Family Group Photos: shoulders vs cluster

We tried to practice "clustering" heads for group photos...

This line up is okay (in order of age) but tv in background bad...

Better away from tv.  Outside would have been nice, but this was late at night, after parents were asleep.

Try angling that...

Or breakout sub-groups...my brothers, oldest to youngest!

And get people laughing!  Best Laura laugh, ever, hearing her talk about being in the middle, no matter what group.

How many tries to get this big group shot? Everyone here except Hermana Hannah on mission and our Maxwell.  (photo credit this group shot: Jen Babcock).

quilts, balloons, my children, & homes (Utah trip, continued)

Roxie's favorite quilt.  From this show (basement BYU Art Museum) through November 2014.

LOOK at these 1/4-1/8 inch prairie points, the triangles at the edge of the quilt, smaller than small rickrack, TINY!

Suzanna after 5K run on 4th July, Provo.

Sam at balloon launch, Provo.

In front of my favorite balloon:  silk applique, gorgeous....

My brother John, husband, John, son John, and b-in-law Roger, Mom & Luanna & Deb off to the side, Jordan River Temple.

From Bear Lake we went north to see family history sites:

THIS is the house in the family photo!  Just down the street from the historical museum where we saw more family evidence (John's side).

Roxie in front of Logan temple (two of her great great great great... grandpas were stake presidents in Bear Lake stake and temple presidents of Logan temple). 

Spending time with my Utah children (all Emma+Dean photos are on good camera, downloading soon) was my favorite part of trip.

And the matching reunion shirts!  And my back brace-thank you Dr. Lee.

Seeing our home in Bettendorf, well-cared for, smaller than I remember...

Parking lot where John & I first kissed 28+ years ago...

My Sophmore year BYU house (where I lived when I met John).

Next house I lived in basement apartment (when John & I put in mission papers).

We lived up Hobble Creek Canyon at Bradford's farm guest home, then Grandma Carlson's basement Springville apartment, then here on 2nd floor window on left of entry, in our first married apartment in Provo (Emma's 1st b-day video filmed on that front lawn!).

Blessing of a duplex $100.00/month rent where we lived with 3 children (on right side) now for sale!

Utah Trip-favorite pictures, more to come...

I had been looking for the artist of this picture of CHRIST:  http://www.jeffhein.com/painting-history-scripture#3  FOUND THE ARTIST!  78x42 inch original, so the one in DC is larger than original.

Sibling hug at Aunt Becca & (soon to be officially) Uncle Chris home.

Painting from 1990 when I was a new mom-student-artist at BYU, in collection of Deborah Koehler. I was surprised at  how it brought back the emotions of being a new mom, the confusion, the love, the "cuteness" and the unending soberness of caring for the health of a newborn.  Rabbits were my favorite animal growing up.

John on his history-photo tour; one of his many, many jobs while we were starving students with children...

John, Sam, and Roxie waiting for me to finish looking at paintings at the BYU museum of art.

Current quilt show, downstairs at same museum:

What do you think???

Happy Father's Day!

(photo credit:  Roxie Jane with our new camera)

Taken last night, before going to Wilson-Powell wedding reception. 

And a glimpse of how to take a $7.00 thrifted dress and make it modest: extend the sleeves, fill in the front, add silk-ripped flower necklace.

SHOULDER Improved

For years he has had right shoulder pain, problems reaching overhead, behind.  Problems putting his arm around my shoulders...  Nor could he fold his arms comfortably.  He has tried cortisone shots, months of PT exercises, oral steroids for the inflammation, and finally the doctor sent him for a MRI and suggested manipulation to un-crack it...Something they couldn't do while he was awake.  He needed to be relaxed and unconscious, not fighting back...

After not eating breakfast, 5 minutes of anesthesia, and an hour recovery he can now fold his arms.  I opted out of watching the surgeon un-freeze his shoulder.  John's elbow was a little sore, and he has a week of PT to do, but pain-free miracle. 

Baby Flower Sandals

Hard to tell what these are from this picture, but think cute little baby girl toes peeking out from the bottom of the flowers, like this:

In the tutorial she warns that they are addicting to make...

I needed a fast shower gift, and was able to use materials on hand, things in my sewing studio...Made 3 pairs in less than 45 minutes.

Give Credit where Credit Due

I have seen 1/2 of this picture all over Pintrist lately, the right half. 

I googled how to do a reverse image search, found a 2009 listing in Spanish, but pulled out the artist's name:  Michael Belk.

Went to his website.  Saw this video about the project, Walking with the Messiah.

And I am adding this former fashion photographer to my list of artist I admire.  I love the juxtaposition of modern problems with Jesus Christ included.

Insert rant here about the pros/cons of Pintrist, the lack of credit, the fluff of incomplete stories/instructions, the lack of SOURCING... And I am guilty of pinning without complete research, looking for broken links.

Liz Lemon Swindle came and spoke at a fireside here in Baltimore recently.  She invited all the listeners to take home four paintings she has printed of her "Prince of Peace" to give away.  She feels that people need to be reminded, need to know Him.  She took her signature off the painting, printed at her own expense, thousands and thousands...It is not my favorite painting of Christ*, but I was touched spiritually by the goal of helping people come to Christ, help them know Him.  I have given away one, and know who the other two should go to...

Years and years ago, my brother, David, said he felt everyone should paint their own picture of Christ. 

I am not ready.  On the horizon is a figure drawing class at the local community college, for starters.  I have felt a little stagnant, need some more training, develop some skills!  And to practice more, put more time into painting.

*Current favorite is in Washington DC LDS temple foyer, off to the left over the stairs going down to the Distribution Center--Christ in the jungle standing between two Lamanite children.  I would LOVE to find out who the artist is.  All the temple office could tell me is that the 60 or so new prints are hanging in temples all over the world.