gigiblog

Canvas worthy ...

Mmmmmm-mmmmmm.

Canvases. They rock my world. I have three so far on my walls, but I am ready to order another one!

Yummm. Look at these beautiful canvas prints I have waiting in my studio for clients to pick up ... yummmmmmy. 

This is a 20x24 size. Scrumptious, is it not?

The back of the canvas ... this is a gallery wrapped canvas. Fantastically ready to hang on the walls upon pickup from the studio.

and another - this beauty is a 16x20.

the side so you can see the wrap ...

Have you always wanted to order a canvas? Now is the time! I'm offering a 20% discount on my canvas prices from today (Tuesday) to Thursday only! E-mail if you have questions about ordering. The discount code is: CanvasSale

(Simple works, no?)

Also - we have THREE days left to bid on the cake auction from She Takes the Cake! The biding is HOT and I am SOOO proud of you all, helping support La Tienda! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME! I can't wait to see who wins this beautiful, scrumptious cake! 

You can bid on the auction HERE.  Stay tuned for MORE AWESOME auctions coming to this blog! Yahoo! I will be starting a new auction tomorrow - if you're stressed out, this auction is for you! ;) Curious?! 

And the Show Gigi Some Love contest is heating up, as well! If you haven't cast your vote yet, you can see all their cute little faces here and vote for who you think should win! 

Welcomed by a Mouse.

Ahhhh, we made it home safely!

After getting up at 3:30 and traveling all day long with five kids, two dads and two moms, we eventually arrived on Canadian soil. We're back from the sunny land of Florida and much to our dismay, it snowed this morning here in Orangeville! AUGHHH! Why did we come home?! Hmmm. Well, at least spring IS on it's way.

How do I know? 

Well, look who greeted us at our home today ... a spring baby. I was on my way upstairs this morning, carrying Sir Poop-a-Lot (Lucia) to change her bum, with two bouncy curious kids trailing behind me, not to mention an overly-hyper-dog who is still bouncing off the ceilings from our arrival home after being gone for three weeks and a very hungry, tempted cat ... and I looked down and nearly stepped on Little Miss Mousey. 

I screamed. I panicked. I removed the cat. (We're low on cat food. I could just imagine what Jasper, the cat, was thinking when he saw what I saw.) I calmed the girls down, who were screaming because I screamed. Oops.

 And then I got a "cage" (vase) and my ... ahem ... camera.

He's little. He's fuzzy. He's cute and he's OUTTA here (courtesy of my hubby - aka Macho Man, who I called as quickly as I captured this little guy. Or girl.)

She IS cute. We asked Daddy if we could keep her. 

He said no. We all shed a few tears.

The girls - especially Lucia - loved our sweet mousey.

Doesn't she look like she could belong in our family?

Lyla studied her every move. I studied Lyla's every move. I wonder what Lyla wanted to do to the mouse? We will never know.

Fun times in the Gauthier home!

Well, now that I am back, my head is just SPINNNNING with everything - I need to catch up on orders, sneak peeks, galleries AND there are a TON of amazingly-fun events happening for {Project} La Tienda. 

First off, I have to announce my official assistant for this trip. It's now confirmed and I'm so excited! Her name is Tamara Perreira. Some of my blog readers may know her as she's well known around our little town of Orangeville.

Here she is with her lovely, gorgeous family ... :)

Tamara, also a mom to three beautiful little kidlets, will be helping me transcribe details of each photos, she will be taking down information regarding each women I photograph or each situation. She will also help keep all the images organized and sorted for the next step of publishing the images. 

I'm so thankful Tamara can join me! She's been on board with all of this since the beginning and she's already been such a great asset in planning events and getting the word out there about {Project} La Tienda.

Speaking of {Project} La Tienda, do you want to see the jewelry they make up close and personal?!?!?! 

Then book this date on your computer: April 29th at 7:30

Tamara and I are hosting La Tienda Jewelry Showcase on April, 29th at 7:30 at New Hope Community Church (the Salvation Army church here in town). Come, have a cup of coffee, snack on some treats from She Takes the Cake and browse through some items made by the ladies of La Tienda - all items are for sale and ALL money raised will go straight to La Tienda. 

Here are some samples: 

We are also having a garage sale at the end of April, a luncheon this coming Sunday at New Hope Community Church ($5 per person - come out and have a great lunch with the church!)  and, of course, the weekly blog auctions here at the Gigi Blog to help raise money for La Tienda. My goal is to have 12 local businesses (or not so local) auction off a $100 item per business so I can take $1,200 straight to La Tienda and bless the socks off of Rachel and her ladies! What do you think? Want to help? Want to donate medicine? Want to donate money? Just e-mail me and I will fill you in details! 

We STILL NEED LOTS OF medical supplies ... you can see the list here. 

I will be posting all the details about the jewelry party and the garage sale here on the blog and on facebook but you can also check out our new facebook group for {Project} La Tienda HERE. Please join the group! We'd love your support!

I'm so excited! This adventure has ben fabulous so far and you all have been so supportive! Thank you for helping us help them!

Have your cake and {eat} it too!

Imagine this. 

A homemade, scrumptiously-divine Belgian milk chocolate cheesecake, layered in fresh, sweet raspberries, drizzled with white chocolate. 

Want one for your very own!? Read on!!!! 

If you have been following this blog, you will know about my upcoming trip to the Dominican to help La Tienda. 

There are some NEW details in this project that a VERY exciting!!  I am going to be hosting regularly scheduled online auctions here on the blog to raise money for the {Project} La Tienda. The auctions will feature various local businesses who will be auctioning off everything from a custom cake to a soothing massage!

You must stay tuned to the blog to be a part of the auctions .... 

And just to clarify -  ALL of the money raised will be going STRAIGHT to La Tienda - it will not be used to pay my airfare or my expenses on this trip or anything else. The money is going straight to help out the ladies of La Tienda - to help fix their truck, purchase supplies for their art co-op and help with any financial needs they may have. 

If you want to help out La Tienda, these auctions are a great way to support this cause!

And you didn't have to make it. How sweet is that?! 

Now, on to the first auction for {Project La Tienda}! 

This is your chance to have your cake and eat it too! 

First up on the auctioning list is a custom designed, scrumptious cake by She Takes the Cake.  You have all probably hear me rant and rave about Leanne Button of She Takes the Cake. She has created several AMAZING-out-of-this-world cakes for my girls and I can literally and honestly say, she is the BEST cake maker out there! You can check out her facebook group here.

To place your bid for this auction of a custom-designed cake by She Takes the Cake, click here. 

You will have to register your name (I know, it's a pain in the bahookie, but you can use your login to bid for any awesome upcoming auctions coming up from Gigi Photography!) and then you can place your bid.

Don't forget that all the money is going to La Tienda - just think of the wonderful things that can be done with your dollars! Thank you for supporting the ladies of La Tienda and for helping Gigi Photography BLESS the socks off of these ladies! They can use all the help we can bring to them!

The auction will end on April 4, 2009. 

Let the BIDDING BEGIN!!!!!!

P.S. Don't forget to vote for the cutest baby in Show Gigi Some Love {Contest!}

Babies for Show Gigi Some Love {Contest}!!

Well, here they are! 

The CUTIES of Show Gigi Some Love {Contest}!

In case you missed the post about this, here's the deal. 

Each baby needed to be between the ages of 6-10 months and their photos MUST have the word Gigi located somewhere in the photo. Participants could be as creative as they could be! 

I was SUPPOSED to choose the top 3 babies, but how could I POSSIBLY choose the top three?! So I have chosen the top five. Hee hee! I'm a softie. What can I say?

The baby that receives the most votes win. The winner will be chosen by YOU through voting on our poll (located below). The contest closes April 2, 2009 so all votes must be cast by then! 

Send the link to this blog to ALL your relatives, all your friends and everyone you know to gather more votes!  (Only one vote per IP address.)

The winner will receive a FREE session from Gigi Photography for their cutie pie! Yeahhhhh!

Let the drumroll begin!!!!

First up ... 

Sweet Baby Jack:

Next is the cutie-pie Baby Jett:

And now we have this little sweetie - Baby Isabelle:

And, NOW, we have a special entry - TWINS!

Baby Rylan & Baby Abigail:

and last but certainly not least, the adorable Baby Caleb:

Let the voting begin!!!! 

Trash the Dress Season!

(If you are looking for information on the Show Gigi Some Love {Contest} scroll to the bottom!)

Well, it's officially spring - and this means it's time to book your outdoor session with Gigi Photography! On the top of the list for bookings this year are Trash the Dress sessions!

Say, what?! Trash the Dress?! What exactly IS that? Do you REALLY trash your wedding dress?

Well, they say pictures tell a thousand words so take a look:

Yes, these are all brides and their wedding dresses ...

Why just hang your wedding dress in the closet when you could have some fun with it!

Trash the Dress sessions can be as creative as you are brave - it can involve water (as pictured above) or if you are not willing to get your dress wet, I have a TON of other options ...  the point of the session is obtain creative, beautiful images of you and your wedding dress - a keepsake for years to come - and a great alternative to your traditional wedding photos.

So here's the deal. The first THREE brides to book with Gigi Photography for this year's Trash the Dress Sessions will receive a few goodies:

- complimentary 5x7 of their choice from their session

- along with a $10 off discount on the Angela Album - which holds 10 4x5 images of your choice

To book your Trash the Dress Session with Gigi Photography, e-mail me at gillian@gigiphotography.com

P.S.  I have had a FLOOD of e-mails asking me to include a wider range in age for the Show Gigi Some Love {Contest}. So, because I LOVE you all so much and because, yeah, I'm a softie, I am expanding the age limit to 6-10 months - I hope that helps! 

What can I say?! I aim to please! :D 

I promise I will run another Show Gigi Some Love Contest for the younger ages in the future. 

ALSO  ....

Stay tuned for the following:

~ information on {Project} La Tiena Mini Sessions - a great way to support the La Tienda Women and get some awesome photos at a discounted price!

~ a tasty treat for YOU from She Takes the Cake! 

STAY TUUUUNED! :D

Show Gigi some Love {Contest}

It's that time again! Time to show Gigi some LOOOOOOOOOOVE!

This is for all your parents with babies out there and who would LOVE to have their baby's photos taken by Gigi Photography! ;)

If you have a baby between the ages of 6 and 10 months, this contest is for you! The session will be booked in the months of May or June 2009. Your baby MUST be between 6 or 10 months of age at that time.

All you have to do to enter the contest is:

1) Grab your munchkin.

2) Take a cute photo of your little one - BUT ONE CATCH -  you have to include the word Gigi somewhere in the photo

3) E-mail it to me gillian@gigiphotography.com (all submissions must include permission for me to post the photo on the web/blog)

4) Wait patiently while I go through all the submissions and choose the top baby faces for the contest which I will then post to the blog

5) Once I post the pictures, tell all your friends to come to blog to vote for your sweet baby!!

The baby who receives the most votes wins a full, complimentary session with Gigi Photography! Simple as that!

The session will be shot in May or June of 2009. If you have questions, let me know. 

Photos can be sent by e-mail only. The contest deadline is Tuesday, March 24th.  The voting will take place over a course of one week.

And because no post is complete without an image, here is one from one of my FAVOURITE sessions last year ... sweet Miss Addie. 

Now go grab your camera and send me a photo because I KNOW your baby is TOO cute to pass up this offer!!!

Bittersweet.

We're still in Florida and we're still totally having a blast ... so much fun ... all the kids are absolutely loving it. :) 

One thing I told my husband, who will be joining us for a five day visit in one week, is that he will notice a huge change in our youngest daughter, Lucia. Since our arrival, for some strange reason, she has GROWN up so fast. It breaks my heart! Why is she growing so fast?! Somebody slow time down!

I don't know what happened, but Lucia, who turned one in January, has changed in the blink of an eye. Where did my baby go? She's now pitter-pattering around the house, following her sisters about, exploring cupboards and seeing life in a new light. Her hair even grow magically over night.

It's very bittersweet. 

The one saving grace, however, is that Lucia is STILL a momma's girl - she loves to cuddle with me, loves to be held and carried on the hip ...  she cries when I leave the room ... she still needs me and she still wants me. She's still my baby and thankfully, she will be one for at least half a year longer. (Who am I kidding?! It'll be a year before I let her give up that baby title.)

"Like it or not, babies have a hold on your life like nothing else. 

They can send you into a tizzy with their incessant bawling, 

or they can tug at your heartstrings with their soft cooing. 

A baby can make you forget your worries, 

or add to them if she so desires. 

However, you can't help falling in love with your baby ..."

This, by far, is my favourite image of Lucia in the past six months ... what a dolly .... 

___________________

Okay, it's also time to announce the winner of this week's blog contest, sponsored by SilverMe Pendants (you can find her site here) ... this giveaway introduced my blog readers to an amazing online store, featuring hand stamped necklaces just PERFECT for all the moms out there. 

Here's the one I ordered and have been wearing ever since I received it in the mail ... :) I LOVE it!

Okay .... so using a custom randon number generator:

The winner is number 15: Angela Galashan

Congratulations, Angela! (Yes, Angela happens to be my amazing sister, but I have a witness here who can testify that I certainly DID use a random number generator and everything was done fairly for this contest! Trust me!) You will receive this beautiful necklace (pictured above) with your children's names engraved on the discs. Just e-mail Amanda and mention that you are the Gigi blog winner and she will hook you up!

Be sure to check back later this week for the next giveaway!

Baby Jack-Jack. {Part I}

This sneak peek is for Janet ... she e-mailed me yesterday and hinted that she's chomping at the bit to see her sneak peek so I thought keeping her in suspense any longer would just be cruel!

Last week, I had the privilege of shooting her baby Jack's baptism - but this was no ordinary baptism. You see, in just four short months of Baby Jack's life, he has gone through a traumatic roller-coaster ride of health problems. He was born happy and so healthy, but suddenly one day, his mom knew in her heart something was wrong. 

After rushing him to the hospital and seeing the doctors and nurses whisk Baby Jack away while calling a "Code Pink", Janet began praying. And praying hard. 

Since then, this poor sweet baby boy - the youngest of four siblings in his family -  has gone through so much - he needs weekly blood transfusions and the doctors are still trying to figure out what is exactly wrong with his wee body.

(This image is with his big sister, before the baptism.)

The doctors have said Baby Jack's body is not reproducing blood cells .... he could have a rare disease called diamond blackfan anemia www.dbafoundation.org  or he could have aplastic anemia. Both are very serious illnesses and the only cure is  bone marrow transplant. Please pray for healing Baby Jack and for strength for his parents as they go through this challenging season of their lives.

Looking at Baby Jack, you would never know he is unwell ... he is the happiest, sweetest, CUTEST baby I have ever met.  

Here he is snuggling with his sisters ... the morning of his baptism. 

with one of his godmothers and his mommy ...

and with is other godmother ....

opening his baptism presents ....

Are we boring you, Jack?!

the bling .... :)

surrounded by his loving relatives .... 

I am going to save {Part II} for another blog post! :D Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek, Janet!  

Free.

“I am you; you are ME. You are the waves; I am the ocean. 

Know this and be free, be divine.”

-Sri Sathva Sai Baba

Still in Florida. Still lovin' it.

________________

But on another note, my heart is heavy for the Ladies of La Tienda.

Please pray for them. They are struggling..... my trip in May to help out cannot come soon enough.

I'm beginning to collect donations (21 First Street @ Dods & McNair Funeral Home - until I return from holidays- and then at 12 York Street @ Gigi Photography).

Check out Rachel's recent blog post.

The perks.

Yes, I know I'm on vacation in the lovely glorious sunny lands of Florida but I promised some of my clients sneak peeks and some proofing so here goes ... :D 

I first met these clients through some mini sessions at a local baby store a few years ago. They recently had their second gorgeous baby girl and I was the lucky one they choose to capture their little baby's sweetness.

Ahhhh ... isn't she a darling little thing?!

I think her mom and I share the same love for the colour PINK! We totally bonded. 

What a *darling* family!

Paula, enjoy your sneak peek! Your gallery will be live soon!

Annnnd I can't resist posting these pics. One of the benefits of being BFFs with an amazing-out-of-this-world-kick-your-Betty-Crocker-butt (excuse my language!) baker is .... well, the BAKED GOODIES! Leanne (my ever-faithful-sidekick here in our Florida adventures) whipped these up such lovely treats this afternoon and I just sat there, drooooling. 

Gorgeous. 

Yummy. 

Perfect. 

How can she take brownies, melted chocolate and a few sprinkles and make them look THIS perfect?! 

Yes, I take food pictures in strange places. Like front gardens.

And this is how we felt after eating such scrumptious goodies. 

Chocolate-covered-happiness.  I am SO lucky.