Another Day For Making Dresses...

Brynwood Needleworks - Kitchen Vignette

I spent yesterday photographing images for our listing agent. She asked for something to highlight our butcher block kitchen countertops. This is what I came up with.

Handsome is on his way north, so I spent the morning shooting images; meeting with our listing agent; playing with the dogs; and still managing to get the lawn mowed before the afternoon monsoons struck.

As expected, it rained after 5:00 pm, but it was a much heavier rain than I expected. I was fortunate to get the mowing done because when it rained, it left "frog ponds" all over our front yard. Lucky for us, we were tucked in the house, safe and sound.

Brynwood Needleworks - Dress A Girl Around The World Dress Fabrics

I admit that I spent the rest of the evening just hanging out with Tag and Bella...doing absolutely nothing. I'm not feeling guilty either. 

I pulled these fabrics before heading off to bed, and I'm going to be making the last of my dresses today. I know there are more dresses on their way, so I'm excited to find out what our final count will be by the end of the week. I'll be sure to share updates.

It's going to be a great week! 

Richard Rinaldi - Touching Strangers...

Photographer Richard Rinaldi

Yesterday, while reading posts on Facebook, I came across something that

really touched me. It was a video about a New York photographer and his

most recent project. His name is Richard Rinaldi, and his project is called

"Touching Strangers".

Image by Richard Rinaldi©

He set up his camera on the street and simply asked strangers to pose

together as though they were friends, family or couples and the results

are incredible. In the video, you can see that the individuals are reluctant

at first, but they soon become comfortable and by the end of the session,

they say that they actually felt as though they cared for each other.

Photograph by Richard Rinaldi©

One quote was that Rinaldi's work is actually more like "touching humanity".

It's quite remarkable.

CBS "On The Road" did a segment on the project and I thought you might like
to see it (if you haven't already). It's not long.I hope you like it as much as I did.
0 (Direct link to video: http://youtu.be/SELDTUaHRxQ)

Spending Time With Family...

I spent part of the day yesterday sorting through family photographs. Remember, I've made a commitment to reorganizing and decluttering, so this is one of the things that requires some serious attention this year. (We have LOTS of pictures around here!) I figure that if I deal with a little at a time, it won't be such a chore.

I came across these tintypes, carefully tucked into a box with other family images and decided to scan them to share with you before I put them into archival pocket pages for safekeeping. You can see that they've already sustained some damage, mainly in the form of rust, so we want to care for them to keep them from degrading further.

This first one is of Handsome's grandmother, the opera singer (on the right). I don't know who is on the left, but I assume it's a sister or cousin to his grandmother.

I love this one. Look at their beautiful dresses. 

I've often wondered why so few of these old images 

show smiling faces. Everyone is always so somber.

Look at this Dapper Dan! It appears that 

he's pretty pleased with himself, don't you think?

I always love old photos of children with pets. In a day when there were no "speed" shutters, a little dog moving was going to end up looking like a ghost image. I wish this one had turned out. There are actually two of this image...and sadly, both are blurry. I love this little girl's dress, too!

Mommas and babies are another timeless image. They don't look very happy, do they? But they're a family record of loved ones long-gone, and in some cases, unidentified. I do know they're all related to us, but it will take more research - in other old album holding photographs with names carefully written on the backs - to identify these faces. I hope you enjoyed seeing these pictures as much as I did.

I'll have more studio goodies tomorrow. Sewing quilt blocks is on the agenda today.

Patience Is A Virtue...

This is Sam. Haughty, talented, new grandpa Sam. He belongs to Tag's trainer, Mike and his wife, Joann. I call him "Grandpa" because as he's resting in the front yard, a new litter of 18 hour old puppies, sired by his son, was cuddled up to their mama in the kennel.

When we first took Tag over to start his training program, we stayed overnight. On Thanksgiving Day, the weather was gorgeous and Sam was basking in the yard taking in a little Florida sunshine. Well, you just know I had to go and grab my camera.

Now, I'll admit to you that I didn't want to disturb Sam, so I was sitting on the floor in the entry to the house...shooting through the glass into the yard. In fact, I was leaning forward to shoot between the shutters on the front door that cover the glass. I know I should be ashamed, but I am more than happy with the quality of the images I took. (Lucky for me that glass was clean!)

I actually think that, in spite of my efforts, Sam knew I was watching (and photographing) him...and he didn't seem too impressed.

Matter of fact, he seemed a little haughty, if you ask me. Nose in the air and all. Or perhaps, he could smell his grandkids or "training" going on in the back yard.

"I'm thinking if I don't look at her, maybe she'll go away."

"I could close my eyes. No one likes pictures with my eyes closed."

But, I know this works. Keep snapping photos. I mean, with a digital camera, images are cheap. Just add more pixels to the memory. I have to be patient. Because, if I'm patient, I get the "money shot". That perfect image of my subject. His Royal Highness, Mr. Sam.

And to make sure I'd go away after he gave me what I was looking for...he shook his head, flipping his ear up.  Flip being the operative word. "Go away kid. You're bothering me."

 

Tuesdays With Tag - Clickers and Snaps...

I've been working on obedience with Tag lately. I came across a little gadget called a clicker. It's an inexpensive and interesting training tool that, when combined with a treat, promotes the most wonderful behavior from my Corgi. (He's even heeling next to me off-lead when this technique is employed.) It reminds me of a toy that we played with when I was a kid - sort of a little noise-maker that can easily be held between your thumb and fingers.

We've always used whistles for training our retrievers and I may yet decide to go back to whistle training for Tag, but the clicker is quieter in situations where there are other people nearby.

It's also a great device to use when taking pictures to get the dog's attention, and doesn't sound as silly as some of the sounds I've made in the past. (I've got a killer pheasant call that I'm really proud of, but Handsome says it sounds like I've got a bone stuck in my throat. For years he's been trying to teach our dogs to call "911" when I do it!)

Now that Tag's four and a half months old, I'm able to get on my knees (Corgi-level, you know) and take a few nice portraits of him.

Uh...well...most of the photos were sweet and cute. He's always got to toss me at least one "disapproving Corgi look"! He's got that one down pat. I swear he practices this one when I'm not looking!

Of course, I'll admit that Handsome stood behind me making some noises to get Tag's attention. He really knows how to bring out the best poses. Handsome said that Tag is following the Rules of Good Canine Posture by keeping his tongue out the front...which is a good thing, considering he's got so much of it!

In tribute to Fezzik, Taggart asked me if we could sign off the way his predecessor used to. I think it's fitting, so I said yes. We'll be back next week with more Corgi attitude.

'til then...

More wagging and less barking!

And I Become A Child Again...

One of the stunning photos from Kate's Monday, April 19th post

On Monday, I read this post from my friend, Kathleen (Kate) Young at Chronicles of a Country Girl. You need to know just how much I enjoy reading what Kate writes. She shares her country life with her husband and their border collie, George (who has his own Facebook page!). I love sharing her daily walks on their property, and her incredible images (I covet her camera and her photographic "eye".)

When I left a comment on Monday, this is part of what I wrote to her:

Hi Kate: I simply adore (and miss) lilacs. Nothing like them in the whole wide world...and none in Florida. ;0( Thanks for sharing them with me, too.

Later that evening, I received an email from her asking for my address, and I asked for hers in return. We exchanged information that night, and I'm so glad. Here's why...
A package arrived yesterday with a return address I didn't recognize. Sweet Kate had sent her incredible images to me straight from her print service! My photograph doesn't do hers justice, and that's why I used one of her blog images as the first photo here today. These lilacs - which were captured from her yard - are stunning, and my heart swelled at Kate's generosity in sending them to me.

My eyes welled with tears at both her kindness, and the childhood memories of days long ago...lilac bushes coloring our backyard with their blossoms and their scent. Tall bushes, lovingly pruned by my mum, and their perennial promises to return every spring. If I close my eyes, I can relive those carefree days, and the thoughts make me smile.

I don't know if Kate has any idea just what a kind, meaningful and special gift she sent to me this week. I do know that I'll find the most perfect frames for both of them so that one can reside in our bedroom and one will have a permanent spot in the studio. I'll think of her with great fondness whenever I look at them...and I'm already working on a special gift for her!

Thank you, Kate, from the very depths of my heart.

If you haven't had the pleasure of exploring Chronicles of a Country Girl, please click on the image of her blog header and settle in for a bit. There's a lot to see, read and experience. I'm sure that you'll find that she speaks to you, too. Don't forget to say "hello" to her (and George!) when you visit. I know she'll appreciate it.

A Little Peek...

The first of a series of little vignettes of our redecorating project. No progress since yesterday, and how could there be? I decided to spend the day in contemplation of my next move.

Being a photographer's wife, there are always pictures to punctuate our lives (even if we don't take them!). This one is one of my favorites. It reminds me of that sunny day spent on our motorcycles for a fundraiser for Kids By The Sea. It's a Harley Owners Group ride to benefit kids with childhood cancer. We raise lots of money, but we also all donate new teddy bears to give to the kids so they are a little less afraid during treatment. Nothing quite like a few-miles-long parade of Harleys with teddy bears strapped on the back of each one. What a sight!

There are other images of Handsome and me in our room, including a series of four that were the joyful result of a photo session for our annual Christmas card. I'll share those on another day.

I'm thinking about the design I'm going to settle on for our quilt, and I still haven't made up my mind. What to do...what to do...I'll have to decide soon so I can get started on it.

So, while I ponder, here's a new view of the colors you'll see in the finished room. Aren't they wonderful and relaxing? I can't believe how much this room makes me smile, and to think it's not even finished yet!