Modern Prairie Girl

Cindy had her sale at Tarte last week.

As usual, way too much eye candy for my overstimulated brain to process. I had such a nice time visiting with barn sale pals and seeing Cindy’s usual magic.

It was a sans kidlets event, so that was a plus. No one tugging on my sleeve.

Cindy and I had a very exciting conversation about our plans for some styled portrait sessions…the first few will involved this setting, some fab furniture creations by Miss Cindy herself and some other fun things we have up our sleeves. Can’t wait to show and tell! She is a rock star. If you’re interested in being on the email list that will open up these sessions to a select few, email me (lara@larablairimages.com) . I’ve already talked with two families who are interested and we won’t be able to shoot a ton of them due to the time it takes to put it all together…not to mention the unpredictable weather…oh, how I love August!

Here’s a hint of what we’re working on…

No, we won’t make you hang from a tree or collect moss rocks…but what we’re working on is eye candy in itself! Stay tuned…..

Some fun gear from the sale….

If I ever pine for a green zebra rug…which is quite possible hanging around these creative vintage gods and goddesses…I know exactly where to score one.

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Disco in a barn..now there’s an idea…why isn’t anyone doing that? Brilliant!

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Yours truly bought the striped pillow for the Elvis room (which I haven’t completely explained yet…I know, I know..you’re beginning to think I’m hiding a horrible secret…that I do, in fact, own a velvet painting of the fatter Elvis..but, friends, I don’t! I swear! Pelvis-swivel bobblehead…yes. Velvet painting…no.)

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Twigs always bring out the “nesting thing” for me…get it? harhar..yes, it’s Friday…

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Um…I don’t really need some wagon wheels, but somehow I felt an urgency to see how much these were….Cindy’s theatrical display skills can do that to a person.

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Ditto for spools of string…why do I feel like these are something that could complete my happiness?

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Mr. Joe…taking a breather after his and Jermonne’s big on-line store went up that last week. Boy needs some IV caffeine! He still looks pretty cute, though…needs to stick his head through one of those frames for a GEN-U-INE portrait

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How adorable is Cindy’s daughter? Just a complete DNA stamp on this kid. Too funny! I think she is a chip off the ‘ole block in the display/magic/vintage department too.

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As long as we’re rambling on here today about random things…I thought I’d share an amazing experience I had during my fundraising photo shoots at the Humane Society here in Vancouver. It’s called “Paws..for a Cause” and if you have a dog, I highly recommend you call today–we’re almost full and I promise to make your dog a work of art! It’s a total blast.

I digress…

This amazing three-legged dog (who has cancer) came in with this darling woman and her cuter-than-a-catalogue-kid son. This dog had the BEST attitude. Well, dog whisperer I am not..and I don’t pretend to know whether a dog truly can have a good attitude, but let me tell you, this dog was THRILLED to be there.

HAPPY to catch the ball.

JOYFULLY getting his belly rubbed and ears scratched.

Loving on his family like he didn’t know he was dying at all.

I was trying to hold back tears (like I frequently do during these types of sessions…big, blubbery mess..I’m guilty), but I couldn’t help but feel so uplifted by this dog’s presence. He was the light that I needed this week…and I am so grateful..

grateful..

that he came to see me.

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* * *Speaking of joyful…Mr. Pug Man is cracking himself up here…I laugh out loud every time I look at this image. The most treat-motivated dog I’ve ever worked with (and that counts you, Daisy, you troublesome Beagle who still pees on my carpet!)

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Have a weekend full of laughs, MPG lovelies!

Big Pug-like-wet smooches comin’ at ya~

OX.

We all have them.

Mine comes in the form of a very quaint, cozy coffee shop where I am sure to see someone I know (and maybe even love).

Piccolo Paradiso….

I was fortunate enough to have my studio above this “Little Paradise” for three years (until our big move in January…and yes, the photos are coming soon of that!)

Many soy lattes’ later (and probably lbs. too because there were, in fact, scones involved), I have grown quite attached to this little shop.

My atttempt to encapsulate this little haven in an art piece…

This shop’s owner, Pam (or HAM as my then toddlers used to call her) is the utmost in personal style. Here she is with her family during a recent photo session in the shop.

…and with her sweet daughter before she left on her big trip back to Europe.

She has a flair for enhancing daily living through

good coffee

good wine

delicious cuisine

and most importantly….

close-to-the-heart-conversation.

Via.

We used to tease her about being  the Vortex in our little town of Camas….

lots of good things happen there.

Connections are made.

Networking goes on (in an ever-so-subtle-way).

Heartbreaks and divorces are discussed.

Italian is practiced.

Facebook is surfed (that means you, Matt!).

Matt happens to be one of pam’s three kids…

the musician kid..

the one with the band and a killer smile (below he’s the one with the guitar)…

He’s a good mascot!

Deborah, the resident Italian (and also Piccolo employee…oh-so-authentic), is one of the most lovely women you’ll ever meet. Just an absolute joy to see every day.

Pam covets all things Italian.

She calls herself a “WannabeItalian” and flit-flies to Italia  A LOT.

Way more than a girl should be allowed.

I’m just jealous.

A good sign that a place is a haven for me is that I always wish I had the Big Kahuna with me while I’m snarfing down my caffeine.

I was fortunate enough to capture my Caffe’ ladies years before in the portraits above…it helps when youv’e got an insta-studio upstairs you can drag your friends to.

Seeing little objets d’art and hot chocolate mustaches on kids and interior design books (Italian-inspired, of course) stacked on the table just brings out the shutterbug in this MPG.

Via.

It’s all art to me…probably because Pam has a way of making it so.

For me, the best part is that “Noooorrm” thing from “Cheers”. Working in a small town and having a haunt is just so fabulous.

Whenever I was having a doo-doo day, I would skip down the stairs to Pam’s because I always knew there would be someone fun to see.

I love that.

I miss that.

Is it possible to set up an office in a coffee shop?

Who am I kidding?

Chatty Kathy would NEVER get anything done.

If you’re ever going to be in town, email me—-we’ll meet at this little spot on the planet that always seems to bring out the best in people.

Check out Frank Brauner’s version of Tuscany….wow.

Ciao for now!

OX.

Via.

To all of you inspiring women who ignite my heart…

Thank you for being in my life.

This has been a BANNER year in making connections with women who know how to live creatively and with intention.

I am in awe of all of you.

Thank you to the women who have been my dearest friends over the years (through NY and back) who still put up with me and all of my happenings (inside and out).

When counting my blessings..I count you twice.

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The perfect b-day gift from my heart of hearts friend, Sainta Maria….

A Beth Quinn original (I also got a special Beth ”she” charm from uber-stepmom, Holly)~

It’s called “Balance”…Beth writes this under her creation:

“This necklace reminds me to find balance in life … as women we wear so many hats … as this little bird balances on a branch we too need to remember this …”

Sainta Maria knows my heart intimately…

the signifigance of this gift makes me emotional because she knows how much I struggle with this….

seemingly unattainable….

difficult…

and at times gratifying thing called BALANCE.

I will look at it every day…

and be sure that

I

am

doing

my

best….

For the sake of these little people…

and this BIG person…

….loves of my life.

OX.

p.s. Three people who inspired the heck out of so many of us NW (and beyond) gals have posted their Barn sale schedules…I’ve got ‘em all down and won’t miss ‘em:

Schedules of…

The QUEEN

&

The BOYS

p.s.s. Thanks for commenting on the last week’s post for the give-a-way…I’ll give it a couple more days before I pull a name out of hat if you’d still like to enter.

Oh, friends…it’s a deep thinking day today.

These inevitably come..especially in the winter months.

That unvited “D” word again…and I don’t mean Dallas. (oh, I mean doubt btw, not divorce, like the country song!)

Via.

I’m not going to use this little bit of cyber-SPACE (haha) to lament on my frustrations in the Great Balancing Act that is my vida loca…

..Nor will I pretend that I am the only one or the first to experience these feelings…

Via.

..in Blogland alone, I can see the hearts swelling with joy and at the same time see you all wondering, “What the heck am I going to make for dinner”?

So many of you inspire me deep inside.

You bring hope.

You instigate a desire to shift my own metaphorical stick-shift into a gear that is more “moving forward” than slamming in reverse.

Via.

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Via.

The scene: me frantically trying to find files in my not-done-yet-because-I’m-a-procrastinating-mess office.

The feeling: ick/double ick

The posture: shoulders slumped, back like a “C”

The turn-around: an inspirational tidbid sent from heaven above.

…this was from someone who I haven’t even had in my life for very long, but just seemed to easily crawl into my heart

and

take

up

residence.

Via.

She has similar struggles as so many of us multi-tasking/creative/gotta-have-5-million-goals women do. She, of course, seems to handle it all so gracefully as I plod along checking my planner each hour to make sure I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. (”Look! Something shiny!” that’s me).

This is what she wrote to me~

Whatever decisions in life that you make in the future, just know that I think that you have succeeded at all of these things already. I sincerely hope you find that happy-medium and balance you are so desperately craving, for you truly deserve it.
here is a daily truth from Brave Girl that reminded me of you, if you haven’t already read this one…

Via.

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Well…whoa!

Well, it goes without saying that little droplets fell on my keyboard…the good kind.

It also doesn’t need to be said that I am indeed quite lucky to have someone stop what they’re doing for two minutes and provide this little inspirational shot in the arm (and go to Brave Girl Camp with her too…so great!)

LUCKY.

BLESSED.

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As many of you lovelies know, I’ve been dabbling in the “Etsy arts” and spreading my wings a little aside from the studio…something just for me that is fun, fun, fun and MESSY! (best done with the kidlets).

It involves collages,

the little soldered boxes of joy

and (coming soon)

photo card collections.

I struggled with a name for this little production.

“What is the theme?” my left-brained scary twin asked.

“Why even do this when you’re spread thin as it is?” she tossed her hair like the know-it-all that she is.

I figured it out…

and even gave it a name…

this little side-branch of my creative endeavors…

drum-roll, please—–

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IGNITE THE HEART ART

(Relighting the pilot light of girlfriends in need)

Not so great a snap from the point-n-shoot (always with the photo disclaimers, these photographers…sheesh!)….

and yes, that is a match on the front of the box…laughed out loud when I found myself trolling the house for wayward matches. Let’s hope it doesn’t catch on fire in the mail to someone.

That’s what bubblewrap is for….that and jumping on it in an obnoxious fashion to annoy the dog.

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Anyway…..

It’s about connecting with other women.

Encouraging them and giving them love pats.

Letting them know we’re thinking of them.

(one of my fave images of the year from this post)

That’s what women do.

It’s like breathing.

I wanted something that represented that because I’m in awe of it.

Awe.

So there you have it…something grew out of my own struggles and it has a name.

…and that makes me happy.

And because I’m happy I’d like to do a GIVE-AWAY!

You can guess what it will be…little red shoes for you close to your heart.

Please leave a comment and I will post my picking-a-name-out-of-a-bowl next week for the winner.

OX.

Side note…..

Our beloved BOYS launched their on-line store today. It is, of course, FABULOUS. Check it out here!

An astute MPG Lovely told me that daisies were a really good way to fight the winter blues…

…you know?

She was right.

So I hoisted my sagging-shouldered body out of my computer chair and went to market.

Well, it was Safeway…but we won’t let us take the romanticism away from us on that count.

Some scrounging for flower-holding-devices and….

Voila’…

insta-mood-lift.

I bought these cute antique containers in a quaint shop where the digging is good on my Girls’ weekend up north.

They were definitely begging for some Daisies.

Buy yourself some flowers today, lovelies.

You deserve it.

OX.