Fortune

The purpose of this Polaroid is twofold. Let's start with the big BIG news first. I made a book! Just last night, I uploaded 142 pages of photo goodness to Blurb, and I'm now very anxiously awaiting the arrival of my copy of Into the Woods: A Season on the National Forests. It's not available to the public just yet; I want to check it out first and make sure it's ok. I have to admit that this book was mostly motivated by #2 on my list, although it's not specifically Polaroid and it doesn't span those years, I feel like I accomplished my goal. Plus, I think my initial goal was a little grandiose. If I made a book with all of my Polaroids from 2005-08, it would have been a 350+ page book. So, this one is a much more affordable option! Inside are over 160 photos: color, b/w, Polaroid, film, and yes, just a few digital. It spans my entire season with the Forest Service, and I am so very proud of it. So that's it. That's my news. Oh, and this image? It's in the book.

Secondly, this time of year it's very easy to get caught up in the hurried flurry of shopping and baking and decorating and partying, but in between all that busy-ness, I realize just how fortunate I am. It's been a weird year for me, what with an extra job and all the traveling that came with it. My husband has had an insane year of work and full-time school, and it's just now dawning on me that this will be my first set of holidays without my grandma. But still, I am so thankful for my marriage, my home, my family, my job(s), my friends, my traditions. Tomorrow will be filled with amazing food made by my amazing dad, and there will be a whole lot of laughs and stories, and even more mooches and squeezes from my niece and nephew. It will be a happy day, and I hope yours will be too. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

Hit the Ground Running

What a whirlwind the last couple of weeks have been! I've been absent from this space for a little while because I was in New York City! The last post was made from the hardwood floor of my friend Heather's apartment in Manhattan. Isn't that crazy? I've always wanted to see the city -- last time I was there I was 8, and I only remember the throngs of yellow cabs -- but I never really thought I'd ever go, but I did! I have a million photos to share, but first, I have to tell you why I've hit the ground running. Last Wednesday night, as I had just zipped my suitcase shut for my NY adventure, Cynthia at Blazing Needles, the lovely yarn shop I visited two weeks ago to re-learn how to knit, invited me to show/sell my work at her first-ever local artist night tomorrow from 6-9pm in conjunction with gallery stroll. I've been running around like mad, gathering ribbon to package my brand new (brand new!) note cards, ordering prints, driving to Ikea during rush hour traffic to buy new frames, meeting with Cynthia, and tonight, I'll be framing 16 prints. I'm so excited about this event, and I can't wait to get my display all set up!

So, in closing, if you're in Salt Lake City tomorrow night from 6-9ish, stop by Blazing Needles to see beautiful work by textile artists, woodworkers, jewelers, potters, and me! 1365 South 1100 East. Start your holiday shopping right here.

PS: The lovely knitted "hand shoes" up above, yeah, they're at Blazing Needles. It's such a cool place. Just come.

Rooftop

This is an odd post for this nature girl, but tonight, I got to hang out with both the model and the photographer who made this awesome shot. My friend Heather made this photo and it is among the top 10 finalists for Armani's photography competition. Please, please, please go cast your vote for Heather. It would be a huge thing for her, and for Whitney, her model. Go cast your vote here!

NightPolaroiding

It's Polaroid Week and it's Thursday and I'm just now getting my head in the game. Monday would have been my day to get out and shoot, but I was on a Forest Service field trip all day and the light was just not conducive to Polaroid-making, and yesterday I planned to get out on my lunch break and then ended up getting stuck at work, and the one Polaroid I did shoot in the morning ended up getting lost between my desk at work and my house, so after visiting my mom and having dinner with my dad last night, I decided I needed to make something happen. (Was that just the longest sentence ever?) I took my SLR 680 out at night and made some dark Polaroids filled with light which I am quite thrilled with, except the one obvious piece of film that would have been awesome but I jammed my camera on the piece of the bridge that I was using as a tripod of sorts and the goo squished out the back. It's still an ok shot as far as a funky finished product goes, but not at all what I had imagined. I'll have to go back. Anyway, Happy 'Roid Week to you all. I hope it's been great!

And today is my dad's birthday! Happy Birthday Dad!

So Much Love and Kindness

My mom's dearest friend very unexpectedly passed away last week. She was only 52, healthy and hilarious. She had three kids, five grandbabies, and a wonderful husband. I feel so sad for her family and for my mom, who received heaps and heaps of love and kindness from this lovely lady. She will be sorely missed, especially by my family. Rest in peace dear friend, and thank you for everything you did for my mom.

Fall is always a beautiful and much-anticipated time of year for me, but this one was a little tough. The tragic news of last week, and before that, heavy work schedules, hectic weekends, and the like, but it all was mixed with good things here and there. Things are easing now and hopefully looking up. I hope you all are doing well, enjoying your fall, and lovin' on your family and friends.