Monday, December 31, 2012

Why Do I Want to start A blog? (its a long one & mushy)

I want to share my creative addiction with the world!! And have a way to document it so I can look back on it for even more inspiration...you guessed it to make bigger, better, badder stuff! Not to mention a way to hold myself accountable so I actually finish projects! Ha



Ive been making things for as long as I can remember. Always veering from a set of instructions/pattern to put my own spin on things. As an adult I continually hear my family and friends push me (encourage sounds nicer) to do something "More" with my creative flair instead of just giving it away. But here's the thing....I struggle with the idea of selling these things. Always have. I make these things, do these things because I <3 to, not because I have to or want something in return. It is the purest expression of love, kindness, and thoughtfulness. My way of giving back.

That's not saying that I have anything against other bloggers who have made a business of it. I think that is awesome! And since it also allows for alot of mamas(and papas as in the younghouselove.com) to stay at home with their babies. Its a win /win in my book. But for me personally I struggle.

Okay, so I'm not tooting my own horn but I hope this example of how I feel helps anyone (if anyone ever reads this) understand.......




these pre done pages are purchashed from danielle at kitschydigitals.com




 A few years ago I kind of "fell" into a photography gig. I started taking photos regularly with large doses of inspiration from underthesycamore.com, a badas* canon that the railroader bought for me, and an endless supply of FREE actions and presets from thecoffeeshopblog.com. I AM IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM A PROFESSIONAL and have nothing against professional photographers. There are a lot of very talented photographers out there that are worth every penny. For me it's just a hobby.

My good friend was planning a wedding and asked me to take the photos (& we ended up making her dress too!!)I wanted to do it, not for $, but because I loved her and wanted her to have beautiful mementos of her special day. I know how expensive professional photos can be. The Railroader and I could not afford professional photos of our wedding and it truly pains me that we do not have fabulous photos of our special day. So, I went for it and refused compensation despite her parents offering. I definitely was not prepared for the response to this gift. More requests for more photo shoots from more bride's to be! Blown away is all I can say. She had posted photos on her facebook and holyshnockrockers, I was getting requests for jobs. Scary doesn't even come close to how overwhelming this was! But again, I struggled. This was a gift to be shared. I felt getting paid for it just wasn't right, the idea just didn't sit well with me.







So... I agreed to shoot another wedding, this one my dear friends little brother and his beautiful fiance. Another sweet couple on a tight budget. I met with the soon to be bride and her mama for coffee to discuss logistics, and inevitably topic of money came up. I chose to go with what my <3 was telling me....I wanted no $. I explained that I had no good photos of my own wedding and this was my way of making sure that didn't happen to others just because they couldn't fit it in the budget. It was my gift to them. And my reward? The look of first shock and then pure appreciation on their faces. That's what this is all about I thought to myself!!

I ended up doing one more wedding. Again, a sweet young couple on an extremely tight budget. And again giving it as a gift. It truly was a rewarding experience and definitely advanced my photography skills. I am grateful to these 3 brides for allowing me to shoot their special days.


 However, I have not pursued this any further. It is incredibly stressful taking wedding photos, being responsible for capturing these perfect moments. Occasionally I get requests from those that know me to do portraits or family shoots and sometimes I do. But only as gifts.

Okay long winded, I know. But this is how I feel about everything I create. My creativity is a gift and a gift to be shared. So....by starting a blog I can share with the world and take things to the next level as my family has encouraged me to do!

xo  the Rebel
 
p.s-can anyone tell me how to get the photos side by side in blogger? Ugh, so not good at the whole formatiing thing.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Who The He double hokey stick Am I Anyway?

The best way I can describe myself in a paragraph-


"the mouth of a sailor, the thirst for adventure of a pirate, the back bone of a dictator, a heart of gold, a wicked sense of humor, and not a lick of common sense."



I love sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, crocheting, knitting (not as much), photography, cooking....just creating anything and everything in general!
 
 
 
I love my family so much it hurts. I am the blessed wife of a railroader, the SAHMama to 3 amazing yet incredibly menacing children and a fat lil dorky dog.
 
I live in a breathtakingly beautiful mountain valley on what we have christened the funny farm.
 
I love tattoos, snarky humor, reading, Epic movies, traveling, discovering phenominal local eats, thrifting, making others snort laugh......oh the list goes on and on
 
I like being different, im loud, opinated and often times down right offensive.
 
oh yeah, in case you didn't notice (haha just made myself snort) im a horrible speller and equally horrendous at grammar. :)

xo the Rebel

Friday, December 28, 2012

Bring it on 2013!



                                         Well 2013 is just around the corner.....so here are my
 

10 Lofty yet Totally do-able(that is a word right?) Goals for the new Year

  1. Start a BLOG, because I WANT TO! Not because I want to make $, not because I want to get free sh*t, and not because I want to be famous.......Just because I WANT TO
  2. Have an AMAZING yard and garden. Since moving out of the cesspool of city living I want to further our self sustaining lifestyle. And.... make all my neighbors GREEN with envy over my EPIC yard ,if you can call an 1.5 acre lot a yard hahahaha
  3. Spend as much time as humanly possible (assuming im human) outdoors with the gypsies....especially considering the beautiful mountain valley surrounding our funny farm.
  4. Get back to walking & drink more frickin water.... A. Because my lil dog is getting REALLY fat B. What's a resolution list without some health goals, right?!
  5. Project 365- photo a day.
  6. Embrace the "new" me...which will tie into goal 5. Hey what can I say im a multi-tasker
  7. Come out of BLURKERVILLE and connect with bloggers that have inspired me for years i.e-stop being a creepy blog stalker
  8. Curb my craft hoarding and use what I have....which will tie into goal 9, yay for twofors :)
  9. Organize my craft shanty
  10. Live each day like its my last
So there it is. Here's to the new year!
 
xo the Rebel