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Sunday, November 23, 2008

new winter header



Elements:

I had fun designing this on PhotoShop, finally learning new things, and I look forward to working on the next one for spring. The red and shadow frames, and many others, can be found at Picnik.

(I've added the previous header to this page as a footer.)

56 comments:

Gwen Buchanan said...

Beautiful composition, Ruth..

...personal and meaningful..

you have your Grandmother Olive's eye for composition and detail...

Lori said...

I love this! Beautiful and meaningful!

Loring Wirbel said...

I'm so conflicted. This is wonderful in its simplicity, but I miss the old one! You'll have to make a gallery of past headers. I'm such a lazy sod, I won't change mine until 2011 or so...

Ruth said...

Thank you, Gwen.

Ruth said...

I'm glad, Lori. Thank you!

Ruth said...

Loring, I'm with you. I miss the old one too. I have an irresistible need for change and designing something new. So I am in conflict as well. I created another winter one, a collage of winter photos, and I had a terrible time deciding between that and this. But I haven't been able to design one I like as well as the autumn one I just removed.

Donica said...

Very nice Ruth! Photoshop seems to agree with you :)

laura said...

I like the embeddedness of meaning here, Ruth; what one would expect from a poet. Also like the idea of seasonal headers!
I downloaded a free trial of a Photoshop version, but haven't spent any time getting to know it!

rauf said...

simply beautiful,it reflects your personality Ruth, serious, poetic artistic, only your sense of humour is missing.
27 + 18 = 56

Ruth said...

Thank you, Donica. :)

Ruth said...

Laura, thanks so much. I needed a book with specific lessons to start with. I went through lessons, then practiced on my own photos. Having just a few techniques to draw from makes learning more easier. Go for it while you have the free 30 day trial!

Ruth said...

Thank you, rauf.

I have been wracking my brain for the meaning of your math equation, but I come up with nothing. What does 27 + 18 = 56 mean?

rauf said...

hehehehe it will show your sense of humour. i think the girl is adding 27 + 18

Ruth said...

oweeeee!

hahahahaha

mees a bit dense. :D

Ruth said...

owee that's the year i was born. that what you meant?

Ruth said...

Wish I had intended that. It's a surprise. Grandma (or another illustrator, can't be certain as the many illustrators didn't sign their work in the encyclopedia volumes) maybe intended it though.

Ruth said...

I am so stupid I didn't even add up the numbers to see that they don't = 56. I think I'll shut up now. :|

Gone2theDawgs said...

Beautiful! I really need to learn Photoshop....

Sharon said...

Beautiful!

cathyswatercolors said...

I like the new header and I am very impressed. I am going to ask my sons to help me with my blog. I've added a blog list element and it ended up at the bottom of my blog. I can't click and drag it to move it as the site suggests. So I will need to ask my sons or maybe use my computer at work.
Ruth I went back and looked at the quilt post. What did you do with all of the fabric?

Anet said...

Very nice! I am amazed at your family; artist, musicians, poets, teachers, Civil War vets!

Susan said...

So meaningful! I love it! I'm with Loring, though, and miss your Autumn one. An album, please?

Ginnie Hart said...

G'ma Olive is popping her buttons right now, Ruth!! :)

Ruth said...

Wrensong, just go for two or three techniques, learned from online tutorials, or buy a book. Otherwise it's overwhelming.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Sharon! :)

Ruth said...

Cathy, I know. I think there is an "add page element" at both the bottom and at the side. But maybe it isn't showing up on your template.

At the moment all that fabric is still sitting in tubs. I pull it out for projects when needed. If we rearrange rooms I may put up shelves and put them out. But my wrists are so bad I'm not doing any crafts, except on PhotoShop.

Ruth said...

Well, Anet, I'm amazed at yours. You and your children are inspiring, and your son is a budding Civil War scholar.

Ruth said...

Susan and Loring, I added the old header, now it's a footer! :D

Ruth said...

You think, Boots?? :D

Man, I wish we could sit and talk with her.

Anonymous said...

Thanks ruth, the problem seems to be resolved. Hooray!

PeterParis said...

How creative and how clever you are!!! It's really nice!

(I'm off to Venice for almost two weeks. Will miss the visits to your blog!)

Sidney said...

Wow...you are good in Photoshop !
Nice new header! Congrats!

Ruth said...

Good, Cathy!

Ruth said...

Merci, Peter, and bon voyage! You always make the most of your trips, so I'm already anticipating some outstanding photos.

Ruth said...

Thanks, Sidney! Everyone needs to go see your gorgeous people this week.

Barry said...

Like almost everyone else here, I really like the new header. Attractive and meaningful.

But I'm glad you've kept the old one around.

Susan said...

But now I miss your "Clouds are my mountains"!

Amy said...

sweet banner and Ruth...I enjoyed reading about your mom and dad. Now I'm jealous of you...jealous of how brave you are, jealous of how honest you are........ I would like to be like this more on my blog...but I have not gotten brave enough just yet, there is so much to say,....maybe in time I will. xo

photowannabe said...

Awesome Ruth. It encourages me to try some photoshop some time.
Thanks for the explaination of the different elements.

Anonymous said...

So touching and stylish in same time. good for us your readers, that you have learned all those things of Photoshop :)
I think, you have been enjoying too, the result is wonderful.
Happy week to you, Ruth!

( I will go to see Melli next weekend! )

Ruth said...

Thanks, Barry. 10 years ago who'da thunk we'd be designing our own web pages??

Ruth said...

Oh dear, Susan, I had a hard time removing it too.

Ruth said...

Amy dear, our blogs reflect us. I would only be brave if I were afraid at the same time. But this is who I am, to be open, I don't think it's brave. But for someone who is afraid to do it, then it would be bravery. You have to do what feels right to you. You don't need to do anything you're uncomfortable with.

Sometimes I wish I held things to my chest more. We can learn from each other.

Ruth said...

You know, Leena, I just thought of Carl Larsson from your neck of the woods, first time I've thought of him for a while. I think my header was also influenced by his illustrations, especially of his children. I adore his home and illustrations.

And I think you and I have also talked of Eliel Saarinen who designed our private school Cranbrook here in Michigan. I do love that Northern, simple style. And Grandma Olive too was Swedish. Hmm, I hadn't thought about any of this till just now.

See how nice your visits are?

Anonymous said...

The new banner is fantastic !! very cozy with a retro feel. Good detail work : the shadows, the figure coming out of the frame, ... P.S. Thank you for the comparison with the scarf photo by Sam Abell, it's striking indeed.

Ruth said...

Oh thank you, Hildegarde. Your kind remarks about anything visual is a compliment indeed. I so admire your work. I'm glad you liked the Sam Abell comparison.

Babs (Beetle) said...

Oh that is really lovely! I keep thinking about a Christmas header for my blog, but that's all I do - think about it ;O)

Ruth said...

Babs, the thinking part is the best, planning and designing. That's my problem. I can't stop.

christina said...

This is so gorgeous!

I would love to learn these things, in photoshop. Can you recommend a book or something that would help me? I have an older version, though.

This is beautiful!

Ruth said...

Yay, Christina! I'm glad you like it.

I have the Classroom in a Book with CD that comes with it and has lessons you load onto your computer. Though mine's for CS2, I have seen it for 7.0, and I imagine it is there for all versions. I found the lessons helpful that I chose to do - just a few.

Bob Johnson said...

Very artistic and original Ruth, love the way you put things together, methodic, something which I can appreciate, and artistic, something I can't do but can appreciate.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Bob, you're very kind.

And I can't get up in the middle of the night and stand outside my car waiting for a picture of taurids and meteors! So I'm glad you do.

raining sheep said...

I love the new header...the little girl is so cute. the bit of red adds a little 'holiday' winter feel to it.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Raina, that's just what I was going for.

VioletSky said...

Miss the old, but love the new.

I wish when we redesign our blogs that it is only for the new posts and the old design stayed with the archives.

Ruth said...

Sanna, I left the old one as a footer on this page if you want to scroll down and see it for old time's sake. :)

I agree with you though, it would be nice to have a place to archive page layouts.