Kinfolk Flower Potluck

This Spring,  Samuel and I had the pleasure of filming and participating in the first Kinfolk workshop that was hosted here in Charlotte by my dear friend Anna.    Kinfolk Magazine,  is a lovely, collective community of beauty and all things that nurture the simplicity and joy of a heart felt gathering. If you've never read their magazine or been inspired by their essays and photographs, you must add this bit of wonderful into your life. 

This workshop was a Flower Potluck so, everyone brought armfuls of flowers to share with each other. Upon arriving, each girl was given a flower crown and met with treats and lavender lemonade. A professional florist instructed us on different forms and styles of flower arrangements, which we later used to adorn the communal dinner table. Originally, the event and the dinner were to be held outdoors in the gorgeous rose garden. But, a spring rain shower redirected us into the florist's studio, which made for an intimate time of communing with new and dear friends over the common love of beauty and an amazing meal. I felt that the unplanned rain gave the day a rather romantic feel. It was truly magical. The same day, several more of the same themed events were happening all over the world! You can see the other events here.

If you'd like to attend and share in similar and wonderful experiences of celebration and creativity like this, Anna will be hosting additional and various type of workshops, later this year. You can find more information on her blog, The Colorful Living Project.  

Here is Samuel's short film of the Flower Potluck and Dinner. This was our first time of officially working together as a film/creative team. It was perfect.  We both shot footage of the event, Samuel edited and scored it and I helped as the art director.  You will be seeing many more of our collaborations, in the near future.  I adore this man of mine. He's so amazing and my favorite person to create with.

All photos by Anna Naphtali 

Film// Forest Lake Media // Flowers, Demo & Studio: Nectar // Food: Goldmine // Rentals, Farm Tables & Coordination: Hey Love Events// // Venue: Mcgill Rose Garden // 

Food Truck Friday

Food Truck Friday is one of my favorite culinary and city loves about Charlotte. Every Friday, there is a buzz of life in the air, as masses of people come out to try delicious plates from half a dozen or so, AMAZING food trucks at South End. The experience is half of the deal. When else would you wait 45 minutes in line just to get a small plate of fish tacos or a black bean burger? But, to me...it's worth it! There are always friends, familiar faces and sweet puppies to be enjoyed.  I LOVE the loud chaos, the buzz of all the people there and the laughs that fill up the space in the background.

This past Food Truck Friday, a group of my best friends and I met up together to share a bit of picnic blanket in the shade. The sweet and savory smells of everything from tacos to crepes tempted our taste buds. We welcomed in the first day of summer with warm sun, the goodness of true friendship and the sounds of our wild children playing and running everywhere. Their sweet laughs reminded me that in every time of happiness or disappointment, present or up-coming, there is always a simple joy to be found and held onto. Hello Summer darling, I'm glad you're here.

-Jess

My beautiful friends, Anna, Jessie, Lauren and Lorean.

Words I Love

" ...It is the stories and the cherishing that make us beautiful. May you catch each falling moment in your hands and kiss it as it goes." -Mary Wein 'These are the Lines of a Story'

Those are the last words from an essay that I just read this morning, after a friend posted it on facebook. And now, my heart is a lovely mess. You seriously need to take 5 minutes and read it. I was left in tears. Good tears.  It is too precious and filled my heart with so much truth and love. Written by a mother, embracing her body and the beauty of this story of life. Grab a tissue, the last paragraph was it for me, as she wrote to her son...get ready. I want to raise my boys with this heart and ode to true beauty, helping mold them into amazing future loves and husbands. It's given me a whole new awareness of how I see and treat myself, especially in front of them.  *insert love filled sob here.* Anna, I'm so glad you posted this.

Love and happy reading. 

Jess

"These are the Lines of a Story"

Go Buddy, Go!

This little nugget of mine, hasn't been still since he turned 3 weeks old. He's standing on his own now and trying to take steps (if he isn't speed crawling down the hallways). Seriously, he started crawling at 4.5 months, guys. Crazy. Kael was always content to lounge and be carried, but Cedar has been planning his first triathlon for months, I swear. ha! These pictures were taken at my parent's house, a couple of months ago. My mom's cute red toes were a bit of an obsession for little C. haha. So precious. 

Oh little bug, I love you and your sweet little wiggly soul. I'm not going to try and stop you or wish you'd slow down. I'll always be your biggest fan and sideline cheerleader, as you pass me full speed ahead on the sidelines. 

Momma

Backyard Friends

Warm days are treasures to me! We've had SO much rain and unseasonably chilly weather that a sunny day is kind of sacred now. Lorean, one of my closest girlfriends, dropped by my house last week with her kids Micah and Asher. (Who I adore like my own!)  Micah and Kael have been buddies since they were born and it was all squeals and giggles on our back deck, as Micah doused Kael with the water hose. He kept yelling for her to get him and she gladly obliged, haha.  They were both in heaven. When I heard all of their happy laughs and screams, I jumped outside to take a few pictures. I love these crazy kids so much and I love how they are growing up together. I can't believe they will both be 3 this year?! (tears) Memories of gold for me right here. 

BTW, If you have don't have a kiddie pool, put your water hose on "mist!" it's the best water gun and source of entertainment for warm days at our house! 

It's My Favorite

"It's My Favorite" 

 2. 

a new mini series of sweet moments and favorite things

The more I allow my heart to realize it's loved, the more I desire to love, and when I love, my heart feels complete and whole. Every emotion that competes with that love starts to become weakened inside of me and more of a memory than a close companion. I'm never happier and more at rest inside of myself than when I lean into that place. For me, to accept love is to be vulnerable, weak and brave. To give love, is to be vulnerable, weak and brave. That's beauty, this is what grace is to me.  My prayer is that I live in this place of weakness and bravery to let love flood in, pouring into the hearts of every living soul around me.  Loving is my favorite. 

Spilled Milk

It is such a treat and joy to be a contributor on this new photography project. 18 moms from around the world, all of us finding together, each week, the beauty and craziness that comes with parenthood. I love looking for my interpretation of each week's theme from simple moments in my home alongside these amazing moms and artists. When you visit the project you can see our first week was "warmth" and this current week is "meal." Looking forward to the many weeks ahead. 

Follow along with us at  Spilled Milk 

Jess

It's My Favorite

"It's My Favorite" 

 1. 

a new mini series of sweet moments 

Holding hands with Kael is my favorite. He will get a burst of energy and run ahead. In his mind's eye, he's chasing a tiger or flying like Buzz Lightyear. But then, he will  stop in his tracks and reach out with a huge grin on his face (his grin slays me)  and asks to hold my hand. It never gets old. All of a sudden, time slows down and I can feel every part of myself soaking up the precious feelings of trust and tenderness. Watching my 2.5 year old toddler turn into a little boy has been the most amazing chapter of life that Samuel and I have experienced, so far. Last night, Samuel walked into the kitchen with tears in his eyes, after tucking in our  little Forest friend and said, "Gosh I love our sons, Jess... Kael, he's just so sweet." More tears well up in his eyes, with a smile that leaves my heart in a puddle. Those are the moments I live for. There are days of whining, frustration and tears, of course. But, I am overwhelmed with tidal waves of love and awe, as I watch this boy of ours lavish sweetness and the most sincere affection on our hearts.

 Kael, you can hold my hand forever.

Jess

Artist+Mother

To say you are the sweetest, most gentle, little souls that I've loved is to speak my heart. 

Motherhood has found me in simple places, the last several months. I've been embracing my own heart, through loving my sons. I've been finding myself, while chasing Kael on his favorite walks and discovering my dreams (old and new) by watching Cedar explore his days with fresh eyes.  

Lately, life has been full of smiles, kisses, tears, early mornings and late nights, friends, family, bumped heads and warm embraces. I've had new motivation that usually comes for me with Spring and Summer. There are new things that I am excited about and old things that I'm learning to dance with, with grace and hope. I have ideas, projects that I've been working on, pictures that I've taken and things that I've created that are waiting to be shared. There are stories scribbled down, songs written and sung at the kitchen sink,  designs I've tinkered with and new journeys that we have started and are about to begin.

All of those things haven't been my driving passion or inspiration during this season, though. It's been the faces of my boys and the heart of my husband that have been my beauty and creative engine. Allowing my heart to explore and soak in this life of mine, without set expectations of my own or others, has been sweet. 

Finding the balance and that fulfilling place of being a mother and an artist, has been a continual growing and learning experience for me. As an artist, I've always wanted to do more, reach deeper with that discontented desire for originality. Right now, my heart feels good, settled in my title of "momma," fulfilled with a healthy desire to create more. 

My home is my center. My family is my home and I'm learning in every moment of every day how to create a living art, by loving them. 

-Jess

Trausch Family Part 1

Last Sunday, I spent the morning at my sweet friend, Beth's house and took some pictures of her beautiful family, 3 year old daughter Hanelia and precious new baby girl, Eva. (I'm in love with her, she is like a little china doll! Swoon.) We had so much fun and my heart enjoyed every second! I took a ton of images, way too many to post, but these are some of my favorites. Beth is seriously so gorgeous and she makes the most beautiful little girls!  Love you Beth! Thanks for letting me play and click away!