life through the lens...

Black Friday & Cyber Monday SALE!

2011-11-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

Starting at midnight I will be having a Black Friday and Cyber Monday SALE in my Etsy Shop! Enter the code: FPOE2011 - to receive 40% off all in stock items in my shop (when you check out you will see a place to enter the coupon code). Sale runs from Nov. 25th-28th.

I have some new items and new 2012 calendars for sale...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and to those who will be braving the crowds...happy shopping!

photography prompt no. 47...clouds

2011-11-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

Melissa and I will post our images on Wednesday, November 30th.

2 photographers 1 inspiration...texture

2011-11-16T15:24:00.001-07:00

Autumn is full of so many textures...I had a hard time choosing which texture I wanted to photograph. Melissa's acorn image is so warm and full of the small details that our eyes tend to miss. My image is of some pomegranates from our backyard. I love their vibrant and rich red color and the translucent seeds. They remind me of tiny rubies.

How did you capture 'texture'? I'd love to see your image...feel free to post it in the comment section below...

{monday's moment}

2011-11-07T13:25:00.001-07:00

next weeks photography prompt...week 46

2011-11-04T11:22:00.001-06:00

Melissa and I will post our images on Wednesday, November 16th...

{monday's moment}

2011-10-31T14:01:00.000-06:00

Lately, I've visited a few blogs that on a specific day that post a photo without words or posting a photo with a thought (I'm a huge fan of photos with quotes). I like the simplicity of these ideas and thought that I'd try it out. I'm going to change a few things. I'm going to call it {monday's moment} and I'll post it on...you guessed it...Mondays. In the back of my mind I'm hoping that this helps me go through my photos and process them instead of letting them slowly find their way into the archives never to be seen again.

Melissa does a post every Thursday called Thursday's Thought.

Amanda does a post every Friday called This Moment. this moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

So, here is {my moment}...

Feel free to join me. If you'd like you can share your 'moment' by leaving a link in the comment section below...

2 photographers 1 inspiration...leaves

2011-10-26T13:47:00.000-06:00

The cooler weather and the brilliant colors of the changing leaves are what make autumn a favorite season for me.

I love the warm autumn colors in Melissa's image and the amazing depth of field. I captured my leaf picture while hiking with my family.

left: melissa right: kristi

How did you capture the leaves of autumn? Share your image in the comment section below...

photography prompt no. 45...leaves

2011-10-14T17:33:00.004-06:00

Melissa and I will post our photos on Wednesday, October 26, 2011.

things i love thursday...pumpkins

2011-10-13T20:14:00.000-06:00

pumpkins are adorable, colorful, festive, versatile and just plain cute. I found so many lovely pictures on flickr that it was hard to pick just nine...

1. ♥, 2. :: the pumpkin patch ::, 3. Untitled, 4. "Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.", 5. happy... um... november!, 6. always be thankful., 7. Happy Halloween!, 8. 70 - 365, 9. k pumpkins

Besides being cute...I love to bake with pumpkins too...they make it feel more like fall when the weather we're having here still feels like summer. I'm going to share one of my favorite pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipes with you. It's super easy and I like it because I usually have all of the ingredients on hand.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Blend these ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a separate bowl blend these ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground ginger

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and blend.

Then add 1 cup (or more) of mini chocolate chips.

Both milk chocolate and semi-sweet taste great...use what you like.

Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.

Here are some other pumpkin recipes that I'm going to try soon...

pumpkin whoopie pies with cream cheese filling from martha stewart

marbled chocolate pumpkin brownies from bhg

pumpkin salted caramel blondies from baked bree

pumpkin muffins from martha stewart

pumpkin scones with spiced glaze from honey and jam

How about you...are you a fan of pumpkins and do you have any favorite pumpkin recipes?

2 photographers 1 inspiration...feet

2011-10-12T13:14:00.004-06:00

Feet. They support us, keep us grounded and take us where we need to go yet they often go unnoticed and are usually neglected. I admit that I forget about them even though I love photographing them. That's why I was glad that this week's prompt had us capture our feet.

Melissa's image is beautiful. Showing the season and showing off her new shoes...so cute! I chose to capture my Emma's little feet propped up while she was taking a bath.

How did you capture feet this week?

photography prompt no. 44....feet

2011-10-03T15:09:00.000-06:00

Melissa and I will post our images on Wednesday, October 12th. Hope you'll join us...

2 photographers 1 inspiration...doors

2011-09-25T08:09:00.028-06:00

This week's prompt was doors. I love doors for their beauty and for their symbolism. To me they symbolize hope, a passage, opportunity, transition, opening, shelter, and new beginnings.

Melissa photographed this child sized door at a toy store that she loves to visit with her children. How cute...and I love the red! I photographed a favorite door of mine-it is at an old pioneer home in the town where I live. I love the craftsmanship, vivid color and attention to detail that surround it.

left: melissa right: kristi

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." ~Helen Keller

How did you interpret the word 'door'? Please share your image in the comment section below...

photography prompt week 43...doors

2011-09-12T10:36:00.000-06:00

Melissa and I will be posting our images on Wednesday, September 21, 2011.

still: the art of living

2011-09-09T11:40:00.001-06:00

Just some belated but, exciting news. I was able to be a part of the latest collaboration by the Female Photographers of Etsy. Woohoo! This book is full of such talent and beauty and I am so honored to have my images included.

In their second collaboration, the Female Photographers of Etsy bring us the beauty in everyday living. Selling their diverse and expressive work on Etsy (www.etsy.com), members share their images with a worldwide audience of art and photography enthusiasts. The women of fPOE range from self-taught photographers to professionals, living all over the world.

To see a preview of the book go... here

2 photographers 1 inspiration...pink

2011-09-07T22:10:00.000-06:00

"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles. ~Audrey Hepburn

Pink. Such a beautiful, delicate and soft color. The epitome of femininity and all things girl...

left: melissa right: kristi

How did you capture pink? If you'd like to join us and share you can leave a link to your image in the comment section below...

where have I been...

2011-09-05T11:34:00.001-06:00

Where have I been? Not that you're really wondering. It's just that I know I've neglected a lot of things lately, my blog being one of them.

Well, the last few months I have been at home. Nauseous. Vomiting. Plain miserable. I've managed to venture out some but, not necessarily to places I'd like to go. One of those places would be the hospital...for iv's...to spend time with one of my biggest phobias...needles.

Here is the reason why...

Yep. Really. Believe me I'm still in shock.

If you know much of my story you know that the last time I was pregnant was 13 years ago with my daughter, Ashley. After that we tried for years and years to get pregnant with no luck. We looked in to the different options available and went to various specialists. We later found out that we wouldn't be able to get pregnant unless it was through the process of invitro. That was when we knew we were meant to adopt. So, in 2007 we adopted Jaden, and in 2009 we adopted Emma. We thought our family was complete but in July of 2010 we received a call from Emma's birthmother asking us if we'd like to adopt the baby she was currently pregnant with and without hesitation we said yes. When he was born in January and she changed her mind and decided to keep him. Then six weeks later in March, we received another call from her asking if we'd still like to adopt him. Of course we did! Within days we traveled to Ohio to go get him. Drew is 7 months old now. I'm 4 months along. Drew and the baby will be just barely a year apart. I will have 4 under the age of 5. Yikes! But, I do know that God has a plan for each of us and I know that our sweet children were meant to be a part of our family. Just knowing this brings me strength and right now I need a lot of strength.

I've wanted to share this news with you for awhile now. Mostly to explain my absence and lack of communication or involvement. I'm hoping to feel better sooner rather than later and visit your blogs and to find out how you are all doing. I do hope you are well.

As always, I thank you for visiting my little blog and for your kindness and friendship. It means so much to me.

photography prompt week 42...pink

2011-08-29T17:27:00.000-06:00

Melissa and I will be posting our photos on Wednesday, September 7, 2011.

2 photographers 1 inspiration...polka dot

2011-08-24T05:23:00.021-06:00

Who doesn't love polka dots? They are just plain cute.

Melissa captured this sweet image of her youngest son. She wanted to recreate a photo that she took of him when he was a baby. If you'd like to see it you can find it here. I decided that this polka dot dress looked best when paired with my favorite vintage camera.

How did you capture 'polka dots'?

next weeks photography prompt...polka dot

2011-08-14T21:42:00.000-06:00

Melissa and I will post our images on Wednesday, August 24th.

2 photographers 1 inspiration...whimsy

2011-08-10T17:48:00.001-06:00

Whimsy. So excited about this one but, it was a little more difficult than I expected. I don't think I fully understood the word in the beginning so, I did a little more research.

Fun. Playful. Quaint. Comical. Unusual. Light. Fanciful. These are all words to describe whimsy.

Melissa's image of her youngest son is so perfectly whimsical. I really love sidewalk chalk. It reminds me of the fun I had as a child and the fun I've had drawing with chalk with my children. So cute!

My image is of my youngest son also. I think it is so much fun to watch babies discover new parts of themselves and be fascinated and content for the longest time. He loves to play with his feet and I adore his chubby little legs. ♥

left: melissa right: kristi

Did you already know all about the word whimsy? How did you capture it?

things i love thursday: summer

2011-08-04T07:45:00.000-06:00

Summer has truly gone by way too fast! I wish it could last a little longer. Here is my tribute to sweet summer.

On Thursdays I find photos that I love, that inspire me, that bring a smile to my face, or that give me a sense of peace. I wanted to share these wonderful works of art from some truly amazing photographers. Please stop by their streams...

1. "Is it Summer yet?", 2. refreshing, 3. Glide, 4. golden no. 1, 5. Untitled, 6. :: California Dreaming :: , 7. Hello summer, 8. Untitled, 9. The Red Shoes

next weeks photography prompt...week 40

2011-08-03T10:36:00.000-06:00

Melissa and I will be posting our images on Wednesday, August 10th. See you then...

2 photographers 1 inspiration...bloom

2011-07-28T11:27:00.000-06:00

Bloom...my thoughts immediately go to flowers.

I love how flowers can cheer up a room and instantly make it more beautiful and inviting. It's amazing actually. Melissa chose to photograph these bright and cheerful sunflowers and I photographed my daughter, Emma holding a Gerbera daisy.

left: melissa right: kristi

How did you capture 'bloom' this week? I'd love it if you'd share...

next weeks photography prompt...week 40

2011-07-18T08:28:00.001-06:00

Melissa and I will post our images on Wednesday, July 27th...

2 photographers 1 inspiration...water

2011-07-13T16:17:00.000-06:00

This weeks prompt was 'water' and what a perfect prompt for summer. It is so hot here in the dessert where I live and playing in the water is a necessity to keep oneself cool.

After looking at Melissa's photo of her son swimming at his grandparents lake makes me want to go swimming (this is unusual because I'm not a fan of water). She said that this is a yearly tradition and they have made lots of fun memories swimming and fishing with cousins...how fun!

I took a picture of my little Emma at the splash pad. I love her joyful and carefree spirit. She is there to have fun in the water and she really does.

How did you capture 'water' this week?

and the winners are...

2011-07-11T19:28:00.000-06:00

Here are the winners of my etsy-versary giveaway...

Winner of the 8x10 or 8x8 print:

Winners of the 5x7 print:

Winners of the 'love series' postcard set:

Winners of the 'butterfly' postcard set:

Winners of the 'you choose' postcard set:

Congratulations everyone! I will be contacting you shortly! Thank you so much for your sweet comments.

next weeks photography prompt...week 39

2011-07-06T21:47:00.000-06:00

Melissa and I will be posting our images on Wednesday, July 13th.

etsy-versary giveaway...

2011-07-01T12:35:00.000-06:00

What I'm giving away:

1 8x10 or 8x8 pictures (readers choice)

2 5x7 pictures (readers choice)

2 sets of my "love series" postcards

2 sets of my "butterfly series" postcards

2 sets of my "you choose" postcards

To enter:

visit my shop and choose your favorite item

leave a comment letting me know which item is your favorite and an email address so I can contact you if you win

Increase your chances of winning:

Like me on facebook

Follow my blog

Follow me on twitter

Tweeting, posting on your facebook wall, and blogging about this giveaway (to qualify a link back to this post should be visible). Be sure to come back and post a link to your tweet/blog post/wall post as a new comment to earn the extra entry.

The giveaway will close on Friday, July 8th. Winners will randomly be selected and announced no later than Monday, July 11th. Good Luck!

2 photographers 1 inspiration...imagine

2011-06-29T20:45:00.000-06:00

I want to apologize for posting this so late. I've haven't been feeling well today and I'm just getting around to getting some things done for the day.

So, the prompt for this week is 'imagine'...

Melissa's image is a classic image of childhood imagination. and I love the mask! I enjoy watching my children pretend to be race car drivers, princesses, doctors, and mommies. It's amazing to see their creativity , personalities and imagination shine through. In my image I chose to show that I imagine a world as a place of peace. I truly hope that it someday will be. I know we have to start with ourselves first and then our families and so on and so forth. I love this quote by Robert Fulghum, "Peace is not something your wish for; it's something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away."

left: melissa right: me

How did you capture the word 'imagine' this week? We'd love to see your image! Please leave a link to your image in the comment section below...

next weeks photography prompt...week 38

2011-06-17T11:19:00.007-06:00

Our next photography prompt is 'imagine'. Take this one and go where it takes you. Melissa and I will share our images on June 29th. Can wait to see what you all come up with.

2 photographers 1 inspiration...out of focus

2011-06-15T11:21:00.000-06:00

In photography I'm usually striving (yes, it's hard often for me) to capture the sharpest image possible and have the most important parts of the image in focus. I usually delete my blurry images immediately. This prompt was so good for me and I had a lot of fun purposefully capturing out of focus images. I felt like an artist...not sure why exactly but, I did. Blur is really growing one me. I love the softness and the mood that an out of focus image creates.

Melissa captured a picture of her son walking amongst all that gorgeous greenery. He looks like he might be deep in thought or dreaming of some wonderful adventure.

My image is of an old movie house in my town. I remember this sign from my childhood and it brings back so many memories. The movie house isn't there anymore but, gladly the sign is. I remember seeing E.T. there. Good times.

left: melissa right: me

We're you pleasantly surprised by the beauty and softness of what an 'out of focus' image can offer? I'd love to see yours. Please do share a link to your image in the comment section below...

Happy Etsy-versary to me...

2011-06-14T11:42:00.001-06:00

It's my one year Etsy-versary! Technically it was in March but, with the addition of our baby boy, I'm a little behind. Better late than never...right?

Use this coupon code: 1ETSYVERSARY to receive 50% off of your purchase! Here is the link to my ETSY shop.

I will also be adding new product throughout the end of the month, sharing some freebies, and having a giveaway! So stick around. ♥

photography prompt no. 37...out of focus

2011-06-04T10:09:00.000-06:00

Melissa and I will be sharing our images on June 15, 2011.

2 photographers 1 inspiration...lines

2011-06-01T16:32:00.000-06:00

Lines. Where did they lead you this week?

Melissa photographed a fence that she passes when she walks her son to school. It looks so calm and peaceful. I can see why it is a favorite place for her. I love how the fence lines lead you down the path.

I tried a couple of things before I ended up with my photograph. I tried a picket fence, lines that some clouds had made and birds sitting on a telephone wire. None worked very well. But, I am pleased with the image I settled on. I like how the lines lead the eye in a forward direction...kind of like a journey...kind of like life.

left: melissa right: kristi

How did you capture 'lines'? Can't wait to see...

paperclip fabric bookmark tutorial...

2011-05-24T12:10:00.001-06:00

I've been teaching my daughter how to sew. This is kind of a funny thing, since I myself am learning to sew. She wanted to make her teacher some bookmarks to go with a Barnes and Noble gift card she got her. So, we raided my fabric scraps and came up with these very cute bookmarks...

Supplies needed...

These are super easy to make...I cut scraps of fabric at varying lengths and widths. Before cutting the fabric see what you prefer...long, short, thin, thick, etc.

We chose to sew the fabric together. You are welcome to try a glue gun or fabric glue to keep the fabric together. We just wanted that handmade look and for my daughter to use her new sewing skills. To sew we put the wrong sides of the fabric together, even at the top, and placed it on the sewing machine leaving just enough for the paperclip to slide through the hole and to move the fabric to the top of the paperclip. You can then give each bookmark it's very own personality as you can see in the example below...

How easy is that? Easy.

We also gave her teacher a handmade card. I liked this quote, "A good teacher is like a candle-it consumes itself to light the way for others." and I wanted to incorporate it in the card somehow. So, I took this picture of a candle and added the quote. We then taped the card to cardstock that we folded in half. We're all about simple and easy things around here lately. If you'd like to use the photo for a card or whatever you need...feel free.

The link to download the candle photo with quote is here.

Enjoy and summer here we come!

I've linked up here:
tatertots and jello and tip junkie

photography prompt no. 36...lines

2011-05-20T11:11:00.000-06:00

Melissa and I will be posting our images on June 1st.

2 photographers 1 inspiration...toys

2011-05-18T11:20:00.001-06:00

Melissa and I didn't capture what we had initially envisioned. She thought she'd get a picture of one of her son's toys but, ended up taking this picture of her youngest son's fort. I'd say that a fort counts as a toy...it's being played with or in. My daughter has always loved to build forts. They turn in to castles, ships, tents, and sometimes dungeons. There's nothing better than imaginative play. Don't you think?

I also thought I'd get a picture of one of Jaden's toys but, he doesn't play with toys in the tradition sense. Jaden has Autism...I've written about it here and here. He likes to hold things in his hands...both of them. He 'plays' with objects like magnetic numbers, forks, toothbrushes, straws, sticks, etc. I didn't have much time to think of a way to creatively capture one of his 'toys'. So, I took a picture of my toys. I have a collection of vintage cameras and this one happens to be my favorite.

left: melissa right: kristi

How did you capture the word 'toys'?

Please leave a link to your photo or blog post in the comment section below...

photography prompt...week 35...toys

2011-05-09T14:39:00.000-06:00

2 photographers 1 inspiration...the five senses...

2011-05-04T14:15:00.000-06:00

The current prompt is...the five senses.

Melissa took this sweet image of her middle son. She told me that it has been raining and so very dark where she lives...she's still waiting for spring. She must have had a hard time getting any light for this image. But, it is beautiful and the light is perfect!

My image is of my daughter, Emma's eye. She has the most big, brown, beautiful eyes. As you can see her eyelashes are enough to make one jealous.

While trying to choose something to photograph for the prompt I pondered on our senses and how they all just occur so effortlessly, naturally, and without much thought. They help us enjoy and savor the splendor and beauty of life. They are important on so many levels and yet, I'd say most of us take them for granted.

left: melissa right: me

I'd like to share a poem that my mother shared with me. Nineteen years ago my mother had a cerebral aneurysm and a stroke which paralyzed the left side of her body and more. She had to learn the basic life skills all over again at the age of 52. As you can imagine there were many dark, challenging and hard days. But, whenever she felt sorry for herself she would recite this poem that was pinned above the sink and she would read it as she washed dishes as a young girl...

Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maiden with golden hair.

I envied her, and I wished I were as fair.

When suddenly she rose to leave,

I saw her hobble down the aisle.

She had one foot and wore a crutch.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine,

I have two feet the world is mine.

And when I stopped to buy some sweets,

The lad who sold them had such charm.

I talked with him, he seemed so glad.

And as I left, he said to me,

"Thank you. You've been so kind.

It's nice to talk with folks like you.

You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh God, forgive me when I whine,

I have two eyes the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,

I saw a child with eyes of blue.

He stood and watched the others play,

It seemed he knew not what to do.

I stopped a moment then I said,

"Why don't you join the others dear?"

He looked ahead without a word.

And then I knew he could not hear.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine,
I have two ears the world is mine.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
With feet to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I'm blessed indeed, the world is mine.

Let us remember to be grateful for all that we have. We do have much...the world is truly ours.

We'd love to see how you chose to capture the prompt 'the five senses'.
Share a link to your image or blog post in the comment section below...

2 photographers 1 inspiration...the five senses...

2011-04-22T13:55:00.000-06:00

This next prompt is the five senses - images that represent one or all of the senses...smell, hearing, touch, taste, and sight. How creative can you be?

Melissa and I will be posting our images on Wednesday, May 4th.

2 photographers 1 inspiration...spring

2011-04-20T12:18:00.000-06:00

Spring...my favorite season. Spring means to me...new life, new beginnings, renewal, hope, and that life goes on.

Melissa chose this prompt in hopes that spring would be visiting her. It is not. It is still snowing and freezing. Even though the spring weather isn't around, Melissa's daffodils still decided to make an appearance. Daffodils are so bright and cheerful. I hope they brighten her day.

Another reason I love spring because it also means Easter. I always have so much fun decorating eggs with my children. It's fun to see their creativity and personality show through and watching them enjoy themselves while they create is a joy.

left: melissa right: me

Please share how you chose to capture spring in the comment section below...

easter printable roundup...

2011-04-16T08:52:00.001-06:00

With Easter right around the corner I've been looking for things that I can print and make quickly. I thought I'd share the super cute things I've found with you...

gift tags | cupcake toppers

happy easter peeps | bunnies & eggs

easter tags | easter banner | easter treat tags

card & tags | peeps topper

easter egg basket | happy easter card

egg collage card | world's best tasting eggs

I hope these help you out as much as they helped me! Maybe next year I'll start planning a little earlier. Maybe.

we're in love...

2011-04-13T17:36:00.000-06:00

I know. You're wondering what's going on after reading this post ...

Well, our birthmom decided (once again) that placing this little man with us was the best decision for both him and for herself. We couldn't be happier that he is a part of our family!

We signed papers on the 13th of March in Cincinnati but, we didn't actually get to bring him home to Utah until March 26th. I'm still trying to figure out how to make things work with four children. It's slowly happening...one moment at a time.

I want to thank you all for your continued love, concern, support, prayers and words of encouragement. I believe it has made all the difference. I'm so very grateful for your friendship. I love you!

photography prompt...week 32...the beauty of spring

2011-04-08T08:49:00.006-06:00

Melissa and I will be sharing our images on Wednesday, April 20th. We hope you can join us.

2 photographers 1 inspiration...colorful

2011-04-06T10:25:00.000-06:00

This weeks prompt 'colorful' is such a fun prompt with endless options. There is color in everything and it really is everywhere you look. I decided to take a picture of colored pencils in one of my favorite colors, blue. I love how colors have such a variety of shades and hues and how they create so many beautiful colors.

Melissa chose an image that makes her hopeful for spring. It is has been cold and snowing where she lives. I hope it warms up for her soon! Hand photos are among my favorites to shoot and I especially love childrens hands. So cute!

left: melissa right: me

Where did you find color this week?

Feel free to leave a link to your image in the comments section...

creative minds interview...Eadaoin from City of Blackbirds

2011-03-31T08:59:00.000-06:00

My name is Éadaoin and I live in Dublin, Ireland. I study music full time while also working part time as a library assistant. In my spare time you'll generally find me with a camera or a cupcake in hand!

I've been taking photos for two years, and blogging for one; in that short space of time both have become major passions in my life. City of Blackbirds has become a space where I share all that inspires me in my daily life.

How long have you loved photography?

Photography is an art I grew into about three years ago, so not very long really! But for the last 3 years it has consumed me and I spend most of my free time either taking photos or editing them.

Why is photography important for you?

It allows me to capture the beauty I find in my everyday life and has become a substantial creative outlet for me. Essentially it makes me very happy, it’s important to have something like that in our lives.

What do you enjoy most photographing?

I love to be out and about in nature taking shots of everything I see. But then again, I also love taking photos of tasty things like cupcakes that I can eat afterward!

Do you ever find yourself in a "photo/creative rut"? If so, how do you get out of it?

I’ve been lucky not have had this problem so far, but I do find times when I’m just not happy with my own work. When this happens I either put down the camera or shut down Photoshop and turn my thoughts off it until I’m in a better frame of mind.

What is the one lasting impression you want to leave in your photos?

In my images I strive to capture beauty, the poetry of my world. I hope that when people come to view my blog that they will also discover something of the magic I see in the world around me.

Do you rely on lighting (natural or artificial), or do you rely on dark-room/computer manipulation?

It’s a mixture of both really. Getting the right light is important when taking a shot, but I also love to experiment with different editing techniques and that will sometimes including improving lighting. I’m obsessed with colour and love to manipulate the colours in my photos until I get a look that resonates with the mood I want to create.

What makes a good photographer in your opinion?

I think a good photographer is someone who endeavours to know their art well and who aims to do their best.

Do you have a favorite photograph?

Honestly I think it would be impossible for me to pick one favourite photograph, there are so many I love!

Do you think that a person must possess talent to capture emotion and expression in a picture?

Talent will take you only so far, I believe it takes hard work to be really good at photography! Anyone can press a shutter release, and certainly some people have an artistic eye, but it’s the work that a photographer puts into learning their art and being the best that they can be that really matters.

Does the price of a camera matter in ways that it affects the quality of the picture?

Obviously cameras that are more expensive can capture different quality photos that cheaper ones, but I believe it’s really down to knowing your camera well and learning to take the best possible image with it. I’ve seen incredible work taken with cameras as lo-fi as a Polaroid or Holga.

Do you have a special style in your photographs that can single you out like strokes in a painting?

I think the work I put into the tones and colours in my images make them stand out in a way that is particular to me. I put a lot of effort into the colour in my images, and not everyone will like what I do, but it makes them special to me.

Do you believe in the popular expression “A picture is worth a thousand words”? If yes, why do you believe this is true?

This is a hard question for me because I invest a lot of time in both creative writing and photography. They are such different forms of expression, it’s hard to pit one against the other!

What inspires you?

I am hugely inspired by the world around me, by the beauty that I see. I love pretty things like china teacups and cupcakes, so you’ll find them in my work quite frequently. I’m also very much inspired by the other photographers and bloggers I come across constantly, there are a lot of links on my blogroll to the people I find most inspiring!

Any advice for beginners?

Two pretty simple pieces of advice:

Put your camera on manual mode as soon as you can, you’ll learn more this way than on the automatic modes and shoot what you love - it’s a pretty well known piece of advice, but it makes sense: if you’re passionate about your subjects then it will help your love of photography grow and will push you to be good at what you do.

Other places to find Eadaoin:
blog
etsy
twitter
facebook
flickr

sharon montrose...etsy handmade portrait

2011-03-28T08:59:00.014-06:00

Recently I stumbled upon Etsy's series...Handmade Portrait. It's a video interview about an Etsy artist. I really enjoyed this one about Photographer Sharon Montrose. I love hearing about what inspires others and how they found their passion and/or craft. I think you will too...

"Photographer Sharon Montrose first picked up a camera in a high school photography class. During a time when most most adolescents are confused and searching for their true selves, Sharon had a passion and drive that gave her clarity: she knew she wanted to be a professional photographer. After a series of failed attempts doing head shots, weddings, and family portraits, she decided that she needed a break from photography in order to maintain her love for the medium. She grudgingly went back to waitressing.

It was around this time that everyone in Sharon's family acquired a dog. Sharon started shooting portraits of these new additions and soon realized that she had finally found her ideal subject: animals. This was a new kind of challenge with considerably less control than shooting people. You can't pose or style an animal: you just have to go with the moment and capture the best image they present."

Here are two of my favorite prints:

Aren't these adorable in a nursery or child's room...

I would not of ever thought a picture of a cow or a camel would look

good in a home but, these really do look amazing...

Full link to the interview: here

Sharon's new shop: The Animal Print Shop

2 Photographers, 1 inspiration week no. 30

2011-03-26T19:11:00.000-06:00

This is Melissa...posting our diptych for the prompt, simplicity.

Simplicity is such a beautiful word...the word itself makes me feel calm. I'm sure we can all relate to having too much on our plates, stretching ourselves too thin, saying yes perhaps a bit too much, so visual reminders of simplicity can be very soothing and helpful.

Kristi's image is just beautiful...the smoothness of the rocks and the structure of them stacked on each other makes me feel calm.

I chose to photograph a seashell...nature has such beautiful reminders of simplicity.

left: Kristi right: Melissa

How did you choose to photograph simplicity?

Please share links in the comments section.

photography prompt...week 31

2011-03-25T06:39:00.001-06:00

colorful:
1. full of color; abounding in colors

2. characterized by rich variety; vividly distinctive

Melissa and I will be posting our images on Wednesday, April 6th. We hope you can join us!

guest post Vicki of Simply Hue...

2011-03-21T06:00:00.001-06:00

Good morning! I'm really happy and honored to be guest posting on Life Through the Lens today. Isn't it exciting that Kristi and her husband are adopting another child? That's going to be one blessed baby to be raised in such a loving and caring home!

Today I thought I'd introduce you to the work of Cabin and Cub!. If you visit my Etsy shop, Simply Hue Designs, you'll see that I love to put together collages using vintage paperdolls, spools of thread, and other vintage items. For the last couple of months I've been thinking about ways to add small illustrations to my collages. I've also been thinking about new materials (paper, cloth, wood, etc.) I can use for the backdrop for my mixed media collages. When I spotted Cabin and Cub recently, I was so inspired by their creativity and their choice of materials...vintage magazine clippings, illustrations, and wood surfaces. How unique! To be honest, I also thought "Why didn't I think of that?!" ;)

As a creative person, do you struggle with how to be unique? Does it seem like every time you think you've got a fresh new idea, someone else has already done it? I think the tricky part is to be inspired by others while remaining true to yourself. Because you're an individual, your work will be different from another persons. Your own unique personality, style, and tastes will inevitably come out in what you create.

Here are some of my collages:

This Spring I'll be teaching an e-course called "Raining Umbrellas ~ Lessons in Creativity".

In one of the earlier lessons, I'll be offering students ideas on how to be inspired by other artists, while remaining "an original".

I have a feeling that I'm going to be learning right along with the class! ;)

Other places to find Vicki:
etsy
blog
flickr
facebook

interview with Brandi Hussey of Catie's Blue...

2011-03-17T08:56:00.000-06:00

My name's Brandi, and I'm a jewelry designer living in Dallas, Texas. My life is full of tiny little color stories, palettes, and inspiration. I'm on a mission to share that, as well as document a year of color that I see around me, create for and tend to my business, and savoring 2011 with a 30 Before 30 list.

Like most artists, I'm passionate about a lot of things, and am inspired by the world around me. I'm also passionate about encouraging the artist in others and sharing information. That's what led me to blogging regularly, then writing a free ebook of Etsy tips and teaching an e-class on color in 2010.

Can you tell me a little about how you became a jewelry designer, what drew you to jewelry?

It all started when I fell into a bead store. No, seriously, I tripped walking in, but I remember that graceful moment because it was the start of this chapter in my life. I had dabbled with jewelry growing up, then tried my hand at metalsmithing as an art major during college (which was a disaster). But it wasn't until a family vacation in Hawaii, and tripping into that bead store, that I really focused on jewelry, and committed to it. I was captivated by the beads and colors I saw, and felt compelled to create with them. At the time I was a jewelry rep for a direct sales company, and I figured if I could sell other people's work, I could easily sell my own; so, I started my business a few days after I got back home.

I was drawn to jewelry for a few reasons. One, creating a little piece of wearable art is so attractive to me. Two, it was accessible and familiar, not only to me, but buyers, too. But the biggest reason was that I had a hard time finding quality pieces I liked enough to buy and wear all the time. Since my wardrobe was mainly neutral colors, I knew I wanted colorful accessories, and I wanted my jewelry to go from day to night, so it had to be versatile. My problem was that I just couldn't find anything that matched all my needs as well as my style, and I couldn't help wondering if there were other people out there who felt the same. So, in true DIY fashion, I set out to make it myself.

What inspires new designs and styles?

Sometimes the materials themselves direct where a piece is going to go, what colors I'm going to use. Other times, a design may come from need. For example, I may ask myself "How can I create a great necklace for every day wear?" or "What kind of earrings would be good for a special event?", and then start playing around. Still other times, inspiration can literally come from anywhere, if you're open to it. I've designed pieces after seeing curtains or sunrises - it depends on what strikes me. Right now, I'm working on a series of necklaces and bracelets directly inspired by the color palettes I do on my blog.

Your work shows your interests in color – any specific color or color combinations you’re into right now, or that might make its way into your work soon?

I tend to favor the colors of whatever season I'm in, so I'm really into grays at the moment - charcoal grays, blue-grays, deep gray-blacks. I'm also feeling subtle, desaturated colors right now, complex colors that are grayer and softer, almost neutral. But I can't ever forget my love of bright, saturated colors, either; so, they'll appear over the next few weeks as I desperately wait for Spring.

Describe the process of creating your work. What is involved for you to make one of your pieces?

This probably sounds nuts, but it's such an organic process for me. I don't usually sketch out a design; it all comes from my head. So, there's a lot of figuring and playing and rearranging as a piece comes together. Sometimes I have an idea in my head before I start; other times, I just sit down and work it all out right then and there.

I tend to start with a bead or two that catch my eye that day. If that bead has a lot of colors in it, I'll spend time deciding what colors I want to emphasize, and what amounts of each color I'll use. After doing this for a few years now, there's a certain pattern to my designs - I use a lot of lampwork glass, gemstone clusters, and faceted stones of different sizes, so I'll play around with the colors and textures and shapes within those patterns till I find one that clicks for me. Necklaces usually start at the focal point, be it one side of the necklace or a pendant. Earrings start with the biggest bead I plan on using, and evolves from there.

When are you most productive?

I actually work most of the day, just on different things. Mornings are filled with computer work - updates, blog posts, tweets, bookkeeping, photo editing. I break for lunch, then I'm either creating or taking photos in the afternoons. After dinner, I might go back into my studio and create some more, or I might finish up any lingering computer work, depending on what my to-do list looks like. If I'm on top of my to-do list, I'll take the night off or use that time to experiment with a new technique.

I will admit that it wasn't always like this. Prior to this year, my schedule used to be all over the place because I felt most creative late at night, but I've been working on changing that in 2011. I've been trying to take better care of myself, so sticking to a regular schedule has helped with that as well as keeping me on track business-wise. I've always been a night owl, so it feels a little strange to suddenly make a shift, but it's a good strange!

How have you made your work public—gallery shows, online shops, etc? How do you get your work out into the world?

I feel like I've tried all of the sites out there before I figured out what worked for me! As of right now, I have my Etsy shop, my blog, my Twitter, and an often forgotten website. I'm actually getting ready to move off Etsy and into a new online shop that meshes with my website, so it'll be more efficient and streamlined. Offline, I try to do a few trunk shows a year, and this year I hope to try a few craft shows, too.

What challenges did you face in getting the products from the idea stage to the point where you can sell them?

For me, once I start a project, it's not a long process; everything I sell I make myself, so I'm in control of each item the whole time. I've also built up a decent inventory of supplies so I don't have to wait to start, and I've learned how to stay on top of my supplies so I don't run out at a critical time. So, as far as production goes, I don't really face a whole lot of challenges there.

But, when I started, everything felt like a big challenge. I had never sold anything online before Catie's Blue, so there were things that I had to learn there - how selling online worked, what the process is, what buyers expect, how to write an item description, how to ship, how to price. On top of that was learning jewelry techniques, figuring out my own style design-wise, figuring out a production schedule, and photography. Photography didn't really come easily for me, but it's crucial and necessary for online businesses, so I had to learn; and now I've come to appreciate photography as an art form and play with it as often as I can.

What things do you know now, that you wish you knew from the beginning?

The value of time, schedules, and to-do lists. I wasted a lot of time pretending to be working when I wasn't in the beginning, and it took a long time before I learned how a schedule could benefit me, much less a to-do list (I'm a to-do list ninja now, chop chop). I took my business seriously from day one, but I didn't approach each day as seriously as I could; meaning, I didn't have set hours, I didn't plan out my day or week, I worked when I felt like it, that sort of thing. Thankfully, I always felt like working, so I managed to scrape by, but I wasn't using my time as effectively as I could have, if you know what I mean. There were also a lot of time-wasting activities posing as real work back then, but I think that's less about being new and more just trying to figure out what works best.

What do you love most about running your own craft business, and what do you like least?

I love being the boss, making the decisions, creating things I'm passionate about, and working from home. I love making an income from my own hard work. I love that I have a flexible schedule, so I can spend time traveling or visiting family if I want. These were not things I could have experienced in a corporate setting, and my general quality of life is better now than when I was working in an office.

The things that used to bother me before or that I liked the least - bookkeeping, accounting, inventory control - don't really bother me now. Now, I see it as an opportunity to check in on the growth of my business, so it's not as painful as it used to be. It also helps that I do it regularly and don't put them off anymore; that only made it worse!

What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?

Have a plan.

It's remarkably easy to start a business; it only requires a few forms from the state and US government, and boom, you're a legal business. The trick is to make that business last, to make it profitable. So, start by defining success for yourself, and use concrete goals. Figure out how much you have to make to pay your bills and live, and use exact numbers. If you can, save money now to use if sales don't come in right away or regularly. Start planning now how the first six months to a year will go for your business - when and where you'll advertise, how many items you'll produce each month, how much in supplies your business will cost each month, how much money you'll need to get started, which social media you'll use (if any), where you'll sell online. All of these things only require time, brainstorming, and research - there's no monetary cost to them. Have a plan, set some goals, and figure as much out before you start as you can. Oh, also, set a schedule for yourself at the beginning; your sanity will thank you for it.

What does the handmade movement mean to you? Do you see the movement growing?

When I graduated college, I thought that I had lost an art community, but when I started my business, I realized I didn't; it was there, waiting for me. That's what the handmade movement means to me - community. It means I can connect to other artists doing similar or wildly different things from me, ask questions, network, and support. Beyond that, the handmade movement has given people alternatives to big box stores. Now, it feels like there are more people conscious about quality and about how their business can affect others directly, and there's more appreciation about the work that goes into handmade items than there was when I started. And there's more people actively becoming part of the handmade movement, both as buyers and as makers. There are a lot of people in the world who've suppressed those artistic instincts for one reason or another, and are finally embracing them instead of ignoring them; it's pretty amazing, if you think about it.

As far as growing, it already has - handmade artists are showing up in big magazines and media outlets, much more now than when I started. These outlets are embracing and acknowledging DIY, crafts, handmade, art, and I think that's awesome. I can also see the influence handmade has had on big companies in terms of style and aesthetic; it's sometimes subtle, but it's there. And the number of handmade craft shows has grown, too, which has only furthered the movement by exposing new business owners to new audiences, and new audiences to handmade. I've been on Etsy since July 2007 and seeing that specific community grow has been crazy! I love seeing the movement grow, and I welcome it.

What would people be surprised to know about Brandi?

If we're out eating Mexican food together, I've very territorial about my chips and salsa.

Very. :)

Other places you can find Brandi...

burned fabric flower tutorial...

2011-03-13T08:22:00.024-06:00

I absolutely love these burned fabric flowers that I've seen so many people wearing lately. They look so simple and elegant. In general I don't wear a lot of jewelry or hair accessories but, I will wear these...

Here's what you need:

candle or tea light

synthetic silky material

scissors

round objects to trace (I used drinking cups)

Depending on the type of flower you make you'll need these items:

thread & needle

beads

glue gun

scrapbooking brad or a button

cover button kit (found at the local craft/fabric store-I found mine at JoAnn's)

headband or hair clip

I traced some drinking cups in descending sizes on the fabric and then cut the circles out. They don't have to be perfect since you will be burning the edges.

Light your candle or tea light. Carefully go around the edge of your circle. You don't need to get that close to the flame for the flower to curl. If you get too close the fabric will start on fire. So...please be careful. ♥

Here are all the finished circles...

Here's how to add beads in the center of the circle:

Choose a coordinating thread color, thread it, and tie an knot in the end. Then pull the needle through the bottom of all the flowers.

Then pull the needle through the bead and then thread down through to the bottom. Repeat for as many beads as you'd like.

When finished tie a knot in the bottom and cut thread.

Here is the finished product

You can attach the flower to a clip. I like to cover my clips with grossgrain ribbon. The flower attaches easier and I think it gives it more of a finished look.

Then glue the clip to the flower with your glue gun

Finished and ready to wear...

You can also put a brad or a button in the center...

I pushed the brad through the center of all the flowers and fastened at the bottom and then attached it to either a clip or headband

You can also make a fabric covered button to go in the center...

I used this little kit from Dritz (they cost about $3-4 depending on the size of the buttons)

The kit includes the instructions and it's super easy to make

I covered a headband with grossgrain ribbon, glued the flower on top of the headband, then glued a piece of felt to the underside.

And here you are...simply elegant and beautiful...

I'll be linking up with these fabulous blogs:

photography prompt...week 30

2011-03-11T14:24:00.001-07:00

Melissa and I will be posting our images on Wednesday, March 23rd. We hope you can join us!

2 photographers 1 inspiration...blur

2011-03-09T19:57:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the delay in getting this post up. I've had a bit of computer trouble today. On to the prompt...

Blurry photos are really growing on me. They're dreamy, soft, mysterious and somehow magical. I had a few different ideas of what I could do for 'blur' but when it came down to it I ended up doing something totally different and actually I love how it turned out.

Melissa's images are the epitome of classic beauty. I love fresh flowers and I really think I need to get some in my house. How about you?

Left: Melissa

Right: Kristi

I can't wait to see how your interpreted 'blur'...

guest post Twiggs from A Place for Twiggs...

2011-03-02T08:33:00.012-07:00

a few notes on inspiration & inner voices:

hello there sweet kristi’s readers, how are you doing? I am twiggs, from {a place for twiggs} and for this opportunity I wish to thank you, Kristi! I am so honored to be on your {home}!

well, when Kristi asked me to do this she gave some inspirational topics, and from all them, I knew I had to go on what was inspiring me at this moment. I have written on my blog something about change and how I love to change, maybe sometimes I may be a little addicted. concerning photography, I must confess that I am still looking for my place. actually that was the main reason for the blog’s name… a place for me.

whatever I do, I do with a personal purpose… may that be to share a point or something personal, may that be for personal satisfaction… or to achieve a personal goal… or even an unknown purpose, but a personal one. many other photographers have shared this, almost an egoistic point of view, but I think that in the beginning, we are the ones to be pleased by our work. from then on, if others feel pleased by what we do, it is a bonus, a very pleasing and rewarding bonus.

I do not have any degree in photography, visual arts, design… I guess that I am one of those persons that never knew exactly what they wanted to be when they grow up. I ended up being an organizational psychologist, and have worked in several different environments. and I really like what I do. but I may love photography & graphic design more. in my late 20’s started to explore photography, until last year I actually decided that photography needed to be a crucial part of my life. I found out that when editing… I lost control on time. maybe now I would be ready to choose my career. but now I am 30 and have other responsibilities to care of. so… step by step I am self-teaching all that I need to know to accomplish my goals… that keep changing. I want that to be that way. this way I know that I am always learning, I am always growing as a person… an artist perhaps, if I may consider myself that way. maybe I may not, if someone that has studied and worked in photography is reading this. and I respect that decision.

in this moment, I have been inspired by nature & film. I want to create a different line in my photography work, by adding words & quotes in some of my favorite images. words that are important to me, as {love}… I want to have different cameras, film cameras… in order to capture those random moments I witness with a different mood from what digital offers. i may be doing what everyone else is… but the world is as different as the number of people that live on it. and I want to share my point-of-view. for me it is so special, that if not for others, I want to keep these for myself… so that I can remember what my life was, when I grow really old.

I want to express my inner voice, and that should never be a silent one. so… if I am allowed to throw a little piece of advice is to listen to that inner voice, and challenge yourself in accomplishing your goals. may those be accomplished in a fast way or slower one… it does not mind. just go for it. as in inspiration, you are the one who knows what does your voice say. just be yourself.

and now I will stop rambling and I will thank Kristi once more for inviting me! I hope that my lengthy words reached someone out there that needed just a little push. one more thing, you do not have to have the answer for this last question. we may not know where we want to go. start by where you do not want to go.

happy March my friends! twiggs

Other places to find twiggs:

etsy

facebook

flickr

twitter

next weeks photography prompt...week 29

2011-02-25T12:48:00.001-07:00

Here are some wonderful examples of blur from some of my favorite photographers:

1. Untitled, 2. Looking for love, 3. You Hold the Key to Your Own Happiness, 4. dreams do come true ~, 5. dancing and dreaming, 6. ~~Heart Full Of Golden Bokeh~~, 7. impressions of a city, 8. the first day, 9. The color the summer

*Please note that we are now going to be posting our photos biweekly. So we will not be sharing our images this Wednesday, March 2nd, but the following Wednesday which is March 9th.

Have a wonderful weekend!

2 photographers 1 inspiration...black and white

2011-02-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

Black and white photography is one of my first loves. I love the emotion, texture, mood and contrast that is conveyed so perfectly.

Melissa caught her little guy 'reading' the newspaper scanning for hockey pictures. He 'read' long enough for her to run and grab her camera and take a few pictures. So cute! My image is of these beautiful paper thin flowers. I love the light that is filtering through the petals and how it shows their texture. They are equally stunning in color.

left: melissa right: kristi

I'd love for you to share a link to your black and white photo in the comment section below...

creative minds interview...Katrina of Pugly Pixel

2011-02-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

How long have you loved photography?

As far back as I can remember! But, for the record, I want say that what I fell in love with was the ability of the camera to store images. I was amazed by this technology. Taking good pictures -- as in capturing pictures with good composition wasn't important for me when I first started and I'm sure it showed in my photos. Point and shoot, point and shoot -- that's all I did, and it wasn't until 2007 that I began to appreciate photography. I have the web and blogosphere for opening my eyes!

Why is photography important to you?

It's important to me for the same reason it's important to many: photography captures fleeting moments like memories on paper.

What do you enjoy most photographing?

In recent years, at least ever since discovering the notion and importance of composition, the challenge of capturing a good photo has been really FUN to execute. Another thing i enjoy about photography is learning from inspiring photographers -- people like you, Kristi, and others like Susannah Conway, Elle Moss, Cassia Beck, and Ez Pudewa.

Do you ever find yourself in a "photo/creative rut"? If so, how do you get out of it?

I snap a lot of pictures at random really. What I mean by that is if I see something interesting, I try to capture a good photo and if I don't, I don't. So in that regard, I don't encounter any photo ruts since I don't plan ahead of time. Now, with respect to general creative ruts, I've been fortunate to have more on my plate than I can handle at any one time. I log every bit of inspiration in my Moleskine notebook so that no good idea gets lost and during those times that I feel at a loss of what to write or blog about, I always have my idea book handy to come through.

What is the one lasting impression you want to leave in your photos?

Hmm... I haven't thought of this before. I take pictures for myself and if others like them, too, well then, that's wonderful.

Do you rely on lighting (natural or artificial), or do you rely on dark-room/computer manipulation?

I use both. Light is of supreme importance, whether it is natural or artificial. In the most ideal situation, I wouldn't have to resort to Photoshop to brighten an image, but in some cases, it is necessary. However, I restrict my level/brightness/color adjustments to my digital images and short of resizing, I leave my film photos free from retouching.

What makes a good photographer in your opinion?

I don't know what makes a good photographer. I guess, a good photographer would be a person who loves photography so much that they just take pictures for the sake of taking pictures and has fun in the process.

Do you have a favorite photograph?

Oh yes -- my husband is quite the photographer and has captured many stunning photos.

Do you think that a person must possess talent to capture emotion and expression in a picture?

Talent helps, I suppose, but a lot has to do with luck -- being at the right place at the right time.

Does the price of a camera matter in ways that it affects the quality of the picture?

Quality is subjective. Take the huge Lomography movement we've been having these last few years -- most of those Lomo cameras are made out of plastic. I'm sure that some people think that the photos produced by those Lomo cameras are inferior to those produced by more expensive cameras. But a lot of us would beg to differ!

Do you have a special style in your photographs that can single you out like strokes in a painting?

Nah -- I wish! ;)

Do you believe in the popular expression “A picture is worth a thousand words”? If yes, why do you believe this is true?

Of course it's true! A photo says a lot about a particular scene and the person taking the picture -- language is everywhere.

What inspires you?

Good movie opening credits... especially those with stills and a perfect example would be the opening credits for Napoleon Dynamite!

Any advice for beginners?

Take lots of pictures -- improvement comes with practice!

Other place to find Katrina:

thank you and next weeks photography prompt...week 28

2011-02-18T08:42:00.131-07:00

I want to thank you for your kind words, prayers and for your friendship during the past few weeks. It is extremely comforting to be surrounded by so many loving people. Feeling your love has truly helped me through this trial. Thank you!

Well, nothing has changed with the status of the baby. He's still with his mom and there's no indication that he will be joining our family. We are still very sad but, we are coping. We pray for him daily and hope he is well and safe.

I've found it inspiring that during times of trial the things that you need have a funny way of finding you. I subscribe to 'Notes from the Universe' and I get them daily...sometimes they apply to me and sometimes they don't. Here is the specific 'note' I received the day we got our bad news:

"It wasn't ever supposed to hurt, Kristi. You weren't ever supposed to cry. And I never dreamed you'd ever feel so helpless.

Yet, as things have turned out, lots of folks have trouble getting out of bed on cold, dark mornings.

Anyhow, Kristi, should there also be the occasional pain, tear, or touch of sadness beyond that, please realize these were anticipated, bargained for, and even sought after. As each would illuminate your resiliency, prove your strength, and help you blast through every flimsy notion that would otherwise keep you from seeing that even now I hole you in the palm of my hand and that all things are possible."

Such a deal,
The Universe"

This was just what I needed to hear so that I could keep things in perspective. Has this ever happened to you?

Well, Melissa and I are finally back doing our collaboration again. Here is the new prompt...

I do hope you have a lovely weekend...

guest post Eadaoin of City of Blackbirds

2011-02-16T05:14:00.011-07:00

Hello there, this is Éadaoin from City of Blackbirds, Kristi has asked me to guest post for her while she is away and I’m delighted to have the opportunity!

I want to write a little bit about finding time for creativity in our lives. This is a subject that’s been on my mind quite a lot lately. Because I work part time, as well as studying full time, I find myself incredibly busy and often too tired for anything but chilling out on the couch when I get home in the evenings.

This level of busyness, coupled with short winter days when light is sparse and skies often grey, leaves me with precious little free time for getting some creative work done.

Do you find yourself in a similar position?

This lack of time for creative pursuits poses a problem in itself, because without some sort of creative outlet I find myself restless and unhappy. When I am deep in taking photographs, writing poetry or simply baking cookies I am releasing emotions, thoughts, ideas and dreams that have been building up inside my head and heart. Releasing them into the physical world and creating something that I am proud of satisfies a part of myself that craves new artistic venture.

It makes me happy.

So, in an effort to solve my problem, I bought a nice camera phone. I know that might sound a bit odd, and not exactly creative, but let me explain! My digital camera is often too much weight for me to carry around constantly. And while I do have lighter toy film cameras, as I student I simply don’t have the money it takes to get film developed on a regular basis.

But every time I’m out and about I see light, scenes and little snippets I wish I could capture. So a camera phone seemed like a good solution.

And I’ve discovered that something as simple as this can lead to a wonderful creative outlet.

When I am stopped in my tracks by a change in the light I can capture it. When I’m sitting at a table in a restaurant and there’s a pretty flower on the table I can take it home with me in the form of a picture. I’m determined to take a photo of every rainbow I see!

What I’ve found it’s really done for me, is afford me the opportunity to take time for creativity in moments of the day when I previously had none. It allows me to stop and capture the beauty I find in my everyday life.

It’s just a small activity, but I find it’s opening doors in my mind to new ideas and helping to satisfy my creativity in little ways.

You might like to try something similar. Take out your camera phone and photograph a week of sunsets, or pop a toy camera into your bag and capture the things you find interesting on your way to work in the mornings.

You’ll find it unlocks those precious creative juices in your brain and leaves you inspired by what you can create out of tiny snippets of your day.

And most importantly it will allow you moments of creativity in your daily life, giving you an outlet for all those ideas and dreams that bubble up throughout the day.

Other places you can find Eadaoin:
blog
etsy
twitter
facebook
flickr

guest post Liz of Paislee Press...

2011-02-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

Hello! This is Liz from paislee press. I'm a lover of white space and all things minimalist. I also love photography and have been a long time fan of Kristi's work. I'm thrilled and honored to be a guest on her blog today.

In general, clean and uncluttered spaces make me happy. But a blank wall has the exact opposite effect. It makes me feel unsettled, maybe even a little nervous, because it looks like an unfinished space screaming "do something about me."

So today I want to share with you a few examples of photo walls because nothing inspires me to get my photos printed (and framed) more than an artfully arranged/carefully curated wall.

image sources: (1) wall of photo clippings (originally published in domino magazine): (2) art photographed by Andreas Krufczik (3) black and white photo arrangement found via Dawn Sela's photo wall pinterest board, original source: http://design-crisis.com/ (4) wall of frames by jackie rueda, via ohdeedoh (5) close up of Jackie rueda's framed photos (6) photo wall above mantel, rita konig, originally published in domino mag (7) frame polaroids, via sf girl by bay, original source: http://dreamyhouse.tumblr.com/#

Rita Konig's photo wall (image no. 6 above) was the inspiration behind my mosaic wall art project.

Instructions for this project, along with a free template download is available on my blog.

If you aren't already displaying your photos, I hope the examples I shared inspire you to get your work up on your walls!

free printable valentine cards...

2011-02-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

I've been browsing the web trying to find some cute printable Valentine's for the kids to give to friends and neighbors and there are so many cute & free (which is even better) cards available! Check out these sweet cards...

1. little miso

2. oh, hello friend

3. thirty days handmade

4. paislee press

5. one charming party

I hope you find something you like!

how to make a dotted border...

2011-02-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

Tip Share :: How to Make a Dotted Border

Hi everyone! I'm Brandi from Brandi Girl Blog, and I'm excited to be here with you today. Thanks to Kristi for the opportunity!

I do a series on my blog called Tip Shares where I, you guessed it, share a tip. They cover a variety of topics, but the most popular ones are the ones on using Photoshop. Today, I thought I'd share a tutorial on how to make a dotted border with a simple round brush.

I'm going to assume that you are at least a little familiar with Photoshop to keep the instructions as short as possible. But if anyone has a question, feel free to contact me or leave a comment and I'll do my best to help!

What you need:

o Photoshop or Photoshop Elements

o A photo - I'll be using a blank black background as my example, but this will work with whatever photo you like

Step 1: Open up Photoshop and your photo. For my example, I'm going to use a simple black background so you can see the process, but this will work with any photo you like.

Step 2: We want to make sure our borders are straight, so let's set up a few things to help us. First, we want to make sure our rulers are visible along the left and top edges. If they are, great. If they aren't, just go up to View along the top toolbar, then click on Rulers.

Step 3: Next, we want to make it easy on ourselves to draw straight lines, so we're going to use guide lines to help us do that. If you've never used a guide before, simply click on the ruler, then drag your mouse onto your photo; an aqua blue line will appear, and you can move it wherever you want, using the ruler to help set it in place.

What if your photo doesn't match up exactly to a line on the rulers? My example photo is 200px square which works out to 2.778 inches on each side. This does not make it easy to put a guide equal distance from each side, so I could do one of a few things:

1. Resize my image so that I'm using an even number of inches. But that doesn't always work if your image needs to be a specific size (for a banner or an ad, for example).

2. Eyeball it. If the edges of the photo are close to a line on the ruler, this might work with no one noticing. But I'm a little neurotic, and I want to make sure everything is exact, so I'm going to do #3.

3. Contract the edges to highlight exact measurements all around. Here's how to do that.

Select all by hitting CTRL + A (or Command + A on a Mac), then going up to Select along the top toolbar. Scroll down to Modify, then choose Contract. I'm going to contract in by 5 pixels, then hit OK. When that's done, I now have even spacing all around, so I'll simply click and drag guides on top of the highlighted rectangle. Hit CTRL + D to deselect and move on to the next step.

Step 4: Create a new layer by hitting Shift + CTRL +N (or Shift + Command + N on Macs), or by going up to Layers > New > Layer. We want a new layer in case we need to make any changes; this way, we don't affect the photo if we need to make those changes. I'm going to name this layer "Border", so I can easily tell what it is in my Layers Palette on the right.

Step 5: Select your Brush tool, then choose your shape, color, and size. I've gone with a 3px round brush and white for my example, but any size or shape brush will do. Try experimenting to see what you like best.

With the Brush tool selected, go up to the tool bar and click on the paint brush icon. This is the options menu for the Brush tool. We want to bump up the spacing to around 300%, though again, you can play around with this to make the distance in between the dots bigger or smaller.

Step 6: Use your Zoom tool to zoom in so that you can see where to click with your brush. Then go ahead and switch back to your Brush Tool, and make sure your new layer is selected because it's time to draw our dotted line!

Starting at a corner, click where the guide lines meet once with your brush. Scroll over to the other side, then hold down the Shift key as you click that second intersection. Voila! Our first line.

Quick Tip: Make sure you hold down the Shift key as you click, otherwise it won’t work properly. Also, don’t click on anything else in the middle of drawing your line; what you’re doing is defining a start and end point, so if you click somewhere other than the “end point”, whether it’s another spot on your photo or switching to another tool, the results might be off or it might not work at all.

Now sometimes, the spacing isn't quite perfect, so there may be gaps or weird distances when it comes to the corner - that's what happened to me with my example photo. If it's way off, Undo all of your brushstrokes and bump the spacing option for your brush up or down before trying again. If it's close, you might just leave it. I've decided that I'm going to leave it, but click the corner intersection anyway, since my last dot isn't quite on that corner. I'd prefer a larger dot in the corners to create sharper, more defined corners all around, rather than every corner being a little "off".

So, I'm going to click the corner, scroll to the next intersection, hold down shift while clicking my mouse. I'll repeat this till I end up back where I started.

Step 7: Zoom out, then turn off the guides by going up to View > Guides to deselect them. Check to make sure it all looks good, then Save As. You're done!

Thanks Brandi for this fabulous tutorial!

To see more of Brandi's Tip Shares stop by her blog Brandi Girl

creative minds interview with Melissa of Melissa Deakin Photography...

2011-02-03T05:31:00.084-07:00

How long have you loved photography?

I have loved photography for as long as I can remember. In my college years and early twenties, I always had a point and shoot camera with me and would take tons of photos of my family and friends. However, when my oldest son was born 8 years ago, I started scrapbooking in order to preserve all of his milestones. This hobby led me to want to learn to take better photos. My first SLR was an ELAN 7. I love that camera and still have it; there is something magical about film. When I went digital I found that it was really necessary to know not only how to take good photos, but also to be able to edit them in Photoshop. I learned as much as I could on how to take good photographs by reading books on the subject and taking online and in-person workshops. About two years ago after my third son was born, I decided to take my passion for photography and turn it into a business.

1. .more mustache man., 2. my handsome boy., 3. masquerading again., 4. sparkly eyes., 5. .giggly boy., 6. winter cap + giggles, 7. he's one!, 8. .tuckered out., 9. big laugh.

Why is photography important for you?

I always say that taking photos is the closest I will ever get to 'freezing time'. I love that photography allows me to capture the ordinary and extraordinary moments in my life and my children's lives. Time passes so quickly and photography allows us to savor the moments that are so fleeting.

What do you enjoy most photographing?

Of course, I love to photograph my children and all the beauty in their lives. I also love to take photographs of flowers and still lifes. With my business, I love to shoot newborns and young children.

Do you ever find yourself in a "photo/creative rut"? If so, how do you get out

of it?

Oh yes, the dreaded 'rut' that rears its ugly head all too often. When it does though, I enjoy perusing the internet. Sites like Flickr are incredibly inspirational. I also love design blogs, fashion blogs and crafting blogs. I also find tons of inspiration in magazines. I have a real love/addiction for/to magazines. In essence, I am inspired by just about everything.

What is the one lasting impression you want to leave in your photos?

When people look at my photos, I want them to feel a connection. If there is an emotional connection between me (the photographer) and the viewer, I have done my job.

1. .sprinkles cuppycake., 2. .raspberry cupcake., 3. dreamy oreo cupcake., 4. yet another..., 5. pretty cupcake., 6. pink cupcake

Do you rely on lighting (natural or artificial), or do you rely on

dark-room/computer manipulation?

I am a natural light photographer. As for post editing, I begin in Lightroom with my RAW images and after working on them here, I complete my editing in Photoshop. I use a combination of actions and my own recipes for bringing a photo to its final edited state.

What makes a good photographer in your opinion?

For me, a good photograph is composed well and edited well. As mentioned above, the most important component in good photography is that the images evoke some type of emotional response from the viewer.

Do you have a favorite photograph?

I have so many favorite photographs from various photographers that I have had the pleasure of viewing their work on the internet. I adore the work of Stephanie Rausser. She captures people in such a beautiful, playful way. I could stare at her images all day long. Some of my other favorite photographers include Audrey Woulard, Brenda Acuncius, Stacey Woods, Tara Whitney, Joyce Smith, Kerianne Brown, Rachel Devine and Mika Beth Edwards. As for my own work, my favorites change quite frequently depending on my most recent shoot. These are some of my most recent favorites...

Do you think that a person must possess talent to capture emotion and expression

in a picture?

I would say that talent helps, but a passion for photography and a passion for your subject will lead to the ability to capture emotion and expression in one's images.

Does the price of a camera matter in ways that it affects the quality of the

picture?

I see incredible images captured with certain cell phone cameras, so the price of a camera is of course important to a certain extent, but the photographer is still the most important ingredient. Occasionally I will get emails from people wondering if they should invest in a good camera (an SLR as opposed to a point and shoot) and I always tell them that to me purchasing a good camera is an investment in your family...an investment in preserving moments that can never be relived except through memories that are recalled when viewing photographs.

Do you have a special style in your photographs that can single you out like

strokes in a painting?

I have a hard time identifying my own personal style, though I hope I do have one. I can easily identify the styles of others, but sometimes I find it hard to do with my own work. I asked my sister if she could describe my style and these are the words she used: clean and classic with a contemporary vibe. Sounds good to me! LOL!

Do you believe in the popular expression “A picture is worth a thousand words”?

If yes, why do you believe this is true?

I do whole heartedly. I love to look through my old photo albums of my children and as I look at them, there are so many little details that I recall when I see the images. I also love to buy vintage photographs at estate sales and antique shops. Even though I don't know the subjects in the photographs, I often imagine the story that is being told in the photograph.

1. happy flowers., 2. "Where flowers bloom so does hope.", 3. "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with the things that move us toward progress and peace.", 4. When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another., 5. a rose is a rose is a..., 6. "It's never too late or too early. Right now is a good time.", 7. .beautiful peonies., 8. "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.", 9. .pink dahlia.

What inspires you?

I am inspired constantly by the world around me. I love to take nature walks and be inspired by the colors and textures that I see. I always bring my macro lens on excursions such as this. I also love to explore and lose myself in bookstores. I love design magazines and crafting books. I mentioned above that I am a magazine junkie. I love design magazines, crafting magazines and women's interest magazines. Some of my favorites include Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Inside Out (Australian), and Living etc. (British). I also find tons of inspiration on Flickr and my new internet addiction is Pinterest. The inspiration that is available on the internet truly is limitless.

Any advice for beginners?

I would encourage a beginning photographer to visit photography blogs and forums. In these places you can ask questions of fellow photographers. An amazing online forum that I am a part is the Bloom Forum. Here is the link: http://www.thebloomforum.com/

I also recommend reading as much as possible on the subject of photography. It is really important to get to know your camera and that means reading your manual and practicing as much as possible. Photography offers a wonderful opportunity to savor the tiny details of life and these details are ultimately what make our lives special and worthwhile.

Here are other places to find Melissa:

blog

etsy

flickr

Awesomize Your Product Photos...

2011-02-01T05:55:00.068-07:00

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced since opening my online boutique + starting my blog is learning how to master the art of photography. And by photography I mean stunning photos that sell + brand + tell a story + get an idea across. I really wish I had paid a bit more attention to my Photography 101 teacher. Darn it!

There are lots of things that make a beautiful photo + today I’ll cover the basic elements.

Image Credit: via TheLightFantastic

When taking a photograph here are some key elements you should be thinking about:

1. Composition. Use interesting backgrounds to make your items pop, being very careful about your composition so it’s not too crowded or too boring. Play with textures + props. Light fabrics + vintage books + scrapbook pages are awesome + easy to use alternatives.

three cute little bows by mayi

2. Angles. It’s important to take lots + lots of pictures + from various different angles, so you have a wide variety to choose from when editing + so your customers can get a sense of the products from all sides.

colorful felt flag toppers by mayi

3. Lighting. Shoot your products in clear bright daylight or in a light box if you have one. There is nothing more unattractive than seeing a product in darkness. Play with the settings of your camera to suit your needs.

good morning flower headband by mayi

4. Editing. Don’t stress too much about your photo shot, you always have the editing process to retouch your images. Experiments with brightness + contrast + color features. By the way, you don’t need fancy photo-editing software. I personally love picnic to fix my photos + to make collages. It has many of the cool features that expensive photo editing programs have, but it’s completely free.

love stationery set by mayi carles

5. Staging. If you are selling clothes + shoes + accessories, show your items on an appropriate model. This will give your shoppers an idea of how the product looks on. If you are selling cake toppers, stage a party scene. Set the mood + atmosphere for what you want to get across.

diy grapefruit headband kit by mayi

By thinking of these key photo guides when shooting your next photo shoot, you are sure to awesomize your photos + please your customers + probably even land some sweet sales too.

What things do you think about when taking your photos? Please do share below.

xo,

Mayi Carles

Mayi Carles is a Panamanian multi-passionate artist (http://www.mayicarles.com) + avid eco-friendly designer (http://www.etsy.com/shop/mayicarles)+ the heart behind heartmade blog (http://www.heartmadeblog.com)+ creative coach (http://www.heartmadeblog.com/mayi-content/one-on-one-consultations). To connect with Mayi, follow her tweets at @mayicarles (http://twitter.com/#!/mayicarles).

some news to share...

2011-01-30T21:11:00.000-07:00

Today's post I was going to share some exciting news with you my dear readers.
Yes, you read that right...
Was.

I was going to let you know that I would be taking a break from
blogging and from the weekly photo prompt because we were
welcoming a baby boy (through adoption) into our family.

We found out a few days ago that our joy had suddenly turned to heartbreak.
Our baby is not coming to our home.

Right now I do not have words to express the sadness in my heart.
I don't think I will have the words for a while.

So, I wanted to let you know that I am still going to take my break.
I need to be with my family right now. I know you understand. ♥

I have some wonderful guest posts and interviews lined up for you.
I want to express my sincerest gratitude to my lovely friends
who so kindly gave of their time & talent to help me out.
Thank you ladies!

2 photographers 1 inspiration...around town

2011-01-26T15:28:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this prompt...it was a lot of fun exploring my town. Exploring is not something I get to do very often but, definitely something I would like to do more of.

Melissa chose to focus on a daily ritual of hers...Starbucks. She said she heard that Starbucks will be changing their name and removing the 'coffee' from their name. Melissa isn't fond of change and wanted to remember her favorite spot this way.

My image is of a local drive-in called Frostop. It has literally been around for as long as I can remember...a landmark on the main road in our town. I really love the retro feel and colors of their sign.

Left: Melissa

Right: me

I do hope you enjoyed capturing your town as much as we did!

Both Melissa and I really love visiting your blogs and seeing the images that you share with us.

next weeks photography prompt...week 27

2011-01-21T23:29:00.002-07:00

I've chosen a fairly easy prompt for this week. It's one that I'm excited about!

Even though I was born, raised and still currently live in the same town,

I will to love to explore...

2 photographers 1 inspiration...white

2011-01-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

White is such a clean, simple, elegant, serene color. I love it and I wish I had more of it in my house.

Melissa took this beautifully detailed image of this white rose.

The detail and layers are stunning.

I found this tiny white bird feather in our backyard and I just love the delicate softness of it...

top: Melissa

botton: Me

How did you interpret 'white'?

Can't wait to see...

next weeks photography prompt...week 26

2011-01-14T20:37:00.001-07:00

2 photographers 1 inspiration...texture

2011-01-12T12:55:00.001-07:00

So the prompt for this week was texture. There are so many possibilities with the one simple word. The world is full of texture.

Melissa's cupcake texture was inspired by her youngest son's birthday. I love the curves of the frosting and the details you can see in the sugar and sprinkles...yum!

I've always been intrigued by this little abandoned house in our town. The weather worn paint and the color of the bricks is so charming and don't you just love this adorable vintage mailbox. I'm sure there's a story behind the home and it's owner...one that I wish I knew.

left: Melissa

right: me

How about you...

What textures were you inspired to capture?

favorites of 2010 and photography prompt week 25...

2011-01-07T18:09:00.000-07:00

Here are my favorite images from 2010. I got the idea from my sweet friend Azzari. On her blog she did a post where she chose her favorite image from each month during the year of 2010.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

2010 was a year full of much learning and growth. I think it's great to be able to look back over the images I took throughout the year and see how much has changed and how I've changed too. I'm really looking forward to all that 2011 will bring. Thank you so much for being a part of my journey. ♥

Here is the photography prompt for week 25...

Texture:

the surface of a material, as perceived by the sense of touch a wall with a rough texture

the structure, appearance, and feel of a woven fabric

the distinctive character or quality of something

the representation of the nature of a surface

2 photographers 1 inspiration...favorite image of 2010

2011-01-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

Both Melissa and I chose an image of our middle children. Isn't that funny?

Melissa took this picture of Luke almost a year ago. She loves how it shows his playful personality and spunkiness. I swear I can hear him giggling. Adorable.

I chose this picture of Jaden because it captures his happy personality and sweet smile. He is such a joyful little guy and so very friendly. He truly is my sunshine.

left: Melissa

right: me

What is your favorite image of 2010 and why?

2011 Free Printable Calendars and week 24 photography prompt

2010-12-31T16:23:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the New Year I wanted to give you, my lovely readers, a gift to thank you for all of the love, support, encouraging comments, sharing, and inspiration you've given me this year.
Thank you so much!

I made these 2011 printable calendars that you can download and print.

Just follow the link below the images to download.

hope street calendar

fortune calendar

In the spirit of saying farewell to 2010,
this week's prompt is to select your favorite image from 2010...

Wishing you love and peace in the New Year!

2 photographers 1 inspiration...dream

2010-12-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

I need to excuse Melissa from this weeks collaboration. She has some family matters she needs to tend to but, she'll be back next week.

I make lists everyday...many lists in fact. They calm the chaos. Just the act of writing something down frees my mind. I also love to make goals or resolutions. I always look forward to the beginning of a new year. It represents a clean slate, a fresh start, a new beginning, a chance to start over or to make things right. The new year is always full of hope.

One of my dreams for the new year is to love more freely. Not to hold back. Not to worry that the love won't be reciprocated. To give my love with no expectations or hopes of return.

I want to love...just to love.

Love my family more fully.

Make new friends and cultivate existing friendships.

Love through serving and giving to others.

Love by sharing myself through my blog and photography.

and last but, not least...

Take the time to love myself.

To me life is all about LOVE.

To love and be loved is the greatest gift.

I really think this quote sums it up perfectly...

“Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep.

The only way to retain love is to give it away.” ~Elbert Hubbard

For the last few years I have chosen a word that I focus on for the year. I was introduced to it by Ali Edwards blog posts on her one little word. "Essentially the idea is to choose a word (or let it choose you) that has the potential to make an impact on your life. Maybe you want to invite something or maybe you are hoping to subtract something. Maybe your word will be practical or hopeful or creative or fanciful. Maybe you need a big word, something in-your-face that will challenge you everyday. Maybe you need something smaller and quieter that will whisper gentle tidings as you make your way throughout the year."

What are your dreams for the new year?

Have you picked a word for the year?

And if you don't have a word...have you thought of one for this year?

I'd love for you to share with me...

next weeks photography prompt...week 23

2010-12-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

2 photographers 1 inspiration...decorate

2010-12-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

The prompt for this week was to photograph how you decorate for the holidays or a favorite decoration. Melissa photographed a new decoration that she recently found at her favorite gift shop. It is special to Melissa because it was made by a local artist from her area. I absolutely love it...isn't it gorgeous! I photographed an ornament that my 12 year old daughter made when she was just 3. My how time flies! I love it not only because Ashley's little hands made it but, because it reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in all of the holiday madness and forget the reason for the season.

left: Melissa

right: me

How do you decorate for the holidays?

Feel free to share a link to your image in the comment section.
I hope you are enjoying the magic of Christmas...

next weeks photography prompt...week 22

2010-12-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

Decorating is such a huge fun part of Christmas! It'll be fun to take a peek into your homes and see how you decorate for the holidays...

2 photographers 1 inspiration...tradition

2010-12-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

The prompt for the week is tradition. Traditions are such a huge part of many families holiday season and I think they make the holiday's so special.

Melissa's tradition is her advent countdown with books. At the end of November, she wraps up 24 Christmas books and places them in a basket. Each night one child unwraps a book and the read it together as a family. The Night Before Christmas is wrapped differently from the others and it is reserved for Christmas Eve night. How fun is that?! I keep thinking I will do it for my kids but, then the holiday craziness begins and I forget. Maybe next year?

Our family tradition started with me when I was a little girl. My mom would drive my great grandma and me around to look at the Christmas lights that decorated the houses so beautifully. Lights just seem to make the world a prettier place and so magical through the eyes of a child. The picture I've taken is of my favorite decorated house. As a family we drive by it every year. The house is beautiful in its own right but, with the gleaming lights it's stunning.

left: Melissa

right: me

What are your favorite holiday traditions? And why are they your favorite? Can't wait to see what you'll share. Just leave a link to your photo in the comment section below.

inspired ideas and week 21 photography prompt...

2010-12-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

Wow! It really seems like it's been so long since I've posted anything. Life has been so crazy lately. Good...but, crazy. The holidays always always are. I started this post once before and then deleted it. I have a hard time sharing things about myself. I figure that you're my friends and you'd want to know what's going on in my life. So I'm going to share...I'm really excited that my yarn ball & ornament tutorial was published in the Inspired Ideas Magazine! I've never had anything published before. The magazine is FULL of so many great crafts & tutorials. Have a look if you'd like.

Open publication - Free publishing - More christmas

Also, we're back on schedule with our weekly photography prompt. Yay!

It's getting now that I don't take any pictures unless I have a prompt to encourage me.

The prompt for this week is TRADITION...

I love traditions...especially Christmas traditions!

Can't wait to see what traditions you have.

pom pom scarf & pom pom garland tutorial...

2010-12-02T08:34:00.001-07:00

This year I wanted to find a craft that my eleven year old daughter could make (with little adult supervision) for her friends for Christmas gifts. While at the mall we saw a similar scarf for $30 and decided that we could make it ourselves for less than half the price.

Supply list:

yarn-chose as many coordinating colors as you like and

I found that the softer yarn makes a fluffier pom pom

scissors

pom pom maker-you can make them with a pom

pom maker from Clover or make them by hand

quilting needle-the eye of the needle is large enough to get the yarn

through and the point of the needle is dull enough for a child to use

Here are some helpful links for making pom poms:

you can buy a clover pom pom maker at amazon.com

clover pom pom maker instructional video on youtube.com

the traditional method of how to make pom poms at domestifluff blog

how to make pom poms

Make your pom poms, fluff them and trim them

Double thread your yarn so that it measure 5 1/2 feet

(5 1/2 feet seems to fit the average height girl but, feel free to

adjust the length of the yarn to the height of the person receiving this)

Double knot the end

Find the middle of the pom pom

Start the needle from the bottom

Pull it through the very center of the pom pom

Push the pom pom on down to the double knot and trim the

excess yarn so that it blends with the other pieces of yarn

Double knot at the other side of the pom pom-

this will keep the pom pom from sliding around

I measured 1 1/2 inches from the last double knot and

then made another double knot for my next pom pom

(you can eyeball it if you want or if you're anal like me...go ahead and measure)

Thread your next pom pom on and then double knot again and

continue so that each pom pom has a double knot on both sides

Here's what it begins to look like...

You can wear it alone or pair it with another scarf

Also...if you follow all the same directions it can be a pom pom garland!

I hope you enjoy making this super cute pom pom scarf and pom pom garland for yourself or for someone special in your life...

shop SALE and a guest post on UCreate...

2010-11-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

I'm having my first sale...

Buy One, Get One FREE!

The print must be equal or lesser value. Please let me know which print you would like for free in the 'message to seller' section at checkout. This sale will run from Nov. 26th thru Dec. 15th.

I'd also like to offer a special gift to my dear readers! Just mention that you are a reader of this blog in the 'message to seller' section as well and I will include a special gift for you!

(thanks to Georgianna for this wonderful idea)

Here are some other amazing photographers that are having a sale as well...

Georgianna Lane

City of Blackbirds

a place for twiggs

Etsy is full of Black Friday goodness!

I have some more exciting news...

I'm doing a guest post/tutorial over at UCreate today!

It's my pom pom scarf tutorial...I hope you'll drop by UCreate and check it out.

Here's what the scarf looks like...

Wishing you a Happy Black Friday and Happy Shopping!

a few updates...

2010-11-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

There isn't a photography prompt this week because Melissa and I will be taking a short break from the weekly photo challenge but, we will start back up in December.

and

I've added a few new things to the shop...

4x6 photo calendar

sympathetic threads

happiness is a butterfly

I hope you are having a lovely weekend...

2 photographers 1 inspiration...give thanks

2010-11-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

Melissa 's image shows her with an old Richoflex camera. Here is how she described why it fit the prompt, "It is a good indication of my thankfulness right now. I feel that I am in a really good place in my life. I have a wonderfully loving husband, three healthy (and rambunctious) boys and I am doing something that I absolutely LOVE to do...take photos! Seriously, I am blessed beyond measure!"

I had many ideas of things that I am grateful for but, none of them really panned out. I wanted to get some photos of my kids or just one of them. Not happening. Well, I did get a photo of Emma but, it was after she had dumped out an entire container of oatmeal on the floor. My first reaction isn't happiness but, look at her face and how happy she is. How could I not smile? I am so extremely blessed to be a mother. Messes and all. I am trying more each day to embrace the messes of my daily life and give thanks for the cuties that create them.

left: Melissa

right: me

What are you grateful for?
Leave a link to your photo in the comment section below...

3 artists who are inspiring me right now...

2010-11-15T18:03:00.000-07:00

I want to introduce you to three amazing artists who continually inspire me. I hope you inspired by their art as much as I am...

I love the sense of order that I get when I look at Leslie's work and the creative way she incorporates so much color into each of her images. Leslie's blog: a creative mint

1. Paper Quilt, 2. Tulips, 3. Growing Button Collection, 4. Little Shelf, 5. Aqua Tea Tin & Cups, 6. pink mood

Christina takes such amazing portraits of women. She captures their femininity, beauty and personality perfectly. Christina's blog: divas and dreams

1. Angel, 2. Flirting - explored, 3. Sunflare love - explored!, 4. Hope, 5. Red lips - explored!, 6. Angel in the city - Explored

Irene's images are romantic and yet whimsical. They tell a story without using words. Irene's website: Irene Suchocki

1. A thousand lanterns, 2. Looking for love, 3. Do you realize that we are floating in space?, 4. Snowblind, 5. Laundry day, 6. Bestill

Who inspires you?

week 20 photography prompt...

2010-11-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

As Thanksgiving is quickly approaching I thought it would be fitting to have a prompt dedicated to what we are thankful for...

Hope you have a great weekend!

yarn ball & ornament wreath tutorial...

2010-11-11T05:32:00.002-07:00

I have loved making these yarn ball & ornament wreaths...they make great gifts! Here's the tutorial if you'd think you'd like to have one in your home or to give away. They're super easy...

Here's what you need:

{all supplies were found at a craft store, Wal-Mart, and Target}

Wire Wreath Form {I used a 18in. form}

Ornaments

Yarn

Glue Gun

Styrofoam Balls

To make the yarn balls:

I used a variety of sizes of styrofoam balls.

The sizes I used are: 2 1/2 inch, 2 inch, 1 1/2 inch

Wrap the yarn around the styrofoam ball in various and alternating directions {just like making a real yarn ball} until all of the white styrofoam is covered. When you're finished just tuck the end of the string underneath the yarn to secure it.

Making the wreath:

There are a couple of ways to do this.. you can evenly space out your large yarn balls onto your wreath form and glue them one at a time. And then you can glue your smaller yarn balls and ornaments around your large yarn balls. I have done this on a few of my wreaths.

Or you can build the wreath one section at a time building upon each section as you go. I found that this leaves less 'holes' and hides the wreath wire form from view. This method works better for me and I like the way it looks. I added the larger yarn balls and ornaments around the base of the wreath form and then I filled the 'holes' with smaller yarn balls and smaller ornaments. Securing each by gluing them to one another and to the wreath form. While gluing the pieces together you'll want to hold them for 15-20 seconds to make sure they are secure before moving on. I also made sure that I alternated the colors.

I found that holding the wreath upright or hanging it on my door let me have a good look at it and find the places where I needed extra pieces added.

What do you think? Are you going to give it a try?

2 photographers 1 inspiration...together

2010-11-10T08:55:00.000-07:00

For the prompt 'together' I really wanted to take a picture of my kids together (like Melissa's) but, it's almost near impossible. They either all end up crying or I end up crying. We don't need anymore crying around here so, I went with the Oreo's and milk. They just go together. We don't buy Oreo's at our house. The majority of our treats are homemade and my husband hates Oreo's. That's why it was so funny when Emma was eating her Oreo and she instinctively pulled it apart. Like everyone just knows...that's how you do it.

left: Melissa

right: me

What did you capture that goes 'together'?

week 2: what i'm working on...preserving the past

2010-11-08T17:00:00.001-07:00

From the young age of 14 I remember having a strong desire to preserve, research, learn and share the history of my ancestors. I mainly wanted to learn more about my mothers maternal side because so little was known. The reason why I knew so little of my mothers side is because my mother was abandoned at an orphanage in Juneau, Alaska, by her mother when she was one year old (she was later rescued and raised by her father's mother). Her mother went in search of a different life and chose to put her family, her heritage and who she was behind her. She was ashamed of being part Eskimo and did all she could to rid herself from anything that would associate her as such. She kept many secrets and never spoke of her family.

I met my grandmother, Virginia, when I was 18. I had so many questions to ask her but, I'm afraid I left with very few answered. One good thing is that I did have somewhere to start and I still had a strong desire to learn more. I began to seek out her siblings. I found her sister, Gloria, in Las Vegas which is only 2 hours away from where I live. Aunty Glo was so different from my grandmother, she was warm, open and wanted to tell the families story. In the few times I was able to meet with her and through correspondence, I could pull together a small bit of history.

{Aunty Glo and a friend}

Aunty Glo passed away this September. A few weeks ago her daughter, Ginny, sent me some items that Aunty Glo kept of her mothers (Anna). Anna, was an avid crocheter and left many of her pieces to her children. I received some hankies, a pillow cover, doilies and hot pads that she made. I want to capture them digitally so they can be preserved and also share them in a family history scrapbook.

{Great-great Grandma Catherine & Great Grandma Anna
& Great Aunt Helen}

Below are some of the pieces that I've taken pictures of...I still have a long way to go...

I do wish I could have known my great-grandma Anna and to have been taught her handiwork. Seeing how that can't happen I'll just have to enjoy the little bits of her in the beautiful art she's left behind...

next weeks photography promt...week 19

2010-11-05T21:55:00.000-06:00

Melissa chose 'together' for the photography prompt for next week.
There are so many ways this an be interpreted...

I hope you can join us on this photographic adventure and that you have a great weekend!

2 photographers 1 inspiration...shape

2010-11-03T09:38:00.000-06:00

Shape can mean so many things:

To give a particular form to; create.

To cause to conform to a particular form or pattern.

To plan to bring about the realization or accomplishment of.

To embody in a definite form.

To adapt to a particular use or purpose; adjust.

To direct the course of.

To come to pass; happen.

To take on a definite shape or form.

Melissa conveyed shape so elegantly with the repeated circles of the polka dots and candy (yum)

and I chose my favorite shape...a heart made of vintage spools of thread...

left: Melissa

right: me

How did you interpret shape?

Leave a link to your image in the comment section below...

belated halloween wishes and week 1: a mission statement...

2010-11-01T16:15:00.000-06:00

I know Halloween is over but, I couldn't resist sharing a few photos of the my cute kids!

Ashley was Nancy Drew, Jaden a Fireman, and Emma was Alice in Wonderland...

Our Halloween was interesting. Jaden only wore his costume for all of 2 minutes (during those 2 minutes my husband was holding him and trying to hold his hat on-Jaden is smiling and laughing in these pictures because of our efforts) while I furiously clicked away. And, poor Emma did not like her costume. It itched and I'm sure the fact that she's cutting 6 teeth didn't help her mood. But, we did have fun visiting family and getting lots of candy. I do hope you had a very Happy Halloween!

and

I'm going to start something new. I want to give my blog more direction and purpose. So, I am taking part in 52 weeks of blogging your passion and each Monday I will have a post relating to it. I seem work best when I have structure and direction.

For week one I wrote a mission statement for my blog:

Life Through the Lens is where I share moments of my life with a camera, inspiring finds, all things creative and love for the handmade. I enjoy engaging with others who are striving to learn & grow, inspire & be inspired, and searching to find the beauty in the everyday. I'm so glad you're here.

Do you have a mission statement for your blog?

If so I'd love to hear yours...

week 18 prompt...

2010-10-29T05:09:00.000-06:00

I'm curious to see how this prompt is interpreted...

Happy Capturing!

2 photographers 1 inspiration...something you cannot live without

2010-10-27T05:40:00.008-06:00

This weeks prompt I really had to think long and hard about. What material possessions can I not live without?

It has to be books. I love the written word. I'm addicted. There is something so beautiful in holding a book, the smell of paper and ink, the sound of turning a page, the texture of the paper, the weight in your hands, the text before your eyes...it's a feast for the senses.

I'm not alone.

Melissa cannot live without books either...

left: Melissa

right: me

But, what makes books something I cannot live without is what they do for my mind...

“For one who reads, there is no limit to the number of lives that may be lived, for fiction, biography, and history offer an inexhaustible number of lives in many parts of the world, in all periods of time.” ~Louis L'Amour

“When I read a book I seem to read it with my eyes only, but now and then I come across a passage, perhaps only a phrase, which has a meaning for me, and it becomes part of me.” ~William Somerset Maugham

So what is it that you cannot live without?

Feel free to leave a link to your image in the comment section below.

Everyone is invited to join. ♥

week 17 prompt...

2010-10-22T19:55:00.000-06:00

Family is definitely something you couldn't live without but,
what material belongings do you surround yourself with or which possessions bring you joy?

Can't wait to see what you can't live without...

2 photographers 1 inspiration...vintage

2010-10-20T11:22:00.000-06:00

One of the many things I absolutely love about all things vintage is...the story.

The beauty of the story behind an object or keepsake.

Who cherished this item before me?

Did this camera capture memories of newlyweds honeymooning in Paris?

How many dinner table conversations did the salt & pepper shakers get to listen to?

What kind of travels did it take before it came into my possession?
Why did it end up in an antique or thrift store?

left: Melissa

right: Kristi

I wonder what kind of story your vintage item holds?
I can't wait for you to share them with us...