Hello Friends

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm still around, but I seem to be running on empty these days. I'm not feeling very inspired, so I'm taking a break from blogging.

Maybe one of these days a new wind will blow through and lend me some new inspiration. Until then, rest assured that I haven't forgotten you!

Art Creations Friday - Marilyn

Pepeetje from Art Creations Friday provided this beautiful image of Marilyn Monroe for this week's challenge.

Here's what I did with it.

The background is from Nicky Ryborg, and the filmstrip was googled.

Thanks for looking!

SoArtful Challenge

Jeanette posted this pastel holly image for the SoArtful challenge. I made two different images from it.

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! Thanks for stopping by!

Three Muses Challenge - Time

She still hadn't found that special someone to share her life with. Lost in the silence of her thoughts, all she could hear was the ticking of the clock...

Please click for a larger view.

The forest background is from Skeletal Mess, and the other elements were googled.

Art Creations Friday

Background by 7 Gypsies, butterflies from Dover, Photoshop brushes. I don't remember where I got the smaller background behind the woman.

Three Muses Challenge - Keys

The Knight of the Lake held the key to the castle. But was she brave enough to reach out and take it?

Background is from a wallpaper by Andy Simmons, and the maiden is from a painting by Edmund Blair Leighton. Knight's arm and key were googled.

Gothic Arches Challenge - Stars

The women had enjoyed a day of walking amongst the ruins, but all too quickly darkness settled in around them. They should have been home long ago, but the wind whispered and weaved its way through the ancient arches, calling to them...enticing them to stay and savor the beauty of the night.

The women are both from Waterhouse paintings, and the other elements were googled and altered.

Three Muses Challenge - In Your Dreams

My dreams take me to love in a different place and time.

I took a dark, yet romantic, painting by Gustav Klimt, and I replaced the male love interest with a man from a Lord Frederick Leighton painting...OK I admit it...because he makes me a bit weak in the knees! He might have to pop up in some future pieces as well. I don't remember where I got the echos background, but I really love it.

New Look

You might have noticed a new look to my blog. I really loved the banner that my daughter made for me, but it was time for some redecorating. This time I made my own banner, and I'm really happy with the way it turned out!

Let me know what you think of the new look!

Gothic Arches - Tickets

It's the Great Pumpkin!

Pumpkins are one of my favorite parts of autumn. Orange, white, green or gray - I love them all. And if they have a mix of more than one color...all the better!

This year I hit up a few of my favorite pumpkin hot spots in the area and took some photos to share with you.

Gothic Arch Challenge - Lord Frederick Leighton

It's been quite some time since I've participated in a digital art challenge, so I thought it was time I did one. Today's Gothic Arch Challenge was to use the artwork of Lord Frederick Leighton.

There were so many great paintings to choose from, but I picked this one, because I envisioned the mother and daughter sitting on the bottom of the arch.

I hope you enjoy it!

For the Love of Autumn

Hello Everyone! I'm back...sort of. I'm putting in tons of hours at work these days, so I can probably only do an occasional blog, but it's better than none at all. I've missed you guys!!!

Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year, so I wanted to share some of my photos with you.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO YOU ALL!

(click on us...we look better close-up!)

Is this tree spooky, or what? It almost reminds me of the tree in the movie Sleepy Hollow with all those exposed roots. How appropriate that it's in a graveyard!

Farewell For Now...

Due to the sad state of the economy, I'm going to have to say bye-bye to my home internet service. So I'm also going to have to say farewell to blogging.

I'm really going to miss it, and I will especially miss all of you. I'll still be able to check my email from work, so please feel free to say hi to me from time to time and let me know what's going on in your lives! I feel like I've made some wonderful friends through blogging, and I'm not ready to just let you all go!

Hopefully things will improve, and I'll be able to come back and join you all again! Until then...take care everyone!

Lots of love,

Lori

Nora the Piano Cat

I'm sure some of you have already seen this YouTube video, but it's just so adorable that I had to share it! Conductor Mindaugas Piecaitis wrote a concerto (or catcerto) around what this cat was playing on the piano. Nora has quite an expressive technique, and I just love that this composer had the idea to write the concerto. I hope you enjoy it too!

Maides Treasuries

I made a new blog discovery today, and I just had to share it with you! Maide makes such beautiful things, from cuffs to spats. You heard me right...spats! Just take a look for yourself at these samples, and then run over to visit Maides Treasuries to take it all in for yourself! Tell her I said hello!

Something for the Marie lovers!

She has even been published in Vogue!