Fabulous opportunity to learn Photoshop

Have you ever wished you could take an ordinary photograph and turn it into an extraordinary and artistic photograph? I know I have.

I've always wished I could use Photoshop to enhance my art projects but I didn't have a clue how to go about learning it. I bought Photoshop Elements hoping to learn how to use it on my own. Let's just say that I failed dismally.

Now my prayers have been answered. In case you haven't heard, DJ Pettitt has developed her own online class

Memories and Manipulations
Online Image Editing Workshop with a bit of mixed media tossed in

This class starts January 4th and runs through February 1st.

Interested? Please visit DJ's website for information:

http://www.djpettitt.com/online.html

I'm psyched.

I hope to see you in class!

PS. If you're not familiar with DJ, let me just say that not only is she is one of the most talented and versatile artists I know, she is also one of the sweetest. Please visit her blog for a visual treat http://djpettitt.blogspot.com/

Bead Swap

Several months ago, I joined a Bead Swap with my some of my online Diva pals. The intent was for each person to make a bead between 1/2 inch and 1 1/4 inches. After the beads were exchanged, we were to connect them to a chain.

Each person was to make a bead that represented themselves so that when we looked at our collection of beads, we would be reminded of the artist who made the bead.

I never realized how hard it would be to represent myself as a bead. I am not exactly sure this bead epitomizes me since I'm not round and sparkly, nor am I golden, but this is what my muse dictated that I create.I crocheted my beads using several strands of gold embroidery thread. When the bead was almost completed, I stuffed it with batting and then finished off the bottom of the bead. The hardest part was getting the wire through the batting in order to make the wire wraps on each end. Then I glued seed beads on to the surface.

I tried sewing on the beads, but it was very tedious. I found that gluing the beads on with Diamond Glaze worked perfectly and was much faster.

This afternoon, I strung the beads on a chain. It makes a lovely necklace, but probably unwearable due to the weight of the beads.

Therefore, I decided to leave my chain long and to hang it between the windows in my studio. Now whenever I'm working on my computer or working on a project, all I have to do is look up and I'll be reminded of some of the nicest people I know.

One of the nicest things about this location for the chain is that it is the first thing I see when I walk into my studio.