It's September...You know what that means?.....

....To me...September means, in part rich, thick, cushion-y  cottons and wools

This summer I had the chance to visit a cozy historic section of central Cairo, Egypt. & happened by an adorable tiny yarn shop nestled in one of the rows upon rows of other shops within this district of historic buildings. It's very likely I would have just walked right on by if it were not for this beautiful lush chocolate brown goodness beckoning me from the shop window display.  It caught my eye and I immediately fell in love and so ventured in to purchase a few lovely skeins.

There was a definite feeling of contentment and joy in my heart for the rest of that day....that lasted  until.....well until now actually.  I am a lover of all things yarn. I love the wonderful textures & rich colors, the look and feel of it.
A good skein of cotton, wool, mohair or blended yarn can make my day....week.....month and year even!  & that is not an exaggeration.  Even if said yarn is never hooked into anything useful at all....even if the rich beautiful skeins stay tucked away in my yarn basket forever....just the knowledge  that I am in possession of such a beautiful thing is what makes my heart skip a beat & leap with joy.  I am sure to most of you, I sound like a crazy loon.  but to some of you...the percentage of you who just happen to be fellow lovers of all things yarn will understand this feeling completely.  :]  "Hi. My name is Karen and I am a Yarn Hoarder" :]

Image shot to use as a Photoshop brush as part of  my new crochet side of my photography business named 'OFF THE HOOK DESIGNS by KEKE' TM  (copyright)
*Instructions on making your own brushes will be published sometime within the next week or so

My Newly Created OFF THE HOOK DESIGNS Logo.  ♥ I'm kinda digging this....a lot!

I've held onto my treasure contemplating the possibilities of creations worthy of such a beautiful find. Over the warm summer months my lovely  luxurious bundle of joy was never far from my mind  or fingertips & in fact on several occasions I did indeed attempt to begin a little creation only later to change my mind and unravel the stitches made. 

That is until September rolled around. There is something about the change of seasons that causes a chemical reaction within my creative brain cells and makes me want to make everything warm and cozy...and I mean everything. I love fall and the cool weather that follows.  I love replacing my summer wardrobe with the warmer fabrics & colors of fall.  I love wool sweaters, warm boots and cozy adorable hats & scarves.  Fall is sunflowers bathing in the last glimmering rays of the sun,  Fall is freshly baked cinnamon rolls covered with a blanket of creamy icing,  warm apple pie and hot apple cider. Fall is fresh homemade curly fries smothered with ketchup and vinegar (a tasty  New England treat)  Hay rides and pumpkins.

'Sunbathing' 2010

shot in RI 2010

My Grand Children's Halloween Pumpkins 2010

Schartner Farm. RI

 And of course Fall also means new beginnings....&  beginnings of lots and lots of crocheted projects....worked on throughout the winter months and hopefully, eventually completed to be given away as gifts or sold in the quaint little yarn shop in central Cairo or simply kept for myself to enjoy.  Fall to me is FABULOUS YARN and lots of it. :]

I whipped up this cute little cotton doily for one of my favorite clients 2011.

I bet your are wondering just what I decided to create with my rich chocolate brown treasure?
You know what they say?....'A picture is worth a thousand words' ~here are three more:]

TADA!

A little bit of rich Chocolate goodness ♥ One down...several more to go.

& just for fun :]  I actually did not have a human model available...so improvised with my reading glasses &  the remaining ball of lurve. :]

***Stay tuned for some cool tips on creating your very own Photoshop Brushes.  Peace and Lurve. K.

Day 14. My Last [Expose] Yourself Project Post *sniffle*

I HAVE GROWN:

I have grown...

Participating in the [Expose] Yourself Project for me has been totally a positive experience. ......it has allowed me a creative outlet to expose as well as express myself, to learn and grow  & show others as well as myself who I truly am.  Everything I wrote and every image I shot for this project was from my heart. Edited with love. Some of which  definitely fell  outside of my comfort zone...which is completely what I needed to help boost my artistic confidence.

Shot August 31, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt.

I have grown in realization that I really do have sticktoitiveness. .   I feel really good knowing that I actually hung in here even on my busiest days and created something artistic & creative  to contribute.

Shot in RI, USA. April 2010.

 I've grown to be a little selfish (& it's a wonderful thing).    I participated in this project for ME (as awful as that must sound.lol)  This is a HUGE accomplishment for me because I very often feel guilty concentrating on just me and doing my own thang.  This project was a fantastic excuse to not feel so guilty and just do it.  :]  I'm glad I did!

RI Grabbing Dinner At IGGY's.  Wicked Good RI Seafood and oh so  Scenic :] Makes standing in line for over an hour just for their awesome clam cakes and chowda soooooo worth it!

During the past few weeks, I have grown into my own skin a little better

It's important to get to know oneself  & stay connected to the person you are.  I love that I had the guilt-free opportunity to do so.

Graffiti located on the side of a home in the Historic District of Apponaug, RI 2010

I have grown VERY fond of so many of the very talented women who also contributed to this project.

I love that so many creative minds participated &  took time and energy from their busy schedules to complete this challange with me & for THEM.  I've thoroughly enjoyed watching others grow along side me.

Thank you for sharing who you are, your true person  and some of your personal stuff with all of us.  You Ladies ROCK!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

& heck yeah, my fondness for ME has grown too!

I'm Fond of the person I am today

what I have accomplished not only during this project, but also in my life

I am very very fond of  my excitement over what today and every day has in store for me.

Shot 2010 RW Zoo in  RI.

I have grown in my appreciation

for all of the positive and supportive feedback I have encountered  during this challange. & for having the opportunity to lend my support to others as well.  I love giving back, sharing and spreading the lurve.

These tiny fingers belong to two very special little people in my life.  My Grandchildren, Aiden and Ava.  Whose lights are bigger and brighter than ever I've seen before.  My love is abundant for them.

I have grown in my confidence.  I KNOW today more than ever before, I am a true artist...I have something unique to offer the world.  I am a leader of my own destiny. I can not follow anyone or anything but my own heart & what turns me on and rocks my world....I have grown to LOVE & appreciate my work more than ever before.

Flowers from my love.  The perfectness & imperfections are what make these so beautiful in my eyes.

I have grown in my happiness.

I am happy that I have more than a little talent in more than a few areas

and Happy to have had the chance to share that with others. growing  HAPPINESS  is not an easy thing to accomplish but oh so worth the irritation it brings to others.  :]~

What would my post be without a random picture thrown in here and there :]

I have grown into a more serious artist

more capable person

more creative in my craft

more knowlegable about who I am

where I am going

and what I want [and don't] for ME.

♥  I am a work in progress. I am on a path to success and continual improvement...

& if you can not appreciate that Ava will tell ya how it is..... [My Granddaughter, Ava]  She is now 4 *sniffle*] This photo was shot about 4 years ago and I did not pose her nor was I aware at the time that she was flipping the bird.....so a humorous example of how much I've improved over the years  in my craft as these days  I am much more aware of what is going on in my view finder before releasing the shutter. heheheee

I have grown in my conviction to take myself places my heart has always wanted to go...but my head sometimes gets in the way of for fear or other lame excuses.

Shot during a summer day lunch at the beach with the gals.... in RI 2010

I have grown to realize that I can not expect the entire world to love or appreciate me~& that's perfectly OK.....but I can still ROCK what I do~Keep a smile on my face while doing it~stay positive & confident in who I am.....and I plan to do just that...I plan to ROCK the heck out of what I love! I plan to stay true to myself and my individuality.  I may be wierd, I admit it... but I am 100% ME! I'm good with that!  I have grown to not care so much what others think of me....I have grown to love myself & know that pretty much that is all that matters.

Shot in the Cairo Mall 2011~ I LOVE yarn and fabric. ♥ the colors, textures and patterns of cloth. 

I have grown strong...strong in my faith and conviction

that I can indeed move mountains

It is possible

I am living testament

Shot in the Cairo Mall. September 2011.  Mall cops actually did not tackle me or anything like that...which is a good thing. :]

I have grown to realize that I am  perfect
even with all my imperfections ...because I am ME.

I am uniquely entertaining

and pleasantly surprising

even [& more importantly Mostly] to myself

Shot @ My Sister Nan's in RI 2010

I have grown... and my heart is a little fuller& my life a little richer.

Thank You Expose for giving me a creative forum

to express myself

and for helping me grow in so many ways

You ROCK !!!

x Love, K.

Copyright KeKe Photography 2011

Day 13: [Expose] Yourself Project~I LOVE That I Am....

I LOVE that I am [Crazy Sweet] lil ole  ME

I LOVE that I am able to see Beauty and Interest in everyday items that others may pass by without a 2nd glance.....

I LOVE that I am still a GREAT BIG kid at heart..........I LOVE that I can have fun & have the energy to keep up with the little kids....

...& the big kids too *wink wink*    I LOVE my Sexy Side & Feel very grateful that I still have one :]~.........I LOVE that I take care of myself and I feel grateful for the fact that I am in the very best physical shape I have ever been in entire life. (Please don't hate me...lol)

I LOVE that I still find so many reason to LOVE & can still smile and LAUGH in the face of some pretty negative events on my lifetime. I absolutely LOVE the fact that when I laugh very hard....absolutely no sound comes out of me....I LOVE that I can laugh at myself and do so VERY often....sometime I laugh so hard that I can not continue speaking .....or breathing even. hahahaha.  Im just fun.....  (don't hate! lol)

I  LOVE SO MUCH that I have a sense of humor....That I am resilient, creative, artistic, loving, honest, funny, beautiful, crazy, positive, cool, kind, reliable, dependable, committed, true, versatile, compassionate...passionate & soooooo much more .. I LOVE that I am a positive energy...... I LOVE LOVE LOVE that I LOVE my life so much right now ♥  I thank God for everything in my life...and for making me the person I am :]

I LOVE THAT I AM ....ME!

Day 12 [Expose] ~WHEN I GROW UP........

My Finished Project :]

I hope to always have the same sense of wonder and awe over the beauty I see in this world~

Fall Leaf. RI. 2010

And always  feel inspired by the BIG and LITTLE things I happen to notice along the way~

this image was shot this year in Cairo, Egypt [2011]....this is a super close up of a very tiny and delicate flower. 

I hope to continue to GROW & LEARN

& APPRECIATE the Beautiful Colors, Textures, Shades of light and darkness cast upon this earth.......

It is my hope that I never lose my sense of ♥ humor....
My sense of style ;} ...
My sense of purpose...
My sense of wonder
nor My Sense of self :]

I wish to grow into my own skin a little more snug
Love a little deeper
LIVE a little more......

 

When I grow up??    ....... who says I have to grow up?
I just want to continue to GROW.

My Barbie Perspective :]~

♥K

Day 11: [Expose][ing] My INSPIRATION

The question is....what doesn't inspire me.  I am inspired daily by God's beautiful and awesome creations.

I picked this leaf from a tree outside of my apartment in Cairo, Egypt, where I have lived for nearly a year now.  I thought it would make an awesome photo prop...& was very happy to utilize it for this project.  Total last minute inspiration  came to me while joking around with my fabulous Hubs who just happened to place my prop over his face...and I thought to myself...THAT'S IT!  Looks like a huge smile to me....so my idea was born. ~ ♥

Colors, Light & Textures Inspire me and Excite my Creative Senses. 

*I must mention here that I accidentally deleted my 2nd image that was part of this project. *sobbing*   While it still is on my storyboard submitted onto the [Expose] Yourself Project fb Wall~ My original is sadly no longer with us. *sniffle*   I will re-create it and post it another time.  This is what happens when I am exhausted and my brain is going numb.  Not complaining because I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do and all of my hard work and energies are never wasted!  

My Finished Project ♥ Props to my Hubs who inspired me to create this piece of art...for holding my leaf for this project & my hand as well as my heart through this life~ and also for just being his wonderful silly self.  Lurve him~~

Day 10. [Expose][ing] A Change:

Day 10:  [Expose] [ing] Stuff I Need To Change:

While I really love the direction in which my life is going these days I could be a little more organized and steady on course. I tend to be a little flighty and lose direction & focus very easily if I am not right up on top of things. :] All in All though I have to say I am crazy in love with my life right now....and honestly can live with myself just as I am. :] I'm just enjoying this beautiful ride!!! x K.

This image was shot along a road trip from RI to NC in 2010.  I've been so absolutely busy lately  I simply did not have time to shoot & edit photos today.  I thought this fit nicely for today's Challenge. ♥

 So since this project was not as time consuming as some of the others I dreamed up this past week or so...I figured I would share a couple of images totally unrelated. 

These I shot today in Cairo, Egypt. ENJOY:

I'm digging this. 8.31.11

Self Portrait.  Can you see me?  This is a reflection on a mirrored building along the highway in Cairo.  8.31.11

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this building.  Egypt's Architecture is amazing! ♥ 8.31.11