Busy Lady

So the last time we chatted, I was sewing things backwards!  I'm pleased to say that everything turned out perfectly and here are the photos to prove it!  Stella is modeling the Skip and Play Pants and the Daphne wrap top by The Cottage Mama, which are soon to be offered as pre-order in the Etsy shop.

I think she is writing her first novella.  What do you think?

This might just be my most favorite picture of Stella ever.

Back of the wrap shirt.

Front of the wrap shirt.

Detail shot of her capris.

Chasing the geese - because she can!

This is the Gossie and Gertie shot.  

So sweet!

It seems that every time I get behind the camera, I miss it more.  I have branched out in so many crafty areas that sometimes my true passion (photography) gets the short end of the stick.  This mini session in the oppressive heat yielded some great shots and I'm wondering if it would be as much fun with someone else's kid.  I haven't shot others in a long while and am throwing around the idea of maybe doing mini sessions after supper or on the weekends this summer....I'm thinking lemonade stand, wagon/bike wash, sweet sunsets, families, etc.  This could be fun or a crazy hair-brained idea.  I'm sure my hubby will let me know which it is! Ha!  Just for giggles though - what do you think?

xoxo

b.

shooting, shooting, shooting

Yay!  Creativity has struck and I have been at it for a few days now!  There's nothing like art flowing through your veins again.  There has been a warm kick in North Dakota and I think it has encouraged us all to get out of the house and enjoy the clear blue skies and bright sunshine. 

As you all know, I am in art school and have been taking photography courses.  This term I am taking an image management class that is all about how to keep your files organized.  In the past, I must say, I have not been the best at this.  I tend to label folders and hodge-podge the rest.  I am learning to use Photoshop Lightroom and the more I use it, the more I like it.  It's a little complicated at first - especially if you are used to programs like Picasa, but it can do some pretty amazing things.  For instance, did you know Lr lets you key word your images?  Yep, you can add as many keywords as you want and later if you are looking for all the pictures of one of your kids, you can find them in a snap.  Also, you can color code your images, add star ratings, flag, and even add them to a quick set.  In addition, you can make simple or more in depth adjustments to your photos all at once.  It's great!  Oh - and Lr 3 was just released and Adobe is letting people try it out for free!

Okay, so enough of selling you all on Lr.  Now to the art.  I selected four categories for this class that I thought would stretch me and make me think outside of the box.  Great idea right?  Yeah I thought so too, but now I'm not so sure.  I spent the last two days out and about in downtown Grand Forks shooting for:  color, texture, line, and architecture.  I thought that there would be a lot of crossover activity and that I would be able to use some images for more than one category.  Turns out I can, but I still have to submit at least 40 usable images.  Sheesh!  I found out that architecture is pretty difficult to shoot.  At first, I had leaning buildings, blown out skies, and uninteresting shots.  It took some work, but I think I might be on my way.  One thing that concerns me though is that there really aren't a whole lot of interesting buildings in GF.  I hope I didn't use up all the buildings in the first week's assignment!

My homework is turned in and now I await the critiques of my professor and peers.  In the meantime, check out my photos on my Flickr page and leave a comment!  Cheers!

when inspiration finds you

I just spent the last three and a half hours in the van with three screaming kids.  Why?  Well, it's our last summer vacation to the beach before the big move and I like to torture myself with Raffi songs.  Ha!  I have spent the afternoon unpacking us, making two very sleepy toddlers take naps, and surprisingly have enjoyed a little peace and quiet...alone!  I almost didn't know what to do with myself.

So - it being about 106 degrees outside, I decided to flip on the fan and just relax with a little surfing.  I visited one of my favorite sites - Shabby Princess and promptly downloaded their newest kits (yay for digi scrapping!) and then surfed on over to FB to update my status.  Important stuff you know.

One of my friends asked me to vote her kid the cutest on a photographer's page and of course I did and then was curious (we photographers often are) and found the most amazing girls that take pictures locally.  Two things happened - 1.  I called Kevin to ask him to check the calendar because we were finally going to have a family portrait made and we were all gonna be in it and 2.  I was inspired. 

With all the craziness of getting ready for school and trying to move across the country, my photography gear has collected some dust.  I don't like it anymore than you do, but by the time I have a moment to myself - I'm zonked.  I am itching to get out there and photograph everything.  Not just for school, but to really make a go of it and shoot full time.  It's not a lot to ask, but in a way it is.  I want to be a hired lens - have camera will travel- kind of thing.  I can do it - I will - it's just a matter of having the patience to ride out being a mother to toddlers...or maybe I could just hire a nanny...hmmm.

The Dreaded Layout Drawer

I don't know about the rest of you, but I keep a layout drawer in my scrap room.  It is a drawer that holds ideas, unfinished pages, and layouts that I am just stuck on.  For today's torture, err, um, "challenge," I decided to tackle the layout drawer.  To my surprise, I found that I was creative along the way, but just needed a few finishing touches here and there as well as a new perspective. 

By no means have I found the bottom of the drawer (I know what's down there and I'm scared of it - more on that later), but I did finish up a few cute layouts in under an hour!  Woohoo!

I seriously added a sticker and the journaling. I have no idea what the hold up was with this page...

I remember stamping this and having it turn out all wrong.  I got out the markers and jazzed it up a bit.  This could have been the hold up.  One thing goes terribly wrong and sometimes it all just falls apart.

This one just needed a photo.  Sheesh!  I used StazOn Opaque Cotton White to get the title to be all ghosty.

Use scrap fabric and StazOn Ink to make cute, cheap embellishments!

I had cut out the wave and stuck it in the drawer, but didn't have anything else with it...no sketches, no words, nothing.  So, I went with the flow and printed pictures from last weekend and with some buttons and polka dot paper, those two wonky waves turned into this two page layout!  It think it's my favorite.

I made a simple title with a white pen and some left over Thickers chipboard letters.

My favorite shot of the day.  

If you are stuck on a layout, just put it in the drawer and wait.  Let it simmer and in a week take it out again.  If it's still not ready, put it back.  If your drawer is overflowing like mine was, tackle it.  You just might find something that is completely different than what you put in.

Time to Stretch

I just signed up for the coolest class!  Sometimes we need a little inspirational break and a chance to stretch ourselves...and this is it!  This ten day class is being taught by a very cool, very insightful 17 year-old named Kara Haupt.  It features journaling, photography, art, downloadable embellishments, and so much more!  Check out her blog and join me in the Summer of Love.  I can't wait!