Dreamer

Some days you just feel like this!

And yes, it is in reference to this post

Happy Friday, everyone. I hope you all have a great weekend. I'll see you Monday.

Sunrise. My Vegas.

Sometimes, if I get up early enough and look out the office window I am rewarded with some of the most beautiful light hitting the trees and plants out front of the house. And I feel revitalized.

Taking Punches

You may have noticed from previous posts that I am unemployed. This is still true. Having never before been in this situation (I'm still young, however, so I'm sure there is lots of time for this...) I'm not really sure that I'm handling it too well. To be honest, I'm craving structure. I'm craving human interaction outside of my new family here. I miss dressing in something other than jeans and a t-shirt. I miss the routine of working. I miss a pay check.

I know that I am very likely in a better situation than a lot of people looking for work in this town (hello, 12.1% unemployment rate) as my husband has a steady job that has allowed us some flexibility while we waited for my immigration to go through. But over the past month I've really started to feel as though it is time to start looking for a job.

I applied for my first job out here in the U.S. two weeks ago and within a week I received an email response stating that I was not selected for the position. Okay, I can handle that. I mean, did I really expect to attain the very first position I applied for? No, even though it would have made a nice story. My point is: I need to keep my head up. My husband's response to my telling him about the job was: "You've got to take a couple punches before you land something," and he's right.

So, with a full stomach and a fresh cup of steaming tea, I'm stepping up this morning and putting myself out there. I'm ready to roll with the punches.

first, a terrible argument.
next, we made love.
now, at last, I lay peacefully
on her large bed
which is
spread with a field of gracious flowers,
my head and belly down,
head sideways,
sprayed by shaded light
as she bathes quietly in the
other room.
it is all beyond me
as are most things.
I listen to classical music on a small radio.
she bathes.
I hear the splashing of water.

note on the tigress / charles bukowski

The Weekend in Photos

Anxious to get out of Las Vegas for even a day Dom and I drove out to St.George, Utah to visit with some friends who had just had a baby. The clouds were just so beautiful and we were blessed with bright blue sunny skies.

We drove out to Pine Valley for a quick lunch amongst nature and supreme quiet. It was exactly what I needed after writing about missing Ontario, and it really was a lovely moment when Dom picked up the cameras on his own to take some photos. Plus we got to hang out with the cutest of cute, smallest baby boy.

It really was a wonderful day.

Sadness & Hidden Strength

Today, as I take a short break from getting dressed for a memorial service for a friends' father I can't help but think about life and death. I've known some very young, amazing people who were taken before their time. I've known a grandmother who was ready to be reunited with her one true love. I've lost friends, neighbours and four grandparents. I have felt the loss deep in my bones. And so on this day, I send my thoughts out to Carol and her family and hope that they can make it through this rough period in their lives and discover the strength hidden within them.

It Could be Anything, Really

I don't know what it is about this photograph but it really speaks to me. Perhaps it is the colours, or just maybe it's the look into someone else's space (hello! guilty pleasure). Whatever it is, whatever it may be: I'm incredibly inspired by the simplicity of the image.

Has something ever just moved you like this before?

Illumination

I can't believe that at 27 I'm still scared. Scared of failing. Scared of succeeding. Scared of not knowing what comes next.

I'm watching everyone around me; what they're doing, what they aren't doing.

I need to stop this. There is only me.

Just Be You: A Look at Inspiration and Tara Whitney

I’m a visual person. I like to see things in print – perhaps that’s part of the reason why after nearly twenty years I still keep a journal – and I keep what I call an inspiration file made up of pages torn from magazines, though more recently I’ve started using Pinterest as a virtual inspiration file. I often look at these images whenever I need a creative boost.

I grew up painting, sketching and crafting, and then when I was given my first camera I continued on displaying my creativity in a new medium. As a visual person I am constantly inspired by the photos I see and the movies I watch; I follow blogs that feature original photography and am an active Flickr user. There is so much out there in the world – and online – to inspire you, and every day is the chance to discover someone really great.

Speaking of Greatness

I can’t tell you exactly how and when I first came across Tara Whitney, and I know I've spoken about her quickly before, but I’ll tell you one thing: I’ll never be the same again. I could talk and talk about her style, talent and genuine nature but it wouldn’t begin to cover it. I saw on Twitter that she had conducted an interview for [Framed]. I lay in bed and watched it from start to finish. I recommend that you all watch it here but allow me to discuss some points that really stood out to me.

I love hearing how people first got started doing what they love, be it photography or drawing custom wedding portraits. For Tara Whitney it “happened young.” As a young girl she begged to use her parent’s cameras to take vacation photos, and took classes in high school. When she started a family she found she had young children and couldn’t afford to take them to have their photos taken. One Christmas her husband surprised her with a Canon Rebel (film, of course) with one simple request: “follow your dreams.” She “started taking courses, learnt the basics and then shot, shot shot.” In the beginning her focus “was on taking beautiful images of [her] children and [her] life.” She summed it up in the beginning of the interview. “Family is my first priority. I want to put out into the world four really amazing humans. That’s my main goal.” Then she added, with a smile, “photography is the icing on the cake.”

Her ever popular blog is the only marketing she takes part in, and which photos like hers its not hard to see why. When asked about her blog she said: "I wanted to put more truth into the world… [and] I think people appreciate [my] truth about my life; the real-ness.” It’s the basis of her style, too: Just be. Just be you. Tara “really wanted [her] work to be real and authentic and give people what they would want in a photographer.” Real and authentic. It’s the advice that she gives to new photographers that are trying to find their style. “So many people try to copy what others do, but don’t do that; it’s a disservice to yourself. The point is to be you. You can relate to others’ work and take that in, but then turn it around inside and make it something new and fresh… even if it’s never been done before.”

Just look at a few of Tara’s photos and you’ll see right away that she really connects with her subjects. When asked how this is she replied slowly: “I really try to see everyone that’s in front of me for who and what they are.” She watches closes to see who might be feeling shy, who may be nervous or uninterested. “You have to get them to open up.”

I can’t help but wonder what Tara was like growing up, or any of my favourite photographers for that matter. Were they creative, visual kids like myself or did it just happen one day? How many of them knew they wanted to become photographers when they grew up? How many of them simply fell into it? What inspires them? What makes them ooh and ahh? And perhaps what I’m most curious about: If they couldn’t be photographers, what else could they ever see themselves doing?

The Weekend in Photos

Things I am grateful for from this weekend: Time spent relaxing with the hubs with a glass of wine and a great movie. Sleeping in on a Saturday morning and then waking up to draw. An evening with family and friends with drinks and great food.

Ice cream. Etsy sales. Time spent playing with my cat and her favourite toy. And diving into a good book that you just can't put down.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend. Here's to looking to the next one!

Style File - Demin Queen

This weekend really is shaping up to be what I had hoped it to be. On Friday night the hubs and I enjoyed a relaxing night that included dinner, wine and The Lincoln Lawyer (which was quite good, I recommend it). On Saturday night we were off to Dom's aunts for a get together with the family to watch the fight. I'm not big on the fight but I enjoy the family time, food and drinks. Plus, I'd been dying to show off this shirt :)

Shirt and jeans: Old Navy
Belt: Urban Behavior
Shoes: Payless
Bracelets: handmade
Watch: Birks

Me, on Etsy; and Etsy Love

I've had it in my head for a while now that I'd like to sell prints on Etsy. Over the years I've gathered up a few photos that I truly believe that others might like, and I have a lot more on the way.

I can guarantee that I won't be selling any prints that I don't absolutely love, just like I would never put any artwork or photography up on my own walls that I don't love. And I wouldn't expect any of you to either.

I urge you to take a look through the photography being sold through Etsy. There is some wonderful talent, like Little Brown Pen and Alison Claire Photography. Here is some specific art & photography that I'm really drooling over.

1. Last Light Paris photograph 2. Aqua Dandelions 3. Vintage Camera with flash watercolour print 4. I'd Rather be doing this today - film print

I'd love it if you'd drop by my shop and have a look around and see if anything tickles your fancy. I have some great new shots on the way as well. And if nothing in the shop is your taste have a look at the other photography on the site; there is some really amazing work.

Where I'm Going

We're moving next month... you see that loft space right there?

That is going to be my new studio. (Now that I've decided what I should be doing right now; that is, what is right for me and my husband). Colour me excited! A north facing window with beautiful light pouring in. Partial hardwood floor. I feel so lucky.

I was recently talking to a friend of mine about the new place and like so many times before she was able to iterate what I was trying to say but couldn't find the words: "It's not just you moving into his place this time, its you guys building a home together." Our current house will always be the first place I ever stayed in Las Vegas, the place where Dom and I took our first self-timer picture together, the place where we first lived together and started our marriage in. This new house? Well that will be a whole new adventure.

Green, and why I miss it

It's often hard to put into words how I feel about having moved from Ontario, Canada here to Las Vegas, Nevada without coming off sounding ungrateful, resentful or homesick, (the truth is I'm really just the latter, but only at certain times). So I'm just going to say this about the upcoming season: there is nothing like fall in Ontario. The reds, oranges, greens and yellows popping up all over town. The crunch of the fallen leaves under your feet. The cooler air that means jeans and hoodies. I'm really going to miss it this year.

These photos don't even begin to do Ontario justice. But you definitely won't find anything like that here in Las Vegas.

What about all you out there? Tell me about your home town and what it's like!

Nightstand Revival

See this nightstand? It needs a makeover.

The husband and I will be making two new nightstands for the bedroom in the new house (I will definitely document the process!) and so I'm looking to spruce this one up for the spare bedroom. Dom wanted to just get rid of it but despite being a little chipped and not very sturdy its perfectly fine. Like I said, it just needs a makeover.

I'm finding inspiration in these photos, whether that be the colour, design or just how they are decorated on top.

1. Distressed gray nightstand from Ballard Designs 2. William Sonoma nightstand via Pinterest 3. Apartment therapy via Pinterest 4. Apartment therapy via Pinterest 5.

That distressed grey? Love it, but it might blend in to our bed too much. Crisp white? Always. Bright colours? Definitely. And love the look of that wood and the simple, scarce decorating.

I'd better stop now or I never will, but keep an eye out for a post on my nightstand make over!

YOU CAN NOW SEE THE FINAL PRODUCT HERE

Late summer showers. My Vegas.

As I mentioned yesterday its been raining a fair amount here in LV. I woke up to the sound of it pounding against my bedroom patio door and after taking a moment to stretch and wipe the sleep from my face I padded into the kitchen to put water on for tea and then reached for my camera.

Downstairs in the kitchen I pulled the screen door open just a crack in order to smell the sweet rain that (honestly!) I have missed from back home. It is still quiet outside and as I sip my tea I can feel a cool breeze drift into the house. It made me think of these photographs.

I'll make bracelets, and start on a few new art projects today.

What is your day shaping up to look like?