I made Nude Shoe Reclining many years ago as part of an art quilt group challenge that was to be based on a famous painting. The catch was that the new version must include a shoe. Well, I duplicated a hand-dyed tennis shoe and replaced the bathtub with the nude lady. It's fun - and whimsical.

Challenge Photos from Week 33

Critique Group Challenge: Week 33, Cup & Saucer
Photo by Joen Wolfrom

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Joen says:

After discovering the theme, I decided to play creatively within the editing process using multiple cups and saucers within the image. I dozens of photos of a cup and saucer on our wooden kitchen table, but ended up only using a couple.

I worked to death 4 different versions of teacup images, playing with 5 – 9 layers and ended up getting myself caught in all sorts of visual editing problems. Basically, I changed the opacity of the different layers, did a bit of cloning, and used the spot-healing tool to eliminate some distractions. Then I explored the different blending modes to see what evolved with the different options. I believe I used linear light for this image. I tinkered around with shadows, highlights, etc. and then finally said, “enough” as I was driving myself batty. I needed to stop this teacup madness before I got any deeper in the editing weeds and hit the wall

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 33 - Found Alphabet

52-Week Challenge: 
Week 33, Found Alpabet
Photo by Thomas Bradley

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Thomas says:

My initials are TMB, T is part of a fence. M is part of Lazy Tong Riveter. B is boots, I did a lot editing with scaling and distorting the image in Photoshop.

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 33 - Snacks

Smart Phone Challenge:
Week 33, Snacks
Photo by Diane McCue

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 Diane says:

It’s cherry season here in New York. These taste as good as they look! A little help from Waterbrush app.

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 33, Snacks

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says:

In Nebraska for the lecture there was a snack table with very yummy cookies - which I did partake, and did take a photo. But I found the tea dispenser and cups more interesting. The trick was to start the flow and take the photo before my cup ran over. I barely succeeded. I like this main element flanked by less dominant companions. Edited in Prisma app with Tokyo

Critique Group Challenge:

Week 33, Cup & Saucer

Photo by Ricky Tims
from the 2021 Critique Group

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Ricky  says:

This is from my small collection of Dingle Pottery, from Dingle in Ireland. Hedi is a wonderful and fun potter and I never stop in Dingle without adding a bit to the collection. For this shot, I tried multiple options—including one which included a portion of my blue-shirted belly (you can thank me later). I chose this one, with the cup upside down on the saucer - near straight on. The slight offset off the center circle was more interesting to me than the bullseye version. The counter top was white - so I added a gradient layer - blended it with a blend mode - and then erased over the cup/saucer. I opted not to clone out the hot white center refelction partly because it draws the eye to the smallest ring, and partly becuse it was a bit like an "eye" with a refelection. No other fancy footwork - pretty straight forward this week.

Photos from Week 32

Critique Group Challenge: Week 32, TickledPink
Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky Tims says:

Sometimes I get annoyed at my own challenges. I think, "this will be fun" - and then, I realized that here on the mountain I have very limited options. But... that's what makes it a challenge. My first inclination was to NOT photograph a flower. But I don't have pink things in my house. Like - seriously...nowhere. Or, the little pink that existed did not make for an interesting subject. So.. out to the garden I went. I explored many options on how to presnet this, but in the end, went for two layers. The shot from above and a layer of gradient pink blended over it.

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 32 - Old Paint

52-Week Challenge: 
Week 32, Old Paint
Photo by Phillip Richardson

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Phillip says:

Found some paper recycling bins in a nearby village that had years of benign neglect evident. Took a wide angle shot up close. Liked the corrosion / rust eating away at the lettering and base paint of the bin. Applied normal LR edits in post

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 32 - Bumps

Smart Phone Challenge:
Week 52, Bumps
Photo by Cyndi Johnson

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 Cyndi says:

I recently received this trivet and thought it perfect for this weeks challenge! Hope all are staying safe in your part of the world!

Smart Phone Challenge:
Week 32, Bumps

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says:

I really struggeled with this one - not a lot bumpy things around here. But, voila! I saw a package with bubble wrap and decided to lay the wrap on top of a piece of hand-dyed multi-colored fabric. I liked it best at an angle. A slight blur was added in the BeCasso oil filter.

Critique Group Challenge:
Week 32, TickledPink

Photo by Jeff Sprinkel
from the 2021 Critique Group

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Jeff  says:

This is a painting in the great room over the fireplace. It actually is a blend of many colors. I thought about the challenge and wondered what it might look like with just the "pinks" highlighted. It was a fun challenge

I made Asternoon Delight a few years ago. The quilt began as a photo I took at Autumn Rock. The photograph was manipulated in photoshop using a montage technique to create the swirling background. The image was printed full size onto whole cloth (36" x 44") then heavily quilted to add texture and detail.
To provide an extra smile to your day, the alternate name for this quilt is Kiss My Aster.

In May of 2021 I was able to have my first quilt retreat since the Covid-10 pandemic began shutting everything down in March of 2020. Unbeknownst to me, the students organized a block challenge with the theme based on my Happy Houses that I have added atop the burned trees at my home on the mountain. The blocks were assembled into this fun and joyful quilt and presented toi me in July.