I think we can all relate to that.

After about fifty photos, I chose one and began to play around in Lightroom and Photoshop, and yes, I did tweak it a bit with a funky filter. Not my usual style, but I think it’s subtle enough. What do you think?

word art, free

If I could, I would have a bouquet of these in my house at all times, I’d never tire of them.

Tomorrow our town is having it’s annual Community Street Market. As well as a BBQ, there are activities for the kids, plus “over 75+ tables of gently used items”. I can’t wait!

So happy you stopped by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Again, I created some word art to share with you. If you want to see more, check out the Word Art tab at the top of my blog.

All word art is a brush in .abr format, which can be used in both Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop.

Simply click on the graphic above to download. If you have any questions/problems please ask them in the comment section so others can read them and perhaps find help too.

Friday Finds at Kim Klassen dot com

Plant Your Own Garden

June 11, 2013 by Barb 22 Comments

While searching for a quote I ran across this poem by Veronica Shoffstall, and, like many others, I found that it “spoke” to me. Perhaps it speaks to you as well.

After a While

After a while you learn the subtle difference

Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning

And company doesn’t mean security,

And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts

And presents aren’t promises,

And you begin to accept your defeats

With your head up and your eyes open

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And you learn to build all your roads on today,

Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans,

And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn

That even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure…

That you really are strong,

And you really do have worth.

And you learn and learn…

With every goodbye you learn.

Veronica A Shoffstall

Creative Brain Gymnastics

June 10, 2013 by Barb 18 Comments

Creativity, Free Word Art

As I put together this post I became more and more confused.

At first I was having a great time! I took a photo, edited it in LR and exported it to PS. Then I added some word art and made a couple more adjustments. No trouble uploading to WP.

Where it started to get complicated was when I tried to turn the word art into a brush, then a .png file. No matter how many times I do it, I still get it messed up… arghhh (and, incredulously, I’m supposed to be teaching people how to do this…)

Then I had to zip them and upload to BOX. That shouldn’t have been a problem but I kept messing up the descriptions and I had to delete everything and start over. Whew. OK, now to create a couple little thumbnails and link them to the download page. Not so very complicated unless you accidentally hit the PUBLISH button instead of update. OH NO!

Have you ever hit the publish button by mistake? Did you know that you have about 5 seconds to revert a post to draft form before it publishes? I’m guessing it must be so, since that’s about how long it took me.

Lastly, just to make sure that the original post wasn’t floating out in cyberspace with unfinished business, I copied the HTML and created a new post and then deleted the original.

They say that as you (ahem, get older), you should exercise your brain to keep it sharp, but I’m starting to wonder. This little exercise left me feeling a little unnerved… but I finally did get it together and that’s what counts, I guess.

Anyway, this quote (by Erich Fromm) speaks to me, and I wanted to share it. I’m never sure if something I create is “right”. Well, what is right?

The word art is a brush in .abr format, which can be used in Photoshop Elements, or Photoshop.

Simply click on the graphic above to download. If you have any questions/problems please ask them in the comment section so others can read them and perhaps find help too.

“Let There Be Light” LR Preset by Kim Klassen

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

Friday Finds, and a Little “Find” for You!

May 23, 2013 by Barb 14 Comments

simplicity, simple life, friday finds, kim klassen, barb blookbank

There’s a new meme in town! Friday Finds, hosted by Kim Klassen.

She has invited us to share something that we find each week. It can be anything; from antiques, to flowers, to… whatever!

Magically (it seems), our trees and perennials are starting to bloom, so of course, flowers were an obvious choice. Walking around the yard, I caught a soft, sweet, light scent on the breeze and followed it to our Mayday tree. One quick snip with my shears, and I headed back to the house to look for the perfect vase.

A simple glass jar that had once served as a soap dispenser was hiding under the sink. A perfect “find” don’t you think? I love the cone shape, the small size, and the smooth ridges of glass. Sweet and simple. Love!

After editing the image, and adding texture, etc. it just seemed natural to add a little quote, which I then made into a sweet little graphic. Goodness, when we love doing something we “find” the time, don’t we…

So now, I have a “Friday Find” for you! I’ve made the quote available for you to download! I hope you like it!

The word art is a brush in .abr format, which can be used in Photoshop Elements, or Photoshop.

Simply click on the graphic above to download. If you have any questions/problems please ask them in the comment section so others can read them and perhaps find help too.

See you tomorrow at Friday Finds, with Kim Klassen dot com

kk_sybil

Quote by Confucius