Still Life – DOODLEBUG DESIGNZ

November 28, 2017November 28, 2017

The Canvas in my Mind . . .

“The things that make me different are the things that make me.” – Winnie the Pooh

Thoughts wonder in my head, they are endless. Sometimes I wish they would just take a holiday and enjoy some down time. That never seems to happen, those thoughts and ideas keep swirling around.

I believe people who have a creative side may have similar experiences. I am always thinking about what prop would work with a particular flower. What color scheme might be nice, given the time of year or my mood.

This past week, the holiday season began and my thoughts turned toward Christmas colors and festive scenes. I follow so many creative people on Instagram, their work inspires me, sparking more creativity and ideas. This week, I decided to play around with some dark and moody images. Many I follow create beautiful dark and moody images, so I decided to have a go at it.

I have a particular fondness for white flowers, but with Christmas soon upon us, I thought some red flowers would be a nice contrast, giving the white flowers a festive pop of color. The Christmas balls are classic and timeless. My mom decorated our Christmas tree with red glass balls in various sizes, nothing more. Maybe that’s where my love for this simple ornament originated.

Who can resist a mason jar, especially one painted red adorned with a pine cone and twine?

The real magic takes place after I upload the images and choose which I feel will become the image I had in mind as I shot the scene. Sometimes, an image can be crisp and bright and other times it could be softer and a bit smokey creating a moodier feel.

Of course, I had to play around with some light and airy designs too, I already had quite a mess going, flower stems and pieces of ribbon everywhere. So, a light and airy design was a must. I try and utilize the flowers whole before taking them apart for the flat lay design, pictured below.

As you can see, white is the prominent color with that pop of red and green. I get a sense of calmness from this image, maybe it’s the flow of the flowers or the lack of color, whichever it is, it has a soothing feel to it, which is a nice way to end today’s story.

I hope you are feeling in the holiday mood this year, I am and will bring more fun and festive images next week.

Until we meet again, thank you for stopping in and catching up with me . . .

September 28, 2017November 1, 2017

who do I see …

when I look at me . . .

I see an older version of me staring back in the mirror, when did I become this age?

I see a mom, to a small baby girl, who has grown to become an amazing young woman.

I see a wife, who is married to a wonderful man, who was the absolute right choice all those years ago.

I see a photographer, who photographs the world around her trying to find the good and pretty in a mixed up, crazy and scary world.

I see a cancer survivor, who is missing part of her eyebrows, a daily reminder that I am a survivor, this is the person I see staring back at me . . .

Who do you see staring back at you?

Thank you for stopping by, taking your time to share in my world, my thoughts and views.

Until we meet again . . .

September 7, 2017November 1, 2017

Color Me Peaceful . . .

Nostalgic reminder of life’s simple, gentle pleasures, while calming one’s “inner child.”

I’ve been writing my blog for a few months now, so when I saw a post on the website of Bella Grace Magazine in their new section called Field Guide to Everyday Magic Blog Hop, I wanted to be a part of it and I am so happy to post here! As I started thinking of ideas to write about, I began coloring in an adult coloring book that I purchased over one year ago. Originally I thought, what a silly idea, a grown person coloring, but the more I began to color, the more I felt a sense of comfort, peace and calmness wash over me.

One of the simplest pleasures I can remember growing up was coloring. Each summer, my mom would buy me and my sister a set of color by numbers and a new box of Crayola crayons. I’m not really sure what it was about that brand new box of Crayola 64, was it the smell of the crayon wax when the box was first opened, the sharpener on the back of the box or the endless possibilities that box held? Whatever it was, I just remember the excitement it created. Each of us would pick out a new box of Prestige Coloring pages and that box would last almost to the end of the summer, but the crayons and pencils would be almost non-existent, we had colored so much. I don’t know what happened to all of our “artwork” but it’s really the memory of those simpler times that means so much. Sitting under that large tree next to our house, two young girls keeping cool and coloring until we couldn’t color anymore.

Today adult coloring books seem to be the big rage, I guess it’s the simplicity of actually sitting down, unplugging from our everyday lives, that is so appealing. Thinking or rather not thinking and coloring a pretty picture, brings an inner child calmness we may need to rejuvenate ourselves. No time limits, no schedule to keep, just simple strokes and the sound of the crayon or pencil as it colors across the plain white page, creating a beautiful picture.

There are many websites where you can download pages to color or if you are in the market for a particular type of page try purchasing one of the many adult coloring books available today.

If you need to simply unplug from the world for a little while, try downloading or purchasing a coloring book; buy a box of 64 crayons and most importantly, color until your heart is content.

If you would like to share one of your memories or what you do to find some calmness in your life, please drop me a comment and you will be entered to win a copy of the Everyday Field Guide to Magic.

As always, thank you for reading and following along in my life journey . . .

Until next week,

August 29, 2017August 30, 2017

The Little Things . . . | Smithville Lifestyle Photographer

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things.” ~ Robert Brault

As children we are free and completely confident in our thoughts of who we are, we haven’t been influenced yet by life to form opinions of ourselves. If only we could go back to that feeling in our adult lives, but we can’t. Hope, however, gives us as adults, that small inhibition that we experienced as children. This is not to say, that we can’t be free and confident in who we are, but that confidence is different somehow, the innocence of childhood is gone.

In my adult life not many things make me feel this way, but there are a few. My first cup of coffee in the morning, photographing a sunrise or sunset at the beach, listening to the hummingbirds as they chase each other, or to my wind chimes as the wind blows through them and the music of the crickets as they sing me to sleep at night. When I was younger, I don’t think I really thought about this too much, but seriously, who does when they are young? It’s as we get older we begin to reflect on things we once never noticed before.

I think in this extremely busy world we live in, there are so many distractions that weren’t even a thought when I was young. Cell phones, computers, social media, to name a few, slowing down is virtually unheard of. However, if we don’t slow down, what is the sense of it all? The simple pleasures of life will go virtually unheard, but once in a while, it’s refreshing to break away from it all. It’s a kind of resurgence of the soul, not being tied down to all the modern conveniences that make our lives the hectic mess they can be at times.

When it’s all said and done, it’s the hugs we have received, the love we have given and received in return, the simple pleasures in life will be what we remember; when we can’t remember anymore. So tonight when you turn off the TV, put down your cell phone and log out of your social media accounts, open the window and listen ~ truly listen ~ to the melody of your wind chimes or the crickets as they sing you to sleep.

Thanks as always for listening and reading my thoughts on life . . .

Until next week . . .

August 24, 2017August 24, 2017

A Bit Melancholy | Smithville Lifestyle Photographer

Depression is a prison where you are both the suffering prisoner and the cruel jailer. ~ Dorothy Rowe

The days are shorter and the darkness is creeping in sooner each day. For anyone who is affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder you certainly know what I mean. I had heard of this disease, even knew someone who experienced it, but I never experienced it myself. About two years ago, I began to feel a sadness come over me when I knew summer was coming to it’s end. Continue reading “A Bit Melancholy | Smithville Lifestyle Photographer”

June 20, 2017June 29, 2017

Imagination

A Black Pitcher … imagine the choices

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” – Albert Einstein

Imagination is an amazing tool, as humans we can escape from the world simply by imaging something. I often wonder, what about our dog, does McKenzie ever imagine anything, sometimes she sits, just staring into space, so I wonder, Continue reading “Imagination”

June 13, 2017June 27, 2017

A Sunday Morning in June

Well life is short
And love is rare
And we all deserve to be happy while we’re here ~ Little Big Town

Sunday Morning …

As the warm summer breeze blew through the window, my entire day was brightened. It has been a cold and rainy spring here in New Jersey and the bright sunshine was a welcomed change. Spring typically has some warmer days but usually more cold days, then without notice summer shows up.

Today, I wanted to share some beautiful bright colors with you, which for me, represents what summer is all about. Summer has an easiness about it, relaxed summer nights sitting on our front porch, watching the humming birds feed and play with each other. Neighbors walking their dogs and stopping by for a small conversation and let’s not forget the beautiful sunsets and the smell of the sweet summer air.

My blue chair featured today was quite a find in a craft store, which sadly, is not longer there. I could not believe my ears when the owner said $20, so in my car it went. It has served me well in the last two years that I’ve owned it. It’s old and worn and the bright cheery blue instantly makes you feel happy. Pair it with some vibrant orange flowers and beautiful tulips and you cannot go wrong!

When I search for flowers, I don’t always have an idea or composition in mind. As I begin to arrange the flowers, and play around with some of my props, the picture and story seem to unravel. This is what brings the quiet in my mind and the peacefulness. There could be complete chaos outside my studio, but in my world, there is just calm and peace.

I’m sure there are hobbies or things that would bring the same quiet peacefulness for you, the secret is to find that one thing and bask in it. Make it a point, if even for 10 minutes a day, to find that quiet in your mind and enjoy it. It will change your entire perspective on how you look at your day.

If you are interested in more of my photographs, please follow me on Instagram.

Until next week …

Debra