Light, Space & Time, On-Line Art Gallery

I received an email a couple of weeks ago from my friend Suzie. She thought that I might be interested in entering an on-line nature, photo contest from the Light, Space and Time On-Line Art Gallery. Light Space & Time conducts monthly themed online art competitions.  The winning artwork is promoted through the gallery to over 39,000 visitors and receives over 66,000 Page views each month.   News of each winning artist’s participation is also emailed to the over 7,000 thousand gallery owners, corporate art representatives and decision makers in the fine arts field, who subscribe to their bulletins. I enter 'challenges' all the time through Twenty20. I find these challenges to be very subjective, but it is great exposure, and on occasion, one of my pics will wind up in the top 20, which is always fun. I see the most beautiful pics every single day from all over the world on Instagram, and on Twenty20. There are over 300 million users on Instagram alone. The only other time I have heard 300 million used in a sentence, was in reference to the age of the rocks in Garden of the Gods National Park! There are around 45 million users on Twenty20. So, recognition in this day and age is a moment to rejoice! Very hard to choose, I thought, but I narrowed it down to 2 pics. The gallery received 660 entries from 22 different countries from around the world, including Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal,  Qatar, Saint Maarten, Singapore, Spain,  Thailand, and the United Kingdom.  In addition, the gallery received entries from 36 different states.  Well, lo and behold, I received notice that one of my photos received a 'Special Recognition' nod, in the photography category. The 2nd pic was recently nominated to be included in the 'Signature Collection', on Twenty20, and was accepted!

"Pending Storm', Centennial, Co., Special Recognition

'Mother and Child', NYC, Signature Collection, Twenty20

'Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.'    Psalm 33:2-3

                                                                                                         

So Much Fun, Diptic Again...

 Autumn trees...

 Pikes Peak winter...

 Pikes Peak summer sunrise...

 Pasta making...

 April sunset, Cherry Creek State Park...

 Partially frozen Cherry Creek lake...

Lilac bushes...

The app 'Diptic', has made it waaaaayyyyy too easy and waaaaayyyy too much fun to play around w/ your photos. I was up until all hours last night going from one pic to another placing them side by side, upside down and backwards to name a few. I had conjoined cats and Edward, I had the Twins and Edward become quads and then 2 Edward's...you get the picture! These are the few that I have saved for now. I do believe that I am just getting warmed up. Thank you Diptic!!

April Showers Have Brought...

Outside of Cherry Creek State Park parameters...

The Rockies...

This morning...

In their glory...not even in full bloom yet...

Very very tall!!!!

 The skies are ridiculously dramatic. When there is a storm or rain on the way, you can literally see it from an hour away to 5 minutes away. The big skies remain a photographers (and a meteorologists) playground. I take many many more pictures than I post. I save some for the blog. We need the rain, and I am grateful for it. I was standing on the deck late yesterday afternoon, and I smelled something really sweet. I was given a very pretty Gardenia plant, which loves the sun, and I have been taking it out, and bringing it back inside for about a month now. The nights are still chilly. I thought, may be 'all that' which I was smelling was from this plant, which has yet to bloom. Nope. I followed the scent, and much to my surprise (as this is our first Spring in this house) the entire back side of the house has huge, blooming Lilac bushes!!!!! Really? I recently spent close to $20 for a few stems. I thought, isn't that just like God....

 ^' For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;'

                                                                   Song of Solomon 2:11-12

And, just to say, yes, I am aware that the officers involved in the Freddie Gray murder, have been charged, and yes, I ache and pray for the survivors of the massive earthquake in Nepal, yes, I am aware that a little girl was told that she could not eat her Oreo cookies at lunch in a school not far from where we live, and yes, I am aware of the overwhelming Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East, and yes, I am aware that all the bad news is escalating. Yes, I am aware. Given all that and oh, so much more, I remain grateful beyond measure to be able to take the time to smell, well, in this case, the lilacs....

Ready to Roll...

Cards, matted, framed pieces safely packed up...

Lots of bubble wrap!!

Edited, printed, glued, pressed, signed, dated, labeled, stuffed, matted, framed, cleaned, hundreds of times over...crossed all my 't's' and dotted all my 'i's'...now, I just have to iron the display tablecloth.

Ladies Night @ Phelan Gardens

On Austin Bluffs

Friday, November 22, 4-8PM

( MEN are welcome too!!!)

Editing and Printing and Pasting and Pressing...Oh My!!!

Prepping for a 'show' (Phelan Gardens, Friday, Nov. 22nd, from 4-8PM) is like a small assembly line...anyone who participates in the handmade community and does craft shows will tell you exactly that. I have everything plotted out in my head. I have bought frames, and pre-cut mattes, I have edited and printed almost 200 pics, 4x6 and 5x7's. I have glued and pressed 88 cards, to add to, and fill in my inventory. Today I will finish the gluing and pressing part of the program (about 50 more cards), and move on to signing, dating, labeling and stuffing. After that, matting and framing, which is actually easier than making the cards!! There are still some 'stragglers', if you will, the second, third and fourth round of decisions. I am so pleased with how the pics have come out! I have some new pieces, mixed in w/ the stand-by's, however, I have new edits on some of the 'older' pics and they are popping, they are enhanced, they have a brighter look. It  has been so good to see everything w/ a fresh eye, a Colorado eye. I am even more pleased to be back @ the drawing board! So, here's to good weather on the night of the 22nd, and a successful 'first' show in Colorado!!!

So, We Spent the Day in Manitou Springs...

A Sugar Daddy could last for days..

..and days...

Smack these babies on the ground to crack the bar..remember??

'The Olive Tap'...

..the many choices for olive oil tasting...interesting!!!

"Manitou", a Native American word for "spirit", describes this beautiful mountain community. Eleven naturally carbonated mineral spring fountains, located throughout this Historic town, run free for all who wish to enjoy the healing benefits. The Ute, Cheyenne and other Native Americans considered this area sacred for the healing springs and clean mountain air.

Manitou Springs is a vibrant artisan community...as a New Yorker, my thought was that it was as if the East Village and Colorado had merged. We spent the afternoon in the Historic District where the streets are lined w/ one of a kind gift shops. There was alot of pottery, stunning photographs for days, of the mountains in extraordinary color, from all seasons, jewelry, and clothes. What struck us was 'The Olive Tap'. Similar to wine tasting, there were over 30 varieties of olive oil. You taste, sample, make your own brand, if you will. We decided, that on the next visit, we would give this a whirl. There was the 'au natural' bath and body shop. I loved it because of all the concoctions, you are presented with the basic product, but, in this store, you are able to pick and choose from the many handmade oils and fragrances to put in your product...very personal. We ate at 'The Sahara Cafe', a Mediterranean restaurant where we were pleasantly surprised at how delicious and authentic the falafel and humus plates were. We only covered a portion of this interesting place called Manitou Springs.

I could have taken alot of pictures, but I just wanted to 'take it all in' on our first visit. It's just about 1/2 hour from Colorado Springs. However, right before we were ready to leave, we walked into a store which sold handmade fudge and we quickly realized that they also were a blast from the past as they had candy from our childhood. Turkish taffy...remember??? You would smack in on the ground to break it up. It got me into big trouble once when I had braces on my teeth. Turkish taffy was most definitely off limits, but I had some anyway and pulled out an entire side of my bottom brace. I still remember how 'not happy' my orthodontist was w/ me at the time. And, of course, the Sugar Daddy, of which we all have fond memories, especially from camp. On movie night we would all go the the Social Hall, armed w/ our Sugar Daddy's in tow, knowing that it would outlast any movie...except maybe, Dr. Zhivago. So, of all the sights, here are my pics of the candy...go figure!!

The Violin Shop

I saw this violin shop at the indoor farmers market last year and I knew I had to take some photos. My initial thought was that if I got the right shot, it would make a fabulous card, framed or matted 5x7. Dennis McCarten not only makes violins, but repairs them as well. They hang beautifully, different woods and grains, different sizes, each one with it's own unique story.

Dennis McCarten has been making and repairing instruments for nearly 2 decades. This was a natural evolution from his lifelong love of wood and wood working and his immersion in Irish tradition music. His shop can be found in The Artists Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI.

Aspray Boathouse Holiday Sale

The weather was perfect for December 11th. Sunny, 45 degrees. The Aspray Boathouse was a very busy place in the 1700's; now a refurbished and most lovely waterfront venue. The vendors were all ready to roll by 10:30AM. The shoppers were non-stop for a good part of the day as the Aspray show was planned in conjunction with a historic walk around Pawtuxet Village (founded in 1638 by Roger Williams). Some people left and came back with more cash in tow. I had my best day of sales to date...and for me, the thrill was that I was just selling the photos. Over 50 different cards, framed 4x6's, framed 5x7's. All the gluing, pressing, signing, dating, labeling, stuffing, matting and gluing some more, and framing (whew) paid off!! We were even treated to a live operatic performance at 5PM. I hope you can get a feel of the warmth of the venue, along with some of the gifted vendors from the photos!!

A hearty thank you to all who came out!!

Free Shipping on ALL CARDS in the U.S. for the Month of November!!!!

All the shipping fees on my cards in Lilleypics on Etsy have been marked to $0.00 in the United States for the month of November.

My cards are a great handmade gift, and they frame beautifully!! There are more Holiday deals in the works...so, be on the lookout....!!