Autumn {Downers Grove Photography}

The fresh, autumn weather always inspires new photos for me, so I decided to take the kiddos to a "new" park (to us) & shoot away using my new Mark III! {ahhh... like butter}

I am forever grateful for my 3 beautiful children; they are beautiful both inside & out.

Hope you had a lovely weekend also!

Grace & Peace,
Julie

Behind the Scenes: Website Images for www.lifeversedesign.com {which REALLY IS in the works!}

Yesterday I spent the bulk of the day photographing my products in a beautiful state park here in the midwest. I am SO happy with the images, I thought I would give you all a sneak peek for what is coming! I have been making further progress on my own website (which I will use in addition to ETSY) & I hope to have it done by the end of the year... which would be a true miracle, as I started this well over a year ago.

A special shout out to my friends who helped me think through props & how to style the shoot:

the magnificent Sugar Cookie Lady who is an expert in antiques — please see her shop here.

the beautiful Lauren of Lauren Wave Weddings & Events who found the great location & sacrificed her day to my benefit.

Thank you ladies. I am forever grateful that you would take part in my art endeavors!

OK, off to edit more images & get them ready for a real, live website!

Grace & Peace,
Julie

Behnind the Scenes: Fear Not, for I am With You

This past week has felt like an emotional roller coaster for me. Many things hit at once, and yet all pretty small in comparison to those loved ones around me. My hubby, the nurse, witnessed his first patient die right before his eyes. One friend whose house burned half way last spring also has watched her hubby go through major surgery over the last several weeks. Another friend is a single mother who cares relentlessly for her 2 toddlers, one of which is severely handicapped & it is a true miracle if she ever gets to sleep through the night even {I think it's God's provision that she is a nurse}. 

And, as for my new & dear bible study, well, pretty much we are all a masterpiece in the making going through our own fires and floods.

My 2 friends I mentioned above had actually told me separately how much this passage from Isaiah has gotten them through their trials, so this morning instead of doing "work", I decided to create art to encourage their hearts & hopefully help them to press on and see God's great love for them and the fact that He truly is their Savior and Lord, carrying them through the flames and fire.

{Art available here}

I chose the waterfall image which I shot in Colorado a few years ago, just thinking of the power of water. Water can be so calming, cleansing & soothing and then as it piles up in its mighty force, it is actually dangerous. When we are walking through our trials, we can feel so overwhelmed and flooded with the situation surrounding us. But God is there, mighty to save, present, strong & loving.

I also love how the passage speaks of how He has "summoned us by name. You are MINE."

And, sad to say, it is not "if" you walk through the fire, but "when". Hardship is a part of this lifetime, yet He is with us to carry us through.

May you know His love, strength, and grace today.

Grace & Peace,
Julie

CBS: Golden Boy Set Art

Today I received a call from a set designer from an upcoming CBS tv show "Golden Boy" asking if they could purchase 5 of the above images in 16x20 size to decorate a set using my Scripture art! They said it will appear in episode 6, probably in the winter time & they will be used in a hospital setting.

I hope the pilot this fall takes off so that it is really seen. I should mention, the show is a cop drama.

A fun little surprise for my day!

Oh, one my favorite parts of the images they chose is that my hubby is the "star" of 2 of them. Yup. He is my knight in shining armor.

Grace & Peace,
Julie

The almost-5-yr-old Haircut

Pumpkin-Poos is almost 5 & she got her first MAJOR haircut last week
(look at how long her hair was!)
She did NOT want her hair cut. I think she thought Daddy was going to give her a mohawk like big brother's. But when Miss Tiffany came & put her on the "princess chair", she was beaming.

We went to a local park to scope out the red couch location & she caught a moth (was VERY proud).

I cannot believe she is almost FIVE! I had her IEP meeting yesterday at school & am simply amazed at how she has grown these last couple years in her speech development. I will never forgot sobbing dropping off my baby at preschool, knowing she could not come out afterwards telling me all she did. We went from that to now when I pick her up it's, "We did art. I made ME! We go to the park. I help my teacher..."

Thank you God.

Grace & Peace,
Julie

Red Couch Photo Shoot : 2012

COME JOIN ME FOR A FABULOUS, FUN-FILLED, UNIQUE PHOTO SESSION TO CAPTURE YOUR FAMILY JUST IN TIME TO CREATE MEMORABLE CHRISTMAS CARDS!

EACH SESSION IS 20 MINUTES LONG AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A REALLY FUN PHOTOSHOOT WITH THE ONES YOU LOVE, 10 HI RES DIGITAL PHOTOS {5 IN COLOR, 5 IN BLACK & WHITE} WITH A RELEASE TO PRINT AS MANY AS YOUR HEART DESIRES, AND A FREE 8X10 PRINT OF YOUR CHOICE {A $15 VALUE} ALL FOR $75!

Date: Saturday, October 27, 2012

Open sessions remaining: 12, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 & 5

Location: TBD will be either in Downers Grove or Hinsdale, Illinois

email me at lifeverse@gmail.com if you are interested in booking a session & I will send you more information.

Here are some more images from last year's fun!

I had a great time with each & every family last year, bringing out their personal style & uniqueness & making them feel right at "home" snuggling in an open field (or for some, running around like crazy). It was a joy to take the images to transform them into my Life Verse Design style art as well as Christmas cards.

Grace & Peace,

Julie