Brandy Ink

Your Photo Submissions - Part 5



Thanks to everyone who is sending in photos for Part two of the Gratitude Contest (which you can read about here). We will only be accepting photos until Monday, August 6th so don't forget to send yours in!

 
"My better half. The man who has awakened me to a whole new kind of love; a love that I am more than thankful for." ~ Jayli W.

 

"I am grateful for an awesome photographer that always catches the awesomeness of my family in every single photo. They are memories I my family can cherish for generations to come." ~ Steve C.

 

"This picture embodies several aspects of my life I am grateful for. It shows the magnificence of God's beauty all around us, which always grounds me, keeps me in the present moment and fills me instantly with gratitude for everything in my life.  Whenever I am out of sorts, I go to nature, to reconnect to the lost of parts of myself and commune with Spirit.  Water is especially powerful for me and I have learned so much by sitting quietly near or in flowing waters near my home - learning to Let Go and Let God, allow, surrender and release to the greater divine plan.  This picture was taken in June at Kootenai Falls, Idaho which is a sacred site for the Ktunaxa people.  We were invited to this magnificent area as visitors and honoured for our work with the children of the Ktunaxa Nation.  My work within the Nation over the past five years has taught me so much about the resiliency and amazing spirit of these people and has also been a humbling, challenging yet incredibly rewarding journey that I am most grateful for. " ~ Caara G.

Gratitude Contest • Part 3

 

It's never too soon to learn about and acknowledge gratitude. Out of curiosity Natalie asked her 3-year old son, Porter, what he was grateful for (first she had to explain what being grateful for meant) and he said thoughtfully that he was grateful for "Mama.... (long pause)...annnnnnnnd.... CAKE!!!" It's so cute to hear what is on the hearts of our little ones.
SO... Natalie and I want to hear from the kids now! Please summit your child's (ages 12 and under) gratitude story (even if its only a couple words or even a sentence) along with your child's age so that we can hear the sweet things kids say! Don't forget, this will also add another chance to win the prize of a $300 shopping spree at Creative Fix AND a FULL out photo session with Natalie Santano. Here's to the kids!

Submit your child's gratitude story by clicking here.

Part 3 ups your chance at winning but is optional. Part 1 must be completed to get entered in the contest. Part 2 is also optional. Check out full contest description here.

New - Creative Fix Pottery!

I get a real charge from partnering with local businesses. Recently I approached Pridham Studio in Creston and asked if they'd make me a line of pottery exclusive to Creative Fix. They happily said yes! Awesome sauce.

We couldn't decide what the design should be for the exclusive line and as we got talking we remembered that a few years ago I designed a set of street banners for the Town of Creston. Nancy Pridham from Pridham Studio helped me with the designs.
Nancy's daughter, Micah, who is the proud new owner of Pridham Studio is a total smartie pants and she took the street banner designs that her mother and I worked on together, and made it into a line of pottery for me. So cool! And only available at Creative Fix. Woot!
I totally love them. There's everything from mugs and trivets to small plates and bowls to large plates and bowls. These make an excellent wedding gifts for that musical or artsy person in your life!

Thanks Pridham Studio for partnering with me on this and for being AWESOME.

P.S. If you need a greeting card to go with the gift, this art card drawn by my daughter Kienna makes a wonderful accompaniment to this pottery. Kienna gets 100% of the profits from this card.

Available at Creative Fix.

Your Photo Submissions - Part 4



Thanks to everyone who is sending in photos for Part two of the Gratitude Contest (which you can read about here).

"I am very grateful to have known and loved both my grandma and my grannie (her mother). This 4 generation photo was taken by Natalie for my grannie's 90th birthday - she is 92 now and we are all grateful for each day she is still with us." ~ Janelle


"I am greatful for the simple things in life. My 3 year old has a pretty good grasp on what is important in life. In her innocence, she is constanly amazed by new and exciting things - things adults  take for granted or simply don't have time to rediscover. She will marvel at the clouds or at a little bug on the ground, no pressure, no expectations. All too often, society is caught up in the rat race we call life and forget about the surrounding envirnoment that helps create who we are. We recently went on a camping trip to Jasper, where this picture was taken, and where "look mom! it's a ..." was heard very frequently. I took a page out of my daughter's book. I stopped and made the time to truly take in my surroundings. The crisp alpine air, the fragrant wildflowers and cool breeze was just what I needed to refresh my spirit. There was no pressure, no expectaions. Just being."

   ~ Kim S.

 

"I am so grateful to have had a change of heart, when I was younger I did not want children.  I was happy how life was, as it was all about me! But finding the right man, I found my life was not complete without my own family. Now I am so very grateful to have Jax in my life, I am beyond happy that it is no longer all about me, but I'm all about my son!" ~ Renee Legare

 

 

"My amazing other half and our puppy. *I could not ask for more.*" ~Keisha R.

 

"I am grateful for this woman - my Grandma. For being my greatest support." ~ Skylar E.

 

 

"I am grateful for my friends and family who I love soo much and who love me. I'm all so grateful for my mom and dad who just got married and that they are so happy together. We are one big happy family." ~ Nicole

 

Under the Sea...

There were so many wonderful and colorful "Under the Sea" creations from Art Classes for Kids this month. Good job guys (and girls)!

by Spencer

 

by Seth

 

by Reese

 

Also by Reese

 

by Madison

 

by Jet

 

Also by Jet

 

by Faith

 

by Claire

So many beautiful things under the sea. Great job students!

Your Photo Submissions - Part 3



Thanks to everyone who is sending in photos for Part two of the Gratitude Contest (which you can read about here). Natalie and I love seeing and reading your stories.

"There are so many things in life to be grateful for!!  I am thankful for the country in which we live, the beautiful mountains, flowers, sunrises, sunsets, rainbows. Family and friends are so very precious, and this picture is of four of the greatest blessings in my life - how could I not be grateful?!?"  ~ Lisa A.

 

"I'm grateful for my nephew Wayne, even when I am in the worst of moods he can some how manage to put a smile on my face! I really don't know if I would be the same person without him in my life." ~ Jamie B.

 

"I am thankful for my two beautiful daughters that make everyday worth living for!! Nothing could ever compare to the love I have for them." ~ C.M.

 

"I am Grateful for these two beautiful blessings! Their smiles and giggles melt my heart everyday!" ~ Michele L.

 

"I'm grateful for this man who took a second chance on love and brought this wonderful little girl into my life. My little family (also seen here with the newest addition last fall, Harley) is my entire world and I don't know what I'd do without them. I'm grateful for the life we are able to live together and that I'm so blessed to have a wonderful relationship with my stepdaughter. I couldn't love her more if she was my own child." ~ Taryn

 

"I'm grateful for my amazing, loving, hard working husband and our adorable son who brings us so much joy! (On this day he worked harder than usual... playing golf.) Gotta love the funny moments!" ~ Christie R.

 

"I am grateful for my loving, supportive, hard working husband who is always there for me." ~ Lauren S.

 

"This is my son and his daddy... I'm so greatful to have them both in my life they have shown me so much love and joy." ~ Marcie M.

The Sweetest Puppy Around.

Remember this post from last January? You can read it here. Well, I caved. We named her Moki and holy moly is she sweet.

Photo by Warren Bruns