Take Root and Write

Making Your Photos Tell a Story

 I hope your Independence Day holiday was an enjoyable one! Since there are usually so many activities during the summer months and the approaching Fall holiday season, I thought it appropriate to address ways to use story-telling techniques for your photographic endeavors.

When you have somewhat of a plan as to the story you want to convey with the images for the event or occasion that you're photographing, it actually makes the picture-taking process easier, yielding more pleasing results because you're not leaving getting the right pictures to chance.

Let’s put you in the role of a photojournalist. You are on assignment to capture an event that will only happen once. Indeed, most of the events that we capture do only happen once.  Even if it’s an event that repeats (such as  an expectant mom having multiple baby showers for the same pregnancy --such as the case of my former assistant who has had three to date) there will be changes in the details—people attending, weather conditions, locations, etc.  A story can be better told with a series of photographs, and not just trying to get one perfect picture—though that one perfect picture can be the icing on the cake--however, you want to make sure you have that foundational cake made from the ingredients of images that capture the moments that make the story.

Therefore, in planning your story, what are the two important things that a story needs?  A beginning and an ending, of course, with a variety of images in between. So to start, you can think of what would be appropriate for a beginning photograph, and also what will be your parting shot.

Taking Creative Control with the Aperture and Shutter Speed Settings

In the March 26 segment, I covered the ISO and how to use it to have more control over your picture-taking. The ISO is one segment of a triangle of creative controls for better image making, and in this segment I will cover the other two... the aperture and shutter speed.

To recap a little, the exposure of images is determined by a combination of the ISO ('film' speed), the aperture aka 'f-stop', and the shutter speed. When your camera is set to automatic, it determines all three of these for you by making calculations from the information taken from the scene you are focusing on.

For more creative control, you can determine these settings yourself and adjust them accordingly. Many digital cameras offer semi-automatic modes allowing you to set the aperture (AV) or the shutter (TV.-meaning 'time value'). In these semi-automatic modes, when you set the Aperture or AV, the camera will select the shutter (TV.)  When you set the shutter-Time Value mode, the camera will automatically select the corresponding aperture or f-stop (AV).

The Aperture

The aperture is the size of the opening in the lens that captures the image, and it controls the amount of light that comes in. The larger the opening, the more light that is let in. The aperture also controls the depth of field (what is in focus in the image).

The aperture, or f-stop measurements you'll commonly see are f2.8, f/4, f5/6, f8, f11, f16, f22. You digital camera may dispense using the "f" and just have the aperture number (i.e. 2.8, 4, 5.6 etc). Moving from one f-stop or aperture measurement to the next either doubles or halves the amount of light coming in. The smaller the f-stop or aperture number, the larger the opening. This can be confusing, especially for beginning photographers or those who are used to shooting in the automatic mode, but it is something you get used to the more you use it.

On Exercising Your Creativity Muscle and The Lemon Cake Hustle

If you're a regular reader of this column, you'll know that one of the skill-building tools
that I advocate is that of either participating in, or giving yourself, photographic assignments to help develop your photographic and 'seeing' abilities. In this column I'll share a couple of things I recently participated in and what I learned from them. I would usually give a heads-up here or on my photo blog, but I found out about these on very short notice.

The first opportunity I took advantage of was sponsored by the New York Times blog -Lens - which covers photography, video and visual journalism. They sponsored A Moment in Time- A Global Mosaic with the goal to produce a web-built image of one moment in time across the world.0

What was required that you take one image on Sunday, May 2, at exactly 1500 hrs UTC (which was 9am PST for me), and then upload it to them. Anyone, anywhere could participate--amateurs and professionals- kids and adults. The topics were varied: Religion Play, Nature and the Environment, Family, Work, Arts and Entertainment, Money and the Economy,Community, Social Issues. You could plan your shot according to where you were going to be on that day, at that time.

I knew I'd be at home, so I planned for the Nature and Environment category and to submit an image of one of the roses in my garden. (photo left) I also knew that at that time of day the rose garden would have strong back-lighting from the sun, creating a strong contrast that I didn't want.  So I devised a translucent scrim to use as a light filter. My scrim at the time was a large packaging bag made of bubble wrap plastic which I held in place with one hand, while shooting with the other. However, since that incident, I've been creating a more handy one using PVC pipe and rip-stop nylon, which I'll share more about in a later column.

Picture Perfect Gift Ideas for Mother's Day

Ah, Mother's Day is right around the corner! What are some things you can give your favorite photo-enthusiast mom? What about some things to put on your own Mother's Day wish list? I came up with a few gift ideas, with even some ideas for gifts that can be made using your own photographs.

For the Camera-toting Mom

Memory/Media Cards- An extra one is always good to have on hand. Ever had a photo
opportunity arise, and your camera's media card was  full of those images from that trip to
the zoo that you hadn't got to downloading yet? Having that 'emergency' media card can be a real time saver. Since memory cards are not interchangeable, and the type used depends on the camera brand, be sure to know which one is used for the particular camera. Media cards come in different formats such as CompactFlash (CF),MultiMediaCard (MMC), Secure Digital (SD), SmartMedia (SM), etc.   If you're adding this to your wish list, be sure to give the specifics, i.e. "Compactflash media card 8GB." A media wallet for organizing and carrying  memory cards is an additional useful accessory.

The Wimberley Photo Plamp. Is photo-mom a nature photographer who loves taking pictures of flowers? A photo Plamp is a useful camera bag accessory for holding a flower or moving foliage out of the way. One end of the Plamp clamps to a tripod while the other holds the object,  The Plamp can also be used to hold reflectors or a piece of cardboard to shade the camera lens. Plamps can be found at B&H Photo and Video, as well as other online camera stores.

 FotoClips-These little Fotoclips are great for a unique way to display a mini-photo  gallery. Photographs are easily clipped together with no need for frames. Get these at PhotoJojo for about ten bucks.

Getting the Picture with Bunny Tales

Tucked away on a homestead in South Carolina is an unusual rabbit park, where furry bunnies not only frolic and thrive but pose for photos! This is Garden Gate, the home of over 130 prize-winning, pedigree  rabbits that love to ham it up for the camera. The photographer spotlight for this column is on Loretta Hayward, who is not only owner and manager of Garden Gate rabbitry, but also a patient and persevering photographer who has found her niche in photographing her delightful charges. 

It was a pleasure interviewing Loretta, and I found it easy to relate to what goes into raising rabbits. My own children were in 4-H as they were growing up, with their interest lying in the care and showing of pedigree rabbits.The most rabbits we ever had at any one time was about fifteen and that was a lot to me. So I can imagine what Loretta and her family go through with over 100 of the little darlings!

I first wanted to find out about the start of her rabbit park. My question was how did this all begin? Loretta explained, "A friend and neighbor gave us our first rabbit which was a Californian smut nose. The first rabbits we ever purchased were New Zealand rabbits which we raised on our homestead in wooden hutches that my husband built. As our rabbit farm grew and as we sold bunnies and met more rabbit breeders, we learned about the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) and became members. When we attended our first rabbit show in GA I was thrilled to see so many breeds and varieties of rabbits! Rex rabbits were the next breed we added to our farm. We learned rabbit farms are called rabbitries and as we continued to add new breeds and build more hutches the bunny business grew."

ISO Ratings in Digital Photography

In today’s column, we’ll cover one of the creative controls of your digital camera, the ISO. This will help you understand the properties of film exposure and how it affects your images. Both digital and film cameras use an ISO rating, and I will start off explaining the rating from the film standpoint.

ISO (or ASA) is the term used to rate a film’s sensitivity to light. A film’s sensitivity to light is known as the film’s speed.The higher the rating number, the ‘faster’ the film speed. Thus, film with an ISO/ASA rating of 400 is faster than film with an ISO/ASA rating of 100. Film with a rating of 800 is faster than the 400 film.  A film with a higher (faster) rating needs less exposure to light than one with a lower (slower) rating.

A doubling of the number indicates a doubling of the sensitivity of the film. Film with a rating of 800 needs half as much light as one with the rating of 400 for proper exposure. Conversely, a rating of 100 is half as fast (light sensitive) as a rating of 200.

Knowing Your Camera

How well do you know your camera? Are you familiar with it inside and out? Knowing the various controls and how to use them gives more options and adds in your ability to be more creative with the images that you make. Creative controls can vary from camera to camera. It's important for you to know what you have at your disposal and how you can use them to get the kind of images that you want. Today we'll learn about some controls that are usually basic to most digital cameras. I'll even share some things that I discovered when I decided to delve deeper into what my own camera could do.

I'm going to use my Sony DSC-17 consumer digital camera in this demonstration. I purchased this particular camera because of the Zeiss lens. I typically use this for more casual shooting as well as training young, budding photographers.

New Things, New Photos

 Happy Valentine's Day! Can you believe it's already February? 2010 is moving full speed ahead!

I started 2010 off doing something I had been planning to do for years. After living in Southern California for umpteen years (with some of those years living in the city of Pasadena), I finally attended the Tournament of Roses Parade for the first time. And I even went back the next day to see the floats on display. So I'll be sharing some of my images though out this post.

New year, new things, so what will be new with you this year? What are your goals to improve your photography this year?  What are you going to do different this year to make you a better image maker? Take a photography class? Study some new books? Make a goal to study and then master an unfamiliar technique each month? Employ a photography mentor?

Each year, I make plans to keep my skills honed and updated by making sure I tackle something new, or work on an area that I can improve my skills in. This summer I'm going to spend a week at West Coast School of Professional Photography, where I'll be taking a course on Creativity and Art in photography. I've also  made the commitment to reacquaint myself with artists whose work I enjoy--John Singer Sargent, Renoir, Mary Cassatt. I'm going to also get the hang of the beta version I have of PhotoShop Lightroom 3, and take some classes to tweak my Corel Painter skills.

A Little of My Story-How I Got Started with a Home-based Studio

As outlined before, in this series, Show me the Money! there will be interviews with professional women photographers in different fields of photography to see how they got started, the challenges they faced in growing their businesses, and how they faced the challenges.

It was suggested to me that I start with myself!  Okay, don't recall interviewing myself before, but I will share information about how I got involved in this field.

Admittedly, when I was growing up, 'photographer' was not in my list of future occupations. That list read more like, 'writer, lawyer, teacher, social worker.  I've always loved to take pictures, however, and looking back over family photographs, it must have come through my mother because she took many photographs of me for the first four to five years of my life (when I was the only child).

I recall the first camera I ever owned was one of those little miniature cameras that I received when I was about five or six years old. One of my uncles who was in the military at the time, gave it to me as a gift from one of his tours overseas.  I don't remember what happened to that particular camera (actually, I do...a playmate made off with it)  but I did get one of those Kodak Brownie cameras and  become the resident family memory keeper, taking photos mostly of special occasions and family trips.

Fast forward. After a couple of years of college, I starting thinking about the field of photojournalism since I like to write and take pictures. I took a photography class in college and that's where I actually started my formal education in the field. This is where I got my first taste of the darkroom and where my love for creating black and white imagery began.  When I decided to try my hand at making money, I  started in the field of stock/editorial photography, where I would shoot photographs of people involved in some type of activity, to use as illustrations for books and magazines. This wasn't consistent work as I was going to school and working, and it eventually got shelved for a period of time.

Impacting Society through Photography

If a single picture is worth a thousand words, a photo journalistic piece of several impacting images can speak volumes. In this segment, we'll explore a little bit of the news and photo-journalistic photography, and how images can be used to make an impact in society.

What do you think of when you hear the term "photo journalism?"  Do you think of the newspaper photographer on the scene taking images to bring life to the words of a story?  Someone like Superman's pal Jimmy Olsen? Or maybe it conjures up visions of the breath-taking beautiful photographs featured in the likes of  National Geographic magazine.

Photojournalism is basically telling a newsworthy story through pictures, and the genre is usually relegated to the creation of images for publication or broadcast. In some circles, photojournalism is separated from similar branches of photography such as documentary photography-- being classified as a different category of photography, but for the purposes of this article, the reference is the same. Both generally employ the use of the photo essay, which is a series of photographs that tell a story with the intent to get the reader emotionally involved.

With a photo-journalistic mindset,you can capture images that can bring about a social conscious impact. Some famous images that made that impact include:

Migrant Mother- photographed by Dorothea Lange in 1936 for the Farm  Security Administration , and which became one of the icons for the Great Depression and for the  the plight of migrant workers, putting a human face on the dismal circumstances of the poor and forgotten

Flavio da Silva-  photographed by Gordon Parks for Life magazine. Parks essay covered the plight of  the da Silva family who lived in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, and their 12 year old son, Flavio, who was dying of tuberculosis. After the essay ran in Life, financial contributions poured in to help the family, and Flavio was able to come to the United States where he was treated and eventually cured of the disease.

Napalm Girl Photo- photographed by Associated Press photographer Nick Ut, - the heart-wrenching, tragic image of a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl running naked and burned from  a South Vietnamese napalm attack on her village during the Vietnam war. The photo became a banner for the peace movement.

A photographer from China recently  won the $30,000 W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography for his documentary photo essay  “Pollution in China.” View his amazing photographs here.

What's Your Vision?

We continue our series on making money in photography. Last session, stock photography was covered and this week's column covers an interview with someone who is not even in the photography business, yet provides some valuable lessons for anyone wanting to start or expand a business venture.

I recently interviewed Lori, the owner of a boutique stationery store for my upcoming book for photographers and photo enthusiasts that covers how to start and sustain a greeting card business, and creating cards using your own images. Lori buys custom photographic greeting cards for her store, and she gave very good information on the whole process of how she buys them, how to price them, the best methods of making contact, and what store owners look for in purchasing greeting cards,etc. (The book will be released in December).

Though the store has been part of a family business in their community since 1926, Lori and her husband have owned their share of the family business for the past two years. We had a chance to talk about the challenges they are facing with consequences of  management decisions made before they took over, the effect of big box stores moving into the area,  and the economy.

Lori exemplifies what it takes to successfully start and run any type of business, and I’ll relate these to starting and running a photography venture.  Even though the store has been established for years, change is needed to meet the varied challenges the retail sector is facing in today’s world.  Therefore, in putting a “new face” on their store, it is parallel to starting a new venture.

Taking Care of "Man's Best Friend"

Approximately 63% of US households owns a pet. Approximately 39% of households have at least one dog, and 34% have at least one cat.

Animals are a definite mainstay of American life, and for many, the family dog or cat is just like another family member. Pets, for many, provide companionship, acceptance, and unconditional love. The well-being of the family pet is a priority in many households,  thus when the pet owner needs to be away from their pet for a period of time, finding someone to lovingly care for that pet is very important. Thus the pet-sitting business has provided an answer to this need, but to  people like Catherine Terry, it's not just a business, it's a ministry.

Joan: Catherine, ow did you get started with pet-sitting?

Catherine: A year or so ago, our family returned to the US from living in the United Kingdom for several years. With the current state of employment, I found that my age and inactivity in the job market created a hindrance for me. After being told that in several different ways, I sat down and evaluated things, asking myself what skills did I have that I might be able to use. 

I love taking care of our home and have professionally cared for seniors and children before. I love animals and love caring for them, so I decided this time around I would concentrate on pets.
God certainly had His hand in this. Upon placing an ad in one of our local papers, I was thrilled to actually get a response. The woman invited me over to me her two dogs. Her Sheltie was customarily shy of people, particularly strangers. However, when I sat down, she came to me and let me love her. The woman was pleasantly surprised. And that's how it all started.  Through this woman, I have acquired most of my business.

Taking Stock in Photography

Have you ever noticed an image used in an advertisement for one company, and then saw the exact same image in an ad for  another company selling something totally different? Most likely it was a stock photograph purchased by the different creators of the advertising pieces.

Have you written an article or developed a PowerPoint presentation, and knowing that pictures will make it more interesting, searched online for the perfect photos to go with it? You were looking for stock photography.

Just what is "stock photography". Simply, stock photographs are those not created for aparticular client, but are ready-made images that are usually purchased by graphic designers, illustrators, advertisers, publishers, etc,  for specific use. Research has shown that not only do people look at pictures before they read words, but that photos attract more readers than illustrations. Therefore for an ad, book, product, etc.,to garner the most attention possible, it's important to have photographs.

Stock photography can be a lucrative area for a photographer, depending on what the photographer has to offer, and if they specialize in certain subjects.. Some professional photographers, who shoot stock as supplemental material, find this to be a nice additional revenue stream.

In shooting stock, you can take the shotgun approach, or be more targeted in creating images that others will purchase for illustrative use. 

Show Me The Money!

 And so we pick up from where we left off in July, where I posed the question to you, photo friends--where do we go from here with this column? What is it you want to read/learn about in the world of photography?  Thank you to those who did take the time to post what they would like to see, and also to the several who emailed me with their interests.

During my August sabbatical, I devoted some prayer time to the subject, and with that, and through observing where we are in the year, came up with a plan. Yaay!

Knowing we're approaching the holiday season, and with a New Year just around the corner (can you believe 2010 is almost here?!), I decided it would be a good thing to explore photography as a means to bring in some moolah, dinero, cash---money. And ways you can turn your passion for photography into a profitable venture. With the holiday season approaching, you may be able to make some extra cash putting your photographic skills to work during this time. As the New Year, many times, serves as a catalyst for moving ahead into new ventures, by then, some of you may be ready to seriously embark upon photography as an additional revenue stream. One thing God consistently uses me as, is a person who ignites vision in others, through providing resources that give them direction. Therefore, some of the things that I introduce here may be just the spark to get you going to another level in this area.

I'm going to cover different areas of photography, introduce you to some of my fellow professional colleagues through interviews with them, and give you resources that you can explore further for your own benefit.

I've been involved in the professional photography world since 1982 (though I've had a camera in hand since I was 6 years old!). I'm one of those veterans who had to make that transition from negative film to digital capture. I started as a home-based business, opened a full-service studio in a retail location for a number of years, and am now back to being home-based. I now mainly do commissioned work, and consult with other photographers and those wanting to get started in photography, in helping them to find their own niches and build their businesses. I've served on the boards and held offices in several professional photography associations. I've been published, won awards, yada, yada.  In other words, I'll be giving expert information from years of knowledge and experience in this field. If interested, you can check out my photography business, the Image Maker, here.

Got Boys?

 Melanie Young recounts an incident that was one of her defining moments in understanding boys and their behavior.
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"I will never forget one day many years ago when we stopped on a long road trip to visit old friends. Our oldest, then about six, piled out of the van, yelled hello at his friends, and in just a jiffy was rolling around on the ground wrestling with them. I couldn't understand it! I shouted for my husband, "Hal, Hal! What are they doing? Is this normal behavior for boys?' He reassured me that it was. I then began to realize that there were things going on here that were foreign to me!"

Six sons and years later, Melanie has gained much knowledge from her experiences in raising boys, and now with her husband Hal, have a ministry to help others with their sons. 

Joan: Melanie, tell us how you started in your  ministry to others raising boys.

Melanie: God has blessed us with six sons and two little girls- who are the youngest. The Lord has driven us to His Word and to wise counsel again and again as we've discipled our children. Over the years, we've studied the Word of God, books on boys, and lots of very old books that describe boyhood in earlier days and we've come to the conclusion that boys are different because they are made to be - and that's a good thing!

Several years ago, someone asked us to do a workshop on raising boys at a homeschool conference. We were surprised to find a standing-room-only crowd waiting for us. The Lord greatly blessed our talk that day and every time we have spoken on this topic since the room has been packed out. It became obvious to us that there is a desperation among God's people to know what to do with their boys.

Joan: What do you see is a problem in our society with raising boys today?

Melanie: Our culture is very confused about gender. Too often, we only value women when they act like men and men when they act like women. Our boys are growing up in a society that doesn't value the masculine characteristics that God has designed into them. Can you imagine growing up knowing your parents and teachers wanted you to be different than you are? Boys today need to know what God has made them to be and they need to be taught how to submit their masculine characteristics to God.

Building on Things that Count: Helping Homeschools Thrive

 According to statistics from  National Home Education Research Institute, there are about 2 million children being home-schooled in the United States, and the numbers are expected to increase as more parents want to have more input in their child's education. Some of the common reasons  parents home-educate their children is to be able to teach them their own set of values, provide a safer environment, and customize the learning atmosphere for their child.

Current research shows that typically children who are home-schooled, on average, score higher on standardized academic achievement tests than students of the public education system.  A good home education system is not accidental; there are various pieces that must be in place for success.

Our interview this segment is with Carol Topp, CPA, whose ministry provides one of the vital pieces that help home schools thrive.

Joan:  Welcome Carol! Tell about your ministry to homeschooling families. We know there must be  challenges to getting a home school up and running, so where do you come in and how do you help them?

Carol: My ministry is to homeschool leaders-those who homeschool their own children and also lead groups such as support groups, co-ops, sports and arts programs.

Leaders face several challenges in organizing groups, running them, dealing with money, people and programs. I offer articles on many areas including setting up as a nonprofit organization, opening a checking account, writing bylaws, paying workers, conflict resolution, and insurance for homeschool groups.  I also have several workshops that I conduct for homeschool leaders at conventions and I have written four books to help leaders with money management, paying workers, and obtaining 501c3 tax exempt status including Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out. I also maintain a blog at my website HomeschoolCPA.com to answer questions from homeschool leaders.

Which Way to Go?

I remember my first car. It was a 4-speed 1974 Datsun B-210. I purposely bought a car with a manual transmission so that I could learn the controls (or was it  to have control?)

Though I've never been a speed-racer, but I did like the feel of the coordinated use of both feet to drive, and that I  could rev it up and switch gears, giving that pseudo racer car feeling. Looking back, I think it was more of a desire to have the skills to do both--drive an automatic or a manual.  Today, I drive a Toyota with automatic transmission, but I know with just a little warm up, if need be, I can get behind the wheel of a 'stick shift' and comfortably be on my way.

Which brings me to this week's photo column...do we stay as we have been-- on automatic, or do we switch to manual?  I'm feeling a need to change course a bit, but I need feedback from you, fellow photo enthusiast.

For the most,  the subjects covered have here thus far have been in the automatic category, where the  topics have been carefully selected so that the information can be used by anyone with any type of camera. Things covered have been more along the lines of creative expression, enhancing the ability to 'see', basic light, composition, et.al.

I've purposely stayed away from the technical end knowing there are a wide range of digital cameras being used out there, from the simplistic to the more sophisticated.  So as I'm prayerfully considering which way to go, I need to know...what do YOU want? Do you want to learn more on technique? Just be inspired? Focus on composition and creative expression?

Dancing Upon Barren Land - Hope for Infertility

The road to motherhood is not always an easy one. For some women, the journey is fraught with frustration, disappointment, and pain as they face obstacles to conceiving and bearing children.

Our spotlight this week features Lesli Westfall, a woman familiar with that journey, who began a Christian online support ministry for fertility-challenged women--providing inspiration and support. We talk to her today about her ministry Dancing Upon Barren Land - Spiritual Nourishment for the Infertility Road.

Joan: Thank you Leslie, for sharing with us! First, I would like to say your website is so beautiful and encouraging! Tell us what the purpose of your ministry is.

Lesli: Thank you! The purpose  is to provide an online Christian ministry for those who are fertility-challenged; women or couples. Not only is it for those who are experiencing difficulty, but for their loved ones and/or ministry leaders as well, providing education and tools to support those desiring to grow their family.

Joan: So the information you provide also encompasses a woman's circle of family and friends. Wonderful.What do you offer  those who come to you?

Lesli: There are different pages among the site that one can explore.  Infertility Etiquette gives family, friends, ministry leaders and even husbands ways on how to respond to one going through infertility, fertility treatments or loss.  The Prayer Page takes into account every emotion and challenge along the way and offers a prayer supported by scripture to pray for yourself or a loved one.  The Resource Page   includes a listing of books and support organizations along with direction on how to find a support group in the U.S.A, United Kingdom and Asia. Coming soon there will be a Devotional Page to bring hope and encouragement.

Materialism and the Artist

 

I recently attended a "meet the artist" show featuring polymer clay artist Kathleen Dustin at a gallery in Albuquerque called The Wooden Cow. Kathleen has been working in polymer clay for twenty-five years, and you can see the lifetime of talent and the countless hours of dedication. I was awestruck by the beauty of her work. Because I do some work in polymer clay myself, I recognized the complexity in each piece, but at the same time I was floored by each piece's deceptive simplicity. It's no wonder she's world-renowned, that her limited-edition polymer clay purses and jewelry sell on Madison Avenue, and that she teaches workshops throughout the U.S. and Europe. She is the picture of the successful artist.

Yet, even Kathleen has questions about her role as an artist. After spending a day with friends in New York City and attending a fashion show during Fashion Week, they strolled Madison Avenue where she saw seven of her purses displayed in one of the shop windows. She says in one of her blog posts, "It seems trite to say it, but the whole Fashion Week experience was shallow. Is this what life is all about? To some people it is--paying attention to the latest must-haves. And actually I am quite ambivalent because this is the market I sell to." She goes on to say that though she feels uncomfortable about her work at times, she has a passion for what she's doing. She wonders if her conflicting feelings are a result of her Christian faith and Christian teachings about materialism.

But what is materialism, really?

If anyone would know, it would be King Solomon of "everything is vanity" fame. Solomon says, "As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of the laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep" (Ecclesiastes 5:11-12, NIV). Based on these words, it doesn't seem as if Solomon had much respect for indulgence in the arts. And yet Solomon later says, "Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God" (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19, NIV).

Chicken Stew for The Soul

Okay, I'm going to be really real here. I didn't have my photography article ready for this week until I was down to the wire. The real deal: past the wire.

I've had a lot going on the past couple of weeks, and I have been mulling over some ideas, but for some reason (pardon the pun) nothing was clicking. I could have succumbed to the writer's block (or was it a fogged lens?),  but since God let me know (because I had asked)  on Independence Day that I needed to declare my independence from self-imposed limitations, I knew I had to do something.
So I did the only thing that I knew could help me at this point. I asked the Lord ---"Help! I need wisdom to write this article,and according to James 1:5, if I need wisdom you'll give it to me."

So I'm going to share with you what transpired in the evolution of an idea, and how you can use just a thought to begin a creative exercise. Now I'm not talking about creating some masterpiece, but about using things you have readily available  to exercise and develop your own creativity. This is the behind-the-scenes, non-glamorous type of stuff.--you know like sweating on a treadmill.

Back to the evolution. For some reason, I then thought of potatoes. I don't know if it's because I recently saw the movie "Faith like Potatoes"  or if it's because I'm going to cook some today in a chicken stew, or just because they were readily available.  So I said, 'alright, potatoes it is' and I got the bag, put it on the front porch swing, and photographed it. (photo at the top) Nothing too exciting about a bag of potatoes.

Raising a Voice of Victory!

Our interview this week is with Brooks J. Young, a dynamic young woman who is the Executive Director  of Touching Heart Ministry, a faith-based, non-profit organization with the mission to restore faith and build hope in women of all ages. She is also an author, hosts her own radio show, and is the Editor-in-Chief of the recently launched online magazine, Victorious Magazine.

Joan: Brooks, first I must say you have an interesting name. Would you mind sharing how you came to be named Brooks?

Brooks: Yes, it is unusual. My great-aunt was given the privilege of naming me. Before I was born she declared that I would preach the Gospel and bring souls to Christ.  She said she was sitting in her room in prayer and the name came to her but when God gave it to her it had an "s". My mother and father approved.

Joan: Yes, God will do things like that, I believe, to set a distinctive mark for His purposes. Well, tell us about Touching Heart Ministry

Brooks: Touching Heart is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to helping women help themselves. We offer programs and services to restore, rebuild and renew the lives of young and adult women. The women who come to our organization are looking for spiritual, physical and/or emotional healing. At Touching Heart, we believe God has provided us the opportunity to fulfill their needs through encouraging women to seek their purpose and find themselves, learning their true value in the process.

Joan: How/where did you get the vision for your Touching Heart Ministry?

Brooks: The vision came from God when I was in a hard place in my life. Five years ago,I was going through a divorce and illness.  I had no desire to live. I wanted to die - fast, quick and in a hurry. I am so glad it was just a passing thought because I would have missed out on all opportunities that God presents to me daily.

Watch Out For Hot Spots!

"Celebrate Summer - Sun drenched days and starlit nights..". -- Gooseberry Patch.  

 Ahhh, the days of summer are upon us! Days filled with vacation, ice cream,  tea on the rocks, sprinkler fun, flip-flops,  barbecues, family gatherings...the list goes on. I'm willing to bet more photographs are taken during the summer than any other season. 

Summertime . . .with its long, bright days. . .opportune times for picture-taking, and capturing faces of those we love and places we love to be. In this article, we're going to talk about watching for 'hot spots' in photographs, and ways to capture more pleasing portrait-like images of those faces you love, and how to avoid those hot spots on hot days. 

Are you familiar with the old mantra of "shoot with the sun over your shoulder?" By following that directive,  your subject would be well-lit, your (the photographer's) back is to the sun, and you would avoid the camera flare that could result from you aiming your lens into the direction of the sun. Makes sense, right? Sure, but it can also cause some problems. If the sun is bright, it can cause your subject to squint, not exactly producing a pleasing portrait. Also, you can have the problem of dark shadows under the eyes, as shown in this photo on the left, of my lovely model, Letha.

Not particularly flattering for such a lovely face, is it?

This is something that can be easily missed, because our eyes naturally adjust to the lighting in the scene, and unless something like this is actually looked for, it may go unnoticed. What are some remedies to this problem?

Meet Melanie Pruitt of the Creator's Palette

 

Meet Melanie Pruitt, an artist with a story that's sure to inspire anyone, but especially those who may be going through a time when it seems God has taken away their dream.  

Kelley: What do you remember about your childhood?

 Melanie: My childhood was a mixture of two things. One was activity--whether it was roller skating, riding my bike, climbing trees, or twirling around the bars at the park, I always found something active and fun to do. The second part was imagination. When I climbed a tree, it became the Apollo spaceship heading to the moon. When I crawled through a field of grass, it suddenly became a house and hideout.

Kelley: Tell us about your family and the role they play in your craft.

Melanie: I just returned from my grandmother's funeral. She sang, she played the piano, and she was a skilled, award-winning quilter. My aunt is a well known author. I sat at the table with Mom, looking through her drawing portfolio, and was amazed at her talent of realism with pastels and pencil. One of my daughters excelled in theater, while another excelled in ballet. My son plays a multitude of instruments, writes creatively, and has even published a couple of poems. Even my husband is creative. The artistic part of every presentation and newsletter is almost as important as the content to him.

Art is a huge part of my family, and we each enjoy seeing the talent of the others and cheer one another on in our creative pursuits.

Kelley: Would you say God is a big part of how you express yourself creatively?

Melanie: My relationship with God is a huge part of how I express myself. First of all, I believe Him to be the originator of creativity. My creativeness is, at best, that of a child attempting to imitate the perfect accomplishments of a parent.

I believe when God created me, He put an imagination and creative heart within me--partly in reflection of Himself, and yet I see how this also plays out differently in different people.

Ten years ago, I was close to publishing my first book. I spoke at women's retreats and conferences. I led Bible studies and worked with women's ministries. An unusual chronic illness took all of this away from me.

A Special Lady for Special Needs

Being the parent of a child with special learning and physical needs can be quite challenging on many fronts. One thing that can be particularly frustrating to parents seeking assistance for their child, is finding professionals that can truly empathize with their situation on a personal level. 

This week's interview is with a woman who not only works with parents of children with special needs and challenges-- she has first hand experience as the parent of a child with learning and physical challenges. Meet Laura Parker-Founder and Director of Hands on Learning Solutions.

Joan: Laura, tell us a little about what you do.

Laura: I work with children with special needs and learning challenges, including learning disabilities. I use a wide variety of neuro-developmental therapies to bring about improvements in symptoms and challenges. I also do testing and screening for reading, writing, dyslexia, auditory processing, visual processing, memory, neuro-reflexes, logic  & reasoning.

Joan: Wow, sounds like you are a wealth of resources for parents of children with learning challenges. And--you have a couple of things that set you apart from most other therapists/teachers.

Laura: Yes. The first thing is that I have personally experienced what it is like to have a child with disabilities, and I can relate to the parents. No amount of education can teach you what it's like to have the disability, or to parent a child with a disability. So many of the families I meet feel a connection and know that I know what it's like on a day to day basis to live with the challenge.
The second thing I've discovered in working with my own child is that when interventions are integrated, done at the same time in the sequence of development, the gains are much larger and quicker. Most therapists specialize in one intervention, but I have training in multiple areas.

Making an Impact with Lighting

 

We continue with a focus on some of the techniques that help you to make an impact with your photography, and we now turn our attention to lighting.  Previously, we've covered how changing your angle of view, and the purposeful use of color, can help you create more dynamic images. We'll now take a look at how the use of certain lighting techniques can also help you create photographs that command attention.

Back Lighting for Captivating Images

Drama, intensity, edginess...these are a few words to describe some of the stunning effects you can achieve with the use of backlighting. With backlighting, the light is behind your subject, which means you are actually shooting into the light. This is directly opposite of the usual and comfortable  way commonly employed in image-making, where the light is behind the photographer. Shooting into the light comes with a set of challenges that will be addressed shortly, but when it's done right, dramatic images are your reward.

I enjoy nature photography and I have a passion for capturing images of all types of flowers, foliage, plants, etc., and this is where I will use backlighting quite a bit. I tend to photograph in early morning or late evening light, when the light is softer without the harshness that's present at mid-day. However, for this technique to be effective, you must have some direct sunlight. It won't work if it's a completely overcast day.

Interview with Vanessa Cengic, Graphic Artist, Jewelry Designer, Baker

 

This week I'm happy to interview Vanessa Cengic, whose many talents are a tribute to God's generosity with his grace and gifts.

Kelley: How would you describe your childhood, and what about your childhood played the biggest part in your life as a creative person?

Vanessa: The parts I like to reflect on best were the times spent with my great grandfather in his kitchen. I would spend the night with him on weekends and in the morning he would make me whatever I liked for breakfast. Always from scratch! I would stand waist high next to him and watch him prepare pancakes, waffles, crepes, etc. You name it, he would make it. He also made wonderful breads and pastries and would always pick off a little piece of dough for me to work with. I also like to remember the time I built my own house. Out of a refrigerator box of course!

Kelley: Your relationship with your grandfather explains your baking business! Tell us more about your family.

Vanessa: My family has always been very supportive of my endeavors, which is a huge blessing. I don't think anyone (including me) really thought it would get me as far as it has. I am happy to say that with the Lord's help we were all wrong! Faith as small as a mustard seed is right!

Kelley: How does your relationship with God help you express yourself creatively?

Vanessa: My relationship with the Lord is the number one reason I am where I am today. Without Him showing me all of the talents He provided me with I would still be stuck in a dead-end job making everyone else money. I always seek his opinion in my business practices. I pray before I start each project, as I know I cannot do anything without Him. He is my inspiration. I sometimes find myself waking up in the middle of the night with ideas. I'm glad He sees so much potential in such a cracked pot!

Kelley: What would you say is the most difficult part of the creative process for you?

Vanessa: I sometimes get something kind of like writer's block, but maybe you would call it designer's slump. It stinks, but I find that is a great time to take a small vacation or get into prayer for more inspiration. It's always nice to come back refreshed and ready to create. In graphic design sometimes I have a job come in that I don't think I can do, but the Lord always proves me wrong and provides me with the skills and patience to complete the task.

Kelley: What part of the creative process do you enjoy the most?

Vanessa: I love everything about the creative process. In my graphics business, I love creating the layout, design and working with all of that color. Oh, and fonts. I love fonts! In my bakery business I love creating tasty new combinations and coming up with new recipes to try out on my wonderful family. Sometimes they are a hit, and sometimes they are a miss, but it sure is fun and tasty trying. For my jewelry I love laying out the stones and chain to come up with the best combination before I start putting everything together.

It's All About Him part 2

Welcome back to our chat with Lori Brock... mom to ten amazing children and wife to a pastor and a chaplain in the military!

Shirley : Through the years, money has been tight for your family. You have a gift for wisely using money and stretching pennies. Many are really struggling right now. What advice and tips can you give us?

Lori : Stay out of debt, or get out of debt. Be careful what you value. Be willing to wait and wait some  more. Be a faithful steward, and pray in confidence that the Lord would show you the money saving or making opportunities available to you, or simply provide for your specific needs. Shop at used clothing stores. Reconsider what your real needs are. Cook from scratch. Be creative—think outside the box. Use the internet to research frugal ways to do things—there is so much information available. Try to spend money on things that have a return, like gardening. Some things can be planted once and then harvested for years with just some maintenance. Don’t live for other’s opinions.

Shirley : What are the struggles and rewards of being a pastor’s/soldier’s wife?

Lori : The struggles for me are time issues, doing what I fear (public speaking), feeling like I don’t measure up to what I should be in my position, sharing my husband at all hours of the day, and the difficult and inconvenient job of helping my husband with his studying or writing.

The rewards have been having a life that is centered on serving the Lord, the joy of seeing God work in people’s lives, being ministered to by my own husband, having a husband who works from home and is often available during the day for family needs or activities, the positive effect that his ministries have had on our children, and the privilege of being able to assist my husband in his work.

Shirley : I know that the training has taken Doug away for long and short periods of time. Tell us about that time.

Lori : The longest separation we have experienced was three months. During that time we were able to communicate daily through telephone and internet conversations. Obviously, that was a bit easier than a year long tour in Iraq would be. We did experience the pain of missing one another even in that circumstance, but we learned some things through it that might help during a longer separation.

My main personal challenge was having to handle all of life’s stuff without my husband’s assistance. Fortunately, I had prepared for that by doing more and more of it before he left, and our friends were supportive and helpful, eagerly looking for things to do to assist me. Additionally, my kids were incredibly helpful. That's when they learned to take over most of the housekeeping, food preparation, and child care. They did that to allow me time to handle the paperwork, errands, doctors’ appointments, infant care, and homeschooling. The kids and I had fun together, bonding in a way that we hadn’t before because of the unusual circumstance. Doug was very warmly received by the children when he got home, with the one exception of our six month old baby who no longer knew him. I am glad to say that my husband was prepared for that, and patiently waited for Teddy to warm up to him again.

Shirley : You've had some miscarriages and even lost a baby shortly after birth. How did God use that time in your life?

Lori : He drew me closer to Himself as well as to my husband. He let me see how strong He could be for me as I trusted Him and was thankful. I learned what it meant to rejoice in the middle of a painful, frightening circumstance. My cup overflowed with awareness of how awesome and good God is, even as I grieved. My children benefited from experiencing the reality of death, and the effects of the sin cursed world within the framework of their own relationship with God and their family’s confidence in His goodness. Also, they are extra thankful when we have a baby.

Shirley : How can we, as laymen in churches, reach out and help our pastor’s wives and wives of servicemen?

Lori : Love them. Be real with them. Let them be real with you. Instead of saying, “Let me know if you need anything,” think about what you can offer and say, “I’d like to do such and such for you if that would be okay. When would be a good time?” I have friends who do this and I am very comfortable calling them with other needs as well, whereas with those who make a general offer I am uncomfortable asking. The thing that has made the biggest difference to me is feeling that people are supportive and loving, and not looking on in criticism of one thing or another. Pastor’s wives are not people who have arrived; we have character flaws and struggles like anyone else. It is heartwarming to know that that is understood and accepted. I think that the wives of servicemen often deal with things that no one else can easily understand. Therefore, much humility and sensitivity are in order. But, don’t let the fear of saying or doing the wrong thing keep you from reaching out.

Shirley : Thank you for taking time to share with us, Lori! I know that your wise advice will be helpful and your words will encourage hearts!

You write it! She rights it!

How many of you-- write articles and/or books? have websites? ever have a need to draft a winning   resume? 

These are just a few places where your thoughts and ideas translate into words that need to relay important information to your particular audience. These are the moments when your work needs to reflect excellence, as these are opportune times to shine and convey your professionalism, the times where you may not get a second chance at that first impression, times when it's important to have someone edit your work.

Our ministry spotlight person today is someone that can help you make that good impression.Meet Carla Ives, Editor, who helps your written work be the best that it can be. Carla has a delightful, quick-witted personality and is an easy person to converse with. We talked about her 'gifting' of eagle eyes and of that inner ear that can hear and help you convey the heart-message of your written word.

Joan: Carla, tell us what you do and a little background on how you discovered your gift.

Carla: (laughing) Well, I call myself a 'Purveyor of  Fine Words.' Fancy way to say that I am in love with language, expression and presentation!  I'm not sure exactly when I discovered this "gift."  As a child, I read everything I could get my hands on. I practically lived at the library. Good spelling has always been instinctive with me. I won every spelling bee I ever entered. I guess it naturally flowed that I would "learn" to spot things. I've been proofing and editing for over 15 years now.  I "formally" turned it into a business two years ago.

Joan:  You've had battles with your keen sensitivity to words and writing. Will you share on that?

Carla:  I would be reading an excellent book and, all of a sudden, it would be. . . "Hey, that's not correct!" As a high school student, I have to admit to developing into a bit of a word/grammar snob.  A few of these glaring mistakes and I wouldn't even finish the book.  I even went so far as to write the authors.  Some of them gave me the courtesy of a reply, usually blaming their editors.  :)  Some of them replied in a "not-so-nice" manner.  Most never took the time to reply, but, still, I wrote.  At that point, I wasn't so sure it was a gift.  Most of the authors were not too fond of me (HAH!) and my school chums hated me for winning all the contests.  Nobody liked hearing they made a mistake.

However, I just read on, and, of course, the maturing process of life helped get rid of the snobbishness. I now just have the heart to serve and help others be the best they can be with their written work.

Now let me say I'm far from perfect.  I do strive to continually hone my craft, but things DO get by me.  Still, typos and grammar oopsies just seem to jump off the page at me when others write them.  My own work? Not so often. This is one of the reasons I say you should NEVER proof/edit your own work, if you can avoid it. You know what it's supposed to say and you will read right over what it actually DOES say without noticing it.  If you DO have to proof your own work, let it sit at least 72 hours before reading.  It will make a big difference!

 Joan: What is the difference between an editor and a proofreader?
    
 Carla: Good question!  I get asked this a lot.  A proofreader reads with an eye for spelling and grammar mistakes in an attempt to achieve a technically-correct manuscript. The proofreader corrects technicalities, but makes no actual changes or suggestions to the author unless it is about the use of a more technically correct word. 

Notice how I'm overusing forms of "technical" here?  I want to emphasize that proofreading is nuts and bolts reading.  Editing, on the other hand, encompasses proofreading; however, the editor makes suggestions to the author on how to strengthen, clarify and focus the author's work.  When I edit, I proof and suggest, all the while doing my best to keep the author's style and tone intact.  Again, my aim as an editor is to strengthen, clarify and focus the author's ideas, NOT change the work.

Joan:  We know presentation is SO important, in person, in print, on the web. Do you find resistance where, perhaps, people don't think they need an editor for their work?

Carla: Yes, I often find resistance to editing.  Why?  I think it comes in two basic forms.  One, people simply do not think they need this type of service.  A lot of people simply do not know they are making mistakes that will impact the reception of their work. Therefore, they don't recognize their need for an editor.

Secondly, I think people feel that it simply doesn't matter. They feel that everyone makes mistakes and it is perfectly acceptable, especially in this age of internet communication when the language has been abbreviated into a collection of acronyms and symbols.  The increasing use of texting as a main form of communication further abbreviates this into an art form, how to get the most language into the fewest actual characters!  Everyone seems to be on a Twitter mission. . . say it in 140 characters or less!

Let's take job applications. In today's economy, there are oftentimes upwards of 50 applications for one part-time job!  The first ones to be weeded out will be the ones with obvious mistakes in them. The screener will then look for something that makes the application stand out. The best way to do this is with a professional presentation. Appearance and presentation DO count, even in today's world, maybe not so much in emails and text messages, but when you want to make an impact, they are vital aspects of your presence.

 Joan: Carla's business is A Word Aptly Written. Let her help you shine, while you take time time to smell the roses!

Interview with Patricia (Trish) Morales of Soapy Blessings

 

Who knew soap could be a work of art? Patricia Morales proves it's possible, and you will love the story behind Soapy Blessings!

Kelley: How would you describe your childhood, and what about it has played the biggest part in your life as a creative person?

Trish: I can't remember not being a creative person! I recall in 2nd grade, I took several pieces of school paper and wrote a story . . . a simple 2nd grade story, but it had a basic plot, a hero, and a purpose. Then I illustrated the story, and I cut and folded the pages in such a way that I created a "book." I gave it to my teacher. She thought it was such a wonderful idea that she decided it would be a great class project that everyone make their own books.

Creativity is something I believe I inherited from my mother. She was a hardworking woman with little time for arts and crafts, but her creativity spilled over in other areas. She often combined work and play so creatively we seldom realized as kids that the combination had occurred! She sparkled with joy and fun and always encouraged our creative sides.

Kelley: I used to make my own books, too! In fact my dad still has one about horses that I wrote and illustrated. So tell us about your family and their role in your craft.

Trish: I'm married with three children, two of which still live at home. My husband is an amazing sales rep for me. I love watching him work the crowd when we are at arts and crafts fairs. He is pure joy and in his element when speaking with people . . . in two languages, no less! He's also my men's fragrance expert and willingly tries out all my soap and men's fragrance creations. My kids are also very helpful, from trying my soaps and fragrances, giving me feedback, and helping out in the actual soap making. They help me in setting up and tearing down our booth at craft fairs and give me feedback on booth displays.

Ministry Spotlight : It's All About Him (pt 1)

Today I want to introduce you to Lori Brock. I met her about fifteen years ago and the more I know her the more I love her. She is a pastor's wife and a homeschooling mom of ten amazing children. Her husband, Doug, is also a chaplain in the Army National Guard.

Shirley : Lori, welcome to Christian Women Take Root! You are a busy lady. How do you run a household of ten children, homeschool, and be a pastor's wife?

Lori : Hi Shirley, thanks for inviting me. I'm honored! You've asked a whopper of question, but the very same one I always want others to answer for me. I'm only too aware of how far short I fall of really doing things God’s way, so I'm somewhat uncomfortable with the position of teacher. The bottom line is really... the grace of God... His continual grace toward me, my husband, and our children. No external practices could make us truly successful.

With that said, there are some principles that have made a big difference for us. God first, second, and last. It’s all about Him. Disciple the children so that they love God, have godly character and godly desires. Ultimately, everyone in our home has the same values, goals, and attitudes. We just all have different strengths and weaknesses. This gives us an amazing unity

that makes everything go smoother. Homeschooling has been a help to running a home of ten children because we don’t have to do a lot of running around, we don’t compete with many outside interests or values, and the older children are able to help around the house and with the younger children. They really enjoy each others company which makes everything go better. (Not that they always get along!)

Making an Impact With Color

In the last article, I gave examples of  how you can create photos with more impact by changing your perspective/angle of view, before you release the shutter to take that picture. This article, I'll discuss how to make an impact with the purposeful use of color.

Instead of using images already in my files to illustrate this technique, I decided it would be more fresh, and more of of a challenge to me, to create some new ones specifically for this article. And that's what I did.

So, on May 10,  accompanied by husband, daughter and mother-in-law, we spent the day at Calico Ghost Town, which was hosting a Blue Grass Hootenanny Festival
for the Mother's Day Weekend.

A Little Bit of Calico History

Located in San Bernardino County, and about 130 miles northeast of Los Angeles, Calico Ghost Town resides in the expansive Mojave Desert. The Mojave Desert covers 25,000 square miles, with its territory covering southeastern California and parts of Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.

The mining  town of Calico was founded in 1881, and with its 500 mines,  $86 million in silver and $45 million in borax were produced,  making it one of the richest mining districts in California. The U.S. Borax Co. brought its 20-mule team to town on a regular basis. The town once boasted a population of 1200, with 22 saloons. The silver strike ended in 1896 and by 1904 the town was abandoned.

Homemaking 9-1-1! Help is on the Way!

 
Could you use some encouragement in the areas of keeping your home together, or being a godly wife and/or mother?  Have you ever felt overwhelmed or frustrated in these areas? Well that's an area of expertise for Malia Russell, the director of Homemaking 9-1-1.  Help is on the way!

Malia's ministry is to homemaking women, and her "home" on the web is meant to encourage and give resources to help in many aspects of home management, home education, being a godly wife and mother, and becoming the type of woman God is calling you to be. Her website is a chock-full of helpful articles covering home management, parenting, homeschooling, and inspiration.

Joan: Malia, share with us where you got the inspiration to start Homemaking 911?

Malia:  This ministry was born out of my own experiences. I left the corporate world to be a full time mother and home maker in 2000. I immediately became aware of my own inadequacies as a wife, mother and manager of my home.  In desperation, I called out to the Lord, read God's word, read every book the library had on home management, and spoke to many women about all the aspects of home making, home management, and eventually homeschooling as well.  As I embarked on this new phase of life, I wanted to be thoroughly equipped.  In doing so, I gained a lot of experience and wisdom from others that I love to share with my readers.

Joan: I understand that making that transition from corporate world to full-time mother and home maker can be a challenge. You have quite a few articles and downloads available to help with many aspects of home management.

Malia: Yes, some of it is purely practical.  Some of it is inspirational, and some of it is just the sharing of my thoughts with my readers.

Joan: By the way,  I'm going to have to try that recipe you have for blueberry banana bread under your home management section. Sounds yummy!  Is your site geared mostly to stay-at-home moms, or is it for women in general?

He Said, She Said, but God Provided the Epiphany

 

Have you ever had a horrible argument with someone--the kind where you realize you see things from such different perspectives that you believe there is no way to resolve the issue? I recently had one of those arguments with my husband. It was a blessing in disguise, because later that day God provided me with an "epiphany." Of all places that epiphany came from my psychology textbook.

Although the argument with my husband had to do with our financial situation and our differing opinions about what the future might hold, God revealed to me that my faulty thinking had often permeated every aspect of my life; even my creativity.

The chapter I read dealt with gender differences. We all know that men and women see things differently. "That's an understatement!" some of you might be saying. But at the root of male/female stereotypes are seeds of truth, and it was a few of these seeds that were at the root of our argument and at the root of the reason why I couldn't see myself as God sees me. So here are a few of the traits that jumped off the page that day:

Traits more often shown by men:
* Are more self-confident of future success
* Attribute success to internal factors and failures to external factors
* Are more self-validating
* Have higher self-esteem

Traits more often shown by women:
* Are less self-confident in future success
* Attribute success to external factors and failures to internal factors
* Are more dependent on others for validation
* Have lower self-esteem

Who wouldn't rather be confident of future success? (Faith.) Who wouldn't want to believe that success comes from something inside us (the Holy Spirit), rather than from our external circumstances? Who wouldn't rather seek validation from God than from humanity? And who among us wouldn't want to recognize our true worth in the mirror of God's love and grace?

Making an Impact with Your Photos

 

In the last segment, I posed the challenge of photographing something that you can share at different stages. . .such as a garden or work project, and to also use this as an opportunity to practice different lighting techniques discussed in previous articles. Anyone want to share what they've done?

Today, I'll give information on creating images with impact. Sometimes, all that is needed to make a better than average image is a perspective shift- in the natural and, also, in the spiritual.

The Natural Perspective Shift

Take a fresh view on an ordinary subject. I'll use my images of poppies that bloom where ever they choose to in my backyard. Here's an image (left) that I created, and then here is what the area actually looked like at the time the photo was taken (right). The surrounding grass is still dormant and still looks pretty much dead. At first glance it doesn't look too promising for creating something beautiful. (Sidebar: this area is on it's way back to life!)

So how to go about getting a better-than-average photograph?  What most will probably think to do is to move in, and capture the top of the flowers, which will indeed make a better photograph.

However, by changing your position or angle of view, thereby changing your perspective, you can create an image beyond the usual. In this case, I needed to get more ground level. So by sitting, and even laying on the ground, I was able to shoot, angled upward, to capture the beauty of the flowers, and use my lattice fence and the blue sky as a subtle background.

For the image on the right, I changed position slightly (still ground level) and used a larger aperture to blur out the background and focus just on the flowers.

By taking the time to evaluate your subject a little more, and challenging yourself to try something beyond the ordinary or what you would normally do, you may be surprised at what you come up with. I like this quote that says:

Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time or last time.
Then your time on earth will be filled with glory.

The Spiritual Perspective Shift

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  (Colossians 3:!7 NKJV)

Juxtaposie: Where Fashion Meets God's Vision to Help Women

 For those of us who sometimes wonder if being involved in a business based on our creativity has any real value for the greater good of humanity, do I have a story for you! I was watching Joyce Meyer's TV program not long ago, and she was talking about some of the women she had encountered who had done extraordinary things for humanity in unexpected ways. Two of these women were Kristen Hendricks and Jamie Scroggs, co-owners of a private-label handbag company called Juxtaposie.

Many wonderful things happen by "accident," and the creation of Juxtaposie is no exception. Back in 2002, Kristen Hendricks was admiring a friend's vintage handbag, and because Kristen could sew, she found some vintage fabric she liked, and she went home and created her own handbag, complete with a beaded handle. One day she was browsing in a boutique when the owner asked her where she got her bag. Kristen said, "I made it," and the boutique owner asked if this was a business. Kristen only paused a moment before saying, "Why, yes it is!" And before long Kristen really was in the business of creating handbags.

Kristen named the company Juxtaposie, "a bouquet of unexpected combination of colors, shapes, and ideas," and Juxtaposie's business model allows women nationwide to become sales consultants, thus empowering more women to create their own businesses. Being the president and senior designer, Kristen decided she needed help in the business area, so she brought in her sister-in-law and best friend Jamie Scroggs.

Ministry Spotlight : Labor Of Love

Shirley : Michelle Chartier is the coordinator of Event Horizon Planning in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I have been so blessed by her ministry and wish everyone had this awesome program available to them! Michelle, tell us about Event Horizon Planning.

Michelle : It's a volunteer run company that provides field trips and lessons for it's subscribers; most but not all are exclusive for Manitoba homeschoolers. Families subscribe to Event Horizon Planning for a small fee which helps defray the costs of running an incorporated and insured business. Field trips, lessons, and events are offered at the best possible price to subscribers. The costs range from free to more expensive... such as weekend retreats and ski trips.

This company is a labor of love, brought about because of necessity. I'm doing my small part to fulfill a need for a wonderful group of people and I'm continually thankful to God that I'm able to enrich the lives of homeschooled families while doing something I enjoy.

Shirley : What made you start Event Horizon Planning? It's such a creative and helpful service to homeschoolers!

Start a Successful Home Business with the Support You Need!

God has given each of us talents and gifts that we can use to trade for the money, goods, and
services that we need to help sustain us and our families. Throughout time, women have always
used their individual talents in their own ventures-- either to sell use for barter. However, with the
onset of the industrial revolution, more and more people became employees of someone else,
which subdued,somewhat, that drive to have one's own venture. The security of a paycheck has
provided comfort to many. We now face uncertain economic times where job security is no longer--secure. Many are re-positioning themselves to take the risk to get out and use the gifts God has
given to start their own home businesses. But as guidance may be needed to move ahead, where
do they start?

Meet Laurie Neumann, a business coach whose passion is to help others find the right type of home business that fits their interests, gifts, and lifestyles.

Joan: Laurie, to start, tell us about your own home businesses.

Laurie: I started out owning an online Christian bookstore. I loved it!  I owned it for about a year, however, then the company ran into some financial problems and had to temporarily shut down.  At that time, I started my current business, a home business website.  I started it because, as I was looking for home business opportunities, I realized there was so much information out there, and much of it was scams. I wanted to help people avoid those and provide a place where people could come, relax, and find legitimate solutions.

Joan: So through this, you found you really enjoyed helping people find a home business suitable
for them? And is that why you became a Certified Biblical Coach?

Laurie: Yes. I received certification through the Biblical Coaching Academy, where we use coaching principles grounded in the Word.

Interview With Lynn Mather of "Sawdusted"

 

Country, Americana, faith, and family. These are the words that come to mind when I look at Lynn Mather's woodworking projects. Lynn says one day a bandsaw followed her home and she's been "sawdusted" ever since.

Kelley: Welcome, Lynn! Thank you so much for this interview. I think our childhoods play a big part in what we choose to do in life. How would you describe your childhood, and what about it would you say has played the biggest part in your life as a creative person?

Lynn: I agree. I grew up in a safe and loving Christian home. My mother and father were both Depression children, so they knew how to make do with what they had, which requires the ultimate creativity. They built our home and later a cabin. I grew up loving the smell of fresh-cut lumber. Dad let me help him, and Mom encouraged me to create from his building scraps; nothing ever went to waste. Through creativity, everything was utilized.

Kelley: That brings back memories! My husband is a carpenter, among other things, and to this day one of my prized possessions is the little wooden Christmas village our daughter made using scraps from my husband's shop. Family can be such a blessing to our creative lives. Tell us about your family and the role they play in your craft.

Lynn: My daughter inspires me with her needs; first as a child, now as her own person. She is incredibly supportive and continually gives me challenges to keep me creating.

Create Your Own Photo Collections!

As women, we're familiar with collections in the fashion and retail world, which are generally based  on new releases and new seasons. "Now showcasing the Donna Karan Spring Collection of..."  shoes, accessories, ready-to wear, etc.,  with  subsequent releases appropriately named Summer, Fall and Winter Collections.

Many of us have our own personal collections of different items: a friend of mine collects memorabilia that has to do with Mayberry, RFD. Another collects key chains from her many travels; my mother collected Ashton Drake Dolls ( some of which I'm now holding in trust for my daughter). Me, I loosely collect dolls of Native American and Black heritage, Muffy Bears, and memorabilia from Bugs Bunny and Star Wars.
 
With photography, you can create your own collections of certain types of images. There are certain things that I make a point to photograph where ever I go. For example,  one of my collections consists of images of windows and doors. From Nantucket, to Paris, to Sydney..I have photographs of the doors and windows from these places that I've visited.

Why have such a collection? For one thing, it can make for an interesting gallery in your home, and something you can continually add to. Visitors will check, after you've returned from your travels (local or elsewhere)  to see what new images you've added.Additionally, you may decide someday to sell greeting cards, or art at your local street fair, and having a continuity in your work gives some credibility to you as a photographic artist. You can also have you own online stock photo business and become known as the person who has pictures of________.

Changes Coming To The Creator's Creatives

 

There are times in life when you realize you need to scale back on certain things just a little bit in order to give them the attention they deserve, and with Shona's advice I reached that conclusion with "The Creator's Creatives." Instead of writing every week, I'll be writing on the second and fourth Mondays of every month. I'll still be interviewing creative Christian women and talking about creativity from a Christian perspective. Next week, I'll have an interview with Lynn Mather, a woodworker who sells on Etsy and Artfire.

I also had an "Aha!" moment regarding some important differences between men and women while reading my psychology textbook, and I immediately thought of how these differences can negatively affect creativity. So I will be sharing that experience, because it really opened my eyes to some things about myself that I don't particularly like and would like to change--with God's help. I also plan to talk about a creative company started by a couple of Christian women who then founded a charity to help women in Uganda! So stay tuned for more of "The Creator's Creatives" coming next week.

Thank you for reading my column, and thank you for all your wonderful comments! Until next Monday, take joy in the precious meaning of the season of Christ's resurrection!

Spotlight on the Ministry of Mentoring

 

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, ...to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. (Titus 2:3-5, NIV)

This weeks column is a little different, as I'll shine a spotlight on the 'behind-the-scenes' ministry that all of us as women can, and should be, participating in---that of giving counsel and guidance to younger women. Summed in one word--mentoring.

Some of you may be thinking  "What! I need counsel and guidance myself!," or "I'm not old enough," or "What do I have to offer in this area?" Each of us has something we can impart into the life of a girl or younger woman. In looking at the scripture in Titus, we can also translate that to a more mature woman teaching a less mature woman, and this maturity is related more to experience than age. However, for the sake of simplicity, and to expound an area that's personally dear to my heart, I will relate this to the mentoring of adolescent girls and young women. In addition to encouraging you to reach out more to girls and young women in your community, neighborhood, and church, I will also share some practical ways to do that.

The Why

There's an enemy out to steal, kill, and destroy, not only the heart and soul of our girls, but also the God-designed purpose and destiny of each one. We live in a media-saturated culture which is loud and blatantly 'in your face' with values that run contrary to God's word and values that we, as believers, should uphold. This culture promotes beauty and body obsessions, sex without commitment, self-gratification, and is deficit in morals and character. We live in an age where girls are enticed into being "sexy", thin, and 'beautiful', at increasingly younger ages, by the standards set by the culture. Standards which are unattainable and unrealistic. In this world, girls face intense social pressures to blend in, and documented research shows that this pressure has been a major contributing factor in increases of damaging and negative behaviors such as eating disorders, self-injury, premarital sex, and substance abuse (to name a few). 

Interview with Patti Moore of Pholkart*Blessings

 

Patti Moore is a self-taught artist who loves to focus on themes of home, family, faith, and the seasons.

Kelley: Welcome, Patti! I think our childhoods play a big part in what we choose to do in life. What part did your childhood play in your life as a creative person?

Patti: My family taught me so much about being creative in everyday life! I am the oldest of five children. One of my parents' primary goals was to send each of us to college. In order to save money and do this, they became DIYers (do it yourselfers) before it was trendy! Mom knit our sweaters, hats, and mittens. My grandmother and great aunt sewed our dresses and doll clothes. They all modeled ingenuity for me. 

Kelley: Would you say your relationship with God is a big part of how you express yourself creatively?

Patti: As I draw, I try to listen for inspiration from the Lord. This doesn't mean all my artwork is Christian themed (though often it is inspired by songs and scripture I love, especially the Proverbs and the Psalms). Instead, I find that the ideas God gives me end up celebrating the good things--the everyday blessings--He gives us.

Kelley: What would you say is the most difficult part of the creative process for you?

Patti: I struggle in waiting through the "dry times." I think most artists experience times when ideas just don't flow. For me, no amount of coercing will bring a fresh idea bubbling to the surface. This can make me feel very discouraged! But God is good! He helps me remember that I need quiet and rest. He encourages me to step back from the inner pressure I experience to "produce" and get back to "playing" as I doodle in my sketchbook. He reminds me to "just be" and to trust Him.

Ministry Spotlight : A Mommy Mission

So many women live their busy lives not realizing the impact they have on those around them. This week I am interviewing Karlene Jacobsen. She's a wife and a mom of four. She homeschools, writes, and helps out at church. Is she a woman in ministry? Read on and see what you think!

Shirley : You don't have a formal position or title, but do you see yourself as a woman in ministry, Karlene?

Karlene : Had you asked me that a year or two ago, I would've said, "No Way!"... but something happened between the Lord and me and I now see that I am raising the leaders of tomorrow. Proverbs tells me to teach (train) my children in the way they should go, when they are old they won't depart from it.

That is a promise from God... a truth I can bank on. I believe that what I do now affects them tomorrow. Yes... this is a ministry. Just as a pastor is a shepherd.. we as parents as pastors and shepherds in our own homes. We minister to these precious young men and women everyday. It's our responsibility to help them learn to choose between the high standard God sets and the temptation the world offers.

Shirley : How do you deal with discouraging and disparaging reactions to being a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom?

Karlene : I used to work in a doctor's office until HE asked me to leave the job and teach my children from home. I've actually had people inform me that God doesn't tell people that. People don't always see the benefits of homeschooling. Some feel threatened because I don't conform... or they feel superior because their child is getting a "proper" education. One person actually accused me of not teaching my son to read and tried to cause trouble.

It's really not about making it into a contest or race to see which child learns the most... it should be a daily adventure to guide our children safely to their destination. Here on earth... the purpose God has for them... and eventually... eternity with God.

Techniques to Create Dynamic Images - Part 2

In our last segment, we covered the compositional techniques of rule of thirds and leading lines.
This time we'll look more at lines and design, and touch on framing techniques, and the use of perspective.

Principles of Lines and Design
As mentioned in our previous segment, lines can be used to draw the viewer's attention into the
image and to the focal point, while also setting the tone and feeling of the image. Using graphic
design principles (and  psychological overtone theories), horizontal lines represent stability,
relaxation, calmness ( as in sleeping, lying down) while vertical lines (up!) can show action,
standing tall, and can represent strength. Diagonal lines suggest movement and activity.
Curved lines represent gracefulness.  These principles can also come into play when you are
deciding whether to take your image horizontally, or vertically.

Using Foreground and Background items to add depth
Have you ever taken what you knew was an awesome photo, only to be disappointed once you got
the print, because it didn't look like what you saw when you snapped the shutter? I know I have,
more times than I'd like to admit. One limiting factor is we're capturing a three-dimensional scene
which will be viewed in a two-dimensional format. 

Depth can be added to your photos by
making use of the basic line principles,
and by having objects in the foreground and background. In this image of a vineyard, the stakes represent a starting point to draw the eye into the
vineyard, along the sloped curves, on to the little white house on the left. The mountains in the distance add another dimension of depth, as they draw your eye even further into the scene.

When Life Gives You Lemons . . .

We've all heard the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." It's  inevitable that while we are on our journey to eternity with God, this fallen world will give us lemons--sometimes an entire truckload! But what does this saying have to do with creativity?

I've been taking a small business management class, and like many required textbooks, the one for this class is often very dry--not much in the way of soul or spiritual food, except for one thing. In this text are stories of entrepreneurs who use their God-given creativity (whether they realize it or not) to see their dreams to fruition. One story in particular had a profound and bittersweet effect on me. It was the story of a woman whose amazingly creative business, along with the charity she founded, would have never come into being except for a life-shattering personal tragedy.

In August of 2002, Laurie Johnson was in a small plane crash which took the lives of her husband and young son. Laurie survived, but she suffered a severely broken leg. What followed was an excruciating journey of grief, multiple surgeries, and disappointments. I'd say Laurie's experience qualifies as more than a truckload of lemons. Having a good friend who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in junior high and spent months on crutches, and another friend whose five-year-old daughter died, I can get a tiny glimpse of the tremendous grief Laurie must have suffered. Many would have given up.

Beauty by Design

 

Girls today face intense societal pressures to adapt to what our media-driven culture defines as acceptable female beauty--as it delivers images that are unattainable and unrealistic, yet tempting
and dangerous as a siren's song. Copious research warns of the negative effects this has on the self-esteem and self-efficacy of girls (and women), as they strive to blend in and fit what the mainstream culture  defines as beautiful and desirous.

Our interview today is with Alyssa Avant, a young woman who uses fun-filled events and the word of God to help girls discover, and become comfortable with, their own individual beauty as a uniquely designed creation of a
loving, heavenly Father.

Joan: Alyssa, the name of your ministry is Beauty by
Design. Please share the purpose of it.

Alyssa: The mission is to to turn girls' hearts to God and
to show them how to reject worldly values and look to God for affirmation and validation. I want to inspire girls and young women to embrace their individuality and true,God-given beauty.

Joan: I think many would agree that we have a problem with how society defines beauty, and
there needs to be counters to the unrealistic images girls and women are bombarded with daily
through advertising, television,fashion/teen magazines, etc. What prompted you to start this
ministry?

Alyssa: I was prompted to start this ministry after seeing so many girls so strongly
influenced by society concerning their own personal beauty, fashion and self-esteem.
I wanted to share how if you can see yourself as God sees you, that you will see your
TRUE self as God created you, and that person is "truly beautiful".

Joan: Did you find yourself influenced by these same issues, and if so, how? Can you
share any of your own struggles with self-acceptance and seeing yourself as how God sees
you?

Alyssa: Oh I was definitely influenced by those same societal issues as a teen and it was
my own mom who helped me to begin to see differently. She,  my youth director, my church,
and the Bible studies I was a part of began to influence me and turn me around to see that I
was "truly beautiful" in God's eyes and that it was "right" to be different from the world.
I struggled with fitting in, not dressing like everyone else, being influenced by their
participation in sex, etc, people assuming that I was having sex with my boyfriend because
we dated for a long time, when I wasn't having sex with him. All of these things weighed
me down.

Joan: It's so good you had such a system in place with your mom, church, etc., and that now
 you are providing a means for girls to receive that needed affirmation and support. Girls today
need  strong support systems to help them reject worldly views that undermine their self-worth. 
What are the topics that you speak on, and what is your most requested topic?

Alyssa: I speak on Beauty, Modesty, Etiquette, Fashion and Prayer. My most requested
topic is Beauty.

Interview with Carol de Vega

 

I have "met" some talented and wonderful Christian crafters, and this week I'd like to introduce you to Carol de Vega, founder of Artisans for God and Gifts of Glory. Artisans for God is a social network of Christian crafters and artisans; while Gifts of Glory is more of a store-front community for those seeking gifts made by Christian crafters. Carol has an amazing walk of faith with God; she truly inspired me with her answers to my questions.

Kelley: I think our childhoods play a big part in what we choose to do in life. How would you describe your childhood, and what about it would you say has played the biggest part in your life as a creative person?

Carol: My dad was always doodling. Any art project I had at school, my dad was there to help me out. And he really did help--never outright did the project. My dad was a cabinetmaker and woodworker. He would create all the cabinets for an entire kitchen. Using his construction talents, one year for my ballet show, my dad made life-size music boxes with the big wind-up keys and everything! He used the inside of a toilet paper roll for the tube part of the key, and then he cut out the ears of the key. He was creative.

Sorry to say, I did not know how artistic my mom was until she passed away. We (my dad and I) found a photo album she had from high school, and she drew in white ink all kinds of little icons and caricatures. The original scrapbooker? Even my dad was amazed at her work. I think being the old-fashioned mom she was, she took a back seat to my dad's creativity. She probably never wanted to take a chance at overshadowing him.

Ministry Spotlight : Down Under With Deb

This week's interview is with Deborah Porter from FaithWriters.com. She lives Down Under... in Australia!

Shirley : Deb, tell us a little about yourself and your family.

Deb : Well, I just turned 48 (the countdown to 50 is well and truly underway), and I've been married to Steve for 26 years. We have two adult children and a dear little miniature Fox Terrier. We live on the western outskirts of the Sydney metropolitan area, right at the base of the beautiful Blue Mountains.

I do the admin for our garden maintenance business as well as the work I do for FaithWriters and my own business, Finesse Writing and Editing Service. I'm about to start a publishing service as well, Breath of Fresh Air Press, which is a perfect fit with FaithWriters and Finesse. I also have a one hour program each week on a Western Sydney radio station, so it all keeps me very busy. I've been incredibly blessed by the way God has opened doors at just the right time.

Most important of all, I've been a Christian for 25 years and truly do live each day knowing that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength - and through His strength alone. He is my rock and my reason for everything.

Shirley : That's so awesome. Tell us about what it's like to live Down Under!

 Deb : They call Australia "The Lucky Country," but I prefer to think of it as incredibly blessed. It's a country rich in resources and opportunities for anyone willing to have a go. Aussies are, by nature, very laid back and easy going about most things. When we're asked to do something, the most common response is "No worries." This laid back attitude is not always so great though,

Techniques to Create Dynamic Images!

Use of compositional elements can take what would be a good photograph, to a dynamic one.
In this segment we will cover the compositional techniques of rule-of-thirds and leading lines.

Rule of Thirds
When composing a scene through the viewfinder, the
most fitting placement for the subject which is the
center of interest, would seem to be...in the center.
Though composing your photograph this way is
acceptable and esthetically pleasing, such an image
can appear static, and even boring.

Instead, subjects placed off-center tend to give the
feeling of motion and even tension.This is where the
rule of thirds comes into play.

Rule of thirds is a popular composition tool used by photographers and other visual artists and is said to
be based on techniques used by painters from the 19th century.Using imaginary lines, the scene is divided into thirds,
horizontally and vertically. Important elements in a photograph are then placed along these lines, or at their intersections.

In the first image of the rose on the piano, the flower is
placed in the center of the image. By placing the flower in the right third of the frame a feeling of motion
is created. The flower even seems to be moving towards you, almost as though it will slide out of the picture.

Interview With Stained Glass Artist Barbara Davis

 

My husband used to create stained glass pieces, and one of the best gifts he ever gave me was a three-dimensional stained glass rose on a twisted wire stem. So, I've always had a soft spot for stained glass work. Whether it's the simpler pieces like my husband has made, or the windows gracing architectural gems such as Chartres Cathedral, I love them all. Barbra Davis' work is colorful, simple, and fun, and I think you'll like it too. Be sure to check out her stained glass "flip flops." Adorable!

Kelley: I think our childhoods play a big part in what we choose to do in life. How would you describe your childhood, and what about your childhood would you say played the biggest part in your life as a creative person?

Barbra: From the first moment I remember, I have loved to write. My parents weren't too supportive because they thought it would never amount to anything, but I ended up working for a newspaper later in life. As a young mom I was fortunate enough to be home with my children, but I wanted to contribute to the family income, so I started sewing, and I sold a lot of cute craft items. Guess that's how I got the bug to keep creating, and I have worked in many different media over the years.

Kelley: Tell us about your family and the role they play in your craft.

Barbra: Well, my husband is the biggest factor. We have been married almost 35 years, and we are both creative people. He has always encouraged me and helped me, and I love him for it. I never did stained glass work before we moved to Florida, though I was into quilting and other forms of sewing for many years. Jim has been working with glass for 40 years, so I always had him make any glass pieces that I wanted. When we opened a store, though, he felt I should learn to make some pieces so I would understand the process and be better able to help our customers. So I took two classes (from him), just like our students would do, and to my surprise, I found out I really like it! He loves to do the big pieces, I love the little ones, so it works out perfectly. Isn't God good?