Close Shave

One of the fabulous things about living in a small town, is that you know all the small town people. If you are an extrovert like myself that means you know a lot of business owners too and you are not above asking favors of them. This happens to be true of Moe's Barber Shop in Vancouver. I asked Carrie, the owner to let me recreate a pin-up cartoon I came across and with the help of photographer Jeff Mawer we made the cartoon come to life. Toma was my co-super-model of the day, and I think he pulled off the perverted barber look quite well.




Here is the original image I found for reference and inspiration of this shoot.

I am so happy this photo shoot came together so well, and I am thankful for everyone who helped pull this off!

Checking In

Most of you probably don't even remember who Twila Jean is. Those of you who do remember a potty mouth, wine-o, with a pack full of kids, a divorce (that is a trending subject on google searches) and no real job.
So now that the formalities are out of the way... Hello. I think I am ready to remove myself from my personal hiatus.
I guess the first thing to get out of the way is an update on the family. Marguax just celebrated a 5th birthday, august a 7th, and Olive is just over 1 now. Toma still has a mustache and I am still a vintage wearing redhead.

 

I like the family portrait, it was literally the best image we could get of everyone, and I think it shows us all in our truest form.

Time Frames

I spent this new year's eve a sober worker among a sea of happily intoxicated party goers in Seattle, WA this year. I was working a photobooth with Toma for Limelight Photobooth. It's weird spending a holiday that is known for its massive alcohol consumption, dry as a bone... but quite entertaining and my morning after felt great! Sorry for you all who had to wake up in 2013 with a blinder... I hope your hangovers have ceased as we roll back into the work week. Toma and I managed to get our own photobooth snaps before the party got going, and so I leave you with this... Happy 2013!

Head Quartered

This week Toma and I became what appears to be real business owners! We have officially signed on space in the beautiful historic Academy in Vancouver to house both my Etsy Shop studio and his printing business, Dolara Design Fine Art Printing. I prefer to call him the PrintMacher, I doubt he wants that on the business card though. The space is bright, large, and full of history. We even have our own private balcony, because we are super fancy people obviously.

Toma is still pursuing his art and printmaking of his own work, but when the best print shop in Portland went out of business he was up a creek on printing. So like any logical, non-impulsive person would we bought all of Quick Stop Photo's equipment when they shut their doors. So, we now do all of Toma's art printing, as well as filling the void for the portland metro area when it comes to fine art and photography printing! What an exciting adventure we are about to embark on. We move in this week which means my schedule will be very hectic, but I hope to share new images once we get all set up!

Building a Breakfast Army

I don't usually find myself gracing the morning hours with my awake-ness, but Sunday morning breakfast traditions have changed that fact. I now rise early to prepare for a new edible adventure every Sunday. This week was not so new, as we returned again to the J & M Cafe. What was new to this outing was our company. It appears we are recruiting troops for the breakfast army, which this week included Toma's sister, her fella, Philip as always, and the entire Team Jessup. Next week I promise we will find somewhere different to eat so you can at least see some different scenery.

I wore my 70s Ranch Wear pearl snap shirt, with a cute western style skirt I bought from Solanah. I also took this blogging opportunity to demonstrate how ridiculous the slouch pose is, and how much I hope it falls off the face of blogging and fashion modeling soon.

Art Day

Since the birth of my newest offspring I haven't made any real ventures out into the real world. Yesterday we had to meet up with our friend Philip of Paint Hard, at his gallery to exchange art and details on a new project that Toma is working on. This will go down in history as baby Olive's first trip to the big city in which she slept the entire time. Honestly, she has no idea she has ever crossed state lines.
For me, it was delightful to be out of the house. I still don't feel 100%, but with the help of a waist support belt and lots of sitting down breaks, I was able to feel partially normal and even get a few blog pictures.







I can't even explain my excitement about my ability to squeeze into that black dress! I got it at EXPO a few seasons back and have been saving it for postpartum fashion. It turns out its a fancy 50s french designer dress, but it zips up the front making it ideal for feeding a hungry baby! Plus it has bows... you can't lose when you have bows on your dress.
My bakelite Mahjong tile bracelet is from my lovely boss. It came from my work (Old Glory), she sneakily surprised me with it for Christmas!

Olive Lucille - Baby Centaur!

There is some quiet in my house right now, so I thought I would share with you all the short story that is the birth of Olive Lucille! She was born this morning, Feb. 2nd and 2 AM after only 2 hours of labor and 2 pushes! She was born at home in a warm water tub with the help of the most amazing midwife team I could ask for, Rosehip Midwifery! It all happened so fast, I was just mystified when she was placed in my arms. The older kids were sleeping downstairs, but were wildly excited to meet their new sister once we got settled.

Toma and I, would like to proudly introduce our newest love, Olive.

alright, time for dinner and rest. See you all next week!

Stillness

Yes I am still pregnant. Still having false labor. Still wishing to just be at the get it done stage. I have literally filled my day planner to the brim with things to occupy my time. Luckily our good friend Philip recently sold a fabulous 8' original painting and wanted to celebrate over breakfast! I will never turn down food or friends, so we headed over to J&M Cafe in Portland to get down on some feta cheese covered eggs.

I didn't get a picture of Toma at breakfast, other than his hand, but he made me include this one of him getting ready so it didn't look like I was out on the town with another man... (he was kidding of course... but I added this for good measure/guilt trip)

Tomorrow we are going back to Portland to keep me side tracked. Must stay busy to forget about the pain I am in! Well, back to bed to fight this dreadful insomnia I seem to have developed.

Frozen Toes

Last week, we had our 12 hours of snow. Every year we get to enjoy an extremely brief blast of a 1/2" of snow. This year it happened in the middle of the night and was gone by morning. Toma and I looked outside and had an insane idea to take some maternity pictures in the dark. I am glad we did, because it was all slush by morning, but I have no idea why I thought a 40s satin nightgown with no shoes was a good idea??




In case you are wondering, yes I am still pregnant. I was about 38 weeks in these pictures. It seems that this baby will make it to February. I guess time will tell.

Resolving not to resolve

I cried on New Years. Not because I was sad, or worried, or intoxicated. I cried because I had such an amazing night, and a severely awakening moment of pure clarity. I spent the evening with amazing friends and a wonderful man. I ate and was merry, then stopped at a photobooth to top my early evening off. When I came home and laid in bed at the early hour of 10:30 pm, I smiled widely and knew, I had nothing to resolve this year.

Not that I think resolutions mean anything anyway. People seldom keep them and they are usually quite in vain. This year, I chose to not be a part of it. This year I chose to be thankful, blissful, and just down right happy. I have no fear of not keeping goals to cuss less, lose weight, save money, or whatever people resolve to do. I will simply count each and every blessing in my life.

I have amazing children. One more of them on the way. I can't afford anymore kids, but we make do with what we have, and we have a beautiful life. We have love, and art, and music, and dancing, and delicious food. If that was all I had, it would be enough.

I have a (CUSS WORD COMING CLOSE YOU EYES IF YOU'RE SCARED) fucking magnificent man. He is there to care for me, the kids, the house, and my mood swings. He shows me nothing but unconditional love every hour of the day. I wake up every single day knowing I am with the one person in the world who is truly meant for me. I have never felt love like this in my life, and I am surely thankful I have it now.

I have great friends. I know we all have good friends and this one is simple, but I love my friends. I never have to worry about counting on anyone, they are always there in my hour of need, and my hours of celebration.

I have a really fun blog with great interactive readers. I am gainfully self employed selling my favorite thing in the world. I know when I started this I had no job and I still don't really have any tangible life skills, so I invented a job doing what I love. In the past 3 years it has grown immensely and I am actually feeling like I am a business owner, not just a yard seller. I feel super proud of that.

I have a roof over my head, great family, and endless possibilities for my future. I love my life.

So then, that is all I have to say on New Years, and resolutions, and cussing on my blog.

Go forth, count your blessings, and for pete's sake...

Eat. Drink. And be frickin' Merry.

(yes, I might have cried writing this post. don't judge me, I am pregnant and therefore hormonal.)