Sunday, February 3, 2013

Mosaic Monday: Seeking Inspiration







Gosh, where to start today?  Some days I have absolutely nothing to say.  I feel like such a fraud, or maybe just a bore -- plopping some pictures down here and going on my merry way.  I think it's worst during the winter.  I have not been out getting all the garden visits and landscape shots that I love to do in the rest of the year.  So I buy some supermarket flowers and start to shoot.  Don't get me wrong, I love to shoot flowers.  But I feel as though I do the same shot over and over...

I need some inspiration!!!

I've thought about doing a weekly prompt, just to get the creative juices flowing.  Of course, I should have begun in January.  But what the heck, I will just start this week.  I'm going to post on Thursday afternoons, and if you would like to join me, just leave a link to your post in the comments on Thursday.  I'd love to see what you come up with!  If we get enough interest, I will consider starting a linky party.  Here are the first few prompts to get us started:

February 7:  home
February 14:  love
February 21:  white
February 28:  architecture

I will probably do just one image for each prompt, but if you want to include more, go for it.  I will probably just let the image speak for itself, but if you want to include  text as well, great.  Whatever floats your boat.  And if we get enough people to play, I might do a "My Faves" post at the end of each month, with your permission, and link back to your blog.  I would appreciate a link back to my post each week, so that your friends can join in if they wish.

So, what do you think?  Anybody in?  I hope to see at least a few of you on Thursday!  :)

Here are the instructions to join today's post:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.


That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.


49 comments:

  1. these beautiful tulips I have not seen

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  2. Cannot wait to see what you come up with.....smiles

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  3. Beautiful tulips, Mary! I agree about winter and needing inspiration. I am looking forward to spring and seeing flowers and longer days of sunshine. Your idea of using prompts sounds like fun. Happy Sunday and thanks for hosting!

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  4. I'll gladly join in your weekly prompts - something to get the creative juices flowing at this dull time of year.

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  5. thanx for hosting. i´ll try to be in on thursday too :)

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  6. Your tulips are divine Mary.
    Even though it is Summer here on the other side of the world, it reminds that Winter provides beautiful flowers too!
    Thursdays sounds a lovely idea - thank you.

    May I just say Mary - you and your photos are never boring.
    Thank you for hosting Mosaic Monday.
    Hugs
    Shane ♥


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  7. I love these tulips, Mary! I think your posts are always lovely, but I understand what you mean about needing inspiration. I would love to participate on Thursdays; if you send out a reminder, that would be really helpful for me. :)

    Thank you for hosting and have a great week.

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  8. I like your new prompt ideas. Time will tell if my brain kicks in for this Thursday. Your tulips are beautiful...

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  9. I will be checking back on Thursday for your prompts. Thanks for hosting today, I look forward to joining in with Mosaic Monday.
    Joy

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  10. Hi Mary: We were both thinking flowers this week. You were going for the dark and sultry and me to the light side. Valerie

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  11. The tulips are beautiful, a reminder that spring will come. Yes, I'll come around on Thursday to check things out.
    Judith

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  12. Tulips were my mom's favorite flower (I may have told you that on IG already), and they're mine, too. They say spring to me. I may play along on your Thursday prompts. I need inspiration, too!

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  13. Pure loveliness. I am so looking forward to seeing them push through the ground.

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  14. Mary -- your tulips are beautiful! (I don't see very many Spring flowers since we're in Florida until summer time, so I always appreciate the memories. It's the definite downside of no winter -- we also have no spring! And I know it's too early and you are picturing flower-shop flowers, but they are still beautiful and you arrange them so beautifully in your mosaic!)....

    I like the idea of the Thursday prompt and would love to take part. But (rather ironically) we will be away from home this week until Thursday, so I won't be posting much of anything. I'll try for next week.

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  15. Your tulips are just gorgeous...I am so ready for spring! Thanks for hosting....hugs, Penny

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  16. The flowers are lovely....some of my favorite colors. And the prompt sounds like fun. I blog about my every day life so I'll ponder on this! Happy Monday! Sweet hugs!

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  17. Gorgeous tulips Mary, I love the colour. The prompt sounds like a great idea, I'll be there.

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  18. Mary I don't think you could ever be boring. Your photography is always a joy to me. I love these images of the tulips. And I am thinking of doing some "on black" photography - so you have inspired me! I like the prompt idea. I am part of a project like that over on Flickr. A prompt really makes you get thinking to come up with some different and helps you learn along the way too. Have a wonderful week. and see you Thursday!

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  19. Magnificent photography as always ~ Very inspiring ~ especially since it snowed today in MA ~ Prompts are a mixed blessing ~ Will do my best ~

    Carol of: (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

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  20. Your photos today are mesmeric and I particularly like the one of the tulips laid across the book. I don't think you can be boring either - in fact I think your posts are inspiring and always lead to some action ... such as being part of a prompt linky :)

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  21. Oh, Mary, those are gorgeous tulips! I "store bought" some orange ones last week and enjoyed them immensely -- but never took a single photograph. (They certainly wouldn't have looked as stunning as yours!) I've made note of your prompts, and my creative juices are already working overtime. I'll do my best to join you on Thursday. For now, you might find some inspiration here. I always do.

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  22. Hi Mary, your photographs are always lovely and inspire me! Your new linky party sounds like fun. I would love to join in if I can figure out the prompts so lead the way.......Thanks for hosting Mosaic Monday.

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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    1. Hi Emily! You're so kind. Thank you so much! I have listed the first four prompts in this post. This Thursday, February 7th, the prompt will be "home.". You can interpret that any way you like... A photo of the outside of your home, of a spot inside, of your family gathered for dinner, of a favorite piece of furniture -- anything that says "home" to you... :)

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  23. I love the idea of the prompts and your tulips Mary.

    I have had the winter blahs for awhile. My muse is fickle.

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  24. Actually, that sounds really fun, Mary.... but I'm so bad about getting to my homework! (embarrassed!) Hope I can join in! I have more to say - I can really relate. I just want to go hide and be a hermit, today, though... ;)

    But love to you and yours and - you have favorite themes but, they still are refreshing and speak so... I don't know! Works for me! =]

    xxoo

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  25. Beautiful tulips. Yes, it is a time of year when inspiration can be hard to come by!

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  26. The beauty and tranquility of these pictures brings peace and calm! Wonderful!! Cathy

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  27. Lovely photos of beautiful tulips. I bought some in a similar color today. How do you get such a deep background to your photos?
    A new prompt is a great idea for the blogging doldrums that seems to set in around this time of year.

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    1. Thanks so much, Lorrie! As for the deep background, I shoot them in front of the fireplace with strong light coming from camera left. I also use a very wide aperture, so the background is out of focus. Lastly, they are sitting on a black tole tray, so that adds to the deep background as well. Hope this helps. :)

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  28. Your purple tulips are gorgeous ! So beautiful and mystical. Best regards, Synnöve

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  29. Your shots are lovely and I never tire of flowers. It IS hard in the winter...and I do not have any easy time with indoor shots at all. But I am linking up the silliest post ever which really was not planned....just the result of snapping alot of photos and getting silly ! (or stir crazy? : )

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  30. The photos of the flowers are awesome....you really know how to use that camera.
    Prompts are always a good way to infuse "new blood" into a blog, I think.

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  31. Mary, count me in, I have been in search of photography inspiration. Some days I don't know what to write about so I don't post anything. Before I know it a week might have transpired. I will get a call from my friend in New Jersey. "Hey where's your post, I was worried about you" I used to post so often.

    Thank you for the wonderful idea.

    Happy Monday.

    Karen

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  32. P.S. Your photographs are stunning, I love how you created the dark background.

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  33. I usually love light backgrounds...but this literally took my breath away...kudos to YOU!

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  34. Your flower photos are always a joy to see, Mary! I'd love to join in on your prompt posts but this week will be a little hectic for us as our granddaughter is scheduled to be born! We are so excited!

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  35. Hi Mary.
    Your tulips are gorgeous . I love tulips and the colors are beautiful.
    colors I hear so many people saying they have no inspiration I have that prolem too. I am not blogging as much as I am used to also because there is not much to photograph in this gray weather we have here.
    I don't know what a prompt is so I will come and see on THursday what it is all about.
    Have a nice evening.

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  36. Your photos are never disappointing.

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  37. Mary, the tulip shots are gorgeous! The weekly prompt sounds like a great idea!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  38. Hi Mary,It's good to be back for Mosaic Monday I have been away for a few weeks and have missed all the fun.

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  39. Your flower shots are gorgeous! I love the soft quality. I really like the sound of your weekly prompt. I'll have to see what I have for this week, but I'll certainly try to join in.

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  40. Your photos are amazing - love the color composition of the tulips, and your kreavitet. :) Hanne Bente www.hbt.finus.dk

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  41. Mary, you just shoot those beautiful posies whenever your heart desires and share them as often as you will, for I never, ever tire of them. You truly are a master at posie photography anyway...your colours always show such clarity and richness in colour and I love the elements that you present with them as well~

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  42. Thank you for the beautiful bouquet, the lovely party and the inspiration. I love them all :-)

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  43. Very new to the blog world, but have to say it is indeed sites like yours that have drawn me completely in and kept me coming back. Lovely you are!

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  44. Thank you so much to everyone who left such nice comments! You certainly made me feel a little better about my "boring" posts! LOL
    xoxo

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I love to hear what you have to say!