the nursery

Here are a few photos of the nursery...

Above is a final shot and below is a before shot.

The room was being used for all items that we didn't feel like putting away, didn't have a home or was going in the garage sale. It also had creepy little sheep with glued on pink bows along with the Lord's prayer going through the green border. So this is what we had started with.

Our crib and changing table / dresser were beautiful gifts from Nick's parents.

I purchased the fabric for the bumper, bed skirt & curtains from javisdavis.com. My friend Michelle's mom then made all the bedding and reversible curtains as a gift for us. I searched website after website looking for bedding I liked and finally settled on this combo of polka dots and paisley and I have to say I love the way it all turned out.

We couldn't find a shelf we liked so Nick went and bought wood and border and made this himself then painted it to match the chair rail in which he also put up all by himself. I love my handy man!

My mom also purchased fabric from the same site and made a BEAUTIFUL quilt. She put so much time into this... (all the squares are 2x2) She also made a small blankey for our daughter that resembles the blanket I had when I was little... otherwise know as my "Key-Key"

I decided to put lyrics from some of my favorite songs in some frames as artwork for her walls. I designed them all in Photoshop to have matching dots as borders. The lyrics I chose include:

"For Baby" & "Follow Me" by John Denver

"My Beloved One" & "With My Own Two Hands" by Ben Harper

"Imagine" by John Lenon

"You Are My Sunshine" (which is the song my dad used to ALWAYS sing to me and we danced to for the father daughter dance at my wedding)

I also have one not printed yet for over the crib with lyrics from one of my favorite Michael Franti songs. We put allot of love and thought into this room and are very pleased with how it turned out! Let us know what you think!

what my job has meant to me...

I thought I'd share a bit about my journey at McDonald Studio. I apologize in advance for being so long winded and give major credit to anyone who makes it through this!

My life at the studio started when I was a senior in high school. I was 17 and had no clue what I wanted to do in the future but I knew that the college thing did not sound appealing. I took photography my junior year and quickly became fascinated with taking pictures and working in the dark room but never imagined making a career out of it. Even when I took the job at the studio I never intended for it to be permanent; it just sounded like more fun than my job at TCU. I remember when my boss sat me down and said he wanted the studio to go completely digital. I thought he was crazy! At that time, the quality was not there and I couldn't imagine photography without the darkroom. But I went along and started learning about this overwhelming program called Photoshop (and if any of you are wondering, I started in version 5... it's been upgraded a few times since then). I was fortunate enough to learn with a WACOM tablet... the best invention ever!

Still unsure of this whole digital thing, the studio offered to pay for me to go to L. A. for a Photoshop World Convention and my world was seriously changed forever. The atmosphere was amazing and unlike anything I could have ever imagined. I had never been surrounded by so many passionate and creative and talented individuals. Everyone wanted to learn what they could from you and teach you what they had learned. I quickly dismissed the idea of becoming a photographer and fell in love with everything Photoshop had to offer. The change to digital didn't happen overnight. It was a lot of money, work and a ton of trial and error but we eventually went from 100% film to 100% digital. I am so proud that I will be able to tell my children that I was right there from start to finish of one of the biggest advances in the world of photography.

Throughout the years at the studio, I have had the opportunity of traveling to L.A., Orlando, Tampa, Chicago and Indianapolis for Photoshop, photography, sales and marketing seminars -not to mention a studio cruise, Cubs bus trip, private small plane rides with the boss... I may not have a degree but I have more experience and knowledge gained than I could have ever received in a classroom and I had a blast doing it.

The studio is built of a very unique family who is not only passionate about our specific jobs but also about the place that many of us feel is sort of a second home. So many people have asked why I haven't tried to start my own business and though I will never close doors to any possibilities, I could never imagine myself completely walking away from the place I grew up at. I have invested blood, sweat and tears into the studio – literally... I have a heart shaped scar on my pointer finger from cleaning a piece of glass that still has not gained back full sensation! The studio has been there and photographed so many of my life's milestones... prom, graduation, engagement, wedding, my pregnancy and of course when the little one arrives (well, not the actual event). Taking time away was a really difficult decision for me but I think my daughter deserves to have my full attention. My last day was Wednesday and I am now on what Nick calls my "baby vacation." The amount of time is undetermined at this point but I know that I will always be there if the studio needs me and that their door is open as well. There are three main types of employees that come into the studio: The One Day Employees – they are my favorite, they all start off so excited to be at a photography studio but as the day progresses their facial expression turns from joy to fear to a look of “you people are all crazy” - oh the stories of laughter they provide us. The One Year Employees – they put time in, get experience and just when you start to like them, they move away or move on to start their own business with all of the knowledge you provided them. Then, there is the rare and special breed. You have to be strong minded, opinionated, humble, creative and a little bit insane. I am proud to be part of a little group we like to call... “Studio for Life.”

McDonald Studio opened the doors to a world of art and passion and has introduced me to some of my closest friend. I will forever be grateful.

Check out my McDonald Studio Album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=97607&id=694755535&l=f929c99dfb

a reason to blog...

As if Facebook and MySpace are not enough, I have decided to add yet another way to update my family and friends. I am mainly motivated by boredom and insomnia during these last few weeks of pregnancy and even though I realize that before I know it my time and sleep will be fond memories, I thought I might share with those I love the ups and downs and ins and outs of the growing Ferrettie Family.