Photo shoot monday...

Yesterday was our big cottage photo shoot.  I was over the moon excited when I was contacted by Gridley & Graves a few months back asking if I would be interested in having our home shot for a publication.  We were supposed to shoot in January, but Anne's sweet mother suddenly passed away- so we rescheduled for March.  Family comes first and I am so glad she took the time she needed to be with her dad and siblings.

The morning started out cold.  Somewhere in the 40's and us Texans freeze at anything under 60, so I started up a fire.  By started up I mean that I turned on the switch.

Some of y'all have asked about what I did to prepare for them coming to shoot.  Let's see....I had our youngest turn 13, left for a day to shop antiques in Round Top, and hosted our Sunday night Dead and Dinner party.  I pretty much dusted and then lived my life.  Seriously, other than a few things that needed cleaning, we just straightened up and called it good.  I've read about bloggers going overboard and fixing up/cleaning/driving their husbands mad- and I just wasn't going to do it.  So I didn't.  The end.

I did make sure that I had some fresh fruit and raspberry tea on hand.  Because really, what is more important than tea for a photo shoot?  Nothing, that's what.  I also let the dogs have a day of doggy day care to play and romp about with other dogs.  Jack was thrilled.  Apparently he curled up on a blanket in the corner and slept all day.  For $25 dollars he did the same damn thing he does here.  Swell.  Violet, however, was quite the social butterfly and ran amuck and played.  Good dog.

That is not a frog in my tea.  It is also not a turtle.  It really is a lime...

Anne and Gary were so sweet and personable.  I tend to be a very chatty and a "hello, here is the whole story of my life in one sitting" kind of person.  Sometimes that is off putting, but Anne was just so sweet and listened to me, and also shared so much about their interesting adventures they have had across the country.

They shot tethered, which I've read about, but was very interesting to see how it's done in person.  The way the shots are determined, angles, props, etc.  So detailed and just so darn cool!

They were also so sweet to our kids and the dogs when they came home.  I love dog people.

The staging was very interesting.  They moved things, rearranged, scootched furniture over, changed out pieces, added, took away... this is what my living room looks like on a daily basis.  I can tell you when the issue comes out that it looked so much better than this.  They added things I never thought to do- and the angles they shot at were just so unique.

I loved these roses they showed up with...

and that they used one of my vintage medicine bottles to display one of the roses.

I really didn't do much all day other than take pictures and post on FB and Instagram.  Occasionally I would move something for them or look for a prop, but really it was just fun to sit and watch the whole thing.  By the time they left I was exhausted, and I can only imagine how tired Anne and Gary were!

While we were chatting, Anne pulled up a shoot from their home.  AH-mazing!  If I lived there I would probably never leave the farmhouse.  Jump over to the link to see the rest of their beautiful home.

Image From Country Living

In other news, I mailed off a bunch of signs for The Happy Soul Project this morning and new signs are almost ready for the shop.

Thank you to so many of you who have bought or inquired about signs.  We are a two gal operation, so it takes us a bit longer- but our signs are made by hand with love.

Have a happy day!