Craft With May

This afternoon I was doing a photo shoot and decided to capture a behind the scenes photo to share with you – keeping it real and all. This is my story:

Do you ever have a nice shot set up but there are spots of sun blinding your subject? This happens a lot on my front porch/portrait studio. What’s a girl to do? A smart person would take photos before 10am or after 5pm, but see… my model? Well, she’s picky. When she is receptive to photos I’ve gotta strike! I’ve gotten inventive to keep good light but also not have weird or icky sun splotches.

What’s that baby? You got shots today and don’t feel like smiling but do enjoy eating candy corn and touching pumpkins? Ok. Why does mommy look so silly? To provide shade for you, of course!

seriously? Yes. This is me, blocking out the sunny spots with Elizabeth’s blankie with teeth + 1 hand while the other hand does the photo taking. Any sheet/blanket/block of some kind to keep the direct sunlight off the subject will work. I grab whatever is closest. Using this blankie cost me 1 see’s truffle. E drives a hard bargain for borrowing her goods.

When one of your star models is willing to pose, you gotta do what you gotta do. Plus- the even color of light is SOOO much better than sun/shade spotty look. SOOO worth looking like a goober to the neighbors. Ha- I’m so used to being weirdo May with the crazy PJ pants it doesn’t bother me. nah.

One last pic- see this SUPAH SWEET pumpkin? She’s mine. Yep. This is the one I picked out at the patch yesterday. LOVE IT!

jeanetteb- congrats you won the wicked giveaway! E-mail me mflaum@comcast.net to claim your prize. I’ve got more goodies lined up- so stay tuned!

We’ve been running wild here. Between life, work, and everything in between it’s been a mad house! Yesterday we went to a cool pumpkin patch in the next town and had a nice dinner out. I’ve got TONS of pics to sort and order up (can’t wait!) here’s a few…

Rebecca RAN WILD the whole time. Seriously had to chase her all over- which wasn’t easy since this was one huge patch! Of course she had a fabulous time which is what it’s all about.

gi-normous pumpkin anyone? They have some HUGE monster varieties here. Creepy if you asked me. I like pretty pumpkins.

Elizabeth’s favorite thing was the HUGE straw mountain they had. It was fun to play on for everyone- you can barely see rebecca’s little head way up on top! E was pretending to be a bird (wings spread). Of course I climbed up it too- E asked me how I did it so fast and I told her a farm girl knows her way around a bale of straw. Good times.

now today (back at home) I offered E a chocolate if she’d pose with the pumpkins. her response (shown here): NO! you said three chocolates! She drives a hard bargain, but she won in the end. Tomorrow we’ll finish our decor out front (yes, I know we’re on the late end!) and I’ll share. I’ve also got more fun, crafty-goodness, and more to share…

but right now? Jason is at work and the girls are asleep… SCRAP TIME!!!

I fully admit I am strange. There will be something I know I will probably like- maybe even love- but I don’t go for it right away for one reason or another. I know it’s weird, and I don’t know why I do it. For more than 8 years I’ve been meaning to read the book Wicked, as I’ve always thought I’d like it. However, whenever it’s book purchasing time at Target or Borders or whatever there is always some other book that wins my attention and Wicked is set back down for ‘next time’

The last time I was at Borders I decided to force myself to purchase and read it before reading any more of my usually favored ‘chick lit’. It took 4 days, as I required brain breaks and couldn’t just read it through. To really get it you’ve got to give it your full attention- something most books I read don’t require. So it took a LOT longer than a 350 or so page novel takes me normally.

Did it drive me nuts all the questions raised that go unanswered? Um, YES!!!! AHHHRRRGGG. My brain feels like it’s back in English class interpreting what the author meant by ____, and what I think of ___, and what the symbolism of ___ is. Is it interesting, full of twists, and well worth a spot in my book collection? Absolutely.

Why do I bring this up now? Two reasons. 1) I just finished it yesterday so it’s swirling in my brain still. 2) I was in See’s chocolates a few days back and found they have boxes of chocolate with the wicked witch on the front like last year. I purchased one to go along with this wicked cool stash of Lil Davis Halloween goodies that I have to give away…

There are some Cloud 9 halloween treats in there too. Want the stash? Just leave a comment here. If you want to share the last really good book you read- great!

I know I’m quiet. In my mind I’m not- I’ve got about 20 blog posts brewing! But in time I am short as well as creative energy because I’m pouring everything I’ve got into my next BIG project. I can’t explain it just yet- but here are some SNEAKY PEEKS!!

In between being a mom and running household things I’m working hard on my next BPS class and of course spending time with the students in my current class. FUN AWESOME STUFF for sure. Just, you know, leaves me very little time to write about bookcovers and wicked and making titles and flowers. (all things for future posts…)

anyhow- now you know what I’m up to this weekend. I have *LOADS* of give aways to do next week (both in a fisk-a-teer on-line crop + right here!) so stay tuned. Right now I’m going to head back to making handouts…

• going on self induced semi-lockdown to finish up some details on weeks 1 and 2 of my next BPS class (winter 09!) FUN stuff- just trying to edit and make sure I’m totally happy with everything before I turn in!
• LeAnne wins the chipboard! CONGRATS! e-mail me mflaum@comcast.net to claim your prize.
• waiting for Lipstick Jungle to be over so I can watch it (DVR/no commerical style)
• having torrid flirtation with my amazon cart… so many books. want to read. NO! not until work is finished! I mustn’t!
• speaking of amazon must write blog post about how it knows what I will like…
• but first some much deserved veg-time and then good sleep. AH, sleep…