molly irwin

week in the life :: thursday

1. work 2. ready to run 3. petting vic 4. wind in my hair 5. scrambled with cheese 6. good thrift  7.  burritos 8. scale 9. Dash

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I know I said I was going to wait, but I just can't beat the temptation ...

I've started dropping some photos into my layout. I was especially eager to place today's, because I thought there were fewer today and wanted to make sure I liked the way they're coming together. I do.

My format is 3 pages per day: 1) an enlargement of my favorite shot, 2) a mosaic, and 3) a feature.

This project is making me so happy. Seriously happy. It is a lot of work, and I find myself counting down the days. Just three more intense days of note-taking and clicking away, but it's so worthwhile to have this great little capsule of our life right now.

 

week in the life :: wednesday

I took a lot fewer photos today, but despite the fact that an uncommonly wicked headache settled in around 4PM, I'd say I documented the day well enough.

It was a rainy day, full of errands, groceries and general running around. The poor lighting in the photos is bothering me, so this morning I'm playing around with my ISO settings to adjust for lower (cloudy day) lighting.

 

The colors in these photos are so different from those I usually take; it's all so vibrant and commercial. I made an impulse purchase of a couple of swimsuits for the girls at Costco. A total deal.

Leftovers for lunch.

  

Helen put together her eggstronaut eggsperiment for school. 

One of the great benefits of all the photos is I'm looking at different manual settings on my camera again. It's been a while since I've been motivated to take it off automatic.

Need to go make the kitchen tidy again and try to get some real work done today.

week in the life :: thoughts

 

 

Yesterday I was feeling pretty good about having so many photos, until I uploaded them last night and then I began to feel overwhelmed. How were they all going to fit in the few pages I had designated? Can I edit the collected images to tell the story?

Then I came to my senses, and this morning reminded myself to stay in the collecting/gathering phase. I told myself this: Don't worry about the formatting and layout stage until next week. One day at a time. Take photos and gather information one day at a time; then format each page one day at a time and this project will be completed relatively simply. (According to the process with which I'm working; I know some people are formatting each day.)

I reminded myself of this, because I'm so very tempted to sit down and start manipulating my photos and words. Wait! Wait and do it next week with an overall perspective. Because if I can't fit the peanut butter and jelly sandwhich photo in Tuesday's page, I might have a space on Friday -- and he eats one for lunch every day.

Here's a few more shots from yesterday:

I don't know if they'll all make the cut for this project, but I can't tell you how glad I am to have them. Just to have them and look at them makes me smile.
 
 
 
 
 
 

week in the life

 

Initially I wondered what might be added to my photo library and memories as a result of documenting a week in progress. I've taken sort of "real life" types of photos; little things and all on a regular basis. However, after yesterday (the very first day of the project) I am so SO glad I've decided to do this. I love seeing the routines coming forth, where I wondered if one existed. I think what we have in our family is a series of loose routines, based on a flexible work-from-home lifestyle.

Yesterday was entirely a 'mom-day' for me. No professional work was accomplished, but our home and family needed that.

I've decided not to try to keep my blog current with the project in progress. 

My goal is to stay focused on the present with my camera and thoughts. That's not easy for me if I'm doing the other half of the work simultaneously. My process is making sure I write each day, and at the end of the day, editing a collection of photos to work with for my layout. (There are so many). I did roughly place the photos last night, but may postpone this part until next week if it becomes too much.

For me, this album will be more of a photo album than scrapbook. I'm using the book Photo Album, by Vanessa Holden and Susie Cushner as a design template. The album I've chosen is a kolo catalina in one of my favorite colors: ocean.

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For more information about the concept behind 'a week in the life', and how others are putting their projects together, visit aliedwards.com.

tree house

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I mentioned back in the fall that my husband was building a tree house, and some of you said you'd like to see it finished. Well, it's been done since November, but I've just gotten 'round to working with the photos recently.

This small structure has been a wonderful addition to our family's lifestyle. We have more neighbor kids in the back yard at times, but mainly our kids are just out there on the rope swing and attached zip line pretty much all day when they're home. There's a noticeable difference in their strength.

The little guy is still a bit intimiated to climb the ladder to the second level. That's fine by me. When he's ready he'll know, and I'll be standing by.

 

 

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objects of our affection

 

photo credits: 1. Found Alphabet, 2. vintage, 3. Untitled, 4. shape up::ship out, 5. tea tag book, 6. Ask Purl Bee: Linen Patchwork, 7. journals, 8. im painting, 9. baby you're a star

The aged and the natural. Found, made or archived. I'm so intrigued by the spirit of mindful collecting. Ordinary, everyday items made spectacular by curating and arrangement. A single color, or singular theme. It can be so lovely.

When I began writing this I thought that I didn't collect things anymore. Then I remembered the small bird's nest, a robin's egg, the tiny black shark's teeth, and those smooth white pebbles brought home from the Lake Erie shore. I guess what I haven't done is arrange them.  

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When I was single one of my roommates claimed an intuitive ability for forecasting future events. She said that when she held an item that was meaningful to someone she might sense some story about the person; reveal some destiny. I don't know if I ever really believed her, but she often wondered aloud as to whether I would move away and get married. Funny to me, because part of the reason I moved in with her was my belief that this just wasn't happening. I was physically moving on from the idea. Eight months later I was on the road to New Hampshire with a rental truck. Maybe she was right.

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Here's something fun for your weekend: Rachel's series on inspiration. Begin here, and click the after link at the bottom for subsequent posts. I especailly like her color swatch concept.

Happy weekend.

feels like summer :: in a book

 

It is feeling pretty summery around the mid-atlantic US this week; everything is balmy and greening.

I started this 6x6 'I heart summer' theme piece at the end of summer '08, based on the collage page, which i loved and still do. Then, something about having created too many of the small photo clusters and not enough enlargements became disheartening to me, and the book was set aside. Until yesterday.

There are parts of book that I like tremendously. That helped shift my attention back toward completion.

It occurred to me that including classic summertime quotes would add to the thematic nature, and fill gaps in my memory of the particularities of those days. 

   

There are six sections, each with three parts: a collage with transparency, an envelope, and a photo on craft cardstock. I drew free-hand on the transparency in white acrylic ink with a tiny brush, and attached canvas tabs.

 

The chipboard pages are made from recycled cereal boxes, which have held up so well over time that I'm pretty impressed with it as a material. I used sturdy boxes (the type from the health food store). The paper was adhered wtih 3M spray mount, then the edges sealed with acrylics paint, in a color called shopping bag.

   

Patterned papers and envelopes are from Paper Source. Craft cardstock by Bazzill Basics. Canvas flower accents, by Making Memories, are stitched in place. Writing the notes for these pockets is my last thing to do for this project. This one will talk about running through the orchards all summer for the various berries we picked.

It's really too much to show everything, but here are a couple of sections:

summer places

summer family

 

Having studied these finished pictures, I can see where a full page photo, which bleeds to the edges (on the right facing) would have had more visual impact. That's going to have to be okay -- I'm calling it done. Mental not taken for future projects.

The following quote accompanies the 'summer food' section. Just right; isn't it?

 

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Sometimes stepping away for a bit helps breathe new life into a project. I think it's important to work at our own pace, that which fits our lifestyle and other obligations.

Having said that, however ... my goal for documenting 'A week in the life', April 19-25th, is to just GET IT DONE; not have it languishing in some bin for months. 

 
 
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I thank God for this most amazing day; for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.

-- e.e. cummings

speak it

 

I've been grumping around here all week. Not that any of you would know, because I'm not the kind to make my grievances public. And who would empathize, what with the picture of serenity that I paint?

Ask my family though, and they'll confirm that parts of our house have been getting mighty sparkly, as I do some of my best cleaning in fits of irritability. This morning Paul came down to find me (still in what I wear for pajamas -- yoga pants and a tee) scouring the kitchen floor on my knees. His "Mol, do you know where the camera is? heh, heh ... " wasn't met with much humor.

I Know I said just a few months ago that I was happy with our home just the way it is, but it's not always easy to keep that in perspective. And I know you can't tell the condition of our home accurately from my slight-of-hand photo-cropping. Not that it should matter in particular.

Understandably then, the mood around here has been at an elevated, or even orange alert, as I scrub and sort and manipulate those things within my control.

To be clear, I do not blame. But that doesn't mean there's no sting from my tone, and that -- to be completely forthcoming -- one isn't at least partially intended.

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All I want is a proper cup o' coffee made in a proper copper coffee pot.

I may be off my dot, but I want a proper coffee in a proper copper pot.

Iron coffee pots and tin coffee pots they are no use to me.

If I can't have a proper cup o' coffee in a proper copper coffee pot,

I'll have a cup of tea.

 

From who knows where the song popped into my head as I helped the girls shower the other night. I sang aloud as I've been known to do, and they tilted their heads sideways like puppies, and laughed having never heard that tune before. At least they didn't remember.

We used to listen to more music in the little house. I thought the children's CDs long gone off with the donations. It's been four years since I heard that song. Recent history, but half a lifespan for them.

Anyway, it's just plain impossible to be surly when singing Trout Fishing in America. I dare you to try.

Would you believe that the very next day (while tracking down my tart pan) I found that pile of kid's CDs? Doesn't everyone pack dishes with music?

Had I spoken it (or sung it) into being?

By singing those words had I influenced my mind-set and, consequently, the results?

 

Sounds far-fetched, but it was a great musical reminder of the power of words.

Our words stem from our thoughts, but it also works the other way around. Speaking the right words will help form new thoughts, open possibilities, and drive our actions in better directions.

I know this to be true. I've always known it.

During times of frustration, I need to remember to not let those thoughts manifest themselves into words. Negative words will only bring more of the same.

This week I'm choosing constructive words: work, rejoice, be glad.

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habit

 

I'm delighted to tell you that I've been invited as a guest contributor at habit. I'll be posting there throughout April.

This came at just the right time, as I've been considering what sort of consistent photo project I might assign myself.

Habit is a lovely site focused on the collective sensibilities of creative women, artists, writers, photographers, bloggers, mothers, sisters, or wives, as they document the everyday. I've watched this project over the months with curiosity and admiration, and I'm completely honored to have been asked. What a great way to welcome spring.

Come have a visit with us at habit, won't you?