Too Many Announcements | I'm Kristen Workshop + Extras

cause all I know is we said "hello,"
and your eyes look like coming home.
taylor swift

I've been a bustling toaster over here - doing more than just eating + reading birth stories on mom blogs! (though my husband might question that...) - so I have LOTS to share today.  First of all!  TODAY is the details of "The StoryTime WorkShop day"!  We have dates! And applications! And... things!     

April 26 + April 27 + April 28 

(three full days... it'll be a long, full, joyous weekend!)

The price includes "lodging," three meals a day, and all workshop materials.  You will be responsible for any "extras" like travel, trinkets, snacks and shopping.   To apply, please fill out this application and e-mail it to me (if the link is being wonky for you, e-mail me and I'll send you the application in an attachment!).   The last day to apply is February 2, 2013.  I will announce the group the following week, so everyone can make plans accordingly.  I'm also offering a payment-plan instead of a one-time-time-payment-chunk, so if you are interested in that, please note in your application!  I know how hard many (most!) of us are working to save, spend smartly and make decisions about what is best for us at the time, and I want to do all I can to help, not hinder.  

As a reminder, this workshop is geared towards photographers and also more "inspirational" than technical.  Though we will talk photography and do shoots, the goal of this is to really spark and thrill our minds and hearts, and help our delight in stories spill over into our photo-taking.  If you are looking for a business-start-up or "how-to"session, this likely won't be the answer to your dreams!

GUYS. I'm really very excited.  I hope you are too!  Please spread the word if you think any of your pals and gals would be interested in joining the hootin' and hollerin'!  And apply!  Ps.  There are no "rules" on how to apply... if you want to make it "fun" and answer these questions through a more creative means than an e-mail (video/blog post/graphic) by allllllll means!  No pressure.  E-mail works brilliantly too.  WONDER WONDER THIS IS FUN!

Also, coming very soon is the super-trendy-"off-season"-blog-revamp.  I can't wait for you to see!

But here's the kicker (and why you should be PUMPED about the new blog design) is that when the new blog appears... there will be a giveaway.  This isn't happening yet.  But it's happening.  For real.  And one lucky little person will win these FOUR prizes.  Grand slam, if I do say so myself!

As cool as all this is... I'm most happy about finding out what our little person is: a he or she :)  Also.  My basketball team is undefeated (the only team in the school who hasn't lost!)  OH!  And I've baked two days in a row, which is a record for me.  This week might be more fun than wedding week... Gracious.  

Story Time 2013 | An I'm Kristen Workshop

“stories never really end...even if the books like to pretend they do.  stories always go on.  they don't end on the last page,  any more than they begin on the first page.”
cornelia funke - inskpell | STORYTELLING |  the conveying of events in words, images and sounds,  often by improvisation, imagination or embellishment.  stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of  entertainment, education, cultural preservation and to instill values. 
crucial elements of stories and storytelling include  who is in them, where it happened, and the details of the plot. | STORIES MUST BE TOLD | This spring, and also this fall, we will collect and with our hearts, stories and cameras, come to enliven and influence each other.  I suppose this is a photography workshop, but please don't be deceived or disappointed.   This is more about listening for, caring about and wanting the story.  We will watch moving pictures, read out loud, hear music, be together, be alone and take photographs.   Like the children who gather around grandpa's big chair, waiting for a tale, we will listen for the story.  We'll have a photoshoot every single day - with different people to work with and learn about.  This will be no "Follow me around, see how I posed her arm, I'm on f-stop 2.5" shoot.  This will be a "Study your subject, and figure out a way to tell everyone else what you learned about her with your camera."  
The stories are everywhere.  Every portrait shoot.  Every wedding.  Every household.  Every shop.  Every person.  They're there.  Are you looking?  We'll be looking this spring in a three-day workshop.  More details to come soon.  Very soon. -- Here's to the story about the pull-up-ed-jell-sandal-ed-flower-girl waiting to see her aunt in bridal glory. Here's to the wrinkles. Here's to the first morning of life and Edith and Meepers.    

Here's to the story about marriage, penny-pinching, good coffee and opening a shop.

Here's to the last winter in Florida and sun that never stops.

Here's to my own life.

And here's to her life!

Here's to the story of an 100-degree-wedding-day and a baby-girl becoming a bride.

Here's to a baby girl becoming a three-year-old girl.  And here's to donuts! And ties!

Here's to the food that helps Autumn grow!

And here's the nights that live forever, or so.

Here's to the story of the surprise triplets (and their fingers, and toes, and lips.)

Here's to grandma's pearl necklace, and why she wore it everyday.  Until this day... when she gave the necklace away.

Here's to wrinkles, again.

Here's to the faces that know waiting, but also know joy.

Here's to dads with their baby girls (dads who used to be little boys.)

Here's to big best friends,

and here's to little best friends, too.

And here's to the story about finally finding your way home, after all you've gone through.

Here's to the crazy ones, the elegant ones, the dancers and the thinkers...

Here's to roaring laughter, colored ink, spins and silver bands on happy fingers.

Here's to today and now,

and taking lots of pictures.