Teri Fode Photography / Blog

{creatin'}

[scrapbooking]

warning: my creative-space looks like a disaster-zone...all in the name of creativity!

Okay...remember the commercial campaign a few years ago that went like this: "This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs." ?

Well...

This is my studio:

This is my studio on drugs:

Can you say BOOK PROJECT DUE IN ONE WEEK with me???? ARRRGH!!!!!

I NEVER go to bed without cleaning up my area...because I need a "clean slate" or "clean canvas", so to speak, to start with before the next project! So I restore my studio back into it's "normal self" (ie, first photos above) after any project.

BUT...

I'm in the middle of creating the Tra-Digi™ book and up to my elbows in projects and so I went to bed last night EARLY (midnight) without cleaning. THIS (above photos) is what I woke up to! Had to take photos for you to see my creative...heaven.

Don gets so annoyed when it gets like this because we share this room and he hates finding "string" on the floor..."It's NOT string, honey. It's RIBBON." That's how the conversations always go around here when I'm AGAINST A DEADLINE!!!

And let me just say, it's a deadline alright. One that is looming (next week) and I'm creating pages like a mad-woman for this book.  :)

I can't wait to share some of the layouts...the book ships end of November...

These are layouts that are REALLY special to me. I haven't felt this much creative mojo since Hall of Fame! Really!

There's such a creative freedom when you have NO assignment or box to force yourself into. I've chosen photos and stories that are at the core of my heart...favorites. I'm even using a lot of my "blog" entries (from my "Inspiration" category) for my journaling.

I can't wait to share those layouts with you because for those of you that read my blog, and have read those stories (ie, the Father's Day entry about Don, Jordan's "The Road Less Traveled", my stories about Tori), you'll *know* where the layouts come from! My heart! 

So...that's where I've been the last few days and where I'll be the next few...in my *studio-on-creative-energy*!!!

Have a great rest of the week...I'll be back soon...gotta get some work done  :)

the {smile}

[inspiration l photography]

overcoming evil with good...

First, thank you so very much for the positively encouraging comments on my previous entry...not to mention the boundless emails I've received in the past few days...

I am truly humbled by your kind words and uplifting posts and emails. When I started this blog 5 months ago, I never imagined how inspiring it would be for me...the stories that you've shared with me about your lives here on my blog and so many more via email are just so incredible. I have a special file that I save each and every one into...so that I can re-read your stories of faith, thereby increasing my own.

Thank you so very much...

In connection with that entry, I'd like to share an incredibly, beautiful example of how dt has overcome "evil with good"...

How she has turned her hurting heart over to God by her own choice, and how He is using her through this experience.

The next night, again during dinner (a very special time for our family...we make a point to eat our meals together as a family every single evening and use it as a communication hour) I asked how school was that day.

After dj shared his excitement about how much he likes his new teacher (praise the Lord!), dt very humbly shared this story...these are her own words:

"Well, there's this boy at school. He's in the grade ahead of me. There's something not quite right with him...I'm not sure what, but he kind of hangs his head to the side. The kids in my class tease him and make jokes about him. It really makes him sad. I saw him today walking down the hall. I was at my locker...and he looked at me. When I looked up at him, I smiled at him...and he smiled back. It seemed like he was a little happier after that...I'm going to be really nice to him."

Okay. I just have to tell you that dh and I looked at each other and I saw tears well up in his eyes...or was it the fact that I was looking at him through my own tears? No...it was mutual. We both had tears. Tears of joy, and awe of how God works in such mysterious ways.

Our little girl, who is being ignored and left-out by her own "friends" (yes...again that same day) made room in her very hurting little heart to smile at the boy that all the kids "laugh at"...the odd-kid...the one that's risky to be nice to because he's different.

It's not popular to go against the crowd. She didn't care about the crowd. She didn't care that they rejected him. She didn't care that by accepting him and choosing to "take him under her wing", so to speak, that she may be further cast-out by her peers. She made a choice to be different and to do what very few would do: she showed a loving heart to the meek of the world...

It's what God calls each and every one of us to do.

Yes...He has some big things in store for my dt. And by His grace, I pray that I'll live to see the beautiful outcome throughout her life.

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  -Matthew 5:12.

[NOTE re: photo: San Diego coast-line, (our very recent vacation...more photos to come!). Nikon D70; ISO: 200; manual settings: f/7, 1/125sec; white balance: cloudy -1; natural lighting; filter: cokin diffuser/softness; basic post-processing in Photoshop CS2; photo frame: "Sassy Frame"]

i {adore} you...

[inspiration]

warning: I'm not perfect...only human...but thankful that God has changed my heart...

[sorry...photo deleted]

It's a mother's nature to protect her child. In any situation, under any circumstance. Even in the wild, animals prove this God-given instinct to be true.

So tonight at dinner, when I asked the kids to each tell me something about their school-day, I didn't expect to have to choke back my tears. I didn't expect to feel like a mother bear ready to attack danger to her little cub.

Dt is a pretty girl with a humble heart. She's a bright girl. She's a genuine girl. And she's well liked at school. So imagine my surprise to find out that today, on the 2nd day of school, she experienced what we all dread and fear as parents:

She was hurt in her heart by some girls at school. She was ignored. She was left out. She was treated by the two girls she likes the most as if she wasn't even there. She was cast-out. She felt like she didn't belong.

And she quietly told me this at dinner.

And I wanted to cry.

I wanted to defend.

I wanted to race to the school and tell those girls what snots they are. What brats they are. What little snips they are.

I wanted to hurt them as badly as they had hurt my little dt.

See? You thought I was perfect. Had you fooled. I'm not.

I'm human. I'm simply...human. In need of a God Who is bigger than my small-mindedness.

So. We finished dinner. We did our nightly routine. We prayed by the kids beds. We tucked them in. And then, as I laid with dt and prayed my nightly prayer out loud with her, something happened. Something really incredible happened. Something bigger than me, bigger than life, bigger than the tallest building in the world, happened.

God impressed my heart and tongue and my mind to speak to her with His words of wisdom. Not my own, feeble, selfish protective words, but words of comfort, joy, peace. Yes, bigger than me.

I shared with her that my biggest hope for her was that as she started school again this week she would become an instrument for God. That He would use her in a very big way, in a way that she never (and I never) could imagine. That He would use her to show the world (her world, her school and her sphere of influence) that He is real.

I told her that I really believe God has big plans for her and that sometimes He teaches us the biggest and most important things in life through painful situations. And that He prepares us for greatness through humble experiences.

And then...the mother bear shrunk. The mother bear re-coiled her bear-claws:

I told her that the thing that God would want most for her to do is to pray for those girls. To pray for their health. To pray for their goodness and their safety. To pray that God will use her to show them, through her words, her actions, her choices, that He loves them.

And that maybe, just maybe, God was teaching her to always notice the lonely people in the world by experiencing how it felt, first-hand.

And so...with that, I kissed her. And she said "thank you mommy". Mommy! She never says mommy anymore. She says mom...but tonight, she said mommy. God knows how much I miss the word *mommy*. And somehow, I think He warmed my heart with this endearing little word while comforting her through me with the words he impressed me to say to her!

Bigger than me.

I really didn't plan on blogging tonight. I don't have time! I'm in the middle of a book deadline and yet, I felt impressed to put this down on *paper* because regardless of who you are, regardless of your faith or your beliefs or your veiws in life, you have experienced the feeling of rejection. Of loneliness. Or of that terrible gut-wrenching feeling when your child is hurting because of mean kids at school.

And the greatest comfort we have is when we turn to our loving God. He comforts our hurting hearts...and He asks us to pray for our enemies...and then? He blesses us for it.

I adore you, my dt. I adore You, my loving God.

"You have heard it said, 'love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for those that spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." -Matthew 5:43-45

{nature} cj

[circle journals l scrapbooking]

warning: another fabulous circle journal to share...

Thanks to Trysha Hoskins, I spent Sunday afternoon in a very peaceful, serene state of mind! Her Circle Journal theme? The Wonders of Nature...

My entry into her journal was entitled Majestic Mountains...with photos from our recent day-trip to Silver Lake near Lake Tahoe, California.

Closer view:

I had a wonderful time creating this entry using Basic Grey's Vagabond line. What I love most about doing these Circle Journals is that you can create whatever suits your mood at the moment...

And at this particular moment I was feeling rather collage-y...yes, that terrible-unpopular-don't-you-dare-create-a-collage-or-messy-layout-because-everyone-hates-collage-and-messy-and-shabby-these-days style...and I *loved* just doing whatever came to mind...mixing it all up and creating a page just from the heart without a thought as to what the magazines might think.

Don't get me wrong...I love seeing my pages in print...but I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that creating *on assignment* can feel like a job rather than a creative outlet.

THIS was a creative outlet. No boxes to fit into. No worries about what anyone might think. No cares about perfection or style trends or popularity votes.

Can you say it with me? C-r-e-a-t-i-v-e F-r-e-e-d-o-m!!! Aghhhh...the beauty of creative freedom...it's what scrapbooking is all about...at least to me.

Okay...here's a peek at Trysha's cover page, her layout, and the other gal's work created thus far in this Circle Journal:

Trysha's Cover Page: (notice the fabulous texture of died burlap)...

 

Trysha's sign-in page (note, my *sign-in* tag, above)

FYI: all images enlarge by *clicking*...

Trysha's own entry into her Circle Journal:

Michele's entry (this is her street...isn't it beautiful?)

Sonda T.'s entry...isn't this beautiful? I might have used the "sea" too...but her choice made mine easier because it was a toss up for me between the beach / sea and the mountains...

 

Okay...are you wanting to join a Circle Journal group? Want some tips and ideas? I listed some tips, ideas and other circle journals (including my own in this same group) HERE.

PS: I'm still sorting through and post-editing vacation photos...can't wait to share! Soon...

music {inspiration}

[inspiration l music]

warning: our eyes and ears lead to our hearts...

I've received so many wonderful, inspirational emails from many of you over the past few weeks...lots of you have actually gone out and purchased CD's after hearing songs I've shared here. And many of you are enjoying music you already know and love.

Where do I find this music? Well...literally, from a site that offers these tunes for free. But that's not my point.

Dh actually (at my request and his sweet agreement to do so) went through every single song on the site listed to weed through the secular music and find me the music that we have in our music library at home (Dh has somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 Contemporary Christian CD's).

I don't recognize the Artist's names as well as he does. It's funny because I'll say "okay, who sings that song that goes like this..." and I butcher a perfectly good song with my attempt to re-create the song I'm looking for.

So...thanks to my dear hubby for finding "the songs that go like this..." for my site. And thank *you* for listening and enjoying and emailing me about it!

WHY do *we* only listen to contemporary Christian music? We believe God was serious when he said to guard our hearts...and He later connects the eyes and the ears to the heart. In other words...He's telling us that *become* like what we look at and listen to.

What we look at with our EYES (television, magazines, reading materials, movies, videos, games) and what we listen to with our EARS (music, TV, movies, videos, people we hang out with/associate with) affects our HEARTS...

And our HEARTS are the basis of who we are and how we love...or don't love. Our HEARTS are what He wants most. Because that's where *change* starts.

Just sharing because I was asked and thought it might be of interest as to *why* we listen to the music we listen to.

Have a GREAT day!  :)

{more}

[atc swaps l scrapbooking]

warning: more ATC cards to share!

Anyone sick of ATC cards yet? I sure hope not...I hope you're having as much fun peeking at these as I'm having making them...and RECEIVING them!!! Here's my next series that I've created..."Neopolitan Art":

   

In one of my last entries about these little Art Pieces I said I was creating one more series in this swap (in addition to "Art is a Season" and "Art is a Rainbow")...but!!! I've been having so much fun creating various cards that I've split them into more categories!

That's part of the fun to me...creating a "Limited Edition" series of cards with however many cards you choose within the series! I love the new pink and brown ribbons from American Crafts, and couldn't resist making a few more pink and brown ATC cards. Don't they remind you of Neopolitan ice cream?  :)

The large metal monogram letters on 3 of these cards are from the American Crafts "Elements" line as well...so fun to play with!

Dhon and the ks are having fun seeing each little card as I create them...AND...they're having as much fun as I am opening each little card that I receive from the other 33 women in this swap!

Some of the women actually have a pre-made stamp that says "Limited Edition Trading Card" with lines to complete for the Artist's name, etc.

Wondering what ATC cards are? In case you missed my previous entry, just scroll down, or click here. 

I can't wait to share the next group of cards I've received...aren't they fabulous?

I'm loving the mixture of Digital and Traditional styles! Both Lisa and Ann created their little pieces of art digitally...the other gals created theirs traditionally. Note: Ann Fisher is a water-color artist...the flower if a water-color creation that she actually painted then scanned into her work! Beautiful, isn't it?

Okay...here's one last group I've created so far...and actually, the little black one with a clock is part of a series entitled "Art...in Time". The others are part of "Art is an Inspiration":

And by the way...the stamp on "True Friends are Forever" is a design from none other than Wendi Speciale!!! I love her stamps...so fun to create with. The "Red" card in the "Art is a Rainbow" series also included one of her stamps!

PS: All *grunge* frames are from Sassy Frames from the Scrappin Sassy Line.

Have a great day...and don't hesitate to get out a deck of playing-cards to start creating some of these fun little creations yourself!   :)

{power}

[inspirational]

warning: i don't know how it works...it just does.

Yesterday I went through the drive-through to grab a salad-on-the-go. Have you ever noticed how people, as a whole, don't say thank you with sincerity for your business very often anymore? I sure have...and it really makes me sad because it's a reflection of the heart.

It's a heart problem...a lack of love. A lack of true humbleness and kindness. A lack of concern for anyone but oneself.

But not this day. This day was different. It was a ray of hope. Of proof that God lives in the hearts of some people.

When I drove up to pay for my salad, the woman was kind. And caring. And happy to serve me. And she smiled. She had a sparkle in her eye and a lightness in her step. And I couldn't help but notice it and compliment her for it.

me: "thank you...and by the way...you have a great attitude...and your smile is very contagious".

woman: "Girl, I can't help it...everyday when I wake up, I get on my knees. And God gives me the power to make it through my day...He gives me the power to work 3 jobs...He blesses me with strength and gives me my smile! If it weren't for him, I'd be on the streets or in jail or somethin'. He's so awesome!"...   

Wow. Here I was in my fancy car, on my lunch hour from my well-paying job, paying for my lunch without a thought for the cost of eating-out, and here was this woman, working at a fast-food restaurant as one of her three jobs, praising the Lord for her smile and her life and her strength...and her job at a fast-food restaurant!

Very humbling. Very humbling, indeed.

I couldn't help but search for this song, "On My Knees" by Jaci Velasquez. I drove away with it in my head...and in my heart. And it's so true. I don't know how...but there's power, when I'm on my knees.

I dedicate it to the woman at the Carl's Junior that infected my heart with a smile and a song and thankfulness for the fact that God lives through people. He reaches out to us in those little moments in life...little moments that lift us up and remind us that He cares about contagious smiles and kindness of heart.

winter, spring, {summer}, fall...

[atc swaps l scrapbooking]

warning: more...yes, more...ATC's...

I'm sharing my next group of ATC's...been working on these for the past 3 days and having lots of fun. Does anyone remember that old song by James Taylor (and didn't Carole King sing it too? or no?) "Winter, spring, summer or fall...all you have to do is call...and I'll be there, yeah yeah...you've got a friend"...???? That song has been going through my head ALL NIGHT LONG while doing these little cards! LOL! Really! I even looked the song up on HotCodez to plug in today for music background...couldn't find it. :)

This is the "Art is a Season" series...I've done quite a few of my next series too, entitled "Art is an Inspiration" (cards created with inspirational quips, quotes, scriptures, or sayings). I'm posting the first 4 that I've completed...more to follow in a few days as I finish them to mail off!

I'm thinking that I loved doing my "Art is a Rainbow" series SO MUCH that I'll do a phase II and III and IV...etc...as I continue to be involved in these ATC swaps...really enjoyed the freedom of being artistic with just a single color. But these were fun too...

View individual Seasons Cards here. View individual Inspiration Cards here.

Have a great day!