I'm Just Sayin

2021 Smart Phone Group

Smart Phone Group: Year Word Revisited
Photo by Warren Lee

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Warren says:

This year‘s word is ‘Wonder’. Most of this year I have focused on the amazing natural beauty around us. This week I had the opportunity for a PhotoSafari to Northern NV for the Milky Way with the mirrorless camera. During the daytime we explored the Northern NV Railway museum. The town of Ely, NV inherited a railway when the local mine abruptly ceased operation. This became an opportunity to preserve a portion of our history. Two steam engines have been in operation. This one, old 81, is in the final stages of restoration. The working docent is the father of the program manager for this effort. As a young man from Florida, the son became entranced with steam engines. It became his calling and profession with a subsequent relocation from Florida to rural Northern NV. What a wonder (and joy) to be able to pursue your passion as a profession each day. I processed this image in PhotoShop Express using the ‘Carmine” treatment. Wishing you amazing journeys of discovery and wonder - not too far from home.

2021 52 Week Challenge Group

Challenge: Flowers and Macro
Photo by Karen Kay Buckley

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Karen says:

Was taking some shots of my Hydrangea when this little guy landed. He turned ever so slightly and the sun hit him perfectly.

2021 Critique Group

Challenge: Year Word Revisited
Photo by JoAnn Banks

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JoAnn says:

My year word for 2021 is Artistic. I have loved taking photos of my sunflowers this summer. I snapped this one using my iPhone when I noticed the lovely sun highlighting the pedals. I used an artistic effect from Smart Photo Editor which turned the sky into a wood texture.

Ricky's Challenge Photos:

Challenge: Year Word Revisited
from the 2021 Smart Phone Group

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Ricky says:

Barley is not yet two years old, but he has been an old soul since I got him at age eight weeks. His spirit is deep, calm, even-keel, and insightful. I have come to the point where I tell all my friends, if you are needing insight, clarity, or wisdom on any topic - sit down and have the conversation with Barley. He is a wise old man and I would trust whatever guidance he offered. (I'm okay if you think I'm crazy).

Challenge: Year Word Revisited
from the 2021 Critique Group

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Ricky says:

My year word is WISDOM. That's hard to photograph and make it visually clear without some sort of explanation - so here's my explanation. I want to make wise choices. This goal has stuck with me daily as I pursue so many things and face so many decisions. I can't make wise choices if I don't have all the facts and see things clearly. I need a light to shine on all my options so that I may see more clearly as to what lies ahead. I chose to not only shoot a light that is partially hidden, but also the pannning to show that even if I find the light, clarity in those choices is not always there. But if I look at the big picture, I will see the light and no matter how fuzzy things may be, I can identiy what it is that I need to see and do. So - that's my round about way to WISDOM revisited.

2021 52 Week Challenge Class

52 Week Challenge Class: Celebration
Photo by Katie Leddon

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Katie says:

I didn't have much opportunity for celebrations. For some reason our City decide there would be no parade, fireworks and such. There was a car show Friday evening in the downtown area, which was fun.

I believe this lady is the deejay's wife, who was trying to get people to dance. I chose this shot over some others that were more expressive so I could play with the editing we learned this week. The girl's face was shadowed, a flag pole in the background and a long shadow on the street background. The edits aren't great, but it was fun playing with it.

2021 Smart Phone Challenge Group

Challenge: In Motion
Photo by Laura Minch

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2021 Critique Group

Challenge: Precarious/Unbalanced
Photo by Jess Thompson

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Jess says:

Upon seeing the title I thought I’d head to Pensacola Beach to get pictures of surfers wiping out. The bad news was that both times I went there this week conditions were poor and there was not one single surfer in the water. The good news is that while driving onto the island I happened to look to the left and saw this challenge course which had many precarious challenges. I took about 100 pictures in the time I was there and this little guy was in the most precarious position.. He has his feet tangled but managed to make it to the next section without incident.

Typical LR edits. Moved to PS to apply Topaz DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI. I’m really beginning to like those products.

Ricky's Challenge Photos:

Challenge: Unstable
from the 2021 Critique Group

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Ricky says:

I found a great deal of peace one looking at a rock cairns. They are always delicate, and naturally precarious. I attempted to build a rather tall one for this particular challenge.

Challenge: In Motion
from the 2021 Smart Phone Challenge Group

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Ricky says:

Celebrating the 4th with smoke bombs. I used the Live feature and selected long exposure to blend the smoke and make it feel more in motion.

Another Time, Another Place by Ricky Tims
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This is a throwback to 1993 when I have been quilting about two years. I made this based on a little foundation pieced tulip block that ultimately led to my Cavman-pieced "Chantelle's". I don't have a great photo of this quilt and it was a commission quilt for a couple in Indiana so I don't own the quilt. Still, when I came across it, it reminded me that is might have also been the start to the Gridified Art Quilts that I'm currently teaching. I entered this quilt into the Houston Quilt Festival in 1994 and it won a red ribbon - my first "big" quilting award.

Butt Pockets and Knee Holes by Ricky Tims
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 This quilt is my favorite snuggle quilt! I chose to use a four bar rail fence block as the foundation for the design. I used dark denim, light denim, black denim, and white denim. The accent fabric is red corduroy. Naturally I had to use the butt pockets and knee holes and the borders are longer strips of the legs with the typical long jeans seam. 

The holes have a piece of red corduroy on the inside that is simply stitched in place (to patch the hole). The backing is totally red corduroy and there is no batting in this heavy quilt. I quilted this one on a long arm using only horizontal straight lines at about every 8 inches.

Would you or someone you know love a denim quilt?