tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66862936258045587912024-03-06T01:09:57.607-07:00laf custom designswhere graphic design and photomagic playLissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.comBlogger284125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-21684095521614006992016-01-14T16:07:00.003-07:002021-11-08T21:21:04.947-07:00Latest client project: Shirley WilseyLet me introduce you to Shirley Wilsey, author of All You Can Do, a book of poems. She is a writer, singer, tap dancer, harpist--a woman of many talents. With much prodding from many friends, Shirley finally comes out of the shadows with her debute book covering a wide range of topics from youth to aging, spirituality, nature, contemplation, and the like.
All You Can Do is a client Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-7507239565646571642015-11-05T12:33:00.001-07:002021-11-08T21:22:11.477-07:00Holiday Greeting Cards & 2016 Calendar | Yellowstone Deadline 11/16It’s that time of year ... When the bells jingle, dreidels are spun, houses are decorated, and families gather.
If you haven’t chosen your holiday cards this year or would like my new calendar (all photos are mine from my trip this summer), here’s an opportunity. I'm taking orders now, so make your purchase by Monday, 11/16 noon MST and I’ll have them ready to ship Priority Mail by 11/20. Feel Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-54959498701748002812015-10-25T19:11:00.002-06:002021-11-08T21:22:34.266-07:00Saying Goodbye to FallYesterday, I went to walk on a familiar Boulder path. Before I even got there, I traveled through the parking lot to my starting point. I had to stop and capture the golden leaves as I knew they wouldn't last much longer. Even the tree in my front yard has gone from golden to burnt red to almost bare. Fall came and has almost gone very quickly this year.
We know what's coming once the leaves Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-47623496913538838632015-09-29T17:48:00.001-06:002021-11-08T21:22:57.288-07:00Shifting Gears and Re-directingOK, I've decided that it doesn't make much sense to duplicate my efforts on two blogs, and since I have to have the Wordprss site to interact with Wordpress Daily Prompts, from today forward I will only be posting 365 Days of Writing at laf Writes.
I really should have named that url laf Writes, but I can't change it now. If you'd like to follow my writing for the sake of writing journey, Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-16435927840233159942015-09-28T17:23:00.002-06:002021-11-09T13:39:58.825-07:00365 Days of Writing | #4 SoulmateWordpress Writing Prompt: Ying to My Yang
How do you define the term “soulmate,” and do you believe in the existence of such a person — for you?
Sometimes a rose is not a rose ... it's an onion!
I know the common definitions of soulmate mostly revolve around romantic relationships. That in some time gone by one entity was split in two and they each searched until they found one other. I have Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-70403252171791239632015-09-27T22:36:00.002-06:002021-11-09T13:40:34.282-07:00365 Days of Writing | #3 Who knew ...Sunday stories with Shirley: Who knew what the adventure would bring us.
I picked Sam up at 6:00 am wanting to beat the commuter traffic out of town. We had agreed we were leaving. Leaving for good. She had had enough of her husband telling her how to live her life. And I had no attachments. Not right now.
With the two hundred dollars I had made working odd jobs in my pocket I figured we couldLissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-5361664890629135522015-09-26T18:14:00.001-06:002021-11-08T21:25:40.313-07:00365 Days of Writing | #2 Must Not FailWordpress Writing Prompt: Must Not Fail
What is the one thing at which you are the most afraid of failing?
Failure is one of those words that has a negative connotation before you even get out of the gate. But is it possible to turn it on its head and not be afraid of failure? Is it possible to redefine the word or at least question it?
Definition of FAILURE by Merriam Webster online
1
a : Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-54054124085227509152015-09-25T15:14:00.001-06:002021-11-08T21:26:11.244-07:00365 Days of Writing | #1 Out of ReachWordpress Daily Prompt: Write about the one X that got away — a person, an experience, a place you wanted to visit. How much would you change about your life to have it within reach again?
Poem by Alfred Austin
She's spent a lifetime striving. Eight-two years to be exact. Reading and writing were not only her passion, but her escape. Many poems, short stories, and novels have gone Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-63518547650192296902015-09-25T12:29:00.002-06:002021-11-08T21:26:37.130-07:00365 Days of Writing Prompts ChallengeOne day after I finished my 156-mile backpacking trip on the Colorado Trail my son asked me, "What's up?"--a typical way of greeting me as he came home. I said, "I'm bored" to which he replied, "What? You don't have a project to work on?" That was it. He pegged me so accurately. I don't think I realized it until then that I am project driven. Idea --> research --> plan --> execute. Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-88812039760655111722015-09-14T13:52:00.004-06:002021-11-08T21:27:46.063-07:00Facing ChangeWhen I read Jan Phillips' poem from her Museletter September 14, 2015 I could totally relate as I seem to be in a new season of my life. I've cheated death. I've challenged my body. And I've traveled new paths. It made me want to create. So with my photos as a foundation and her poem as inspiration, I came up with this composite. I used my photo of a Yellowstone spring as primary and a close-up Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-53051073586747602292015-09-03T12:19:00.001-06:002021-11-09T15:30:51.053-07:00The Colorado Trail: Marmot and the Stone RoomThe Colorado Trail was everything and nothing, different but the same, and exciting and numbing. For these reasons I've had some trouble assimilating the experience and finding a way to write about it. With that said, creating my first composite helps me tell the story.
The skies shifted from clear blue to baby blue with clouds to storm clouds--sometimes all in the same day. There were broad Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-38639336773506931592015-09-02T16:44:00.014-06:002021-11-09T15:51:10.456-07:00Creative Expression: ContemplationPhotoshop Artistry supplied the image of Andrew Constantino, a street musician in Ashville, NC. Using some new textures, brushes, and adding a stroke I created a new frame. Layer masks and blending modes were used extensively.
Check out the before and after by scrolling your mouse over the image.
mouseover to see before image
Textures by Kim Klassen.
Textures, brushes, and Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-33112743837169684042015-08-31T23:28:00.001-06:002021-11-09T15:58:20.630-07:00Creative Expression: Bonsai Watching Me Pack Up -- Frame #4More creative expressions ... Bonsai watching me pack up after my first night out on the Colorado Trail back at the end of June. Although I love Bonsai, this is really about the frame.
I think I've been a bit manic in my time spent in Photoshop the last few days! What do you think? I guess that's my process. I gotta get it while the juices are flowing. But it's time to get off the couch. In thisLissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-51467692577063838262015-08-30T18:13:00.003-06:002021-11-09T16:02:32.529-07:00Photoshop Artistry Challenge Week 1: Marmot on a MushroomI purchased the Photoshop Artistry package two years ago, before I got sick. The great thing is that the purchase included unlimited access, so I am able to pick up where I left off or start again. Last night I was inspired to play and that inspiration spilled into today ... all day!
I found folks doing Photoshop Artistry challenges on Flickr and that sent me running to find out where to start.Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-81880459181201288132015-08-30T15:05:00.004-06:002021-11-09T16:06:08.519-07:00Creative Expression: So many ways to frame! #3Again, I've used Photoshop Artistry's texture and vector files. I've saved this image as a .png so that the background is transparent and you only see the circle border. Used the warp function in Photoshop to give my watermark a curve. And layer mask to create circle for image and border.
First effort
Couldn't decide if liked the dark or the light frame better so I'll let you take a vote.
Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-24181627756277040232015-08-30T10:22:00.002-06:002021-11-09T16:07:20.706-07:00Creative Expression: More fun with frames -- Phillip and MeHaving fun creating frames. I love using the warp function in Photoshop (Edit, Transform, Warp; then drag points to the curvature you like).
This is Phillip an me at Boulder Community Hospital (BCH) in January 2014. A poignant moment between mother and son pondering the outside world through the hospital window.
Photo taken by Carolyn Kust, a BCH aide.
Textures and vector file by Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-33386621291125190802015-08-29T18:50:00.002-06:002021-11-09T16:08:37.585-07:00Creative Expression: Re-entry: Creating art again
I'm glad to say I got motivated to play in Photoshop again using several of Photoshop Artistry's texture, brush, and vector files. You've likely seen this image of Kobi before. The new frame adds some pizzazz.
I had to refresh my memory on how to do a couple things, so this was a good exercise.
I think I may begin to tell the Colorado Trail story in art pictures. We'll see. But know this, I Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-81540331545475076542015-08-27T22:01:00.002-06:002021-11-09T16:09:16.926-07:00Big News!Big news! I heard from my stem cell donor today!!
He lives in St. Paul, MN, is married, has two grown boys, and two grand-baby boys, and has worked for USPS for 22 years. Seems like a great guy.
He had been a blood donor for years and saw a poster 20 years ago about being a marrow donor. He thought that would be nice too. Never thought he'd be called after all this time. He's glad he was and Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-5368507786371729002015-06-15T16:42:00.000-06:002015-08-29T12:51:01.783-06:00Rolling Creek Backpack OvernightTime to catch up! At least a bit. Note: all photos with date stamps in this post, credit Kelly Bitner.
I met Kelly Bitner on the Colorado Trail Thru-Hike 2015 FB page. We have done several practice hikes over the past 3-4 weeks.
Last week, we drove to Pike National Forest in search of Rolling Creek Trail near Bailey, CO with our packs, hiking boots, trekking poles and more. We've noticed we Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-20687740428017288792015-03-29T21:10:00.002-06:002021-11-09T16:17:48.052-07:00Tales from Kobi: Gem LakeYesterday Mom and I went on an adventure with her friend, Susan. Originally we were going to hike the Anne U. White Trail in North Boulder, Colorado. We got there and not only was there a "trail closed" sign, but there was a ranger to remind folks that the trail was closed. So I guess that meant we couldn't go hiking there. :-)
So Mom suggested we go hike Cub Lake, near Estes Park. Susan was Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-44292469371262353392015-03-29T19:26:00.001-06:002021-11-09T16:22:10.651-07:00Tales from Kobi: Skunk Creek TrailMonday, 3/23/15 ... catching up
We're out hiking more challenging trails now and Mom's having trouble keeping up with letting you all know about these beautiful places. So we're starting with Skunk Creek Trail about a week ago.
This trail is easily accessible and follows a dirt road to the trailhead. It was a great day. Sunny. Blue skies. Puffy clouds. Mom wore her old boots since my new onesLissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-11077086764948591792015-03-22T14:23:00.002-06:002021-11-09T16:24:41.292-07:00Tales from Kobi: Flagstaff Trail
Yesterday, Mom and I had another adventure. We hiked Flagstaff Trail with friend Meredith and her dog
Toby, called Mr. T so as to not confuse us.
The hike was from Panorama
Point to the Wood Shelter near Artists' Point. 2.83 miles/1115
elevation gain.
It was such a beautiful day here in Colorado that there were many hikers out, but not so many that it was crowded. Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-78685888969487655342015-03-18T20:50:00.002-06:002021-11-09T16:29:17.701-07:00Tales from Kobi: Walker Ranch LoopMonday, March 16: Mom and I took our second challenge for elevation gain. We'll have to catch up on the first challenge, or maybe not. We'll see. For now, we'll start here.
We hiked Walker Ranch Loop ... 7.6 miles clockwise with a total elevation gain of 1470 ft (920 + 550). Walker Ranch map and elevation graph provided by Boulder County, Colorado.
Mom and I started at the trailheadLissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-35424222792222828452015-02-11T13:46:00.001-07:002021-11-09T17:07:34.614-07:00Tales from Kobi: Meyer Homestead Trail at Walker RanchMom has a knack for starting our adventures in the afternoon. So, we were traveling up winding Flagstaff Rd. toward the Meyer Homestead Trail about 2:30 when suddenly she put on the brakes. On the left side of the road was a deer. Then she noticed three more just to the right of our car. She got a couple pictures through the open windows and continued. Unfortunately, with all the switchbacks and Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686293625804558791.post-17703932847146414742015-01-15T23:16:00.002-07:002021-11-09T17:13:05.006-07:00Creative Expressions: Rough day yesterdayWell, every day can't be a red letter day. And that was Wednesday. We all have them. Lousy days. Amazingly, I haven't had a day like that since last year!
The good news is I put my tools to work ... journaling and creative art. After a rough day yesterday and a mind-numbing day today, my creativity came back to life. Admittedly, it's a little dark, but I feel the cloud lifting.
There you go. Lissa Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536890975354049720noreply@blogger.com3