Focal Point Designs

These Things Remain

2011-09-09T23:40:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody,

I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted...! Just where exactly did August go? Oh my goodness. A camping trip with hubby's family, a garage sale flop, lots of organizing and trying to get ready for our crazy school season and a final camping trip with my family. (I'm trying to get pictures to post of our amazing summer fun soon... stay tuned!) Oh and of course, let me not forget... summer softball season ending (Geoff was the coach for one of the four teams) and straight into fall ball for the fall city softball league which Geoff is heading up now.

All of a sudden, BAM, it's school time. Geoff started the 31st of August, I began the day after that on September 1st and then I had the kiddos started on our first year of homeschool on Wednesday the 7th. Whew! Tired yet? I am. ;P Haha. I stayed up until 3:30am the night before my kiddos first day... boy was that an adventure. We are settling in pretty well now, just a little more effort and I think that next week will be about right and we should be good from there. We seem to have a fairly balanced schedule that is working so far. We shall see as the weeks get even busier how it will be working out for us at that point. The good news is that we are taking a relaxed approach to school and learning as we go from life and fun projects.

And speaking of projects... that is exactly what I wanted to share today! I knew that I wanted the kiddos to have some fun with paints yesterday, but the morning took us out on a couple of errands and I wasn't sure how we were going to work it in before lunch, naps, etc. But, I got an idea based on something I had seen on Pinterest (yes, I will probably reference that wonderful time-consuming site often... and yes, I can admit -gladly even- that I am oh so very addicted to it). So, we got home and I got busy getting all of our supplies ready, kiddos in old t-shirts of mine as their smocks, paints (that I approved of the color palette for each canvas), three canvases, a few craft brushes and some paper letters glued to our canvases. Ready... set... go! I'll take you along with a picture timeline so you can see the fun we had and what we got for all our creative work. :)

"And these three remain... faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Life, In Crazy Mode

2011-08-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

I have been mulling over a couple posts that I have been wanting to write. Last week ended poorly with some serious disobedience from the kiddos and so I, sadly, never got around to the blog posts after that. So, in an attempt to not miss anything I have been wanting to share... I am getting going on them (for whoever out there cares about my ramblings, musings and little life moments. ;) I appreciate very much those of you that do!)

With all that said, lets get rolling! I have had numerous people asking about my "schedule". Oh boy! Sometimes that can sound like a dirty word. I have tried numerous times, without much success I might add, to get our family on one of those things. Well, life as we know it is about to throw us into a new category where scheduling is going to be a necessity for this next season. As many people know both Geoff and I are currently in school (Geoff should be done around the end of this year, thankfully, while I am still in for a long haul with my part-time status) and taking on the challenge of homeschooling the kiddos starting this fall.

With all of that just around the corner, I knew my summer was going to be quick and incredibly busy. To make myself aware of what truly needed done and keep myself from procrastinating I created a list of things in three categories that I wanted to see done this summer (also keeping in mind this is really a WISH list, but setting the goals high so that as much could be done as possible... within realistic expectations). The categories are: family, house and personal. These include vacations, small outings, personal obligations, stocking up for the winter, organizing and purging our "stuff and things" (otherwise known as too much junk!), preparing for the school season, etc.

I also prepared a cleaning schedule that tackles everything from the daily to-do's, to the bigger annual projects. I have researched all of these schedule making categories extensively and put together the best schedule I could with all the information I have gotten. It is specific to our seasons and schedule, so please, don't copy this exactly unless it truly will work for you.

(And please ask me for an alternate version instead of taking these images... the graphics I used in these schedules are for personal use only -not for selling or reproducing- I just wanted to share what mine look like and how I put my schedule together.)

Along with this list goes a daily schedule that is very specific to the hours of the day and what we will be attempting to accomplish each and every day. No, I don't expect every day to go exactly as planned, but it gives us a good starting point and a general routine that will get easier to "fall into" the more we practice it. I am not so hardcore into our schedule that I won't skip a day for the zoo or just to hang out with friends... this just gives us an adequate amount to keep us busy and productive each day. Mostly it helps us to balance our life so that each category is given its fair share of the week. The garden doesn't get left to wither away, God doesn't get our cranky 5 minutes before our heads hit the pillow, and school doesn't become a burden rather than an opportunity to learn.

Each family, and each person for that matter, will require different schedules to make their lives productive and less stressful. For me, my day starts at 5am (no, I am not perfectly on schedule yet... but certainly making every effort to get there) and ends at 9:30pm. My children do not get up until about 7am and will be back in bed by 7:30pm. Another good reason to get myself on a consistent schedule is the sleep issue. Without this I stay up all hours of the night (when my brain is groggy and less productive) trying to accomplish what my late morning couldn't and wasting far too many hours re-doing what could have been tackled in less than half the time with a clear head. This schedule gives me my best hours (mornings and afternoons) to get through the brain work.

Because my children are still quite young, you will notice I did not block out a single portion of "school time" as their attention span is not built for that right now. So my schedule looks incredibly chaotic to accommodate their busy little minds. You may also notice that it jumps back and forth between "school" and activity/outside play. I feel this is best because I can get their minds to engage in something and then they have time to just have fun (although my idea of school is to have fun and learn while doing it!). Plus those moments allow me to get some of the chores and activities of my day done, without the kiddos feeling like mommy is not engaged enough. It will be some give and take, and the kiddos will be learning about doing their chores this year also. :) I'm glad they still love to help around the house (except cleaning their rooms.... ahem!) and I want to continue encouraging that love of maintaining our home together.

One of the best tips that I read (I'll try to update with a link when I find which blog I got this from..) was to make a list of priorities for the day. They recommended 1-3, but realistically I am finding myself with 3-5 "must do" items of the day. You will see on the schedule pictured above that there is a specific category for these priorities (and also a supplies list so I know what I need to tackle the day) on the right side of the schedule. Those get special notice and are your "as long as I have done or tried to do these things, it was a successful day" list. Let me tell you, in the few weeks that I have been doing that, I have tackled so much more of my to-do's than ever before! Knowing where you need to focus really helps you to jump in and get the job done. It stares me in the face as if to say "no excuses! this is what needs done, now make a way" and I sure do love crossing them off when I finish them. My goal is always to get to mark off as much as I can each day. (That's the fun part... well, that and knowing "I did ALL this"!) Not every day will feel as great as the days you tackle more than you thought possible, but making those steps toward your goal still feels good and you can be proud knowing that you are making your way toward the things that make you feel like you accomplished life, are living it well and to the best of your ability.

Really our schedule is about priorities and balance with a dash of spontaneity thrown in. Hopefully this creates the home environment I truly desire for our family as we dive in to our busiest season! I will try to keep you updated, as blogging is one of the goals of each week. But like last week... life does not always go as planned and you make do, and then make every effort to get back on schedule.

Kay's Birthday Wishes

2011-07-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

The start of our walk.

Just had to get on really quick this morning and share the fun Kay had last night. I asked what she wanted for her birthday dinner... she picked meatloaf and corn! :) Then she kept trying to decide between cake and cupcakes for her birthday dessert (no, there were none left over from the party). She finally settled on cupcakes... and so mommy made JUMBO cupcakes for her. (They didn't even finish a half of one.)

When I asked what she wanted to do after dinner... I was expecting her to ask to watch a movie or something like that. She instead declared that we should go for a walk. After dinner was eaten and the cupcakes were out of the oven, we prepared for our walk. To which Kaylana stated that she wanted to go put on her Dora jammies and go for a walk now. With her in jammies and bare feet, Colson in his clothes and just his socks... we headed out (with them in the double stroller) for what became quite a long walk (and ending with me walking back home while Geoff ran the kiddos back the long way!).

Cheesy grins and muffins in a stroller!

Colson with his Half-Birthday present :)

Kay insisted on a picture of "all of us" but not mommy. Lol.

Amelia Bedelia! She's so silly.

Fancy Nancy! A favorite for sure.

We went all over the surrounding neighborhoods, enjoying the beautiful evening. I was surprised at how long we stayed out, but we had so much fun. When we got back we had present time! Because Kaylana and Colson's birthdays land 6 months apart, we are able to ease the difficulty of sibling jealousy with an easy half-birthday gift solution. Plus it's fun to celebrate the half-year mark at their age anyway. I love that Kaylana is so grateful even for the little things. She was so good about saying thank you enthusiastically (without being told to) for everything she was given.

After that it was bedtime for this tired momma. I've been getting up around 5:30am or 6am (though my goal is to get up at 5am, I'm working my way there slowly to get on my new schedule for getting everything in a day --or that's the plan anyway--) so I get really tired about 9:00pm.

The picture below I captured while on my solitary walk back home (don't worry, it was a short jaunt and I was more than happy to slow down for a little while). The sun was setting and everything had that touch of gold in its path. Stunning!

As beautiful as that golden sunset was for my eyes to behold, I was reminded of how my family touches my heart with more warmth than the sun and fills it with joy and love more precious than gold. And it goes without saying (but I'm going to anyway), no beautiful creation and no amount of joy and love can go without remembering the Creator of it all, the One and only Son that makes all things beautiful. I feel blessed, even though life is difficult and far from perfect. Finding my joy in what I have rather than don't have is a much better way to live.

The Sunset at Trail's End

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS!!!

2011-07-27T06:54:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to my beautiful, silly, smiley, smart,
dramatic, girly, social, pink-loving,
amazingly wonderful daughter,
KAYLANA!!!

I cannot believe that you are already 5. It seems that just yesterday I found out I was pregnant for the first time... and yet, here you are growing, learning and changing each day into a young lady and telling me just how much you can do all by yourself. *sigh* The years pass so quickly, but I enjoy your antics (when they aren't full of stinkers anyway, lol) and the goofball you are. You are truly a joy to me and I look forward to each day in the future watching you grow. But you'll always be my baby girl.

The beautiful girl the day of her party!

This post is a little different, it’s all about… my little princess and the fun of party planning! Yep, I am finding myself with a whole new world of creative fun… as if I need MORE things to do, right? ;) The kiddos are getting to the age that themes and better “style” are more important than they were in the past. Since my kiddos birthdays are almost exactly 6 months apart, (and since I am not usually very prepared for the way dates tend to sneak up on me), I have begun to start planning the next party as soon as the most recent one is over (or just before, depending on how antsy I get.) So, I was still a little late getting started on Kay’s… but I did start much earlier than I have before. It began with an idea to do a “Fancy Nancy” theme...

…but as I began to look at ideas and go for fancy planning, the theme suddenly changed.

Before I continue, I have to give credit where credit is due. A HUGE source of ideas, tutorials and inspiration came from my new online obsession Pinterest.

I can’t even begin to describe the amount of creative passion that site has inspired, (as well as my new push to more natural foods and products, organization for my home and in so many more areas!) With this new virtual pinboard, I went from Fancy Nancy to fancy tea party.

The ideas started whirling and I knew that I was going to have too much fun creating a special day for my princess. With help from my incredible and crafty friend Crystal, we started tackling the to-do list of stuff for Kaylana’s party. My goal was to make as much homemade as I possibly could for her party. It began with visions of...

Color Schemes

Invitations
These were incredibly time consuming but still very fun to make. First I will show you the "pocket envelope" we made for the invitations.

We punched the lace edge on a folded piece of shimmery pink paper (it took 6 punches per card) and then sewed (yes, with a sewing machine) the sides closed creating a perfect pocket for the tea bag shaped invitation. Then we cut out circles, distressed them with Tim Holtz's special ink, wrapped a piece of ribbon around and glued the circle and ribbon to the pocket envelope.

For this part, I modeled mine after the ones that inspired me, then made them my own. Playing with colors, fonts and graphics, I finally came up with a design I liked. There are two sets of invitations because we planned a two-part party. First was the little girls' tea party, then it went into a "fancy"-ish casual BBQ hangout. (I know that sounds contradictory but it came out perfect for our style of entertaining.)

These little details were hand-stamped squares that were tied to the tea bags. I think these took the longest out of all the invitation steps. I used 6 different metallic ink colors with 12 stamp designs, being very careful not to duplicate a single one wanting them to be unique!

All-in-all we made about 50 invitations!

Tissue Rosette Kissing Ball
I'm spoiling a secret, but this is only half finished. Where we hung it up at the party, you couldn't tell! I had run out of supplies trying to finish it one night (of course after stores were closed)... and after that there wasn't time to complete it and get all the other details done. Sure worked out nicely anyway.

I'll be finishing it and hanging it in Kaylana's room as decoration. :)

Party Hats I actually used these as part of the favors, which were filled with butterfly stickers, princess stickers and chalk (for the chalkboards of course). I did try to make my own chalk for the favors, but only about half of the first batch came out and were ready in time... so, I broke down and bought some knowing there wasn't time to make enough for the nearly 20 children that were possibly going to be there. (Ah well, you win some... you lose some. Lol.)

I loved the paper collection that I found to use for the decorations. You will find that they were used on the party hats, the paper chain, the flower buttons-use not disclosed yet- and other small details. Of course the paper was from K&Company, their stuff is just perfect for this kinda thing. A similar pack of that brand was used for the invitations too.

Tissue Paper Poms
They were everywhere!
(Thanks to Crystal who took that project on to free me up to do other party stuff.)

Doily Cookies Yes, I really did roll a doily onto the dough, and then I used a flower cookie cutter to create very fun and fancy cookies. The recipe ended up tasting very similar to a shortbread cookie, and oh man, were they YUMMY!

Shortbread Buttons Sadly you will have to imagine these or squint at one of the pictures of the table because I managed to not get a shot of these cute creations.

Stuffed Mushrooms I know that not everyone is a fan of these... but you have to know these were no ordinary stuffed mushrooms. They were Spinach Artichoke Parmesan Dip stuffed mushrooms! SO good.

Easy Homemade Ice Cream (without a machine) I made vanilla, and no... I did not take a picture of my tupperware contained ice cream. ;)

... and the pièce de résistance... (my first cake from scratch and my first decorated cake too! Maybe not pro, but still a proud moment for me to have accomplished it for my daughter's special day.)

Rose Cake (this is officially one of my new favorite blogs!)
...and the cupcakes to match (even though they weren't from scratch).

The hearts were part of a beautiful "arrangement" my mom put together. They were also one of the favors the girls got to go home with. The bows were a borrowed item that were from my sister-in-laws wedding (the sparkly tulle was from her wedding as well). And this is the paper chain I made from that same paper as the party hats... I really love the way it turned out, very vintage.

The other details for the day only added to the ambiance and fun. It was so much fun to plan and present this party for Kaylana. I enjoyed the process, and I was the least stressed I've ever been for an event. (Maybe I have finally turned the corner and can enjoy putting events on with better preparation... one can hope. Haha.)

The inside table setup.

The outdoor table setup.
(When we moved outside due to the number of people at her party.
What social butterflies we must be!)

I was (and still am) grateful for the sunshine that day and the ability to be in the backyard as well as the house. Prayers were answered for sure!

Chalkboards I did with Homemade Chalkboard Paint(not quite sure how they turned out, but they were cute anyway...)

The excitement of opening her gifts. :)

(And a rare picture of me... *sigh* I'd much rather be the photographer than the subject.)

The aftermath!... of presents.

The BEST part of it all (yes, I can pick my favorite of the day out of all that good stuff)... the amazing family, friends and neighbors that came to celebrate with us!

We had so many people that blessed us by coming, I can't even tell you how many people came and went that day... it was a FULL house though! And our hearts were full of the love and joy they brought. :)

A stolen moment with "Bramma" (my mother-in-love).

Kaylana with a couple of "her girls". I am going to frame this and hang it on her wall. SO cute!!!

For these next ones I will be revealing their purpose soon (though you may be able to guess) ... but here is a sneak peak of the ideas as a teaser. ;)

Button Flowers

Doily Envelopes

That's all for now... Hope to be back soon! :)

A New Year... and Growing Into a New Me

2011-02-28T16:45:00.000-08:00

Geoff is working hard to get a law enforcement position and we are praying that this is the year he gets hired on with a department. I would love for it to be local, but I keep praying for God to help me accept a move if it becomes necessary and to be supportive of the whole thing, with His hand guiding me in it all. (I don't want to be a Jonah!) I know it won't be easy, but God has given me a peace about Geoff's career choice since it first came up and I know that we will get the exact department that God has for us, wherever that may be. So, that is a something that we are looking forward to this year.

I am still working hard in school, although I signed up for a MUCH easier school load in order to deal with life and the move (it is driving me crazy to still have things so disorganized and in boxes everywhere... that'll teach me to collect too much stuff!). I am enjoying my Book Arts class VERY much, it is right up my alley. :) Learning to handmake something that I find beautiful and timeless is such an amazing opportunity. Hoping to use it to make my own sketchbooks, poetry books, portfolios and gifts of course. My other class is easy enough if I make the time for it, but I have a really hard time wanting to participate as it is not my style of learning and it is hugely based on tests (which for anyone that knows me well... understands that this causes me to hyperventilate, freak out, black out... overall, stress uncontrollably regardless of my knowledge of the subject). Otherwise, I am enjoying time with family (especially the new edition miracle nephew, Levi Michael, who was born on Colson's birthday!), being involved with my church, new extracurricular activities with my school and my two bible studies that are both so amazing and (hopefully) life-changing. I am really striving for a better and more balanced me. So many things I want to change NOW (yes, patience is one of them) but God is helping me through it little by little in His own timing. Grateful that He never gives up on me and is always helping me to become a better person.

This fall will bring about huge change as we switch Kaylana from her private school into homeschool. I can't tell you how excited this makes me. I love where Kaylana is at, and the program and teachers are amazing... but I feel so disconnected from what she is doing and learning. I can't wait to get to observe her discoveries myself and get to encourage her where she excels and challenge her where she struggles. It has always been my desire to homeschool my kids, and I relish the opportunity to do so with renewed confidence after the difficulty I have had in letting her go elsewhere this year.

She is certainly growing and changing SO much. I can't believe that almost 5 years have passed. Kaylana; my beautiful daughter who is more "girly" than I ever thought I could handle. Very much a pink loving, princess focused, dress-up playing, fancy loving big girl now. She rarely stops talking, unless it is to sing. And she is a huge ball of energy that is always looking for attention. I usually end up hysterically laughing because of things she says or her antics. I am hoping next year to get her involved in music and either dance or gymnastics. We will see what the year brings. She loves to read and loves practicing her letters/writing (especially her name). She is always interested in doing what mommy does and tries to join in. (That is something that I am trying to be better about... letting her help even though it slows me down. She won't always want to do chores and be with mommy, so I want to enjoy it while I can.) She is so independent and driven, but I love that she still clings to family and friends with a strong bond. And man, I do love that girl, more than she will ever know!

Also this fall, I will try to introduce some homeschool to Colson as well. He has a very curious nature that loves to observe and tinker. We've gotten to where we don't tell him how to use stuff until he has had a chance to figure it out... if he needs help we guide him, but we usually just start laughing in astonishment as he "gets it" in mere seconds. He has been my snugglebug for so long, it is hard to let him get so big (just turned 3 the beginning of this month) and lose some of those baby loves. I knew the day would come, and he isn't over them completely yet, but he took it down a few notches and it already makes me sad. However, despite less snuggles and loves, he is still my Charmer. He is so sensitive and caring, loves babies and is usually the first to share or help. I love that he is such a gentle boy and I pray that this stays with him as he grows into adulthood. Don't underestimate him though... he is ALL boy! Bumps, bruises, guns, roughhousing, tumbles and anything adventurous are daily occurrences. I love my baby boy and even though he keeps growing... he will always be my baby.

Well, all-in-all, this year is looking to be full of more change and lots of excitement. We will see how it goes! :)

Ending of THAT year!

2011-02-28T15:57:00.000-08:00

Is so glad to be done with last semester and last year in general. Between the rigorous class I took (said to be the worst one there is... even the seniors in my class dumped half their workloads to try to cope with this particularly demanding course) and unavoidable life events, it was rough to say the least.

I know that I am a perfectionist and take longer to do my work usually, but this was ridiculous. My typical week was minus 1-2 nights sleep (a bad week I would go as many as 3-4 especially around midterms), the nights that included sleep were between 2-4 hours (6 on a REALLY good night), and 40-60 hours were spent on that one class alone (not including my other course I was taking on Short Stories or time I needed for the rest of life).

Then, to add to it all, we started the school year with Geoff's motorcycle accident (which we are beyond blessed at how God protected him even on the freeway) and a continuous weekly catastrophe would follow for the remainder of the semester. Wednesdays were particularly the worst, though not singular to that day we had both kids (in a two week time frame) with brain injury watches (through the night of course), auto problems with the new van we had JUST gotten the end of July, and a myriad of other issues that continued to make life just that much more difficult. And after ending both our semesters on Dec 18th, we spiraled into the Christmas holiday. Spent 4 wonderful days with family, celebrating and then rushed back home to start packing for our immanent move. Just over 3 years at the last place, it was time to move on for a number of reasons. Prayerfully we searched, fearing we were not going to find something in time, God brought the perfect place to us at just the right time. We are still settling, but I am grateful every day for our beautiful new home that I feel so blessed to be in with a great landlord to boot!

All that to say... I am SO glad to be in 2011. :) Last year was a big year of change for us, and despite all that ranting, it was a necessary year. However, I am looking forward to all this year has to offer and can't wait to see what happens...

First Few Weeks...

2010-09-24T23:25:00.000-07:00

Well, the semester has started out pretty well. I am getting more sleep than last year (most of the time) and have been doing alright with the homework. It feels like perfectionists amplified 20 times over, but it is still going well enough. Just gotta stay caught up. Here is one of my assignments from the second week of class. (This week has me painting swatches like crazy for a 24-step color wheel. Busy but... fun, fun!)

The first week Kaylana started school was interesting. Gotta get in the habit of setting the alarm and getting up to it in time. Did better with that this week. :) Kaylana is just LOVING her class and I think Colson is adapting to Kaylana being gone sometimes, plus it gives him and I some one on one time.

Here is a hilarious picture of Colson at the local coffee shop (Mud Bay Coffee) with me, where we had some hang out time, just the two of us. So much fun!

Kaylana with her teacher. :) I LOVE hearing all the wonderful things she is learning and how much she loves it. Still can't wait to bring her back for homeschooling though... Trying to be patient, this is just a season in our lives. But, remembering to enjoy it all is SO important!

Fall 2010

2010-09-08T17:01:00.000-07:00

My Color and Design Theory class is going to keep me extremely busy, as well as hopefully keep me on top of my blog even more than others have (for technical reasons having to do with my class). And since I have already begun... here art the first of my assignments.

This is the start of my Notebook Project that I am building throughout the class. This is one of many typeface studies that will continue for much of the semester.

And these are the lovely swatches I have painted using goache (pronounced gwash like squash) and will use to create a 9 step value scale.

With my swatches cut out, I created a meticulous scale for my notebook project. Here it is...

Now to use the scale to do my optional painting... hopefully this weekend I'll get that part done. :) Feels so good to be on top of the homework this semester; now I'm praying for no sicknesses and to keep right on going!

Catching Up... Once More!

2010-09-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

I was so lost in last semester and the summer flew by much too quickly, I would like to give a quick preview of what the end of my semester held before jumping into this new one. And to start I got a C+ in my drawing class and an A in my writing class. :)

Happy with that; especially considering all the illnesses we managed to get that semester. (Between me and the kiddos it was around 5 each, so about 15 total. Yuck!) But, we made it through and are now jumping into the school season again, this time Kaylana will be joining Geoff and I in the school zone. She is more excited than I can describe!

Here is an earlier assignment from one of the first 5 weeks, (I think). Torso bust that came out ok-ish...

Midterm; which was a 30-40 hour still life assignment. Came out pretty good until I had to rush some of it to finish in time. Pretty happy with it anyway.

This is an idea of my working environment in the middle of the craziness... Still working on my art room setup, but this is doing the trick for the time being.

This was my final. Can you guess who it is? It is a young Clint Eastwood. This was up my alley, but again I was crunched for time and didn't perfect it quite as much as I would have liked. Overall, I was happy with my outcome and can't wait to do some more in whatever free time I can find.

This is a closeup of the eye as I was in progress still. I thought it came out pretty cool looking.

Well, that is my semester in review; a quick synopsis. Hope you enjoyed it! Now, onto new concepts and projects. This semester is about color and design, presentation being a big part of that class as well as a class in narration otherwise known as creative writing. I'm excited for both, but they will definitely keep me quite busy! (As usual...)

An Artist's Autobiography

2010-03-08T23:43:00.000-08:00

A couple images from the first few weeks of class. I am back to basics... shapes! (Pretty soon my daughter will be learning more advanced things in her 4 year old class. Haha.)

This was an assignment for my Artist's Composition class. It does not tell the whole story, but focuses primarily on my artistic development. It is long, and some of it sad, but I hope that you enjoy it and see the wonderful journey I am on! (And I am bursting with excitement because I got an "A" for this piece!)

Rachael Reynolds

LA108-OL4
Robert Tindall
February 27th, 2010

"Contradictions and Convictions of a Passionate Artist"

A lover of old and new, uncommon and mainstream, a dreamer and a realist, bold and shy; I am a unique personality, and a bit of a contradiction. I was born in Wyoming. Between Oregon and Washington I have encountered all but the first few months of my life; from joys to despair, from heartbreak to dreams come true, from a child to motherhood, but one constant is that I am still a student. Always learning, each day a new day to grow and thrive.

I have loved the feel of art from the first moments a drawing implement was put into my hands. Never did I scribble, but in very focused and detailed strokes created small areas of blocking. It was because of this that my parents, (though I credit my mother the most for her gentle pushes to create to my heart's desire), encouraged my every artistic endeavor, made sure I received art supplies for every occasion. I couldn't be found without a sketchbook, carrying it wherever I went. Often sneaking downstairs, creaking the steps as I slowly descended at very early hours trying to get some time alone with my pencil and paper without stirring anyone in the house. I would take it on field trips and to my sports practices and games. My work was always looked on with approval and encouraged me to keep practicing through my busy schedule. I loved hearing people's positivity towards my creations. I was not popular or accepted by my peers much after we moved to Washington when I was 7 years old. So, I craved the affirmations that my art seemed to achieve. Such a perfect creative environment; drive to succeed, support and provision for the artist rising in me.

In a single moment, a breath, life can change so dramatically. November 1995, 12 years old, I admit that I heard quite a racket of noise at about 11:45pm one night. Due to many house renovations over the years turning a "fixer-upper" into a livable and pleasant home, I assumed, that it was late night work on the house. Only, I woke the next morning to learn my mother was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night. Healthy, young and told for years that nothing was wrong despite a nagging feeling my mother had; how could she be hospitalized. Why? How? The questions were an avalanche inside my head. An erupted brain aneurysm, my mind tried to grasp at the concept and the consequences of this uncontrollable event. Details poured in, first hours at a time... eventually stretched into weeks and months of numbers, percentages, possibilities and an upturned life at the peak of my escape from childhood into a much scarier world that possibly held no mother. No mom? Three younger brothers, a father permanently attached to her bedside and a house to take care of. I would have to be mom, that's just what I'd have to do. What a burdensome thought to carry at the age of 12. My mother underwent two brain surgeries, risky themselves, and an eye surgery for a whale-shaped blood pool that was a repercussion of the rupture and had blocked her main vision in one eye. A full year of turmoil, recovery and uncertainties, my mother walked away from the incident with hardly any evidence of the tragedy, aside from the physical scars, and has continued life with only minor setbacks, mostly related to the surgeries. It was a miracle, of that we were certain, and something we never lost sight of as the years continued. Despite her miraculous recovery against all odds, I was numb to the events during those crucial times, unaware I had burdened myself. In retrospect, I see a number of things more clearly. Which is usually the case with life. So much easier to see once life has fast-forwarded to a place where I can get a bigger picture of the good that came from things I once felt were awful and the choices I could have made differently.

Though my early schools were not focused on art, my own passion helped me to pursue those creative cravings so well nurtured by my mother, into high school where I finally had proper instruction about art. Once the shock of my mother's near-death experience had worn off, I struggled within myself over the effects of that monumental event and had to figure out how to cope with my emotions through writing, poetry and my artwork. Those years were dark and heavy like a storm cloud that hung in the air, stifling and confusing. I bottled my emotions, afraid to let anyone see my pain. When it was too much I would release in a torrent of words, whether they were mine or those of another author, or I buried deeper into my artwork. Much of my creative expressions from that timeframe are sad and lonely types of work. I knew how to be goofy and laugh pretty easily if the mood struck me. Pain, hurt, anger and sadness were a struggle for me. My creativity was the only venue I found sufficient for all that I felt deep inside. Even then, I still found ways to mask it from the outside world, riddled and buried in the subtleties of my work. A poem I wrote during that time really marks a low point in my life, featuring thoughts about wondering who I really was inside and whether that was worth anything at all. Searching for myself, seeking my purpose and doubting everything I did, this poem was almost an acceptance of ruin in my life, but hope was present and that was enough.

It was during that time of introspect and discovering who I truly was that I had an amazing art teacher, Mr. Wegener. He significantly challenged my small, comfortable ideas of art and pushed me into experiencing and learning to appreciate many facets and styles of art. One thing I have always struggled with, and most drastic during my high school years, is Obsessive Compulsive Perfectionism. This was not something that spanned only certain areas of my life, but spread like a plague in every part of me. Strange habits; repeated flicking of light switches, tapping both feet to "even out" the feeling of the rhythm in my feet, chewing a certain number of times on each side of my mouth, and all sorts of other oddities entered my life, center stage. It was laughed at in all circles, used to torture me in math class, and invaded my creative world. So stubbornly perfectionistic about all of my work I was confined to very specific styles, genres and how I would go about tackling the project.

One specific moment has engrained itself into my memory bank portraying how my art teacher would challenge me as an artist. I remember that room so vividly, still. The high school having been started my Freshman year, the room was almost new but the evidence that art reigned were present with smudges, stains and creativity hung in every corner, on lines and lockers. The smell of art; cleaners, paper and so many supplies, particularly the dusty flavor the room always had from the large amount of charcoal and pencil work. As our teacher commonly would do, he had a particular project in mind for the session and told us to collect our boards from our lockers and our supplies from the bins. The usual classroom madness ensued with the banging of locker doors, the shifting of the stools on the tile floor, and the rush to get everything and get settled back in for the project at hand. I was collecting supplies and realizing that he had forgotten the erasers. Politely I informed him of this mistake, or he announced it with great fervor to the class; my memory seems faulty on that point, but with either scenario it was at that moment that the world almost seemed to stop and spin at the same time for me. We were expected to draw our hand… with no eraser in only 15 minutes?! I wouldn't be able to, I couldn't… I…, I was freaking out… Very kindly but firmly Mr. Wegener gave me a knowing look and assured me that I would be fine, to do my best regardless of how comfortable it was. After some encouragement I reluctantly did what I could with the assignment, completely bitter that he didn't understand that I needed an eraser and at the prospect that I would ruin my drawing and have no way to "fix" it. I was also upset that the time was nowhere close to being long enough to achieve much. To my surprise, I loved what I was able to finish and felt accomplished afterwards for not using an eraser. This is only one memory of many I have of how I grew and devoured all things creative during that time. Mr. Wegener is an artist who made a substantial impact on my art and my life because of what he invested in me. Curiosity, appreciation, challenge and a whole range of art new to me that opened my world in a whole new way. I studied some creative writing classes and took as many art classes as I could get away with and graduate. I soaked up as much creativity as I could, in and out of school.

After high school, my sketchbook began attracting dust due to life and a busy schedule. With that outlet visited less frequently, I found my creative side surfacing in other areas. I began working in a photo shop, mostly selling mainstream, bottom-line equipment and working with the developing and printing of pictures. That sparked my creative juices and sent me plunging into photography. I would wander the outdoors, any weather and any season, in search of amazing details and moments to capture. My camera became a permanent fixture, always with me and helping me to see the world in a unique way. Life continued, adding a husband and children to my busy schedule. I did not find much time to pursue much artistically.

Ultimately this led to a home-based photography business doing outdoor portraits and a number of weddings as well. This gave me the opportunity to quit my job, stay at home with my children, (a lifelong dream come true), and still try to help provide for our growing family. Meanwhile, my daddy (who was unexpectedly and surprisingly excited about my pursuits of an artistic career) helped me to network with a local free-lance graphic designer whole had quickly become successful and recognized in our area for his talents. Grateful to get my start from him and learn whatever I could from another local designer, I started to include it into my home business. Learning the unique style of parenting that comes with having more than one child and still trying to incorporate work into my life, I spent far too many hours on the computer and wasn't accomplishing enough as a mom or an entrepreneur. Nearly two more years I sporadically worked photo shoots and specialized mostly in senior portraits and wedding photography while juggling a home and a family with very busy lifestyles. I love photography and graphic design, but the time it demanded was difficult to give it the attention it needed and still enjoy my childrens short years of childhood. Frustrated and yet longing for more creativity in my life I was ready to hit the ground running with my business, completely dive in. I was hoping and praying I was doing the right thing for me and my family, especially with the specific area of interest I had chosen to pursue. Was that what I was meant to do?

Over the years my creativity found its place in many ways, many styles and as often as I could find the time and ability to be creative. Despite lapses in my sketchbooks, I had photography and graphic design as a business, scrap booking and craft projects and even my church involvement has included working on set design/construction. It is through the encouragement of some people I truly respect that I am returning to my sketches and paintings. I was at a point of trying to figure out where I needed to be and some gentle, but direct, reminders to return to my roots sent me searching for the artist inside of me. It was with this renewed dedication for my art that I began looking for instruction that would challenge me where I would shy away and teach me where I had no knowledge. I had been dreaming of a school that I felt was qualified and a constructive place to learn, change, challenge myself and grow into the artist I will continue to become throughout life. That pursuit led me to the online doors of AAU. I had searched throughout my ten years since high school and had never found or heard of this amazing school. I honestly believe that this was the right time for me to stumble upon the doorway to a new chapter in my life. This threshold that is leading into the unknown of my future, that I am more confident than ever to walk in the knowledge that I will be doing what I am passionate about for as long as I am able. I still have obstacles that challenge me every day and I am excited to say that they are not going to hold me back.

My life has had its ups and downs like any other, but I do not see my life as tragic. It is a journey that has led me to a place I would not give up for anything, all a part of the path I needed to walk. I would be nowhere in my art if not for the love, support and encouragement of my teachers, friends throughout life, an amazing family and my faith in God. They are the driving force that helps my passion to come alive and continue to give me the confidence to get through it all. My husband sacrifices so much to give me the ability to pursue my passion of art. He has seen me through a lot of my struggles and my triumphs. Daily I am reminded how truly blessed I am to be married to this man. I have the biggest and most amazing family, without them I would be lost. No matter what struggles you face in life, strong support and the right attitude are sure to give you a silver lining, if you take the time to find it. I will press on towards my goals and aspirations, that is my purpose and my delight; to passionately pursue and discover the artist I am destined to be.

Good art provokes a viewer's mind and emotions. It can capture moments in time, fragments of thought and give rise to feelings. Drawing and painting are the foundations for many forms of art. Although some artists learn these elemental truths and move on, some continue to create in this form of art. Here I am, an artist, with a passion to draw and paint. Drawing, by definition, is "producing an image of someone or something by making a line or mark on a surface". Though different meanings of the word draw are to: "be the cause of a specified response, attract someone to come to a place or an event; induce someone to reveal or do something; direct or attract someone's attention to something; reach a conclusion by deduction or inference from a set of circumstances; formulate or perceive a comparison or distinction." (Wikipedia online dictionary) I think that drawing should connote the meanings of "draw" in a broader sense, rather than the denoted version alone. All art should have these qualities. Our learning, progress and possibly even our success may come from the last person or thing we expect it to. I don't want to miss out on an opportunity to learn something because I am so stubborn in my artistic perspective. That doesn't mean that I have to like everything I see or use everything I learn in my personal art. But, broadening my perspective gives me an edge. Being willing to learn and change while holding to my own style and virtue holds a wealth of knowledge and opportunity. Pushing to get to that next level, challenging myself and working at becoming a better artist is the best lesson I could possibly have. While we learn to shape the world around us and in our minds with our mediums onto something tangible, our lives should continue to change shape in a positive way. If it doesn't help us grow as artists and as people then we have lost touch with something very important in our artwork.

Appreciating what I do is incredibly important in the artistic process. I won't rely on everyone else to give me my identity as an artist. I contemplate the world and everything in it with my artistic notions. In some ways it allows me to deal with the world and to put on rose-colored glasses to see it in a different way. I create because it is a part of me. It flows from me without warning, leaving a wake of paint drippings, charcoal dust, paper and canvas. I love anything that I can create or inspire with artistic thought or image. I want to give others a "golden ticket" into my creative world. My artwork is guided by the desire to evoke a response in myself and those who view it. I intend to draw, paint and use all forms of art to draw people to look inside, to feel deeply and express themselves passionately. I plan to learn from the masters and then expand on it with something of our modern culture, to create something unique and wonderful. I can't say exactly how my art will be portrayed or received, my education has only begun and my life is not complete. Only in the realm of my artistic view, giving it a life like no other artist. We don't have to speak the same global language or artistic language to learn from it. I want to bridge the world with my art. I want to touch people's lives… from the inside out. The mind, heart and soul are the core of our being and that is where I want my art to live; in the minds, hearts and souls of those that view it.

Progress and Finals

2010-02-03T01:00:00.000-08:00

Before I go on to the Progress images I promised,

let me share an excerpt about my school and their grading system:

"The grading standards at the Academy of Art are very high.

A-level work is excellent and exceptional.
B-level work is very good, far above average.
C-level work is acceptable. Students can expect to receive a C when their work meets the basic requirements of the assignment, and it is well-done, complete, and turned in on time.
D-level work is below average or poor. The student didn't get all of the basic requirements.
F-level work means the student has failed."

For all who care or are wondering...

I got an A in my (very easy) Digital Photography and Photoshop class!
And I passed my Figure Drawing Class with a C+, (which is actually a huge relief!
I could have done better, but missed a whole week of assignments after getting sick
and couldn't make it up in time, as well as just having trouble with my time management).

The way my adviser explained it to me: if you could teach the class or be hired straight into a firm with your current knowledge and abilities, you will get an A. B's are given to those showing extreme potential and are doing very well. The rest is mostly the same as above. Hope that gives you an idea of what I am being challenged with. ;) You now know something it took them almost an entire semester to tell me! I would have freaked out a lot less about all the B's I was getting if I knew that in the first place. Ah well, they are still learning and so am I...

Progress from Week 3 to Week 12 and Week 15

Well, that is the last of Fall '09. Now, to try to keep updated on Spring '10. Lol.
I'm trying, I promise. Not sleeping already, but I am sure trying to stay caught up!

Fall Semester's Finals... Finally!

2010-02-03T00:45:00.000-08:00

Okay. I totally bombed my finals! But, it was a great learning experience, and I still know I am not a fan of tests or finals! Blech! Without further ado... some of the last assignments of last semester.

This is my pre-final, and I have some step-by-step images to take you through some of the process I go through to get the more detailed image I have when I finish. Enjoy! :)

Week 14 Pre-final

Week 15 Final Project

The head is a bit too small, but otherwise I am pretty pleased with this one.

Now for a before and later sample... Next post!

So behind... and a new beginning.

2010-02-02T23:47:00.000-08:00

Started a new year with new beginnings, a new semester... and yet I feel so behind already. I blinked and my 6 week break was over. 1 week for the holidays, another lost to sickness and more consumed time cleaning and trying to catch up on filing, laundry, etc.

So here I am, no posts since November and with more than just lost time. During that time I lost all the info on a 500GB harddrive, irreplaceably, and also lost all the pictures I took, both personal and academic, from October 1st to the middle of December. Ugh!

Despite all that, here is a blurb of everything I still have to post from last semester...

Week 9

I chose a beautiful picture of my sister-in-law, Heather, on her wedding day as the subject for my head drawing. This is a bad angle of the drawing and not quite what I hoped would turn out from it. Because of the nature of the assignment I had to do it differently than I wanted to artistically. (I would show you somewhere in the middle where I would have stopped, but that is one of the images I had to sadly say goodbye to.) I def need to practice doing quite a few more portraits...

Week 10
The second drawing was a bit more rushed than usual, but I was proud of myself for what I accomplished in the time frame that I did. Usually takes me about 3 times as long. I'm working on challenging myself to speed up, because I really do take much too long for the kind of courses I am in. Which is good, I need to be challenged. My favorite is the last one of my husband crushing a Mt. Dew can! Though it isn't perfect, I am really proud of that one. I didn't want to work on my other drawings, just kept trying to "touch up" the one I loved and wanted to make it perfect. Time, as usual, didn't permit me that luxury. Still, I'm happy with it. :)

Week 11
This was an intensely difficult, but rather enjoyable lesson. I chose my family as the subject of this drawing. I need to finish Kaylana's feet (in the middle) and get Colson's added. My hubby was even a good sport for the fun! Kaylana and Colson didn't want me to stop using them as models. Haha. Great fun. I'm glad that my family can sometimes be a part of what I am doing. As far as quality, my foot actually came out the best, and I got the best grade for that one... I'll have to fix my family's feet so they are great as well. I'm thinking this one might go on my wall in the future, if I can only finish it...

Week 12
This was an awkward week. Trying to get the angles and size correct despite myself. (The craziest thing to me with these two drawings is that my grades were barely different. I spent about 3 hours on the top one, rushed. The bottom image shows a drawing I spent 6 hours trying to get right and it's one of my better ones. Both got B's, one a plain B and the other a B+. I don't even pretend to get the grading system at this point.) Lol. Much easier to look at and think you can do than to actually try. Getting better though at "seeing" the form. Practice will make perfect...

Week 13
This was by far one of the worst weeks. Exaggerating the form... I spent all the previous 12 weeks just trying to get the form accurate! Now why would I want to go and screw all that up with a ridiculous drawing like this. But, on the bright side, there are valuable lessons to be learned even when I don't want to.

I'll post again with some of the final work and a comparison of where I started and how I finished in the semester. Stay tuned!

The Latest and Greatest

2009-11-10T02:05:00.000-08:00

I had a lot of fun with this weeks assignments.
The images I am sharing are not complete, but you'll get the idea.
I wish I had more time to devote to these, but I still feel like I'm lagging with the sicknesses making their rounds through the household, over and over and over and over...

Anyways, the face and especially the individual features are one of my
absolute favorite things to draw. This was no exception.
I really enjoyed it and had fun with the drawings.
I picked some real fun ones that I haven't done yet
and am excited to try sometime, maybe when this semester is over.

Mouth

Ears

Noses

Eyes

Well, enough babbling for this middle-of-the-night post.
(Hey, so far I may still make it to bed earlier than last night...
...Between 12am and 4am is pretty standard now,
and the kiddos make sure to be my alarm clock around 6am-7am!
Yeah, not planning on much rest for the duration of my schooling...
...but it sure would be nice..... *dreaming*.)

Fall Fun #3

2009-11-10T01:43:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year and I am SO excited! I haven't had time to find a pile of leaves and was really wanting the kiddos to play in some leaf piles while I watched through my camera lens.
I had almost given up on the chance of it happening this year when...
...to my surprise, there were heaping piles of beautiful leaves waiting for us at our
Tuesday lunch with Papa. I went running for my camera.

Great fun, and the kids just LOVED being tossed into them.
(Colson was funny though because he didn't like to sit in them, you had to remove him about
2.5 seconds after you threw him in. LOL.)

Ahhhh, I am so excited I got these pictures! =D

Fall Fun #2

2009-11-10T01:10:00.000-08:00

Busy weekend. Friday night we went downtown to Metro church for their harvest party. The kids had fun despite our short stay. And Saturday, after all the pumpkin patch adventures, we made our way to the Pumpkin Patch Bash, as usual. It was fun, but the kids didn't get to do much. Really crazy lines and they were just a bit too cranky and tired. Anyways, we didn't really have much in the way of costumes, but we scrounged, and this is what we came up with...

...A PRINCESS!!!
Luckily Kaylana had tons of princess stuff she got for her birthday... Sparkles, makeup, a crown and lots of giggly girl smiles for the fun she was having! :)

...AND A CUTIE PIE!

Colson was more difficult. Tried to pull off a 50's -ish look. First night we were indoors so, eh alright, second night outdoors and too cold, so not entirely sure what he ended up being at that point. Wired and tired if I remember right. (We came home and Colson started doing splits and falling in every room of the house! Lol. My goofballs are so precious!)

Next... leaf piles!!! (I saved my favorite for last... even though they are also in chronological order, I still wanted to save the best for last!)

Fall Fun #1

2009-11-10T00:28:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun with my kiddos recently doing things I have always dreamed of doing with my kids. So, I'll start with the pumpkin patch...

Donuts :) to start the morning right.
Then checking the animals out...
(my kids just LOVE the animals, especially Colson)!

And of course, the pumpkin patch...

Next... costumes!

Finally past midterms

2009-11-05T22:30:00.000-08:00

I can say that I am learning a lot. Slowly but surely, I will continue to learn.

Unfortunately I am a little behind because of this season's nasty sicknesses that seem to repeat. But, moving forward is where I am trying to focus right now. I really didn't like this most recent week of studies (arms and legs muscles,etc.), but I am really enjoying this new week.
We are studying the face in detail. Very exciting!!! :)

Anyways, for those of you looking for my most recent homework...

Study of the Torso Muscles

Mine (above) Michaelangelo's (below)... as if you couldn't tell...

Not the best work I've done and definitely not the easiest either! It is really difficult copying someone that you admire and who had really gone somewhere in their artistic career. Kind of puts the pressure on, especially when it is one of the greats! The line work was really difficult and I ridiculously underestimated the complexity of this piece. Good lesson for me though.

Michaelangelo's Libyan Sibil

Michaelangelo's Statue of David at Bernini

I did not have enough time in my week to finish this project. This 1/3 I got done took me 12 hours to do. (I know, I know, I am such a perfectionist!) I would love to finish it sometime. But that probably won't happen until at least my break between semesters, if not longer. Only time will tell. Wish I had more to share, but that's it for now.

Next I want to share some pics of the kiddos this fall. Super adorable. Well, until next time...

Recent Schoolwork

2009-10-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

School is now in session (actually I've been in school since September 3rd and am approaching midterms quickly now.) I have had a lot of people asking to see my work, so I will be trying to juggle my blog with my classes and my family as well as the rest of my schedule. Hopefully I do better than I did in the past. Anyways, keep looking for updates!

Please be forewarned... this class is a figure drawing class. Yep, that means nude images. For those of you who want to see some of my course work... here it is. :) Without further ado...

WEEK 3 These two images were exercises in proportions.

WEEK 4
Lines of Rythym and Weight Value

WEEK 5
This was a copy drawing working with values.

WEEK 6
Shape Finding and Planes of the Figure

It took weeks to get to this point and we still have about half the semester left.

Tune in later, same blogger, same blog...
(I know it's lame... it's late and I don't sleep anymore! I have good excuses.) Lol.

New Direction

2009-10-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

So, I am still loving photography and dabbling in it from time to time. But, I have been super busy with school and going towards a drawing/sketching direction. Before I switch to posting more artwork than photography, I have some newer shoots to share.

These are a couple of the final yearbook shots for my brother-in-law Paul. He has been so much fun to get to know over the past few years. I love it when he is passionate about God, it really brings out the best in him. I can't wait to see the man of God he will be as he continues to mature. These were fun to take, but I had to get him to relax in front of the camera first.

One of my personal favorite shots of the day...

We are planning a second session to do more active shots of one of Paul's passions... skateboarding. I can't wait! He is probably gonna grow his hair back out and I know that day will just be so much fun. Until then... back to the drawing board. ;)

Been Too Long...

2009-02-15T20:33:00.000-08:00

I have no real good excuse other than normal life and the craziness of raising two children. However, I still intend to catch everyone up a bit.

The holidays were almost a blur they seemed to have passed so quickly. Kaylana looked beautiful in both of her Christmas dresses and Colson looked so handsome in his holiday suit. We had a lot of fun being with our family for the holidays. It's always good to be with family. Although the weather made it much more difficult. We have had the strangest, snowiest winter I have ever seen in this area. Felt like we were actually in Alaska or somewhere in the Northeast, instead of rainy Washington. Very strange indeed.

Then, with the snow melt and added rain, our house flooded and we have had a very interesting time with our living situation and re-flooring our living space. So of course that is a large portion of the craziness in my life as well. We are living on the futon, clothes strung over the couches and just a madness of having nothing where it belongs. We are in the process of fixing the problems, but it's been over a month already and let me tell you: I am ready! Ready to be back in our rooms with our clothes in the closets, with the kids in their beds and everything in it's place... Oh, so ready! It's slow, but at least we are heading in that direction. And I still have much to be thankful for throughout the process. We have had so much help and support from our church, friends and family as well as God's provisions and allowing me to find it quickly so that we did not lose any of our stuff. Just the flooring and some of the other house stuff was damaged, but even then it is a blessing in disguise allowing an updated and finished place for us to live.

And the best news of all for January was my brother's wedding. I am so very grateful to have been involved throughout the process. I was able to take engagement portraits that were beyond fun to be the photographer for! Those two are just hilarious to be around and they truly bring the best out in each other. My cheeks seriously hurt from all the laughing and smiling I did behind the camera! What fun. And I was also a part of the invitations, the favors, Tim's gift to Nichole and the wedding itself as a bridesmaid. The location was amazing, (a castle; no really, a castle!), the dress was divine, the food and wine exquisite, and the whole day was so wonderful! And I couldn't ask for a better addition into the family. CoCo (as she is fondly nicknamed) is sweet and caring and a great wife for my brother as well as a new aunt for my children. She slipped right in as if she always belonged, and I know that's exactly how God wanted it to be. (Sneak Peek pictures coming soon...)

Kaylana is using full sentences and astounding us all the time with her new vocabulary and understanding of things. She loves to be helpful with the housework and her brother, although it is sometimes more difficult, but her heart is in the right place. Colson is walking already and just adores his sister. Both of their antics keep me running, cleaning and laughing! What a joy despite it's difficult moments.

Geoff is still pursuing his new career choice and we are trusting God for continued opening and closing of doors in the right direction. We know that He has given us this desire for our future and as long as we are paying attention He will give us the right opportunities and will lead us into that future.

I am really getting passionate about what I do now that I have a little more time with my kids being a little older. No more infants makes a business a bit easier, for me at least. So, I am really setting some goals and seeing where God leads me in this next year. I am nervous, excited and somewhat out of my element. I can't wait to look back and see what's happened. I'll keep updating, so stay tuned...

Busy, busy, busy...

2008-10-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

So, I've been really busy behind the scenes getting a lot done. Pretty soon I will be updating with a ton of new stuff. Personal and business. It's a busy time of year and things are good. First we had to readjust ourselves to the daily grind and get vacation mentality out of our systems. There is so much to report... but it'll have to wait until another day. Please be patient, there is SO much more on it's way. I'm really excited to share some of it. We'll have more soon...

Rangel Wedding

2008-08-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

These are the first of Joseph and Lyndsay's wedding pictures. It was an amazingly beautiful location and a wedding to match. Everything was perfect...except maybe the intense heat of the day. These are just a few of many pictures I took, (not as the photographer, just as family... for those wondering).

The Location

The Sounds of Music

Matron-of-Honor

Here Comes the Bride

Eternal Vows

Rings in Hand

Floral Finish

Passion in a Kiss

Into a Looking Glass

Swaying Sweetly

A Father's Embrace

Reflections

Family Reunion

2008-08-31T18:24:00.000-07:00

The Reynolds family just got done with a wonderful opportunity to travel from all distances and join together in the celebration of a wedding in the family. Not only did we get to share in her joy, but we also got to be together again. Those are the wonderful moments in life. Close to family; laughing and playing, sharing and making memories. I could not be more grateful or blessed to be a part of this family. It is a tremendous joy to my heart. Though we were missing a few, it was a wonderful time that I will treasure and cherish forever.

The Long, Long Train... and other Vacation Adventures

2008-08-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

We left for vacation a few days ago, but it didn't really feel like the vacation began until yesterday. To get to our destination we had to go on a 30+ hour train ride from Olympia, WA to Las Angeles, CA. Then we had to catch a "Flyaway Bus" to LAX Airport to catch a shuttle bus to our car rental company to drive to San Diego area. By the time we pulled in it was almost 2 am and we were pretty exhausted. But the trip has its fun moments that make the whole vacation memorable as well.

The next day we were pretty much lazy to say the least. I can't remember the last time I took that long of a nap in the middle of the day. (For those who don't know me... besides pregnancy, I just don't nap.) Then, feeling renewed yesterday, we headed out for a swim with some of our family. Geoff and his cousin Brandon were born just weeks apart and were pretty nearly inseparable from then on. They even got married within weeks of each other. So Brandon, and his wife, Bree invited us to go swimming at their community pool. We also had the joy of having Brandon's sister, which is of course also Geoff's cousin, Brittany, join us until she had to leave for work.

The kids just LOVE the water! And it's beautiful down here, so the weather cooperates for swimming. Kaylana, as careful as she is, gave us a little scare losing control and ending up in deeper water than she could handle. But, being as smart as she is, grabbed onto the side until the moment that daddy rescued her. So, despite a little swallowed water, and a new found love for her hero (daddy), she is none the worse for wear and still has no reservations around the water. Although I think that her mommy and daddy are taking the brunt of the incident and when we tackle the ocean on Friday she'll find us less lenient and very protective. But, I will still have to let her have some fun too. Colson wanted to try out the water in every way that he could. He splashed and kicked and even decided to shove his face in the water... just to experience all that he could. Lots of splashing and plenty of giggles, all-in-all a wonderful time with wonderful people.

Morris Wedding

2008-08-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

Well, after a little time away, taking care of kids and the general crazy life... I'm back with a new blog entry. This is a wedding that I did earlier this year, (in February). Some of you might realize that this was very shortly after the birth of my son, Colson. Two weeks to be more accurate. (Yeah, I know... I'm a little out of my mind.) So, juggling my baby and wedding photography, I managed to get a few decent shots for the day. Enjoy some of the first fruits.

Classy Shoe Shot

Beautiful Bride

The Happy Couple

Traditional

Bridal Portrait

Glamor

Perfect Pose

Silent Reverence

Bouquet of Beauty

True Joy

The Big 2!

2008-07-30T10:50:00.001-07:00

Kaylana just celebrated her big 2nd birthday on Sunday! I guess she's not my baby anymore, she's a big girl. She proved that by saying her first sentence as well. (Colson was in my arms at church Sunday morning and had been sleeping. He started opening his eyes and Kaylana looks at me and matter-of-factly tells me... "Hewokeup!" Yes, it was almost like a single word... but, she'll get the hang of it fast enough.) Pretty soon she'll be jabbering my ears off. I say that lovingly and with great expectation.

I love this picture. It makes me think of a movie star or something of that sort. She's such a fireball with an incredible enthusiasm for life. She certainly keeps me on my toes every single day. (Some days that same thing can be frustrating, but I'm sure that I have my days as well...) She loves posing for a "pit-ure" with an ever enthusiastic "snmyle" until you take the picture as she quickly runs off in pursuit of the next best thing to do at that moment.

Despite all the mischievousness, she likes to be a princess too. And oh, she is. A drama queen, princess of my castle attitude to boot. Makes me laugh on frequent occasions, even when I should probably keep it to myself.

So, as for the birthday party, my cheeks hurt by the end of the festival. She had me laughing so hard! When we first put out the cake there was the inevitable chorus of "Mine! Mine! Cake. Mine!" Then, it turned to curiosity, which led to fingers in the sides of the frosting... before the candle was even lit. She had gotten a pretty good snitching in before the "Happy Birthday" song was over.

Then, the cake preceded to travel all over the face and hands. Which of course meant that there was that inevitable dob on the tip of her nose...

...at which point she started going cross-eyed trying to figure the phenomenon out.
That had most of us in hysterics! She made the funniest faces, and it was almost torture as she seemed to find a new face the second the laughter slightly ebbed. And before the cake session was over she decided to give my brother Tim and his buddy Corey a nice coating of frosting as well. What a goofball!

Grandma Reynolds got a new trike for her house that Kaylana found after the party and had no desire to part with. If she could just reach the pedals a little better she'd be on her way! But, she didn't let that stop her, she just used her feet. Already she has mastered steering, forwards and backwards. Oh my, another mode of transportation for my already VERY mobile daughter. I'll be sure to get in shape now.

Such sweet smiles! I love this girl so much. She is truly a wonder to watch and I will enjoy watching what God has in store for her future. But, I wish that I got to watch it happen at a slow pace. I can't believe that she's already 2 years old. It seems like just yesterday that I was pregnant with her. And here I have another one too. Life sure does fly by quickly.

Being 2 must be tiring. Although, I think I've got a pretty tiring (although very fulfilling) job as well, just keeping up with her. Oh, to be young again...

My Friends (the rest of my family)

2008-07-27T21:56:00.000-07:00

What can I say? My family isn’t big enough, so we adopt into it. Quite a few of them are slightly related through marriage lines, so we’ve decided that it’s close enough to family. There are far too many to list. Our friends are such an important part of our family and we are grateful for all of them, near and far.

Jacob and Crystal are our children’s godparents. Very goal-oriented and self-motivated they are an inspiration to entrepreneurship, entertaining events, and much more.

Shaina, who has been there for me throughout most of my biggest life moments, I can’t imagine experiencing life without having her to share it with. I love her smile; it’s contagious no matter what mood I’m in.

Blaine and Jessika are wonderful at entertaining, both a houseful of guests and by making us laugh. Hardly ever a dull moment. I’m honored to have been a part of their lives.

Jeremiah “Poof” is generous and extremely helpful. Always has a good attitude to match his big heart. (And he cooks the best Papa Murphy's pizzas around!)

Josh is a bit crazy and controversial, but in a very enjoyable way. His impressions impress us all and keep us laughing even when he’s not around.

Glen and Lilly, and their new addition: Kaylee, are our roommates and good friends. We are blessed to have great people to spend this time of our life with.

Christina is like having a sister, I absolutely love her spunk and tenacity for God and life. Plus, I love her kids like total family, and Dallen is a great friend as well. We are so very blessed with friends we can call family.

There are many more that are near and far, that influence and effect our lives all the time. I wish that I could name everyone, but that would take a lifetime. All these and many more are loyal and loving; they are a wonderful addition to our extended family. And all are important and very dear to our hearts. To all of the friends that we call family: Thank you for your friendship and know that we love you!

My Family (Part #3)

2008-07-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

My parents are truly amazing. It took me a few years to realize just how wonderful they really are. I took my mother for granted until I almost lost her in 1995. She had a brain aneurysm, resulting in two brain surgeries (extremely risky) and an eye surgery as well. It was like walking in a nightmare, in that it also didn’t feel real. I knew that it was happening, but the effects didn’t hit me until the years following the event. We all fondly joke about it now, even so much as to tease our mother about having a computer chip installed in her brain (she had a titanium clip put in as part of the process) that the doctors forgot to give her the access code to. Anyways, my mother is very emotional and is known to cry in just about every movie. (Again, I tease with all the love in my heart.) But she and I can hang out like sisters and have many similar interests and hobbies. We are finding ourselves saying everything at the same time… as scary as that is to me. Lol. I am so lucky to still have her.

My dad and I struggled through my teen years, but I couldn’t ask to be closer to him now. I am definitely a "daddy's girl"! I love having talks with him and I feel comfortable talking with him about almost anything. He is my source of advice and wisdom that I seek on a pretty constant occasion. And on the lighter side, he is the “punny-est” guy around. Seriously, he can joke when people don’t even know he’s pulling their leg. (He’s literally had people come back two weeks after he’s made a “funny” and told him that they finally got it. Even funnier, by then he doesn’t even know what he said!) Both of my parents are extremely wonderful to everyone they meet and are very generous. I love my parents and couldn’t be happier that I got “stuck” with them.

Next my brothers… first of all, I am so proud of each one of them. Though we may not always agree or see eye-to-eye, I appreciate the uniqueness they each possess and special moments I have with them. They also are very deserving of special praise as they are all in the Armed Forces. Tim has already served his country overseas, and Jordan and Joseph are joining the madness by the end of the year. My hats off to them for joining in the midst of the conflict and for being proud to serve their country, even when it seems that much of the country dismisses their services as a much needed help at this time in the world’s history.

Tim has a wonderful way with people. Whether it’s his sense of
humor that really can get a room of people hysterical or the way he holds people on the edge of their seats in an engaging conversation. Very active and always on the go, I love being around him.

Jordan, as I chuckle to myself, always puts a smile on my face. Even if he’s angry, he can make you laugh with the presentation and animation in his voice and actions. Everything is larger than life with him. He is a wonderful daddy and I miss him and his wife and kids.

Heather, his wife, is a red-headed fireball of Irish decent that just adds to the exuberance of the family. She is also wonderful in the kitchen and makes the cutest nephews and nieces in the world, Caleb and Chloe whom I love and miss terribly.

(photo by Heather Wachtman)

Joseph, well, besides being a smart-alec, he is entertaining and always has input beyond what the textbooks even have to say. Hopefully someday we’ll see all of that knowledge put to good use with whatever he decides to do as a career, he truly has an amazing mind that holds everything that it comes into contact with. He is very family oriented and holds close those things most dear to him. My littlest brother with the biggest outlook on life.

I know that my family isn’t small, but each one has a special place in my heart and is an important part of my life! I love every one of them very much and look forward to getting closer as the years fly by.

Overall, my family is crazy, very strange and hilarious on most occasions. Before I end this post I have to share a memory that illustrates just that and makes me laugh every time I think about it. First of all, it was dinner time… and that in my family is where all the craziness comes out. It was shortly after the “new” Star Wars movie came out, (the first or fourth, depending on where you count from) with Jar Jar Binks. (Hope I spelled that right…) We were recounting our favorite moments in the movie and found ourselves talking about the part where his tongue gets zapped by a part of one of the pod racers and it goes numb, hanging limply and hilariously out of his mouth. Sitting at the table, eating… yes, most or all members of my family were commenting with our tongues hanging out of our mouths. During this I thought to myself that it would be funny if someone were to come in at that moment and see us all like that. Of course, that got me giggling and I had to share my thought with everyone else. Then there was a knock at the door. I bust a gut laughing so hard. But, that’s just another mealtime with my family…

My Family (Part #2)

2008-07-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

What is family without all the rest that make up so much of life’s joys and moments to remember?! I have an amazing family that I am proud to call my own. My in-laws really aren’t in-laws at all, but rather an extension of my own close family. They are truly wonderful and very giving. Self-sacrificing and hard-working, they have truly added so much to my life already, and I can’t imagine my life without any of them.

My other-nother-Mother deserves special thanks for everything that she does day in and day out to help everyone around her. She is truly an inspiration in many things, but especially how to manage a home and large family. I appreciate everything about her. Thanks Mom.

Dad doesn’t show himself for who he is as often as most, but in all the little moments I’ve grown fond of him as another dad. He is incredibly wise and knowledgeable, a great source for advice and mentoring. He has a huge heart and many hilarious comments with that infectious laugh of his.

My siblings-in-law are a wonderful bunch that keeps life interesting and full of little moments of laughter. I am grateful for the lot of them… and there are a lot of them!

Kevin, who is a bit quiet (until he plays his games) and his wife, Jamie,
who always makes me laugh. I look forward to letting our kids play together and learning about the art of woodworking from Jamie.

Tim, who is great for picking on and letting me pick on him. And thanks to Tim for the hard work he does. He never ceases to amaze me with all he accomplishes. With his most recent aspirations of firefighting, I am truly impressed.

Stephanie is the sweetest girl and the closest thing I’ve had to a sister. I love her so much and look forward to many years of bonding and hanging out. She is also amazing with my kids, and I appreciate every second that she spends with me and my kids.

Paul is growing up and I'm finding him to be a really cool guy. He is really caring and he has his mom's way of taking things in without taking things personally. They just roll with the punches. I think very highly of him and am excited to see where God takes him in the next few years.

My Family (Part #1)

2008-07-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

My family is where I start counting my blessings. First, I have a wonderful husband, Geoff.

He is my support and my companion while there is still breath in both our bodies.

We just celebrated our 3^rd anniversary in May and come November we will recognize 7 years of our relationship together. What a wonderful blessing, my husband.

To add to our joy, we were given the blessing of our beautiful daughter, Kaylana Jonell in July 2006. Incredibly active and full of life, she’ll give the boys a challenge! Even with that she somehow still manages to maintain her princess status. She is always entertaining and quite the “ham” as well. She already has a love for the photo lens (and my lens seems to return the compliment!)

Our most recent blessing, Colson James, was added to our family this February 2008. (For those of you wondering he is the final blessing into our family at this time.) Full of smiles and laughter, he is such a happy boy. Already showing so much of his character and personality, we are excited watching him grow. These are my blessings… my family!

My Faith

2008-07-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

My faith is my core. It is the essence of God in my life. It guides me, sustains me and helps me to live a life for the purpose I was created for. With my eyes focused on the true Source of Life I find hope, peace, rest and a love that overflows. With all that said, I am still human. Simply put; I fail… and sometimes I fail miserably. I don’t claim to be perfect, only to know the One who is and who reminds me how to get a step closer when I’ve fallen back into the ruts of habits and choices in my life. I have found myself choking on the term “Christian”. Though not in shame or for fear of rebuttal or rejection. Rather, I fear that my life will not be the example others need to see or that I will cause someone to reject the truth simply because it is a very difficult standard to live up to. Regardless of this and the all-too-common attitude of indifference or distaste for Christians; that is who I am. As a Christian, I am called to declare it and to strive for the highest of standards. One step and one day at a time in what I pray is the right direction.

Introduction to Me

2008-07-21T14:20:00.001-07:00

I explained the purpose and intentions for my blog, but I said very little about myself. So, without further ado… My name is Rachael Reynolds (formerly Wachtman). I am 25 years old. (Yes, I know, I have hit the quarter century mark. Although to tell you the truth, it’s more astounding to me realizing that 30 is just 5 years away than the idea of being a quarter of the way to 100. I know, it’s strange, but I don’t mind.) I love… well, life! I have so many things I enjoy doing, and I love to learn new things all the time. My hobbies are photography and design as well as anything artsy. Reading and writing, cooking and especially baking are also some favorites. And the list could go on. Outdoors, I love camping and hiking, sports and star-gazing, and again, so much more. I am fairly outgoing and love to have new experiences. I love to challenge myself to greater heights in everything I do and in trying new things. I’m a bit of a perfectionist (which of course provides those who know me with plenty of entertainment). I require of myself reaching for a higher standard in everything. Though a perfectionist, I am far from perfect and would be the first to tell you so. I have high standards of morality. I know that life happens and try to not be judgmental, but instead desire to show a genuine attitude of caring. I expect honesty from others and myself. I am very passionate about what I love. I love God. I love my family and friends. I love my country. I love to learn. I love people. I love photography. These are my passions, and they are the driving force behind everything I do.

First Blog

2008-07-21T13:40:00.000-07:00

It seems to me that many people are using blogs to communicate these days. Well, not one to be left out, I have joined the craze. I have two goals that blend into the same concept: communication. I fear I have not done very well in this department of life and in an effort to change that, here is my blog. The first reason is to stay connected with family and friends, or at least to keep them informed. Secondly I would like to showcase some of my photography work for those who are interested. I may also, jot a little tittle or tat that comes to mind from time to time. My goal is to update at least once a week and ultimately get to where I can update for both my portfolio and my life a couple times a week each. I can't guarantee how well I will accomplish these goals, but that's why it's a goal. I will start with some personal info about me, and then I will move into the photography category with life mixed in. The photography will mostly be older work for the remainder of the year as my current focus is on my children. As they grow, I hope and pray that my work and I both continue to grow as well.