Celebrating Blog Friendships

Today as part of the Blog Friendships celebration I wanted to THANK all of the friends who have stopped by my blog over this past year. Thanks so much for visiting, showing your support and especially leaving me comments.

As part of the celebration, I thought I would show you what I have been up to recently in my little corner of the Blogosphere...

During my little blog hiatus I was focusing my energies on improving my photography. I do think I have improved, however, I continue striving to do better and just when I feel happy with my progress, I realize I still have a long way to go.

I thought I would post some of my favorite images from the past few months and further down a few of my favorite scrapbook pages from October's Layout A Day. I hope you enjoy them!

(Don't forget to read all the way to the end of this post, where you will find the letter you need to collect for the puzzle to win the grand prize on Jo's blog as well as the link to the next stop on the Blog Party.)

Please let me know what you think!

Now for a few favorite scrapbook layouts I made in October:

 

TEMPLATE: Simply Tiffany Designs PAPER: Jessica Sprague BRUSH: free download from a class at Jessica Sprague

 

TEMPLATE: K Pertiet (altered by me somewhat - changed orientation of photo & moved them around as well as added white borders to each photo and shadowing) Font was also changed and I added the white outline around the page.
FONTS: Arial Narrow & Pea Steele
BACKGROUND PAPER: Jessica Sprague

  

All four layouts I did for Lain Ehmann's October Layout A Day. I hope you enjoyed them.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll come by again.

The letter you  need to collect from my blog is T.

Now it is time to head off to Deb's blog at www.debs14.blogspot.com. Deb lives in Hertfordshire, UK. I find it interesting that I have recently been given the nickname of 'Debs' because many years ago I did a six month work study program in the UK and I worked at Debenham's in Cambridge! My new friend from London found this quite funny and has called me Debs ever since. The other thing I have in common with Deb is that I love Hertfordshire! I spent a week out in the countryside there staying with my friends' grandparents in 1991 and fell in love! And now my husband's company is based out of Herts though we are currently living in Beijing, China! Small world!

Happy blog hopping & come back again!

Comments

[jo sowerby]

i love the pictures taken by ur children they're so great and the photo of the lil one in the shop with the fish in tanks, really amazing shot and such vivid colour. ur photography is brilliant. hope all is well with you out there,
Jo xxxxx

[NancyD]

These photos are amazing! And your layouts are so beautifully composed. Thanks for sharing!

[Melissa]

Great photos and I really like the "if you give a kid a camera" layout. I love seeing the photo he was taking as you were taking his photo.

[Lee]

Wow! What fantastic photos. I may just have to take a trip and have you teach me. The layouts are fab too! Glad to see you're keeping so well :) I visit - but normally via reader - I really do have to come by and comment. You blog more and I'll comment more. Deal?

[Amy]

I LOVE your photography - the one of the guy on the back of the tip truck is fabulous - such great perspective!
It's lovely to see what you have been doing :-)

[Sian]

What do I think? I think you are a very talented photographer! I'll certainly be back to see more :) so here's to many more blog posts in the future!

[furrypig]

so many wonderful photographs it must be amazing living in China WOW! Gorgeous LO's too thanks so much for sharing xxx

[Deb]

Your photos and layouts are fabulous! My favorite picture is the one of the boys on the park bench.

[Lizzie]

This is a set of great images! I especially like the ones with your boys in them - the moody/slightly fed-up posture of your son in the first photo - and also the great way you have used the simple background and the low-angle shot. I love the one with your little boy leaning against the corner of that black wall; also the two boys together on the bench, intent and absorbed by their camera, the small one with his feet swinging.
The angles of your shots are often unusual, but they make for very striking pictures. I think I like your photography style very much!

The scrap pages are similar to your photography - they seem to have a style that echos your photos. The first two are my favourites - they work so well.

Thanks for joining our Blog Party today - it's been lovely to see your photos and scrap pages, and to read what you have to say!

[Gayle (The Scrappy Tree)]

I think your photos are wonderful! :) How exciting to be able to capture those moments so beautifully
Gayle xx

[Kate]

such great photos and layouts, thanks for sharing x

[Mel]

Oh wow, I love the composition of your photos! And I love your scrapping style, too :-)

I used to live in Cambridge - I remember Debenham's!!

[Jennifer Grace]

Beutiful photos and layouts. You have created some real treasures here. xx

[Karen]

This is my first visit to your blog, but I will certainly be back! Love your scrapbook pages and your photography.

[Kai]

WOW! I love your photos... such great colors, lighting and perspectives. I will be back to see more. I'm so glad I hopped by today!

[melissa]

you are a very talented woman

[Amanda Rhodes]

I love your pics and your LOs!

[S]

Wow, your photos are so full of story, if you know what I mean. Glad to see you can still find time to do LOAD and keep up those scrapping skills (digi and traditional). When do you sleep?

[Lisa]

Your photos are truly inspirational. I enjoyed seeing your layouts in LOAD and I think that most of them worked their way into my favourites list - and if I missed them, then I should go back and get them in there! I love your "view" of life in China. I hope to be coming back to your blog to keep up with your experiences.

[Debs]

These coincidences are growing .... I live about 30 miles from Cambridge, and it is one of my favourite places to go shopping or just to have a wander around, such an interesting city. So now I'm wondering what other parts of Hertfordshire you know! I'm about 8 miles from Stansted Airport.
I think you are the first blogger I have come across living where you do now, and it's fascinating to see your photos. Only discovered you today, but I will return!

[Natalie]

This is the first time I've visited your blog but I will definitely be back! I absolutely love your photos and your layouts are fantastic too. Looking forward to seeing more of your lovely work :)
Nat x

[cheryl]

Your photography is amazing so vivid and clear, and your LO's are gorgeous x

[Cal]

Wow!! Your photos are amazing!!! I love you layouts too! So talented!

[Tracy]

Your photos are amazing. Look so fun, especially the fish tank one.