Video catch up...

I have entered the very busy filming and editing season.

Last week, I filmed 3 different projects and edited 4.

It's been crazy, but good!

I even spent part of Mother's Day filming :)

Thankfully, it was outside and I was surrounded by flowers and plants.

It was a beautiful day at the Gardeners' Fair at Locust Grove!

Here are some of the latest short films I have done...Jane Austen lovers rejoice!

Words of Wisdom with Jane Austen- Part 2

A little Jane Austen to start off this week :)

It's stormy and cloudy here plus I'm suffering from really bad allergies,

so I'd be very happy to just curl up with a book today.

Maybe, I'll squeeze some time in today...

Or at least, have a big cup of tea :)

Happy Monday!

New Web Series...

One of the short film projects that I have been working on lately is 

"Words of Wisdom with Jane Austen."

My friend, Emily, and I got together 

at the beginning of this year

to plan out different video series that

celebrate Jane Austen and reveal different aspects of Regency life

as a way to promote the 2014 Jane Austen Festival

that's coming up on July 18th, 19th, and 20th of this year.

Since winter seemed to drag on and on this year,

filming kept getting pushed back further and further.

Until the beginning of this month,

when my other friend and very talented actress, Marrie Koch,

 and co-hort in "All things Jane Austen," Bonny Wise,

met at National Historic Landmark, Locust Grove, to

film in the 1790s house.

Locust Grove was the perfect setting for these short films.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to film there.

There has been a great response so far!

We have new episodes to release every Monday leading up the Festival in July.

So, here's the first two episodes, for your viewing pleasure,

(they're only about 20-30 seconds in length):

Happy New Year...oh, wait...Happy Easter!!

Happy New Year, fans!!

I'm starting my new year a little late ;) 

So, Happy New Year and Happy Easter!!

It has been a whirlwind first four months of 2014...

Here's a list of what I've been up to:

Filmed and edited various short films,

Planned for the 2014 Jane Austen Festival,

Re-created the Jane Austen Society of North America- 

Greater Louisville Region's (JASNA-GL) website,

Managed said website,

 Re-energized the JASNA-GL blog,

Created graphics for the Festival promotional materials and merchandise,

Prepped the 2014 Jane Austen Festival Volunteer website,

Planned for the 2015 Annual General Meeting for JASNA,

Presented at two monthly meetings for JASNA-GL,

Opened a new shop on Etsy (but it might be changing soon),

Created themed photos for January and March (as part of the "Themes of 2014" group),

Directed my Tech Team at my church,

Went on a fabulous vacation to the Gulf Coast,

Celebrated my birthday with my family,

PLUS

Selling on Etsy 

and taking pictures whenever I can.

In the midst of all this, I have been playing Cars, building farms, 

acting as different animal puppets, and 

reading books (lots of books) with my Pre-K-er. 

As well as squeezing time in with my very patient and loving husband.

The craziness isn't going to end any time soon,

so please bear with me if I'm not posting regularly.

So, I'll leave you today with a pretty image of our forsythia bush 

and promises for more photos and videos to come :)

 

 

A Year in Review...All of my Colors of 2013 with Eva Ricci Studios Collages

My beautiful color journey throughout 2013...

January in Red

 February in Pink

 March in Green

 April in White

May in Blue

September in Brown

October in Orange

November in Gold

December in Blue, White, and Green

Many thanks to Eva Ricci for creating this "Colors of 2013" challenge!! 

I have met some wonderful ladies who are incredibly talented and supportive to each other. 

I am excited to get going on the photography challenge coming up in 2014.

Also, thank you to each and everyone of my blog readers and fans 

that have been checking up on my photography journey here.  

I have been very blessed this year with new friends, supportive teams, new photographic vision,

 special projects (one being my play!!), a renewed love for painting and playing the flute, and 

lots of learning opportunities about my crafts.  

I am looking forward to many special projects I have on the calender for 2014.  Stay tuned :)

Wishing each and every one of you and your families a

Happy New Year!!!

Jane Austen Society of North America- Greater Louisville Region's December Christmas and Birthday Tea

So, I blogged awhile ago about my big decorating job

for the the Jane Austen December Christmas and Birthday Tea 

and I'm finally going to share the photos with you :)

 (My apologies that they are iPhone pics...

I had a car full of stuff to bring and forgot my good camera.)

Here is what I was up to on Sunday, December 15th...

We were concluding our year long celebration of the 

200th publication anniversary of "Pride & Prejudice,"

so I wanted to include pages from a copy of

 "Pride & Prejudice" in the decorations.

Plus some BIG P & P's :)

I chose the blue and white plus greenery theme, 

since it was a Christmas Tea 

and I had done the typical Christmas colors the previous years.

 The "Earl" always makes an appearance, especially to hold the birthday sign for Jane.

 I made the embroidery hoops with designer fabric from Jo-Ann's (bottom left and top right) plus I made a few with a blue painted stencil pattern on white muslin (top middle).  I made the silver berry wreath (on the left) and painted the green and blue wreath on the square canvas.  I also painted two different stencil patterns on the "Pride and Prejudice" book pages and cut out different sized hearts out of the book pages to give as gifts to the Tea attendees.

 I stuck branches in the large white foam frames, which were kindly given to me by the Creative Director at my church, and hung the book page hearts and stenciled pages from the branches.  I also added some plastic decorator snowflakes to create sparkle and 

contribute to the blue and white Christmas theme.

 Clear, blue, and green glass vases and pitchers were placed around the center design and on the tables along with hand written letters from "Pride and Prejudice." 

I glued book pages together to fill two tall clear glass vases to highlight Jane's wonderful work.  

I also stenciled the two paintings that were placed in front of the tables.

 I created two chandeliers from wire wreath forms and "Pride and Prejudice" book page heart cut-outs.  I tied white and cream muslin strips plus some of the decorator fabric to cover the wire wreath form.  They took quite a bit of time to make, but looked so pretty as they flanked the fireplace.

The beautiful blue vase, pine cone, evergreen, and silver berry centerpiece for our tea treats table.

 The middle hanging strand was the play bills from my play, "Elizabeth & Darcy- A Love Story," that premiered at the 6th Annual Jane Austen Festival this past July. 

 Along with decorating, I collaborated with my friend, 

Christophe (who played Wickham and Colonel Fitzwilliam in my play), and 

we delighted the Tea attendees with Christmas music on harpsichord and flute.

He is very talented and played beautifully on the stunning historical harpsichord.

He was dressed in Regency attire and serenaded the attendees before the tea started 

and while they were waiting in line for tea and treats.

It was an absolutely lovely event!

 I am looking forward to and already planning for next years :)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

 

Wishing all of my blog readers a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!