the venue

We have chosen our venue. Thurman's Mansion. It's an old rustic house just outside of Austin. We stopped by on a cloudy day, so the images do little justice. We knew it was right when we walked into the main room and saw the huge free-standing bar. Very cool.

canopy tour

After reading a recent friend's blog telling how annoying it is to check other friends' blogs and see no update, I have decided I should remedy my current situation. Although, maybe planning a wedding is a good excuse, but it's not one I've had in the past so I should not bother with trying to use it as one.

These are photos from a canopy tour my fiance, Doug and I went on for my birthday. The guides take you on a zip-line course through huge cedar trees following a creek. It was beautiful.

My favorite photo shows two trees intertwined to form a dam during drought. Natural ingenuity.

**For anyone with allergies the symptoms can be quite severe up there in the trees, but it's oh so worth it.

doug goes to springfield

This photo was taken just after landing in the Springfield airport a few months ago. I love it, because it so beautifully captures the awe and utter confusion Doug had as he first laid eyes on the poster of Shoji Tabuchi which I had to explain had been in the exact same spot for at least 10 years and even though his daughter looked like she was 12, she is in fact my age) My brother-in-law probably remembers having a similar reaction to the Branson posters, thinking "is this for real?"

office portfolio

This page is pulled from a recent portfolio I have been working on for the office.
It is a compliation of many publications we have had in the past year.

diddy

So, if you know me well enough, you probably know my sense of humor

is quite silly. Maybe even a little nerdy. Luckily I have found someone who

will love me despite and because of my quirks...or as he says, because

I'm "sweet". He gave me this adorable bear as an early Valentines gift.

When he asked me what his name is, I said hmmm "Bee-Diddy"? I know,

it's a stretch...

on holiday

The last post never seemed to show the holiday card for some reason. Instead here are some photos from the drive my mom and I just made from Missouri to South Carolina. The drive was beautiful and not at all captured in these photographs.

We are about to go to the airport to pick up my sis and her family...more pics to come!

lhc food drive

We're having a food drive at church this weekend. Below is the design work I've been doing for the event.

alterations at alterstudio

"before and after"

all play and no work...

collaboration

It's been over a year since collaborating with any of my K-State friends. Work has opened up an opportunity for a good friend of mine, Miss Jackie Turner and I to work together. Included are some images beautifully rendered by Miss Turner. Thanks for all your help Jackie!

add this to the list of things to attempt...

http://www.jpricharddesign.com/

just for kicks

check out this crazy monster they call architecture...

arne jacobsen

These photos are from a recent stop we made. If this looks interesting, check it out @ St. Catherine's College.

the pensive one

Already we are able to see Mason's personality. When Carter, my other nephew arrived, we knew had some definite "character". In the same way Mason's character is beginning to show itself. Where Carter is more jovial and quirky, Mason seems to be more thoughtful and calm. Of course it may be too early to tell, but it seemed to be right with Carter.

(Those of you from Austin, take note of the STUBBS poster behind me. No, I'm not secretly hiding out in Austin!)

he's here!

Mason Julius Twist
8lbs10ozs

the big day finally arrived

cookie monster...carter looks like he's ready to be a big brother and a whole lot of trouble

This is the last photo of my sister pregnant with Mason. She's at the hospital as I type this blog...Let me just say, Thursday (today) was the day I guessed she would go into labor; looks like sis knows best. Say a prayer for a quick, safe delivery!

Am I in Narnia?

This is a test for any readers or watchers of the Chronicles of Narnia. There are two objects in this scene from which CS Lewis drew inspiration. Do you know what they are?

(I tried to give you a hint by altering the picture.)

This is an alleyway leading to the Bodleian Library and The Radcliffe Camera, behind which I now sit at Blackwell's Books in the only air conditioned WiFi spot I have been able to find. We are so spoiled in the States!


ANSWERS:
the gold figure above the doorway inspired Tumnus
the lampost

we're here!

Here's the first of many pictures to come. Little is showing of "Mason" here, but if my sister turned sideways you could tell he's not too far away!

summer vacation

My posts have taken the back seat lately...all my time has been spent preparing for a long trip to England [June 28-July 21] and with those I will miss while I'm gone. My sister, brother-in-law, and nephew have been living there for the past year. There will be plenty of exciting news to share in the next few weeks...A second nephew will be making his rounds on the blog circuit very soon. [Mason Julius Twist is due in July!]

fisheye friday

boots...made for two-steppin'

It's official, my first pair of cowboots have been broken in. My feet are in pain but I am getting closer to being a true Texan, so it must be worth it.














.

nest A01 + nest A02

We took some time at the office to create artwork for Austin arthouse's yearly fund-raiser. The show is aptly named 5x7 and each piece submitted must be sized to fit the show's title. My boss thought of the idea after finding an abandoned nest on his lawn and an empty wasp's nest attached to his eave. The bird's nest was photographed and then cast in resin.

affordable modernism

click for an all-in-one resource

good times

are you asleep?

Often I catch myself falling asleep, spiritually. It usually happens slowly, by being "too busy", easily distracted, or living inside my head instead of my heart. Inevitably, it happens. My spirit hibernates. This weekend I went on a retreat with some friends from Austin. Though I may still be on a "high" from intense conversation and making new friends, I feel God has stirred my soul. He has given me a nudge and reminded me to stay awake. To be present. And to seek Him. My life has more to do with him than it does me.

"...at the rate you live at, the Bible might never have been written, and Christ might never have died, the Apostles were foolish, the New Testament Christians madmen, and the salvation of the Gospel a needless thing. Oh, awake! and sleep no more." J.C. Ryle

In the times my soul is asleep something else takes over: sin. It's tough sometimes to figure out sins in my life that are preventing deeper relationship with Him. It's hard to pinpoint the sins that are not superficial or evident to the world. We all have things in our minds that keep us from God; I have a tendancy to just be nice, just to please those around me. But in my mind there is a battle being fought not many can see. A battle of perfection, of never being up to standard, of never being enough. I tell myself lies and in the end all it does is keep me from truly and openly loving others; being inwardly focused is blinding.

"I yield to none in wishes for your happiness, and my best wish is that you may be made a new creature in Christ Jesus. This is a better thing than riches, or health, or honour, or learning. A man may get to heaven without these, but he cannot get there without conversion. Verily if you die without having been born again you had far better never have been born at all. No man really lives till he lives unto God." J.C. Ryle

This is true community: to bear your soul to another with faith that love and grace will abound.

just playin'

how's this for allegiance?

Link - President Bush

blackout

Here are some pictures from the storm last night, we lost power around 9:30, winds were around 60 mph...I had to do something to entertain myself in the blackness. This is a series of pictures looking out my window. The last one is during some of the lightning.

this one is for you...

you know who you are.

My brother-in-law likes to threaten he will set me up with the man I marry. Erik, if you promise the real deal will not be blue and 7" tall, yes he grew from 1" to 7" in four days, I might agree out of desperation.

If you look close enough you might be able to see my recently planted zinneas sprouting in the background. Hopefully they grow as quickly as my boyfriend, Mr. Beefcake.

Here's the update on Mr. B:

recent work

"bloom" business card

visually speaking

My attempt to get my real work outside of work (the day job) has begun. It started by purchasing a new laptop and now this blog. Hopefully it will inspire me to continue my search for things of beauty. Also, to challenge myself to write and draw more often. Something easily done while overseas, but not so easy in the past two years since being back in the states. "Italy is never too far away," I continue to remind myself.

Verbal communication has never been easy for me. I sometimes lack the ability to express myself well. Creativity is the only way I feel that part of me is heard. At this point in my life that means not being heard at all. It is no one's fault but my own.

If you wish, feel free to listen in as I try to put bring that voice into focus.

Hillel Student Center

Here are some images from a recent open house.
The building is a Jewish student center at the edge of campus.