Simply Stated

Atget influence

2012-02-25T17:28:00.000-05:00

Monday, our first full day in the city I had the day to myself, so I was off to visit the MoMA.

It's such an amazing place. During my last visit I had spent hours there. Absolutely in awe of all and I only made it to 2 floors!

This time I decided I would visit the floors that I hadn't made it to before and then see the others if I had the time.

After many many hours I made it through the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors. I returned to the hotel, my mind reviewing everything I had just seen.

The Picasso's impressed me the most during my last visit....

this time it was the Eugene Atget exhibit.

I had seen his work before, but only in books. And like my experience of seeing the works of Picasso directly in front of me; I firmly believe that one simply cannot truly appreciate an artists work until it is seen in person.

Eugene Atgets photography of Paris is amazing.

No mater the subject, whether it be the quiet city streets, the storefronts, the parks, or architectural details he captured the simple beauty of the ordinary and the extraordinary.

I particularly love his series of photographs taken at

Parc de Sceaux after war and years of disrepair ~ before it's revitalization.

Sixty-six images make up the series and interestingly it became a series he stopped taking when the reconstruction started taking place.

~~~~~~~

Tuesday, I wandered over to Central Park and then back to Bryant Park. I have been to each one many times but with the Eugene Atget exhibit still fresh in my mind, I was seeing things a bit differently. As continued to stroll through the parks, snapping pictures, I began to wonder what similarities I could create in my photography while in NYC.

Was it even possible to recreate an image in the Atget style?

His methods were obviously worlds apart from what I have available to me but I thought I would give it a try and wanted to share them with you here.

Thank you for looking...and I hope you have the time to click on the links above to see Eugene Atgets work too.

NYC by iPhone

2012-02-24T21:42:00.000-05:00

Love my iPhone ~ and taking pictures with it.

Honestly....

I think I might use it more for photos than for any other purpose....oh, that and listening to music.

Recently I watched a video with Chase Jarvis;

author of "The Best Camera is the One That's With You",

it made me think how true that one simple statement is.

It stuck with me.

As time passed, I thought more and more about it.

Eventually it was decided.

For our trip to NYC, I would leave my other camera behind and strictly use my iPhone.

Not only was it fun but it was kind of liberating ~ not carrying a big camera bag all over the place, not bumping into people with it, not having to worry about charging batteries.

Don't take this to mean I wont ever use my "real" camera ever again....I will never give up my DSLR.

But it's really exciting to see what beautiful images you can get from something slightly larger than a deck of cards, without lenses, and I played with some cool photo editing apps too!

I'll share more in a day or two.

Break time....

2012-02-18T19:14:00.000-05:00

Taking a break for a short while ~ Take care.

A Valentine just for you...

2012-02-13T20:52:00.000-05:00

texture by Kim Klassen

Happiness is having you as my Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day!

I L♥Ve a Party!

2012-02-12T19:56:00.000-05:00

Welcome,

My daughter and I hosted "Be our Valentine"

a luncheon with girlfriends and their daughters this past Saturday afternoon.

It was such a lovely day.

The last couple of weeks were spent preparing for the afternoon by making favors and decorations.

Lots of hearts and colors of red, pink, and white.

Sweets and treats to share as we enjoy each others company and fun stories.

And a sweet ending to a memorable day

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!

I joined in at Dear Lillie to share in More Valentine celebrations

Feeling creative

2012-02-02T22:15:00.000-05:00

I have really been feeling the urge to get creative and do something.

Not sure if it is because of the near 60 degree temps

(YES, I said near 60's...very odd for January in our parts!)

we have been treated to but it's making me restless.

I actually think I would have been out in the yard trying to plant a garden if I didn't know that it was only

February 2 and we were informed this morning of Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of 6 more weeks of Winter.

Any way,

to stay busy and use up some of this creative energy, I've been digging through my supplies of material, scraps, bobs, and bits.

In doing so I found an old plaque that I had saved. Not quite sure what to do with it at the time, it came to me yesterday that I should try out a transfer technique using an image from the Graphics Fairy.

I love so many of her images so it was quite difficult to decide what to choose.

But roosters and chickens are some of my favorite subjects so I went with this lovely feathered friend.

I love it!

Not too bad for my first attempt and it really feels kind of nice to make something just for me for a change. :)

Hope you have had some fun and creative

time for yourself too.

Flowers

2012-01-24T11:48:00.001-05:00

Photography and texture work by Rebecca Lewis ~ Kim Klassen textures

The Amen of nature is always a flower.
Oliver Wendell Holmes

A reminder from a 3 year old....

2012-01-07T20:18:00.001-05:00

Today I had the honor of having a charming little 3 year oldcome to my home ~ I will call her “Dorothy”.

Last Sunday, her mother had calledbecause “Dorothy” had requested a special birthday cake….not just any cake mindyou, but a Wizard of Oz themed cake.

Like every cake request I get, as soon as I had gotten thecall my mind was spinning with ideas. I couldn’t wait to start and with eachpassing day I became more excited for the cake to come to reality.

Monday was the day to do the shopping, gathering all thenecessary ingredients.

Tuesday was a day spent creating each of the characters ~Dorothy, Tin man, Scarecrow, and Lion. I even made Toto sitting in his basketas well as a few extra-special touches to make the cake more fun.

Thursday was the day to apply all the finish and detail workfor each of the characters.

Friday was the day to bake, assemble, and finally decorate!

Saturday ~ well that was today....Party day! I must admit, Iwas excited….probably not as excited as Dorothy….but I couldn’t wait for her tosee it.

She arrived with her Mom, a little timid but looking allaround for her special cake. Then she saw it! And this is where I wasreminded of something…..

Some days my mind isfull of questions and doubt ~ the “I can’ts”, the “I’m not creative enough todo something like that”, or the idea of “when will I have that big opportunityto do what I love and dream of?”

While watching “Dorothy” inspecting every detail of her cake; taking it allin, in amazed wonder -
Her eyes wide, and little hands wanting to touch everything {even takinga small sample of the buttercream frosting with her tiny little finger ;) }
At this point it really hit me...andit made me smile.

I can do it!

Just by taking a few simple ingredients and turning them into somethinggrand.

I am creative enough!

Enough to make someone’s dreams cometrue.

and

I DO it each and every day ~ I just don’t remember itall the time.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T19:33:00.003-05:00

Christmas sparkle

2011-12-07T16:41:00.001-05:00

I love the sparkle of Christmas!

Especially the lights on the Christmas trees. I can remember sitting beneath our trees as a child

almost making myself crossed eyed just to make the lights blurry ~ WEIRD ... I know!

But they're so lovely and they make me smile!

I feel like a child again every time I see a tree lit up for the season.

Hope your holiday sparkles too!

The decorating has begun!

2011-11-29T12:22:00.000-05:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Our vacation time came to a close with

the excitement of decorating for the Christmas season.

Usually we wait till the first weekend of December but

I just couldn't wait any longer.

With some resistance, my youngest son helped me pull out all the bins of goodies.

As the decorating started, my daughter; who was working on a homework assignment, became much too distracted by the idea of making the house festive for the holidays and decided to join in on the fun.

Helping with the decorating, we snacked on sugar cookies and talked about how long we have had

many of the decorations,

some of them for as long as 23 years.

You could say I am very much a traditionalist...

there is always lots of red and green with silver and gold mixed in.

A lovely assortment of vintage, heirloom, handmade, and new additions of

special ornaments each year.

The tree hasn't been selected yet, we are looking forward to doing that the next few days.

Till then...

we will continue trying to be good!

We need a little Christmas

2011-11-14T11:26:00.001-05:00

Not a long post today, just a quick hello.

I took advantage of the morning to clean the front porch that I have been neglecting for much too long.

We have all been really busy and I think it is starting to wear each of us out...

I realized this weekend that it's not just me that feels out of step with the calendar ~ the family too is feeling overwhelmed, finding it hard to believe Thanksgiving is just 2 weeks away with Christmas quickly to follow.

Normally I am very careful to enjoy each holiday as they come but for some reason the phrase

"We need a little Christmas"

keeps repeating itself over and over in my head...

which is why I have to share this clip ~ Mame is one of my favorite musicals.

I am hoping with a few accents at the front door, it will help lighten the mood and get everyone in the Holiday spirit.

A few holiday suggestions...

2011-11-09T20:26:00.001-05:00

Now available at

Simply Stated Antiques

November 1st ~ Already????

2011-11-01T09:18:00.000-04:00

Textures by Kim Klassen and Shadow House creations

Have a great day!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-28T14:15:00.001-04:00

Falling....

2011-10-27T21:06:00.002-04:00

Snow is falling. I know it won't last long but till it stops I will be in heaven.

Back to work Monday...

2011-10-17T11:36:00.000-04:00

Hi, hope your weekend was enjoyable.

We made the annual trip to the Burnt Hills Invitational at Saratoga Spa State Park.

Our Cross Country kids did a great job and they really had a wonderful time staying with some dear friends.

The hubby and I left early Saturday morning to take the 4 hour drive so we could cheer them on and get some pictures of the event.

The park is beautiful ~ it's one of my favorite places to visit.

Today I am working on uploading new inventory to

Simply Stated Antiques and Interiors.

Feel free to stop by.

I do want to mention that if you have "Liked" our old page at Facebook I am closing that one this Friday.

Stop by to "Like" our new Facebook page here

and we will keep you updated on what's new at the shop.

Have a beautiful day ~ and stay warm if you live here in the NE...It may be sunny today but the wind sure is cold!

Enjoy!

Autumn Travels

2011-10-14T10:49:00.000-04:00

Sharing a quick digital collage I put together this morning.

"Autumn Travels"

digital scraps by Zeldona at Mellowmint

Wishing everyone a beautiful weekend filled with lots of adventures!

Simply Stated Antiques and Interiors

2011-10-10T21:44:00.001-04:00

I hope you have all been able to enjoy the last few days ~ it has been absolutely glorious here!

Perfect Autumn weather, warm and sunny with cool evenings and foliage that is such eye candy that you can practically see the leaves change color as you watch.

After having every weekend consumed by activities we did some much needed chores around the home. The hubby cut wood in preparation for winter. I mowed the lawn yesterday, I wondered if it might be the last for the season ~ I love mowing but it would be nice to start packing things up for the winter season.

I also was busy with getting the new website tweaked some more.

I would love to have you stop by and check it out. and have you tell me know what you think.

To get there you may use the old link at www.SimplyStatedAntiques.com and you will be rerouted

I have also added a new domain it is www.SimplyStatedAntiquesandInteriors.com

I do hope after reading and re-reading that all the spelling errors are corrected

(if you see any please let me know).

The new website has a calendar feature that I particularly like. It is my hope to utilize in the future to list sale dates and specials; especially for those of you who would like to stop by the store to see our wares in person.

Today I spent the morning and early afternoon taking many pictures of inventory. The rest of the day was spent editing so I could get the merchandise up on the website.

In addition to antiques and hand made items; this new shop will be where I can list new gift items and gently used treasures, they are things that I am unable to list in my Etsy shop because of their age and do not meet the "vintage" listing requirements.

I am pretty excited about this new venue and I am pretty tired right now too so going to sign off for now.

Have a great week, take care, and enjoy!

Has it really been a whole month???

2011-10-07T22:03:00.002-04:00

My Lord….where does the time go?

September 2011 is just a memory.

It has been busy .... School, homework, jobs, XCountry meets,play practices, colds ….. just like I knew it would be.

But some days it just doesn’t seem possible that so muchcould take place in a 24 hour period.

I’m tired….constantly, my joints ache,and all I want to do is sleep in late or go to bed early but I never seem toget the chance.

Let’s see, what has happened in a month….

We spent a wonderful weekend in New Jersey with family to celebrate thefirst birthday of a very special little girl. I love seeing them ~ we justdon’t get together enough.

****

Autumn has arrived….I love the season and it has made its presence known with bold beautiful colors.

It has been wonderfully cool and rainy mostdays but with enough sunshine to break up the monotony.

Just the way I like it.The season makes the home feel so cozy and I have been getting back into makingsome really good comfort foods.

*****

The apples are plentiful this year. My father and I havebeen busy picking from the wild apple trees to put in storage for later use.

Mymother baked apple crisp which was a wonderful treat and so delicious. (As soonas I am able to spend enough time at home I have plans to make some homemadecider donuts.)

****

We’ve spent a day in Owego.

The hubby spent a week in Vegas for work …. I know ~ reallyrough! Sadly he didn’t win any money. I don’t go on the trips and usually the kids and I enjoy his business trips because we usually try to do somethingspecial just for us. But this year I was ill and that really put a damper onthe whole week.

****

I’ve helped a friend at her Bed and Breakfast.

****

We went to Vernon, NY to attend the XCountryPre-States and cheer on the team.

Attended the McQuaid Invitational in Rochester, NY.

****

Our oldest has had his first official “mini” break fromCollege and spent the weekend visiting back here at home.

****

We’ve gotten two sick children through colds.

****

The hubby and I spent an evening chaperoning teenagers atthe Clemens Center to see “My Fair Lady”.

****

I’ve cared for a sick husband.

****

Think that's enough for one month!

Have a great weekend ~ Rebecca

Compliments of the Season

2011-09-08T13:27:00.000-04:00

Texture Kim Klassen and Graphics from The Graphics Fairy

My Original Photography ~ Rebecca Lewis

FOLK

2011-09-06T20:32:00.001-04:00

So interested in seeing the new magazine!!!!

click on the image to learn all about

FOLK

Check them out on Facebook too!

I ♥ this girl

2011-09-01T08:31:00.001-04:00

She starts her senior year in just a few days and I am so excited for her!

A Hobo dinner

2011-08-31T19:14:00.000-04:00

Just me and the guys tonight ...

having a Hobo dinner cooked over an open bonfire.

dogs and beans strait from the can!

With toasted marshmallows...

for Smores!!!!

Enjoying our last evening of August ~ hope you are too :-)

Back to school ~ Texture Tuesdays

2011-08-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

Duke University Chapel

Textures 123 and Believe by Kim Klassen for Texture Tuesday

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.

Plutarch

What to do....

2011-08-16T14:57:00.001-04:00

It's kind of like being invited to a party and having nothing to wear.

You see it's Movie lovin' edition of Texture Tuesday over at Kim's

and I had absolutely no idea what to do for today.

That was...

until these sweet babies decided to visit. My first thought was of the movie "Bambi". Oh ~ Thumper had been here earlier but I simply watched him as he grazed while I drank my coffee and contemplated on what to do.

On a side note there were no signs of Flower ;-)

My first senior session

2011-08-15T10:21:00.000-04:00

Working on some photos from a senior session that I had last Thursday wanted to share a few.....

Create from the heart

2011-08-11T08:49:00.001-04:00

If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.

~Mark Chagall~

The Governor's Kitchen

2011-08-04T13:34:00.000-04:00

The kitchen of the Governor's Palace is a stately brick dwelling that sits on a knoll over looking the canal.

It is a handsome place that looks as if it might actually be a small home rather than being dedicated to the

daily task of preparing some of the finest meals in Virginia by well trained European cooks in colonial times.

The Falling Gardens or Terraces just out side the door

from the kitchen.

One of the three features that remain from the 18th Century.

View of the lovely canal.

Espaliered fruit trees in just one of the many sections of garden that covers approximately 10 acres.

Bellows through the window

Meats and Sweets ~ prepared and demonstrated daily.

These meals would have been prepared by "Principal Cooks" ~ the highest paid servants on the property.

A Colonial pantry with wares for daily use.

More Sweets ~ strongly influenced by the French culinary style and enjoyed by the upper class.

Love the details. I have included links above for you to learn more if you are interested. Enjoy

Domestics in the Benjamin Powell Home

2011-08-01T10:04:00.000-04:00

Photo from the Colonial Williamsburg site

The Benjamin Powell family was a successful middling family in Colonial times.

The family consisted of Benjamin a successful Contractor (or undertaker as they were called in colonial times)

his wife Annabelle and two daughters Hannah and Nancy.

They also had three adult slave women who worked for them, each of whom had two children.

To learn more you can read about a day in the life of the Powell family .

The Laundry/Kichen buildings at the rear of the homes would have been supervised by Annabelle where the slaves would have lived and worked.

Drying laundry with essential oils soaps and other necessary items for washing.

So many of the same tools necessary for use in today's kitchens.

Preparing the days meals.

Chicken coop out behind the kitchen area ~ close by to select a fine fat chicken for dinner.

More Vacation pictures....

2011-07-30T23:13:00.001-04:00

Right now it is quiet and I find myself re-living our vacation through the many pictures we brought home.

It has been a month since we left for our summer vacation.

I miss it already.

We offered to take the kids to Disney but they didn't want to go there;

they wanted to go to Colonial Williamsburg ~ even though they have been there many times before.

I think the hubby and I were a little surprised at first but we were excited that they would

WANT to go back.

It is such a beautiful area rich with so much history and has a wonderful variety of programs for all ages to take part in.

Shortly after we returned I shared some pics but it got busy here and there hasn't been much sharing since. I apologize, so I thought it would be nice share some more with you now and over the next few days.

As I look through all of them I see a common theme.

Even with all the amazing stories of our country's fight for independence I am drawn to the

normal, routine types

of domestic activities that would have been necessary for existence in such an early colony.

On our first day I enjoyed seeing Great Hopes Plantation a representation of a plantation in York County, Va.

It is a working, living history site that represents the way of life for the Middling Plantation Farmers or the Rural middle class, the African American slaves who worked the farms, and others such as carpenters. These were not the rich plantations that we might think of today.

They were the everyday people who worked to survive.

Here is a kitchen that would not have been part of the main house. Simple with a large fireplace at one end for all the daily cooking.

At the well. Young children as young as 4 would have been given the responsibility for "fetching water".

A simple woven twig fence to protect the garden from unwanted visitors.

Working in the garden.

Corn, one of the many crops necessary for survival.

Escape...

2011-07-30T09:10:00.000-04:00

a little corner in my world to enjoy the early morning.

Out having some fun

2011-07-29T17:22:00.000-04:00

It seems rare that I have much time to spend with my daughter these days.

She's so busy with school activities (even though it's summer), working, or spending time with friends.

But I was lucky this week.

She needs to have Senior portraits ready by September for the school year book so we made a date.

We turned the entire day was a photo shoot!

On the way out without her knowing, I grabbed one of my vintage hats from my collection.

And while these images aren't for her senior portfolio

~~it appeased her mother greatly~~

it was fun to "Dress up" and do something a little different.

Hoping to share some senior images after

we get more done and she has made her final selection.

Have a wonderful weekend.

2011-07-21T09:37:00.000-04:00

A flower's appeal is in its contradictions - so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect. ~Terri Guillemets

Away from home

2011-07-11T19:31:00.000-04:00

Colonial Williamsburg,

It truly is a beautiful location.

We wish we could have stayed longer. There is so much to see, do, and learn.

We have been here many times and it never gets boring. Every visit we have participated in something new.

This time we were fortunate to be able to visit the St. George Tucker house where we met General Washington and were able to question him about his campaigns.

The hubby and youngest participated in the "Crack the Code" activity using original code from the Revolutionary period.

I finally made it into the Peyton Randolph house.

And though we were looking forward to the fireworks display...

we did miss the 4th of July fire works because of severe storms.

Oh well ...

it didn't dampen our spirits any ~ we met some really wonderful families and had a wonderful time anyway.

My favorite activities are visiting the gardens and strolling around town just looking at all the beautiful architecture enjoying the craftsmanship.

Here the gardens are just gorgeous. I was thinking back to when I was younger (before a husband and kids) and I can remember how much smaller these shrubs were. I only wish I had pictures of them then.

The espaliered fruit trees are simply stunning against the brick walls.

and the walks are so inviting

crisscrossing back and forth inviting you to sit a spell in the shade and enjoy the views.

Even the maze has grown and filled in beautifully....the kids never seem to tire of racing around to see who can reach the center first.

and one of the many paths will lead you here to a beautiful water way surrounded by beautiful trees and cooling shade. Definitely worth sitting and enjoying.

A little peak....

2011-07-11T10:23:00.001-04:00

We spent last week on a vacation together as a family

- less one :(

We were so fortunate to be able to stay at Colonial Williamsburg for 5 full days.

Decided while we were in the area to do some college visits so went to William and Marry then

on to Durham, NC and Baltimore on the way back.

Hope to get some pics up and ready to share with you all soon!

Happy Monday!

Class of 2011

2011-06-27T13:48:00.000-04:00

So quickly the years have passed ~ as if it has been in the blink of an eye.

How excited I am for the Class of 2011!

Our oldest ~ seems he was just starting Kindergarten.

Graduated 11th in his class with a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation.

His party was yesterday, friends have a horse ranch so we held the party there.

It was perfect ~ lots of room under the pavilion for visiting with family and friends with plenty of space for decorating and a memory table.

Loads of memories to share!

Loads and loads of food too

with yummy cake for dessert!

SIX different kinds ;-)

So proud and excited!

Congratulations to the Class of 2011!

Scenes from life....

2011-06-12T21:04:00.000-04:00

Been kinda busy lately, trying to get through the last few days of school and preparing for our oldest to graduate from high school

so my thoughts have been else ware.

I have taken a few snippets of

time to get snapshots of life since June 1st so I put them into a collage for you to enjoy.

I may or may not be able to post much if at all so

sending Wishes for a wonderful week to you ~

Hugs!

Honored and delighted

2011-06-06T09:22:00.000-04:00

While checking email I learned that Tammy Lee Bradley of Bliss and Folly had featured my image

at Mortal Muses on Sunday in Everyday Beauty.

What an honor.

I can hardly contain myself...if someone saw me right now they might be wondering why is that lady grinning from ear to ear?!

But the simple fact is that I am delighted.

Climbing under the fence.

I love this image ~ It speaks of summers on the farm.

And I must admit, I almost didn't share "Climbing under the fence",

Simply because I wasn't sure if it was good enough or

if others would understand the simple joy and beauty of seeing my slice of the world from this perspective.

I captured it

Memorial Day

after a day of parades and a picnic.

It was a beautiful holiday weekend with summer like temperatures. The sun was beginning to set just over the hills behind me and the light was perfect. So on a whim I decided to grab my camera to go "play" with it for a while.

The field is filled with waves of yellow buttercups

and

This view is just outside the fenced in fields of my grandparents farm. The fence borders the yard where I played and worked as a child.

Seeing the buttercups spilling under the fence reminded me of the many instances of climbing under the fence needing to go check on new baby calves,

having to wander up to the hay fields to load the wagon with freshly baled hay,

and on occasion

to recover a ball or Frisbee that had been thrown over by accident (always being careful not to get chased by a cow that might be protecting her baby).

What fun and fond memories.

In the end I am so happy that I did share it.

For it seems that it has brought some joy to so many others as well.

Thank you so much Tammy! :-)

Good morning!

2011-06-02T06:41:00.000-04:00

Have a Beautiful Day!!!!!

The official start of summer.

2011-05-27T10:33:00.000-04:00

With the onset of summer and the long weekend arriving

I am sure many of you are planning to travel.

Whether it be around the world or close to home.....

Featured in this Etsy Treasury.

Have a safe weekend filled with good times

spent with family and great friends.

I will be busy with my family attending parades and maybe a picnic too.

While keeping all those affected by the recent storms in my thoughts.

Hugs to you.

Look at what I discovered this morning

2011-05-25T10:20:00.000-04:00

They blossomed overnight!

I love such pleasant surprises ~ hope your day is filled with them too.

Change is good

2011-05-24T12:28:00.001-04:00

The school year is winding down. It's been busy a year filled with sports, activities, friends....the usual.

And while some things stay the same, many things change.

*************

We have a new driver in the house

so every available opportunity to get in some road time has been jumped at.

Our oldest graduates this year.

The youngest moves up to the high school next year

One becomes a Senior

and one goes away to attend college.

WOW!

Those are some big changes....

Hard to believe sometimes ~

but

it's all good.

We are really looking forward to the next phase in our lives.

How I love seeing each of them

blossom and grow into the young adults that they are.

Very bright and full of optimism,

so ready to take on the world.

I think that I am just as excited as they are to enter this new chapter.

:-)

P.S. just a note ~ I have been busy making changes of my own.

As you know I have been busy getting settled in back here at Blogger (and I thank you all for sticking with me and following along)

I have also been busy with changes to my websites.

Would love to have you stop over to check them out and let me know what you think.

www.SimplyStatedAntiques.com for info and antique treasures

www.RebeccaLewisSimplyStated.com for my photography

www.SimplyStatedSignatureCakes.com for cakes and other good treats.

New looks, new layout, new designs.

Change is Good!

The perfect kind of day!

2011-05-21T23:09:00.001-04:00

Started as a beautiful foggy morning that turned into sunny skies

We finally got the the grass

(that has been so tall it has had me cringing every time I looked at it. I am sure the entire neighborhood has been talking about it!)

mowed.

(I was seriously considering getting some sheep)

A brief rain shower that passed right over then on to more sunny skies.

But that was okay, it gave me a chance to dig through my seed collection to see what I could find.

Sowed seed in the kitchen garden.

Weeded the raised beds.

Relaxed with a beverage on the front porch.

Had an old friend stop by that truly made my day!

:-)

Grilled steaks for dinner

and

had a bit of excitement when a baby bear stopped by to try and join us for dinner...he even came up towards the back door!

A wonderful day ~ perfect in every way!

I have a new Website

2011-05-18T22:53:00.001-04:00

Hi there! Well, it's Wednesday night ~ busy today.

It's been raining so no luck at getting the lawn mowed. Instead I got some work done here in the house and worked on getting my new website up and running.

I have been wanting to change some things around and I hope that it makes it just as enjoyable for you to keep up with what is going on.

Feel free to check it out

www.RebeccaLewisSimplyStated.com

Your feed back is greatly appreciated.

There are still some things I need to get done but I think it is set for the most part. I have proof read several times and I think I have caught all my errors but if you see anything drop me a line and let me know if you find any links that don't work correctly.

The evening has turned out to be rather nice with a gentle breeze and I am enjoying the scent of lilacs drifting in through the windows. I must say it is heavenly.
Hope you have a wonderful evening.

Vintage inspired

2011-05-17T02:00:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite loves is the love of vintage illustrations ~ I have always love them.
Growing up, I would read loads of old books while visiting my grandparents during my summer vacations. I recall having read "The Water Babies",
I loved it's colorful illustrations.

I do not know where the book is now but I can still see the cover and illustrations clearly in my mind.

I also love the art of Maxfield Parrish.
His illustrations are magical.

The detail and colors of his subjects have such richness that one most certainly knows a Parrish print as soon as seeing one.

Which brings me to this weeks texture assignment from
Kim Klassen.

Vintage

Not exactly sure what I was going to create....I decided to play around last Friday.
I had already taken some photos of the beautiful apple blossoms in our side yard. They had just come into full bloom and I knew wanted to use one of them.

Here is the image I chose ~ untouched
So I just started clicking buttons and adjusting the levels, playing with the contrast, color, and brightness ....
not really sure what I was going to get
and guess what I saw?

THIS ~ Inspiration form Maxfield Parrish!!!!

So I played some more.....

and some more....

and some more.....

Vintage inspired loveliness!

All from using Kim's texture called Luminous.

Thank you Kim :-)

They're here!

2011-05-16T14:03:00.001-04:00

Their scent makes my heart soar!

Almost....

2011-05-13T14:42:00.000-04:00

So close....I can almost smell them!

Pear blossoms

2011-05-10T14:34:00.000-04:00

Gorgeous Sunny day today ~ what a delight!

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T10:17:00.001-04:00

Have a Splendid Day!!!!!

Whitewashed

2011-05-04T10:59:00.001-04:00

I captured this image on Saturday of the flowering tree branches against the pale blue sky.

Here is a link to the original.

The day was gorgeous with lots of sunshine, birds singing, and warm temperatures.

An absolutely perfect day!

My hopes were play with it and add some texture ~ to give it a vintage feel.

After playing and tweaking it a bit I think I have it just right ~ well at least the look I was going for.
It has been entered over at

Kristin's

at Faded Prairie

She is having another photo challenge this week.

And as luck would have it the theme is "Whitewashed" ~ everything really does happen for a reason.

Stop over and see more lovely work ~ feel free to join in too!

Be sure to check out the Faded Prairie Flickr pool.
Have a beautiful day!

Prom 2011 ~ Rome under the Stars

2011-05-03T14:34:00.001-04:00

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Hello Again!

2011-05-02T16:28:00.000-04:00

It feels great to be back!

Back here at my old home...I just came back from Typepad. I really liked it over there but I just didn't LOVE it!

It just didn't feel like home I guess and I feel like I missed so many of my neighbors.

I have a feeling it is going to take me a little bit to get things put together so

Please forgive me if things are a little messy for a while as I get things spruced up.