NOLA

I'm in New Orleans tonight and although this trip was somewhat of a weather bummer, I still had a really fabulous time and we made the weekend work despite the rain.  Today started really early with a gourmet breakfast at Criollo --then it was off to the middle of the French Quarter for a cemetery tour.  The rain held off but once the tour started --insane cats and dogs massive crazy downpour.  Yes, I had an umbrella but I had to do everything in my power to fight the wind an the rain and protect my camera, speedlight and spare lens.  So basically, I was only able to cover my equipment while the rest of me --well, you guessed it...DRENCHED from head to toe.  :(  I had to quit the tour before ever making it to the cemetery because I couldn't risk getting my gear wet.  So I headed back to the hotel with my heart broken but thankful that my camera was fine. 

After a hot bath I decided to take this photographic journey on a new path --an indoor shoot!  I will go more into that next week because I don't want to spoil the surprise.  But here is "a portion" of one of the photos I snapped today.  I know you're wondering why I'm only showing you a portion of it --well, this particular photo is going to be the October Giveaway at Through These Eyes!  For now, you just get the sneak peek! 

Peace, love, and beignets! 

Exciting stuff!

 

Hello from the luxurious and very haunted (top 10 in the nation) Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisana!  While on my mini-getaway to NOLA, I received a message from a girlfriend telling me that she saw one of my photos on the Fox 4 Facebook page.  I didn't know what she was talking about but when I clicked on the link, I foun that they used one of my State Fair of Texas photos as their cover photo!  How friggin' awesome is that?!?!?!?!?!

 

Although it's not one of my really cool artsy photos, it does pay homage to a huge Texas tradition --The State Fair of Texas.  Lets face it, there is no fair like THE FAIR!  So anyway, my little photos is now over 800 "likes" and just at about 90 people have shared it on their own pages.  If you would like to use some of my free cover photos, hop on over to Through These Eyes and check out the Freebies gallery.  ::big smile::

Halloween Giveaway

I am giving stuff away at Ms. Ruin's Playthings Facebook!  Join us now our first giveaway by clicking on this promo...

 

 

Beautiful Sadness

"Is it any wonder I can't sleep? All I have is all you gave to me...turn to the gates of heaven, to myself be damned."

Photo Contest

There is a big contest underway at Through These Eyes Visual Art!  Join in on the fun or stop by and read all of the fantastic entries we have received to date.  I am super flattered to have a significant following as we approach 550 likes (just four people away) and I'm thinking up something fun to give away when we get there.  The contest details are below...follow this link to play!

Contest time and a fun opportunity to be inventive! Let’s pretend that this is the cover of a movie poster and you are the brains behind said movie.

How to Play:
• Provide your movie title and a short story/plotline.
• We will choose three winners who will get this print (11x14 for 1st place, 8x10 for 2nd & 3rd place).
• PLUS –qualify for random drawings for prints from this set when you share this post on your page .

General Housekeeping:• Contest ends Wednesday, August 22nd.
• You must be a member of Through These Eyes to win.
• Enter as many times as you’d like by messaging me your details or leaving them as a comment on this thread.
• GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!

It's the little things

This is such a sweet and simple thing to do...when sending someone a package, throw in some paper confetti hearts.  It will make them smile and feel loved.  Someone did this for me a few weeks ago and everytime I look at this picture it brings a smile to my face.  Go on...make someone's day! 

Loveliness

I've had a rough few weeks --likely the most challenging ones this year.  Luckily I have a lot of friends and family that care for me and that keep me going.  I think I am my biggest motivator, but it also helps to get nudges from loved ones along the way because maybe I just THINK that I motivate myself the most, but in fact it is the compassion of others that inspires me and prevents me from wallowing in self pity for too long.  Thank you friends.  :) 

You know what else makes this girl happy --mail!  Not just any mail...but swap mail, mail from my own backyard, mail from across the pond...mail, mail, mail.  Little morsels prepared JUST FOR ME.  That makes me so happy. 

One of those items was this box by Dee Dee Roe.  It's so not me, very shabby chic.  But you know what, I totally adore it and it made my day on Saturday.  I can't wait to display it at the office.  THANKS DEE DEE!

I received a package from the UK as well with a sweet treat inside and a killer book...but I will save that for tomorrow's post.  I am exhausted from showing off my killer dance moves.  :p  lol

We're off to see the Wizard!

Congratulations to Bobbi Short from New York and Lindsey Wolff from North Dakota for winning these Wizard of Oz themed necklaces from Ms. Ruin's Playthings.  A big thank you to the Hat Factory for asking me to be a part of the celebration.  :)  I hope to have new items in my shop soon and maybe even some giveaways? ♥

Just This One Secret

Just This One Secret is now available for download at BarnesandNoble.com!  I am excited that I had the opportunity to shoot the book cover, at least that's what the title page says.  But seriously, I am happy that I could play a small role in a labor of love for this independent author.  My cover is a portal to a story you don't want to miss.  Download it now!  

Wizard of Oz Celebration

The Hat Factory is celebrating the 73rd Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz with a huge HUGE HUGE Giveaway!  Join their page by clicking here and check out all of the giveaways including TWO Land of Oz Pendant's by Ms. Ruin's Playthings.  Oh, and while you're there, LIKE my craft page as well! 

xoxo,

Ms. Ruin

Embellishment Swap

We are having an awesome embellishment swap at Artsy Fartsy and YOU should join!  Just join our page by clicking here and check out the events page for all of the details.  This is the box that I decorated to send to my swap partner which could be you...but you have to join first!  :)

The box is not very impressive on the sides but the top...well, that's a whole other story.  ;)

Beautiful Ruin

I've seen her several times as I skirt my way down 35 South towards Waco.  She stands less than a half mile from the interstate, surrounded by weeds.  Most would call her an eyesore, ugly and scary.  But as I drove down the gravel paved road which ended just a few feet from her door step, my heart squeezed into my throat, beating so hard I could taste it.  To me she is beautiful and magical and I couldn't wait to capture her beauty to show to the rest of the world.  ::big smile::

These images were worth every scrape on my knee, every bruise on my legs and the dirt in my face.  What good is art if you don't get dirty?

Art...my saving grace!

I am beyond thrilled at the way in which this canvas came together.  So many layers, textures, mediums, fun, fun, fun!  Used in this project were acrylic stamps, cling mount stamps, old dictionary pages, stencils, white and black gesso, ink sprays, adirondack paints, chipboard...lots of goodness.  I won't go into full details because my brain is on overload and my eyelids are about to defeat me.  Let's just say that all of the little secrets are in the details...just look closely!

Family Matters

As I mentioned earlier, I was away on a retreat with some friends this weekend so I managed to get a lot accomplished.  I completed three projects for family and about family.  First of all --the Circus is coming to town and how I wish I could take my niece and nephews with me when I'm sitting front row at American Airlines cheering like a fool.  LOL.  But in the spirit of the Circus --oh, and not just any circus...I'm talking Barnum and Bailey, baby...anyway, in the spirit of the Circus or Le Cirque, I am sending both my nephews and my niece some fun and flavored popcorn that is adorned with a circus themed tag.  Something tells me they are going to care more about the popcorn.  :p

I also made a 5x7 book FOR ME.  Yes, FOR ME.  You see, I rarely keep things I make but gosh darnit, I'm going to keep this one for myself.  This book is filled with beautiful 5x7 portraits of my family from start to end.  The only embellishing I did was to the cover.  I covered it with 7G tissue paper and made one of my famous clusters using flowers and elements from Maya Road, Prima, and Recollections.  I am so pleased with how this turned out. 

The other project that I made is a 5x7 album as well but this one is about my nephew playing T-Ball.  Again, not much embellishing and the paper that I did use was from a cheesey kit.  But that's okay...it's not the paper or the embellishments that made this book and told the story...it was the pictures inside.

Thanks for reading!

Matchbook Swap

Hello out there!  I'm still alive...I know my posts have been few and far between.  I was having a dry spell on the paper front as my photography has been keeping me busy.  So I committed to a few swaps in the month of July to keep me moving.  The first swap I participated in was the Matchbook Swap at Smeared & Smudged.  I had never made a matchbook so it was a little stressful but so much fun and I do really love the way they turned out.  And not only did I committ to making one, but I committed to making TWO!  I will also receive two matchbooks to add to my own collection.  In fact, I came home today from a retreat to find a package from Greece (see above)!  A big huge thank you to Ike for the lovely postcard and one helluva matchbook.  It's completely wicked and I love it!  THANKS, IKE!

{sorry for the crappy picture}

And now onto the matchbooks I made.  They are both Halloween themed, I hope you don't mind.  This first one is for Tori.  I hope you like it, Tori --it will be in the mail to you tomorrow!

I left space in the book for little pictures and I am also sending additional Halloween themed word stickers so that you can use them over your photos or wherever you'd like.

--------------

This next one is for Trisha.  And this one is not just Halloween, but it's vintage too!  There's no room for pictures but it's a fun little book to look through.

/end Matchbook Swap.  :)  Thank you to Black Dragon for organizing this swap --it was so much fun!

Bird Love

People like me make lists for everything under the sun.  I keep a journal at the bedside, a journal in my office, a book in my purse, a book in my bag, a book at my work desk.  I can't make this stuff up.  Anyway, I am pretty good and checking my notes and my lists and sticking to them but it seems that lately I am not keeping up with my lists and I'm wasting precious time doing nothing when clearly I should be doing something.  Accccccck!  Tomorrow is the start of new week...an opportunity to exercise the use of my books once again.  I know, I should just go to bed and "let it go".  If only it were that easy.  The OCD doesn't allow me to just "let it go."  I'm now beating myself up for a wasted night.  How can people sit and read a book or watch television?  That's for the birds...I'm just not wired that way.  Speaking of birds...here are a couple of prints by yours truly.  :)

Perfection

I just had to share this edit of this beautiful bride... 

xoxo,

Ms. Ruin

Just Breathe

Did I say that I need you?  Did I say that I want you?  Oh, if I didn't I'm a fool you see.  No one knows this more than me as I come clean...♥

Oh no you didn't...

Pawlease...of course I did!  No, she wasn't excited about this by any means, but she was still a good girl through the mini shoot.  You see, I just got this backdrop and I HAD to try it out.  I didn't use any studio lights, just natural light.  Moving forward I plan on using studio lamps.  I'm gearing up to do two full days of shoots using this background in August.  I've already got the space booked now it's time to get props, floor drops, schedules, models, etc. in place.  It's a huge undertaking for me since I work at this stuff alone but I eventually buck up and force my insecurities aside and just do what I need to do.  Lately I feel like all of my stress is sitting in the pit of my stomach as I have not been feeling well.  But hopefully that will soon pass.  Some friends are convinced I am giving myself an ulcer.  Possibly. 

Anyway, most of my creative energy has been spent on my photography.  I WANT to do so much, I just don't have the free time.  I want to take a photography class, a lightroom class, a lighting class, a painting class, a soldering class, etc.  But again, no t-i-m-e.  But I have committed myself to a few craft swaps so I should be back to my first love of mixed media soon enough.  For now though --I have to keep the shutter going with my photography committments.  At this moment I am editing two boudoir sets, a book cover, and a wedding!  Just shot the wedding yesterday...yes, I cried.  To see more photos from recent shoots, visit my Facebook Photography Page or my official website, Through These Eyes Visual Art.  :)

Talk to you guys soon...thanks for reading! 

xoxo,

Ms. Ruin 

Happy 4th!

If you're an American --Happy Independence Day from Ms. Ruin's Playthings and Through These Eyes Visual Art...let freedom ring!