No, I Haven't Died - Not Really

I know. I've been absent a long long long time. I suppose you could say I've gone into hibernation. I've been keeping company with some very interesting characters and a heroine I just adore. I've been going to bed early almost every night since Christmas so I can escape to the mysterious, hilarious, and FUN world Charlaine Harris has created in her Sookie Stackhouse series. Yes, these are the books that the HBO series, True Blood, is based on.

These books are fantastic! So far there are 8 books in the series with another due to be published May 2009. I just finished the fourth titled "Dead to the World" and tonight I'll dive into "Dead as a Doornail." The series on HBO is devine and I was a little disappointed I'd have to wait until this Summer to get my weekly Sunday evening dose. But the books are just as good!

Check out the covers of these paperbacks!









The illustrator is Lisa Desimini, who also wrote and illustrated one of my favorite children's books (among many others) called "Trick or Treat, SMELL MY FEET!" which we just read to our son this past Halloween. All the illustrations are made from torn paper. Its a truly beautiful book AND funny!


Check out Lisa Desimini's other work at her website HERE. You'll also find that she sells prints of the covers from the Sookie Stackhouse books: YIPEE!!

Sunday with an SX-70

This weekend we went out for mexican and spent time in the park and I took along my little friend, my SX-70. Sure, I really "should" get this camera adjusted so the images don't come out all over exposed. But I'd only do it out of curiosity. I really really love what comes out of this camera the way it is. They're like instant little watercolor paintings. With tidy white borders.


This beautiful book, edited by Jen Altman, is filled with Polaroid photographers. It is so inspiring that, after I got it, I bought my SX-70. I just had to capture some of the magic that comes out of a Polaroid camera.

I'm pretty sure the book has been sold out for a while, however, click here to see the list of photographers with links their websites. I hope these amazing photographers inspire you to pick up a Polaroid.

Camaro Bliss

Here's another digital collage from muscle car heaven. I found a box of old greeting cards from the 60's and 70's that I'm throwing into the mix now. That's where I got the sweet little flowers. I also mixed in a photo I took in New Mexico.

This is another collage I made yesterday. She's the Ambassador.



Both of these are available in my Etsy shop.

Vrrrmmm vrrrrmmmm....

Three on the Tree, Please.

While playing with Photoshop today, these two showed up. After I finished them, I wasn't sure what I had. What are they about? Do they have to be about anything? They're still in the vein of the muscle car-vintage-girly thing going on in my head. I'm not sure where these are going, but I'm going to continue.

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Photoshop?

Some of the layers are my own photographs. Some of the layers are Polaroid shots. The women are from vintage magazines I have laying around my studio.

Both of these collages are available in my Etsy shop.

Leaves on Fire

This time of year, our 100 year old oak trees' leaves turn brown and take their time dropping to the ground. But we have a few japanese maples in the yard that scream for attention before they drop theirs. I'd save every leaf if they wouldn't haul me off to the funny farm for doing it. :)

See more photos here.

Facebook and a Frowny Face

I 've just joined Facebook! Yipee! I've found so many friends from high school that my brain is about to explode with goofy memories from that time. Wow. I'll report back once I've figured out how to use it. For now, I'm having a class reunion in cyberspace. Hmmm. That sounded kind of dorky.

I took the above photo last night, BEFORE I realized it was a frown or a conjuction. I just thought it was beautiful.

Just for Fun

These are just a few of the fun little things I've cooked up lately (hee hee). I've been playing around with shrink plastic! Its so FUN to watch it shrink down in the oven. I know, I'm a little too old for that kind of "thrill", but really am easily amused. These are available in my Etsy shop. And because it so fun to do, look for more soon!

Etsy Vintage LOVE

Lately, I've become more than a little obsessed with one of the coolest Flickr groups in existance. Wardrobe Remix has inspired me to get back into thrift stores, scour Ebay, brake at garage and estate sale signs and have some FUN with my clothes again. This mommy is stuck in the jeans, t-shirt, flip flop waltz! Well, not for long.

This obsession inspired an Etsy treasury that I made today. I can't believe how many exceptional vintage shops there are on Etsy. Below is a list of the shops I highlighted in my treasury. Click on them and have some fun!

GetReadySetGO

GreasyWaitress

vintagerevolver

shopambrosia

RedoRedux

greygardensvintage

IronHorseVintage

GoodEye

SantokiVintage

thevintagecloset

allencompanyinc

MaidenRaptureVintage

New Photos

I've been in bed this week, thank you to strep throat that I caught from my husband. We TRIED to stay apart, but I guess we caved too soon. At any rate, bored with silly television (yes, there really is a show about celebrities without makeup) and not in the mood to read, I searched through some old photos and played with them. The TtV is available in my Etsy shop. More posts soon....

Truly Honored

I am so truly honored to be included in a Treasury with some really amazing photographers. These are Etsy photographers that I have admired and who have inspired me to learn more and more about photography. Here's a complete list of the photographers and links to their Etsy shops.

Susannah Tucker

Friendly Made

Ketzelphotography

catherinebuca

AliciaBock

CitrusTree

sweetblue

ScarletBeautiful2

viewfinder

everydaymoments

Be sure to check out each shop. There are some truly amazing things in each.

Thank you SOOOO much jjbackman! You've made my day!