Alice’s Escapades

So my dear daughter thinks that working and making her own money is more important than posing for her mother. Hmmm… Imagine that. LOL.  Well, I had to find a make due model for my new idea and lo and behold along came Alice. She was actually headed for the dumpster while I was out cleaning up the studio.  Then yesterday morning while I was going through some stuff, I came across a tiny chair.  It hit me.  Tiny chair, big doll…. Yeah that’s the ticket. You never know what might inspire you. After thinking of that I  had to come up with a few more adventures for Alice.  She is a very adventurous girl.  I think this series will be going for awhile…  You never know where she might end up. Hope you enjoy!

To see the whole series, or to order any size prints visit here

Interview at “Such Cool Stuff”

I thought I would share with you the amazing website called “Such Cool Stuff”. I was asked to do an interview with them and it is listed today.  Check it out!

Seeking Inspiration in the Snow

21/365 Linen & Lace ~ Velvet Kisses, originally uploaded by Tia Bailey {1,000 Beautiful Things Photography}.

I have got a major case of the winter blahs.  It has only been 3 weeks into the winter season and I am already thinking I cannot wait until SPRING!  Today it actually warmed up enough that I could be outside for a little bit without freezing to death.  So I grabbed the beautiful camisoles I have been dying to shoot and ventured out into the snow in our backyard that has still not melted away.  Yes, finally I have a bit of inspiration, a bit of longing to go out and play.  Thank you Mr. Sunshine for coming out and allowing me to enjoy myself a bit outdoors.

Here is a peek at the beginning of a new series called Linen & Lace.  More here

Interview @ All Things Girl

I was asked last year to do an interview with an amazing website called All Things Girl. How could I possibly turn down that opportunity?  Well, it is up now! YAY!  Please go take a look at their website. It is a bounty of beautiful things. Just click on the picture below and it will take you there.

Confessions of a Non-Shopaholic

I am not just a non-shopaholic. I hate hate hate shopping for clothes, at least for myself.  I don’t mind tagging along if shopping for my daughter. Luckily, I kind of know her tastes and can figure out what she likes.  Although, it does usually end up with me sitting down somewhere watching her shop because it has been 2.5 hours and I am no longer interested.  Give me short spurts and I am fine.

However, today, I had to go shopping for myself.  And I had to buy of all things… SLACKS! Just the word itself sounds icky.   You see, I am a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.  Really, if I could wear capris all year round, I would be even happier with that.

Shopping for myself is a task I do not get excited about.  I believe it probably stems from the fact that most plus size clothes are made to look like mumus or something for the older generation.   Or else, they are made with this gauzy material that clings to the body and makes me look 20 months pregnant.  Yes, 20, not 9 months. And then there was the time I was shopping with my very petite mom. I asked her to grab me a dress off the rack and she is yelling from outside the dressing room, “Honey, this is a 24 WIDE (aka 24W-omens). Will it fit you?”  I wanted to hide!

On top of this little factoid, they have to give you these delightful little 2×2 dressing rooms with mirrors surrounding you.  Is one mirror not sufficient?  Instead I have to see every angle of my body from every direction.   This is not a funhouse! It is a dressing room. I want one mirror and I can turn my body all around to see how it looks.

So I get a call this morning saying that I have an interview tomorrow morning at 10am.  YAY! I am excited.  At least for a few minutes.  And then I realize that this means I have to put on a dog & pony show.  I cannot wear jeans.  I cannot wear capris.  I don’t really do dresses and besides that it is FREEZING outside.  This means I must find something to wear.  Closet?  Ummm yeah… I don’t think so. I look at a couple of pairs of pants that I used to wear for my previous job and they are actually pretty well worn out. I am discussing this with my teenager and she says, “Well why don’t we go shopping?” This is coming from the 16 year old who blows her big fat paycheck every two weeks in like 24 hours. “Of course,” I think to myself, “Why not? You know Mommy loves shopping and of course the reason I am looking for a job is because I have all this money sitting around just waiting to be spent.” HA!  A few more minutes of scouring the closet and I realize that I do not have much choice.  I am in desperate need of making a great impression and getting this job.

Off we go… I walk into a popular, upscale, plus size store (initials LB — oh what the heck… Dee deserves the credit, it is Lane Bryant)  today and I am thinking I might find something I will like. But I found many things I would like.  Whether or not they would look good on me is a whole other thing.  And the price… YIKES.  Now I remember why I don’t get into this store fequently. I have a very hard time spending $50+ on a shirt.  So I make my way over to the clearance rack and skim through the limited number of slacks pants they have left in my size and go over to the dressing room.  After really inspecting the pants, I begin to wonder if they are appropriate as they almost feel like denim.  Hmmm… I ask one of the employees.  She agrees that these might not be the best choice for an interview.  Then we begin discussing what color I am.  Ummm… purple?  green? yellow?  Well, I start looking at the tags and apparently LB has decided that our bodies are based on this color.  Hmmm… I think I am a red.  Nope, I stand corrected.  I am a yellow.  Well how do you like those beans?  I have to say that I walked out of there with one pair of pants, one pair of slacks, and one pair of Spanx. I have worn these before and loved them so I decided it was time to update  and get a new pair.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the amazing service and overall pleasant experience.  I was able to actually walk out of the store with a smile on my face and a few new pieces of clothing. YAY!  Now maybe when I start making some mula, I can go back and shop til my daughter drops!  LOL

Interview @ All Things Girl ~ Oklahoma City Photographer Tia Bailey

I just wanted to let everyone know that my interview with ALL THINGS GIRL has been posted on their website.  Click the link above and it will take you to their main arts page and then I am the 3rd from the bottom.    It is not a long, major interview.  Just a few words.  But still I am excited about the fact that they asked me.

I know I have not blogged much as of late.  I will be back soon.

Bah Hum Bug

I am a bit bah-hum-bug right now. I don’t even know if I should be sharing all of this as I am feeling quite emotional at this time.   I have not enjoyed the holidays in several years.  The hubster is not a holiday person to begin with.  So for the last 8 years our holiday usually consists of the flurry of putting the tree up and getting it decorated.  This is all grand and I love this part of the holiday.  The hard part? Watching as it sits naked without gifts under it.  This happens because my daughter is a teenager and so gift certificates are a major gift to her.  And he and I do not exchange any gifts, except the letter he will write every few years.  I know there is so much more to Christmas than gifts.  But I would love to have an old fashioned Christmas filled with lots of gifts, the morning of opening gifts and exchanging gifts, a house full of family and friends, a big dinner where you just want to roll over and take a nap afterwards… The things I had as a young child.  I am doing my best to keep things positive right now, focusing on my art instead of the whirlwind around me.  I do not want a pity party.  Believe me, that is the last thing I need.  I am just saying that I am going to try to make this a good of year as possible even if it means just getting the heck out of the house on Christmas in order not to dwell on things.

On a much more positive note,  I am working on a new blog about my weight loss journey and will be starting that on Monday.  So bear with me.

I feel like I am jumping from project to project right now and not really finding what I need to fulfill me.  I have decided however to take a step back from portraiture and focus on my fine art.  I will not be quitting portraiture. If the opportunity comes alone, I will definitely take it.  However, I feel that my heart lies in fine art and that is where my soul is telling me to focus. So prepare to see more art pieces vs. faces.

Whirlwind! ~ Oklahoma City Photographer

Wow! I cannot believe it is already December. I know I probably say that every year but this year has seriously flown by. It seems I just took the Christmas tree down and now it is time to put it back up.  I have been busy shooting and preparing fine art prints for AAA and some licensing agreements and so I have really slacked off on my blogging.  I also spent Thanksgiving visiting my baby sister and celebrating my 39th birthday (or as I like to call it “The 18th anniversary of my 21st birthday”).  I have never really thought too much about birthdays as far as the number goes.  I guess because I really don’t “feel” 39 most days.

I have decided to return to the gym religously and take better care of my body. My sister is vegan and seeing how it has changed her body has encouraged me to think more about the way I eat.  Of course she is 9 years younger than I am, but hey, it’s never too late to start.  I don’t think I can go full vegan as I do enjoy a nice steak every so often.  What can I say? I grew up in Texas. Everything is supposed to be bigger & better. HA!

Hope all is well out there in your world. And if not, I hope I can brighten your day just a bit. Here are a few of my favorite things, artists that inspire me.

xoxo

Tia

Serenity ~ Oklahoma City Photographer

I have spent the last few days pondering what to do next.  This year has come with many unexpected little treats and I am wondering what direction my world will take me in  next.

At some point I felt I had to shoot stuff that was pretty. Because that was what I was seeing alot of. And then as I began editing alot of my older images for my portfolio, I realized something. I don’t want a label on me. I love nature, I love abandoned buildings, I love many different things. For me, it is about what captures my attention, draws me in. It is not about my art being THIS or THAT. You will certainly find an eclectic variety in my portfolio. Maybe it depends on which personality is out that day? But mostly it depends on how I feel when I capture something and what I would want the world to see of it through my own eyes.

I know 2009 is not over yet but I just had to write this. It has been an amazing year. I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined what this year would have brought to me. I have achieved at least two of my dreams this year:
~publication in a book (although it was for my Altered Arts side and not my photography, I will take it LOL and considering it happened in 2007 but I did not know until  THIS YEAR after accidentally picking the book up at Michaels. )
And I just discovered I will be in a 2nd book either later this year or early next for fPOE (Female Photographers of Etsy) So that rocks my world!!!
~corporate sale – I was never expecting this to happen really at this stage in my career. But it did and so I am ecstatic. AAA purchased 18 of my pieces.
~Etsy Front Page – yes thanks to Hannah for her awesome treasury I made the front page of Etsy. I know this happens alot for some people, but it was my first.
~Nominee for Emerging Photographer of the Year… just being chosen as a nominee took my breath away. I swear I could not (and still can’t if I am thinking hard about it) wipe this grin off my face.

On top of all of this, I have met some of the most amazing people, the most amazing friends, and I have been feeling a serene feeling that I never knew was possible.  Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to stop in and comment, give me your feedback, and wish me luck. You will never know how much that means to me.

xoxo

Tia

Oklahoma City Photographer ~ Watch Your Step Homestead Series

Another favorite building.  This one always makes me smile. Can you guess why? Okay, its because there are no steps.  I have actually shot this once before with my Jimmy Dean (my Rebel)  but returned while I was in the area today to shoot it with Dolly (50D) so that I was able to blow it up.

I also came across the most amazing graffiti I think I have ever seen. I love graffiti of things besides just letters.  I am thinking I want to blow these up and put them on a standout for my hallway or something…

 

 

PS. I do not take credit for the fabulous graffiti art, I only take credit for the photography. If I knew who did this, believe me, I would gladly give them credit!!! xoxo

If you are the person who created this and come across it on my website, let me know and I will be happy to give you credit.