the lovers, the dreamers, and me

here comes the sun...

2010-09-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

This has been a strange summer on California's coast. The idyllic "sunny California beaches" have been held hostage by a gloom that loomed in our skies for essentially the whole season. Sure, there were breaks in the fog; mini-glimpses and false-starts to Summer. Even several days (in a row!) of decent, warm weather were found periodically. But as the first day of Fall came and went, us Californians - a markedly optimistic bunch - found ourselves wondering:

"Will we get a 'real' Summer, at all?!"

And then it arrived... late, but boy did it ARRIVE! Last week saw what had to be record-breaking (or darned close!) temperatures on our coast. We scrambled... in a panic, we packed our beach bags, grabbed our flip-flops, and sunscreen, and headed to the water. The streets of my small town swelled with people - local and not - and we all seemed to sigh, collectively, and say "Oh, glorious summer, I'm so glad you could make it!"

How did you spend your summer? I'd love to hear all about you adventures in the sun or fog of California and beyond......

--------

My amazing, wonderful, lovely mother-in-law happened to be visiting from Boise, Idaho this week, and I couldn't be happier to share this warm weather with her and the rest of my family. We had a bonfire on the beach this weekend, and I wanted to share some photos from the day. Enjoy! (click on photo to view larger)

- Katie

my buddhas

Eli really enjoys running up and down the dunes with his big truck :)

my husband, kids, and my husband's mama, happy to be together!

Eli & Mimi

sister & brother-in-law

my adorable niece, Mia :)

Reset!

2010-01-12T12:26:00.000-08:00

Alright, so all my blogger friends had really eloquent, meaningful new year's blog posts as their first of 2010, and I began to feel a little embarrassed that my first of this new decade was about BACON. Though, bacon is fabulous... Let's give this another go.

2010. Here we are. I turned 24 just before the new year, and I find myself in the midst of a strange, internally turbulent time. Quarter life crisis, perhaps? It's too soon to say. I am freaked out by the unapologetic way that time (and its passing swiftness) has suddenly hit me. Up until this point, I hadn't felt the urgency of living in the way I have begun to lately. I suddenly feel that there will never be enough time to do everything I want to do on this Earth. The limitations of this relatively short lifetime are looming like a dark cloud over every decision I make.

Ok, ok, this is beginning to sound sinister. And it's misleading to say that my life is anywhere NEAR miserable. I have the most adoring, beautiful, loving, family. My babies are the light of my whole life. My husband, literally, lives his life to care for me and the kids. I would be a terrible, terrible person to express anything but unending gratitude for the life I lead. This pressing, urgent feeling is in fact, probably a direct result of the happiness I hold in my home, and my heart. It's almost as if I have reached a point in my life where I can step back and survey all of my existence from outside myself. A new perspective that I've never had in quite this grand a manner. And my very human mind reacts with fear, and dread, that this all cannot last forever.

The good news is - I am beginning to break through the bleakness of this observation. Through meditation, and asking myself tough questions, I may just emerge from this tiny life-storm a stronger, purer version of myself. My TRUE self. That is the goal, anyway.

I find comfort in the fact that I am not the only 24 year old to have these intense bouts of existentialism. Indeed, I am quite sure everyone goes through this at some point on their journey... when the time is right. I like to think of this current, confusing mind-mess as a sign that my authentic self is ripe for excavation. And I'm ready to dig.

-----

If I believed in New Year's resolutions, mine would look something like this:

I resolve to eliminate the physical and imagined clutter in all aspects of my life.
I resolve to be true to myself, my deepest longings, and my best intentions for my family - regardless of what "outsiders" will think
I resolve to do what needs to be done to seize any & every opportunity to explore this world, see new places and things, and have new experiences.
I resolve to banish fear from my existence.
I resolve to love brazenly and more vocally than ever before.
I resolve to allow myself to fail, and in doing so, teach my children to allow the same.
I resolve to bring awareness & sanctity to the simplest of my life's tasks... eating, sleeping, keeping a tidy home, loving... all of these things will stand to benefit from a renewed turn of my utmost attention and reverence.
I resolve to make a conscious effort to always BE PRESENT.
I resolve to do the best I can, with that I know, at all times.

-----

Happy New Year, everyone. Let's make 2010 a good one.
Peace & blessings to you and yours.

love, Katie

Yum.

2010-01-06T01:47:00.000-08:00

I love food. In particular, food that is SEXY. Sexy because it makes you feel like you're doing something so wrong, but it feels so right. Bacon is a common ingredient when sex-ing up food. So versatile. So... Americana. These jalepeno peppers - gutted and stuffed with cream cheese - are wrapped in the salty meat, then baked in a hot oven & slathered with honey to send the whole darn thing to that next level of food nirvana. If you've never had these... well, you should. Such a simple recipe - these make FABulous appetizers for entertaining a hungry group. Enjoy!

Step One: PREPARE.

Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees.

Step two: STUFF. Cut your peppers* in half. Clean them of all inner-flesh and seeds and set aside. When all are gutted - fill the empty peppers with cream cheese to your heart's delight.

*note: cerrano chiles may also be used, and are just as yummy, without ALL the spice. The jalepenos can be QUITE hot, especially when you're as ethnically inept as myself.

Step three: WRAP. I use half a slice of bacon... the full length pieces tend to be too much for my tastes. But if you really love the stuff, by all means - use a whole piece for each pepper.

Step four: BAKE. Put those babies in the oven for about 11 minutes, or until the bacon starts to caramelize around the edges. At this point, pull your pan out for a moment and liberally drizzle honey over each pepper. Don't skip! Place your peppers back in the over for another 6-7 minutes, or until the bacon is as crispy as you like it.

Step five: Plate 'em up & indulge.

Barbie pools and social agendas

2009-12-16T15:47:00.000-08:00

The closer we get to Christmas, the more our mailbox has been filling up with catalogues of every variety - sent to my abode thanks to very lenient privacy policies of credit card companies and online stores. I ONCE purchased a few things for my kids' birthday parties from Oriental Trading Company, and I now receive at least 2 catalogues a month from them - and all of their affiliated, information-sharing partners. Wasteful and gratuitous.

Anyhow, I end up thumbing through most of said catalogues, and as I do, something keeps nagging at my inner-feminist-conspiracy-theorist that I often confuse for my conscience. And that is the blatant categorization of gender roles in toy advertising. Of course I was aware of this before I had my own kids, but - as is the way, before you have your own kids - I was never moved to action by its offensiveness. I've selected some images from one catalogue in particular (that I won't name, because I'm not sure if I'm allowed to bad-mouth them without consent or something...) that are among the most heinous examples of gender stereotyping. (My personal favorite is the cleaning cart, cleverly promoted with the tag line "She'll feel like the Queen of Clean.")

Before I continue, I know lots of people will read this and think I'm over-reacting, or reading into things much more than I should. But I am beginning to see for myself (more than ever, now that I'm a parent) that the actions of advertisers are calculated, measured, and very well orchestrated to carry out an agenda - not necessarily exclusively theirs - but more of a social agenda that we've all bought into in one way or another. Sometimes I wonder how much has actually changed in the area of gender stereotyping in children, since the feminist revolution several decades ago. It would appear: not enough.

Here's a little anecdote: My daughter received an early Christmas gift yesterday from her best friend. And it's a really great, fun gift: The Barbie Beach Party pool - complete with accessories like a lifeguard chair, a palm tree & perching cockatoo. So much fun. And my daughter loves it so much. She patiently sat by my side last night as I carefully assembled the mirco-plastic pieces according to the instructions. She held the box for me, so we could compare our assembly work to what it's supposed to look like. When we were finished, we pulled out our stash of Barbies, and the pool party was ON! I put the first Barbie I picked up in the lifeguard chair and outfitted her with the tiny plastic binoculars & boogie board. "WAIT!" my daughter interjected. "Yes?" I said. She giggled as she picked up the toy's empty box again and showed it to me. "Mommy, you're silly... that's where the BOY sits." (this is when inner-feminist-conspiracy-theorist shouts: teachable moment!!) I asked her why she thinks only the boy can sit there, and pointing to the picture on the box, she resolutely said "Because that's how it's supposed to be."

I realize that ONE incident like this one is probably not enough to shape a kid's whole perception of gender roles & equality. BUT - and this is key - when kids (in particular young girls) are receiving this same message from EVERY toy, and EVERY commercial, and EVERY catalogue selling the same distorted view of the world - it can take hold. Subtly. Subversively. Unless you're doing your job as a parent - this toxic information will become fact for your child. BE THE FILTER. Please, for all our sakes, use every moment - every image, sound, or written word that enters your home from the "outside world" - to teach your children about the incredible, uniquely American opportunities that await them. Is it okay for little girls to love playing in their pretend kitchens, dressed in head-to-toe pink ruffles? OF COURSE. Should you discourage your son from pretending he's a carpenter if he has fun doing so? NO. But we cannot take these repetitive images lightly. How many times can a little girl be told that she always needs a man to do the "heavy lifting" or the saving, before she believes it? My whole parenting strategy can be summed up in the Barbie pool incident: PAY ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE THINGS. It is our only job, as parents, to raise these humans with the tools they need to make the world better. Make your home experience into the model of what you want the world to be when your kids are grown - a place where Barbie can save Ken from the pool sometimes. Where ANYone can be a doctor, or a chef. And it's ok for mommies do the barbecuing & daddies do the vacuuming. Little ones learn every day, every moment. Please don't let commercials teach your children the way things are "supposed to be." The whole world will be better for it.

While we are sipping our pumpkin spice lattes and shopping our pants off...

2009-12-01T20:34:00.000-08:00

let's not forget that there is a real world out there. Just for a sec...

The work of helping women & girls has always been my heart. The single most important thing you (and I) can do, raising a daughter in this - one of the most privileged counties on earth - is to instill in her the knowledge of her birth INTO opportunity, and the extreme exception that she is. To realize these immense gifts (of freedom, opportunity, and abundance) and to teach her to use her unique talents & passions to affect change in the world. The fight for gender equality on the home front is far from over - but pales in comparison to the obstacles stacked against MOST girls born in the rest of this world. I implore you - parent or not - watch this video and learn how you can help a girl, and help the whole world.

www.girleffect.org

Oprah.com - specific ways to help a girl in the developing world. For pennies.

Ok, back to our regularly scheduled programming. 'Elf' has gotta be on somewhere...

HOLIDAY PHOTO CONTEST!!

2009-11-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

ANNOUNCING: The holiday family photo contest!*

Enter today for a chance to win a FREE Holiday Portrait Mini-Session! Deadline to enter is WEDNESDAY November 18th!! That doesn't give you much time, so enter today - it's EASY!

*Apologies to out-of-the-area folks, but this offer applies to those within SLO County, only... OR, to those willing to travel HERE to have their photos taken!

What's this all about, you ask? Well, the holiday season is upon us, and in celebration of ALL that this season entails (including GREAT family photos that we treasure) I offer this fun little contest that anyone can enter.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love looking at family photos - mine, yours, strangers' lost and worn prints in the bargain bins at antique stores - I just LOVE photography, and all that it can convey. A photo can instantly conjure up memories like few material objects can. Artistic prowess or technical skill aside, I want to see YOUR favorite photos taken during any of the FALL/WINTER holiday season festivities (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve/Day, and so on...)

Here's what you do to enter:

1. Visit my Facebook page at Facebook.com/KatieKPhotography and become a FAN!

2. Tell all your friends to do the same :)

3. Select your favorite holiday photo, taken by you, of you, or by someone in your family. Upload it to Facebook and either post a share link, include it in your post on my Facebook wall, or ADD IT to the "Fan Photos" section of my page. INCLUDE a brief summary explaining what is happening in the photo (if necessary) as well as WHY this is a favorite.

Funny, sentimental, silly, beautiful, festive... all photos are welcome (do I really need to include the disclaimer that inappropriate content will be moderated by moi? Ok, good.)

4. Be sure to have your entry up on my FACEBOOK WALL or in the FAN PHOTOS SECTION no later than midnight on
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18th.
I will select the winner and announce it the following day. Winning entry will receive a FREE Holiday portrait mini-session with ME! That means your family will get to spend an hour creating even MORE fabulous family photos with a fun and energetic photographer (...teehee...) as well as ALL of the high-quality digital images on a disc to keep forever AND it won't cost you a dime!!

If you win, we will schedule your session right away if you'd like - You may even want to have a date in mind, just in case you indeed win, if you're looking to get the photos back before one of the winter holidays arrives. ALSO, if you are going to book a session, anyway, go ahead and book it AND enter the contest - if you win, you just won't have to worry about the fee when our appointment comes around!

Thanks, everybody! I can't wait to see those photos!!
- Katie

Follow your heart, and you won't get lost.

2009-11-05T00:16:00.000-08:00

Tonight I "launched" my official Facebook page that will stand to represent my photography work. I'm a little nervous, for some reason. Still battling those confidence demons, I suppose. BUT, I've decided to just "go for it," as they say! (Whoever they are...)

Something I find myself often conflicted about - internally - is the idea of what a "professional" is. Particularly in the arts. I'm not even sure if "professional" is the word I'd like to use... perhaps it's just the concept of talent that has me caught up? Not sure. The internal conflict goes something like this:

"I'm not good enough to do this for a job."

Oh, you thought it'd be more complex? Apologies.

But then, something else speaks to me (hence the conflict...) from a place that has always been speaking, as far back as I can remember. And IT says:

"You must make art. And it's OK if no one likes it."

I'd like to think I've reached a point in my adulthood that allows me to walk confidently in this skin, be who I truly AM, and create freely without thought or consideration of the opinions of others. And most of the time, I can. Sometimes, though... sometimes, the paralyzing glare of an unforgiving public is enough to make me second-guess my work. Most often this is in the pursuit and undertaking of the New. And, although I've been making art in various forms for many years, photography is fairly new to me. I'm no EXPERT. I'm learning as I go. I still mess up sometimes. But I love it. And I think that counts.

This reflection upon "what makes a professional?" has led me to believe that many of the artists us low-confidence scaredy-cats admiringly look up to as "professionals" in any given area of the arts are simply people with a passion for creativity and a willingness to learn, who - most importantly - create with a confidence that they are doing it for the satisfaction of having shared their joy with the world. Loving what you do, and approaching life with an openness and eagerness to learn are at least half of what it takes to be successful. These terms "professional," "success," "expert" - are all marginal, subjective labels that we all use to put one another in boxes. Sure, there is a certain level of skill that one can acquire to achieve more comprehensive mastery of a medium than another - but does this make one's art superior in some way, or more meaningful than someone who has yet to reach that capacity? Of course not. This is the reason I fell in love with art as a child. There are no boundaries. No pre-qualifications one must meet to participate. No standardized tests. The process by which a piece of art is created is just as important as the piece itself - What was the journey? an artist will ask. What did I learn? What emotion, thought, opinion did I exorcise?

It is in this spirit of exploration, passion, and camaraderie with every single other cowering artist within us all, that I offer up my modest photographic endeavor. I am honored that some of my photographs have been able to convey the emotions with which I lovingly created them. When someone appreciates the world as framed by my perception (whether in a photograph, a painting, a sculpture...) I feel connected and purposeful. I hope that my art will, even in the tiniest ways, make those who view it feel a sense of connection, as well - Because, what is art, if not a great equalizer of humanity, and a common voice that sings to us in a language we can all understand?

Birthday Boy

2009-10-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

My little man is two years old, today.

Two years ago, he arrived 5 weeks early, without any warning at all. He spent 12 days in the NICU, and it was the single hardest thing I've ever had to do, to leave my baby behind, hooked up to tubes and wires. Thankfully he was as healthy as a baby born 5 weeks early can be, and I am grateful that our stay in the NICU was brief and very uneventful compared to the heartache that some parents endure in that place. I can hardly believe it's been 2 years since his unexpected, whirlwind birth (...I went into labor at 7:30pm, he was born at 8:33pm...) and it has been my life's greatest source of joy to watch him grow, under the watchful and loving eye of his big sister. To see your children interact, to play, to share moments that will one day make up a great deal of their respective life stories - well, nothing else ever matters as much as that.

As you can see in the photos above, Eli has come along way from those first few days in the NICU. His spirit is amazing and luminescent, and I never felt happiness so pure as when I first saw his bright smile. He's loud. He's messy. He loves to explore. He loves BIG. No one lives more in the moment than this boy, and I learn from him everyday to LET GO, and just LIVE.

The passage of time - of one life - is so very swift, but the love between a parent and their child is profound enough that, when mine comes to it's end, I will *know* that I experienced a love supreme, an unbreakable bond, and the most joy possible on this Earth. I hold never-ending gratitude for the gift of my sweet children...to whomever it is that does the giving.

Happy birthday, Eli. My cup runneth over.

Keep livin' out loud, mess-maker! Two years old, here we come!...

There are times when...

2009-10-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

you just KNOW it's true love.

Part 1 in "Scenes from My Marriage"

We open as my little family sits down to play Candy Land before bedtime routines begin.

Thomas (setting up the game board):
Hey why are the cushions off of the couch?

Me:
Washing them.

Thomas:
What was it this time?

Me:
Cocoa Puffs and milk.

We just get the game board set up when Elijah excitedly clears the table of all game contents - and an open bottle of water - with a couple of sweeping, erratic arm movements. "YAAAAAAH!" he yells.

I sigh.

Me:
It's been one of those days.

Thomas:
I know, I can tell by your hair.

And, SCENE.

I am woman, hear me roar.

2009-09-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

I was at a family gathering last weekend, and I observed something - not new - but something I have been meaning to try and pin down in writing for quite some time. So, here I go:

I'm talking about the exchange between women who are mothers, of any age, that occurs when the subject of Birth is struck. Last weekend we happened to be enjoying the company of extended family from the east coast who, just 3 months ago, celebrated the birth of their first son. Myself, my own mother, her mother, the visiting new mother, her sister (who is a mother), and their mother, and also a cousin of mine who is a mother (and new grandmother) - whew, that's lot of mamas - were all sitting in a semi-circular arrangement of chairs, chatting about things, life, and generally catching up, as it were. In conversation about the new baby, the usual barrage of questions was hurled upon the new mother, who has, undoubtedly, answered the same questions 92 times before. How much did he weigh? How long was he? Inching closer and closer to the time when one of us would ask something like How long was your labor? And then, almost compulsively, each woman would take her turn telling her own birth story, feverishly, and in great detail.

Maybe I noticed this phenomenon before I had my own birth story to tell. I honestly can't remember. But I can say that motherhood has profoundly deepened my understanding of the human animal. To me, this gravitation of mothers to other mothers, and the spirited telling and retelling of birth stories, always evokes the primeval, arresting beauty of some First Mother - the Mother of us all, who labored for and birthed the next generation with an animal urge to propagate the species, but also with a uniquely human understanding that what she has done is far more significant than instinct and duty, alone. There is an intense pride that comes from having this experience, and while not intentionally arrogant, I can see how it may seem that way to non-mothers. I don't know a way around that. It just happens. The act of giving birth is traumatic in a way that won't let you ever be the same.

I am grateful everyday that I made the decision to become a birth-mother. I also understand - and fully support any woman's choice to not give birth. In fact, any woman who knows herself well enough to know that she does not want to give birth can hold the same heightened understanding of human nature that I'm writing about because of that. For me, giving birth was an event that spurred an intense internal shift, from a shallow awareness of my own strength as a woman toward greater, more authoritative ownership of that power. For women who chose not to have the birth experience, this shift is brought on by any number of other events.

What is comes down to, for me, is the realization of the certainty of womanly prowess. Because I can only speak for myself, I will say that I am delighted by the exchange of birth stories with others who have their own. I relish the feeling of kinship I have with other mothers, and no matter how many times I see, or participate in, an exchange like the one with mothers in my own family last weekend, I always walk away feeling proud, validated, and strong. I want to extend my sincerest gratitude for the good fortune I have always had, of the presence of women in my life - mothers and not - who have been steadfast examples of female strength. Thank you for teaching me the true meaning of sisterhood, I will do my best to pass this beautiful wisdom to my daughter and those to come.

recuperation

2009-08-24T01:34:00.000-07:00

Bella's birthday was a BLAST. Even in the rain on a cloudy day, nothing beats a pony ride and the joy on the faces of a bunch of wee ones. We are so incredibly fortunate to have all that we have...the most amazing family and friends in the world! Bella was so showered with love, and goodies, and fun, that I really am at a loss for words, except to just say "Thank you."

I am humbled and made whole by the love from all of you. A million thanks from Bella, and the rest of us for celebrating her special day in such a fabulous way. Yeeeeeeeeeeehaw!

my little baby...

2009-08-19T01:25:00.001-07:00

Is turning four this Sunday. And when I think about the last four years, I can hardly believe how moments have - at times - come and gone in what seems like the blink of an eye. And still others seemed to freeze time altogether, and I often close my eyes, and try to bring myself back to that place, that time. The first time I looked into her big blue eyes. Her tiny "coo"s and "ooo"s before she knew the sound and shape of any words. First giggle. First time I truly understood how someone could love another human enough to kill or die for them. A love so big my mind can't even remember when I didn't have this: motherhood. Bella gave me the most incredible gift of this lifetime - the honor of being a mother - and as she grows, so does my understanding of the deep responsibility I have in being hers. She makes me proud, and brings me joy, every step of the way. I used to think that having a daughter would be my great opportunity to impart all of my womanly knowledge upon this fresh, remarkable, little creature, and shape her into what I wanted her to be - bright, strong, independent, lovely, kind, thoughtful, and grateful. But it becomes clearer every day that - while she is all of those things - SHE is the one whose existence has brought more enlightenment and wonder to ME than I believe I ever could to her. And maybe that's the way it is meant to be.

So, here's to another great year, kiddo. Good lookin' out.

Putting the cart before the horse.

2009-08-15T00:33:00.000-07:00

...this most likely IS.

However, I was bored, so I made a mockup of my book cover - complete with it's tentative title! I'm not going to give away tooooo much about the book's content just yet, as it still has a long way to go. I am adjusting, editing, cutting things out, thinking of new ideas daily, and just letting it blossom into whatever strange flower it will eventually be. But I'm very motivated about this little project, and every time I work on it, I get excited and giddy like I haven't been since childhood. I think some part of me knows I'm drawing nearer to my calling - and that's a good feeling. Life sure is funny. It's like that guessing game, "Hot or Cold," where one person is moving around within a space, and the other is saying "hot" or "cold" as they draw nearer or farther away from what they seek. This project, like none in recent years, has my little heart practically shouting "hotter...ok! hot! hot! hot!" as I stumble ever closer to that which I seek. And whether or not anyone reads or buys the book... my success regarding this work will only be measured by the amount of joy and fulfillment its completion brings to my soul. Everything else is just... icing ;)

So, the book cover - it's very simple, but I'm aiming for a simple aesthetic on this one. I was always drawn to the simplicity of my favorite books from childhood, so I suppose the influence still lingers. I know I already shared this picture, but my awesome friend, Rachel, ever-so-kindly lent me use of her scanner, so this is a much better version of that little drawing:

I'd like you all to meet Mona Mae.

Passing this on...

2009-08-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

Because this site freaking ROCKS.

Lark, Handmade

Check it out next time you need a gift, or just because!

xoxo

Apartment Therapy

2009-08-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty much 1000% obsessed with this website.

Apartment Therapy.

If you are like me and love mid-century modern architecture & decor, old things, new things, home design, house tours, and/or drooling over things you will probably never be able to afford, then please check it out! They post new entries daily...and, well, I am addicted!

sneak peek

2009-08-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a sketch I did with pen and water color. I'm considering using her (or some version of her...) as the "main character" in a children's book I'm developing.

Any input is appreciated :)

to save, or not to save?

2009-08-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's just innate. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I was born with it. The intense urge to save things... people... animals... objects ...from their imminent demise. It seems that nearly all of my life, I have (albeit unconsciously) sought out things (and people) that are in dire need of desperate care and attention, and have taken on the responsibility of salvaging, restoring, and bringing them back into "the light," as I call it.

Not surprisingly, this tendency has brought upon me some pretty awful relationships...I've had my share of soul-sucking boyfriends and stray cats and dogs. But that's only when I let it go too far. I like to think that as I have matured and taken note of this aspect of my personality, that it has gotten better. And indeed, the boy I ended up marrying is certainly FAR from a soul-sucker.

And I have learned to (with great struggle) NOT take in every stray animal that I see.

However, I am still a bit of a hoarder. Not one of those creepy people on the Oprah Show who can't see out of their windows because of all the trash and old junk piled up...but I do have my jam-packed garage shelves and closet HALF full of stuff I should probably throw away. What I mean to say is: I hoard. A little. But I'm working on it.

One of a hoarder's worst nemeses in this lifetime is the Craigslist "free stuff" page. I try not to check it everyday. And most of the time I just take a quick peek once a week...maaaaybe twice. And honestly, I had yet to actually acquire anything from there...until this week. A lady in my neck of the woods posted this pair of chairs..."vintage chairs" the ad said.

I have to tell you, I am a sucker for a couple of key terms in classified ads: vintage. retro. unique. funky. "fixer-upper." She had me at "vintage." I clicked on the ad. I saw the small, poor-quality photo of two sad, old chairs, and my heart began to beat a little faster. As quickly as I could, I sent an email: "Do you still have the chairs?? If so, I want them! Please call me at your earliest convenience. - Katie...." (and I gave her my number - she had requested it in her ad). Not 10 minutes later, the phone rang. I sprang out of my chair, checked the caller ID - an unfamiliar number - YESSSSS I said to myself...It must be vintage chair lady! It was. "I got a ton of emails about the chairs," She told me, "And, uhhh, I picked YOU! So?..." She was unknowingly feeding my eager inner-salvager - tricking it into thinking it had WON something - really been CHOSEN as the guardian and preserver of these sad, dusty little chairs. We chatted a bit more, trying to work out the details of a pick-up time or day. Finally, I almost burst out: "How about if I just come get 'em right now?" There was a slight pause. I could tell she wasn't expecting that. Then this: "Um, ok, I will just put them out on my driveway and you can come get them tonight, sound good? You don't even have to tell me when you get 'em, just pick them up." Oh god, did I frighten her with my urgent tone of voice?? Who cares! Those chairs were calling my name - and I had to answer...now! I explained the situation to my husband, jumped in the car, and off I went to rescue these little darlings:

Yes, they are dirty. Their upholstery is (I was told) about 50 years old - and stained. One of the arms needs gluing and/or nailing. A few places on the bottoms of the legs have puppy chew-marks that will require sanding. And of course the wood will need to be stripped and re-sanded (or painted) and some new fabric and cushions are in order. Still, I couldn't be happier about the outcome of this little treasure hunt.

I'm not sure how long it will take to complete "PROJECT VINTAGE CHAIRS," with kids, house work, and all of the other projects and hobbies I insist on taking on...but rest assured, these babies are safe and sound, in my garage, from the horrors of would-be furniture-trashers until that day comes. I will, of course post before & after shots when they're all fixed up.

stay tuned....

Jobbies

2009-08-04T17:48:00.000-07:00

So, the reason I named this blog I Work With My Hands is because, well, I do. My two passions (which I hope to turn in to real jobs, someday...) are art & bodywork. I graduated from Hirudaya Holistic Health Center in 2006 as a massage practitioner, and now that my kids are no longer "babies," I am attempting to get back to work, for my own health, as well as to bring in some extra income.

I've been doing some work as a photographer, as well. Just minor-league stuff--portraits, mostly. That's been very fun, and rewarding. The experience is good to build on. But a nice byproduct of doing some part-time work (whether it be massage or photography) is that I've been having some fun with the marketing aspect of it all. I now have two websites, one for each of my Jobbies (that's what I call them...it's a hybrid made-up word...from job and hobbies).

Here they are if you'd like a look:

www.KatieKPhotography.com

www.indwellmassage.com

Anyway, I made these promotional postcards the other day (image: Above/Left), to drum-up some business doing massage work. They were lots of fun to design, and I got a screaming deal on the printing. Whatta'ya think? :)

la primera

2009-08-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

It's done. I've jumped on the blogging bandwagon. And I think I might like this.

Who will my audience be? Who cares. In my mind, blogging is a self-serving act, anyway. In a healthy, therapeutic way. Like masturbation. It takes care of a part of our Self that allows us to share a better version of ourselves with others. Well, I suppose it's not ENTIRELY self-serving for everyone. Maybe just for me. But I digress. :)

I've always been a journal-er. Since about age 10 I've kept journals. I suppose this is the logical progression, in the digital age, to make the switch to Blogging. And it feels good. More efficient and tidy than long-hand journal writing--and much more snazzy, with the personalization of profiles, page layouts, etc.

Versatile, I guess is the word.

And there's the added bonus of being able to share your thoughts with so many people, so instantly.

So I'll end with a bit about myself and what I have in mind for Le Blog:

My name is Katie. I grew up in a town I always hated. I left the day after high-school graduation, and headed for Alaska. The summer I spent there shaped me and defined me in ways I still can't quite articulate. I headed back to the "lower 48" before the frost. My parent's home was still in the much-loathed hometown, so I left again, this time to California's central coast, where I had family I could stay with. Never intending to go to college (at least not in the conventional way...) I got a job at a pizzeria, and left myself open to possibilities. I was young, free, and wandering. Very soon, I met the most handsome boy I'd ever laid eyes on, and we fell in love. As fiery passion can do...it led us to a little surprise. Thomas and I had known one another for about 4 months. I was 19 when our daughter was born. Un-wed. Uninsured. Unsure. On the surface, this looked like a disastrous situation. But amidst the negativity that I was (understandably) receiving from "outsiders," we knew everything would be good, one day. And it is.

Of course, much has transpired since then...in time, I will probably tell you about some of them. I feel like I've done more growing in the last 5 years than I have in my entire life. My daughter is going to be 4 years old this month. My son will be 2 in October. I am still so in love with that handsome boy from the pizzeria. And though we are still learning many things, we know something, for sure: Where there is love, anything is possible.

For this blog, I intend to give it the flexibility I strive to give all things in my life--the room to grow and evolve into whatever I need it to be in the present moment. I will most likely use it to share thoughts, opinions, and art. I am a lifelong artist, and cannot settle on one medium just yet. I most enjoy painting, writing, mixed-media art projects, and photography. Since having my children, I have put my own art on hold, a bit. But lately I am feeling the irrepressible call to create, and so a myriad of projects are in their sprouting stages...sure to bloom as this new season turns within me.

Until next time...