Nice, Thoughtful, & Helpful!

About a week or two ago I sent an email to Studio193 inquiring about maybe helping them out or interning with them while I am going to Portfolio Center. I figured, I might as well try to get more experience outside of school, and they were my first choice of photographers to intern with. How do I know about them? Well the most obvious answer is their art work is all over Knoxville, and I have even seen it in a few stores in Nashville. But I actually used to babysit for a lot of families in Knoxville who use Studio193 for their children’s portraits, and every time I saw their child’s portrait, I was amazed. One family I am still very close to actually gave me a stunning framed photograph of the girls taken by Studio193 for Christmas. So immediately I knew, if I ever get the chance, I would love to shadow this company or even work with them for a day.

Well, sad news, they are gone so much and traveling between Atlanta, Nashville, and Knoxville, that having an intern is just not an option right now. However, the email I received was the nicest, most thoughtful, helpful email I think I have ever read. They had written me on suggestions for a camera, lens, where to buy equipment, what to look for, what to expect as a photographer, how to shoot a variety, everything I have always wanted to ask a photographer, they actually wrote in the email. I actually read it a few times and then saved it on my computer it was so nice. It’s not that I was shocked at how nice they were, its just I was so appreciative of their time and their advice. How many times do you come across people really willing to help you out, especially as a student or someone just starting in a field?

So today I decided to write this posting and dedicate it to Studio193. Not only did I establish that they are great photographers, but very nice ones too. If you ever come across this, thank you so much! Here are a few of my favorite photos they have taken, just to show you how fantastic they are.

These are the girls I used to babysit for, the exact photo I received as a Christmas gift from them. Aren’t they beautiful?

I think this baby is absolutely adorable!

This is their famous poster girl, she is on all their advertisements.

And I loved this one, it is just amazing. So sweet and so delicate.

Thanks again so much Studio193. Check out their stuff here.

Annapolis!

I only have 4 days left in Annapolis, and I wanted to share and reflect back on the things I have loved about Annapolis. So I figured I would start with my top 10 favorite things!

1. The true beauty of Annapolis.
2. Going downtown to shop, eat ice cream, and watch the sailboats. It is so peaceful.
3. Eating at Grumps on Saturday morning.
4. Taking Lucy to Quiet Waters Dog Park.
5. Having such a great roommate to live with at Lake Heron Condos, thanks Ben!
6. My first time eating crabs at Kentmorr on the water, even though I had a hard time breaking them apart.
7. Annapolis is so close to D.C. and Baltimore.
8. My kickball team days, The Dime Peace Strippers, yeah what a name!
9. The Annapolis Boat Show, that was my first boat show ever.
10. All the great families I was able to meet and babysit for.

Should I go to 15? I think I should try.

11. Living by some very interesting neighbors, let’s just say everyday
was an adventure.
12. Going to the Annapolis Mall, man you could see everything there. Especially on a Friday night.
13. Eating at McGarvey’s downtown, a great seafood restaurant.
14. While I met some really nice people in Annapolis, I also met some really rude ones. It was a nice surprise in the day to meet someone who wouldn’t cut you off in the grocery store. I am sure that happens in every city, but it was something I really appreciated while I was living here.
15. Most of all, I am really glad I got to see the things I did, experience the things I did, and eat really good food!

Bleeding Orange!

As a former graduate of The University of Tennessee, the only color I have known is Orange. Yep, in your face bright orange. Game days in Knoxville are quite a site to see, and always a blast. Be prepared though, because you will be tailgating all day long, and after the game is over, be prepared to tail gate some more. I was looking through some old pictures last night when I came across this photo I had taken a few years back at a UT game. I just love it! It describes the pride, the orange, and everything about UT game days in one image.

Shocking!

When I started this blog, it was really mainly as an experiment. A lot of people I know have blogs, and I thought I would start my own. Most companies have them, and they are becoming more and more popular. My first post was a funny experiment on my name “CJ”, to see how many times it would pop up in google. That didn’t work, cause it didn’t even come up in search engines. But after that I found writing about my favorite companies, design shops, fun finds, photography, innovative ideas, and personal things was actually fun and in some ways its like having a journal online. Only everyone has the opportunity to read it.

I try my best to write, but to tell you the truth I am a terrible writer. Writing has never been a strong point of mine, and all through school all my papers I ever wrote always looked like they got murdered with red ink. When I checked my blog stats this morning, I was amazed that a total of 56 people have already viewed and read my blog today. I mean who knew? And people are actually leaving me really nice comments on my writing, and the fun design finds I am posting. I’m just shocked, really shocked that people found my blog and actually read it. So for those of you that have found this blog, and have left me nice comments, thank you so much! I really appreciate your input and your suggestions.

My last days in Baltimore!

This past weekend was my going away dinner in Baltimore. I can’t believe it is finally here. I am actually leaving, and in 9 days! I can still remember driving up to Baltimore for my job interview, and then moving here. That was in late October of 2006, my how time flies. It has been a year and a half I guess. And while I have hated a lot of things, I have loved others. It definitely took a while to get used to living in the North, thats for sure. But overall I do have some good memories of Maryland, and I am leaving having made some very good friends I hope to know for a long long time.

On Saturday my friend Kelly took me to the Maryland Science Center in the Inner Harbor to see the body exhibit, which was really cool. I have a very weak stomach, but I have to admit the exhibit was really interesting. And while I had to withdraw from my biology course in college, and I hated it in high school, I feel like I actually learned a few things from the exhibit.

After we left the science center, we headed to Sasha’s on 527 North Charles St. I had never eaten there before, but it was recommended to me, so I thought we could all try it. There was a group of 11 of us, and it was a great restaurant. They had such great food, and the service was awesome. Not to mention I have the sweetest friends too. They all brought me going away gifts. Naomi gave me a beautiful necklace by Dogeared, I love it. Kelly gave me the Not for Tourists Guide to Atlanta book, which will be so very helpful in a new city. Ryan brought me a framed photography print he had taken (which was really neat), and Jennifer brought me a journal to keep. What nice friends!

So after a wonderful evening and a great dinner with some really good friends I feel very blessed to know, I went home thinking, make new friends but keep the old, one is silver, the other is gold. Just like I learned in Brownies many many years ago, I hope to keep these friends for a very long time. Here are some pictures from Saturday night, and forgive me because all I have right now is my dinky point and shoot camera, and apparently the red eye doesn’t work too well.

Katie, Naomi, Melissa and her husband Rex

Kelly & Jennifer

Larin, Ryan G, myself, Ryan J

At The Midtown Yacht Club

The Inner Harbor across from the Science Center

Cheers to good friends and good times! What a blessing.

Great Idea!

I have been babysitting for over 10 years now, and while I don’t have any kids of my own yet, I do know a thing or two about kids and toys. Most of the children I sit for have so many toys they will never play with them all. It is almost overwhelming the amount of toys that are produced each year. And to be honest, kids always have those few favorites they always play with, or they get a new one they absolutely had to have and then 2 or 3 days days later, they want another new toy. So before you know it, your house is packed with large toys, small toys, the toys that have a million parts like legos and barbies, and everything else. Your house becomes consumed with toys. I know because I was the oldest of three, and not only did our house look like that growing up, but I continue to see it when I sit for families. But the question is how do you go around it? Say no to your kids, thats not always easy. Because every time you turn around, there is going to be a new toy, game, barbie, that they just have to have.

And then, BabyPlays was developed. BabyPlays is a great program that provides parents with solutions to all these problems. With joining BabyPlays, you can rent out any 6 toys for a month, which is 72 new toys you can try out in a year. When your child becomes bored with a toy, or wants to try a new one, just simply return the toy within 30 days and switch it with another toy. Even better, if you find your child really loving one specific toy, BabyPlays will offer you 20% off any toy they personally sell as long as you are a member. They sterilize the toys, they gift wrap, offer gift certificates, and if you refer a friend, you automatically receive a $10 gift card. How simple is that? Sounds like a great deal to me, and I don’t even have kids! I have already sent an email out about this program to my friends with children just to get the word out.

Be sure to check it out.

Another Cool Find.

Another cool find I found out about last year at the Stationary Show in NY, is the company Bella Muse. I took their card with me, and when I got home I checked out their website. Wow! It is so fun, and it is made up of all the things I love. Posters, stationary, cards, t-shirts, all kinds of stuff. This is the place to go if you need some cool gifts. Their poster prints start at $35 for an 8×10, and their baby onesies are $22. All of their cards are $3.50 each, or $20 for a box of 6. Well worth the $20. No one else will ever beat these cards. They are whimsical, fun, quirky, and unique. Every time I get on their site I see something else I want to buy. The company was started in 2003 and the name Bella Muse comes from “Bella” meaning beautiful, and “Muse” as a source of inspiration. Here are some of my favorite designs from Bella Muse.

Baby Onesie “Little Peanut”

Poster Home

Everyday Cards

Check out more of their fun designs. I am sure you will love their stuff
as much as I do.

A Nice Surprise!

Well, it looks like I did have a nice Valentine’s Day after all. I got a nice little surprise on Friday at work, and boy was I excited. I was shocked because I really only get gifts from my grandparents and my mom on Valentine’s Day. And this year, I happened to receive a Cinderella glitter card from my grandmother. Wow! It is so cute I guess that I am 24 years old, and she still sends me Disney character cards. Thats what grandmothers are for, right? So to get these beautiful flowers on Valentine’s Day from a secret admirer was really nice. Well its not really a secret admirer. I finally figured out who sent them. Sometimes it’s the nice unexpected gestures that go a long way.

I Would Love To Meet!

One photographer I would absolutley love to meet is Brigitte Lacombe. I just found out about her work a few months ago, but I LOVE her photographs! Talk about stunning. Yet they are each so simple in their own way. I would really love to meet her, and if I could, follow her around for a day or two and just pick her brain.

She has been able to travel to Mongolia, Africa, Cambodia, Shanghai, among many others shooting for Conde Nast. And her work has appeared in some of the best magazines including, Vanity Fair, GQ, The New Yorker, Paris Vogue, and House and Garden. Here are some of my favorites.

I just saw the Movie There Will Be Blood, so this image of Daniel Day Lewis intrigues me.

I love the fluidity of this one.

And this one is very interesting.

Photos are from Brigitte’s website. Be sure to check out all her photographs.

Play on Colors

Every time I look at Binth’s website, it makes me just want to buy all their stuff. The colors they use, and the way they play with type is so unique. I first saw them at the Stationary Show in NY, and I was just blown away with all their designs. I have only been to the Stationary Show once, and granted there are booths you can just zoom right by, and then there are the booths like Binth that you stop, and look, and think “Why didn’t I think of something like that, that is so neat.”

They use a refined screen-printing process, and man, I wish I knew how to screen-print. They hand mix all their colors themselves for that vibrant and original look. Binth has been featured in Redbook Magazine, Traditional Home, Domino, and Food and Wine magazine. Here is why I love what they do!

Their screen-printed baby book! A one of a kind hard cover book with a
keepsake box.

Screen-Printed Alphabet Poster

My personal favorite, the Numbers Poster.

Binth Matching Game

Are all these not so much fun! If you need to purchase any unique gifts anytime soon, now you know where to go.