Books, Scooters and Birdies, Oh My!

A quilt for my cousin's newborn baby girl. I had some cute girlish fabrics I've been wanting to use, but made sure to balance the pale pink with bolder colors, and the dark grey to add contrasty geometric shape, for baby's visual interest. Book print and scooter print! It's fabrics like these that make it so hard not to fabric shop all the time.

Felt & Rickrack

I'd brainstormed for a fabric baby gift idea, aside from quilt, cute outfits, buntings and puppets. I came up with photo album, which also gave me an excuse to use some of my favorite materials, felt and rickrack! The pages are double-sided, and the windows have a sheet of transparent plastic sewn in. The binding was a bit of a puzzle. Finally decided on loops, to be tied together with a cord.

Happy Spring!

Such a happy baby! I think I may have been smiling through this set of edits. It's hard not to, with a baby this happy. This top left bouncer picture particularly - the little pointing toes in mid spring, the look of exuberance. And such cute pillowy baby feet, baby feet chub at its prime.

 

Emerald

A fun home and street combo shoot, giving a little more flavor of San Francisco life. I encourage jewel and garden tones for kids, and more muted palettes for parents (though perhaps with a touch of bright if desired) so that kids stand out from parents. This emerald green and Caribbean blue were just right. Also, I am partial to eared hoodies and hats :)

 

Turtle Quilt

And here is a quilt for a baby whose parents are mad about turtles and turtle conservation. When I spotted the navy turtle print fabric, I bought it right away, even though baby turtle was still a wee embryo at the time. I decided, for a change, to go for a bright, bold palette, and tried a new pattern. From my collection (aka addict's hoard) of fabrics I found a yellow, red and turquoise prints to complement the turtles, all with small plain-ish repeat patterns so as not to take away from the turtle detail. And for a pop of irregularity, the forest print white fabric. Often upon quilt completion, I consider keeping the quilt for myself. So I need to pack it up and send it ASAP before I change my mind.

Happy Orange Shoes

Growing out of babyhood and entering toddlerhood. I see it in my own daughter and it is bittersweet. Yet it is such an exciting time, new things learned every day. I hope these pictures capture this fun, fleeting period. A mere year ago...

Maternity Postcards

I thought it would be fun to do more maternity shoots, so I figured I'd start an ad campaign of postcards, placed strategically in places where expectant women hang out. An informal vote amongst friends revealed these as the three most popular maternity pics. I got them printed at my favorite local photo print place, which happened also to do digital prints for publication type material. Well... the digital press didn't do justice to the middle pic. It looked rather drab, not picking up on the subtle colors. The other two were fine. I do wish the card were a little heavier - I like a postcard to feel good in the hand. But then again, I'm dispensing these for free and heavier card stock costs more. Anyways. Things to figure out when running one's own business! Next, I will need to contact various stores and parents' centers to see if they'll let me display postcards.

Sewing Makes Me Happy

I've been spending my non-baby hours sewing as of late (instead of blogging, yes). This tri-fabric dress is a first birthday present for a little friend of ours, who is of partial French heritage. I'd bought the lilac print fabric some time ago, planning to use a small square or two in a quilt. Thus, the piece was too small to do all 3 panels (left, right and back) of the kimono dress. Fortunately in my fabric collection, this random pin dot gray fabric complemented the others nicely. I started the dress in December, with plenty of time for a late Jan birthday. I did not factor in the month it would take to finish it and the additional 2 weeks to ship it to Hong Kong, AND how much that baby would grow in 6 weeks! I hope it fits.

A few people enthused: You should SELL those! And a part of me chorused Yes Yes! But voice reminded me of how craft fairs turned jewelry making into a stressful chore a few years ago. For now, I am happy to sew for my baby, and for friends. It's my one true hobby at the moment.

Sunshine Smile

She has this wonderfully contagious, sunshiny smile! The delight of being a little kid, summarized right here. Most of the time, I photograph babies and toddlers, but those toddlers are growing up. It's wonderful to see them blossom into little people.

Hello Little One!

It's a delight when a newbie decides to open his eyes for the photo shoot. Often they look right into the camera; the large opaque black object with a shiny dark eye must be a perplexing thing! Or maybe a reflection in the lens captures piques their interest.  I always wonder what newborns make of their vast new world. As always, I love B&W for newbie pics - there is no color distraction, and gives a timeless, simple elegance.

Cute Baby Kimono Dress

Admittedly, last last year I silently celebrated the news that I was gestating a baby girl as I could thus make cute little dresses for her! While yes, little boys wear clothes, it's not the same, making a cute pair of pants or shirt. Partly because the fabric selection is better for girls, though sewing moms of boys rejoice as designers are starting to come out with fabric patterns for boys that aren't all about Cars and Trucks and Space in Prime Colors.

I made a pattern for this kimono dress (to be worn with jeggins, perhaps) in 2 sizes. This dress was made for another baby, and I realize she will swiftly outgrow it. That's the thing... from the time I decide to make a dress, to getting fabric and making the dress and delivering it, the baby will have grown considerably. The sash and inner panel held by a tie allow some adjustment in size. It'll be wearable for a month.

Three times Three

A family of THREE boys... is it even within the realm of possibility to get a family photo with all looking at the camera, all looking (mostly) happy? You may think - Impossible. But actually, Why Yes, Possible! Not one, not two but Three times!

I'm spending my days catching up with edit overload from last season. Once I'm caught up, I have plans to revamp everything - freshen my website with new pics and get rid of ones from years ago, design a new set of postcards and biz card and look for new targeted advertising ops. I've already started printing CD labels instead of writing directly on CD with Sharpie. It's a small thing but looks so much more polished and professional (though, I do think I have rather neat handwriting).

Stylin' at the De Young

Happy 2012 everyone! I know it's been a while - after a hectic, no-breathing-room pre-holiday season, I gave myself a(n almost computer free) week long break, and now I'm back. To ring in the new year, a set of twins pics! In fabulous cardigans, fresh London fashion, I'm told. The interesting thin about twin shoots is to capture both the similarities and their individual personalities.

Extra Special

Most of my photo shoots are for families with babies. And so this December, I keep thinking - there are so many people I know for whom this is an extra special holiday season, with a new baby in their lives! 

Butterfly Princess

An absolute delight of a photoshoot. I remember my own princess stage (it was 80s tinged and manifested in drawings of pink-dress clad, tiara topped dog characters) and how fun it was to re-experience it vicariously.

New Baby in the Garden

Newborn shoots often happen in-home, for the comfort of baby and mom. But should everyone feel up for an excursion, a newborn shoot in the outdoors offers new artistic possibilities. The Botanical Gardens provided the perfect peaceful backdrop, a compliment to these expressions of joy and love that can only be found in new parents. I usually don't say cheesy things in my blog, but gosh, I love being a Mom and I hope that comes through in my baby photography!

'Tis the Season for Chunky Sweaters (and Family Photos!)

Hard to believe that holiday season is upon us Already! October and November are my busiest months, with weekends full of shoots until Thanksgivings. So important is the holiday family photo for some, that parents are willing to take time off work and their kids out of school on a weekday so as to be photographed by me... I feel honored.

I'm very fond of this set of family photos - warm smiles, Autumn inspired clothes and a touch of color in the leaves - leaves me with a toasty feeling, ready for the holidays!

Map Quilt

Quilting time again, this one for my second nephew, arriving shortly :) His room theme is "maps". What came to mind first was a literal translation, looking for a fabric printed with e.g. a World Map. In my fabric hunt I found this lovely Tracks, Roads and Rivers print - and thought, how much more fun is this? When he's older, he can trace the paths with a little train, car or boat, to visit various animal friends and parkland. 

Divvying up the green fabric would take all the fun out of the print, so I left a large piece as a center panel and framed it with squares of destinations. How I love quilting! If only I had more time.

One Year Celebration

I am always excited to photograph babies in traditional Korean dress for their First Birthday. The combination of cuteness and vibrant colors makes for an extra fun shoot. The babies at first seem distracted by the long hems and sleeves, the stiff fabric and hat, but then enjoy the attention and novelty and can't help but have a good time in their outfits.

Little Panda Girl

Sweet smiles and grass lolling.