Art, inspiration & musings on life...

I'll be back soon but until then busy yourself with these....

Free Amy Butler patterns!  The snow mum pillow and the tabletop trees are sooo cute!  I wish I could do nothing but sit and craft all day!  Are there people who do that?

http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/me_patterns.php

Tomorrow night is Holly Ball with Ryder so today and tomorrow are busy with preparations!  She's going to look like a winter angel tomorrow night in her dress!

Speaking of the three  So much to do finishing holiday orders that I know I'm neglecting the blog....be back soon!

50 Annas a week...

I don't normally post my sessions on here but this family is so special to me, and Anna is so adorable, I couldn't resist!  Seriously, I could do 50 Annas a week.  She's full of spunk and personality, sooo cooperative & best of all, her mama doesn't like "the usual".  She "gets" odd angles and candid shots.  She didn't balk at all when I took her to the purple wall.  I really feel like when I'm shooting this family, I get to try things I'm not comfortable trying with everyone.  They also represent one of my favorite things about my job - the fact my clients become friends.  And that I love!For some reason these are appearing a little lighter than they really are but you get the idea, I think!

The Sweetness of Childhood....and Target....

Our street is one of the reasons that I never want to move.  At least not until the kids are grown.  Lots of kids, lots of trees (and therefore leaves!) & I hope lots of memories as the kids get older & move on. One of Brooks' very best buddies is the little girl who lives down the street.  They play together for hours with nary a squabble.  Last Friday, when they had a 2-day school holiday, they spent a good part of the windy afternoon attempting to catch the falling leaves.  The photos are not the clearest because I was sitting inside shooting through (dirty) windows, attempting to be incognito because I knew once they saw me, it would all be over.  I love that Brooks stands with his hands in his pockets a large portion of the time, surveying what's going on instead of being an active participant.  Come to think of it, I guess he was NOT catching leaves because in none of these photos are his hands OUT of his pockets!

Can you tell what my favorite color is?  Yep, pretty much any shade of purple.  Lately I've been hearing people express their utter dislike of purple & I just don't understand.  Purple is perfect!  Especially when it is from Target!  Yes, I got me some Target goodness this week in the form of a sweater dress, turtleneck, cable-knit sweater & grey corduroys (on sale!) that although not purple, will look great with it!  And the pants are a size 10 and they are almost LOOSE on me.  Which should dispell the myth circulating around my in-law family and hometown that I'm having to have my attire sewn by Little Rock Tent & Awning. My goal is to be in an 8 by March. 

Speaking of Target, my Dad called a couple weeks ago wanting me to boycott Target.  Now I'm not much of a boycotter in general because I think it basically does little to prove your point, but TARGET? I just said, "Uh, that's not likely, " but what I should have said was "Dude, I will give up sweets, hydrogenated oils, sex, wine and wearing clothing in public ALL before I abandon my Target!"  I mean just walking through the clothing aisles makes me swoon.  The book section, including their monthly Bookmarked picks, is heaven and the seasonal Christmas stuff??? I cannot get enough.  I didn't even have a Target the first 22 years of my life and I don't know how I possibly survived....

This little guy was on our deck the other day, voraciously consuming something he had found.  Brooks came and got me to see him & we had a great time watching him together.  Then it occurred to me that my long lens was on my 5D and I might get a good shot of him.  Considering it was shot through not only a dirty window but a window screen, I think his portrait is rather flattering.  It makes me think of Ryder's preschool years when she would sing, "Grey Squirrel, grey squirrel, swish your bushy tail!"  Except she couldn't say squirrel and she said, "Grey Squore, grey squore..."

Off to photograph one of my favorite little clients... 

Just playin' around in Photoshop...

Took this photo looking out my hotel window in Dallas, TX last December.  (I seem to have a Texas theme today??)  Just playing around in Photoshop & I'm constantly amazed at the manipulations that you can come up with.  Not that this looks remotely realistic but it's kinda cool.  Actually it was FREEZING cold.

There's no school today or tomorrow & my children are vying for the award given to the one that inflicts the most bodily injury on the other.  I'll let you know who wins....

Randomness...

Just a couple shots I took while in Austin, TX about a year ago...sometimes I really don't have anything to post and feel like posting.  And what's a post without a photo?   Austin is one of my favorite cities and I could spend days there photographing.  Interesting people & places.  I just like Texas pretty much in general.

The kids are out of school today.  It's kinda overcast and misty & I'm hoping it clears off before my 3:00 session, but it usually does.  And here comes the sun now, as if on command!  The boys are inside curled up watching the Bee Movie.  Ryder is still curled up in her warm bed, not feeling well. I nominate the creator of Netflix for a Nobel Peace Prize.  He's at least as qualified as Al Gore.

Brooks was commenting on the main bee & said, "He's kinda boring.  He wears the same outfit every day."

Wyatt chimed in as if he'd had a mild epiphany & said, "Yeah, kinda like Papa Norm!"

Apparently my Dad needs to work on some variety in his wardrobe.

Autumn in all it's glory...

has come to The Natural State....I'm not much of a fall person so I tend to find it a little more exciting when the trees embark on their transition from barren to green.  But for a week or two each fall, I do enjoy watching the leaves change.  I like to think of it as one of the little extras God decided to toss into the grand scheme of life. This is one of the few times of the year that I miss living in Colorado too.  The aspens were sooo gorgeous in the fall, even the three tiny ones that were in our backyard.  Ryder was born in Colorado and for a short time we considered giving her the middle name Aspen but felt that people might expect us to wear Birkenstocks and eat only cruciferous, organic veggies the rest of our lives.  Hence, she was given the middle name Katherine and we have no idea what is expected of us.

Life has been somewhat of a challenge lately, since I have been caring for my mom following a total knee replacement, Chuck has been traveling & Wyatt's third grade year has not proven to be an easy one for either of us. Things are beginning to look up though. My mother is doing fabulous now, Chuck's traveling isn't as stressful since I'm staying at our house again (I was at Mom's for 10 days) and well, Wyatt's third grade year, I'm afraid is just going to have to end to get much better.  I will debate posting on that later.  Right now we're off to get flu shots for the boys & a strep test for Ryder.  Yet another reason I prefer summer....

Our surprise visitor...

The boys were sooo happy when our friend Bart dropped by for a visit on Sunday.  I guess I should have been more clear in explaining to them that he would most likely not get killed in boot camp because they were so happy he was alive!  Apparently he came through boot camp with flying colors so, congratulations Bart!  

We had another birthday boy in the house yesterday.  Wyatt turned 9!  Only one more year of single digits for him!  On Sunday evening we had a party at the Rave Theater for both of them and they and 15 friends saw the new Madagascar 2 movie.  Very cute movie.  Good party.  Glad it's over.  Very glad it's over.  17 kids in a glass party room with poor acoustics and nary an activity other than consuming sugary cake and soft drinks and ripping into presents ranks right up there with being trapped in an elevator with Nancy Pelosi, in my book.  Next year I will do things differently.  I will plan better.  And the venue will include wide, open spaces.  Two separate parties.  Just you wait.

Verrry hectic week for us...

The Buttrys have had a very hectic couple of weeks.  My mother had total right knee replacement a week ago last Monday and is doing well but has required constant care the first week and overnight care this week.  Not a problem at all but when I walk back in my house all I want to do is come home and get it back into shape!  Chuck has traveled a lot during that time which hasn't helped at all with the chaos.  Hopefully after this weekend, when I have two sessions to shoot, three to proof, the boys' birthday party and cotillion for Ryder, things will slooow down.  

Fall is in full swing here and the colors are beautiful.  Caught this shot as I was walking downtown with the boys last weekend. Last Saturday on Brooks' "real" birthday, we had a small party for him at my mom's apartment since she's was unable to get out.  He turned 7 and was so excited.  Please note that this was before his dad went all Britney on him and chopped off his bangs.  He has strict instructions from me to say "I have to call my mommy NOW" if Chuck ever approaches him again with scissors in hand.While we were sitting at mom's having cake and ice cream, I looked up and noticed that Brooks reflection in mom's sliding door looked like an apparition on her balcony.  Before Halloween, the boys and I had been watching some episodes of Haunting on Discovery and they thought this was pretty cool and scary. This is Brooks in ghost form....Hope you all have a great weekend.  Next week I hope to get my blog re-done and begin posting more creative projects that I've done.

Another election funny....

That dress! I'm not even sure funny is the word!  Would someone please, please tell me what Michelle Obama was thinking??? I'm not going to link to a photo because it's just too painful.  That was her shining moment!  I do hope the woman consults another designer before the inauguration.  (Cause this is what's important, right?)  I mean Barack always looks sharp - great suits - and for the most part, she has too. I read it was Narciso Rodriguez but it looked more like Joan Jett.  When I was in high school I would shop at this mall store called Deb and I thought they had gone out of business.  Clearly one is still open in the Chicago area.  She has a manly build anyway and rather severe features so do not don the black-and-red-airbrush-effect-bat-dress.  Not workin' for ya babe.  Somewhere Jackie Kennedy is spinning like a rotisserie chicken.