I agree and what an awesome camera too. Nice to see another New Hampshire gardener here!

LOL! I got my first little Brownie box camera when I was 11. I played with B/W film all during junior high. In high school, I worked on the yearbook and school newspaper--we did only B/W, but all our own processing and developing. Lots of experimenting and talking to other photographers...some workshops. Got the job as a photographer/darkroom tech at the college I went to...met my husband in the darkroom. GRIN (Yep, we've heard ALL the jokes.) By that time, my dad saw the potential of photography. He'd always wanted to own his own business, so he apprenticed with a local pro, then went into business. So...I was a photographer first, but he made it a business while I was in college. After college, and marrying my guy...someone from our church asked us to do some wedding photos...her maid of honor asked and so on...before long I was 24 and doing 50 weddings a summer. Whew. We joined local, regional, and national professional photographer organizations. LOTS of great educational opportunities there...I studied and learned and studied some more. Yes, I learned a lot about lighting. Photography IS lighting...then composition and feeling. It was a fun career. I closed my studio in my early 40's when we had an opportunity to move overseas for a while. By the time we came back, digital photography had swept in...I've learned just enough to do family photos for us. I keep my hand in doing portraits for a few select past clients from time to time. Remember...it isn't the camera, it's the person behind the camera who creates the art. Cameras can make it easier...but the artsy stuff comes from within you. Enjoy it!

I think it is both. I grew up in a house where my parents utilized an interior designer and both of my parents were clothes horses. Of all the siblings I had the most innate artistic ability and since I was the youngest, after a 5 year gap, I think they allowed me free reign with that. I was being asked my opinion about stuff like this by the time I was 12 or so. So I have one sibling who cares neither about clothes(in a bad way) nor the inside of her house much (although she has innately good taste when she actually buys a piece of furniture) I have another sibling who is very into clothes (good taste here) and decorating (questionable and fickle taste here). Interestingly, they each have a clothes horse and one is going to go to interior design school now that she has a business degree.

Lynxe, I believe they are talking about Christopher Lowell. He was just wonderful with his 'You can do it' attitude. He had a '7 layers of design' that he taught. Layer # 1 is paint and architectural embellishments: Paint is the cheapest way to add warmth to your room. Oh yeah, don't forget to paint those ceilings. Architectural embellishments are moldings and other architectural items. I like to add these elements not only because they add value to homes, but also charm and substance. Layer #2 is installed flooring: This is wall-to-wall installation, not area rugs which come later. Layer #3 is high-ticket upholstery items: These are basically any oversized fabric covered piece. Here is a quick tip to remember when purchasing your items. Remember to focus on solid and textured fabrics rather than patterns. Locking yourself into a pattern can be a costly investment, which won't have any return. Layer # 4 is accent: This is where you can have fun with accent fabrics for pillows, curtains, runners and yes, area rugs. These are the easier pieces to change from season to season or when updating is needed. Layer #5 is non-upholstered furniture (or the workhorses): Without these workhorses of the room, like coffee, end and side tables, a room simply doesn't work. Layer #6 is accessories: This is my favorite part. This is where you can inject personal items like photos, books and other merchandise. Layer # 7 is plants and lighting: Shadow is important to the mood of the room as the light that creates it. Here's a tip, remember, as much lighting should come from the floor as from the ceiling.Plants under lit help make great shadows and add that important living element to the room. Copied from http://www.ivillage.com/christopher-lowells-7-layers-design/7-a-220357