THE BURNING HOUSE

I have a confession to make. I'm one of those creepers who when I'm visiting your house I take it all in. I wonder what's in every cabinet. You're catching me up on whats new and I'm wondering what's hidden in the drawers of your new bureau. When I go to your bathroom you'd better believe I open the cabinets to see what kind of lotion you use during the Winter. I told you, I'm a creeper! I'm just so curious about how others live. I think that's largely my attraction to interior decorating blogs and things like The Selby. I get a glimpse into the life of another person. It's so fascinating to me!

Naturally when I came across The Burning House blog it quickly became one of my favorites. The blog poses the question- if your house was burning what would you grab in a mad dash to bring with you? I submitted this picture of some of my most prized possessions and it got posted! I was so thrilled to see it on there!

What would you bring with you if your house was burning?

XO

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A look back on 2011, an exciting year filled with travels, really fun firsts for me and lots of pictures!

January was a snowy lazy month. The kind where you get a bunch of projects done and plan for the upcoming ones.

In February we frolicked with friends in a blizzard that brought Chicago to a  halt. We had about ten FEET of snow some places! It was wild. We lost our bunny, Peter Jennings which was very difficult, but were wonderfully comforted by friends and kind strangers alike. That experience really made me appreciate all the friends I've made on the internets in 2011!

In March I embarked on a journey to the East Coast with Christopher and Trevor as they played their songs in The Wiitala Brothers. We saw some old friends and made some new ones. It was wonderful. That was an exciting month as we got a new little bunny, Seymour after losing Peter Jennings. I also had some Polaroids published in Elle Girl Korea! Very exciting to grace the pages alongside Whitney & Amanda!

In April I saw one of my best friends become a wife & was a bridesmaid. It's so different to attend a wedding and not be shooting it. I loved every minute. The wedding was beautiful and perfectly Tiffany & Todd. It's always fun to go back to Florida.

In May my Mom and I took a train trip to Washington DC to see my Polaroids exhibited (for the first time!). It was really fun and special. After DC I took a bus to NYC and played tourist. It was a great little trip. May was also our 3 year anniversary. We went to see Bill Cunningham NYC in a super cute tiny independent theatre here in Chicago. That movie was so inspirational and I'd been looking forward to seeing it for so long.

In June Christopher, my Mom and I packed ourselves in a blue Subaru and headed down to Florida for my cousins wedding. It was...an adventure...a very long drive. Florida was wonderful as always. We got back just in time to head down to work at the festival we work for every summer. It was the funnest time yet!

July brought joy in the form of my friend Daniela. She came all the way from Switzerland to hang! It was so fun to see her and to do fun summery things together. Sadly one of our bunnies, Zooey (he was our favorite!) died rather randomly. We still don't know just what happened and we miss him every day. On a nicer note I got to pal around with a photographer I'd long admired and was so happy to make a new girlfriend, Lindsay Josal.

In August I went back to Florida again to shoot another wedding. It was so quaint and wonderful. I shot my one and only pack of ID UV (thank you Juli!). We went to Hamtramck Michigan to visit Christopher's parents with my Mom, which was really fun. Always a relaxing time in Hamtramck. There's something so special about Detroit that I hope to explore more with my camera this year. I was also featured on Paul Giambarba's blog, which was truly an honor!

In September I met with New York again. This time on a girls trip with my Mom and Aunt. We did really really touristy things but it was so fun and my Aunts first time in NY!

I shot two great weddings in October. One in Florida and one near Asheville. It was so peaceful to be up in the mountains and the wedding was extremely special and cute! After my trip I decided to take the plunge and pursue wedding photography more seriously! I also got to catch up with my pal Israel who is a full fledged hippy mountain man. I was also featured on The Impossible Projects blog series- 8 Exposures- where they ask different photographers 8 questions. It was such a thrilling honor!

In November I made some wonderful new photography friends. I got to shoot a Tory Burch runway show at night in The Field Museum with the wonderfully talented Paul Octavious....with our iPhones! It was such a unique experience! I also turned thirty. Yikes!

December was a strange month. The holidays were stressful and we were met with some surprises around every corner it seems. Christopher gave me the gift of Ryan Adams for Christmas. It was amazing. I saw him play solo at a great theatre here in Chicago with my friend Nathan. Christmas never felt like Christmas for some reason but in a very neutral way.

It's been so refreshing to connect with creatives this year and to be so very inspired by friends! I am so thankful for the many friends I've gotten to know and spend time with this year both "online" and in real life. It's so fun to recap the year and all the wonderful things that have happened. Here's to a beautiful 2012!
XO

2011 ON HP5

Friday my brother-in-law and I developed some film in my tiny bathroom. We both waited way too long to develop the rolls and couldn't remember what was on them, which turned out to be pretty fun because of the surprise factor. My six rolls were from throughout the year. Two rolls were test rolls from my Diana Mini (which I love because it makes square images on 35mm) and the other four were a mish mash from throughout the year. I thought it was a fun year in review!

I had photos from an underwater camera from a trip to Las Vegas from last year, so many photos of a jaunt we took with friends out to the lake in the middle of a blizzard where we got something like 12 feet of snow earlier this year, photos from my train trip with my Mom to DC to see my Polaroids exhibited for the first time (which was really fun and exciting!), summer fun pictures by the lake and at the park for a free Blonde Redhead show with friends, my most recent trip to NYC where we saw Wicked and of course made a trip to The Impossible Project space, and some random photos from around our home.

2011 has been wonderful, with the exception of losing two of our dear bunnies, but there are so many fun memories to remember 2011 by. I'm looking forward to 2012 and all the adventures it holds!

XO

P.S.

If you want to develop your own black and white film, take a peek at my tutorial here! It seems a little intimidating, but it's really easy! Give it a try. I like to shoot Ilford HP5 b&w film (it is inexpensive and forgiving!). I use Lomography's "digitaliza" to scan in my film with the sprockets. I just got an Epson V600 scanner and I'm in love. I was using an Epson 4490, which is a great scanner that also scans film but the V600 scans instant film newton ring free, which definitely eases the pains of scanning! Okay, I'm done rambling!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

How freaking adorable is gold frame Seymour?!

Reflecting on this past year, I have so much to be thankful for. I've made amazing friends online as well as here in Chicago, accomplished some of my goals, gotten to travel a bit and see friends, shot some wonderful weddings, had fun with family and friends, and enjoyed many rabbit videos on YouTube with Christopher.

I hope you too have experienced a cozy and joyful 2011. Here's to 2012!! Happy Holidays, friends.

XO
Azuree, Christopher, Franny & Seymour

HURRY! HURRY!

How cute is the felted heart that my friend Juli made? Take a peek at her other felted goodies! 

I had to run some errands yesterday and let me tell you, I do not envy anyone holiday shopping this late in the game!! I get so super stressed around the Holidays so I do everything I can to avoid any additional stress like last minute shopping. 

Did you forget someone on your list and need a little last minute sumptin? How's about a pack of Polaroid Camera Cards (new in my shop!) or my 2012 Instant Film Calendar? It's cutting it pretty close so - if you'd like for me to gift wrap and include a little note with your package I'd be happy to send it to the person it's being gifted to all wrapped up pretty! Just make sure to send me a note on Etsy with the person who you want to send it to's address and let me know you want it wrapped. I'll be using kraft paper with silver ribbon. Simple and cute!

Oh what, you wanted a lil discount? Sure, why not! Use the code "xogift" for 20% you're entire purchase! I'm making daily trips to the post office so hurry and get your order in!

Happy Monday!

XO

RYAN ADAMS

The marquee photo was shot on The Impossible Projects amazing PX 600 Gold Frame Film

It's the Holidays which are supposed to give everyone warm fuzzy feelings and peppermint breath but instead I always end up feeling stressed out over gift giving and trying to please all our family members. Thankfully for me, music is my escape. I can always count on certain tunes to put a smile on my face.

My favorite of these trusty artists is Ryan Adams. I love how diverse his records are, how wonderfully clever his lyrics are and the great memories I've attached to his songs. Sunday I had the pleasure of heading to the Cadillac Palace Theatre here in Chicago to see him play all my favorite songs solo. It was wonderful! I've seen him once before with his band, The Cardinals but this time he played solo and I loved it so much. Definitely the best Christmas gift Christopher could give me!

Isn't music magical? I love how a song can take you somewhere beautiful. What do you listen to when you need a little pick me up?

XO

GOLD RUSH!

You wanna know who won a pack of The Impossible Projects PX 680 Gold Frame film? It's Leslie Sophia!  I like the Black Frame / White Frame diptychs in her stream. Congrats Leslie!

Thank you for all for sharing your favorites on Flickr! I am going on a favoriting rampage, so much good stuff out there right now!

Do not fret if you didn't win, you can go right here and buy some of your very own Gold Framed instant film. It is perfect for the holidays! 

A big ole THANK YOU to The Impossible Project for generously giving me film to pass along to you. They are such awesome folks!
XO