what do you see?

Pallie introduced me to the blog, BAGNews Notes: a progressive blog dedicated to visual politics, the analysis of news images and the support of "concerned" photojournalism. Ultimately, this guy collects photos released by the Associated Press, the White House and a variety of noteworthy publications and forms opinions and observations about each image from an analytical and rhetorical point of view.

I am incredibly intrigued by the thoughts, comparisons & explanations this guy produces from these simple images. While I am by no means educated enough, studied enough or remotely qualified to properly analyze any kind of photo, I thought it may be interesting to go through my albums old and new and find obscure and interesting pictures. Pictures that tell a story, have a story to be told, are ironic, symbolic or just plain odd.

I'll share what I know, what I think and what I like about each photo and I invite all of YOU to comment and share your opinion, your impression and your thoughts. It will be especially interesting to watch how our combined input and variety in perception, observation and connection to the pictures will truly bring the image to life.
...and it's a great exercise for our minds!

First Up:

my Uncle 'Who' and his homegrown eggs who get personalized messages if they are gathered on a special or noteworthy day. The egg on the left, his 52nd Wedding Anniversary and the egg on the right, the first day of the new year.

• the plaid shirt, swatch watch and worn hands scream Americana.


• i wonder what the emphasis {quotes} on the 30 represents?


• i hope the "from" on the right egg indicates a certain hen; that means he names them and THAT is adorable.

what do you see?

rock with the roll

20 x 16: "six strings strong"

20 x 16: "conjunction"

simple. edgy. iconic.

the layered and textured background of these two pieces is a result of about ten layers over a year's time. they were once a part of an intended trio that I just couldn't bring to life, so I decided to let them speak for themselves. the simplicity of the images against the complexity of the background is enough to rock my world.

welcome!
to my other happy place.
my artsy-fartsy abode.
my crafty savvy shack.

This is a place where nothin' much matters outside of color & creativity, texture & trinkets, bare feet and a good song soaring out of the stereo.

My creative wheels have been moving at a dangerously fast speed and I need a million extra dollars and 12 more hours in the day to help these ideas come to life. But I'm a dreamer, y'all. And I dream big. So I've got several exciting projects brewing that I'm excited to share here that have promise to be larger than life, if only in my mind.

paintbrushes:start your engines

After a turbulent and tangled relationship with my paintbrushes we've found love again and are making magic happen. I'm stocked with canvases' galore, I'm making up and mixing up colors I love and letting the brush do the talking!

I've started a new technique that I'm kinda crazy about in the right now and after some really great feedback from some super kind folks {and no, it's not just my mom & sister!} I plan to start showing some pieces, what I post will be for purchase and I'm always open to do commissioned work.

vintage voyage
My gypsy sister Lindsay has started the coolest a side venture called, Second Hand Sally. "Sally" has an eye for all things vintage, out-of-the box, useful, fun and just plain cool. She has a blog that reflects her style, will offer decorating ideas as well as a marketplace for vintage resale. For all related purposes {which are none, really}, we tend to refer to Second Hand Sally's young life in nautical terms...absurd? maybe. but lovely & quirky? yes.

Sally's maiden voyage took off last weekend through the Bluegrass State and I kept the sails set and the spontaneity flowing as Sally's official "Skipper". And a very important job that is. I'm the atlas loving navigator, find the perfect song deejay-er, elite conversationalist with every sweet shop owner and the official purchase talker into-er or talker out of-er.

...and well, we'd all be silly to think that I don't sail away with treasures of my own. So I'll be featuring some of my sweet buys, quirky decor ideas and the full decor makeover of either my current house or potential new house this summer!

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photo phrenzy

In just a few short weeks, this puppy is comin home to mama.

Thanks to boyfriend, all my dreams and wishes are coming true. And I mean every single one of em! This is a birthday present that I have been waiting my whole life for {not really, only the last year} but have put off the "official" purchase, because, well, ok, I'll say it...I am really scared of the commitment {and a BIG one it is, right?}!

But after spending a weekend with Lindsay's lil pup ...mama's search has ended and this mutt has found a home! I can't wait to play around with this one point four pound piece of heaven and I may as well go on and add a disclaimer: due to my sister's insanely special & cool wedding this spring and four of my closest girlfriends having babies this fall, it's bound to be photog crazy here at tha' ramble.

So hang on tight for a little bit of this, little bit of that and ALL about the creative ideas and inspiration moving my mind.

I look forward to your feedback, suggestions & ideas of your own!

...here's to the Tin Roof Ramble!