Eliza

I don't know what I said to her but I got her to laugh = ] I don't get many chances to snap her photo nowadays. If I reach for the camera she bolts.

My friend Rossi

Isn't it amazing how true friends stay with us even when we lose touch. I found one of those friends recently on facebook. I worked with Rossi for years but more than worked together we were friends. We shared the ups and downs of our lives tons of laughter and not just a few tears. As usually happens when one moves on from that place of work we go our separate ways. But it doesn't matter how much time passes, in our hearts we hold on to that friend.:-)

The day we spoke again I was out with Jim and our friends Niki and John at Yates Mill. I was shooting these photos as we caught up on fifteen years of each others lives. As the cliche says, it felt as if not a day had gone by. It's so true! The sound of her voice filled my heart with joy. She hasn't changed a bit and that's a good thing. I love you Ross!

Announcing "Carolina Patriot" for all my conservative friends!

As you may know, I have been considering separating all my political designs from the main "Carolina Pixel" page, wondering if my political leanings were affecting my business. I had a blind mini-poll on my blog asking my friends to participate.

The final tally was as follows:
8 who were all for keeping it together,
1 not really bothered by it,
1 a little offended would rather not see it,
6 who are terribly offended cuz they lack a funny bone.

I've decided to break it off and set my creativity free. Thank you to all of you who participated in the poll, and a special thank you to a very business savvy lady I greatly respect: Heather O. She is a social media expert, and she recommended I separate it only because it's a very different product. People looking to buy digitally hand-painted portraits might be confused to find bumper stickers and the like on the same site, and vice versa. It makes sense, but above all she recommended I stay true to myself. LOL, I don't think I could hide who I am if I tried. :-)

I hope you, I mean YOU as in the ones with a sense of humor, will join my new page and visit my zazzle store too. If you like what you see, please feel free to recommend me to like-minded friends and spread the conservative luv! ;-)

www.zazzle.com/carolinapatriot
 

Mom-Jeans are cool by CarolinaPatriot
More Obama T-Shirts

Beautiful Chrisie

This photo of a beautiful lady had water damage...

Now restored and artified....

...and my personal favorite version...

My How Time Flies....

Original Photo

'Artified" version

Cropped and ready for framing.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

I know it's cliche to say but my how time flies! You weighed a mere 5 pounds 6 ounces when you were born. Just a tiny little thing you left me in awe. I could spend hours on end staring at you. Tens little fingers and ten little toes, a blessing straight from heaven entrusted to ME by the Lord above! I hadn't a clue. I about died the day your belly button fell off. I was burping you on my shoulder when I laid you down it stuck to the burp cloth. I thought I broke you! I warmed your juices cuz I thought everything in a bottle needed to be warm. When it was time for veggies I only fed you orange or yellow ones, carrots being your favorite excluding the green ones. They looked disgusting! The pediatrician noticed the bottom of your tootsies were a tad orange and strongly recommended I add green to  your diet. One time I thought you had a fever and rushed you to the doctor only to find out I didn't need to bundle you up to protect you from hot tropical breezes. Who knew? Somehow you lived through my inexperience and we grew up together. And look at you now! I couldn't be more proud of you and the woman you became. You are a far better mom than me. Giuseppe lights up your life just like you lit up mine. Your love for him warms my heart and I love you even more for it. The baby God entrusted to me is all grown up with a baby of her own. My baby no more those days are gone and I think to myself my how time flies.....

Profile Picture Makeover Contest

Enter to win a profile picture makeover just like the one below.
Before


After


Step 1
Submit your photo by Sept 24th. Send it as an attachment to carolinapixel@nc.rr.com

Step 2

Join my page on Facebook

Step 3
Retweet this message on twitter: Win a profile picture makeover @carolinapixel

Step 4
Come back to my blog and bring your friends between Sept 25th and Oct 1st to vote for your favorite candidate. Leave a comment with your vote.

Winner will be announced on Oct 2nd via twitter.

This is my first contest so wish me luck :-)

Sam's Before and After

This is a clear example of the type of photo that makes a good candidate for artifying. The pose is perfect but the items in the background are distracting and the overall lighting is too dark.


Here is the "artified" version. Now it's frame worthy! He is sooo cute!

Giuseppe

Oh what a sweet, SWEET boy. We were blessed this past week to have Aixa, Sal and G visiting. I hope G-man never tires of visiting Yaya and Papa. I love how he walks around the house looking for ways to get into trouble. It's more of a saunter than a walk but clearly he prowls for trouble. Whenever his daddy or mommy go to get him he takes off running and boy is he fast. This was a rare moment where he sat long enough for me to snap the photo.

Acorn

Today the latest Acorn scandal broke. Last night was the Joe Wilson outburst. How is it possible Joe trended higher than Acorn? The mainstream media as expected - absent! They are just as corrupt as Acorn and Obama: LIAR IN CHIEF, dear Lord watch over us.

Acorn - Anybody can break the law... by CarolinaPixel
Tee shirts from zazzle

If you're looking for a cute t-shirt to wear for the 9-12 march on Washington scoot on over to my zazzle store. This design looks great on all sorts of items too.

In GOD we trust by CarolinaPixel
Mug from Zazzle

High Key Black and White

Sweet baby boy and beautiful mommy.

Political Leanings

No doubt which way I lean. But this piece got me thinking...I posted it on my FB asking for ideas. Then I hesitated thinking so many of my friends and family members might be offended. It's not the first time I've hesitated. Sometimes I'll go ahead and post and other times I scrap the piece altogether. I tell myself those who are my friends will still be my friends regardless. The ones who let politics override their feelings for me aren't really friends in the first place, right? Long time ago I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Tough, was my attitude! Typical secular world view. I no longer feel that way. I do care! And I pray that those I love will love me back despite my political leanings.

Cash for Coiffures

Cash for Coiffures stamps now available over at my zazzle store. Thank you Shannon for allowing me to use your photo as the base and inspiration for this design.

Cash For Coiffures by CarolinaPixel
Browse other Cash for clunkers Postage

Three very sweet looking ladies poking fun at politics. :-) Original photo taken by Shannon Boyer and shared via CC http://danielandshannonboyer.com/images/shan_and_grandmothers.jpg

Sarah

Betcha want a do-over. by CarolinaPixel
More Anti T-Shirts

I created the artwork here from a photo I found on Flickr. The original photo was taken by Bruce Tuten from Savannah Georgia and shared through a Creative Commons license.

Uncle

I start this blog thing reluctantly. I've been told it will help my business. I've tried everything else: my website, tons of forums, facebook, twitter not to mention harassing friends, fam and total strangers to create buzz about my business. My head is spinning just trying to keep up with all this virtual socializing. So here I am staring at a blank page with nothing more than a prayer. Today I pray I don't bore you. :-)