Menu art by Hatch Show Print, food by The Hermitage Hotel’s Capitol Grille (you have to see the men’s restroom here!!!).  This awesome meal followed a fantastic evening watching the Grand Ole Opry at Ryman Auditorium where Little Jimmy Dickens made me swoon, Alison Krauss brought a tear to my eye, and Gillian Welch gave me goose bumps!  Nashville rocks!!!:)

It seems most appropriate I post this now-I just returned from a fantastic trip to LA, part of which was spent on the Sunset Strip!  This trip helped fill in the last piece of the puzzle; I can finally say I’ve officially met ALL the members of Cherri Rokkett!!!:)

I’m sorry to say I missed the Rokkett during their pyrotechnic & spandex filled debut-I was in Middle School, in Michigan,  probably listening to The Cure and The Smiths.:)

Where were YOU in 1988????

Sunset Strip, 2/11/12 11:11pm:

Issue #8 was just released, and I’m thrilled to be a contributor!

Thank you Design Bureau for sending me to photograph Kelly Wagner, Phil Cooper, and Melissa Kirby, all talented designers part of the Event Creative team (as of the article release date, Phil however has moved on to another company). Walking into their giant warehouse for the first time, I could feel the energetic buzz of creativity! On staff designers, lighting techs, & carpenters (only a few of the endless crew specialties!) all work harmoniously to produce not just events but experiences. It all happens amongst rows upon rows, and stacks upon stacks, of props, lighting, and raw building materials.  If only I could have the run of this place for a week-the sets we could create!!!!!:)

Special thanks to Mr. Cooper for giving me a shot that will forever make me smile!:) Family portrait below also includes Gigi-Event Creative’s official mascot!

I have the great privilege of introducing to you, an up & coming talent we’ve had the pleasure of working with for several years now. You might recognize him from small cameos in some of our previous photographs: May I have this dance?, The Inlaws!, and if you go way back, you may even remember one of his earliest roles in Holidad (Page 2 of the website, right column, 2nd row)! May I present to you, in his first time as the star of a feature photograph, Santa Claus: Naughty or Nice?, SANTA CLAUS!!!!

Santa’s co-star is another long time collaborator; playing Mrs. Claus, Delia Aces!!!  Keep an eye out for her February 2012 show with Michelle L’amour’s Chicago Starlets.  I wonder if Santa will be there?;)

Happy Holidays!!!

From the magazine (subscribe here!):

And a few outtakes we shot at the gallery:

My mom is the one who of course inspired this first pilgrimage!:) I can remember being a kid and dancing with her to Elvis records in our very 70′s family room. She and I watched countless Elvis movies together (somehow my dad and brother always had other things to do!).  And EVERY Christmas we listened to the two (one is not enough!) Elvis Christmas albums she had as we decorated the tree and again as we opened presents-a tradition I still honor!:)

I think most people who know me, know: I LOVE ELVIS! And I love it all-young Elvis, old Elvis, the good movies, the bad movies (maybe I love the bad movies just a little bit more!), even Elvis tribute artists. Seriously, how can you not love a man in a bedazzled jumpsuit?!

I was very excited to be in Memphis recently, and of course had to visit Graceland once again!:) Mom, this one is for you!:)

Thank you Time Out for thinking of us again this year for the Holiday Party Fashion (here is last year’s if you want to take a peek!)!

A special thanks to the iO cast from Joy! – An iO Family Christmas Special which is running for just two more Wednesdays (December 14th and December 21st) at 9pm , buy your tix here!  The show is described as a bit of old school Christmas review feel with guests from around the theater popping in and joining on stage (the perfect kind of show for my short attention span!).  AND at the end audience participation is encouraged for a round of caroling down Clark St!:)

Another special thanks to Dinner Party who sells and rents fabulous vintage tableware, linens, and home decor (some of which looks like it came out of my own kitchen cabinet!)!  You can also see some of their wares at the next Dose Market on February 12, 2012!