Introducing Funday Monday ... wanna play?

It's Monday, the start of the work week for most of us, and a day few of us really look forward to. So I've decided to turn my Mondays into Fundays. And with that, I'm introducing my very first FUNDAY MONDAY. Ta da ...

So what is a Funday Monday you ask? Well it's a Monday in which you carve out a few minutes for some fun thinking.

Today's FUNDAY MONDAY thought starters are;

* Control yourself, you're about to ... (you fill in the blanks)

* The place I feel my happiest is ...

* Just the night I dreamed ...

* Oh, that blue reminds me of ...

* If my style was a book, I'd call it ...

* I get my inspiration from ...

* The sound of crickets makes me remember ...

Okay dear readers, I've given you quite a few thought starters to have some fun with. After all, not every thought on a Monday has to strain the brain!

Till next time, be kind, be happy, be healthy!

Lori

A poor excuse is better than none

Or so my husband said, when he asked if I'd been blogging and I replied: "I have a cold you know." Sadly, the world has not come to a screaching halt just because I'm not feeling well. No, in fact, life goes on even when one doesn't feel like going on with it. With my cold on it's way out, I'm feeling less and less like lazily lying on the sofa watching tv all day. Back in the saddle again!

So today as we were sitting waiting for my 10-year stepdaughter to get out of school, I said to Keith (the husband) that the clouds seemed particularly lazy today (I sense a theme here). There were all these big beautiful fluffy clouds, but they didn't appear to be moving. I remember being a small child growing up in Ohio. My little sister and I used to lie on our backs in the grass watching the clouds, finding animal shapes and faces in the sky overhead. When did I stop enjoying the wonder and beauty of clouds, I wondered aloud to Keith today? And why? Clouds are fascinating. From angry storm clouds to fluffy taffy-pulled ones, clouds are an ever changing art show right above my head ... for free.

And this all brings me to my newest project; Cloud Photography. I decided to focus my 30 photos in 30 days on CLOUDS for the next 30 days. Starting with this one;

Un-retouched and un-fussed over, this cloud photo was actually taken on Saturday on my drive back to town from afternoon tea in Carefree Arizona. I like the lone tree in the foreground, and the mountains deep in the rear. And of course I like those clouds. They were entertaining when I was 5 and 6 ... and they still capture my imagination today. I hope they'll do the same for you!

Lori

Let's hear it for the ladies who create!

There are some seriously creative ladies out there and if they won't toot their own horns ... I will!

At some point in every little girls life, she dreams of being a ballerina. Little girls dreams come to life with the terrific TuTu's made by my talented friend Brooke Schiavone. Her wonderful blog (http://schiavoneshenanigans.blogspot.com/) is a great way to connect with this gifted lady and make the dreams of your tiny dancer come true.


Do you browse craft stores looking at project after project wondereing; "could I do that?" Or maybe like me, you have boxes of photos that you'd love to turn into a beautiful scrapbook. but just don't know where to start. Start here: (http://craftasticlife.blogspot.com/) a blog brimming with crafty ideas (and instructions) from my daughter-in-law Kristin Lamb.


These are but two of the gifted women in my world. I hope you'll check out their blogs and visit often!

Lori

P.S. If you know a talented, creative lady you think should be featured on my blog, let me know!

BEWARE ... BEWARE ... BEWARE

READERS BEWARE ... there's a poacher out there.

I just googled my business name (La Petite Pilot) and one of the many links that appeared was for a blog called http://www.petiteapparel.blogspot.com/ ... whose owner is someone named "Tusum". This individual is reprinting material from my blog WITHOUT my permission.

Please be advised that this individual has NEVER sought my permission to reprint content, and has NO endorsement from me in any form.

I will do all possible to stop this individual from poaching my blog content, meantime, please be assured that THIS is the ONLY blog operated by La Petite Pilot. If anyone would like to reprint my content, please refer to my content-sharing policy, located at the bottom of this blog. Lifting my content without my prior permission is a no-no.

Thanks all!

Lori

So far ... so good

Tom Rubin over at AeroPhoenix, the marketing whiz who's responsible for my baby bodysuits being available to pilot shops nationwide, sent me an email late last week saying the line is selling well. "Well" to Tom means his customers are taking notice and ordering a few to see how they move in their particular pilot shop. But when is "well" - well enough?

Personally, now that I'm in the game, I'll feel like La Petite Pilot is a success when I walk into a major airport such as Phoenix Sky Harbor or Newark's Liberty International, and see my baby bodysuits on display. That said, the fact that a national distributor has picked up my babywear certainly isn't small beans, and I'm duly grateful that Mr. Rubin has given me a chance. But now that I've had a bite of the apple ... I want more. I want Tom's next call to say my babywear is "flying (pun intended) off the shelves".

I had a lovely luncheon this past Sunday with two members of the Pilot Wives Club (http://www.pilotwivesclub.com/) during which both ladies said they'd looked for a website for La Petite Pilot. So far, this blog is my only outing on the internet, though I know that the best bet for getting my babywear seen (and bought) is a website. Until I get there, and I'm not quite ready, this blog will continue to be the only web presence for La Petite Pilot. So far ... so good.

Below are a few of my other designs. These are just 3 of the t's I've designed for the Deer Valley Airport's pilot shop. - Lori

(double click on the picture above, and arrow right for a full page view)

134 Days and counting

It may only be the middle of August, but stores here in the Phoenix area are already filled with Halloween decor, costumes and candy ... and the Christmas things are beginning to trickle in as well. The great countdown has begun, and savvy shoppers know that the best bargains aren't what you'll find come December when you need to finish off your gift list. The time to shop is now!

La Petite Pilot offers a wide array of t-shirts (all sizes, long sleeve or short, as well as kid friendly items) plus our fabulous baby body suits (think onesies). And just because the word "pilot" is in the name, don't for a minute think you're limited to airplanes and the like.

Favorite pet? Favorite quote? Favorite landmark? Favorite hobby? There's nothing that can't be used to decorate t-shirts, baby body suits, even bibs. If you're looking for a gift for the hard-to-please, let me help. Contact me through this blog with any special requests.

Just 134 days ... and counting!

Lori

I had a grandson, then I had an idea

On the 6th of this month our family welcomed it's newest little Lamb ... Trevor Anthony Lamb. There's something about the birth of a child, it renews your sense of hope in the future, reminding you of what truly matters. For me, it also reminded me that not everything has to be a complex, big deal, too-much-thinking kind of experience. Sometimes ... simpler really is better.

My daughter-in-law (Trevor's mom) had asked that I design a trio of t-shirts for her three boys. Should it be "biggest brother", "little brother" and "littlest brother" ... hmmm ... no, that's not quite "it". Maybe I could use their nicknames; Bubba, Duece and Tre ... still not "it". When something that should be easy suddenly feels difficult, it's time for me to take a step back. So I took a day off and just let all the ideas crowding my head come to a rest. And then it came to me;

This is a family head over heels with airplanes. The boys' grandfather (my husband) is an airline pilot, the boys' father learned to fly years ago, and their mom, well she just embraces the family obsession with a sense of humor. I'd already made the trio a French Memo Board (complete with royal blue airplanes against white clouds) for their bedroom, so why didn't I see what was right in front of me? The t-shirt theme was now crystal clear;

Captain Keith Lamb, First Officer Devin Lamb, and Flight Engineer Trevor Lamb

I can't wait to see these three wonderful little boys in this new design from La Petite Pilot (wow, that's me!). I've asked my daughter-in-law (an awesome photographer) for a photo of the boys modeling the shirts, and I'll post it as soon as I have it.

So, with this project now complete, and having re-learned a good lesson, I'm calling it a day!

Till next time,

Lori

My Inspiration

Today my husband took me to see JULIE & JULIA, the long awaited Meryl Streep, Amy Adams movie. I'd read Julie's book (for which the movie's named) a year ago and Julia's MY LIFE IN FRANCE three or four years back. Talk about inspiring women!!

Both of these charming women (I'm speaking of Julie and Julia here) found themselves at a sort of fork in the road of their lives. For Julia Child it was life in France with her government employee husband, and her desire to not be just another wife sitting it out at home. For Julie Powell, it was feeling stuck in a job she no longer (if ever) found stimulating and a personal fear that she'd never finish anything.

I wish I could say I've never had an unmotivated, uninspired day in my life, but that would be a lie of olympian proportions. In fact, I think it's fair to say that since I "officially" retired in 2004, I've had more UNINSPIRED than inspired days. It's not that I don't have dozens of things I could be doing ... even our wedding scrapbook (begun in 2005) remains unfinished. As does a travel scrapbook, a half dozen childrens stories I've written for my stepdaughter and promised myself I'd shape up, add to and at least make an attempt at getting published. The mind is willing, but the flesh is weak.

On the other hand, I did recently turn my little kitchen-table hobby of decorated apparel into a real (read: paying) business. But even that project was peppered with moments of me asking myself if I really wanted to do it, had the energy to do it, even cared enough about having a business of my own - to do it. So far, I seem to be on the right track. But as Scarlett Ohara herself said; "tomorrow IS another day".

Inspiration is a personal thing. And for me at least, it's fluid. Some days I'm more inspired than others. Maybe it has something to do with thinking I've earned "retirement", maybe it's that somedays I feel downright old and tired. And maybe the answer to it all lies in simply taking a first step. Like I've done with my new business, and this blog. For me, inspiration isn't just in the "doing", it's in the "seeing". Maybe that can be an inspiration for you.

For Melinda R, the reader who asked me to post an example of my photos from my "Thirty Photos in Thirty Days" ... here you go Melinda. The baby rattle (pictured above) seemed to jump right out at me from a display in the charming English Tea room where my husband and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea today. Now it's your turn. Come one, give it a go, I promise inspiration is just a click away!

Lori

Where does inspiration come from?

It's a question I've asked myself hundreds of times. And I think I might, just might, have an answer.

Inspriation is everywhere. It's in nature; a flower, a bird, a sunset, the ocean waves crashing on the shore and your footprints in the wet sand. It's in the wise face of an old person sitting on a park bench. Inspiration can be found in your local garden center, on the golf course, while waiting for a bus, out walking your dog, or petting the cat curled in your lap.

The truth is, our world is full of inspiration that we "see" but don't really notice. So how DO you take notice and find your inspiration?

Here's a project I was challenged to do this month, and that I want to pass on to you - it's called "Thirty Days of Pictures" and here's how it works; for the next 30 days, I want you to keep your camera handy and take at least one impromptu picture every single day. If you can take more photos ... do! And don't skip a day just because you took extra pictures the day before. Take pictures everywhere! Inside and outside your home, on your commute (not while driving however ... safety comes first!!!), while you're waiting for your pedicure to dry, while you're waiting for the children to finish their Little League game, while you're waiting for your airline pilot husband's commute flight to arrive. Even from your hotel room window. SNAP PICTURES!

I carry a very small, very light weight Fuji Finepix Z digital camera with me at all times. Some days I'll take numerous pictures of the same exact thing at various times of the day and evening. For example, right now I'm in Houston Texas waiting for Keith (my husband) to finish up his check-ride. I'm in the Marriott Hotel at Intercontinental Airport overlooking some of the Continental Airlines gates. Yesterday I was fascinated by the ballet of planes as they were moved into and out of the gate area. From my hotel window I took several photos around two in the afternoon, and shot more photos at sunset and shortly after the sun had set.

The point of this exercise is to teach us that there's a big, beautiful world moving past us at break-neck speed and we really aren't capturing it all. By shooting pictures for the next 30 days you'll train yourself to really take in your own wonderful world. It's my understanding that this same exercise is often used to teach people to become better photographers. But my own goal is just to help me expand my personal idea of "inspiration". I hope it does the same for you!

Because my blog is new, and to encourage more of you to give this exercise a shot (pun intended) I'm going to sweeten the deal. Here's how;

Starting today (August 5th 2009) and running for the next 30 days I challenge you to shoot at least one picture every single day and at the end of 30 days (that's the 4th of Sept), to email me one photo that has personally inspired you. It might be a photo that inspired you to plant a garden, or help the homeless, or adopt a shelter animal. It could be a picture that inspired you to take up a hobby, renew an interest in a craft you used to enjoy, or simply be a happier person. Whatever it is, send me your most inspiring photo. All entries must be received by me not later than 11:59pm Pacific time on the 4th of September. Email me at lola.az@gmail.com

On September 11, 2009 I will post the picture I believe is the MOST INSPIRING PHOTO I've received and the person who submitted that photo will receive a prize. I promise the prize will be something "inspirational" and fun from La Petite Pilot.

Are you ready? START YOUR CAMERA'S!!

Welcome!

Welcome to La Petite Pilot, the home of aviation themed decorated apparel including baby bodysuits (think onesies) and t-shirts (adult/children/infant).

La Petite Pilot began as a kitchen-table hobby with the single intention of making t-shirts for my airline pilot husband. Well you know how it goes, first a friend sees as wants one, then another friend sees and wants one, then the nice man who owned the pilot shop at Deer Valley Airport (DVT) here in Phoenix saw them and thought they might sell in his shop. That lead to me making a couple dozen t's for adults plus a few kid-friendly ones and a half dozen onesies (Gerber's) all with aviation-themed verbiage and graphics.

I admit it was a shock to learn Mike Hosa over at DVT even wanted to see my designs, after all, it wasn't meant to be a business ... just a time filler for a sometimes lonely pilots wife. Now here I was agonizing over designs and colors and wondering if anyone would really buy them.

A year later, here I sit, having been picked up by a leading national distributor of aviation-related goods; AeroPhoenix, who supplies pilot shops at more than 200 airports across the United States. Yesterday, I delivered my first order for AeroPhoenix; a gross of baby bodysuits (think onesies) under my label; La Petite Pilot.

This blog is my lead in to what I hope will eventually become my website. Check back often for photos of my work, news on where my baby bodysuits are available for purchase, and news in general.

I hope you enjoy my work as much as I've enjoyed producing it! - Lori