Catch the Trade Winds in Your Sail

nautical print ~ sail

Twenty years from now
you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do
than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.
Dream.
Discover.

~ Mark Twain


...wise words. go and do it.

xo

Take Times Square with Beach Bum Chix

So...I need your help...please.

I entered an art and photography competition called Art Takes Times Square.

coconuts ~ one of the images i entered

They're calling it "the most immense exhibition of art in New York City."

There's a cash prize...and I ain't gonna lie to you, that would be a - ma - zing, but the thing that's really exciting is the idea of being one of the artists whose work is chosen to be presented "in brilliant lights on a massive scale in one of the most iconic locations in the world."
Uh, could it get any cooler?!

beach bum chick ~ another entry

As I say in my entry portfolio...I think one of these images of the peaceful, quiet solitude of the beach would create a really interesting juxtaposition to the hectic pace and crowded life of Times Square.

Seriously...and I say this all the time...my goal with Beach Bum Chix is to breathe salty air'd serenity into life.  How could that be better accomplished than by plastering a quiet image of a pelican {above} or a horse on the beach {below} on a giant billboard amidst all the hub and bub of New York City?  A little fish out of water spot to let the eye settle calmly and give the mind freedom to wander to shore.

There's a super cool minute or so video about the contest that is very inspiring...I think you'll really like it.

lazy ~ another entry

Anyway, I need your help to make this happen for Beach Bum Chix...and by you, I mean anyone who has ever read this blog and gotten something from it, anyone who has ever skimmed this blog and somewhat enjoyed it, even anyone who has ever read a title of a post and said, "meh."  You and you and you...I need you all and all I need you to do is this...

Go to the beach bum chix portfolio page to see the nine entries  submitted and click on "collect me" at the top to vote.

...then if you are of the praying persuasion, toss a few words to The Big Guy Upstairs.  You'll really be doing me a big favor and I'll be eternally thankful for your kind thoughtfulness.

With much humble gratitude,

xoxo

p.s.  Let me know you voted in the comments so I can properly thank you!

Bring Salty Air'd Serenity Home with Beach Photography Sets

A question I get asked a lot is...do these photos coordinate?  whether it's subject or color, folks want photo sets that harmonize and balance each other.

Makes perfect sense to me.  After all, the goal with Beach Bum Chix is to breathe salty air'd serenity into a little corner of your life.  So in the spirit of peaceful equilibrium...

beach photo set - beach, boardwalk, ocean waves, seashells, seagull photography

The beach photo set is filled with beach photography from our shop in those coastal colors we all love...the turquoise of the sea and teal ocean waves, the stoney tan neutrals of the shore and shore birds, and the lovely beige, grey, and tangerine of seashells.

And, for those of you who love horses and the beach...

horse photo set - wild horses on outer banks beach

Our horse photo set combines your two favorite things with images of wild horses relaxing on the beach and dunes of the outer banks.  They all blend together in ocean shades of sage and sea foam green, the horses' chestnut fur, and sun bleached tails and manes.  Easy to unwind while staring at these beautiful animals lazily sleeping in the warmth of the sun. 

You can read the story about the horse in the top left image in my previous blog post, Beach Bum, as well as my own story of a special horse, Star.

All of the photos in these sets of four are 4" x 6" and are printed by a professional lab on fuji crystal archive paper in a deep matte finish.  And, right now they are priced at the amazingly low, low price of $15 per set!  Just a joke, but that is actually an incredible price that may go up.

I'm interested in knowing what you think.  Are there any images that you'd like to see grouped together?  Visit Beach Bum Chix, then let me know in the comments.  I'd really appreciate your input!

Peace and xo

Go to the Lighthouse with Wolff

jupiter lighthouse photography

Ever read To The Lighthouse by Virginia Wolff?  Love this exerpt...

"There it was before her - life.  Life: she thought but she did not finish her thought.

She took a look at life, for she had a clear sense of it there, something real, something private, which she shared neither with her children nor her husband.

A sort of transaction went on between them, in which she was on one side, and life was on another, and she was always trying to get the better of it, as it was of her; and sometimes they parlayed (when she sat alone); there were, she remembered, great reconciliation scenes..."

Happy Friday beach bums!

P.S. Remember to visit beach bum chix to purchase this lighthouse photography :)

Bring the Outside In with Garden Photography

in the garden photography ~ ladybug

in the garden photography ~ snail

I'm enamored with all kinds of beautiful springy things right now and just added these two images to the beach bum chix shop.

I love the vintage inspired, shabby chic, woodland animals vibe and was thinking how cute the ladybug would be for a little girl's room and the snail for a little boy's.

Then it occurred to me...

"What are little boys made of?

Snips and snails, and puppy dog tails

That's what little boys are made of!"

"What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice and everything nice

That's what little girls are made of!"  

The gears may turn slowly, but eventually they turn...

Wishing you sunny days!

Relax with me on a Boardwalk by the Sea

Boardwalk ~ by the sea photography

This is one of those images I recall when I close my eyes and think of the most peaceful places on earth...to me.

Heading down this boardwalk toward the shore I exhale and prepare to let my concerns drift across the salty air and out with the tide. The moment I reach the top of the steps and begin the descent toward the beach, I feel my shoulders relax, my heart rate drop, and that little space between my eyebrows widen.

The ocean always shares her abundance whether in the form of tangible treasures, like shells and sea glass, or spiritual ones, like a peaceful, easy feeling and sudden zen master ability to be present to the moment.

I think that's why we all take the shells away with us...sensory memory.  Sometimes I carry one in my pocket and when I feel the stress of the world intruding, I rub my fingers across its smooth surface and remember the place where the sea meets the sand.

When you need to decompress where does your mind travel? Tell me all about it in the comments.

Enjoy St. Patrick's Day with Yeats

spring flower photography ~ fuji

Tomorrow is St. Patricks Day, "An enchanted time - a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic" as Adrienne Cook once said...maybe that's why everyone is Irish on March 17th.

In honor of the day dedicated to the wearing o' the green, I offer one of my favorite poems and poets...When You Are Old by Yeats.

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face.

My favorite line is, "But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you"...isn't that what we're all looking for...a witness to and appreciator of our individual pilgrim soul.

I'd really love to hear your thoughts in the comments.  But if you're too busy medicating your spring fever with some kind of healing tonic, I'll completely understand and be wishing you moments filled with glad grace.

Slainte!

Live Well

march photo a day ~ a sign

Still participating in march photo a day challenge.  It's a lot of fun and provides a daily dose of thoughtful creativity during times when the agenda is more about minutia than inspiration.

How's it going for you?  Let me know in the comments.

Live well today and always.

Make Your Coastal Cottage Blossom

shabby coastal cottage photography ~ blossom

Love the shabby chic look...really.  And I love it even more when combined with the laid back, relaxed vibe of a coastal cottage...lots of white with pops of color...shabby coastal cottage decor.

That's the kind of home/room/nook {whatever space you can carve out as your own} I have in mind when photographing places and things.  Makes sense now, right?  A bright image of coconuts or palms trees against a cornflower blue sky in a white or neutral home, room, bookshelf, desk...work what ya got, claim that space as your own and mark it with something that reflects who you are...yeah!

Everything in the Beach Bum Chix shop is available as a 5" x 5" or 5" x 7" for $15 or under.  There are even a beach postcard or two for $3 and iPhone wallpaper {bogo} for $2.  So you have every reason to treat yourself to something special.

I think this pastel pink spring flower photography is luscious and the vintage-inspired details make it perfect shabby coastal cottage material.  At 5"x7", it will fit whatever size niche you've created for yourself.

I'll be adding more images like this over the next few days.  Follow me on facebook to stay in the loop and receive your daily dose of salty air'd serenity.

Do you like the shabby coastal cottage look?  Tell me how you use it to decorate in the comments.

Fly to a Secret Sky with Rumi

I've seen a lot of blog posts that take a day of the week and do something special with it, and I like it.

So here's my version ~ Friday photo and quote. Hope you like it...

seagull photography ~ fly

This is love:

to fly toward a secret sky,

to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment.

First to let go of life.

finally, to take a step without feet.

~ Rumi

If you like this combination, check out the quotes and photography section of Beach Bum Chix and share your thoughts in the comments...I love hearing from you.

Happy weekend!

Float to a Perfect Day

pool photography ~ beach bum chix

Imagine...

A cool blue salt-water swimming pool,
a cushy white raft warmed by the sun,
sunglasses and swimsuit donned,
frosty blended drink in hand,nobody but you,
and nothing to do, but perch yourself on the top of that raft and float 'round the pool...
...all day.

Build Memories with a Photo a Day

Have you ever participated in a photo a day challenge?

Maybe you've heard lots about them and what you've heard sounded like lots of work.  I know, for me, the last thing I want to do is turn my love of photography into a creativity-sapping daily dose of drudgery.

However...I've been converted!