Always Look Up

Always Look Up

     This one is dedicated to my mom and dad. My Dad has always told me to look up and more times than not I have found something awesome to look at! Northern Lights, moons that are picture perfect, shooting stars, the milky way! Life has been something to write about lately. I have never felt so depressed and off. I try to be this cheery person and try to force myself to be happy when I am just NOT. My parents are always there for me. No matter what and I want to show them through a photo how much they have helped make my life happier even when I fall into a depression. They are my stars. My light to guide my way. I love you guys. TO THE MOON AND BACK! <3

 I made this dress years ago for another shoot of mine:

     I decided that after my mom found it and told me to take it home to use it for a new shoot! I am so glad that I did. We had a busy day though and I feel so bad for puppers. He had to have a vet appointment today and he is worn out.  Stress, I'm sure. I also think he hit his tale pretty hard today while wagging it. He has been acting strange and if he doesn't perk up by tomorrow it's back to the vets....

So as he got his rest, I edited:

 Before and after!

This is right after I added the stars....

COLD!

 Really COLD!

 My Right Hand Man...

Helping me focus the camera! 

     It was COLD! 20 degrees I think it was.  I was frozen and couldn't feel much of my feet or arms ....or legs... or face... you get the point. It was worth it though! Brian of course helped me carry out the chair to stand on with the extra long dress, and my props. I am so glad we have some "woods" beside us but soon I'm going to have to scout some new locations. I did this quick and most likely would have tried a different angle if I wasn't freezing my ass off but overall I guess I'm pretty happy with it! <3

Much Love

Shannon

Wonderland

Wonderland - 'She'll Wait For You In The Shadows Of Summer' - Kirsty Mitchell Photography from FX Films on Vimeo.

Photographer Kirsty Mitchell is one of my heroes when it comes to surrealism and talent and art and cameras.   She has had so much inspiration in my life!

Some things I have been doing!

      Here are some of my mug warmers and coasters I have been working on for Christmas Gifts! I am so happy with how they turned out! I will be making some for the store opening soon!

 They have a cute little button that goes over the handle for easy use!

 and one of the coasters! 

 I even like them without the face, don't know if I will put one on this one!

 and I have been making tea cup candles as well! 

I purchased the wicks at Pat Catans...

      I read that using a double boiler was hard to clean and the wax never really comes out so I purchased a few pretty sented candles and just waited until they melted and poured it around the wick!  Much easier even though I had already purchased a huge block of wax.  I do have a tip tho, make sure you blow it out each time you dump the candle wax into the tea cup... if you don't the flame burns the side of the candle and makes the wax...black. Poo. I learned and if you blow it out each time, it works wonders! I love how it turned out and I wanted to really just keep it! Damn crafts!

I'm really loving this corner of my bedroom!

     I finally got my drum head that I put in the shadow box from the Sigur Ros show (THANKS DAD) hung up in our room!  I'm a Taurus and Taurus people like THINGS. Well this is one of the things that mean a lot to me. Sigur Ros has been in my life over ten years and I have loved them since I first heard them. Their music MOVES me in ways that I never thought music could move a person!AND YES THEY SIGNED THE DRUM!
 

   I don't really give Bri a lot of say on how things are set up;) I don't think he minds though!  I love the branches I used for hanging my earrings and my vintage vanity my Mom and Dad got me! I love it. It makes me feel like me when I sit there.  The other two frames also have some sentimental value and of course, I love my jewlery! I usually find a lot of the stuff at craft shows- I like unique handmade things!

I almost have too much junk. Haha- I do like collecting things!

anyways- I just wanted to give you a peak of the inside of our room - I didn't know really where to post the house stuff in my blog - I decided under the craft tab because I am consistantly changing and decorating that it's kinda like crafting, I guess <3 Much Love
Shannon

Handmade Scarf

    This is my first infinity scarf! I learned a new stitch and was using a bigger crochet hook so I decided to do a "bigger" project than normal! I am so happy with it! I am making all of my Christmas gifts this year so I have been crafting away!  I will hopefully, after the holidays, start working on my Etsy store! I will be working on stocking up on products and crafting away! I really hope to do well with the store and I have some high expectations of myself along with my photography! Would you guys like to see anything in particular in the store? Mug warmers, hats, scarves???? I'd love feedback- but for now, this is the scarf I made for one of the gifts this year and I will make more to sell- if you have a request on the scarves, color, etc., please email me at Sswift583@aol.com! I'd love to custom make it! I may be selling these for about 25-30dollars depending on the amount of yarn used! <3 you all! I will also post non cell phone photos of products- I promise lol!!!

and of course, when I crochet, I have this little guy right by my side! If he had fingers, I bet he'd help! <3

The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect

If you have never heard of the butterfly effect, please click the link above and read about it. 

but·ter·fly ef·fect

noun

1. 1.

   (with reference to chaos theory) the phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere.

      I shot twice today. The first shoot my boyfriend was kind enough to ride down to north park with me, I'll explain at the end of the post...

The second shoot was last minute and turned out much better. It was a bit dark down there but it turned out just as I pictured it.  I has a dry spell lately because of the pressure of the gallery coming in January.  I guess I could use old photos but I really wanted some new ones!

       I went into the basement shot this photo and started to get a million ideas on photos. I guess that's what I'll have to do more often instead of sitting around and racking my brain. I'll just pick up my camera and take it somewhere that I think looks like a good location. In this case it was the basement over the pretty snow covered lake of north park. I guess it's just how I have been feeling lately!         I partly have the problem of procrastination under high amounts of stress.  

I am so glad the boyfriend helps me out. He helps me focus the camera by being the subject then holds my coat or cleans off goose poop from my hands... haha. The first shoot had lots of goose poop on the location and of course- I am the one to put my hands in it...

 Here is a quick before and after

 and us having some fun

 and me putting Brian to work...

 He's very loved...

 as you can see by my face, I was not happy with this shoot....

It just didn't feel right. I guess I'm sick of shooting outside in the cold and YES I WAS FREEZING DURING IT! I was really bummed because I felt like it was total waste and then I decided to shoot indoors and in the basement so I guess it was meant to be!

and this is how I got goose poop on my hands, picking up my fake feathers- North Park is great if you don't mind stepping in poo everywhere you go. I mean everywhere- One even wandered into one of my photos!!!!!!!!!!!! 

damn geese. 

     Anyways, I'm really nervous about getting all my Christmas stuff together- I am making all my gifts this year which was not a good idea with the gallery coming and me having a creative block...

but- it is what it is and I'm determined to get it all done! I really hope to clean up the apartment tomorrow and get out some Christmas decorations and put my to-do list aside for a day.  I want to spend time with Brian and Chance, drink some hot coco or lots of coffee and decorate! 

     I'm so lucky that my Mom and Dad were so willing to watch the doggie this weekend to let me have some space around the apartment. They are the best! Tho, I do miss him around and my Mom doesn't want to give him back.  If she had it her way, she'd keep him!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

The gallery will be January 11th we are just trying to decide on a time for the opening! Please check back for updates! 

<3Shannon

They are the definition of Art to me!