the farmhouse

breathtaking. that word by itself, describes the house, the land, the people, and the animals. we had such an adventure at the farmhouse today. i couldn't wait to upload just a few images to show all of you.

i wasn't aware until we arrived that it was the 2nd most expensive home (by square foot) in pennsylvania. ::screams & dies in restorability bliss ::

for that reason, and the privacy of the owners, i can not show any exteriors. to be honest, i wasn't even told who the owners actually were!

so! the task at hand was to photograph Becky & Holly's (the most wonderful, fast talking, & truly inspiring interior decorators i have ever met) perfectly charming winter flower arrangements that they have prepared for each room of this flawlessly restored property.

note the use of delicately real eggs, feathers, holly twigs, and popped cotton branches.

What beautiful creations, right? We'll be working with these lovely ladies again on Tuesday putting together images for their new website. When it launches, I'll be sure to let you all know!

I've got quite a bit of wrapping to do today. Thankfully, I have season 2 of How I Met Your Mother to keep me company!

well.

i must give an enormous thanks to Rhianne because she was nice enough to talk me out of my 'what is going on with my blog!" craziness, andddddd gave me a helpful hint to maybe unlocking the great post comment mystery.

comments work now, so you can tell me how much of a fool i am :)

i've got some coffee brewing, music playing. i'm ready for the day.

i'm shooting on location at at a renovated farmhouse outside of Philadelphia. i am so excited!

i'll be sure to show some photos after they're done.

have a warm day everybody!

ok blogger god, another lesson learned.
.......apparently the post comments section is not working.

i
have to go
dress shopping now (ugh!)
hopefully
will
fix this problem
tonight
or early tomorrow

love,
tina
aka blog failure

Soooo...yeaaahhhh...

i learned a pretty powerful lesson today.

don't get crazy and change your blog template without a) saving the original & b) somehow saving your widgets and/or bloglist.

i had to somehow remember all my favorite blogs, i may have missed a few but i'll get there eventually!

in the meantime, anybody can comment with their go to blogs that could potentially make my life better, or make me less manic.

i like the simplicity of this new layout, and finally added a banner that i feel suits me better.

any thoughts?

Argus, Revisited

I'm putting together large size files for an event coming up, and I tend to stumble across images I had forgotten about. Forgot that I loved, and thought "Oh, I took that?".

This photograph is from when I lived in the Gay Street School building, in the "Phoenixville" era of my life. It got me thinking about all the changes since then.

Right now, while living somewhere temporarily, a lot of my things are packed away in storage.

that includes

my camera collection

boxes and boxes of books

furry comforters

this ^ green desk from The Dump

kitchen knife set

a completely unrelated bag of sour patch kids

the blue chair.

and of course, Piggy is staying in Quakertown with some friends.

I feel like a vagabond, just wandering and collecting and waiting. Although I am most definitely not alone, it can feel that way sometimes. I can forget that loved ones are just a phone call away. I should take advantage of that more often.

I have so much to look forward to, but the ocassional sting of loneliness wiggles its way in.

Reason #423 why I love photography:

The memories and stories that photos remind us of.

snow, hope, and some puppies!

we had a quite eventful weekend.

one of the biggest things that happened was our very first snowstorm(of the season)!

the weather channel was talking about it nonstop, it's kind of funny how snow takes over all the news stations, i think it even overshadows the tiger woods story (at least for 30 minutes).

we drove into south jersey for an 80th birthday bowling party, and let me tell you something. 80 year old bowlers are some SERIOUS business. they don't have small talk, or take coffee breaks. it's bowling. and nothing else. well, the occasional jab or two.

i also finally got to see funny people. i know it's long. but adam sandler's performance was very heartfelt. judd apatow's girls are just fantastic, and i loved jonah hill. i need more of him, and less of typecast michael cera in my life.

on our travel to meet Mike & Jill in Hope, New Jersey for their annual Christmas craft walk, we stopped at wawa for some early morning coffee and while coming out of the door I was suprised to see these beautiful vizsla puppies pouring out of their owner's windows!

anyone who knows me knows that i am completely dog crazy. i grew up loving dogs, and it's continued into my adulthood. we always have dogs at the studio (whether it be Chester, Charlie, Miss Leah (rip), and little Danni has even paid us a visit). we are a dog loving, biscuit giving, "chester don't eat that towel!" chasing studio.

i especially loved the Momma dog, her fur now a sparkling, majestic white, sitting patiently while the other two were complete wiggle worms!

the Hope Christmas craft walk was so perfect. We had the most delicious apple cidar donuts I have ever eaten. Nice and Hot apple cidar, and some really great antique stores were visited. I love the Holidays!

this week might be potentially crazy at the studio, we have some cookie recipes to shoot, an enormous box of chocolates came for the Market Day catalog, and an advertising postcard with a food stylist. somewhere in there, i have to paint 7 frames, mat 10 photos, and make some very special gifts for a few friends. whew. don't you love Christmas?

Anybody do anything noteworthy this weekend??

2010

are you ready, are you ready?

i am so pleased to announce my official 2010 Calendar!

I just received a fresh batch of loose-leaf Calendars just in time for the last minute gifts!

This is sincerely my little idea baby, and I'm so proud (and relieved) that they turned out this well.

the specs:

printed on heavy glossy card stock, the 2010 12 month Calendar measures 5x7.

like i said earlier, it is a loose Calendar. I love the idea of someone putting months on their idea boards, fridges, or even in tiny easels on their desks. It makes me so happy to have my art around all year!

You can purchase a Calendar at ETSY and SUPERMARKET

After a very stressful day at the studio, I just had to post about these little gems.

What do you guys think?

Keeping on with the Supermarket news...

These 3 prints "Keiko Bird series" are available exclusively on Supermarket!

They measure 5x6 printed on Hahnemuhle fine art paper (8.5x11)

I am so in love with this series. I've already gotten 3 custom matt and frame orders for them (yay!). I'm lovin' that people are lovin' them.

It's the Holiday season, and I'm giving some extra lovin' to Supermarket.

If you haven't checked it out yet, go here!

supermarket fresh!

Few people know that I sell prints on SuperMarket ( a sweet little design market that caters to customers, and sends them directly to the designers!)

There are some insaneeeeeee artists over at Supermarket, and I vowed to give it just as much attention as Etsy. I'm in love with the quirky t-shirt designs, beautiful jewelry from brooklyn, and outlandish 70's style prints. Ahh! You gotta see for yourself!

Etsy, don't fret. You are my love, too. 

Here are a few favorites from SuperMarket!

John Murphy

Munstre

CORKY

Melissa Borrell

Modern Lovers

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I'm off to buy some clearance ribbon, and get some coffee. STAT!

ANNOUNCING:

Let's break it down.

Choose 2 prints to purchase, and choose ANOTHER 2 prints to be printed as an 8x8 and a 5x5. Please let me know the names of the prints you'd like for free, and which size.

Example:

Notes to seller: passing by 8x8 and mariella 5x5

Good? Yes? Yes!

Oh! and my 15% off Holiday sales will still be offered during the Black Friday Sale.

So everyyyyything you're getting is worth $70.00 but for two days only it will be for $34.00!

And of course, your discount will be refunded back

 to you through paypal after your purchase.