Portrait of Milkweed

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving,

with lots to be thankful for!

Indian Summer

They call it Indian Summer, I call it perfection.

Whatever you call it, in the Midwest it amounts to warm days, 

vibrant color on every tree and bush,

and often - the end of autumn.

As the old saying goes, "if I could bottle this, I'd be rich".

Yep, everyone loves Indian Summer and wishes it would go on for months!

These images were all made recently...

my version of trying to "bottle" a bit of our Indian Summer

to hold and savor.

Happy creating to you.

Bejeweled Morning

When we go camping, rain and drizzle are not high on my wish list.

But, I have to tell you I may have to change my perspective on this, 

as my husband and I crawled out of our tent to a spectacular sight.

  

Every possible surface was covered with drops -

resting, hanging, sparkling drops.

It was a bejeweled sight,

quite fantastic in a glittery, wonderland-type of way!

Hope your world is looking just as amazing :)

Happy creating to you.

Camping Views

A camping trip, evening light, and river country came together in these images.

I've been enjoying family fun, summer visitors, greenness, and warm weather -

hope you have too!

Happy creating to you.

Unexpected!

Sometimes we find beauty in the most unexpected places...

beside the garage, within the rocks -

a fresh dusting of snow upon autumn remnants. 

Happy creating to you!

Through the Lensbaby Blog Circle: January

Shall I tell you that the temperature was frigid,

the wind pelted stinging snow crystals unrelentingly at a rakish angle,

plus my parka and a ton of winter clothes made me look fat?

No, forget I mentioned any of that.....

instead just imagine a winter day upon a hill filled with snowy wonder

and a touch of Lensbaby magic,

please do!

Happy creating to you.

Now head over to my friend, Caroline,
 for some wonderful inspiration!

Firelight & Dandelions

There's something magical about firelight.

Picture a huge, crackling bonfire (a.k.a. burning slash pile)

against the waning light of day -

vivid color, dancing shapes, and drama.

Against this backdrop juxtapose a wispy, delicate dandelion -

pale, fragile, and ethereal.

Sounds like a study in contrasts,

don't you think?

A couple dreamy versions...

Hoping your life is filled with a little firelight 

and magical contrasts!

Comments are off.

Autumn

Autumn is in the air.

  Cool night temps create swirling morning mist on the lake.

The red maple trees are turning a fuchsia hue,

while the birch, aspen, and butternut are showing touches of gold.

Harvesting the last garden strawberries.

Yes, autumn is here...

wishing I knew a magical spell to extend this spectacular season!

Hope you're enjoying the season,

wherever you are.

Comments are off.

Small Miracles 2

Round two of spectacular dewdrops on the strawberry plants in our garden.

Summer is almost over...

it always goes so fast!

Relish the last days.

Comments are off.

Thunderheads

Enjoying spectacular summer thunderheads

from our dock.

Hope the long, warm days of the season are treating you well!

I just got back from a vacation to visit with a dear friend and my daughter.

Looking forward to editing the images of the city that I returned with.

Take care and happy creating!

Comments are off.

30 Spring Photo Prompts

I wish I could say our woods are touched with hints of green,

 bursting buds, and spring flowers...

but, truth be told,

 my world looks very white, while the dream of spring lies buried 

under mini-mountains of snow and cold. 

Hopefully, spring is no stranger at your house and you will enjoy my 

30 Spring Photo Prompts!

As for me, I guess I'll just have to continue

 dreaming of spring...

VanDemark Designs

For some time, I've wanted to redesign my website so that it reflected

 all the different mediums that I enjoy working with.

Well, that has finally happened, thanks to lots of work on my husband's part!

Now, at VanDemark Designs you'll find beadwork, textiles, and photography.

We still have some things to tweak and a couple images to replace...

but, please take a moment to check out the new, improved

VanDemark Designs.

If you have an old link to my website homepage, replace it with this -

www.vandemarkdesigns.com/home.html
(blog remains - http://vandemarkdesigns.blogspot.com)

Wishing you a wonderful, creative week!

Winter Dreamscapes

Reality = 20 below zero most mornings.

Sound appealing?

How about a dreamy winter wonderland instead?

That's my vote!

I hope you've got some marvelous plans and dreams for 2014,

and they all come true!

Enjoy this creative life -

it's the best!

Sightseeing

It's a mountaintop forest?  Maybe.

It's a miniature forest?  You're closer.

It's a miniature frost forest?  You're much closer.

It's a miniature frost forest on top of a Subaru?  You've got it!

I kinda love my macro lens

because it opens up a whole tiny, tiny visual world 

for me to explore.

Feeling a bit like Gulliver, today.

Hope your world is filled with wonders,

both big and small!

November Dawn

It was early, and crisp.

Mist was swirling across the lake as golden 

light cut through the haze.

A magical bit of lighting,

there one moment and gone the next.

Wishing you great light,

if only for a moment!