sunday snapshot # 19

My 19th post on October 19th

Maybe this is a good sign that good things are on the way???? Or just a fun coincidence :)

I always thought that you first worked really hard to build a life, then there would be a point where you got to start living it.  And I think I have just been waiting for my real life to begin but really life is constantly unfolding a path one brick at a time that you walk along.....

Here are some of my favorites things from this path so far... 

red velvet cake.....    well, really most cake

red velvet cake.....    well, really most cake

Philly pretzel

Philly pretzel

the perfect Coke

the perfect Coke

pretty things

pretty things

great jewelry

great jewelry

beautiful books

beautiful books

Coco Chanel.....  and green velvet

Coco Chanel.....  and green velvet

fashion and flowers

fashion and flowers

a snow day... quiet outside and curled up inside

a snow day... quiet outside and curled up inside

a reminder that even during moments of chaos and stress you can be at peace

a reminder that even during moments of chaos and stress you can be at peace

watching this little one walk through the world

watching this little one walk through the world

contour line drawings

contour line drawings

taking photos

taking photos

knowing there is something bigger.... just look up

knowing there is something bigger.... just look up

this silly moment

this silly moment

fun with photos.... love an appand moments with this kid

fun with photos.... love an app

and moments with this kid

moss.... and curating great art shows

moss.... and curating great art shows

little blooms

little blooms

this little face..... (and an owl hat)

this little face..... (and an owl hat)

this little face.....

this little face.....

and this little face.....

and this little face.....

beautiful endings to each day

beautiful endings to each day

sunday snapshot # 8

Rain, rain go away.....  not for this one.  She loves water whether it comes from a faucet, a hose, or the sky.  A playdate at the beach got rained out but that's ok, we had fun running home in the rain and then watching it fall.

Gigi August 1, 2014

Gigi August 1, 2014

Gigi August 1, 2014

Gigi August 1, 2014

sunday snapshot # 3

Live in hope.

It's easy to get down... to be overwhelmed with all of the could've-would've-shoud'ves, who said what about you, who likes what you did, who doesn't like what you did, who likes what you said, who doesn't like what you said, who misunderstood, who was unkind, who took advantage, who walked away, who you wish would walk away, where should you go, what should you do, what do you like, what do you want, who do you want to be and are you allowing yourself or others to get in your way????

This inner "talk" is endless-- mine is especially chatty :)  And most of the time what people say and do is more about them than you.  We should be reflective in life but this talk can really get in our way if we don't recognize that it is not always our inner voice, our true self.... it's just talk.

But if we let it all go.... if we look around at the little things.... if we have hope.... that is where our true spirit lives. That's where you find your true self.

This is why I love photography.  It tells us to slow down, to see the little things, to take it all in..... to look for the beauty all around us and to honor the moment.

Side note:  yes, photography, art, design is also part of all of that talk sometimes, all of that art world noise; it can stir up a lot of self-doubt but that's just the life of an artist :)  Some of it is helpful, you just have to consider the source. Take what speaks to you and ignore the rest. I'm trying to ignore it and just love doing it.

Here is one of my first iphone photos.

Lake Michigan / beach in Saugatuck / 2013

This was a great little moment.  Just me walking along the beach.  That's one of my favorite things to do.  I love all of the things you can find.  

Notes: iPhone 5. TTL (through the lens) with just a quick clean edit in Photoshop CS6-- a bit of sharpening and a touch of blue added to the shadows for a little pop.

 

Hello!!!!!

Finally...... I am a dot com. 

It's been on my list of things to do for several years now but life had a little time out in store for me (a little hard to do a photo shoot hopping around on crutches) and now that I am over that hiccup, I can get back to what I love.... art... design... photography.... color.... drawing.... painting.... 

To capture and create what makes life worth living!