Photography Projects...

today is tempting...

tempting and teasing us with spring...

so i am headed out to help baby calves suck, doctor calves, check on calves, and hopefully not have to help a heifer calve... :0)

can you tell we are in the middle of calving season?!?

the husband is off rounding up cattle..

so it is up to the kids and me today...

and i show you a picture of a hen...go figure?!?

i did want you all who are looking to improve your photography skills, learn the basics, and practice, practice, practice...

there are some *amazing* sites that are offering projects and linky parties on just exactly how to do this!

becky of {farmgirl paints} is hosting The Thrive Project!! *love* this...she shares tips and tricks on all the basics...*fabulous*!

jeanne of {a bushel and a peck} is taking photos with a purpose...

every friday during the month of februray she will post a theme and you take photos that fit within that theme...

a great way to practice and celebrate love all month long!!

and lara with {modern prairie girl} is hosting a fun, unique, photo challenge...

where you find any {still-life} object around your house and play!!

these are just a FEW challenges, and projects going on around blogland...

there are many 365 day challenges, 10 for 10, and 52 projects on flickr so spread your wings and challenge your photographer self!!

{i will talk a little bit more about some other challenges and e-courses within the coming weeks that i will be participating in! *love* this blogging land!!} ;0)

what about you?? are you already participating in some? know of some fabulous ones out there?? Please share!!

have a wonderful, tempting spring weekend!

While Away..

while the boys are at work, school and away...

the daughter and i get to play...

not dolls...

not tea parties...

not princesses in pink...

but this...

{cowgirls} and indians...

so glad this little girl came along to teach me the difference! ;0)

The Savvy Photographer..

this morning there was an unexpected surprise in my email...

Marsha with The Savvy Photographer left a sweet little note letting me know they were featuring a couple of my goods on their website!

Photo Displays that Rock...

Marsha has created an *amazing* site for photographers and all the goods one needs...

I am also *thrilled* that soon I will be contributing to the inspiration found there...

*thrilled* and somewhat sick to my stomach...ugh...

the old questions and doubts coming back full force again...

but I am {brave} and I'm learning to embrace those small whispers of doubt...

please check out Marsha's site, you will be *amazed*

WE' REstoring...

soul restoration...

what an {amazing} journey...

right now i have SO many thoughts...

SO many emotions...

i have needed a little time to gather myself...

raw...

completely...

this has been one of the projects...

a journal of sorts...

as you can see i'm not the only one in the family who has chosen to embark on the creative side of this journey...

the kids have chosen to join in with their own journals...

this one belongs to me...

this one to ian...

his crell {corral} is closed for the season...{if you are wondering...yes...he has his mother's great spelling gene...} :0)

this one belongs to mccrae...

i don't know if i have ever seen cuter cowboys in my entire life...

and clancey's...well the first photo was the only chance i had to capture it...it hasn't left her little hands since she started...yes, it is pink and full of princesses...

i hope i can put into words for you later on how much this course has affected me...also a new book that i have been reading...i will be sure to try and round up my thoughts and feelings into one crell ;0) for you and share soon...

oh...*thank you* ALL for the wonderful photography tips!! i really appreciate each and every one!! XO

Prairie Colors....

there once was a girl who *adored* neutrals...

greys, browns, creams, and most recently warm whites...

anything stark and raw...

but her spirit is longing for some color right about now in this dismal january weather...

sky blues, golden wheat yellows, prairie grass greens...

just little rustic bits to bring {sunshine} and {cheer} into her home...

on a completely different note...

i starting shooting manual about a month ago...

i think i've starting getting the hang of it...

except indoors...ugh!!

so all you fellow photographers any suggestions?? the thing that is getting me is the right balance between a slower shutter and aperture...oh and white balance is killing me...

all i can say is {thank} goodness for photoshop!! :0)

Artography...

while perusing some new artist's blogs a while ago i read one word that whispered to me...

*ARTOGRAPHY*

the ability to combine elements of art to a photograph, layers and layers of creativity added in order to alter the feeling or story of a photo...

oh how my wings trembled with excitement, my spirit soar, how everything suddenly clicked by reading that one simple, beautiful word...

my journey has begun...

Purely Raw...

so this post was SO not on the agenda for today...

but this post by jamie titled {whiskered} made me smile...

i have secretly had a crush for awhile now...

.......*ryan bingham*........

oh...my....

his voice is *absolutely* amazing...

rugged, raw, and gives heed to the {good ole boy} days...

once a tough rodeo circuit cowboy, he sings life stories...

i CANNOT believe that i missed his concert in park city last year, or the one in las vegas with willie nelson {not a BIG fan but definitely would have tolerated to see ryan} ;0)

anyone up for a little road trip and concert??? :0)

A Preview...

Hello dear readers...

did everyone enjoy their weekend??

mine was spent tidying up my studio....

seriously could not even walk into it because of all the clutter...{shamefully} really..

i just wanted to give you a little preview of my new textures!!

{Raw and Romantic} textures will be released the end of January....

hopefully...

i've had an unexpected opportunity come my way and i'm starting to panic...{details soon!}

i am also participating in Brave Girls Soul Restoration...

i cannot wait to share the journey!! is anyone else taking it?? panicking?? breaking out in hives?? ;0)

i'm also doing some tidying up on my little blog...i've finally created a fan page for Faded Prairie...would *love* to have you come on over and visit...i'm planning on a little giveaway just for fans in the near future! {button at the top of sidebar}

so please bear with me on the slow changes taking place...

talk with you soon...

prairie XO,

Loving..

happy friday dear readers...

we made it through the first week of January!

WHOOT, WHOOT!!

:0)

i received a couple magazines in the mail this week...

sigh...

why do they do this to me?!?

sheesh...right after Christmas no less...

but a girl can always dream, can she not??..

i put together a couple of the things i'm loving right about now...

{photos 1, 3, 5 wisteria; photos 2 and 4 pottery barn}

everything warm, natural, industrial, and raw...

*beauty*

but it really can't compare to this...

freckles and milk mustaches...

*bliss*

Blue Monkey Boy...

On the prairie there lives a boy....

a little boy named McCrae...

who is {tender hearted} and {loving}...

who simply {adores} monkeys...

who is {obsessed} with the color blue...

and better yet combine the two...

*Blue Monkeys*

{makes mom's life a bit difficult sometimes...birthdays and Christmas...trying to find blue monkeys} :0)

a little boy who gathers treasures, keepsakes, and magic...

a little boy who takes after his mom; looks at junk and bits that have been discarded with a loving eye...

who has started a card collection...

any and every card is taken in and studied, exclaimed over, tucked away for future pleasure...

when his mom put forth a call to her fellow bloggers to be on the look at for the lost gingerbread man...

we never would have dreamed that...

EACH day at school he was greeted with not only one, but two or three new cards or letters from around the world letting him know the gingerbread man had been spotted...

his days were filled with utter joy and amazement...

and will continue to be so...

for each card and letter has been tucked away with his most prized treasures...

looked over lovingly and handled with pure childhood magic...

*thank you* to ALL who helped bring such magic to a little blue monkey boy this holiday season...

prairie XO,

Bits of Buckets and Bins...

every new year brings around a desire to organize and simplify here on the prairie...

this year i.m adding a stripped down rawness to the mix...

and if you are {lucky} enough to live in a century old farmhouse...{i.m using the term lucky very loosely right now...the freezing drafts coming through my walls make for a long winter....}

you know that one thing they lack is storage areas...

sigh...

i thought i would share some little bits that have helped reduce our clutter and organize our little home...

an old farm gate becomes a catch all for cowboy vests, coats, sweaters and spurs...

right now i.m going through and making donation piles, so i thought i better hurry and snap a picture before the gate gets over taken once again... :0)

the industrial, metal bin holds library and bookmobile books...we are forever misplacing these and this little bin has become a life saver for this family...

an old bushel basket holds extra pillows and blankets for when we need to snuggle down...

a vintage, copper-topped bread tin holds recipes and such...well, okay it is pretty much my junk drawer...out of sight out of mind right?!? ;0)

so what little bits are helping organize your {prairie} home?