Monday, May 2, 2011

Cat Tails and Teacups

So it is now almost Tuesday which means time for Texture Tuesday and Sweet Shot Tuesday.

My sweet shot was fairly easy this week since I really love this picture but have no other place or reason to share it.
Sweet Shot Day

I found Texture Tuesday's challenge a lot more difficult.  I only learn more when things are challenging, so I don't mind.  One thing I learned is that I am not very good at posing inanimate objects.  I didn't even think to add flowers or anything.  I took over 300 pictures of tea cups, but not a single one made me fall in love.  It is a lot harder to use textures on photos you don't have a vision for.  However, I gave it a whirl, and I'm not unhappy with my results.  (The other hard part was deciding which tea cup to use, so there are 3 photos for today's Texture Tuesday.)

These teacups were given to me by my step-mother as a "mother/daughter" tea set when we told my parents we were planning to adopt.  This was 5 years ago.  Our adoption from China is still not completed and my step-mother has since passed away.  We display these on a shelf in my daughter's bedroom waiting for the day when she shares the room with a little sister.
1 layer of Life's Good --Saturation Mode 77% opacity and 1 layer of Dusty Rose --Softlight 51%

This teacup was given to me as a gift to remember my husband's grandmother.  I didn't know her long, but she has a special place in my heart.  We miss her.
1 layer Luminous --Soft Light 100% opacity and 1 layers of Warm Vignette --Overlay 68% opacity

This tea cup was my mother's which passed to me when she died when I was 15.  It had been her grandmother's on her mother's side and comes with 12 place settings of 7 piece China.  It was a common pattern for its time, but is now discontinued.  I love it.  When I turned 30 my sister-in-laws bought me a tea pot to coordinate.
I didn't write the blending modes down for this one, but a tea cup challenge wouldn't be complete without using a layer of coffee, tea or me.  There is also a layer of mad love (I think they are both softlight).  Then I used a coffeshop action called color tint and chose the vintage blue option--it is the exact color of the real cup.

I couldn't choose which cup because I couldn't leave out even one of these amazing women who have been in my life.  There are many more tea cups and coffee mugs to check out over at Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday.
kimklassencafe
Photobucket

29 comments:

Julie (Wellblessed) said...

Those are all great! You should fall in love with all of them. I especially love the stories that go with them. That makes them even neater.

(Did you like the cake?)

Nadege, said...

I like the glow on your cat's tails. Nice shot.
You have got some lovely tea cups.

Barbara said...

Oh!
Your cups are so cute!
And this is even a beautiful site!
Love it!
Barbara

Halie said...

Lovely heartwarming stories. These teacups are wonderful.

Julie@beingRUBY said...

I love these also.. especially the first teacup shot .. and sweet sentiments attached to them all ... I know what you mean about photographing teacups.. I took a million shots to get some I liked.. and sadly all my teacups are in storage...

Love your first shot too.. very unusual.. Thanks for popping over my way and have a great week.. ciao xxx Julie

Jenni said...

I love your connection with your photos and well-loved women in your life, So appropriate that is now heading towards Mother's Day.I like the first the most. Beautiful cups and a delicate texture.
Jenni

camelia danielescu said...

Hi Cedar ,

Thank you for your visit and your comments on my blog ! Your cup is also very nice . And your kids are wonderful ! :)

Dymphie said...

such lovely stories with your teacups. Wonderful photos and textures.

helena said...

wonderful stories associated with your cups and beautiful images

4 Lettre Words said...

The tea cup collection is beautiful, and I love that each one holds a special memory!

Kathryn Dyche said...

Beautiful images, good luck with the adoption process.

Unknown said...

I love your series of teacups! They are all beautiful and the stories are beautiful too!

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

I love that your cups all hold special memories for you. The colors in the second cup are just beautiful. The cat tails remind me of growing up. There were so many at the creek where I could play and catch tadpoles. :)

Leah C said...

Beautiful teacups...each one is special!

jenny said...

that cat tails pic makes me want to put down a blanket , grab and good book.... fall asleep while reading in that gorgeous field!

LivingFree said...

I love tea time! Such great shots of the cups and tea pot. Makes me want to grab my girls and go for tea.

Buckeroomama said...

Haha, I also used Coffee, Tea or Me! It just seemed the perfect texture for this challenge. :)

Lovely blending of the textures!

Linda said...

Beautiful texture work!! lovely!!

Ashley Sisk said...

These tea cups are awesome. I want one!

Good Company said...

Now you have a picture to go along with the stories! They're all beautiful -- each very different.

- Jessi - said...

Your first photo is very interesting, I like it. Great use of textures :)

Leovi said...

Magnificent series full of sensitivity. I love the lights, texture, framing and clean tones. Greetings

Kim Klassen said...

truly so beautiful..... your teacups are so perfect.... love... love...

thanks for linking up with texture tuesday....xxo, kim

Cat said...

Love those cat tails...such a unique shot! Your teacup textures are fab too :)

xx Cat brideblu

Miriam said...

Oh your pictures and stories with the tea cups are so beautiful. I am going to try a darker texture on my cups now! I'm so inspired by you. :)

Physibeth said...

The second two teacup shots I love! There is something about the focus in the first one that is bothering me a little, maybe you meant it that way but I feel like the flowers should be in greater focus. Thanks for sharing the stories as well as the pictures.

Gina Kleinworth said...

Oh how I absolutely adore the vintage cups & saucers. We have a ton of them between our 2 family's collections. I can't get enough.

Tricia said...

Look at all your pretty teacups. I love how they all hold special meaning for you :)

Selina@CreativeJuicesDecor said...

Thank you for commenting on my Easter pictures! It means a lot because your pictures are GREAT!! Just 2 days ago I figured out how textures are used. I am so excited to experiment! The tea cups have such a vintage feel to them. Very cool!