Flashback: 2007

In January I was freezing in a Lakewood duplex and catching opossums .

In February my friend and old college roommate said goodbye to Daycie. (But is already expecting another. So excited!)

In March I decided to leave the freezing duplex, Penn started pre-school, and I was asked to be in a book called "Spectacular Weddings."

In April I got a new logo.

In May I bought a new car.

In June I shot for the Disney Channel.

In July I showed some work for Art Conspiracy in Seed.

In August I had some photos in D Weddings.

In September Penn drew people for the first time, we lost Carter Albrecht, and I discovered the veledrome.

In October I had a photo in D Magazine, we lost my old friend Jason Morgan, I got to road trip to College Station and Penn got to model.

In November Penn and I moved back to Lakewood, Penn turned 4, and I shot for Yield Apparel.

In December I showed in the Truth/Love show at Space, I turned 29 and got an awesome surprise, finally had time to throw Penn's birthday Party, was in Art Conspiracy III, and had the best Christmas ever .

And a ton more that never made it's way to this blog. It's been an interesting year that pushed me to the edge of decisions and ideas and personal lives that I never thought would be in my deck of cards. But the cards, they are played, and I think I won this hand. Happy remains my constant.

I'm looking forward to 08. Penn and I are both older and wiser. My business is older and wiser and continues to grow. My mindset and my happy feel validated by every year. I feel like I'm still pointed in the right direction. The things I do feel more important. Maybe that's just age. But it's good. It's all very good.

Happy new year!

Best Christmas Ever

We spent Christmas in Cocoa Beach, Florida this year. Watching Penn see sand for the first time was exquisite.







The whole trip was exquisite. Even with Red Tide, missed planes and no sleep. But a hotel suite on the beach with two of my favorite boys... I am a very lucky lady.

Thank you, D. For everything. I mean it.

Click here to see more Florida goodness.

Cocoa Beach

Egad

Lots of fun at the show. Many many thanks on Penn's behalf to Hal for the Christmas present. (A print of the original used in this poster) Penn will not put it down.



If you missed the show, you're probably missing out on a lot of stuff.

Gatherings of art and music, etc. (i.e. creation! and imagination!) are gatherings that do more than put stuff on walls or fill a room with sound. This is not new-age-love-and-peace-and-good-vibe-hippie- speak. I'm talking about culture. Culture absorbed and regurgitated back in a tangible way on display for discussion and learning and thinking and feeling and assessing how we all fit into it.

Egad.

We all fit into it.

This 3 part episode entitled "Not Quite Art" blows my mind. Turns me on in all sorts of ways. My first thought is to go there. Move to Australia and find these people and just do it. And then I have to realize "it" is everywhere. In Dallas, Texas, even. In places like Space. And I see the possibilities of so much more of it. I see begging empty buildings in Deep Ellum, just to start and some of the red tape and misconceptions that keeps them sad and empty.

The whole idea can be compared to what makes individuals sad and empty. What I really want is for everyone to get over themselves, on a grand scheme, and get to doing something! Because it's all hard and complicated and nauseating, but when you get to the end....o hell is it worth it. Whether you're carrying the brain child or you just donated a couple of things here and there...it's worth it. Whether it's a crowd of 1200 or 10, it's worth it. "Art" makes things better.



There's a lot more in my head on this, but I have to pack because I'M GOING TO THE BEACH FOR CHRISTMAS! See you guys in a week.

Hope Santa is good to you.

Truth and Love

I Love You, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

One of the pieces I'm showing tonight. Come out to Space tonight, 6-9, for art, music and right-before-Christmas fun!

Attack of the tiny Asians!

Attack of the tiny Asians!, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Also seen here.

Because of this installation.

I expect phone camera footage from Fred on youtube of how Penn got the money very soon.

Christmas......

Mckinna, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

is almost here!

And I am oddly very excited about not having a shoot today.

What a morning.

Part 3: Rescued

www.hopeshow.tv

Truth and Love Show

Truth and Love Show, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

I'm in it! As well as many other fabulous artists. Come on out!
www.thisisspace.com

That face!

Portrait, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Priceless.

It's National Bouillabaisse Day!

National Bouillabaisse Day, is a day to celebrate a Mediterranean fish stew or soup - Bouillabaisse which is a popular all around the Mediterranean (thought to have originated in France). Usually made with white fish fillets (cod, snapper, flounder, halibut, sea bass, monk fish, etc). Have bowl of bouillabaisse and celebrate!

It's also my 29th birthday. :)

Portait + Cash (the Space dog)

Cash found her way into a lot of my recent portraits at Space. I hope I'm as photogenic when I'm that round and wrinkled.

Penn's letter

Penn's letter, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Apparently Penn was a bit bummed when I left for Art Conspiracy 3. So they wrote me a letter.

Art Conspiracy III

Art, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Art Con 3 was a blast!

More pics here.

Art Conspiracy 3

art_conposter, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Hope to see you there!

Art Conspiracy strives to put on a fund raiser that reinvests in the local arts economy, create an event that promotes collaboration between the arts and music communities thereby strengthening Dallas' grassroots cultural scene, give people a chance to view and purchase art in an accesible anti-gallery setting, and of course, to do this all while we're having a heck of a lot of fun.

Click here to see pics from last year.

Dizzy

Early Happy Birthday Feast, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

I don't know if he would want me to announce to the internets that I think he's really fabulous and that the early birthday surprise I came home to, that I am typing on right now!, not to mention the prospect of sand this holiday season, make me dizzy with gratitude.

Dizzy.

And I don't know if he's comfortable with me telling the internets he is, among many things, the nicest person I know.

But I'm telling. I'm totally holding back on the gushing, but I'm telling.

Thank you.

Portrait

Portrait, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

PSA

Dear Everyone,

The photos are coming as soon as humanly possible. I promise. I am in the frenzied state of editing and sorting and uploading and burning discs and mailing. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. It's just that there are a bunch of you and I know you all want Christmas cards......just bear with me. I'm doing the best that I can.

Thanks!

Signed,
Single-Mom-Who-Has-Flu(or something)-But-Is-Still-Working, the Toddler and the Slow Computer

Lily

Lily, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Four

Cake!, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Alot going on right now. The two bigger ideas being work and moving. And in the middle of all of that we threw a birthday party!

Much love to all who came and helped and showered my baby with love and transformers.

Click here to see a few more.