Jarfly

Lovely Pencils

I love getting things in the mail, especially when I forget I've ordered them. I've been working hard to gut my apartment and get a new workspace and office set up. The graphic design program I'm in requires a lot of work at home with pencils, ink pens, t-squares, etc. Having an organized art closet and clean work space has become necessary...otherwise I notice my stress level rise and my grades drop. It's a work in progress, as our house is currently completely torn apart.

That being said, I ordered some pretty pencils from Maoilisa in hopes of inspiring my goal of starting (and keeping) a weekly sketch book of ideas that pop up in my head. It's a simple thing I could do in the midst of the chaos of moving furniture and such.

Maolisa specializes in Washi paper handwrapped pencils. I've alwasy been drawn to Japanese botanical art, so these pencils were the perfect thing to add a little charm to my table top. I'm hoping they help spur on some good ideas in my sketchbook too!

Here's to the simple things! :)

 

Sounds Like Peace

I can still recall the sound of my mother's vaccuming deep into the wee hours of the night. This was her inevitable routine after we were put to bed, particularly if she was expecting guests the following day. Snuggling deep below the blankets of my bed, the rhythmic "wrrrr"of the machine sucking up cherrios and barbie shoes from our living room carpet would gently lullaby me to sleep. I grew to live for the moments when I could hear my parents move up and about the house while I lay in my bed. Their feet echoing througout the house taking part in the mystical world of adults that exsisted beyond childhood bedtimes left me feeling safe and secure. Sleep found in the midst of those sounds was always the sweetest.

I'm nearly 30 years old now, but when I hear a vaccum running from the apartment below me I immediately feel quiet and at peace. If only there were a vacuum ready to serenade me at a given moment these days...because life is simply not always peaceful, is it?

I will confess that I'm rarely still enough to tune into the simple sounds of the world around me. The noise of social networking, computers in general and a busy school schedule keeps me so wrapped up in my own chaotic world that I miss the wind moving in the curtains...or the sound faint music down the street.

This morning I asked my husband if we could turn a fan on, even though it's cold enough to leave frost on the trees on through afternoon lately. I think it's that humming sound that reminds me of my Mom vaccuming that helps me fall asleep, a strange assurance that everything is okay.

Who knew that a vaccum would sound like peace. Life is funny that way.

First Maternity Shoot

I had the honor to photograph my sister-in-law over the weekend...her and my brother are expecting their first baby (a girl). A maternity shoot is new territory for me as I've never photographed a pregnant woman before. I spent a lot of time researching tips for making the new mama feel comfortable and also studied angles and lighting that seemed very delicate and flattering for a pregnant body.

I wanted to photograph Brittany in her environment so that she could move with ease and feel safe. It's a vulnerable time, I would imagine, being a mom to be for the first time....so I wanted the special feelings and thoughts that come with that realization to come through on camera. This I don't think that would have been as possible in a public enviornment...or even in a place foreign to Brittany. 

Lucky for us, Brittany and David's bedroom had one beautifully lit window that was creating a lot of perfect natural light. We removed the curtains and de-cluttered the walls...even moving furniture around to allow for lots of free, clear space so the focus could be on Brittany...and not the room decor.

 

It was very good practice for me to learn to work with available light and remember that for a topic like pregnancy soft and simple would be best...natural moments that weren't over styled or over thought. A funny thing I took away was that an intimate maternity shoot like this seemed more compelling when Brittany wasn't looking at the camera...but rather away or down at her belly. The interaction between her and her yet to be born baby girl was very apparent. Yes, we did the cliche "hand heart" on the belly...but it was just too adorable not to use.

I would like to improve by learning to understand my reflector and bouncing light more effectively...which would have allowed for even more poses, leaving us NOT so dependant on the angle of the window. Overall however, I was really happy with how these turned out and even more happy that mom and dad to be were very pleased. 

Brittany is certainly an easy subject to photograph and is such a lovely mama. She looks simply gorgeous in these soft photos. I'm excited to do an outdoor more whimsical couples sessions later this spring...congratulations David and Brittany! Thank you for letting me practice on you...

 

Winter Frost

We don't get a lot of snow here in Portland...and when we do the whole city shuts down. Inklings and whispers of possible snow also have a way of setting the whole town in chaos and excitement. I think it's kinda funny and enjoy joining in the drama if I can...because I'm a massive fan of anything white on the ground.

We haven't been lucky enough to see any pretty snowfall here yet...but we've had our share of freezing fog over the last few nights. This fog left a nice delicate sheet of frost all over everything. While staying at a friends house over the weekend I snapped some pictures of the frost that settled over their garden and yard.

The simple things are always the most beautiful things aren't they? Have a good Monday everyone...

Making Up My Own Flowers

I love flowers. However, I'll admit...sometimes I draw flowers that I don't think actually exsist. They tend to be doodles that just look like something you could pick in a field but may or may not actually be capable of growing...but they are pretty, so who cares right? I sure don't.

I got to thinking...wouldn't it be nifty if we could cut and paste our favorite things about our favorite flowers together? I suppose that's a bit what making a bouquet is like, but I mean actually pinning together a look in our head... and then planting it in the ground... only to watch it grow up looking just liked you'd hoped. 

I don't know enough about hybrid cross polenation (or whatever) mumbo jumbo to really go much further than that. However my mom gave me a free bucket of flowers from a recent wedding she had been at...so I decided to play around with this idea with my camera.

I wasn't so hard really...I just pretended I could glue different parts of flowers together until I got something that I wish really exsisted (and maybe does somewhere?) Except the tulip...that's...just a tulip :)

Anyway, if you are bored on a saturday afternoon...it's something to try out :) Thanks for the free flowers mom.

 

More Bottles Please!

One of the most popular items for rental from JARFLY are my antique bottles. Just a few days ago my in laws gifted me with some new ones. They are very cool because they have the old medicine bottle look that I'm always searching for. 

Some of the smaller ones I spray painted just for looking pretty on my window sil...but the most of these are for rent. Contact me if you have an event coming up you think they'd be perfect for!

PS: Thank you Anthony and Kathy for the lovely find!

 

 

 

 

Cold Country Portraits

My friend Tela is one of the those curious people who can sneak in a room un-noticed but also burst into belly laughs that leave you feeling like your joke was the best joke ever told. I love that about her. A few days ago I had the honor of practicing my portrait skills on her. It was much colder than it looks and she was a total trooper as I made her go coatless for most of the shots. 

My friend plays the mandolin and guitar and is a connoisseur of music. Some of my favorite artists (like Diane Birch) were introduced to me by Tela and her good taste. Tela is a shy musician and you'll not often hear her play...but when you do, it's always lovely to listen to.

 

We wound up driving down Scholls Ferry Rd until we hit the Kinton-Scholls countryside. It's loaded with orchards, old farmhouses and barns that make for great fun behind the lens. In most of these shots we are up to our ankles in mud and most likely tresspassing. I kept waiting for an old farmer to roll up on a tractor and tell us to "git!".

Thanks Tela for being a good sport while I made you sneak onto people's property and hop fences! 

 

Have Fun...Be Safe...

Inspired by a Winter Drive

My husband and I took a little road trip up to Leavenworth, WA over this last weekend. I'll have some other photos to share later this week of that amazing town! This trip was very important for us as we haven't gone off onto the road together since summer (pretty typical for most people with a busy schedule I'd think). 

Our stay in Leavenworth was much fun but what I enjoyed the most was the exploring we did on the way back home. Kenny was patient enough to stop the car every time I yelled, "Wait! I gotta take a picture of that" as we drove along the hy-way. I was amazed by the silence along those country roads...and the beautiful way in which the snow connected the scenery together like a perfect painting. The horses seemed eager for the camera, waiting along the fences. The brown weeds poked up out of the snow, suddenly appearing elegant...pointing up to the pines above. Breathtaking.

And so so quiet. I could see evidence of animals who had wondered around earlier that morning as there were deer, bird and raccoon tracks left delicately all over the snow.

 

I wondered up to pet the noses of some friendly horses...who were more fuzzy than I'd imagined horses to be (I assume to keep warm for the cold months). They sweetly nuzzled each other right in front of my camera and stared at me with peaceful eyes. I probably should have twirled around in the snow and yoodeled or sang a disney princess song or something at that point...but I held back. I do have some pride. I'm not too grown up to admit, however, that it was just a little magical.

These pictures make me feel peaceful and will be a very special memory. I'm glad I'm able to record it here on this blog! Thanks so much for experiencing it along with me as I'm always excited to share my photos with you...and very honored you stop by JARFLY. Enjoy the season...

Snow, Apples & Gratitude

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! 

During one of our adventures this month, we stumbled upon an apple orchard covered in snow. I didn't even know apples could grow in the winter...shows how much I know about mother nature. It was so exquisite...the way the pink and red of the apples contrasted with the white blanket around it. 

The snow made both Kenny and I giddy and we jumped around taking photos of each other and acting like total dorks.

I felt an overwhelming gratitude for my life in that moment. For every last little part of it...even the stuff that annoys me (like fighting my weight, the piles of paper my husband leaves all over the house, junk mail, loud neighbors and bills). Every bit of life is an opportunity to learn and grow...and experience beauty (even in the midst of very real pain). I have been blessed in so many ways.

 

 

I still have days when I get frustrated with myself. I sometimes wish I was more organized, more dynamic, or had better discipline. That I could accomplish my goals more quickly and do so free of insecurity and worry.  I still have days when I compare myself to everyone else and feel that I come up short. I still have bad habits that I'm working to change...and boy does it feel slow going at times. I still have days when I'm angry at the suffering, darkness, and evil in the world.

I'm hoping in those moments I can remember the gratitude I felt in that little apple orchard, and hold that feeling of peace as I proceed into the New Year and tackle many more challenges, adventures, adversity and joy that it will no doubt bring.

 

 

Anyway, those are my simple musing regarding new year. Do you like to set new year resolutions...how do you feel about the year behind you...and the one ahead?