What Zone Do You Live In?

Capturing a true moment on camera isn't easy - unless you are a child. Children don't "pose" like adults. They don't worry if their double chin is showing - they show it off. Children don't worry if their clothes make them look fat - they just take the clothes off. Children don't try to hide their big thighs or belly's - they pat them with pride.

Children don't see my camera as a camera - it is something to grab at and play with. They don't see my studio as a studio. It is a fun room in which to run around, explore, and ultimately drive their mothers crazy. They don't understand the words "hold still" or "sit down" or even "leave your shirt on." Nope, they are in the moment - well rather, they are in their moment.

Children are on their own time. They decide if or when they look at the camera. And usually, they only look if they are interested enough, and usually they aren't. They have better things to do than to please this stranger in a strange, but interesting, room. How freeing is that?

You know the saying; Youth is wasted on the young. As we age, we are suppose to get wiser. But, do really get wiser? Or just old? How wonderful to be so secure, so pleased within our own skin. Maybe that is why we adults marvel young children so. We envy them. We envy their confidence, their freedom to simply be in their moment.

While adult responsibilities dictates our time and how we spend it, we do have the freedom to create our moments. We have the freedom to not worry if our outfit makes us "look fat" or if our double chin is showing. Really - think about it. Five years from now, will you, or anyone else for that matter, even remember or care, if your outfit made you look fat or if your double chin showed? In the great scheme of things, is it really that important? Because while we all worry over such things, our moments are passing us by. Our moments soon become "coulda, woulda, shoulda" moments. And instead of those moments being memorable, they become regrets.

I personally try to live a life without regrets. A huge goal, maybe impossible, but a life filled with regrets is usually a life filled with a lot of "coulda, woulda, shoulda" moments that escaped us or we let slipped through our fingers, usually out of fear. Fear of what others will think of us. Fear of looking foolish. Fear of looking incompetent. Fear of being vulnerable. Fear of failure. It is just plain easier to remain within our comfort zone and not venture into the unknown.

Comfort zone is overrated, I think. What good or achievement has ever resulted from remaining in a comfort zone? Do you think it was a moment of comfort for the first person who took this object that was left behind in a nest by a hen, and cracked this object open and then ate it? But that person's moment of discomfort, ultimately gave us quiches, omelets, and eggs Benedict. When I recall my most exciting and memorable moments in life, every single one of them were out of my comfort zone. Big moments such as moving to Europe, opening my business, going through Air Force officer training, playing a role on stage before a live audience. And living outside of my comfort zone are also countless small moments such as riding a camel in Turkey, submitting my first article for publication (it was rejected), going through elective eye laser surgery, agreeing to speak in public, cutting my hair super short, or donning a pair of ice-skate for the very first time only weeks ago - in a very public rink. Comfortable? No, I don't find sweaty palms and quickened heart beat comfortable, but just about every time I step out of my comfort zone, my palms are very aware of it.

But, I will take sweaty palms and an elevated heart rate over a perfect blood pressure reading any day. And when I take photos of these very curious, independent, and sure-footed children, it is a very real reminder that I have so much more living to do. And this budding human, not even two years old, experiences more life, more joy, in those few moments in my studio than most adults experience on a daily basis. And we adults are the "wiser" of the two? Really?

I enjoy capturing these wise budding humans with my camera and I just wanted to share some with you. My photo page on my website is now updated with new photos in all categories. Please stop by and visit my photography on my website. Here is a direct link: http://www.elizabethhouse.us/photography.html

Children touch our hearts because our hearts long to be touched - and children aren't afraid to reach out and do so.

"We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing."

Take some time to play today - it is a wise thing to do.

From my house to your house,

Elizabeth

http://www.elizabethhouse.us/

New Nostalgia Nursery

The "newness" of an infant, the innocence and purity, usually conjures images of crisp white sterile-looking furnishings in the nursery. But there is something about bringing home the next generation of a family that naturally compels us to reflect on our heritage-our ancestors. Because of this, I find comfort in surrounding not only the infant, but also the new mother (and dad) with mementos of yesteryear. Vintage photos, antiques, and family keepsakes becalm the spirit with the promise of continuity and the soothing balm of familiarity.

I am finding a shift in nursery design is taking place: This is in part because many women are waiting longer to have children. These older, more established moms-to-be want the nursery to be sophisticated and flow seamlessly with the style of the rest of the home. Also, chances are good that today's new mom is employed outside of the home. She wants to feel relaxed and at peace in her surroundings when caring for her infant. In these very tiring first few months, the nursery is as much for the mother as it is for the baby, if not more.

This all changes in due time of course. But it's a good six months before the child begins to crawl. Once the baby is crawling, the nursery can be adjusted to keep curious fingers out of harm's way. Once the toddler begins walking, the nursery is again adjusted. A successful nursery evolves, grows and adapts according to the baby's development and changing needs. But in those first few exciting months, the nursery should bring comfort to the new parents as well as to the new baby.

This particular nursery I designed for a show house and was later bought by a wonderful client and friend who has, in my opinion, wonderful taste! This nursery appeared in the national publication, Country Almanac's 2005 Winter's issue. I designed the bedding using humble ticking, and simple cottons. The vintage rocker, dresser and buffet are painted in a distressed black and the walls painted in a puddy gray. The alphabet, painted in faded black paint adorns the door ways and windows. Sound drab? Not the least! Very sophisticated and very sweet. Vintage wire baskets hanging on the wall near the changing dresser, holds essentials such as diapers, powder and lotions. The iron crib converts into a daybed and certainly becomes a family heirloom. As baby grows and commands a more playful room filled with fairies, super heros or unicorns, the rocker is easily transferred to another room along with the dresser and buffet. The furniture is not traditional "baby" furniture, thus, may be used anywhere in the home....and not to be stored in the attic only to be sold at the fraction of its cost in a future garage sale.

I enjoy designing nurseries simply because the challenge is to step outside the traditional box and create a room that soothes a tired mom (or dad) while they soothe our future generation....and that is what it is all about isn't it? Developing a future full of promise, hope, and most of all...peace.

from my house to your house,
Elizabeth
www.elizabethhouse.us