The lady behind the "Dust"

Her Brother's Sister

2010-04-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

yes, she may be a girly girl......but she's still her brother's sister!....

Miss Ava

2010-03-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

Meet Miss Ava.....such a sweetheart!!! i love her little stares! and her precious face!! she and her parents live in little rock,, but will soon be joining us down here in magnolia!!!

"The Petty Family"

2010-03-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

a few weeks ago i had the pleasure of photographing the Petty family.. they drove in from little rock on their 6yr anniversary!!...phillip and i know one another from our high school years,, and so i was really excited to meet his sweet family! and must say,, that their little man, parker, has the bluest eyes i've EVER seen!!

"Brothers"

2010-03-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

Every photographer expects to do a little to keep up with the energy of a 3yrd old and and crawling babe.......as i did with this set of brothers...but i was pleasantly surprised at how engaged with the camera they were!.. they would just stare, or give me big laughs! they were lots of fun! and so easy to photograph,, the camera loves these little guys!!!......and by the way,, they are also some of my "out of towners"

"A Little New with the OLd"

2010-03-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

I decided to mix an little new in with the old pics as i catch u all up on here!... these pics were taken yesterday!.. yes, i said yesterday.... but as a photographer,, every once in a while i have a shoot,, where i just can't stand to "wait" to edit the pics.......so last night i had to upload and grab a few to edit....i love all the yellow flowers everywhere right now!..and we had great light!.....this is Maggie!... isn't she just a DOLL!!!....and i LOVE,, lovE her red hair! her and her family came in from el dorado .....

"Little Luke"

2010-03-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

SO, i've been MIA lately.......really just MIA from blog world.......i've been completely SWAMPED with picture taking!! God has truly blessed me and my business!
i'm going to back track a little a post some pics from back sessions......and play the catch-up game with u all for the next week.......so, check back tomorrow, i'll be posting at least one or two posts a day to try and catch u all up on what's been going on around here!!! for now,, here are some other pics of little luke.....his parents drove all the way magnolia, from maumelle!!! that's at least 3hrs!!!......just for me to take his pictures.......i was flattered to say the least....i've had mostly out of towners lately........little rock and el dorado have been spreading and sharing pics from cloud dust photography......and these people have been burning the roads! i love meeting new people!! and loved meeting the mann family from maumelle! without further ado,, here's some more pics of Luke!

Because I Can't Stand Not To...............

2010-03-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Because i can't stand not to post this picture,,,,,even though i have SO many other things to post........hope this leaves u begging for more!!

."A little Extra"

2010-02-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

i finished up tamra's maternity pics last night......and had to add just one more....she brought the blocks....i don't have any.....but i need to get some!!......i love how this one turned out.....i love the colors......

ARkansas Photographer................Kaylyn.........

2010-02-25T14:50:00.000-08:00

Wow!! can u say "photogenic"!!! this girl is just gorgeous!!
i was doing her brother's senior pics...and mom asked for pics of her too!
we had some fun with the sun!! i'm determined as a photographer,, not to scared of being in the sun.......we started this shoot at 1:30......so , yes, u can get some great shots during that time of day!!

Maternity Photog

2010-02-24T21:24:00.000-08:00

I don't always publish posts of all my photo shoots.....mainly because of the whole time factor......so tonight i'm going to go with my latest maternity session......i finally got to use my new light!!.....and i'm currently working on new backdrops......here's the first one of many!!!.....i just fell in love with the red when i saw it!!

"MANIK"

2010-02-19T10:38:00.000-08:00

i was extremely excited when hannah, from "MANIK" called me up.......she owns a trendy clothing boutique here in magnolia, on the square..... "MANIK".....she called wanting me to do some pics for her store.....some of her new spring items......so she got a cast of models together and we headed out to one of my fav spots........here's just a taste of what we got ......

"Did I Mention......."

2010-02-11T10:37:00.000-08:00

So, did i mention i got some new studio lighting????
of course, i'm still figuring it all out....lol.........

"The Writing on the Wall"

2010-02-09T07:06:00.000-08:00

Can anyone tell me WHY i can never find a sharpie when i need one.......but my 2yr old seems to ALWAYS have one at just the right time........while mommy is off teaching dance and her daddy is cooking dinner.......????.........well, in case u're wondering what the result of that scenario would look like......

"My Take on Senior Pictures"

2010-02-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

so i'm SO not into the senior pics with the big "senior 10" signs and big letters......seriously, just not anywhere close to my style........lol......but i wanted to give u a taste of what is my style when it comes to senior pictures.....great location, excited senior, and lots of snaps of the camera.......here's what i ended up with on my first set of senior pictures....

"Hard to Choose"

2010-02-01T05:43:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when i edit pics from a shoot......it's SO hard for me to decide which way to go.....i had a really hard time with this particular picture........which one do u like best?......
COLOR

VINTAGE

BLACK AND WHITE?

"Chambliss Kids"

2010-01-29T10:01:00.000-08:00

i fell in love with the sweet spirits of these little girls!..they were all about taking pictures and just having a good time.......and i can't forget little brother! he was all smiles! lol.....but he's a fast little guy! HA...here's a few from our shoot........

Meet little miss Annabelle

2010-01-25T20:28:00.000-08:00

i finally got to meet little miss Annabelle.........i did her mother's maternity pics this past summer.......so when she called to schedule an appointment i was super excited......Annabelle is such a beautiful baby.....and just as happy and laid back as can be!!........i was so glad we ended up with a fairly warm day...outside pictures are the best!

"tutorial,,,,how to applique a shirt"

2010-01-22T06:39:00.000-08:00

alright......here's the tutorial on how to applique a shirt.....but first i'll show u what i did to turn one of my old shirts into a shirt for my daughter..(if u're using a knit shirt like i did,, u'll need to put a ball point needle on ur machine first...and when sewing knit,, do not use a straight stitch,,it will not stretch when ur fabric does,,and so the thread will break ...i use a slanted zigzag stitch,,if u don't have one of those,, use a zigzag stitch)......first, i took a shirt of her's and laid it on top of mine......

then i used her shirt as a pattern, and cut around it.....making sure i cut up the top of the sleeves and down the bottom too...and leaving a 1/4 of a inch or so for an inseam when i sew the pieces back together....so u'll have two separate pieces...a front and a back.......the shirt i picked of mine to use had a cowl neckline,,,so i cut it down too....trying to make it as close in width as the one of hers i was using......

next u'll sew the two pieces back together,,right sides together of course!......so u'll sew from the neckline down to the edge of the sleeves on both sides...and from the bottom of the sleeves to the arm pit and down the side of the shirt.........since my shirt had a cowl neckline,, when i turned it right side out and folded the neckline over the way it's suppose to be,, i had an ugly raw edge,, like this.....

so to fix that i did a "french seam" just on the neckline,, to do this u take ur seam u want to fix, turn it inside out,, so u see the pretty seam on the other side....and pinch it like i did in this picture below,, and then sew a seam ....this will sandwich the raw seam into the middle of the pretty seam and the new seam........

now our shirt is done! try it on ur model to make sure it came out right.......and in case ur wondering,, i just cut the sleeves to fit...and left the seams raw....u can hem them if u want.......

now that we have our shirt to work with,, ( i love the fact i didn't have to buy one,, and i have one that is a little different then a regular old tee shirt)...we'll put an applique on it.......to do this u need whatever fabric u want to use,, and some "wonder under".(u can get this at ur fabric store, our walmart still has fabric,,and they carry it,, it's 1.99 per yard)..to applique, u'll actually be making ur own iron on...and then putting it on ur shirt.....say we're going to put a "circle" on the shirt.....i usually search thru my house until i find something that shape and the right size.....this time it was one of my chirstmas plates...lol....place the plate on ur wonder under,,,,i had just about the right size piece of wonder under left........ cut a piece bigger then what u need...........then cut a piece of the fabric out,, a piece bigger then the piece of wonder under u already cut...

....turn the fabric face down on ur ironing board,,,and then take ur wonder under........when u feel it in ur hands,, there's a wax paper side, and a rough side......place the rough side on top of ur fabric...and place the iron on the top of the wax paper side.......and iron ......

next, u can use ur pattern,, in this case it's a plate...trace around it and cute it out........and then u're going to peel the wax paper off of the fabric cut-out...sometime it can be a little hard to get started...but keep at it....

after u get it off,, center it where u want it on ur shirt,, and just iron it down....then stitch around ur design....a small zigzag looks best...unless u have an awesome VERY straight, straight stitch......and u're done!!!

yes, i messed up the peace sign.....i forgot the middle stick on the bottom!HA!,, luckily my daughter hasn't noticed yet!! lol.........i'll be posting a tutorial on adding ruffles to pre-made pants later.........and even if u think u know how to do that already,, i bet i have a trick to make it LOTS easier for u!!!

"Coming Soon"

2010-01-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

it's been a couple months since my last tutorial,, so tonight i will be posting a tutorial on how to make an appliqued shirt and how to add ruffles to a pair of pants!!! i have so many people who have ordered outfits like this,,,and so many people, who can really do it themselves!! check back tonight,,and i'll teach u how!!

2bits, 4bits, 6bits a dollar..................

2010-01-20T20:18:00.000-08:00

my kiddos are 2, 4, and 6years old......for three more months.........something about even numbers......i just like it............anyways,, it's been unusually warm around here this week.....so i took the opportunity to snap a few photos of my kids .......
i can't believe how big emma grace is now......she looks so much older now that she wears her hair down.......no more bows of any kind,,,,,an occasional clippee.....and that's it........sigh.............at least i can still get a bow on my sweet katie mae!.........

AR Family Photographer........Cloud Dust Photography

2010-01-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

meet the Alexis family.......when i booked their appointment i had no idea it was going to be as cold as it was on that day!....at one point during the shoot,, the temp rose to 29degrees.....yes, it was down right frigid!!!......but their kids were heading back to college a couple days after the shoot.....so we just dealt with the weather and got it done......this family is very fun.....and if i had to be in the 29degree weather,, i'm glad it was with such a lively family!!!

Ar Children's Photographer........Luke and Grant

2010-01-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

i did this photo shoot back in early dec or late november.....i couldn't post pics until after cmas,, the pics were a present for the parents.......this is luke and grant.......after getting off with a rough start, (the little guy got stung by a bee when he was getting out of the car!!!)....we had a lot of fun walking around a local state park.....finding lots of big sticks,, calling the ducks, and throwing LOTS of rocks in the pond...lol.......here's a few from that day.....

Sarah and Hannah

2010-01-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

here's a couple pics that i took of sisters, sarah and hannah.....i had asked them if they'd be interested in doing some modeling for me so i could try out some new stuff with my camera,, (new settings and such)..........and they agreed...but i don't think any of us realized how cold and rainy it was going to be that day! HA......i still have LOTS of pics from this day to go thru,, these are just the few that i've edited so far..........

"Snowflakes and Flurries"

2010-01-05T20:58:00.000-08:00

we finally got some snow here in south west arkansas!......yesterday morning,, for about three hours it snowed!!! it was simply breathtaking.......i just LOVE watching snow fall........it's gorgeous!.......too bad it didn't stick around....
and even worse,, emma grace was at school the entire time,,,,,,and they only got to watch it out the window!!! shame on those teachers,, actually prob,, "shame on the principal"......should have let the kiddos at least go outside for two minutes... ..................here at the house,i let warnock and katie mae play outside.......it was the first time katie mae has seen snow....i love watching my kids experience something so beautiful for the first time....the look on their faces is always one i try to etch into my own memory......the sparkle in their eyes,, the jaw-drop in amazement, and the hands out,, always ready to touch and feel whatever it is..............SIGH.............

Cutie Patootie

2009-12-28T19:46:00.000-08:00

here's some pics of alyssa mae......one of the cutest almost two yr olds i know!!..those dark eyes with her blonde curls....a photographer's dream!

"Silent Sunday"

2009-12-27T14:31:00.000-08:00

My family is AWESOME!

2009-12-16T14:31:00.000-08:00

every week i get to take pics of families.....i love it!.....but i've been wishing i could get someone to take pics of MY family........sure, i could set up the tripod and do them myself...but that just seemed a little too stressful.............so when my bff, melanie cam down this past weekend.....she was kind enough to snap a few pics before she headed home to lousiana..........i look at these pics and can't help but feel tremendously blessed!.........i have a wonderful husband....i can't say enough about what a great man and father he is........and my kiddos fantastic...just full of life and i can't imagine my life without them.......

i heart squished baby faces

2009-12-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

meet miss sophie blair......isn't she a doll!! and she was such an easy baby to photograph....i don't think she cried the whole 2hours.....

Thanksgiving

2009-12-01T20:16:00.000-08:00

every year on Thanksgiving we eat lunch here in magnolia, and then head down to tx to my parents house.....we had a great time this year and were able to snap some pictures just as the sun was setting!...here's some from that day......

ARkansas Children's photographer!! and a new WEbsite!!

2009-11-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

TaDa!!! i now have a photography website!!! go check it out!!!!
Cloud Dust Photography

i was excited when i was asked to take pictures of these gorgeous sisters!...i love getting to take pics of people i already know......it's fun when the kids already feel comfortable around you...and u know how to tap into their fun personalities!........

Kavan and Drew.............Cloud Dust,,,,,,,ARKansas Children's Phtotgrapher

2009-11-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

so, i got some old tires.....a few cans of spray paint,,,,,and now i have new props!.....i love the color they add to the pics.......and these adorable little guys were perfect for what i was going for!......did i mention that they are my nephews?.......they're so fun!!

"Actions"

2009-11-16T06:42:00.000-08:00

so what photographer doesn't like some "actions"?............i know i do!......and there's a action set giveaway at prop insanity .com...............http://propinsanity.com/?p=2553..............go check it out!!

PLEASE!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!

2009-11-09T11:56:00.000-08:00

i don't normally enter contests.........but,,,,,,,,i entered one.............and i NEED UR HELP!!!
i need u to go towww.kellymoorephotography.com/mooreblog and vote for me!!!!! i'm trying to win a free spot in a kelly moore photography workshop...........PLEASE!! PLEASE!! go vote!!!

"Little C".........LOusiana Children's Photographer

2009-11-05T07:07:00.000-08:00

Scruggs Family................Cloud Dust....ARkansas Children's Photographer

2009-11-04T14:02:00.000-08:00

i had such a good time with this family!!.......they are so sweet!!

ARkansas Newborn Photographer........

2009-11-02T13:33:00.000-08:00

meet sweet baby alyssa.........what a doll !!......

Cloud Dust .......ARkansas Wedding Photographer.............

2009-10-30T05:12:00.000-07:00

still working on all the wedding pics.....but here's a sneak peek!!!!.........book ur 2010 wedding before cmas and get a HUGE discount!!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

" In My View"

2009-10-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

Sometimes i think i have the BEST view in the house!!!!.....or outside for that matter.....lol

"The Light"

2009-10-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

down here in arkansas,, we had a solid week's worth of rain,,,,rain, rain, and more rain,,,,,there was even some flooding of homes, and businesses............and during that solid week of rain,,,,,the sky was grey, the clouds were thick........there were no fun mornings at the park,...there was no trampoline jumping for the kiddos either.....just lots of dark mornings,,,and listening to the rain and thunder........don't get me wrong,, i love thunderstorms....really, i do.......but after a weeks worth,,,i was craving the sunlight and blue skies as much as my hyper little people............and after that week's worth of rain,,,the clouds cleared out and the sun shined down on our little town again............on that day....i caught katie mae, who just recently turned two, trying to "grab" sunlight that was peeking thru the shutters in the bathroom........and later that day i found her in my bedroom playing in the sunlight on the carpet,, from the window........dancing around and with her shadow...............like it had been so long since she'd seen it that she was experiencing it for the "first" time all over again................i grabbed my camera and snapped a few pics........and as i was looking thru them today......i started thinking,, about how God is light.....and how, as christians, we "crave" light......or at least we should, right?.....it made me think about how much i loved basking in "the light" after i gave my life to Christ......and has challenged me in a way,,,,that i want to pass on to u all!....are u still "craving" Jesus, and His written word?......are u dancing in His light.....or are u standing alone in the darkness...?......if u are alone, and in the dark,,,,u don't have to stay there......Jesus says "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."....john 8:12

"Another Look"

2009-10-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

This little outfit with the matching hat was one of my favs this season......i knew i was going to make the hat,, but wasn't sure what i was going to make to put with it at first.......until i found this mushroom fabric....perfect little garden nome look!!......HA......i LUV it.......the oufit is a apron front top,,,ties in a bow in the back,,,,,and then matching cord pans......and then of course u have the hat!,,,,,it's sold separate,, so u can buy just the hat if u want too!....and did i mention that it helps to have adorable models?.!...i believe that both of these pics are of Raylee....if i'm wrong on the first one,, forgive me.......i had 16 girls to photograph that day!.

"AS Requested".....

2009-10-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

I've been looking and searching this website and finding some really cool hairstyles for emma grace......her hair is getting long,,,,,,she's always had short hair,,,,but now that it's growing out,, we've been finding new and fun ways to style it........here's a website u can check out if u want to find some too!

http://www.cutegirlshairstyles.com/

Today........Remembering........

2009-10-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

Today is Infant Loss and Remembrance Day.......................here's my link from the entry i wrote last year if u want to read it............

http://clouddust13.blogspot.com/2008/10/ill-never-forget-u.html

Because i LOve Sock moNKEys and her name.......HA

2009-10-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

i wanted to post a few more pics today from the big shoot i did a couple weeks ago.....this is the "sock monkey" outfit......and seems to be a big hit ....i love it too! and anticipate this being my biggest seller this season.......and the other two pics are on here to show off the bow and matching hat for the outfit.......and really because they are both named "emma"..and one even, emma grace,,,,,,,,and since i have my own emma grace,,,i couldn't resist showing off these cutie pies!!

The Franks Family........

2009-10-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

i had lots of fun photographing this sweet family......here's just a few of what we captured........

"Win a Free Spot on the Christmas Photo Shoot!!!"

2009-10-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

ever heard of "scentsy"........i hadn't until about a month ago.......i bought a scentsy warmer,,,,,and i LOVE it!!!!! before i always used my lamp berger.....but i spent LOTS of money on the oil......and had to remember to cap it off so all my oil didn't burn out........but now that i have a scentsy,, if i leave it on and forget to turn it off,, it doesn't matter!...it's basically a little light that u plug in,,,with a low wattage light bulb....resting on the top of the lamp is a little bowl.....that u put scented wax cubes in......they melt and make ur house, office, or room smell divine!!!!........they have different sizes u can buy,,,,and they even have night lights!!.......since i LOVE them so much,,,,,i'm hosting a "scentsy" party on sunday at my house.......but the best part is,, u don't have to come to make an order...u can go to www.scentsy.com/millerme click on kristy and stacy's party....and place ur order there.............then,,,,,everyone who makes a purchase from the party will be entered into a drawing for a FREE spot in the upcoming Cloud Dust Christmas Photo shoot.......which will be the first weekend in december....!...and kristy ,, my creative bow maker,, is going to throw in a FREE made to match bow!!........if u place an online order make sure u email me and let me know......if u live somewhere besides magnolia area or texarkana area,, u'll have to mail me a few dollars for shipping costs to send u ur order once i get it!!! in cause u can't find my email,, here it is......www.cloud_dust1@yahoo.com

Silent Sunday

2009-10-11T19:57:00.001-07:00

"Cloudy Day, Cousins, and a Little Red Chair........."

2009-10-10T14:57:00.000-07:00

so, i've got a TON of pics of the new fall/winter cloud dust clothes and will be posting a new slide show soon!!! it's just easier that way!! LOL.........in the meantime,,, i had to take some time out and snap a few good shots of my nephew, landon......he's 2 1/2,,,,,and only six months older then my kaite mae....who he calls, mae mae....HA!.......i was wanting to get some pumpkin patch pics....but there's not a pumpkin patch within an hrs drive....ugh!! small town.......so i opted for on old building i've been stalking lately!....it's going to be my new fav place i do believe.........i had my two girls.. and then mary brought landon.....here's a few of my favs......enjoy!! and i'll be back tom for a silent sunday!

"The First Of Many"

2009-10-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

"Get Ready"

2009-10-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

alright,, the Cloud Dust fall/winter photo shoot is SAT!!!! and i'm SO excited....i've got 17 girls lined up ......so needless to say,,it's going to be a LONG day...lol......but we are going to have a wonderful time!...i can't wait to see the girls modeling all the new clothes.......here's a glimpse of what u will see in all the new pics next week!!

also,,,,,how can i post without including a pic of one of my own little people!...
.last sunday i did some pictures at my sis in law's VERy causal backyard wedding......and one point i realized i was one kid short,,,,,katie had wandered off...i found her in the backyard "club house" as the kids call it......playing with a magnify glass she'd found......i couldn't resist snapping a shot of her...lol.....she obviously likes to get an up close and personal look at life....HA!

My Very First Go at taking Bridal Portraits........

2009-09-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

So, saturday i had some bridal portraits to take for hannah,,,,,,and after a full weeks worth of rain,,and waking up to rain that morning,, i was pretty sure we might have our work cut out for us........i'm not set up for inside pics......lol.......but after lunch the rain turned to a mist,,and faded out ......and we got some outdoor pics...and some natural light indoor ones........it's SO hard for me to pic just a handful to share,,,,,........i loved working with someone whose sense of style isn't the "norm".......doesn't she look FABULOUS!!! i can't wait to do the wedding........and yes, i did get permission to post these on the blog.....because her fiance doesn't know about my blog! LOL

Cloud Dust in a Foreign Country.......

2009-09-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

i have a customer that is going on a mission trip soon......and wanted something to keep her money, passport and plane tickets in.......so i made this for her.....to wear over her shoulder and across her body.......it opens up and has a pocket on the top and bottom....and a velcro closure........

"A great shower gift"

2009-09-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

just a quick post....a pic of an order i mailed out last week......choc brown corduroy a with the name mongrammed across the front and a made to match bow.......wouldn't this make the best baby shower gift!!

Sneak Peek Part 2

2009-09-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

here's another one of the new outfits from Cloud Dust for the fall/winter line......i love this one,,,,and katie will def have one of these in her closet!!......i love the lime green and pink together........and the pants are corduroy too!!.....

"Make it and Love it"

2009-09-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

here it is....my first tutorial on how to make something u can love!!!.....easy peesy too! it's so easy,, i thought i'd let my 6yr old do this one for u!!...if she can do it... so can U!!... we're going to make a "shrug" out of a tee shirt that u don't wear anymore!! the one emma grace used was a wal mart shirt we bought last year....it still fits.. but she doesn't wear it much.......so now,, find ur shirt! find either a long sleeved or a short sleeved tee.......mark a line up the middle and cut...only on the front of the shirt....and around the neck line..............next cut the corners off
then u need to plug up ur iron.........fold over the edges at least 1/2 and inch all the way around from one bottom end to the other........and press.........notice that the edges aren't going to be the same exact length all the way around due to some curves in the neck....just make the edge as FLAT as possible and we'll cut off the excess later!
next u sew that in place..(remember when sewing with knit to use a bald point needle)...at least a1/4 inch space so u can get some ribbon thru there!

after that u need to trim up ur edges......
now it's time to work ur ribbon in!!!....emma grace picked a really wide ribbon...so we just folded it in half....if u have a shorter width ribbon,, this is not necessary.....pin a safety pin to the end of the ribbon
then u start on one end and work the pin in the shirt casing....and work it all the way up and around and out the other hole...........U R almost done!!!

now,, pull ur ribbon until both ends hanging from the shirt are equal length......and then sew the ribbon in place and the top middle of the neck line....that way ur ribbon won't come out when u pull and scrunch it up!!...and then clip ur ribbon ends so that they are pretty!
now guess what???....ur done!!! that's right......wasn't that easy??!!
now.. scrunch up the shirt and put it on like a jacket....and tie the ribbon in a bow! here's a pic of emma grace in her finished "shrug"......she was so proud and said she's going to wear it to school tomorrow!!

"Silent Saturday"

2009-09-05T10:10:00.001-07:00

2009-09-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

this first picture is katie mae in one of the outfits i made this summer......it was up and pink and blue ave all summer,, and didn't sell, so i grabbed it and brought it home for katie to wear......and next summer the pants will be capris for her!....and then these last two pics are of katie and warnock at the library .....we go every wed for story time........and i took my camera to get some new pics.......here's two of them...........

"Kynleigh's Birthday Outfit"

2009-09-01T07:07:00.001-07:00

Here's a pic of a birthday outfit i did for miss kynleigh........hot pink and zebra,,and don't u love the maribu on the m2m bow?... my friend kristy makes all the Cloud Dust bows for me!! and she does a GREAT job!!

"Sisters"

2009-08-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

this weekend i took some pictures of the Young girls........they are both so pretty and sweet......and the youngest has huge personality! lol........here's a few of my favs.......

"Life's Little Puddles"

2009-08-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

yesterday was friday...and after i got home from picking up emma grace from school... the thunder started...and an afternoon shower followed.....luckily it didn't last very long......and on days like this,,,we pull out the rain boots........the girls put on their "pink" ones,, and warnock got his "waterboots"......eg found them a pretty deep puddle at the bottom of the driveway..............and it was then that i caught myself watching,, and realizing how different they are,, even at puddle jumping.......warnock,,,, is fearless (as long as mom or dad is nearby)....he gets excited, and can't wait to run and "JUMP" in......making the biggest splash possible.................emma grace ,,,, is more cautious.,.,,,i smiled as i watched her take a deep breath, get a starting run, and then close her eyes while holding her breath as she "RAN" thru the puddle as fast as she could.................then there's miss katie,,,.....who on her first attempt,,,,,ran, laughing all the way......then stumbling, and falling into the water, and dirt.....but that didn't break her spirit....she got up and laughed at herself .............and then she tried again....and succeeded!..............................................
watching all this made me think about how God gives us all opportunities, situations, or challenges..........................how do we face them??? are we fearless, diving in without a second thought?,..... are we cautious, holding our breath and hoping for the best.??? or are we willing, and joyful,, even if we fail??

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (english standard version)

God knows the opportunities, situations, or challenges that will be placed before us...........just TRUST Him..........and don't forget to put on ur rain boots!!

"COOKIE MONSTER"

2009-08-28T09:38:00.001-07:00

I did a few "themed" outfits for some of the first graders this year.....since the classrooms all have themes,, it's cute for the kids to wear something the first day of school to go along with the theme for their new class........i always thought of it as,, it's hard for my kid to get lost if she's wearing a shirt with her theme!...eg's in the panda room......i don't have a pic of her outfit ....but i'll get one next time she wears it.......this outfit went to someone in the "cookie monster" room.......i know,, that's pretty obvious...lol.......

"Sometimes It's Worth the Chase"

2009-08-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

i did some pics recently of miss halie......she's the same age as my kaite mae....only 5days apart to be exact!! she has the cutest little blond bob and such deep, dark eyes........and she loves to move around and run just like all toddlers her age!!....i literally found myself chasing her at one point...trying to get "the shot"...lol......anyway,, here are a few of my favs from the day...

"Just Cheeky"

2009-08-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

isn't she cute!,,,i just LOVE those cheeks!!!!!!! she stole my giant cup of lemonade yesterday......haha.....and i had to fight her to get it back..lol.......and i posted this pic today because it's much cuter then a pic of my girls bedroom,,, which i can't even walk in right now......my mission today is to get it cleaned out!....did the closet yesterday.......and ran out of time for the actual room part............just thought u might like a pic of katie mae's cheeks!! o and she started dance yesterday......it may take some getting use to for her......but, well see how it goes.....

Little Miss Kelsey

2009-08-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

here's a preview of some of miss kelsey's pictures i did........we used the alley and then some land out at SAU.......we just happened to be in the alley the same time as another photographer in town was.......she was shooting pics of a little girl too....and they had the COOLEST chair!!......i let them use the basket of hats and tutus i brought and they let us use the chair!!....i would love to have a chair like this!!!! i LOVE bright colors in photographs......and miss kelsey is FULL of personality.......so needless to say we had a very FUN shoot!! here's a few of my favs from the day!

"I Promised"

2009-08-12T05:06:00.000-07:00

The other day i posted a pic of a new Cloud Dust fall/winter dress...........on a hanger and promised to get some pics of eg wearing it soon.....well i did ........it just looks so much better on a kid,,then the hanger to me... :) ........with or without the feathered apron,,,it's perfect for a flower girl dress too.......and i LOVE the way the back looks........this is just one of the many outfits that will be showcased on oct 3rd at the Cloud Dust fall/winter model photoshoot.........if u or someone u know might be interested in modeling contact me for all the info!

"Pillowslip dress and pillowslip outfit"

2009-08-11T12:29:00.000-07:00

One thing i never get tired of is seeing kids wearing my clothes.....and mom's carrying around my diaper bags,,,especially when i don't know them.....sometimes, here in magnolia, i'll be in walmart (mostly where it happens) and see a lady walk by with her baby and one of my diaper bags.........it's hard sometimes,, i want to go introduce myself and ask her if she's liked it....if it's held up well,,,,....lol.......what holds me back is that i would come across CRAZY....lol......
anyways,, the pic above is two little girls wearing outfits i made for them this summer........one is just a simple pillowslip dress and the other is a shirt and ruffled capris........they wore them in this pic on the beach when they were flower girls in a relative's wedding.......i got the pic from their mom,,,and edited it some........i wanted to share with u all.....i know i haven't posted much of my sewing this summer,,,,so here u go!

"sweet lillian"

2009-08-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

last week i took pictures of sweet lillian......we used the alley downtown and then to a new location with an old barn......i really loved the barn location....but was saddened to know that it was torn down two days after we took these pics....:(......i've been out scouting some new locations and hope to use one i've had my eye on soon......i have another photoshoot this sat...another gorgeous little girl.....who just happens to be in one of the dance classes i teach............i'm also looking for a couple of new props.......so we'll see ........

"Fall/Winter Sneak Peek"

2009-08-08T06:09:00.001-07:00

isn't this lovely!!.....yesterday while my hubby worked in the yard,, i worked on this!,,,,the first of my Cloud Dust fall/winter clothes to actually come to life,.......the feathered part is an apron..so the dress can be worn with or without it,.......and so the dress can be cleaned..........so, it's three parts...the dress,, which is silk and tulle,,,,the sash with the flower pin,,, and the feathered apron........the back of the dress is equally as beautiful.........this one is made in my oldest daughter's size.......so i will get better pics of this on her soon.........i can't wait to put the next outfit together!!!.......all of the outfits will be showcased on Oct 3rd at the next Cloud Dust photoshoot.......the cost is 40.00 per family...and u get use the fall/winter clothing and props,,,including tutus, bows, and hats..........let me know if u're interested in booking an appointment.......it's booking pretty fast....but i will do my best to get everyone in.........

"Capturing Moments"

2009-08-06T18:32:00.001-07:00

last saturday i had the privilege of meeting some wonderful women,, women who are fighting back for themselves and for their families!!.....they are women who are strong, resilient, and beautiful........i was able to capture some precious moments of them with their children................i will be going back to do some more soon........enjoy!!!

"Pink and Paisley"

2009-08-06T17:05:00.001-07:00

because i haven't posted any of my "creations" in a while.......i couldn't resist snapping a shot of this bag before i stuck it in the mail........isn't it pretty!....and i love the green satin ribbon for the tie .......it's headed to dallas in the morning...............i'm in the process of picking and ordering all new fabrics for fall/winter clothes.......i'm really excited.....i have some ideas that have been in my head all summer....and i can't wait to watch them come to life........i'll keep u posted on all of that.........

"meet the Jones"

2009-08-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

i did some pics last month of "kylie".....and joana said she needed some of kirk,, kylie's brother too.......and then i found out they hadn't have family pics in FOUR years!!!.....so needless to say......it was time....lol.......we took my red couch,, from my living room...lol.....out to a field....and i played around with a lens that i haven't used before.....most of the pics came out pretty good...but the ones i wanted to come out didn't.....that's what i get for experimenting..lol........here's some of the good ones......we're going to do some more soon........

"Total Domination"

2009-08-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

we've been back from jr week a while.........but i'm just getting to this post.....sorry.........w was able to enter 6events this year for his age group.......
mini run= 1st place
horseshoes= 2nd place
baseball= 1st place
basketball=1st place
swim race= 1st place
biggest splash contest= 1st place
i guess u can say,,,, the kid racked up!!!...........here's a pic of him with his loot

emma grace has been competing in jr week since she was 15 months old.......and finally this year at 6yrs old.. she won her first trophy!!!......she got second place in the homerun derby!!!! i was so excited for her!!

the kids also participated in the talent show and they all got a ribbon for that.....my niece, ella, also won a 1st place medal for the swimming race!!
and the older kiddos participated in decorating a golf cart for the parade......and WON 1st place...........and the girls WON 1st place in the scavenger hunt and got a gift certificate to the snack shack!......it was a winning week for our clan..lol
here some pics from the week...enjoy!!

the new "do"

2009-07-16T10:56:00.001-07:00

we're headed out of town for Jr week at our summer cabin.......but before i left i had to post a pic of my little man's new "do".........

now he says he just needs "blue color" in it........lol........

"Sweet Sunday"

2009-07-12T14:34:00.000-07:00

"Silent Saturday"

2009-07-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

2009-07-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

i made some outfits for a customer recently.......and she used them on her girls for family pictures.......they turned out so great.....the outfits and the pictures.....janet manuel did the pics....here's two of them so u can see the outfits...

2009-07-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

"Cloud Dust Watermelon Photoshoot"

2009-07-01T12:11:00.000-07:00

Alright everyone.......on July 11th from 9to12 i'm going to be doing a watermelon shoot........the cost is $25.00 and for that u will get 5 edited pictures on a disc.....so in other words.....u'll get 5 professional pictures u can print out as many times as u want!!!!!......yesterday i took my kids and my friend joana's kids and shot some sample pics.....if u're interested in booking an appointment for this shoot...u can leave a comment or email me.....i will have the red tutu and the matching hairbow for use during that day...........thanks!!

"Shelby's Photoshoot"

2009-06-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

u prob remember when i did some maternity pics for my friend bekah........well, today i got the chance to snap a few shots of her precious new baby!! shelby is two weeks old and just as sweet as can be.........here are a few of the pics from today......

"Kylie's Phtotshoot"

2009-06-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

I got to take pics of sweet kylie yesterday .......isn't she a doll?.......

"Sarah and Jeff"

2009-06-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

this past week i got the opportunity to take maternity pics for sarah and jeff.......they are such a sweet couple...and are only a couple of weeks, if that, away from welcoming their first child into this big world........it was such a hot day when we took these... 102 degrees outside!!...bless sarah's heart...she was such a trooper!!.........we waited til 6 to start......to get some of that heat out.......here's just a few of my favs from the day...........and thanks, joana for letting us use ur studio!

Beach Pics

2009-06-22T06:55:00.000-07:00

well, after 8days at the beach........we are home.......and i have to admit,,,, i wasn't ready to come back yet.....lol......it was nice to have my hubby with us everyday....and not working.......we had some great family time..........on the drive down there we stopped in moblie, al to tour the battleship......which my kids loved.....and a couple hours later when we finally made it to the gulf,, we threw on our swimsuits and went straight to the beach....i loved watching all the AMAZEMENT in my children's eyes as they looked at such a beautiful and overwhelming scene.....God is so good..............katie mae loved the sand ......rolling around in it...throwing it on herself.....and laughing.....lol.......eg loved the smell first.....and immediately started searching the shoreline for seashells........warnock loved the incoming waves.....he just starred and starred.......not quite sure of them....but by the end of the week,, he was running in and out of them..............
our condo was great...and i loved being able to eat breakfast on the balcony of the 6th floor and watching the waves.....
there was a big crew of 16 people who went .......we all had a great time.......kinda did our own thing all week....but ate dinner together 3nights.....all the cousins had a wonderful time playing together...................
one night they went crab hunting.....it was fun to watch them and listen to their excitement when they found one....lol........i chose to watch from the balcony...lol...not big on little creepy crawly things running over my bare feet!!!

our drive home was quite a "RIDE" if do say so myself.............in the car,, kaite mae was still hungry after eating her snack,,so i gave her one of my honey roasted CASHEWs i was eating......and kaylee(THE best babysitter in the whole world,, who,, yes, we took her on vaca with us) noticed that katie was starting to have some sort of reaction to eating the nut.....we had some benedryl in the car,, gave her some of that....and ten min later david was driving like someone on nascar searching out in bfe for an ER......cause katie me was having probs breathing.....!! i must say,, it was all a little scary......when we found a hospital,, in meadville, ms.....they took one look at her when i ran her in....and rushed her to the back.......they gave her a shot of some kind of steroid and more benedryl.....and withing 2min she was completely fine.........they told us that if it happened again,, it could be worse.....and to keep her away from all nuts as of now......we had to keep her cool in the car,,cause they said that if she got "hot" it could all start over again.....AH!........we had to give her meds two more times that day.......and by the next morning she was her normal self again..........praise GOd!!

"Last T-ball Game"

2009-06-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

well, last night was emma grace's last t-ball game........yes, it's already over! and i kinda like it that way...lol.......this is her last year to play....next year they start softball......and she doesn't seem to like enough to keep playing...........but w will be old enough to start playing t-ball next summer.....lol........so we'll still be there..........david made me bring my camera last night to get a few shots of him and eg and our nephew, isaiah..................if it doesn't rain today i'll try and get some pics of the kids in their new outfits i made them last week.....and i have another maternity shoot today too........if it doesn't rain...........

"Boys, Boys, Boys"

2009-06-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

yesterday i had another photoshoot.....this time it was two brothers.....Joshua and Bryton......we only shot for about 30min.....but i still got a few good ones....here's some of my fav........aren't these two just "GORGEOUS"!!!!

"One Month and Counting"

2009-06-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasant opportunity to photograph the sweetest little one month old baby boy yesterday......meet little Josiah!.....these are just a few of my favs from the shoot.........(i'm still sewing away....taking a little break for the summer....but i did a handful of things last week while at the cabin...i'll post pics soon)

"On the Road Again"

2009-05-31T06:16:00.000-07:00

today i'm headed back to the cabin with the girls........david is already there with warnock.......i'm going to spend most of the week if not all of it down there and let the kids play and swim.......so i won't have internet access this week........but i'll be back!.....going to stop at the camera shop in texarkana and get and adapter tube that i need to use two other lenses for my camera i have......and a split-field density filter?..i think that's it.......i've got a few photoshoots to do when i get back.......i can't wait!!!.....o and i made myself a really cute strap cover for my camera strap.....after using it so much lately, it's started rubbing on the back of my neck.........so i made a padded cover.....and it's very stylish i might add....lol.....anywho...here's a couple more pics to leave u with until i get back......ta ta.....

"Silent Saturday"

2009-05-30T11:23:00.001-07:00

"Maternity Photoshoot"

2009-05-28T23:09:00.000-07:00

so i got the opportunity to take some maternity pics of my friend bekah.....it was SO much fun.....she is such a sweet friend...and i'm so excited for her ...and can't wait to meet little miss shelby!!....maybe i can take pics of her too!!!.i love this whole photography thing......lol.....anyways,,, we went downtown first..then we went to a church here in town,,,i've been eyeing it's red doors since december....and i finally got to take some pics there!!!!.and then to her house...it was SO hard to pic only a few to post...but here are my favs from the day.....

"Tutu Cute"

2009-05-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

i couldn't help but make at least one more picture happy post today!...........in my very little time,,,and i do mean VERY little time,,, i'm working on figuring out some stuff on my camera still......i caught these pics of katie mae,,,and wanted to share them.........maybe i can get emma grace and warnock to let me get some good pics of them soon too........enjoy!

"Summer Fun"

2009-05-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

We had such a wonderful time at the cabin this past weekend.......going back this weekend!!.....the river water is much too high to play in....so we headed to the pool....when it wasn't raining that is........the kids swam...but it was like ice water,,, seriously......lol......their lips were blue after a while...lol.......when it was raining we stayed in the cabin and watched movies.......w's new fav is "Jurassic Park".....i thought it might be too scary.....no way......we watched it at least 4 times... prob one or two more...........and on a trip to wal mart, half an hour away...david picked up "swiss family robinson"......that was a big hit with the little people too.............eg took her bike and w took his little motorcycle....and of course he found all the mud puddles after the rain one afternoon.....lol.....

and tom afternoon i'm going to take some pics of my friend bekah,,, she's 38weeks preg,,, and very ready to have her baby......so i'm wanted to give her another chance to feel pretty before miss shelby arrives.......i think it will be fun!!

"GOING GREEN"

2009-05-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

we're leaving in an hour and headed to our summer cabin at little river.........we absolutely LOVE it there!!! gonna stay til monday.....anyway,,, since we're headed down to the country......where the grass seems greener, the air fresher,, and the mornings seem longer........thought i would leave u with some pics i took of katie mae this morning......she wanted to wear a hat today...and i grabbed this one.....i couldn't resist breaking out the new camera and getting some pics......i learned how to blur the background and stuff last night.......this camera is complicated,,,but i'm figuring it all out! be back monday with lots of new pics

"A Better Pic"

2009-05-20T14:16:00.000-07:00

i promised a better pic of the pettiskirt i made this week.....here is the complete outfit.......

"it's here!!!"

2009-05-19T19:32:00.000-07:00

yea! i got my new camera today........a canon xt.....it's great..... here's a few pics i caught with it today......i can't for this weekend when i will have lots of time to take pictures!

"Back to the Mermaids"

2009-05-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

here's a couple of pics of a dress i sent out a week or two ago......i posted a pic of it on a hanger,,,,,now here it is on sweet lily.....her mom is janet manuel ,, the great photographer here in magnolia, who recently took my kiddos pics...including the one of katie mae that's currently in the window of pink and blue ave.......i love the jewel tones in the fabrics.....mermaids and sea horses.....

"Pettiskirt"

2009-05-18T10:44:00.001-07:00

Here it is.......my very first pettiskirt.......and it turned out really well!!.......it took 5yards of white chiffon just for the ruffle on the bottom.....it wasn't hard to make.....but VERY time consuming.....at least 3hrs of work.......that's like making three diaper bags..........i've got to take a white tank top to the monogrammers today....to have a black "K" put on it....and there is also a m2m bow with maribu feathers!.......this set is going to erin of "Imagine Photography".......and i CANNOT wait to see the pics that come of all this!! going to be gorgeous!........sorry about the terrible picture...my new camera will be here WED! i hope!.....and if i still have the skirt i'll take some better pics......

"Got Toms"

2009-05-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

Got "toms"....i do!....i've been wanting some "toms" shoes for a few months now.....and when i found out that our little shoe store in town had them,,, "SHOEBOX"...i hinted around for mother's day that i should would love a pair...lol......toms shoes aren't just cute and comfy,,,see,, for every pair bought,, a pair is donated to a child in need......u've probably seen the commercials lately....pretty cool....anyway,, here's a pic of the pair i got!! love them.....so comfy and cute!!!!.....if u don't live in magnolia,,, u can order them at www.tomsshoes.com

"My Model Baby"

2009-05-14T06:32:00.001-07:00

Remember these pics?
well, they were taken by Janet Manuel......for PInk and Blue Ave,, the children's boutique here in town.....katie mae was doing some modeling in their clothes......well, the owner of the boutique loved one of katie mae' pics so much,, that she ordered a poster sized one and is having it all framed up this week...and it will be on permanent display for all to see!.....janet said she wants to take a pic of katie mae standing next to her life size print...lol.....that would be cute.......so if u're gonna be in town this weekend for the blossom festival....stop by the boutique and take a look.....i think it's actually going to be in the front window for a while......

"Beauty Queen"

2009-05-12T06:27:00.000-07:00

So we had the magnolia blossom festival pageant last night.........both katie mae and emma grace were in it this year........as i mentioned before,, no frilly dresses,, just decorating and accessorizing this year's festival t-shirt...........i walked out with katie mae,, she's only one and a half.......and there were 15 girls in her age group..........but a couple of them her age walked out and did their thing!!! i was surprised they could do it at that age.......so that was strike one......then, i couldn't get her to turn around,, and when i turned her around myslef,, she screamed...lol.......strike two...........and finally at the last "X" we had to stop on.....which just happened to be right in front of the trophy table......she lunged for the pretty, shiny crowns.....lol.......strike three........
Emma Grace on the other hand, did great!....we went a little early, so she was able to walk the stage once....and figure out where they "X"'s were.......then we went backstage right before it was her turn,,,and showed her how to do a slow turn......and she practiced her question she had to answer..........and the girl went out there and rocked the house!......and she got second runner up......the two girls that placed better both had a running list of titles......so i thought that was awesome!....and she was thrilled!!!!.....i might even let her do it next year!.....after the show we all went to dairy queen and ate some dinner and had ice cream....yum!...and eg couldn't stop smiling...she was so excited...and slept with her trophy on her dresser right by her bed...and took it to school for share time today!.....u see,,, there's something special about this little girl......she's got the sweetest disposition and the most tender heart....she's entered little contests here and there,,and every summer she competes for a whole week in field day type events at our summer cabin...five years straight,,,and has never even won a ribbon.....nada, nothing......and she's never cried, been resentful, or turned into a sour sport....so when she said she wanted to do the pageant, i was a little scared for her,,, a girl can only "lose" so many times before it starts to make and impression on her self esteem...and even though she said she really didn't care if she got a trophy,, in my heart i knew she did.....and i was SO happy for her last night.....it was well deserved!!...and i've never seen her eyes shine or her smile beam as much as they did last night!..............here's a couple of pics from last night......and the girls shirts....

Where i wanna be!

2009-05-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

So we're headed here the second week in june!!! to Perdido beach.......and i can't wait.......i'm using this pic today to motivate me to dig myself out of the pile of sewing orders i'm under.....lol.......i'm so ready to wake up, put on my swimsuit, pack some bags and lay out on the beach everyday, all day for an entire week!!.....i can't wait to run in the waves with W, build sandcastles for barbies with EG and take daily naps underneath the big umbrella with my KM.........and we're also taking a babysitter with us.....so me and the hubby can have some quiet nights out without the kiddos......sounds heavenly!? huh?..... def!!........

project of the day.......

2009-05-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

so i mentioned in my last post that i'm letting the girls participate in the blossom festival pageant this year..........well, the contest includes newborn thru high school.... but the smallest size the shirts come in is a 2-4......so that leaves the babies with having to use theirs as a dress or resize the shirt.......yesterday i resized one for a friend.....her little girl is in like a 6-9 month size.....so i ended up having to cut a lot off the original shirt.......and i put elastic around the neckline.......i started out using elastic thread.......but it just didn't give me the stretch i thought it would.....so i decided to take it all out and go this route....using just the plain elastic,, i got a LOT of stretch around the neckline,,,,and it made for a fuller ruffle than the elastic thread......the elastic thread look is called shirring.......i've decided it's just a lot of hype.....the elastic is a much better way to go!!!!.......here's some pics....the first is the original size shirt with the new one i made.......the second is the back of the shirt........i can't wait to get to my girls shirts....emma grace's is going to be so fun!!! i found the coolest tutorial......and i'll share it with u after the pageant monday!