An Unexpected Challange

So hopefully one day this pitifully-cracked piece of clay will eventually look like a vase. Hopefully.

Ceramics is harder then it looks.

Product of 5 hours of work...

Photography is were I belong. Ceramicisism (real word?) is not in my blood.

'The Boys of Fall'

I went to my first TAMU-Commerce tailgate and football game last night. My husband played so well! I was so wonderful to spend time with my in-laws and see my husband out there on the field. Check out #82 and some other shots from the game.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week! I love to hear your comments :)

I Love my Husband Too

I love black and white photography. 

It's an amazing thing to have found a passion that makes your stomach do flips with excitement. 

This new photo class is going to be the best!

What a Way to Start the Day

Woke up early this morning to catch some soft morning light on this great old church. I don't know any history about this church. In fact I don't even know if it's still in use, but as I was driving around the other day I stumbled upon it and knew I had to shoot it. 

This shoot goes along with my door series from the end of spring semester. 

The images aren't completely done. I just shot these this morning and I may even go out again tomorrow to shoot some more. Just a rough draft.

Facebook

Twitter

Nevermind that it's Monday

 

 I decided to try a little self portriating over here inspired by:

 

I sat next to the window so I got some dramatic side lighting. Then I had way too much fun in Lightroom.

I hope everyone has a happy Monday!

P.S. I've been married for one month today!! 

YAY :)

Home

 Moving away to college has always been just a temporary place to live for a few months while I earn my degree. This time, however, is different. 

I'm married. I have an apartment. I pay monthly bills.

It's more 'real life' responsibility.

And the biggest change of moving away for college is I'm not here just for a few months. This is my home. Home for at least a year. 

We've done a good job of getting all the 'things' to fill our apartment with to make it feel like home, but to  me there is much more that makes a place a home. Sure it's nice to have a whisk in the kitchen and a coffee table in the living room, but so what. All that can be replaced.

It's the memories. Memories like falling in love, and laying out on the baseball fields watching the stars only to be disrupted by a cop who questions your motives. It's getting a surprise bridal shower thrown by a new found best friend attended by many friends I barely knew (I didn't even know everyone's names)!  Memories like getting engaged, and renting our first apartment together. It's all of these that make a place a home. 

Commerce, Texas is just a spot on a map most people don't even know exist, but for me it is my first home, away from home.

Taken tonight from our front door.

No Money Can Resut in Some Crafty Goodness

Ty and I are doing the whole starving college student, newly wed thing. Which means we have a whole empty apartment to furnish with no money. This led me to find this little gem. I decided I would try this project because drum-roll please...... it's practically free! All I had to pay for wast $7 stain at Home Depot.

My dad collected two palates he found on his way home from work and on my first free weekend we  began the project.

 I won't give you a tutorial here because there is such an awesome one on the blog I got the idea from, but here is my process documented by pictures.

 It has a rustic feel to it. I can't wait to move it into our apartment next week!

Home Alone

Jonathan is at a party and everybody else is on their way to Washington state soooooo that means I blast the radio and make cookies while simultaneously dancing around the kitchen.

Oh Yeah. You missed out.

Happy Weekendings!

Friday Morning

As I took this guy on a walk this morning I couldn't help but think about the future. I walked past many houses, some big and some small, and couldn't help but think about when Tyler and I are all graduated with grown up jobs. I thought about what it would be like when we buy our first house. I thought about our future family, and how wonderful life will be in the future. Even just two weeks in the future, when I get to see my sister get married, and Tyler comes to town. 

Then I stopped myself and felt an overwhelming amount of JOY for the life I have right now. 

Not in the future, but that exact moment as I was walking down Amelo Drive with the humid wind cooling my face, and Noah tugging at the leash. I am so blessed. I do have so much to look foreword to, but right now is the best it has ever been.

The Semesters End

This semester defiantly went out with a bang.

 1. My photograph was selected to hang in the students center, and it just so happens that it was a photograph my professor said had "no point". It was kind of a proud moment for me.

2. I made all A's! All things considered (I spent 90% of the semester with Tyler and the other 10% thinking about him) I would have to say this is quite the accomplishment.

and

3. I'm getting married in 61 days 02 hours 06 mins and 28 sec! (Mostly I couldn't think of another 'bang' so I just threw in the marriage card because that is always exciting, and I couldn't have just two 'bangs'.)

 Getting those papers written. I lost focus and just started taking pictures after the first three hours. I'm learning Tys quite the diligent worker.

Awesome end of the semester 2D Design art project. India Inks are AWESOME! Yet frustrating when they don't do what you want.

 Our last hamburger night in Commerce EVER as an unmarried couple! Crazy. Yes, Ty puts barbeque sauce and barbeque chip on his.

 

 Home sweet home :] Means I get to see my brother play his trumpet with the McNeil band! He is so talented! Also means I get to creep on Tyler taking a nap with my puppy. SO CUTE!

Good 'ol Commerce

Guess what...It's finals time! A whole semester has flown by! This little college town has led me to a bigger and better future then I could have ever imagined.  I knew I had to capture Commerce in my final because of all that has happened here in the last semester. 

As I was brainstorming for my final project I decided on a few things: 1. I would challenge myself and not photograph any people, or set up any table top photographs 2. I would photograph something that has significance to my life, and 3. I would incorporate as many of the elements I have learned over the semester as I could. 

With that being said, I drove Tyler drove me around Commerce this weekend to go look for interesting things to photograph. (He thinks photographers should not be allowed to drive because we're always getting distracted and swerving off the road, which may or may not have happened a few times when I was in the drivers seat.) These are the little pieces of Commerce I captured...

For this image I used a long shutter speed to capture the wind blowing through the flowers because Commerce has got to be the windiest place on the earth, and I also isolated contrasting colors to make the image interesting.

Two words to describe this image: Lines and Lighting.

Commerce is full of old texturey walls. I just loved the simplicity of this composition.

I loved the shape this building created against the green.

It's no April Fools

Yes! Its official... 89 days till I'm a Mrs. Rawlings!

So heres how it happened: He convinced me on April Fools that we needed to stop in Rockwall on our way home from Austin to meet up with some of his football friends. I thought it was weird that he would want me to meet his football friends after driving 4 hours on a Sunday, but he insisted so I agreed. On the drive we got stuck in TERRIBLE traffic. Probably the worst traffic I have ever been in. I mean we literally sat still for HOURS!! We thought about driving over the grass to get off the freeway but in my little Kia Rio that was not happnin. So we put in some CD's and jammed out for a little. I think we have this song memorized now:

It's kind of our favorite song. We're thinking about making it our first dance.

just kidding!!!!!!!!!

Anyways after we listened to that song twenty thousand times we turned off the radio and just talked. Tyler was getting really anxious. I tried to make him feel better saying it was just traffic and soon we would be moving again. Nothing really worked. He just wanted to get to Rockwall asap. I remember thinking he must have really wanted to meet his friends there. Oh how little did I know! 

When we got to Rockwall it was such a relief to get out of the car and walk around. He made up some lame excuse I totally fell for as to why all his friends were running late so we should just go take a walk down by the water. I am way too gullible! I should have known! Anyways, we found a nice spot to sit down in front of the water. We talked a little. He told me how my mom was pestering him to find out if he had a ring yet, and when he was going to propose. Then he said, "What if I did have the ring?" Next thing I knew he was down on one knee holding the most beautiful ring asking me if I would marry him! And it was no April Fools joke! 

On the drive home we called our families and friends to share with them the big news. It was such a fun car ride. Full of  plenty, 'AHHH I'M ENGAGED!!', and 'NO IT'S NOT AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE!!' 

Well since that day life couldn't be better! I found my dress and my venue! Also we chose July 20th to get married in the San Anotnio Temple.

Counting down the days and I can't wait to spend forever with this handsome guy!