A handmade Christmas for Mom

Back in September I had the great idea to make a quilt for my Mom as a Christmas present. I was struck by a flurry of inspiration and apparently a bout of amnesia, blocking the memories from my previous quilt making endeavors. Hey, it's September, that's plenty of time to sew a quilt from scratch and with no pattern, right? The short answer to that is yes, plenty of time for stitch ripping and cursing up a storm! It seemed like a good idea anyway and in the end I think it was worth the effort.

Here is a short photo essay of the life of a handmade quilt. Hope you like it Mom!

Photographing Juliana, Mark & sweet baby Laila J

I met Juliana when we both moved back to our home state of Michigan to work for AnnArbor.com. During that first month a group of us met up at a brewery to get to know each other better. I didn't notice it at the time, but Juliana was the only one drinking pop. Little did I know, but she was newly pregnant with a sweet little baby, Laila June.

Laila is eight-months-old now and Juliana and Mark decided to capture her cuteness in some family photos. We managed to squeeze in a photo session at their apartment just in time for the holidays. Here are a few of my favorites!



This photo was taken while Laila's special holiday dress was still special and before she realized it seriously hampered her mobility! Frustrated baby ensued! :)






Juliana had a second outfit for Laila and I stole this photo while she was being changed. The look on her face just makes me melt! What a sweetie.




Proud Mom and Pops!




Laila's nap was cut a little short so that we could take photos, her patience started to wear towards the end.

The Big Chill

The Big Chill was not too chilly and for that I am very grateful! Michigan hockey hosted Michigan State outside at Michigan Stadium at what turned out to be the largest attended hockey game ever. The official number was 113,411, which is more than any other college event in history.



I split my time photographing from the photo deck (way up above the press box) and in the stands with the 113,411 people. My primary goal was to photograph the atmosphere of the game and not just action. Check out a multimedia from the event below.

All photos in this post © AnnArbor.com 2010

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Color Contact, NYC

In March of 2002, a couple of art students and I spent spring break touring NYC. Besides it being the first time I'd ever been to New York, it was also the six-month anniversary of 9/11. I came across this contact sheet while digging through an old box of negatives. It's sort of a mini time capsule, exploring an overwhelming city through the eye of a young photographer.

Ain't nothing but a number

On Monday I turned 30.

It's funny that as you age milestone birthdays go from being exciting, like becoming a teenage at 13 or old enough for booze at 21, to something you are supposed to dread, like leaving your twenties for the "big 30." Seeing as I can only speak on those birthdays leading up to 30, I'd like to turn the tables on age and embrace it.

Here is a self portrait I took for a photo class assignment in college at age 20. I am not sure what I was "trying to say" when I made this picture but it is interesting to come across it ten years later.



As I look back at the 20-year-old me, I'd like to give her some simple advice, perhaps the same advice I'd give myself now: 

- Be a good person, even to a stranger

- Appreciate what you have

- Work hard

- Learn

- Laugh

I've lived a lot of life in the last 30 years and in an optimistic stance, I can't wait to see what the next 30 have in store.

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Travel: D.C. for the Holidays

Somehow I racked up over a hundred hours of vacation at work. With the year winding down, I figured it was time to commit to a trip. So I booked a ticket and flew out to spend the Thanksgiving weekend visiting my friend Emily in Washington D.C.

Along with Emily's parents and boyfriend Adam, we checked out a few of the must-sees in the area starting with George Washington's digs, Mt. Vernon.


Some of the animals (yes a camel!) living on the grounds of Mt. Vernon. Apple the turkey is one of the birds that President Obama pardoned this year. After the holidays Apple will be moved to a special pen where he will live out his days with his brother, Cider!




After Mt. Vernon we made it over to Arlington National Cemetery. We were lucky with a little left over fall color. It really is a moving experience.






A view of the Washington Monument from Arlington. Can you see it? Right in the middle.




The sky as the evening sets in on a long day!


A view of the Capitol building from a terrace deck at the Newseum in downtown D.C.




Special thanks to Emily and Adam! Thanks for showing me a great time and being great friends!

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In need of a good home

I think it's pretty evident that I have a fondness for animals, some may even call it a "bleeding heart." When my friend Betsy told me she had found a litter of kittens abandoned on her property, I knew I had to stop by and meet (love) them for myself. While Betsy and her boyfriend Chad are caring for these furballs now, they'd ultimately like to find a good home(s) for them.

I hope these photos convince you to acquire a feline compainion, I can put you in touch with Betsy!





Betsy will probably kill me for posting this, but it's my blog! ;) They have the same crystal blue eyes!


OMGz, I love me some kitties!

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Never a dull moment!

Whew! What a game that was! Michigan broke their losing streak with a 17 touchdown, four field goal, triple overtime 67-65 (this is a football score!) win against Illinois on Saturday. So much action that I can't really remember what even happend! It was a wild game to witness and the other photographers and myself certainly got a work out running from to end to end.

If you'd like to see AnnArbor.com's full gallery from last weekend, click here!

I am gearing up for an away game to Purdue this weekend. Fingers crossed for good weather!



The Michigan Marching Band is pretty major. When I was a kid, my dad received of one of their performance CD's and it was always on repeat!


Saturday's home game was in honor of Veterans.






A couple photos shot from behind!






I really don't get worked up about celebrities or athletes. But I am not gunna lie and say I didn't get a little excited to see Detroit Red Wing Kris Draper on the sideline!

Photos in this post © AnnArbor.com 2010

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