more booties

I completely forgot to post about these. I think they're adorable - very summer-preppy - perfect for the Boonsboro area, where I am currently spending my break. I just added these to my store on Tuesday, but I'll probably pull them from my inventory there and take them to Virginia Handcrafts to sell instead. We'll see. . .

hair

I was growing my hair out. I have some romantic idea about long flowing tresses. But that never happens for me. Long hair is beautiful. . . on other people. Long hair always makes me feel frumpy, so I got it cut. I was originally going to go a lot shorter, but my stylist was hesitant and I let her have creative freedom today. It's slightly asymmetrical, really layered, and longer than I wanted, but I really like it. I'll probably get it cut shorter the next time I go to her, in August. For now. . .

scouting

While I was out of town this weekend, I saw this:





These are not the best pictures, I know. I took them out the car window in a hurry as we drove by. This is an abandoned mental/children's hospital, and it is state-owned, so I couldn't get close to it at all. I am dying to get inside though. I would love love love to photograph the inside of it as a continuation of my Abandon Series. It's not a particularly conceptual body of work, but it's beautiful. And I feel the need to make beautiful art all of the time. There is something so attractive about abandoned places to me. They have such a quiet, secretive beauty that I find irresistable. Anyway, I'm going to find a way to get in to these buildings, and when I do you better look out for some gorgeous images! I hear it's haunted, so it's going to be a fun shoot.

staunton/stuart's draft

This weekend, I tagged along with mom and Asher to the Junior Bowling League state tournament in Staunton, Virginia. We drove there early Saturday morning and spent the night. After Asher bowled six games Saturday morning, we were left with a free afternoon, so we drove out to Stuart's Draft to see my good friend, Griffin. Griff was the first friend I made at VCU, and we're in the photo department together. His family owns a produce stand/country store, as well as a huge, gorgeous farm that I am completely in love with. We spent the afternoon touring the farm, and showing all of the animals to Henry. It was so much fun! Henry loved seeing the animals, I loved being out in the country (it made me miss my parents' farmhouse in Elon - I kind of wish we still lived there), and mom and Asher enjoyed it too. Mom took pictures of me and Henry, and then I took over my camera again to get some portraits of him in the hayloft. Thanks for taking us out to the farm Griffin! It was absolutely breathtaking. Below are some photos - I'm afraid they don't really do the farm justice, but they are pretty nonetheless.

lovely shroomies

While I was outside playing with Henry, I noticed for the first time that my parents' yard is a treasure trove of mushrooms and moss just waiting to be photographed. I took as many pictures as I could while still keeping a close eye on Henry. Here are a few of my favorites:



They are so pretty! There are a ton of them in the woods beside the house too, and when/if the sun comes out I will probably go out and take some more pictures.

getting dirty

Henry and I went out to play in the yard while his Mimzi and uncles Ricky and Asher were doing some gardening. He crawled, walked, and got dirty. Really dirty. Here are some photos that I think are really adorable.









He's growing up so fast!!!

the quilt

Henry got a gift so thoughtful and beautiful at his party that it deserved its very own post. Of course, it helps that the gift was more for me than for him. I was so excited to open one of his presents and find a quilt made from onesies that he wore when he was 0-6 months old. And not just any onesies, but the ones we tie-dyed at my baby shower in Richmond. I was so excited to unwrap it!!! It was Kat's idea to dye the onesies, and then after Henry was born he wore them until he outgrew them. I didn't have room to keep them even though I wanted to, so I gave them to Stacy for her baby boy, Ryker, to wear. Instead of getting rid of them when he outgrew them, she mailed them all to her mother in Arizona, who custom made this quilt for us. On the front it has patches of the onesies surrounded by supersoft fleece, and on the back it has a full onesie with Henry's name embroidered on it. The border is made from a rainbow satin, and it's perfect with the tie-dye colors. I love love love it! It is so special because all of my friends in Richmond made a part of it, and then Henry wore it as a newborn, and now it will keep him warm as he gets older. I will keep it forever. This was such a thoughtful gift, I almost wanted to cry when I unwrapped it and saw it for the first time. Thank you so much Stacy!!!

Patches on the front:

Monogram on the back:

Here it is hanging up behind the rest of his birthday presents:

Isn't it precious?

first birthday

This post has a ton of pictures, but I can't help it. Yesterday was Henry's big first birthday party. We had a smaller party in Richmond so that my friends there could celebrate with him, but the party yesterday was "official" with grandparents and everything. Anyway, the party was a lot of fun. We had it in the park so the kids could play on the swings and in the grass, and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I tried to keep it simple, but may have gone overboard in some ways (wait till you see the photos of the cake!) We had ham biscuits, fruit, cupcakes, and a monkey train cake for Henry. The kids all got bubbles, a monkey party hat, and animal crackers. Check out some of my favorite pictures:

The birthday boy having lots of fun swinging with Grandpa:

Presents waiting to be opened:

The monkey train(!):

Me trying to blow bubbles but I couldn't. How do little kids do it?

Henry and cousin Carr say hello:

Henry saying hello to his great-grandfather, my Mandaddy:

Opening gifts. Henry gave each child there something to open too, so they all gathered around and we unwrapped gifts together:

Destroying the train:

Mom and I had to strip him down to get all the cake off:

Afterwards, he slept for two hours.

And finally, this picture cracks me up. It totally looks like a paparazzi shot of some sordid affair. "Artist Marion Glass and her uncle were spotted in Peaks View Park with their two kids. . ." Really, it is me and my uncle, Chip. I'm carrying Henry, Carr is running in front of us, and we're not holding hands. It just looks like it. I think there were at least three feet between us. This just goes to show that there is no such thing as "photographic truth." Don't believe anything you see in the tabloids!!! I hope you find this as amusing as I do, Ivonne.