Thursday, March 28, 2013

I Used To Do This...

So, I used to do this...

 
Fix the pant legs of models while on location in Florida.  Among other things....like prop shopping, ironing clothing, painting walls, decorating sets, making beds, booking dog models and soo much more.  I was a Photo Stylist.  This picture is from sometime in the late 90's, a black and white Polaroid that the photographer took to check lighting before the actual shoot.  This was in a park just outside of Miami in December.  I had left snowy Connecticut and my mittens behind and was enjoying the warmth and strange sight of Christmas lights on Palm trees while working a couple weeks on location for a discount retailer creating the photography for a weekly sales flyer (remember those?) and promotional poster for the stores.  I was working at the nations first digital photo studio.  It was state of the art, way ahead of it's time and awesome.  We had 6 photographers and 3 photos stylist, in house printing, art directors the whole works.  We photographed 30 page weekly fliers, promotional posters for the stores, a few yearly catalogs, signage and some packaging.    I was mainly in charge of the Home Fashions Department.  I had a HUGE prop room, ironing table that was 4'x8' and massive sets to build and work with.  I also crossed over and would work with the models, booking the hair and makeup, setting up scheduling and food styling too.  I did this for over 5 years with this company, and for 4 years before that with another.  I styled bags, luggage, bedding (LOTS of bedding), towels, shower curtains, furniture, rugs, packages of candy, clothing, underwear (on and off the models), camping tents, pet products, crafts, Halloween costumes, toys, sports equipment and on and on and on.  It was great.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Around The Studio

Hello.   I know that I haven't been posting in a while and some of that is because I have been blogging since 2009...what else should I blog about?  Have I run out of content?  Is anyone even out there, reading this?  I don't know.....
 
I post several times a day over on Facebook, you can find me there.  Although the content is less, there is more action. 
 
 
But none-the-less here are some pictures from around my studio I thought that I would share. 
 
@ My worktable....ribbon, some labels etc.
 
 
Gift tags ready to cut up and use.

 
Bars and bars of soap curing.  The back soap is Day At The Beach, front soap is "Casco" Bay Rum and there are a few round shaving bars too.

 
More soaps curing.  Blue at the top right is Sea Mist, there are a few of my new "50 Shades" soap and then Citrus Scrub bars.  Plus round shaving soaps and some Sea Urchins.

 
This 5 pack of soap will be part of a Farmers Market giveaway coming up soon. 

 
My new "photo booth".  I made this about a month ago and have been experimenting with new photos of soap etc.  I really like it. What I like best is that I have a dedicated area for shooting soaps.  No need to dig things out of a box and set up etc.  The table that this photo box is on is on wheels too, so I can easily move it around and/or out of the way.   I found the idea on Pinterest (you can follow me there too).

 
I hope you enjoyed some of the pictures, I will try to get some more up soon.  See you soon! 
 

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Cookies!

Because there is more to life than just soap....from over at What Megan's Making: http://www.whatmegansmaking.com/2012/10/giant-chewy-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies.html Giant Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!
 
I hope to make these this weekend, I love a chewy chocolate chip cookie!
 
Giant Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies


Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups brown sugar, packed
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups rolled oats
2 eggs
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon milk
1 (12 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat together brown sugar and butter until well combined. Add oats, eggs, molasses, and milk and beat well. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop dough and drop about 3 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-14 minutes, or until just starting to brown around the edges. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets then remove and cool on racks.