June9th
So I’m taking the day off. Enjoy a slice of cake if you have some around the house, or just imagine enjoying some cake.
Biographical portrait, taken by Evelyn, and then she dropped my camera and broke my lens. Good thing I was smiling then because I wasn’t smiling shortly after. All is well that ends well. I’ve finally replaced my lens so you’ll be getting a plethora of new photos pretty darn soon! I’ll be back to email tomorrow to those of you who I am working with. Hooray for the big 28!
May13th
So I finally uploaded my photos from the camera. It makes me want to go back to sunny California – instead we have rotten snow and continual cold weather. Here’s to wishful thinking!
April30th
Okay – so those of you that follow the blog may know that David is Type 1 diabetic. While we manage the condition and have a positive outlook it was devastating when he was first diagnosed. Blood sugars are not so easy to manage – giving multiple injections to a child that just turned 4 seemed cruel. Brian and I stopped going out on dates because there was no one who knew how to take care of David’s diabetic needs (and I had trust issues). In addition, I was 5 months pregnant, expecting our 3rd child when he was diagnosed. Overwhelmed to say the least, I turned to two of the only people who I knew could help us though. Help me be calm, help David feel like a kid again. My cousin Katie is a year younger than me. She is an amazing elementary teacher, and she has a fantastic husband Marc. She has also been Type 1 since she was 11, but lives about 350 miles away from me. I shamelessly asked her to drop everything – begged her to – so I could deliver baby #3 in a hospital 60 miles from home (we live rural) with my husband in the delivery room and not worry that my other kids would end up in the hospital with us. Katie, being the woman that she is didn’t hesitate once. When I went into labor the kids spend their first night with my dear friends while Katie drove all the way up to Idaho. She then provided relief for everyone. David had someone to relate with finally, I delivered a healthy baby without losing my mind and I’ll be forever grateful for the service rendered that day. One year later Katie has given birth to her first, a beautiful and healthy baby girl. The least I could do was say, hey you rocked diabetes – and saved my life – can I design and letterpress print your baby announcements?
Thank you to Katie, to my friends, to my family and to you my loyal readers for being there for me when I needed it most. I didn’t know then if I’d continue working, if I had enough passion to put more love into my work and this blog but you all encouraged me and nudged me along. To help my son, I had to help find myself again this last year. Thank you for all your love and support. I can’t believe baby Charlie is almost 1, it’s been 18 months since diagnosis, and I’m finally starting to forget what the before’s were like. It’s time to enjoy the after’s because isn’t life really all about having a happily ever after?
April6th
So it finally happened. After two perfect children who never climbed out of their crib once until they moved into a big-kid bed at age 2.5, I now have a child who fears nothing. Easter weekend, Charlie decided he wanted to out-do the Easter Bunny this year and show his siblings how much of a dare-devil he could be. Ten months, a child that puts EVERYTHING in his mouth, likes to roll/climb/crawl everywhere – and now he dives out of his crib. Hippity hoppity hippity hoppity look at Charlie go! His mattress is now lower then the lowest setting. Here’s to hoping he stays put for at least a few more months before the next acrobatic trick.
PS – like that sweet potato smudge between the eyes? We’ve got a picture of each of the kids with that look. Man, they love their yams!
March18th
This week David has shown an interest in my camera so we did a small lesson on cropping and focusing in on your subject matter. Here’s the outcome, all shot by my little man (and straight out of the camera) :
50mm f1.8 – over exposed (manual exposure) ISO 1600 – white balance, auto
Trying to get proofs done, not having much success – 50mm f2.4 – still over exposed (manual exp)
ISO 800 – white balance, auto
perfect exposure – photographer in the making! 50mm f1.8 – white balance, auto – ISO 400
August5th
How I doth love thee – when we’re apart, my heart does surely bleed! I don’t know what it is about Delia’s but I’ve been a fan since the wee age of 13. You’d think I’d grow out of this tween/teenangester clothing line now that I have three children but every couple of years or so I check out their website and fall in love with them all over again. Maybe I’m a rebel at heart. Maybe I still look for youth in such a serious adult life, whatever it may be, I know for certain -
- these colors make me happy when the days are sometimes gray. Now if only I were that skinny…and had rock hard abs…and well nevermind!
June15th
So I turned the big 27 last Tuesday and have been collecting some cash gifts as a result. Thanks family :) While pondering what I could spend this cash on (seeing that I haven’t bought an article of clothing/accessories for myself since 2007), I think I’ve found the perfect purchase.
I admit, buying things for myself is a hard thing to do these days. When it comes down to it I’ve kind of become a comparison shopper. My thought process usually goes as follows, “$100 shoes vs. $100 vial of insulin” or “clothes for me vs. clothes for 4 year old who’s finally growing now that his body is on insulin therapy.” Or maybe “new car/$400 monthly payment or $400 worth of prescriptions/month for healthy child”.
Not that I’m complaining – I find that even with the difficulties that we face as a family with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes there are blessings that come with it too. One being that it’s good to have things to pay for to help your children live vs. having other things that aren’t considered a necessary “living” expense. The others just don’t seem that important any more.
However since it’s time to treat myself I’ve looked long and hard for something I really need (with a little bit of want in there too). A watch has been one of those need/but can’t find the right one sort of issues. But alas! My problems are solved. Presenting the limited edition 4×4 Nixon Rubber Player watch. I know it’s a men’s watch but I like large wrist accessories. AND that yellow is really the perfect color for a purchase like this. I can already imagine this watch saying things to me like: “I’m happy” and “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” or “You need something to get you places on time now that you have 3 kids.”
And lastly the most important thing this watch says is, “Life goes on, you’ve made it this far how about adding another 27 years of bliss to the mix!”
It goes on sale st 10 am PST so wish me luck in snagging one, I’ll be aggressively stalking their website minutes before launch. If I come away empty handed I think I might just cry.
April21st
So I thought it would be easier to find new frames but now I’m feeling hopeless. I guess it goes that when you have an idea about what you want, you inevitably can not find it. I’m super sight challenged and have worn glasses since I was 18 months old for various reasons. Now that I’m going to have another baby, I know my prescription will change yet again as it has with every other pregnancy and I’ll be even blinder than before. After hours of searching, this is what I’ve come up with.
I initially wanted some super lemon opaque square frames but alas they don’t exist, not with the chunky sides. So here are some others that have caught my eye. Granted I won’t be buying for another 6 months due to the fact that they don’t recommend getting new lenses until you’ve nursed for at least a few months (I guess your vision can continue to change from pregnancy to delivery to nursing). So if any of you have suggestions PLEASE send them over! There isn’t anything I’m totally over the moon with yet, only time will tell I guess.
March24th
In this economy, it’s more important than ever for consumers to know who’s behind the wheel in a business before making a purchase. Special event stationery and invitations are no exception, seeing that they can be significant in how they emulate what type of event is being thrown and can take up a large chunk of the event budget.
This is a small series that will be posted throughout the next few weeks giving insight into the business brains behind the designs and a little about my process, designs and why I do what I do.
What is the name of your business? I’m DBA Dingbat Press. Sometimes I get funny reactions and snickers from people when they hear my business name as they think I’m the dingbat (which in some cases I can be), however the historical reference behind the name is related to a printer’s dingbat, often used as ornamentation in typeset letterpress printing.
How long have you been in business? Since December 2005 – officially – however I’ve been printing for about 5, and designing invitations here and there since 2000.
What is your name, title, and role in the business? My name is Adrienne Berry. I am owner and sole-proprietor. My colleagues call me suzy homemaker, or the one-man-band because at this stage in my business I do it all: design, print, represent myself, take care of the house, love my kids and my hubby, be an accountant and gardener (when the spare moment arises).
To be Continued…
March19th
Sometimes I go about the day without paying much attention to my surroundings. These were discovered after I got the kids in bed last night and finally had a look around at the disaster zone within my home. I thought it was so beautiful how each dinosaur/creature was aligned and balanced on our 8′ railing, observing the usual chaos that encompasses our daily lives. Still and silent predators, they were awaiting my attention. Oh how I love the spontaneous aesthetics of a 4 year old!
Donate $10 to help a 20 mo. old baby fight for life! - By donating you'll be entered to win a set of 100 letterpress invites (2 color) and RSVPs OR a set of baby announcements/thank you notes!!
Update: 7.11 Adam has been moved from PICU to NTU (Neuro Trauma Unit) where he is miraculously doing well. He is finally breathing on his own, they've taken out his PICC line, and they are on the slow road to recovery. He has been determined as having an anoxic brain injury and the outcome is still unkown. Right now there is positive feedback from the doctors and only time will tell. His brain is about a year behind what it should be. So for a 20 mo. old baby that puts him at re-learning to sit up on his own. He will continue to receive treatment at Primary Children's Medical Center. Your donations will go towards his hospital bills, and you'll be entered to win some sweet wedding invites or baby announcements! Click the picture above to donate!
