Lilac Saloon

Bits of Love

Here are a few bits and pieces of our Thanksgiving weekend with some of our family.  Seeing family is not something that we can do very often, so getting together is so special and important to us.  I miss them all so much and would give anything to have us all living near each other.

Old family photos on the mantle.

 Relaxing together, watching a morning movie.

 Uncle Buck!  One of the best movies of all time.

Visiting at Grandma's apartment.
 

Learning about the history of the art and photos on Grandma's walls.

This is a photo of Grandma and her parents!  Look at how fabulous they are!

Still life.
Everything in it's place.
 

My beautiful little sister, Lauren.
 

Shaking our heads!

Looking at old photos with Grandma and hearing about the history of our family.
 



The table is set for an amazing dinner.  There is not a lack of good food to eat when we all get together!
  
 

Seeing our parents as babies!
 



Telling stories, talking of memories and making new ones.
  

The hardest part is saying goodbye.
  



           

Until we meet again.

Now Introducing: Canon Digital Rebel XSi

Thanksgiving Day was the first day with my new DSLR.  

I'm brand new to this type of camera and am humble enough to say that I know nothing about how to use it.  With the exception of the bits that I've been reading so far - the only things I truly knew how to do were put the lens on and turn the camera on! Important, yes.  But there's so much more to figure out before great picture taking can begin!

Here are some photos from Thanksgiving evening... all taken by trial and error!  I can't wait until I know what I'm doing.  Practice makes perfect... so, I'm off to take more pictures!

  

New Camera Anticipation

Over the last two years or so, I've realized that taking pictures isn't something that I just do randomly and carelessly.  I get obsessive over it.  I think about it all the time.  Each time I take a photo, I try to take it better than the time before.  I instinctively search out new things to photograph and in new ways. 

 The camera I have is great.  It's a Canon PowerShot 950IS.  For a point-and-shoot, it takes some fantastic pictures if you know how to use the settings.  

But as Ariel says... I want mooooooreeeee!!!

So, after tedious research and months of thinking - I have taken the plunge and ordered my new baby!

Canon Digital Rebel XSi

And two lenses:

Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM

Amazon product description says:  A highly practical medium telephoto lens with superb delineation and portability, the Canon EF 85mm lens produces sharp and clear images at all apertures. Through computer simulations, the lens has been designed to give beautiful background blur, thereby bringing your subject into crisp view. The ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM) and fast f/1.8 aperture, meanwhile, helps the subject zip into focus in the viewfinder. And because the front lens group does not rotate during focusing, special filter effects are not affected. Best of all, the standard zoom lens--with its natural angle of view and perspective--captures the subject plainly, making it excellent for portraits and images that require a natural depth of field.

Canon 17-55 f/2.8 USM

Amazon product description says:  Designed to meet consumer demands for a fast EF-S zoom lens, the EF-S 17-55mm offers image quality on par with Canon's highly regarded L-series lenses. The lens features a large circular aperture that produces a shallow depth of field, creating background blur that draws special attention to the photographic subject. The lens construction, meanwhile, includes UD and aspherical elements that deliver impressive image quality throughout the entire zoom range. And thanks to the Image Stabilizer lens groups--which shift to compensate for camera shake--the image appears crisp and clear on the image plane, eve in dim light. Finally, the lens offers a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM), inner focusing, and new AF algorithms to help achieve autofocus quickly and quietly, along with full-time mechanical manual focusing that makes it possible to manually adjust the focus even in AF mode.

I can't wait to get them and learn how to use them!

I'll document progress along the way!

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

 J.R.R. Tolkien said that "Not all those who wander are lost".

It makes me think that maybe it is okay to feel like I am wandering.  As long as I am wandering in the direction of my own choosing.

I don't always know where I am going when I set out on a journey.  I do not always know what I will see.  I only know that I always go with an open mind and an open heart.  What more do you need?

On a wandering journey, it is best to just look at what is right in front of you.  Most likely, it is beautiful.

Trying to think of the big picture and plan out your journey can have negative consequences.

You put blinders on to what is right in front of your nose.

You are too focused on the end goal to see what is right in your face, waiting for you to see it!

On a wandering journey, look for the familiar.  What reminds you of home?  What makes you feel safe?

What makes you look twice?

What have you never seen before?
Until now?

 

When wandering, sometimes it seems you're off the beaten path.  You may not even be dressed for the occasion!  You might even step in a 6 inch deep hole, of mud.  I did.

Finding things that make you comfortable and happy along the way is the real purpose.

Looking to each other for support.  Encouragement.  Inspiration.

Know that you're not alone.  Never, ever.

Along the path you may be looking down at the ground around you, for obstacles.

Don't forget to look up.

Looking in a new direction can bring a fresh perspective.  It can lead you to a different path that you hadn't expected to encounter.

First there were only sidewalks.  Suddenly, now, there are stairs.

I have never regretted taking that leap of faith and exploring an unknown road.

Sometimes, funny things happen.

You aren't the same person you once were.  Your wandering brought you to a new place.

A really, really good place.  Don't you just love leaps of faith?!

Jumping is so much better than standing still!!  Unless, that is, you sprain your ankle.  Which is what happened after the below picture was taken.

Even after injury and trauma, life goes on and you have to keep jumping!

Those who love you will cheer you on from the sidelines.

In wandering, pausing to reflect is imperative.

There is always a meaning to our journey.

There is no such thing as coincidence.

Things don't just randomly happen.  They happen to you, for you, to make of what you will.
Make it something special.

Your circumstances can not change how you feel inside.
You have to do that part on your own.

Keep strong thoughts in your mind and keep love in your heart.
Have someone to turn to.

And don't forget... to look UP!!

.......

To see all of the photos from the wandering journey, to go my Flickr!

The Commons on Flickr

Ruth St. Denis in Radha., originally uploaded by New York Public Library.

Wow.
Wowwwww.
Right?? This photo is amazingly stunning in so many ways. The contrast, the texture and the movement. I can't stop looking at it!!

It is titled:
Ruth St. Denis in Radha.

I found it in The Commons on Flickr. The Commons is full of inspiration!! FULL of it!!

Motonari Ono

There's something so special and different about Japan Fashion Week, to me.  New York Fashion Week gives me the feeling of glamor, but Japan Fashion Week is more edgy and full of oddity.  I love it so much more.  I'd rather see anything else than see another pretty satin gown.  Nothing bores me more than a pretty satin gown!  

I came across Motonari Ono yesterday while browsing the JFW photos.  They're not too avant garde.  They're actually really wearable.  But they still have that something about them, that special different edge.  They have a dark, boudoir feel that I'm really loving.

I love the tiny polka dots on this top.  And I love the styling.  Doesn't something about this say Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd" to you?

Amazing jacket and amazing shoes.

I love this top!!  I love the shoulders and the high collar and the ruffle cutout.  And the color.  And the shoes.  Haha.

This belt makes my jaw drop to the floor.

Love the tuxedo feel of this, but with lace!

That placket!!  And oh yeah... I'm definitely going to need to do that to a pair of my own shoes.

Amazing jacket and I love that long ascot collar!

So delicate and pretty.

Yet again - another jacket to die for.  Like, for serious.

I can't control my drool.

Alex Box & Rankin

While browsing online today, I came across some...

INNNSPIIIII-RAAAAA-TION!!!!!!!

Oddly enough, up until today, I had never heard of Alex Box.  She's fantastic!  She's the Make-Up Artist behind the UK brand Illamasqua.  She does the runway make-up looks for the likes of Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld.  

She just released a book of breathtakingly artistic make-up images shot by photographer, Rankin.  Due to the respect of their copyright on their images, I dare not post them here!  Instead, I'll link you to Rankin's website where you can drool see for yourself!!

Try NOT to be inspired by the color, texture and creativity that is ooooozing out of these photos.

.........

Amazing quote on the Illamasqua blog:

ODE TO MY ALTER EGO

MY ALTER EGO IS THE PERSON I WANT TO BECOME.
SHE'S DARKER, BOLDER, BRAVER.
SHE'S A MORE INTERESTING VERSION OF ME.
SHE DOESN'T HOLD BACK.
SHE DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN.
SOMETIMES, I LET MYSELF BECOME MY OTHER I.
WHEN SHE WALKS OUT AND TAKES OVER,
I FALL IN LOVE WITH WHO I AM.