a Very Story goes to etsy!
It’s here, it’s open, it’s ready for you to come by for a cyber visit… and it has definitely been a labor of {mostly} love.
I hope you likey!
just call me, or maybe don’t
I tend to believe there are two kinds of people out there – those who love to talk on the phone and those, who just do not. If you are someone in my daily life you obviously already know the answer as to what category I fall into – the proof being you are reading this and not talking to me about it ON THE PHONE. It’s just not for me- I don’t like not seeing the person I’m speaking with, I don’t like feeling as if I need to be multitasking while I’m talking/listening therefore causing me to pay half attention to the conversation, and so on. And the odd thing is, conversation and interacting with people is one of my greatest joys – why that feeling doesn’t compute with the telephone is somewhat of a mystery.
Having kids has forced me to embrace some cellular convo out of sheer necessity. At some point shortly following the birth of our first I realized I had started talking at embarrassing lengths and degrees to complete strangers in the grocery or at the mall about things they REALLY did not care to know in regards to my life as a new mama. I have also surrounded myself with a couple close friends who are champion phone-talkers, I’m talking virtual descendants of Alexander Graham Bell kind of good, and they tend to keep my hibernation tendencies from taking over.
Given my own personal preferences, it doesn’t shock me entirely that Emma, our 4 (AND A HALF!) year-old would most days choose having the knots brushed out of her hair or allow her little brother access to her My Little Pony collection before talking to someone on the other end of the line. My girl, who loves talking so much she has been known to take a drink while speaking and rather than stopping to swallow, continues talking as whatever beverage she has in her mouth spills out all over. Again with the mystery… But every once in awhile she forgets her stance, gets caught in just the right mood and could talk herself right over my minutes plan. My parents happened to catch her on one such rare occasion recently – such an oddity I grabbed my camera to document the moment. While there is nothing fancy about them, when I loaded these pictures to my computer they made me laugh (and get a little misty) – her body language, her wardrobe from an afternoon of dress-up, her obvious annoyance over my presence with a camera – they tell her story of these numbered days of being 4 (AND A HALF!). And I can’t wait to laugh over these with her in a few years- when I anticipate her phone issues may vanish altogether.
Where are you on the line – to phone or not to phone? What do you do to stay connected? Like connected connected, not 140 characters connected, but truly in community with people. The phone may never be my thing, but my desire for community is my thing in a big way, so maybe I need to take that however I can get it, even if it is through a receiver.
etsy shop progress, linen loveliness and more time please…
Why do projects always take longer than I think they will? Or maybe more accurately, longer than I hope they will. Once again this is the case, as it has taken much longer than originally planned to set up an etsy shop featuring some of my fine art style photographs. Typing the words “fine art” just gave me the shivers by the way – I’m so leery of labels and it feels a little presumptuous calling my photographs art, but I’ll save that neurotic conversation for another day friends…
Between unprecedented “snow” days here in Tennessee and my kids’ own version of the winter illness Olympics, my oh-so-well-intentioned time line was thrown out long ago. We are making progress however, and I was thrilled yesterday when a collection of prints I had ordered for the shop arrived. Most of them were printed on linen paper and I have to say, the linen completely exceeded my expectations. They actually make me feel slightly less queasy using the term “fine art”- the paper and colors are simply that beautiful. Below is small preview of what the shop will be featuring- the next update will be a “launch update” (me hopes)! Oh, and if any etsy pioneers have advice/input I’d love to hear it. Have a healthy weekend (my house included please)!
8"x8" print on linen paper
a Very Feature by Simply Hue
Color is a constant inspiration for me – and an essential piece to my photography, so of course it was a huge honor to have Vicki choose to showcase my work on her wonderful blog, Simply Hue. The company my photos are featured alongside are truly lovely. You all need to check out Vicki’s spotlight on photographers going on all this week – there are some great print give-aways as part of the fun.
In other a Very Story happenings – we are putting the final touches on our etsy store and are excited to get that all up and running. More details to follow soon!
Have a colorful week friends!
five hundred twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes…
When I started writing this post it was quiet in the house – well, as quiet as it gets around here anymore…nap time for the minis was in progress and I had my favorite chair, my laptop and thoughts I could actually hear for the moment. Now, a few hours later as I sit back down at the computer all that sleepy-time serenity has long since vanished along with another hopeful attempt at making it through a day without raising my voice {double sigh}. Oh, and I realize I could just go on and post what I had intended on saying without the confession of suburban chaos and you may never be the wiser, but I’d know better… And if there is one thing I never want this web journal to become, it would be the Pollyanna version of my real life with some pretty pictures thrown in. So for now I’ll try to balance the tension of being honest with boundaries – you know, to protect the innocent (or guilty as it may be). I hope you are up for the journey, while I work to figure it all out.
So getting back to the regularly scheduled posting….
This week marks a creative anniversary of sorts here on my little bubble. It was one year ago when I finally stopped with the “I shoulds” and the “I wish I coulds” and shut up (momentarily), and actually went and “did.” Last winter I took a photography class, something I had been talking about doing since college- ‘talking’ being the appropriate word here. And somewhere in the middle of ISO, shutter speed, metering and aperture the puzzle pieces came together for me, and I learned how to use my camera to create the images I had been seeing in my head all along. Looking back at it now a year later, it’s as if I learned how to speak another language in those few short days. I walked away with the foundation necessary to begin communicating with the world differently. And my gratitude for that knowledge overwhelms me.
So while my list of things ‘yet to learn’ grows longer by the hour (I may never fold that fitted sheet correctly), I am encouraged thinking of the few new skills I have picked up. I’m optimistic on a couple of fronts – including that of try as they might, having kids has not completely shut off my faculties to learn things outside the boundaries of play doh and pat-a-cake. I’d love to hear what new things you have been learning or trying – especially if you have the hot tip on that fitted sheet issue! Post a comment and maybe we’ll all learn something new from you.
Oh, I can’t post without a photo… When I started thinking about the class at Dove (who incidentally announced their next set of classes while I was writing this post), I went back to look at some of the photos I took and saw these – and actually still like these a whole year later. Happy Wednesday friends!
-S
i’d settle for regional warming at this point…
I’m sitting in our home office writing, and good grief
it.is.freezing.
I’m literally thinking about putting my gloves on while I type.
indoors.
Warming myself by a fire is out of the question given I can’t even keep my little guy out of the
pantry, trash cans, toilets. . .
So, I’ve taken to warming myself by the edge of a photograph.
a.Warm.Sunny.Photograph
january’s promise…
of something new…
As I sat working at the computer this rainy afternoon
I glanced up to see a rare january rainbow
outside my window.
My first story – {Grayson, 4 months}
So remember the sweet baby in the Santa hat? Yeah, well he’s back on the blog – and growing so fast this one is! Grayson’s parents booked one of the My First Story packages I offer to capture his first year of life, and below are some favorites from our four-month session.
These First Story packages are super fun for a few reasons – I of course love being able to photograph a little one multiple times in a year to watch how they are developing, but also to build an overall volume of images for sleep-deprived parents to look back on and recall each stage, while celebrating their survival of the initiation into parenthood. One other big reason I love these types of shoots, is getting to know my clients throughout the course of a year- to connect with them over the shared experiences, frustrations, setbacks and small triumphs that fill our days as parents. If I’m honest I truly just love people, and talking with them about their lives – and photography is a natural way for me to be able to connect with a variety of people outside of my everyday circles. That said, I’m excited for a new year and the possibilities of talking with new families, staring into new as well as familiar faces, and sharing some of my new crazy with all them {and you}.
So enjoy sweet Grayson at four months – he’ll be back a couple more times this year to show us his latest tricks.
Showing off his super "holding my head up" strength
And on that note - his "super drooling strength" as well
Grayson is one loved little man - lots of huggin' from mama and daddy
"watching" the game with dad - for many Saturdays to come
Snow Day {ish}!
Okay, so it isn’t much – but we’re working with what we’ve got! Everyone north of the Tennessee state line – you can insert your eye roll and joke at us southerners’ expense here.
Happy Snowpocalypse 2010!
I know buddy - I kind of feel the same way
Have yourself a happy little Christmas…
From our story to yours – may your season be merry & bright. I pray we meet for more laughter, tears and hot cocoa in 2010.
With Love,
-S
by sarahrichmond
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