Mother's Day 2012

Get ready, Winnipeg, it's time for our Mother/Daughter event!  Join us and celebrate your special bond!  Now until May 19th.

Sessions are $50 (plus taxes) and packages start at $100.  Perfect for Mother's Day!

Awards, Gallery Show, and Availability

Rodney was recently awarded "Best Portrait" and "Best Commercial" Image at the Professional Photographers of Canada-Manitoba print competition.  Here are his award-winning images:

"Abracadabra" - Best Portrait

"Fairy Dust" - Best Commercial

These two images are part of a larger collection which is showing until May 5th at Pixels 2.1 Gallery on 217 McDermot Ave.  Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 11-5.

We managed to receive some good publicity at the opening of "Airborne".  There was an article in the Metro and a post on CBC's arts blog, Manitoba Scene.

The exhibit is receiving very positive feedback.  The gallery owner is determined these works should be put into book form.  If you're interested in pre-ordering a book (no money necessary yet), please sign-up for yours here.  There is also the possibility of a calendar in the works.  You can see more images on our Airborne Facebook Page.  Make sure to get downtown and visit the gallery though.  It is the most powerful to view them framed and on the walls as a group.

Rodney is just finishing up his first year teaching at Red River College, so he has more availability again.  It's a great time to do something for yourself, to give you that spring in your step and a sparkle in your eye.  Rodney expects to be in the studio Tuesday to Thursday from 11 - 5.  He may have some Fridays and evenings available as well as at least one Saturday per month.  You can reach the studio by calling 221-8413 to set up a consultation.

Email Down

Just a quick note: if you sent an email inquiry to us over the past 10 days or so, you likely didn't hear back from us as our email was down and we were a bit slow in getting things back on track.  Please re-submit your inquiry and we will get back to you shortly.  Thanks so much!

2012

It's hard to believe we're this far into 2012 already.  It has been full of adjustments and transitions.  Rodney has added two evening classes to his teaching load, but is enjoying it immensely.  Our youngest started kindergarten mid-year.  That is also hard to believe!  When I first conceived of Eve Studios, he was just a year old!

With Rodney's limited availability, we have weekdays Tuesday to Thursday and some Saturdays open for appointments.  I am now taking care of communication with clients, although consultations, sessions, and ordering are still all done through Rodney currently.

It has been an interesting journey for me since Rodney's teaching job has freed me up.  Even though I've loved the chance to become a "business-woman" and use my skills and develop new ones, I feel very blessed to now focus more of my time and energy on my passions which centre around my most important relationships, singing, speaking, and writing.  It has been strange to pull back from the business world, but it has been the right choice for me.

I'm so glad we can still offer women the opportunity to explore and celebrate their beauty.  As we venture further into 2012, may we find much to be thankful for each day.

Exhibit Dec. 2 - 8

Rodney's latest art project opens this Friday from 6 to 9 at the corner of Albert and McDermot (2nd floor).  We'd love to see you there!

News Bits

 A few new things are coming into play this fall.  Let me tell you about them.

• Rodney has taken on a part-time teaching position at Red River College and is enjoying the challenge.  (The studio is now closed on Mondays and Fridays).

• We will no longer be offering 2-for-1 sessions on the last Tuesday of the month.

• The studio will be closed the week of Remembrance Day.

• Rodney is currently working on two art projects to be unveiled this winter.  Watch for times and dates!

What does it mean to be beautiful?

On Facebook today, Kim Malchuk (Manitoba best-selling author of Tasting Rain) asked the question, “What does it mean to be beautiful?”  Here are the thoughts she inspired in me:

I think there are many ways to describe what it means to be beautiful, but here's what I've been thinking about lately...

To be beautiful is to be a woman.
To be a woman is to be beautiful.

Yes, there are things that can mar or cover a woman's beauty: usually through the responses to a wounded heart--hardness instead of strength, weakness instead of tenderness.

I believe every woman has beauty at her very core.  She was designed to bring beauty to the world; to be beauty in her own unique way.

It may sound fluffy or shallow, but beauty is important.  Beauty is not a luxury.

Beauty is something we all hunger for at a very deep level:  to see it and create it.
Without beauty, we live a truly impoverished existence.

God realized as soon as he created Adam, that he would live an impoverished life without Eve.  So woman came to be.  Beauty embodied.

So to be beautiful, does not mean to put on something.  It means to be who we were created to be: beauty.

Beauty inspires us to live better.
Beauty invites us to linger in its presence.
Beauty tells us all is well and all shall be well.
Beauty nourishes us.
Beauty causes us to look to the one who created it...it transcends the everyday and draws our eyes heavenward.

**My thanks to Stasi and John Eldredge for their insights shared in "Captivating" and to Thomas Kinkade in "Lightposts for Living".

Sexy in the City - "Being Sexy" by Carolyne Braid

Sexy is not determined by your hip to waist ratio, length of your hair, or how long your legs are. Rather, just as the saying goes, “sexy is truly an inside job.” As owner of Pole Dancing Winnipeg, I’ve built a business around providing women with the opportunity explore being sexy, and over the past six years I have seen the spectrum from goddess to empty shell. Outward beauty is no indication of where a woman will fall on the “sexy continuum” - rather it is determined by how they perceive and feel about themselves.

Sexy is a combination of confidence and sensuality. It is the belief in one’s self coupled with the acknowledgement of being a woman. When these two forces - strength and beauty - are brought together, it is a powerful force which can inspire, empower, and change lives.

Some women don’t feel they have the right, don’t deserve to be, don’t believe they are, or have forgotten how to be sexy. I feel to be a true authentic woman, all aspects need to be explored and embraced. Living an incongruent life can leave women unfulfilled, unhappy, and quiet inside.

I first became involved with pole dancing after seeing it on Oprah. While working with the pole I found a home, a channel, a way to explore my sexy side. I knew I was a woman, but I was disjointed and unsure. Over time, and being open to what the pole allowed to emerge, I am now all woman – I walk sexy, I talk sexy, I am sexy. It is a feeling from within and needs no external confirmation. 

Sonya's note:  Congratulations to Carolyne on expanding your business to Brandon and being one of four PoleFit Canada certified businesses.

What's your definition of sexy and what makes you feel sexy?  You can read what I said on our facebook page.  But we'd really like to hear from you!  Everyone who comments on facebook, on our blog, or sends me an email (if you want to be more anonymous or have a very long answer) will be entered to win some fabulous prizes, including something from Pole Dancing Winnipeg!

Sexy in the City--coming to Winnipeg!

Just a quick announcement of what's ahead: next month we'll be talking about what "sexy" means to us and what makes us feel sexy. And you'll have the chance to do a very cool session in the heart of our city.  I hope you'll join our discussion on facebook or chime in with a comment here on the blog.  (You can also feel free to email me at sonya at evestudios.ca if you would like to remain anonymous or don't want to comment or facebook).  Everyone who submits something will be entered for a prize draw from some fabulous businesses.  Already have prizes confirmed from Pole Dancing Winnipeg!

We've been focusing on family relationships this summer and now just want to focus in on you as a woman. If you're coming to our blog for the first time and are looking for info on family ideas and portraits, just scroll down and you'll find it. The summer is going by fast, so be sure to book soon if you're thinking of it. Our studio number is 221-8413 and the best time to call is around noon. Or you can email sonya at evestudios.ca.  Please note we will be away for the first part of August.

Winnipeg Family Ideas -- Summer Yum!

With a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy some yummy summer goodness.

OJ frozen concentrate, milk, vanilla ice cream, vanilla, sugar, summer fruits, ice, popsicle molds

Orange Julius

2/3 cup frozen OJ concentrate
1 c. milk
1 1/2 c. water
1/2 c. sugar (can use less)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
10-12 ice cubes

Mix in blender and enjoy

Homemade Popsicles

1 cup OJ concentrate (slightly thawed works best)
1 cup vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup chopped nectarines or peaches
1/2 cup chopped strawberries

Blend OJ and ice cream until smooth.  Fill popsicle molds half-way.  Drop in one set of fruit chunks.  Jiggle a bit to submerge.  Drop in other set of fruit.  Fill molds rest of the way and add handles.  Freeze.  (Amounts are approximate...adjust as needed).  Experiment with different fruits.

What are your favorite summer treats?