Magic in the Woods:
Part 2 of my Most Epic Collaboration
Featuring a few of my favorites:
Photography// Alex Lake
Goddess Dress// Monarch Clothing
Handmade Flower Crown// Goddess Flora
Amethyst Necklace// 60’s Daughter
A big thanks to Elisabeth and Alex, Goddess Flora & 60’s Daughter for helping me make this happen!
Love & Light
Welcome, children.
To a tale of Lookbook Collaboration so beautiful, so unbelievable, so cross-continental and amazing and hopeful that you’re sure to stay for the very last photo! So gather round – you’re in for a good one!
An embarrassingly long time ago, Elisabeth Donaldson, Creator and Designer at Monarch Clothing (and a beautiful girl/soul to boot!), sent me over two absolutely fabulous gowns to model and art direct and take some photos in. These pieces were so exquisite, so decadent and so wonderful, and I felt so privileged to have them to make art with, that I immediately (and in a few different locations) did so. Three or four times, actually.
The problem was, something always happened. Either the photos didn’t vibe with me, or they were meant to be tests and didn’t “capture” the dresses, and my final photos with a photographer whoisnottobenamed just never made their way to my inbox. 🙁
I was extremely frustrated, and sending them back with nothing to show for the kindness of receiving them or not making something happen and have something for Elisabeth was not an option in my book! I KNEW that I could do these dresses justice and make something we could all be proud of. So I reached out to Elisabeth about my issues.
Elisabeth is in Nashville, TN,
and I am in Los Angeles, CA.
So I never, in a million years, expected what happened next.
She, being the brilliant art fairy that she is, said, ” You should shoot with my amazing friend Alex Lake. He’s also in LA!“
She put me in touch with this versatile and talented man, and one or two e-mails later, Alex was at my house, which also serves as my studio (click for photos), setting his gear and backdrops up, as I touched up my makeup and tried my best to not let my hair fall flat in my bathroom. 🙂
We had a blast shooting this stuff! I mean so much fun that I didn’t even mind the 39523592 degree weather, and Alex didn’t seem to mind trekking everywhere – we started in my house, then went up to the mountains, then found a quiet little spot by my pad where we captured most of the set you’ll find here, entitled “Over The Meadow And Through The Woods“.
We got to shoot BOTH the dresses, in different places, and it was great fun working with Alex, as well as totally amazing how everything came together in the end! I really, really had a great time making these photos. With the added versatility of the Gardens of Whimsy flower crown, I felt like a little wood nymph all day, and Alex was so sweet and kind about shooting everything! It was really, really nice to have met the way we did, why we did, through a mutual friend like Elisabeth!
(even Raelie was patient and happy about it – albeit a little jealous that my attention was elsewhere)
As an aside, all of Monarch Clothing’s pieces are customizable – so if you’re not super petite like myself, no worries! Elisabeth is very friendly, and very happy to accommodate! 🙂 This girl just loves making beautiful things!
Since WP condenses images, definitely be sure to click the Final Photos below for their hi-res versions!!!
Even though it’s called OVER, we definitely got Out of the Meadow AND Through the Woods on this project! 🙂
A big thanks to Elisabeth and Alex for helping me make this happen!
And to Gardens of Whimsy for the flower crown!
Part 2 / Dress 2 Coming Soon!
And a big THANK YOU to everyone who supported me on Kickstarter after my last post!
We are going strong! 🙂
Love & Light
An Exclusive Look Into … THE WAKE UP EP!
Time to play catch up! I think the last time I did this was almost two months ago! (oops!) So many beautiful things have happened. Let’s see…
Music:
I’ve been spending a good deal of time in the studio working on my EP with some folks over at Speakeasy Sound. Writing everything the way we wanted was frustrating for a few days (who knew lyrics were the hardest part?), but I’m super super happy with the first song we’ve done and am looking forward to the rest! We have big, big music plans! 🙂
My music video for Her Crazy with DeAndre came out and has been really well received! Very happy with it!
You can check it out here:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQWFTUjyxZs&w=560&h=315]
It’s also over at MTV. SO weird to think that if TRL still existed, I’d be on it! :X
It was super fun to do, everyone on crew was great, DeAndre is a riot and it was my first job through Q so it will always have a special place in my heart. It was also my first on-screen kiss!! So be sure to point and laugh at me kissing an 18 year old. Not awkward at all! (totally awkward :X )
Last month I saw my friend Fred perform in a show in LA. He’s plays bass in a little band called Marilyn Manson, and they’re currently on tour with Alice Cooper. 🙂
It was totally amazing to get tea with someone in the morning and at night watch them rock a stage in front of thousands of people, jumping around and doing what they love! My friends make me very proud!
If you’re around anywhere that they’re touring this month be sure to check them out! They’re some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met in my whole life. Watching Alice Cooper sing Schools Out with some of my dearest friends was truly a life changing experience and a dream come true! That man really knows how to bring it!
And who doesn’t like being VIP? 🙂
We got an organ!!! One of our dear neighbors Aram has been holding onto this organ forever, and offered it to me and J last week! OHHHH man. I.love.this.thing. I’ve been fiddling and diddling around with it all week long. THE NOISES!!! I feel like a little kid! Do you have any idea how long I have been picturing a piano in my house? Years, I tell you! Years!
Art:
Finally got around to checking out the Helmut Newton Exhibition here in LA. I’m in love! They also show a neat documentary about him with commentary from some of the models he worked with and photographers he inspired. Totally in love with this man! If you get a chance to see his art anywhere, DO IT. Your life will be forever changed.
Modeling:
I shot my first Editorial in LA with Stardust Magazine last week! We did 4 different looks and I really can’t wait to see how the photos turn out! Is this really my job?!
Q updated my portfolio (yay!), and here’s some random work I’ve done the past few months that we’re all super proud of:
Life:
It’s my favorite season: Beach season! July in LA is pretty hotttttt but not humid which I’m liking lots!
It was friendship loves Cassandra, Rian and my baby Raelie’s birthdays this month, so we had celebrations galore! My OG best friend Kate got married just a few weeks ago, too! I wish I could have gone to NY and been a part of the wedding, but I had to stay in LA to work. I’ll be visiting New York next month though for wedding present exchanges and catch up! Soooo crazy! What is this that everyone has babies or is putting a ring on their finger? I don’t wanna be a grown up! I’m gonna just stay in California chasing my dreams until I wake up old. Is that too much to ask? Haha. 🙂
Health & Fitness:
I’ve lost a few close people recently, and it’s not been the easiest month. I went through a few days of real emotional self-absorbtion before taking a long hike that really put things in perspective again for me. I’m very grateful to at least be in a place where I can keep my sadness in check. I don’t try to fight those moments anymore the way I used to, but I allow them to find their place in the scheme of what I’m going through, and I deal with them in a healthy way, so I know I’m making a lot of headway. There are things that used to be much harder for me to accept that now feel like very inspiring life lessons.
One of those that the World lost this week is the inspiring childhood cancer fighter and makeup guru, Talia Joy, who I love dearly and who we will all remember fondly:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a88P_tBDAgU&w=560&h=315]
She’s such an inspiring soul. Try not to cry watching her cancer vlogs. Just try.
But I have to admit it, despite it all, I’ve tried my best to treat myself really well, and I think there’s really something to be said about doing so! I’ve really tried hard to let things slide, even when people were truly trying to bring me down or I wanted to give up. It’s helped my health a LOT to realize what stresses I can and cannot control. I’ve gathered a new faith in myself and my position in the World, and I’m really liking it.
Month 3 of Hatha Yoga and I’m seeing a huge difference! Things that were once threatening to “go south” seem to be holding up! I may have a figure I’m proud of for a few more years now. 🙂 I’ll be 27 in a few months and I never thought I’d be this healthy, clear headed, driven and passionate about the road I’m on.
July nutrition has been LOTS of salads with LOTS of nuts and veggies, probiotics, vitamins and my newest most favorite thing: morning dancing! It’s so helpful and rejuvenating to let your body do what it wants for the first few moments of your day. I recommend it to all!
Thank you guys so much for checking in with me, especially since some days I forget to check in with me. Thank you for your e-mails, for your comments and your love! There are days I don’t even look at my blog and when I come back and see all your clicks and get your e-mails I am reminded of why I do what I do! 🙂
Love & Light
Q | INSTAGRAM |FACEBOOK | PINTEREST| TUMBLR
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
September, 2012
See also: Travel Views: London
Thank you very much!
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Love & Light
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CALLING ALL ORGANIC COMPANIES, FASHION BRANDS, STYLISTS, MUAS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, HANDMADE AND ECO FRIENDLY DESIGNERS:
I have teamed up with a great batch of Organic, Eco-friendly, Handmade and Vintage brands thus far, but there are still spots left! If you’d like to chance to be featured in Lookbooks that I am shooting for a series of magazines this year, we will be traveling worldwide to find the greatest inspiration, the best people, the best brands to represent and the most passionate artists to make beautiful things with!
You’re a click away! 🙂
Kindly Contact: TaraMackey@me.com for more information or a chance to be featured!
And keep a lookout on My Organic Life for more updates and opportunities!
Thank you so much for all the love and support this year, everyone!
Love & Health!
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Love & Light
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