The Sparrow Stand
Photographer. Storyteller. Artist. thesparrowsTand is a fun Omaha-based boutique photo studio that tells your story in a magazine style. Inspired by classic literature, vintage TV shows + Old Hollywood films.
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4 posts tagged lois olson photographer
Announcing the launch of my new blog & website
Hi, guys. Just wanted to let you know you can find me at my new online home at www.loisolson.com. I’ve been able to combine my blog and my website into one place. Yay! Come visit me and say hi. Sign up for my newsletter while you’re there and you’ll get behind-the-scenes stories of conceptual, storytelling photo shoots and be the first to hear about new product offerings as well as what inspires me as an artist, all delivered directly to your inbox. Can’t wait to see you there and get to know you. Don’t forget to say hi. Thanks.
Isadora Presley is Miss Foolish Heart—a book review by Lois Olson, photographer, thesparrowsTand
Characters of books are amazing creatures. If written well, they become friends by the time the book has ended. This is the case with Issy in My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren.
Isadora Presley (Issy), the coach’s daughter, is a fascinating character. When she feels safe in her own world, one that she has created, she is strong and courageous. But whenever she enters a situation which she feels is out of her control, she struggles with panic attacks that are debilitating, and she ends up on the ground curled into a fetal position.
I love how Issy reads quotes aloud from classics such as Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice in her show as Miss Foolish Heart. It makes me feel like she’s a person I would like to know.
I also love the scene where Lucy finds Issy, just before her first date with Caleb, dancing in her parents’ bedroom, with her earbuds in and wearing her old prom dress. She’s finding ways to live with courage despite her fears.
Yesterday, I listed the discussion questions written by Susan May Warren here. Today, let’s discuss the questions relating to Issy.
Isadora Presley
1. At the beginning of the story, Issy is showing symptoms of what disorder? Agoraphobia brought on by PTSD
Have you ever had something so consume your life that you felt trapped? Yes
What helped you or would help you overcome that fear? My thinking had to change. The paralyzing fear came from thinking I had no control over the situation; that I was helpless. Joshua 1:9 helped a lot. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” When I remember that I’m not alone, that I don’t have to face my fears and enter the fray unprotected; I can stand strong with courage, because it’s no longer about my weakness, but it’s about His strength. That is so very comforting.
2. Issy has a rather unusual “work from home” job. Have you ever called in to a radio or television show? No
What do you think about online communities like the one Issy has formed? Not sure. I felt I knew Issy so her online community felt safe to me. I think a lot depends on the structure and the administrator’s professionalism & character.
What are their benefits and dangers? In some ways, they can be a form of safe relationships where you can keep people at a distance. At the same time, they can provide a false sense of security that isn’t real. Benefits include being able to connect in a like-minded community from the comfort of your own home at a time that works best with your schedule.
3. Issy has a top-ten list for her ideal man. Do you think that’s a good idea? Yes & no.
Why or why not? I definitely think it’s a good idea to have a list of important character traits to make sure the man is a good match for her, however, top ten might be hard for any human man to attain no matter how upstanding he might be.
What characteristics might be on your top-ten list? Honesty, must love God more than he loves others, tenderness, strength, integrity, kindness
4. Issy runs from Caleb when she first sees him. Have you ever been ashamed by your reaction to something or someone? Yes.
What did you do about it? Apologize. Ask for forgiveness.
5. Issy has let her fears create unnecessary distance between her and her father. Have you ever been estranged from a family member? Yes.
Have you mended those bridges? Some of them.
If not, what holds you back? Some fences, once broken, are extremely difficult to mend. It can be a long process, one which requires hard work from all those affected by the broken fence for it to be mended well. Sometimes fear holds me back. Sometimes the mended fence isn’t up to me, but the other people and how they respond. It can be a really painful process.
6. What truth does Issy come to realize that helps her break free from her fears? “Perfect love expels all fear.” Issy realized the perfect romance was with God. That because His love is perfect, she could trust Him with what was out there. The things she couldn’t control, He could.
Do you agree with what she learned? Yes, I do.
How could you apply the same truth to your life? As Susan explains it, the word, perfect, in Greek means “complete.” So God’s complete love permeates every area of my life, even into the dark places. His light gives me hope and gives me courage to move past my fear into the life He created me to live fully.
Pinkie & Freckles
Once upon a time, a little pixie sprite lived in the woods. This sprite had tiny little pincurls all over her head. Pinkie, named for the little strawberry-striped hair peeking out from within the swirls of her curls, lived amongst other woodland sprites who all had dark, sable hair. She wished so hard for sable hair so she could be like the others. No other girl had quite the shade of her pink stripes. Alas, what was she to do? No amount of wishing would turn her bright pink curls into sable ones.
Her best friend, Freckles, was a hilarious sprite and would say the funniest things. Every time Pinkie spent time with her she’d come home with a bright smile upon her face. The other sprites would make fun of Freckles for she didn’t look anything like them. She has sunset orange hair and a pixie dusting of freckles across her nose. No sable hair at all. Freckles didn’t even notice their taunts. You see, she was too busy seeing all the special things about herself that made her different. In her eyes, she didn’t really have orange hair. She had hair that lit the dark woods around them and brought light to her friends. Her freckles were a dusting of cinnamon and spice and smelled just as nice. Her eyes were crystal blue, like the color of a still pond in the early morning.
One day Pinkie happened upon Freckles in the woods cradling a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest. You see, mean crackles had knocked the baby out of the nest before it could fly. Freckles bandaged the bird’s damaged wing. Under her care, the baby’s wing healed.
“Fly, little one. You were made to soar.” Freckles encouraged. And it did! It flew right out of her hands and into the mysterious morning fog of the woods.
“How did you do that?” Pinkie asked.
“I didn’t do anything, really.” Freckles replied. “I just saw what was already there. That baby was made to fly and just needed a little nudge of encouragement.”
Pinkie sat upon a smooth stone and thought about that. As she listened to the birds singing and the wind whispering in the trees she began to see herself as Pinkie saw her. Her pink twirls of hair were just the color of cotton candy. Every time Freckles saw them, she was reminded of the fun day they had together at the circus. When Pinkie looked at her friend, Freckles’ upturned nose looked like it was lightly sprinkled with tiny cinnamon colored dots just like the Christmas cookies frosted with redhot candy they had decorated together.
You see, just like Pinkie & Freckles, every girl, big & small, has a sweet fairie inside. And the things that make her special are the very things that set her apart from others. You, too, have a little girl inside. Celebrate those things that make you YOU.
Do you have green eyes or are they emeralds just mined from the farthest reaches of the world in a pure green color that is unlike any other? You can believe in you. It’s all in the way you think. You are a princess PERIOD. Thinking so helps you act like the beauty you are.
Need a little nudge of encouragement? ‘I Believe in Myself’ bracelets gently remind you to cheer on the little girl inside you, your inner child sprite, the one that others often see and love.
Made from tiny pastel beads in dusty blue, seafoam green, baby soft pink, and liquid clear colors, they help celebrate the princess inside you. With 12 in all, start the day with them all on one wrist. Each time you celebrate you throughout the day, move one bracelet over to the other wrist. Did you move all 12? Let me count the ways you can do this. Did you:
Paint your toenails in a girly color with glitter?
Rock a new headband?
Sprinkle joy to those around you with your humor?
Share your art with the world?
Told someone how beautiful they are?
The ideas are endless. Add your own and make them yours.
Celebrate the miracle of you every day with ‘I Believe in Myself’ bracelets. Buy yours today from Pincurl Girls.
Photographer: Lois Olson, thesparrowsTand
Bracelets: Jen Landis, Pincurl Girls
Become a Pincurl Girl
Once upon a time, there was a little girl whose mama would create tiny pincurls in her hair just before she was tucked in for the night. The next morning, beauteous curls would be born upon the little girl’s head. This child grew up to be an artist named Jen Landis of Pincurl Girls fame. Jen had spent several years previously as an art director at a large ad agency in Kansas City. As stories go, her journey continued as a grad student earning her MFA at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and there she lost her way for a bit. Her confidence waned. To conquer the dip in her self-esteem, Jen began drawing her inner child. As that little girl inside her found a voice, Jen’s confidence grew as well. Gradually, her art evolved into the Pincurl Girls of today with sweet, quirky clothing and fantastical pincurls, some with birds nesting in them. Along the way, Jen’s Pincurl Girls along with her ‘I Believe in Myself’ bracelets, inspired other little girls to believe in themselves, to find their voices, and to grow their self-esteem.
Inspired by the other creative women in her life, Jen started creating custom Pincurl Girls modeled after these shining stars and real-life women. Enter the new exciting product launch of ‘Become A Pincurl Girl.’ Gathering research and armed with photos to use as hair & eye color resources, Jen translates the beauty she sees in each woman and the quality that makes her the original Pincurl Girl that she is into a custom art print to reflect that vision back to the woman who inspires her art. There’s something about the soul of an artist that is able to feel and see the artist in others. Jen does that well.
I fell in love with Jen’s work and her ability to see my inner child so I hired her to create a Pincurl Girl for me, Lois. That she did. You can see all the wonderful details she included such as the flash on my camera, the Chucks I’m wearing, the color of my hair & eyes, and the cute foo foo in my hair, all the way down to the details of the ‘I Believe in Myself’ bracelets on my wrists. Jen is a true artist that feels and sees the beauty in others. Thanks, Jen. I’m super pleased. A job well done.
You can order your own custom Pincurl Girl print from Jen here or email her at jen@pincurlgirls.com.
