The Holidays Are Coming...

Hello Lovelies!

I hope you are all doing well out there and that those of you in the U.S. had a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving holiday and long weekend! My weekend was busy, but good. I spent time with good friends having a good time. (It doesn't get much better than that, does it?) I love going on long drives in the winter (they're a nice stand-in for walks when it's too cold for those) and I caught this beautiful, winter sunset up here in Maine I thought I'd share. This really is a beautiful place to live.

What's new? Well, I just posted some new promotional work I did for the holidays for my STAG shop! I decided to make work for both Halloween and the holidays to show how good vintage can look and also to showcase some of the items in the shop right now. I really like how these came out, they really channel a 1960's vibe (which was my goal), with a fun twist. The rest of the pieces in this series can be seen over at Flickr. (A huge thank you to my models Katy and John and my makeup artist Christina! You guys are amazing.)

I have a couple of other exciting projects for clients that I've shot recently that are in the editing stage. I can't wait to show those off, but for now, you'll have to be okay with some candid teasers...




Here in Maine, there is a local photography collective called the Bakery Photographic Collective that provides photo space, dark room equipment and other resources for local photographers. It's a great resource and they have an annual fundraiser called Photo A-Go-Go that accepts donations from local photographers to be sold to benefit the collective. I have donated a framed print of Ms. Peacock this year to support the cause! If you're local, check it out. It's December 14th and the details can be found at the link above! So many talented people are represented.

Speaking of the holidays, one of my favorite companies House Industries (a typography & design powerhouse), has some wonderful products available this season for holiday gift-giving. Prints, bags, even a modern nativity! Check out their site. Here are just a few of the prints available right now:

Let's wrap up with some great vintage Firestone Christmas gift spreads that I found recently on one of my favorite blogs: Retro-A-Rama, shall we? Talk about eye-candy! The colors and the typography and the fact that they are entirely illustrated, really made me realize how much went into those old ads. We really don't bother anymore, do we? Ah, well...

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Hats & Masks...

Hello Lovelies~

I hope you are well out there! Things here in Maine are unseasonably warm today, but I am not complaining! (The fewer days I have to put on a big, heavy coat, the happier this woman is, you guys.)

So much to share, as usual! To start, I am working on a new project for a holiday gift that's what I call a Portrait Family Tree. (I've never seen one before, so I want to finish it before I reveal details, but it should be amazing.) Meanwhile, I'll share these candids. Between past shoots and STAG, I have a lot of fun things in my studio and when kids come, they usually want to play with them. Well, I let one of my subjects do what she wanted, and she is such a ham. So fun. Check these shots out:

Many of you know that I do crazy, over-the-top conceptual projects. But I also do normal commissions like family portraits and head shots! I recently shot this attractive couple for a new business venture they're trying out! Aren't they good looking? I wish them nothing by success and I hope these shots help them a bit.

So, I am going to share some amazing things I've found recently. To start, are you familiar with J.C. Leyendecker's work? I'm sure you are. He was a famous illustrator around the turn of the century up into the 1940's. He did a ton of commercial work, including Saturday Evening Post covers and ads for Arrow dress shirts. His style was classic and a bit of a twist on Normal Rockwell's aesthetic, or subject matter, with a more dated, less realistic execution style. The reason I love him, is the way he had of capturing both proud faces and youthful beauty and innocence (two things I try to capture in my work). Take a look at some of his work (that Easter baby in the cage is especially dear):

What else? Oh! I found a wonderful design/illustration studio recently that I wanted to pass along: The Motel. That's right, their studio is named The Motel. Amazing. The illustration styles they use completely run the gamut, as you can see from the below. But all of the styles are edgy and clean and sort of playful and I love them. Especially the middle one with the orange and yellow, that one's called Global Warming.

And let me wrap up with a book recommendation! I recently found a great, illustrated science book called The Where, The Why and the How: 75 Artists Illustrate Wondrous Mysteries of Science. A long title that in effect, means science that is illustrated by some amazing artists by Chronicle Books, so that makes it even better. Ha! Check it out:

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Busy Bee...

Hello Lovelies~

I hope this week finds you all doing well out there! Things here are turning quite cold almost overnight and I had to actually get out a winter coat this morning. It won't be long before the snow starts falling (which I actually enjoy). I mean, if it has to be cold, it might as well be pretty, right? But the cold doesn't keep me from cranking on projects, so here goes!

First off, I have just listed more great items over at STAG and I'm going to keep them coming. Items perfect for gift-giving and I'm going make it even easier for you because I am also offering gift wrap services during the holiday season! For $10, I will wrap your gift using all vintage wrapping and trim. That's right... all manly, all vintage. You will have the best looking present under the tree, guaranteed.

What else? Oh, I just completed a really fun commission for a client's parent's 50th wedding anniversary! Her Dad is a really big car nut and he's owned classic cars throughout her parent's marriage. So, I did a timeline/collage using photos from each decade of their marriage, combined with the cars her Dad owned in each decade and then I had it printed on a large canvas for them. It made it there just in time for the party, and they loved it! (Is there anything I won't do for a client? Nope, not really.) Take a look:

Oh! And I picked the winner for the Monster Card Promo I had going over on my Facebook page, yesterday! Leslie Stair was our big winner, so she's the new Monster Mommy! I will be sending those cards out to her shortly. This promo was so fun (and successful, many new followers to join the madness over there!), I think I'll do something again very soon, so stay tuned. You could be the next winner.

I am in the process of moving (gross) and so I have been sorting through a ton of things, cleaning things and getting rid of a lot. I was pleasantly surprised when I found this old shot I took of my sister back in a college photography class. Ah, the good old days, when I used an actual film camera and an actual dark room to produce my work. I miss it sometimes.

I have found the most amazing design house that I have to share it with you Kiddies. Invisible Creature. Heard of them? Well, their work is bright, and funny and edgy and also distinctly vintage and clever. (Can you tell I'm in love?) Here are just a couple pieces of their work. (That Whino the Clown print is available in their shop and it will be mine... oh yes.)

And let's wrap up with this amazing photo I found recently. I think it's for a car ad? (And if you look closely, they didn't actually bang these cars up, they're just parked really close together.) But, what was the copy, I wonder? I mean... that chick looks like she's lost her mind and that doesn't sell cars the last time I checked...

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Flying Winds & Flying Monkeys

Hello Lovelies~

I hope you're all doing well on this Fall day. I am under a blanket typing this and listening to both Otto Preminger's Anatomy of a Murder soundtrack on record and the wind howling like crazy outside. What weather we're having up here in Maine! But I won't bore you with the weather. A lot has been going on up here that I can't wait to share! To start, some shop news. As I bulk up both Stapelia & Stag for the holidays (especially Stag), I wanted to let you all know that Etsy now makes it possible for you to buy gift cards for that hard-to-shop-for person on your list! In light of this, both of my shops now accept gift cards, Paypal and credit cards to make things as easy as possible for you. (Because really, finding the perfect gift should be the hard part, not checking out.)

What else? Oh! I am running a fun promo for my Stapelia Facebook page to gain some new followers and to give away a pretty neat item that I think my followers would enjoy! Here are the details: Go to my Facebook page (HERE) between now and next Monday 11.5 and find the promo post that has the below image. Share that post on your wall and give a shout-out to my page. This will serve as your entry to win an almost complete deck of rare, 1960's era Monster Old Maid cards! Featuring the Universal Monsters, like Wolfman, the Mummy, Dracula, these cards are very hard to find and I am just giving them away! So pass it on and get your entry in. Winner will be announced next Monday!

And speaking of monsters, this past weekend, my Sweetie and I and some good friends went on a history walk through the Glidden Cemetery up north and it was such a good time. An old cemetery, a group of funny friends, and a tour at dusk in October? Please. It's a no-brainer. We also learned some neat facts. Like the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard. Do you know what it is? Take a guess and post it below...

I got further into the Halloween spirit over the weekend by putting a flying monkey costume together for my niece complete with special red feather wings and makeup! She was really happy with it, which made me happy. It was tough doing makeup on such a small face, but considering my limited skills in this arena and her limited patience, I think we did okay. Check it out:

I have been doing a ton of junking recently to stock Stag up with some great items for the holidays and in the course of my elbow-deep pilfering and wading through a metric ton of things that I can't believe anyone would want, I have found some records that display some top-notch artwork. While I try to keep my record collection limited to things I love musically, these are so neat, I may just have to hang them up in my studio. Take a look:

Any horror movie fans out there? I'm going to wrap up with a movie recommendation. I recently watched The Moth Diaries and if you're into vampires and/or subtle, classic horror and suspense, this is the movie for you. It's rare that you find a movie that implies more than it shows, but this movie does this in spades. The characters and tone are great. Give it a watch this All Hallows Week.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Wee Darklings...

Hello Lovelies!

I hope you are all well out there this week! Things here are busy as usual, but I have finally completed all of my business-related Halloween tasks, including my annual Halloween card! This year's card was a ton of fun to do, despite some weather issues and a reschedule. The kids I used in this shot were amazing and patient and focused. I got really lucky. Take a look at the card shot and some portraits I took for the kids' parents. Perfect 1950's, eh? (You may view the rest over on Flickr if you're so inclined.)

What else? Oh! Well, things over at STAG are really humming along! In just a couple of months, I've had over 60 sales and I have shipped things to Canada, Australia, Germany and all over the U.S. I also recently had an order from a photographer in New York who needed some cocktail picks from the shop overnighted to her for a shoot! I wonder if they'll be famous? But, there is so much more to come to the shop. I am making a concerted effort to really pump up my inventory for the holiday season and now Etsy offers Gift Cards! So, if you love vintage, or have your eye on something, stop on by and give the man in your life the gift of timeless style and class.

So, I have been tasked with creating a Halloween costume for one of my nieces this year and maybe you followers out there can help. She wants to be a "robot monkey." Does anyone know what that means??? I mean, I was picturing sort of a Flying Monkey meets a robot. Maybe.

Like this, only less creepy gorilla.

Or this, only less idiotic grown man in a monkey suit, more cute child in a monkey suit.

Or this? Terminator + a spider monkey?!

I don't know, but it's going to be interesting regardless, and I'll post pictures of what we come up with next week.

And speaking of crazy, I found this amazing old ad that really ran in magazines and stuff, for Thorazine. (For those of you not in the know, Thorazine is used today to treat schizophrenia and dissociative disorder. It's hard core.) I don't know why this ad frightens/makes me want to laugh so much. Maybe it's the old man and the cane. Maybe it's the horrible overdose of horse tranquilizers they were regularly prescribing back then to old people. Whatever the reason, this ad is a win in my book!

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...