Perfect

I had a dream last night. It began in a thick fog. I walked for hours not knowing where I was going but still I knew I had to get there. So I kept moving onward, thirsty and a little cold from the heavy dew. By the time I arrrived at my destination my feet were sore but the fog was lifting and underneath was a beautiful table of breezy linens and fresh flowers waiting for me. A table for one. It was perfect and just what I needed. So, I’ll be dragging my little bistro table out to the open field for a little R& R this afternoon.   Can’t wait!

Tiny toes, soft skin and that new baby smell, what could be better? The tiny toes and the soft skin of a sleeping baby, of course-perfect!

Wishing you a day of perfect moments…

xo-jj

Nowhere Land

Here I sit in in nowhere land making all my nowhere plans for nobody. I’ve been a little cooped up lately and feel a little like the nowhere man from the Beetles lyrics. Mom, baby and tot (the princess) came down with  really bad colds just a week after delivery so it’s been a little over-whelming here. Oh yeah and now Mr. Java has it. Nurse Junie needs a raise, hee, he!

  I know I promised to visit you all very soon and I will but it may be another few days before I can get back to work as usual. Until then I’m sending all my love your way.

Sprinkles of love from nowhere land are drifting your way.

xo-jj

a little off center

I’m still a little off center but hope to be back to my old blogging self very soon and pay a visit to my fantastic blogging buddies out there..  I did manage to dress the porch in fall attire. The rich colors of pumpkin orange with a splash of gourd madness is the perfect fall pick-me-up.

Did I mention how difficult it is to type this post while looking through the smudgey lenses of little tyke sunglasses. The demanding princess insists I wear them and every time I think it’s safe to take them off she twirls around with one hand on her hip, and a finger pointed in my face, saying ”eyes”  I think she already has a mom eye in the back of her head. She’s not spoiled or anything -just too darn cute for her own good!

I hope to drop by your place soon- bear with me please.

xo-jj

just a quick hello

 

Things old and new flow together just as though they have been a part of my life all along. Busy days filled with love and sunshine give way to short nights of deep slumber.

 

Suger Plum Faries danced in their heads

xo-jj

Baby Bliss update

 

 

 

 

Someone once said “A baby is born with a need to be loved – and never outgrows it.”

baby 8-15 and 21.5 inches long

Sisters are forever! 

More later!

xo-jj

 

Baby bliss

 

Someone once said:

A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.

Remember the pregger belly shoot? Well tomorrow is the big day. Grand Princess number two will be born by c-section at around 8 am. Postings on this blog may be a little sporadic for a while but be prepared for a lot of tiny fingers and toes  and just plain cute.  I will be busy being nurse, maid and Grammy for a few weeks.  The basement apartment has been equipped with an added nursery. I’ll keep you posted on the health of Mom and baby as soon as I can and yes there will be lots of pictures!

Making the decision to have a child – it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.
Elizabeth Stone

xo-jj

Anticipation and sprinkles of magic everywhere

The new vignette in my office space

 

A lot of dreaming and a little anticipation. I love to create dreamy little spaces filled with hope and magic. Yes, hope and magic are always a part of my day dreams.

#1

 The magic of little gifts wrapped in mystic atmosphere are my favorite kind of surprises. The woods are filled with plants and creatures and sometimes the unexpected.

#2

Sometimes beauty is simple and untouched. Beauty comes in the most natural forms but can be enhanced with a little imagination. A little imagination can lead you right where you want to go.

#3

Right to the  kind of place where dreams fly and wishes float.   Do you have a special place like that? A place where you feel inspired, hopeful and just a little dreamy. We all deserve a  special place to retreat.

#4

I love making artsy spaces, creative niches and little vignettes inside and outside the house. It’s nice to find the unexpected in everyday places. As I’m sure you’ve noticed most of what inspires me isn’t the ordinary picture of a flower or sunset. I’m inspired by that little added twist or extra kick. What inspires you and makes you heart beat a little faster?

I’m a curious girl and I really want to know what you think. So please participate in my poll and vote below. 

Inspire me…

xo-jj

Decorating, room themes, whimsical wall art and a sassy cow

I love those days when I feel inspired even if it is only for a moment or two. A little inspiration here and there is what keeps my spark alive. It keeps me going and allows me to see the world  a little differently. There are so many wonderful places in blog land that are bursting with creativity and are a great resource for inspiration. What inspires you?

I thought about the things that inspire me and what might inspire someone to buy my photography. Photography is a funny thing. It’s so subjective as much or maybe more so than any other piece of art and just because you like something doesn’t mean you know what to do with it.  So I thought about what kinds of things one could do with a photographic print that would make it really shine or become a work of art. I decided that fine art prints are best when grouped together to set a theme. A room with a theme or grouping on the wall looks so pulled together and makes a statement.  It has something to say about the room’s purpose and the people in it. So I have begun a journey across the walls of my house. I’ve decided to use my photography to set the tone and give my rooms personality.

I started with the Princess Room and look what happened.

 

I used a print from the the belly shoot in the center and then added Like a Whisper and Sugar Baby, two Etsy prints  from the studio featuring a precious little pink and white layette. The matching white frames pulled all the images together and made it look kind of chic and solidified the whole baby girl theme. You may have noticed that the artwork balancing in the candelabra looks familiar. It is a digital art print from the wonderful Miss Vanessa of A fanciful Twist. Yes, this print of Miss thing looks wonderful in the Princess Room.  It’s  in keeping with the pink girlie look but adds a little whimsy and I love whimsy.

The perfect match.

Displaying these prints in a wide border frame allowed me to fore go the cost of a mat and downsize the frames for another cost savings. Yahoo, I’m thrifty!

I mentioned that I liked whimsy. Well get a load of the whimsy I shot yesterday while doing a little business in the country. I love it and wish I had a companion photo or two to pair with it. It wouldn’t really go in my house but it would definitely add a bit of whimsical charm- don’t ya think.

 

“Pardon…  but do I have something between my teeth?”

I thought this cow was being friendly but I later learned that she has a really baaad attitude and was just being sassy- I like sassy!

I hope that was a four leaf clover she ate because I heard it said that if she doesn’t shape up her destiny lies in a steak burger. Ahhhh, poor sassy!

Sassy cow may make her way into my Etsy shop. I haven’t decided quite yet but I think she’s would fit right in with the  eclectic collection of Studio Pink.

Have a sassy Tuesdays!

xo-jj

The pregger belly shoot and the call of the wild

 Love, love this!

The belly shoot was definitely a trip. What an amazing time in a young woman’s life. My fave shot is the one with the little pink bunny hanging to the side. They turned out quite well considering they were taken in a small room full of stuff. I set up a little spot with an antique white chair covered in pink tulle, furry white rug, with my wedding veil hanging over the window to diffuse the light and make everything soft and delicate. There is so much beauty and magic made by the click of a shutter in diffused light.

I remember when, showing your pregnant belly was a no no. I’m so glad we’re past that era.  A pregnant woman and her growing belly are a beautiful thing and should be celebrated. The princess thinks so- matter of fact she now thinks there is a baby in her belly too.

Now there is something totally unrelated to pregnancy and bellies that I want to mention. It’s something that’s driving me crazy but also intriguing me at the same time. Okay, before I try to explain let me give you a visual of where I live. I’m in  mid-michigan, a rural bedroom type community (pretty boring)  my house is on the out-skirts of town. I live in the very last house at the end of a city subdivision. If I take just a few steps to the east or north I’m in the country. I’m surrounded by open meadow, woods and a large pond; it’s beautiful but does presents a few problems. We are over-run by critters: coons, skunks, deer, field mice an occasional coyote and oh yes wild cats. I love animals and have been known to come home with a stray or two in my day but I’ve been warned no more animals. I don’t need any more pets as I have 3 little dogs and 2 little birds. I’ve had cats before but have no desire to own one at this time- except for this one.

 Okay this photo doesn’t due him/her justice. (I think it’s a her) I took it through my office window as she was running away.  Her fur is short but fluffy and the most gorgeous colors of creamy white and chocolate brown, her eyes are amazing too. She’s a Manx cat (I think) who hangs out on my porch and looks in my windows but runs when she sees me. I have begun leaving food out for her as I’ve witnessed her getting thinner over the past two weeks. We call her bunny butt because she looks like a bunny and moves like one at times. It’s so strange if you see her from behind you almost mistake her for a rabbit until she turns and you see this cat head on a bunny body- it’s awesome. The first time I saw her drinking out of the bird bath I thought she was some kind of cross between a bunny and a cat. I’ve seen bob-tailed cats before but she’s different.

 This image is pretty bad because it was shot through my office window at mid-night. She hangs around my house all day and night but waits for my office lights to go out before she comes up to the porch. I waited in the dark and then snapped this- see I’m obsessed! It’s a pretty bad photo and doesn’t begin to show how beautiful she is.

Mr. Java likes her too but when I talk about luring her in and making her our pet he just wags his finger at me. It would probably turn into a circus in here if she came indoors. Two of my little dogs don’t like cats and this cat is a fierce hunter, I”ve watched her in action, so the birds would be in jeopardy. I realize the pitfalls of trying to domesticate a wild cat but still there is this part of me that thinks she desperately wants to come inside and be my pet. I may be delusional but why else would she hang out on my porch and peek in my windows- this all started before I began feeding her.

What do you think- aside from the fact that I’m crazy and have too many pets already.  Have any of you seen a cat anything like this? Am I right when I say she’s a Manx cat? I’ll let you know if anything changes or she magically becomes my friend.

Enjoy your weekend. I may have to buy a boat if it doesn’t quit raining. Maybe I should be looking at some building plans for an arch rather than trying to tame wild cats

xo-jj

I’m melting

Well, if you haven’t guessed by now, I’ll tell you, I am a girlie girl and love all things soft and pink. The look, the feel and the very essence of femininity are softly whispered in pale pink panties that are hidden underneath a business suit or your favorite grungy pair of jeans. I grew up in a pink bedroom and quite often wore pink nail polish but the rest of me was all jeans and tee shirts. I like just a hint of pink to soften my edges.

There is nothing more sweet and special than tiny white baby tee’s with just a hint of pink. My heart melted when I saw this (pictured below) in a local boutique and I couldn’t resist. It is incredibly soft and yummy to the eyes. I think I could work in a baby boutique and just play with the clothes, making little vignettes here and there all day long. Baby boutiques or boutiques or any kind are a rarity in my area these days. Yes, it’s true they are too expensive and don’t offer enough variety to satisfy a busy Mom’s schedule but the experience of walking through a store filled with pretty things that are displayed to perfection is magic. It’s not a place where you go in to buy a complete wardrobe, no, just one or two things for a special photograph or very first outing. It’s an exception, a lovely experience and one time event that you won’t ever forget. 

This shot was meant to melt your heart just a little. He hee.

As you know from the countless photographs of the little princess and some big princesses or more like fashion divas, I like to take an unusual and maybe even a little crazy shots of people. Recently, I was asked to take a few kid shots for a mother of two boys. She saw a few of my pics on another website and liked my style. Of course I was thrilled and will probably jump at the chance as long as she realizes that I take a journalistic approach to photography and have a somewhat quirky style. I’m not into the perfectly posed studio shots and I never use a flash, well almost never. I like the type of photographs that bring out the essence of  a personality or maybe a side that’s hidden on most days. There is a shining star in everyone and I want to bring that to life in pictures. This may be a new area of my creativity to explore. I’m always up for an adventure. So if you live in the Michigan area and would like to have some shots done give me a try. I probably won’t charge much until I get my feet wet and feel confident in my ability to capture the real person in just the way they love to be seen. 

That’s all for today. I better get something done around here before I’m off to photograph pregnant bellies -oh my!

xo-jj