NYC Yellow

There are so many lovely bits of yellow that my eye just loves in this photo!  Such a NYC moment shot.

Bubbles

All day today the primary song "I love to See the Temple" has been running through my head.

I love to see the temple. 
I'm going there someday 
To feel the Holy Spirit, 
To listen and to pray. 

For the temple is a house of God, 
A place of love and beauty. 
I'll prepare myself while I am young; 
This is my sacred duty. 

Here are some temples that hold a special place in my heart!

Snow

Valentines Day Catalog 2010

Here are some pictures from the Valentines Day 2010 catalog, that I liked how they turned out.

Who Am I???

Hey all,

I find myself in a very indecisive place? I need some direction... or someone to sway my decision one way or the other. I am about to submit a photo for this self portrait project I am a part of. It is a group of photographers who are all submitting self portraits to be published in a book. The parameters were pretty wide open as far as what we could do (but we did need to be in the photo) The idea was to give a face to those behind the lens and to define yourself in your own terms.

I have never been one who liked the idea of self portraits... I would much rather learn about you and capture that, then to open myself up for others to analyze... just seems too personal. I have done a few projects in the past, and was surprised how (if I really focused on what message I was trying to get across) it could be a really insightful growing experience as an artist. But I also once did a self portrait of a dead bolted door that did not have a handle.... so obviously opening up has not always been my strength...

Anyway, the thought I had behind this current project was to focus on where I am in my life now and who I am. I had been thinking about this for a while, when in church last week someone read a quote from President Monson and I knew that would be what my piece was about.

"Walking towards the light of Christ causes the shadows of the world to fall behind us"

I wont bore anyone and go into details about why I did X,Y,Z in each photo, and what my thoughts behind it all were. But I would like to know which piece you think is stronger to get this message across.

It will be titled "The shadows of the world fall behind"

Happy Love Day (The old Fashion Way)

What better way to tell someone you love them then with a post card? I found these amazing post cards when I was home in Iowa last year. We went antiquing, and I was inevitably drawn to the box full of dusty papers in the corner that required a great deal of digging through (somehow that makes it all the more satisfying) Enjoy! Happy Valentines Day. I hope you are spending it with someone you love!

xoxoxoxo

I'll give you a whole American Dollar

It is not at all uncommon to hear a Germaine say to another Germaine "I'll give you a whole American dollar if you...." It is always a hit or miss proposition. For instance no American dollars were ever given for the dare to stand up in sacrament meeting and say amen, or to drop to the ground in the parking lot and "secret agent" my way to my car. However, I did make a dollar for the dare to draw a lipstick circle all over my face and say that I would like to be called Topanga from hence forth (at my sister and brother in-laws apartment shortly after they were married....). And somehow my sister Erica got one of my brother's friends to eat... was it a bug or a worm? I can't remember I was to busy gagging in the corner.

When I was home at Christmas.... well i think it is pretty easy to see what I dared Erica to do. Worth every penny! Awesome!

The Strongest form of Flattery is.....

A few weeks ago I came across this artist Austin Kleon. He was featured on the 20x200 site, and from there I went to his blog. It was coming across his blog that my sheer love of his work of newspaper black-out poetry really took hold of me. (here is an example of one of his pieces)

No one is without a childhood or dreams - We started with the same swords.

My obsession set in, I joined his face-book group, I told everyone I talked to about this find, and pre-ordered his book. I absolutely love artist who when I look at their work I walk away thinking, "That is so amazing and clever! I want to try that!" I love the concept of artwork propelling someone else into action. So here are my humble attempts... the first one took me about an hour, but I am getting a little faster now.

The drive targeting real decisions. to submit to the labor of seeking changes The proposal is set

The same kiss won me. it was irony resembling a friend

Thank you Austin Kleon. I am loving this new obsession!

People will come Ray.....

If you ever open photo booth on your laptop.... be prepared for your own lap"top" to be filled with nieces and nephews (and my sister Erica...)

"Dear Friend"

"Dear Friend, I like to start my notes to you like we are in the middle of a conversation. I pretend that we're the oldest and dearest of friends..." - You've Got Mail.

I was thinking about you today... I was actually overwhelmed by the thoughts. What you have meant to me and how much I value our friendship. It is probably the thing I treasure most in this world. Such a little gift from heaven really.

I couldn't help but remember the times we have laughed so hard we cried. Me, curled up in the fetal position holding my abs and begging for you to let up for one moment so that I can breath. And you taking deep slow deliberate breaths that were all ultimately interrupted by fits of happy laughter and genius moments of witty rhetoric. I can barely ever wait for the next time we talk and one of us starts out with; "Remember that time when..."

I also couldn't help but remember those times we have felt so lost, alone, distraught, hurt, sad, embarrassed etc. etc. that tears were the ultimate and inevitable answer. I carried deep shame for ever crying, but not you. You embraced the moment, let it be what it needed to be and let yourself feel it for all it was. You taught me that this, this acceptance of what you feel is valuable.. maybe more than a chipper, happy pull on your game face smile. You have been there for me to hold my hand and guide me through, and I like to think, and pray often, that I have been that for you (even just a little).

Moments of insight, inspiration, and excitement for each other are rattling around in my head right now. There have been some amazing days of absolute nothingness that have meant so much to me. Time. I look forward to what tomorrow brings for us. I hope it is many many more tears of laughter and memories of time.

With Love,

Gaby

Sisters are great!

These are my little nieces Abbie and Ella. Precious when they are sleeping... right?

Their mom and my sister Catherine (Cat) comes out to visit today!

how to get an ice cold beverage...

What you will need:

1. Snow... lots and lots of freezing snow
2. A delicious beverage
3. One totally hard-core brother (or a pair of boots and a coat)



Thanks Grant! You definitely make my life better!

This will be my year...

Have you ever just felt that? Kind of like that excitement right before you open a gift, that the shape of the box or weight or transparent wrapping gives away little hints of the treasure awaiting for you!

I heard of a twitter feed that said "When the ball drops I am going to stab 2009 in the heart to make sure it is dead." I couldn't help but think... not a bad idea. It is not that I did not like 2009. In fact I have had some truly great experiences.. life changing even last year.. but there has just been this quite waiting for 2010. Now all this said, 2010 started with a cold, and returning to the city to find jury summons for the same day my sister would be coming to visit. Made me question this hope for the upcoming year for one moment... but one moment only :)

We are a month in and so far so good on resolutions. I have more projects then ever and hope to blog a bit here and there about my life.. no promises on consistency here.... but will work at it. Let watch and see what this year brings!