Guys' Crush on December Proposal

December is reported to be the most popular month for men to propose. Sorry, February, can't beat those holiday love vibes. Let's face it, a proposal is a pretty spectacular Christmas gift and the ring --a nice package to wrap it in. The family is around to help plan and the couple gets to celebrate their engagement with the closest people in their lives.

This explains our flash flood of calls every January. We turn the page of our calendar into the new year with eager anticipation. Who are the couples we will meet and who will trust us to capture their wedding celebration?

In 2010, we will unveil our lastest collections; eco friendly album choices and packaging, a Grassroots session that we are madly in love with, our new approach to wedding photography, and the Grassroots photo tour---yes, we are coming to a town near you;  San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Edinburgh, London, & Amsterdam.

where in the world is Joshua?

Fashion Crush

Fashion Designers are my secret love. I am awed by their ability to create, to recreate what seems to have been done a million times and, each time, make it fresh and new. The following creations were entries in the St. Vincent de Paul Society's Discarded to Divine design competitions. The Society is more than fashion. Fashion is the vehicle in which awareness and money are raised to help the people in our communities who are often discarded--like old clothes. The designers have taken forgotten materials and given them a new life, a new prespective; much like the recipients of the Society's efforts.

This dress is made from recycled jeans. Look at the sleeve detail--the waistband of the jeans. The gorgeous corset tie with old button fly rivets and those tea stained  rosettes. This isn't a crush. This is LOVE.

photography by discardedtodivine06

Crushing Diamonds

I love my wedding ring. It's a white turquoise. They don't exist anymore. Let me rephrase, the mines are dry and no new ones have been discovered.  My ring was from one of the last white turquoise mines in Ely, Nevada. The Nevada connection made it even more special. Since our wedding day, my husband has given me a new turquoise ring for every anniversary.
I have only ever photographed diamond rings for my clients. I stumbled upon this Canadian diamond company that keeps with our ECO Christmas theme. If you are planning to pop the question this season, consider one of these ethically mined rings at  http://www.brilliantearth.com/

Have you considered a ring other than diamonds, gold, platinum? Your relationship is unique. Celebrate that by making all the symbols of it special too.

O. The hang tags. Scrummage through the house for old playing cards, old photos that you have yet to put into an album, groovy catalogs, recipe card that you know by heart. Unless you are Santa himself, that's enough tags for most people. Cut, tie, paste and you're good to ECO-Go. You need to save money considering the ring you just checked out above.

When I've exhausted my  Eco coffers, I think I will move onto The New Bride for the The New Year. The New Bride is one who gives herself permission to make it her own--her own style--her own flair all smushed together with her lover's brill ideas. This is going to be fun and I can't wait to shoot those vintage, indy, eco, rockin' couples in 2010---they do it their way so damn cool!

Eco-Christmas Crush Part II

Don't crush up your old maps, cereal boxes, catalogs, and used bubble envelopes just yet. Here are some more ideas to get you into the re-use / recycle mood  + save some serious bucks by not buying paper and bows. You probably have a GPS anyway so dig out the maps from the glove box and wrap your presents in MAPS. If you are sending a gift to a friend, who once lived in your town, they'd probably get a kick out of seeing their old city this way.

Etsy is one of our favorite sites. They have a project center to help with these crafty, cool, cheap, and green gift wrapping ideas. I LOVE the re-use bubble envelope + i now know where I am going to start with my sewing machine. Follow the link to Etsy's video on wrap ideas. What do you think of their catalog pages envelopes. Told you, Etsy Rocks!

http://vimeo.com/403719

Why are you buying shirt boxes? Those old cereal boxes will work perfectly!

Cut the "handle" out and pinch the sides together---try to make a soft seam. Tie with extra yarn, ribbon, fabric. DONE. I like the boxes just the way they are---you could add scrap paper like the pic above.

Tomorrow, we will find stuff around your place to make unique hang tags for your Eco Christmas.