Shannon and Eric: Wedding Photography at Ahwatukee Foothills Golf Club

Here are some fun shots from Shannon and Eric's wedding at the Ahwatukee Foothills Golf Club.

HOW Design Conference Boston

Amanda and I just returned last Wednesday from our trip to the HOW Design Conference in Boston. It was a trip of many great firsts for both of us: first time to HOW; first trip to Boston; first time on the east coast; first time to see the Atlantic Ocean; first plane flight longer than 5 hours; first visit to the Harvard campus; first subway ride; etc. We spent over 8 hours a day at the conference brushing up on (and learning new) graphic design, photography, web design, and typography skills! It was a very inspiring conference and we can't wait to put all our new skills to use and try out the exciting new products that were presented.

Normally I'd have lots of photos to share. What!? you say. A photographer went to Boston without his camera? For shame! Yes, that's the case. We did get lots of cheesy snapshots on our cellphones, and if I figure out how to upload them I will share some. With all the time spent in the conference we managed to squeeze in just a few hours each evening out on the town. We did make it out to the North end of Boston--the Italian district--and had dinner at a quaint family-owned restaurant, Ristorante Saraceno, where Amanda managed to score a copy of the menu (she had actually just asked for a takeout menu, which they didn't have, so they gave her the whole deal.) Also had some great cannoli from Mike's Pastry (one of about 10 pastry shops and probably 30 Italian restaurants in the area), and walked to Paul Revere's house, built circa 1680!

What a great trip! To top it off, the weather was a comfy 50 - 60 degrees each day with beautiful skies (we missed out on a toasty 110 in Phoenix while we were gone!)

Jessica and Kevin's Cave Creek Wedding

Some fun images from a cozy backyard wedding in Cave Creek. Check out the cake--definitely one of a kind!

Kristen Orr Featured in New Book, Masters: Glass Beads

Okay, so I have to brag. My mom, Kristen Frantzen Orr, is one of 40 artists featured in the new Lark Books publication, Masters: Glass Beads, Major Works by Leading Artists. There is a beautiful 8-page spread inside the book showcasing several of her lampworked glass beads from throughout her career (she also has a bead on the cover of the book, second from the left).

She got into beadmaking when it was still a fairly new art form in the US, and she has persevered and thrived during the explosion in popularity that glass beadmaking has seen in the past few years. I am very proud of her! Definitely check out the book if you are at all interested in glass beadmaking. And to see more of my mom's work, visit her site at: http://www.kristenfrantzenorr.com/

Earth Day 2008

Check out these beautiful Ranunculus! We saw these fields a few weeks ago while visiting California to celebrate our 3-year wedding anniversary and Amanda's big 3-0 birthday! Many more images to come from this trip if/when I get caught up.

I thought it would be a nice image to share in honor of Earth Day. I could easily wax poetic about all the reasons Earth Day is so important to me but I'll spare you the politics. Just get outside and enjoy it!

Incredible Home "Theater": Architecture Photography in Phoenix

When most of us think of a home "theater", we picture a cozy living room with a big flat screen TV, surround sound, and plush seating. This home theater, built by Nikon Custom Construction, takes the home theater concept to a whole new level, complete with a ticket window, movie posters, bar and concessions, auditorium style seating, movie screen and a bluetooth-enabled digital projector! The theater was built by excavating beneath an existing home through the garage floor. Bill Nikon's custom construction projects include just about anything you can imagine in your home; kitchen, bath, study, etc.! For more information, call him at: 602-692-8429.

BEad inspired this Saturday, April 5th at the Borgata

Come support the Beads of Courage program this Saturday, April 5th at the Borgata from 4 - 7pm, at BEad inspired, a fundraising event to help children coping with cancer. Food, wine tasting and the chance to design a handmade beaded bracelet are included in the ticket price. Art jewelry and handmade glass beads will be for sale. The event also features live music, a silent auction and a bead historian! For more information visit www.beadsofcourage.net