Fishin'...FITS For You...FIT Flicker and Having A FIT Over Your FIT Art! Page...

Sweet James

I took the boys fishing today. I taught them how to cast their rods and bait their hooks. We caught lots of algae and found lots of fossils and a pull tab from the 70's. I had to explain to the boys what it was used for in the olden days;) We had a wonderful time and it felt so good to be outside in the sunshine. I have decided to just do the things I have been avoiding because of my weight. Just do them and realize that the joy and fun and love on my son's faces far outweighs me.

Sweet David

(notice the feet STANDING in the water!!)

I finally opened a Free Image Tuesday Flickr group a few weeks ago to give it a trail run. We have truly lovely members and they have made beautiful FIT art. So if you have a Flickr account please come join us at Free Image Tuesday Creations and share your wonderful art work.

For those of you who do not have a Flickr account I have created a special page just for you and the link can be found at the top of my blog. It's called Having A FIT Over Your FIT Art! If anyone can think of a better title then PLEASE let me know. LOL!!!!!! If you would like to share your FIT art then leave a link in the comment section on the main blog and I will add your art and link to the page. Go over and check out the fabulous art pieces already listed. If I have missed you, then please knock me over the head and remind me again!!

1. Sweet Margaret! I love the soft dreamy quality of this photo and of course the fact that she has a name:)

I wonder what ghosts haunt this fabulous building? It would be perfect for Halloween art.


Cheeky Monkey!!!!!! Have you ever seen such a devilish grin? It is rare to find such expression in an 1800s CDV image. It makes me wonder if the photographer took the "serious" photos and then got some sweet smiles (or cheeky ones) for the parents to cherish.

Quotes for Today:

"To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing."

~Author Unknown

"If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything."

~Win Borden

http://vintagesusieandwings.blogspot.com/2009/10/tgif-whites.html

http://vintagesusieandwings.blogspot.com/2009/10/playing-with-layers.html

Amazed....

Photograph by Jamie Miller

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."   ~Anais Nin 



I don't know how to say thank you in any way that comes close to the gratitude I feel towards each and every one of you.  Your kind words and shared experiences are amazingly wonderful and brave and fearless and poignant and heart wrenching and heart healing.

I printed out each comment.  I read each one over and over.  On Tuesday, I sat in Debbie's office and read them out loud.  And we marveled at your kindness and generosity and bravery.  Your gentle outpourings of truth and love.  So thank you my friends.  Thank you for sharing a part of you with me and all who come here.  Your willingness to open your hearts and my willingness to open my heart feels so right.  I feel so proud of all of us. 

Photograph by Jamie Miller

Depression holds different demons for each person.  Talking about our fears and experiences is so very freeing.  I spend an hour every week with Debbie.  And together we have moved emotional mountains over the past 5 years.  One thing I have always said to her is that I was afraid people would not take my art seriously or me as a blogger seriously if they saw the real me.  That I felt like an imposter.  I never lied about myself, but I knew I was hiding my weight issues from you.  For fear of being judged.  But really, it was I who was judging.  Judging myself and judging you.  Not trusting you enough to be able to see through to the real me.

This 40 year old Jamie still sees herself cowering in her school desk, hearing the daily fat jokes and taunts from classmates.  She still can feel the burning shame when they stuck gum in her hair on the school bus.  But I think now that this Jamie would have something to say for herself.

And I certainly would tell them where they could stick their gum.

Luke?...Is That You?...

I think I have found Luke Wilson's Great-Great Grandmother.  I love finding old photos that resemble well known actors.  This one is strange because it is a lady and she looks just like Luke Wilson!  I have put together some photos to show you the resemblance. 

Dude, that is totally Luke Wilson.  Even my husband thinks so!

It is an uncanny resemblance.  I hope they really are related.  Although, I will never know for sure. 

I have been remiss about answering comments lately.  Mom.  Don't read anymore unless you want to hear the truth:)  I have been having really horrible depression.  Some of it is controlled by medication. Some of it is controlled by therapy. (Thank you Debbie)  Some of it is untouchable.  Some of it is hide under the covers and never want to come out depression.  Some of it is why do I bother depression.  Some of it is I am a fat slob depression. Some of it is if you knew who I REALLY was you would NEVER come to my blog again depression.  My lazy, fat, never successful persona

.  My want to hide under the covers persona.  So in order to move forward I have to admit to all sides of me.  This is the real me.  I am an overweight, 40 year old house wife.  I am a wonderful mother.  A wonderful wife.  I am not a wonderful friend to myself.  I am my own worse critic.  I am a constant stream of negative feedback.  I am who I am.  This is me.  I am working to change things.  I am wanting to change things.  This is who I am now.  This is me.  Love, Jamie

Free Image Tuesday Beauties For You!...

Sisters Forever.  A beautiful cabinet card from Wauseon, Ohio.  I put a background page behind the photo so you could see the wonderful scalloped edges of the card.  Their necklaces and outfits match and I am not quite certain they are sisters, but I like to think so:)

Little Miss CDV photograph.  Her beautiful dress forms a cape in the back and has such wonderful ruffles and detailing.  She seems shy and tiny in front of her big studio backdrop.

Little Man CDV.  This CDV (cartes de visite) 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.

Cutest FIT EVER!!!!!!...Wait...Have I Already Said That?...The NEW Cutest FIT Ever!!!!...

Ok, Guys.  I could not WAIT to get this from the mail to share it with you  all!!!!  Whether it is intentional or not, she is making the American Sign Language sign for rabbit/bunny.  Is that not the sweetest thing EVER?!!!  And how perfect for Easter.  I LOVE HER.  She just melts my heart.  It could also be interpreted as a peace sign which is just as wonderful.  She is definitely high on the favorites list in my photo collection.  Just look!!!!!!

And yes, I KNOW I said no more Winter cuties, but come on.  Is she not gorgeous?  Her little Dalmatian spotted collar and sleeves are so sweet!! And those pouty lips!!  I couldn't help myself:)

I am in the process of setting up a Flickr Group for all the wonderful art created with the FIT images.  If you don't have a Flickr account don't fret.  I have been saving the links to your blogs and artwork so I will be asking you if I can post them to the group.  A link to your blog page will be listed in the description section. Thank you so much for creating such wonderful art with these images.  It makes my heart sing:)  Love, Jamie 

It's been a long time since I had my Quote for the Day.  So, here is my new favorite.

"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you respond to it."
~Anonymous



****The small print: FIT images are free for you to use in your mixed media collage and digital artwork. I would love to see what you create:) They are not to be used in collage image sheets for sale or image CDs for sale. That's wrong! LOL!!


All materials shared in this set are from my own personal image collection.

Ready For Spring, Now?...Yes, Please...

Well.  I certainly hope that is the last of the snow! It is totally gone now except for the giant snowball in the backyard. The boys were SO excited to get to play in snow again.

I. Was. Not.

Do you know how much more laundry snow creates when you have no regular snow outfits??? Or snow boots???  As you can see by this photo I wrapped the boys' socks in plactic grocery bags and then put on their shoes to keep their feet dry.

Mother of the Year, Folks! LOL!!

It's all just an endless cycle of play outside, get soaking wet, come inside for hot chocolate while Mom dries your shoes/gloves/coats in the dryer, put on new clothes, rinse and repeat. So. Please stay away snow. We are done with you. I don't know how you Gals who live with lots of snow do it!! My hats off to you:)

Digital collage by Jamie Miller

New digital piece starring Mr. Creepy/Beautiful. You can find him in the FITS too:) Love, Jamie

It's Here!!! It's Here!!! Spring Is Here!!!!

Come look!!  My pear tree is in full bloom.  I have some sort of pink stuff blooming in the front beds.  The birds are singing!  Let's Go!!  Come see!!!!!!!

Seriously?!?  I'm going back to bed.

Lovely FITs For You...Spring Has Sprung!...

I am finally feeling more like myself and I *think* Spring may be here.  Glorious Spring!!!!  I have been taking photos with my new Nikon D90 and I LOVE it!  It was a Christmas present from my Sweetie:)  I have set up bird feeders around the back yard so I am hoping for more birdies.  In the mean time I have found a lovely secluded place here in town that is a haven for winged things.  I have spent a few afternoons out there clicking away while the boys run around and play.   Here are a few of my recent photos:

I have lots to learn about my camera, but that's part of the fun too.

Here are the FITS for this week.  I hope you enjoy them and use them in your art pieces:)  Love, Jamie

Don't you love her boots? She is really beautiful and the roses on her dress are wonderful. I wonder if this was her confirmation photo?

This cutie has triple the cuteness!!  I love those frilly sleeves and how his sweet feet stick out straight in the first and third photos:)

As a Mom this one makes me break out in a cold sweat.  I could not see putting my little ones on the edge of a small table like that!!!!  But, she is adorable in her crocheted outfit and the little hood is fabulous.  I am going to use her in a digital piece and when I cut her out of the background i will post the .png:) 

I hope you have wonderful week.  Love, Jamie

Free Image Tuesday..On Wednesday...Can't Let You Get Too Spoiled!...LOL!!

What can I say?  Thank you each and every one of you.  Your words helped so much.  I am writing you each individually but I must also say it here: Thank you. Love, Jamie

Lovely Civil War era Girl.  Her dress is amazing and I am really loving the studio prop tassels on the table.   I bet she was firecracker:)

Small mounted photo from the early 1900's.  I thought I would get a winter Cutie Pie in the FITS before Spring comes:)

This is a cabinet card from the late 1800's.  It says, "Uncle Charlie" on the back.  This is one of the few cabinet cards I have of this size.  It is 8.5 inches by 4 inches.  I love how Charlie's little right hand is holding his gown.  Precious!

Cabinet card photos that are framed in a fancy mask like this one are usually Memorial cards.  The little girl's name is written on the back as Edith Fairfield.  She was beautiful.

Close-up detail of frame. 

Free Image Tuesday... On. A. Tuesday... Miracles Never Cease...

I could tell you about all the wonderful art I am creating. I could tell you about it, but it is just not happening for me lately. I feel very scattered and displaced. Depression has been lurking and holding me. I am working to pull myself up by my bootstraps. All my arting things are still in boxes waiting for the studio to be done. Until then, I am sharing my studio "office" space with my husband and not too many pretty things are happening there. Bills aren't pretty or exciting or inspiring so, it's just FITS right now. I have loved all of your comments and sweet emails and even phone calls:) I can Yak and Yak. Yes, Lori? LOL!! It never fails to amaze me how incredible this Blog World has become in my life. People who don't blog do not understand the connections we make here. The Friendships we create here. It seems strange to the outsider. It feels like Home to me. It feels like Family. Love, Jamie

She seems so grown-up. Her hands are tightly closed so I wonder if she was stressed or nervous about the photo shoot. Lovely dress and stockings:)

I love how his sleeves are too long and that he is standing on a bench. His cheeks have been lightly tinted. So sweet!!! I think there is a hidden mother behind the curtain who is holding his head still for the photograph. What do you think?

Look at those sweet curls!! She is just precious!!!

Civil War era gemtype tintype in a decorative frame. These were created to allow gemtypes to fit in the newer CDV albums.

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

     ~Anais Nin

Looking through my Valentine flower photos today I found a perfect heart within this rose. I am glad I took a second look.

Nature

This is my Three Muse piece for the nature challenge. Thank you Ladies!! The rose is from my Valentine:) Love, Jamie

Did He Ever Get My Paper? No...

Oh well.  I will have to wait until the Spring:)

Our little patch of Texas got over 10 inches of snow yesterday.  We even beat our record for most snow fall in 24 hours.  It is amazingly beautiful and a real treat for the boys.  Here are some pics I took today:

First picture of the day.

Welcome to Texas!

The cardinal couple are NOT happy with the state of their birdfeeder!

Beautiful trees

More beautiful trees

Even more beautiful trees.

A Texas sized snowball!  I never knew snow could get so heavy!

Thank you for all your sweet comments:)  Remember to go one post down and grab the FITS for this week.  They are exceptionally sweet:)  And remember you can find all the FITS in one place by clicking on the FIT banner to the right!  Love, Jamie