everything indigo

Habitat for Humanity Artwork

Well, I've been really busy the last few weeks finishing up details before the holidays, but I spent some time on a project that I wasn't really expecting a week ago and thought I'd share it with you.  For the past 17 years there has been a craft bazaar at Wawasee Middle School at the beginning of the holiday season.  This year it takes place this coming Saturday, December 1st from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The Syracuse/North Webster Habitat for Humanity Initiative is going to be there with an opportunity for you to contribute to their effort to raise money for Habitat homes to be located in Syracuse and North Webster.  They have put together a cookbook with a ton of great recipes.  It also features some artwork from local artists, including yours truly.  So, my time?  Well, I worked on some of the art pages for the book which feature images of antique postcards from my mother's collection.

As I worked on the project I was really struck with how important these images and their stories are.  And how important images of our families and our moments together will be for future generations.  Family portraiture is an heirloom to treasure.

Here are a few of the images from the book that I created as well as the cover which features one of my photographs.  Look for the Habitat folks and pick up one of the cookbooks for your kitchen for $12.50.  There will be a limited quantity on hand, so do that as soon as you arrive!  Of course, if you sleep in, you'll still be able to order them.  And if you miss out completely on Saturday, but think this would make a perfect Christmas gift for your favorite cook...contact Jennifer and she can hook you up!

Christmas is Coming!

Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving and here I am thinking about Christmas!  Tomorrow I'll be thinking about Thanksgiving...tonight I'm thinking about Christmas with a new grandson, a son who is just getting to the age to be totally thrilled with gifts, the chlly air outside my window with a chance of snow tonight and pigs.  Yep.  You read that right.  Pigs.  Several years ago, we started a tradition of giving a Heifer International gift to ourselves--buying a different animal each year.  When Cody gets old enough, he'll be allowed to choose the animal and we commemorate it with a new stuffed animal that gets placed under the tree with the gifts to remind us of the joy of giving and the many people around to world who don't enjoy the comforts we do.  So far, we have a cow and a chicken. This year we're adding a pig to the menagerie.  I really feel passionately about the work Heifer does and the way they do it and I encourage you to include them--or another charitable organization--in your holiday gift giving plans this season!

OINK!

 

Bragging Rights!

Well, let me start by saying I've tried to avoid maternity sessions.  I was pregnant a few years ago and for me the experience was fairly unpleasant for me.  I was really, really, really, really sick for the whole 9 months.  On three medications to control the nausea and hospitalized once.  Did I mention really sick?  Yuck.  So, even the thought of pregnancy has been enough to induce some not so pleasant feelings.  BUT...my daughter-in-law is at the end of her pregnancy (wooohoooo, 6 days to go!!) and it's been great for me to be around her and regain some of the joy of expectancy.  Maybe time has passed enough that I'm able to be excited without feeling sick.  Maybe she's just so darn cute it desn't matter.  In any case, we took some images tonight before we get to meet my little grandson just after Thanksgiving (assuming he follows the plan!).  And here are a few...

and a few other members of the family...

More Admin Stuff...

Well, the hosting on my site expired sooner that I thought...so the current site is being transferred to a new host sometime in the near future...today or in the next few days.  So, if you are a current customer with a proof gallery...be aware there may be an interruption in service.  Hopefully it will be pretty seamless for you, but just in case there are some hiccups...we should be back very soon!  Be aware that my email may be interrupted as well. 

Thanks for your patience!! 

Some Major News!

Well, everybody, here goes...many of you know this already, but some do not.  We are packing up our things and heading across country to Tennessee...for good!  My family has been working on a move for two years this month and it's finally taking place.  We bought some property just South of Nashville about a year ago and will be building a home there alongside my parents and my sister's family.  Our kids will get to grow up together and next door to their grandparents.  My family is very close and we are all getting very excited about it!  Our property here is in the last stages of selling...we will hopefully be closing next week.  We'll actually be staying here in Indiana, however, until late winter.  Which brings me to the next announcement...

The studio will be closing for portrait work in mid-November for the holidays and a bit beyond.  What does that mean?  Well, if you do not have a session scheduled already, I will not be accepting any new sessions until mid-January, and then only on a limited basis.  If you are an existing client, I will be available for scheduling sessions again sometime in January on a limited basis.  Contact me and we can work something out.  If you are a new client...send chocolate and we will talk!  :)

What does our move mean for y'all?  Well, we will still have family in the area and I will still be running my other business in Syracuse (see www.cornerstonepromos.com for any promotional product needs you might have!).  So, I will be here on a fairly regular basis.  I will let you know when I'm here and available if anyone is interested in a session.  Also, feel free to email me any time and we can set something up to coordinate with one of my trips.

While the studio is closed over the holidays, we'll still be busy!  I'm working on a major redesign of the website, several new product lines (more on that in a later post), and several large commercial projects.  So, keep checking back here to see what we're up to--I'll still be posting!  And coming to the blog in January will be the second annual 30 Day Challenge.  I post an image a day for 30 days.  It challenges my creativity and is all around fun!

If you have any questions about the move or the schedule, please feel free to email me at any time!  michelle@indigomoment.com

Celebrating Adoption Session in MI

What a lovely few days for shooting outside!  I'm afraid that's all about to change very soon though!  A wonderful family from Chicago met me in Michigan for a session celebrating the recent adoption of their daughter.  We walked and talked and some of us climbed trees and scrunched into thickets!  I had a good time and it was lovely to meet you guys!  Here are a few sneak peeks of your adorable kids!

Beautiful Day, Beautiful Woman!

Wow, what a beautiful day we had today!  It started this morning with the most beautiful heavy frost.  All the weeds on our construction site actually looked pretty!  And then the sun came out and lit up all the frost and steam rose off the fields and ponds....mmmmm, pretty...too bad I'd left my camera at home!  Bad photographer, bad!  But this evening when we had colorful trees and warmer air and a perfect Fall conditions?  I did have my camera...and a wonderful woman to share it with!  A musician working on her first full length CD, Ms. J and I did a set of images that I hope you'll see on her CD packaging and promotional material.  You are truly beautiful!