Raindrops on Flowers

I have decided I am going to start focusing a bit more on my photography. I went outside this morning and experimented with my aperture settings. Hope you enjoy!

It rained all last night so I had a few raindrops on the flowers this morning! My front garden has really bloomed out well considering the drought this summer. I will try to get a few photos of the entire garden soon.

I'm going to be researching online to learn more about the settings on my camera, how to shoot different angles, and working with light. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for sources to learn more!

Thank you so much for stopping by. Hope you enjoy your Monday!

I can't believe it's the last week of August already!

Engagement Photos

We had our engagement photography session at the farm the beginning of June. We timed it out perfectly! The sunflower fields only stay in full bloom for 7-10 days. They looked beautiful and the weather was actually a little cooler! We had such a good time with our photographer, Toni Price. She was so relaxed, willing to take all of our joking THE whole time, and knew exactly what she was doing during the entire session.

I think this picture captures "us" perfectly

I have always had very high expectations for my engagement/wedding photos...because, of course I have been swooning over wedding sites for the past two years (yes, I started early)! I wanted our personalities reflected in the photos, but with an artistic twist.

When I saw Toni Price's portfolio, I knew she would give me exactly what I was looking for. She delivered, even exceeded. They are all absolutely breathtaking.

It was fun to incorporate a few fun props including my french settee in the meadow and a red tractor in front of the barn. Of course, the sunflowers were perfect on their own!

I love how Toni works with the rays of the sun!   

I feel so blessed that we were able to have the pictures taken at our farmhouse, too. They will be so special to us. Not only did she capture the beauty of "us," but also the beauty we are surrounded by everyday!

Here is her blog post about the session with even more pictures. You should really check out her other work as well. She is brilliant behind the camera!

It is so wonderful to work with someone that you fully trust. Thank you Toni!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend:) 

Stubborn Telephone Table

My Mom picked up this little telephone table when she was antiquing. We both agreed the details and fabulous legs would make for a fantastic makeover. It started out very chipped with gold paint. I imagined this table having a very smooth, polished finish. I wanted elegance. I decided green would fit this table perfectly.

I began by stripping this piece since I wanted a smooth look. The minute I started rubbing the paint off I knew this wasn't going to be easy. This piece of furniture had about three coats of paint on it. The paint got very sticky and was very stubborn in the creases of the turned legs. There was a time or two I wanted to throw this table out the window in frustration!

I actually walked away from it for a few weeks and then reevaluated what I needed to do to finish it. After getting most of the paint stripped, I had to go back with a handheld sander and chip off the remaining chunks of paint. I very quickly realized this piece was just NOT going to end up smooth and polished. I decided this table was going to have to look aged and distressed. I have always heard, "let the piece speak to you" and this was the perfect moment to listen to that advice.

BEFORE
(after it was stripped)

AFTER

I used a dark wax to get into the crevices the old paint left behind. I applied liquid gold leaf to the details with a small paint brush. This is when the piece really came alive...it gave it that elegance I was looking for in the very beginning.



BEFORE

AFTER

Not only did the piece talk to me... it had a better idea than I did.  Keeping this piece distressed really made it look like an antique. What do you think of the outcome?!

Hope you all are having a wonderful Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by!



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