A few weeks ago I had the privilege of doing a business profile on a dear friend, Hope Handschuh.  Hope has been an independent jeweler for Premiere Designs Jewelry for almost 8 years now.  I must admit, I’m not what you would call a jewelry-lover by any stretch.  But I bit the bullet & went to one of Hope’s shows that was to benefit an organization that fights human trafficking.  Can I say, “WOW!”  I was blown away by the ease at which Hope made it look to be put together, polished, finished??  Even in a t-shirt & jeans!  The jewelry isn’t cheap, it’s quality.  And being in the quality photography business myself, I value the quality of products a LOT more these days.  I want something that’s gonna last through drops, bumps, spills, and being yanked on by small children.   The pieces I’ve gotten from Hope definitely fit that bill.  And I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS get compliments on the set whenever I wear it.  And if you know me, you know I wear it a LOT!

If you don’t like reading, then watch the 5-minute video below.  I took a few hours over at Hope’s house to capture a taste of what she does in her business.  And for those of you readers out there, go below the video for some detailed info on Hope, her life, her family, & her business.  Oh yeah, and some PHOTOS!

Meet Hope!  A loving wife to Josh & wonderful mother to four beautiful children.  Hope has been with Premiere Designs Jewelry for almost 8 years, ever since her oldest son was 6 months old.  Why jewelry?  As Hope says, it’s fun to play jewelry with other women, making them feel beautiful, while at the same time bringing in extra income for her growing family – Josh & Hope have just added Eliana to their family through adoption & hope to do the same to with another son this summer.  With four children to clothe, feed & care for, you & I both know it almost always takes more than one income these days.  And over the past 8 years, Hope & Josh have added 40 women to their group of independent jewelers, helping them achieve their financial goals as well.

And as I have known for a good part of my life, Hope is a social butterfly! She thrives on being with & around people, and being a jeweler for Premiere allows her to meet & interact with so many.  And she’s darn good at the jewelry thing too!  I mean, man, she got ME to wear jewelry!  I almost feel under-dressed when I leave without my one set…my bling bling!  Take a look at a few of the combinations of jewelry Hope put on her lovely sisters in about 15 minutes!  She’s amazing!

Why am I doing this business profile?  Well, I thought the same question when I started thinking about this idea late last year.  What do I want to show?  Why do I want to do this?  Well, here’s my incohesive thought process.  I’m a wife.  I’m a mother.  I’m a small business owner.  How do I get more name recognition?  How do I get my name out there?  How do I get hired?  How do I get people to know what I’m capable of?  How do other women, wives, mothers do what I am trying to do?  Then it hit me…just ask them.  And so this idea, this vision, of featuring women who own a small business, who run families, who are a busy & sometimes scattered as I am, was born.

I hope you enjoyed this little taste of Hope’s business.  And I hope even more that you’ll just consider having her for your next girl’s night, super bowl party, wedding shower, etc.  She’s amazing, quick, knowledgeable, and will make you feel beautiful.  And men, ahem…a special day is coming up where you might want to give your women some bling!!!!  Call Hope (443.994.7937).  She’ll bring over some pieces for you & your male friends & help you pick out what’s best for your woman.   You will not be disappointed – I guarantee it.

WHEW!  This weekend has been a whirlwind!  I now understand the expression, “When it rains, it pours!”  I had been kinda down in the dumps about not having many photo sessions for this winter season and had resigned myself to organizing/cleaning my house & just playing with my girls.  And so it went for a few weeks, and now all of the sudden, I have a total of 5 clients in 3 days!  Well, three of them were on the same day for my first ever photo party that I dubbed the Bare Bellies Party.  In restrospect I should have added a tag line that bare bellies were optional.

After much anticipation, and multiple applications of deoderant, I took my nervous self to Baltimore to photograph some glowing, gorgeous moms-to-be!  Laura (my sis-in-law) & her friends Sharon & Samantha invited me into their homes to witness their growing families, their little cuter-than-cute nurseries, and their collection of sonograms & baby paraphanelia for their children.

Now I know, from experience, the love you have for a child is immense.  You never think you can have enough love for your husband, but then add a baby to that, and wow…how are you gonna do it?  But these ladies are all very much in love with their husbands and at the same time so much in love with the little lives that are growing inside of them.  I hope you can sense, as I did, their excitement, anticipation, and pure joy!

Welcome to your debut baby Delaney, baby Jackson, and baby “Roblet!”

Proud Papa!

See this poor little tulip?  Covered with snow, trying to break free of winter’s grasp?  That’s how I feel right now…like a little flower yearning for Spring, yet covered with Winter’s ice.  I think I go through this every year.  When the hulabaloo of Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year’s are over, there’s not much to do, especially for the stay-at-home mom of two young girls.  My days are filled with staying in because it’s too cold to go out, coughs, sniffles, mentoring sisterly arguments, entertaining an almost four-year-old who thinks things are “boring,” and basically just cleaning up the same mess over and over again.  It sounds depressing, I know.  And sometimes it is.  So, I thought to help lift me, and possibly YOU, out of these winter blahs, I’d post some signs of Spring.  Who cares what Punxsutawney Phil says, right?  We can still have a little Spring early.

Here are some photos of flowers I’ve taken over the years.  I don’t always know what to do with them, but nevertheless, I still keep taking them.  They are yours.  Take them.  Drag them and drop them onto your desktop.  Use them to brighten your winter as you wait for spring.  And I will leave you with this quote: “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”  ~Josh Billings

A few months ago you may remember me shooting the Emery family. Well…this is the “other” Emery family, or the Emery’s that started the first Emery’s I photographed. (Is that too many Emery’s???) Oh well! Anyway….Cary contacted me to come photograph his mother and sisters who visit anually from Maine around this time of year. And every year they drive the 11 hours to visit and bring down an authentic Maine Christmas tree! Talk about family devotion! I had a lot of fun with your family, and probably the most fun trying to get Maxwell to not run away from me. Enjoy your preview and have a blessed holiday with your family!