close quarters

many of you know about our plan to sail the americas, once steve retires (about eight years from now). well... over the past few weeks, i've come across some blogs of folks, who are RVing it...living (and traveling) out of their RVs. reading about their adventures, i have begun to think,

is it possible? could we do this? maybe we could RV it after tampa. or steve's last assignment (he has three left)...sort of a pre-sailing prep.  or am i just crazy to even think of such a thing?

of course, having middle or high schoolers at the time, things would be different than the families i'm currently following.  i'd love to find an RV family, with older children.  and it wouldn't be as exciting for us, as we wouldn't be able to travel all that much, with steve still being in the military and having to work, deploy, etc. but even with that said, my mind is churning and dreaming about the idea.

here's a few families i'm currently following: child's play the organic sister walk slowly live wildly

these families are all amazing, strong and inspirational. and their lives fascinate me.

i'm not sure i could purge as they are or have. rather, we will purge some, take some and plan to put some into storage. we're pretty minimalistic as it is; however, we do have things that we just can't let go of (or shall i say, i can't let go of).

not long ago, someone asked me,

what happens if one of our kids is some star athlete or something in high school? will you still pull them out of school to go sailing?

no, most likely not. if something like that happened, we would wait until they're out of high school. but for the moment, we talk about beginning our sailing adventure when ryder is 14 and sky is 15. kiele will be 21 and will have the choice, but for now, she has said that she wants to go with us.

yesterday, kiele asked what she should do for her next big project in her gifted class. her project can be on anything; it just has to be some huge self-guided writing project. i suggested that she do her project on our future sailing adventures. we discussed plotting our sailing route and writing about each destination--the communities, their cultures and how we can give back to the people at each stop, as that is an essential part of our journey.  and i'm excited that she's excited to take on the project.

another statement i hear a lot is,

your kids are going to hate it; they're not going to want to be pulled out of high school, to go sailing with you.

my reply is that we'll see when the time comes.  i am well aware of football, soccer, cheerleading, homecoming, prom,  friendships, etc.  for now, a girl has to dream...dream about possibilities.

even now, many people think that children would hate moving every two to three years, but i truly don't think mine do. they might not love it, but they don't hate it either. i'm constantly talking about how lucky we are to live in and experience the different locations, as we do. and how lucky we are to have special friends all across the US. i enjoy moving and i try to teach my kids to enjoy it too. the only challenge is kiele's education, but i think we're now to the point that her services are so engrained into her individual education plan, i don't think there's a school out there that could rightfully challenge them.

we will see. we will see.

for the moment, i will just continue following these incredible families living out of their RVs and dreaming about the possibility of my own family one day doing the same.  if not out of an RV, definitely out of a sailboat.

or maybe we could just get an amphibious RV ;-)  if only it weren't a million dollars.  crazy, huh?

hoetowns

during my blog surfing this morning, i came across this article, from motown to hoetown.  being from detroit, i found the article fascinating and full of hope.  not only hope for detroit, but for struggling post-industrial cities all across the US. later in the morning, i came across this awesome photography series, from ross mantle.  mr mantle doesn't share where his series of photographs was taken.  detroit?  maybe. but more likely pittsburgh, since that's where he's from.

i think it's crazy how i just happened across both the article and the series today, within a couple hours. not even sure how i ended up on mr. mantle's site. it was meant to be. and i feel that i was meant to share.

photo below is from ross mantle's city green series.  see his entire series here.  his riding out the summer is incredible too.

inspiration on so many levels.

and...just looked at his recent stuff.  diverging agendas--so awesome.

for the love of...

film. i've been talking about it for years now--shooting film; however, that's all i've been doing. talking about it. for some reason, i feel like i need someone to hold my hand. not sure why. what am i scared of? what is holding me back? nothing more than myself. and that frustrates me.

i have two film cameras (a canon and a bronica) sitting on the shelf right above my computer...collecting dust. i seriously look at them all day. every day. cheryl jacobs tried to help me get my bronica to work, when we visited her in colorado, but something seemed to be wrong with the back. so yesterday, i ordered a new back and i'm determined to use it. as for the canon, it's fine. i've just had a bunch of lame excuses and haven't had the courage to pick it up.

damn it! this is the year--i am picking up those cameras and shooting film. i am! no more excuses. no one needs to hold my hand.

speaking of film and polaroid, here's some of my favorite polaroids from over the years.

1

yesterday, i received this this book for christmas, from my dear friend, steph.  every year, she seems to find the perfect book for me.  the kind of book that inspires my heart to be better and do greater.  the cover of the book became my grateful | 365 image for yesterday.

today, i wanted to share a few of my favorite excerpts from the book.

how many people does it take to make a difference? one one song can spark a moment one flower can wake the dream one tree can start a forest one bird can herald spring one smile begins a friendship one handclasp lifts a soul one star can guide a ship at sea one word can frame the goal one vote can change a nation one sunbeam lights a room one candle wipes out darkness one laugh will conquer gloom one step must start each journey one word must start a prayer one hope will raise our spirits one touch can show you care one voice can speak with wisdom one heart can know what's true one life can make a difference that difference starts with you. [unknown] you are not here by mistake. around the world and down through the ages there has never been another you. and there will never be another you. the miracle of your existence is now in your hands. you are here for a purpose. you have something that only you can give to the world. take time to consider what it is. some questions to ask yourself: who am i? why am i here? what am i doing for others?

if children with terminal cancer can find love, peace, joy and beauty in their day--and they do--why don't we?[dan zadra]

if you have even one close friend in life, you are blessed. the best way to keep a friend? be one.

don't be beaten down by naysayers. they'll call you a dreamer, a do-gooder, a romantic. every time you stand up for a good cause, someone will roll their eyes or tell you to sit down. there will be lots of people who can give you all the reason why you can't or won't improve the world. it's up to you to remind yourself of all the reason why you can and will. optimism and pessimism are both choices. which do you choose?

your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. and the only way to do great work is to love what you do. if you haven't found it yet, keep looking. don't settle. stay hungry. stay foolish. [steve jobs]

this book is amazing. i've shared just a teeny fraction of the goodness in this book. inspiring words and quotes and interactive--asking questions, with room to write your answers.

something i've thought about is that maybe once a month, i could pick out a question | topic from the book, write about it here on the blog, with the hopes that it would inspire others to think and write about it too. and keep us thinking throughout the year. hmmm...maybe once a month? yes? no? thoughts?

thanks steph for always inspiring me to be a better person and truly make a difference in this world.  powerful stuff sweet friend!!

snow day

the conversation yesterday morning went kind of like this... her: i think one of the things we should discuss at the workshop is the importance of shooting often; you just need to get out there and shoot. every day, if you can. i don't do this but i should. i want to. me: yea. but you have to remember that some of us live in the snow and it's freezing right now. her: well you can still shoot. me, making excuses: like i really want to shoot, when we've been cooped up in the house for days. and like the kids really want me to shoot, when they're constantly bickering with each other. and me. her: i think it's part of improving, growing and getting out of a funk. you just have to shoot. me: well it's not going to be happening anytime soon here. her, i'm guessing: *rolling eyes*

after i picked up ryder from preschool, the snow started falling.  i was grateful for our first big snow storm and it's accompanying beauty.  well, it wasn't really the first storm, but it was the first to happen during the day.  and we were loving it. so on the drive home, ryder and i stopped in an open field and i took my iphone grateful | 365 shot for the day.

later, as i watched the snow fall from the comfort of my warm living room, leah's words rang in my ears. i thought...

it really is so beautiful. maybe i can convince one of the kids to come out front with me for just a couple minutes. for just a few shots. nothing big.  just something in the snow. we're in kansas...for only one year. and we might not get another good snow like this again. it's been so long...i need to shoot.

i asked sky first because she is typically the most willing of the three.  and she agreed. we went out in front of the house, for just a couple minutes.  till sky wiped out. her hands covered in snow and freezing, that was it and we went inside. i immediately plugged in the card and was so excited to edit a few of them. it's like a part of me was alive again. having not shot in what seemed like forever (except with my iphone), it felt so good. you see...when i don't shoot for a long time, this door opens (the wrong door) and self-doubt always seems to sneak in.

what happens if i've lost it? what happens if i go out and shoot and they all suck? i'm in a funk.

after getting a taste of it, i wanted more and begged sky to go with me, on the walking path behind our house...for just a few more minutes. just a few more shots. and she agreed again. :-)

excitedly (me more than her), we walked down the completely snow covered walking path. the snow was still falling and it was so, so beautiful, quiet and pure. just she and i. magical! sky played along with my excitement and let me shoot away. gloveless, i continued my hands couldn't take it anymore.

i share this because i really do believe you have to shoot often. every day if you can. it's funny how we can convince ourselves at times that we're in a funk. that we just can't shoot. that we suck. whatever. it's during those times, those times where self-doubt somehow snuck in, that it's most important to just pick up our cameras and shoot. something. somewhere.

thank you leah. for being that little voice that reminds me and pushes me. and doesn't accept or believe all my excuses.

here's some of my favorites.

do i dare?

do i dare buy another fabulous art print, from etsy, to be added to the growing pile that has been sitting for months (piled so perfectly in their perfect little holding place). that pile...that i so desperately need to frame and find a place for. because... if i dare, this print is going to be it. how perfect is this to commemorate this kansas journey. :-)

and i meant to share this a while ago, but somehow got sidetracked (imagine that).  look at this awesome heart, made from fujifilm instax prints, in the home of these fab wedding photographers,.  they put the photos up using thumb tacks.  i think it would be awesome to somehow adhere the photos to a mounting board or piece of wood, to make a permanent piece of art.  and i so love their hanging lights!

lastly, did you hear that polaroid is teaming up with lady gaga?  as creative director and inventor of specialty products, per the article.  i'm not exactly sure what all this means; however, it does mean that things are moving forward with bringing polaroid back in 2010.  woo hoo!

doodle inspiration

i was a huge doodler as a kid, but i've never been a really talented doodler like notebook doodles.  surely i've never been able to doodle words like this.

came across notebook doodle's inspiring blog via the awesome tara whitney. and oh. my. gosh. i so, so love what notebook doodles does. her doodles on paper. in moleskins. on photographs.  creating little pieces of art, with each and every one of them.

i emailed notebook doodles, inquiring if she sells prints. or her book. she said the book was for personal use only. and she's not ready to sell prints yet, but hopes to in the near future.

check out this awesome doodling on a photograph.  and this wonderful little book of lyrics. love.

thanks notebook doodles for being such a wonderful inspiration.

getting my shit together

in my efforts to begin organizing myself for the year ahead and yes, getting my shit together, i just wanted to share a bunch of...stuff.

first, i want to share a bit about facebook (FB)--an online community full of networking opportunities and a wealth of information.  if  you've never been there, i highly recommend it.  it's amazing the help i've received from folks on FB...and the friends i've found or who have found me.  here's my personal page and business page.

since not everyone, who reads my blog, is on FB, i decided to share a few things here that i recently discovered and|or shared on FB just today.

+++

i'm finally feeling better today (after suffering from a terrible stomach flu on new year's day.  what a way to bring in the new year, huh?!).  i was actually recovered from the puking yesterday, but the dehydration was still hugely kicking my ass.  so now that i'm better, it's about getting organized.  and that begins with grocery shopping, since i have nothing in the house.  not having a clue what i wanted to cook for the week, i posted on FB, inquiring if anyone had any great recipes they could share.  and i learned about these great recipe sharing sites:

smitten kitchen orangette allrecipes (actually an old fav)

i've printed out some super yummy recipes and will head to the grocery store in a bit (after the construction guys are done working on the walls in our 5th bedroom). my plan is to buy a clipboard and put it on the kitchen wall with the week's recipes clipped. kind of like this (love her series of inspirational clipboards).

+++

our KS house is already rented and we're looking at real estate in tampa. this whole thing is rather surreal. we've been here six months and are moving in six months. oh. my. gosh!!

steve is dreaming of building in tampa, although i'm not sure it's going to be possible in the area we want to live.  our location options are based on the communities middle and high school (kiele's school is our priority).  and for the moment, we're house hunting in the 33629 zip code of tampa (palma ceia area).

but, if we magically happened upon cheap land, here's a couple homes that steve and i would love to build.  maybe after our sailing adventures. sure can't hurt to dream! the spirit of palo alto the Xhouse 2

+++

i'm planning my spring trip back to san diego for client shoots, sometime in april or early may (leaning towards late april). if anyone is interested in a client shoot during that timeframe, please email me. i also plan to do client shoots in san diego and NY in the fall. it's so exciting to have clients across the nation. i guess that's one of the perks of being a military-family photographer. needless to say, i'm blessed and grateful.

+++

speaking of grateful. my plans were to start my grateful | 365 project on jan 1st; however, my stomach flu trumped that idea. and so i begin today.  you might remember me blogging about hailey's inspirational 365 grateful project in the past.  my plan is to do simple iphone photos for this project and will print them (probably in a 5x5 book) at the end.

today (01 | 365), i am grateful that my kids play so awesome together. sometimes it amazes me. don't get me wrong, they do have their fair share of typical sibling bickering, but most of the time, they play like this. and it melts my heart.

every day

not sure if i ever shared this video.  with tears streaming down my face, i viewed it again today, after visiting the mikulak's blog, which i check regularly.  i think about max and his family each and every day, as they have touched my life in a way that is beyond words!  thank you max and the entire mikulak family for making my life fuller, making me a better person and teaching me how very important it is to live and cherish each and every day to the fullest!!

in sharing this, i encourage you and challenge  you to give  in any way you can this year and every year.  it will touch you in ways that are truly indescribable. if you'd like to help in pediatric cancer fundraising and advocacy, max's ring of fire charity foundation can be found here.

this video is 18 minutes long and amazing. max was such an incredible little boy, whose life was so sadly stolen by neuroblastoma at the age of seven.

(too short) Life | Max Mikulak | Max's Ring of Fire www.MaxsRingOfFire.org from Andy Mikulak on Vimeo.

if you don't have 18 minutes right now, there's also this video. about four minutes long.

Inspiration | Max Mikulak | Max's Ring of Fire www.MaxsRingOfFire.org from Andy Mikulak on Vimeo.

eta: looking for other ways to give with your photography skills? check out the give ten project for ideas (there's links of how to give on the right side).

thank you 2009

2010? that's crazy. i remember 2000 like yesterday, although not really because i have a terrible, terrible memory. but seriously, i can't believe it's 2010 tomorrow. as every year comes to a close, i think about how seriously blessed i am.  and this year is no exception.  it's been absolutely amazing!  my life is so full. and fricken awesome.  i'm so thankful--both personally and professionally.

on the brink of 2010, i was thinking of my goals for next year (just a start and in no particular order)-- be more present for my family (i.e. get off the computer). challenge myself professionally. shoot my kids' everyday lives more. get back to regularly working out (and feeling good again or as mary would say, not feeling fluffy). live each and every day to the fullest. give more. begin to journal.

i can't wait to see where 2010 takes my family and i. the one thing we know for sure...it will be elsewhere. and that, in itself, is pretty darn exciting.

thank you to everyone, who has supported deb schwedhelm photography and | or my family. i appreciate it more than i could ever express in words.  i don't think my family would be together right now, if it wasn't for some of the blog comments i received during that time of indecision.

here's to 2010--a fabulous year full of love, peace, health and happiness!

and in celebration of an incredible 2009, i share a some of my favorite personal and client photographs from the year.

embrace the questions

i beg you...to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. don't search for the answers, which could not be given you now, because you would not be able to live with them. and the point is, to live everything. live the questions now. perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer. - rainer maria rilke

as i was cleaning my desk today, i came across a notebook with the above quote on the cover. and it spoke to me. so i share with you.

here's to living the questions in 2010 and not stressing about finding the answers...knowing they will eventually come and when they do, we will embrace and live the answers, just as we did the questions.

and now back to post-christmas cleaning.

wishing you...

wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and really fabulous 2010!

the above image was the front of our christmas card, with our family's photo on the back.  and this year is officially the last year that i am mailing paper christmas cards.  next year, i plan to email and post on my blog only!  all the money that i would have spent on printing the cards, paper for our family's christmas newsletter and stamps will go to charity (having sent over 150 cards this year, that will be a pretty good amount of money to charity).

i also decided that every year, i'm going to include our christmas card and newsletter in our family's annual book.  i'm not sure why it took till the fourth book for me to think about this, but better late than never.

now off to clean the house and begin making the kids' forts.  this morning they asked me when i'm going to start and shared that it was the one gift that they really, really want.  well...how can i say no to that. this is my inspiration, from the movie the holiday (such a cute movie).  tried to find the video clip to share, but all i could find was this screen capture i did from the you tube clip, a while back.

prudent advice

found this blog today, through another blog through another and another.  it often works that way. i really love jaime's bits of wisdom shared.  can't wait to buy the book:  500 pieces of prudent advice for my baby daughter.  can't wait to read it with my kids.  and highlight my favorites.  and discuss why these things are important.  and add my own bits of advice, that may be different than jaime's.  maybe i'll use the book as a journal of sorts.  adding notes here and there.  something that could be passed down to my kids.  that will evolve over time.  can't wait!!

a few of my favorites...

1.  always send a thank you note.

2.  try to know what is bubbling around your heart.

10.  offer your seat to elderly and pregnant people.

95.  have a firm handshake.

98.  if you haven't worn it in a year, give it away.

99.  you are bound to experience disappointment.

116.  at the close of each day, fill your head with thoughts of how lucky you are.

181.  be where you are.

203. return your shopping cart.

213.  create a sense of family no matter where you are.

214. try not to wait eagerly for people to finish their stories just so you can tell your own versions that more directly involve you.

my mother-in-law is so awesome with handwritten notes.  i treasure each and every handwritten note i receive, as it's a rarity these days.  in 2010, i'm going to try and be better with writing handwritten notes.  and remembering birthdays.  i used to remember each and every birthday...meticulously.  photography consumed my life and sadly i've forgotten to acknowledge most birthdays these past couple years.

years ago, i heard the statement be the one to put your shopping cart back, on the radio.  i literally think of it each and every time i go shopping and...i have done it ever since.  no matter what the weather. or the circumstances.  i love jaime's added note on this topic: abandoning your shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot implies a sense of entitlement.  someone has to put it away.  that someone should be you.

on december 31st, i'm going through my closet and giving away everything i haven't worn in a year.  i have a few special things that i keep saying i'm going to wear.  but i don't.  they're going too.

my advice for today: love your life. smile often. and just be happy.

inspired...

...by her.  to write this.  just like a good cry.  sometimes this is needed too: - i've struggled with confidence my entire life, although if you met me, you'd probably never know it until you really got to know me.

- i don't think i'm a great mother.  but i long to be.

- i have skeletor, grandma hands. always have.  my sister teased me about them as a child.

- i struggle with perfectionism.  it's not a good thing because i'm never good enough.  refer back to first point.

- i don't think i'm a great wife these days either.  apologized to my husband last night about that very thing.  referred to myself as a brat.  and i have a few friends that have reminded me in the past what a great husband steve is, along with being hot and...that i better be careful.  their statement hovers in the back of my mind. always.

- i have dreadlocks and like botox.  steve thinks it's hilarious and terrible at the same time.  oh well.

- i really want my dreads to be pretty dreads and work hard to keep them that way.  and i'm sure real dread heads laugh at me.  or worse. oh well.  it's not really a spiritual journey for me either, but it is a journey of sorts.

- i don't talk to my sister.  or my dad.  and only talk to my mom a bit.  i'm not sure it will ever change.  although it could, if i initiated healing the past.  for the moment, i did send my dad a christmas card with a note that said, i'm sad we never talk.

- i am a terrible communicator, except on my blog and email.  in person, i really suck.

- i'm proud of my husband.  for always working hard, giving 110% and doing the best that he can--no matter what position or job he's held (sad that the navy didn't acknowledge it).  and for simply being the amazing man, husband, father and friend that he is.  i don't tell him nearly enough.  but i just emailed him about it.  refer back to previous point.

- sometimes i want to quit photography  because of the competition of it all.  and refer to previous blog post...it's so, so difficult to not be consumed.

- i really, truly and deeply just want to make a difference.  and it makes me sick that i'm not already doing so.

- i wish i took this picture. or at least that it was my feet. i'd have it printed and hanging on my wall. but i didn't. i found it here.

- i read each and every blog post about 10 times before publishing.  i need to hurry and click publish with this one, before i change my mind and chicken out.

thank you terri. for being you.  for being honest.  always.  you inspire me.  and...i needed this.

just had to share

i meant to share this TIME article quite a while ago.  i had read it in november, while at kiele's last cochlear implant appointment.  it's such a great, super interesting, slightly controversial article. if you don't have the time to read it right now, print it.  and read it later.  totally worth the time to read. so much to think about. and then today, i came across this blog post. i wasn't aware of this blog before, but will definitely be following it from here on out.

i have to admit. i totally believe in free-range parenting. and i'm not afraid to discipline my children in public either. even if the old man in line behind me at the commissary disagrees with my public nose-in-the-corner disciplining for a purposely squished loaf of bread and tells me that i'm going to damage my children forever. my response:

i'm sorry you don't agree with my disciplining of my children.  but i have a well-behaved, kind, loving, good-natured 12 year-old, who seems to be doing just fine...and she was disciplined.

my free-range kids, who surprised me with this snowman a couple weeks ago...

forever treasure

i've briefly mentioned my family's annual book on my blog before, but wanted to share more, as it's one of my most treasured items.  prints on the wall come and go.  digital files usually stay wherever they stay.  but my books...i love them so!! i look at my books often. and i share my books often. some pages make me laugh out loud.  some pages bring tears to my eyes.  as i look, read and remember.

for my book, i include my most favorite photographs from throughout the year.  i also always include notes about each kid.  for example, this year, sky's says: loves, loves, loves to draw. gifted. great student. called "so memorable" by her teacher. witty and funny. snugly. and oh so cute! is a great friend to everyone. learned to read on her own. reading at a third grade level. doesn't mind messy. loves her animal figures and stuffed animals. and has a ton of them. strong. loves gymnastics and is doing awesome. great listener. loves to make people happy. misses her san diego friends--amaya and catie. enjoying her lansing friends--kimberly and aubrey. loves to sing. shy. learned to blow bubbles with bubble gum (and was so excited about it). became a confident bike rider. started out the year only wanting to wear dresses. ended the year only wanting to wear shirts and pants.

and then the rest of the book varies from year to year--quotes, stories, drawings, etc. whatever my heart feels is needed to complete the book for that year. last year was quotes. this year was personal stories, drawings and such.

we, of course, have a copy of each book, since i started in 2006. and then we give a book every year, as a christmas gift, to our parents and a couple other very special people in our lives.

i order the book from blurb. it's not quite the quality of my client books; however, it's much, much cheaper. and when there's 90 pages and i'm purchasing five of the books, i need cheaper. anyone can use blurb.  the interface takes a bit of getting used to, but once you get it, it's really pretty easy.

so i encourage you. to make something to document your family's year. it doesn't have to be professional. it doesn't have to be digital; you could scrapbook it. just something.  because they grow to fast.  and while we try so hard to remember, we forget many of the stories.  and whatever that something is, make it yours. i promise...it's time worth spending!! and something you will forever treasure!!

and click here to see a larger | better version

next year

along with everything posted here, next year i'm going to be a salvation army bell ringer.  for sure!  i'm hoping that i can convince my kids to do it with me.  surely, kiele will want to take part, as the girl has a heart of gold. i absolutely love everything (yes, everything!) color me katie does, including this handbells improv.  the only thing i wish...is that the surprise bell ringers stayed the entire time, with that guy.  or that they floated from bell ringer to bell ringer.  although, who knows...maybe they did.

love this.  makes my heart happy.  and since i'm an emotional mess these days (must be PMSing), it makes me teary.  happy, joy of giving, kind of tears.  of course.

have you seen this?

because it's so worthy of seeing. and reading.  and reading again.mr tolendano's days with his father.

i saw this project quite a long time ago, but i don't think it was complete back then.  and today, somehow while blog hopping, i came across it again. and viewed it again. pausing at each and every frame.

the photos are amazing. mr tolendano's words... he and his father's story. equally amazing. and beautiful

i sit here with a lump in my throat.  tears in my eyes. for the story, the beauty, the kindess that mr tolendano shares.

please take a few minutes. to view. and read. it's so powerful. and it will make you think. i promise. on one level or another.... it will make you think. and appreciate.

sweet changes

this is such a sweet electronic christmas card | gift. i discovered them through a blog i follow. i guess this couple has a no-christmas-gift agreement this year and instead, they are supporting a child in uganda. as i spent too much money and bought too many things for the kids this christmas, i've already begun thinking about some serious changes that i hope to make next christmas. one of the changes i'm very seriously contemplating is no gift giving! i haven't talked to steve about it yet, but i know he'd totally support it.  instead, i'd like to donate money to a couple charities, in the name of each person we would normally buy a present for. of course, the kids will still get some gifts from santa but i think we will even talk to santa about our family's wish to donate to charities...maybe we'll request just one or two really special gifts.

and as we purchased and addressed over 120 christmas cards this year, i thought about going electronic next year. not because i'm lazy. but because i'd rather have the money go to charity and save a couple trees at the same time.  when you think about how much the cards, labels, paper and stamps cost...that's a pretty good chunk of change going to charity.

lastly, i've now added sufjan stevens in my pandora (thanks to the christmas video below). digging his music!

Shaped, Coloured (Happy Christmas) from VsTheBrain on Vimeo.

feeling artsy-fartsy crafty

as long as i can remember, i've loved crafting.  when i was 10 or so, i so vividly remember making my aunt two large poster drawings for her new baby's room; i drew and colored them and was so very proud.  and i always loved cross-stitching.  i just loved working on any craft in general.  and now, my kids are the same way, including ryder.  they. love. crafts. as an adult, after getting out of the air force, i began digitally scrapbooking.  and when i was pregnant with ryder, i was a quilting fool.  and then, we moved to san diego and in 2006, my craft became photography, which i believe was my ultimate calling.  however, i still long for other non-photography-things crafty.  the problem?  time, of course, which i plant to elaborate on in my next blog post--the whole being a mother and work-from-home-photographer thing.  it definitely needs it's own dedicated blog post.

lately, i've been seeing all sorts of fabulous craft projects (via facebook and my google reader).  i long to get back to that place, where i am working on cool handmade projects.  and i want to do cool craft projects with my kids.  i want my kids to see the beauty and value of a handmade gift.

so this morning after breakfast with santa, we headed to walmart (the only craft-like store within 40 miles), in hopes of purchasing a bunch of craft supplies. and we did!  we bought items to make felt polaroid christmas ornaments, wooden ornaments and sun catchers for the kids to paint and some quilting supplies.  unfortunately, i had given all of my quilting stuff to good will (unfinished quilts, tons of fabric, patterns, cutting board, etc.), after not quilting for a couple years.  :-(

here's a few projects that i totally love and plan on doing over the next few months.  i'm so excited!!

i personally think there is nothing greater than getting a handmade gift at christmas time!!  i hope others do too.

felt polaroid christmas ornaments , tutorial by katie.cupcake

promendade market tote, pattern by denyse schmidt quilts

felt ball wreath, by pickles (i plan to hang mine all year long ;-)

here's a quick iphone pic of a hanging wall quilt i did for kiele in 2004.