The Mad Tea Party 2010

Oh my....can you feel it? The shift in the air, the warm sun pouring growth and goodness downward ~ medicine to the roses, color to the winter grass. Steady cerulean (cerulean is my most favorite crayon color in the whole box!) skies remind us that warmer days are ahead ~



and, and, and we ALL know what that means!! It's that time of year again. Time to start preparing for The Mad Tea Party 2010! ~



Oh I just adore Afternoon Tea ~



Drinking Spearmint Tea from my lovely, antique teacups ~



June 26th will be the perfect day to use them.

And treats!! Oh I think I'll make big sinful Chocolate Muffins ~



Or maybe a pie? OH I know ~ I'll make a Boysenberry pie with berries from my very own garden ~



On the other hand, I could make a Cherry pie ~



with lots of sweet and tart cherries ~



Then again, maybe a Nectarine pie is in order ~
(Can you see that I love making pies)?



There are simply a gajillion Nectarines on my tree this year ~



I just know it's going to be a magical Mad Tea Party.

Oh, I hope you can join in the festivities ~ and just everyone who's anyone will be there.

If you would like to participate, please visit Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist. I just know you won't be sorry! I'll be there with bells on!

Kim
Gerushia's New World

Hidden Goodness and Little Beauties Everywhere...

Orange....


Pops of confetti brightness and continuing life. Visiting my garden every year, faithfully...



Busy Bees working at the Boysenberries...



The withering of a blossom opens the door for new life...



The hint of warm air allows for open windows and a curious cat...



Open windows that allow a haunting flow of music to follow me outdoors...



Hidden under the darkness of a cake-icing Calla Lily...



Proof of breath and growth and transformation...



Some things are obvious...screaming orange and Heavenly scented...



Some things are hidden in the musty dark spaces under the cake-icing Calla Lilies...



Both equally beautiful.

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Thank you so much for continuing to read my blog. I truly appreciate it.

A little P.S. ~ This week, through Friday April 16, all 4" x 6" prints in My Shop are Buy One Get One Free!!

Sister May 4" x 6" print


Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Before and After...

Over the last several years, I have been asked many times if I would consider doing a "tutorial" on my blog. You know...step by step instructions on how I create my watercolor/collage pieces. In all honesty, I'm not ready for that just yet. I'm far too unorganized AND I'm still working on a temporary desk in my studio. Actually, I'm not sure I'll ever be ready to do an actual step by step tutorial. Nope. I'm simply not confident enough.

What I would like to do is give you a good idea of what the original photos that I work from look like BEFORE they are cut and tinted and inked and all that good stuff. Then, I'll show you what the photo images look like in the finished piece.

I think this entry will be mostly visual, as I believe the photos will speak for themselves...

"Eula's Party" BEFORE

My Aunt Eula and Aunt Marvie, taken in the Autumn of 1919.


Snapshot from my vintage photo collection.


Snapshot from my vintage photo collection.


Photo of my daughter's hand. She does lots of modeling for me.


"Eula's Party" AFTER



"The Guardian's Home" BEFORE

Snapshot from my vintage photo collection.


Snapshot from my vintage photo collection.


"The Guardian's Home" AFTER



"Happy Desert Couple Number One" BEFORE

Photo of my mom and dad.


"Happy Desert Couple Number One" AFTER



"Happy Desert Couple Number Two" BEFORE

Photo of my mom and dad.


Snapshot from my vintage photo collection.


"Happy Desert Couple Number Two" AFTER



"Clara and Lucy's Curious Visitors" BEFORE

Photo of my Grandma Clara and her sister Lucy.


My daughter's hand.


"Clara and Lucy's Curious Visitors" AFTER



"Dancing Fiona" BEFORE

A treasured photo from my vintage photo collection. The girl's name was Pansy.


Snapshot from my vintage photo collection.


Snapshot from my vintage photo collection.


"Dancing Fiona" AFTER



"Gerushia's New World" BEFORE

Photo of my Uncle Loyd and Great Aunt Gerushia in the original black and white.


Loyd and Gerushia in Sepia.


One of my absolute favorite photos in my collection.


"Gerushia's New World" AFTER



"Happy Desert Couple Number Three" BEFORE

My Uncle Jesse and Aunt Rena.


A newer photo of the schoolhouse that my parents and other family members attended.


"Happy Desert Couple Number Three" AFTER



"Rena Watches" BEFORE

Photo of my Cousin Danny as a tot in a sailor suit.


My Aunt Rena (Danny's Mother).


"Rena Watches" AFTER



"Rena Waits" BEFORE

Photo of my Uncle Jesse and Aunt Rena.


My Cousin Danny in a different photo wearing his sailor suit.


My daughter's hand.


"Rena Waits" AFTER



Well, if anyone made it this far, I hope you were able to get an idea of how these fabulous old photos can take on a new life.

Creating these types of pieces has allowed me to merge two of my passions ~ art and vintage photos.

I hope you enjoyed the little tour and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Until Next Time
Kim
Gerushia's New World