fresh paint & ice cream

I painted the living room blue.
It makes my heart glad.
See more pics here.

Tonight we finally decided to chase down the ice cream truck that has driven by our house each and every warm night playing happy music to treat Poppy to her first strawberry sundae.

Daddy dressed me and fed me ice cream.

It's good to be me.

go gently & be wonderful

e.

I have decided to give my heart to film. 

Not because I think it will make me rich or famous, but because it feels right and honest.  The more I look at film photos, the more deeply in love I tumble.  The light grain, the depth, the richness, the colour and the honesty.  I want it to be my main focus and expression of what I see.

If I am being honest with myself, I can't say that I have given the craft and science of photography my whole heart ever, but now is the time.  Shutter speed, aperture and ISOs are mysteries to me despite the amount of reading and research I do, but I realize that it can't be impossible.  In  my previous post, I mentioned that these settings don't interest me {and they really don't} but I must make fast friends with them so as not to waste money on rolls and rolls of film.

My film SLR light meter is broken and have no idea how to set the shutter and aperture without it.  My DSLR makes it far too easy to use the auto setting.  So after a little research, I decided to purchase a used Lomo LC-A on Ebay for an in between film ice breaker sort of plan.  I plan to make use of all of the cameras I am so blessed to have, but I need to restart the process and take the time with each step without being overwhelmed.  Work my way up and enjoy the small victories.  Take the time and realize the value of each frame.  In a world of digital cameras and photoshop {an art in and of itself} anyone can take an impressive shot, but I am learning that knowing how to use the camera and having the eye is the greatest talent of all.

Until I master the manual settings of a camera, I cannot, and will not consider myself a "photographer".  And so, I need to do it for myself.


go gently & be wonderful
e.

P.S.  If anyone has vintage film camera or affordable light meter suggestions, I would love to hear from you.

we have a little winner!

A pretty collage made up of my flickr faves - taken by many talented others!

{1. Untitled, 2. a dinner with neighbors ii., 3. a dinner with neighbors iii., 4. Untitled, 5. the light from our window., 6. the dinners that we make., 7. my grandma's quilt, 8. vintage bicycles, 9. Untitled, 10. First Yashica TLR result - Poppy and Playmobil in Prague, 11. paper garland, 12. Untitled, 13. tiny pots, 14. test run, 15. Untitled, 16. it's snowy out there, 17. bird feast, 18. happy solstice!, 19. decking the studio, 20. looking in..., 21. Untitled, 22. too early?, 23. Untitled, 24. changing, 25. The largest hot-air balloon gathering in the world, Chambley, France. So far today, more then 150.000 views and 5.700 Faves!, 26. Untitled, 27. Untitled, 28. grapefruit, 29. boots, 30. chandelier}

The winner of my of my little giveaway thanks to the random number generator is ecoMILF!  Please email me your mailing info and I will get your surprise prize out to you as soon as it is created!  Thank you to everyone who helped out!  You're the bee's knees.
 
ecoMILF said:  flat spoons, rocks and feather and chooks.... those are my faves... but they're all lovely! xo m.
 
go gently & be wonderful
e.

note to self

the world of film photography...

{sparkle by abby powell-thompson}

{read her blog}

{check out her shop which is having a clearance sale}

I have been deeply inspired to begin experimenting with an old Praktica LTL film SLR {that originally belonged to my grandfather}given to me by my Aunt Cheryl a couple of years ago. I recently found an article about Abby Powell-Thompson of "abby try again" in the February-March issue of Artful Blogging and have been thinking about her story ever since. 

I love photography and always have, though I have often felt frustrated with it. I love getting just the right angle or capturing the right mood, but cringe when people ask me about settings, lenses, or other technical garble.  That stuff doesn't interest me.  Some professionals hate me for saying this, but the only thing that interests me is taking pictures of the beauty and magic I see around me.  I don't need to be a professional who can talk the talk, I just want to express myself and what my eyes see.  I have read the best books and articles about shutter speed, ISO, and aperture until my eyes go crossed only to promptly forget everything I just read and snap away until I get the photo I want.  Honestly, I have always just wanted it to be more organic.

I think that is why my heart leaped when I began reading her article. One day she just picked up a film camera (a Yashica tl-electro which seems quite similar to my film camera) with a broken light meter {same with mine} and, without paying attention to settings or film speeds, took some beautiful photos and has continued taking gorgeous photos ever since!

{slips by abby powell-thompson}

I do love my Canon Rebel xsi and many of the photos I have taken, but my pictures still tend to lack the imperfect, dense brightness and mood that I so crave and have always craved. I find myself searching for ways to give them a more authentic look with photoshop.  I brighten and lighten in hopes of gaining a more authentic, vintage feel I am seeking.   Often, I find something that makes me happy, but still ache for the real thing.  I still intend to use the digital on a regular basis, but would like to try something new in hopes of finding what I have been looking for all along.

I have three rolls of film that I have shot over the past two years with the film SLR, but am a little nervous to have them developed for fear of being disappointed once again.  I suppose the first task is to have these films developed, see what they hold and go from there. In the meantime, I would love any advice with regards to film speeds best suited to this sort of grainy, bright photography or even other vintage cameras that may be a good place to start. I am also thinking about experimenting with expired film and would love any thoughts you may have!

{lovely ladies by abby powell-thompson}

Please feel free to leave links to other photographers that shoot in a similar fashion or style. Whether it be yourself or someone you know, I would love to check it all out.


go gently & be wonderful
e.

begin weaving and the Universe will provide the thread...

I am learning to enjoy the process of planting, digging, weeding, transplanting, seeding, and getting dirty. Getting dirty and allowing Poppy to get dirty is a little difficult for me, but I am getting better at it. Poppy, on the other hand is a complete natural and a pretty great teacher. She sprinkles dog food, dirt, cereal and toys like it's fairy dust, dips her half eaten apples into the earth, plays in every ounce of available water as though it were her very own swimming hole, and never stays clean for longer than 10 minutes. Lucky for me her love for bubbles and baths is equal to her love of grime and dirt.


I wake in the middle of the night with my to do list scrolling through my mind and my limbs twitch with some returning creativity. I am busier and more joyful than I have ever been and am often astonished that I ever thought staying home with Poppy couldn't happen. I am a huge believer in making a decision and allowing the Universe to rise up to meet me and encourage others to take a leap towards what matters to you regardless of how impossible it seems. People arrive in your life, opportunities present themselves and life flows through you.

I used to blog nearly everyday, but sometimes feel like I have nothing of great importance to say. I am trying to re-learn the art of recording daily life as bland or as normal as it may be and remember the magic of so many moments.


grass seed planted
gramma's car has been sold
one good sized clump of rhubarb and an unknown amount of lilies have been transplanted from our nice neighbour's yard
crafting supplies have been ordered
bills, taxes and loans have been paid
13 wild cedar and spruce trees have been planted along the crooked fence courtesy of my step dad
a peaceful nook perfect for picnics, naps, reading, sipping and chatting has been created under a tree complete with two Muskoka chairs {an early birthday present from my mom}, a butterfly house, and a galvanized tub full of mums
Poppy has learned to twirl herself dizzy and climb to the top of the stairs {not always in that order}
the rain has made every leaf, bud, and seed swell and explode into a most lovely chorus of colour and dance

This has been the most seductive and intoxicating I have ever remembered a Spring to ever be!


P.S. I you have the time, I would so appreciate your feedback on the photos I have narrowed it down to "feature" at the Bobcaygeon Farmers' Market this summer. Go HERE and let me know what photos are your favourites or that you would like to see if I were coming to your local market.

I am trying to stay with a summer vintage, fresh, simple sort of theme and will be creating wallet sized glass magnets with copper tape frames, inspirataion clothesline sets with 5x5 prints, and 5x5 prints mounted on stained wood.

In return, I will send a random reader one of their faves in a surprise format chosen by yours truly. To enter/help out please leave a comment on this post with the photo numbers of your favourite shots and I will announce a random winner on Monday, May 10th, 2010! Please note that I won't be able to include you in the draw unless you leave a comment so those who have already helped out on Facebook and want to be entered be sure to leave a comment here!

go gently & be wonderful
e.

Inspired by Lindsey Alyce I decided to tell you my own little story...

If I were to write a small story today it would be about...

wind weaved hair
tanned hands
sun-kissed shoulders
breathing fields
whispering trees
naked babies
picnics in the long grass
lemonade & iced tea
rows of green
overflowing baskets
long driveways
wooden screen doors
peeling paint
dancing curtains
dirty feet
happy chickens
sun warmed tomatoes
flapping laundry
dancing barefoot by candlelight
tales of bravery & beauty
sleeping babies
warm quilts
soft words
a room without walls

What would your story be?


go gently & be wonderful



e.