For Neda

I took this photo yesterday, moments before I saw the video of the death of a beautiful young woman in the streets of Tehran, Neda (ندا ). Although I have yet to have the good fortune to visit Iran, professional and personal experiences in my life have made that country's people and fate important to me. As I watched this woman die in the video, and then saw, in the subsequent hours, her memory become a symbol for the Green Revolution sweeping through sectors of Iran, I thought of this image. With her tragic and untimely death, Neda has become larger than life, a symbol of her nation's historic struggle for genuine independence and representation. So many Iranians have been martyred for the cause of freedom over the past century. I continually hope that there are no more Nedas. May the Iranian nation, like all nations around the world, find their own equilibrium, one that is truly just for their society.


For Neda (20 June 2009)
Camera: Polaroid Sx-70
Film: Polaroid Sx-70 Blend

Here Comes the Sun!

There's a new Poppytalk Handmade Market opening today, "Here Comes the Sun!" It's all about summer, and you can visit my table here!

Do you have fun plans for this summer? (or this winter, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere?) I'm catching up on a lot of work, but also planning a road trip through the Southwest and home to California next month! In the meantime, here's one of my homages to summer, shot on my roadtrip to Minnesota that I took last summer. Check the spelling--do you really want to eat "TenderMAID" hamburgers?


Tendermaid Hamburgers (2008)
Camera: Polaroid SX-70
Film: Polaroid SX-70 Blend
Location: Austin, Minnesota, USA

Signed prints are in my Etsy shop! Happy Summer!

Wildflower Bouquet

I came home from work the other day, and my husband had made this sweet bouquet from wildflowers, volunteer pansies, and blossoms from the crepe myrtle in our yard. I pulled out my Polaroid SX-70 (loaded with SX-70 Blend film) and took these photos!


A Wildflower Bouquet


Wildflower Bouquet in the Sun

I hope you enjoy these simple little photos! Small, lovely things like this make life worth living!

A Thistle in a Bottle

These sweet thistles grow wild all around my neighborhood. I love their elegance and simple charm!


A Thistle in a Bottle (2009)
Camera: Polaroid SX-70
Film: Polaroid SX-70 Blend

Signed prints are available in my Etsy shop!

sometimes...

...it has to be roses.


Four Roses (2009)
Camera: Polaroid SX-70
Film: Polaroid SX-70 Blend

signed print in my Etsy shop!

strawberry picking!

Last year, I started going to pick-your-own farms and gathering fruit. I missed the strawberries in 2008, but a late season here in North Texas this year allowed me to get out into the fresh air on Tuesday and pick over 23 lbs of beautiful organic strawberries! I highly recommend Fall Creek farms in Granbury, Texas; it's easy to get there from the DFW area, it's reasonably priced ($2.50/lb for organic strawberries!), and the people are friendly!

Of course, I had to take a camera with me!


Strawberry Picking (2009)
Camera: Polaroid SX-70
Film: Polaroid SX-70 Blend

After getting home, I made three batches of jam--11 pint jars and 11 1/2 pint jars of the stuff! That's a lot of jam! I used organic sugar to go along with the organic fruit, and I hope to take some lovely photos of the beautiful red jars before giving some away as gifts! Now, as our spring transitions into summer, I look forward to blackberry, blueberry, and peach picking!

Peonies

I have a soft spot for peonies; I love the way they seem to be endlessly unfolding their secrets. I recently took some Sx-70 Polaroid photos of two beautiful peonies, one pink and one white. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do!

First, the pink...


But Soft... (SX-70 Blend film)


Revelation (expired Time-Zero film)


Unfolding (Artistic TZ film)

And then, the white...


The Hidden (expired Time-Zero film)


Electrix (SX-70 Blend film)

Signed prints are always available at my Etsy shop!

Happy Easter!

It's been forever, I know! I have so much to share...I will, I promise!

In the meantime, spring is here! And that means...Easter and its icons! I pulled out my SX-70 and shot some Polaroids to share with you!


The Humble Peep (Sx-70 Blend Film)
An American Easter Obsession!


Tweet! (Artistic TZ Film)
(I'm on Twitter, by the way...)


Peter Rabbit (Artistic TZ Film)
Chocolate Beatrix Potter, anyone?


Three Golden Bunnies (Sx-70 Blend Film)
Who doesn't love Lindt chocolates? From Switzerland With Love!


Easter Eggs (Sx-70 Blend Film)
More coming for Orthodox Easter...this was the test drive.

Happy Spring to you and yours!
xo Nancy

Blackberry picking

Even though it's about a million degrees here in Texas now, I went out on the 2nd in the early evening to pick blackberries. It was a lot of fun, and so inexpensive! Nearly a gallon of yummy blackberries cost only $12! The sweat and toil gave me a renewed appreciation for farm workers, too.

Here's my bounty! :)



Blackberry Picking (2008)
Camera: Polaroid SX-70
Film: Polaroid SX-70 Blend
Location: Duck Creek Blackberries in Sanger, Texas, USA