craft-time.....christmas wreaths

When I get an idea, I just have to do it. I don't care how long I have to wait to get around to it, I'm just the kind of person that is determined enough to not let it go. Case in point, making a Christmas wreath.

I was thinking one day a few weeks ago about a fairly simple Christmas craft project I could do to spruce the house up a bit for the holidays. A wreath, of course! They smell great, they look pretty and it's an outdoorsy sort of project. This was going to be a cinch.

I checked out a few online tutorials and it looked easy....until I started looking into getting some materials that were used in the tutorial like a ring of oasis and blue spruce. I live in a small town where resources are thin and if it does exist, it could get pretty pricey....and blue spruce is not really native to around here, unless it's the black variety and those seem to grow more in swamps. Well, nothing a bit of improvising can't fix.

I got together with one of my friends yesterday to make our projects. I used 3 coat hangers bent into a ring shape, an outer ring and an inner ring held together by wire. This, would hopefully be sturdy enough to hold everything I wanted to put on it. And then, just started sticking a variety of greens on it. Some work better than others and Jonessa had a blue spruce-like tree in her backyard so those stems were good for filling in. A few yew berries from our front yard, pinecones, red tie-up ribbon and some baubles and voila! Christmas wreath project complete and cheap to make!

Here it is. So simple, anyone can do it, even a non-crafty person like me!

crazy for sock monkies

If it's one thing I wish I had the aptitude to do, it would be to be crafty....and crafty in the sense of making stuff that you sew or knit. I don't know how many times my Mom had tried to teach me how to do these things or the moments I have had of picking up projects and letting them go after a day because I just don't have the patience to sit through it.

I know of a very talented lady in Smithers who is a whiz with a needle and thread and is constantly coming up with new and cute creations. I asked her if she wouldn't mind making a sock monkey for our baby and yesterday it was dropped off at our house, all cute and ready to be cuddled.

Maybe I'll revisit some of these handy crafty skills on maternity leave. The thought is nice, but when I really start thinking about it, who am I kidding?

Happy Friday!

changes

My Rose Dykstra Photography portfolio site is now down. The only thing I have left is this blog, which I will try to keep updated over the next few months as I work on a new blog with my new company name, Simply Rose. I have been humming and hawing over what to do since the summer regarding websites, blogs, company names, rebranding etc. But now since I am having a baby in late March/early April, I have decided to scale back a bit and try to refocus on this new phase of life. Which I have to admit, I feel completely clueless over. If you have any inquiries, please feel free to email me at rose@simply-rose.com.

I am 5 1/2 months now and generally feeling fine. We're pretty sure we know what we are having, but you'll just have to wait and find out next year!

A blog posting just isn't the same without a picture. Lately, we have been having major bird issues in the house and it's been ugly. For some reason, she has taken to bringing the great outdoors into our bedroom to attack and eat, leaving us with downy remnants to clean up and other random icky parts on our carpet floor.

weddings II phil + clare

This was my last wedding of 2009 and my last session of 2009 as well. I have to say, I don't think I could have asked for a better ending to my first year in business or a better event to have been a part of....

Josh and I got to spend a little over a week southern Ontario/upstate New York area and it was pretty amazing! Fall in the Canadian Shield is quite impressive and it was my first time back east during this time of year. And my first time to New York state. Even though we only got to see a very small bit of it for a very short period of time, I totally fell in love with the place. It doesn't get any better than gluten-free menus at restaurant chains, perfectly manicured highway systems, old-style hamlets surrounded by even more perfectly manicured farm estates and some of the nicest people I have ever met.

We have known Phil and Clare for about 6 years now (wow, we are getting old!) and we all met at Prairie Bible College while in the outdoors and cultural missions programs (Josh, Phil and Clare were in the cultural program and I was in the outdoors program). Phil was Josh's roommate and Clare his group leader. It was a special year for a lot of us, I think, since so many now married couples came from a group of around 50 people. Close quarters and intense scenarios make for some good, lasting friendships. And marriages.

The ceremony and reception were both held at the absolutely fabulous Lower Mill Gallery and Rabbit Room Restaurant in Honeoye Falls. It was the most unique and eye-candy spot a photographer could wish for, complete with that old East Coast antique cool-factor. Honeoye Falls offered many a painted wall and unique backdrop....in fact too many! One spot I am still sad we didn't have enough time to visit was on private property. Josh and I went to ask the homeowner the day before if it was OK for a few of us to come and use her garage....and got invited inside for fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies and a peruse at her grandson's wedding pictures! The venue was amazing, the staff there were incredible and kind and the food, well, I can't say anything more than simply divine.

But Phil and Clare were the real stars of the day. Not only was it great to see their smiling faces again, but to witness how they have grown together into now man and wife. They have experienced a great deal of time apart due to Phil's two deployments in the Middle East, but I think this has only made them stronger and more sure of who they want to be with for the rest of their lives. I love it when couples feel comfortable enough to be completely themselves with their new bride or groom on their wedding day....every look, every kiss, every touch seems to have a weight behind it that every photographer hopes to capture well.

And kudos to my husband, Josh, who was my fearless sidekick for the day! Not only was he my personal chauffeaur, he helped me scout out locations, offered many helpful suggestions and even second shot for me! He even took my favourite picture of the day. Looks like I might have a new employee! *Grin*

So, here are some from the day. Well, OK, a lot. Hold on to your hats, there are a lot of pictures here!

The lovely bridesmaids shoes. I am in love with heels except I don't wear them.
I am especially in love with these yummy yellow kicks.

Clare has gorgeous naturally curly hair that makes me so jealous. No curling iron necessary.

A wee chat with her sister and maid of honour, Maureen.

The backdrop for this dress shot really makes me smile. Clare dressed in her parent's room and I just had to use these tremendously dressed picture windows to frame the dress.

I really like these two portraits of Clare. She is so beautiful!

I think this was the part where her sister was tucking the ties away behind the dress.

All of the girls. Grey dresses were so hot this year!

I loved the grey and yellow/orange colour theme. So fresh. The girls assembled these bouquets
the day before.

The lovely daisy bouquet.

Taken at the side of the Lower Mill. Being a little silly. Which is always good.

The stunning groom and groomsmen.

Upstairs at the Mill. There was artwork all around and it added a really cool atmosphere to the event.

The vows.

This pretty much sums up the couple for the day. So romantic!

Josh took my favourite shot of the day!

This one gives me such a grand feeling.

Another one of my favourites from the day.

Hello good-lookin'.

Some cool cuff-links that Phil put on after the ceremony.

Cute. I just had to do it.

Cutting the cake, which was delish and made by the house pastry chef.

The lovely Clare.

And a few dinner details.

keeping you on the hook......

I know that some of you have been waiting for my latest and last wedding pictures of 2009 from Honeoye Falls in upstate New York.

Well, you have to wait!

Even though the wedding was a week and a half ago, I have been visiting family in Vancouver and without computer or internet for that time. Soooo......I'm back at home in Smithers now and perusing these lovely photographs of Phil and Clare in all of upstate New York's small town glory.

Here is one for the record. There will be more this weekend!

website update

Hello cyberworld!

I have been thinking about simplifying things over the next few months and the first few months while I am on maternity leave. I have decided to remove my website for now until next summer when I hope to relaunch a new one. This means the blog will be only location to see my latest work and get the latest updates. I will leave it up for a few more weeks, but I hope to remove it by the end of October.

I will still be taking some weddings and sessions for next summer, so please don't hesitate to contact me at my new email address....
rose@simply-rose.com

But for now, life shifts gear somewhat and those moms out there can understand, I'm sure. I still feel rather clueless, but it'll be sink or swim come spring and I hope it's more on the swimming side of things! A big thank you to those out there that have been following. I really appreciate your support!

cinematic II stopmotion

I am becoming increasingly interested in video and photography as an overall concept, but moreso, the lines that are starting to get blurred between the two.

My interest in this piqued a few summers ago when I stumbled across Still Motion, an award-winning, mind-blowing cinematic videography and photography company based out of Mississauga, Ontario. The first cinematic movie of theirs that I watched, I could not stop crying, everything about it was incredibly beautiful. I have followed their work since and they keep pushing the creative envelope. And still make me cry.

Another company that is doing similar work is MINDCastle Studios, based out of Seattle, Washington. This duo has been getting more and more press lately and no wonder, their work is textured and stunning and emotive as well.

The interesting thing about what they do, is that they use (or have used) specialized equipment for camera bodies capable of shooting video. Cinevate is one of the leading cinematic product developers that I have come across. Some of their contraptions look like you would need a PhD in mechanics to operate, but however it works, their equipment enables cinematographers to create some of the most amazing pieces of art.

I have also come across another interesting take on wedding cinematography....stop-motion. This is nothing new but I love the way that LemonLime Photography has made it their own. This is the latest from their website. I hope you enjoy!