FLAT LAY

First I had to find out what a FLAT LAY is! I immediately realized I don't have any cool makeup or clothing fashion items that would make an interesting flat lay. I finally settled on trying an arrangement of juice ingredients. I have a long way to go but not toooo bad for a first attempt...

















....so here are a few images I found that I like and a few tips for creating a nice FLAT LAY;
*Use a white or wood background.
*Take photo during the day, near natural light.
*Test to see if texture/size looks good from bird's eye view
*Leave space between objects.
*Pick a theme and stick to it.

HOME

I love coming HOME after dark to my favorite lamp lighting the entry.

TELEPHONE

To me, a phone is a cell phone, and a TELEPHONE is a clunky landline. When I arrive or leave a client's home, I clock in/out on their landline TELEPHONE.

SMILE

This beautiful family of children brought a SMILE to my face as I leafed through a catalog. They each have varying degrees of SMILES of their own. The whole catalog was done in the muted neutral tones you see here.

NUMBERS

These NUMBERS identify the 12 Cell Salts that were my medicine for coughs and colds last week and in the years of raising children. Even some of my grandchildren know that when your nose is dripping like a faucet you need NUMBER 9, Nat. Mur.

Numbers handy beside my reading chair

WINDOW

Yesterday's pall of smog thru the WINDOW of my car turned into 

today's renewed covering of white thru the WINDOW of my room.

Even the fence is happy about it!

Fence, Smiling its Approval of New Snow

And Now, from my WINDOW, my neighbor family building Snow People!

PLAY

The hilarious PLAY, Beau Jest, at Hale Theater, was a fun way to
start out the New Year with a lighter heart. It wasn't just silliness;
the characters became real, and left the audience with a message to
be yourself, not the person you think someone wants you to be!

NIGHT

As NIGHT approached the moon rose over the mountain. I love my view to the East!

MORNING

What a way to start my MORNING!

PATTERNS

I'm leaving this Christmas decoration, with its PATTERNS spelling JOY, in view for a while to remind me of my decision to be less somber, more cheerful.

IN THE HAND

When I got used to the Old English style of writing In Robert Louis Stevenson's The Black Arrow, I quite enjoyed the swashbuckling tale of knights and ladies and narrowly escaped danger. This passage reminded me of my prompt for the day:

 "Would ye have me shoot upon a leper?" he cried. 

"THE HAND would fail me. Nay, now," he added-- "Nay, now, let be!"

The book is wonderfully illustrated with N.C.Wyeth's paintings, the first showing Richard with a torch IN THE  one HAND, and a crossbow in the other. The second illustrates members of the order of the Black Arrow with bows IN THE HAND, at the ready to assist Sir Richard in his attempt to rescue the lady Joan.

"We must be in the dungeons"

WHITE

From the odd assortment of bowls in my cupboard, I often choose this small WHITE fine porcelain one. I thought it set off the curried carrot soup nicely.

CHAIR

I wanted it to be not just any chair, so I went looking for a thrift store find with character. What I found was this bright red chair in great condition, with good clean upstanding character. To top it off it was only $20. Wish I could say I had the perfect spot for it and bought it.... I hope the right person finds it and gives it a good home.

FACELESS

Before last night's play at Hale Center Theater I saw these costumes from earlier productions, empty (or at least FACELESS) suits for one entertaining character or another!

MAIL

Phone Conversation with Kay this morning:
Kay: I drew you a 'titure'.
Me: Oooh Thank you!
Kay: You want me to read it to you?
Me: Yes! Please do!
Kay: (Clears throat) Dear Shay-al,
         ('Reading' word by word) I. love. you.
         I. love. Shay-al.
         You are a good friend.
         I. love. You.
Me: Oh thank you Kay! I love your letters to me!

This was as close as I got to any MAIL today. These are 'titures' that she's written to me in the past:

                                                     

CLOSEUP

Here are some CLOSEUP views to consider: (Or was the prompt GREEN???)

THREE OF A KIND

At 50 cents each, I couldn't pass up these THREE OF A KIND Bordallo Pinheiro 

pink bunny plates. In perfect condition, which these are, they sell for $10 each! 

Even my untrained eye spotted their fine detail and research proved me right. 

Other pieces in several wonderful colors & patterns follow the bunny/garden theme.

SOMETHING I WORE

I wore these favorite thrift store pajamas and new toasty slippers 

until I absolutely had to get dressed to leave the house this morning.

OUTDOORS

This painted stone kitty stays OUTDOORS on Velda's porch year round, 

not caring what the weather or the view is. 

But I care! I love blue sky days. Finally the mountains are visible!