Maggie | Our Newest Voter.

As someone who adores her babysitter and cries at the thought of her tender heart - I hold the role in high esteem.  To get to care for someone's child is a big task - even if it is pizza and a movie - I always wanted to make that pizza and a movie COUNT - you know?  Bring life. and joy. 

I'm not entirely sure how I ended up landing the babysitting gig I did in college, but I'm pretty sure it was Providence and Lindsey.  

 So - my sweet sweet Maggie - how do I tell you how grateful I am for our adventures and Tom Petty Sing a Long sessions?  Or our cruises and Easter Services in our hotel room?  I'm grateful - and getting to see you recently, and the whole family- was a blessing.  

Happy Birthday.  I hope this year, you continue to explore life - and who you are, and who He is making you to be. 

Love you. 

Rad Pals.

I've started this new thing - I blame it all on my new baby/love/obsession....the 1.2 50 mm lens. 

It is the best thing I've ever received from Amazon.com. 

That said, I JUST LOVE the way this puppy captures people.  So, while I've always been known for taking lots of photos - this new toy/investment/tool has sent me over the edge.  I've gone nutso. 

So, this new thing I've started.....unabashedly asking people I love and spend time with in every day life - to let me take their photo.  It could be in a nice setting or in the grocery store - but I'm on the prowl for the people I love faces. in my camera. no excuses.  

(of course of course,  I respect people who do not want to be photographed....let alone blogged about)

So, this new thing I've started.....begins with the photo and then goes into a blog post.  I love loving people.  I've got some real gems in my little life - so as a way to practice photography and some fun writing.....I'm starting "Rad Pals."  Likely, in true form, if I start a series, it will flop. But, I just love these people enough that this one may fly.  And, of course, if it doesn't fly- I still love them, I just happen to be frazzled/spread thin/unfocused. 

(Can you tell I'm into triplicate/multiple/varied description today?)

So, this new thing I've started....was inspired also by my friend Kim.  She's an amazing artist - and did an interview series a few weeks back.  She even included this wild gal.....She inspires me to cut loose - create - be really open to who He has made me to be.....so, she's rad. 

She had birthday coffee with me a few weeks back and gave me a great painting you'll see below.  I like to try to get as many Kim Bonner Originals as I can - they are fantastic.  

Here's an interview we recently sat down for over the Internet....enjoy and check out her work! 

 

When did you realize you wanted to be an artist? 

Hmmm... well, I've always enjoyed art. I took as many art classes as I could when I was in school, but when it got to be my senior year of High School, someone told me that I really needed to pick a major that would make me money, because artists hardly ever make money. So, I chose graphic design instead. I enjoyed design, but after six or seven years of designing what made other people happy I decided to try to create things that made me happy instead. The last few years have been a journey of finding my artistic voice and using it to bring beauty and joy to the world around me.

Since God is a super creator and artist, let me ask you this: If God was having an art day what medium do you think he would use?
Clouds. Stars. Water. I think the world is his media. We just use paint and chalk and charcoal try to replicate what is already there. 

If you could be a designer for any one item/brand/company - who would it be?
Can I be a total nerd and say fifty/50? It's a card company that I started this year. The name comes from the fact that we donate 50% of the profits to organizations that help children and teens. I am always looking for ways to use the arts to help make a difference, so it seemed like the perfect solution. And I love that I get to have fun with the design of the identity and products.

You live in Michigan. What is cool about Michigan?
We say "pop" instead of soda. 

The further up north you go, the more awesome our accent gets. 

"If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you." (That's the state motto - I love it.)

Who is your favorite artist? 

I have a really hard time picking favorites. I've always liked Alphonse Mucha and Gustav Klimt. I remember one of the first artists that I fell in love with was Marc Chagall. I loved how colorful his works were, and how sweet his relationship with his wife was. I mean, how can you not love a line like, "Her silence is mine, her eyes mine. It is as if she knows everything about my childhood, my present, my future, as if she can see right through me"?

What is your favorite boy band?

The original boy band: The Monkees!

If you had to choose between a rabbit and a pet squirrel what would you choose? 

Pet squirrel. Preferably a flying one.

 Finish this sentence, "I want my art to....."

1. Speak truth: that every person is valuable and worthy of love.

2. Inspire. I want people to be encouraged to follow their dreams and make their own adventures.

3. Make Change. I hope that through the sales of my work I can support causes that I believe in, and I hope that people feel that they are a part of something bigger when they purchase my work. I also hope that my art touches places in people's hearts that makes them decide to go make some change of their own as well.

Happy Birthday Suzzzzzzz

Today is my BBBBFFFFF Suzz's birthday.
All I can say is, "THANK GOODNESS!!!"

She has big hair and a big heart.
She has wild hair and a wild heart.
These are things I appreciate and love.

I am so grateful for Susan - and grateful that He weaves us into relationships out of his love and to bring him glory.

I am grateful for Susan - for the way she will say "duoy" with me over and over - for the heart she has for teenagers and Jesus- for her sense of fashion -I am grateful that she has as many ridiculous items of clothing as I do - I am beyond thankful that she knows the value of deep laughter and makes me laugh a lot - I am grateful that she lives in NC now and not in Yankee land - I am thankful she won't judge me when I whine yet again, over some failed venture of mine - I love the fact that she also buys hair products in bulk and at any given moment you may find up to 50 bottles of hair gel in her closet.  She is the best at sending cards - and while I am not this is a post dedicated to my adoration/love/admiration of her.  Lastly,  I love her sense of style and her sense of purpose.

Today, she's another year older, which means another year I've known her...and all I can say is, "Thank Goodness!"
*Follow Susan on Pinterest you won't be sorry click here 
  Or her Tweets
  Or her blog

*My goal this year is to have a photo shoot of just Susan so I can get a picture on my wall of her beautiful self!

Thirsty Ate...38...Yay!

Here's the thing. My family isn't super big on birthdays.  Don't get me wrong - my mom threw some great parties when we were younger - one of my favorites being my roller skating party in wild and wonderful WV (closest rink okay?) - but as we got older birthdays weren't a HUGE deal.  I realized this my senior year when my mom sort of shall we say.....forgot her baby girl's birthday....ran to the store and bought a frozen cake and we had to jackhammer through that thing to take a bite. 

There we all stood in our rental house kitchen - with the bare necessities - moving frozen cake around in our mouths, pretending it was yummy - and smiling.  I was a bit ticked - but that had more to do with being a teenager than anything else. 

So, we celebrate birthdays some years - and some years we do not. I remember some friend's birthdays and most often I do not. I'm sorry. To all my pals. I really am trying to grow in that arena. 

This brings us to my older-yet--shorter brother, Chris.  He turned 38 this year and for once, we were able to all get together and celebrate.  However, old habits die hard and I totally opted out of buying him a birthday gift.  I didn't forget - I made an intentional decision based on our familial culture to not buy one. We don't do that sort of thing (well Auntie Rhonda does for us and we love that) -but Chris walks in with our new, favorite, Jen - and he is all like, "Hey Elizabeth, I got you a gift" or something like that. (her birthday fell just a few weeks prior)

I started to freak - I mean - what has gone awry in him that he is now doing the birthday thing.  I had no gift - and there was no where in Giles to go find him something - except Goodwill - which I've given him used things before but.....so I thought through this situation - why Chris has gotten his act together and what as I to do for his birthday gift......

Answers: 

1. Jen is why Chris has his act together - sending thank you notes - and getting people gifts. Obviously, its Jen. 

2. I would improvise 

Later that night I told Chris, "Rather than buy you something you don't need, I'm going to make you a video for your birthday."  So I ran around our favorite restaurant, The Palisades and had a blast - for Chris of course.

The 38th Year. from mary Stafford on Vimeo.

I'd never made a video - and couldn't figure out how to turn on the video feature that AM but I said I would....so I did. The ending is odd because I don't know how to use the software - but disregard. When the screen goes black - it is finished.....

And here it is....Happy Birthday Chris! I love you and think the 38th year is going to be great!

**Lastly, the title of this was all because the line in Bridesmaids when Helen Harris III has a voice-over reading her invitation in a French Accent,"répondez s'il vous plaît, ....Yay!  Cracks me up.....so there you go.

Happy Birthday Chris

My Brother turned 38.
That's weird.

But time takes us all prisoner I guess (what does that even mean? I don't know. do you?)

The morning of Chris's birthday we had some fun - as I tried out the video side of my camera. Don't worry - I know I have no future in the cinematography world - plus, I love my stills - but nonetheless - here you go Chris. Part 1 of 2.

Love you! (and know this is my first video ever....sooooo disregard its elementary nature)