Monday Morning Musings . . . I am a Sensible. Sober, Down to Earth Woman.

It's days like these when I know that, as many mistakes as I made over the years, I still must have done something right. I mean if your grown up kid says "Sure, no problem." when you ask him to do something rather crazy for your latest class photo assignment, you can't have been all bad as a mom right??
I'm not allowed to say what the assignment is yet but this is an out take. It was  -15C (probably -24 with the wind chill) and this guy was good natured enough to sit in a snowy field in shorts and a muscle shirt with a cold beer in his hand. (His hat, snow-pants and gloves are stuffed in the cooler.)

As I was looking over the photos I took I remembered a conversation I had with Henry a few weeks ago.

He teased me about being a 'wild woman'. Which I most definitely am not  . . .

I told him how sorry I was that he ended up with 'sensible' over 'wild'.

And then he just  . . . looked at me. And started to laugh . . .

"Well okay, I know some of my projects aren't always sensible, but in most things I'm pretty sensible!"

"In your head maybe!"  and he laughed even harder.

Then I laughed a bit, looked at him and said "but I am!" He kept laughing. "No, really!!"

The thing is, I really do think I'm pretty sensible. In fact I've always believed that I was a sober, sensible, down-to-earth kind of girl.

But, now I'm starting to wonder. As I think about it, I'm pretty sure two people who know me well are rolling on the floor in hysterics right now. (You know who you are !!!)

 I'm thinking about some of the things I do that might not seem very sensible or even down-to-earth to other people.

So, I'm curious . . . Do you see yourself the way others see you, or do they say things about you that have you questioning how well they actually know you. Or how well you know yourself??

And . . .if you know me . . . don't you think I'm sober, sensible and down-to-earth most of the time???

 Inquiring minds want to know . . .

Creative Opportunities. Creating Social Media Images.

I love to style things. I always have. Pair this tiny vase with that feather, add an assortment of foraged bits and before you know it you've created a pretty vignette.

This skill has been handy in countless ways. Decorating a corner of the living room is an obvious one. I've also used it to enhance meals I've catered, bring a little extra 'something' to floral arrangements for weddings, create atmosphere for large events and even just to pretty up an empty spot in the garden.

As time went on, and photography became more and more important to me, I discovered it was just the skill needed for still life photography. This resulted in an ever expanding collection of props in my style cupboards.

My dear husband Henry would look at me and smile, shaking his head when another trip to the thrift store resulted in 'just one more thing . . .'

Creating marketing and social media images was just a natural extension of all that and over the last few years I've had the chance to work with some beautiful products.

Trinkets Metalcraft

Trinkets Metalcraft

Mada Boutique

Mada Boutique

Mada Boutique (Audrey's) Instagram

Mada Boutique (Audrey's) Instagram

Copper Kettle Soap Co.

Trinkets Metalcraft

Trinkets Metalcraft

 Not long ago I was able to style fall belgian mums, for Milner Gardens' Facebook page, and decided to spread the styling love around. (actually, my friends shared the love with me . . . I have great friends!)

I gathered up the mums and an assortment of fall decor then set off to visit a few like minded friends who allowed me borrow their beautiful homes and  gardens. I was even able to incorporate some of their lovely decor.

It made for the best day. I mean, how often do you get to play with all the things you like best and spend time with your friends while you do it?


Life is good. 

Monday Morning Musings

Psalm 62:5-6 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.

A Storybook Photoshoot

 

 I've always had stories running around in my head.

They never get out though.
They just lurk and then, every so often, demand to be brought to life.

That's easier said than done though, right? How many of us share the dream of writing a book one day? But where to start?

 What makes me think I could even write one?? I mean, my spelling is atrocious, my grasp of grammar is worse and . . . well, I didn't even finish high school . . .

Here's the thing. My parents separated when I was 11. (And then divorced a few years later.)

There were several turbulent years after that. Lots of moving, lots of new schools. Pretty tough stuff for a shy introvert. I moved here just before I turned 16 and finished grade 10 in our little private school. I would have had to finish high school in a huge public school. One known to be rather rough at the time.

 I couldn't do it. My mom promised I wouldn't have to go back if  and only if, I found myself a job. Not long after, while out for breakfast one day, I applied for a job and got it! That, for the most part, was the end of formal schooling for me. (Poor mom. I found out years later that she'd figured I wouldn't have the courage to get a job. She'd thought it was a safe promise to make. . .)

So. Stories in my head, and a story I kept telling myself about why I couldn't write them down.

Stories want to be told. My stories found another way. They snuck up on me through my photography. The Photoshop Artistry course and then the more advanced Awake class I'm taking, began to show me another way to tell a story, one told with digital artistry.

But it didn't stop there. Stories still nagged me to write them down.

So now I am.

I'm combining photography, digital art and words into an 'illustrated' short children's story and Nelena and her girls agreed to be my models for the project.

I hope it will be a good story but, even if it isn't, at least I won't have to regret not trying . . .  (If there are any English teachers out there interested in editing an amateur's work . . . drop me a line. I'll need all the help I can get! ;) )

The first 'illustration' is at the top of this post. I'm also sharing other images taken during our storybook photoshoot. It took the whole day, with Holly doing hair and makeup for these three lovely ladies (the girls got blush and lip gloss!), but my, was it ever fun!

This is the  above image before I worked some digital magic on it . . .

The day began with hair and makeup.

It's not all glamour as this girl can tell you . . .

But she soon got into the swing of things.

Her big sister hung out with me while I created the wreaths for their hair.

Once we got to our beautiful garden, (not mine, this one belongs to my dear friend Nicole) it was time to get into character.

How exactly do fairies act??

Let's think about it with tea and cookies . . . or in this case, apple juice and cookies.

 

 

No photoshoots are problem free.

"You're worried about my wreath when there are wasps flying around my head?!!"

The girls were game to climb a ladder in hopes of seeing themselves fly in their story. Of course there's always a spotter close at hand!

Then it's time for a little fun!

 

We got many, many beautiful images, ones I hope will make lovely illustrations for my story one day.

Until then I'll leave you with these . . .

 

 

A big thank you to Holly, Nelena and the girls for helping me with this dream!

Why I'm so Excited. (Kim's Maternity Shoot)

I love kids. I always have. I 'get' kids in a way I often don't with adults.

I'm not only an introvert, I'm also quite shy and find myself tongue tied and fumbling for things to say when I'm around people I don't know really well. I am not good at casual conversation!

I don't generally have that problem with kids. Of course, it still takes time for them to get comfortable with me, and to feel safe enough to be themselves, but the thing with most kids is, they want you to see them for who they are.

I love how they can be wildly funny one minute and then turn around and be endearingly earnest and concerned about the serious things going on around them. When you really and truly connect with children you can forget, sometimes, how young they are.

For years I had my own kids and then, as they grew older, a parade of kids who rode my school bus. Most of them will never know how deeply I cared about them. How much I celebrated their joys and had my heart broken as I saw them struggle with difficulties through the years. How often I prayed for them. I loved the kids who would sit at the front of my bus chatting about their lives, stuff going on in school, kids who bothered them, best friends they delighted in and, of course, stuff their moms and dads did and said at home. (Not to worry though . . . those kinds of things I kept to myself. ;D)

I've missed having kids in my daily life since I've retired. I've borrowed my sisters' grandkids when I visited, arranged the occasional playtime with younger nieces and nephews and even sent out calls on Facebook for kids (and their moms) to come and craft, bake, or dress up and pose for the camera with me. (Most kids still love to get in front of a camera and play pretend games.)

But now, (*D.V.) a new stage of life is about to begin. In no time at all I hope to be a grandma and to once again have a small child around regularly. (Don't worry Kim, I won't drop by everyday, I promise!)

The things we are going to do, the pictures I'm going to take . . .

My sister Tamara's favourite hashtag says it all . . . #blessingsabound

I'm still going to be borrowing other peoples kids once in a while though, I won't be able to help myself! ;D

I'll leave you with the rest of Kim's maternity images. How lucky am I that she still loves to dress up, pretend and is willing to do it in front of my camera?

Hair and makeup Holly Anne

(*deo volente)