I feel so...

...is generally how I want to start all of my posts. Anxious, elated, stressed, cranky, crazy, creative, poetic, lame, impatient, frustrated, enrgetic, tired, in-love...you name it, I've felt it this month, this weekend, today (especially today). Today is an anxious, loving, half-baked, don't know whether to go left, right, up or down kind of day. Racked with this feeling that something is about to happen (can you say baby) and yet completely in the dark as to when and if I'll be able to get family here in time and if I'll have the house cleaned enough, the laundry done, etc.

I took care of a lot of this over the weekend, but my anxiety stems from the fact that this is not permanent. It's never permanent. The minute I turn my back, the crayons that were picked up are once again strewn across the floor, the laundry that I meticulously washed and folded also strewn across the floor, the soap scum building once again around the tub that was cleaned less than 24 hours ago, the dishes piling in the sink. Phew, if only time would stand still, as still as I feel I need to be in my waiting state.

I could name all the reasons I want her to be born right now, but I won't. It just is. I just do.

I think I'll try something new...

I tend to get on the bandwagon on the tail-end of things, such is my luck, but I'm seriously considering doing TtVs (aka. Through the Viewfinder). TtVs are photographs taken with your digital camera using a vintage camera (such as a Kodak Duaflex) as the viewing source.

Wanna see some TtVs? Go here TtV Flickr Group.

I know these photos have become popular but I had never even chanced upon them until I went in search of photos on Etsy. Now I am in love! In fact, they acheieve the same effect, only perhaps better, that I try to acheive in my vintage-inspire altered photos. I'm not sure how long the TtV phenomenon will last, and I really don't care. What I decided since I opened up my photo shop was that I love what I do...and when you love what you do, you should stick with it right? It's not all about money, though that would be a nice fringe-benefit...it's about making yourself happy. If you have a passion for something, never let it go!

So, here I am, searching for any info on TtV (and amazingly there is so much available info, it's great!), been up for about 3 or 4 hours...though I did spend most of that time lying in bed, trying desperately to go back to sleep, obviously with no luck. My poor little Lily isn't feeling good. Running a low-grade fever with no other real symptoms to speak of since last night and generally when that happens she ends up in bed with us, usually with one hand tucked inside my shirt (her one and only bad habit so far) and snuggled up so close that she inevitably scoots me off my pillow. I was finally able to sneak out of bed though, decided to do some research to slow the turning wheels in my head. Just me and baby, keeping busy, waiting for everyone to wake up and contemplating taking on something new.

New Photo and Feature

The newest photo to make it into the shop! This one feels super soft and feminine to me. Sometimes I really love the area that we live in, we are so close to the river and this particular tree is a bit of a walk from our house but it is home to a multitude of beautiful butterflies. We get to see the whole process. In the fall, the caterpillars meander around the trails along the river, little black and red fuzzballs...careful though...you must watch your step there are so many of them!!! By spring this is what look like. Such a beautiul compliment to the spring blossoms!

Today my shop was lucky enough to be featured on
autonomousartisans, check it out! I'm so excited to be featured in someone else's blog!!!

Untitled

I think I'm tired. Nothing special to report after the dr. appt. I feel a bit deflated. Three hours of contractions with nothing to show for it. Oh well. I'll look back on this later and wonder why I was in such a hurry. For now though, I'm ready to move forward, like now. I did get to see her face really quickly on the unltrasound given just to make sure she was head down...she was super cute...can't wait to see her...tic, toc, tic, toc...

No two alike

I suppose you can't expect your labor to be the same from one baby to the next. But I was sure last night I would be calling the family and telling them all to come over this morning. I was awake from about 1:30 to 4:30 with some pretty decent contractions, granted they never seemed to get into a good solid pattern which is why I let my husband sleep, but there they were...getting my hopes up. When that happened with Lily, I knew that was it, I knew there would be no turning back at that point...so, I just assumed that this was the same. I suppose if I have to experience labor in bits and pieces over the next few days or weeks it's worth it in the long run if it's a faster labor in the end...wishful thinking maybe. :o)

So, here I am spending the day getting ready. We have a dr. appt. this afternoon, maybe she'll have something to add. But the rest of the day will be spent getting everything ready that isn't ready already...hee. Namely the no-fun stuff that should have gotten done over the weekend but somehow didn't, like laundry and dishes, cleaning the bathrooms and the spare bedroom for overnight guests. Maybe all this movement will get things started...yes, more wishful thinking...sigh.



Meanwhile, my snapping days may be slowing to a crawl once the baby gets here, I like to think that things won't change too much after her arrival, but I learned my lesson on that the first time around. So, here's the latest and greatest photo up in the shop. I sooo like this one which was photographed just yesterday on an outing just up the hill from home...Oak trees are fantastic aren't they? Just as in labor, you'll never find two exactly alike. I hope to do a whole series of photos on them someday.

Heidi Herrera Studio Launched!

Yay! I have a lot to yay about lately, don't I? I finally launched my studio site on Etsy.

heidiherrerastudio.etsy.com

I have been wanting to sell photos for a while now and I feel like I'm reaching a stride with my altering techniques. Originally I wanted to use some of the older photos that I have taken, but I've been so busy snapping away and have had some wonderful new material to work with...so, it's all new stuff up right now! I liked my photos before, I really did...but I absolutely love them now. I have such a great time taking each photo and personalizing it, making it mine, almost like a painting. In fact some of them remind me of paintings. I never felt this comfortable when I was painting or illustrating, for some reason I always felt a great pressure, as opposed to a freedom of expression. Though I don't think I've given up artwork completely and some illustrations may sneak up on the site occasionally.

For now, I am using my home printer, (a Canon i9900) which is a fabulous, wonderful, printer that prints beautiful, bright colors and prints up to 13x19. However, I think that I will look into a professional online printer and offer prints on fine art watercolor paper and/or canvas giclee prints...I think I'll start small though for now.

In addition to starting the site I also printed some of my photos and hung them up in our local bagel shop! YAY! They look so good. They just add a pop of color to the shop. I'll try to take a picture to post up later. I was sooooo hungry for a bagel this morning that I actually forgot to take my camera with me...doh!

Daily Click!

Yay me! I am so honored to be featured as the daily click over on shutter sisters. This photo is one of three that i chose to print, matte, and frame to put up in our local bagel/coffee shop, which we frequent at least once every weekend. I was super nervous to ask, but we have a particular booth that we sit at and the wall next to it is the perfect spot to hang something other than what is there (a faded smoothie picture framed in a poster frame that is two sizes too big for it)! I think I surprised Van when I asked her...since we are in there so often I didn't want her to feel obligated...it's such a nerve-racking thing sticking your neck out there like that. Anyhow, she said she thought it would be a good idea but she'd have to ask her husband...and as we were leaving she told me to go ahead and bring them in next time we were there. So, they're all ready to go for this weekend. I'm nervous taking them in there. If this works out, I'd love to rotate my images and post some contact information and MAYBE other people will be interested in putting their artwork or photography up in rotation as well. It's an exciting thought!

Photo Fun Day

The day started off very busy. The usual cereal and banana for Lily and I to start. Then came the washing of EVERYTHING baby!!! Over the weekend we pulled out all the clothing that we stashed away after Lily outgrew them...out came the bassinette, the swing, the bouncer and the car seat and...I think that might have been it...phew, it was plenty! It all got washed and folded and put back in place and we are now in the waiting mode. Bags are aaaalmost packed, though I have baby's clothes picked out. This time I am taking the smallest onesies I can find, I remember how Lily was swimming in the newborn outfit she came home in. Hey!! We bought newborn, it should have fit fine!!!! So, I am taking two sizes...the smallest itty bitty newborn onesie and pants I could find and some a little larger just in case. I think this little one will be smaller than Lily was though. We'll know soon enough!

So after our wonderful, fabulous, much-needed nap, we settled into a photo afternoon, which went about like this...

...it was all Simon's fault...he looked so cute staring out the window...


...but Lily thought she was cuter and I should take pictures of her...but she just couldn't sit still...


...we couldn't resist going outside...an attempt here at some slide motion blur action...


...then some sandbox fun...who would have thought this shovel...


...could make for such a nifty filter?


All in all, a productive and successful photo fun day!

Mission Completion!!

way too much Little Einsteins for me! :o)

I am so excited to say that I actually made a sale on Etsy. My first sale EVER! Yay! I was happy to make a doll custom for a very nice woman and her family. I just shipped it out this morning and besides feeling a little fumbly because I wasn't quite sure how to do all the postage stuff, even though I used to spend day after day handling stuff like that in an office (I guess it's different when it's your own stuff and your own money) I feel accomplished and I really hope she likes her doll.

This is what I sent...



I'm happy.