Modern Prairie Girl

A little over a year ago our dear friend, Leah the Fabulous, asked us for some help with her beginnings of her clothing line. We ventured out to her Cannon Beach house (gasps all around at this incredible house–even still) to be together and photograph some samples. It was a magical time wtih women I love very much. Who would’ve thought that a year later we’d be at it again, this time with the line complete and a Barn House show under Leah’s belt.

The infamous Art by Leah cow made quite the appearance this weekend…this time with feet!

Julia and Natalie were styling and cow-holding, respectively.

Julia (painter extraordinaire), moi, Debbie,   Natalie,  Robin  and  around the table getting some fuel before our big day.

It was a pleasure to shoot with Robin this weekend. We worked well together and got all of the shots covered that Leah needed. Robin and I were accused of talking shop a lot this trip, but it was just a blast to have someone to compare toys with!

Natalie, WonderBaker, made this little treat that appears to have landed straight on my tush…sigh…I can’t resist cake with pink frosting…it’s just so pretty.

Princess Fauna came out to play with Leah’s dogs. She did great—seen here (in her usual Queen fashion) taking the most comfortable and the LARGEST seat in the house.

Leah the Fabulous makes a rare appearance in my images (posing with Simon)…she’s a little, shall we say, HARD on herself. A more lovely designer you’ll never meet. Kisses Miss L.

Okay, lovelies…ON TO THE CLOTHES! I can personally attest that these garments make you feel like a million bucks. Of course, Debbie, the face of Belle Blanc, looks incredible in them—but the brilliant part is everyone looks great in these clothes. Thought you could never wear white? Look again! Thought you could never wear fitted clothes? Behold the power of the RUCHE…an optical illusion brought to us from this clothing line.

Sir George, another important part of the brand, poses here with his usual royal-ness….I love this boy.

So wonderful to see this dream come alive for my friend. For me, Leah is the one that is always building me up…helping me take leaps and jumps into the creative unknown. I’ve grown more brave because of our friendship…all of these women bring joy to my life. Thank you, ladies, for everything.

OX.

Off to the Oregon Coast to shoot Leah’s clothing line with my special girls. It’s been one year since we met at Leah’s fab beach house and I can’t wait to fall into a sea of white with some partners in crime today.

Looking forward to sharing next week~

Have a wonderful and SAFE Labor Day weekend, lovelies…

OX.

I have a very sweet family that have been clients for awhile at LBI. The mum is English and is game for anything session-wise, so we decided to really do it up for her daughter Alice (who has an accent also—how perfect!) out in the Magic Forest. To say that this was a fun shoot just doesn’t do it justice. Everyone involved (including my two friendly make-up artists/costumers who saved the day–thanks Julia and Robin!) made it very special for me and for Alice.

OX.

Beautiful NW water views, amazing purple sunsets, rock collecting, sandcastle building, bald eagle sightings, campfires & picnics and….

Navy Growler fighter jets roaring violently overhead…

Huh?

Such is a vaca on a Whidbey Island naval base. Not just any naval base–one plunked right on the beach at Cliffside. My retired Air Force father-in-law hooks us up with a lovely spot next to the ocean. We look forward to it every year. This year we actually had some warm weather to play in the sand.

Whidbey Top 13 FAVE list~

1) The quest for heart shaped rocks. PH and and I have a game to see who can spot one first. Wouldn’t you know that we hoofed it up the beach about a half mile before we found one…and OF COURSE it was huge and heavy….and OF COURSE, we found another one the same size. I was a happy camper as my lovin’ man trekked his way back with both rocks on his shoulders. He was saying that those lurking Growler pilots must really think that crazy guy loves his wife!

2) Rachey and her annual “bakery on the beach“.

3) An imagination that’s on vacation and comes up with nifty projects to take home…I smell a driftwood theme in my immediate future, lovelies…

4) Fab antique treasure finds in Anacortes, a cute little town with some great restaurants.

5) Watching my children play with wild abandon on the base and feeling perfectly safe to not watch them every second.

6) Sunsets with tree silhouettes that blow your mind.

7) Cliffs and the stunning view they provide.

8 ) Windblown trees and winding paths…so many metaphors come to mind here, I just can’t get them out fast enough.

9) JOY and more JOY. Ken, the campsite host finds these incredible driftwood pieces to make our favorite word. It’s all over the camp and makes you smile when you see it catch the sunlight in the morning or evening. He is a magician and creator of wonderful things.

10) Time alone to do a “walk about” with my camera…no agenda…just being aware of the beauty around me. Peaceful and sweet…

11) Fort Casey State Park and all that the former artillery post and lighthouse has to offer in terms of photo opps…

12) Barns and quaint little gardens in town

13) Uninterrupted time with people I love…

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How does that song go? “I’m gonna sit right down and write myself a letter…”

I did that this week while my mind was on vacation-mode. It was surprising.

Lovelies, sometimes getting away provides something unexpected. First of all, I was calling a sleeping bag a bed for the duration and I couldn’t get my tuckus out of bed to do my Morning Pages. Funny thing…I missed them! I’ve been doing them long enough now that I really think I’m having some breakthroughs as a result. Lots of stuff to share as I go, friends…so many matters of the heart coming up (all good stuff!).

I’m making some changes.

I’m excited about it

and am

sure of my footing.

I hope your summer is wrapping up nicely—I wish for a few more lingering-on-the-porch days for you, sweet MPG’s.

OX.

Some more (belated) images of Barn House Flea…I see a pattern with what I’m drawn to with my camera as I roam the booths at barn sales. Funny how I don’t see it until I download..

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Thought it would be fun to show some faces of our local flea market vendors (who also show around town at antique shops and other shows)—we love them all!

Sweet smiley-faced Debbie (Laurie too ) from Worthy Goods~

Joann and her pal from Camas Antiques~

Lisa and Isabel–our girls from A Thing for Roses and Maison Douce~

Our Tarte-girl, Cindy–who, btw, is hosting something that sounds fabulous called “Artsy Tartesy”

here with some Worthy Goods…

Sylvi (and Layla, the sweetest blond this side of Texas) from Little Cottage~

Duchess gals…

One lovely from Kindred Roses

Auntie Joy and her joy-filling booth…

Camera-shy Natalie from Sparrow…

Calamity Jane had a very cool booth…no one was ready for their close-up

Of course, our BOYS never disappoint…I got the sale of the day (in my opinion, anyway) of a rustic white farm table that is road-trippin’ over to my kitchen. Can’t wait to play “dining room” with my new chairs! I’ll show it when it’s all done and purdy.

Again, it was a perfect day and I was blessed to be there. Just wonderful…so long to wait for next year.

I hope your week starts out well today, Lovelies~

OX.

p.s. some serious happenings going on in the new art studio  at work…was flinging paint and moving stuff this weekend. I am one motivated cookie..can’t wait to begin to work on the pieces I’ve been dreaming about…also can’t wait to share them with my MPG pals.