2010 photographs - black and white

I couldn't end this series without paying homage to the shadow and light that started it all. I've asked my good blog friend Andrea Despot to write up and find the images for this post. You can find her here and here.

Thank you, Andrea!

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There isn't much about black & white photography that hasn't already been said. But I will say this: It holds a sort of magic, gently forcing you to look at the things you might not notice if the image were in color: shadows, light, tone, texture. It's hard for me to say that I love black & white more, but I have to admit that sometimes it's true! The photos below are only a few of my favorites taken by other photographers in 2010. There are many others I could've included, but perhaps got lost somewhere in my memory of the past year. They may not be the best or most amazing in someone else's eyes, but for me these stand out and I have my own little reasons for loving them as I do. Enjoy!  -Andrea

bluecut

Brian Krummel

From Me To You

Josef Hoflehner

m. corkill

.L. (Ling)

2010 photographs : dear violet and ruby

photographs found deeply colored by violets and rubies

Gordana AM

babykailan

 

Victoria Smith

Serinissima

Jen Gotch

2010 photographs - sunkissed and demured

photographs found that have hints of yellows, and deep browns.

Integrity Studios

One Blue Wren

Au fil de...

Maile Lani

Maggie Green

Elle Moss

2010 photographs - between the sapphires and the emeralds

photographs found with blues and greens

Cassia

Hannah - Honey & Jam

Karen Wise

Jenni C

Tricia McKellar

olcore

White Out

I set the gingerbread latte down on the desk, woke up the computer, and cracked my knuckles readying myself to write this blog post.

Then Santa came riding down the street atop a fire truck.

-20 minutes later-



Oh, Santa. You jokester.

I created a series of posts for next week focusing on my favorite photographs from 2010, then it'll be hasta la vista from me for the rest of the year!

A White Out, if you will.


I intend to enjoy the Holidays with as little stress as possible; to never leave home without my camera. Seriously. Never. Read a couple classic novels, and organize my part of the office (I've begun carrying the laptop everywhere and only entering the office to pay bills.) while also trying to create an inspiration wall.


I hope whatever you do during the next two weeks, you are surrounded by people you love. Drink lots of warm beverages, watch classic movies (don't forget The Twilight Zone marathon on New Year's Day!), and enjoy yourselves!

I leave you with Trill (our new kitty I forgot to tell you about.... sorry. She plays fetch!) and her cool kid mean face.

Stayed tuned for the first 2010 photographs post : photographs found in sapphire and emeralds

on Monday!

Friday

Mi familia

L to R:

My dad, brother Anthony, MomMom Crespo, Aunt Marilyn, cousin Eddie

Photographer: My mom

I have been given the most amazing gift by my mother.

A tattered, old box of slides of my family before I was born.

It will taken me forever to scan them all in, and I'm okay with that. Discovering my family in a whole new way has been such a great experience. 

Seeing loved ones who are now passed away, is the most precious piece of this puzzle.

There are photographs that look like art, and memories that are burned into film that I would have never known about. I've struck gold.

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Other news:

*gift ideas

*I've got a guest post at City of Blackbirds today - be inspired

*Cayla is spending the weekend with us. I expect a lot of Disney movies, baking,

 and perhaps a trip to The Franklin Fountain

*I know he's not the greatest person in the world (an abomination to Obama's nation, he says)

 but I love this album

*Everything's Eventual begins here

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Have a great weekend!

extra bright

-Want you to see all of the lights-

This past weekend was spent decorating, paper wreath making (easy tutorial here! be wary of the glue gun. blisters!), and spending time with my 2 favorite ladies. We walked with our cameras (which seems like forever since we all shot together!) into valley forge and got lost.

It was freezing. Frosted. Chilly.

20 jumping jacks helped, though.

What was your weekend like? Did anyone see Black Swan?

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P.S. The last shipping date for my print shop is December 15th.

The Holiday Sale is still going strong.

Don't delay! Buy a print today!

underneath

I couldn't help myself, I went back to the trees last night.

You can too.

Happy Cyber Monday!

Cyber Monday has arrived. Come check out the shop for some dealz!
Holiday Sale
$5 PRINT sale!
Visit the Holiday Sale section here and save on large prints, and print sets!

Happy Shopping!

under the lights

Even the cold couldn't keep me from wandering 

under these sparkling trees.

Is this what the Holiday spirit feels like?

Yep, I think so.

Listen up, you turkey!

I know it's not officially Thanksgiving break yet, but I am signing off a few days early so I can get some things in order in my house before we go home to my dads for relaxation and some grub. We cannot wait for the Holiday to get here, and I am fully prepared to take as much time as I can to dig into some good books and maybe season 3 of Six Feet Under.

We have a new little friend in the house....which I hope to introduce to you when she actually has a name (and not whole wheat, like Mike has been suggesting. No, not 4Loko, either.)

I wanted to leave you with a super yummy and totally EASY recipe for a dessert for Thanksgiving, with the help of the season's most delicious apples.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups coarse fresh whole wheat (or grain) breadcrumbs

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

3 T granulated sugar

3 T unsalted butter, melted & divided

2 lbs McIntosh apples, peeled, cored, and cut

3 T light brown sugar

4 T apple cider

1 tsp grated lemon rind

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

1/8 ground allspice

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Combine breadcrumbs, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, salt, granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons butter.

In a separate bowl, combine apples, remaining 1/2 tsp cinnamon remaining 1 tablespoon butter, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons cider add next 3 ingredients.

Sprinkle half of crumb mixture in bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Spoon apple filling over crumb mixture, and sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over filling. 

Spoon remaining 2 tablespoons apple cider over crumbs.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbling.

Serves 8. Serving Size 2/3 cup

Weight Watchers recipe 

Nutritional Info:

144 calories, 4.8g fat

1.3 g protein, 26 carbs

I'm making my 4th apple brown betty this week for the big turkey day, as well as this delicious smoky chorizo stuffing that I tore out of a Food & Wine magazine. Mmmmm, I can't wait!

What is your absolute favorite dish at Thanksgiving? Do you wait all day in anticipation of that bird? The perfect pumpkin pie? Or is it the homemade cranberry sauce? Whichever gets your motor running, I hope you get to eat plenty of it!

Giving Thanks

--

I have so many things to be thankful for this year.

Even though, I've been struggling with the idea that you can not make everybody happy, no matter how nice you are, or the effort you make some people will just never give in. They will continually push against you, no matter how hard you try. I'm sorry, but I just do not have the energy to keep fighting this battle. I'm choosing to focus my attention on those that make me a better person, that want to see me succeed and actually enjoy being around me (wow, what a concept).

So this Thanksgiving, I am especially thankful for the friends who love me no matter what. The ones that give a damn. Because in the end, that's really all that matters. And you know what? I give a damn about them, too. The others...can just fade away.

I'm thankful for Mike everyday, so Thanksgiving is no different. I absolutely love how he makes me laugh, and supports me in ways others never have. It makes me a better person. Not only for myself, but for us. He also lets me make messes wherever I go and not complain....not a bad guy in my book.

I'm thankful for my parents, and my family. I came from a great bunch of people, and I don't think there will ever be a time when I stop learning things from my parents. They are always teaching, even when they don't know it. I love you guys!

I'm also thankful for the little things that pop up everyday that make me smile, or laugh. 

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I'm wishing everybody a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

--

PS, are you a fan on facebook? It would be beneficial this Friday if you are :D

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

With my favorite reason (uh, hello? Thanksgiving...) to sit down and stuff yourself with the most delicious, feel good foods just around the corner I decided to make a plan and switch up how I do (eat) things this year. I'm on a mission to find yummy recipes that

1. stay within my budget

2. do not bust the button on my pants

3. make me say "Mmm!" not "Ughhh, why did I eat thaaattttt."

I tried this recipe out this past weekend and at only 89 calories a cookie, 

I believe I've met my favorite little pumpkin fix.

nutritional values:

89 calories, 3.5 g of fat

13.3 g of carbs, 1.5 g of protein

Day Off

-

Today was a unexpected day off from the studio.

I worked on the website, freshened things up a bit.

Listened to City & Colour.

Squeezed in a trip to my favorite thrift shop, The Trading Post

& got some pretty things (like the pewter sugar jar and silk scarf above).

Finally closed our storm windows. Ok, I get it cold gusts.

Summer/Fall is officially over.

Ignored the sewing machine.

-

What has your Thursday been like?

My sewing machine is an old grump

It's not that I'm jealous of Martha Stewart, she just makes everything seem oh so easy. Listen Martha, a few extra lines of explanations or maybe 3 more step by step photos would seriously be helpful. 

Mk, thanks.

 I just don't understand how a sewing machine could be so difficult! I've gone through the troubleshooting and in the process knocked over a barely sipped gingerbread latte from Starbucks. That was the last straw.

I put the sewing machine away.

So someone from Meatbagz asked in the previous post to share my burlap chair. Not sure if it was Kate or Mackenzie, but here it is!!

This chair was a super find back in May (yes...it has taken me 6 months to get around to finishing this.) and had very little wrong with it. The original fabric was torn in a few spots, and stained. At that point, I wasn't completely sure what I would recover the cushion and back piece with but I knew I could go over the existing fabric and stuffing since it was in good shape. Which also saved me some dough.

I think I was in Terrain when I spotted a burlap reading chair, it was gorgeous! So naturally I had to knock it off.

What I used:

40'' tall 27'' wide coffee bean burlap - purchased here for $2

Helmar Fabric Glue

Upholstery nails (from previous trim on chair)

Thumbtacks to hold burlap in place while gluing

A knife (...something not sharp) to press fabric 

I also cut off the burlap seams (which was "roped" burlap) and used that as the trim on the back cushion

I think overall this project costs me less than $10.

Which is killer, obviously.

Now I just have to convince Mike we need everything covered in burlap, and we'll be set!

Like a nice toaster oven cover :D

This past week:
Took a trip to the 113 farm

I've discovered Eugenio Recuenco -- you want to go here

Added the dark side (my newest board on Pinterest)

Purchased and cut apart coffee bean burlap bags

Drank strong, delicious coffee

Voted

Brought home Swain Thieves (thanks to Andrea)

This weekend I plan to:

Persuade Mike to buy me a sweet potato muffin from Jasmine's...

Be a proud aunt at Cayla's Girl Scout banquet

Finish the coffee bean burlap office chair

Swoon over Martha's Sewing Encyclopedia and anxiously await the use of a sewing machine.

Finish Nip/Tuck season 6 - aka try and get my life back from Netflix

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I hope you all have a great weekend!

CHRISTMAS ALREADY?!?!?!

It's hard to believe that before we get to have our Halloween candy (and eat it too), Christmas decorations and sign squealing "EXTRA SUPER LARGE CHRISTMAS DISCOUNT SALE NOW!" are already littering our towns.

Eh hem...

I love Christmas! Don't you?!

This year I plan to do very special gifts for friends and family that have supported me throughout the year. I also wanted to do something special for those of you, may you be a stranger or not, who have supported my photography and my shops.

This year is the $25 sale!

How it works:

Purchase the Holiday Sale listing, or any 8x8 and as a special gift to you

please choose another 8x8 of your choice, plus another 8x8 to be printed as 5x5

for free!

*Please leave titles of special free prints in "Notes To Seller" at check-out*

3 prints for the price of 1?

Yep. Done and Done.

Don't forget, I can also send your prints directly to a gift recipient

with a special note.

The Holiday sale begins November 4th and ends December 15th!

All Hallows Eve...

I Dwell in a lonely house I know 

That vanished many a summer ago, 

And left no trace but the cellar walls, 

And a cellar in which the daylight falls, 

And the purple-stemmed wild raspberries grow. 

O'er ruined fences the grape-vines shield 

The woods come back to the mowing field; 

The orchard tree has grown one copse 

Of new wood and old where the woodpecker chops; 

The footpath down to the well is healed. 

I dwell with a strangely aching heart 

In that vanished abode there far apart 

On that disused and forgotten road 

That has no dust-bath now for the toad. 

Night comes; the black bats tumble and dart; 

The whippoorwill is coming to shout 

And hush and cluck and flutter about: 

I hear him begin far enough away 

Full many a time to say his say 

Before he arrives to say it out. 

It is under the small, dim, summer star. 

I know not who these mute folk are 

Who share the unlit place with me-- 

Those stones out under the low-limbed tree 

Doubtless bear names that the mosses mar. 

They are tireless folk, but slow and sad, 

Though two, close-keeping, are lass and lad,-- 

With none among them that ever sings, 

And yet, in view of how many things, 

As sweet companions as might be had.

GhostHouse

-Robert Frost-

Have a Happy and Safe All Hallows Eve!