Thank you to Danielle at KM Impressions in Schertz for the lovely makeup!

Also still trucking along with my Project 52 photos! This week’s theme was “Soothing Repetition” and no matter how hard I thought about it, I kept coming back to water since I find the sound of it soooooooo soothing. Well, we don’t have a whole lot of water around here so I decided to go to New Braunfels and find a photo op along the Comal River somewhere. I found this area at Prince Solms park and although the photo isn’t brag-worthy……it certainly describes what I find to be ”soothing repetition” of water flowing. 

I would’ve used the image below if I could’ve but the whole object of the challenge is to take new photos and it’s from 2009.  I make jewelry and I also solder and I find the process of it very soothing as well as repetitive.  I made all of these soldered charms for charm swaps I participated in at Silver Bella 2009. 

Just a reminder…….3 more days to take advantage of my Senior Pictures offer.  Book your Senior’s photo session before Feb. 1 and I’ll give you $50 in free prints or $50 off the purchase of a CD of the images from their session as my New Year gift to you! 

Have a wonderful weekend……..XOXO

the view from my hotel room, I loved the colors reflecting off the building windows

some pretty images from various booths at the Handmade Market……I LOVED these adorable cupcakes

A view of some of the attendees listening to Amy Buter speak during dinner (note her fabric on the tables!).  LOVED hearing her speak.

the decor at the event was beautiful, no detail left unturned…..

I loved these huge wreaths made out of pages of an old book, SO clever…..

I was SO excited to finally meet Jo Packham & hear Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, speak at lunch the first day…….she’s SO funny, inspiration AND a fellow Okie!

You just have to love an event where they serve iced tea & lemoade out of huge mason jars!

These are my peeps……long-time crafty & down-to-earth friends and I loved spending time with them again…..Melene, Heather and Danielle

I love the new fall purse I bought from Cheryl of Tru-Leigh Yours Designs. 

and of course a trip isn’t complete without my mandatory Southwest wing shot and with MOUNTAINS too!

Hopefully you enjoyed this little glimpse into my weekend in Minneapolis.  Thanks to all of you I worked with at the registration desk and at the event, you all were great and we sure made a good team!

The girls who participated in the bag swap swapped their creations on the bus on our way to Canton.  One-of-a-kind funtional but pretty shopping totes!!!

We arrived in Canton around an hour later and I hit the ground running w/friends Shannon, Valita & Deirdre.  It was HOT but we didn’t really care!  We walked and walked and there was just no way we could see all of it in one day.

There were many super cute booths & stores there, lots of antiques mixed in with new things, and plenty of eye candy to look at & buy!

One of my favorite booths was one filled with nothing but vintage fabrics, doilies, samplers, embroidery, etc.  I could’ve spent HOURS there.

We Gilded Girls were treated to lunch at a booth called Gypsy Pearl which was filled with lovely jewelry, antiques and goodies and yes, more goodie bags!

I managed to sneak into a photo at Gypsy Pearl too! 

On Saturday we met bright & early at Shea’s home to prepare for Colleen Moody’s bird doll class.  I must admit that I was a bit intimidated about taking this class since I’ve never attempted anything like this before and I don’t sew however she was such a great patient instructor and by the end of the day we all had beautiful one of a kind dolls.  This is Colleen’s class sample doll, isn’t she lovely??!!

My birdie in progress…….

Everyone hard at work on their dolls……..

Their home is SOOOOOOOO lovely, everywhere your eyes land is total beauty……

Then on Sunday was Shea’s Hope Bracelet class where she taught us how to wire wrap & create stunning pieces of jewelry.  I had dabbled in jewelry making years ago but it had been quite a while since I’d done it so I was a bit, um, rusty to say the least but we all completed 2 lovely bracelets that I actually love & wear!! 

We took a group photo sunday morning but some girls were missing……Earleen, Annette, Debbie and me.

I was lucky enough to win a door prize……one of Colleen’s dolls!  I love her so much!!

Right as everyone was leaving on late sunday afternoon, Shea’s cutie pie daughter sat down in the floor & began to devour one of Grandma’s Red Velvet cupcakes.  I couldn’t resist this adorable photo op and I secretly wanted to plop down & join her!  What a way to end the weekend!! 

Thank you Debbie, Shea & family for such a lovely decadent weekend!!  I love my class projects and will always cherish the memories you provided for us.  Thank you for allowing me to photograph your event & most of all, thank you for your friendship!

You just have to love a good ol’ Texas event where even pistols are blinged out in glass glitter!!!

Sweet Jennifer with her class sample for the Patriotic Banner class I took, I loved it!

July was full of visits from friends, concerts, weddings, family, senior & 50th Anniversary sessions & another trip to Dallas later in the month.  If July 1 was any indication as to how the rest of the month was going to go then YOWZA.  I spent the day in rainy San Antonio with my friend Jodi and we got to hang with her very favorite band, the All-American Rejects.  Don’t believe me?  I have proof and yea, it looks like I put the guy next to me asleep……..ah well……..

I usually don’t get all crazy fan-girly but even I must say that was on amazing crazy experience!  I mean really, it’s not everyday a regular Joe mom like me gets to hang with a rock band.  Heck, they even took us on a tour of their amazing tour bus.  Don’t be hatin’.  I was able to hang with Jodi again later in July at her beautiful wedding reception in Austin at the Umlauf Sculpture Gardens which were so beautiful & amazing despite it being an ultra hot & sticky July Texas day.  I loved seeing her so happy and it was wonderful seeing old friends again……

Gotta get a pretty ring shot!!

I did a military family shoot on a balmy summer evening at the lovely Japanese Tea Gardens which is always a fun but interesting experience.  Going there is a total crap shoot because you never know how many people will be there or how many other photo sessions will be going on at the same time.  I’ve gone there when the place was vacant & have also been there when it’s packed and at least 5 other photo sessions are being held, you just never know!  This particular evening was quite crowded but we managed to find secluded spots to shoot.

Next came a shoot I was excited about since it was a bit different than most others I do.  I’d been asked to shoot a 50th Anniversary party for a sweet local couple.  Friends & family came in from near & far to celebrate their special day with them and their daughters hired me to preserve the day in print for them.  I was quite honored to be a small part of their day.  The mother was especially touched since all of the family hadn’t been together in quite some time, she was brought to tears which of COURSE made me cry too.  I can’t help it.

The wedding topper off their wedding cake, 50 years ago to the day.  Beautiful.

July ended with another trip north up I-35 to downtown Dallas and the next Gilded Life event at the beautiful home of Shea Fragoso but I’m going to stop here because that event deserves a blog post all it’s own!  I was honored to be asked to photograph the event for Debbie & Shea and thankfully I’ll be able to share some of the images here with all of you!  Check back soon & I’ll share some of their lovely eye candy with YOU!! 

**I still have a couple of time slots left for the Boudior mini-shoots I’m doing at my studio in downtown New Braunfels this saturday.  I have a 2:00 & 3:00pm time slot left so please reply here or contact me via the contact form above if you have questions or would like to book your own session.  You can find more information here.  They’re going to be SO much fun so don’t miss out!!**

Above is the main living area which is where the sanctuary used to be.  Debbie is in the process of re-doing all of the stained glass windows.

This was taken in the upstairs area which the girls have turned into their studio.  There were chandeliers & gorgeous views EVERYWHERE!

This was taken from the balcony on the other side of the main living area where the choir used to sing.  Isn’t the decor GORGEOUS!!

Our work table & project of day 2, beautiful silk-wrapped chandeliers.

When crafty girls gather of COURSE there have to be fabulous swaps!

Another beautiful vignette from the girls’ studio loft.

Some of Shea’s fabulous crown collection on display in the main living room.

We were taught to make jewerly such as this by Bella friends  Natalie Hansen and Lonnie Jenck on day 1 and now I think we’re all addicted, SO much fun! 

Gotta love women who aren’t afraid to use sanders, irons & torches to create beautiful works of art!

The entire gang!  Thanks to all of you & especially to Debbie, Shea & Family for inviting us into you beautiful home for art & communion!

I collect snowmen and have for years and years

I have 5 Christmas trees in my house, is that just plain ridiculous??!

I really love red, can you tell?!

This tree is in my foyer covered in antiquey ornaments, most of them covered in German glass glitter which I just love

Another view of our main Chrismtas tree

A nativity scene is always present in our home at Christmas time

We have always had stockings for the boys, it’s just so fun tucking little goodies in there for them……even on into their teens

I have a small black table & shelf when you walk into the house that I decorate for the seasons

Happy holidays to you & yours……hope you have a very safe, happy &  joyous Christmas! 

I also want to tell you about something pretty darned cool.  Maile Wilson of Relish Photography is a local photographer here in San Antonio (she’s the gal who took my bio pic above!) and she is launching something verrrrrrrry exciting!  It’s been her dream for the past couple of years to come up with a fashionable & functional bag for photographers to carry their valuable equipment around in.  We’ve all been there where you’re stuffing your camera & lenses down in your purse, wrapping it up in a t-shirt or anything else you can find to attempt to protect it because you don’t want to lug your big camera bag somewhere.  Well, now you can have both…….a cute purse which is ALSO your camera bag!  She made the big announcement yesterday and will be launching the website in a few weeks but for now, you can get the 411 here: http://dailyrelish.squarespace.com/  She showed us her prototype a while back which was awesome & I was SO excited that she’s making it big enough to carry everything in, even the bigger lenses such as the 70-200mm.  Score!!  Here they are…..

I’m off & running this monday morning trying to get “chores” done so I can hopefully sit & craft the rest of the day today & tomorrow.  I have 2 weeks to get 3 swaps completed & sent for Silver Bella (http://www.teresamcfayden.typepad.com/silverbella/) and I haven’t even started on them yet so it’s time to get crackalackin on those!!  Thankfully I kept my photography load light this week because of my birthday tomorrow (hint hint!!).  I wanted to be able to take some time & relax and it’s been so long since I’ve allowed myself time to sit down & be creative with paper, glue, glitter, etc so I think some artsy time will be just the ticket for me.  Here is one of the swaps I did last yr which was a big hit:

I temporarily lost my mind and signed up for 2 soldered charm swaps last yr and ended up having to make over 25 charms when I had never soldered before in my life!  Talk about a quick crash course but it was just the motivation I needed to make myself sit & learn to finally do it.  I found the strings of old rhinestones on an old gown at my local Goodwill store and just glued them on.  This yr I’m only doing one charm swap along w/4 others.  Yes, I have a problem saying no.  In case you haven’t heard of Silver Bella, here’s a little crash-course photo collage I made that pretty much encompasses everything Silver Bella is about:

Go check out Maile’s bags & have a great day!!