Lanner Falcons

I am in my element with these beautiful birds! The Lanner Falcon (falco biarmiscus) is nowadays mostly seen in the UK at falconry displays. They are a beautiful site and I have spent many hours watching them in fascination. The lanner is probably underestimated as a hunting hawk in the UK today but exels as a display falcon.

This beautiful picture is by John Gould and now in the public domain. Frame and background by myself.

This is a widescreen sized desktop - just click on the image and save the full size to your own computer. If you need a standard size you will find one HERE. I also have a matching card in our GALLERY.

There are more beautiful bird desktops at JUDY'S and at JAN'S sites.

Enjoy
Chris

British Birds

Hope you love birds as much as we at Touch of Class do - you will be seeing lots of them in the next week or two!

As the UK member of this group I have chosen British birds for this desktop. Both images are by John Gould painted between 1862 and 1873. I love all his bird images. Those I using here (and on my new header) are now public domain pieces of art. I hope you like them.

Top birds are the black throated thrush still found in Britain today. Below is one of our favourite birds, the Alpine accentor. I have used a John Gould image for my new blog topper also, the little hedge sparrow or accentor.

The image above is a widescreen version. If you need a standard size you can find one HERE.

There is also a card in the GALLERY if you would like it.

If you are a member of our Yahoo group there will be lots of 'bird talk' - please join in.

Enjoy
Chris

Celebrating France

She does look so sad but I feel sure appearing here will cheer her!

Adapted from a painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) which is now in the public domain. Bouguereau was a French academic painter, a traditionalist. He painted many females.

The frame and background are created by myself as is my little ribbon and stud. The beautiful fleur-de-lys (lily flower) created by our own Judy seems to suit this beautifully. Thank you Judy.

I hope you like it. This picture is a widescreen version which you can click and save the large image to your own computer. If you require a standard size click HERE.

I also have a matching card in our Touch of Class Gallery - if you are not already a member pop along and see what you are missing!

Enjoy
Chris

River in Blue

I love flowing water whether it is the sea, a river or even a little brook. The sound of a gently flowing river fascinates me. Can sit for hours just listening especially when out in the countryside with bird song and a light breeze making the leaves on the trees rustle! Paradise to me.

This particular river runs through the little village in the Highlands of Scotland where my grandfather was born, Rogart. Hope you like it. Everything on this desktop has been created by myself.

This is a widescreen version. Just click and save the full size image to your desktop. A standard size is available HERE.

Enjoy
Chris

Wester Ross, Scotland

One of my favourite places - the little villageof Ullapool which is situated on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands in Wester Ross. It is one of those magical places that you happen upon while on the way to somewhere else!

I arrived here in pouring rain following a long, long drive. Even in the rain it was a magical scene! I took this photograph at 6am the following morning when the rain had stopped. The world at its best!

I do hope you like it. This is a widescreen version, click on the pic to bring up full size ready for you to save to your computer. If you prefer a standard 1024 x 768 size you can get one HERE. There is also a card in our GALLERY to send to your friends.

All men like the sea and boats - a lovely desktop for Father's Day on Sunday?
Enjoy
Chris

White Lilac Desktop

Based on the original painting by Capeinick I hope you will enjoy this desktop. The backgound has many layers and masks in my attempts to create a desktop in a 'today' style.

Capeinick painted his beautiful still life White Lilac during his lifetime (1838-1890) and the beauty of it still thrills today. This painting is now in the Public Domain.

This image is a widescreen version whcih you can click and save the fullsize image to your desktop. If you require a standard size please download one HERE. A matching card is available in our GALLERY.

Enjoy.
Chris

Father's Day coming soon!

Father's Day this coming Sunday for many parts of the world.

We have created some great cards for you to send. They are on show now in our TOUCH OF CLASS GALLERY and also in our CARD CORNER for those who prefer to send as an e-card.

If you are not already a memberof our Gallery please drop me an email and you soon will be. Hundreds of beautiful cards there for you to send yourself.

Enjoy
Chris
email chris@tocchris.com

Roses on a Tabletop

I based this desktop on an old still life painting by Severn Rose which is now in the Public Domain. I have softened, blended, misted this image making it into what I hope is a lovely desktop. I love the colours.

This is a widescreen version so click on picture and save it to your own computer. A standard 1024 x 768 version can be downloaded HERE.

A matching card is available in our GALLERY.

Enjoy
Chris

Hiawatha's Departure

Here is the second of my Hiawatha desktops. The image of Hiawatha is from a drawing by Harrison Fisher around 1906 and now in the Public Domain.

The wonderful sunset sky image is from Free Nature Photographs which allow use of their images. They do have some stunning images. When you go searching for an image knowing exactly what you want it is great when you not only find it but know that you may use it! Thanks to the great folks who run that site. Hope you like my creation!

This desktop will fit widescreen monitors so click on the pic and save to your computer. Need standard 1024 x 768 size? - go HERE.

Enjoy
Chris

Hiawatha

I have always loved the wonderful tales of Hiawatha contained in Longfellow's magical 'Song of Hiawatha'. When I discovered this image which was drawn by Harrison Fisher and now in the Public Domain I knew something creative would have to happen!!

So here is my Hiawatha desktop. I believe the image is one of his daughters but despite reading my way through all verses last night I still cannot determine which one.

This desktop will fit all widescreen monitors. A standard version is available HERE. A matching card is in our Gallery.

I do hope you like this.
Chris

A Perfect Place

This peaceful, tempting desktop is based loosely on a tutorial by Helly at Helyztagz and is published here with her permission.

The image I have used is a Daisy Mist and the scrap kit is made by Helly. I do hope they both like what I have created with their materials.

I have named this perfect place as to me it looks just that! Wouldn't it be wonderful to waken to a pretty view like this each morning?

To view it full size click on the pic - this one is widescreen sized - if you wish to save it to your own computer right click on the full size image and save. If you need a standard sized version you will find one HERE. There is also a matching card in our Touch of Class Gallery.

Please take a minute to visit the other Touch of Class blogs - links to all on the left.
Enjoy
Chris

Summer Ballet

As regular visitors know I adore ballet. This desktop is based on a beautiful Summer Dance Tutorial by Tish. I have published my version here with her permission.

A few of the tubes I used in here came with the tutorial. Others from Daisy.

I hope you like this as much as I do. to see it full size just click on the pic. It is a widescreen size so right clicking on the full size image will save it to your own desktop. If you need a standard size you will find one HERE. I love sharing my work so please feel free to share the address of this blog.

A matching card is available in our Gallery - always a nice way to let folks know about all the free goodies from Touch of Class. Links to all the team on the left.

Enjoy
Chris

Siamese Stars

I could not resist these beautiful Siamese cats. Hypnotic eyes! The stunning picture of the cats is by
Kate Freeman and used in my desktop with her permission. Kate does some lovely work. Thanks lots Kate for allowing me to use this.

To see the full beauty of the picture click on it and you can view full size. This one is made to fit widescreen monitors. If you prefer a standard size you can get one HERE.

Enjoy
Chris

Old Edinburgh

As many of you know I come from Edinburgh, Scotland although I have lived in central England for many years. Edinburgh today is a city of old and new, known as the Athens of the North, it is a beautiful city loved by tourists from all over the world.

Sadly it was not always so. The famous Royal Mile was once home to thousands of the poorest in the city. Most children had no shoes and many little match boys desperately tried to earn the price of a loaf of bread.

My match boy image is taken from an old public domain painting which originated in north America. My background is my own photograph taken in the Royal Mile last year. I have tried to age it! The tag part of the desktop is loosely based on a lovely tutorial at D'zines by Grace. The great stitching border is part of that tutorial and used here with Grace's kind permission.

This picture is sized to fit a widescreen monitor. If you need a standard size you can download one HERE.

Enjoy
Chris

All kids have a Mum!

On Mother's Day it seems very appropriate to show you this lovely desktop. Adapted from a Paintshop Pro tutorial by Jet at Jetie's PSP Creations. You can view an English translation HERE. Many thanks also to my favourite learning group PSPMADEZE.

This picture is widescreen. If you need a standard size you will find one HERE.

Not sent a Mother's Day card yet? Still time HERE.

Enjoy
Chris