Free Image Tuesday...And Here's to a Very Happy New Year!...

Did you have a lovely Christmas?  I hope so.  We did and we are still eating Christmas ham!  LOL!  I am about ready for something different.  Happy 2012!!!!  I was ready for the old year to be gone and a new fresh one to arrive.  One full of promise and new adventures.  I am taking a mixed media online workshop with  Traci Bautista.  I miss getting my hands dirty and playing with my art supplies:)  Here is a sweet winter image for you to use in your artwork.  I would love for you to share what you have created with us.  Love, Jamie

Three Muses Entry-Angels

"And He Will Grow Into Them."

Digital collage by Jamie Miller

Thank you to everyone at Three Muses and to the wonderful artists that participate each week!!  You are an inspiration to us all!  Love, Jamie

Free Image Tuesday...What Are You Looking At?...

He is so very mad!!!  If Mama had curled my hair like that I would have been mad too:)

 "What Are You Looking At?"

Carte De Vista photograph from the late 1800's

Sometimes you come across antique photos that make it hard to tell the gender of the subject.  This photo is one of them.  But there are several clues to help sex an unlabeled photo.  

During the 1800s boys typically wore dresses until 5 or so. I am sure in the younger years potty training was a big part of it. It is harder to sex a photo of an infant because both boys and girls usually wore elaborate christening gowns. And they have very little hair:)

The clues in this photo that identify a male gender are many. The fact that his hair, although elaborately curled, is parted on the side is a telltale sign. Girl's hair of this era was almost (almost) always parted in the middle. The knickers under the dress are straight with no lace or frills (not always the case). The boots and wide leather belt are typical for a male gender. Also the bold and big plaid cloth of his clothing was popular for boys during this time. Sometimes it's very hard to determine a gender, but the hair rule is almost (almost) always correct. 


Here are other Free Image Tuesday images of boys in dresses!!    They are yours to use in your art:)

I love how the baby is so alert and staring straight at the camera. This also has a nice example of a "hidden mother". She is under that blanket to the left of the baby and her arm is outstretched holding on to the back of the baby. In earlier photos that I have (mainly tintypes) the baby will be sitting on the mother's lap and the mom is completely covered from head to toe in a blanket. It can look a little creepy. It is definitely a person shaped lump under there:)

He is my favorite. His dress and face are filthy, but he is happy and playing. I just want to scoop him up in my arms and hug on him a little while.

You Can Put Him in a Dress, But He Doesn't Have to Like it!

Little Man

Little Man CDV.  This CDV (carte de vista) sized photo is a very early one.  Based on the hair style and clothing of our fella I would date this photo to the early 1860s.    A lovely studio chair adds to the beauty of this one.

Sweet little boy with a wonderful head of hair:)

I believe these two to be brother and sister fraternal twins.  With the boy on the left and the girl on the right.



These are two digital collages I created with my personal images.  I am creating a tutorial to show you how:)  Love, Jamie

And She Kept Her Promise For All of Those Years

"And She Kept Her Promise For All of Those Years"

Digital Artwork by Jamie Miller

Happy Christmas Sweet Friends!!!

I know it has been a while.  My last post was August 12th and I had every intention of being back sooner.  My husband was in an ATV accident in Utah on August 19th.  It crushed the tibial plateau and broke both the lower leg bones of his left leg. After having surgery to place an external fixator to hold the break in place he was able to fly back to Texas. ( Don't ask.  Nightmare.)  He had an 8 hour surgery here to bolt everything back where it should be.  He developed a pulmonary embolism from a blood clot in the broken leg.  Oh, and staph.  Wonderful staph.  We never knew.  You think a broken leg and how terrible but you don't think how it changes every single aspect of your life.  He was totally non-weight bearing until Thanksgiving. We have spent our days at doctors and pharmacies and bathing and getting dressed and in pain.  The pain is ever constant and we believe will always be there in some form.  

But, out of this I have grown and changed.  I have found my voice and use it while navigating the wilds of the medical/insurance system.  I have found my voice and use it with my husband and my children.  I have been holding back and supressing my words, my feelings and wants and needs for far to long.  Martyr.  Stuffing those words and feelings down a deep, deep well capped tight with hamburgers and ice cream.  And the only one it hurt was myself.  So many of you have shared your struggles and have been so very wonderful and supportive.  Thank you!!!!! Thank you for being brave and speaking up.  We are all special and good and human.  We are all miraculously flawed and fragile and strong and perfect all at the same time.

PS- After Thanksgiving, my husband started back to work and walking with crutches and bearing weight as tolerated and has already ordered what I refer to as his "Pimp" cane to use when he is ready;) I tried to get him to order one with a naked lady for the handle (yes, they exist!) but he settled for a more dignified model.

Peeking In...Saying Love You!!...

I have so many FITs to catch up on!!!!!   Believe me, you will get each and every one:)  

I am half in my new studio.  Kind of in limbo, with some of my husband's things still here.  So waiting.  Patiently.  No, not really.  Tapping my foot and pouting is probably more like it:)  

Working on some new pieces and getting organized.   

Working on feelings and expressing them with words and art.  Not food.  Hard, but successful 50% of the time.  I am working toward getting that number up more towards 80% or so.  Let's face it, some hurts just NEED the sugar.  Girl has to have a donut every now and then;)  

Two new pieces below and FITs to follow on Tuesday or sooner if I can get my act together.

"Fear"

Digital Collage by Jamie Miller

"Proof of Fairies, No. 290"

Digital Collage by Jamie Miller

PS-  Some people have written me and asked who Jamie Miller is and where can they find her.  It's me silly.  Lol!  Love, Jamie


"I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

~Frank Herbert, Dune - Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear


(one of my favorite writers:)
 

You Can Ring My Bell FIT....

Look at this Cutie!!!!  She's clutching her bell with her sweet pudgy hands:)  You know she was ringing it as hard as she could.  I love her.  This is a large cabinet card from the early 1900's.  Please use it in your art:)  Love,Jamie

Here are some photos I took last week at the park:)

"Squirrel!!!"

"Hibiscus"

"AtLast?"

Three Muses Challenge...The Written Word...

This is my take on this week's challenge.  When I created this image I typed out all my negative thoughts and then cut them into word spaghetti.  Then I served them up on a silver plate with a silver spoon. Bon Appetite! 

I have been working hard to control my negative self talk.  Sometimes the negative talk seems to be on automatic playback that runs constantly in the background of my thoughts.  Sometimes I am able to stop and listen and turn the words into positive words.  Sometimes I eat and stuff those words down to make them quiet for a while.  Sometimes I am amazed at how hatefully I treat myself.  I would never say these words to a friend or stranger.  It is a hard habit to break.  It is a work in progress.  I am a work in progress.  Love you all, Jamie

Family of Four FIT...

Thank you, Thank you All, for the wonderful welcome back to Blogland!!  I am having "issues" with posting comments.   Some go through and some do not, but I am working on it:)


Here are quick FITs for this beautiful Tuesday.  These are four tintypes of a very lovely family.  I love how the frames tie them all in together.  The Sister seems very regal.  I love her.  Now,  away with you!!!   Go make Art!!!  Love, Jamie

I Missed You So....

FIT  "Twins"

I missed you so.  I am so glad to be back.

I owe you all such gratitude and love for supporting me when I was unable to support myself.

I am forever grateful.  So many wonderful words of encouragement and love.

It is all very bleak when you are suffering through a depressive stage.  So many of you shared your wisdom and compassion and your own journeys.  I carried those words with me.

First, not feeling I deserved them.

Then when I was ready, drawing comfort from them and knowing I was not alone.

And now feeling such amazement at this wonderful, supportive and loving community of artists and friends.  We have created a haven here in blog land.  A safe harbor where we are allowed and encouraged to speak from our hearts.  Thank you so very much.  Thank you for listening and supporting and loving.  Love, Jamie

FIT  "Brother and Sister"

"Whenever someone sorrows, I do not say, "forget it," or "it will pass," or "it could be worse" -- all of which deny the integrity of the painful experience. But I say, to the contrary, "It is worse than you may allow yourself to think. Delve into the depth. Stay with the feeling. Think of it as a precious source of knowledge and guidance. Then and only then will you be ready to face it and be transformed in the process." 


~Peter Koestenbaum

Here are some Beautiful Photos For You:)...

Dear Sweet Friends,  Oh.  How I have missed you.   Please use these images in your art.  Give them new purpose.  Give them a voice.  Love, Jamie

"Sara"  Free Image Tuesday from Art-e-ology

  "One Perfect Bloom"  Free Image Tuesday From Art-e-ology

"Spring Girl"  Free Image Tuesday from Art-e-ology

Would You Catch Me If I Fell From Grace?...

"Would You Catch Me If I Fell From Grace?"  Digital Collage by Jamie Miller