creating. discovering. playing.

It's been really fun creating some of the marketing collateral for this year's branding at the park district. I've discovered that the feeling of seeing the final product doesn't get old.  Everyone in the entire district got to wear their brand-new-made-with-lots-of-love t-shirt last week and seeing everyone enjoying their t-shirts made me feel cozy inside :)

Knowing that I am doing the best I can with what I have,  encourages me to keep on creating, discovering new ways/ new trends, and enjoying this field as if I was a kid playing.

trapitos al sol

Ever since I started this project, I knew it would be a favorite. The thought of vintage garments makes me think of the times I  watched grandma clean her old armoire full of  pretty dresses, fancy shoes and boxes with jewelry in them. Or the green jewelry box my mother used to treasure so much filled with hair pins, necklaces, rings, and my favorites, brooches. Oh, how I love those memories.
The exhibition is up and running, looking incredibly nice. I had the opportunity to photograph the whole exhibition a few weeks ago and I couldn't help but drooling the whole time (not literally, really).  So much sparkle! Gorgeous hats, fancy little purses, and interesting pretty umbrellas (which by the way they were actually called parasoles and were not necessary used for rain, which totally makes sense when reading the word in Spanish!). 
To pick one item to represent the entire exhibition was the challenge. Creating several versions of the poster/postcards featuring a different item on each was the solution and the fun part. 
A few days ago while checking the big second reprint of the postcards, I thought of a Spanish saying "sacando los trapitos al sol", which translated to English means literally "To take the dirty laundry out". Non-sense you might think, but my mind was thinking more in terms of displaying the postcards on a laundry line for a photo, and not necessarily getting the postcards dirty :)

+ A closer look at the artwork.
+ More about this exhibition on the DuPage County Historical Museum's website.

a chalkboard for the entry wall

It's been hard, but I have managed to contain myself from stenciling another wall in the new place. Instead, I have dedicated a little time to the entryway. The chalkboard I started last year is finally done & hung. And for some strange reason, I am starting to be Okay with white walls!  

Ready to put it to use, I threw a little hand lettering on it a few days ago in celebration of the kiddo's Birthday. I am quite happy with the results. I think my fascination with chalkboards (and chalk in general) started back when I was a little girl and my dad painted the whole back of a wooden door that connected our house to my grandma's patio with black paint. On rainy days or those days when I just couldn't go out and play with the cousins (whose house was also connected to mine by the patio) I would spend hours in front of that door (chalkboard) playing teacher and in a way, talking to myself :)

+ Chalkboard paint recipe found at MarthaStewart.com 

+ HEMNES table from  IKEA 

photography & some type

IPFW CVD 2011

Advertisement for the University's Campus Visit Day where once agan I was featured. 

These photo sessions are super fun every time!

Click here to see 2010 Ad.

Staying focused...

When a long night awaits... It is good to visualize. 

Pretty desktop...

Have I said how much I love my laptop?
...I try to dress her up as pretty as possible in every opportunity I find.

...I feel like painting all of the sudden, but thinking about the time it is and the amount of "moving things around" that this will require, stops me. Perhaps tomorrow, when the sun is shinning and the kids are on the backyard trowing a ball.

Have I mentioned how Tegan and Sara have made my days so pleasant lately? ...Their music rejuvenates me in a way that I can't explain... Makes me feel super girly!  Thumbs up to these amazing sisters!!

Summer is in the air...

I want to put the camera down, pack it in a box and forget about it for a while, but I can't.

Instead, I find myself looking out for "good shots" and thinking of a good composition... I think one day, I'll become a great photographer... One day.

In the meantime, here's a little taste of summer shot in the middle of May.

The Best Birthday Ever

In spite the rainy weekend, celebrating my birthday wasn't a challenge. And even though I had the last photography assignment to complete, I managed to succeed.

Rainy, bright and monochromatic -- that's how I should describe my last birthday celebration.

A portrait assignment...

Although my Photography instructor didn't care much for it, I was pleased with how the very first portrait studio assignment turned out... Yes, subject matters and since my kids are what matters the most in my life, this assignment is an A+ for me  =)

This beautiful girl started violin lessons a few months ago, and so far she loves it. I went in the studio with the sole idea of capturing the joy she feels and conveys while she plays such beautiful violin.

Best of all, I got to capture the playful, innocent, and lovely side of this gorgeous girl.

We even got to do a version of "Snow White". In the meantime, she took a minute to relax... 

Modeling can be exhausting!

Kudos to Blogger

Blogger has launched its new Template Designer feature, which I found pretty cool... Not that the old tool was bad, but this new feature is pretty closed to what I am used to -- windows live space.
Once again, kudos to blogger!

I came across this picture that I took back in 2008 as a reference for my Drawing Fundamentals II . I thought it would be a nice compliment to this new look  =)
There is something about dead flowers that I cannot resist. The texture, the colors, the form, the smell...  They're so beautiful even when they're dead. . .

Some depth of field to go...

Photography can be so challenging.

 

One does not photograph something for "what it is", but for "what else it is".

M. White

Back then...

Back when painting was fun. When the feeling of creating something in a long sleepless night felt alright.
This might be the only one picture of me at work.  I had to go back to it and remind me that it can still be fun.

A long trip...

Shooting in manual mode for Photography Fundamentals class...
I can't wait to see end of semester results!