Life and Olive the Above

It seems everyone goes through that feeling of not having enough hours in the day and I can certainly sympathize right now, though I don’t want to come accross complaining. I’ve been booking up my time with soap making, photographic engagements, floral design and more weddings than you can possibly imagine.

It’s a good predicament to be in, not for everyone, but for me at least. I’m hopeful that one day I won’t have a desk job during the day, or if I do it’ll only be part time so I can have a little more time to do the things that excite me and challenge me.

Yesterday alone Steve and I recieved two wedding invites, one which will conincide nicely with a visit to my parents on Vancouver Island and my dad’s birthday and the other is in Kelowna and well… we can’t go… I’m going to be designing flower arrangements and doing photos for a wedding in Langley the same weekend so unfortunately we’ll have to opt out.

I still haven’t managed to plan a summer vacation just yet but maybe I should get that in the works sooner rather than later. Our usual trip to Orca’s Island for Woodsong has been cancelled this year and we weren’t planning our other usual trip to the Oregon coast so we’re left with the question of what to do!

One thing I know for sure is that I want to arrange our patio to be a little cozier for the next few warm months

Another busy weekend in my life. I’m in a frenzy of activity to have prices sent out to clients for flowers, photos and custom soaps. It’s great to be so busy with the things you love, unfortunate when you realize you still work a desk job full time.

No less I had the pleasure of joining with Jo and Austin as they celebrated their weddding this past Saturday and had a chance to photograph Jess and Jonny in Granville Island on Tuesday! To keep things interesting I thought it best to post some photos!

Steve and I are sick this week. Somehow it’s so much worse when both are down because it’s just such a sad sight to behold.

The Liberal Arts Students at Trinity Western University opened their graduating art show, “Gift Shop” last night at the Langley Centennial Museum in Fort Langley. The gallery space was a cute venue and a definite step up from the underground parking lot on the university campus last year and it served as a great place to mingle and run into old faces. Although a small graduating class I must say that each year I’m impressed by several of them for to work they put out especially when I spent the last 5 years in art school and, at many times, felt disappointed by the work that would come out (though of course there are exceptions). I have often felt that TWU has been a great support to their artists and has really helped to develop and challenge their skills in a unique way that is very exciting. It will be running all month at 9135 King St. and is definitely worth checking out.

Before I sign off, a photos of the sun setting on the horizon, it was so beautiful and gold I just have to share!

Originally written late January ‘09

Seasons are changing on not simply in regard to the weather outside. Working in an office has been a trying change for me as I get used to corporate life. Still on the other side of the coin it has helped to enlighten the fact that photography is truly an important venture for me which can’t be put to the side. I’ve been booking more and more jobs over the last few months and trying to really develop a strong portfolio that shows diversity and adaptability and with that I’ve been carrying my camera more than ever.

As with anything, as time elapses I’m realizing to a greater degree the need for the right camera bag. Don’t get me wrong I love my Think Tank Urban Disguise 40 but frankly, it’s big. Big is great on occasion but for someone with a bad back, a shoulder bag is not the way to carry lots of gear. This bag has however been great for short ferry rides and would also be great on flights because it’s got a handy feature of being able to attach easily to luggage and it also fits my laptop. What I need now is a great bag for on the job. When you need two flash units, one or two spare lenses and SD cards as well as your camera body and all this with no serious back injuries would be a serious asset.

I’ve been eyeing up the LowePro Inverse 200 bag for the last while because this offers a solution for my poor back. I made a quick stop to try this on in the store last night and was surprised to find that it was much roomier than I had imagined. It fit everything I would need for a simple photo shoot and it would even be able to handle a tripod to boot! It was easy to get into and had the option of a shoulder strap because lets me honest, we don’t all want to wear a waist pack ALL the time. The rain cover also appears to be a strong bonus being from the West Coast of Canada where it rains most of the year and so it means that small features like this go a long way.

Hopefully I’ll find one in my collection of bags very soon.

Well it would appear I haven’t posted on here for some time. I’ve been working away trying to get everything in order since my graduation from University in the spring.

It’s apparent that winter is settling in as I begin to read more blogs again and prepare myself for a season of craftiness. The possibilities seem endless in winter as there’s so much more time to pass indoors. I’ve been highly interested in reworking old furniture. I love freshly painted pieces that have a certain crispness. I’ve been looking through the Design*Sponge before and after section getting nearly giddy with excitement. Most recently they posted about a reworked beach house and the transformation is phenomenal.

Also an update of photography a few from trips this summer as well as some more recent shots from fall and for a more full view of my portfolio have a look at my website!

The temperature this last week or two has been comparable to November I think I heard! Thankfully most of the photos here don’t seem to reflect that and even the umbrella shot looks pretty nice out, however it was entirely stormy, with thunder and that rain that comes in heavy drops and it comes in sheets! Regardless of all this, we’ve still managed to have a great time and take some great photos!

First are a couple of shots from a band photo shoot with Stalking Stella:

The Honeybee Festival in Cloverdale, BC:

Shopping and changing a flat tire with Kari and Amanda:

Bowling with Kari, Amanda and Steve:

After a very long and cold winter, even a few days ago chattering in the cold weather, this weekend brought with it plenty of hot sun and I could not have been happier!

I thought I would display a couple shots I took last night while at a fondue party a friend of ours hosted. I am working on getting a great night time shot for an on-line assignment and these were my first two attempts. They are 13 Seconds long with a slow flash.

Well a lot has happened since my last post.

Thanks to PoppyTalk for mentioning that Olive would be at Got Craft and to OdetteNY for featuring me in her blog!

Also since I last posted, I graduated from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, which means it’s time to find a career! It also meant that I got to indulge in a new Nikon D80 Camera from my parents as a gift of congratulations and from my in-laws The Urban Disguise 40 camera bag from Think Tank, which will help me be a highly organized photographer!

Since I’ve got a new camera, here are some photos to prove I’ve been enjoying every minute I’ve had behind the viewfinder!

First off I need to say thank you to Marichelle at Heart Handmade blog for featuring my products in an article about product photography earlier this week! If your love handmade and all things Etsy, check out her blog for interviews and how-to instructions.

After many years of slogging I have finally completed my Degree in Fine Arts! It has been great to have completed it and I’m thankful to say that I have time, once again to enjoy the greater things in life like friends and party planning and touring around between Vancouver, Victoria and the northern parts of Washington state on last minute trips for Ice Cream at Ed and Aileens!

Photography is one of my passions, one that conveniently gets tucked away when I get too busy but lately I’m gearing up for a new camera so I’ve been trying to clean up my skills so I don’t appear so rusty!

So here are a few moments from our time in Victoria…

Since returning home I have once again been baking bread, which is one of my favourites! My naturopath would be horrified I’m sure but it’s true, I love bread. This past week I followed along with the Apartment Therapy Kitchen blog and made their recipe for Sourdough and it was amazing! I changed it around a bit and made the starter out of a equal blend of rye and white flour which I think was the secret of its success! I tastes magnificent! Last night I dealt with another craving so I’ve also got an image of my Mojito!

Last but not least on the way to pick up our ice cream as we drive through the country I couldn’t help but enjoy this simple landscape.

The temperature went to a very comfortable 21 degrees yesterday and so it was no surprise that outside was the place to be.

Steve, Holly and I went to an art show at a local University and then proceeded to enjoy the lazy day on the grass, and in the trees of the campus.