friday

This is what my dog, Scout, looks like when he's happy. All he needs is a patch of grass and a little ray of sunshine.

a crustacean

Sea creatures intrigue me.  There's something almost ethereal about them because they are able to live in water their entire lives. They also look so sleek.  My goal for my portfolio has been to shoot more raw fish, but when I saw these crabs at the market, I couldn't resist.  While they smelled pretty horrible, their colors and shapes kept me inspired to shoot them until I was satisfied.

jane reaction blog

  I am so happy that a month ago I found Erin Jane Riley's blog, Jane Reaction. I was instantly drawn to her crisp, clean, & incredibly creative design aesthetic and lost myself going through past posts.  She is a wonderfully talented young woman whose posts are well-written, interesting, fun, and thought provoking. The above design is just one example of her extraordinary work.
  Once a week, Jane writes a post called "Need, Read, Greed." I'm honored to be featured for this week's post! Check it out on her blog and I dare you to not fall in love with it.
  Thanks, Jane!

dogwoods

 

One of my favorite parts about coming back home is getting to be around lush green trees.  My favorites are all the dogwoods that show up as pretty white dots amongst the other greenery.

sweet pink branches

This is a detail outtake I took at a wedding I was assisting in Serenbe, GA.  It was the perfect weather day for the couple--not too hot, not too humid.  The sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  The bride's wedding bouquet was made up of pink, yellow, and orange ranunculi with one white poppy.  This tree was outside the house that she got dressed in and I felt like it summed up the mood of the day: sweet, pink, airy, and happy.

thumbnail time

Before I graduated from my portfolio school, we had a class that was dedicated to the flow of our final work.  Our teacher, who is very skilled at what she does, had us bring in "thumbnails" of our work and helped us sort through them. She told us to think about the flow of colors, shapes, and the subject matter of our pieces.  It's not always an easy task, but it's very helpful to do and well worth the time & effort.

cows

About three years ago, my family took a trip to Minnesota.  While we were there we had the pleasure of going to the Minnesota State Fair & attend A Prairie Home Companion, which is my favorite radio program. At the fair, I was really drawn to these cows. I think they are beautiful creatures and look pretty wise & peaceful while they stand around and chew their cud.

flower house

This is my current collection of flowers.  The Hyacinths have made a nice addition due to their slight aroma.  A table full of these beauties is the best way to begin Spring.

the roast

  I've been on this health kick since the beginning of the year.  It's not that I've not had a healthy diet before, it's just that I've been reading a lot more food magazines and food blogs that inspire me to put even better food in my belly.  By no means am I a chef or aspiring to be.  I cook the way my mother cooks--by intuition.  If it seems like if should be roasted, do it.  Seasoning? Whatever is on hand.  Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing, but I enjoy it.
   My favorite "dish" to cook right now is quinoa topped with roasted radishes, zucchini, carrots, and mushrooms. And to top off those toppings, I squeeze on some lemon juice and sprinkle feta cheese on top.

delicates

These pastel little beauties are the newest flowers that are keeping my apartment looking spruced up and nice.  I'm not sure what they are called, but when I saw them at the Dekalb Farmer's Market I knew I needed to have them.  I like how delicate they look in the white milk glass vase.  It's like having my own personal springtime inside--without all of the pollen.