As you know my dream guy gave me my first ever digital SLR camera for Christmas & I am really enjoying learning how to use it.

I have only ever owned a basic point & shoot camera, but even on the auto settings my photo's are sooo much nicer.

I have found some fantastic web sites & blogs that offer so much photography knowledge with tutorials & weekly assignments to get to know your camera better.

I have been playing with the macro setting

I saw a photo taken on a forum at the

Digital Photography School

of water dropping into a dish & thought I might try to replicate it, I was already playing with water, food colouring & would you believe baby oil, trying to do some fun abstract photography,

I gained lots of tips, tricks & inspiration for this image from

The Pioneer Woman

which at the moment she has a wonderful assignment at the moment for everyone on food photography, including a great  post on "Ten things she has learned about food photography" to get you started, some of the images her readers have entered so far are just "delicious!"

I experimented with my macro setting, changing my aperture & even the sports mode on the dripping water.

I have been learning how to use the light meter to adjust the exposure, all three of these pictures where taken one after the other, adjusting the exposure.

I have even learnt a bit about reading the histogram, to ensure you have the correct, or best exposure possible for a perfect shot.

Ive started studying up on adjusting my white balance to suit the light source & ensure optimum colour in my images, like under the shade of these amazing trees.

Ive have gained so much knowledge from a wonderful blog

Life with my 3 boybarians

Darcy has a fabulous series called "31 days to a better photo" which is an awesome resource for us photography newbies

I have also tried to put a lot of focus, pardon the pun, on composition, to ensure my pictures are appealing to the eye.

I must add that NONE of my photo's have been edited in any way, they are fresh from my camera, that would be a whole other skill to master & I am a one step at a time kinda girl!!!

All of the outdoor images here where taken at a lovely little village called Paterson in the Hunter Valley of NSW Australia.

The kids & I went on a photography excursion & had a picnic dinner in the park here, whilst dream child No1 & I experimented with our new cameras.

It was a very fun afternoon & we hope to have lots of little photography picnics in the future!!

I hope these links are helpful for all of you DSLR newbies, or if you have any sites that you have found helpful & inspiring we would love to hear about them!

CHEERS

Trish xxx











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Ive been tagged & I liked it!!!

I have been tagged by two very lovely ladies to play a fun Question & Answer game. Nellie at Mccarthy designs. & Janette at My sweet prints have bestowed this owner upon me & I have to say I qiet enjoyed it. Here are the questions & my  crazy answers....

1.If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I think everyone would like to live here, but even just a night or 2 in the Hamptons beach house from the movie 'Somethings gotta give" would be a dream come true

Cocktails by my pool anyone?

2. What is your favorite band?

I don't think I could say I have a favourite band, but those that know me would probably say I do enjoy music from the 80's...Ahhh good times!!!

3. If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be?

Just for today I would like to be Julia Gillard. The first FEMALE Prime Minister of Australia.

Now I'm not one to show to much interest in politics, but I can only imagine the pride & jubilation she must be feeling right now!!!!

Look out fellas a women has just busted the boys club wide open!!!

I guess Julia Gillard has smashed that glass ceiling....

Great inspiration for the females of our country!!!

4. Concert or Broadway show?

I would love a good Broadway show!!!

5. Theme song for your life? I took a tip from Nellie on this one & did this quiz, Whats you're theme song quiz  It came back with U2 " A beautiful day". I do enjoy U2, so I was happy with the result!!!

6. Would you choose a fancy dinner at a nice restaurant or a picnic in the park?

Definitely the fancy dinner, but I would need to go shopping for something to wear as Fancy dinners are a rare treat around here.

 I would love to try a seafood platter at Scratchleys on Honeysuckle, Newcastle, NSW Australia

7. Favorite place to shop?

I don't know that I have a  particular favourite place to shop, but I do know where ever I go, should have a nice coffee shop for me to get a caffeine fix whilst I'm there...Yes I am addicted to coffee!!!

8. Favorite movie?

I love anything with Adam Sandler or Ben Stiller in it, they make me laugh, & on the romance side of things, who could go past "The Note Book", by far the most romantic tear jerker I have ever seen.

So now its my job to tag a few other bloggers....

No need to feel obligated to participate as we all know time is precious!!!

Fun and vjs

Driftwood interiors

Chair up

The paper tree design

So go check out all of these great blogs if you have'nt already & I hoped you enjoyed my question & answer time!!!

Cheers

Trish xxx

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Bus Roll love!!

I have spent the past 2 years dreaming of owning my own Bus Roll on canvas, you know way back before they became trendy...

Well here I am still renting, SO still waiting, which has given me plenty of time for thinking & dreaming.

As they say, the best art, is the art that has meaning to you. This led me to the idea that my bus roll should be a story of our family, our own personalised journey of the houses with have lived in on our destination to our dream house.

My dream guy & I have moved houses a fair few times since we met, he feels I have an inner gypsy, so now I just need to save a few bucks & get my sign printed on canvas.

I have a few pics here that I used for inspiration, as I mentioned I have been saving these for about 2 years now so I don't know the sources...sorry!!!

As you can see they are a very versatile style of art work, looking good in all interior styles, contemporary, rustic, traditional, beachy...
 A must have item!!!

I have been following a lovely blog called My sweet prints & it must be fate because it turns out that Janette is a graphic designer & illustrator with an online store that prints personalised canvas bus scrolls, so I know exactly where to go when I'm ready to place my order. She is also situated in Sydney, Australia so I know its not a problem to have it shipped, YAY!!!!
 Go check out her gallery here

Do you have one of these fabulous works of art ?

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My First Blog Award!!!!!

Thank You Kym At Kyandra Rose for honouring me with my FIRST ever Blog Award... I was beside myself with excitement!!!

It has made me feel like I am a real  blogger...Yipee!!!!

Thank You Kym for making my day & being such a fabulous support, its great to know someone with so much talent is enjoying my blog!!!!

Kym has a beautiful blog with some very inspirational decorating ideas, she also shares my clock addiction!!!Kym  manages to do all these amazing things whilst working as a teacher & being a mum, I think that is impressive.

 I am a SAHM & write my blog because I was looking for a challenge & I wanted to have something to do, other than just being a housewife & mum. I couldn't imagine trying to fit in a full time job. 

I take my hat off to all you clever people that work & blog...

WELL DONE!!!

Now the award rules are that I have to list seven things about me

So here goes:

1. I have 4 children, 3 girls & 1 boy & they bring me a huge amount of joy, but like all mums cause me the most worries in life as well.

2. My husband is by far the most inspiring & motivating person in my life.

3. My sister Erin is definitely my biggest supporter in EVERYTHING I do & is also my partner in Design crime... I cant live without her ( she is also my partner in wine crime, LOL)

4. Teaching my teenage daughter to drive is by far the most challenging & terrifying task I have ever  had to undertake.

5. It makes me crazy if someone sits on my bed after I make it, I love to see a beautifully made bed decorated with lost of fabulous pillows!!!

6.I love an organised home with lots of storage.

& lucky No. 7

I have been so inspired by the talent I have come across since I started reading so many amazing blogs, that I now have very huge aspirations to refurbish, upholster & paint things, rather than purchase everything brand new.

 For this I say THANK YOU!!!!

The second Privilege is that I get to Pass this honour onto 15 other Fabulous Blogs.

Here is who I have chosen

The Five Year Project

Perfectly Imperfect

My Sweet Prints

The Paper tree Design

Blog Brew Review

From here to There

My Summer house

Nestled in Rosenberg

Driftwood Interiors

A Beautiful Mess

Being Ruby

The Pennington Point

fattii goes public

Design Dump

Colour me Happy

A Beach Cottage

So if you haven't already been visiting any of these blogs you should drop on over & check them out. Some are about design, some about life, some put a smile on your face, BUT, all of them are written by incredibly inspirational & clever people.

Than You again Kym

Cheers

Trish xxx

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A cellar to celebrate

I am off to a party tonight to celebrate the opening of my hairdressers new salon

Mystic Hair Studio.

I am planning on taking her a nice bottle of bubbly to celebrate!!!

It would be nice if I could just grab a special bottle of something  from my own personal wine collection ...I wish!!!!.
 Perhaps I could keep my wine in a cellar.

 I think one of these would do just fine!!!

modern wine cellar design by vancouver general contractor billy carpenter

wine cellar design

I would also like to send a fabulous bottle of (virtual) bubbly to a wonderful blogger named Ange over at Chair up . Ange is an extremely talented New Zealander living on The Gold Coast & like me has a serious addiction to blogging & house magazines. She does the most amazing rehupolstering & furniture refurbs, I'm always excited to check out what she has been up to. You have to go over to Chair up & admire Ange's handiwork.
 WARNING you will be inspired to create!!!! 

 

Cheers

Trish xxx

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Serious addiction update

Hi, My names Trish & I am still a blog addict.....BUT.... I have been working on beating toning down my addiction.

I did a post last week entailing a 5 step plan to help manage my days as a blogger, so I would have a more functional life.

 If you missed it you can read it here

Well I have made definite improvements.

I did make To Do lists & checked them off, some days I was unable to complete them due to a change of plans.

Dan Marty Designs

Time management is the key!!!

Another skill I must get back in touch with, LOL!!!

I have only exercised 3 times, so I wasn't to pleased about that. I am looking into a gym membership, so someone else can get me moving.

I have ensured all of the daily tasks are complete before turning on my laptop, although this

morning I have broken this rule. My husband had an early start to his work day(4.30am) & in true man style he was as quiet as a baby elephant, therefore, I had an early start. I was unable to get back to sleep. I was however lucky to capture a couple of snaps of the beautiful sky as the sun was rising.

I have taken these with my little pocket camera, I'm no fab photographer but I still think they capture the beauty.

The colours are amazing.

After several days of rain I think we are going to get a fabulous day, Thank You Mother Nature!!!

Oh that's right, time management, I better get back on track, back to that 5 step plan...

I have managed to produce MUCH nicer meals, this week, as well as bake a few yummy treats....Go me!!!

I did visit my parents & a girlfriend & we are off to a BBQ on Saturday.Yay...I am social in the real world again.

So in conclusion, I AM improving, BUT, still need  to do more work!!!

How about you, did you get your blogging addiction under control, or at least partially?

Did you come up with a plan that works for you, or where you able to follow mine??

Have a wonderful weekend everyone

Cheer's

Trish xxx

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Perfectly Imperfect Give Away

I love pillows & the cosiness they create in a room. Like art ,it is nice if you can give something some personal meaning & that is exactly what these beautiful pillows offer.

Made by a clever lady named Lisa at Shop 24 

You can have them personalised with your family names on them

You can have the opportunity to win one of these gorgeous pillows if you drop on over for a visit with Shaunna at her wonderful blog  Perfectly Imperfect

Shaunna is a very clever & creative lady & I enjoy visiting her blog, I hope you do to.

Good Luck with her giv away( not to much luck tho, I really wanna win this one ) I would love to see a 4 on my pillow, with my 4 kids names on it!!!!

All imagesPerfectly Imperfect

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