once upon a time a {lovely} artist :: toni weber

hello sweet friends, are you doing good this thursday? i am quietly writing from my couch, while mr kobe sleeps next to me. now this is what i call a pleasant writing. i just need a cup of tea and cookies… ok, it might be lunch time, so no tea, nor cookies for me now! so, are you already making plans for this next weekend? we shall visit the family and show mr kobe around! my dad will love him for sure! we had dogs while i grew up and i know that he misses them a lot. well… but today i will talk about another thing asides from mr kobe (enough with four legs stories!), today i wanted to share with you the work of a lovely lady… a friend.

this friend is toni weber. we met a while ago through each other’s twitter and we started talking, exchanging emails… and a friendship has grown between us. she is one adorable lady, always showing a supportive word and affection. and besides we are one ocean apart… i know that i can count on a word from this friend, if i need one! she is also a talented photography… that captures daily-life details… in a very delicate and soft way. here is her interview…

hello there! how are you feeling today? tell me… who are you? hello claudia! thank you so very much for this special opportunity. i’ll start with the brief summery i recently wrote for my blog: “just a girl in love with photography, nature, family, a simple life and all things handmade. oh, and cups of tea.” i’m also a mama to five beautiful and amazing kids and wife to mark, my husband of 26 years.

hum very interesting… 5 children, that is one big accopmplishment! i have a few questions that might be different… what are you proud of? first off, definitely my children. they are happy, secure, confident and some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. i’m also proud to call the usa my home. in spite of all it’s problems it’s still a great place to live. after living abroad for a year i became much more aware of this.

i see… do you know something… i will meet your best friend in a while… what could he/she say to me about you? i think she might say that i’m a good listener and encourager. i can be deep and thoughtful, but i can also be pretty crazy with a quirky sense of humor. she might also add that i’m always, always up for sitting down over a pot of tea or a cup of hot cocoa.

imagine that it is 1985… what are you doing? i’m two years out of high school and have been newly married for one year. i’m working part time with my friends who started a small business, but what i’m really thinking of is starting my family. my first son came along a year later.

now let’s talk about your work. in three words… can you describe me your work? intimate, peaceful, happy.

let’s say i am a potential buyer… why should i buy from you? my work is calming and serene. it also notices the ordinary beauty we might pass by in our busy lives, a pleasant reminder to slow down. i offer a variety of subjects such as nature, travel, and still life. iwill also give you top-notch customer service and treat you like my best friend.

what would be your next step as an artist? at the moment i’m giving some thought as to whether or not i want to pursue portrait photography. i’ve been hired a few times for this type of work but it has never been a strong focus. to produce great work, your best work, one must feel a passion for it. passions can grow, so i’m waiting to see if this takes root. in addition, i did a photo shoot for a floral designer that was super fun. i got to style the arrangements as well as photograph them. i would love for more of this type of work to come my way.

what is your own favorite piece of art? over the years i’ve collected many prints, both from artists and photographers that i simply adore. but i must say the art that really captures my heart is that of my kids. i keep as much of it as i can. their creations over the years have made me laugh, cry and stand amazed at their wise insight.

don’t you think these images are exactly like toni described? intimate, peaceful and happy? i love the faded colours and the focus… and i love the fact that this strong woman has 5 children of her own, though sometimes i think about being or not a mother, having a big family must be just one amazing experience. you can also explore more of toni’s world through her {blog}… and of course, keep your attention on her {etsy shop}!

images: toni weber via etsy (click on each image to jump to each image’s details)