A Heap o’ Accomplishments

Oooh-la, what a week.  About Wednesday (blizzard day) I got hit with the winter doldrums, big time.  Really honestly for the last four days it’s all I can do to get out of bed before noon and make food for myself.  I’ve been infected by Kate’s love of cheesy lifetime movies and it’s really not helping my case at all.  In fact, I’m watching one now.

While I learn the real life story of Andrew Luster, MAX Factor Heir (and sex criminal) I thought I’d jot down my progress this week… to remind me that no matter how lazy I am I’m still pretty darn productive!

Weddings! Oh, I’d like to book some more 2011 dates – if you know anyone getting hitched, send ’em my way — here’s what I’ve been working on this week:

Boutonierre Fastening

Newly Married!

All About the Details

I’ve been working on prints, framed pieces and albums from orders from a wedding I shot last year.  Fun!  It’s like reliving the day and all its touching moments — I’m not afraid to admit I am the wedding photographer that cries every time (every.time.) the bride walks down the aisle.  Hormones or just naturally sensitive – who knows?  🙂

New things. For awhile now I’ve been thinking about (and talking about) trying something new with the jewelry.  I love my bottle caps, and I’m going to be churning them out in magnets and pins to no end… but I wanted to class up the necklaces and rings a bit… and also try out earrings!  Here are some pictures from the first run:

Birches and Blue Sky Ring and Earring set – $18 by Little Eye Designs on Etsy.

Dill Shadows – The Herbalist’s Ring $9 by Little Eye Designs on Etsy.

Lights and Lines Filigree Pendant and Drop Earrings Set – $25 by Little Eye Designs on Etsy.

Craft fair. Super sweet!  The BIG THAW applications keep showing up on my doorstep and it’s amazing to see all the talented people who want to spend a whole day with me!  Click here for The BIG THAW website.

Also… I’m guilty more than anyone of keeping to myself in the winter time.  No matter how good your intentions of ‘finally taking up snowshoeing’ or ‘getting out more this year’ at the beginning of December you will always, always be holed up in your second-story apartment waiting, just waiting for the cold to go away.  This weekend I overcame!  It was Kate Sullivan-Jones‘ birthday and we had lots of fun (and whiskey) at her apartment.  Here’s a pic of me there with friends and wearing an awesome t-shirt (that got lots of compliments) that I traded a photograph for with Repurposeful Punk.

Click for Carmenmerie of Repurposeful Punk’s Shop.

Oh!  And here is a shot of my photograph in her living room.  Looks great, Carmenmerie!

Brighton Lights in Winter - $25 Framed Print by Little Eye Designs.

OK, everyone, back to work for me tomorrow morning so time to hit the hay.  What have you all been working on this week?  Leave links below, if you’d like!

Wistful Wedding News

Has anyone ever accidentally stumbled on the best wedding website ever?  OnceWed is a tasteful, aesthetic dream come true when it comes to wedding planning, inspiration and easy-to-execute craft ideas.  Click here for a circus-themed wedding that I find the cutest.  The only slightly troubling thing is when you go to the “Vendor Guide” tab at the top there is no search option in Maine.  C’mon guys!  We have some of the best backdrops, flora and fauna in the country.  New mission:  get on OnceWed, take Portland’s camera, floral and crafting talent with me.

Tara’s Gorgeous. Photo credit Kate Sullivan-Jones.

On a more personal note, Brian and Tara from the Rattlesnakes are getting married in a couple of weeks.  I’m pretty sure this is going to be the rockingest wedding I’ve been to ever.  It’s at One Longfellow in downtown Portland and Kate and I (honorary volunteer photographers) have been given explicit instructions to get drunk while we’re shooting.  Yes!

 

Photo by Audrey Hotchkiss

 

Lastly, I’m about to start putting together an album for Amanda and Dan, whose wedding I shot in August at the Regency Hotel in the Old Port.  Great space!  Outdoor ceremony and swanky indoor reception.  These two were really wonderful to work with, made me really realize why I embrace the massive undertaking that is wedding photography.  Hopefully will have some “product shots” of the album to share with you in a couple of weeks!

 

Photo by Audrey Hotchkiss

 

And here is a little vignette from Mike and Rebecca’s wedding way back in July.  Oh, Summer…see you again in 10 months or so.

 

photo credit EllanaCouture

 

As for dressing one’s self for the event, I found one endless-night-searching-for-random-things-on-Etsy successful when I found these sweet, traditional wedding dresses at EllanaCouture.  I might just sell enough necklaces to get one of these for myself and go as a debutante for Halloween.

 

Instead of a Chicken this could be Your Husband! Hmm? Hm?!

 

One thing I’ve been bouncing around in my head for some months now is the idea of making custom wedding favors for guests or members of the bridal party.  Could you see it now?  A unique little magnet stuck to every metal napkin ring…a set of 6 magnets featuring all the members of the bridal party as a post-wedding ‘thank you’ gift…a necklace with a special photograph in it as an inexpensive way to tell the bridesmaid how you appreciated her hard work and stripper-hiring.  OK depends on the wedding.  😉  Still — any feedback you want to send my way please leave a comment below!  Would love some guinea pigs to try this out on…