With a humble hand

Alone with You

2010-11-17T19:02:00.000-08:00

A series of haiku on a foggy day in Geraldine:

I.
O capture my heart,
Ravisher of darkest soul-
To be One with You.

II.
His breath takes me far
off away into the deep-
sailing above seas.

III.
slowly by slowly
ropes are untied, fears released-
his words set me free.

IV.
Death that brings most life
O Gone are my haunting thoughts
The end of me nears

Jude twentyfour

2010-11-01T02:41:00.000-07:00

Home sweet Home

2010-10-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

My lovely home in Geraldine, New Zealand!

Hilaskomai

2010-10-14T01:36:00.000-07:00

In Luke 18:9-14, there is a story of the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee's prayer is self-centered and not in any way humble. However, the tax collector's prayer is the opposite. Verse 13 says, "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'"

The original Greek word used for "merciful" in this text is Hilaskomai which is translated as "to make propitiation for" or "to atone for (sin)" and also "to make ONE with God." The last translation caught me the most. This sinner, the tax collector, was not crying for mercy in that he wanted to escape punishment (which is what mercy is usually thought of), but rather crying out in utter despair: "GOD, MAKE ME ONE WITH YOU AGAIN"

my prayer tonight:

God, hilaskomai... make me one with You again.

Keep in touch

2010-09-18T23:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Loved Ones,

Please write me letters at my home address-

124 Woodbury Rd.
R.D. 21
Geraldine
New Zealand

Also, please send emails to katrinaong@upperroomshows.com
Facebook will not be a regular part of my life from now on.

Love
Katrina

september eleventh

2010-09-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

the journey by mary oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Dreaming of

2010-08-15T00:46:00.001-07:00

roaming animals

handwritten letters

bright stars

the hills of New Zealand

New Zealand

2010-08-14T23:51:00.000-07:00

Thirty days till my departure. You'll be hearing from me.

Curious Boy

2010-04-18T23:30:00.000-07:00

The bold navy stripes on his pajamas looked more like sea waves when he crawled under and around the tables and chairs, blankets and sheets we’d assembled into a bedtime fort. He bumped and knocked over my Moira doll sitting perfectly in her high chair.
“Slow, please slow, brother.”
His loud grin told me exactly what he was thinking but I hoped for once he would speak. But he never spoke. My quiet, curious boy.

Lock it up

2010-04-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

She kept it quietly in the old brown trunk hidden in the room made only of wood. Had she known it would blend in so well she wouldn’t be able to see it later, she may have kept it in the garden. Slightly after midnight, the badger who helped her months ago find the trunk told her that this was not an ordinary trunk. It would not keep her delicate heart, her rose petal pages, her bottles of tears and honey.

{inspiration}

My Brown Hair

2010-04-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this post from a lovely blog I often read.
To all my lovely brunettes out there...

"Sometimes I wish I were blond, with thistle down hair that floats on the breeze and wispy brows, and lashes that are barely there. There is something so fragile about pale skin, pale hair, lilac unicorns made in to girls against their will.

Then I remember all the brave, proud brunettes. I remember Wendy and Dorothy and Sara and dearest Lucy and I tie my braids like a badge of honour. For we are the fierce, clever, plucky little maidens who save lost boys and open wardrobe doors and remember, in our dreams, how to fly."

Tune of the 49th

2010-03-25T17:12:00.000-07:00

Up and coming Seattle band (and good pals of mine), Washington Mile, asked me to direct and shoot their first music video / promo for their debut album Simple Hearts. I gladly accepted and after hours and hours and hours ... and hours, here is the final product! I had wonderful ladies, Kira and Danya, help me with the filming day. AND my beautiful and lovely baby sister, Cassandra acting as the girl. I loved making this even though it was hard work. I can't wait for future projects like this!

Listen to great tunes from Washington Mile.

Charlie Darwin

2010-03-21T01:42:00.000-07:00

In honor of the stop motion project I have been working on countless hours... Here is a beautiful, whimsical song set to an equally beautiful, whimsical stop motion video.

I love you and goodnight.

Kailynn Josephine

2010-03-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Bright and early at 6:34am on March 11th 2010, my precious beautiful niece, Kailynn Josephine Ong was born. Neisha was a Warrior Momma, bringing Kailynn into the world after over 20 hours of labor! I love Kailynn, Sean and Neisha Ong and CANNOT wait to see them in May!! I WANT TO HOLD YOU MY SNUGGLE BUG!

Overwhelmed

2010-02-07T18:46:00.001-08:00

1 month

2010-02-03T22:34:00.000-08:00

1 month
till my brother and sister-in-law have a baby...
THE FIRST ONG GRANDCHILD
I will be an aunt. I can hardly wait.
Come soon Baby Ong, Boy or Girl- I will LOVE YOU FOREVER.

Untold Stories

2010-01-28T22:32:00.000-08:00

Never when the noisiness of shuffling feet or obligatory laughs fill the spaces between door and window. Always when the other door closes and I am alone. I thought I was alone. The once frivolous pursuit of thoughts switch to peeks and glimpses of Her spilling coffee and the lines of His unmoving lips. "What is your name?" I ask. She turns the corner, her skirt lightly catches wind. "Wait!" I close my eyes. Why have they chosen a mind like mine? Selfish, buttoned up mind. I can hear Him catch Her around the corner. I imagine She runs right into his chest. Thud. There goes the coffee. I turn the corner and giggle at the sight. She hides Herself quietly, neatly behind Him. "Show me your faces." I ask politely. "Show me your faces." I ask a little less politely. Fumbling with the chain, He opens his copper pocket watch; it reads: "Tell them the story."

pretty colors

2010-01-20T23:02:00.000-08:00

My lovely gal pal recently shared this little treasure of a site with me. Do take a minute or two to create something pretty to share! in light of my undying love for mr. sendak's little boy, max... it's no surprise this is what i came up with for my first piece.

sleepy, beneath clouds

2010-01-18T01:55:00.001-08:00

Please take a peak at my new photo blog!

dear mr. sunshine

2010-01-17T23:07:00.000-08:00

My first, and certainly not my last, stop motion film. Very very short film. I thought I should start with something little before taking on bigger ideas. Enjoy for now and stay tuned for more in the hopefully near future. Good night!

Neopolitan Dreams

2010-01-11T21:52:00.000-08:00

First day back to school- let the procrastination begin :)
Here is a lovely young bright eyed lady I started listening to recently.
Lisa Mitchell's music is like sunshine in a silver locket.
Her videos are equally as endearing.
Enjoy!

The Land of Tears

2009-12-31T01:56:00.000-08:00

from "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Taylor and the Twins

2009-12-29T02:16:00.000-08:00

Taylor age 5

Connor age 3

Kyra age 3

feeble fingers

2009-12-27T15:29:00.000-08:00

Tree Castles

2009-12-25T14:09:00.000-08:00

i tumbled upon a fairy tale like blog early this morning.
Tree Castles

Her words fall quiet and gentle like the snow that hasn't yet arrived this winter.
Here are some of them...

"In a moment like this, you feel as if you are always missing something. Perhaps you are missing the snow. Perhaps you are missing someone's hand that you never had the chance to hold. Or you could be pretending that you are missing something just to feel alive. Alive and alone.
Last night when you were lying on your bed, you remembered those nights when the wind was a friendly stranger. You remembered when you walked out of the house while everyone was asleep, all your neighbors and friends, sisters and brothers, mother and father, lost like a shadow. Their dreams filled the air with a stillness only trees could understand. And only if you could know what the trees know, is what you wondered.
And now you are wondering if all that was a mere dream. A dream that vanished, a thief that broke off a little piece from the crystal glass of your heart. It went away with spring. A magnificent elope, an unforgettable escapade.
No wonder. No wonder there is a boy ghost sitting by the balcony outside, you said. A hologram that you cannot touch. You cannot ever touch a faded memory. It slips through your fingers in its delicate heartbreaking way where your throat chokes on those drops that fall from eyes. But how can it be when your tears never fell? How do you choke on them?
And immediately you asked me if hearts can cry. I did not say anything. You already knew the answer. You have known it forever."

Bedtime Haikus

2009-12-25T02:10:00.000-08:00

Let us knit gently
A woolly throw to keep our
Feeble fingers warm

II.
When loneliness comes
The throw turns into a ship-
Sailing towards stars

III.
Sail away, darling!
Let the nightlights and shadows
Tell stories till dawn

To Love

2009-12-25T00:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year has felt different then most. I don't know if it's because of the lack of snow, the intensity of finals, or perhaps the thought of it possibly being my last Christmas in Seattle (at least for awhile)... and also not knowing where I am going to be or who I am going to be celebrating Christmas with next year. Though I have confidence it will be wonderful, wherever and whoever it will be with, the unknown is always unsettling to some extent.

Still, Christmas is one of my most favorite times of year. The time when communities, regardless of religious and social backgrounds, emphasize giving, family, and hope for something a little more wonderful... and of course, Love. Love, while it's such an enigma, also holds such simple facets. The way my heart swelled when I delivered gifts to my kids- hearing them squeal and smother me with hugs and kisses. It just can't be beat. Love that is. And I guess my greatest Christmas wish is that we learn and continue to learn to Love. Love as He did.

It's past midnight- Merry Christmas!! I'll leave you with wise words from Clive Staples Lewis.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” - CS Lewis

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

2009-12-18T15:14:00.000-08:00

Of Thimbles and Fear

2009-12-16T09:36:00.000-08:00

A thimble or a kiss-
Needles piercing thumbs
Hurt less
Than lips tied with string

Neverland’s rain
Weigh heavy on your locks-
You cry:
“What are you afraid of?”

Of turned backs
Of nine-to-five desk jobs
I am afraid
Of your smile

Whisper me a story
Kiss me only on the forehead
Tonight
I remain a boy

{We were told to write a poem from the perspective of a fairy tale character. This is what I came up with.}

I Need You So Much Closer

2009-12-16T09:34:00.000-08:00

What gets me through my dark, early morning drive to work...

Breathe

2009-12-07T08:24:00.000-08:00

“I don’t even have time to breathe.” – this is something I say very often. Even though it is an exaggeration, it certainly feels like it. Senior year has proved itself sufficiently taxing, though rightly so – I am glad to finally feel like I am actually practicing and learning about what I love, difficult or not. Two weeks left of the semester… I think I can make it? Needless to say, I’ve had to break from blogging because of all these “things” which make up my life- work, school, people, ect ect. But! I want to come back. I want to write again (not just for a grade). Look out for new posts soon….

XIV

2009-11-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Batter my heart, three-person'd God ; for you
As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend ;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy ;
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

-John Donne

The Problem with Being at the Bottom of the Ocean

2009-11-04T23:17:00.000-08:00

{I sat down and wrote this story the other day}

I’ve been having this dream where I give birth in the ocean. With each wave’s rise and fall another water child dives beneath. I follow them down to the ocean’s bottom, and there they sit among the oysters. I wonder why they want to be here and who told them to come. I’d like to listen to their conversations but I can’t understand their language. I feel like a terrible mother– not understanding my own children. All the while, the problem with being at the bottom of the ocean is that you cannot tell the difference between salt water and tears. Somehow the children know this and they swim swiftly around me till my tears turn the shape and color of pearls and it’s clear that I am crying. “Why are you crying?” One asks. “Because we are down here with the oysters,” I say. “The oysters tell us where to go. They tell us who to see.” My youngest says. “I’d like to leave. There is too much water down here,” I say. With reluctance, they swim back into my womb and I carry them back to dry land.

We Love You So

2009-10-28T01:12:00.000-07:00

So, it's One O'clock in the morning and I am, of course, procrastinating and decide to check out the Where the Wild Things Are blog - We Love You So. They always update and have really really neat posts. So I'm scrolling down and when all of a random sudden, who do I see? MYSELF. I cannot believe this. I would try to maintain a "cool" demeanor about it but... I AM SO HAPPY and in shock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please check it out here. This is the picture they used. Happy!

Sunday Haiku

2009-10-25T23:54:00.000-07:00

Build us a tree house-

we'll climb to the top while rain
loosens soil beneath

:::

Jars of Pie

2009-10-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

For quite a few weeks now I have been craving to make pies-in-jars. I saw this project on Our Best Bites and fell in love (i fall in love quite often and with various types of things and people). Finally, this weekend, i found the perfect set of jars. Today, amidst massive amounts of homework, projects, and busyness, I baked 7 little jars of pie! It was splendid! It was also the first time I baked with my vintage cherry apron i found a few weeks ago. Wearing an apron while baking is somehow more enjoyable than wearing an apron while cooking (even though they are both enjoyable). Another first: using my "mini fall cookie cutter set" for the toppers - so adorable. I wasn't able to take any pictures but here are some from Our Best Bites.

Terrarium Love

2009-10-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

Making little found terrariums can be as easy as 1-2-3 (as shown above). When I found this little project on Design*Sponge, I immediately got to work outside. There's really nothing like digging up soil with a spoon (i am no gardener) and pulling up moss and sprouts with bare fingers. It was a delightful time with my little sis in the woods making these little worlds. it was raining which made it even better because the soil was wet and it is funny how the rain and woods can sometimes make you feel like you don't exist anywhere outside of where you are right at that moment. I wish I had photos of the first terrarium I made because that was probably my favorite (because sometimes you could see little people walking around on the moss). But, here are three of my current little worlds sitting on my window sill.

For the Love of Garland

2009-10-24T12:34:00.000-07:00

I enjoy making garland of all types. I especially love the purple and tan on this set.

A Bath

2009-10-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

What I need in my life right now...

{all photos found at head over heals}

Time

2009-10-24T00:45:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been.... interesting.
I guess you could say it's been very obvious that we are the in middle of the semester.
School work piles up like a little boy's socks in the laundry basket...
Speaking of little boys... working lots of extra hours has left little time and energy to be productive. Needless to say, I am tired. Very tired. But, through it all, I've found little ways to bring light in and I want to share a little of that with you. Here are some things I steal away to do in the midst of the dirty-socks-school-work-laundry-load...

{take pictures of my favorite calendar when light shines on it}

{typewrite my homework assignments}

{listen to Seven Swans when it's rainy outside}

{My little sister is going to be a nurse and she has a lot more homework than I do,
i like to make her little gifts to carry her through the week}

{stitch little felt hearts for my little girls}

Where The Wild Things Are

2009-10-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

The Long Wait is Over.
It's midnight, I sit knees to my chest and watch as the visions and dreams of Maurice Sendak, Spike Jonze, Dave Eggars and many more come to life on a Big Screen.

In prepartion and anticipation for the movie to come out, a few people noted that often times movies fall short of the expectation we build from the love of a book. Despite this fact, I KNEW without an ounce of doubt that there was not even the slightest chance that the Where The Wild Things Are movie would fall into this catagory. There are many reasons I believed this, one being that the screenplay was written by Dave Eggers. Enough Said. I told a friend that I trust this movie like I'd trust my husband. And by golly, was I right! There's nothing much I can say except "GO SEE IT" (I was in tears) I will be watching it quite a few more times in theater. 12 year old Max Records is a phenomenal actor! I want a son like him. There are SO many things I could say about this movie... but I just can't. I do want to show a few pics of the costume I put together for the midnight showing last night. I had a lot of fun with this! I wanted to keep it pretty simple, but cute.

And, here are some great sites-

We Love You So
Tell Them Anything You Want
Where The Wild Things Are
Terrible Yellow Eyes

Sneak peek...

2009-10-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

{many more to come}

Sand

2009-10-08T14:12:00.001-07:00

I do not know much about Ukraine or its political situation (past or present) but it does not take much to hear, feel, and see the emotion of the nation through this performance. I have never seen anything like it, and I'm sure you have not either. Please take a few minutes to watch this. Brilliance.

Countryside

2009-09-30T23:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my roommates and I drove out at 9:45pm to a small farm town in Eastern Washington. As we got closer to Zillah, I saw something I haven’t seen in a long time – a dark sky full of bright burning stars. It brought me back to nights in Ghana where constellations were never hard to spot and sadly, I took it for granted. We pulled over next to some cornfields and three of us climbed on top of Amanda’s car to lie together under the stars. Very Romantic.

The next morning, we cooked eggs and bacon in Amanda’s family kitchen. So yummy! Her family owns a golf course and family fun center & pizzeria in Granger so we went over there to spend the day playing. BUT, before we left the house, we found a vintage red “De Luxe Twinn 5” tandem bicycle. Soooooooo rad and fun. Riding the tandem was rather challenging and slightly scary but very very amusing and enjoyable.

It was so hot. The best part of the day was sitting in the front yard as the sun cast a warm haze and I honestly felt like I was living in a beautiful photograph. My heart has been craving the countryside – slower pace, wide open spaces, really fresh air, barefoot kids that talk to you even though they don’t know you (in a slight country twang). This fed my soul a little bit; but oh, how I wait for the day I won’t have to leave.

The Butterfly Circus

2009-09-27T22:37:00.000-07:00

Eduardo Verástegui plays in this 20 minute short film. Wow - Beautiful and Moving to say the least. Please take a little time to experience The Butterfly Circus.

Eduardo Verástegui also produced and played the lead in one of my favorite movies of all time, Bella. The work he does is so inspiring and I truly admire the life he has chosen to live. What a man!

Creature of Habit

2009-09-22T23:45:00.000-07:00

When I get comfortable with something- a seat in a classroom or at the dinner table, a tasty treat, a pen, and/or other various things- I usually stick with it for a very long time. I have always known this about myself, but I suppose it has just become a little more apparent than usual in the last few weeks. Two specific comforts: music and clothes.

When I find a song I like or love, I listen to it on repeat over and over and over... and over. I usually don't get sick of it for at least a month or two. I abandon many other pretty melodies for the infamous "favorite of the month." Usually I make copies of the song for my car, bathroom, and office. To those who cannot listen to the same song more than once a day, I apologize - my mind works a little different than most. I decided to share my quirks with you. Here is a list of songs I have been listening to many more times (this month) than I feel comfortable to admit:

Hazelton - Justin Vernon
Hurricane - Mindy Smith
Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
Our Love was Good and Our Love was Right - Bradley Hathaway
Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron and Wine

Clothes- haha. I don't mean my day to day outfits... those I can change and have lots of variety with. But.... my lounge clothes- talk about comfort! Today is my third (or fourth?) day in a row to wear the same gray tunic sweater with matching gray leggings (My roommates have noted this because of the distinct color coordination or lack thereof). Before that I had, for about a week, worn the same red shorts with green t shirt every night. It was hot (the weather). Since the weather got a little more fall-like over the weekend, I dug up the ole gray leggings and paired it with my newly found used gray tunic sweater. Not too hot, not too cold. Now, before you go thinking these clothes must get pretty unpleasant in a week - keep in mind I am only wearing them about 2-3 hours a day. (If you want to catch me in my gray gloriousness, pop in around 8 or 9pm... i'll be comfy!)

Goodnight.

Deep Blue

2009-09-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

On September 18th 2009, we went sailing on an 84 year old wooden boat around Lake Union. We had no destination but to be under the stars and on the deep blue. A wise fellow onboard stated, “My favorite part of this ride is that we’ve been going nowhere for four hours.” Moving with no destination - it’s a nice feeling.

We ate hors d'oeuvre, drank sparkling cider from champagne glasses (which I scrounged around Goodwill for to find 18 matching pieces), listened to Josh Phillips’ acoustic guitar and soothing vocals, listened to poetry, shared laughs, stories and quite a bit of love. The air was warm and deep.

{photos by Kristen Stemke}
{see more here}

Toast + Jam

2009-09-16T12:57:00.001-07:00

The last several days I have been delighting myself with Toast and Jam! (I even wrote a little song about it... you can ask me to sing it to you when you see me) Such a simple snack and/or meal:
-Oroweat Whole Grain 100% whole wheat bread (toasted, of course!)
-Brummel & Brown Natural Yogurt spread
-Bonne Maman Apricot-Raspberry Preserves
I recommend serving it on a glass or ceramic plate with a preferably cute design of your choice (as opposed to paper plate or paper napkin). Cold rice milk on the side is always a plus!
Enjoy!

My Place

2009-09-14T18:46:00.001-07:00

{All photos by the beautiful Anuhea Akamine}
{model: Whitney Moreno}

Cry Often

2009-09-13T23:25:00.000-07:00

Crying on my way to work tonight was the best thing I could have done because it:
-caused me to miss my exit off the I5
-which required me to take a different street to work
-which prompted me to stop quickly at a cute little yard sale on that street
-which provoked me to buy a cute $1 framed cross stitch
-which required me to go to QFC down the road to get cash
-which encouraged a conversation with a single mom of two
-which allowed me to buy her family a warm dinner
-which resulted in more tears for everyone
Crying gets a bad rep sometimes but it can help feed hungry bellies.

Today I

2009-09-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

To See You

2009-09-08T18:18:00.001-07:00

Today I drew a little tree on my hand with a little person peaking out the top of the tree bushes. Around the top of the tree, I wrote in cursive “I climbed a tree to see you.” At work, my 9-year-old Caroline looks at it, reads it and turns to me and asks, “You mean the Lord?”

Seattle Rain

2009-09-07T21:02:00.000-07:00

Today was a rather eventful Labor day. Woke up at 8:30am and drove down and up the I405 visiting all the thrift stores on the way (Goodwills, Value Villages, De Pauls). Everything was 50% off today and I was determined to find a couch or some kind of seating for my office. 6 hours later, I pull up to my apartment with a VERY full car. Needless to say, it was a very successful, tiring and wet (rain rain rain) day of thrifting. But *sigh* I sit here now in my mostly finished office and am very happy about it. I am working on putting pictures up soon. Look out for those!

Here are a few things I am currently pretty pleased about:

-my new typewriter which i need to buy ink for
-my new art pieces and furniture
-my new cute glasses from IKEA
-playing with Donovan on Wednesday

Now it is 9:30.... and I have so much to do. I forgot how much there is to do during the school year. Projects, papers, reading, reading, assignments, they are always weighing and looming. But of course, what am i doing? BLOGGING! I love my life :) I suppose it's a short post so it's alright.

More 8mm Love

2009-09-03T23:01:00.000-07:00

Now I am hooooooooooooooked on 8mm wedding videos.... Enjoy! Swoon Swoon Swoon Swoon.

{First seen here}

All By Myself

2009-09-03T20:24:00.001-07:00

{at the High Dive}
09.02.09

Jesse + Nicky

2009-09-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

I cannot begin to explain how intimate and beautiful Jesse and Nicky's wedding was. Handmade birds hung from tree branches, fresh cut flowers filled mason jars, candles EVERYWHERE. Nicky's dress was breathaking. We spent the evening at Carkeek park in Seattle, overlooking the beautiful Puget Sound. I had the privilege and honor to read a passage on Love for their ceremony. The whole ceremony was moving (to say the least). Jesse and Nicky run their own company, Estrella, selling handmade vegan soaps which smell so good you could eat them! I LOVE these soaps - they leave your skin feeling soft, healthy, and silky. Also works very well for shaving legs :) Order some online and you wont be sorry. Here are some fisheye shots of the night!

Fish Eyes

2009-09-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

Carmen + David

2009-09-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I purchased a fisheye camera at value village for about $3.99. I wasn't sure if it worked or how the pictures would turn out but I tried out a test roll and was pretty happy with the results. Since then I've been enjoying taking fun fish eye shots - especially at weddings.

What I love more than wedding blogs is real life weddings where I know and love the people involved. This summer I had the honor of being a bridesmaid for my beautiful former roommate and BFF Carmen! Carmen and David are wonderful friends of mine and I LOVED being apart of their special day.

Here are a few fisheye shots of their wedding day!

{my dad married them}

Oh Lovely

2009-09-02T16:19:00.001-07:00

For those who don't know this about me: I have a wild fascination with wedding blogs. No, I am not obsessed with getting married or intending to do so anytime soon. I just LOVE good wedding blogs and I think that's all there is to it. This will be the first of many finds I post from said blogs.

I nearly fell out of my chair looking at these gorgeous pictures of this romantic tree house wedding I saw at Classic Bride. Not only because it's like a dream-come-true, but also because I realized it was photographed by BEN BLOOD who I've unofficially asked about being my own wedding photographer (teehee, remember, I am NOT intending to marry anytime soon). He photographed and traveled with two of my favorite local bands Garage Voice and Noah Gundersen. Anyhow, as if this wedding couldn't be anymore perfect, they filmed it with 8mm film (kill me now). Enjoy these few pictures and see the rest here. AND watch the wedding video of my dreams!

{All Photos by Ben Blood}

My Twenty First

2009-09-02T00:32:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday, the 29th, I turned twenty one. My parents take this milestone quite seriously because, in Chinese culture, 21 is a release into adulthood (not just the right to drink alcohol) and as my dad always said, "I'm going to roast you a pig!" Because I didn't think pig roasting would be the most appealing way to spend my 21st, I thought it would be nice to throw a little party. A little Pastel Party :) With MUCH help from my loving and amazing parents, the party was a success! I had a lot of fun with the theme - choosing a random assortment of linens (including pillow cases) from various thrift stores to use as table cloths, ordering cute invitations from Midwest Modern Girl on Etsy, using my mason jar collection, picking out napkins and paper plates (oh the joys of pastel paperwear!), wearing my favorite polka dot dress, and (humbly but gloriously) baking and decorating cupcakes!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here are some of my favorite shots of the day; taken by my roommate and bestie, Amanda DuFord.

Hands

2009-09-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

While I was writing the previous post, I kept thinking about a poem by Sarah Kay, one of my all-time favorite spoken word artists. Enjoy.

With a humble hand

2009-09-01T18:06:00.000-07:00

While I was visiting my wonderful, beautiful friend –Blythe Fike – I found (among many things) this framed stitch hanging in her girls’ room. It hit me. Hard. So simple, yet so moving. Created by Mary in 1846 – Mary sews her name With a Humble Hand.

Hands knead dough and sprinkle spices. Hands hold. Hands caress and soothe. Hands clean. Hands join other hands for good or ill. Hands create.

With a humble hand, I write what I hope will be glimpses of the beauty, pain, and wonder that I embrace each day.