april 2012 desktop wallpaper :: free download

happy april friends!   i hope you are having a wonderful spring season!  download your free desktop background here for widescreen and here for fullscreen. enjoy!

blooming purple :: nature photography

blooming white :: nature photography :: fine art photography

spring green :: nature photography

blooming pink :: nature photography

wood circle :: wall decor :: diy

i've been thinking about the white space above our tv for a long time.  it's huge.  and blank.  and awkward.  i have tossed around a lot of ideas.  A LOT.  but, i eventually decided on wood slices.  i'm certain that most guests think i'm a bit nutso, but i just adore this little art installation.  it's very modern and rustic at the same time, which is exactly my thing these days.

o, and i comforted my concerned husband with the idea that i would hang each with a command strip so that no damage would be done to the precious, white, blank, boring wall.  that did not work.  repeat: that did not work.  heavy wood discs were falling all over the place.  one day, i came home and there was a single fallen slice sitting in the dogs bed.  she had moved to my bed.  i ended up drilling holes in the back of each disc and then nailing holes in the walls.  lots of holes.  o well.

it's worth it, don't you think?

washi tape art :: mixed media

my love for washi tape has carried over to a few mixed media pieces...

by the way, i hear target is now selling this beautiful tape.  can anyone confirm?

be :: graphic design :: free printable

all month long, "the monster" and his friends have been celebrating dr seuss.   i created this fun poster for him to hang in his room because i just love the message.   my son is so special and funny and creative, yet i find he closes up when others are around.   it hurts me when i see him do this, so i've been slowly trying to overcome his shyness with lessons like the one above.  feel free to download and print off to share with your little kiddos too!   just click on the image above and hit print.

little p :: family photography :: birthday photography

"little p" turned 1 last week and her fun mom asked me to take pictures of her birthday party!   i really enjoyed meeting all of the people that love this little girl and celebrating such a big event with them.  after the party, "little p" hung in there for a quick family photo session before crashing into a well over-due afternoon slumber.

hearts :: bokeh photography

how fun would it be if we always saw hearts?

mounting pictures to plaques :: diy

i've seen some cute tutorials floating around pinterest on mounting pictures to wood plaques.  i couldn't help but do a few of my own.

by the way, how do you like the new display in the kitchen now that my glitter trees are gone?

photo light :: diy

here's a fun and easy diy...

1. print a house or building out on a heavyweight paper
2. cut out house and be sure to leave room on each side
3. cut out a few windows using scissors or an exacto knife
4. use a hot glue gun to adhere the photo to a battery operated tea candle

i think these would look amazing lining a mantel as a little village!

eyebombing :: kid fun

'the monster' and i have had so much fun with our new spring break hobby - eyebombing!  have you heard of this?  i feel like a kid again.

when i first presented the idea to my son he asked 'why would we do that?' and i explained that it brings random, unexpected smiles to people's faces.  it doesn't get much better than that!  now he's totally into it.

side note:  my very favorite eyebomb is my father-in-law's junker car (pictured above) that he drives around everywhere.  i think he's clueless that there's a little face on the backend making others happy.  i'm excited for the day that he discovers it, confused and suspicious.

restoring the past :: central illinois photography

the strawbridge-shepherd house was built in 1845.   it is one of the oldest farmhouses in central illinois and it is a mess.   fortunately, the home is on it's way to restoration and i am thrilled!

my entire life, i have driven by this house and daydreamed about who lived there in the past, what it looked like inside years later, and it just made me...  well... sad.

although i do find a bit of beauty in deterioration typically, i am equally moved by a hopeful future.  and this house, by restoring it's past, the community is reclaiming it's future.  i look forward to a day that i can walk within the walls of this home and feel... well... joy.

spring sunrise :: nature photography

i love being the first one awake in the morning...

a red balloon :: composite photography

Mary Poppins: First of all, I would like to make one thing quite clear.
Mr. Banks: Yes?
Mary Poppins: I never explain anything.