Olivia M. | Jamestown, NC | Senior Photographer

Welcome back!

Today, I want you to meet Olivia. Beautiful and sweet, yet just enough sassy, are the words that come to mind when I think about this vibrant, young woman.

Olivia is a senior at High Point Central, Class of 2014. She is an active member of HPC’s Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honors Society, and Secretary of Beta Club. She's also an outdoorsy and crafty hipster!

It was a crazy, hot day, but we were thankful for the break in the rain. Even though I was eaten alive because I forgot my bug spray, note to self, we did find some luscious shade to shelter us.

I was psyched for the outfits that Olivia brought to the shoot. For example, the gray sleeveless top with the pop-of-color aqua skinny jeans that went perfectly with her soft coloring. And I loved the the hints of blues and greens from the peacock feather with her neutral ivory dress.

I asked Olivia whether she had any advice to offer others who were getting ready to take senior pictures. This is what she had to share:

“Double check that you have everything that you’re planning on bringing to the shoot!”
(LOL, there was a slight mishap with a missing pair of shoes. But we made it work perfectly!)

After high school, Olivia wants to go to Appalachian State University and major in Speech Pathology.

Best of luck to Olivia. I know you'll be awesome!

;-D
-Michelle

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Sleepy Time?

drowsy dog, originally uploaded by www.michellelyman.com

So little time and so much to do. The creatures around me are dropping like flies, lol. Maybe it is time to take a little nap...

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Stand Out!

I have taught art to both children and adults for years. It has always made me sad when people get frustrated that their project doesn't look like someone else's. 

STOP IT! 

printable art at smallfrynotables.etsy.com

Really! Don't worry; I don't really yell it at my students. I just think it loudly. Anyone that really knows me will say I have no problem standing out. I always stood out as a kid, both intentionally and not. Moving from small towns, to big cities and places that took forever to understand the slang, lol. My mom was excited to move to a new place because you could start over and be whomever you wanted to be. I was just fine being me. 

Don't get me wrong. I am in no way perfect and I am always trying to grow and learn new things. I just don't have to be someone else to do it. I am fine with having people not always agree with me. We can all be mature in our differences. I probably don't want to spend a lot of time with them anyway, so it is a win-win! Besides, when someone challenges your thoughts and ideas, it does one of two things. It either makes you stand your ground in how you feel, or it opens your mind to new possibilities.

I believe God made each of us unique. We are not supposed to have the same hair color, skin color, body style, roaring laugh, or magnificent athleticism. How boring would this world be if all art was the same? If every one looked and sounded the same? If we all drove the same car and had the same dog?

You don't have to be obnoxious to do it. Just enjoy being with yourself. If you don't enjoy it, why should someone else? Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?

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Good Bye 2012 and Hello 2013!

I do so love new beginnings...but I would love to be able to slow time down.

Time just seems to be flying by now. I remember wishing the months by when I was in school so it would hurry and be summer break. I remember wishing the years by so I could be older. That's a big laugh now! I wish I could slow it down these days.

I seem to fill my schedule to the max sometimes until my tasks overflow into the next, and the next...you get the hint. The days go by, the weeks go by, and now the years go by.

I am not much for resolutions. I am very goal-oriented though. I keep that going no matter the date. I do want to choose my tasks more carefully this year and commit to the things that will add memories to my life and family and start whittling down the rest.

What will you do this year?

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Race to Beat the Rain...

My family has been in overdrive the last two weeks. Even though we homeschool, we do so many activities outside the home during the school year. We have been in a rush to get all of our supplies, books, and LOTS of projects completed. I keep saying that things will calm down, but it will get worse before it gets better, lol!

Here are a few projects that we finished up and headed out today...

I was surprised when my hubby was thinking about swapping this table with our current coffee table. I mean, I totally LOVE it, but I am not quite ready to part with our ginormous, square, red hangout yet. Yes, I am a color addict and I won't be changing anytime soon. I hope my son finds a girl ready for some colorful walls because white walls don't exist here. :)

And check out these gorgeous feet...

 

Last, but not least, is a project that I have been waiting for the perfect table backdrop for. I love doing subway art wall boxes and wanted to try it on some tables. It needed to be a surface that was pretty plain so it would not overwhelm it. I found some honking wood storage tables that were perfect!

Then I wanted some rustic chunky hardware and found a match! I just love how they turned out!

Be sure to check out Alternate Endings Design on Facebook!

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Return to Routine..

Today was orientation for one of the homeschool groups that I mentor with and that my own children participate in. It was one part rude awakening (summer is wrapping up for us), and one part hooray. I know that may sound a bit odd, but I really like getting back into a routine. We homeschool a bit year round, and with half my family ADHD, myself included, the routine helps keep us from total chaos. It is just the first weeks of total CRAZY that we have to get through in order to find something a little less crazy. :)

Here are a few things I completed yesterday. I have a lot to get caught up on before classes begin and all of the sports sweep down upon us!  I loved this finish SO MUCH that I didn't stop with just one thing, I had to add some more.

All started with a dark wood finish. I did a base coat in my favorite gray, then a bright teal. After distressing it, I went over the whole thing with a metallic black glaze before I sealed it with a couple coats of poly.

These will be heading out soon. Be sure to check out Alternate Endings Design on facebook to find out where you can check them out in person!

I am linking up to these parties, be sure to check them out!
Take a Look Tuesday
Pink Hippo Party
Market Yourself Monday
Mad Skills Monday
A Marvelous Mess
More the Merrier Monday
Motivate Me Monday
Craftastic Monday
Made with Love Monday
Craftomaniac Monday
DIY Project Parade
Sundae Scoop
Saturday Seven

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Being a Jane...

I am having my creative outburst on the You're so Jane blog today so head that way and check it out!

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Keep on Keepin' on...

A bit more finished up today and hopefully I will be able to load it all up and get it outta here!

I have a tendency to keep things if they hang out too long. I have to put them to use, then I can't imagine not having them, lol. Maybe this is why my husband thinks I am a hoarder. :-/ The only way I can win that argument is if he sees a preview of the real "Hoarders". That's not good for anyone...

Oops! I kinda went on a detour there. Here is the rest of it...

I am linking up to these parties today. Check them out. :)
Take a Look Tuesday
Manic Monday Linky Party
Pink Hippo Party
A Marvelous Mess

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A Little Catch-Up

Here are a few tables that I finished off. These will be heading to Vintage Jane this week. :)

aqua blue and bits of gold on a fantabulous rolling side table!

I have been so sick (and tired!) and I am FINALLY regaining my strength and building my endurance back up. I am so thankful for feeling so well this weekend and I am even enjoying the bit of stiffness from my hard work the last few days.

solid wood drop leaf table w/ drawer & happy yellow/white chevon pattern!

Before I got sick, I had a TON of projects in various stages of incomplete. I was wiped out totally for a few weeks and I couldn't even fathom trying to do anything (but look at my to do list and want to run in the opposite direction!). But I finally got crackin' this weekend. I still have tons to do, but at least I am gaining some floor space now! 

vintage sewing table w/ dove gray base and chillin' blue topcoat...

Be sure to "like" Alternate Endings Design on facebook to see even more as I finish up!

I am linking up to these awesome parties!

Motivate Me Monday

More the Merrier

Market Yourself Monday

Craftastic Monday

CraftoManiac Monday

Made with Love Link Up

Making Mondays Marvelous

DIY Project Parade

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A Touch of Spring Color...

Here is my second table that I finished last week...

I wanted something with a little bit of color. I didn't want to go to extreme because I wanted it to be able to morph into a room for a long time instead of a passing fad. This side table started off in a light oak finish. I painted a base coat of a light gray to blend with the finish. Then, I mixed up a light green color that had a little more blue for coolness to match the green of the season. Of course, I couldn't just stop there. I added the last coat in a warmer yellow green wash for contrast. 

I did some moderate distressing to show all of the colors and added a couple of coats of wax for durability. I just LOVED the finished table. If I had a place for it, I would be keeping this! It looked great everywhere I put it. As a bedside table or end table, its colors were surprisingly versatile.

I have already hauled this table off for all the shoppers at Vintage Jane, but if you have a piece that you would like funked up a bit, just let me know!

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Loving the Time Change and Weather!

I am so excited about the time change and the fabulous sneak peek at Spring weather! Of course, I am NOT excited about waking up in the dark morning hours, but hopefully it will be lighter soon. When the daylight hours are longer and the weather is calling me to come outside, I feel like I can conquer the world, or at least finish something.

I have been working away on so many projects lately that i haven't even had time to post them! Well, I may just have to spew out some photos this week so you can see that I really have been doing something. Maybe short and sweet will get me caught up. :)

I refinished a couple of side tables this week. Yay! It has been since last Spring that I have gotten to do a furniture project. It will be happening more often now.

This is a solid oak and sturdy side table, but it's a bit ho hum. You know I just like to FUNK something up!

This drop leaf table started off with a light oak finish. I painted on a light gray base coat, then added two coats of a matte black. These are moderately distressed to let the light gray and light oak contrast with the darker top coats. They were finished off with a couple coats of wax to help them stand the test of time.

I will try to post my second table tomorrow with some details. I started a new Facebook page just for my repurposed and upcycled projects. Check it out at Alternate Endings Design!

This table and more will be heading up to Vintage Jane in Kville tomorrow. If you are local, come find some treasures of your own. :)

Joined the party at:
- Craft Schooling Sunday at Creative Jewish Mom

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Not Quite Crystal Clear...

I had fun making some of our Christmas gifts this year. I was trying to handmake or purchase handmade this season. I think I came out 50% not, lol. I think if I would have started further ahead of time I could have at least had 80% made. Oh well, something to work toward next time. :)

I really like making these "incognito" mugs. The kids and I were giggling each time we held them up. Kind of hard to look at someone drinking from it and not think they were a bit silly.

Then we just had to make more!

So I had lots of fun with these and I am in the process of making more. I wanted something a little more artsy as well, so I decided on doing some wine glasses. I found some stemless glasses that I had to have! I think they are so casually contemporary! They may not be for the wine connoisseur, but I think they can be used for so much. I would even use them as candleholders or a short vase.

Did you get a little crafty over the holiday season? Any ideas for the next holiday season? I am gonna keep my mind open, hands moving, and creativity flowing to see what we can do!

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Fix It Friday!

I love Fix It Friday. I don't get to do it very often, but I really want to make the effort more in the future. Fix It Friday is where you take a specific photo, done by someone else, and make your own edits to it and share how you went about it. Here is this weeks original photo.

Such a cute little girl and fun to edit. Here are my edits in color and black-and-white, along with my process.
-cropped   -healing brush touch up on skin   -adjust levels   -remove color cast   -bump curves   -s curve   -contrast   -resized   -sharpened

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what big eyes you have...

what big eyes you have..., originally uploaded by smallfrynotables.

This is one of our seven animals. Yes, I said seven. Four dogs. One cat. Two turtles. Not to mention the hubby and kids, lol.

I just can't turn them away. Now, I am not even allowed to look at a loose animal or go into anyplace that may have them for adoption.

Unfortunately, I am SOOOO allergic to all of them. I am on three allergy medicines a day just to be able to cope with them. But I could never turn a member of my family over to someone else. And they are definitely a part of my family.

This little one is my little baby. She isn't as small as my feisty pup, but still able to fit in my lap. She is a bit timid as you can probably tell by the photo, lol. She doesn't like noises, storms, quick movement...basically don't breathe in her direction. Just kidding...kinda...

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senior sneak peek

senior sneak peek, originally uploaded by smallfrynotables.

I got to take another senior's portraits this past weekend. With the past weekend's hurricane, I was thankful the weather held out. It was a bit hot at times, but I would rather have that than the thunder and warnings that I am now listening to.

We had fun and I just LOVE this super sweet family. I hope to do more of them in the future. I really love seniors because of the excitement they generate. You can see how they are looking forward to the last year of high school and wondering what the future will hold. I can't wait for them to see the rest of their portraits and hope they heart them as much as I do. :)

Joined up with the following link parties:
Favorite Photo of the Week Contest
Favorite Friday

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