#156 Heaven Is A Piano

And Clayton Austin: Photographer extraordinaire...


 

 
  

And, one of the cutest couples ever to have lived...
That's a whole lot of love.

There's nothing I can say that can even come close to expressing the absolute & complete perfection of these photographs.
So I won't even try.
I am so thankful for all the beauty in this world.
Thank you Clayton Austin.
Thank you Tyler + Anna.

Cx

#129 Poster Wedding Gift

More poster art, this time from gus and lula.
Bit cute as a wedding gift?




The small size is $14 & large is $20, custom orders are also available which could be very fun?
The sunshine lyrics poster is my favourite. All three of these would also be super sweet in a children's room!
Gus and Lula also has a blog, full of cute as a button baby photos & gorgeous home design.

Cx

#114 First Anniversary

The traditional first anniversary gift is paper.
How about these hand cut silhouettes from another ridiculously talented Boston based artist, Joe Bagley?



 

I think they would look sensational mounted to 'float' in a box frame...

  

And perhaps if by the one year anniversary a baby is on the way, this could be an option?


all artwork via papercutsbyjoe - on etsy

Did you, or are you & your partner doing the tradition anniversary gift order? Or anniversary gifts at all?

C x

#104 The Silence Where Sound Should Be

I read something a couple of days ago that bothered me.

The obvious cause was comments regarding asylum seekers, but after some thought I realised that the other reason it irked me was that the comment on "boat people" was a flippant remark included in a piece supporting marriage equality.

I felt that the throw away lines following on from the topic trivialised & undermined the point that was being made.

Sometimes I don't take every opportunity that I should to be vocal about things that are important.

It isn't that I don't have an opinion, & it certainly isn't because I don't care.

I think there are two explanations for my silence at times when I should speak up.

The first is that I worry that I won't be able to express myself eloquently enough, & will do even the slightest damage to the side of a (for lack of a better word) debate that I am passionate about.

The second is that sometimes when things seem so incredibly obvious & simple - that two people in love should have the choice to commit to each other & celebrate that commitment in any way they choose, that it should be recognised by law regardless of whether they have fallen in love with a man or a woman - that I can't see how anyone could possibly disagree.

Especially when there is absolutely nothing to lose & so much to be gained.

Given that it's a somewhat moot point to discuss it purely for the purpose of having someone say 'hear hear' & rather more for the odd chance that someone might pause to examine their way of thinking & consider what it is that they are actually afraid of, I find it difficult to see what I could possibly say to someone who doesn't already see the logic in human rights. Be they rights for the LGBT community or for asylum seekers.

Sometimes people’s ignorance is painful to see & it's easier to ignore, but that doesn't make it the right thing to do.

via - gaping void

I support love.

I support marriage equality.

There are people in my life that I love with all my heart who do not have the rights they should.

Their love for each other is honest, it is beautiful & the strength of their relationships are truly enviable.

I dread the day that I will have to attempt to explain to my son that they do not have the choice as his father & I did to marry.

That I will have to tell him that close minded & ignorant people can affect others lives in such a profoundly ridiculous way.

I hope that I will never have to.

C x

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.

# 96 When to let it go

I recently read a post on the blog slow love life ' a lost friend leaves an empty chair'.

It really struck a cord with me, I thought I'd share a little...

"Sometimes you have to get divorced from friends, just like you have to get divorced from spouses. Sometimes that is the more loving thing to do--it means you are protecting yourself, and removing toxic energy from your life. Sometimes you just need a separation, while each person cools, and grows. Some friendships evolve as your life changes; others hit the wall. It is a painful rupture, not entered into lightly. It doesn’t mean the friendship was wrong to begin with--it means it has reached an impasse, or died. It certainly feels like a death; there is an empty space where there once was someone sitting in a chair, chatting and laughing. So be it. We become more cautious about giving our hearts wing, as we get older, because we are aware of the potential for loss, and anticipate its heavy burden."

image via sunday supper

I love this part of the Auden poem "the more loving one'...

How should we like it were stars to burn

With a passion for us we could not return?

If equal affection cannot be,

Let the more loving one be me.

And here's the rest over at slow love life.

Cx

#91 It Gets Better Project

An AMAZING project by Dan Savage, an American author, media pundit, journalist & newspaper editor.

So. What is it all about???

An excerpt from Dan's column about Billy Lucas:

"Billy Lucas was just 15 when he hanged himself in a barn on his grandmother's property. He reportedly endured intense bullying at the hands of his classmates—classmates who called him a fag and told him to kill himself. His mother found his body.... I wish I could have talked to this kid for five minutes. I wish I could have told Billy that it gets better. I wish I could have told him that, however bad things were, however isolated and alone he was, it gets better.
But gay adults aren't allowed to talk to these kids. Schools and churches don't bring us in to talk to teenagers who are being bullied. Many of these kids have homophobic parents who believe that they can prevent their gay children from growing up to be gay—or from ever coming out—by depriving them of information, resources, and positive role models."

"Why are we waiting for permission to talk to these kids? We have the ability to talk directly to them right now. We don't have to wait for permission to let them know that it gets better. We can reach these kids."

"If you're gay or lesbian or bi or trans, and you've ever read about a kid like Billy Lucas and thought, "F*ck, I wish I could've told him that it gets better," this is your chance. We can't help Billy, but there are lots of other Billys out there—other despairing LGBT kids who are being bullied and harassed, kids who don't think they have a future—and we can help them...."

The project was launched September 21st 2010 & there are now hundreds of 'It Gets Better' movies, each with hundreds & in fact some with tens of thousands of views...
The channel has hundreds of thousands of views.

See more of the It Gets Better Project here.


Dan Savage, Congratulations on being brilliant & THANK YOU.

C x

#90 Houses of Love

I've always like pottery, but lately I like it more & more?

Anyhow! How cute would these treasures from the little red door be as wedding favours?
Or as gifts for the bridesmaids or mother of the bride/mother in law?
OR, flower girls?

   

   

Lettering can be customized... I'm thinking ' n + c ' would be pretty cute ;)

   
via the little red door

I couldn't help but post the somewhat beside the point maple leaf house... I appreciate it... Sister E will appreciate it!
Also, the stores have had Christmas decorations up for over a month so I thought that was good enough excuse for me to share that last little snippet of cute. Yes? Yes.

C x

#76 We Can Hope.

We can hope that we are loved like this.

We can hope that we can love like this.

For always...


Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

animation by storycorps via a cup of jo

Cx

#69 Jonas Peterson

I feel like such a traitor writing this post, because our photographer is amazing & without a doubt one of the sweetest people you could ever meet.

But I'm having an emotional affair.

I'm sorry Karalee!

Jonas Peterson, Jonas Peterson, Jonas Peterson...

How I love your photos! Oh to spend a lifetime looking at the world as seen through your lens.

via jonas peterson/the wedding of matt&angie

Breathtaking? I think yes. One of many let me assure you.

When reading the 'about me' section on the Jonas Peterson website, Brisbane based Jonas tells of how he became drawn to photography. He tells of his fathers career as a journalist, his mother & grandmothers love of painting. Jonas goes on to say that as a result he never wrote, he never drew.

I can't comment on the drawing aspect, but boy does this man write.

Also included under the 'about me' banner is a slideshow of photographs that you must watch. It is pure lovely.

You will very likely cry, but your life will be richer for it.

His website, while obviously as any photographers website is a way for potential clients to find him & view his work, is so so SO much more.

It is also a window into the way he sees the world, a glimpse of a beautiful family, &

I truly believe - a portrait of an absolutely amazing human being.

There is such an honesty in his work, both his photography & his writing, that it's impossible not to feel touched. Impossible not to feel compelled to share the incredible gift he so unreservedly shares.

Thank you Jonas.

C x

#68 The Essence of a Wedding

Wow. Just wow.

You know how there's pregnancy hormones? No I'm not revealing anything, I certainly don't have any of those floating around.

But I've made a discovery.

Wedding hormones. Fact.

How else can you account for my getting sudden cases of the weepies when looking at these beautiful wedding photos by Jonas Peterson?

The wedding of Joost & Kirsty...

As I'm sure anyone who's been there will tell you, when planning a wedding it's easy to get caught up in details.

No matter the intentions you set out with, or whether you swear it won't happen to you, I have a feeling that for everyone there comes a time (at least once) when you need a reminder of what it's all about.

Not venues, nor centrepieces. Not hair styles, nor ties. Not flowers, nor favours.

It isn't about colour schemes, & no, it's not even about the dress.

It's about people. It's about a beautiful & lifelong commitment. It's about LOVE.

Of course right? Of course.

But in the middle of the madness of planning & decisions, this simple honest fact is far too easily swept aside.

This glimpse into a wedding so honest, so beautifully & perfectly simple, so focused on everything that is real & pure & right...

Well I'm humbled.

Goddess.

There is thankfully lots more photos of Joost & Kirsty's wedding on Jonas Peterson's website.

This overwhelming evidence of their love for each other, their love for others, & the love from others for them... .

It's just so palpable.

These photos are perfect.

These moments are perfect.

C x

#46 Light Up My Life

"How many slams in an old screen door? Depends how loud you shut it.

How many slices in a bread? Depends how thin you cut it.

How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live 'em.

How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give 'em."
- Shel Silverstein

I

YOU!

Thank you for being here :)

Oh, & how sweet are these sparklers from Wondercandle!

Sparklers are such a lovely little piece of magic don't you think?

x

#35 Once Upon a Time

Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected of places.

Once upon a time i found love in a news agency.

And I guess you never know your luck because once I found it waiting for me on the footpath at the bus stop too.

Luck must know where I live hey?

And that I don't drive.

x

#25 ... and a happy New Year!

Ok so I've been fairly slack lately? I was starting to feel a teensy bit stressed about the planning rather than excited so I thought it best to have a break and jump back in all refreshed and what not...

So! To kick things off again, here is a little something that I find lovelyfull by the most very talented Rob Ryan...

Hope everyone had magnificent Solstice/Christmas/Hanukkah's (and anything else I've missed) & that the New Year is filled with love, laughter & all things wonderful!

xxx