Put That Camera Down, You're Missing It!

My Mom

2011-07-14T20:27:00.000-07:00

My mother passed away on June 19th. It was a very sudden and unexpected loss that has completely devastated my family. Most days, we are all still so shocked that I don't think it really sinks in. On other days, I hold tight to my pictures and memories of her.

I've always been this idiot that wandered around taking pictures of things that looked interesting, buildings, textures, colors, sculptures, etc. I remember people always saying "[Someone] go stand over there next to that" so that I would have a person in the picture too, and I thought... why? Pictures with people are pictures with people... but this thing right here... it's unusual!

I have been a fool.
Give me an old, poorly shot picture of my mom and I will give you my hard-drive full of thousands of pictures that all seem like trash now.

These are the last pictures I have, from a trip in May to her favorite fishing town - Rockport.

I miss you, Mom.

Two Small Dogs and One Small Chair

2011-06-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for furniture that is two sizes too small. When I was a kid, I wanted an entire set of furniture that was just my size. And now, I want a entire set of furniture that is one fourth my size.

Today, we saw this lovely little chair and my imagination took off...

Usually taniaWorld™ is pretty far from reality, but this idea seemed doable. Once the thought had crossed my mind, I just couldn't leave without the chair, now could I? Big thanks to Debbie for helping my tiny chair dreams come true.

Mosley and Lola were happy to test out the chair for us. Mosley can be seen surveying the yard above.

Queen Lola commanded cuddles and delicious food for all the kingdom. But this peace would not last long...

Only one can rule in the game of thrones... (the rest of the shoot is on Flickr.)

From a photography stand point, I think the focus ended up being a bit soft on these pictures. But, I like them so much, I did my best in post and hoped they would be good enough to share.

I also probably ought to mention that the chair featured here is not even a kid's chair--the owner of the furniture store informed us that it is an African Birthing Stool. If you know me, you can probably imagine the look on my face and the internal "ewwwwwwww!" I had to suffer through to still love this chair.

Hydrangeas

2011-06-01T14:37:00.001-07:00

I've been wandering through some old pictures as I try to take my photo organization and tagging to the next level. The whole experience has solidified one of the many reasons I love pictures! There are so many events/moments that have escaped my shoddy memory--it is beautiful to be able to re-discover those moments as if I am living them all over again.

Anyways, I stumbled upon some pictures from last year's Valentine's Day, and this just felt spring appropriate.

We had hydrangeas at our wedding and they have held a special place in my heart ever since.

Last year, we planted several hydrangea bushes in the backyard, and it has been very exciting to watch them come back to life this spring. A few weeks ago, I started to see the slightest hint of pink blooms.

Did you know that the color of the bloom depends on the soil? That's one of the most interesting aspects of these flowers, the blooms can vary from pink to blue throughout our garden and even on the same bush. They were purple/blue last year, but they came back bright pink this year. They can be any color they want, I'm just excited that something survived the horror that is my gardening.

Snake-A-Palooza

2011-05-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

Recently, the hubby and I went to the local park. It is a gorgeous park that seems to go on forever, hosting several different types of wildlife, fabulous bike trails, and an altogether wonderful atmosphere. I grabbed my camera, hoping to get some cute wildlife shots. Instead, what followed was an intense evening of snake spottings and crazy occurrences.

Perched atop a bridge over the beaver dam, we looked for signs of our dear friend Justin Beaver (pics coming soon). Joining us was a large group of children, also hoping to spot something amazing. I asked them if they had spotted anything, and they responded "Nothing but snakes." Oh, I thought. Silly kids. "No, really." One of them says, pointing right beneath us.

"Oh. That IS a snake."

"Nope. It's four."

Blink. Why, yes it is. How incredibly... strange.

The children wander off looking for more cuddly discoveries, but we stay perched atop the bridge... waiting. Suddenly, there is a scream and some pointing. I'm thinking that a beaver has surfaced, and I'm happy the kids found what they were looking for. But, one of them starts running towards us.

"We just saw a SNAKE eat a CATFISH!" Seriously, what is going ON today? We start down the bridge to see what is going on, but we are not the only ones going to investigate.

When we arrive at the other end of the lake, the battle continues only feet away from land.

It may not seem like it, but the fish is still alive and fighting. I step forward to take a picture, and a nearby man reports to a hysterical woman that the "other snake" was "just over by [my] foot."

Everyone seemed to think that this was a Cottonmouth, which happens to be a very venomous type of water snake. But, I had a very close encounter with a Cottonmouth as a child, and I will forever remember exactly what they look like. My research has shown that this is a Diamond Backed Water Snake, quite common in Texas, and not venomous. Granted, I doubt any of this information would have comforted the catfish.

Yikes. So what's happening here? They keep going underwater, and when they resurface the snake is in a different spot, chomping down as hard as he can.

Those wounds look ugly. And I think the fish is starting to give up.

The snake is not giving up, however. Eventually the snake tires, and ends up letting go of the fish. Said snake then shoots out of the water and onto the land right next to where we are standing. The previously mentioned nearby man takes this opportunity to throw a stick at it and send it back into the water. This man says that they usually pull the fish up onto the land to eat them, but I'm guessing the snake didn't think he was going to be able to eat in peace anytime soon.

Sorry snake-friend, but you had a whole lake to eat that catfish and you choose to do it right in front of 6 kids. What did you expect?

In closing, even a reptile-loving fool such as myself found these pictures to be a lovely dose of nightmare juice. So, to cleanse your palette, I would like to present: a sunset.

Hey, how's that? The park is still as beautiful as ever, despite it's scaly underbelly.

For The Hugs

2011-05-05T17:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know that 1 out of 10 monsters go their entire life without a hug? It's true. All these malicious rumors that have been spread accusing monsters of only inflicting pain or cultivating fear have drastically decreased the number of Monster Hugs received daily. Won't you please help these poor monsters?

Look at this little guy. He's just a baby, looking for a loving home to give him hugs. For just 1 hug a day, you could help change the life of a little monster just like him. Please dial the number on the screen now, and do your part to end this horrible Hug Drought. Call now. Monsters are standing by.

Monster provided by the talented Deanna Molinaro. Thanks Deanna, I love my birthday Monster! :)

Mysterious Bug Meeting

2011-05-01T15:13:00.001-07:00

"No, I'm AT the corner... where are you?"

Search for a Camera Bag : Part III - The Final Report

2011-04-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

Part III of III

I have finally reached the end of my quest for a Camera Bag. In Part I, I discussed the "ideal" camera bag and started my search by comparing some of the popular retail options available. Moving on to Part II, I added several excellent Camera Bag options available from the handmade realm. I also provided a comparison sheet for all the bags we had discussed and revealed my choice of the Porteen Gear Camera Bag.

Yesterday my bag arrived, only 2 days after I had ordered it. Now, that's impressively quick shipping from MI to TX. I'd also like to take a moment to say that Robyn of Porteen Gear has been nothing but exceptionally attentive and responsive throughout the entire research and purchasing process. And no, she did not know I was going to review her bag... so it wasn't special treatment.

Packaging

The bag was excellently packed and covered in plastic to protect it from any weather elements on its trip. Inside the plastic wrapping, the bag was carefully wrapped in complimentary tissue paper, tied with a ribbon, and closed with a Porteen logo sticker. These lovely touches made it feel like I was receiving a gift for myself in the mail, and that's just a nice way to make your customers feel! The inside of the bag was thoroughly packed with bubble wrap as well, so it presented perfectly straight out of the box.

First Impressions
I have to say, the colors of this bag are exactly as they were pictured in the online store. I guess that is one of the many advantages of purchasing from a photographer! All was as I expected it to be. Robyn has a great eye for color, allowing her to combine multiple fabrics that compliment each other and work together to create one truly cohesive look.

My first impression: this bag is incredibly soft. Regardless of what purpose it serves, I like fabric to be soft and comfortable. I wasn't sure what to expect of the water-repellent waxed canvas that Robyn describes in her shop, but I imagined it was going to end up being something along the lines of outdoor upholstery fabric. You know, the stuff you find on outdoor lounge chairs that feels as if it could survive a million years without ever wearing down. It's great for resilience, but icky to come in contact with. The fabric used on this bag is the best of both worlds. And, of course, the leather flap is even softer...

Construction and Compartments
I was immediately impressed with the construction of this bag. It looks lovely and it has a fair amount of padding, through it is not super thick or firm. In other words, it is padded without being rigid and clunky. It's like a giant protective pillow for all the camera equipment you hold dear.

All sides are padded with foam, including the bottom. The foam feels like it is 1/2" to 3/4" thick. It is fairly squishy, but still has some substance to it. As you can see in the picture above, it also has two padded dividers that help to separate your camera from your lens etc. These dividers feel like they contain poly-fil, not foam. Most bags you find will have velcro inserts that you can arrange and/or remove. I knew this bag had sewn in dividers, and I was a little dubious as to how this would work.

The divers themselves are U-shaped (with the bottom of the U being the big padded part you see in the middle). The tops of the U's are sewn into the bag, but because of the way Robyn structured this, you can actually "collapse" the U into the sides if you do not need dividers. This works wonderfully and offers flexibility in how you would like to organize and arrange your camera bag. If I'm using 2 lens + camera/lens combo, I use all dividers. If I'm just carrying a camera/lens combo + 1 lens, I can collapse one divider and give myself some extra space. Or use that divider to hold my battery pack, cell phone etc. These sectionals are sturdy, protective, easily adjusted, and honestly, prettier than exposed velcro.

There is also a back pocket that goes the entire length of the bag back there. You can kind of see where it is bowing on the right. It has a velco latch in the middle, right behind the purse logo. This is a great place to slide a guide, notebook, or accessories.

Capacity
It always helps to just see what a bag looks like when it's in use. Because people are always more interested in how much something can hold, I stuffed my bag full for this picture. As you can see, I've got my Canon EOS 60D in the middle there, with an attached 18 - 135mm lens. The depth of the camera in this position is just a little deeper than the bag. You notice a slight bow if the camera is lens down (pictured), rather than lens up. I actually prefer it the other way around, though I wonder if there is a reason I'm not suppose to put it that way since I always see it like this. In the left section, I have my 55 - 250 mm lens. On the right side, I have a placeholder for an additional lens that is slightly wider and taller.

In the front left pocket is my bulky phone, an Epic 4g. The fit is a little tight for my fat phone, but I think it would be fine for an iPhone or even a Galaxy/Evo. Here is something to consider: I originally thought there were only 2 large pockets on the front. Not so. There is a large left pocket, a middle pocket, and then a small pocket on the right. The middle pocket currently holds the leather card pouch that came with the bag. It's full of my "essential cards" so I can leave my whole wallet at home, but it would also great for business cards. The right pocket is perfect for a pen, pocket light, single car key, or maybe a lens cloth. You could also use it for a thumb drive or some AA's. The pocket is not wide enough to hold my SD card in its case.

On the front, there is also a zipper pouch that runs the full depth of the front of the bag. It doesn't look like there is much depth to it, but it is a little deceiving. I was able to put my manual, colors cards, and quick guides in here without any noticeable distortion. It's also a great place to drop lens caps and possible filters, since it has a fair amount of padding. The bag came an adorable little suede-like removable zipper pouch. I forgot to take pictures of the accessories, as you can tell. It matches the brown on the bag and is great for all those little accessories, like SD cards, that you don't want to get lost in the mix. Again, these extra touches really make this product and experience golden. You can see the quality stitching and workmanship in everything she does.

Wear and Use
When I was shopping online for my camera bag, I just kept wondering why I couldn't find pictures of these bags actually being USED. Not only for scale, but for drape and general appearance. So, I am posting this picture here even though it makes my skin crawl and is generally not the best photograph. Here is the bag, full of stuff and on my shoulder messenger-style.

It was my intention, from day 1, to find a comfortable bag that I could wear cross shoulder. This bag comes with a thick strap and a rubber shoulder pad. The pad is comfortable enough when wearing the bag purse-style, but only okay messenger-style. When the bag is full and heavier, the rubber starts to dig into my shoulder pretty hard. Upon this realization, I was distraught. It's that moment that you fear, finding something so lovely and well made, and then being overtaken by the fear that it might not be functional. I slide the rubber pad further down the strap and put the purse back on. Whew, much better.

The bare strap on my shoulder did start to cut into my shoulder when the bag is heavy and I wear it for a while, but that's true with most bags. I contacted Robyn to ask for her suggestions/thoughts on the situation, and she informed me that she also offers a leather padded shoulder strap that is not as rigid as the rubber one. I sent my bag back to her and she happily switched out the shoulder pad for little 'ol high-maintenance me. Again, impressively fast responses and excellent customer service.

The bag returned in only a few days, the new strap not only looks classy but it is much more comfortable to me. It is mainly just two pieces of leather around the strap. I didn't take a picture of it, but you get the picture. There isn't much in terms of padding, per say, but it helps keep the strap from making a permanent crease in my shoulder. Because it is basically sewn around the strap, it does slip around a little more than the previous strap. To me, this is a small trade for comfort.

Egg Test
When the bag returned, I decided to go ahead and do an egg test for you fine folks. We are all interested to know just how much protection the bag offers. I put an egg in a ziploc bag, and then another. I put the first egg in the middle compartment, and the second egg in one of the side compartments. I held the bag directly over our kitchen floor at a height of 4ft (including the strap), which is higher than where it sits on my shoulder. I dropped the bag directly down, it landed flat on the bottom and then fell forward. I opened it up to take a look. The egg on the right side had one tiny hairline crack in the side. The egg in the middle was substantially cracked.

I really thought I must be doing the egg test wrong, so I do it twice more, again with the egg in the middle. I even have my husband try it out. Half a dozen eggs later, I'm sad to say all the results were the same: every one was cracked. Luckily, it was stir fry night so into the wok they went.

Obviously I want a bag that will protect my camera... but I do like everything else this bag has to offer. It is confusing, but I suppose I could just add some additional padding to the bottom of the bag if my brain continues to itch about it.

Summary
In summary, as if you need one, the Porteen Gear Camera Bag is nice bag. It is incredibly comfortable and, if it were physically possible, I would curl up and take a nap inside this bag. I am having to make the adjustment to heavier equipment in general, as my recent camera upgrade was substantial. I can not fault Robyn for this, because as my husband so gently reminded me, if the bag were any smaller it would not fit my camera! The bag did not pass the egg test and this still perplexes me.

Regardless, I am happy to have found a good product that offers some protection for my camera without becoming a brick with a strap. It conforms to the body, looks great, and holds everything I need with room to spare. The bag did fall a little short of my expectations protection-wise, but generally, I am pleased.

I hope the information in this series has helped you find a direction in your camera bag search. Let me know what ends up being your perfect camera bag!

UPDATE 6/6/11: I did end up buying some High Density Foam at Jo-Anns, which I covered in matching brown fabric and put in the bottom of this bag for extra protection. It took about 5 minutes and I feel better about safety of my equipment now.

An Apron fit for a Crafter

2011-04-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

I received my custom made Crafter's Apron from Laura of childsPLAYdesigns this week, and I love it! Laura was wonderfully patient with me as I picked out the perfect fabric to compliment The Curious Cake Shoppe, and she allowed me to design the layout of the pockets as they would work best for me. Allow this apron has been extremely helpful in all my crafting endeavors this week, I mainly ordered it to serve as an extra set of hands at my craft shows.

The bottom pocket is the perfect size to hold my money pouch, and I also have pockets for my cell phone, business cards, pen, price tags, and lots of miscellanea. I love it so much, I even got in front of the camera again. I don't think this is going to turn into a habit, but who knows!

Too bad I can't fold up my camera and put it in one of those pockets...

Search for a Camera Bag : Part II - Handmade

2011-04-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

Part II of III -- (click here for Part I: Retail)

As you may start to realize, the search for the perfect camera bag took the better part of a week. Looking for a good handmade bag took almost 2 days in and of itself. I would like to mention that although many of the bags in Part I are cheaper than the bags featured in Part II, that is an intentional move. MANY of the camera bags I looked at were $125+, but I wasn't willing to pay that much for a retail bag. So, when I saw the price starting to climb, I came back over to the Handmade Universe and did some research.

The first handmade bags I found were the Medium and Large (pictured) DSLR Camera Bags by SizzleStrapz.

These bags are made from treated, water repellent fabric. The bag is padded and has a zipper. It comes in Medium, 10" X 8.5" X 6", for $105, and the Large size, 12" X 10" X 6", for $115. Both sizes seem reasonable, but the Large seems big enough to house all your equipment but not so big that it's bulky or unmanageable. It hits the price point of $115. These bags are pretty customizable, from the fabric to the pockets and upgrades. These bags are more inline with what I originally had in mind, but they are a little livelier than my typical style. The medium seemed to be another tight fit, but the large might work.

From here I stumbled upon Medium (pictured) and Large DSLR bags by Stash.

Wow, right? I love her style in these bags, so classic and sophisticated yet fun! They are lined with water-repellent canvas and close with a looping snap. Her medium bag comes in at 10.25" X 7.25" X 5.5", smaller than the aforementioned bag but just slightly larger than the Domke bag mentioned in Part I, for $159. I was hoping this size would work for all my camera gear, because I fell in love with these bags. After some extensive measuring and calculations, I determined this was going to be too tight of a squeeze for all my stuff. It's a gorgeous bag for anyone with a smaller camera or wanting to carry around less stuff.

I started looking at the Larger bag ($199), hoping I would find a solution here. At 13.25" X 9.25" X 4.5", the bag is wider than the Jill.E, which worried me since the bag was a little clunky on me. The main concern, though, was in the depth. My camera is a little too big and I worried about the fit. After the fact, I bet it would have fit just fine. This will always be that "oh man, what if..." bag. Did you know she makes laptop bags too? Yeah, I'll be back in this store very soon.

After I had actually made my decision, I stumbled upon XcessRize, a handicrafter from Texas. This is another option that those of you who are searching for a bag might like to consider, so I have included it here. Please note, I did not research these bags thoroughly and I do not know anything of the vendor. I did, however, look at the sizes and found them similar to what I had been looking for.

Finally, I rested on a DSLR Bag from Porteen Gear.

This bag is made of water repellent waxed canvas with a leather flap, and comes in at $125. On first glance, I thought the inside looked a bit cramped. Then I realized this bag is bigger than it looks, at 12" X 8.5" X 6", and just how much equipment she already has squeezed in there. It's more than I own, and when I calculate the space needed for my camera + lens, extra lens, even another lens, and goodies... everything fits with extra space.

I know I'll get plenty of use out of the zipper pocket on the front, and the color combination is perfect for me. I especially love that the artist, Robyn, is first and foremost a professional photographer. She really understands what you need and how to use your space most efficiently. She offers up plenty of styles, from serious to spunky, as well as completely customized orders.

Robyn's store has hundreds after hundreds of raving reviews about her bags. As per these comments, the quality and comfort of this bag is paramount. I love the look of the bag above, which I ordered, because it is stylish but sophisticated. It's fun but professional, rugged but modern. The dimensions are perfect for exactly how I envisioned setting up my camera bag. It's padded but soft and will still conform to the body.

So, there you have it. This is the research/comparison that I conducted to find my perfect bag. I know it's overkill, for sure, but results speak. If you are seriously considering any of these bags, I hope some of this mess helps you find your perfect bag.

(click the image for a larger version of spreadsheet madness)

This break-down aided me in finding what I hope will be exactly what I was looking for. Try not to laugh at my over-kill too much. Oh, and forgive the crude formatting, it was never really meant for public consumption.

Anyways, The Final Bag will arrive this week and I cannot wait to test it out and report back.

Stay tuned for Part III : The Final Report.

Search for a Camera Bag : Part I - Retail

2011-04-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

Part I of III
I was recently the lucky recipient of an amazing new Canon EOS 60D. I'm thrilled, but cautious. It doesn't quite fit in my old camera bag, so I'm hesitant about taking it out into the world. I can't wait to get out there and start shooting, but I want to take my gear with me and not worry about something breaking. Luckily, I was able to get an additional discount on the camera he bought, which cleared up some cash for a camera bag. And the hunt began...

Previously, I had a simple Samsonite camera bag (below) for my S2 IS. It worked, but it was chunky and uncomfortable. I never took it anywhere, which pretty much defeats the purpose of having it in the first place.
A serious camera needs a serious camera bag that can keep up, and I was going to find that perfect bag.

The Search Begins

Those who know me, know that I'm pretty detail-oriented. I like data and analysis. I love spreadsheets. When I say I'm searching for the perfect bag, I'm serious. I am looking for a bag big enough to carry my 60D with attached lens and an extra lens or two. Then, of course, your typical small accessories (SD card, batteries, etc) and a manual or small notebook. I want a bag that is no bigger than it needs to be, padded to protect my gear, resilient, and comfortable. I'd like for it to look decent and wear well (IE not be so padded that is is completely unmanageable).

Below I'm going to cover some of the bags that I researched or tested out and discuss why they were awesome (or not). We will get more detailed as we get closer to the final three. The Chosen Bag is en route, so once it arrives I will review it as well. I'm hoping this information will help others who are on the quest for a similar bag.

I started searching forums online. My eye was first directed at LowePro, a retail line of camera bags with a variety of models and styles. I was intrigued by both the SlingShot 102 AW (left) and the Passport (right).

The both seemed like great contenders, until I visited them in person. The bags were much larger than I had realized. The Passport was interesting, but bulky, oddly formatted, and kind of ugly. The Slingshot was heavily padded and awkward for me to operate. Both bags were around $50 - $55.

Next, came the Crumpler 5 Million Dollar Home. The size seemed more manageable, so I checked it out in person as well.The bag comes in some interesting color combinations, simple but stylish. The size seems manageable, but the padding inside is pretty hardcore. It is difficult to maneuver and just feels too padded and stiff. The whole bag has a look that really does feel "crumply." At a price point of $82, I was hoping for something that looked (and felt) a little nicer.

While I was hiding my disappointment in the Crumpler, I spotted a Domke F-5XB out of the corner of my eye. Now, here's a nice, rugged looking bag.
I heard that Domke bags are top notch, and this bag really does scream quality. I love that it is made out of an actual fabric and not some crazy, scratchy nylon. The bag is soft and comfortable. It is padded but can still mold and conform to your body. It has a zipper to keep your equipment inside of the bag, hooray! Sadly, at 10.5"L X 6.5"H X 4.5"D, the bag was a bit too small for me. I did look for a "next size up," but there didn't seem to be a viable option. There is a chance the bag would work, but it would be cramped with little to no room for knick-knacks. If I could afford it as an alternative to a main camera bag, I would buy it. But $80 does feel like a bit much for a bag I can't use frequently.

At this point, I was starting to feel disappointed that out of ALL the camera bags I had looked up and tested out at the store (many not mentioned here), nothing was jumping out at me. A lovely woman at Arlington Camera was kind enough to show me the Jill-E Carry All Bag.
I'm honestly not the kind of girl that needs a super fancy or girly bag. I was perfectly happy with the rugged look of the Domke bag. So, I hadn't even looked at any of the "women's bags." The ones I did see from across the room did not seem very functional. This bag, however, is pretty simple--all black. The size is reasonable, the divisions are manageable and easy to adjust. It seems to hold everything I need, though at 13.5" X 9" X 5", it is slightly larger than my ideal size. The bag itself is heavily padded, which makes it somewhat rigid and bulky. It does not conform to your body and the entire bag is made out of a nylon substance that just feels... cheap. As an aside: you can zip off the top and switch it out with something more colorful. Options are appealing, but I didn't love any of the designs available. At $40, the price is certainly right. This was the closest candidate yet, so I kept it in mind.

Finally, the Think Tank Retrospective 10. Online, this bag almost looks like an older cousin of the Domke F-5XB.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find it locally and try it out. The Retrospective 10 rings in at a decent "medium" size of 12" X 9.5" X 6" and cost about $125. The size is right, and people seem to generally like the Think Tank brand. I started to wonder, however, if I couldn't get a decent handmade bag for this price point.

And so the search took on a new direction...

Story continues in Part II: Handmade.

The Caped Rabbit

2011-04-16T22:51:00.000-07:00

About three years ago, I ventured to the Cottonwood Arts Festival and fell in love with two sculpture artists: Sumati and Michael Colpitts. Amongst their many creations, they make these gorgeous Caped Rabbits. The detail is amazing, and each piece is made by hand--you'll find no molds or casts here. Unfortunately, I was not able to take any of their work home that day. But, I have been visiting their shows ever since that first day, waiting patiently until I found a piece as perfect as the one that stole my heart that first day. Today, we found him.

We promptly took him to a nearby park and had a little photo-shoot. We found the above tree/trunk in the middle of a walking trail, it was perfect!

Since we live in Texas, we had to stop by a bluebonnet field and grab a couple of shoots there too. What, you didn't know that bluebonnet pictures are a mandatory requirement of Texas residents?

On the way out, we ran into this lovely protective bird.

We tried to stay out of her way, but accidentally stumbled upon the nest anyways.

No worries, we didn't disturb the eggs in any way. I am curious to know what kind of bird this was, though. Does anyone know? You can't see it here, but her eyes matched that orange on her wings perfectly. Just beautiful!

A New Toy

2011-04-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

My birthday is in May. As you can imagine, it's quite the surprise to receive a birthday gift almost a month early. Even more so, to open the box and find something as spectacular as this.

Yep, my husband surprised me with a Canon EOS 60D. He had this grand plan for the reveal. I was setup at a Craft Show and he was going to show up taking pictures of my booth with MY camera! How thoughtful is that? My reaction recorded on my own gift. Too bad the wind was so terrible that he had to show up early and help me literally hold my canopy and products down. No matter, the whole plan has me gushing as you can see. The truth is, it was a very sweet thought and that really IS all that matters. Besides, a new camera doesn't need a big reveal to be breath-taking. I couldn't be happier.

Mosley and Lola were absolutely speechless. I can't wait to see what this baby can do when I actually KNOW how to use it.

New Mexico :: Part 3 (To Dallas)

2011-02-20T14:44:00.001-08:00

We decided to drive back in one day. This may have not been the greatest idea, but when you hit the end of a trip you are just ready to be home again. The drive was long and exhausting, but the view was spectacular.

I think there are very few sights that beat a gorgeous sky. There is nothing more inspiring than looking up to an ever-expansive masterpiece.

New Mexico :: Part 2 (Albuquerque)

2011-02-19T16:32:00.000-08:00

About halfway through our trip to New Mexico, we headed over to Albuquerque to visit with an old friend.

He lives in an old school that has been converted into lofts. It is really a gorgeous complex.

One of sites he took us to was Sandia Mountain.

We took the cable car up to the top of the mountain. I wasn't sure what that experience would be like, but it was quite enjoyable. Lots of fun pictures and a gorgeous view to absorb.

The view from atop Sandia Mountain was breath-taking no matter where you were.

Of course, the view is best from the very top of the mountain. It's a great place to look off into the distance and think about very important things (like where the bar is and so on and so forth).

There were more people skiing than I had expected. I like to keep my bones unbroken, so I kept myself entertained by the scenery.

It was, of course quite cold. I was very happy that this was one of the few times that we found ourselves properly dressed for the weather.

Just like Santa Fe, we ate a lot of really amazing food here as well. If you're interested, you are welcome to check out my Yelp reviews (and filter by location) here.

Stay tuned for New Mexico :: Part 3 (To Dallas). Sounds like it should have been pretty boring, but it was actually a gorgeous drive and a stunning sunset.

New Mexico :: Part 1 (Santa Fe)

2011-02-19T12:20:00.000-08:00

It will come as no surprise to you that I am behind on posting pictures again. Its so easy to take them, and so difficult to find time to get them out in the world sometimes. So, I'm going to take a break from my Multiple Series to re-visit our December/January trip to New Mexico.

This was the longest road-trip that we have taken since I was very young, so it was certainly a new experience for me! We did decide to take it easy and stop over in Amarillo though, so the drive was beautiful and very pleasant.

We stayed at The Old Santa Fe Inn which is right in downtown Santa Fe. The hotel was an older, recently-renovated building. I'm not sure how many rooms are there, but it felt like a very cozy, comfortable, mom & pop operation. There was a kiva fireplace in our room that I mainly thought was just, you know, cute. Cut to three days later when it's below zero and our heater can't keep up. Thank you, dear fireplace, for keeping me from freezing.

Despite the feet of snow and freezing weather, we walked pretty much everywhere. The snow was gorgeous, especially for a Texas girl. You can barely tell, but Richard is standing in front of that fountain. That's right, we weren't just walking from place to place... we were frolicking.

This snow was not lightly dusting the area. It was coming down in buckets. I'm not sure I've ever experienced snow like that in my life.

Apparently, neither had this guy!

I was happy to see people enjoying the snow as much as we were. I saw one 6 yr old that had built a snowman as big as her torso and was carrying it around the plaza. These girls cracked me up. Their snowman is not only prepared but chic.

I don't know what these are, but they looked amazing covered in all the bright white snow.

In between our snow adventures, we ate a lot of really amazing food. If you're interested, you are welcome to check out my Yelp reviews (and filter by location) here.

Time to hit the road again... stay tuned for New Mexico :: Part 2 (Albuquerque)!

Multiples Part I

2011-01-27T19:21:00.000-08:00

I've always been a fan of close-ups, which you can probably tell by looking at my pictures. But, getting up close and personal with multiplies creates some of my favorite photos. Well that's my favorite type of shoot. There is something inherently beautiful about a million similar objects that come together as a group, but manage to keep an essence of individuality. Each piece catches the light in it's own special way, each piece has a personality as a piece, and as a whole collection.

So, I thought I might do a series of posts about multiples, and you are reading the first of many!

I am especially fond of this picture, as it captures the characters created for my small business: The Curious Cake Shoppe. I was so excited to see each and every one of the buttons when they arrived, but when they spilled out of the box--I fell in love with the whole mess. A great example of loving both the individuals and the entity they combine to reveal.

Doves

2011-01-26T20:09:00.001-08:00

Do you ever stumble upon a picture and think: "Did I take that?" Since I have a fairly short term memory, this tends to happen a lot. This was one I ran into tonight.

I really love this picture. It was right before my husband and I closed on our first house. Two doves had built a nest on our apartment balcony and we had the pleasure of watching their two goofy kids grow up. This was their mom, who was rarely far from the balcony. I think her blue eye shadow is particularly gorgeous.

Bath Time!

2010-10-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

I have been taking plenty of pictures lately, but they are mostly product related. I could post them here, but the products are still a secret! So, today during bath-time, I decided to grab the camera and take a couple of shots.

Jake was quite please to be featured in this blog post, as the fame and fortune from his debut in the Green Mountain Energy commercial has died down. He still thinks highly of himself and wanted to remind you all that you should too.

If you are interested in seeing Jake's cameo, I have posted it below.

Secrets Silversands Resort, Mexico

2010-09-28T23:07:00.000-07:00

Usually, sorting through and posting pictures is the first thing I do when I return from a vacation. However, this time around life took over my schedule and I am just now getting around to it. It's kind of nice, saving this procedure for a couple of months after the vacation, because it really brought back a lot of memories. We had a wonderful time, and here are a few shots from around the resort.

The resort had several pools throughout the grounds, all sparkling and clean. There was always room for you somewhere, and the water was always cool and inviting.

One of the things I liked most about SSS, everything felt like luxury right down to the lighting. It was obvious they spent a lot of time and planning on the lights from the rooms to the restaurants and everywhere between.

See what I mean?

One of the lobbies at SSS, this area was huge with a variety of chairs and couches to lounge on. There is a bar right in the middle, where you were served at your seat any drink that you would like.

The beach was not huge, but perfect for strolling, sun bathing, or just relaxing. It was a beautiful view, and we could even see all this from our room.

This was the one of the most delicious appetizers I had during our stay.

Mmm, need I say more?

The resort sent up flowers for our anniversary. They lasted almost the entire 7 days!

The resort looked stunning at night. I never tired of the beautiful lighting and peaceful atmosphere all over the resort grounds in the evenings.

For more pictures, hit up the flickr album by clicking any of the images above.

Furniture Photoshoot

2010-09-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

"Real Photography" or maybe just an excuse to post pictures from a furniture photo shoot this weekend, I'm not sure.

For one of our wedding gifts, my husband and I received a fabulous custom head/foot board from my Uncle. Flash forward over 5 years, we commissioned him to help us finish out the suite!

We received the furniture a week ago and it is perfect! He did a fantastic job of matching the new furniture to the head/foot board that we already had, which is no small task. We got everything moved in with the help of our dear friend, Greg, and finished arranging and hanging everything this weekend.

I feel like a serious adult now, having a complete bedroom suite and being able to store away all my clothes in drawers rather than assorted baskets all over the bedroom floor.

The handles were selected by Richard and I, based on our memory of the color of our headboard. I'm pretty please to see that it turned out well!

I may have furniture, but I am not ready to give up all my baskets just yet...

So there you have it, pictures of a staged bedroom! Yes, okay, I admit it. My bedroom is not nearly this clean and organized in real life.

A big thanks goes out to Allen's Sawmill in Mineral Wells, TX for the fabulous new furniture. This is the place to go for all your custom furniture and cabinetry needs!

Christmas Snow

2010-01-28T14:46:00.001-08:00

Snow on Christmas Eve, originally uploaded by tmcpics.

Having grown up in Texas, I think it is safe to say I never expected to experience a "white Christmas."

I certainly didn't expect anything miraculously wonderful to come out of this Christmas, having just lost my grandmother only a few months before. Christmas approached and rather than feeling happiness or excitement, I was suffering from a deepening sadness. Christmas would come and go, gifts would be unwrapped, the family would get together, and whatever happiness that day brought, I predicted it would be fleeting and hollow. What is that saying... "Things happen when you least expect them"?

On Christmas Eve, we woke up to snow flakes. Little ones that melted as soon as they hit the ground. I didn't give much stock to their presence. We loaded up the car and started towards our Christmas destination. Only, the snow didn't stop. It got heavier and heavier until the ground was covered. Everything was white as far as the eye could see. The car was barely moving. Two hours later as our trip drew to an end, I was filled with... excitement. I felt like a child experiencing something brand new as we tromped through several inches of snow the night before Christmas.

I had known for months that Christmas would not be the same. We would do the same old things that used to bring comfort and warmth, but it would seem strange knowing she was gone. What I did not expect was to wake up and find a totally new Christmas. A new environment, a new experience, maybe a new beginning... I've never been quite that optimistic so it feels like a stretch. But I will recognize that there was something powerful and renewing about the whole situation.

This picture was taken only a minute after we arrived. My husband and I flew out of the car and into the snow immediately. I know the picture isn't great, but if one snapshot could capture that moment in time forever... I think this is it.

The Unruly Tongue - Giraffe Series

2009-08-19T09:37:00.001-07:00

If a picture is worth a thousand words...

The Unruly Tongue - Giraffe Series, originally uploaded by tmcpics.

Then this drawing must be worth millions!

Amber, a friend of mine who also happens to be the owner of A Shade Better Than Stick Figures, was in search of inspiration. I sent her the first in a series of giraffe photos entitled "Unruly Tongue" and just look what she did with it! Beautiful.

"Unruly Tongue" is photo documentation that perhaps giraffes are not necessarily born knowing what to do with those monster tongues of theirs. Or, photo documentation of a really bored giraffe. Probably the later.

A Rainy Evening at the Nasher

2009-08-14T10:14:00.001-07:00

Outdoor at the Nasher 3, originally uploaded by tmcpics.

After the Dallas World aquarium, we ventured over to the Nasher for their "Free Thursdays in July" promotion. None of us had ever been, and it sounded like a fun way to spend the evening. Too bad it started raining on the way over there.

We walked around the inside of the museum, enjoying the sculptures and watching an art class sketch them for an assignment. It was a little while before it was dry enough to hang out outside and enjoy the live music and drinks.

Despite the drizzle, it was really nice. If you live in Dallas, and are looking for a nice place to chill for the evening, I would definitely check it out.

The Dallas World Aquarium

2009-08-12T09:22:00.001-07:00

DWA Sea Horse, originally uploaded by tmcpics.

Phew, I fell behind on the picture posting because I was focusing on family and the job. But, the family is back in Holland these days and work has slowed down, which means I'll finally have time to go through some of these shots.

The Dallas Aquarium is a familiar sight for me, because I used to work just across the street. I had a membership and would spend many of my lunches taking pictures and just watching the animals. I've been there a hundred times, but it never ceases to amaze and amuse me. The place is gorgeous; they have added new sections and done a lot of renovation since I have been there.

If you click the image above, you'll go to my Flickr photostream for "Animals" and you can see of the images there. Though, I did post a few under floral as well. Disorganized in the sake of being organized... Maybe it will all make sense in the end.

Dallas Round 2 -- Dallas Farmer's Market

2009-07-23T20:38:00.001-07:00

Dallas Farmer's Market, Peppers, originally uploaded by tmcpics.

Here are some pictures from the Dallas Farmer's Market. We went around 5 pm so some people were absent or packing up, but still there were quite a bit of people hanging in there. The weather was very nice, the produce looked great, and I think I was asked if I wanted to try a piece of pineapple at least 15 times.

(Click the image above to go the flickr gallery and see more shots from the Farmer's Market.)

Fort Worth Stockyards

2009-07-21T21:37:00.001-07:00

Stockyards, Bring on the Cattle Drive 5, originally uploaded by tmcpics.

We took the family to the Fort Worth Stockyards today and had the privilege of watching the cattle drive. It was actually the first time that I have ever seen it. I have to say, it was really neat to see such large majestic animals so close up.
Check out the flickr photoset for more cool Stockyard shots.

(Again, I left out the family shots to respect their privacy.)

Family and the pictures that remind us of them...

2009-07-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

I have a big extended family. Half of them are overseas and so I do not get to see them as often as I would like. It's funny because ever since I started taking pictures... some of them just stick with me. I will be seeing my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin from Amsterdam for the first time in 3 years and I am still expecting them to look just like the last time I saw them. Expectations which are hardly fair, since my cousin will be 13! Whenever I think of her, I still think of this picture.

Beautiful Oklahoma Wedding

2009-06-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

Flickr Event Gallery

Some pictures I took at my cousin's wedding in Oklahoma over the weekend. The wedding was certainly breath taking. As you can see, I got a little caught up with the decorations. I didn't post pictures of the most beautiful part of the wedding, the bride and groom, because I wanted to respect their privacy. I can assure you, they were both much more stunning than anything else at the wedding. Honestly, none of the pictures did them justice anyways!

Winter Storms

2009-06-15T16:19:00.001-07:00

Winter Storm, 1, 2009, originally uploaded by tmcpics.

Seems like we got a lot of nasty cold weather this year. One of the storms iced everything over and I had a tree branch leaning so close to the ground that I could just walk right up to it. I took these shots and then a few hours later the branch was back up where it belonged.

The Summer of Flowers

2009-06-15T15:52:00.001-07:00

1. Fence Garden Photos, Wide Shot 1, 2. Fence Garden Photos, Close Up 8, 3. Fence Garden Photos, Close Up 7, 4. Fence Garden Photos, Close Up 1

These are some older photos that I took a couple of years ago. It wasn't hard finding such a beautiful spot because my parent's neighbor is a world class gardener. He started this fence garden so that they could share the flowers with my parents. These are still some of my favorite flower shots. I think the yellow one is my favorite. Click the image to go to my Flickr page and see many more shots.

The Tormentor

2009-06-15T15:32:00.000-07:00

1. Squirrels 3, Visit 3, 2. Squirrels 4, Visit 3, 3. Squirrels, Visit 3, 4. Squirrels 2, Visit 3

This little fellow likes to spend the extended afternoon hanging out in the giant tree in our backyard tormenting my poor little dog, who actually seems to think one day he will jump high enough to scale the tree. When the squirrel is feeling particularly defiant I can usually move about the backyard freely and get some nice shots. Click the image above to hit my Flickr page for larger images.