photographing fireworks :: photography

can you believe it's almost independence day?!  we have all kinds of celebrating to do this weekend - yay!  i took these photos last year at our little town's fireworks display.  i used a semi-fast shutter speed but then kept everything out of focus.  this gave them a bokeh look (that i crush over).  here is an article on other ways to take photographs of fireworks.  study up and as always, i would love to see your photographs on my facebook page!

enjoy your weekend friends!

simple rustic napkin rings :: diy

these rustic napkin rings couldn't be easier.  using these 2-hole pipe straps i found at the hardware store gives them an industrial-rustic look.  then, by adding the leather string, the ring is flexible enough to adjust to different thicknesses of various napkins.

wouldn't these be great for a picnic?!  the heavy-weight pipe strap will keep your napkins from blowing away.  xoxo

postcard art :: photography :: graphic design

i have been working on a new line of postcard designs for my shop.  lately, i have been loving patterns so i thought i'd mix them with some of my photography.  what do you think?   don't you just find postcards to be the most fun kind of snail mail?


p.s.  i have a name for my shop!  'urban sassafras' will be opening this fall.  what a difficult task it was to come up with the perfect title!  my incredibly talented friend, scott richardson, is working on a logo for me.  we met for lunch yesterday and i'm giddy with excitement!  stay tuned...

color love :: photography

'Creativity takes courage.' --Henri Matisse

monthly birthday style :: diy

newborns change so much so fast and because of this i love the idea of documenting these changes with photographs on monthly birthdays.  "little m" had stickers her mommy put on her outfits that declared exactly how old she was... so cute!

i thought it might be fun to personalize this concept a bit more for some friends' baby showers.  i bought onsies in a variety of sizes (0 - 18 months) and then ironed on numbers 1 - 12.  for the green/boy set, i designed each month differently with fabric stamping.  for the pink/girl set, i designed them consistently from month to month.

i'm sure this is a more expensive option to buying just the stickers, but i couldn't help myself.  as a photographer and artist, i want all babies i know to have their own unique style!

backyard enjoyment :: photography

happy friday friends!  whew(!), it's been a long week here... has it been for you?  i hope you'll do something enjoyable this weekend to soak up the spirit of the season.  maybe enjoy a nice fruity cocktail while the kiddos entertain themselves in the yard?  (my personal favorite pastime).  see you back here next week!

summer in the garden :: nature photography

a summer garden might be the best place in the world to relax after a long day of work... don't you think? just remember the bug spray.

my old schwinn :: photography

a few weeks ago, i bought this bike with the intentions of taking apart the pieces and using them for various art projects.  i paid $5 for this beauty at a garage sale and didn't care if it still rode or not.

then one night, my son wanted to walk over to campus and play basketball.  my husband suggested we bike instead.  i thought this to be a wonderful idea so i could take this lady for a spin one time before dismantling.

and so... that night, just a few weeks ago, we began our after-dinner-summer-evening-bicycle-riding tradition!  sometimes we go to the campus library, or play basketball and soccer, or just enjoy the lovely landscaped sidewalks as the sun sets.  i have a new love affair with my old schwinn.  instead of taking it apart, i am now researching how to restore it.  i find myself parking it in low-risk parts of the garage.  i check it over each time before we ride.  and... the absolute, sure sign that i'm obsessed... i am taking photos of it.

art on book pages :: mixed media

art on old book pages makes me happy.  cute children's art makes me happy.  what a perfect combo... xoxo

a summer carnival :: photography

nothing means summer more than a carnival... don't you agree?

spray paint your earrings :: diy

i found a bag of these mixed-matched charms in the way back, cluttered mess of my jewelry shelf.   since i'm not big on charm bracelets (i think the original use for these), i spray painted some and used them for colorful earrings!  they will look fabulous with a color-blocked outfit... like green pants, a blue shirt and maybe the pink pair of earrings?!

are you loving the color-blocking trend as much as i do this summer?

early summer :: nature photography

the early summer excitement is upon us... we are enjoying evenings in the park, the fresh smell of flowers and baby animal spotting.