BLOWOUT SALE @ Dyche Designs Studio

You can now find all my art prints on CLEARANCE for just $6.00.  These items will be discontinued once sold so if you have a favorite now's the time to purchase.

 

Go to Dyche Designs Studio to view entire selection.

You will also find a number of scarves and art paintings on sale throughout my shop also.

 

Happy Holidays.

The Woven Tale Press Feature

I am excited to announce that several of my images and poems are featured in the September edition of The Woven Tale Press, a monthly e-magazine.

Their mission is to highlight blog posts buried in archives; paintings and photographs worthy of greater focus than a singular page; the innovative, the funny and the offbeat.  

 

It's free to peruse and only a click of this link away.  Have fun exploring the writing, artwork and images of its many featured artists.

Photo Heart Connection: March

When it came to choosing an image this month for my photo heart connection there was only one true contender . . . . 

. . . not because it was the best image or because of the shape, but because after all the bitching and moaning that I've done this past month about the snow, mother nature chose to love me anyway.

Linking up with Kat for Photo Heart Connection

Photo Heart Connection: February

February was a tough month.  The weather drove me insane and I didn't have many opportunities to venture outside with the camera.  I did, however, sit on the sofa taking photos of my feathered friends.  I chose the image below for my photo heart connection this month because it's a reminder to appreciate the little things; from the beauty of nature, to food on the table, to capturing incredible moments that I'd miss with the naked eye. 

 



 

I was so excited when I scrolled through my images and found that I'd captured a nuthatch in the process of swallowing a peanut (can you see it there in its throat)?

 

It reminded me of when I take my tablets, swallowing them whole, although I have to say I probably look more like a pelican as I do this head shake action (that my husband thinks is hysterical) to get the tablet to go down.  

Sssh, don't tell them this but the nuthatch aren't my favorite birds.  There is something about their face that can make them look quite sinister at times.

I do love the way they hang upside down both on trees and the feeders though.

I wonder if all that blood going to their head makes them smarter?

In all the grey and brown of February it was hard to be upbeat and creative but Nature has a way of teaching us patience . . .  all things come to those who wait.

 

Linking up with Photo Heart Connection.

Receive A Handwritten Letter & Free Photograph

There's something special and exciting about receiving a handwritten letter in the mail don't you think?  So here's the deal . . . . .

If you'd like to see something in your mailbox other than bills simply send me an email at dychedesigns@hotmail.com with your full name and address and one or two random facts about yourself.  That's it!  It doesn't matter where in the world you are (no exclusions).

Then sit back and start the vigil for a handwritten letter and photo to appear in your mailbox.

Shoot From The Hip

Call me crazy but one of the things I love to do is hold my camera at hip height and randomly shoot images while I'm walking.

 

 

You can end up with a bunch of rubbish shots but I love the surprise of not knowing what you're going to get until you download your photos.

 

 

Sometimes I get so focused on taking photos that I forget to look past the camera lens and appreciate what is around me.

 

 

This just changes things up a little bit and even though people may look at you a little strange it's fun.

 

 

It also meant that I could spent time with my husband and dogs rather than them constantly waiting for me to catch up.

 

 

Do you ever do this?

It's Not Easy Being Green

With the cooler weather my husband and I found ourselves back at the Cincinnati Nature Center this weekend walking the dogs. 

 

This time I was armed with my zoom lens and couldn't wait to check out the lily pond.

 

It didn't disappoint.

I've never seen so many frogs.

Did you know that a group of frogs is called an 'army' and a group of toads is called a 'knot'?  You learn something new every day.

At one point I was so busy leaning over to capture a shot that I didn't notice my favorite glasses falling into the soupy sludge until there was a loud 'PLOP'.

Unfortunately Ravyn (our black lab) thought that was her cue to jump into the water.  Eau du pond scum, my favorite.  Boy did she stink.

 

Some of these guys have the whole camouflage thing down. 

They can be so hard to detect, even when they are right in front of you.

The guy below was one of my favorites.  He looked like he was in stealth mode walking of the edge of the lily pad into the pond.

 I never thought I would get so excited over frogs but they are fun to watch and photograph.  Sorry if you're not a frog person but I just had to share.