DEREK 2010

DEREK 2010

DEREK 2010

Here I go again, my son Derek who is right behind my daughter Samantha in age will be going off to collage next year. And as my friend Melany Hallgren and I were taking his senior pictures I couldn't help but get a swell of emotions while we were shooting! For one he was winning a bit, so I was irritated (lol!) But at the same time here I was taking pictures of this man who is 5"11 and trying to remember the little boy who always wanted to sit on my lap! I'm not sad to see both my oldest grow and leave, I'm excited! I know they have so much to offer, and so much ahead of them. I'm excited for both of them. I can't wait to see what wonderful adults they will become!!!

Nature Haiku By Allison Liddle

Photography by Scottie Magro

I can feel myself
Relaxing as the water
Rushes past my feet


Birds voice their beauty
As they are gliding over
Touching the tree tops


As I look into
The river water’s mirror
I can see clearly


At night in the plains
The crickets practice their songs
Mating melodies


The stars shine so bright
Heaven can’t be miles away
For it is right here

Cider Mill

Alanis Morissette | Head Over Feet

 

I had no choice but to hear you
You stated your case time and again
I thought about it

You treat me like Im a princess
Im not used to liking that
You ask how my day was

Youve already won me over in spite of me
Dont be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Dont be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldnt help it
Its all your fault

Your love is think and it swallowed me whole
Youre so much braver than I gave you credit for
Thats not lip service

You are the bearer of unconditional things
You held your breath and the door for me
Thanks for your patience

Youre the best listener that Ive ever met
Youre my best friend
Best friend with benefits
What took me so long

Ive never felt this healthy before
Ive never wanted something rational
I am aware now
I am aware now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQJ4_QgLwLc

M.I.C.E. Mini View with Lori O'Connor of Basement Art Creations

Interview by Scottie Magro

Lori O'Connor of Basement Art Creations is a great photographer, a helpful person and has a eye for color and quirky cuteness. You can't help but love her items.... ( I should know I own three!)
Getting to know Lori and "bumping" in to her at many art show's has been a pleasure and rewarding, she is witty and fun to talk to!.

I asked Lori three question for our little interview. This is what she had to say:

1.What Camera do you use ( as a photographer myself I always love to know)?

Ever since college, when I bought my first “refurbished” Canon AE-1, I have been hooked on Canon Cameras. I put that camera through the ringer and it always worked great for me. Seeing that it was already on its second life and was eventually held together by electrical tape (dropping your camera while trying to take photos at a concert with a cast on your hand really hurts in more ways than one!) I was always amazed by the wonderful photographs I was able to produce. When it came time to switch to digital I was impressed and quite pleased to find that wonderful Canon quality was also present in their digital line of cameras. I am currently using the brilliant Canon EOS 30D SLR and while it has a ton of extra features, I still tend to use it as a standard SLR (sans the bells and whistles if you will).


2. How did you get started ( what sparked your idea to take photos of cute little items)?

I have been taking photographs for a big chunk of my life, working at a newspaper, doing freelance for magazines, musicians, weddings, babies, pets, products for catalogs and product photos for websites, I have kind of run the gambit of photography jobs. With that said, I have always been attracted to the small and peculiar! I enjoy having to scoot in and take a closer look at an object and this seems to lend itself to the type of photographs I have been creating. When I had my son my choices just kind of fell into place. After a fun day of photographing him being goofy, he placed a couple of his wind up toys on the stool next to me and when I looked over I thought “hey, I like that” the way they were grouped together just caught my eye so I snapped a few shots and the photograph “What...What Did He Say?” came to life! After that I just made a conscious effort to start photographing only the things that I really enjoyed photographing, things that made me smile and things I found intriguing. So far...it seems to be working out OK!


3. You seem to have a bright color scheme going. Do any colors or items really attract you? ( I'm a black and White person....but your items are very colorful...so what draws you to that?)

It is funny because I never thought to myself “lets do something colorful”, it kind of just happens! I love black and white photographs and often take them myself. I love deep, dark, rich colors (my house and wardrobe are filled with them!) ...but for the many fun items I choose as subjects I just try to stay faithful to what feels right, what makes an image stand out and grab attention. Sometimes it’s muted, soft, somber tones but quite often it ends up being bright, bold and colorful as well! I don’t think there are any specific colors that I favor over others but I do like it when there are a limited number of colors present (one or two for the really bright photos)!


Photographs:

1. "What...What Did He Say?"
2. "Clive Exercise In Expressionless Expressions - Two" - Clive seems contemplative...
3. "Dance Like No One (Living) Is Watching" (this also seems to be a customer favorite too!)

You can visit Lori at any of her web sites:
www.BasementArtCreations.com
www.BACLORI.etsy.com
www.BACLORI.1000Markets.com
www.BACLORI.artfire.com

Cameras are so cool!!!

Not only can we do wonderful things with them...like Ttv and my fave the Holga...But taking pictures of them and wearing them as art...thats sweet as well!

New cool items from SEEDS Studio

www.seedsstudio.etsy.com

I am so geeked about these new pendants I created...can't wait to sell them during the Ferndale DIY Street Fair!

Ferndale DIY Street Fair September 18 -20

Come visit me and Jill at our booth during the DIY Street Fair - Sept. 19th 11-midnight and Sept. 20th 11-9, 9 Mile & Woodward, Ferndale.

So excited, lots of fun!!!! www.diystreetfair.com

M.I.C.E. Mini View with Barrel Of Monkeys's

M.I.C.E. logo by Jill N. Hamilton-Krawczyk

M.I.C.E mini with Barrel Of Monkeys's

Jill N. Hamilton-Krawczyk.

For many of you who do know and some who may not. Jill and I have been friends for almost four years now. I met Jill when we both worked at Michael's craft store. I was always amazed at her drive! She was going to school at the time and very determined to become a Graphic Designer. It seemed like over night she not only earned her BA in Graphic Design from Madonna University in July of 2008, but now she works for Madonna University as the schools graphic designer! She is one of the most successful M.I.C.E members on etsy with 4,727 sales and counting. She is talented, funny and extremely gifted when it comes to her artistic flair and her savvy business sense!

I asked Jill three questions:

1. What is your favorite item of yours?

2. What is your inspiration?

3.Where do you see your shop in 5 years?

Here is what Jill had to say:

1. What is your favorite item of yours?

My favorite item usually tends to be the button I just finished designing! But I do have some consistent favorites including:

Halo & Horns - my silly martians from outer space

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_1&listing_id=28311162

and my Cute Little Owl button (which was a design I originally created for my niece and then made it into a button)

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_1&listing_id=28311109

I'm also digging my new retro Dear Deer square button necklace

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28112441

but I have created so many that it's hard to pick only one or two.

2. What is your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from lots of different sources - color combinations I happen to see, phrases, shapes, what happens to be "in" at the time, experiences - the good and annoying (that's where the sarcastic ones come from). A lot of times my customer's custom requests turn into buttons designs offered in my shop. And then a lot of the really GREAT ideas come from my very good friend Scottie who is very clever and witty!

3.Where do you see your shop in 5 years?

Continually growing... more designs, more products. I'm addicted to buttons! Currently I offer 1.25 inch round, 2.25 inch round and 1.5 inch square items. Maybe in the future I will another button machine or two of different sizes to my arsenal... we shall see. But one thing is for sure - my shop will always be evolving.

OBSESSED With Alice.

Out of all the stories and characters we read as children. I can't help but feel very drawn to the simple art work and curious story of this little girl and her adventure. We can relate to her in our every day life's. In peculiar situations or even with odd relatives. A crazy uncle, a dominating mother in law, odd coworkers and mix them up with our everyday life. I love Alice and all the wonderful versions of Alice out there..... She is reinvented and recreated in so many ways. How many artist have interpret and intertwine her story, her face and her ever challenging endeavors? A simple little tale, A simple little girl and her extraordinary impression on artist everywhere!

Art Work by Scottie Magro

LOVE 7-31-98

It has been 11 years since Emil and I were married. I could not imagine in all my life that I would be with the most perfect person. No matter what has happened or will happen in my life, in our life, he is the most beautiful person that I have ever known. The person that I can say I'm proud to know, in awe to be around and who is the love of my life. How lost was I with out him and how complete I am with him. You have one life to live and how fortunate, lucky and blessed to have my one life with my true love, my best friend, my most amazing husband, the love of my life.

M.I.C.E. Mini View with TiLTcreations

I am creating little mini interviews with members of M.I.C.E , Michigan Indie Crafters of Etsy a etsy street team dedicated to promoting Michigan artist and crafters. miceetsy.blogspot.com/http://groups.google.com/group/micetsy. I ask three questions about my favorie item of theirs. My first mini is with Teresa Thompson of TiLT creations.

My three questions to TiLTcreations were:

1 With kids where do you find the time? ( I always want to know that answer!!!)

2 What's your greatest inspiration?

3 The best thing about your item ( or item's.) Here is what Teresa had to say!

"TiLTcreations
1) Time? Um, I magically add more ever day...don't believe me? Me neither. I just take full advantage of nap time and since my youngest is 4 & goes to bed at 8pm...I work in the evening until my eyes won't stay open any longer or my hands can no longer sew straight. Preschool rocks too...but it's only 3 hours & I usually do my computer time then .2) Inspiration? I wish I knew. I love hearing about people who have specific things that spur them into creative action...but I just make stuff after it pops into my head. Occasionally there is something > like my Venus bags - the alien pods from the movie Aliens brought that one on. And of course the Whedonverse - that brings about many ideas, mostly in the embroidery & stuffie realms.

3) The best thing about my stuff? Aside from going beyond your basic totes...each one is truely it's own. One of a Kind can apply to any item made by hand, even if it's the same thing over & over since it is impossible to recreate exactly. But with mine, I never even use a certain fabric more than once on a style...so it's very OOAK (unless custom ordered). I line all my bags (except market totes), use a triple stitch on the stress seams & I always have fun with it...just take a quick peek into the bags to see the linings I tend use or the theme of the embroidery (like on this bag)"
Listing: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27030655

SHOWS SEEDS STUDIO WILL BE @...Come visit me!

MICHIGAN SHOWS!
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-IaRt: Interactive Art Festival - July 25th 11-9 and July 26th 10-3, 5 Mile & Beech Daly, Redford Twp. http://www.rpaconservancy.org/

DIY Street Fair - Sept. 19th 11-midnight and Sept. 20th 11-9, 9 Mile & Woodward, Ferndale. http://www.diystreetfair.com/

Walled Lake MarketDay - Sunday, August 30
11 am – 5 pm