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TT: La Dolce Vita

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We all have favourite film’s, and with our own personal  magnetism we reach out and grab something, a  memory of that film and lock it away until a significant word, a song or a scene triggers the memory again.

Reading an article on Rome, memories of my travels came to mind. The many wonderful Roman buildings and statues. The cobbled alley ways and angel faced facades and columns. My photo challenge with Kim Klassen this week was to depict within our photo’s a title of a film.

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La Dolce Vita, in Italian meaning ‘The Good Life’, ‘The Sweet Life’. The film made in 1960, is a world famous film by Federico Fellini, and one of it’s famous scenes filmed at the Trevi Fountain in Rome is where Sylvia (played by Swedish-American actress Anita Ekberg) and Marcello Mastroianni wade under the cascading water of the famous fountain. It’s one of those classic black and whites where you fall under the spell of romanticism, wander along the cobbled streets of Rome with them and fall for a touch of magic.

I have to admit this famous scene from the movie, gives the impression that there’s room in all directions, but the fountain itself is huddled between buildings and narrow alleyways. However, a magical spot to throw a gold coin and make a wish!

You can see the famous scene here

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I’ve been making magic myself by using some of these wonderful textures from Kim Klassens Collection.You can link up to Texture Tuesdays here and stop in at her cafè for a look around at the other inspirational photographers.

Image Recipes:

Photo 1: original photo + kkautumnart texture + highlights 40% + text font: Parchment 60 + Agency 10 + 60% sharpness. ( Picasa 3)

Photo 2 & 3 : original photo + kkgrunged texture + highlights 30% + 50% sharpness/light + text font: Parchment 60 + Agency 10 (Picasa 3)

Wishing everyone a great week and embrace La Dolce Vita.

Yvette…x

Shy Talk!

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An interesting week for me… Some of you may think where is she now and what is she doing? If I knew myself I would tell you.

However, I’ve found time today to be part of Mandy’s adventure, from her star blog: The Complete Cookbook. Her weekend  adventure was for us to answer a few questions, so we could all get to know each other a little better. Today was the best I could do, so I hope you’ll not worry that it’s already mid week, but I wanted to be part of Mandy’s adventure.

1. What is your favourite non- alcoholic drink?

At this point in time, non-alcoholic in my life doesn’t exist!  but……Coffee,espresso..

2. What is your favourite alcoholic drink?

A cold glass of bubbling Prosecco or a lingering Vodka Sgroppino

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3. What is your favourite food?

Now, this one is a hard one!  …Pasta!

4. What’s your least favourite food?

Rockmelon, I can’t eat it, I refuse to even buy them I hold my nose  and don’t breathe until I’ve passed them in the supermarket.

5. What do you eat that others think is really weird?

When,Italians find it hard to believe us Australians eat Kangaroo! Australians think it weird we eat hare or rabbit or pigeon.

6. What is your favourite thing to cook/ bake?

Anything sweet that becomes my art on a plate.

7. If you could only choose one, what would it be sweet or savoury?

Surprisingly enough, it would be savoury, I love cooking the sweet things, but , I can’t go past eating the savoury!

8. What time do you usually eat your dinner during the week?

In Australia, the normal time there is between 18.00 – 19.00, but here in Europe the normal time is around 20.30 – 21.00.

9. What kitchen item/s have you never owned?

A pressure cooker and still don’t own one!

10. What tip would you give to a newby cooker/ baker?

Always taste your food… it has to be seasoned, and always lot’s of sauce!

11. What is the best vegetarian dish you have eaten?

I’m always overloading on vegetables…I have to say I always go back to a roasted vegetable warm salad or my favourite Roast pumpkin and chickpea salad

12. What is the easiest meal you can cook?

When I’m in a rush, the easiest meal for me is a mushroom or fresh herb frittata.

13. If you could only grow 3 herbs in your garden, what would you grow.

The 3 herbs I always grow…basil, parsley and sage.Oh, and remember Rosemary is a hard herb bush to kill!

14. What would you use as a substitute for salt?

Flavour is important, but it isn’t always an addition of salt that you need….spices, herbs, garlic and a good extra virgin olive oil, when cooking seafood, I start with a base of oil,garlic and anchovies…no added salt at any time!

15. What 5 items would you pack for a quick and easy picnic or day out?

Only five..Ok!….

  1. Wine  no wait Champagne
  2. Bread
  3. Cheese
  4. Strawberries
  5. Chocolate

You did say..a romantic picnic!

Have a wonderful week, hopefully I in a kitchen real soon!

Yvette…x

TT – Camellia Rose

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One of our Winter beauties is the Camellia. This one in bloom with variegated petals of red and white. Each petal forming a soft delicate flower its distinct unique design and beauty.

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I’m linking this photo up to Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen. Today’s theme is the Aurora eDition, which we had to use her new texture  ‘Aurora’. A delicate overlay with  light scripted cornices.

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Had a bit of fun with this over the top photo shoot, not real elegant, the things you do for a top styling shot! LOL! As a design point of view, don’t you just love the intricacy of these middle petals of the Camellia. Just stunning!

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And I just love these water reflections and shadows.

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A couple of extra overlaying here:

KKAurora + adjustments in Picnik, Vignette – 17% + Boost 11% + highlights + text

This gives me the impression of  watercolour paper, I’d love to gift wrap you a special gift using this paper! How about you?

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I couldn’t resist placing a little extra perfume pink, and it happens to be one of my favourites…

Thanks for joining me today, and I hope you’re having a wonderful day. Be sure to call in to Kim Klassens Cafe and discover and see the other talented contributors to texturetuesdaysbutton[1]

Have a wonderful week,

Yvette…x

Black Beauty

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If there’s one thing that I can’t resist its a rose, her beauty and her perfume. This week saw the last of the rose blooms in the garden, and the scent of black beauty just had to be brought inside to perfume the whole house for the last time before Spring blooms again.

Hope you have some special time on the weekend, some leisure time to walk around your garden, and maybe smell the roses.

Yvette…x

Chocolate custard cream horns

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Life in the kitchen has been missed. However, this week we had an opportunity to make something to satisfy our sweet tooth desires.

Chocolate custard and cream filled pastry horns. What a mouth full, I can assure you the title is long but the recipe is simple.

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I recommend this treat to anyone who doesn’t have much time to spare, if your planning a dinner time treat. Simplicity as it’s highest!

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Read on for the recipe.

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TT – Icy Pink

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Today is a chilly and cold day in this Southern Hemisphere climate. Not as cold as those Winter snowy Northern ones, but never the less it has been cold. A freezing whispering wind that makes your cheeks cold and red.

Today’s photo is one of those that makes me think of beauty and all it’s simplicity. A beautiful fragile image of a rose covered by icy snow. A survivor of harsh Winter chills. It would have to be one of my favourite photo’s and every time I look at it. I’m mesmerized by it’s beauty.

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I’m joining in Kim Klassens Texture Tuesday – The Pretty in Pink eDition joining herself and many other inspiring photographers who love images and textures.

A playful tapestry of colours, textures and subject matter, link up here and feel free to join in.

Image Recipe:

Original photo + kkgolden + kkpourvous + highlights + text

This new experimenting of textures in photography is something I’m really enjoying!

Love to all,

Yvette…x

TT: three eDition

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Today’s Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen is having fun with the number three. Diving through the archives of photo’s, I had played around with these white hobnail glass bowls, and decided on these ones.

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kkwarmsun texture + original photo

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kklifesgood texture + original photo

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Lots of projects in the making at the moment…a lot of inspirational work. Hopefully I can get back into the kitchen antics soon…missing you all friends.

Take a look at some inspirational photos over at Kim Klassens Cafe and feel free to take part in Texture Tuesdays here

All have a great week.

Yvette….x

Texture Tuesday – Shine

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I know on taking this original photo, it was a special moment, unscheduled, unannounced, just captured at the right time, with all natural light, just at low level sunset.

Today’s challenge: the Golden eDition, using the fabulous texture ‘golden’ from Kim Klassen, and then tweaking your photo with as much addition or subtraction you desire.

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My recipe for this photo:

Kim Klassens ‘golden’ texture + Kim Klassens ‘notooshabby’ texture + film grain 50% + saturated tint 40% + adjustments on light+ highlights + shadows.

I love the paper crisp texture of the foliage and  how they almost look transparent and the golden corn kernels.

If you’d like to see other inspirational photo’s link up to Kim Klassens Texture Tuesday

Have a great week, friends

Yvette…x

Texture Tuesday: White Orchid

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Hi Friends,

Another week has flown, another iron bird flown, another state and floods are on the rise! Another wet and windy forecast and a red alert in our parts.

But, always a joy reaching another Texture Tuesday and  exploring the wonderful world of photography.

This weeks project challenge with Kim Klassen was ‘Free & Easy eDition’, one that I   love where we’re free to create with any subject photo and use at least one of Kim’s fabulous textures.

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Using one of my favourite original photo’s of white orchids, lightened by natural light from my window, I used a couple of  Kims textures and enhancements.

Recipe for this week:

Kim Klassen’s Sweettart texture + Kim Klassen’s Lifesgood texture + enhancements glow + saturation. A few darkened shadows and light touch ups.

Please link up to Texture Tuesday with our host at Kim Klassen Cafe and check out all the  wonderfully talented people and their inspirational photo’s.

Another busy week for me, I hope to get back into routine soon. I hope you all have a wonderful week.

Take Care all,

Yvette…x

Texture Tuesday:Breathe

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Inspirational photo sharing today with Kim Klassen’s Texture Tuesday, our photo project for this week was to add words to one of our chosen photo’s, add some texture, and c r e a t e .

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“Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by it’s breathtaking moments” Michael Vance

I created this image by:

Base Photo + Texture: Just Cause KK + Texture: Sweetart KK + Texture: Pourvous KK + adjustments on film grain and soft focus. Added text and colour.

Lilies are another one of my favourites next to roses, a regal beauty with it’s silken petals and refined beauty.In full bloom  or even tightly closed buds I love these stunning and fragrant flowers.

Find more inspirational photo’s by visiting Kim Klassen’s Cafe

Have a great day

Yvette…x

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