Big Family ~ Big Style

Styling the Spahn family was a wonderful adventure.  Two amazing parents, four energetic kids, and one incredibly talented photographer made this shoot a completely beautiful success!  I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Danielle and could not be more impressed with her skills as a wife and mother.  She runs her home with so much love and joy, and Jeff is such a playful dad, I can’t imagine a happier household to grown up in.  Jarrod Renaud captured the many sweet and magical moments that happened as we ran and played in the great Colorado outdoors using a myriad of film cameras, his perfected craft.

I styled the Spahn family in casual dress, bringing in details that leant charm and whimsy.  The boys wore plaid shirts, vests, suspenders, and ties, and the girls wore dresses with lace, tulle, and ruffled boot socks.  I had Jeff bring his guitar and the Spahns had a little jam session on hay bales covered with burlap and checked cloth, followed by a time of posing and playing.  This gorgeous family farm in Lyons belongs to some dear friends, the Nowlin family.  Huge thanks to them for welcoming us onto their property and even leaving us homemade chocolate chip cookies!

Jeff, Danielle, Levi, Ellie, Ethan, and Jude, you are beautiful – thank you for bringing me in to style you!

Jarrod, it’s always such an inspiration to work with you – thank you for getting such perfect images!

See more of this amazing shoot on COUTURE Colorado Baby here: Family of Six in Style

Love, Jill

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April 11th, 2013
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Maternity Style ~ Rachael Weaver

I recently got to style the beautiful Rachael Weaver of Denver’s Rachel Grace Photography for a fun and surprising (snow!) session with Meghan Valentine.  Rachael has so much natural beauty and is a no fuss kind of gal, so I loved doing her hair and makeup with a neutral smoky eye and curled soft waves into her hair before putting it up into a top knot.  She looked so gorgeous it took my breath away!    Baby Weaver is due any day now and I can’t wait to find out what they’re having!  My guess is a girl and I hope she’s born on my birthday – February 13th.

For Rachael’s first look, I restyled her baby shower outfit, adding a more ornate belt from her closet and matching boots.  The second look is a wonderful tube dress by Heidi Klum from A Pea in the Pod Maternity.  The wrap is from H&M and earrings from Claire’s.  You can’t see her boots very well, but they are amazing Frye knock offs from Target.  I have the real harness boots from Frye and they look exactly the same for only $59.99!  I brought along a sweet elephant from India to place on Rachael’s bump since the Weavers have decorated their baby’s nursery with items inspired by elephants – the belly photo is going to look so cute in the baby’s room!  The last look is a bright tee from A Pea in the Pod paired with Rachael’s own jeans and a sweater borrowed from my closet from the Missoni for Target collection last Spring.

Here she is… The woman all other pregnant women are jealous of…

 

And here comes the surprise SNOW.  It was actually so wonderful because Rachael had pictured her maternity shoot surrounded by white and a light snow fall.  This has been one of the driest winters I’ve seen in 35 years so we never thought it could happen.  But it did. :)

Rachael, you’re going to such an incredible mom.  Good luck and I can’t wait to hear the happy news!

Jill

 

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February 11th, 2013
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Thirty Five ~ Growing Gracefully

It’s my birthday next week – the big 35.  When I turned 30, I felt a huge shift happen internally regarding my purpose, my body image, my life in general.  I think that the twenties have so much angst attached to them and all the “who am I?” stuff seems to fall away on that magical 30th birthday.  It’s like we get numerical permission to just BE who we are and stop agonizing over the “becoming”.

I feel like 35 is a little scary as the scale tips toward the next big birthday of 40.  (Holy balls, did I really just type that number???)  I’ve found myself examining the lines in my face with scrutiny and anything but thoughts of love.  Here’s where I admit that I wanted to get botox for my birthday.  I truly wanted it!  I wanted my frown lines to be erased.  I wanted my kids to stop asking me if I’m mad at them when I’m just sitting there calmly sporting my permanent frown.  But sigh… I’ve worked too hard to get healthy on an extreme diet to inject some crazy chemical into my body.  And oh, my husband.  Not a good reaction from the man who loves and adores me with a blind love I’ll never understand.

So I got bangs.  My bangs have gotten an extreme reaction around town.  Everywhere I go, people I didn’t even realize knew me have commented and complimented this new ‘do.  People say I look younger and sexier.  My sweet dad says I look like a super model (he’s hilarious) and the kindergarteners I volunteer for ask, “are you still Zeph’s mom?”.  My manicurist didn’t recognize me the first time she saw me post hair cut – “I say, that’s not Jirr!!!”  It’s a major change!  I hate attention (honestly!  I know several of you don’t believe me and that’s okay, it means I’ve gotten better at putting myself out there) so I’ve been going around quietly saying, “oh.  thank you” while internally blushing and feeling victorious over said frown lines.

The moral of this story.  We all have things we wish we could permanently change about ourselves or wish we could take away completely.  I’m not saying I did the better thing by getting bangs.  It was a risk that turned out well.  It saved me from altering my face.  I’m not making judgments here and I assure you I have no place to (that’s a whole other Oprah). I’m just trying to encourage women to grow gracefully. Notice I did not say “old”.  Perspective on that is key.

We are supposed to age and we are supposed to change.  Anyone who says otherwise is just plain wrong.  I want my face to tell the story of my life.  I laugh a lot, I squint a lot, and when I am actually mad, I want my forehead to SHOW it.  I hope I can stay strong and stay graceful.  I hope you can too.

Now someone stop me from getting a tattoo.

Jill

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February 7th, 2013
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Twelve Lessons From Twenty Twelve

I’m honestly not one to sit and reflect (any journals I’ve been given are sitting empty on a shelf) and I think resolutions are mostly pointless (although well-meaning).  However, the year 2012 was one in which I was turned upside down and shaken until I learned some valuable lessons that are worth sharing, even if they only impact one more person.

Here are some realizations that I’m taking with me into 2013…

1.  You must admit something is wrong in order to make it right.

2.  You must allow yourself to be sick in order to heal.

3.  Expectations can be dangerous.  Don’t set people up to fail you.

4.  Collaborate with other artists… If they share your work ethic.

5.  Trusting God doesn’t always make you exempt from fear, anxiety or worry, but it does give you victory in the end.

6.  Giving thanks is the best weapon against discontent.  ”In everything, give thanks”.

7.  Pick up the phone – texting can be a horrible waste of time and our voices are too beautiful to not be heard.

8.  Never put anything in an email that you wouldn’t want read by at least 5 randomly chosen people in your life.

9.  Don’t get angry when someone “copies” you – give thanks for your ability to influence and set trends!

10.  Strongly edit other people’s sentences that begin with “you should…”

11.  If you no longer feel passionate about your work, something went missing.  Go find it.

12.  Asking for help is a lot like apologizing, your pride hurts at first, but then the goodness comes.

I’m so thankful for this little business I’ve got and all of my wonderful clients that make my work so rewarding.  That I get to touch peoples lives in such a powerful way is something I’m continually in awe of.  This year I’ve gotten to work with some of the most incredible artists, photographers, models, musicians, and other extraordinary “common people” who have each taught me more about being a good person, artist, and stylist.  I continue to love what I do and give thanks that I get to do it!

Love,

Jill

 

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January 2nd, 2013
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