"It's a Doberman -— let it have its ears."

Back from Madison. Man that was a good break. Nice to get away from the photo-craze for a week. Hang out, dork out, rock out. A recap will soon follow... but for now- on to the Q+A...

ok- so there were lots of great questions...and I don't think I can choose my fave... so I will have Tyler choose a winner when he gets home from school today...

What is your most favorite thing: Taking the pictures -or- Scrapping them ??
Posted by: Avital

I know it's a cop out answer- but I love both…it varies from time to time- which I'm more into… but I fall in love with both every time…


do you believe in unicorns? ;)
Posted by: Jessica Hood

totally. (random fact- I used to collect unicorn stickers on my lunch box…side note: this was in High School… so cool.)

Where is your favorite place to shop in the Twin Cities?
Posted by: Karin

depends what I'm looking for… for artsy stuff I love Wet Paint and Art Scraps…

 

Nisa: Do you ever think the moon is made out of cheese but when you
think of cheese you don't think it's the stuff the moon is made out
of?
Posted by: Melissa

always.

If you had to choose one image to look at the rest of your life, what you would you choose? It could be a person, a place, a thing...(pretty much all nouns will suffice) but you have to look at only IT for every
day until you are gone. :)
Posted by: emily (justem)

um…weird though it may be- I would look at a popcorn ceiling… cuz my brain always makes patterns…and it amuses me. is that psycho?

Do you have any recurring dreams?
Posted by: B

I used to have recurring nightmares about having to save my little brother Kavan… but nothing recently…

Why do fools fall in love?
Posted by: Cathy P

love is good times. and falling is easy.

Which do you LOVE - taking the pictures or scrapping the pictures?
Posted by: Dale Anne

I love both. sigh.

How did you get into photography? What would your best advice re. photography be - practice, read, learn, go to school....? All of the above? :p What came first, photography or scrapbooking? :)
Posted by: Ania

photography definitely came first… I was kind of obsessed with photos as soon as I got my first camera (or maybe even before…just looking at family photos and stuff…)   Have you seen the movie "One Hour Photo"?? the scene where the camera pans back and you see the whole wall is 4x6 photos? That's what my bedroom wall looked like… except not creepy cuz I took the photos and knew the people in them…   As far as advice- I would say shoot like mad. Just keep shooting and playing and experimenting…

I'm desperate to see how you write (when you are not writing upside
down)
Me wanna see Nisa scribing the normal way ;)
Posted by: kirsty wiseman


do you believe in fairies?
Posted by: jill Scripps

totally.

Where did u find your Ben?
Posted by: Rhonda P

at a juice bar.

Were you so freakin' funny as a child???!

Posted by: Cami

that would be a question for my mom or brothers I guess.  I do remember a play I was in when I was in grade school- the director gave kids presents at the end that like "said" a little something about them…and I got laffy taffy cuz apparently I always kept everyone laughing… so maybe yes?

If you could choose to be a super hero, what super powers would you want and what would your name be?
Posted by: Denise

I'd like to fly… but when you think about it that's more fun than super. I'd like to be able to bend time (like stop it, rewind it, fast forward)..that could be fun AND super…and handy.   And the world could call me superfiin. yup.

If you were to write a novel, what would be the title, and what would it be about?
Posted by: Mari

I feel like I should have some witty answer for this…and I just don't. I'm not much of a fiction writer… guess that's why scrapping works so well for me… I just write my life…

did you write in diaries as a child?
Posted by: Sharma

I started lots. I have a whole stack of notebooks, journals, etc that I filled maybe a fourth of. I'm real good with starting things and a little slack-y times on follow through..

If you could take a picture of anyone (living or not) who would it be?
Posted by: Tracy Frazier

I would love to photograph Buster Keaton… Or Dave Matthews… and then we could make out.

what is the one thing you can't stand about your husband but have learned to live with it AND you don't complain about it (that much!) anymore.
Posted by: tami

I used to say the worst thing about Ben was that he brings the dishes into the kitchen and sets them on the counter above the dishwasher…but not IN the dishwasher… Point being- if that's as bad as it gets with this boy, I lucked out huge. But he heard me say that and now he does put them in the dishwasher. Honestly- there's not much to gripe about w Benj...

 

Would you rather eat a meal cooked by Nigella Lawson or Giada De Laurentiis?
Posted by: Jennie

I don't really know either of them (Ben's the one who watches cooking shows)…I wouldn't say no to anyone cooking instead of me, frankly. But if I had to choose someone- I'd pick Jonathan Contes. Cuz yum…great, now I'm jonesing for a plate of snack tidbits…

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Posted by: christa

um, lots? I don't know the answer to this one…that's a brain tease right there…

what was your last thought before you fell asleep last night?
Posted by: jenn shurkus

the night before you asked this question I was probably playing guitar hero in my head…Josh and I dedicated a few hours to it right before bed…

last night (the night before I'm writing this right now) I was thinking about houses.

when are you going to show us layout's with your wedding pictures on??
Posted by: Maria Therese
I think I posted a couple- no? Um… soon I guess then.

 

If you had the chance to put out a "coffee table" photography book what would be your title and what "inspiration" pictures would you include in it?
Posted by: Bianca

I would call it "Fiins I heart" and then my publisher would probably want to change it and a fight would ensue. And I would fill it with all the people and fiins I love. Ben making something amazing, my fam just hanging out together, Tyler laughing, Zac rocking the dimple, Kristi rocking out to loud music in the car, Kirsten looking gorgeous without even trying, Josh playing guitar, Hooper doing a rodeo…

a while ago on your blog you said you were getting another tattoo.
what did you get?
Posted by: tessa

I got another star. I get them as like "mile markers" or something… I have one from when I turned 18, one when I turned 21, one when Kavan came back from Iraq (that one is a clover rather than a star though…my brothers and I each got one) and now another star for Ben and I getting married. It's on the back/side of my neck…where he kisses me in the kitchen.

Does scrapbooking still mean the same to you as it did in the beginning?
Posted by: Ólöf Birna

I think it means more now. I mean it's still a way to spill my brain and make art and remember things… but I think I do it more for just me now. Rather than to show to people and get feedback… I make things to make me happy now…

I just have to know...just how did you make patterned paper your bitch??? I keep asking her but she refuses...I hope my feeble attempt at humor is taken that way, because patterned paper is truly your bitch...have a happy halloween!
Posted by: Courtney

I smacked her around a bit. But she was asking for it. No… um… I think you just have to realize it's just paper and don't be scared to put crazy things together. Plus I've loved paper for a long long time… so we go way back…

Who were you in high school? Where yo the jock, the mean girls, the drama club chick or the class clown? I find you so funny so it would be interesting if you where that way in school.
Posted by: kelli

I was the alty girl with purple hair and thrift store clothes and converse all-stars.

What is the meaning of life?
;););)
Posted by: Hailey A

I'm gonna go with – to make yourself and others happy…to love lots and laugh loud. And make something.

Was your "freak flag" comment from They Might Be Giants, "The Family
Stone", neither, or both?
Posted by: Kristinah

both. though I kind of hate to admit that I've seen "The Family Stone"

Do you snack while you scrap? What is your favorite snack?
Posted by: Barb

I don't really… I drink lots. Cranberry Juice or Lemonade. delicious.

What got you into photography and scrapbooking as a career choice? do you still love it as much as when you started?
Posted by: Lisa Mac

I love them. And I have to do what I love…have to make art or I go crazy. A lot of people can suck it up and go to a job they don't love and plug away at it and I can't do that. I don't know if that's good or bad… but I've made it work for me…

Can you give the rak to me? No, now for real,... What's your favorite song ever?
Posted by: Inge Guillaume

Hopeless Lily by Josh Kuter

...what was the most difficult photo you had ever shoot??? And why? Well that is actually two questions, but they kind of go together, right??
Posted by: Anke

Um… I kind of thrive on difficult shoots… to a point I guess. Like squirrelly nut ball kids? Bring 'em on! Honestly my most difficult shoots are adults…when they just sit there all tense and want me to tell them what to do.

Can a broken heart be mended? Truly mended? Or will it always be
cracked? What do you think?
Posted by: Bibi

I don't think it can. I think things can get better and you can move on and love again… but I think it leaves a scar…

If you could have any professional photographer take photos of you ~ who would you choose and why? Do you love Anne Geddes' style???
Posted by: Danielle Nilsson

Either Mark Seliger… or David LaChapelle

when did you first get into photography?
Posted by: amy cutler

in grade school I got my first camera…and I've been crazy for it ever since…

Why, oh why, can't it be me? That's a question, right?
Posted by: Rhonda P

cuz that's two questions.

What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?
Posted by: Eileen

Pumpkin pie. Holy crap I love that. I made a couple when I was down in Madison. Josh and I have decided to start a revolution and make pumpkin pie the official pie of every holiday… look out fourth or july apple pie… we're comin' after you.

What's the one dream you dream about.. that well.. you still have, and you still are hoping against hope, comes true?
Posted by: bonnierose
I want identical triplet boys. (Now someone has to go pick Ben up off the floor)

if you could have a superpower what would it be and why? ummm...is
that technically 2 questions?
Posted by: lex

no it's three.  And still bending time. Cuz I could go back and relive things… or fast forward through stuff… or stop time and just sleep in the morning…

Did you ever dream that you would be a photographer as a child? What did you wanna be when you grew up?
Posted by: scrapsinabox

I didn't really think of photography as a career until college. It was just fun. When I was younger I wanted to be an archaeologist… (ask my mom about bones in the sink)   then architect…then children's book illustrator.

How do you get Tyler to pose for you? Does he like to take photos?
Posted by: Cheryl

I don't really get him to pose for me. Or any kids for that matter. I just kind of hang out with them and play and talk and chase them down… And snap them just being.   And for the second question- I'm not sure if you mean be in them or take them himself…so I will answer both.  I don't know that he thinks about me taking pictures much… it's just how I am… I've always had that thing all up in his grill since he was like 2 mos old.   He does love taking them himself.  I gave him an old real camera when he was just over a year…and that was his favorite toy for a loooong time. He still busts the thing out from time to time…

Did you already lift one of my layouts???? You said so yourself LOL... just kidding girl. I don't know what to ask. You are an amazing talented lady. Do you plan to come to the netherlands one day?
Posted by: Emine

I didn't… I suck. I totally will. You watch… I'll get on that. And I don't have plans to come to the Netherlands, but would be happy to apply the motto of a photographer friend "you pay I go"

hey nisa! um...what's your all-time favorite scrap supply? only one... :)
Posted by: Debbie Cook

paper. definitely paper.

Of all the memories in your life, which one do you NEVER want to forget?
Posted by: Colleen

yikes…that's tricky…probably our wedding day…kind of cheese, but true.

Do you like your scrappy style or are you wanting to change it up?
btw, i dont mean to imply there is anything wrong with your style
cause i adore it...i just know sometimes its like an itch you have to
just CHANGE stuff...kwim?
Posted by: Carrie K

I think it's always changing…not drastically, and it's always very me…but I can look back through albums and see changes that just happen, evolve, without my thinking about it…

what keeps you and the other effers such a tight group, despite controversy, heartache, distance, and LIFE?!
Posted by: rebekah Compton

we love each other. flat out.

question: what one "thing" would you keep with you if there was a world catastrophe?
instead of the rak I would take a free photo shoot for my twins! lol, ok, maybe that didn't work but I have always dreamed of being able to hire you.
Posted by: Karen

I would grab photos ( or the discs of files…or my hard drive…maybe I need to get all that in one place…)
and where do you live?? (WI?)

What's the one scrapbooking product you can't live without?
Posted by: Lindsey Trego

patterned paper forever…

 

How did you started in the scrap world??

Posted by: Melisa

I had been collecting scrap stuff since like highschool… then in 2005 I took a class from Shimelle and got Cathy Z's first book… the combination of those two lit a fire under me

 

I dreamed you were pregnant (yes, weird, i know). Are you?

Posted by: Sara Berry

I am not… weird thing is- I dreamt that recently, too…so maybe you're not so much psychic as you are IN MY HEAD. bizarre.

 

if you got to be a circus act, which one would you choose?

Posted by: christine c

I think the trapeze would be really cool… kind of like swinging plus flying…   

 

 

if I gave you one million dollars and told you that you had twenty four hours and you had to spend it all....what would you buy?

Posted by: Nadia

a house and furniture + decoration… I could totally rock that. When do we play?   

 

You have a hot pink rainboot on your left foot.
You have a Black & White Converse sneaker on your right foot.
You have a blue gardener's glove on your left hand.
You have a brown fleece winter mitten on your right hand.

You can only keep one on. Which one would you pick and why?

How's that for a question :-)

Posted by: Stephanie

the black + white chucks. cuz I love them. so classic. old school. I actually have them on today…

 

Our scrapbooking styles always continue to evolve. What inspires you to create a page? Does it begin with the photo, or a scrapbook kit and possibilities start rummaging through your mind? What tends to be your starting point - the photo, the paper or possibly an embellishment that spurs the creativity? Posted by: Bettina

for me it's usually the photo or a story… or both. As much as I love my scrap supplies, they rarely drive the page…

 

Do people ever say you don't love T and Z like you will your own kids... or when they say " You might think you know about kids, but it's different when it's your OWN...."?

My sister has 4 kids that I help her raise, and I hate when people say it to me. You seemed like a person who could relate.

Posted by: Kristinah

yeah… I've heard it before. And I know I'll love my own kids more/differently/huger than I can imagine. I   just hate when people point it out in a way to almost diminish how much I love these boys… so I totally hear you on that…

 

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world where would it be??

Posted by: Jessica

I'd really love to get to Ireland and Greece.

 

Hi Nisa,

My question - what music, movies...do you like to enjoy while you're scrapping? or, are you a silent scrapper?

Posted by: Susan Hessler

I don't think I'm a "silent" anything…HA! Ben and I have a mix of songs that we rock out to while we work in the sunroom… it's a huge playlist that includes Ben Folds, Brenda Weiler, Dispatch, Guster, Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews, Pete Yorn, OAR, Snow Patrol, Matt Nathanson, Damien Rice, Disliking Silence, Pat McGee Band…

ETA: Tyler chose Christine C as the winner (you won his heart with talk of circus)  So drop me an email with your info chickie...thanks!!

Comments

[Laura Solomon]

Where do we find the song HopeLess Lily? I googled it and ummm... nothing?

[Converse]

regards from germany!!!