I appreciate you. I appreciate that you allow me to live this life with my camera. As this year is my tenth anniversary, each month, until October, (the first ten months of the year,) there is a little celebration which is listed on the blog and our facebook page. First we had something for Bella Sessions, then children, and then March - which was my favorite.
For a donation to Comox Valley Hospice clients received a mini-shoot, including their best shot. It was first come first serve, for past clients, it filled up in 8 minutes.
.
Each month has a party favor sponsor, we have had Roots the Salon, Podlings and March was Bodynetix, who gave each participant a free Hot Yoga Class. Thank you.
Last Saturday we photographed 32 amazing women. Some I have been photographing for 10 years, through weddings, births, career changes, and growing families. I had moments during this shoot, where I was taken aback. These women are shining. They are truly living - and they seem more beautiful then ever.
I felt humbled to be recording it.
This day was full of sentiment for another reason. I developed this idea last year. I wanted to photograph women, as typically we can be so critical of ourselves, and if we have a hubby and/or kids, we are often not in the photos that are taken, as we are taking them.
When Jenn became ill last year, right away, we knew we had to shoot and we did, with her husband, her son, and her siblings. I met Jenn when she hired me to photograph her wedding. Ironically, she is one of the clients and friends I have that have commissioned photos the most. It was who she was, someone who documented and celebrated, she put high priority on women loving and accepting themselves. So, as I was shooting on Saturday, I couldn't help think about how she was probably high-fiving you.
Thank you all for the blessing that you are in my life.
You are beautiful.
(and thank you for helping us raise $550 dollars for Comox Valley Hospice, a very important charity in our community.)
The images may take a minute to load... if you click on the bottom right of the slideshow (the box with four arrows) you can see them larger.
For a donation to Comox Valley Hospice clients received a mini-shoot, including their best shot. It was first come first serve, for past clients, it filled up in 8 minutes.
.
Each month has a party favor sponsor, we have had Roots the Salon, Podlings and March was Bodynetix, who gave each participant a free Hot Yoga Class. Thank you.
Last Saturday we photographed 32 amazing women. Some I have been photographing for 10 years, through weddings, births, career changes, and growing families. I had moments during this shoot, where I was taken aback. These women are shining. They are truly living - and they seem more beautiful then ever.
I felt humbled to be recording it.
This day was full of sentiment for another reason. I developed this idea last year. I wanted to photograph women, as typically we can be so critical of ourselves, and if we have a hubby and/or kids, we are often not in the photos that are taken, as we are taking them.
When Jenn became ill last year, right away, we knew we had to shoot and we did, with her husband, her son, and her siblings. I met Jenn when she hired me to photograph her wedding. Ironically, she is one of the clients and friends I have that have commissioned photos the most. It was who she was, someone who documented and celebrated, she put high priority on women loving and accepting themselves. So, as I was shooting on Saturday, I couldn't help think about how she was probably high-fiving you.
Thank you all for the blessing that you are in my life.
You are beautiful.
(and thank you for helping us raise $550 dollars for Comox Valley Hospice, a very important charity in our community.)
The images may take a minute to load... if you click on the bottom right of the slideshow (the box with four arrows) you can see them larger.
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32 Women - Beautiful you
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Toad in the tree started making a children's hat, which has affectionately become known as the Jenn hat, as it benefits the Love from Jenn Foundation.
The hats, which you can pick up at Podlings or by contacting Kim or Amanda directly at kim@toadinatree.com or amanda@toadinatree.com are now available in grown up sizes .
Don't say I didn't tell you.
Here is just a quick shot of one of the hats, it is available in other colors as well .....
Twyla:
Yay, yay, yay! I love the hats and was so hoping they would be made for big people too! I'll be picking one up for myself.
(03.30.11 @ 10:07 AM)
Keltie:
That's fantastic!! I'll definitely be getting one too!!
(03.30.11 @ 10:53 AM)
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Toad in a Tree for big people
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I have been jet setting, well really, I have been in Vancouver and Victoria. Now I am settled at home and today is my first day back in the office in what seems like eons. I am crossing back into routine and I am feeling warm and fuzzy about it - it won't be long until I crave spontaneity and change, I teeter back and forth, but for now, it is just perfect.
I have photos to share, but much office work to be done.
So, I leave you with this sweet-pea, little four day old Sweet Pea, Tellulah Bea, her and her lovley, loving family make my heart go pitter-patter.
Oh, did you hear I photographed 32 AMAZING women on Saturday, we had a blast and raised some dollars for the Comox Valley Hospice Society.
The above sentence, both parts of it, make me very happy. More about it later.....
I have photos to share, but much office work to be done.
So, I leave you with this sweet-pea, little four day old Sweet Pea, Tellulah Bea, her and her lovley, loving family make my heart go pitter-patter.
Oh, did you hear I photographed 32 AMAZING women on Saturday, we had a blast and raised some dollars for the Comox Valley Hospice Society.
The above sentence, both parts of it, make me very happy. More about it later.....
Keltie:
What a cutie pie!!!
32 Woman Saturday, that's fantastic, and even more so the money raised!!! Karen & Christine you both are awesome!! May you have a wonderful week getting back into routine.
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crossing back over
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Three years ago Vanessa and I started mailing each other birthday boxes, they contained seven gifts, one for each day of birthday week. We look forward to our boxes, they keep us connected, and well, who am I kidding, we like the gifts. There are a few guidelines to our box. You must not spend more than $150 and the receiver must open one each consecutive day of birthday week, no cheating allowed, just ask Vanessa, she has tried before.
I have been an advocate for birthday week since I became a mom. Please be strongly advised, birthday week is not for children.
Birthday week rules:
- you can choose when it starts, as long as it covers your birthDAY
- you get to decide what is for dinner every night in your house
- you buy a book based solely on it's cover art
- and you do something special each day. Special can be a dinner out, some spa-ing, a little shopping, a guilty pleasure movie, a treat, a long phone chat with an out of town friend, coffees with friends, or some alone time... you get the idea right?
Birthday week is not about putting the pressure on anyone else, not your kids, and not your spouse (although they should really step-up just that extra bit as to not rain on your birthday week parade.) Birthday week is about taking a little extra time each day to treat yourself well and enjoy some of your favorite things.
Since Vanessa was in town, we decided to do our birthday box in, "real-time". Off we went shopping in Victoria. Funny thing was, nothing caught our eye. So we went where we knew our inner consumer could easily be excited - the bookstore.
I have been an advocate for birthday week since I became a mom. Please be strongly advised, birthday week is not for children.
Birthday week rules:
- you can choose when it starts, as long as it covers your birthDAY
- you get to decide what is for dinner every night in your house
- you buy a book based solely on it's cover art
- and you do something special each day. Special can be a dinner out, some spa-ing, a little shopping, a guilty pleasure movie, a treat, a long phone chat with an out of town friend, coffees with friends, or some alone time... you get the idea right?
Birthday week is not about putting the pressure on anyone else, not your kids, and not your spouse (although they should really step-up just that extra bit as to not rain on your birthday week parade.) Birthday week is about taking a little extra time each day to treat yourself well and enjoy some of your favorite things.
Since Vanessa was in town, we decided to do our birthday box in, "real-time". Off we went shopping in Victoria. Funny thing was, nothing caught our eye. So we went where we knew our inner consumer could easily be excited - the bookstore.
Sitting on my night-stand now is:
The Barbecue Bible, apparently this is a must have, and I am just late to this party
Exit The Actress by Priya Parmar
The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton
One Day by David Nicholls
I also filled my bag with an Umbra Cookbook Holder and a yummy candle.
Here is another image of Vanessa in our hotel lobby.
Here is another image of Vanessa in our hotel lobby.
Keltie:
I LOVE birthday week! For me I started celebrating birthday week as a little girl, when my mom would drag out the celebration so that we would be adequately spoiled and loved!! Now, I appreciate birthday week so much more, and I know that when I have kids I'll look forward to it even more! Birthday week for me is about being relaxed, loved, and spending time doing things I love and spending time with people I love, and presents.... they are always welcome!!!!!!
(03.28.11 @ 10:53 AM)
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About the birthday box
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Ever since I was a teenager I remember my mom telling me I have the nicest friends. She was, and is right.
My friends mean the world to me. The amount of time I spend with them can ebb and flow, depending on where we are at, but I still always feel their presence.
When I moved to the Comox Valley ten years ago I had no friends here. I knew no-one, except my mom on Hornby and my sister, who lived on Denman but was away travelling.
I met two people, that gave me hope of a social life. My friend Lisa, who to this day is someone I talk to almost every morning and my friend Vanessa.
Vanessa and I met, and instantly found a kinship, we both had a lot of "city in us" - and we were both were creat-a-holics.
Vanessa was with me when I started my business, she has watched me grow. I have watcher her blossom into this incredibly bright, confident, funny (ok she was always funny,) person who has found her bliss in life - oddly, as a farmer in Whitehorse.
Vanessa is full of creativity, she has had a clothing line, ran a scrapbooking business, and now she is pursuing photography - all while being a leader on the Young Farmer's Association.
She lives in Whitehorse now, and we don't see each other often. But she is still just as special. We can call each other and just say, "this conversation needs to be about me," - "help me." - this can be about a computer issue or a fight with the hubby.
There are times we call just to celebrate an accomplishment.
It doesn't matter. There are no strings attached in this friendship. .
Today I am off to photography women, lovely women, for our client appreciation day - I couldn't be more excited!
Vanessa joined me on my trip to Victoria, where we managed to put together our birthday box.. but more about that later .....
My friends mean the world to me. The amount of time I spend with them can ebb and flow, depending on where we are at, but I still always feel their presence.
When I moved to the Comox Valley ten years ago I had no friends here. I knew no-one, except my mom on Hornby and my sister, who lived on Denman but was away travelling.
I met two people, that gave me hope of a social life. My friend Lisa, who to this day is someone I talk to almost every morning and my friend Vanessa.
Vanessa and I met, and instantly found a kinship, we both had a lot of "city in us" - and we were both were creat-a-holics.
Vanessa was with me when I started my business, she has watched me grow. I have watcher her blossom into this incredibly bright, confident, funny (ok she was always funny,) person who has found her bliss in life - oddly, as a farmer in Whitehorse.
Vanessa is full of creativity, she has had a clothing line, ran a scrapbooking business, and now she is pursuing photography - all while being a leader on the Young Farmer's Association.
She lives in Whitehorse now, and we don't see each other often. But she is still just as special. We can call each other and just say, "this conversation needs to be about me," - "help me." - this can be about a computer issue or a fight with the hubby.
There are times we call just to celebrate an accomplishment.
It doesn't matter. There are no strings attached in this friendship. .
Today I am off to photography women, lovely women, for our client appreciation day - I couldn't be more excited!
Vanessa joined me on my trip to Victoria, where we managed to put together our birthday box.. but more about that later .....
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Friends with No Strings Attached
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http://www.mckinnonblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/330
Love them all Karen! Very beautiful pictures of beautiful women!!!
(03.31.11 @ 09:25 AM)Karen - all of these look fabulous. Thank-you so much for donating your time to do this.
(03.31.11 @ 10:26 AM)What stunning women and photos!
(03.31.11 @ 11:02 AM)Wow these are incredible photos Karen! Thank you so much-such a gift for all of us! And another fabulous example of your support for the community. You rock!
(03.31.11 @ 12:56 PM)It was a great experience - thank you so much Karen!
(03.31.11 @ 12:58 PM)Thanks Karen! These are wonderful photos and so different from one another. You've really captured the essence of these women!
(03.31.11 @ 02:43 PM)Fabulous, Karen. Jenn was definitely high-fiving you. xo
(03.31.11 @ 03:15 PM)Karen, you rocked it once again! Thank you for all you do. I was definitely feeling the high-five. xo
(03.31.11 @ 07:03 PM)I am so proud to be part of this day, you are all so fabulous, thank you for coming and sharing part of your day with us.
(03.31.11 @ 07:51 PM)You are simply AMAZING! Thank-you for giving of your time for such a great cause. And..... We get a fabulous photo forever a moment in time....Love them all...
(03.31.11 @ 07:54 PM)Beautiful women! Karen you are an "AMAZING" treasure in our community. I love you!
(03.31.11 @ 09:02 PM)love them + love you = whole lotta love happening. thanks karen and christine!
(03.31.11 @ 10:33 PM)high five back atcha jenn.
(03.31.11 @ 10:34 PM)Karen, thank you for sharing your gift with others. These photos are great keepsakes! Thank you !!
(04.01.11 @ 12:32 AM)Wow! I love these and feel so honoured to be among them!
(04.01.11 @ 02:18 PM)