Welcome to the world, Little Miss Olivia

Sometimes I just love my job. Ok, most of the time I love my job, but some days are particularly wonderful. Like the day I got to create beautiful newborn photos of Olivia.

This is Little Miss Olivia, she's perfect and beautiful, and I just have to tell you, when I heard she was expected my heart sang. Not only because I thought I would have another sweet little one to photograph, (she is sweet, and I do get excited about new babies to photograph) but because of the history I have with her parents.

You see, I'm a volunteer photographer for an international organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS.) We provide infant bereavement photography free for families suffering the loss of a baby. Karen and Travis were my very first session for NILMDTS, and they hold a special place in my heart. Their first child, a beautiful little angel named Travis Jr., was lost due to a birth defect, and I photographed this precious family in the hospital shortly after his birth and passing.

I've done a number of sessions for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep since then, but none are as strong in my memory as Travis Jr.'s. His family are powerful role models for grace in difficult times, and my experience with them made a huge impact on me. I've prayed for them often over the past couple of years, and hoped they would have their hearts desire of more children.

So YEAH! When I met Olivia my heart melted. She's not only an answer to prayer, she's also one lucky little girl to have a loving home and two strong, faith-filled people for parents. Plus she has the cutest little toes! I'm going to enjoy watching her grow up. Yes, I am.

Back from Texas

OK, you know how folks say you don't appreciate what you've got until you don't have it anymore? And that little diddy about not seeing the forest for the trees--that's basically the same thing. Well....I certainly have a new appreciation for the lush green landscape that surrounds our little part of the world called North Carolina.

I enjoyed my trip to Texas, learned a lot and made some great new friends. But I had a little eye opener. I sat beside an 8 year old Texan on the plane trip down, and she was quite the little traveler. She's been to Hawaii and oodles of other places. I asked where her favorite place was, and she surprised me by saying North Carolina. I asked why, thinking she had a favorite family member there or something, and she surprised me again by saying "Because it's so green."

Turns out they don't get as much rain as we do, so things don't grow as well. Also turns out that the hotels try to compensate for the fact that it's blazing hot outside by trying to freeze you to death inside. Now some of you are saying, "Wait a minute. I know how you are, and you freeze all the time." OK, that's true. But everyone in my workshop was saying the same thing. And my roommates and I would back off the AC, then the cleaning lady would crank it all the way to high when she came. Burrrrr.

Anyhow, I learned some great stuff, and you'll be seeing some new things at the studio soon. Very soon. Until then, let's take a moment to enjoy the smell of the grass. Ummm, good.

Texas-here I come!

OK, I have a few various emotions going on here, ranging from excitement to apprehension. I'm gettin' ready to leave for the airport--going to Dallas Texas for a photography studio workshop. I can't wait for this trip, but I've never traveled alone before so it's a new adventure.

I'm going to learn a lot, make some new friends, and get to visit a new place. Can't wait to get back and put all my new found knowledge into practice. Gotta go now and finish packing!!! Bye.

Links, Links, Links.

If you just read our latest e-newsletter, you're probably here to find links to all the stuff we mentioned. OK, here goes:

Facebook Fanpage for Memory Lane Portraits: http://www.facebook.com/rhonda.lester#/pages/Memory-Lane-Portraits/107575799973?ref=ts
While you're there, we're trying to get over 100 fans, so help us out and click the "Become a Fan" link! Having 100 fans will let us have some special privileges with FaceBook, so come on, help a sister out!
And...post a testimonial about what a great time you had here, and how much you love your portraits--you might end up on our website!

Baby! Baby! Event:
http://www.triadmommies.com/
Baby!Baby! The Triad’s Largest Charitable Baby ShowerAugust 23rd, 1-5pm at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Greensboro, NC. Proceeds go to support The Mother Baby Foundation, run by my good friend and Lactation Consultant Barb Carder, also known as Aunt Barbie to oodles of Mommies and Babies. You can check them out at: http://www.motherbabyfoundation.org/

Leaders for Literacy Book Drive: http://leadersforliteracy.blogspot.com/
Just remember, this site isn't quite complete, so some details may change.

If you're reading the blog, but didn't read our latest e-newsletter, and you want to be sure to get them from now on, just go here: www.RhondasWebsite.com and go under News to subscribe for free!

Artist Reception-You're Invited!

I've been honored with an invitation from our local Arts Council for a private exhibit of my work at the Historic Regan House until August 14th. Of course, I accepted.

For one thing, the Regan House is BEAUTIFUL! It's on the National Register of Historic Places, and I've long admired it. It currently is home to Ed Price Realty, and they are the gracious hosts for the Arts Council's meeting and exhibit space. (That's my painted rendition of it in the photo above. The larger version is on display in the exhibit.)

In addition to that, I've been working on a line of Fine Art prints for a while, and finally have several of them completed. This is the perfect way to debut them, and I'll keep my fingers crossed that they are well received. I have a number of other pieces in progress, plus more that are in my head just begging to get out and find their way to paper or canvas.

Besides all that, this is the first ever private exhibit the Northwestern Randolph County Arts Council has hosted. How cool is that!

You can stop by anytime M-F from 9:00 - 5:00 to enjoy the exhibit. Or....

This Sunday afternoon, (Aug. 2nd) 2:00 - 4:00, there will be a reception in my honor. Live music from Blood Kin Gospel, light refreshments, tours of the Regan House, the exhibit, prints available for purchase, and a chance to visit. Consider yourself invited, and bring a friend or two. Free admission.

See ya after church and lunch on Sunday!

Art Gallery Was a Success

It was great to see some of you last weekend at the NWRC-Arts Council Annual Art Exhibit. I'm sure you were blown away, just as I was, at the diversity and caliber of work being exhibited. I must have gone through that exhibit 10 times over three days, and each time I found new pieces to enjoy. Looks to me like this little corner of the world has some serious talent.

There was an amazing range of mediums: oil paintings, wood carvings, pottery, porcelin, acrylics, drawings, photography, mixed media, watercolors, hand-made dulcimers, even a beautiful sculptural piece made primarily from weeds. And the list goes on.

I had the opportunity to meet Mark Brown of Theatre Art Galleries, and to benefit from his critique of my first pieces of Fine Art Photography. He was gracious, and had actually selected one of my pieces as one of his favorites, and told me that a couple of my prints initally fooled him into thinking they were paintings. He also gave me great insights into the world of art shows. Thanks Mark!

Northwestern Randolph County Arts Council Annual Art Gallery Exhibition

If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend, come explore the Annual Art Gallery Exhibition in Archdale! Randolph County Community College's Creekside Campus will play host as we proudly display beautiful and varied works of art. Creekside is a beautiful place for a picnic and a walk, and it's right on Hwy 311, just about 1/2 mile south of I-85.

Last year was my first time at the show, both showing and looking, and it was a blast! There were so many beautiful things to see, and this year promises even more variety with new categories. You can expect to find pottery, woodworking, textile arts, paintings, drawings, photographic art, (my fave) and even kids art. Some will be available for purchase, so if you need something special as a gift or to treat yourself--this is the place!

I'm going to display something new at this show--part of a series of fine art photographic prints I've been working on for over a year now. The originals will be available for sale, and if you're there when I am (and I'm on the committee in charge of the exhibit, so I'm going to try to be there most of the time.) there just might be some small reproductions available for purchase as well. Just maybe....

Open to the public on Friday, July 17 from Noon – 8 p.m. and Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Hope to see you there!