This Rilke Maria Rainer quote has been ringing for me like a bell with each step taken today. Almost like it has a rhythm section behind it and my steps try to keep time. I shared it with a friend recently, thinking it was the perfect quote for her…but then realized that it was also a zinger for me as well in this journey of finding the right path~

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“…I would like to beg you dear Sir, as well as I can, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”

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I’m busy this week putting together the packets for the women attending Elida’s and my creativity retreat. I’ve been reading all of my favorite quotes & perusing all of my fave “soul-searching” books written by some of my favorite women~

Taking Flight

The Artist’s Way

Ordinary Sparkly Moments

The inspiration I’ve gotten out of these three little gems has been priceless. Writing the morning pages (learned about in the “Artist’s Way”) has been so completely helpful in looking for my North Star these days. Sometimes the star changes position, but it usually looks the same. I like to read back in the journal to look for patterns.

Oh, they’re there alright…

..in all of their glory and frequent frustration. There’s an on-going theme of “The Great Balancing Act” that so many of us share

as creatives and mothers….as business owners and creatives…as creatives and wives…the list goes on.

I have a secret…one I feel comfortable sharing here.

Via.

I once wanted to be an artist living in a lofty warehouse with a fire pole…my canvases giant as the wall with paint spattered light fixtures. Staying up late creating…getting up late to begin again. Never mind that I couldn’t draw…or paint…or sculpt…

It was the idea of having space to create and the inspiration around you all the time….a wild woman like Sabrina Ward Harrison.

My next read., I think.

Enter this photography world I’m living in…I do love it—it has been molded and bent several times over and I don’t think it’s sculpted into its final phase yet.

I long for Big Art.

Color.

Texture.

Messy hands….

even paint on my light fixtures.

via.

I’m wrestling with the decision of whether I should transport all of my mixed media art supplies and tools to the studio where I have an empty room…this would mean that I would have art time during the day when my kids are at school.

The trouble with this is…this is my work environment we’re talking about…can I take a day to hole up and allow time to create art? Was this ever part of the plan?

Or…do I leave my stuff here and continue to walk by it in frustration because home time doesn’t usually end up in creating time.

I’m curious about you lovelies who make stuff at home—do you have firm boundaries? What keeps you inspired? When do you fit this time in?!

There are art pieces living in me that I know are going to come out…I’m just not sure when. I have journals filled with ideas that are desperate to be tested out…how do I get over this stuck-ness?

This quote by Annie Dillard is a good one~

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. The tragedy is that we ignore so much of it in the interest of getting to the real stuff.

So true.

May your real stuff be your stuff of interest~

OX.

Rainy days always get me puttering around my house trying to change it up a bit.

Have you ever had an outfit on and wondered what it would look like as a room? As in clothing-inspired decor?

Yeah, me too.

A recent fab find just happens to be a person I just learned about from Dreamy Whites (the white fanatic’s Mecca of a blog). Her name is  Annette Tatum, a mother of 4 (!) and a very gifted textile designer.

She’s lovely, isn’t she?

She can add author to her list of roles now. Annette’s book The Well-Dressed Home is what got me truly fired up about all that she’s doing in the design world…such eye candy! You can purchase it here.

What would a post about the book be without a book give-away!?

Annette has offered to send one lucky MPG a book…leave a comment in this post to be the lucky winner.

This is truly a great addition to your design library.

Some teasers pages….

If you’re a linen freak like me, you’ll love her catalog. Her bedding is to die for–check it out here. It will be fun to watch this woman go, go, go as I foresee some exciting things on her horizon.

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Target’ Boutique…my beloved little spot where fabulous grows…

Yes, friends…

I’ve been shopping in the children’s department AGAIN.

I bought a cream trench coat for ($15 on sale!) and a little sundress (4th from left on this url) also for $15. Phew! Got some interesting looks from a couple of teen boys saw me holding the clothes up to myself—-wanted to shout out, “Hey! If it fits for half the price, why not shop in this department?!” (but I didn’t want to make a scene..I still have some dignity left).

We all know how fab it is to see Liberty of London’s shining design at the Big T…such happy prints. Unfortunately, my tomboys aren’t into ANY of it (hence my personal children’s dept. shopping problem) and I can really picture them in the little skirts with crinoline peeking out underneath.

sigh.

I could get lost in a sea of their colorful fabrics.

Cute, cute, CUTE!

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Found via Oh So Beautiful Paper…these incredible creations from Urban Weed.

I am totally going to try this! I make silhouette pieces at the studio all the time, and the whole moss thing is just too fun not to do…I’ll post it (if it turns out).

I own several cameras like these in my collection…how come I never thought to “moss them up”?

Genius!

Oh, lovelies…good design always makes rainy Mondays better.

I hope your Easter weekend was lovely, lovely.

Big spring-is-coming kisses to you!!!

OX.

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.

Via. (one of my faves haunts in the Pearl in Portland)

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Two crazy female personalities take over in my brain come January 1st. Actually, it begins a day or two after Christmas and doesn’t let up until we’re well into the winter.

The first character is “I’m kickin’ butt and takin’ names organizing woman” with a sweep of my magic “everything in it’s place” touch, I empty closets, drawers, and junk-storing hiding places and start anew…. startling myself with the stuff that has accumulated and added to the already present clutter (I’m a clean and tidy on the outside/look out when you open that cabinet type of person)…where does this stuff come from anyway?

The other alter ego is a cape-wearin’, reflective wristband yielding dymano superhero of self-improvement. Often seen with Jack Canfield’s “Success Principles” in one hand and a yoga mat in the other. The dream fulfillment plan is written in pencil so the revisions can come easy…oh, because friends, we know there will be many disappointments in this journey, yet amazingly, I manage to feel this super power once a year.

I am not naive.

I know that “this, too, shall pass.”

(unfortunately)

But I always sustain some kind of hope that remnants, even tiny fire embers of these fire-in-the-belly personalities would stay.

Scattered in pieces that can somehow be collected again.

Put back together.

Woven into the reality quilt that is my life.

There are recurring themes that linger about. Oh, you know the usual suspects….

Balance between business owner and Mother/Wife.

Balance between self body image and realistic amounts of salad each day.

Balance between family time/girlfriend time/alone time.

I struggle.

A LOT.

With ALL of it.

But, through it all, I do know (and I’m oh-so-grateful for this realization) that every day of getting older and every moment of contemplation about these balancing acts brings me closer to the ideal for me.

We all know that there is…

A SECRET.

I’m not talking about this one.

or even this one (although this one is essential for my life.)

Friends……

It’s attitude.

We hear it from our teachers from the beginning.

How we choose to see the world

the day

the situation

the moment…

will determine the final destination.

I was not raised in a Pollyanna House. Quite the opposite. Yet, I try so hard to use my magical “I will think the thoughts that are the exact opposite of how it might naturally want to go” tool to beat down the icky voices in the cheap seats….you might have them too….

You have absolutely no math skills….

You’re just not technologically savvy…..

You have no left brain…

That’s already been done….

If you build it they won’t come and the time and money will be wasted…

Owning a business and being a good mother just doesn’t go hand in hand….

blah

blah

blah

blah

blah

blah

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I’m leaving these behind in 2009.

They’re done.

Kaput.

Finito.

Finit.

I am choosing to not ruled by the insecurities anymore. Or at least I try to convince myself…

and sometimes…

just that effort is enough.

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Do you lovelies have any wild habits in the new year? What lights your fire to get your rhythm for a new beginning?

‘Would love to hear about them!!!

Enjoy this holiday time, MPG’s…

A lovely quote found on yet another fab blog, Brown Button:

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big New Year’s Smooches to you!

OX.

**On a totally different note:**

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If you live in the NW and are interested in adopting a dog, I photographed the CUTEST chihuahuas ever for the Pixie Project.
They are available now and you can check them out here.

Via.

We didn’t have water at the Blair house for two days this week. Something evil was happening with our well, or the electrical wire, we’re not sure. It’s still not officially fixed, but never fear, we have showered! We got above ground wiring to tide us over…barring any small rodents or soccer balls interfering with the wire spaghetti in the backyard.

Sheesh!

When things like this happen it really makes you appreciate the simplest things. Glasses of water quickly became glasses of diamonds around here. Nothing like rinsing your toothbrush with a spray bottle…tons of fun!

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Via.

Another bump involves the hosting of this blog. Turns out that our growing readership (woohoo!) and the massive amounts of imagery (I’m a visual person afterall) is causing a “bandwidth cap” issue.

Now, friends….

this isn’t something I’ve ever heard of before

…nor was it something I was warned about…

and to say that the thought of a ridiculous amount of moo-la going towards a blog (for cryin’ out loud) is perturbing me…

would be an understatement.

Questions for my friends with blogs:

has “bandwidth” ever been an issue for you?

Are you happy with your hosting service?

Do you feel like you have limitations because it’s a big company that works with you?

I’m really curious, because I’m considering a change.

Would love to hear from you. Thanks…gotta get this resolved SOON.

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Okay, I’m officially going to start Christmas-mi-fying myself now….We will start with my favorite brush trees in the kitchen window!

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You know what else always gets me in the holiday frame of mind?

This amazing scene in “It’s a Wonderful Life”…

I’ve posted it before, but I just can’t get enough of it.

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No

more

negative

thoughts.

Hope you all are enjoying these days—Love to all of you!

OX.