Patchwork Photos

Photo Stories

dhopkins — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:12:42 +0000

Call them story boards, mosaics, collages, or hodgepodge. . . to me they are like story books. Remember the sweet little books we read to our children where pictures told the story?

Thanks to Kim Klassen and her Beyond Layers class for these adorable templates. My favorite is the story of our family - just a few snippets of every day life here. Wow, no better way to feel grateful than to see your life from a different vantage point. The camera is great for giving perspective . . .

Living the Sweet Life

dhopkins — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:05:36 +0000

I am mostly a face-to-face kind of gal and spending hours in front of a computer screen is not my idea of fun. But, I have to admit that the internet has introduced me to new friends and ideas with a whole new world of creative inspiration. I recently discovered Smith Magazine SMITH is the home of Six-Word Memoirs^© and a vibrant community of storytellers. Everyone has a story . . . waiting to be shared. Don't we all just want to be known? Remember the song from the classic TV show Cheers,

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

As I reflect upon my life, writing my own six-word memoir, I keep coming back to the same realization. I am - Living and Loving the Sweet Life. So what are your six words?

Find Your Way

dhopkins — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:50:59 +0000

Making pictures for Valentine's Day has been a blast! Reflecting on the people I love and how much they love me in return, even when I don't deserve their faithfulness and kindness, makes me feel so very grateful. My husband teases me about my poor sense of direction and difficulty reading maps . . . I'd be lost without him . . . in more ways than one! This picture includes his compass from his boy scout days; apparently he has ALWAYS known where he is going. I, on the other hand, mostly just wander . . .

Today's photo features a new texture from Kim Klassen, Awaken. Thanks, Kim.

Winter Pears

dhopkins — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:10:34 +0000

I miss the summer fruits - berries and melons. But in the spirit of eating well, I am trying out winter fruits. These pears are great for snacking and delicious in my new favorite salad, too. Toss some fresh greens, diced pears, toasted pecans, crumbled white cheddar, and crunchy celery with a dressing of a little oil, cider vinegar, and honey. Pears are perfectly delicious.

Rise and Shine

dhopkins — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:09:05 +0000

I have a divine New Year's resolution . . . to get a good night's rest. I am an early morning person AND a late night person who drags through the afternoon needing a nap most every day. As one friend put it, "You are just like baby. You have your days and nights mixed up!" I am guilty of working into the wee hours of the night trying to catch up on computer work and rising early before the sun to catch the best morning light for taking pictures. The old saying about "burning the candle at both ends . . ." certainly applies to me! For good reasons, mostly health related, I am setting a regular bedtime and sticking to it. Hopefully, 2012 will be the year I rise and shine! I'm watching the clock . . . setting the alarm . . . and enjoying every precious minute. Happy New Year!

Winter is for Reading

dhopkins — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:24:50 +0000

Getting ready for winter . . . stacking up my books to read. I love books! On my favorite bedside table, I have a devotional and the Bible. Piled high in my studio (aka the dining room), I have a new Photoshop CS5 book, the manual for my new camera, and loads of magazines for inspiration. In the den, near the sofa, novels and travel books await my company. Bring on the snow . . . I'm looking forward to catching up on my reading and enjoying a cup of tea. Always looking for reading ideas . . . anyone reading something wonderful? Please share!

Merry Christmas

dhopkins — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 23:20:41 +0000

Merry Christmas! Hope Santa brings each of you everything on your Wish List. I'm asking for the new Kim Klasssen class, Beyond Layers and RadLab, for my photo editing and inspiration. My son is super excited with his new Kindle Fire (an early gift). Time to watch old favorite movies and wait for Santa . . .

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

dhopkins — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:59:44 +0000

Silent Night

dhopkins — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:01:44 +0000

Rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ. This photo seems a perfect compliment to Kim Klassen's texture, Rejoice, where the lyrics of Silent Night are embedded in the texture.

All Is Bright

dhopkins — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:44:20 +0000

While there is a time and place to use my flash, I most definitely prefer taking my pictures using natural light. The soft colors of the early morning light are my favorite. I love texture and shadows and all the nuance that light brings to an image. Decorating with natural materials, evergreens and pinecones and berries, with wireless lights in the form of sunlight - what a beautiful arrangement. Going green with ever-greens . . .

Today's photo for Day #10 of The 12 Days of Texture is enhanced by Kim Klassen's texture, Providence. Thanks for the inspiration, Kim!