many muses musing - SPARKLE

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...by christineellen

The Sparkle of Christmas

by Rose Standish Kellogg

The very name of Christmas

has sparkle in it's sound.

It has the shine of tinsel,

of crisp and frosty ground.

It prickles with a fragrance

of spicy northern pine,

whose fresh and pungent perfume

is part of Christmas time

It rustles with gay secrets,

with gifts and mistletoe.

It tinkles with the silver

of bells across the snow.

It smells of goose and turkey,

of walnuts, cakes, plum jam,

of mincemeat from the storeroom,

of ruby jell and and ham.

It spells a brighter brilliance

of stars in heaven's blue,

as if angels, keeping Yuletide,

are lighting their trees too.

It has the shine of tinsel,

Of crisp and frosty ground,

The very name of Christmas

has sparkle in it's sound.

__________________________________

My giveaway today will definitely make your eyes sparkle!!!

A gorgeous FESTIVE RED leather camera bag courtesy of Pompidoo.

I look forward to seeing your submissions for the prompt: SPARKLE.

Please link your blog or flickr url in the link provided below and/or leave a comment on this post for a chance to win the giveaway. (max 2 entries per person).

Your creative holiday prompt for tomorrow is: TOGETHER.

The happiest of holidays to everyone!

♥ tammy lee of bliss and folly

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happy anniversary!

water baby by journeyswithasimplegirl

Can you believe it? One year ago today, we started this wonderful community.  To celebrate, I am featuring photos from our very first theme... Stay Cool.  It was emotional to go back through these submissions and reminisce.  It has been such an inspiring year.

I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone... our beloved friends and followers, the original eight ladies that believed in me and my initial concept enough to take this journey, and the newest three muses that saw something they wanted to be part of.  I love each of you for your unwavering support. You are truly my muses.  Together, we have proven that anything is possible when you put such talent and tenacity in one place.

PW water2 by sc_mccormick

Today, it is with much pride and excitement that I turn over my Queen Muse crown to the beloved Muse Kirstin McKee.  She will carry the Mortal Muses legacy into the future.  Please give her all your love and enjoy the next eleven days as she, the Muses and the Muse Alumni share their thoughts on the delightful year that we have had and the inspiring changes you can expect as they start Mortal Muses Year Two.

I hope you will continue to visit with me at Bliss and Folly, every other Wednesday at Shutter Sisters, and here as a guest muse.  Remember I will always be watching from the sidelines, wearing a much smaller crown as the old Muse Mum, and still cheering you all on like a proud parent.

forever a muse...  xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

Dancing in the Rain by JoGo

summer solitude

This past weekend, I had the luxury of wandering alone through Historic Savannah with a camera and a sketchpad.  Two full days of bliss (read this as - no kids), gorgeous architecture and southern hospitality.  *sigh*

As I was walking along Bay Street, amidst the hustle and bustle, I spotted this sweet toadtool.  While you can usually find me sprawled on my belly shooting for just the right angle, I was not certain that the respectable ladies and gents of Savannah were ready to see my feet in the air.  So, I set my camera on the ground and just shot "blind." I love the softness of the out of focus grass, the diffused light, and the feeling of quiet that speaks volumes.  Such a delightful surprise. 

Where are you finding your solitude today?  Seek it out and share it with us.

xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

~190/365~ Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away by DocUNC

focusing on summer

Can you believe that it is already July?  Here in Florida, the dog days of summer are upon us.  Not cute fluffy puppy dog days but ferocious snarling pit bull days. 

The extreme heat and humidity are slowing us down and shifting our focus to simpler and lazier activities. For our family, this holiday weekend will consist mostly of swinging in the hammock, grilling, reading, and sipping fresh lemonade. What lazy summer activities do your family enjoy?

Wishing you a relaxing weekend. Happy Canada Day to our Canadian friends and the happiest of July 4th weekends to the lovely ladies in the US.

xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

Untitled by kelly*green

up close and personal

While I am not fortunate enough to own a macro lens, I do love close-up photography.  Much to the chagrin of my neighbors, you will find me crawling around on my hands and knees in my yard trying to capture my puppies at play.

Getting the right depth of field and an interesting angle with the short focal length of my beloved 35mm lens is sometimes a challenge. More often then not, I end up with tongue prints and doggie slobber on my lens.  But once in awhile, I get lucky with a full frame of furry goodness, complete with a hairy tongue... then my heart melts.

Look at the cat's eyes in Cynthia's photo. The square format adds to the drama and intensity of the cat's stare. Or is a glare? Hmmmm....   Does it leave you wondering what dear Pussa is thinking or if Cynthia got swatted after she clicked? 

Today, I invite you to get up close and personal with someone (or something) in your life. 

Leave a comment or share a favorite close-up capture in the comment section for a chance to win a spot in The Slice of Life Project with the talented photographer and writer Darrah Parker beginning on July 11th.  We will select one enty at random and announce the winner on Wednesday.

Have a delightful week.

xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

Pussa by Cynthia Brown Images

and the next theme is... SELF PORTRAITS

... by kellyk09

Come on... Step out from behind the camera.
It is time for the long dreaded anticipated SELF PORTRAIT theme.

278/365 A Beautiful Winters Day by Tina M89

For the next 9 days, we want you to flood the flickr pool with your fabulous faces. 
Get creative. Get inspired. Get gorgeous!

this is where i want to be, right now by Better Nothing Than Almost

If you are looking for some tutorials and further inspiration, Muse Ashley has been doing some wonderful posts at Ramblings and Photos. Make sure to stop over and take a peek.

Until then, have a great week and keep smiling!
xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

I wish I'd seen you as a little girl... by Suki_Photography

and the next theme is... THE SHAPE OF THINGS

trim 2 by lucy.loomis

For our next theme, we are looking for GEOMETRIC SHAPES. Your submitted photographs may be of any subject matter but they must contain a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, etc.  While it need not be the only item in the photo, it should be easily recognizable.

Thank you by Suki_Photography

Grab your cameras and seek out items from everyday life, either natural or man-made.  Try using this as a basis for a fun scavenger hunt and collect one of each shape.  I think you will be surprised at how many you will find. 

Day 240 by AprilMN

Are you ready for some RELAXATION?  Muse Kat starts us off tomorrow.

Until then, I am putting my feet up and grabbing a good book. Ahhhhh...

xo

tammy lee of bliss and folly

big dog

When I first started shooting, I discovered a blog by Joe McNally, a veteran photographer with thirty years experience including twenty years as a National Geographic, LIFE, and Sports Illustrated contractor.  One of my favorite posts is on common mistakes by beginning photographers.  He talks about changing your viewpoint, shooting more photos, carrying a camera with you at all times, and more.  I have revisited this post several times and the following words have stuck with me...

"Try not to shoot outdoors in harsh, bright high-noon sun. (At least most of the time.) The sun is a big dog, and you don’t want to fight with the big dog."

Most days, I try to capture the "cooler" early morning light or in the late afternoon when it is creating gorgeous long shadows.  But sometimes I am compelled to look that "big dog" straight in eye and say...

"You don't scare me. You big bully."

Today, I encourage you to grab your cameras and point them at the sun.  Like Lukinosity, show me that you too will not be intimidated.

xo

tammy lee
the little but feisty dog at bliss and folly

lens flare walkies by Lukinosity

fun and games

While growing up, Saturday evenings were "family night."  We would cook up a fun dinner like fried dough pizzas, shut off the television, and pull out a stack of board games.  Over the years, the games changed.  CandyLand and Chutes and Ladders gave way to Scrabble, Life, Uno, Boggle, my personal favorite, Clue and the dreaded Trivial Pursuit, as shown below in Carole's photo.  I am not sure if I ever beat my dad at this one.

I was recently discussing this family tradition with my mother.  She said it started as an inexpensive and educational way to spend time together but in my teenage years, it kept my friends and I near and out of trouble.  I remember a particularly silly game of Life where I landed on every available space to have twins, ended up with too many kids for the car, and had to leave them on the side of the road.  Hmmm... I am sure there is a Life lesson here.

My love of all games and puzzles still continues and I tease that maybe Clue was the reason I pursued a degree in Accounting with a minor in Criminal Justice. I guess I am still determined to catch Colonel Mustard doing something dastardly.

Do you have a family game night? What are your favorites?

I hope your week is filled with fun and games.

xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

 

Winners! 3/365-2011 by Carole-*

and the next theme is... REPEATING PATTERNS

garage door by à la mosey

During Saturday's Muse University post, Kat discussed repeating patterns.

"We have repeating patterns everywhere in our lives. So much so that we don't always notice them. We see, catalog, and sort the differences in things, that's how our brains work. The sameness can blend in to the background. But, when we notice, we can use the "sameness" of patterns to good effect in our photography."

lines and pattern by michel feist

For the next 9 days, we invite you to share your photographs that showcase an eye-catching pattern or repetition.   Make sure to stop by tomorrow for the start of musing on Transportation and a guest muse. 

See you then.

xo tammy lee

Day 20 by AprilMN

moments

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away. ~Eudora Welty

While recently visiting with a friend,  I captured the weekend ritual of her husband quietly reading his Sunday newspaper.  I was struck by the intimacy of the scene.  The way the sunlight was illuminating his face, the stillness of the room, and the gentle rustling of the pages.  I felt like an intruder in his space, his moment... that precious time alone before the hustle and bustle of the day begins. 

In my featured photograph,  Mamadunk captured a similarly private moment.  It leaves me wanting to know more of the story but also wondering what emotions she had when she clicked.  What about the scene spoke to her heart?  Was it the sense of aloneness that was almost palpable?

It is in these moments that I hesitate. What do you do?  Do you take the shot knowing that just the click of the camera may interrupt the magic? 

xo
tammy lee of bliss and folly

untitled by mamadunk

moments

Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments. - Rose Kennedy

I think back on all the moments in life that I did not capture on film... the first smiles, the first steps.  They happened in a flash and always when a camera was nowhere in sight. Thanks to digital photography, our life is now well documented and having a camera phone is a large part of preserving precious moments. 

It is the silly spontaneous snapshots that I enjoy the most.  Whether it is the excitement of catching the largest fish, trying to surf for the first time, or goofy grins showing off a recent lost tooth, it will not be about focus or composition... it will be about capturing the most genuine moments of our life. 

Keenemomma captured another childhood rite of passage, her daughter mastering the art of tying shoelaces.  A proud moment in every child's life.

I invite you to share some of your special moments with me.  The ones you would have missed without your cell phone camera.

Until next time.

xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

Yes I can! by keenemomma

sandy shadows

As the daylight hours get longer, our boys like to grab their surfboards and hit the beaches.   Early evening is the perfect time to enjoy the cooler temperatures and uncrowded waters.  The beaches transform as the rowdy crowds of tourists and families with young children disperse leaving a calmness behind. 

It is in these last hours of the day that you will find couples having quiet picnic dinners, treasure hunters with metal detectors making the slow hypnotic trek up and down the beach, and a lone runner disappearing into the sunset. 

The cycle will start again in a few hours but during this time there is serenity and an opportunity to commune with nature, such as the one captured by Pink Trees and Sunshine. 

Take a few moments to seek out quietude this week and use it to reenergize your soul.

xo

tammy lee of bliss and folly

Summer Shadow by Pink Trees and Sunshine

and the next theme is... CAMERA PHONE PICTURES

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot Wormy. by kirstinmckee

Stop talking and get clicking!
For the next 9 days, we are looking for pictures taken with your CAMERA PHONES.

Color, black & white, processed, SOOC, diptych, triptych, HDR, tilt-shift... we want them all. 
Make sure to tag them with the phone and app used. We are always on the hunt for a great app.

Have fun and make sure to visit tomorrow when I start musing on SHADOW PORTRAITS.

xo tammy lee

Do you dream in chocolate?? by Tammy Lee Bradley

for the love of...

Books. 

These are not {just} books, lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves. From each of them goes out its own voice... and just as the touch of a button on our set will fill the room with music, so by taking down one of these volumes and opening it, one can call into range the voice of a man far distant in time and space, and hear him speaking to us, mind to mind, heart to heart. ~ Gilbert Highet

I love how adding books to a still life helps to tell a story.  Add an antiquarian book, some children's books or the latest bestseller and the story will change. The books give us a deeper look into the life of the photographer. What books do they like to collect? What are their children reading? What is inspiring their thoughts for the day?

Wander around your home and look at your family's books. Is there a reoccuring theme? What do they say about you and where your interests lie?

Our featured photographer, Snolic...linda went to a tag sale and found a stack of old cook books for $1.00. She was happy to discover that one of the cookbooks was a cookbook her mom had when she was a child.  Priceless.

Until next time...

xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

It's too cold outside to do anything... by snolic...linda

driving down the street

I am sure you have all done it. You are driving down the street when you spy something photoworthy.  In your mind's eye, you already have the picture completely composed and processed.  It may mean scaring the pants off of your passenger, mastering the 25 point turn on the narrow streets of Savannah, and shooting from inside the car but you are determined.

What street scenes make you slam on the brakes and have your family suggesting that a warning sticker, CAUTION: Photographer on Board, be placed on your car? Does the hustle and bustle of urban streets get you clicking or is it blissful moments in the country like PKK49's shown below? 

Until next time.

xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

Rear View by PKK49

sharing the love with ... cara

...in every way. by tumbleweed.in.eden

Photography is a wonderful medium for expressing emotions. We are able to show a full spectrum of feeling from melancholy to joy, from despair to love. My photo was meant especially for the love of my life, but the words ring true for many important relationships. A good relationship with a boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, parent, brother, or sister should improve the quality of your life. While we all know that love begins with loving yourself, a wonderful relationship can truly make life more satisfying.

And that's one of the things I really saw in Denné Alise Photography's photo: the beautiful bond shared by two sisters. The soft colors and focus, coupled with the magical light really tell the story without words. Life can be made simpler, carefree, and just plain better with the love of a person special to you. So share your love, and make your loved ones' lives better!

Visit tomorrow. Kat will be sharing the love with her muse... Jennifée

xo

Guest Muse Cara of tumbleweed.in.eden and Cara Rose Photos.

Sisters by Denné Alise Photography

painting with textures

painterly tulips by tammy lee bradley

It continues to amaze me how textures can add such depth and richness to a simply composed photo.  In my experience, not every photo benefits from adding textures and using a minimalist approach yields the best results.  With that said, I chose to apply a texture not so subtly to my photo of tulips.  I love how this canvas texture by Jerry Jones of shadowhouse creations (skeletalmess on flickr) transformed my photo into a new piece of artwork.  You can almost feel the rough surface canvas and it makes the tulip pop off the screen.

As an escape from the winter doldrums, I chose my companion photo by Design by Nicola for it's wonderful spring colors, perfect composition, and painterly feel.  I had to giggle when I read this note in the comments... "It was my first time trying texture and clipping masks, so I'm pretty pleased with the result."  Yes, indeed. She should be pleased. It is truly lovely.

Make sure to visit the More Musing page today for some texture fun.  I am creating silly textures from household objects and a scanner.

♥ tammy lee of bliss and folly

Little Yellow Bug by Design by Nicola

lucky shot

I never make stupid mistakes.

Only very, very clever ones.

 ~ John Peel

I would like to say that the above shot was deliberately underexposed for a dramatic portrait of a boy and his triumphant catch.  But like most silhouette photographs, what happened as an accident shooting into the setting sun, resulted in a classic shot.  With just an outline, you can feel the pull of the line, the struggle of the fish, and the impending fist pump in the air from one happy boy.

I loved Nicola's description of her capture on the beaches of Turks and Caicos. "Two happy children + beautiful sunset light + total failure to check the settings on my camera = really lucky shot!"  I completely agree. I doubt that the shot would have had as much drama if captured the way she intended. Even without the surface details, I can feel the magical moment shared.

Thank you for sharing all your lovely images with us.  I will see you again in nine days when I start musing on Textures.

Until then, stay sweet.

tammy lee of bliss and folly

Not Your Typical Holiday Photo! by Design by Nicola

tantalizing turquoise

If cold December gave you birth,

The month of snow and ice and mirth,

Place on your hand a turquoise blue,

Success will bless what'er you do.

- Anonymous

Aaahhh, turquoise... Living in South Florida, this delightful color is everywhere. It is the water in the Keys, the color of adorable beach cottages, and our gorgeous skies. It radiates the peace and tranquility of blue and the balance and growth of green with a punch of uplifting energy of yellow. I could stare at today's featured photo by cafedereves all day... it soothes my soul while enticing my creative spirit to come out and play.

Don't you just love how a burst of color can just shift your mood and brighten your day? Do you have a favorite color that speaks to you? If would like to read more about how color affects us, I found a wonderful article at Pantone.

Until next time, stay sweet.

♥ tammy lee of bliss and folly

Gasworks Restaurant Wall by cafedereves