many hats

My friend Siobhan and I were having a giggle after listing her current job profile. It goes like this:
Yoga Teacher
Waitress
Nude Model

shop opening

I have a surprise. Follow this to my latest endeavour. Yes indeed I have opened up shop! Etsy shop that is. I've been inspired by a few of the photogs I've seen on etsy that I thought, why not? Some folks have a brood of kids they take care of, I have a brood of online ventures that require my constant attention (this blog, photoblog, website, etsy shop).
In the end Etsy makes sense for me for a couple of reasons. I truly enjoy making images. Etsy allows me to broaden the exposure my images receive. I'm not limited to the people who may by chance see my work in a gallery in town. Having a shop will also make me want to shoot more of what I love, the best benefit there is!
I worked most of yesterday creating my shop front, and currently have two images posted. The initial set up took me quite awhile, but I plan to add more images this week. Please forward my shop details to anyone you think might be interested in purchasing some fine prints!

hanging by a thread

I decided it was time for a blog spring cleaning so I painted the walls a fresh, crisp white and changed my header that better reflects the new season. Hope you like it!
As I've been pulling out my summer wardrobe I noticed one of my favourite pieces is on its last legs. I am referring to the item you see in these photos, also known as my house dress. I found her years ago at a consignment shop. What better piece to throw on when lounging at home than a simple shift dress that's airy and light. The first image shows her 3 years ago when she was showing the first signs of age. The second, taken yesterday, is sadly what remains of her. I couldn't model it for you, as you can see, it would expose parts of me that would make this blog x-rated. I'm feeling a bit conflicted b/c since this is, in my mind, the perfect house dress, I don't want to go out and look for another, but I'm just not sure she can be resurrected to her former glory. My sewing machine and I do not get along, so I thought I would ask any of you reading this who have "stitching fingers" if you think my house dress can be salvaged. Until then I'll be crossing my fingers.

inspirational update

So my $3 polaroid camera stopped working...big surprise, eh? I went out and bought a bunch of film too (mucho $$$) that is now sitting in my fridge mocking me. My dad got the camera working for me to begin with so I feel the need to drop it in his skilled hands once again and plead like only the baby of the family can, "Make it work dad."
I still very much want to continue with my polaroid show...so we'll see what the camera results bring...I may have to find another camera.

But onto other ideas, 'cause oh they are a plentiful! I'm thinking I want to do a "day in the life" photo series b/c when I get really honest with myself, that's who I am. I like a good story of images, ya know? There is just so much inspiration out there from other photogs that it can pull me in all different directions, but what I jive with the most are b&w images that tell a story. So that's whatI'magonnado.

have a beautiful spring day

unrelated but...

It's raining. Just looked out the window. I can see purple crocuses have sprouted and the lawn is now mostly green. :)

On a completely different topic: I was sick last night. I was sick and lying in the bathtub. When I was no longer lying in the tub, I was lying on the bathroom floor, or I was propped up against the side of the tub, one foot on the base of the toilet, the other foot against the wall. What is it about a bathroom that can be so darn comforting when you're sick?

the return

I think you all know I don't have kids. I'm a mum to my cat and dog, but not any little humans. Some friends are visiting this weekend with their two little girls. I saw them briefly at their home over Easter where I had an experience that has been sitting with me which I've decided to share with you.
First let me say that their girls are good kids and what I like most about them is their desire to interact with adults, play, dance and generally have a good time. Music was playing, as it generally is in their house, while the adults were all doing various things, preparing a meal, talking to each other, moving about the house doing this or that...very comfortable.
As I was moving about the kitchen space dancing, the youngest girl, who is about 2 yrs. old, approached me to dance with her. So off we went twirling, moving about...I picked her up in my arms and dipped and swooshed her around...she loved it and so did I. And it left me with this feeling...
There are things I do and bring to my life that bring me the closest to myself, who I feel I truly am, if you will, such as taking pictures, being in nature, playing...
What I experienced dancing with this child in my arms was that it made me feel something else, it made me feel like a woman. It caught me off guard, this feeling, but there it was and I liked it. I've been holding onto it, thinking about it from time to time. I look forward to their visit in a couple of days, to more dancing in the kitchen.

life's challenges

As I've previously posted, I now have a dedicated yoga practice that I have maintained for the past, oh two months I guess. I find each and every class challenging for different reasons. Sometimes I'm not keen on the teacher's style of instruction or flow, and work on finding a way to soften my mind so as not to become physically rigid in the class. Other times holding a particular posture for 5 breaths poses a challenge. Take the picture above, this posture is called, Wide Legged Forward Bend or Prasarita Padottanasana. There are at least 4-5 variations of this posture that you move into one after another as you maintain a very wide legged stance. By the third variation the sides of my legs between my ankle and calf are screaming at me, "We're burning here, don't know how much longer we can take it!" It's tough, but not without rewards. Last night during class my teacher came over to me to say my head was very close to the ground (a first!) and she gave me a little assist that brought my head completely to the floor. In that moment I couldn't help but feel progress had been made by all of my practicing. At times it's easy to believe you're never going to get beyond a certain degree of flexibility in a posture. I know there are some variations on postures where I think, "ohmy, I don't think my body will ever be able to do that." And so you go about attending classes, practicing and practicing some more until one day you find yourself with your head on the floor such as I did last night and think, "ohmy, my body can do that."

Happy day everyone, enjoy the challenges!

a new season dawns

Hallelujah, praise the lord, wishes do come true. Monday. 5:45am. Ferry returns to the Village.

an oldie but a goodie

So you may (or may not) be wondering where oh where my pinhole images are that I said would be posted by now. Thing is I'm having trouble with my scanner. It's showing my negatives as pure black images right now and I haven't made time in the past couple of days to fiddle with it, but hopefully the next two days will allow me to fiddle with it. That being said, I've decided to start on another project of polaroid images. I've become smitten with many of the polaroid images I've seen on people's blogs as of late and it's inspired me to create my own pieces of art. I found myself a $3 camera in a second hand shop yesterday and hope to test it with some film this week. Although most production of polaroid film has stopped, their 600 film is still available and there are ways to adjust your camera so it will work like it has regular film. Anyhoo, I'm keen to get at it before all production of this film ceases in 2009. If my camera is in working order, look for images soon on my photoblog! My idea (if all goes well) is to have a summer show of just polaroids.

the energy of you

Sunday evening I was sitting still on my bed watching the light and trees outside when I realized my mind was empty of thought...a delicious place to exist. Eckhart Tolle's New Earth book is causing an internal stir among it's readers. A copy was loaned to me the other day and I started reading somewhere in the middle of the book. Throughout my 34 years I've purposely surrounded myself and lived close with nature. Like the air we need to breathe, so too do I need the unspoiled outdoors. It draws me into our true reality of who we really are. The part of the book I'm reading discusses the idea of form and formlessness, and in my mind that incorporates the idea behind the differences between our left and right brain hemispheres. I was recently passed a video on the structure of this concept that I want to share with you. Please follow this link, it's worth a watch as someone who has experienced the truth behind energy.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229