SP: glam momma

Hubby snapped this in Paris in July.
it was a bit of a joke really.. we were SP'ing ourselves riding in those big red double decker buses, and he zoomed in for a cleavage close-up.
it's the glam-est photo in my archives, hope it's not too curvy for yer sensibilities...
ok i'm gonna post this now before i chicken...
happy first day of winter tomorrow (we just had our first day of summer today: sunshine, beach...)
loads of love from NZ
mwah

Self-Portrait with my Curtains

I want you to see our new "theater-style" curtains. We have a door-less doorway in between our living room and office and with the help of my mother-in-law we installed curtains that we can close for a little more privacy. When we need a guest bedroom, Stephen and I can sleep in the office next to our computers and the guests can have our bedroom in the back of the apartment. It works out great. (Note: I know they look green, but they are not green...more of a dark warm khaki.)

California Poppy Print

afewnewthings....

...i've had such fun making these. i've learned a lot and generally feel all these pieces have served to get me back in the saddle. obviously these haven't been signed or cropped yet.

Elle: wedding belle...

pardon moi for hogging the blog
but: i've finally finished

katie's brave retro exhibition

Ok, Lizard: because you asked...

It may sound a tad eccentric, but whenever I make *stuff* for myself, it has to have meaning.
Things usually go in fives (for my kids) or sevens (for our family). And it has to have *texture*. I'm a smeller, a feeler...
So these cushions (strips of material, pieced horizontally), which rest on our couch ("Don't sit ON the cushions, my dahlings, you're popping the buttons off. Sit BESIDE them..") tell the story of our family's move from The Big Smoke (hubby and I lived there for thirty-odd years) to The Sunny Bay.

The gang (seven petalled flower)

moves to a new life (koru shaped buttons)

in The Sunny Bay (buttons in waves)

So then I made this pink/brown bag (the seven-petalled flower again, and the L-O-V-E for hippie me) last October to go with me to Sydney to see one of my favourite people for a decadent girls' week. Oh I have fabulous memories of that week!!!


.. and in July this year, I took it to London/Paris for my brother's wedding.
It used to have funky little pink flower sequins all sprinkled in the centre of the flower, but the tulle ripped and they fell out during our travels.
I'd like to think that I left them, like little memory-petals, dancing around Europe.

two hearts beat as one..

oh i do have a thing for bono
ok, i confess i didn't make it.. it seems i can't get this paua shell/wire koru stuff outta my system. in NZ the koru (spiral) symbolises new life/harmony, so it's a perfect wedding present, imho. i took the kids into a local art boutique today for a bitta culture, and this leaped off the shelf and into my arms. the photo has come out a bit naff: in real life it's really *classy*..


.. it's a gift for two of our fave people when they tie the knot next month.

My Photo Professor

My sister-in-law gave me one of the best presents ever for my birthday: One of Susan Dunkerley's prints. Susan was my photo professor when I was getting my BFA at Baylor. She was/is an incredible teacher and artist and has continued to be very encouraging and inspiring in my photography career. I have always loved her work and I am excited and giddy to have one of her prints.

I emailed her to tell her that I was excited to have a reminder of her in my home and she said that she'd love for me to be a visiting artist for her students next time I'm in town. She has several students interested in wedding and portrait photography and she would like for me to impart some of my wedding photography "wisdom."

I feel really honored and excited and unworthy, but I love what I do and would love to share that with younger photogs. We'll see if it works out...

Reflections on THIN

I just finished watching the Lauren Greenfield documentary, THIN (I mentioned it in an earlier post) and I have to say it was really well done. I thought it was successful in communicating the severity and complexity of eating disorders. I found it easy to relate to the girls going through the clinic. I saw some of me in them and it made me want to be more conscious about not putting a lot of stress on physical appearance. (I have never had an eating disorder, but I am obsessive about exercise and eating well--sometimes for the wrong reasons.) And it reminded me how important it is to influence other girls around me in a positive way....by not making comments on how fat or thin people are, by not talking about how many calories something has, by not putting myself down, etc.

I think you should all see it if you get a chance.

Printing Day.

I spent this afternoon in silence, printing the first of my finished blocks. *sigh* It was so great. I don't care if anything sells!

A cardinal and poppy, to be hand colored later, and the first of some prints which are self-potrait-ish.

Been making prints! I feel like I'm warming up. Most of what I've made is fairly decorative....not that there's anything wrong with that. Last nite I started working on a self-portrait. Moving away from safety. Pictures later.

SPC November

"Lets ditch those imperfections and go all out GLAM. Yes lets glam it up with some disco, diamonds and glitter.

I suggest some gorgeous shots - really over do it on the posing and makeup and dressups and show us the extrovert you. The sexy mama in the kitchen with the peek-a-boo apron or how about some diamontes on those dungarees, stillettos, feathers and lycra. Looking for ideas then go no further than Glam Rock as your inspiration, KISS, David Bowie, and Queen and Garry Glitter. Glam means dressing androgynously in make up and glittery, florid costumes such as David Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust phase or The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Get Glam everyone!"

(copied from selfportraitchallenge.net)

I'm not sure about the androgynous dressing, but taking fashion to the extreme sounds like fun...OR just some shots of clothing/outfits that make us feel fun, confident and beautiful...

THIN

Lauren Greenfield (one of my very favorite contemporary photographers) has just released a photographic essay and documentary film about the treatment of eating disorders. The book was released in October and the film will premier on HBO November 14th, 9pm EST/8pm Central.

Her work is very raw and uncomfortable, but draws much needed attention to the important issue of women and body image. You can get more info on her website here.

The travelling exhibition of the work debuts at the Women's Museum in Dallas in February 2007. You Texas girls should check it out.