Another's Thoughts

George Washington's Bookplate (beautiful!), courtesy of Thornwillow Press

My inspiration for the week until I have the latest Calligraphy images ready to post:

"Most of our thoughts and concerns, our passions and our beliefs, our understandings and our misunderstandings die with us. Like a read email, they get deleted. Yet some ideas survive. They evolve. And they continue to inspire those who have capacity for dreams and inspiration. Some ideas can survive us and inspire the yet unborn. "

-As written by Luke Ives Pontifell for Thornwillow Press

Seeds of Love

June in Florida is a known bridal month.  That being said, calligraphic wedding work is well under way!  Thanks to Katie and her mother for the opportunity to configure table cards for a new and different product.  It was important to this family that the paper products be environmentally friendly in whatever way possible.  So the decision was made to retrofit plantable heart-shaped cards with wax paper envelopes into table cards for her wedding reception.  The slick wax surface demanded acute attention be paid to the envelopes until they were dry and the randomly placed wild flower seed-filled paper made for bumpy pen strokes.  All that being said, the cards turned out looking quite beautiful!  Saturday's festivities will be here soon, here's to a great day being had in Colorado!

Beauties & Blushing Brides

When a beautiful Mother and Daughter show up in coordinating pink sundresses and the sun is shining eagerly it's a sure thing for a photographer's day in picture-taking moments.  Add a blushing bride-to-be in the mix one day, plus a career girl on her way up in life and a wonderful family the next and the weekend of work couldn't have been more full of photographic excitement!  Sure, there were rain clouds and morning dew that scattered their presence throughout the past few days, but isn't part of life being able to find the "goodness" and appreciate it while it's there?  Please enjoy some of the loveliness:

Birthdays and a Baby- from 1st to 40th!

A weekend full of people of all ages and how each of them celebrate another day of life certainly causes some reflection on the whole cycle.  On Saturday afternoon I followed the fun of a one year old...a child whom I've been photographing since the age of nine days, yes days, old (Happy Birthday Leah!).  She spent her birthday enjoying the new thrill of walking all the while still needing the assistance of her parents during the day.  Her drink was lemonade from a "grown up" party cup and her cake experience involved squashing the face of it with and open palm.  

Later that night and two counties north, someone else was preparing to have his friends over for a party too (Happy Birthday Morgan!).  Since he has a thirty nine year lead on Leah for birthdays, his went down in a different style all together.  Yes, there were party cups but they were full of adult tiki-inspired beverages and fluorescent floaters.  While the nautical cake wasn't turned into a sloshy mess, the significance of the "cake ceremony" is what made those in attendance gather together and sing the historical tune of cheer.  So it seems that blowing out candles and clapping is a universal smile-starter.  But who ever thought that it wasn't?

Sunday started a new day with someone whose life can still easily be counted in weeks, days even.  While she is still growing accustom to this world and what it's all about, one thing that she already has down is how to be cute (Cheers to you Victoria!)!  The energy that surrounds a baby is like no other.  That calmness paired with two happy parents guided the photo session and it went wonderfully (Here's to you, new parents Claudia and Michael!).  

After back-to-back birthday celebrations it seems that the common factor is the presence of parents.  One party was directed by the mother and father, the other was able to have them as special guests.  Without them where would we be, and who would we be?  Without mine I wouldn't have aspired to be the person, and Photographer, that I am (Mom and Dad- Mark and Eileen- you are amazing!  Thank you!).  

...Sentimental signoff...

Pigtails and Delray Sunshine

The pigtail reference is to a children's birthday party appointment from several weeks back.  Several orders have been placed this week by attendee's for images taken while there.  This is particularly exciting considering that the "Buy Prints" function has only been up-and-running on www.WPinks.com for a few weeks.  It's an great new element!  It's so fun to see the positive progression of the website, and business!

Speaking of fun, the possibility of one of my images appearing in Palm Beach Illustrated is super exciting!  It may not happen, but one can hope.  I met a friend down in Delray and, heat aside, had a pleasant time taking snapshots of the clubby restaurant and its pretty outdoor lounge.  Having friends is a joy; having a friend who works for a magazine and is willing to give you an opportunity to take needed pictures is a bonus!  

Historical Trails

A hiatus to Chicago paired with research for a submission to the Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County stunted the professional schedule this week.  While the center of my attention right now is focused on building my Photography, Calligraphy and Interior Design business, writing is still a core interest.  When I found myself carrying on a most interesting conversation that a docent at the Historical Society of Palm Beach County a few months back, I decided that the day couldn't have been filled with anything more inspiring.  My expectations were taken aback by pleasant surprise when I was asked by Linnie to contribute an article to their publication.  Engaging in the multi-level conversation turned into a wonderful opportunity that has put the writer in me to work!

Visiting Chi-town with family to curtail the workweek couldn't have been planned out any better!  Then again, who wouldn't appreciate a ball game in one of America's oldest parks?  Wrigley Field certainly has it's charm! 

Beachin' It!

The most stimulating aspect of Photography for me is literally the act of engaging in picture-taking: thinking, assessment, approach, composition, etcetera.  But the job isn't complete until the uploading, editing and mailing has been fulfilled!  That being said, I saw a lot of United States Post Office employees this week!

A great way to cap the week was with a family photo session at Juno Beach.  The Griggs were the cutest of families at the beach that morning with their smiling faces and happy energy.  I couldn't help but to greet them with a "Well, you're the most dapper family on the beach!" exclamation as they showed up having their boys match in blue seersucker slacks.  They don't know this, but I am a sucker for seersucker and it has made me swoon for years now!

North Ocean Boulevard

Walking down the quaint little Reef Road and onto the beach sand certainly made for a lovely outing.  Factor in a cute, newly engaged couple (Congratulations Kim and Tony!) and the afternoon couldn't have been better!  It was the sweetest thing to be introduced to the inlet pier where the proposal happened.

"Pier"ing into the Future

The start of this week was spent searching out mailing options and fulfilling software needs as the photography aspect of WP inks has more and more prospects on the horizons (exciting!).  Now that the bulk investments and ps download have been made there has been a lot of editing fun!  It was wrapped up with a lovely Chalf Family photography session in Juno.

Tail endings

Riley, our house cat, was in the most perfect of mood's while I finished up my calligraphy job.  He stepped up onto the loveseat, twirled in a tight circle once and nestled into a ball on the corner beside me.  How pleasant is that?  It was a day spent writing out all of the inner envelopes for wedding invitations (Again, Congratulations Christina!).