vol.25

interior design inspiration- more architecture

This house is *amazing* I cant imagine what it would feel like to actually take a tour of this place. It seems so "alive" If the walls could talk, the stories would probably be out of this world. :)

The wood stove in the fireplace? Intriguing... Can you guess what I loved about this picture though? The artful arrangement of frames hung on the wall... So neato! The fireplace comes in at a very close second though... ;)

I am leaving for a few days, and will be answering e-mails when I return on Tuesday the 2nd of February. February... already!? We are going to visit my brother for the weekend, and might go to the coast tomorrow!  Hope you have fun plans too! :)

Be mine Overlay Inspiration

Hi!!

So the "Be Mine" Overlay set is really a favorite among everyone... and it has definitely become a best seller... so I know that quite a few of you will be excited to see these pictures from fresh art photography. Remember how I told you that Jodie had planned to dress up a simple studio shoot with these overlays? Well it sounds like they're Valentines mini session was a success, but I think the pictures speak for themselves. :)

 

My favorite of the bunch is the baby with the mom tattoo. :) I thought Jodie was pretty creative to come up with that idea! I also really love how she worked in additional text to really finish and even customize each picture off.

I have started working on another set of overlays... and actually I am currently juggling 4 new sets; "Lace and Romance," "Pretty as a picture frame," "Studio backgrounds" and a set using butterfly wings. :) I hope to have at least one of these sets finished by the end of next week.

Hope your week is off to a good start? Mine is. I am trying to work in more of a schedule. Printing orders 2 times a week and on specific days, letting e-mails go unanswered after 4:30... making myself stay away from the computer in the evenings... even AFTER the girls go to bed. Usually this is the time I use to work on new art, or design new graphics... you know fun stuff that really consumes my time. It has been so long since I have felt bored, and making myself set up some realistic scheduling definitely isnt helping me sale more. BUT it is giving me more time with my girls, and that is totally worth it. :) I think this balance is necessary and helps me feel well... like my time is balanced. :) So, please bear with me as I slowly work this out... and I promise to try and keep up with my blog! 

a quote for your week chap. 21

Happy Monday everyone. I seen this quote and thought it was so cute! :)

How was everyone's weekend? Ours was nice and quiet. Did some lounging around the house on saturday. Sunday afternoon we went out for dinner and did some grocery shopping. Fun Fun. :)

Exciting news! Elsie is having a fun little blog party over on her blog today... and I am giving away 2 8x10 prints. So, you  need to head on over and check it out!

I'm also planning another post today or tomorrow. I had a customer give me a super fun idea and I'll be sharing pictures! It was so much fun, that I know you'll want to try this too! Have a positively perfect monday!

quote credit: Scully, Frank on Risk

image credit: Fliker_2000

GIVEAWAY WINNER!

So... I kind of spaced announcing the winner for lisa's giveaway. So if you have been eagerly awaiting the winner being announced... I'm really sorry! :)

Anyhow randomgenerator picked #29. 

Lacey who said; "oh my goodness! i would die for the birdcage one!" ...thats you!! Fortunately no dying will be necessary. ;) Shoot me an e-mail vol.25 [@] hotmail.com

Thanks to everyone who entered, and a BIG thank you to Lisa for being so generous and hosting this giveaway. :)

too cute thursday - sugar edition

 

Ok, so this last picture was probably a little unexpected in this post? Well I can understand you're confusion... but this four legged critter is actually a SUGAR glider! :) I stumbled across this picture on flickr while hunting for all things sugar and was instantly reminded of my childhood. See, I wanted a sugar glider sooo bad! I dreamed of one day owning my own glider... and I guess I had kind of forgotten about the little guys. So, I'm curious.... do you think they're cute? Or too rodent-ish for you're taste? Now that I've been reading up on them a little... I can see why I never got one. :) They seem really sweet, but I think it would have been way too much maintenance for a 14 year old.

Happy Thursday!!

p.s. click the actual images for direct links

interior design inspiration- calendar wallpaper by Christiaan Postma

So, I'm really liking this! If I had a huge house with plenty of wall space to spare, then I would like it even more. :) The idea is neat, and I could see it being much more practical by modifying it a little... Because I am left wondering what happens with the year is over? I guess your left taking the paper down...

How neat would this be adapted for a baby's nursery? It would be suuper sweet to doucment baby's first year/milestones directly on the wall. :) 

What do you think?

p.s. I completely missed posting my monday quote. Sorry! I am however working on a couple new prints that should be perfect for Valentines day. I'll be sharing within the next few days!!

I'm considering purchasing a newer version of photoshop- please help!

So, I've been "wishing" for a newer version of photoshop for like ages now. Don't get me wrong... I am eternally grateful for how well photoshop 7 has treated me... but there are some things I need a newer version for. For instance I love making my own grunge brushes, but I can't create them in as high a resolution as I can in CS... That has been my one big gripe. I just don't want to put the time into creating a good set of brushes if they can't be "top notch" They're adequate... it just bugs me that they could be better. Another thing that has me day dreaming about CS are the wider choice of photoshop actions that are available. I would LOVE love to purchase these actions by Florabella... but they're not available in PS7. :(

I did purchase one of her texture packs the other day... and I am having soo soo much fun with them.

She just released a second set and I'm now feeling like I have to have them too. :) I'll maybe be able to hold out until tomorrow tops... then I'll cave. :) I'm also getting the urge to create some more textures of my own. It really is a fun process.

But anyhow back to my original question, do you know of a good resource to purchase photoshop? There are sooo soo many websites selling photoshop and for ALL price ranges. It can be so confusing. I'm not necessarily set on having the newest version. If the price is cheap enough I think I could "settle" with any of the earlier creative suite versions. :) Thanks a million!

The Valentines Cards are listed.. but in limited supply!

Hello!! Just a quick note to let everyone know that the Valentines cards are listed. I really enjoyed doing them, but they took so much time, and SOO much paper! So, I only did 10 sets.  I decided I would list them as a downloadable pdf file again this year. So, if you are looking for a fun rainy day project to do with the kiddos... this may be it. :)

Anyhow, the finished cards are going quick... there is actually only 8 left, so if you are at all interested please jump on them. Because I won't be printing anymore.  The pre-printed cards are all sold out- Thanks everyone. :) The printable listing however, will always be available. :)

You can see them here.

Hope you're Wednesday is going great! :)

My first maternity session!

HI! So, the giveaway is turning into a HUGE success... Keep those lovely comments coming. :)

Some of you may remember me mentioning that we had friends coming in from out of town and I was doing my first maternity session. I am in no ways a professional photographer but it was tons of fun! They were talking about coming to see us, and I was like come... I'll take you're guys' pictures! :)  She is 6 months along, and had the cutest most perfect belly. :) It rained Friday night, but they were such troopers... anything for the shot! It was definitely cold, and they offered to lay/sit on the ground for several shots..

Arent they both adorable? They make the sweetest couple. :) Super outgoing and really fun to be around...

The hearts in the above photo are part of a new batch of overlays in progress. :)
They were totally up (lol no pun intended) for anything!

...worked an overlay into the reflection! I was so excited when we found this puddle of water at the base of these stairs.

Her sister in law made this teddy bear... isnt it sweet? :)

I have sooo many more awesome shots that will probably be popping up on the blog in the next few weeks. I'll be working on a new set of overlays for maternity sessions. Fun Fun!!

interior design inspiration- modern cottage style

Totally adoring this right now... The cottage style furniture, paired with the modern light fixture... its a perfect balance between modern and cottage. :) It definitely gives me the warm fuzzies.