bLaSt from the PaSt!

Blast from the past. Or step stool from the past maybe. When I was just a little girl... my Momma hand painted this beautiful stool for me. It is white with flowers and green stripes and she even painted my name on it. I absolutely love it. See, my Momma made one of these for my each of her daughters but I'm not sure she ever knew that the one she made for me was completely cherished. Being an "Audra" I couldn't exactly find my name on a bike license plate or on a Mug at the mall. In fact, I couldn't find my name on anything. So, I hated my name. (Of course, now I love my name and would even consider it for my own daughter someday...) But, when my beautiful and talented Momma painted this treasure for me, I was so extremely happy. I actually remember looking at it in my bedroom thinking it was my most favorite possession and if there were a fire, I would run back for it. no joke. As I've gotten older, I've realized that this has obviously never changed. I took my step stool to West Virginia University when I went away to college. I took it when Jason and I got our own place back in Pittsburgh. Now, I take it on almost every shoot. Sometimes it gives me an extra half a foot and sometimes it gives me the extra four feet that I need. Regardless, it always gets the job done and it always reminds me of my Momma girl. I still cherish this gift that she gave me so many years ago and it reminds me of the creative energy that she has always had. Even though it may be a little tattered and worn now, it is still the ONLY thing that I own with my name personalized on it and it is still highly prized. I think you can probably tell why my creative juices are always flowing...
Here are a few pictures that I've snapped when I am checking lighting or camera settings where my gorgeous stool made the picture! Love you Momma!

Can you see it peaking out in this first shot?