ooh pretty shiny over there ...

reaching a facebook milestone ...

2012-02-23T18:03:00.003+01:00

So i hit 2,000 "likes" on facebook ... yeah i am pretty excited. These are the moments where we giggle a little & act like a 15 year old again. But seriously it's amazing to think that many people love my work. So to say thank you to all those followers, the people who have left me comments, shared ideas & just generally been awesome i have put together a little giveaway. Ok so it's a little bigger than little & there are some seriously awesome items available (thank you to all the wonderful wonderful people who are donating). Anyways some of the prizes are so awesome i want to enter myself ... But i can't so one lucky lucky person could walk away with all of the items below!

So before we check out the goodies here are the rules ... You must leave me a comment here on the blog post (if you are having difficulties let me know. You must also head over to the various facebook pages of those sharing their pretties with you & give them a little love!

For an extra entree ... share this giveaway on your facebook page & leave me a comment letting me know you've done so.

For another extra entree ... share on your blog & leave me a comment letting me know you've done so.

For another extra entree ... tweet the giveaway.

& lastly for 5 extra entree's head over to my etsy shop & purchase an item.

Phew ok now that's over & done with there's one last thing ... If the winner (who will be chosen at random) isn't local & unable to collect on either of the photo shoot prizes i will draw another winner who is local to receive those.

& lastly the giveaway will run for 2 weeks ... yeah baby ... that's 2 weeks of chances to win!!

1 ... a mini shoot with moi (that would be me ... love.laugh.believe) ... the shoot is worth a whopping $250 & the winner gets a 30 minute shoot with a minimum of 10 editing images on a disc. The shoot must take place by August 31st 2012 & cannot be credited towards other products.

facebook

website

twitter

2. Your choice of either a 10x8" or 8x8" fine art photographic print from either of my 2 etsy shops ... ooh pretty shiny or levansphotography.

ooh pretty shiny

levansphotography

3. A gorgeous 5x5" fine art photographic print titled "i'm sorry i'm leaving" from the stunning photography shop of Violet Bella.

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etsy

blog

4. A $100 gift certificate with TLC Photography ... her newborn photography blows my mind!

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website

5. A stunning watercolour painted especially for the giveaway by Jody Edwards ...

This little feather is from a Roughed Grouse - - similar to a wild pheasant.

Feathers mean so many different things to different people, whether it be spiritual or decorative, these little studies look great anywhere.

It is 4"x6", painted on 140lb Cold Pressed Arches watercolor paper. Ready to frame. This is a detailed, delicate original, by Artist Jody Edwards.

You can see some of her paintings in Ted Danson's character's office on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Jody's art is collected worldwide.

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etsy

6. A wonderful action created for this giveaway by Kristybee Photography (an amazing photographer) called peace ... it's so so pretty. It can be used in both Photoshop & Elements.

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etsy

blog

7. A "define me tee" by Oh So Chichi ...

Define Me Tee's are completely custom, personalized, and unique. Define yourself, your children, spouse, family, hobby, group, bride, groom, mom, dad, anything ... I'll create it! They make a great addition to a family photo shoot, reunion, or special event.

(& yes that is Jacob wearing his ...)

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etsy

8. A set of 10 wonderful textures designed by Joel Olives (another amazing photographer) & yet to be released for sale to the public ... perfect for enhancing your photography.

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9. A gorgeous newborn headband designed & made by Christina Beckett Photography ... a wonderful gift for a pregnant lady, a little diva's first headband or a wonderful addition to your photography props.

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website

10. A stunning Ella Woolner original mini ribbon drawing from 'Ribbon and Bows series'. Paper size is 8x11cm and and drawn on 150 gsm cotton handmade paper, with rough edges. Drawn in blue crayon and signed by the artist.

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website

11. 1lb of Double Mint Cookies-n-Cream fudge from Ladybird Fudge (yes i know you're drooling) ...

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12. A stunning photographic print from Blue Oiseau Photography matted to fit a 7x5" frame ...

This little butterfly (le p'tit papillon) loves to visit my lavender.

Title: Le p'tit papillon
Size: matted to 5x7
Finish: metallic

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etsy

13. One of my favourite etsy stores Xenotees kindly donated one of her gorgeous items (i actually own this) ...

Womens Pullover/Animal group Nouns

This is a list of over 100 animals & their collective nouns - some you may have heard, but most of these will be new to you, and really fun to learn.

An "unkindness of ravens", a "knot of toads", a "romp of otters", a "warren of rabbits", a "sleuth of bears", a "tower of giraffes" or a "business of ferrets"? You Bet, and many MANY more... They are a blast to read & memorize

ABOUT THIS TOP:This is a lightweight Raglan Pullover made of a Tri-Blend (50% Polyester / 25% Cotton / 25% Naturally occurring Rayon) fabric. Polyester retains shape and elasticity; Cotton lends both comfort and durability; addition of Rayon makes for a unique texture and drapes against the body for a slimming look. Raglan sleeves, Loose-fitting on top & snug around waist.

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etsy

Hope you like everything you see & thanks again for sharing in my love of all things photographic. Be sure to stop by my facebook page, love to hear your thoughts. & there will be a cheat sheet of facebook pages from the giveaway for you.

Good luck the winner(s) will be picked from random on March 8th!!

the nelou & laura show + week 28 = "simplicity"

2012-02-20T18:00:00.000+01:00

some more simple things in life with week 28 of the nelou & laura show ...

me . nelou

it's the simple things in life that make me happy ...

2012-02-20T16:20:00.000+01:00

jacob giggles ...

these actions ...

a present for myself ...

the sun is actually shining ...

looking forward to a relaxing (i say this now) week ahead!

the nelou & laura show + week 27 = "green"

2012-02-15T20:52:00.000+01:00

hands up if you favourite colour is green ...

nelou . me

always ...

2012-02-14T19:25:00.002+01:00

happy valentines day!

it's the simple things in life that make me happy ...

2012-02-13T20:33:00.000+01:00

finding my inspiration ...

this tote ...

finally got season 2 of downton abbey in the mail today ...

poppytalk handmade (the market place) ...

one step closer to knowing where we might be moving to!

the nelou & laura show + week 26 = "fragile"

2012-02-12T10:21:00.000+01:00

We made it to the half way point ... that totally gets us a whoop whoop happy dance!

& week 26 = fragile!

nelou . me

my something white ...

2012-02-08T17:34:00.000+01:00

So Elle Moss Photography has once again inspired me ... she is hosting a 30 day photo challenge (you can check it out on her blog) & day one was "white". Well i can't lie but day one was 2 days ago, i am a little behind but since the theme of white is what inspired me to take these photos i am totally including them as part of the challenge. Plus i am head over heels in love with them ... go figure. So i needed to share with you guys :) Hope you're all having a wonderful hump day!

inspired by ... part II

2012-02-02T19:13:00.000+01:00

So in part I i introduced you to one of my favourite photographers ... miss elle moss photography ... she really is an exceptionally talented woman. Anyways today i want to share a much more recent source of inspiration. Photographically i knew her gorgeous work (i mean how could you not it's stunning) but personally it was only this past summer i got to know her & i am so incredible glad i did.

Introducing the one & only Joy St.Claire ... picture taker of all things pretty & gorgeous & whimsical & dreamy. In the time i have know Joy i have watch her explode onto the fine art scene ... & i mean literally explode. You know how sometimes it takes just one thing, well Joy got to experience that one thing & now she's flying. It really doesn't take a genius to see why, the question is more why it took so long?

You ever look into a picture & feel like there's a journey you are waiting to take? Every time i look at one of Joy's photographs i feel like i've stepped into something special, a journey back to childhood or fairy tale adventure. It's like Narnia except it is on the pages of a book, this is real life. I am constantly inspired by Joy's nature photography, her exceptional use of colours & textures in creating stunning works of art constantly amazes me as again she opens the door to her reality.

Through Joy i have found my belief that i can succeed in achieving my dreams, she is full of words of wisdom (even if them come in the form of a you tube video), advice & her work lives up to her name & fills me with joy. Yes i went there but then you knew i would. & honestly what's left to say but who knew asparagus could be so inspiring?

Check out more of Joy's work on Etsy!

inspired by ... part I

2012-01-31T20:37:00.000+01:00

So i want to share some people with you ... not that they're my own secret people or anything but people who inspire me photographically & to be the best that i can. People who support me, who i can turn to for advice & well putting it mildly give a whole new meaning to the word talent.

Part I is dedicated to an incredible talented artist ... she's one of those ladies who can rock all photographic genres. In the beginning i knew her solely for her portraits, amazing surreal (sometimes self) portraits. I can't even begin to understand how she sees the things she does, it astounds me when i see new work appearing. Her ideas would seem so out there on paper, but she puts them together in a way that everything works like it's meant to be. Ok yes you've guessed who this fabulous lady is ... the exceptionally talented Elle Moss Photography.

I admit it, I'm going to town on the adjectives, delving deep into the depths of my vocabulary to come up with new words worthy of such a wonderful lady. & maybe i am gushing a little but i can't help myself. You see the thing about Elle isn't just that she knows how to take pretty pictures but the time she's willing to put back into helping others. I am incredible lucky to have gotten to know the lady behind Elle Moss over the past couple of years, through Etsy & the internet. She has become someone i can turn to for advice with my photography, pushing me to achieve my dreams.

& her photography doesn't stop at portraits, the whimsical & dream like feel continues into other genres such as her portrayal of nature & her incredible still life's. It's no surprise that her work has been featured in a large number of publications, exhibitions across the globe & is displayed in the homes of various celebrities. Her dreamy, whimsical, breath taking photography & her own fabulous self inspire me daily in my quest (yes i said quest) to sell my fine art full time. She is where i home to be one day & i thank her for being someone i can turn to for help through my own photographic journey.

You can view more work by Elle Moss Photography in her Etsy shops:

Elle Moss

Alice B. Gardens

it's the simple things in life that make me happy ...

2012-01-30T22:37:00.000+01:00

my new imac (it's so purdy) ...

curry (it's totally my favourite food right now) ...

loving this shop for jacob ...

cute as a button ...

it's snowing outside my window!

the nelou & laura show + week 25 = "pattern"

2012-01-28T19:10:00.000+01:00

So we finally got caught up & then my computer crashed ... so yet again we are behind but i promise we will be back on track faster than you can say jack robinson ... so here we have week 25 (almost half way) & pattern ... enjoy!

me . nelou

happy friday ...

2012-01-27T11:29:00.000+01:00

so my computerS (yes plural i now have a pretty shiny new imac) are back up & running after a very stressful couple of weeks. That means i will be back to blogging next week with lots of exciting stuff including portraits, some more b&w ... & other random stuff! Anyways me & Mrs Duck here just stopped by to wish you all a happy friday & a wonderful weekend!

why we back up ...

2012-01-16T21:46:00.000+01:00

So this really wasn't my plan for today's blog ... it involved lost of pretty pictures & talk of exploration & experimentation & well the fun stuff. Last night my beloved lifeline ... ummm i mean laptop crashed! Yes i am not a happy wee bunny ... but keeping my fingers crossed it will survive (right now it's "reparing permissions"). & i can't lie it is something of a traumatic experience ...

But i am not freaking out ... why you ask? Because (drum roll please)... i back up my work onto external hard drives & my time capsule! Not only do i back up my work but i back up my actions & my templates & anything that if i loose not only could it cause me to break down like a hormonal teenager but financially it could hurt me. Yes having to purchase a new computer is not something that was on my list of things to do this week but the hurt is a whole lot less knowing that my photos of my son are safe, & years worth of sweat & tears (yes you know you've been there too) are good to go. I don't have to go explaining to clients that the shoot they paid for is down the drain.

& whilst i don't get to leave you with something pretty & shiny ... like a cupcake, or my sons gorgeous smile ... i do get to sleep tonight knowing that whilst my computer my die tomorrow i still have what really matters.

ps. send happy thoughts the way of my computer & hope that tomorrow there will be something gorgeous for me to share with you!

experimenting in the frost ...

2012-01-15T15:01:00.000+01:00

This coming week is going to be all about "experimentation" & exploring photography (amongst other things). A little down time has given me the opportunity to explore & have some fun & step outside of my photographic box. Yesterday morning i was able to take a walk in the gorgeous frost & these are the results of my walk ... i love the mix of abstract & light & i'm indulging my current b&w obsession!

happy friday ...

2012-01-13T17:09:00.001+01:00

"A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed."
~ Ansel Adams

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! xx

raining umbrellas ...

2012-01-13T10:27:00.000+01:00

A wonderful photographer i know (she really is wonderful i promise) ... also runs an online creative e-course. & i figured i would share it with you ... because it's january & i know we all get the post christmas blues, maybe a little inspirational slump. So anyways take a look at it ... it's all kinds of fun, not to mention you meet some great artists.

So if you're interested in learning more about this course ... head over to Simply Hue & click on the Raining Umbrellas creative e-course tab (don't you just love the name) & sign up. Plus this coming session is over 25% off.

all things pretty ...

2012-01-10T17:32:00.000+01:00

this is an original illustration by my incredible talented friend ella ... we went to school together & she was amazing back then, well a "couple" of years later you know she only got better! I love how soft & feminine & beautiful her bows are. Check out her blog & her website for more gorgeousness & go like her on facebook because we all need more updates on her pretty!

play time ...

2012-01-10T00:09:00.000+01:00

The one advantage to have some down time is that i'm getting to play around with old work, images that whilst i love composition wise i'm not totally happy with the edit. In the past year i have grown tremendously (& yes yes i do believe modest is such an over rated quality) & my style i feel is really coming into it's own. I'm finding much more of myself in my work & i love it. So i'm going back over old work, experimenting, trying new things & walking away happier because of it. Do you ever do that, revisit your old work? Anyway i wanted to share a few of those with you from my trip to Provence in July of 2010. & hopefully soon you'll see some of these available for sale on etsy or possible my society 6 shop which i really must tell you all about later this week ... don't let me forget!

it's the simple things in life that make me happy ...

2012-01-09T11:47:00.000+01:00

my camera collection ...

this blog ...

i want this print & tee & hoodie & everything ...

running ...

snuggles with jacob!

the nelou & laura show + week 24 = "new beginnings"

2012-01-08T20:08:00.000+01:00

So it's the first week in January & we're back on schedule (big pat on the back for us) ... this weeks theme was "new beginnings".

nelou . me

*photo credit: Lynn Timmons

So i leave you with 2 things ...

1. can you guess the book in my photo?

2. suggestions for themes in the weeks to come!

hopes & dreams for 2012 ...

2012-01-05T16:11:00.002+01:00

I'm not big on resolutions ... in fact i hate them! Why wait until the 1st day of the year to make a change like that, do it now, this moment & follow through. So instead i want to share with you the hopes & dreams of some incredible inspirational people!

"My dreams and plans for 2012 is to spend the majority of my time working on my painting collection, to build a body of work so I am able, hopefully, by mid year to get an agent and have a gallery show."

~ Ella Woolner

{blog}

"2012 to me is a year of opportunities. A year that will bring me to new heights in my carreer. On Jan 1st, I sat down and made my list of achievements for myself and my business in 2012 and my biggest goal on my list is to "Stay true to my style and what I wish to evoke from my art". The rest will follow."

~ Eva Ricci

{website}

"For 2012 I hope I can still work with what I love the most, photography. My dream is to become a full time wedding photographer in North Carolina. I hope I can see my family in Brazil more often, get a dog, enjoy more warm days and spend some time at the beach with my husband.

I wish people would help each other more, the world would truly be a better place."

~ Caroline Lima-Benusa

{website}

"After 10 years of practice & possibility, 2012 is the year that I will learn how to be a yoga teacher. 2012 is an opportunity to take my knowledge to a whole other level, and to continue as a life-long student. For 2012, I hope AND dream to share lots of time & memories with those that I love, and to help others smile more often "

~ Victoria Klein

{website}

"Twenty Twelve for me is a year to live in the moment. To seek and create joy in the everyday. A year to breathe deeply, love deeply, and laugh deeply."

~ Serena Nicole Chapel

{website}

"2012 is all about authenticity and simplicity in my life and business! For me achieving this goal means living everyday with focused intention and attention to that which is most important in my life, truly inspires me and makes me feel genuine joy and a sense that what I am doing is exactly what I am suppose to be doing.

Specifically in my design biz I've realized that I do not have to try to attempt every new marketing tactic, social media site, latest trend, follow the advice of every person who seems to have achieved success, etc. Instead, I will focus on those "mentors" whose message and business knowledge are truly inline with my definition of success, values and goals for my business.

I wish for you & everyone joy, peace, prosperity and an abundance of happiness in 2012!"

~ Tania Welch

{website}

"Well, yesterday I was writing about gratitude, so I guess that my wish & aspiration for this New Year that just came is to continue feeling this way.

Gratitude turns everything into enough and I just can't think of anything better than that. I don't have specific goals to share or at least that I feel are worth mentioning and occupying ... word space. I wish mostly for more openness in people's hearts & minds, less disease, more cures, less abuse, more recovery, less hate, more love, peace on this Earth.

I'd like to find ways to be able to do even a tiny little bit into contributing for a better world each day and by that I don't only mean our advanced societies. I'm thinking about every human being, on every place of the globe.

I guess that's it my dear, thank you so much for inviting me here to take part in your post. Happy, blessed year to you and your family!"

~ Iro Ivy Nassopoulos

{blog}

& mine ... well in 2011 my dream of a little boy came true. In 2012 it's all about the pretty pictures, & achieving my dreams photographically. I want to focus on my fine art, it's where my heart lies & it's where i want my photographic career to be.

What are your hopes & dreams for 2012?

a marbled godwit ...

2012-01-04T16:02:00.000+01:00

Until 5 minutes ago i had no clue what a Marbled Godwit was ... thank you for your help Kristi ... & happy hump day to everyone!

ps. It's available for sale on etsy ...

the nelou & laura show + week 23 = "years end"

2012-01-02T18:39:00.000+01:00

i hope you all had a fabulous new year (& we're finally up to date ... yay) ...

nelou . me

& this weeks theme ... "new beginnings ..."

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

2012-01-02T10:18:00.001+01:00

new beginnings ...

modern family (it's pee your pants funny & so so true) ...

cuddles with the munchkin ...

these stunning ceramics ...

new ventures!

the nelou & laura show + week 22 = "the spirit of christmas"

2011-12-31T16:15:00.000+01:00

merry belated christmas everyone ...

nelou . me

the nelou & laura show + week 21 = "holiday cheer"

2011-12-30T18:08:00.001+01:00

It maybe a little late but here's some holiday cheer for you!

nelou . me

black & white ... in nature!

2011-12-29T17:43:00.000+01:00

One of the many things i have been working in recent months is my black & white & i've remembered how much i love it. The feel is so completely different to that of my colour work, it has a classic & timeless feel, reminiscent of my film days. My original photography shop on etsy is now solely for black & white ... & whilst it has a limited selection of images available right now i plan on adding many more in the not too distant future!

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Gothenburg, Sweden

2011-12-28T17:58:00.000+01:00

So i know this is called around the "world" with fPOE but right now it's feeling much more like around "Europe" with fPOE ... & i can't lie i kinda like. Being english, & living in Germany i love to see the many creative & talented photographers we have in Europe & in my mind it seems as if we've had them flocking (don't you love my choice of words) to fPOE in recent months. It brings fresh inspiration & a new perspective to everyone's work & i for one love it! Anyways so our whirlwind tour of Europe has taken in the sights of England, (not so sunny) Germany, & Latvia in recent weeks & now we're heading up to Scandinavia to check out the gorgeous photography of Karin Andersson. & no that's not Gothenburg in the photograph!

When i think Sweden i can't lie i think IKEA & thank fully i don't get that with Karin's work. There's nothing "mass produced" in her style, it's not something you would find hanging on the walls over every tom, dick & harry (although it would be wonderful it you could) because it is a little more unique. To me Karin's work is incredible pretty, her use of pastels & subdued tones, & small details such as the incorporation of textures bring something seemingly boring to life. I find myself at peace looking at her work, infused with calm & quiet moments. & i love her wonderful composition especially within her fruit pictures. It's as if she found them just sitting there patiently waiting for the right person to come along & photograph them.

a plate strawberries in the grass ...

... a lonely bicycle ...

& a pair of cherries all waiting for Karin's magic touch!

As usual you can view more or Karin's stunning photography in her Etsy shop (where all these gorgeous images are available for purchase), on her website, her blog or flickr.

nick & nikki ...

2011-12-27T15:16:00.001+01:00

Meet Nick & Nikki ... they were the cutest couple, i swear they laughed the entire session! Prior to arriving in Germany 2 weeks back to visit Nikki's sister who's stationed here Nick had been seeing the sights of the sandbox where he has been working as a contractor. They saw each other at the airport for the first time in 7 months. & Nick had surprised Nikki with the shoot! They were gorgeous & so much fun.

chevrons are everywhere ...

2011-12-26T18:56:00.001+01:00

Have you noticed how recently everywhere you look there are chevrons? Ok so when i say everywhere i mean you know etsy, & style blogs & fashion & well those kind of places (basically places i would look but the hubby not so much) ... so i figured i'd share some of my recent favourite chevron finds over on etsy! Just in case you were considering a belated christmas present for yourself!

one . two . three

four . five . six

seven . eight . nine

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

2011-12-26T14:21:00.000+01:00

my munchkin's first Christmas ...

santa went crazy nuts in photojojo ...

messing with old photographs ...

i want this ...

new ideas, plans & all the rest for 2012!

new (ish) listings ...

2011-12-25T19:58:00.000+01:00

I was lucky enough to travel a little this past year & here are some of my favourite new (ish) listings from my travels ... interested in purchasing some of these or other images then just head over to ooh pretty shiny ...

the sound of outer ocean on a beach

"I see nothing in space as promising as the view from a Ferris wheel."

~ E.B. White

the show it state

"Going around under an umbrella interferes with one's looking up at the sky."

~ Jerzy Kosinski

Explore. Dream. Discover

& a couple of new sets ...

um·brel·la

a second spring ...

ps. i will be updating my other etsy shop in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned!

the nelou & laura show + week 20 = "baby it's cold outside"

2011-12-23T21:11:00.000+01:00

Yes we're super late again & we were so close to being back on schedule ... but i'm blaming the weather. It's been horrible & not even close to putting me in the christmas spirit, in fact i simple want to hibernate! So here is our interpretations of "baby it's cold outside" ...

me . nelou

the nelou & laura show + week 19 = "morning"

2011-12-11T09:33:00.000+01:00

morning ...

nelou . me

the nelou & laura show + week 18 = "thankful"

2011-12-05T16:42:00.000+01:00

there are so many many things to be thankful for this holiday season ... what are yours?

me . nelou

free december wallpaper ...

2011-12-02T20:28:00.002+01:00

So i've been working the fabulous Kristen of Ahoy Graphics, incredible talented graphic designed (& booker binding guru) to produce some downloadable wallpapers for your ipad & iphone. & here is this months ... something sure to get you in the holiday spirit!

Click on the link that applies to you ...

iPad

iPad (no calendar)

iPad (home screen)

iPhone

iPhone (no calendar)

iPhone (home screen)

p.s. there is a free downloadable version without the calender for every day of the year ...

...

2011-11-27T20:21:00.000+01:00

the nelou & laura show + week 17 = "guilty pleasures"

2011-11-25T08:53:00.000+01:00

So thanksgiving is over & the count down to christmas has officially begun (30 days in case you were wondering) & we are almost caught up on our 52 week project (yay us)! So here is last weeks theme "guilty pleasures" ...

me . nelou

& this weeks theme is "thankful" & we'd love see you interpretations over on facebook.

the nelou & laura show + week 16 = "alone"

2011-11-21T21:42:00.000+01:00

So yes we are totally behind ... again ... life has this way of happening ... but (& yes i've used this cliche before) ... better late than never right? So here are our interpretations of "alone" ...

nelou . me

& head on back to the blog in a few days for week 18 (that would be last week) & some "guilty pleasures" & then this weeks theme which is "thankful" & we would love to see your interpretations of "thankful". Just post your photo along with a blog link to my facebook page & we will include it in our blog posts next week.

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

2011-11-21T16:31:00.000+01:00

hot winter foods ...

loving this cowl ...

a new coat ...

almost christmas market season ...

"toofers"!

the nelou & laura show + week 15 = "wednesday"

2011-11-16T22:58:00.000+01:00

So i meant to post this a week ago ... don't ask ... but better late than ever right? & yes we are totally behind on posting but we will catch up i promise. So happy hump day ...

me . nelou

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

2011-10-31T16:33:00.000+01:00

stouffurs mac & cheese ...

perfect for Jacob's room ...

animal crackers ...

discovering a wonderful bookstore ...

Jacob!

the nelou & laura show + week 14 = "light"

2011-10-30T21:48:00.001+01:00

can you believe we're over a quarter of the way into this project, seriously time has flown ...

being back in the same time zone makes life so much easier when it comes to project & posting ...

we are back on schedule people (whoop whoop) ...

anyways this weeks theme was "light" which is a much antidote to the 40 degree temperature drop i experienced when returning to grey & dark & winter like germany (yes i miss the sunny warmth of california) ...

so here's our interpretation of "light"!

nelou . me

& next week's theme ... drum roll please ... "wednesday"!

the nelou & laura show + week 13 = "celebration"

2011-10-25T21:02:00.000+02:00

This weeks episode of the nelou & laura show ... celebrating someone's birthday & someone's favourite time of the year!

me . nelou

the nelou & laura show + week 12 = "a little fall inspiration"

2011-10-17T18:54:00.000+02:00

& as promised ... this weeks theme ... "fall"! Yes with all the craziness that has gone on in our little worlds we decided to keep it simple but hey simple can be gorgeous right! So here's a little fall inspiration for you all!

me . nelou

& next weeks theme ... "celebrations" ... since we had a "6 month" birthday & a not so 6 month birthday coming up!

the nelou & laura show + week 11 = "the colour orange"

2011-10-16T18:10:00.000+02:00

due to illness ... & my traveling through various states we have only just gotten around to posting last weeks theme ... & hopefully tomorrow we're posting this weeks theme! phew ... just don't ask us what the theme for next week is because we haven't made it that far, instead just enjoy a little of the colour orange followed by a little fall inspiration! Happy October peoples & now i'm off to the zoo!

nelou . me

giveaway ... WINNER

2011-10-08T21:07:00.000+02:00

& the giveaway winner (the number was generated by random.org) was ... drum roll please ...

Angie at Noodle 'n Thread.

Thank you to all those who entered & i hope you're in the midst of a wonderful weekend! This morning i did a ceramics class (going back on monday so much fun) & now we're off down to the "valley fest" for you know burgers & stuff!

the nelou & laura show + week 10 = "balance"

2011-10-03T19:15:00.000+02:00

yes i know a day late ... but totally worth the wait!

nelou . me

it's giveaway time ...

2011-09-30T03:15:00.002+02:00

So as some of you may know (& i still get a little giddy thinking about it) but i have collaborated with the fabulous Kat of Polarity (& Olive Bites fame) to turn 3 of my favourite prints into a locket:

from atop the hill . winter wonderland . all the fun of the fair

& these aren't just any old lockets but (& in Kat's very own words):

"This amazing magnetic locket set is created from a recycled steel auto part that I have fabricated with love and propane into a magical, interchangeable locket set!"

Anyways of course i have one, & i love it. Ok maybe love isn't strong enough a word about how i feel when it comes to this because it's so unique & different & special.

So of course i have decided to give one away ... & now the hard part (although i think it's pretty easy) ...

For one entree each ...

one ~ head over to "ooh pretty shiny ...", take a look around & come back here, leave me a comment about your favourite print, or a memory you associate with one of my pictures or well just something interesting.

two ~ tweet about my giveaway (@levansphoto) & leave me a comment back here.

three ~ head over to my facebook page, like it (we're all about sharing the love here) & leave me a comment (over there &/or back here).

four ~ tell the world about my giveaway ... on facebook, your blog or where ever. & of course come back here & leave me a comment.

& for an extra 5 entrees ...

five ~ purchase something from my shop & in the message to the seller let me know you've entered the giveaway.

So many many ways to win. The giveaway ends on friday October 7th & i will be announcing the winner chosen from random on the 8th!

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Riga, Latvia

2011-09-27T18:47:00.000+02:00

I'm loving all the new places we're getting to visit right now ... since i began this series last year fpoe has grown in numbers dramatically with members spanning the globe & you're seeing it as once again we're outside of the united states. Europe has many many talented photographers, & recently we visited England, last week Germany & now we're off to Riga, Latvia. Are you excited? I'm excited!! So anyways let me introduce you to Rita Pētersone - Lazdiņa & monography.

Everything about Rita's work screams feminine to me ... soft, pretty, calm ... & we're not just talking pink here. I'm including her urban landscapes & those with tones typically considered masculine. It's easy to see why Rita fits right in with the group, producing wonderful fine art that i feel says so much about her. Here again we have a photographer who haves a great simplicity to her work ... full of details without being over the stop, we are left to imagine what happens next. I love this in photography, i love the beginning of a story, the question mark left hanging in the air of what happens next. I love that you can dream when you look at her photographs of people & places & memories. I know i know i say this a lot, it could just be the kind of person i am (my blog is called "ooh pretty shiny over there ... ") but any image that inspires me as a person is a great picture. It's what makes my world go round.

Love me some roof tops ...

... 2 wheels are way cuter than 4 ...

... who knew colouring pencils could be so pretty!

As usual all photos here can be purchased on etsy ... & you can always head over to Rita's blog to check out more of her work & insights.

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

2011-09-27T01:14:00.000+02:00

relaxing in the states ...

... my photos as jewelry ...

... & i had to have these ...

... excited to explore this book ...

... seeing the hubby in 4 days!

the nelou & laura show + week 9 = "intricate"

2011-09-24T16:23:00.000+02:00

Since the Nelou half of the show has visitors & i am heading down to Kansas city tomorrow & flying back to Cali at stupid o'clock monday morning we are posting a day early (yes i know you're in shock). So here's our interpretation if this weeks theme ... "intricate" ... enjoy!

me . nelou

& next weeks theme ... "balance"!

the nelou & laura show + week 8 = "afternoon hours"

2011-09-21T15:32:00.000+02:00

Due to me being on another continent & a poorly gracie we have been a little later than usual (even for us) in posting ... but here's this weeks "afternoon hours"!

nelou . me

& we're still working on next weeks topic ... time differences make it hard to have conversations.

crossing the pond ... & playing catch up

2011-09-13T20:17:00.000+02:00

So once again i have been sucking at this whole blogging thing ... it's been crazy busy here & time has gotten away from me. But tomorrow me & the munchkin are heading across the pond for the next 6 weeks to spend time with family & friends & the hubby who will be joining us in a couple of weeks. To say i'm a little excited it putting it mildly. I will be bouncing my way around california & taking a trip to MO. So with less distractions i'm hoping to get some posts written, the shops up to date (as well as some changes) & of course there will be some sales & a super exciting giveaway.

So firstly ... whilst i am gone both shops (ooh pretty shiny & love.laugh.believe) will remain open. I will have nothing in stock, & working out of my wonderful mother-in-laws. This means that all items (custom or otherwise) will ship within 7-10 days from California.

& to start the vacation i have a 20% sale going on in both stores as i cross the pond. Just enter the code "JETPLANE" at check out. The sale runs from about an hour ago to thursday when i make it onto a computer. This doesn't apply to either custom listings or shipping fees.

& lastly i recently teamed up with the wonderful Cat of Polarity to create some gorgeous lockets available for purchase. I am so so excited by these!

Also stay tuned for an exciting giveaway ... i can't wait to share this.

I also have a shop over on Society 6 where you can by some of my prints in the form of canvas's, laptop skins & iphone skins. If you have a request for a specific image please let me know. I hope to be adding more items over the coming weeks.

& don't forget to check out the nelou & laura show ... my current 52 week project that's on week 6!

& lastly be sure to check out some of my new listings from my recent trip to the south of france!

the nelou & laura show + week 7 = "there's no place like home"

2011-09-12T21:06:00.000+02:00

click your heels together 3 times ...

me . nelou

next weeks theme ... "the afternoon hours ..."

the nelou & laura show + week 6 = "same view ... different eye"

2011-09-06T20:29:00.000+02:00

This weeks theme was "same view ... different eye" & we chose a slightly different format to "maximise" or wee visit to sunny france! A photo for every day of the week from the 5 main places we visited. & these are those places:

monday :: meze

tuesday :: la couvertoirade

wednesday :: clermont l'herault

thursday :: saint-guilhem-le-désert

friday :: saint-sean-de-fos

Hope you enjoy our "views" & "different eyes" from vive le france & our interpretation of this weeks theme. & don't worry i will be getting more posts up on the blog in the next few weeks & of course there will be many many new pictures coming from France!

nelou

& next weeks theme "there's no place like home ..." ... & we would love to see your "interpretation" (or maybe we're just a little nosy"!

the nelou & laura show + week 5 = "up close & personal"

2011-09-05T20:05:00.000+02:00

Yes yes i know ... a week late ... but well i've been a little busy! A week in france baby (whoop whoop). Anyways here it is ... better late than never!

nelou . me

& next week (that is this week) ... something a little different ... "same view different eye"!

the nelou & laura show + week 4 = "inside my jewelry box"

2011-08-22T13:38:00.001+02:00

like magpies ... we love us some pretty shiny!

me . nelou

All the jewelry you see in my image can be purchased from Violet Bella on etsy.

next weeks theme is ... "up close & personal"!

hair clips, wild flowers & adorable little girls!

2011-08-19T11:30:00.001+02:00

So i am constantly being reminded that i don't share enough of my portrait work here on my blog so figured i'd share a few from yesterdays shoot. I was doing a little product work for a fellow military circle of friends member, Hold It!. The adorable heart clips & bands you see in these images are all hers! Anyways i borrowed a couple of my favourite clients, turns out today is Rylie's 4th birthday so it was perfect timing. Well we headed up to my most favourite location ever (times infinity plus one) for some pictures. The weather was perfect, gorgeous sun & a slight breeze that sent Rylie's hair all over the place. & had so much fun amongst the wild flowers! I can't believe i only started using this location for my portraits this past month, i am positively kicking myself on this one because (& you probably don't realize) so much of my fine art is shot up here. Anyways hope you love them as much as i do & have a fabulous friday!

Military Circle of Friends

2011-08-18T13:37:00.001+02:00

I have often spoken about my military friends ... how much i value their input in my life, how they help keep me sane through the hard times & how they're always there for you no matter what! Well i made some wonderful friends through etsy ... military wives, veterans & family members ... ladies who i know simply through the internet but who are constantly pushing each other & supporting us in our chosen "professions". & these friends have become a kind of "team" ... not quite in the etsy sense since we're not all on etsy but a team who are promoting each other & helping us to achieve our goals. They give advice, make suggestions, help me step outside of the box & no matter what are always there when you need to talk. This group is know as "military circle of friends" & i am incredible grateful to be a part of it.

Anyways here is a list of the shops so you can check out that & find yourself some new pretties!!

yummy goodness ...

Dancing Bears Tea House

Nicole's Homemade Treats

cleaning for you & the home ...

Essentials by Sondra

The Nature's Thread

Lilac Ave

pretties for your home ...

The Chameleon's Attic

Memories to You

Sew Little Time in NC

Wandering Whimsies

Niki's Knick-Knacks

business ...

Orgnizd by Sondra

jewelry ...

Bad Cat Jewelry

Sue Runyon Designs

Army Chic 4 Lyfe

Reyna Red

Wind Dancer Designs

DB Designed

crocheted clothing, accessories & photo props ...

Two Seaside Babes

TSB Accessories

Moose Threads

The Yarn Chick

accessories ...

A Stones Throw

Hold It!

pretties for your walls ...

Beth JT

ooh pretty shiny ...

love.laugh.believe

Creations Anew

little green bird ...

supplies ...

Army Chic 4 Lyfe 2

gifts & party favors ...

Elegant Monograms

for your little ones ...

Fray Baby Bibs & More

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

2011-08-16T16:54:00.001+02:00

This week i have a whole new level of excitement going on. After our quick trip to canada, & england, we then spent 2 weeks in the deep south checking out the stunning photography of Amy Tyler & Sarah Montigue Miller we are heading back to Europe & a country we have yet to visit ... (the country i currently reside in) Germany, & more specifically North-Rhine-Westphalia close to Dortmund. After a week of primary colours, vivid & bright we are hear to check out the more subdued tones of Sofia Olejnik & Detail Loving. Sofie's work is exactly as the name describes, all about the details & she captures them wonderfully. Quirky & incredible unique there is nothing obvious in the angles she chooses, the composition or the way she goes about showcasing her subject matter.

& here again we have a photographer whose art doesn't stop at the photography itself, she incorporates all kinds of outside elements into creating the final product. There's a simplicity to Sofia's work, & whilst the elements may seem strange together of the outside they work creating incredible unique interesting pieces. When you look at a photography there seems to be more to the image, nothing appears quite as it seems. Here again we have an artist who enjoys stepping outside the conventional photography box, using a variety of techniques, different subject matters & experimentation in creating something new & different. I have never had the talent for putting the seemingly random together & always admire it in others.

A camera playing dress up ...

... spring in full bloom ...

... elegance in simplicity!

All the images here are for sale in Sofie's etsy shop Detail Loving. Be sure to check out more of her stunning photography on facebook & on flickr.

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

2011-08-15T20:20:00.000+02:00

getting errands done ...

loving this wonderful group of incredible talented military spouses & veterans ...

i need this ...

if i had a little girl i would totally shop here ...

13 days until france ... 30 days until the US ... & 87 days until England!

the nelou & laura show + week 3 = sky scenes

2011-08-15T10:53:00.000+02:00

our sky scenes ...

me . nelou

& the work of some others who decided to join in this week ...

Emily Crawford

Linda Marie Latronica-Chenore

Lisa Spinella

Mahsa Adeli

Roger Hall

Serena Nicole Chapel

Leah Palmer

Kamryn Jaroszewski

Danielle Walker Woodard

& next weeks theme is ... (drum roll please) ... "inside my jewelery box"

the nelou & laura show + week 2 = showing restraint

2011-08-07T20:03:00.001+02:00

seriously one piece of chocolate a day ... that's just plain wrong!

nelou . me

& next week ... well next week is still to be announced so stay tuned!

newborn photography & me ...

2011-08-03T16:04:00.000+02:00

So with the impending arrival of Jacob i had this plan ... some newborn props, experiment in the studio ... well it hasn't happened. I mean it's not like i haven't taken a million & one photos of him because we all know i can't get enough of him. Every time i tried to photograph him sleeping, put him in one of those cute little poses you see everywhere he would wake up. When this boy is asleep he does not like to be moved. & over time he grew & i just carried on photographing him around the house, on a blanket, in the yard & on our bed & i've come to realize this is what i like. I have nothing against the props, i use them occasionally & i still have ideas for more stylised portraits of him as he grows but what i really love is the natural stuff. He doesn't need a funny hat or to be squished in a container, he can be awake or asleep because this is him at his most natural whether he's crying, yawning, or simply making faces at me. & it suits my photography, its what i'm good at, it's what i enjoy & what i want to continue. If you come to me for your newborn shots they're going to be natural, around the home, in the garden & in my mind a little more personal because of it.

This is my son!

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Ocean Springs, Mississippi

2011-08-02T17:10:00.001+02:00

After a couple of weeks overseas, Canada & England, we headed south to Tennessee & the stunning photography of Dandelion Studio. This week we're staying in the south & checking out the gorgeous photography of Sara Montague Miller. After weeks of whimsical, dream like photography now we get to see another side to fPOE, much simple in concept, clean & contemporary. To my mind Sara sees everything when she clicks the shutter, post procession is minimal, it's all about the moment.

I see Sara's work & i think National Geographic, the amazing colours really pop from the page. So vibrant & full of life. I can picture Sara traveling the world, exploring exotic locations & leave our mouths watering at the prospect of a summer holiday. But her work isn't just about the colour, it's also about a feel, emotion, time & memories. It's a journey through a wonderful glorious technicolour world. But even without the vibrant hues, yellow & blue & red Sara can still create a wonderfully evocative feel through her wonderful understanding of light. & it doesn't matter the season or the subject matter she can still leave you smiling & dreaming of that perfect vacation.

Relaxing on the beach ...

... taking a moment to smell the flowers ...

... an evening spent watching the world go by!

All the above images are available for sale through Sara's etsy shop. & you can check out more of her stunning photography through her blog, her facebook page & on flickr.

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

2011-08-01T20:43:00.000+02:00

week 1 of the nelou & laura show ...

my son's not big enough for this but it's going to be so much fun one day ...

pinterest ...

i want to add this to my collection ...

hubby comes home tomorrow!

the nelou & laura show + week 1 = joy

2011-07-31T17:25:00.000+02:00

what brings you joy?

me . nelou

next week = showing restraint

my etsy wish list ...

2011-07-28T09:35:00.000+02:00

top row

roots and feathers . paulova . milloo

middle row

happy deliveries . present and correct . elisabeth nicole

bottom row

clamlab . snug studio . little cassalina

being a working mum ...

2011-07-27T10:29:00.000+02:00

When Jacob was born my life was thrown upside down ... not in a bad way by any means but his arrival forced me to do something i had been wanting to do for a long time. Since our arrival here in Germany i had been employed at Chilis on base as a server & a bartender. Not the career i had in mind as a twenty something photographer with a degree but it was the best i could do. On the plus side it paid for my equipment, workshops & the studio. But photography is my love, my passion & what i want to do with my life i just wasn't ready to take the leap. & then we throw Jacob in the mix, the realization that i didn't have day care, that it was time to really be a family & that i wanted to see my son grow up. So here i am, a stay-at-home-mum following my dreams.

I asked what people wanted to read about on my blog & one of the responses was for me to talk about being a working mum. I admit i've only been doing this for a couple of months but this is what i know ...

... it's not easy but it's incredible rewarding! I've learnt to edit with one hand & a sleeping baby on my shoulder. There are times when i will put him down (thank god for the car seat, the bouncer & more recently the bumbo) but nothing beats a sleeping baby for precious moments.

... i'm learning to work around his schedule. Thankfully i was blessed with an incredible chilled out baby, he's so happy & content. When i was 5 months pregnant i made the decision to set up a studio in my home o i can shoot boudoir & the occasional child at home without worrying about a sitter. My little munchkin has sat happily in the corner whilst i photograph women in their underwear. Such a lucky little boy right?

... i only schedule shoots every other weekend. One of the things i missed out on when working at chilis is time with my husband, weekends away & more travel opportunities. I can now set my schedule (to an extent you know uncle sam is always going to get in the way), i can work one weekend & spend time with family & friends the next.

... i've had to take my son on a location shoot with me ... the downside to being out & about is that i either have to schedule these shoots when my husband is off work or when i can get a sitter. Now it's not hard for me to get a sitter because i have some wonderful friends who love my son i just hate imposing on people. But occasionally my son is going to have to come with me & i can only hope the client is as wonderful about it as this one was. Plus the fact my son loves being outdoors & it's summer makes it easier though i can't lie i'm not 100% focused on the client (the down side).

I know as time goes on my thoughts will change & practices will increase. As Jacob grows i may get to a point where i need to hire a sitter to take care of him for a few hours so i can focus on my work. The thing about working from home is that as nice as it is to set your own schedule, be able to work all hours & not worry about office politics we don't always focus the way we should, like editing one handed because i have a sleeping son. Before he arrived i could sit down & work my way through a shoot, not worrying if i didn't finish the editing process until the wee hours of the morning. Now I need to make sure i'm in bed at a decent hour as is Jacob.

But i'm not fitting everything in around my chili's schedule & i have noticed that i am more focused on my photography. I'm loving what i am doing, & not tired from dealing with the stress that came from chili's. I can work at my own pace, spend time with my son & i feel (for lack of a better word) more fulfilled as a result. This is the life i want, the dream i had & my happy ending.

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Spring Hill, Tennessee

2011-07-26T12:52:00.001+02:00

Since we started our travels back up we've visited Toronto, Canada & the gorgeous photography of Charlene Precious & then on to blighty & the equally stunning work of PipiPhotography. This is why i started this series, the chance to explore the world of fPOE, to share with you the amazing talent out there & of course to help inspire you & me. & this week we're heading back to the US of A, & Spring Hill, Tennessee. For some reason the name Spring Hill seems appropriate here, it fits the artist i am about to showcase. Amy Tyler is the lady behind Dandelion Studio (another name i love) & some gorgeous whimsical, dreamy photography.

Amy's photography doesn't stop at the click of the shutter, it's as much about the post production process, the creation of a work of art. She incorporates different elements & wonderful textures that leave her images standing out from the crowd. Another photographer who asks questions of the viewer, who creates a story for which the viewer must guess at what happens next. I admire everything about Amy's images, from the simplicity of the composition, the details she showcases in her images & of course the wonderful tones she blends with her textures. & her subject matter is a eclectic mix (a girl after my own heart), she sees art all around her & leaves us gasping for more.

growing up on the farm ...

... soaring above the clouds ...

... & yes another pretty kitty (i can't help myself)!

All these images are available for sale on etsy along with many other equally gorgeous images. You can also check out more of Dandelion Studio on facebook & flickr.

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

2011-07-25T11:39:00.000+02:00

more wildflowers ...

avoiding high school drama ...

this shop (it may have its own blog post i love it that much) ...

starting my 52 week project with nelou ...

a relaxing week of doing things for me!

that friday feeling ...

2011-07-22T09:35:00.000+02:00

Yes it's friday ... that means tomorrow is saturday & the weekend! Ok so my days of the week are currently all over the place & honestly it's been a long time since i've worked a monday thru friday schedule so really "it's the weekend" mean's nothing to me. Plus being married to the military kinda throws most things out the window.

So it's been a crazy busy week in one sense ... lots of shoots, random errands & some running around ... but not so bad that i feel all over the place. I do have a busy weekend ahead but i am excited ... 2 shoots on saturday both up in the wild flowers (fingers crossed for great weather) & an open house sunday. Phew but i love being busy. What do you guys have planned?

Anyways i'm going to leave you with a couple of images from last weekend's trip to Garmisch & a reminded to check out the post about "the nelou & laura show" ... we're hoping to get started next week & need all your ideas.

the nelou & laura show ...

2011-07-21T09:29:00.000+02:00

So my wonderful friend & fabulously talented fellow photographer Nelou have to decided to embark on a joint project for the next 52 weeks! Yes i believe we are a little crazy but we're both in search of some inspiration, & a push & this is it.

Every week we will be choosing a topic or asking you our wonderful readers to choose a topic (you never know there may also be some giveaways in it) which we will then photograph. Some weeks there with be one photo, some weeks a series & other weeks we'd love to see your interpretation. & at the end we want to make a book. It's going to be hard work, it's going to be creativity & i imagine it will drive us a little crazy at times. But most of all its going to be fun!!

To get us started we're asking you for our first topic ... it could be a feeling, a colour, a time of day or your favourite food. Just leave us a comment on either my blog (as in below this post) or Nelou's blog with your idea. So put those thinking caps on (metaphoric or literal) & share your ideas with us. We're excited to see where this journey takes us!

ps. the picture of jacob has nothing to do with the project its just that he's so darn cute ... not that i'm biased or anything!

throwing the rules out the window ...

2011-07-20T08:22:00.000+02:00

So it's driving me nuts but i can't remember where i found this idea ... it was either a blog post or a magazine article (so if you can figure out where i found it let me know) ... anyways the blog/article was about a photographer who started shooting abstract after a car journey or because of a car journey or well something to do with a car journey. The idea being that all the "rules" of a "good photograph" become irrelevant & they really do. & since we were going away for the weekend i decided to have a little fun on the way home. For the first time in my life i shot at f22 simple because i was wanting long shutter speeds, & who cares about camera shake it's simple part of the process. I also discovered that our car windows are incredible dirty but anyways.

So here are the results ... & i really love them! I love the way they feel like a painting, the blending of tones & the smooth flow some of them have to it. I love the yellow & blue of the truck, & how a urban landscape appears in the midst of the trees like a double exposure. There is so much unexpected in this process & so much fun!

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Lincolnshire, England

2011-07-19T09:07:00.002+02:00

Having started our adventures back up last week i'm excited by the new talent i'm seeing here in fPOE. Our numbers have soared in recent months, & the group really has so much to offer. Last week we visited Toronto where i showed you the "wonder" that was Charlene Precious (here work really lived up to the name of Precious) & this week i'm a little giddy because we get to travel back to my homeland, little old England & Lincolnshire a county i have driven through more than i care to remember (I know the A1 a little too well). Anyways because i go completely off on a tangent i want to introduce you to another talented lady, Deb Scudder & her gorgeous shop PipiPhotography.

Deb is one of those photographers who has the unique ability to turn there hand to all genres ... maybe it comes from having an over active imagination, maybe it's just a gift but it's wonderful seeing her move from landscape to conceptural photography, encompassing everything in between. But you can still see a distinct style despite the subject matter, soft & dreamy & she's never afraid of experimenting & stepping out of the box. To me Deb is the kind of photography who will never stop learning, discovering & evolving through her photography, there is no limit to what she can do as far as sharing new & exciting work with us. It's exciting to see her work develop & honestly i can't wait to see where she goes with it.

Oh how i love England's green & pleasent land's ...

... vintage cameras (yes once again a theme is starting to emerge ... & i actually own a minister as well) ...

... & anyone who has read my blog for a while knows i can't resist a picture of a cat!

As usual all the images in this post can be purchased on etsy. You can also check out more of PipiPhotography at Deb's website, on her blog & over on fl ickr.

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

2011-07-18T16:51:00.001+02:00

a weekend escape with the hubby & my son ...

a series i love for ooh pretty shiny (see the below image) ...

a new header on my website thanks to a fabulous friend ...

this book got me hooked ...

my own bed!

my weekend's starting early ...

2011-07-15T10:27:00.000+02:00

As you read this i am either on the road heading down to Garmisch or already there enjoying the Alps! Since me & the hubby some how still manage to have crazy busy & opposite schedules we're getting out of town for a few days of family time & pretty picture taking. Anyways i hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

ps. my wonderfully talented friend Nelou has recently opened her photography shop on etsy & is hosting a giveaway on her blog ... worth checking out!

bad reputation ...

2011-07-14T10:26:00.000+02:00

Reputation is everything ... period ... when it comes to the photography industry. & we all know that word of mouth is not only our best source of advertisement but also the sure fire way of clearing our calender. You may be wondering why i'm writing this ... partly because it needs to be said, especially since it can have a knock on effect & cause trouble for others but also because i've seen a disturbing trend of bad work out there.

The quality of your work is vital ... whilst we all have images that stand out as "the best of the best" (yes i did in fact quote topgun) they should be representative of all our work. Take portrait photography, when i edit a shoot i spend my time on every single image not just editing a couple & not bothering with the rest. People come to me for the because i take the time to create that perfect image or in this case 50 of them, i give it the unique "laura touch" (please no dirty thoughts) & my client walks away more than happy with the product they've received. In fact clients are often surprised with what they get simple because of bad experiences. In this instance the old adage is true ... "quality over quantity" every time.

Another thing i've come across recently is bad communication from photographers or simply them dropping off the radar. I had a client come to me recently because the photographer she thought she'd booked stopped responding to messages. In what world is that considered an acceptable way to run a business ... reminds me a little too much of high school.

Finally it's not just about the photography itself ... i am a great one for not proof reading (thank you to my wonderful friends for pointing out my various mistakes) but this is another area that can get you into trouble. If you don't make the time to check something over you could both put off potential clients as well as loose the ones you already have. I guess what i'm trying to say is that it's not just about a pretty picture but the whole package ... how my blog looks or the way a write my etsy store descriptions says as much about me to a potential client as the image itself. All too often we don't take the time in getting these seemingly unimportant details right when these are the things we have the most control over.

Being the popular kid in the class, choosing quantity over quality & skimping on the details may make you money now but in the long run will leave you hurting. So take the time to be the best & set the standard for those around you.

what a difference a year makes ...

2011-07-13T10:37:00.000+02:00

So i want to tell this story just because i hope sharing it will help at least one other person understand that happy endings do exist. I hope i don't sound condescending or patronizing because at no point is that intended, this is just me telling you the journey we took to get my beautiful baby boy. I also know there are many many others out there who's journeys have been much harder & longer than mine.

This was me a year ago (literally a year ago) ... vacationing in the south of france with some of my favourite people.

I was relaxed & happy, partly because you know i was in the south of france, i mean who can't enjoy that but also because i'd given up on the idea of having a baby. I was no longer absolutely certain what day of the month it was, i didn't know wonder in the days before my period was due if this was "the month". It was an emotional roller coaster to say the least & being at the end of it was an amazing feeling.

rewind 3 years & i married the man of a my dreams (ok maybe not my dreams but the guy i love with all my heart) & 1 month later, as we were getting ready to pcs i discovered i was pregnant. & yes it was a shock i mean we'd been married a whole month & we were moving to a new country & there was a baby on the way. Well once i got used to the idea i was pretty excited. But honestly looking back i can tell you i never really felt very pregnant, yes there were signs but nothing that stood out except i hated the smell of corn nuts. Well we went to hear the babies heartbeat for the first time & there wasn't one. Here i am in a new country, i knew no one & they were telling me my baby had died. I had a "missed miscarriage" & required surgery. It was a pretty tough time for me & my husband.

So we made it through christmas & all i cared about was trying for another baby. It felt like it would make everything better. Honestly i can tell you it doesn't & whatever we were doing wasn't working. & it sucked ... it sucked because i knew i could get pregnant (& there wasn't anything abnormal in my pregnancy it just didn't work) but it wasn't happening. So then the stress sets in & as anyone who's ever had problems trying to get pregnant can tell you we know stressing won't make it easier but it's hard not to. I mean this is, in theory what my bodies design to do ... right?

After a year i saw a doctor & we were told we could be referred off base for infertility treatment. & then my husband deployed so everything was put on hold until his return that spring. I can honestly say not thinking about it was wonderful for me. So he returns & we tried the whole deployment sperm thing ... no luck ... so off we go to the doctors. He has to do his thing into various cups & i have had more ultrasounds, blood tests & "exams" than i care to remember. The result of all this was cysts on my ovaries & a blockage in one of my tubes for which i required surgery. So one laparoscopy later they added endometriosis to the list & informed me "the best cure is to get pregnant". Oh the irony of infertility!

So we tried 3 IUI's non of which worked ... & honestly i hated it. I hated that i was having to inject a hormone on a certain day, that this wasn't how i dreamed of having kids & of how out of control i felt as far as my body was concerned. & then when all 3 failed & they informed us IVF was out only option ... well emotionally i wasn't doing so good. Not that i would really talk about it but you can imagine these are not the words any woman wants to hear. Oh & i was the healthiest i had been for at least 12 years, i don't smoke & i rarely drink (although i do love me a margarita).

I should say for the record now if you know anyone having trouble conceiving please please don't tell them how easy it was for you, to "stop trying" because trust me that's incredible hard to do & that it will "just happen". We don't want to hear this, we don't need to hear this & if you're our friends you will just be there when we need you.

So we stopped ... i wanted my body back, i needed to just be me for a while. To love life again & enjoy my husband. & i focused on my photography & spending time with the people i loved ... including a girls vacation! I should just mention we had some wonderful discussions on our vacation concerning positions & cassie was kind enough to demonstrate a couple (yes i went there)! & laughed & it felt wonderful to be me again!

So i return from france & my husband is in the midst of a major base exercise, working nights, so we barely see each other ... but well it turns out we saw enough of each other. The planets had aligned or something & that week ... no joke ... i knew. I knew my body inside out, back to front & upside down by this point & something was different ... there were signs ... signs that scared the sh!t out of me. I mean what if i was wrong, what if i was getting excited about nothing. So i refused to do a pregnancy test though obviously that wasn't going to help.

& there was crying ... not my husband who was at work he just said "well that's good then" ... but me crying, telling my best friend here who was the only person i'd told about the test. Well actually telling her husband to tell her "yes" cause she was in the shower. & then crying when the doctors called with my pregnancy test result to say that yes i was pregnant. & crying when i heard my son's heart beat & saw his ultrasound (which by the way was the only day to my memory i have ever had high blood pressure).

I can't lie ... physically my pregnancy was easy, the worst part was the round ligament pain around 4 months. But emotionally it sucked, i was worried constantly that something would go wrong. I quit running because i was scared & tired & didn't want to risk it ... & yes i packed on the pounds. & i turned 30. My baby grew inside me, big & healthy & my baby because the "lil dude" &had 10 fingers & 10 toes. & i could feel him move, & he got the hiccups all the time. & i loved him. From the moment i knew i was pregnant i loved him.

& he was late ... now i know you don't want to hear about the birth but if you have to be induced, let me tell you pertocin is the devil. It is an evil evil substance. Don't try & be brave & not take the drugs ... get that epidural because it is amazing. Oh & to all those crazy people out there who don't remember the pain ... trust me i will never forget the pain. But it was worth it looking at my gorgeous, precious baby boy!

He is now 12 weeks old ... & whilst i honestly hope no one has to go through this experience the end result is something i wouldn't change for anything. & the pain & the sleepless nights & everything else in between are nothing compared to that feeling i felt when my son was born & yes i cried & loved him more than i thought possible. He is the most perfect thing i have ever done & as my friend pointed out his is totally "worth the wait".

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Toronto, Canada

2011-07-12T09:18:00.000+02:00

Back in the days of Pre-Jacob i did a weekly blog post ... around the world with fPOE. Being a member of fPOE (female photographers of etsy) means a lot to me, i've been lucky enough to learn from some amazingly talented women willing to help in whatever way they can. This group inspires me on a daily basis! Well If you were to check out the world of these ladies you'd discover an amazing array of styles, composition & all the rest. So with this series i hope to showcase the stunning photography from the group as we travel round the world with these fabulous ladies & see what inspires them.

So our last stop on our world trip left us in Pueblo, Colorado checking out the work of Frankie Kins & Bluemoon Studio (take a moment to check out her gorgeous shop). Well now we're heading north, across the border & up to Toronto, Canada so check out the delightful (don't you just love my use of adjectives) images of Charlene Precious. Now this is my kind of photography ... not that i don't love 99% of photography out there but this is the kind that speaks to me. It has all the elements i love ... vintage, dreamy, whimsical, stunning. It's the kind of photography that opens my eyes & asks questions. The word that really stands out for me "wonder"!

Charlene's work is full of gorgeous soft tones, pretty little details & wonderful composition. I love her subject matters, things that would inspire me also. But on top of these gorgeous images she adds text that just gives them a little edge over similar items, making them stand out from the crowd. I could stare at her photography for hours. The remind me of vintage postcards discovered at a flea market or antique store, of stories waiting to be told & memories of times gone by. I feel like the text is just a tease, the beginning of a fairy tale & i want to know the ending.

I love that Charlene photographs the things that draw me in as well ... an item i collect (& this is a particuarly gorgeous variation) ...

... a place from my past ...

... & very few people know my love of airplanes!

To view more of Charlene's work you can head over to her etsy shop (where all the above images are available for purchase) ... her website ... her blog (which is incredible unique & worth checking out)... & her flickr page. & next week we will continue our adventure somewhere new.