I am soothed

I have been digital collaging, listening to music and sipping a small glass of wine - the last of the weekend bottle (frugal times...) It's got more layers than an ogre (watch Shrek for explanation!), but I love staring into its depths and dreaming.... Don't you just think there's epic story in there? Do you want to turn the pages? Who is the ghostly figure?

Well, this piece started off as an experiment in Black & White for The Three Muses same-titled challenge, but I guess my Muse clearly fancied their Take a Word challenge of Vintage instead! I drained the colour of a flower photograph with the exception of the red dahlia. It was pretty enough, but where was the drama? I put some context in with another of my photographs of Coton Manor House. Kim Klassen supplied a texture (in fact it was this week's freebie, so thanks Kim :) and I added some mystique with some images I bought from Etsy.

I love experimenting in this way. The layers are out of proportion with intent. What lush colour and texture. What story... I could play all day.

Vintage Victoria

I was lucky enough to find this photograph of Great Great Great Aunt Victoria for the Three Muses' Vintage challenge this week. She was quite a gal about town and absolutely adored hats - just look at this striking feathered creation. Having read her diaries, I am quite certain it's an Augustus Treacy, who was rather fond of the Ostrich feather in his millinery and apparently kept a flock of the birds in the garden of his small home in Balham.

The more observant among you may recognise this lady as she has graced these pages before, only last time her head gear was really rather an embarrassment. It turns out the picture I captured was at her fitting and should never have seen the light of day. I committed the sin equivalent to posting a photograph in her undergarments. Her ghost, who has visited me nightly since, has been most aggrieved and warned me to put the situation right at once. She's rather fierce, so I thought I'd best do as she asks.

So here she is in her finished finery and full technicolour. Thank you my readers for your encouragement to finish this piece. I fear I would have abandoned poor Victoria without your kind words. She's very grateful! As you can probably guess, my top version has been given the sepia and grunge treatment in Photoshop.

Vintage drama

Jacqueline floated onto the ice, relishing the sound of skate on her stage that gave her such comfort. Out on the rink she was another person, far removed from the broken-hearted, dejected housewife she became when she crossed the threshold of number 43. She was a princess, a warrior, a diva, a fairy. She was anything she wanted to be.

Another, hidden in the gloom of the seats, watched Jacqueline’s every move. Motionless, she was a shadow against the shine from the ice stage. She was always in the shade even under the lights. No one ever noticed. No one cared. But not for much longer, for Pamela had something of Jacqueline’s that she knew the beautiful, foolish woman would give anything for – including her place in the limelight. Pammie’s time was coming. She smiled and slipped out of the auditorium. No one saw her go.

A bit of drama for you as my entry for the 'Vintage' challenge at number 3 Inspiration Avenue. Strictly speaking I think I should probably have made something, but couldn't resist showing you this vintage programme I picked up at a car boot sale last weekend for the bargain price of 10p. Aside from the fact I've since found an identical one for sale online for £10 (now that's what I call I bargain!), it does conjure up a lost era. I couldn't help but wonder what their stories were, so thought I'd have a bit of fun and invent one. I actually got two programmes - the other for a 1954 Holiday on Ice. I went to see that as a girl (in the 1970s, not the 1954 one!) and I think it still tours now, fitting in around the X-Factor, Britain's Got Talent and more modern and cheeky upstarts!