I can’t tell you how excited I am to be welcoming you to my new blog! This is something I have direly needed to do for some time. I diligently spent two days working on it. If you’ve done one before, you realize the time it does takes to set one up. (Which is probably the reason why I kept putting it off!) Phew! Big weight off me and just in time, too!
I’ve not officially made it known yet, but today I am…I have some great big news! Drum roll….I am the new tenant of a building which is going to house MY NEW STUDIO!! Oh my goodness is this ever exciting for me!! I’ve wanted this for 8 years now but didn’t want to just jump into it. I wanted it to be the “right” time and that time has come. You know when things are meant to be when they almost literally fall into your lap. Ahhhh…I’ve been so blessed in my walk of life. I’m truly very thankful.
So where is this studio? It’s at 113 E. Elm in Argenta, Illinois in the “downtown” area. This makes me giggle because if you know Argenta, you know that it’s about 1,000 people in size and the downtown is really hardly a downtown. It comprises of a bank, a community building and a builder, and…now US! I say “us” because my friend and colleague, Kellie Penn from Across the Miles Photography, is joining me on this venture. We will be sharing this space. How will that work you say? Well, exactly how a beauty salon works! We’ll have our own clientele but will share everything from the backdrops, lighting, furniture, props, etc. but still have our own separate businesses. It’s going to work and work well we think!
We got the keys and signed the papers and after Thanksgiving we hope to begin painting! Anyone want to join in on a painting party?! The space is HUGE and back when it was built, was a mercantile store in the late 1880’s! It’s a beautiful building with original tin ceilings and wood floors. Oh it’s glorious! Since I am from Argenta and my family settled in Argenta in the late 1880’s, all of this holds dear to my heart. Oh you should see our paint colors! So divine! I am just giddy with joy
Can’t wait till you stop by and see us. We hope to officially start “shooting” in January. That’s our goal, anyway. Being a procrastinator (like most of us photographers seem to be!), it may not be January, but oh it sure it sounds good!! More to come on this and hopefully with an actual “open” date.
In the meantime, I hope you’ll add me to your blog roll and feeds and come back daily to see what’s new here. I’ve been very busy getting back into the groove since the birth of Finley and with the holidays coming up, well, it’s a bit crazy. But I’m a blogger and will always make time to come chit-chat here. Thank you for joining me on this journey! I’m so excited!!!!!!
With love ~ Val
P.S. And, here’s my new logo designed by no other than…. me.
Sometimes I have to put my graphic design skills to good use. It’s the last month, I think, that I’m paying off those student loans! Another “hip, hip, HOORAY!”

I had to put in the "speech bubble" just for fun
2 Comments
Val,
LOVE the cards! What is the price range? I was just getting ready to order ours from Shutterfly, but would love to know your prices first.
Thanks!
Katherine
these are gorgeous, val!! love them. great job.