Timeless and Classic Photography
I've always wanted to do a candy themed birthday party and I finally did! This was SO much fun! I got most of the ideas from the awesome website, The Hostess with The Mostess.
Not sure how happy all the parents were (sorry charlie) but it's a great excuse to steal their kids candy when they go to bed.
Perfect weather, awesome company and my beautiful little baby girl, Demi Lynn turning 9. Wow. Time sure flies.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT.
My brilliant sister in law thought it would be fun to do a monthly photo challenge with all the Maui Photographers. This month the theme is "Water." Obviously here on Maui we have probably the prettiest beaches and ocean on the planet. However, I wanted to represent where I live. THE JUNGLE. Haiku is a super rainy place here on the North Shore of Maui. And right when I decided to do this, it started raining. Providing me with the perfect water droplets on my roses and other tropical plants. I don't have a macro lens which would have been super cool, but not bad for a 24-70 mm lens. After looking at mine, go check out Alisa Greig's intrepretation of "Water" right here.
Stop looking around on Etsy, or Ebay or where ever for this type of talent. For real people. Just come here, www.stephaniesheveland.com for rad insight and links to sweet vendors like this one. Barbara Vanderpool (isn't that a great name?) is who you are looking for. Calligraphy is the name of her game. She is uber talented. Graceful. And lives 10 minutes up the jungle from my jungle on the North Shore of Maui. I first viewed Barbara's work at a wedding at the Haiku Mill that Mike Adrian shot. I noticed there were some plates that had some incredible font on them, naming the tables at a gorgeous wildflower garden themed event. I was impressed. Soon thereafter, I realized the coordinators were the great team from Belle Destinations, and I quickly found out about Barbara. So off I went! To Barbara's house now. And there I FINALLY got to enjoy her art. In Nature. In the garden. With cool fabric, some silly props and a beautiful calligrapher.
Thank you Barbara. (P.S. I learned we share the same random birthplace somewhere in Southern California too....)
I started doing some calligraphy in High school. How lucky was I? What a very progressive place, to be studying calligraphy and photography and pottery at at high school? (We won't talk about my violin playing.) Such a beautiful art. A true refined art. It's not something I get to do anymore. (Too many hobbies, sewing, baking, etc..) Someday maybe I can study with Barbara.
I truly respect what Barbara does, because I know the amount of patience is involved in this type of art. Lots. And her perfect execution is, well......delicious.
You can view more of Barbara's work HERE at Pacific Wedding's beautiful site.
BIG SALE ON HOLIDAY PORTRAITS WITH MEEEEE! BOOK ME AND I'LL INCLUDE THESE SILHOUETTES! $175 FOR 1 hour session at the location of your choice. Cute silhouettes included!
Ever since my first trip to Disneyland back in '83 (just kidding, I don't know what year it was) I've been obsessed with these silhouette drawings. Mine are FAR from being drawn, but hey, my Photoshop skills are probably better than drawing, so these will have to do. Not too shabby if I don't say so myself.....I love their cute noses and chins. Cole thinks he has a mullet. Not quite kiddo.....
Next up...silhouettes on pumpkins! Then after that I'll throw these in some cool funky vintagey frames and put em up. Love cool, quick, crafty crafts like this. Fun stuff.
I stole this recipe from someone I went to school with who has a beautiful blog (and a perfect family I may say) and is a very talented photographer. Leah Naomi is truly an inspiration to me. I love her simplistic approach to photography and also being a mother. She is everything you would want a Mother to be, nice AND a great homemaker. (Did I just use the term "homemaker?" Yes. I did.)
Make this bread TODAY. It's so yummy and easy to make. There is something truly special about baking bread at home. The kids were so excited when they got home from the cold (okay, sort of cold) surf with the smell of fresh baked bread filling our home. Crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside. Seriously yummy.
Kind of a fuzzy photo, but you get the idea.
Tomorrow I'm adding jalapenos and cheddar to the recipe for something zesty.
Baking the Perfect Loaf of Bread at Home Formula and Process created by Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan St Bakery
3 cups (430g) flour 1½ cups (345g or 12oz) water ¼ teaspoon (1g) yeast a little less than 1 tablespoon salt olive oil (for coating) extra flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal (for dusting)
Equipment:
Two medium mixing bowls 6 to 8 quart pot with lid (Pyrex glass, Le Creuset cast iron, or ceramic) *I use a dutch oven Wooden Spoon or spatula (optional) Plastic wrap Two or three cotton dish towels (not terrycloth)
Process:
Mix all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add water and incorporate by hand or with a wooden spoon or spatula for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Lightly coat the inside of a second medium bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest 12 hours at room temperature (approx. 65-72°F).
Remove the dough from the bowl and fold once or twice. Let the dough rest 15 minutes in the bowl or on the work surface. Next, shape the dough into ball. Generously coat a cotton towel with flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal; place the dough seam side down on the towel and dust with flour. Cover the dough with a cotton towel and let rise 1-2 hours at room temperature, until more than doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 450-500°F. Place the pot in the oven at least 30 minutes prior to baking to preheat. Once the dough has more than doubled in volume, remove the pot from the oven and place the dough in the pot seam side up. Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes Then remove the lid and bake 15-30 minutes uncovered, until the loaf is nicely browned.
