Terrific TOT...The Red Barn Show

While in the Round Top area recently on a photo shoot, I was lucky enough to 

pay a quick visit to the fabulous Big Red Barn Winter Antiques Show.

And while I had rubbed elbows
with this lovely lady a few times previously,

I had never actually seen her work her magic
at one of the big shows...until now.

What a treat it was to spend a bit of time in Theresa Smith's ( aka TOT )

gorgeous space!

Innovative, ethereal and timeless...

feast your eyes on the time-worn elegance of Time Worn Interiors...

Amazing stuff, right?

"The Other Theresa" has a style uniquely her own, 

and you too can behold all this loveliness at the

Spring show at Marburger Farm.

I'll be there, hope to see you, too!

How NOT to Take a Good Photo

 Happy Friday!

I'm super excited to announce that I am FINALLY finished 

editing the over 700 images I snapped

this past weekend at the wonderful Willow Nest photo shoot!

Thank you again  

Linda and Ludmil for your kindness and hospitality!

And now, an outtake.

I was thoroughly jazzed as I began to frame this shot in my viewfinder...

a fabulous centerpiece on their fabulous dining table.

So, uhhh, should be fabulous , right?!

You'd think.

And now, from the do as I say, not as I do files....

Looks pretty okay on first glance, right?

Mmmm hmmm, now look closer....

Recognize the idjit reflected in the shiny pink balls?
Thought so.

:-)

Moving on, I've been so immersed in photo editing this past week,
that I forgot to give a shout out to my girl Maria at Dreamy Whites!

She just opened her completely dreamy online shop, and if you haven't paid her a visit,
you really owe it to yourself to hurry on over.
Just look at some of what Maria is offering...

Gorgeous!

And the winner of my Understanding Exposure book giveaway?

Kathryn at Take My Breath Away

Enjoy, Kathryn!

Go forth and take great pictures!
Just watch out for the shiny pink balls.  ;-)

Happy Weekend!

What If?

Such a big question.

I saw this quote somewhere,

not so very long ago,

and I began to ponder...

What would I do?

I would travel.

Anywhere and everywhere,

with no fear and no boundaries.

I would sing out, loud and proud.

Little known fact, I am a singer.

Albeit, one who has a

fear

of singing in front of others.

I would learn how to fly an airplane.

I would love

fearlessly and without limits.

I would go back to school

to finish up a degree in journalism.

I would speak out more...

about those things I feel most passionately about,

without fear of judgment or reprisals.

I would dance with carefree abandon,

and worry not whether I was in step with the music

{ little known fact number two: i can't dance. not a step. }

I would....and this is for right now....slow down.

Enjoy this moment in time, and the journey.

And you?

What would you do....
if you knew you couldn't fail?

Happy Thursday

:-)

Impromptu Giveaway!

*** GIVEAWAY CLOSED ***

Happy Tuesday!

For all you budding photographers out there,

I've decided to throw a spontaneous, impromptu giveaway!

Because I've learned sooooooo much from this wonderful book,

I want you to have it, too!

If you find yourselves struggling ( like I did ) with the concepts of

Aperture

Shutter Speed

White Balance

and ISO

and you really, really want to take better pictures,

then this book is for you!

The beauty of this book is that you can take what you learn

and apply it to ANY camera!

I went from shooting exclusively on
Auto Mode to Manual Mode
in a very short amount of time,

thanks to this marvelous, easy-to-understand book.

Trust me, if I did it, you can too!

To enter, just leave a comment, I'll pick a weiner this Friday, the 21st.

Good Luck!

Photo Shoot Extras

Happy Sunday Evening!

I've been feeling so guilty that I'm not really at liberty to share 

all the pics I shot this past weekend...

have to wait and see if they're published, after all....

So I took a second look and came up with two
really special shots that I snapped at the

Willow Nest photo shoot that aren't being submitted...hope you enjoy!

Gorgeous lavabo, found on Linda and Ludmil's front deck.

And then there's these two characters just over the fence....

Little miniature donkeys. What a hoot!

They stand there and schmooze until you feed them oatmeal cookies!

Now I simply MUST go out and buy me a 

pair of Sicilian donkeys! Thanks, Ludmil! ;-)

Have a great week, my friends!

Approaching the Dream

I am sooooooo not at liberty to divulge anything yet....

But the publication I did the photo shoot for this weekend....

I sent them some early edited images....

and they LOVED them!!!!!

and.....

it's looking like you'll be seeing me in print again!!!

Speechless.

I never dreamed that I'd actually be able to make a go of it
as an actual published photographer.

Which means....

holy cr@# !

I'M A REAL PHOTOGRAPHER NOW!!!!

{ okay, so they spelled my name wrong...I'm a stickler for the "e", just like Anne of Green Gables }

I can't share the over 700 images with you....yet...but I will  let you know when and where
they will be published, just as soon as I get the go-ahead from the publisher.

And oh yeah....did I mention over 700 images???

If you don't see or hear from me in, oh, say a month or so....you know where I'll be.

Sitting right here.
Editing.
Editing.
And editing some more.

Just slip some food under the door, I'll be fine.

:-)

Dreams come true.

Believe in yourself.

Hang in there.

Stick with it.

Never give up.

Good News Squared

A new week = a new start.

Sounds good to me, how about you?

:-)

I have some really fun and exciting news to share!

I have a wonderful photo shoot planned for this coming weekend...

I will be fortunate enough to photograph the incredible
home and property of the amazingly talented

Linda and Ludmil Marcov of Willow Nest!

I met these two at the Accumulations show that I photographed
this past October, and we became fast friends.

Of course I was bowled over by the sheer beauty of their artistry,

but what impressed me even more was discovering

what genuinely kind and lovely folks these two people are.

And generous too, they have been gracious enough to allow me

to stay with them at their divine property while shooting.
What a couple!

They're showing at the fabulous Red Barn Winter Antiques Show
in Round Top, Texas this weekend,

and I'll be photographing that, too.

I'm not at liberty to say a lot more about this project right now,
but you might just be seeing these pics in print...fingers crossed!

The possibility of being published again is of course super exciting, but ya know what?
Just the opportunity and the experience itself is going to be thrilling !

And the rest of my news?

Well, a most generous benefactor has helped me to fulfill
another dream this past week...

I was able to upgrade to the
jaw-droppingly amazing,
professional grade
Nikon D700 Camera!

This is one serious, bad boy of a camera, but I've been playing it with it all night...
and on Manual mode, no less!...and I am  loving  it.

I just hope I can do it justice!

All in all, it should be an amazing weekend,
and a huge bonus will be getting to see
many old and new blog friends alike. That's always a blast!

I just want to extend another round of thanks to all you sweet folks
who have sent me kind comments and e-mails this past week,
you truly make my heart smile.  :-)

Have a beautiful Tuesday!

WINTER ANTIQUES SHOW

Jan. 15 & 16, 2011

9 to 5 on Saturday and 10 to 4 on Sunday

Big Red Barn

Admission $5 is good for both days

Into Each Life...

"Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;

Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;

Thy fate is the common fate of all,

Into each life some rain must fall"

"The Rainy Day"

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sometimes it comes down in drops

other times, buckets.

My last post was a bucket day.

I had something happen which rocked my world, and not in a good way.

I didn't feel comfortable divulging too much, still don't.

But so many of you were there,

with umbrellas

and smiles

and prayers

and a kind word.

Just like you always are.

:-)

I'm better now, but I couldn't let another day pass

without offering my deepest,

most heartfelt thanks and gratitude for your

love and concern.

Thank you for being my

shelter

when the rains come down.

Happy Weekend,

A Game Changer

It is a term defined as

something that happens
within the course of events

 that has the possibility
of turning
everything
all around.

a change of plans

a re-direction

something surprising
or
even unexpected

sometimes necessitating 

taking to the
root

of previously existing
plans

or goals...

and
chipping  away

giving up on what we thought we needed,

and starting over, if need be.

This isn't your standard New Year's reflection post...

I've had an honest-to-goodness

game changer

occur today.

Something that has prompted me to value 

life 

a little bit more

value those I  

love 

a little bit more

and to re-evaluate my hopes, dreams and ambitions

and to hold them up in the light of  

God's will 

for my life.

I am at a crossroads...

as are we all, in one way or another...

whether we realize it or not.

And so I wait.

I sit and listen, as the game plan remains a mystery.

But this I know...

I have a wonderful  *Coach.

"For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the  *Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you a hope and a future..."

Testing, 1...2...3....Feedback Wanted

I just downloaded Windows Live Writer for publishing my blog posts,
and I’m seeing how this thing works….clear as mud so far!

All I know is....holy cow, you can REALLY make your pics big in Live Writer!!!
As a basis for comparison, scroll down to my previous post...
these same pics were posted there, albeit in much smaller sizes.

{focus intentionally set on the clock...meaning foreground tickets are SUPPOSED to be blurry}

{ditto above}

Tell me....what are you seeing on YOUR computer screens?

It looks okay on mine, but I'm thinking maybe
that isn't the case on everyone else's 'puters.
I mean...seriously...are those second and third pics
just really obnoxiously big, or fuzzy?

Be honest.

Thanks in advance!

Happy Monday!

{  I lost my siggy in live writer.  :-(  }

P.S.
Only three more hours until Bachelor Brad returns, squeeeee!

It's Almost Time...

Have you made your plans yet?

Some of my best buds will be showing at the incredible 

Red Barn Winter Antiques Show

in Round Top, Texas

on

January 15th and 16th

 

I'll be there, too....

snap, snap, snapping away!

Also working on an absolutely AMAZING photo shoot
while I'm in the area, 

more news on that to follow.

WINTER ANTIQUES SHOW
Jan. 15 & 16, 2011
9 to 5 on Saturday and 10 to 4 on Sunday
Big Red Barn
Admission $5 is good for both days

And so it begins....

 

In the great State of Texas, there are FIVE seasons...

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

and

Antique Season!

Folks, get ready, because this fifth season in Texas is gearing up!

The Warrenton  and Round Top shows will be here before ya know it...

are you ready?

Be sure to check out Sweet T's info HERE for the 411
on what a typical year

of Texas junking looks like!

And just to be extra sure that you don't miss a single event,
don't forget to order your very own
2011 Dreaming of Junking Calendar...
my photos are featured here, so bonus!

Have a fabulous week ahead, my friends!

P.S.

Speaking of junking, wanna win a season one set of

American Pickers

DVDs?

Click HERE to enter.