POLADARIUM

Have you guys seen this calendar? It's a 365 a-page-a-day tear away calendar made up of user submitted INSTANT PHOTOS! They are perfectly Polaroid/Impossible Project sized pages with a glossy image on the front and user submitted text and information on the back.

I LOVE THIS CALENDAR. 

Which is why I was so super pumped when I learned earlier this year that one of my photos was printed in it! January 3rd, which is Christopher's birthday!! It's really neat to have a photo of mine in this calendar and on such a special day, alongside of many of my instant film friends!

It looks like Fab.com is still selling them at a discounted price! 

A special thanks to Jen from Painted Fish Studios for hooking me up with this years calendar! Do yourself a favor and check out her rad Etsy shop. I love these laser cut Polaroid Cards!

XO

N Y C

I can't stop thinking about our upcoming trip to New York for both the opening for the Opacification 'zine and to see my illustrated images in the Make Your Mark show. I'm just so excited for all of it, the show, the magazine, the trip with Christopher!

We'll be there for about 5 days and need some recommendations of fun things to see / photograph / eat! We've done most of the more touristy New York things - we're ready to explore the more quirky things New York has to offer, any suggestions?

A few things I'm looking forward to:

- The Baggu Store

- Catbird

- Jane's Carousel

- Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge with my camera in hand

- Momofuku

Your recommendations have been so helpful in the past, all are welcome! Thank you.

Now to decide on which cameras / films to take....

XO

CONSERVATORY ADVENTURE WITH RACHEL

My friend Rachel and I have decided to go on a photo adventure once a week to keep us on our toes creatively and as an effort to shoot the hoards of cameras we both have. Our first adventure lead us to the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago. I see a lot of conservatories in our future photo dates seeing as Chicago is starting to become that unbearable kind of cold, plus the lighting in conservatories tends to be AMAZING! It's like shooting with a gigantic softbox overhead!

On our first outing I brought my Lubitel, which hasn't gotten a lot of love in about 8 years, my Polaroid 680, and my LC-Wide which I pretty much have had on me all the time since I got it a few months ago. 

Here are a few of my favorite shots. You can see the entire set here. 

It's hard for me to feel creative, or feel like getting out of the house during Winter. I'm really excited about these photo dates with Rachel. She's a very creative person, always looking for new techniques and films to try out. I love that! Take a peek at her awesome analog photos.

XO

S C H O O L

Hello friends! I am SO excited for 2013. One week into the year and I'm already pumped on a few things:

- My photos showing alongside of some very talented artists in The Impossible Project's Make Your Mark Exhibit
- A few more of my instant photos being published in a 'zine called Opacification later this month
- Christopher and I are making a trip to New York for the opening party for Opacification and to see my photos in the Make Your Mark exhibit. It'll be our first vacation alone together since our honeymoon, almost five years ago!
- Have you seen all these wonderous film editions? Mint, American Woods, Gold Frame I'm so excited to shoot them all!

And...

I'm finishing school this Spring! I'm just a few classes shy of having my AA, which I know isn't a big deal, but I'm so close and have procrastinated finishing for so long. I have decided to just go for it! I'm really excited about the classes I'm taking too, French 2, COLOR PRINTING, Women's Literature, College Math (how I wish I could graduate without it) and Modern Theatre! Pretty nice line up, right?!

School starts next week and I'm so giddy/nervous about it. I'm really excited but a little bit scared of being 31 years old at a college where most students will probably be 17 or 18 years old. I hope I don't stick out too much!

Wish me luck!

XO

DECEMBER // GONE

December went by SO quickly. I can't believe we're upon a brand New Year! 2013. That sounds so much more like the future than 2012. I have no idea why this one never posted but here it is!

In December:

- It finally started feeling like Winter in Chicago
- I must have been really good this year because the Santa's in my family made my Pinterest wish list a reality!
- Christopher & Trevor fixed our record player!
- We saw Sufjan Steven's Christmas spectacle
- My friends and I had a little Thanksgiving/Christmas get together- Thanxmas!
- Rachel & I went on a few photo adventures
- The Impossible Project released Gold Edition Frames (my favorite!!!)
- I was stoked to put together another Instant Film calendar for my Etsy!
- We re-arranged our living room! Isn't it incredible what moving around a few things can do to a room?
- I finally finished Twin Peaks and watched Fire Walk With Me. Next up, The Shining!
- Christopher and I got hooked on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (and I have a miniature crush on Charlie)
- A BelAir and LC-A+ made their way into my life. I'm VERY excited about these two guys!
- I started posting a lot more of my images online. I'm really good at sitting on my pictures but I thought it was time to let them go! I'll be posting both on Flickr & Tumblr, so follow me there, if you're into that sort of thing!
- Flickr made a come back among a lot of people, something I've very excited about as it's been one of my favorite websites for years!
- We accidentally, kind of sort of...stole a dog
- I found out that I'm going to be a part of The Impossible Project's Make Your Mark exhibit in both New York & Vienna! I am SO pumped/honored/beside myself!

XO

MAKE Y O U R MARK

How rad is this flyer for the Make Your Mark opening reception? I am SO stoked to be showing in this, I can't say it enough. Sadly we won't be in New York for the opening night but if you are, please go and send me pictures!!

The opening is Thursday, January 17th from 6pm-9pm. From what I've heard The Impossible Project knows how to party so come out if you can! The illustrated photos will be up in their space until February 24th so make sure to stop by if you're in SoHo!!

There is more information and a full list of the exhibiting artists here! 

If you would like to make your own mark on your photos do get yourself a pen set! I love mine and the little SX70 case they come in is SO cool! 

XO

NOVEMBER // GONE

How cute is the wrapping Christopher made for me!?

I know this is a late wrap up of November, but I just realized it never posted soooo....

November has been hard and rad simultaneously.

- Chicago is still experiencing Fall weather! 

- My friends Hannah and Linn threw fellow November birthday friend Kyle and I an awesome surprise Birthday Dinner Party complete with confetti cupcakes and little paper hearts! I felt so loved.

- I turned 31!

- I got to catch up with a few old friends. I love the comfort that comes with talking to someone you've known for a really long time

- I missed Charlee a lot. This time of the year is always bitter sweet - riddled with holidays and family. I don't think I'll ever be able to fully enjoy it since one piece of my heart isn't here anymore. 

- My Mom came to visit us!! 

- Mom and I took a spur of the moment trip to Minneapolis and visited the Mall of America
- I got to go on a great photowalk at the Lincoln Park Zoo with some really fun instant film photographers!
- I fell back in love with my Lubitel, which I've had for nearly 10 years but just started to appreciate!

XO

OPACIFICATION

I am extremely, truly very excited to be a contributing photographer to the Opacification 'zine. My photos will be printed and bound alongside some of my very favorite instant photographers, people who I admire and whose work I love so much. 

Thank you to James Joiner for putting this wonderful thing together and to the Impossible Project for all of their awesome support! 

If you live in New York or find yourself there January 31st, please come to the opening for this analog zine! Christopher and I will be there! We're excited to take this trip to New York together for the occasion, our first real vacation - just the two of us - since our honeymoon almost 5 years ago! Here is some more information about the opening party.

Also, if you have any recommendations for things to do / see / eat while we're in New York together please let me know! Your recommendations in the past have been so great! I'm hoping to finally see Jane's Carousel, a museum or two, Momofuku & a little visit to Catbird (just to look!)!

XO