Lauriann Wakefield Studio Spot

My recorder is set...

So You Think You Can Dance is on tonight, and I have credible word that we'll see several BYU dancers make the cuts.  I can't wait to watch and rewatch all year long.

The swan princess

A girl after my own heart, who knows how to pose in a tutu.  She's such a cutie!




 

Nice packaging

I love extra details in packaging of orders I get in the mail.

White House Custom Colour  (www.whcc.com) Is by far my favorite place to get prints done.  Not only do they always offer free shipping with a minimum order of $12, but they offered me 5 free 8x10s just for trying them out.  So with all this, they have sent my prints every time as if I had paid $7 for shipping; well packed and with a lolly to make me smile.

Alohomora!

This is a photo not on her mother's wish list, but I thought it was funny.  She's casting a spell on me with her magic tree wand.

I know it's almost nigh impossible to get toddlers to cooperate, but I always have the hope.  :)
This photo is actually three shots that I merged together.

Brother and sister and their kids.

?

Does anyone know what kind of tree this it?

The Jack diaries

BOY: noun-  Noise with dirt on it.

Although Jack isn't that noisy yet, he sure can get dirty.

May 2nd- Jack finally rolled over for the first time.  :)  We were beginning to think he was too chubby to make the turn.  Now he can turn over right after I put him on his belly, so now I guess he'll take forever to crawl since he has no interest in being on his belly.

Jack has officially graduated to size 4 diapers and I can't believe our newborn is gone. 

Etsy Wednesday

, originally uploaded by greenfemale.

Seeing this artist's work takes me back to my illustration days.  I love this little piece and the little story it tells.

the latest of my flower photos

Another edition of the Jack Diaries

So far-  only two onesies have made it to the trash after a disgusting blowout.  I don't have the patience or desire to clean them.

Also, Jack has found his voice, and if I hadn't seen him do it, I would have sworn some girl was screaming for fun.  Yes, son, right now  you scream like a girl.  I still love you.

Because Jack wakes up more times than not, this is Jack's new nap chair.  I'm tired of him waking up when I carry him to the crib.  And yes, I proudly rock my baby to sleep.  It's some of my favorite time with him.  He just melts to sleep with his face in this pillow, and I can easily slide out and he doesn't know the difference.

It's the cutest thing to see that Jack has discovered his tongue. 

Mother

Success!  It was the first Mother's Day that I didn't feel awkward at church. It was lovely just as it should be.  And tomorrow I know right where I'll plant my church flower.  Not like in the past where I always give it away as a lame protest that I don't deserve the thing.

But I  did want to reach out to the single 38 year old woman in front of me as they tried to give her the courtesy flower and she declined.  I know exactly what she's feeling.  Wanting to be invisible, not wanting to be told "you'll be a mother some day."  "Here have a flower, we've got plenty."  It's such an awkward moment, that in the past, I've not gone to my ward, just to avoid it all.  I felt that familiar pang today to see it played out in front of me, but also an immense feeling of gratitude that it's all behind me now.  Never again. 

Thank you Jack.

Flashback Friday

To honor my mother...

My mom, 1957, with her first baby.  Isn't she so glamorous!

She'll be having her 51st Mother's Day this year, and I wanted to celebrate by thinking of 51 things that remind me of her and our family:

1. Cinnamon rolls.  No one makes them like she does.
2. Our rainy day box- toys only played with on a rainy day. The kind with little pieces that you can build cities with so we stayed out of mom's hair.
3. Hot homemade wheat bread toasted with melted butter.
4. Summer mornings, and you can always find my mom outside in the garden.
5. Picnics in Alpine. The packing of lunch, the drive out there.
6. Hurry Hair.
7. Alcohol rubs when I was sick.
8. Our swimming pool. The underwater night light, the diving board, the slide, the chlorine smell, the fun.
9. Mom's roses.  Didn't realize how much she loved to garden till I had a home of my own.
10. Mom singing "Here Comes The Sandman" lullaby at night.  I now sing it to Jack.
11. Driving up the canyon through the Alpine Loop in the fall.
12. Helping Grandmother make sugar cookies.  I can still smell and taste them.
13. Watching sunsets from our dining room window.
14. Ice skating for family night. I still have my first pair.
15. Root beer trips to A&W.
16. Trips to Purple Turtle for ice cream.  Perry and I do that now.
17. The smell of lilacs coming through the breezy windows.
18. Going to art lessons with my mom.
19. The pink genie costume she made me and that I wore for three Halloweens in a row.
20. Playing the Atari set up in her room.
21. My pumpkin birthday cake and having Halloween birthday parties.
22. Mom's juice machine and the smell of grapes in the kitchen.
23. The two weeks we spent together in Florida.
24. Going to Israel together and watching her sing at the Garden Tomb.
25. Seeing my mom sing as a Mormon Tabernacle Choir Member.
26. Seeing her perform in the King and I play.
27. The Lincoln car.
28. Mom telling me I am so beautiful.
29. Pioneer parades in Hinckley and collecting thrown candy.
30. The excitement of going shopping for school clothes.  (sorry I was so picky)
31. The green chalk board.
32. Frosted mini donuts in the freezer.
33. Shucking corn in the hot August garage together as a family.
34. Dad's homemade root beer.
35. First day of school photos on the porch.
36. All the many trips to Vegas and swimming in Ace's pool, and eating too much Trix and throwing up in my mom's purse. (still can't eat Trix)
37. Swimming in the river/waterfall in Alpine.
38. After getting my face stitches out- still remember the love and care my mom showed me.
39. The toy drawer in the kitchen.
40. Our first TV remote that had 4 or 5 buttons.
41. Saturday choir chart-  I always tried to pick "sweep front porch" cause that was the simplest one.
42. Dad pulling out the Christmas boxes and we all put the decorations out.
43. I still have a doll she gave me when I was sick as a little girl.
44. Dressed in our Sunday best- photos in front of the lilac bushes.
45. Home made rolls.  The only thing I can claim to be really good at.
46. Our scrap/memory/photo envelops.  One for each year.
47. Strawberry Shortcake birthdays and Christmas gifts. I've loved them all.
48. Our get out of bed, wake up call- which was my mom playing some loud piano classical song.
49. My mom's beautiful voice.  I hope I can always remember her singing.
50. Being young and exploring through my mom's jewelry box, which was more like a treasure box to me, full of fancy earings and necklaces.
51. Seeing her kiss my dad every day.

Thanks mom! for a childhood full of wonderful memories.

Etsy Wednesday

This comes from one of my favorite Etsy sellers, JamtartBaby. I already have her diaper changing pad and since I have a baby that goes through at least two shirts a day, I could really use some more bibs as cute as this one.

Missionary

Yup, my nephew is going on a mission and I was thrilled to help get his photos ready.
I can't believe how grown up he has become and how much he reminds me of his dad.

In about three weeks we'll know where he's going!

here's a contest for you

Interested in my sea shell prints?  Oh Sweet Sadie is holding a contest today and the winner gets the set!

Everyone who shares their best graduation story (preschool, elementary, high school, college, police academy, whatever) will be entered to win the prints. This contest closes Tuesday, May 6th after bedtime (8:00 pm). Good Luck!

Winner picks up the prints at the show May 9th or 10th.

Flashback Friday

or Retro Friday.

This photo was recently brought to my memory-  the butterfly pants, the disco roller skates while playing the piano, the red shag carpet.  Could our lives have been any simpler.

My sister, January 1981.

curious what you'll see at my booth?

Here's a sneak peak of what I've got ready for the Oh Sweet Sadie boutique. Show runs May 9th and 10th in Draper (Suncrest).

Table setup- guess I need to iron my red sheet.  :)

My ever present dilemma with these kind of shows, is how many preframed items should I have? At the end of the day I don't want to be stuck with a bunch of framed art.

info book

8x10 prints

postcards

5x7 prints

12x12 prints

postcards

Etsy Wednesday

Just happened to notice this bag on Etsy.  I just couldn't resist an orange bag with a flying star.  Too cute!  Made by Bubbledog who has tons of cute stuff in her shop.

Coloring

I pulled out my paints today to work on a commissioned piece and as I'm getting the paint wet, I can't believe how long it's been since I've painted. Years! 
I've just recently posted a handful of my paintings on Flickr and it's been such a boost to hear feedback again. I use to get tons of it in college, but when I graduated, my motivation to paint faded over the years.  One of my complaints about painting was that you spend all this time on a piece and you don't get much feedback from it (this thought was way back before blogs and stuff). So I'm getting the painting bug back again.  :)  And we'll see where it goes.

The Jack diaries

Jack is constantly trying to see how many fingers he can stuff in his mouth.  There's no preference, either hand will do, and in this case, both hands will do.

I love that my grandmother made silky quilts for me when I was little.  All hand stitched with love, and hole worn by me.  I love wrapping its softness around Jack and watch him melt into sleep.

I had meant to post this a month ago for Easter.  Shows how big of a pool of photos I've been wanting to get at.  :)  Thanks, Nieve, for the bunny. 

Mother, Child, Love

One day I counted your fingers and kissed each one.

Someday your eyes will be filled with a joy so deep that they shine.

Someday you will call a song to the wind, and the wind will carry your song away.

Thanks Bridget and Boston for a perfect day.

Text from the book "Someday" by McGhee and Renyolds

This summer...

Lucy and Jack spent some time at the park, while their moms talked and got sun burned.  :)

Shauna took more photos and you can see them here...
It's fun to see Jack and all his tummy rolls.

List of things I'd love and hope to do this summer:

• Hike Bridal Veil Falls. I want to scout it out for a photo shoot spot.
• Pool time, all the time.
• Go for walks.
• Go visit an antique shop in American Fork.  I've driven by it so many times and wondered what's inside.
• Have desserts at Dear Lizzie in Alpine.
• See what's at the BYU Art Museum exhibits.
• Take my camera to a nursery.
• Visit my aunt in Hinckley.  She hasn't met Jack yet.
• Lounge around in a book store. Buy a couple children's ones.
• Work in my mom's flower gardens.  It's been neglected and needs some loving.
• Take my camera to the Carpenters.  They are master gardeners and have a beautiful back yard.
• Read a book or two.

When I graduated college and got my first salary job, I can remember realizing, I won't have a summer anymore.  I'll always be working.  No brakes (outside of limited time off) And I was down at the thought.  Summers were yours! - when school was out and the day was filled with whatever.   I swam in the pool all the time.  Summer is swimming and I can't wait to do it again and teach Jack about water.

Our breezy day

First time photographing this family, and we had a beautiful spring, breezy day.

They live up in the mountains of Suncrest and have beautiful mountain and valley views.
It was a joy to capture their delightful little girl, full of smiles.

Etsy Wednesday

I immediately loved this little skirt the moment I saw it on Etsy.  Dress-up was a big part of the fun memories I have with my nieces (who are more like sisters).  Not that we had anything like this, but we sure would have loved to twirl around the backyard in it.

Bohemian Patchwork Twirl Skirt made by Arfeiniel.

Jack's Diary

Couldn't help taking his picture when he started laughing when his shirt got stuck on his head. 
Funny how  Princess Leah hair comes to mind.  :)

Jack's favorite game- mirror gazing.

Jack is 4.5 months old and weighs 20lbs 3 oz.
He's 26.5 inches high and healthy and doing great.

Forsythia Four

New prints in my Etsy shop. Happy Spring!

"Forsythia
by the roadside, by
wet rocks, on the embankments
under planted with hyacinth --

For ten years I was happy.
You were there; in a sense,
you were always with me, the house, the garden
constantly lit,
not with lights as we have in the sky
but with those emblems of light
which are more powerful, being
implicitly some earthly
thing transformed --

And all of it vanished,
reabsorbed into impassive process. Then
what will we see by,
now that the yellow torches have become
green branches?"

                       -Louise Glück

Forsythias will always remind me of my mother- her love for flowers and spring.