Fun in Photoshop

When I went on my vacation I had fun collecting rocks on the beach of Lake Michigan. This is one of my favorite past times. I had an idea to do the alphabet in rocks, so I picked out the prettiest stones and started photographing them, A through Z.

I thought to myself, you never know when you might need a letter made out of stones.

It seems silly, but it's better for me to play on the beach than just lay there, so I find things to do!

Today I decided to put together my name with some of the pictures.

Here's my name in the natural look of the alphabet stones.




Here's my name when I changed the color in photoshop.

Here it is with several filters.

Finally, here it is made into a pattern.

It's nothing that spectacular, just an exercise in creativity. I never know where these little exercises might take me. But it's a great way to explore and be inspired!

What's cooking?

I've been working a lot on many projects, doing digital art, painting, making cake toppers, art dolls and even Christmas ornaments. I'm having a Christmas in July sale on etsy. If you buy one art print or one poster you get one free. Also, all of my Christmas ornaments are a low price of $6.00. After the sale the price will increase to $8.00, so now's the time to get a few gifts.

I have found out that the more I promote my etsy store and update it with new products and pictures, I have been getting orders. That has inspired me to stay busy!
My cake toppers are picking up speed again. I had vowed to stop doing them, but after a lot of consideration I decided that it was a dumb move to make, so my goal is to make the BEST cake toppers I can and enjoy each one I design. It helps to have a positive attitude about it.




I am having a creative surge with the art dolls too. This is something I've wanted to do for awhile and am making time to create these dolls. I'm trying to move in a direction of Halloween, gothic, creepy. This also a direction that some of my art prints are moving in too.

Although I like pretty and inspirational art, I do have an interest in the mysterious and strange!


My desire and dream is to live each day creating some kind of art. Naturally, I want to be able to sell it and make a living with my art. When I see others doing it, I'm inspired to work harder than ever so I can achieve that dream. It's my passion to create and design. It's what I think about most of the time. I'm forever planning the next project I'm going to work on. When my friends talk about purses or kids or cars, I'm daydreaming about paints and photoshop.

Till next time...

Sandy Shirley, you are a winner!

Congratulations to Sandy Shirley for winning the polymer clay birds. All Sandy needs to do in to contact me and I'll send the birds right away.

I'll be having another giveaway soon!

Blue Skies, even blue water

Tuesday was a perfect day. We drove to Mission Point, walked to the very tip, had a picnic on a long, lonely beach, where I gathered rocks and petoskey stones. Stayed on the beach for hours, fed the seagulls, was so happy I felt like running and leaping!!

Today we're off to shop, more beaching, and another trip to watch nature and hike.

If you've never been to Traverse City, my suggestion to you is to plan a trip. It's one of the most beautiful places in Michigan.

It was hard to leave this beach. My sister

and I were the only people on the

entire beach.

The only other life we saw

were three shy seagulls

who refused to get too close.

Don't forget to leave a comment on my polymer clay bird giveaway. Thanks!

Rest and Relaxation

I'm writing this post from up in Traverse City, where I'll be for a few more days with my sister.

We are staying in a beautiful new hotel called Cambria Suites. We've only been here two days and all ready we have gone to the casino, hiked,seen a coyote and an eagle, eaten in three different restaurants, shopped, eaten fudge and ice cream, played on the beach (going swimming tomorrow), found petosky stones, watched a couple sunsets, taken hundreds of pictures, had a picnic in the wilderness and worked out in the gym.

The cherry festival is a week away and visitors have started to roll into town, making the main drag a little crowded. But, my sister and I love the woods so much, that we left this morning at 10 am to go exploring and didn't get back into town till after 7 pm. It was perfect planning on her part to get out of town before the big festivities begin. I don't enjoy big crowds any more; wandering around the woods or beach combing is more interesting to me now.

Tomorrow we are going to mission point light house and are going to do some wine tasting. I'm hoping the weather will warm up a tad, so that I can go swimming. It was 62 degrees today and very windy.

I've wandered around a few stores and have gotten motivated by some of the artwork I've seen. This is a good reason to get away, I get rejuvenated! This area of Michigan is full of art galleries and my sister and I are planning to visit a few within the next few days.

When I get back to home and work, I'll be posting pictures of my trip, working on some new projects and picking the winner of my giveaway! Stay tuned.

Little Birds Giveaway

Do you know someone who's getting married and would like two sweet little white birds to put on the cake? How about someone who's celebrating an anniversary?

From now till July 3 (three), I am having this giveaway. The contest is easy. You can have a chance to win these little birds just by commenting on my blog. Comment as many times as you want.

When I get back from my vacation, I'll randomly pick a winner.

These dainty little birds look sweet on top of a cake, or even cupcakes. They are about 1 1/2 inches tall and are made from polymer clay.

The boy has a white bow tie and the girl is holding white flowers. These are very simple yet pretty, especially if white petals are placed underneath and around the birds.

I will ship to anywhere in the WORLD, so feel free to comment on this giveaway! Thanks and good luck.

MORE TOPPERS

Do your walls need some color?

For the next few days (till Friday, June 25) I am having a sale on my website. Buy one print and get one print free. Your choice, even if it is personalized.

Here is a LINK.

I have inspirational and motivational posters, prints about art and nursing and social work.

I also have personalized posters that look nice in a child's room. Over 75 posters and prints to chose from.

If you are interested, please contact me through this blog or my site or my email, garritygal@yahoo.com

Oill Spill Poster

Feeling frustrated at what is going on in the gulf, I decided to make a poster and donate part of the proceeds to the National Wildlife Federation. I tried to make it whimsical so that you can share this with your child and explain what is happening with the oil spill.

Yet, there is the image of the skull. The skull does not represent evil as much as it represents death and that is a reality of what is happening in the gulf.

I feel so powerless. So this is my little way of trying to make a contribution to the Federation.

The poster is 11 by 17 and is professionally printed on glossy card stock paper. Each poster is $8.00. I will donate $3.00 for each poster I sell to the National Wildlife Federation. Shipping is $3.00 in the United States.

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing a poster.