Faux-Toes Blog

Faux-Toes Blog http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/ Lakeway Child Photography, thoughts and ramblings of Kristen B. Roedner. en Copyright 2012 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:33:08 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification To define a flying pig.
"why the pig?"

"but what does it mean?"

"and why are you so head over heels with an imaginary entity, the flying pig?"

To me, it is about impossible beliefs that are shattered by reality. Exceeding expectations and keeping your sense of humor in tact.

The flying pig is an authentic family picture that depicts Love like this. Meet my Mamaw and Pappaw. Dad's side of the family.
Heritage of Love

The flying pig is like that time, after 8 years and their first child, my parents didn't think they could bear any more children biologically and adopted my precious brother, then SURPRISE!!! the one and only -- moi -- arrived on the scene.

the Brown kids

The flying pig is like being blessed from a very young age with very intimate, Kindred Spirit friends, Ellis and Allyse. Specifically, Ellis and I ran around together and called ourselves The Original and The One and Only. Our imaginations ran rampant and we laughed all the time. I hope my daughter finds friends like these. Ellis and Allyse helped my heart grow wings.

best friends forever

The flying pig is like that time, I moved to college awaiting my big adventure but feeling mostly introverted out at sea when I met this incredible, bold, beautiful being, Heather Jane Banks. She let nothing squelch her ultimate potential or define who she was. She lit my path and said, "this way, Downtown." "all you gotta do is watch me. see what i can do with my feet. baby, feel the beat inside."

Banky's life was about accepting the nitty gritty of life just as it was and adding sparkly rainbows of music and fun and revelry to each moment in celebration of life. Her birthday is the day before mine and for twelve years we celebrated being "17 and over 21!" (we each had 17 letters in our name, and over 21 was the legal drinking age.) Banky was always front row to the live music show. Her life had the best soundtrack. Unfortunately, she passed away after a five year battle with a brain tumor July 1, 2004. Just before her favorite firework holiday. I'll never forget going to her home with my college roommate for our last visit the day before she passed. She joked from her death bed, literally.

college friends

The flying pig is like that time, I was living in Nashville, and had about 25 cute boys dancing all around me, but the only one who could really capture my heart was the one who was a divorced, damn Yankee and not to mention sooooo much older.

The flying pig is his teenager daughter and her overwhelming love for me from the very beginning.

The flying pig is how for four years, we wanted to become pregnant and it just wasn't happening. Then, all of a sudden, we were four months pregnant. SURPRISE!!!

mother

Her birthday is the day after mine and every year, it's a celebration of the miracle of life and God's gifts.

The flying pig is like my college neighbor, Jeff Wilson. How he was a defender of the good life and always front row to the music show. I've never met any one who loved music as much as he did. In college, he loved me, but I did not love him in that way. Still, he took me on one of the best dates of my life: to see Phil Collins in Dallas. Jeff made me laugh very much and we'd pass notes to each other during boring Economics lectures. In 2006, Jeff was hit and killed by a drunk driver walking to his car after a Black Crowes concert. I have no doubt he was on a music high when it happened and felt no pain.

The flying pig is like that time ovarian cancer struck Ella Moore and how I wanted so badly to believe she could conquer it. It's the manufactured metal flying pig I put on her mailbox in great Hope and Faith this time would be different. It's her ten year old daughter that despised the new pig in the name of Change. It's the three months after her mother's death that she asked me to come over and help her paint a 30'x40' flying pig illustration with great love.

That's what the pig is about... it's about the frailness of life and yet the eternal life that awaits. It's the missing what's gone, but not without hope for the future and great faith in the unknown. It's about carrying forward what has unbelievably changed my life for the better. It's a mission I have to live out, there is no alternative that involves me sleeping at night. Trust me, I tried all that. :-)

It's about love and the fact that I want the very best for You and I want you never to give up hope that change for the better is just around the next corner.

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2012/03/to-define-a-flying-pig.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2012/03/to-define-a-flying-pig.html Art and Inspiration Flying Pigs Inspiration Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:33:08 -0600 "Use Your Words," She said.
For a long time now, I required other people to use their words for me. And I'd breathe a deep sigh of relief. YES! That's exactly the name for what I'm feeling, I just couldn't quite put the word on it. But now that it is named, I can acknowledge it and move forward.

The process of dreaming a big dream of wanting so much more than what is has been my journey since September 2010. It was sparked at Squam Art Workshops. I realized that though I daily feel all alone, I didn't have to feel lonely any more. That the beautiful creative creatures were out in the world just doing their small part to a, stay creative and b, feel really alive.

Fast forward to the month of November 2010, I was led by my good friend and photography mentor, Lisa Tanner, a true ROCK STAR photographer (she toured with Rolling Stones and other greats with Atlantic records when she was just 17 back in the Hey day) to Kubota Digital Bootcamp in Bend, Oregon. Bend is this amazing place where the water is DELICIOUS (I kid you not - it is quite noteworthy) and rivers start. Have you ever seen how the water rushes from the ground out of seemingly nowhere. It seems impossible. As does drinking water straight from the tap.
lisa tanner and me

So I was physically in this place on the planet where ANY thing is possible. Being inspired by Kevin Kubota, this real life super hero of mine, being asked to dream big. And so I did. And here's what I wanted:

kubota camp

I wanted a jet (My uncle used to have a jet, it didn't seem so unattainable) and I wanted to park it right next to where I live in Lakeway at the airpark. I wanted this jet to be painted like a Flying Pig and I wanted the inside to be souped up, like Elvis', but inside my jet would be the RAINBOW room, bedazzled with twinkly lights and general awesomeness. My jet would take me where ever I wanted to go, but specifically it would be used to fly clients to the good light. And everyone knows the good light is ... if not in Napa Valley, then in Florence Italy, of course. So this jet would take FAMILIES to their on location shoot to Italy. We'd have inflight movies that were really good hearted, none of this Disney crap that kills of the mother. We'd eat Kraft Macaroni and cheese, the real stuff, because it's not going to kill you to depart from Annies for a couple of days. We'd also eat real popcorn machine popcorn. Yum! We'd arrive in Italy, have a great photo session and then return back to everyday life.

I joked that if the plane crashed, it'd be okay, because DEEP DOWN everyone knew that pigs really can't fly anyway.

kiss the pig!

Photo Credit: Carli Kiene, InkedFingers Photography.

I met this girl, Tracey Harper, at Kubota's workshop. The whole week she seemed crazy awesome to me, but in the last thirty minutes we were together, we realized that we had a much bigger bond than just portrait photography. We were both school mascots in our past lives. She was clearly more talented than I as she was her College mascot, which meant she could probably do flips. Me? I was just the FIRST EVER at my school. People still tell me I was the best, but I think it was just because they'd never seen one before and had no idea what could be done. We're small town. I will give myself some credit though, because I won BEST OVERALL mascot at mascot camp that summer. My big, furry black costume wasn't in yet, so I entered the competition with a Kroger paper bag over my head. Seriously.
Before we officially met we took nearly identical enthusiastic Snow Day pictures.

Awesome Tracey

How made for each other are we?!

Tracey is completely awesome and we were trying to figure out how to take Faux-Toes global. The only thing holding us back, we were quite certain was all the red tape between Canada and the U.S. I thought NAFTA was supposed to be for us, not against us. I was excited because I thought I'd get to use my Baylor International Business degree. Wasn't my life all leading up to this beautiful moment?

Nope. Impossible.

Depressed for months, and shooting the wrong gigs only compounded the issue.

One beautiful July morning, I'm sitting on my porch trying to do the Artist's Way morning pages and this epiphany comes to me. There's this 1976 cadillac convertible that lives on my street. Complete with the mounted longhorns on the front, like boss hog. That's it! instead of wishing and waiting till I could afford the jet, I should bring the flying pig to the people and convert the family Jeep Wrangler. It seemed completely feasible and brilliant. I shared the idea with my daughter and we were giggling over the awesome-ness. I knew I wouldn't be able to share the idea with Mr. Impossible, aka, my cute boyfriend (husband.) I'd have to wait until the Apple of his Eye broke the news. She did and he laughed and I thought, "GREAT!" he's on board.

The next day, the sidekick and I visited body shops to get quotes. Days come and days go and boyfriend NEVER asks what we do with our time.

But of course he did on this day. So we tell him. And he says under his breath, "I thought you were kidding."

What?! How could we kid about something so amazing?!

So we didn't talk about it any further.

I didn't have the words to express what it meant.

I'd talk to my friends and they'd share in the excitement. And they'd say, you have to talk to your husband. and I'd say, really?!

So months went by. And it was time to have the talk. And he was saying it was impossible and a stupid business decision and I was like, "it's not a business decision. it's personal."
And tears. and I'm bawling and I can't find the words to describe my heartbreak at his disbelief. And we're on South Congress and across the street a person in a gorilla suit walks by and i'm like it's like THAT. I want to be in a gorilla suit.

And he said, "OH. It's a gift."

And, I breathe a huge sigh of relief because he gets it now. Yes, it's a gift to the people. And it is so close to my heart that it shatters when you act like you don't believe.

true love believes

As soon as he saw the tears he was like, "stop crying, dear, nothing (my beliefs) can be that important that you can't do it. go for it."

for this love.

Photo Credit: Lisa Woods

She believed she could fly and so she did.

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2012/03/use-your-words-she-said-1.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2012/03/use-your-words-she-said-1.html Art and Inspiration Awesome-icity. Dreams Come True Flying Pigs Impossible Dreams Inspiration Personal Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:04:37 -0600 Living in the Moment

Earlier this year, I went duck hunting with my two favorite guys - my dad and my cutest boyfriend ever, my husband. It was a magical morning and my boyfriend was downright giddy. He reached out for my hand and held on tightly as we trekked through the muddy waters. We reached the duck blind and waited patiently for the sun to rise. The ducks were already flying. You could hear them and they answered my dad's skillful calls like a moth to a flame.

It was a classic example of living in the moment for the moment and boy oh, boy was it divine.

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2012/02/living-in-the-moment.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2012/02/living-in-the-moment.html Dog portraiture Ducks Hunting Personal Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:25:45 -0600 Sneak Peek: Family Awesomeness Hello, Gorgeous! :)
0622-F0526 Wald STAR Ranch.jpg

I just adore this one: 0525-F0526 Wald STAR RanchTT.jpg

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/06/sneak-peek-family-awesomeness.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/06/sneak-peek-family-awesomeness.html Family Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:14:06 -0600 Boston: A Great Place to VISIT!
Just before we left, my friend Tracey had requested a photo session. And since it had been a couple of years since I saw them last, I was super happy to catch up with them on a lovely Sunday evening.

Here's one of my favorite images of the All-American family photographed in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Boston/Charlestown is a great place to visit and I would highly recommend a springtime trip! It was super romantic with blue skies and everything in bloom. Getcha some if you can!
670-F201105 Sardina CharlestownTT.jpg

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/06/boston-a-great-place-to-visit.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/06/boston-a-great-place-to-visit.html Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:22:06 -0600 this link. So many amazing personalities and fabulous dancers posed in front of our lens this month. We hope you find that which you are looking. If you'd like to schedule a private session, or a family session, just mention PAIYH and save $50 off your session fee at the Faux-Toes Studio!

Thanks so much for choosing Faux-Toes!

Kristen

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/05/hi-friends-if-youre-looking.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/05/hi-friends-if-youre-looking.html Fri, 27 May 2011 08:17:13 -0600 Let's Pretend! Princess Play Austin

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/05/lets-pretend.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/05/lets-pretend.html Children Tue, 03 May 2011 12:09:22 -0600 Riverbend Silent Auction Donation Winner!

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/04/riverbend-silent-auction-donation-winner.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/04/riverbend-silent-auction-donation-winner.html Family Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:45:10 -0600 This is it: Senior Year

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/03/this-is-it-senior-year.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/03/this-is-it-senior-year.html Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:51:18 -0600 You Belong Among the Wildflowers

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/03/you-belong-among-the-wildflowers.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/03/you-belong-among-the-wildflowers.html Children Family Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:50:24 -0600 Hoping Spring Is Just Around the Corner All in all it was a very magical evening. I'm so glad I'm here.

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/02/hoping-spring-is-just-around-the-corner.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/02/hoping-spring-is-just-around-the-corner.html Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:45:21 -0600 Snow Angel
Maker of Snow Angels

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/02/snow-angel.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/02/snow-angel.html Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:40:19 -0600 Marriage is what brings together today.

RickWindsor2010.mov

The above is a link to the Naething slideshow. Please click on it and enjoy!

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/01/marriage-is-what-brings-together-today.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/01/marriage-is-what-brings-together-today.html Sun, 23 Jan 2011 00:29:45 -0600 Put Art In Your Heart Dance Studios

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/01/put-art-in-your-heart-dance-studios.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2011/01/put-art-in-your-heart-dance-studios.html Art and Inspiration Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:58:43 -0600 Rockin' Around the Clock
F1036 Brawley Home-454-Edit.jpg

]]> http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2010/12/rockin-around-the-clock.html http://www.faux-toes.com/blog/2010/12/rockin-around-the-clock.html Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:48:57 -0600