Lily Red Life

No worries mate!

2011-12-20T13:29:00.020-06:00

Do you ever feel like you had planned to accomplish so much more in a year and somehow time has just sort of passed you by? I started to feel that way this year. But then, when I finally gave myself a moment to really reflect on where I was last year at this time, and all of the plans that I had for the coming year, I've really accomplished more than I thought... I bet you have too - if you take the time to look back. Maybe that's what all of the year end blog posts are all about - catching your breath for a moment - reflection time!

So here I go... *deep breath*

Last year at this time, we were in the process of looking for a permanent home - which at the time seemed like an impossible task. I had just wrapped up teaching a four-day-a-week semester of teaching in Milwaukee and was feeling like my design business was unintentionally taking a back seat, and I hadn't been photographing as much as I had wanted to. The (feral) kittens that we had adopted that fall were just starting to come out of their kitty condo to explore the rest of the house, but were no where near letting us pet them.

Looking back, all of the fears and apprehension I felt about these things had been needless. My problems seemed to resolve themselves - we found a house that we love (with a little studio for Lily Red), I only teach one day a week now, I had an absolutely amazing summer full of second shooting opportunities, and my kittens are now snuggle-friendly and refer to us as, "mom & dad."

We also took as amazing trip to Australia to visit family, and I learned a little expression from the wonderful people there... instead of saying, "sorry" at the drop of a hat as Americans (or at least some of us) have a tendency to do, Australians say, "No worries!" - note, this usually followed by, "mate."

I love that expression! Reflecting back on what I thought were my worries last year, it looks like, "no worries" will be my motto for the new one.

Here are some of my favorite shots from our trip to Australia...

Bondi Beach // Sydney, NSW Australia

...

The Botanic Gardens // Sydney, NSW Australia

I spy Steve - in a reflective state...

These bats/rats with wings (scientific name - flying foxes) were hanging out in the daytime.
It freaked me out a little - I felt like I needed a racket and laundry basket...

...

Brunswick Neighborhood // Melbourne, VIC Australia
I loved the Brunswick neighborhood!
Check out this awesome interactive map to see the street view:
http://www.brunswickstreet.com.au/

National Gallery of Victoria // Melbourne, VIC Australia
I have to admit, I sometimes roll my eyes when I see people taking pictures in an art museum, but I really couldn't help it - I loved these sculptures and their placement in the gallery!

...and the subject matter and light in this painting (title: Anguish)...

Around Melbourne...
the morning sun reflecting off this building is having a crazy/awesome effect that I've never seen before!

Night view of the Yarra River // Melbourne, VIC Australia

...

Happy Holidays & No Worries for the New Year!

Lily Red Travels: A trip to the Big Apple

2011-11-26T16:07:00.024-06:00

As much as I love Chicago, nothing really gives me an adrenaline rush like visiting New York City. We lived there for quite a while, before we moved to Chicago, and we were pretty sure that we wouldn't miss it too much... the rush hour subway commutes, the garbage piled up on the sidewalks and the feeling like you always had to walk like you were on a mission.

After leaving, we realized there was a lot that we loved about the Big Apple, and on our visit there this last month, we tried to soak up all those things - here are just a few of them...

1. The Met
There's no art museum in the US that compares - this art lover could wander through its galleries forever! The following pics are from the Egyptian and Ancient Near East art galleries.

This Renaissance era statue of a siren should look pretty familiar...

Probably one of my favorite parts of the museum is watching artists sketch in the sculpture garden!

2. The Food (and the drinks)... China Town bakery (below)

Cookshop & Red Rice Beer

3. The Architecture

4. The Shopping

5. The People
The city was buzzing as Occupy NYC marched down 5th ave (at 14th Street)

© 2011 Lily Red Studio

Wedding Invitation Design | Anne & David | Chicago, IL

2011-11-07T09:28:00.015-06:00

Anne & David were recommended to me by Fleur - and I am so happy they were sent my way! This lovely couple has seen the world together and have all the little stories that a designer loves to hear - it's the stories that really serve as inspiration when trying to personalize a design for a couple...

When Anne & I met, she had a very clear vision of what she wanted the theme of her wedding to be - Americana with a hint of speakeasy style. They had hired a blues band to play the reception and were going to have mason jars of flowers on the tables. Anne really loved the idea of incorporating a star design as well as other little embellishments that would be reference common elements found in Americana art.

I put together a pinterest board to gather all of our ideas - here's a little preview (click on the images to see the entire inspiration board)...

I always start the design process by creating a logo for the couple, this sets the tone for the invitation suite...

I love it when a bride & groom carry the design through to all of the components of their wedding!
Below: Program | Menus | Escort Cards | Tented Table Numbers | Bride & Groom Signage

Florist: Fleur
Wedding Planner: Five Grain Events

All before sunset

2011-10-10T15:56:00.017-05:00

This last weekend Steve and I went away to Michigan - to catch up with each other and spend sometime enjoying the fall colors.

On Sunday, amidst a day of pumpkin picking and antiquing, our day took an unexpected turn. We stopped off at a local chili-fest and were there for about two minutes when we heard the band that was playing the fest abruptly stop. I heard someone next to me say "omigosh" as the crowd rushed to the intersection right next to the festival tent. We all looked - life suddenly felt like it was in slow motion - at first no one moved - we all just stood there - trying to piece together exactly what we were looking at...

Initially I thought a pedestrian had been hit crossing the street - he was laying about ten feet in front of the car - and he wasn't moving. About ten feet in front of him was what I thought was a piece of the wreckage - it took a few more seconds to realize that it was another person - a child. I looked back at the car - it's back windshield was shattered and a motorcycle was wedged underneath the back end.

Suddenly everything sped up - Steve headed to the man laying closest to the car to see if he could help -there were two other physicians there as well - they all took turns checking on both of them. I soon realized that another one of the people that was helping the child was his mother - she had been driving in a car behind the motorcycle - with their two other children.

As I stood there - in shock, helplessly watching, a man was walking in my direction and was leading a little boy away from the scene - as he passed me, I saw the little boy look over his shoulder and then turn to the man with him saying, "but that's my daddy..." my heart was breaking for him...

A couple minutes later the wife realized she didn't know where her other two children were and rushed to find them - as she was reunited with them - just feet from where her other child and husband lay, she hugged her other babies - I heard her crying out - "Please God, please..."

The paramedics arrived and started to administer CPR to the father - and Steve headed back to me - looking down and shaking his head.

I felt wrong for observing all of this - I was standing there - helpless - watching a family on the verge of falling apart - a wife losing a husband, a son losing a father...

We left - unsure of what would happen to the son and father... I think we both felt lost and shocked. What do you do with yourself when you know there are two people who just moments ago were enjoying the beautiful day and were now fighting for their lives? To go on with your day as planned just seems wrong.

We decided to go to the beach and watch the sun set. As we sat down we looked down the shore only to see a bride and groom, kissing & embracing - while having their pictures taken. It was a strange thought - to think that we had just witnessed a couple on what could possibly be the worst day of their lives and here was another couple - celebrating the start to their lives together - possibly one of the best days of their lives.

It was such a strange idea - that such sorrow and such joy could take place on the same day at the same time...

Another thought suddenly entered my mind - while on the one hand I am sometimes a witness to tragedy, losing loved ones myself and watching others lose those that they love, on the other, I am also very lucky - working in the wedding industry, I get to witness (and celebrate) with couples on the best day of their lives. How amazing is that?

The Sunset | Sunday, October 9, 2011

UPDATE: The father and son that were in the motorcycle accident are both in critical condition - please keep them in your thoughts and prayers...

Indie Wed | Finding Inspiration

2011-07-25T15:37:00.017-05:00

I was so excited to be involved in Indie Wed this year (in a sort of round-about way)! Joan of Five Grain Events asked me to put together some paper goods to go with her 1950's elegance themed booth.

We also brainstormed a few ideas for the booth design as well - one of my favorites being the table that looks like a girl's dress complete with a tulle petticoat! Joan said it reminded her of the dress from this movie... I had this song stuck in my head for the rest of the day! We collected some of our ideas and started a board on Pinterest.

Fleur provided the gorgeous, romantic flowers for the booth - the peonies were the perfect touch of pretty pink lovliness!

In addition to the pretty, pink, 1950's theme, another inspiration that I used for the paper goods, was my grandparents. It's always adds so much more meaning to my designs when there is a story or memories that I can draw upon to influence my design decisions.

I remembered that my grandparents (both of whom I love and miss so much - and who are my angels) never really had the big, beautiful wedding they deserved. They were married under extremely tragic circumstances. They had met at the student union on the campus of UW-Madison and fell in love very quickly - they were already talking about getting married after only a few weeks of dating. My grandmother received a phone call not long after that her parents had been in a serious car crash - her father died instantly and her mother was in critical condition - at that time all they could do was stabilize her by placing sand bags all around her and wait to see if she would pull through.

Since it was not considered to "appropriate" to have someone you were dating stay at your home while you were unmarried (my grandmother had to leave school and moved back to Milwaukee - 2 hours away) and since they were already planning their future together, my grandparents decided to marry - two short months after meeting. There were only a handful of people at their wedding - and the reception was held in the hospital room where her mother (my Nana) was recuperating. They never had formal wedding invitations, a fancy wedding dress or even a first dance - but they were married for 52 years! If they had had a big white wedding, I'd like to think it would have looked something like this...

This escort card with grommet detail, swivels to reveal a table number. These were tied to the stem of the wine glasses favors.

A big thanks again to Five Grain Events and Fleur - I'll never tire of my job when I get to work with such warm, funny and talented ladies! Also thanks Indie Wed for another great event!

© 2011 Lily Red Studio

Wedding Invitation Design | Wendy & Robert | Chicago, IL

2011-07-20T14:58:00.006-05:00

This last spring I had the pleasure of designing a custom logo and invitation set for Wendy & Robert! The look that we decided on was one that embodied clean lines and bold colors. We used a simple flower illustration mixed with lovely flowing swirls to create a bold and memorable pattern that was used to tie the overall look together.

Details for Wendy & Robert's Wedding Invitation set:
• Printed on 110# Solar White Cover Stock - this paper was FSC Certified,
100% Carbon Neutral and manufactured with 100% renewable energy
• Print Method: Digitally Printed with an environmentally friendly printing company
• Colors: beet (envelopes) & night (backing stock) - ink colors to match
• Theme: Modern & Clean

A Special thanks to Five Grain Events for referring such a lovely couple to me!
Thanks also to Brian Kinyon Photography for these great photos!

Engagement Session | April & Francis

2011-07-12T08:34:00.007-05:00

April & Francis were an absolute joy to work with! I've known the two of them for a couple of years, so it was really an honor to be able to capture some memories for them. I love that they weren't afraid of showing me their goofy side - they are such a wonderful, loving couple and it really shows in their pictures!

Kissy-kissy!

Ice cream makes a great (and delicious) prop! I love the kissing ice cream cones!

© 2011 Lily Red Studio

Amy & Matt's Save the Date

2010-10-10T09:27:00.002-05:00

I had the chance to design a very cool vintage Save the Date Postcard for Amy & Matt (referred to me by the lovely Joan of Five Grain Events).

When Amy and I first started on the design she had been looking to make an e-Save the Date that would be emailed out. We ended up transitioning to a snail mail Save the Date Postcard instead. Side Note - for any couples that are wondering whether to go paperless - keep in mind that all of your recipients may not be fluent in the computer world and that could mean missed Rsvp's. Also, since paper is a renewable resource (many paper companies have taken great measures to reduce their carbon footprint) and many printers are turning to eco-friendly inks, going with a paper version for your Invitation or Save the Date is actually an eco-friendly move.

Details for Amy & Matt's Save the Date Postcard:
• 110# Natural White Cover Stock - this paper was FSC Certified,
100% Carbon Neutral and manufactured with 100% renewable energy
• Digitally Printed with an environmentally friendly printing company
• 2-sided Postcard
• Size: 4" x 6"
• Colors: chocolate brown and a muted gold
• Theme: 20's/30's Vintage

Amy & Matt had an adorable picture (taken by a friend) that they wanted to use on the front of the card. This picture set the theme for the overall look of the Save the Date.

Thanks Amy & Matt for letting me be a part of the creation of your very special day!

This Save the Date was also featured on the Five Grain Events' blog:
http://fivegrainevents.blogspot.com/2010/09/save-date.html

Two New Photography Logo Designs

2010-08-03T16:06:00.008-05:00

This past summer I've had the pleasure of working on some great projects - two of which included designing logos for two fabulous photographers - Marcia from Classy Kids Photography and Beryl from Be Young Photography.

Both clients were kind enough to describe their experience working with Lily Red Design on their blogs, so I've included links to their posts below. I just want to thank both of these wonderful ladies for their support and trusting me to design their vision!

Client: Classy Kids Photography
Blog post: http://clkphotosblog.com/2010/05/12/new-logo/
Website: http://clkphotosblog.com/

Client: Be Young Photography
Blog post: http://blog.beyoungphotography.com/?p=821
Website: www.beyoungphotography.com

© 2010 Lily Red Design

An American Flea Market

2010-06-08T19:16:00.006-05:00

I won't go into why I've been on a blogging hiatus recently except to say that it's been an extremely busy last couple of months! In fact I realized that my last post was around the same time that I started my Fundamentals of Digital Photography class at the Chicago Photography Center.

The class lasted around 7 weeks and I learned so much! Not just about how to use my camera but also about the art of photography and a bit about photojournalism that I had never even considered. Did you know that a photojournalist can't request someone to move or pose in a certain way when setting up a shot? Click here to find out the rest of their code of ethics.

Our final class project was to tell a photo story using the following elements as a guide:
1. Headline
2. Scene Setter or Overall Image
3. Sense of Place
4. Environmental Portrait
5. Close-up Portrait
6. Human Emotion
7. Interaction
8. Relevant Detail
9. Closing Image/Ender

So without further blabbing - here is my final project entitled, "An American Flea Market"

Also excited to share that I was mentioned in a few of my friend's blog posts (below). Just wanted to give all of these talented folks a shout out - not only have they been great friends, they've also been great teachers!

Special Thanks to:
Jenn Gaudreau of Jennifer Kathryn Photography | Jenn let me second shoot with her on this engagement session

Joan Cinquegrani of Five Grain Events | Check out Joan's blog which features the latest people/vendors she's been meeting with

Otto Rascon of Otto Rascon Photography | Otto let me be his "dos shooter" for this wedding

Picture credits for "An American Flea Market": © 2010 Suzy Rohan

Lily Red Design Feature: Mulberry Lane Photography | Logo & Business Card Design

2010-04-20T16:53:00.000-05:00

Mulberry Lane Photography is owned by my dear friend Trudy Engel - whom I met at a Me Ra Koh Workshop in Minneapolis last fall. Trudy asked for a logo that was feminine and whimsical and that also incorporated an icon (a mulberry). We decided to create two versions - a logo that could stand on it's own and another version that incorporated an old fashioned type of sign - to play off of the sense of place. Trudy is such a sweet person and a truly talented photographer!

Logos:

Business Cards:

Trudy specializes in children's portraiture & lifestyle photography. If you live in or around Columbus, GA (or the surrounding areas) and would like to book a shoot with Trudy, please email her at mulberrylane (at) charter (dot) net.

Meet Charli (aka Cheeks)

2010-04-02T20:05:00.009-05:00

I had so much fun photographing my friend Sara's baby - Charli - or as I like to call her, "Cheeks"... What a cute little bundle!

This is their cat - Pickles. He was willing to be part of our photo shoot - as long as he didn't have to move from his favorite spot...

Cheeks liked this Bunny hat just about as much as Ralphie liked his bunny suit in the Christmas Story... how adorable!

Happy Easter!

Picture credits: © 2010 Suzy Rohan

Lily Red Design Feature

2010-03-26T14:07:00.005-05:00

Ollie Wren Photography | Logo Design by Lily Red Design
Ollie Wren Photography is owned by Emily Anderson, an Orlando based lifestyle photographer, focusing on babies, kids, families, seniors, couples and maternity. Emily and I connected through Me Ra Koh's SOAR! site. Although she already had a website and an existing wordmark, Emily was looking for a change. The first step was deciding on whether or not to change the name of her company, a tough decision to make when you've already established your corporate identity. After some thought, Emily decided to go with Ollie Wren Photography. Since the name references a wren, the perfect icon to use was bird, but in a playful and whimsical way, since Emily's photography focuses on families and children. Other key elements to incorporate were playful colors and hand-drawn elements.

Here is the final logo:

Also check out Emily's website & blog:
www.olliewrenphoto.com
www.olliewrenphoto.blogspot.com

A Sneak Peek...

2010-03-09T17:09:00.005-06:00

at something sweet...

A couple of weeks ago my friend Jen & I had the opportunity to photograph Owen, who was just 2 weeks old at the time. What a cutie pie and such a good baby! Here's a sneak peek...

Picture credits: © 2010 Suzy Rohan

Letterpress Love

2010-03-04T18:57:00.003-06:00

Hello neglected blog,
It's been a while...

I thought I would make my reappearance with a little clip that I found on Studio on Fire's blog - what I would've given to have had a letterpressed lost dog poster when I was a kid - nowadays that would cost you a pretty penny!

Enjoy!

Loretta Lux

2010-02-15T15:22:00.004-06:00

I can't remember how I heard about Loretta Lux (a German photographer/painter) - most likely through another blog somewhere, but I do remember being completely mesmerized and haunted by the other-worldly looking subjects in her mixed media works of art.

Loretta photographs her subjects, removes the background (via computer) and substitutes a background from her stash of paintings. The effect - well, you'll see...

all images are copyright protected © Loretta Lux, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Medieval Times

2010-02-09T17:28:00.017-06:00

This post was inspired by my husband, Steve. For our date night (yes - we have date night) last Saturday, he surprised me by taking me on the most romantic date ever - to Medieval Times. Ok - maybe it is a little cheesy (ok more than a little) , but I loved it! I've been wanting to go to Medieval Times forever...

Needless to say we had a blast eating with our hands (that took me a second to figure out - I was about to ask for silverware) and cheering on our knight (Don Temple, Warrior of Asturius - or as we referred to him, the "green" knight) - who turned out to be the evil one that wanted to overthrow the king. I'm telling you - there was quite a bit of drama - and drunken name calling (courtesy of the birthday party behind us). If you're able to not take yourself too seriously and like eating with your hands, I highly suggest going!

Along with some shots of our visit to Medieval Times (iphone quality photos - yikes), I've included a few medieval inspired etsy items (links below).

1. wychbury (Royal and Rhinestone Tudor Bobby Pins)
2. JRoseAtelier (Burnt rose Neo-Victorian fingerless gloves)
3. BindMe (Black and Chestnut Medieval Fleur de Lis Leather Journal Book)

Q: What should you do when you're in a pickle?

2010-02-05T16:40:00.004-06:00

Answer: Start a pickle company!

I just received an email from my favorite pickle producer, Rick's Picks. I used to buy their pickle products at the Union Square Green Market when I lived in NYC and I always wondered what the story was behind the company - this is a nice little feature that explains it all... and if you haven't tried Rick's Picks get yourself to the condiment aisle of Whole Foods! My favorites are the Mean Beans and the Windy City Wasabeans.

Clip & Blurb from The Pickle Blog

The inside scoop from Rick’s Picks.

Recently, I told the story of Rick’s Picks to Fox News… it will air next Monday, February on their evening news program with Sheppard Smith some time between 7 and 8 PM EST. You can also see it here.

Self Portraits

2010-02-02T19:37:00.006-06:00

I've decided to follow along with the photography assignments on Me Ra Koh's SOAR! site and share them with you. The first assignment was somewhat daunting here's why...

Directions for Photography Exercise #1

The first SOAR! Photography Exercise is all about “Doing the Deeper Work”. This is a Self Portrait Photography Exercise. You will take TWO Self Portraits. One image will have you in the photo. The second one will be an object that symbolizes you. Both Self Portraits are meant to document where you are in your journey of life. When you think about this present season of life–this monumental moment in your journey of being committed to SOAR!, being on your way to become a successful photographer…How do you feel? Are you excited, afraid, alone? What colors are you wearing? If we saw your true insides, what would they look like right now? What object would symbolize this time in life? What angle would you shoot it from and why?

I realized in doing this exercise that I was really struggling with the idea of who I was - the truth is that I've been feeling a little lost. I realized that as much as I'd like to think of myself as the adventurous type, I really do like to have structure and familiarity. When I moved from New York to Chicago, I left behind the friends I had made and a support system that I had grown used to. Even though moving to Chicago was really exciting for me and I was happy to be getting back to the midwest and closer to my family, I underestimated how hard it would be to build a new life here. I struggled with doubt and insecurity every step of the way - was I worthy and good enough to start a new business in a city where I didn't know anyone, would I meet new friends here and would I grow to feel like this was really my home? I'm sure everyone struggles with these thoughts whenever they start a new adventure in life, but I kind of thought I would be used to these feelings by now, after all I had moved from Milwaukee to New York, moving to Chicago should've been like moving back home.

The photo of me with my back to the mirror symbolizes where I'm at right now - trying to find my identity in a new city and in a new point in my life. I'm still looking back, but trying to move forward.

The picture of the inside of my fridge is the "object" that I think represents this time in my life - I have all the ingredients, I need I just need to get creative with how I mix them together and start cooking - metaphorically speaking.

Awesome Concert (Brandi Carlile)!!!

2010-01-22T19:29:00.003-06:00

So I went to see Brandi Carlile last night at the Pabst Theatre in Milwaukee, WI last night - what an awesome show! It felt great to bask in the energy and vibe that artists who have truly perfected their craft seem to give off.

The show was a mix of emotions - heartache, growing pains and light happy moments accented by some of the coolest covers I've seen - I especially loved it when she covered "Mad World" (I've still got chills...). For a in-depth description of the show click here.

Oh, and the twins (Phil and Tim Hanseroth) with their cover of "The Sound of Silence" was amazing - and little eerie... (youtube songs are from previous shows - still waiting for the Milwaukee show uploads)

An Apple a Day

2010-01-21T14:12:00.005-06:00

I'm adding this calendar from VikDesign to my wish list (available on their Etsy store) - and maybe it will save my coffee maker and refrigerator from being covered with fruit stickers! It's also a cool way to keep track of your fruit intake - I'm thinking this will work with all kinds of fruits - not just apples...

Picture credits: © 2010 Suzy Rohan (apples) & VikDesigns (calendar)

Food for thought

2010-01-12T09:45:00.008-06:00

In addition to eating food, I pretty much have noticed a pattern of loving anything having to do with it - movies, artwork, books... you name it, if food is involved, I'm there.

I'm not sure if it's the artist in me, but I've always thought food brings so much to the table (no pun intended, well, maybe just a little) - and if you've ever noticed, at most parties, somehow everyone ends up in the kitchen. Food fills you up when you're hungry, it comforts you when you're down and it can bring you back to a place in time. I can't count how many of my memories involve food... Christmas time at my Grandparent's house in Florida and my Grandma trying to force me to try pickled herring (sorry Grandma - yuck!)... the bakery where I had my first job in high school and the smell of frying doughnuts on early Saturday mornings... visiting far away places - the fries in Amsterdam, the cassoulet in France... my wedding - the wedding cake with the buttercream frosting on it (how I wish I had a piece of it now).

Here's a taste of my favorite food themed things...

Movies
Like Water for Chocolate
Tortilla Soup
Chocolat

Books
Julie/Julia
Eat, Pray, Love
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (just started reading this)
The Soup Bible (a cookbook by Debra Mayhew)

Food Shopping
The French Market (Chicago)
The Grand Central Terminal Market (NYC)

Goods
Claudia Pearson 's Food Inspired Calendars & Tea Towels

The Chocolate Company

Dream Kitchens
Monet's Kitchen at Giverny

Rick Bayless' Outdoor Kitchen

Picture credits: Claudia Pearson, The Chocolate Company, Ariane Cauderlier, Farmer Jay

My 2010 Motto

2010-01-07T23:20:00.003-06:00

Leap, and the net will appear.
John Burroughs

Thought this video clip was appropriate - it's what I first thought of when I decided on this motto...

Holiday hibernation is over!

2010-01-05T15:23:00.010-06:00

So I'm back from my holiday hibernation and ready for a new year of blogging. Thought I'd start out by sharing a few pics from over the Holidays.

This year we kicked off the festivities by attending the children's Christmas Eve service that my nephews and niece participate in. I brought my camera along to take a few shots at the service - my sister, who was sitting in a pew a few rows away texted me that she wasn't sure if I was supposed to take pictures in church - I texted her back to let her know that I wasn't entirely sure that you were supposed to be texting in church...touché!

I only took a few, so as to not disrupt the service, but with all the kids wiggling, squirming and making faces, I wish I would've had a chance to take more! I especially liked this shot of the little guy sitting in front of me who grew particularly restless...

(white arrows - Jordan, the Bean, Jonah)

After the service we realized that my brother and my nephew were wearing matching sweaters...

I'm pretty sure that the funniest event of the evening was when my niece's zhu-zhu pet got stuck in my sister's hair. My mom had playfully put the zhu-zhu on my sister's shoulder and before she knew it the wheels had managed to wind up a good chunk of my sister's hair. Like the good sister/blossoming photographer that I am, I couldn't pass up this photo op...

It took four people and a scissors to untangle the little guy...

After this episode I was ready for a little r&r + eating, so I handed my camera to my cousin Alyssa and showed her how to shoot in manual mode.

Alyssa & the Bean

The following are the photos that she took - and I love them! She has a knack for capturing the moments that one might miss - the kids exchanging stories, an embrace, silent reflection...

And by the end of the night my husband had taught our niece a plethora of annoying tricks and jokes that will probably get her in trouble at school (sorry sis)...

Steve & the Bean

The next day we enjoyed an Italian feast (no we're not Italian, but we do like their food). I promised my sister I would take some shots of the food - here you go...

and to wrap it all up... here's to a year filled with the sweetest things in life!

Picture credits: © 2010 Suzy Rohan & Alyssa Schumacher

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-22T23:01:00.013-06:00

This last Sunday Steve and I checked out the Christkindl Market in Daley Plaza and then headed over to Lincon Park Zoo for the ZooLights exhibit. Both provided great photo ops that will hopefully give you that warm & fuzzy holiday feeling!

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas surrounded by those you love!

Christkindl Market Photos:

That's Steve on the right, my husband and somewhat reluctant photography subject.

Not sure what these are called, but my Grandma had one and I loved it - it was a little tricky to get the fan part spinning as I recall.

Something about the shot above reminds me of the last Batman movie.

So I didn't intentionally take this shot, but I love the way the lady in the fur looks and it is kind of a good example of the thirds principle.

I have this thing about lambs - I just think they're really cute - thus the shot above...

We got a bite to eat at the market - brats, potato pancakes (dripping with butter - no wonder, I saw the cook literally take a pitcher of butter and pour it over the potatoes while they were frying - and yeah, I ate it anyway - yum) and Glühwein.

Lincoln Park Zoo (ZooLights):

It really did look like someone went all Clark Griswold on the entire zoo, which gave me the perfect opportunity to play around with my shutter speed and ISO - just to see what would happen (above are a couple of examples of this experiment).

more experiments...

Picture credits: © 2009 Suzy Rohan

Week In Review

2009-12-20T13:21:00.000-06:00

So I've been MIA from blogging this week, but with good excuse - and that means an extra long blog post to make up for it! Here's what I've been up to...

1) Submitted my SOAR! Video entry. A lot of you know (especially those of you who have been subjected to being my photography subjects) that I've been trying to build my photography portfolio - so that I can eventually offer photography services in addition to design. I was contemplating the number of years it would take me to actually save up for all of the equipment when Me Ra of Me Ra Koh Photography announced an amazing opportunity. She is going to give three women scholarships, which include photography equipment, websites and business coaching (as well as a ton of other cool stuff). To enter you need to make a 2 minute video - be as creative as possible and convince them that you have what it takes to "SOAR!".

Here's what I came up with... oh, and I want to thank my little brother for helping me - it was really fun working on this project with him:

2) Finished up with designing holiday cards for friends & family. Here are the ones that I worked on this year...

3) Edited the pictures that I took of my friend's newborn - Nolan James

4) Made my first apple pie. It was surprisingly easier that I thought it would be - I think it was because I used an apple peeler/corer - that thing was amazing - next to the light bulb, the wheel and fire, I'm pretty sure the apple peeler/corer is one of the best inventions ever made.

5) Had a couple of friends over for a Christmas cookie party. It was a lot of fun - I never realized how many cookies you can make in a really short amount of time when you have two other people helping you!

6) Worked on a couple of logo designs - one of which required painting the perfect dot. I'll unveil the completed designs when they're finished...

That's it for this week - today Steve and I are off to the Christkindl Market and ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo...

Renegade Craft Fair | Great Gift Ideas!

2009-12-15T12:52:00.014-06:00

Here are the latest finds from my visit to the Renegade Craft Fair a couple of weeks ago. There were so many great gift ideas and I was amazed by the creativity and talent that was there! I'm hoping just an ounce of the creativity of the exhibitors will rub off on me just a little...

My first stop was to the rinse bath & body co. I had visited Heather's booth at the last Renegade Craft Fair in September - needless to say I was back for more... these soaps literally smell so good, I almost wanted to eat them (that's weird I guess, but true).

Kirke Handmade Lighting And Furniture was such a cool booth (and the only one like at the fair). I was pleasantly surprised to find that his prices were really reasonable...

Tartella had a really cute booth that showcased a plethora of goodies. I love how the design of all of the items revolved around food - the tea towels and the napkins would make great house warming gifts, and the letterpressed stationery items just might show up in someone's stocking this year...

I am not a knitter (there, I've finally admitted it). Hands + Notions Fiber Goods had me wishing I was though... all of the yarn is washed, spun and dyed by hand. Also check out the Hands + Notions blog...

You know how when you travel you always seem to come home with one earring instead of two? Not anymore - I love this handy travel wallet by Carrie Girl Handmade...

I purchased a few of Laura Berger's illustrated cards at the last Renegade Craft Fair and was thrilled to see her holiday themed cards & illustrations at this one. Her illustration style is part adorable, part fantastical...

The little BIG pants booth was one of the last booths that I visited. I had a great time talking to Terra about her work and trying to convince her to write a children's book based on all of her little characters. Check out the little BIG pants blog, where Terra shares her process & thoughts...

I particularly loved crazy Aunt Birdy and all of her "contraband"...

That's it for now...

Because I Felt Like It...

2009-12-08T10:01:00.006-06:00

Ever think to yourself, "Man, I wish I had thought of that"? That's what I thought when I happened upon abbeychristine's etsy store. Abbey makes amazing little finger puppets from 100% recycled Eco-fi polyester felt created from discarded plastic bottles. Check it out:

The Royal Tennenbaums

Lloyd Dobler (Say Anything)

Bob Ross

Ralphie (A Christmas Story)

Nativity

She even has a custom order option...
A

Also check out Abbey's blog - abbeychristine.wordpress.com

Picture credits: © abbeychristine / Abbey Hambright

Photo Session: Katie & Isabel

2009-12-03T09:28:00.011-06:00

Last month I had the chance to take some pictures for my friend Katie and her adorable daughter Isabel. I really wanted to capture the mother-daughter bond between these two. I love how you can already tell how much Isabel adores her mother (and vice-versa)...

Picture credits: © 2009 Suzy Rohan

Learning to Fall (in Public)

2009-11-30T13:33:00.006-06:00

Do you ever find yourself thinking, "I wish I could go back in time and not say what I just said or do what I just did?" I do - and I always get hung up on the feeling of well, feeling just plain silly - like I'm the person that never really has it together...know what I mean? It's a downward spiral and pretty soon you start thinking of every embarrassing moment in your life (at least that's my method) - like the time I tipped my entire desk over in the middle of my Algebra 2/Trig class my senior year of high school.

People will try to comfort you and say it was no big deal, and that no one noticed, but for some reason you just can't get past the sinking feeling that you just made a bit of a fool of yourself.

I've decided to do a little test - every time I feel that way, I will try to embrace it rather than let it get me down. Imagine a baby learning how to walk - it doesn't care that it doesn't know how to walk and that everyone will see it fall, it gets out there and tries again and again to succeed...

I've noticed I'm particularly vulnerable to this feeling when I'm trying something new in life - for instance, right now I'm in the early stages of my business and everything seems well, new - I'm in the infant stage, and unless I learn to try and try and try, that's where I'll remain. So I guess I just need to learn how to fall in public and not care so much...

Plenty To Be Thankful For

2009-11-25T10:37:00.004-06:00

Nothing like a little Bing Crosby to start your the Holidays! I love the movie Holiday Inn – I used to watch this movie with my grandparents when I was a kid – it's funny how with such a generational gap, we could still sit and watch the same movie and enjoy it... I think I had a little crush on Bing Crosby - he was always such a polished gentleman. I love the motivational speech that Mamie gives to the downtrodden Bing...

A Little Unknown Fact:
The cartoon turkey has to trot between the two dates in the opening clip because around that time, Thanksgiving was briefly switched to a different day so as to allow more Christmas shopping days. Then it got changed back.

Hot Pot of Coffee

2009-11-21T15:13:00.010-06:00

Here's a little treat to test out in the kitchen - courtesy of one of my favorite chefs, Rick Bayless:

Cafe de Olla: Mexican pot-brewed coffee with raw sugar and spices

Makes about 1 quart, serving 4 to 5

4 to 5 ounces piloncillo, roughly chopped or ½ to 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 inches cinnamon stick, preferably Mexican cinnamon
A few anise seeds, optional
2/3 cup (2 ounces) dark roast coffee, medium to coarsely ground

In a stainless steel saucepan, combine 1 quart water, the sugar, cinnamon and anise seeds. Heat to a boil to melt the sugar. Stir in the coffee, remove from the heat and let steep for 5 minutes.
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into cups or mugs and serve immediately.

I wasn't sure what piloncillo was, so I googled it - turns out it's an unrefined sugar commonly used in Mexican cooking - it's been around for 500 years!

And since we're on the topic of beans, I thought it was only appropriate to show off my little niece (aka The Bean)...

A New Approach

2009-11-18T12:05:00.003-06:00

Ok - I'm trying something new since I've had a hard time being disciplined about updating my blog (which now that I have about four followers, I'm ready to commit a little more time and effort to this - thanks followers!).

I'm taking a cue from a blog I follow (makeundermylife.com) and am going to start posting at least 3x a week using these predetermined topics - here's the line up:
• business as usual (topics pertaining to growing a small business)
• eye spy (anything that seems cool to me - events, products and blog recommendations)
• creatively yours (thoughts on making, doing and being)
• red letter special (photography & design features)

I would consider the following an "eye spy" moment:

I asked my step-dad (who happens to be a carpenter) to create a headboard for me - this makeshift bed frame from Anthropologie has me rethinking my choice...although you would lose valuable under-the-bed storage space - at least you wouldn't have to worry about monsters hiding under your bed!

Looking out on the morning rain...

2009-11-12T15:52:00.005-06:00

I used to feel uninspired...WaaOop - you know the rest of the words, right? You know, the Carol King song - the one that used to be in the shampoo commercial (can't remember which one it was)...Anyway, you guessed it, this blog post is about what to do when you're feeling uninspired, and wouldn't it be nice if it was as easy as washing your hair with a certain shampoo and tada - you're inspired again?!

Here are just a few things that have helped me get back into the inspirational groove:

blog hopping - you know when you look at one blog and then you see a link to another one and then five blogs later you can't remember how you got there...
visiting a museum or gallery - I'm a really visual person, so just looking at the color of a painting or the texture/shape of a sculpture can get the wheels turning
going to the bookstore - no need to buy, just browse - it's amazing what interesting tidbits you learn by reading the back of a book or an article in a magazine
window shopping - I'm lucky to live in a city where people spend a lot of time on their window dispalys - I love checking out the window displays at Raulph Lauren on Michigan Ave.
play with your kids (or your niece or nephew) - kids always have the best imaginations and lots of energy - I remember once I was babysitting for my nephews and instead of watching a movie we took a deck of cards and tried to build a mini fort for all their little army men - I had a blast (and I think they did too)
watch HGTV - I'm a huge fan and I love watching the transformations of little run down offices into a functional and stylish space
get your heart pumping - sometimes all you need to do is go for a run, a walk or visit the gym
play with a pet - dogs and cats never seem to worry, they always just go with the flow and are a good way to take your mind off your worries (in turn leaving your mind a little more clear to pick up on anything that might inspire you)
cook or bake something and don't follow a recipe - sometimes the best way to let go is to not follow the directions - experiment - go wild - and if it doesn't turn out - no big deal, there's always take-out
write or doodle - it doesn't need to make sense, sometimes if you just get whatever is in your head out on paper it has a freeing effect - you don't need it taking up space in your brain when it's already recorded in your notebook

I'm interested in hearing what works for you? Please share...

Picture credits: © 2009 Suzy Rohan

In front of the lense

2009-11-09T10:41:00.004-06:00

Thought this was an interesting article for all my photographer friends (found on elizabethannedesigns.com) - it's helpful to know what questions a client might ask before they select you as their photographer...even though these questions apply to a wedding photographer, they might also be helpful for a portrait photographer...

Essential Questions for Your Photographer
There are SO many amazing photographers in the world - how do you find the one that’s perfect for you? Well, not only do you need to blog-stalk them, see images from a full wedding, and find out all of the details about the specific packages that they offer, but you also want to ask these questions:

Will I receive a DVD of images from the event?
How many images do you post-process (the more the better! All of those amazing images you fell in love with from their website and albums are post-processed. If the images on the DVD you receive are SOOC (straight out of camera) you should know and understand this.)? Can I see multiple examples of before-and-after images?
Do you color correct all images?
How soon after the wedding will I receive my proofs? My DVD of images? My album?
Do you write up every event on your blog?
How soon after the event will you blog?
What types of images do you include in your blog post?
Do you shoot in film or digital? Color or black and white? RAW or JPG?
What is your contingency plan if you are ill or otherwise cannot attend my event? {Be sure the answer to this is specifically stated in your contract}
Who retains copyright to the images? Reproduction rights?

Are the number of hours included in my contract continuous or may they be used in blocks? In the event of overtime, what are your rates?
Are proofs available online or via a proof book?
How many images can I expect to see from the event? Can I see your “throwaway images” as well?
Do you have specific lighting requirements or suggestions?
Will you work from a shot list to be sure that all of the details that are important are captured?
Are you available to come to the rehearsal? The hotel room while I am getting ready? The salon while my hair is being done? Will you ride in the limo with me from the ceremony to the reception?
How many photographers will be present at my event? Will you specifically be one of them? Do you coordinate the receiving of digital negatives from the associate photographers and the purchase of any prints?
What is your cancellation policy? {Be sure the answer to this is specifically stated in your contract}
Do you include an engagement session in your fee? When will I receive the DVD of images for that session? Can I use those images for my guest book, decor, etc?
What is your blog/magazine submission policy?

Maternity Photo Session

2009-11-04T15:31:00.008-06:00

Here are just a few pics from the maternity shoot I did for my good friend Thea – it was so nice to spend some time with her before the big day... She has the most beautiful pregnant belly I've ever seen! And she looks so at peace and happy in all of her shots. We luckily had really beautiful weather and the leaves on the trees in the neighborhood park made a great backdrop. Thea's husband, Geoff, her two dogs (Lilah & Ryker) and her mom, Connie joined us for the session as well.

Picture credits: © 2009 Suzy Rohan

Happy Fall Friday!

2009-10-23T18:34:00.004-05:00

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird
I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
-George Eliot

I might not love the fall quite as much as George Eliot,
but I do love the colors that it brings with it...

Picture credits: © 2009 Suzy Rohan

Unclutterer

2009-10-14T12:09:00.003-05:00

Do you ever feel like sometimes your stuff is taking over your life? If you're like me, you tend to get busy and suddenly you have piles. A pile for filing, a pile for random things like birthday cards from five years ago that you for some reason or another can't get rid of, or that pile that keeps accumulating that you've meant to donate, but somehow has taken over your closet...the list can go on and on...

I'm a stickler for associating a thing with a loved one...I still have a few of my Grandma's scarves that I know I will never part with (even though I never wear them) and my Grandpa's old cowboy hat that will never look right on anyone else but him. I think it's ok to keep these things because it keeps their memory alive, as for the birthday cards from five years ago - I think your time has come!

I read an interesting article in Real Simple written by, Erin Doland, Editor-in-Chief of Unclutterer.com. I like her suggestion in #8 to scan papers that you might need rather than keeping them (this could work for sentimental things as well - like that ticket stub collection that you will never look at again, but can't seem to part with).

"10 Ways to Let Go of Your Stuff"

Erin Rooney Doland, a reformed hoarder, offers her best cures for clutter.

1. Tear down the museum. In my youth, I was fearless. I forged strong friendships and created a history for myself that seemed worth remembering. So I held on to every trinket from my past. But I kept so many of these historical artifacts (see Hair, Matt's) that I didn't have any room for the present. I wanted to throw parties and have friends to visit in a home where they could actually sit down. So I photographed those hold things, then cleared them out to make space for the next chapters of my life.

2. Assess true value. A hefty chuck of what I moved into our home was obsolete computer equipment. When I looked at it, I saw dollar signs. Then my economist friend, Stephen, reminded me of the fallacy of sunk costs. I was sizing up those old computers based on what I had spent rather than their present value: close to zero. I sold the lot to a used-electronics store for $60 (not bad, considering) and got a much needed haircut with the cash.

3. Know thyself. I liked to think of myself as someone who exercised every day by running on a giant motorized treadmill, read all the literary classics, and baked cookies for every special occasion. The reality? I am not a runner, I like to read pop fiction, and cookies aren't really my thing. The treadmill, the boxes of books, and some kitchen gadgets all found new homes.

4. Trust me: You won't fix it. Most of the broken things I had brought with me were shoes. Heels or straps had come off, and I was convinced I would someday have them repaired. My husband held the shoes up in front of me, pair by pair, and asked two questions: "If you saw these shoes in a store today, would you buy them?" and "If you say yes, how much would you pay for them?" In all but one case, I admitted that I wouldn't buy the shoes again. And those red kitten heels with the broken sole? The amount I was wiling to pay was less than the cost of having them fixed.

5. Do look a gift horse in the mouth. My decorating tastes may change over time, but I am fairly certain I will never enjoy a home filled with a series of rhinestone-accented paintings of scary clowns. Yet I had hoarded these and other unattractive presents because I thought that was the decent thing to do. I also wasn't sure what I would say if someone noticed his gift missing and asked why. Well, you know what? No one has. Not even the bestower of scary clowns.

6. Adapt to your surroundings. I had a used Volvo 740 GLE that was the first car I had purchased after college. Before I moved Washington, I lived in the Midwest, where it was tough to get around without a car. In D.C., however, we lived next to a metro station, and there was a grocery store two blocks away. The price of parking―$150 a month―sealed it: The GLE was G-O-N-E.

7. Just admit that you don't like it. As I sorted through my stuff, I became aware of the fact that I didn't even want some of it. There were things I didn't exactly like but didn't exactly hate―and so lived with them out of pure apathy. This was the easiest clutter to set free. All it took was a little motivation to pack up a few boxes and drop them off at a local charity.

8. Know what you really need. Often what we need is only related to the thing we have. For instance, I had a huge popcorn maker but could easily pop the modest amount of corn we consumed in a small pot on the stove. Out it went. I also had thousands of documents in bulky filing cabinets. But I needed the information on the pages, not the paper itself. I kept just the documents I had to have in their original form, scanned and saved others as digital files, and tossed the rest-eliminating 300 pounds of paper.

9. Let go of the guilt. When my grandparents passed away, I inherited a collection of 27 rusty knives, a warped cookie sheet, and a copper bracelet my grandmother had loved to wear. I kept all these items for more than a decade. Eventually I realized that if my grandparents were alive, they would have replaced the cookie sheet and knife set (and been mortified that my aunts had passed on such dangerous accoutrements). I recycled the kitchen implements, but I kept the bracelet, which I wear and enjoy as much as my grandmother did.

10. Face it: "One day" almost never comes. I justified keeping half my wardrobe on the basis that I would use it one day. The hot pink bridesmaid dress from my cousin's first wedding took up space in my closet for four times the length of her marriage. I hate throwing out potentially useful things. But we couldn't afford a larger apartment; storing all those "one day" items would cost more than they were worth; and, an even simpler truth, I have yet to be invited to an event at which a fuchsia dress with taffeta bows might seem appropriate.

A New Look for an Old Book

2009-10-09T10:22:00.006-05:00

Thought this was interesting article from fontfeed.com. It makes you remember that design applies to pretty much everything out there...

A Fresh New Look for The Bible

Fonts in Use | Yves Peters | October 3, 2008

We’re doing a little balancing act today. As we’re barely a month away from the American elections, it was to be expected that polit i cally charged subjects might pop up, even on a primarily type-oriented blog. We are ultimately part of the world. So we thought it would be a sound idea to post two entries with different world views one after the other, to prevent people from accusing us of any bias. ;)

UK publishing house Hodder & Stoughton have published a new paperback edition of the Bible with a remarkable cover designed by Crush Design & Art Direction Ltd. On their website the Brighton based creative agency explains:

“We were set a tough challenge with this brief to create a fresh new look for The Bible and make it a best selling summer read. Our illustra tions made this book the summer’s must have accessory for any non card carrying Christian.

Crush was formed ten years ago in Hoxton, London and relocated to Brighton in 2001, but their client-base remains primarily in London and overseas. Founder Carl Rush attributes their success to being “a small company with big ideas and a great working atmos phere; we have music playing, good vibes and work bloody hard putting in long hours”, he admits. Crush is made up of five designers and illus trators working for clients that span TV, music, publishing, adver tising and packaging. Their illus tration agency AgencyRush got them the commission from the religious division of Hodder &Stoughton.

The idea behind this edition of the Bible was to encourage people who might never have owned a Bible to feel comfortable buying a copy. Whether or not you believe in its content, you can’t deny its signif i cance – even in today’s world – yet many people would probably be reluctant to buy a more tradi tional looking Bible. Eventually 4000 copies were sold; the booksellers liked the innov ative approach and seemed very happy to stock the Bible. Crush experi enced a fantastic reaction from the public sending them e-mails, asking where to get the book and commenting on how strong the cover is.

The complete cover illus tration without any typographical elements (click the image for a full resolution version).

The inspi ration for the cover illus tration came from the back cover copy lines. Carl Rush considers them one of finest write ups he has seen, and would certainly make him interested enough to read the book. The text mentions “Mankind’s poisoning of a beautiful world” and asks “The cause of wars and intol erance, or the most important book ever written? How well do you know the bible?” So the idea germi nated to conjure up a really contem porary image of the Garden of Eden. On the flip side of the image Crush tried to illus trate the possible “poisoning and destruction of a beautiful world”. Therefore the illus tration shows Adam and Eve fat with the overindul gence of a consumer society gone out of control. The trees have died from pollution and skulls illus trate the destruction of the animal kingdom.

Carl Rush admits that the question he heard the most was: “How did you get away with this design?” The studio proposed three visuals and the client picked Adam and Eve – it’s as simple as that. They didn’t make Crush change a thing. Indeed – as unbelievable as it may sound – there were no correc tions. Crush just put some more detail into the image and polished it. Unfor tu nately they didn’t get to add the type as it was taken care of by the publisher’s in-house art department. Carl told that if it was up to him he would have kept a very simple sans serif, so he’s not sure what font they used.

Detail of the cover illus tration
The cover is an arresting design. The first thing that hits you are the glowing colours and the surprising vertical division in a positive and a negative mirror image. The illustration style is an unexpected blend of naive art and infor mation design reminiscent of the pictograms developed by Otl Aicher for the 1972 Munich Olympics. Examining the illus tration up close reveals a number of intriguing details begging for inter pre tation. Crush definitely succeeded in what they set out to do – the eye-popping cover looks fresh and inviting. And even if some people may dismiss it as eye-candy, it is damn good candy, and a very effective design.

To Laugh is to Learn

2009-10-06T20:32:00.006-05:00

Change is in the air...and it's not just because the leaves have changed color. I just got back from a wonderful weekend in Minneapolis, where I attended the Me Ra Koh Confidence Photography Workshop. I loved every moment! I haven't laughed so hard and so much in a long time - it was so refreshing. Spending time with a such a gifted group of women who weren't afraid to share so much of themselves was a wonderful way to begin the new season...

California Trip (aka the longest post ever)

2009-10-01T12:31:00.022-05:00

We're back from a very eventful visit to California. All in all we visited family, harvested zinfandel grapes at a vineyard, saw two wineries in Napa and went to a wedding (oh, and yes, celebrated my 30th Birthday - I am sadly no longer in my twenties). I definitely used the camera that Steve got me - and spent the last few days sifting through all 441 images. I've included my favorites in this post... To see the rest, visit my new flickr site.

First stop: I visited my friend Kiri who is a WWOOFer intern on a farm outside of Ukiah, CA

The evening I arrived, we took a very winding trip over to the Mendocino County Fair & Apple Show...

...and the next day I was put to work at the Chiarito Vineyard where we helped with the harvest of Zinfandel grapes (that's John Chiarito, the winemaker below) ...

...after all of the grapes were sorted, de-stemmed and put into storage to begin their journey to the bottle, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch with a beautiful view...

(that's Americo Chiarito (aka John's Father) above - the sweetest, most sprightly 96yr old I've ever met!)

Second Stop: Napa - Quixote Winery and Chateau Montelena

This part of the trip was planned by Steve, I suggested the wineries, but he planned everything else. I loved the B & B he picked (The Blackbird Inn) and the restaurant was amazing (La Toque)...

Quixote Winery

Chateau Montelena

Blackbird Inn

Next Stop: Visiting Family and Desiree & Brendan's Wedding, Fresno, CA

Last Stop: Back to San Francisco where we caught up with more family (and got great pics of our little cousin Stella) and had a couple of hours to enjoy the beach...

Before and After shot of Stella trying mustard... look at that face!

Whew! Now I'm off to the Me Ra Koh workshop in Minneapolis... stay tuned for more pics!

See you in a week!

2009-09-18T15:44:00.004-05:00

Off to California for a vacation/family visit/wedding! Can't wait to share the pics I take with my new camera (an early birthday present courtesy of my wonderful husband)!

I leave you with a couple of my favorite shots from my last trip to CA - read the sign on the restaurant closely (yikes - right?)...

The Renegade Craft Fair: Part 1

2009-09-17T02:33:00.016-05:00

There was so much to see at The Renegade Craft Fair, that I thought it was only fair to break it up into a few (maybe more) different posts. All of the wonderful vendors deserve their day in the spotlight (my blog being the spotlight - if that's a fair analogy?).

My first stop at the show was a visit to the Circle Street booth. As shown below - all of these paper products have such lovely touches in the form of delicate feathers and colorful bits of decorative stocks that have been ever so thoughtfully sewn on. A really neat little extra was the opportunity to get your very own custom message typed out on the card of your choice via a vintage typewriter - that's got to be one of the cleverest (and coolest) onsite customization methods I've ever seen!

Thanks again to the owner of Circle Street - Lindy Adams for letting me take these snapshots. Please visit the Circle Street Etsy store to peruse and purchase: www.circlestreet.etsy.com.

Renegade Craft Fair, Chicago, IL

2009-09-10T16:59:00.003-05:00

Can't wait to check this out on Saturday

I'll let you know what I find!

The Zoo

2009-09-08T17:19:00.004-05:00

Our friends, Thea & Geoff, paid us a visit this weekend and we all went to see the animals at Lincoln Park Zoo. On the one hand, the zoo is free - on the other, they get you with the $20 parking... still worth it, but make sure to pack your car full of people to get your money's worth.

My favorites included the monkey that carried his blanky around and the beaver who kept trying to swim through the glass. In the reptile house they had the coolest play area for kids - it looked like a series of flying carpets all held together with mesh (see below). I'm totally going to get my stepdad to build one for our future kids...or maybe just one for us to play in!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

2009-09-04T10:48:00.004-05:00

Picture Credit: www.zingerbug.com

Compartmentalization

2009-09-03T23:01:00.003-05:00

My husband and I both have a thing about the food on our plate touching - yes I know it all mixes in your stomach, but some things you just never outgrow. Luckily for us, we won't have to. Check out these awesome eco-friendly lunch boxes (as featured on studiowisco.com)...

Available at www.goodbyn.com

Inspiring Photographer

2009-09-01T09:43:00.011-05:00

I was catching up on my blogs yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to see that Me Ra Koh's Blog featured my friend, Tracie. Please check out her inspiring interview with Me Ra.

For those of you who know me, you know that I have a passion for paper and creating invitations - what you may not know is that Tracie is the one who started me on the path. Thanks again Tracie - for taking a chance on a newbie....

If you live in or around WI/IL and need an amazing photographer, please check out Tracie's website: tsjphotography.com.

Artist in Action

2009-08-27T12:26:00.004-05:00

A while ago I did a post about ceramicist Eva Funderburgh and the strange, but cute creatures she creates. Here's your chance to see how she makes them:

Birthday Dream

2009-08-24T10:23:00.010-05:00

I had a dream about you the other night. I was standing in a house and someone came inside and said, "Claire is outside." They said it so nonchalantly and I looked out the window - and there you were. I was so excited to see you and we hugged. We sat down on a bench in the yard and you told me about all of the adventures you had been on the last few years and all of the far-away and exotic places you'd gone. I remembered that you had always seemed happiest at home - surrounded by family and friends, so it was strange to hear you talk of these places - I was so happy that I could see you and talk to you - and then I woke up. The first thing I remembered was that I had hugged you - and it had seemed so real.

The next day I had this nagging feeling all day - like I was forgetting something important. I went through a list of friends and family who have birthdays in August and I made a mental note to check my birthday book later... the next morning I woke up and remembered. It was the 23rd of August and that meant yesterday was your birthday. I remembered when we were kids we always thought it was so cool that we were a year, a month and a day apart (we'd always expand it to include an hour, a minute, a second and a millisecond apart).

Happy Birthday Claire!

Love ya & miss ya,

Your cousin suz

smileforclaire.com

Pet Portraits

2009-08-18T17:36:00.006-05:00

Thought I'd do a little promo for one of my friends who happens to be an amazing illustrator!

About Stephanie Checton

Stephanie Checton is a Hoboken-based fine artist and illustrator, specializing in pet portraits. A pet portrait is a great gift for any pet enthusiast or just the perfect way to capture your loveable creature! Rates start at $250. Please email for more information: stephanie.checton@gmail.com.

Indoor Tents

2009-08-12T16:54:00.000-05:00

Remember making indoor tents when you were a kid? Taking sheets and tucking them into desk drawers, propping your tent up with chairs and any furniture that could be spared... Here's the adult equivalent...hmm, just what my living room needs!

Picture credit: alifesdesign.blogspot.com

Cute & Strange Creatures

2009-08-05T14:38:00.005-05:00

Adorably cute and strange is the only way I can describe the creatures created by Seattle ceramicist Eva Funderburgh. I need one of these on my shelf - I think they'd make great conversation pieces as well...

To learn more about Eva and her work visit: evafunderburgh.com

Yum Yum

2009-08-03T11:47:00.003-05:00

I saw a post about this cookbook by Sarah Magid on simplesong - can't wait to get it! I really want to try to make the gold twinkies...

Now that was cool...

2009-07-30T00:39:00.014-05:00

It's been a while since I've been to a real live rock concert... I'm talking one filled with guitar solos, jumping about the stage, fog machines and the whole bit, not just some band where the singer stands in one place while everyone else looks like they might fall asleep while playing their instruments.

Thank you little brother - for buying me a ticket to The Dead Weather show at The Vic the other night... it was awesome - really and truly a real live rock concert (mixed with some blues and dark, ominous inflections). Alison Mosshart (vocals) pranced about the stage in a feline-esque manner while Jack White rocked the drums and had an amazing guitar solo (during Will there be enough water?)... Best show I've seen in a long time - hands down!

The End.