Dear Friends

Photo House

There were a few select locations that I spent a great majority of my time at this semester. The photo house was one of them. This house and I have a love-hate relationship. 'Tis a lovely part of campus to slip over to for a few hours to get away from the hub of campus life. That is, during the day. At night...well, it has the tendency to freak people out a bit. Though, I was fortunate enough to have some pals that enjoyed going over there with me to keep me company. This day was actually one of the two snow days we had this semester. Such a treat!

Working with film photography was the cause of many challenges, trials, and even sorrows. When you are responsible for a photo from the time the film is placed into the camera to the time you hold the print in your hands, there is a lot of room for error. Even tiny mistakes can lead to a disastrous end. But I will tell you that I've learned a lot about photos through this. It really isn't the end of the world if you lose some of them. You might have an awful sick feeling in your stomach for a while knowing you will never see them but it will go away. I've learned that the memory of something is not the most important part. It's that it actually happened in the first place.

This Yard

It's nice to fall asleep on whichever bed or couch that I like.
It's nice to wake up to a cat at my feet who bites me when I try to pet her.
It's nice to sit on the counter and talk to my father and brother.
It's nice to sit on a porch that looks out to a yard filled with trees.
It's nice to be in the company of squirrels and chickens and lizards.

I know, I know. I haven't posted in forever. Well, you see, this last semester has been the busiest of all previous school semesters in my life. And so, as you could imagine, my finals week was also the busiest I've ever had. Hence, no time for blogging. But now I am home and back to it! I will be posting quite often over the break. I will fill you in on some projects I've done in some of my classes, I will show you the wonder and whimsy that made up my Thanksgiving break, and I will finally post more film photos. So be sure to stay tuned! Many more treats to come.

The Hartsfield's

I have  been welcomed into the home of the Hartsfield's from Texas for this Thanksgiving holiday. Kathleen's is a friendship that has changed my life in so many ways. To be able to spend such a time of the year with her and her family has been a treasure beyond what I could have even imagined. And to come here with another of our closest friends, Ahnna...I couldn't have asked for a more enriching group of people. 

Now, I have certainly been missing my family a great deal. But I do get to see them in a mere TWO WEEKS. Thank you, dear Lord.

An Update

This semester...has flown by faster than I ever could have imagined. I simply cannot comprehend it.And it's been insanely busy. But it has been so good.

This semester I have:
Averaged 1-3 all-nighters per week
Limited my coffee intake due to excessive consumption
Had serious computer problems
Been really bad about returning emails, calls, and text messages

But I've also:
Made some crazy cool new freshman friends
Had wonderfully genuine conversations
Had the best birthday trip home
Learned how to develop my own photos
Gone to Steak N' Shake happy hour (in the A.M.)
Road tripped to Saint Louis
Painted my skin green
And so much more...but it's late. And I can't think of more.

But to sum it up, I've been incredibly blessed. And I don't know what else to do but praise the good Lord for it all.

A Sampling of Classwork

Graphic Design Assignment: Redesign a website home page.
Website before: Florida Folk Festival
Website after:

Kites for Kate

We all love Kate. It was her birthday last weekend but she wasn't at school. So we planned a "Kites and Cookies for Kate" birthday surprise party today in our dorm and it was fantastic. We baked cookies and put kites on the wall for friends to sign with love. So this one's for Kate! We love your graphic designing, photographing, crafty-making, cookie baking, all-around-totally-loveable self. For real. I thank the Lord for you in muh life.

Art History is...exciting!

Today I was surprised a little bit by my Art History class. I actually really enjoyed it. I've never been one to get very into history. Not because I don't like it, but because it's difficult for me to learn and grasp onto it. But today, I was listening and taking notes and before I knew it class was over. So hopefully that class period will set the tone for the semester. There was one piece we looked at that somewhat inspired this little watercolor doodle I made...

I was looking at figures from the Great Hall of the Bulls and thinking of how much I love black-outlined figures. I especially love black-outlined figures with watercolors. I really need to do those more often.

(Belated) Film Friday

Well, I do apologize that film friday this week was a little bit tardy. It's been a crazy busy week trying to pack up and say goodbyes before moving back in for the semester. Because I spent yesterday packing and driving, I didn't get the chance to scan in new pictures. But I found some old family photos I put on here a while back. Hope you like 'em like I love 'em.

We left last night around 7 p.m. and drove through the night to arrive at about 7 a.m. It was my first all night drive. While it was unpleasant at times, I have to tell you...watching the sun go down and watching it rise again in one sitting is more beautiful than I ever realized. I was literally writing poems in my mind as I watched the day unfold. 

I can tell when it's coming.

The earth glows purple in anticipation.

Sun softly kisses the sky and the hills

With pastel orange and pasty pink.

She takes time to wake up.

Her deep breaths blow out mist over the grass.

The trees fold back their leaves

releasing one...flock...of birds...at...a time.

The fresh smell of a new day is strong

And pierces through metal and glass.

I breath it in. 

The dawn is much more glorious than I ever knew.

Oh, I do believe, she is never more beautiful

than when compared to the long and rainy night

I spend waiting for her to come. 

Slowly. Softly.

She comes.

A New Escapade

Hello! If you don't know already my name is Kathryn. Formerly known as Kathryn Lynn Photography, I am now venturing towards a new journey called Fabric & Shoestring!

Now a 19 year old girl with creative juices a'flowing, I'm ready to start an outlet for other's to enjoy my craftwork. So I've created a handmade and vintage shop on Etsy. Not only am I stoked for the challenge of consistently making new things to put up for sale, but this will also help me to pay for college! I'm studying photography at Union University and feel extremely privileged to do so. Buying my items will strictly help pay for my schooling.

Another part of my shop will be vintage items. I've always loved digging through old garage sales, thrift shops, and antique malls to find really unique items that have a neat history. Old, dusty, antique things fascinate me. I try to find items that just the right person will stumble upon and say, "I must have that!"

The focus of my items, handmade and vintage, is beauty, function, and affordability. If you are wanting the finest quality of this or that then I probably don't have it. I'm not too into that groove. But if you want a unique vintage or handmade item that won't cost you an arm and a leg, then take a look in my shop and see if I have something to your fancy. And you could always help out a poor college student, right?

Also, a large part of Fabric & Shoestring is going to be the blog. I will be posting lots of DIY tutorials, Film Fridays, and so much more. And a big part of that will be encouragement. More about the blog soon. For now, check out my Etsy shop here and be sure to subscribe in the left-hand column!