haiku my heart

rise up from ashes

this is the time for healing

open eyes and heart

haiku my heart 

haiku my heart

out of the darkness

from the shadows of my mind

I will meet the light

haiku my heart 

just be

just be

becoming whole again

this is only half of me
Ever since Instagram at my blog, 
I have neglected this sweet space

I have returned to being my whole self

There will be sunrises and sunsets. 
Glasses of wine and sautéed radishes. 
There will be moments of grace 
and moments of regret.

There will be stitching.





















....miles and miles of stitching


because needle and thread stitch me back into whole

just BE

Camera Craft Give-Away !

I am a 
guest contributor for 
Camera Craft Photography Course ! 

My "Unhinged and Exposed" lessons 
will be all about demystifying the fears 
of Self Portraiture. 

My approach is playful and fierce. 

My lessons will be fun and friendly.

This course is designed for people, just like me who don't know their way around their camera. 

We just want to make pretty photographs, right ?

and the best part...your access to the class content 

will be available for ONE YEAR. And we will have a private Facebook community for support and sharing.

Look at all these beautiful artists 

I am snuggled up with 

DO YOU WANT TO WIN A FREE SPOT ?

All you have to do is tell me why you want to overcome your fear of shooting that self portrait.

That's it ! 

I will announce the winner 
Saturday June 25

haiku my heart Friday

summer almost here

blue skies temps rise water warms

impulse skinny dip

haiku my heart

haiku my heart

thirty seven years

weathered wisdom on my skin

eyes still tell my truth

haiku my heart on Fridays

Tiny and Mighty-Haiku my Heart

I make tiny books

big things come in small boxes

tiny and mighty

Haiku my Heart

I am Tiny and Mighty from Deb Did It on Vimeo.

haiku my heart with purple memories

our world is weeping

raining purple everywhere

musical memories

Haiku my Heart

Self Portraiture as Medicine, continued

as my journey continues with Catherine Just "Self Portraiture as Medicine" the work is real. the work is deep. in fact, real deep.

"The surfaces have changed, 

though beauty remains" 

~Glen McKerrihan~

opening to my inner juicy self

turning my back on what no longer serves me

more Medicine next week...to be continued

why so many self portraits? Part 3

A family member ( behind my back ) once questioned my work as a photographer "How many photos does she need of herself ?" 
I am here today to explain and answer ... unprompted of course. Not because she asked the question, but because I am heart opening and fearless.

Photography is my Super Power. 
It is my voice. 
When words elude me, my photos speak for me.
I am a story teller. I document everyday life with the simple, intimate details. 
I make photographs, I do not just take a picture.

"But why self portraits?"

Because it is my medicine. Somedays I need a healing method of creativity. A visual voice. An opportunity to vomit out all the emotions. The unspoken frustrations and silenced expressions. 
And I need to check in with myself.

So when I want to create, make and express ... I grab my camera. 
I turn it on myself to fabricate a mood. My story. A secret message. Maybe a healing moment. Perhaps inspired by prompts and e-course guides. 

My camera is simply a tool 
that facilitates something 
much more powerful than 

the outcome of a photograph. 

selfies vs self portraits : Part 2

I have been pondering the difference lately 
about selfies and self portraits.

I do both. They each have important and valuable 

roles to me as a photographer.

This is my story...scattered, smothered and 
UN-covered.

My selfies are random and playful. Spur of the moment. Grab the phone and post. Unedited. Sharing bits and pieces of my day.

My work as a self portrait artist involves prompts from online workshops, my Big Girl Camera, tripod, remote timers and vintage dresses. I set out to write a story with my camera. I usually post-process before posting. I feel complete.  Like an amazing bowel movement ( yep, I just typed that ) 

So there. I think the difference for me between selfies and self-portraits are this....one I share bits of my day, the other I am cracking open my heart, looking at all the scattered pieces and then sharing those bits with you.

Self Portraiture as Medicine, Part 1

I have been involved with several photography projects, yet the most rewarding and healing are my self portraits. The work is hard. The prompts push me into uncomfortable places and spaces. I dig in deep, wrestle out the emotions and rise up like a Phoenix. I share my story with photographs. 

Over at She is Three, Bella and Jennifer and myself write monthly stories about our own personal walk thru this life. We begin with half a sentence, individually interpret it and shoot a self portrait with a back story. We invite followers to join us in the healing waters of self portraiture every month with #sheisthreedotcom . We have also been featured in the gorgeous, soulful Bella Grace Magazine

"she pretended their words did not break her heart" ( < click for my story behind the photo )

and finally, I have been a monthly contributor for The Secret Message Society Zine

CANCER

GEMINI

AQUARIUS

The theme this year was Zodiacs, and I created a self portrait each month for the publication, by Mandy Steward

TAURUS, LEO, LIBRA, SAGITARRIUS

ARIES, GEMINI, AQUARIUS, PISCES