Nectar & Light

we are a bit tired and overwhelmed here and hope to all catch up on some much needed sleep over the weekend before the holiday baking frenzy ensues.  i am coming up for air today to share some things making me happy...

~ gorgeous bowls by samantha robinson;

~ next summer den and i will be celebrating nine years; but i still love this site for it's inspiration and sheer beauty;

~ LOVE handcraft; was lucky enough to snag this and this;

~ bobby flay tweets, my week is made;

~ i may have recommended them before, but listening to a lot of twilight sad lately;

~ adie won this and received a big box of pink Kolo's this week - a very happy camper.

have a wonderful weekend...

xoox~jla

p.s. thanks for the photo trade sign ups - partner info will go out sometime on monday.

above is a little peek of why i was in boulder last week.  i have become rather obsessed with science as of late and had been struggling with how i could create a link of this new found fascination with my own work.  an idea began to form and i contacted my dear friend chrissy who is finishing her master's in museum studies at the university of colorado.  with the permission of the natural history museum on campus, i was allowed access to the zoology and mammalogy collections - i spent a morning photographing and crushing harder on science than i ever thought possible.  the experience was laced with magic - opening drawers of specimens, carefully folding back each tag to find the flawless penmanship of  the collectors dating as far back as the late 1800's.  i held back tears - it was one of the the most fascinating experiences of my life and i am eternally grateful to the university and the collections manager who allowed me to be a part of their world - even for a moment.  there are nearly 50 photographs in this series and when i have confirmation on my hopeful plans for them - i will of course let you know...

in the meantime, if you love science - two new-to-me blogs that have seduced me:

the artful amoeba & creature cast

it was a busy few days... i can not begin to tell you the pleasure i found in packaging the books this weekend.  at first, as i began to wrap the first few in kraft paper, i had to question my sanity.  the technical precision of the perfect wrapping job is not something i can ever brag about.  so why in the world did i plan on wrapping all of these books like this?  but as the process continued, i felt an almost zen like state overcome me and i literally began glowing within.  it occurred to me, that i was wrapping little treasures for all of you - and it made me nearly giddy.  they started shipping this morning and i can not wait for them to arrive in your post box.

and finally - the photo trade.  this will be the last trade - i have loved doing this but 2009 was crazy and 2010 looks to be more so.  the theme, in honor of the season, is joy.  what brings you joy this time of year?  the perfect pumpkin pie?  baby mittens, the glow of a fire, the first impression of footsteps in fresh snow?  remember the rules, sign up here - i will be  accepting sign-ups only until friday, november 20th - partners will be assigned sometime on monday, november 23rd.  please post packages by 7 december.  it is very important that everyone refresh themselves with this post so that requests are formatted properly.  

take care friends and i will connect with you later this week...

xoox~jla

okay.  i didn't make it.  i promised details about the trade this week and i just did not get the chance.  monday morning {late morning/early afternoon} the site will be updated and new details posted here at nectar & light.  this week has been rather full.  i flew to boulder to shoot something that i am really, really excited about  {i will give you a sneak peek next week of that as well}, scanning the polaroids from my trip, and working on a proposal that i am pretty much bouncing off the walls about.  and i am knee deep - quite literally - in packaging little italy this weekend.  i did not pay attention to how many calendars i had in stock and am a bit short - so the first half of the orders will ship monday - the remaining by the end of the week.  i am human - very, very human this week.

love to you all... xoox

there is something i have been trying to ignore.  but i really shouldn't any longer.  i have been getting low... very low on polaroid film.  what i do have i have been saving for portraits - but it is so hard not to just grab a pack and shoot away like i am so used to doing.  i will restock soon - in the meantime i hope you don't mind the occasional peel apart polaroid {as above} to grace this space.  and it is for that reason that adie loves polly has not been updated in so long... we hope to return to that soon - she loves using her little digital pink polaroid as well so you may seem some updates to that effect.  

in other news i will post details about the last photo trade - a holiday trade - later this week.

have a lovely monday and be well... xoox

p.s. my new girl crush.

p.p.s.  and i just found this at decor8 today - thank you so much holly!  and as a special to readers of both blogs i will include a free calendar with all books orders placed today!

i am sorry about being absent this week - i am a bit under the weather.  when i find myself getting a second wind in the afternoon - i have been working on this.  there has been chicken noodle soup slow cooking since i was up at 5am {taking another steam shower in attempt to breathe} and i woke up a few hours later to a nightstand full of love - breathe-right strips, dayquil, vitamin-c megadose, a glass of oj and a soy chai.  he really is the best.  i hope to be back next week - fresh and feeling alive again!

in the meantime:

~ i absolutely love this post by joslyn - it really resonates with my family - the girls know artists from eartha kitt to pj harvey by name; their current favorite listens - the beatles' rubber soul and the soundtrack to the point {filled with harry nilsson favorites};

~ i am loving tigercity;

~ and love browsing here;

~ a new to me etsy shop;

~ LOVE.

xoox~jla

a little peek at our halloween.  we have a thing for musicals around here - we as in the girls and i.  we get a lot of eye rolls and smirks from papa.  one of my favorites from childhood is xanadu.  if you have never seen this movie - and then you watch it as an adult - the cheese factor is pretty high.  but growing up with it - the music, the dancing, the roller skating, the airy layers of cotton and satin, the wish that you had a blue orb of energy that surrounded you - stays with you - to the point where you think it is pretty much the best movie.  ever.  i introduced the girls to the movie about a year ago and while i do not let them sit through the movie itself - we play all of the musical numbers back to back.  a bit of an obsession was born.  so i present to you... the muses of xanadu...

i hope you had a wonderful holiday and aren't sneaking too much of your children's chocolate {like i am}.

xoox~jla

p.s. today is the last day to order a copy of little italy and receive a free calendar - i can't wait to start mailing these out to you i in the coming weeks!

XANADU 02 (I'm Alive)
by ivatrinka

something new...

xoox~jla

i am excited to share with you a few peeks of little italy.  pia has written a gorgeous post about the project and is featuring two peeks inside the book {in addition to the above peek}.  i love the word peek by the way.  and to say thank you i am extending the offer of a free 2010 calendar with book purchase until 1 november.  to purchase, click here. 

 one more announcement today or tomorrow... until then...

xoox~jla

you guys are best.  the best.  thank you for all of the love over the last few days - truly.  the winners are...

of the 12x12 print:  anna kim

of the gift certificate:  jennifer white

thank you again to all of you.  above a sneak peek of something i am exploring.  and speaking of exploring - you need to have a look at tim's blog - i am so captivated by his photographs - especially the one of the sailors on top of the sears tower - i need a big print of that.  are you reading this tim?

see you soon... xoox

today, fieryeyed photography turns two.  what an incredible experience this has been and the fact that you have kept fieryeyed alive and well for the last two years is something i am wholly grateful for.  as a gift to you, i have two little treats for you...

the first - leave a comment on this post and you will be entered to win a 12x12 print from the little italy or la dulce luce collection - the winners choice;

the second - any purchase you make at fieryeyed photography {no matter how large or how small} from now until the cut off date will enter you to win a $300 gift certificate to the shop - use it for a custom print - use it to check off your holiday gift lists - it is up to you!

cut-off dates for both contests is 8pm CST on tuesday, 27 october...

i am able to do this because of your continued support and love - truly, i have the most dedicated and wonderful customers in the world...

xoox~jla