Garden Keeper

"Those fortunate enough to visit castle gardens should do so with quiet voice and tentative step, during the early hours of morning. Great care should be taken so as to not disturb the Garden Keepers, whose presence has been well documented in the gardens since medieval times..."

Perfect Beauty

Imperfection has its own beauty... strong, free and soulful. May we all remember that we can still fly, even though our wings may be a bit tattered.

Seashore ATCs

During this heat wave, leaving you with a few cooling thoughts of the seashore...

Gothic Arches Challenge for July 26 - Bathing Beauties

"Margeaux' confidence was a definite asset during the swimsuit portion of the competition..."

Garden Resident

Tiny wings, sparking white against a profusion of color... providing a beautiful place for the eye to rest.

Ruffled Feathers

Ever have one of those days when your feathers get a bit ruffled? This feisty young fellow spent all day guarding his territory, and as a result became a bit worn out. I'm sure there's a lesson to be learned here somewhere...

Mermaid's Obi

When beach-combing in the Pacific Northwest, one never knows what treasures will be waiting around the bend. Last week, I found a beautiful mermaid cummerbund washed up on shore. Perhaps she removed it when sunning herself on the lighthouse rocks? I left it so she could find it again; after all, even mermaids feel like donning a few accessories once in awhile!

Full Buck Moon

July's full moon is known as the Full Buck Moon or Full Thunder Moon. Please feel free to download this handsome fellow for use in your cards and artwork. Happy Full Buck Moon, everyone!

Corneille Gothique

Still playing with Photoshop Elements... this time with a bit of a nod to Edgar Allen Poe, 2009 being the 200th anniversary of his birth.

Pileated Gryphon

Ever wonder what to do with a blurry, strangely-lit, otherwise unusable image of a juvenile pileated woodpecker? Turn him into a stately gryphon, of course!

Although very disappointed with the quality of the original photo, I had fun transforming him into a mythical creature by giving him his own Gothic window ledge from which to survey his kingdom. I believe is personality is well-suited for castle life, don't you?

(The arch photo was taken looking out of the entranceway of Hatley Castle, Victoria, B.C. I deleted the interior scene of Royal Roads Univesity to isolate the frame, played with the contrast and colors of the stone, then layered the frame and woodpecker images on top of 3 color/texture layers.)