The Photograph

If you follow my Facebook page, then you've read me lament my lack of skill as a photographer.  I'm a hit and miss kind of gal when it comes to photographing my work and it makes me crazy.  That might be why I'm so appreciative of great photography.  One night about a month ago, I was browsing around a few new Facebook pages and came across something that literally brought me to tears.  It was this picture:

JAM Photography's image of a Mother and Child

This picture was, and still is, so powerful to me.  You see, I had a c-section with both of my babies and my memory is very fuzzy and disjointed for about the first 24 hours following each of their births.  As I looked at this image, I so wished that I'd had someone take pictures of that precious time for me.  The brilliant young woman who took this picture is Ashlie from JAM Photography.

Ashlie's gift unfolded before me as I clicked through the photographs on her page.  She has an eye for contrast that floors me.

The ring on the babies toe so perfectly illustrates how tiny and fragile are new babies.

She also has that special understanding of sexy and how to photograph a woman's sexiness without stepping over the line into crass or tawdry.

To me, this is sexy and glorious - the kind of photograph I'd want of myself to share with my husband.

Needless to say, I'm a huge fan of Ashlie's work.  You can find her Facebook page here, complete with a Payvement store where you can buy her still life work as cards, prints, even dry-erase boards!  Please take a moment to stop by her page and see her beautiful work - I promise, you won't be sorry you did.  She already knows I'm a fan!

And The Winners Are.....

Wow!  I can hardly believe that a month has passed so quickly!  I started this with 160 fans and as of the writing of this post, I am up to 737!  What an amazing birthday celebration it has been for me and I have all of you to thank.  You've made turning 41 such a joy!

So if you read the full details on my Facebook Discussion tab, you know that I have more than a few things to give away this evening.  So here are the winners.....

There was a tie for the most referrals - how cool is that?  Teshia Wilkinson and Bette Luksha-Gammell each win a pair of sterling silver Romanov earrings with their choice of crystal color!  Congratulations ladies and thank you, thank you, thank you for referring so many new fans my way :)

I said I would choose one fan who was around before the Birthday Bash began and one fan who came in the flurry of new fans.  The "before" fan winner is Carla Krantz and the new fan winner is Jennifer Burke Vogel!  They each also have won a pair of sterling Romanov earrings with their choice of crystal color.  Congratulations to you two and thank you for all of the encouraging comments you leave on my page.

If you've been keeping track, then you also know that there is a pair of amethyst fidget earrings up for winning for reaching 700 fans.  The 700 Fans winner is Cyndi Taylor Cox!  Congrats Cyndi - I hope you enjoy wearing them as much as I enjoyed finally figuring out what to do with those gorgeous amethyst beads!

Earring Entry 8/28/10

Well here it is, the last daily earring entry!  I'm having such a wonderful birthday already and I want to take a minute to thank all of you for being a part of this great event.  You've made my birthday last all month long and it has been non-stop fun for me :)  So today, I want you to leave a comment and tell me about your best birthday ever. 

My best birthday was my 35th birthday, though I honestly didn't know it until about 6 weeks later.  As it turns out, I got pregnant with my first child, our son, on my 35th birthday :)  Best birthday gift I ever received and my husband takes all the credit LOL!

Earring Entry 8/27/10

Yes, it is time for the daily earring entry again.  Just one more after this, then its back to once a month again.  I am going to miss this!  Yesterday we talked about our pet peeves, so today let's talk about things that make us smile instead of frown.  Leave a comment on this post to be entered and tell me, what traits do you look for in a friend?  I think this has changed over the years for me, and now at almost-41 what I appreciate most in a friend is honesty and a forthright attitude.  I don't want someone to tell me what I want to hear, nor do I want them to sugar-coat the truth.  I also want my friends to be able to agree to disagree.  I've learned that there will never be anyone with whom I will agree on everything, and I can accept that -- but the other person has to be able to accept that as well.

700 Fans Give-Away - Let's Celebrate Some More!

I know you have been wondering what the give-away will be for reaching 700 fans, right?  Well here it is!  These earrings are a brand-new O. Sebastian design and I'm in love with them.  I've been on a "fidget" kick lately -- meaning that I've been fascinated with making jewelry with elements that spin, twirl, or otherwise give you something to fidget with while you are sitting still.  Did I mention I don't sit still very well?  I bet that doesn't surprise any of you one bit :)  These earrings are made with sterling wire, beads and findings and those focal beads at the bottom?  Those are 15mm gorgeous, dark purple amethyst drum beads that have been in my bead box for a long while, just waiting for me to do something wonderful with them.  (The beads approve of this design, by the way.)  The best part is that the drum beads spin like little wheels, so you can sit and fidget with them as you wear them.  There are also a couple of crystal AB 6mm Swarovski crystals thrown in... you know I can't resist adding a touch of sparkle.  Hope you love them too!

Wait?  What's that?  OH!  You want to know how to win them!  That's easy -- just leave a comment on this post over sometime between now (which is about 8 pm on Thursday, August 26th) and 8 pm (central standard time) on Saturday, August 28th.  That happens to be my birthday -- see how clever I am with all this celebrating?  When you post, tell me what you think of the earrings and leave me your email address so that I can contact the winner after I draw a name on Saturday.

Thank you all for being a part of helping me reach 700 fans -- I could never have done this without you :)

Earring 8/26/10

Here is your chance to enter for the day!  Just leave a comment on this post and tell me:  What is your pet peeve?  You know, that thing that annoys the heck out of you no matter who is doing it and why?  My major pet peeve is bad manners!  Please, thank-you, you're welcome... these are all such easy things to say and mean, yet everywhere I turn, people forget them.  (I would like to say, however, that my fans amaze me daily with their excellent manners!)  I am doubly-frustrated by children who lack manners altogether and often find that their parents will say, "Oh, I don't think that's important - they're kids!"  I often receive compliments on my childrens' manners and that makes me proud!  They may be 2 and 4, but they are growing up knowing that manners ARE important.  Okay, I'll get down off my soapbox now LOL.

Earring Entry 8/25/10

Here is your entry opportunity for today!  We've talked about our first crushes before, but surely our tastes have changed as we've grown older, right?  So tell me, who's your favorite celeb hottie now?  For me, it is Sam Elliott.  Let me take a moment here to fan myself!  I first saw Sam in a TV series called "The Yellow Rose," and he has only gotten better with time.  His voice, his smile, those eyes.... whew!  Everytime I hear the "Beef, it's what's for dinner" commercials with his voice, I can't help but think, "Oh that sounds good!"  LOL!