Live, Love, and Enjoy Life

I think that most grandparents would agree that the very best present that you can give them for Christmas is more grandchildren. The second best gift that you can give grandparents for Christmas is photographs of their already existing grandchildren.

For my parents, I designed a book full of photographs that I took of my daughter and family during 2008. It captures many fun and precious moments from our year and also illustrates how much my daughter changed, physically.

Here are a few pages from the book.

Holiday Recap

Said “Welcome” to my husband’s best friend/ future brother-in-law, “Uncle Doo-Doo.”
Recovered from a cold with the help of Greens, Emergen-C, and Acupuncture.
Visited my never-boring family Christmas Eve.
Laughed as my brother expressed his admiration for the yule log on tv.
Enjoyed watching Sofia open sooooo many Christmas presents.
Cried as we all said “Goodbye" to my twin sister, who moved to Chicago.
Found my daughter during a game of Hide and Seek.
Ate Dim Sum Christmas morning.
Traveled to Orr, Minnesota Christmas night.
Sledded down a hill with two feet of snow.
Snow Shoed across a frozen lake.
Played hours of Super Mario Cart on my nephews new Wii.
Ate way too many Christmas treats.
Celebrated my 2nd wedding anniversary with my husband.
Took a very long nap with my daughter.

Drew and Shelly

Greens

Hide and Seek

Nap Time

Winter Leaf

I found the shape of this winter leaf quite intriguing. I love the way that it hangs delicately from the branch, curling around itself.

Hello Sunshine

I love the way the sun is illuminating these photographs, snapped today when the sun started to set.

Quiet

Winter time quiet. Photographs taken in my front yard.

Winter

I found some colors in my own front yard this afternoon. What is left of my garden is actually much more interesting than I could have ever imagined. Winter creates new shapes that are much more organic, unusual and imperfect than in spring and summer.

Out of Season

Copyright 2008 Jessica Wood
I am in the mood for some vibrant colors, so please enjoy this taste of nature from my photography portfolio.

Hiking in NW Portland, Oregon

I snapped a few photos while on a post Thanksgiving jaunt through the woods in NW Portland to remind me that green plants can thrive outdoors in the United States, even in December.

Today, Wandering

I had some time to wander freely today, just outside of Portland, Oregon. I took a few pictures of the goodies that are in my current surroundings. I have a love for the colors that I find here, even on chilly, gray and foggy days. Unlike my home in Minneapolis this time of year, Portland is still very green. The leaves may have fallen from most of the trees, but their branches are covered in gorgeous moss and lichen that flourish in the colder months. Fall is still upon Oregon and I captured some of the exciting colors. I couldn’t resist taking a few shots of the horses on the farm that I am staying on, including some of the sweetest baby “horsie” with the distinct fuzzy coat and white mark on her head.
Copyright 2008 Jessica Wood

Sofia Amiel

A burst of joy to brighten the day....My tot, Sofia.

Visiting Nana, Leeloo and PP!

I am visiting what feels like my second home, Portland, Oregon. I am so grateful that for ten days, I get to enjoy Nana's delicious home cooked meals, always prepared with vegetables freshly picked out of the garden, lots of walks in gorgeous settings, and plenty of relaxation.

DIY: Whimsical Butterfly Tree

Inspired by nature and leftover birthday decorations, I created a whimsical butterfly tree for my toddler's bedroom. It is a very simple and fun project to create and the results are quite enchanting. It is a very inexpensive project and fun for parents and their children to create together.

Whimsical Butterfly Tree Instructions:

1. Head out to nature (if you are lucky like me, you may have some in your own backyard) and find a gorgeous branch sans leaves, the curvier and more ornate the branch, the better. I used a fallen oak tree branch.

2. Purchase or create decorative butterflies. To create your own, feel free to use the butterfly stencil that I illustrated. Click on it to enlarge. Print it out and the possibilities are endless. I love to use stencils on gorgeous decorative papers, such as these found at Paper Source. Encourage your children to paint and draw on the butterflies to create their own, unique designs.





3. Attach the butterflies to the tree using either thin wire or fishing line.

4. Hang tree branch by attaching string or fishing line to either end of the branch. Hang the branch on something sturdy like a hook or screw.

Farewell My Beloved Camera

You will be missed. You help me savor memories from the mountains of Italy to the brave day I gave birth to the lovely, Sofia. Your love for capturing beauty and life’s precious moments will forever live in the thousands of photographs that you snapped. May you rest in peace.

My camera snapped its last photos in Portland, Oregon about one month ago and it decided that it would be its last. Now I am undertaking the grueling process of choosing the perfect camera, any suggestions would be appreciated. I look forward to posting new photographs very soon.

Silk Screen Printing

I, like many other creative types, enjoy working on as many projects as I can get my hands on at a time. In my “free time” which is quite limited, I just taught myself how to make how to make silk screens for screen-printing. I used some of the information from this website. I decided to make my first silk screen a very intricate and detailed Art Nouveau-type peacock design. It took several hours to actually create the screen, and I am very excited about the results.

I loved the process of making my own silk-screen, and now I have my heart set on a Gocco screen printer.

Spa Space Brochures

I just completed two brochure designs for Spa Space! One of the most satisfying feelings is completing a project and doing it well.

Enjoy Autumn...Swing!

The weather will only be kind to those that fear the snow for a few more weeks. Enjoy it! Go to the park and swing!

Free Image! Chipped Paint on Wooden Door

Please feel free to use the "Chipped Paint" photograph as you please. Textures can create interesting backgrounds in Photoshop collages. Print it and use it on an Artist Trading Card. Use it however you would like!

Click on the "Chipped Paint" photograph to view larger, drag to your desktop and voila, it's YOURS!




I included the "Chipped Paint" photograph in this 4 x 4 print of a flower. The original work is a mixed media piece with paint, digital imagery and photography. As you can see, the original image (1) is lacking the crackled effect that the "Chipped Paint" photograph creates. I incorporated the "Chipped Paint" photograph into 2, 3, and 4 in various ways and you can view the interesting effects it created.