Welcome to another post in a series where I combine original photography with a favorite quote, phrase or thought. Embrace Your Flaws is #21; the subject is a simple berry and bottle arrangement. I have been experimenting with my new camera, enjoying the way it can capture so much detail.
I had no idea when I took this picture that there was a cobweb running between the berries. But thanks to the wonderful macro, there it is for all to see.
No worries. Every house has them, right? Does the cobweb detract from the beauty of the shot? It depends on one’s focus. If I choose to view it as a negative thing that is marring the photo then I am less able to see the way the light reflects off the bottle or the way the cobweb shows movement or the way it depicts real life.
I choose to see the cobweb as a happy accident. It enhances the picture and makes it a realistic snapshot of life. Though I hate cobwebs in my house and am forever trying to get rid of them, I will embrace this one.
Welcome to Phrase Art Phriday, #19. This series is a way for me to explore photography and experiment with graphic design. Combine those with an inspirational phrase and my thoughts and writing around it all and you have Phrase Art Phriday.
This week I have squeezed every drop of enjoyment from my beautiful peonies, in my home and in my blog posts. In my two previous posts I showed you four of my five arrangements. Here is the fifth.
Now onto the featured photo with a phrase that I absolutely LOVE.
The funny thing about this quote is that while looking for the original author I discovered that it is somewhat unknown. Almost all of the references to it that I could find online (and there are MANY) give Anais Nin the credit. But no one has ever been able to document it for a fact. I also came across an article that gives credit to Elizabeth Appell a.k.a. Lassie Benton, along with some pretty convincing documentation to back it up. For this reason I have not included an author’s name with the quote on my photo. This bit of information also served as the jumping off point for my deeper thoughts on the quote itself.
As a creative person, I have had to deal with the protective feelings that creative types feel for their creations. Anyone who is creative knows how it feels to have their work copied or “stolen”, and how the fear of that happening can cause one to hold tightly to their work and be afraid to share it with the world. I absolutely confess to having had those feelings at various times in my life. I have also fully understood what this quote is expressing and have known the freedom afforded to those who embrace its truth. I have discovered that as I share my creativity I am filled again with ideas and designs that I can’t wait to become immersed in. There is no end! Shared creativity never runs out and can never be used up. The ultimate creator, God, has an endless supply! He is an infinite source of creative thoughts and ideas. But if I keep my ideas to myself and hold onto them selfishly they can never blossom.
I find it ironic that the author of this quote is disputed. What a shame it would have been if the person who thought it never shared it for fear of having it stolen.
Happy Friday (or should I say Phriday)! Welcome to the 18th installment of Phrase Art Phriday, where I share my own photography overlaid with an inspirational phrase or thought.
The path of life will have weeds. Period. This photo was taken on the side of my house several years ago. I love the way previous owners of our home at some point in its 160 year history took broken chunks of marble and inlaid a mosaic path. Though I love the path, when I looked at the photo recently all I saw were the weeds. They became the focus and I cringed at the sight, feeling somehow guilty for not being a better caretaker. Then I reminded myself that I have many good qualities and gardening/landscaping just doesn’t happen to be one of them. But I digress. What you can’t see in the photo is what lies at the end of the path. It’s something that gives me great joy each and every spring. At the end of the path are four big healthy peony bushes. Pink peony bushes that yield lush beautiful blossoms every year. What is noteworthy is that those same four bushes sat in a dark wooded area on our property for years, never growing beyond a puny size and never producing flowers. When my husband showed them to me one year I suggested we move them. So he dug them up and planted them in a sunny place on the north side of our house. From that time forward the bushes thrived. The first year it blossomed it was exciting to see what color they would be. I was thrilled when it produced blooms in the perfect shade of pink. The peonies now reside at the end of that mosaic, weedy path and will remain there as long as we are here. It’s their right path.
If you are familiar with “prairie style” design, chances are good that you know the name Fifi O’Neill. Fifi is well-known as the single-most editor, photo stylist, blogger and best-selling author responsible for perpetuating prairie style. Her newest book, Prairie-Style Weddings was just released in December and today I have the privilege of sharing some of its gorgeousness with my readers. The book beautifully illustrates “Rustic and Romantic Farm, Woodland, and Garden Celebrations.”
While the book is all about beautiful and creative wedding décor, the amazing vignettes and unique ideas presented could really be used for so many occasions. A summer garden party, a sweet sixteen, graduation, etc. And honestly, so much of it could be enjoyed in every day life, party or not!
One of the exciting things for me when I finally got to see the finished product was that it featured several photos shot at my friend Kelly Littmann’s farm. ALL of the photos at ALL of the sites are breathtaking but I happen to be a little partial to the ones shot at Farmstead right here in Missouri. I have been blessed to enjoy Kelly’s friendship and her farm on several occasions and though I have not had the pleasure of meeting Fifi, I am often in awe of her eye for beauty.
Here’s a glimpse of the book and Farmstead (all photographs by Mark Lohman): Wild at Heart Rehearsal Dinner “Set in a tent, an intimate dinner becomes an outdoor adventure.”
Reclaimed Style Bridal Shower “Upcycling gives storybook charm to a simple garden shed.”… I’ve played in that shed! :)
Western Union Reception “The cowboy-chic theme of a Missouri horse barn captures the spirit of the old west.”
Along with all the visually stunning vignettes, (all photography by Mark Lohman) the book offers some prairie style romantic/rustic DIY projects with all the how-to’s. I don’t know about you, but I am inspired to get busy creating!
“Prairie-Style Weddings shows how easily and affordably one can transform a rustic outdoor space into an unforgettable venue. From a woodland meadow to a simple shed or an old weathered barn, prairie style embraces the best of hand-crafting, heritage, vintage chic, romance, and much more.” –Fifi O’Neill
Thank you so much, beautiful Fifi!
The pages of this book are filled with so much inspiration, I have not even scratched the surface in this post. Here’s one more photo to whet your appetite. Pick up your own copy of Prairie Style Weddings. Visit Fifi’s website.
An unknown future can be a scary thing or it can be an exciting thing, depending on one’s perspective. When there are things in my life that look bleak and I don’t know how everything will turn out there is only one way I can keep out fear. By trusting in One I do know. Navigating unfamiliar territory is much less overwhelming when I remember that my future is in His control.
One thing that is so unsettling about the unknown is the lack of control that one feels. I’ll admit it ~ I can be a control freak. I am a very logical person and I often have a very good rationale for doing things the way I do them. I think things through to the possible outcomes before pressing forward. But I am learning to let go of my preconceived plans and the need to know what’s next. No, not in every area of my life but in a few. I am learning that if I stay narrow minded as to what and how I think things should happen I may very well miss something better. But by yielding control and trusting God who holds my future, I can rest in the knowledge that He knows the desires of my heart and wants to lead me in the very best plan for me.
I’m not afraid to try things. Just not without a good amount of pondering (a.k.a. analyzing from every angle). But I’ve learned that I can measure, and calculate, and think a thing to death and still not get the results that I expect. How much easier it could be if I could lean completely on someone who knows the way. I count on my Garmin to get me to unknown places, boy do I! With my GPS I can now experience so much more than I could when I had to rely on my (non-existent) map reading skills. I was limited by my poor sense of direction, and confined to a smaller world. Literally. Could the same be true of my life as a whole? Am I experiencing a pitifully small existence because of a skewed sense of direction? If I stop trying to analyze and control every twist and turn and instead live by the grace and direction of God will I experience more than I could ever imagine? There are countless adventures waiting. It’s time to trust with wild abandon.
