Nectar & Light

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

i have been posting over here this month.

friday is fieryeyed photography's second birthday... see you then with a surprise or two...

xoox~jla

thank you for a wonderful week - you are amazing!  to see you through the weekend,  i want to share with you some things i am loving right now:

~ this amazing, heart wrenchingly beautiful super 8 film from Toast  - thank you to anna for the link;

~ i have a girl crush on natalie;

~ and a major crush on monsters and patch work undees;

~ one of my favorite photographers ever - my hasselblad hero - ann's aeroplane and maritime portfolios are my favorites;

~ have i mentioned how much i love pyrrha?  i LOVE pyrrha.

~ reading happy lady eats;

~ listening to the annuals;

~ i think i might love to have this;

~ love, love, love;

~ i made this  and it was divine - now i am excited to experiment with other flavors.

have a beautiful weekend.

xoox~jla

the holiday shop, little italy is now open.  you find will our 2010 calendar, two sets of note cards - one shot with Polaroid 600 film and one shot with Time Zero; the black & white 8x8 prints and... little italy - the book.  it is the first title from my new Fieryeyed Books and i am so excited it was finished in time to be a part of the holiday shop.  the book includes polaroids, notes and stories from my travels as well as a recipe or two.  each book comes with a limited edition 5x5 print from the book and is wrapped in kraft paper and twine for gift-giving - even if you are gifting it to yourself.  

Fieryeyed Books seems to be a natural progression in my branding.  i am passionate about books - and i am passionate about art - this small independent publishing company was formed to bring you fine art books that speak to your soul and inspire you to seek adventures anew... i hope you enjoy...

xoox~jla

p.s.  all book orders placed and paid in full before 29 october will receive a free 2010 calendar...

a little sneak peek of the little italy shop which will open tomorrow at 10am CST.  i hope you had a beautiful weekend.  we spent most of it in front of the fire -laughing and loving - and marveling at the snow {in october!}.  i baked - i cooked - i wrote - it was wonderful.  see you tomorrow friends...

xoox~jla

p.s. got a girl crush?

hello friends - i have missed you so!  just a quick note to share some news - then i will be back in full force next week.  as a treat to my readers i promise a post everyday next week to make up for my time away - including a preview of something very, very special, a recipe and link love.  in the meantime, i hope you enjoy this sneak peek of my home featured over at design*sponge today.  thank you to grace and anne!  see you soon...

xoox~jla

p.s. meet king ludwig.  he is our four year old schnoodle we rescued a few weeks ago - he has taken to his new name and new family beautifully - as if he was always meant to be ours...

hello friends.  i hope your week has been full of laughter and love.  i need some time.  some time to breath, some time to step back and reflect; some time to be.  there is so much i have been wanting to say about this little break - but as i sit here - i am at a loss.  things are good - but there are some matters that need my full attention right now.  thank you for your supportive and heartfelt comments - i read and reflect on every single one.  i am hoping to return towards the end of october with energy anew and the holiday shop.  in the meantime, be well and i leave you with a little love...

zucchini bread:

{from my good friend and neighbor kim - i make it every september now - LOVE it!}

~ 3 c. flour

~ 2 t. cinnamon

~ 1 t. baking soda

~ 1/2 t. baking powder

~ 1/2 t. salt

~ 1/2 t.  nutmeg

~ 2 c. sugar

~ 2 c. finely shredded zucchini {peeled and seeded}

~ 1/2 c. cooking oil

~ 2 eggs

use a non-stick spray to coat 2 loaf pans and pre-heat the oven to 350.  in one bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg - set aside.  in another bowl, combine sugar, zucchini, cooking oil and eggs.  slowly add flour mixture and stir until moistened but still lumpy.  divide the better between loaf pans and bake 50-60 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

* especially good lightly toasted with butter in the morning for breakfast...

some things i am loving:

~ the canon;

~ emergence;

~ the lovemakers;

~ drug rug;

~ lightning dust;

~ sid vintage;

~ gemma redux;

~ serpentine mineralis;

~ eddie borgo;

~ and marcello, peter and steve.

xoox~jla

p.s. but you might hear the occasional tweet over the next month...

good morning.  as i write this morning, i sit at my dining room table, a steaming cappuccino to my right - the cool, mist of a breeze billowing my sheer curtains about the room as if a dancing to the music of the rainfall.  i love rainy mornings.  i love the grey that pushes it's way across the sky - an envelope of comfort - and the sound - oh the sound of rain - the incantations of the great mother as she nourishes the earth...

we have had such a lovely, cool summer and more rain than i can remember - as such, we have had a beautiful bounty of certain greens in our garden.  handfuls, potfuls - of basil.  one of my favorite things to do with basil is make pesto.  it is something we love to eat throughout the year and in so many ways... i love, love, love to mix it with mayonnaise and use it as a spread on melts and sandwiches {like the open face egg sandwich above} - add a bit more olive oil to it and toss it with pasta or roll chicken in it, then breadcrumbs and bake it - it is incredibly versatile and versatility works for me right now - so very much.

note* we prefer a very rustic pesto - feel free to use the traditional pine nuts as opposed to the walnuts if you like.

pesto:

~ 4 c. fresh basil leaves {rinsed and patted dry}

~ 1 c. raw walnuts

~ 2 cloves of garlic {if you are sensitive to garlic - adjust accordingly}

~ 1/2 t. salt

~ 1/4 t. pepper

~ 1 c. pecorino 

~ 2T. olive oil

add the basil leaves to the food processor and process until finely chopped.  add walnuts and process.  add remaining ingredients {except olive oil} and process until throughly combined.  while the processor is still running pour the olive oil through the opening in the top and continue to mix until combined.  taste and ensure the salt/pepper amount is to your liking - adjust accordingly.  do remember that if certain flavors are not coming through immediately that they will intensify as the pesto ages.  you can keep fresh pesto in an air tight container in your fridge for up to two weeks.  you can also freeze it.  i recommend doing so in serving portions - about 1/4c each - either in freezer baggies or ice cube trays.

some love to leave you with this weekend:

~ completely smitten with lindsey's new letterpress and gocco print - she discuss the inspiration here and it is available here.

~ i have been prepping my little italy images for something special; having them all in front of me again is inspiring me so much.  i have found myself drawn to black and white 1960's italian films like la dolce vita, divorce italian style, 8 1/2 and la notte - i feel as if they will have a major impact on my work over the next year.  and of course i had to have a pair of persol's...

~ jen invited me to breakfast on tuesday - it was lovely...

~ spending time with the september issue of vogue, the august issue of marie claire italia and this site...

thank you all so much for the support of my shop this summer.  the holiday shop will open mid to late october and will feature a new calendar, note cards {very likely featuring some of the most popular la dolce luce prints} and a few surprises...

we are heading back to boulder for a very quick trip this weekend {more business than pleasure i am afraid} but we will be able to stop by composition in denver and see jen11 before it closes - i am so excited - have a lovely weekend!

xoox~jla

today is the last day to purchase prints from the la dolce luce collection... the shop will close at midnight CST.  thank you so much to everyone who supported the shop over the summer... the fact that i was able to relive those beautiful moments every week as i packaged your prints made my summer a truly glorious one.  thank you friends...

xoox~jla

we had our first incident report from school today.  day four - i mean, really?  so soon?  ayla walked into a metal fixing on a door.  sigh.  she was such a trooper.  have a wonderful weekend friends... some things to leave you with...

~ adie has a new post here;

~ and i have  a new story here;

~ this site and the bags are to DIE for;

~ a truly inspiring collaboration;

~ something to think about;

~ would love to buy this;

~ and this.

~ you can now follow me on twitter;

~ and facebook.

xoox~jla

p.s.  keeping in mind the spirit of the last post - write more letters {!!!} - i am SO excited to share with you the long awaited opening of Postal Press by alyson of unruly things.  chock full of essential postal goodies - i am swooning right now - SO amazing!

simplicity and pleasure.  it is what i seek out of my everyday existence.  there are little things - the few lingering moments when my girls crawl into bed with me in the morning - we stretch our limbs in unison while holding each other and welcoming the day; lighting a candle every night at dinner - the glow a ritual, prayer and my daily reminder that my brother is somewhere in the world - offering life and limb for us; my espresso - made on the stove every morning and filling the entire house with intoxicating scent of promises.  little, simple pleasures that fill me with a quiet calm.

another such ritual, but one that induces more palpitations - is our pen pal day.  we actually do not have a designated day - we write when it moves us - though at least once a week.  this is a new ritual.  several years ago i was one of the first members of the letter writer's alliance - an amazing little organization dedicated to the hand written letter.  through the LWA, i was connected with my first pen pal.  she is a most dedicated and inspiring pen pal.  even when i could not bare to sit and think of something to write about, her letters continued to arrive - full of enchanting art and beautiful script.  i am happy to report that in the last few months i have been holding up my end of the chain much better.  and once the ritual began, it became addictive.  i wanted to write more.  surely i could write more.  i wanted to post letters all over the world and as i began to turn again to the LWA to request a connection, it occurred to me that i have already connected with some unbelievable people the world over in the last two years.  and so, at first unbeknownst to them - some of them are now my international pen pals {i think you ladies know who you are *wink*}.  

while a delicately hand scripted letter is always my goal - i love sending treats - whether they be own art work, or someone's that is currently inspiring me... i love the details, the extras... the love.  some things i am wanting to add to some of my up coming packages:

~ lindsey is a print-maker and polaroid-taker - enter the ideal marriage - these amazing little letterpress books are handmade and designed to fit polaroids - my favorite part is the back cover where you can note the camera you used, the film, subject and date.  can you imagine receiving one of these in the post, full of light and magic? *sigh*

~ amanda {not only one of my favorite photographers, but one of my favorite people ever - that is why she is one of my international pen pals - did you know this amanda? ;) } has finally opened up shop featuring her dreamy polaroids.  imagine gently separating the flap of your envelope to reveal such beauty...

not only do i love including such lovely little things in my notes to friends and family, i love the ritual of the process itself.  the feel of the paper between my fingers, the sound of the pen gently scratching it's way across the surface - dancing in time to my pool of thoughts.  my absolute favorite pens right now are the stabilo point 88 - i have a pack in my bag, on my desk and next to my bed.  i am addicted.  and tape - oh how i love thee - right now i use this collection of tape to seal everything - a gift from a dear friend who knows me frightfully well.

and my adie fey writes with me.  she is an exceptional artists and draws with great detail - she practices her penmanship with little notes hugging the characters on her paper.  she posts letters to her cousins, her friends afar and her friends next door... the ritual continues... may you be so inspired.

xoox~jla

i have been excited to share with you that i have a spread in the new autumn issue of small magazine.  bye bye blackbird was shot after studying the tintypes of children at the Alinari in italy this summer - i was so moved by the haunting images of these perfect little children - almost glowing against the dark beyond.  i was able to use a lot of vintage clothing that my grandmother and mother wore - and that my grandmother made.  the girls had a wonderful time playing "dress up"... watch for another spread in the upcoming spring 2010 issue!

xoox~jla  

p.s. see one of my favorite shots that did not make the spread here.

today was it.  this morning adie became a kindergardener.  and as emotionally charged as i expected to be for her, it was overshadowed by the fact that today was ayla's first day of pre-school.  my sweet, sweet ayla.  adie is strength and courage.  she is sunshine and believes that she can do anything, that she can conquer anything, that she can climb anything.  ayla is hawaii:  sunshine one moment and a tumultuous thunderstorm the next.  her heart is pure and full of joy - but it seems the world can overwhelm her so easily.   it was difficult leaving her at the door this morning in the safety of her new classroom.  i wanted to tap her  teacher ever so gently on the shoulder - asking her to take special care.  but i did not.  her sister is in the classroom next door and reassured her as i dropped them off, "ayla, i am right next door - don't be scared.  i am right here." she hugged her and ran into her class with unadulterated glee.  ayla literally tip toed into hers... 

wishing you and yours and beautiful back-to-school season.  we are celebrating tonight with apple & honey glazed ribs, oven fries and make-your-own banana splits with yaya and zayde {grandma and grandpa}.

xoox~jla

as mentioned when i first launched la dolce luce earlier this summer - it was to be a shop of limited editions for the summer months only.  and then i blinked. and summer was nearly over.  so the time has come - it seems so quickly - to close the shop.  but not before a little end of summer special.  today through august 31 - all la dolce luce prints are marked down from $35 to $20 - buy 4 and the 5th is free.  this will be your last chance to purchase 8x8's from this collection.  

thank you all so much for your support over the summer - it means so much to me to continue and connect with you through my work.  my voyages throughout italy this summer are something that will remain with me not only as an artist, but as someone who needed the sweet air of the tuscan coast to remind her what life is about:  the laughter of close friends, the feel of the sand and the salt of the sea in my hair, the essence of pure food and lazy, purely pleasurable afternoons and hushed moonlit eves.  i hope you had a beautiful summer... i did.

shop here.

and a special thank you and {day-early} birthday wishes to my amy liz without who i never would have found myself in tuscany so soon and who graciously posed for some of the shots in the shop... love you stardust.

xoox~jla