billowing smoke | storms | clouds

I really believe that mother nature is having words with us this year.  And actually my thoughts on that really hasn't changed from year to year, it just seems it is more pronounced at different times.  Like for instance right now the tornadoes and storms that have been popping up seems like a cry for us to sit back, evaluate our lives and remember to be humble.  Now for the weather channel, I just believe for them it's just another excuse to create drama and pandemonium.  I mean really, V2!  And don't you find it kind of funny how every one of them always seem to have a smirk on their faces, like "this is great, I want the whole world to end due to this catastrophic storm converging, and blah, blah!!!"  And you better believe that when I see Jim Cantore anywhere near where I live and they are predicting some catastrophic storm, my butt (along with my family!!) will be heading out of town.  Because really there never really seems to be any good when he's in the area...

Last night we have a little storm come through, and yes it scared me a little.  It's not the rain and such that scares me, just the lightening.  And the sad thought of it all was this little turtle who seemed to be out roaming the streets while this is all happening.  But I have to say he/she was a smart little one because it seemed to either follow the side walk or the curb where ever it went.  Like a mother, I kept my eye on it as long as I could before it went out of site.  I was worried, and I prayed that little turtle would find a safe haven.  Away from the passing cars and the lightening.

Right at the end of the storm, my husband had to show me the clouds.  And I am glad he did.  I had never seen such clouds.  They were like billowing smoke from a burning building, all fluffy and light.  And the sunset accompanying it was just spectacular.  I only wish I had been at the beach to capture it with the ocean, but my back yard will have to do. 

Here's what we saw.

Jet Plane | Home again...

A little break from the norm will never hurt you, although my normal hasn't consisted of too much, but I can still say that I didn't mind the change of pace.  And even though the weekend was for a sadder occasion, we still seemed to enjoy our time with family.  I just hope my little man hasn't been scarred too much by his hoodlum cousins to the point of making mommy and daddy totally loose their hair, that remains to be seen at this point!!

So I am now home again and ready to get to work.  I am really hoping to get more in my shop.  I have to get my poop-in-a-group and start designing.  But I'll leave today with something from our travels.  Ya I know, you've seen it before.  But it's been like 2 years since I have flown and gotten the chance to get it for myself. 

Have a great day, and talk to you soon!!!

golfing

Golf is not my thing.  I mean I can watch it and learn all there is to know about it, but I won't play it.  Not that I can't, because let's be honest, if I practiced hard enough I could play.  And for as long as my husband and I have been with each other, I have many of questions asking why I don't take up such game.  Well, one: it's because that's my husband's hobby.  The one where he can have his time to himself without the wifey interfering.  And two: well I'm not quite sure what that one is.  But I can assure you, that in a few more years, it will be definite why I don't play.

I'll give you a glimpse of the next Tiger Woods.  And the one main reason I don't play golf.  It's so this little guy can have daddy time.  Be like the guy that he admires most.

Logo

I am a little slow in posting this, but I just recently did a logo for my friend Heather.  And here is what we came up with.

Template

Today I have been trying to come up with a template.  I think I have been wracking my brain all week of what I would really like to make.  And so I come up with this ( an idea I found searching the net) :

If there is interest in it, please let me know.  I may have it available if there is enough interest.

Some vintage cross proccessing.......

I've been trying lately to do a little bit of everything.  Perfecting my proccessing skills, designing, family, you name it.  Lately I have been a little fascinated by the vintage, artistic look and I think I have come up with one that I really like.  Of course it's a work in progress, but I think my first edit turned out pretty well.

(oh, and by the way, 2 posts in one day.  that's crazy for me!!!!)

Mother's Day..........

I have to say that becoming a mom has been the most gratifying jobs.  I always knew that some day I would have little tip toes walking through the halls and giggling with excitement just at a funny smile.  They seem to brighten your day, even though it may have seemed at it's worse. 

While I still was very blessed to be able to spend it with my family, mother's day this year will always be remembered.  I will count my blessings everyday, and remember that as each year passes generations are lost and all we have are but memories. 

But good memories at that.

These are the flowers I recieved from my little guy.

Here it is.....

So I have finally taken the time to post some images from my session I had over a week ago.

I have to say that I had a fun time doing this as mainly when I would shoot it would be practicing on my little guy more than anything.  And while that has been great for me, learning exposure and all the other technical stuff, it really hadn't given me the opportunity to see what I could do in a real setting.  I know I have a lot more practicing to do, what with posing and all, I can't wait to see what I can do now.  My confidence has gotten built more and more and this really helped out.

Now, this is my friend Heather with Heather Sons Photography.  She had been wanting pictures for her business and so I was thrilled when she wanted me to take them for her.  And I have also had the opportunity to rework her logo for her and I'll post that maybe tomorrow.  But for now, here are a few shots that I had gotten.  I have to say that I think I have become more of a portrait oriented photographer rather than a landscape oriented.  Something that I'll need to work on.

A sneak peak....

So the past couple of days I have been working on my first ever session.  I think I have been more scared then anything to initially start it, but I think I did decent.  There are things I probably could have and would do different, but for the most part I am pretty pleased.  

Now I'll only show one image for a little teaser.  When I get the remaining finished, I'll post them. 

This is of my good friends Heather who is also a great photographer.  She has been requesting shots for her business and I was more than thrilled to do them for her. 

Designing

Wow, I can't believe it's been since Christmas that I posted on this side of my blog. 

I just wanted to let you know what I have been up to in my world of designing.  I have been perfecting my techniques as well as working on some projects for clients.  Currently I have been working on a logo and while I am not quite finished yet, I do have one's they decided would not work for them.  So I wanted to show them here. 

I think this one was a fun one for me and I wanted to try something a little different. 

Gradually I'll show the other designs I came up with later so you can see how many variations I was able to get.  It's amazing how one idea can blossom into others.

Sewing

Lately I have found myself in the need to redecorate my house.  And with me being without work, I have had plenty of time to do that.  Currently I have been making new pillows for my living room to help brighten things up and take the drab out.  And in the process, I have found a color combo that I just love.  Something that I think I will carry throughout a lot of things I do.  Oh, by the way.  Besides me loving the pillows, this chair is one of my favorite pieces.  I have thought to use it for some photography later.  We'll see if I can find a model to use it with.

A little something new

Now that I am finally finished closing down the store I had worked at, I have had the opportunity to update my site.  My hope is to start providing logo design services and such, and well the way things were looking before, it wasn't too convincing of my abilities.  I hope to remedy that.  Also, I am now currently able to do more camera straps for those who are interested.

MIA

Lately has been somewhat of a blur for me.  Recently the place that I have worked at for over 7 years has decided to close it's doors.   And while it's heart renching to know you have lost your job, it can also be a positive note in change.  No one ever wants to be told you will be unemployed at such and such time, but for me it came as a quick kick in the butt to persue other things. 

In the coming months I really hope to do more of my photography and design, but to also get some sort of normalcy back in my life.  Working 6 days and closing a store it's not easy.  It's emationally and physically draining to the point certain things have been neglected.  And that may be my creativity or even sending emails.  For those who have inquired about my camera straps, I sincerely apologize for not getting back to you.  With what time I have at home, my first thought has been my family and then resting.  But hopefully after March I will be able to concentrate on the things I would like to.

Hope Valentines wasn't just a commercial holiday but one in which you knew your blessings and appreciate your loved one's.    

25 Things

Since I have been a member over on FaceBook, I have had several people tag me for 25 things about myself. While I am not really one to get into "fill-in the blank" type of forwards, I thought this timeit would be kind of fun to do. I like the idea of coming up with randomn things about myself that maybe no one ever knew.

Here it goes:

1.i am very creative person. there is nothing more rewarding to me than being able to take a great photograph or produce a kick ass logo. i would love to have photographer/graphic designer as my title and hope to get there soon. besides that i love to knit, quilt, paint, ok just anything that allows me to create!!!

2. my family is my world. i do not know where i would be if i didn't have my hubby and my little boy in my life. they ground me and inspire me everyday. and i absolutely love my in-laws. they are my saving grace with being so far from my own family. i couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law either. she has become my best friend over the years. heck i talk to her more than her own brother does!!!

3. i hate capitalizing letters when typing!!! takes too much time to hit the shift button.

4. i miss my friends from back home. and the one's that i haven't kept in touch with. there is not a day that goes by that i don't think about them and what they are doing. hoping that some day they can fit me back into their lives. we all had such great times and it really sucks that i am so far away. you get me!! you really do!!!

5. secretly i would love to go back to school and get my masters in graphic design. well not secretly, but i would!! and i would actually apply myself a little more too...

6. i really hate it when a customer walks in the door 5 minutes before you close and say, "i know you are closing in 5 minutes" "can i look around?"... personally it should be written rule that you cannot enter a place of business 30 minutes before it closes unless you know exactly what you want and you can get out within 5 minutes.. i mean seriously people, think of those who would like to get home on time!!!!

7. i love to be barefoot or wearing flip flops all day. especially my reef's.. thanks amy for introducing me to such fine footwear!!!!

8. i love music. i could be listening to music all day. i especially love indie music and artists that no one has heard of. i'm not much on trends, and prefer a little eclectic mix. ani difranco, chantel kreviazuk, ingrid michaelson, k's choice, or the list could go on.... (by the way, i get to see ani in concert march 16th. be excited for me!! she's fantastic!!!)

9. since my son was born, i have become more vocal. i used to be timid about what i think, and personally you really don't have the luxury when you have a child. plus it has helped me to have a stronger personality and not such a reclouse (sp is wrong i know)

10. i am a more modern traditionalist person. everything has to have clean lines and cool, clean, crisp colors. not really big on ivory (although i do have some ivory things) i have gotten to a point that i don't like clutter, i'm not really kean on excessive accessories, and i love white towels and white sheets. not because they can be bleached (YOU SHOULD NEVER USE BLEACH IN YOUR LAUNDRY) but because it has a crisp, cool, fresh look. i also love high end linens (thanks to where i work) high thread counts are not important to me but where they are made and what cotton is used. i've become a linens snob!!! oh and they have to be percale sheets too. no sateen please!! i don't care how sexy they are, they are just not comfortable...

11. techonology is fantastic!!! i love the internet and finding all kinds of resources from there. i especially love reading peoples blogs and seeing new photographers and designers. they are totally inspiring for me.

12. i hate forwards. they cannot be 3 pages long, they cannot be chains that if you make a wish and send it to so many people you get that wish (it never happens and don't think for one minute it could) the only one's i care for have to be a paragraph long, take 1 minute to read. i can handle video if it's something that is not about people causing themselves bodily harm ( tend to feel what they feel when they get hurt. it's not fun) i also, hate when people send forwards and they keep everyone's addresses from the previous person who forwarded, and so you have pages of people you don't know's address and by the time you get to what the forward was about, it's something entirely stupid. common people, do a forward right. delete all the junk that has absolutely nothing to do with the forward.

13. i love sweets. my personal favorite is cheesecake and chocolate cheesecake especially. i've grown to love coffee more. but it has to be flavored sweet coffee. black coffee is too much for me. i cannot stand sweet tea!! especially from the south. too much sugary syrup (i know that's odd coming from someone who loves sweets) i'll take my tea unsweetend.

14. my favorite color is blue. always has been. i love more of an ice blue, with a little bit of tangerine orange. aqua's have become a new favorite of mine. and i hate the trend of brown's and aqua's at the moment. although it is such a pleasing color palette, i try to stay away from trends. if you didn't already know, i'm not much of a trendy person. especially in fashion. oh, and i like pink!!! enough said.

15. prefer silver jewlery over gold. i think gold is dirty looking and just doesn't fit into my whole design or look.

16. can't believe i have known brian for 13 years and have been married for 8 of those years. i think of all the things we have been through and couldn't imagine myself without him. he has been my grounding rock. he is the best father anyone could ever ask for, the best husband, and my best friend.

17. i want to be a mommy again. i love being a mommy. in due time though for another one.. i think ian would be such a wonderful big brother. he has such a sweet disposition, a loving heart, and you just couldn't deny him that fun.

18. i would love to travel to far off countries. italy, france, australia, czechloslavakia, venice, ah the places everyone probably wants to go to. i would just love to photograph the countryside in italy, see the beachs of australia, get to know where my grandfather grew up in czechloslavakia, the list could go on.

19. one of my favorite cities is Charleston, SC. the history and the feel of that place is just beautiful. i love walking down king street and seeing the shops. don't particularly like the smell of the horses but liked the carriage tours. savannah is nice too, but we don't go there very often (and it's only 30 minutes). would like to go to lady and sons with my sister. paula deen is such a raunchy old lady, but she's good!!! and i like her story. just check out her rings on the next party she has. and she's not afraid to get them dirty too!!!

20. i've said it before, but i miss my family, i miss my friends, i love the friends that i have down here. am excited about a new penpal that i have now. cry when i think about how far away some of my friends are that i can't see. cry that i can't see my niece and nephews all the time. miss the idea that i have to miss them grow up. but i will never move back to indiana, will only think about being as close as maybe tennessee. will never live in ohio or illinois. could possibly do michigan, but not sure on having to deal with winters.

21. proud of my dad for his weight loss. he doesn't have that big ole belly anymore... proud of my sisters for their weight loss. i think we are becoming a skinny family (hopefully) trying to eat better and not so much junk. although i will not get rid of my sweets just eat less of them.

22. my favorite flower is the daisy. gerbera daisy's too. they are such simple flowers but represent so much.

23. i'm very greatful for the things that i have, the people that i am surrounded by, and the idea that god has a plan. it may not always make sense at first. i'm still trying to figure mine out, and i think we spend our entire lives trying to do that.

24. i have come the realization that i am going to be a soccer mom and that the idea of owning a mini van is within reach. sadly!! come on, you can't beat the stow-and-go seats. the room to tow around ian's baseball team, or soccer boys. and the idea you can get better gas milage than my jeep can get.

25. fall is my favorite time of year. the weather is just right, cool enough you don't need a jacket, warm enough you don't roast. i am sad that you don't see the change is season here as much, but what little color you see on the leaves is breathtaking. i would love to ride down the blue ridge parway during the fall and see the leaves.

A new Trick

A quick image of a new thing I tried this week.  Sinc I do not own a macro lens, I learned of a technique over at 2p's that takes care of that.  In this case, I used my 85mm lens attatched to my camera.  Then I took my 50mm lens, butted up the lens to my 85mm so that the part that connects to the camera is facing outward.  Then get in about maybe 1/2 inch from what you want to photograph, hold very steady and take the shot.  It would be much better using a tripod, but I wanted to try it out so bad I did without.  They have couplers that you can purchase to connect the two together to make it easier, you just have to make sure you get the right sizes.....