Updating Kid Pics

Way back when my first son was born, I made the lofty goal of posting one photo per day in our Daily Kid Pic album. It was a good run, lasting well over a year, but I've posted fewer and fewer photos as the years have gone by. Although it's not daily anymore, it's still a pretty sweet little archive of our boys. And it was one of the biggest contributors to my growth as a photographer. If you photograph the same subject everyday you will also see better results. You'll start to be more aware of the background, lighting, and placement of your subject. When I was posting everyday, it was tough to just choose one photo for the day. You really have to look at your photos and figure out what you like about certain ones. Looking at your photos is a unique challenge in these times of iPhonography, right?! We take tons, but rarely take the time to examine what we've taken. 

I had some extra time this morning (thanks Mom & Tom for watching the kids!!) so I updated our Flickr site this morning. Have you ever done a photo challenge? What have you learned?

Happy February!

Well, it's February. Did you set goals or make resolutions for 2012? I wrote about my Goals and Ideas for 2012 last month and I thought it'd be interesting to follow-up on that post. Excerpts from my original post are in italics, followed by the "update."

1. I'm currently reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin...My goal for the next couple of weeks is to finish the book and start putting the ideas into action!
I haven't finished the book, but I'm reading regularly and making progress. I am still loving it!

2. Continue to expand my photography business....
I redesigned my website last week and have submitted a few of my weddings to my favorite wedding blogs in hopes of snagging a little more attention. I'm getting new business cards this week (as soon as I find my Pantone book so I can get the color right!). Next I need to find some fabulous brides. I'm only booking a few more weddings this year, so pass along my info to anyone you know. 

3. Plant some edibles. We just bought a house in October and while we have a pretty solid vision for the interior, we're a bit clueless when it comes to what we want to do with the yard. Luckily, my mom is a stellar landscape architect. ...In the meantime, we'll probably join a CSA program (Community Supported Agriculture) and get fresh, local produce every week!
We got our first CSA box yesterday. It's full of a bunch of fruits and veggies than I've never cooked with! Luckily, I have cookbooks and the internet. And a super awesome juicer if I can't find a recipe ;)

4. Get back to my Daily Kid Pic...
I'm super excited I started doing this again! In January I posted photos for 29/31 days- only 2 missed days! My faraway friends and family seem happy the Daily Pic is back, too! My fave photo of our son was taken on January 8th and is posted below.

5. Learn how to write a book proposal and then write it!! I have an amazing idea for a coffee table/photography book... 
I haven't written the book proposal, but I have made a few new friends whom I'm hoping to photograph and interview. Not tons of progress, but it's a start :)

6. Finish the interior of our house! We have made a lot of progress in the past few months, but we still have a good bit of work to do on our sweet little Eichler...
Still working hard. The last few weekends have been spent on the hallway- painting the ceiling (3 coats), painting the door frames (there are 6!), painting the inside of the closet, laying down the floor and underfloor, fitting in new baseboard (cutting, painting, nailing, wood putty, caulking, and touching up the paint), and redoing the ventilation for the dryer. Whew! Much of the work has been done by my super awesome husband. My brother has been here a lot helping out, and I've been helping too, of course.

7. Have another baby! We've been working really hard at this and have had some bumps and bruises along the way (2 miscarriages and a complete molar pregnancy)... 
Still working on this one, but will hopefully have good news to share soon.

SOOO, how about you? What are you doing this year?





Sweater Pieced Blanket

Last night I finished the blanket I've been working on! My friend Susi hosts a monthly craft night at her place. We bring our goods, drink wine, eat snacks, and chat! It's often the best night of the month. I had been saving a few sweaters that I'd accidentally shrunk (more than a few times) and decided to cut them up into square and rectangular pieces and hand stitch them into one baby blanket. I used three sweaters, including my very favorite, all-time loved dark turquoise sweater. I bought it while living in Charleston, SC in 1998. Years later, it had holes in the elbows, wrists, and elsewhere. I'd shrunk it too many times and it was seriously falling apart. It even made it into the Goodwill pile several times, but I pulled it out every time... "just one more season," I'd say to myself. And I'm so glad I never got rid of it. It'll live on. 

Here are a few photos of the blanket. Cheers!