A dream come true

Hi guys...
I know I haven't posted for quite some time but I was waxing nostalgic about my old blog (here) and got to reading some old post and decided I should share something exciting going on in my life.

If you followed along, you'll see that I was heavy into watercolor.  Well, it didn't get any better! LOL.
I've been working very hard these past couple years and this June 10 I will be opening for my own exhibition at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St Joseph, MO.

I will be exhibiting a line of realistic pieces featuring mostly antique things, many that give me fond memories of my childhood.

My opening reception is from 4-7 on June 10 and at that time there's no charge to enter the museum.  I will be in both Campbell galleries on the lower level.

I just want to say that this is probably one of the biggest dreams of my life.  Hopefully there'll be even more but this is a huge accomplishment for me and I'd love to have you there with me!

I've missed my blog at times.  Maybe I'll try to post more!
Thanks for those of you that have always followed along.

Acquisitions and updates

First, I must say, sorry I don't post much any more.  Why?  Well, I have a pretty successful business (2 actually), I'm old and tired, I've been painting instead of blogging (which I find amazingly relaxing and more productive), I feel like I've run out of things to say sometimes, and lastly, I'm not sure much of anyone cares!  I'll update once in a while.  I swear.  The big stuff mostly, it's too mundane for me to post pictures of bees or snowflakes anymore.  I might paint them though!

So, we have some acquisitions in the house since I last posted.  Let me share:

 

Acquisition #1:

We  acquired this guy:

 

 

 

His name is Harley (I'll explain why in a min).  This was him when he was about 2 months old.  He's a boxer/black lab mix and an absolute pain in the ass. (As are most dogs) but he's sure sweet and loving when he's not chewing on your arm.

 

About a day before we got Harley, we got Harley.

 

Acquisition #2:

 

(I didn't take this photo)

 

We went to Harley to buy a hat.  Yes, a HAT.  We came out with a brand new 2013 Harley Wide Glide which looks close to this one in the pic.  That son-of-bitch salesman that sold us the first bike was there, and we get to talking.  I've learned a valuable lesson.  There's a LOT OF PLAY in a brand new vehicle.  Straight of the show room floor you can make great deals, especially at the end of the year.  We are the only people that have ever ridden this bike.  It had .1 mile on it when we took it for a test drive.  Needless to day, we started making ridiculous demands and they said yes to everything!  We ended up getting everything back we'd put into the first bike ($$) PLUS $20. LOL.  Seemed stupid NOT to buy the new bike and trade in the old one.

 

So, Gene said that he got a Harley, so I should get a Harley (dog) and that's how he got his name.  I maintain that my Harley will cost a lot more in the long run.

 

 

Acquisition #3:

My Etsy Watercolor shop

I did the show at the Albrecht-Kemper museum in St. Joseph, MO again this fall and made a LOT OF STUFF.  I had some stuff left over so I thought I'd open an etsy shop to sell some of it.  It's been going GREAT.  Very happy with how it's turned out and I sold a lot for Christmas.  It's a good way to keep painting, get rid of a few things and make other people happy at the same time. :)

 

 

Acquisition #4:

Work space.  I thought I had taken a photo and put it on my computer, but alas, I probably deleted it.  I think I took like 10 photos in November total for myself.   I suck at stuff like that anymore I guess. :(  Just too busy taking photos for other people to enjoy taking photos for myself.  Anyway, we have rented a small space and are adding some drywall, etc to make it into some temporary work space for me to shoot in.  I'll be focusing on Couture Beauty Portraits, ala Sue Bryce.  I'm pretty excited about it.  I've been really sick the entire month of December and haven't been able to work on the space at all.  I'll share for SURE when we get it done.

 

 

Acquisition #5:

 

Not really an acquisition as of yet, but Gene is finishing up his first novelette that he'll be releasing on Amazon in the next few days.  He's been a writing machine lately.  I bought him a writing class this fall that lasted 7 weeks (one night a week) and it reignited his passion for writing.  He's written one full novel, several novelettes and a short story.  He's always been a great storyteller (he tells me the best stuff that happened to him when he was a kid that just makes me belly laugh, I'm trying to get him to write some of those stories down!).

 

I have worked on the cover for him for the book.  I painted it and then worked on it in photoshop.  Probably not my best work ever, but I think it helps tell the story. 

 

His stories lean towards murder mysteries/sci fi and he's improved greatly since he first started.  His instructor told him that he has incredible talented and that it would be a waste if he didn't do something with it.   Do I think we'll be millionaires?  Well, maybe, if anyone could it's him.  But in the meantime he's doing it for fun and keeping his day job!

 

I'll share the link when the book gets up!

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed our update now that you know what's been going on in our lives.  I could promise to post more often, but I don't want to lie to you.  What I will say, is I'll try to post interesting things as they happen so you know we're not dead yet.

 

Happy New year!

 

Overwhelmed

Totally overwhelmed.
Fer realz.

I've determined that if I don't sleep for the next 3.2 months, I will be half way caught up with my life. On the flip side, creating some of the best work I've ever done.
Check out my facebook page for my latest stuff.  It seems it's the one place I can keep updated.

I'm learning to say no.

No, I don't need to make banana bread just because the bananas are going bad.
No, I don't need to keep a coffee mug just because I had it when I was 9.
No, I can't take on any more projects, jobs, dreams, money making ventures, etc.

I've hardly any time for myself anymore and I've come to hate summer because of it.  Which is pretty sad considering it's been an awesome summer.

In other news, my step son is moving in with us soon and that's really pushing my anxiety levels.  I've emptied the guest room.  Now cleaning Tanner's "empty" room (he's gone off to school and is staying in town).  My dining room is stacked to the hilt with crap I need to sell off this weekend.   I've said NO to selling antiques but I'm *this close* to just putting it in tubs in storage.  Which would be really bad news.  I'd leave it there another year for sure.

Oh, and I'm getting a studio.  Gotta remodel that in the process.
I'm thinking having Michael (step-son) here will be a good thing, maybe he'll be able to help out us old folks a bit.

So many things I'd love to share, but I have to get back to editing, you know, those dang brides want to see their photos!
How dare they!

feeling hot hot hot

 

In the summer slug of it all.  Trying to keep up with all the photos everyone wants, and have some sort of life at the same time.  Blogs are being neglected!  However, I wanted to share this photo, pretty proud of how it turned out.  One of my families I've done all their photography for around 3-4 years now.  They love wacky out there sort of ideas, and their youngest (a senior this year) was no different.

 

This is a composite shot of three images (senior, chair on fire with background and dramatic sky).  Probably have around 2-3 hours worth of editing in it.  It's not *exactly* how I pictured it, but it's pretty close.  Had to learn a whole much of new things to make this photo look realistic.

 

I love conceptual work.  If I could shoot nothing but concepts the rest of my life I'd be a happy little bunny.

 

If you're needing any type of photography work, check out my website!

 

OK, I'm alive

OK so that's the longest that I've ever gone without posting.  Thank you all for still checking in, and heck, I even appreciate the anonymous hang up call (pretty sure I know where that came from). lol.

I think I just needed a break from the blog for a while. I've been doing this for around 7 years now fairly regularly so I must have needed some free time to relax.  I've been trying to write a post for a month now.  Finally decided to just do it and get it done, because I'll have way too much to update everyone on if I don't.

Here's some of the things that's been going on in my life.

- Tanner Graduated from high school.  I know, right? 

 

Pretty proud of that kid.  He's not an honor roll kid, but he's a leader and being a leader will get you a long way in the world.  He was the head of the relay for life team for his entire work place (which is a big deal for an 18yo) and they keep talking to him about moving into a management position.  He could totally do it and make  career of it too - while going to college.

 

He also had his last prom.  It was the same day as his girlfriend's high school graduation, there was a bit of stress over the whole thing, but we all worked it out ok.

 

 

******

 

 

Because this happened.....

 

This happened.....

 

My little sister had her baby.  Her name is Bristol and she's probably the cutest baby in the world (mainly because she looks like me).  Whodathunk it?  My baby sister has her own baby.  She's a really good mom.

 

The irony of my baby graduating just days before she was born was not lost on me.

 

******

 

I've painted a couple things:

 

 

I've been trying to paint more for fun lately (obviously).  I also painted a set of Harry Potter wands which turned out pretty awesome, they are not scanned yet.  I probably will add them to an etsy and sell prints.  I'm saving every nickel I make from painting on a dream vacation.  I don't know where the location is yet, but when I get a few grand saved up, I'm out of here.  Most likely I'll come back with a tan in the process.

 

Speaking of painting, I signed up for an acrylic painting class for the summer.  Pretty excited about it.  I love hanging out with other creatives.

 

******

 

Speaking of Harry Potter, I have been reading a lot.  I finished all the HP books and now I'm half way through the Hunger Game's trilogy.  I have only wanted to slit my wrists about 6 times.  I'm crossing my fingers that it gets a little less depressing soon.  I keep dreaming I'm Katniss and the world is kicking my ass.

 

I think all this reading screens is blowing out my eyes.  I really need glasses but I've been in denial.  Plus I don't know how to shoot with glasses on.  I've been depending on the camera a lot to be in focus on it's own.  So far it's working.

 

*******

 

 

 

 

While looking for photos for Tanner's graduation slideshow dvd I made him (which was really hard for me because I had no idea what I was doing), I found the first photo I took of the house:

 

 

I'm so amazed how different it looks now than it did back then so I thought I'd share with you what we do on almost every free weekend we have:

 

So many new things here that weren't there before like a whole new porch, brand new roof, the front door was switched with the window.   It's not done yet but it looks like a completely different house now.  I think the neighbors have finally decided that we're not white trash after all.

 

Fooled them! ;)

 

Right now we're lining the inside of the living room wall (facing the front of the house) with carsiding wood tongue and groove.  It's really pretty!  Eventually the house will be covered with log cabin siding so we're going with a rustic feel to everything we do in the house.

Honestly?  I regret wood floors.  My feet hurt all the time.

 

******

 

We have a really big, life altering event happening soon (can't tell right now until it's official).  I'm literally sitting here waiting for the phone to ring (they were supposed to call hours ago).  If all goes well, it will be one of my proudest moments of my life. 

 

******

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm about half way through my wedding season and still booking for this year!  I will probably only take a couple more weddings and then consider myself full for the year.  I have no idea how those people do it that shoot 50+ a year!  It's going a lot faster than I thought it would.  Of course, I'm behind schedule on processing.  Working in two places is hard yo.  I'll get it all figured out somehow. 

 

******

 

Getting myself back into shape.  When Gene lost his job I stopped my nutrisystem program I was doing really well with.  I've gained back a bit but still down from before.  I HAVE to get healthy.  You know, typical reasons (besides my modeling career of course.)

 

Pretty sure I have gallstones.  Hold me.

 

*******

 

 

The glass shop is doing well.  If he's not installing glass, he's out beating the streets drumming up business and making sales calls.  Failure is unlikely with him, and even then he'd go down with a major fight. Gene said the other day "I never thought I'd see numbers like this again."  That's a big deal for him.  He's turned into a fairly optimistic kind of guy.  He's definitely happier than he's ever been in his life, and it's not just about business either.

 

In a few days it will be our 5th anniversary.  I still haven't decided what I'd like to do special.  I really want to go somewhere - on a plane - far from home.  We'll see.  We are doing great.  I'm so lucky I met the love of my life.  I can't imagine anyone better suited for me than him.  We still treat each other like we're newlyweds and I don't see us changing that part of our lives.  We're pretty blessed.

 

 

OK, I that's all the updates I can think of at the moment.  I'm sure I'll think of 27 more 3 minutes after I hit "publish".  But maybe that will now give me an excuse to update at least once a week.