I am so excited to announce that I am working with Melissa from Madison Reece Designs. She approached me about using my photographs in her jewelry designs. Don't they look gorgeous?

Melissa is very talented at making these beautiful little pendants. I am thrilled to working with her!

She makes a beautiful range of designs for affordable prices. Take a stop by her shop and take a look and all the other beautiful creations she makes.

Sisters

Family shoot

I had an absolute blast with this gorgeous family this weekend. Here are a few sneak peaks.

Big Strong Girlz Discount and shots from a recent shoot

Big Strong Girlz = Beautiful women over the age of 25 who want to capture the wisdom and essence of themselves in photographs.

If you think you belong to the Big Strong Girlz club, all you need to do is email me thea(at) theacoughlin.com and set up your photo session.

If you title the email Big strong Girlz you will receive a complimentary 11x14 storyboard from your Big Syrong Girlz photo session (regular sitting fee applies)

One of my favorite songs in the world is Big Strong Girl by the Weepies.















Lyrics to Big Strong Girl by the Weepies:

It’s not now or never
It’s not black and it’s not white
Anything worth anything takes more than a few days and a long, long night

Chorus:
Don’t push so hard against the world
You can’t do it all alone
and if you could
would you really want to?
Even though you’re a big strong girl
come on, come on
lay it down
the best made plans
come on, come on
lay it down
are your open hands…

Rest your head
You got two pillows to choose from and a queen size bed
Hold out for the moon
Don’t expect connection anytime soon
Feel the light caress your fingertips,
You have just begun
The word has only left your lips
Maybe in time you will find your arms are wrapped around the sun

Last night was Troy night out and my first ever artist reception (where I was one of the artists).

I am struggling to find adequate words to describe the experience.

I have primarily shown my work through online venues and have had two other showings of my work, which were both in coffee houses. This has left me with little chance to: discuss my work with people when they view it, see and hear their response to it and have complete affirmation that others feel the emotion behind each photograph.

It is truly one of the most sacred gifts I have received as an artist.

In addition, it was the first time I had an attentive and interested audience to share my methods and personal connection to my images with.

I often do not feel at ease communicating through writing and often struggle a bit to express myself fully when doing so. I feel completely the opposite when speaking to people in person. I am a pretty big talker:)

Last night I externally processed what my ttv images symbolize and mean to me and I thought it would be good to write some of it down while the event is still fresh in my mind.

My mother read old childrens books to me when I was young (Grimms Fairy Tales, The little prince and The velveteen rabbit to name a few). The vintage old look and vignette of using the ttv technique reminds me of those old storybooks.

I used to pick small nosegays for my mother when I was young, and after her passing 6 years ago, I gained a whole new level of appreciation for flowers.

Looking through the viewfinder of an older camera, taking photographs of nosegays and flowers my mother loved so much is a meditative way for me to be with the memory and spirit of my mom. Somehow being with flowers allows me to relax and listen to my inner wisdom or imagine messages my mother may have shared with me if she were alive.

Last night was a wonderful chance for me to meet other artists and get validation as a photographer. On the ride home I couldn't help but grin thinking of how thrilled my mom would be for me. I felt her pride in my heart, and that my friends is truly priceless.

I have spent the past 5 or so days free time prepping for a gallery show in downtown Troy. The last Friday of every month in the summer they have Troy night out, where all the places in downtown Troy along the river have open houses, and the gallery I am showing in introduces the new show for the month.

I thought my ttv images would look gorgeous in framed in old windows, so I have been stripping, sanding and preparing these frames. Ummmm yeah what a PITA. But I am super happy with the results. In addition, my last minute decision left me without custom mat cutting options due to the time restraint, so I decided to also teach myself how to cut mats and frame myself.

That has been an interesting process. LOL.

A few things I learned:
if you use the outer side of the window to insert the artwork, you may want to remove the caulking along the edges, as it is sloped and uneven, as well as impossible to insert the tacks into. If I had realized this I would have saved a lot of mat board and the resulting settlement on duck tape to hold the mat and backing in.

Cutting Mat board takes some practice but for a reasonable price you can do it yourself with just a few materials.

I used :
mat board( local cool art supply)
foam core( local cool art supply)
large metal t square (jo annes)
tape measure (junk drawer)
pencil (junk drawer)
logan model mat knife ( local cool art supply)
freestyle basic model 1100 mat cutter ( local cool art supply)

To finish the framing you can use;
logan fitting tool or duck tape (LOL) ( local cool art supply)
screw eyes (michaels)
hanging wire (michaels)
metal cutter (Lowes)

Come this Friday for Troy night out, and to see the show if you can.

Terra Nova Gallery River Street Troy 7pm

*****HUGE LIQUIDATION SALE********
Buy any item and get another of equal or lesser value FREE!!!!!!

I am happy to announce that I am letting go of my Jewelry store to free up more time and energy for my portrait and fine art photography:)

How many times have you thought it would be great to start your holiday shopping early? This is your chance to get unique, beautiful high quality gifts for a great price. I will wrap them beautifully as always, ready for gift giving.

All you need to do is head over to my Jewelry store and upon checkout make a note of your free item (must also be in my store) in the note to seller box at checkout.

This is a great opportunity to get a head start on your holiday shopping.

Buy any item and get another of equal or lesser value FREE!!!!!!

I will start listing some of my supplies as well in the next week.

Squam

Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful

than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon

and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled sea,
and is gone--
and how it slides again

out of the blackness,
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower

streaming upward on its heavenly oils,
say, on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance--
and have you ever felt for anything
such wild love--
do you think there is anywhere, in any language,
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure

that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you

Part of Mary Olivers beautiful poem The Sun

All my dreams of being a part of the Squam.workshop/retreat have been realized! I am the event photographer!

There couldn't be a more perfect way for me to experience this event. I look forward to capturing joyous moments between all the beautiful artists, that range in experience with technique, from beginners to teachers, all in one magical location. What a gift.

This is a beautiful story of love.....

Etsy Tip

I was catching up at decor 8 shopping blog this morning and clicked over to see more of Elizabeth Williams work on Etsy. There are so many jewelry shops on etsy it is sometimes hard to stand out. One great way to be noticed is to take fabulously interesting photos of your jewelry. This makes people want to include your jewelry in etsy treasuries (where they are hoping their treasury will be beautiful enough to make the front page of etsy) and on their shopping blogs because they are so beautifully displayed. I never mastered this with my jewelry. I was almost never featured on treasuries or on shopping blogs for my jewelry. My photographs have been featured much more often.

So going to eliwill - Elizabeth Williams etsy shop I was very impressed by the creative way she displays her jewelry. It makes them look even more beautiful and tempting to display.

Then I dropped in on her blog. It is also lovely. Check out this clever marketing girl when you have a chance:) Hmmmm maybe I could interview her? That would be cool.