Today I found out that Mrs. Ann is offering “Kids Art Classes” every Wednesday afternoon from 3:30pm - 5:00pm. Next Wednesday they are going to do a wet clay project. The class is only $15 per child and includes all the supplies! Edie Grace has already told me that when she gets old enough she is going to work at Free Spirit. She LOVES that place!!!
Many of you may not know that Free Spirit no longer charges studio hours. (used to be $6/hour plus the piece of your choice to paint) Now all you have to pay for is the ceramic piece or pieces. How cool is that??!!? Mrs. Ann told me that she now has people spending afternoons there just painting and relaxing. (note…if you can’t find me at the studio I just might be two doors down…just kidding) I really do enjoy painting as much as Edie Grace does. Maybe you all can come join us this summer for some ART Free Spirit style !!!
The images are of Mrs. Ann’s granddaughter. Isn’t she beautiful? She and Edie Grace like to hang out together when she is in town.
www.freespiritpottery.com *** 912.489.3232
Seven years ago today- mine and DeWayne’s world turned upside down and inside out. God gave us the most incredibly precious gift any one could ever ask for - a terrific & beautiful little girl. After a 12 year journey, with lots of ups and downs - she arrived. Many of you had told me that there was no way that I could understand love until I experienced parenthood. Nothing has ever been more true. Edie Grace has become our world. She has been my creative rebirth in so many ways.
Most of you know our story - but after a 12 year struggle to have a child - I learned when she was only 14 months old that I had cervical cancer. In fact, I had my first surgery on my 33rd birthday. I breast fed Edie Grace for the last time the night prior to my surgery.
This was an epiphany to me, however. If I did not make it through the surgery or survive the cancer - I realized that the ONLY way Edie Grace would know me was through pictures. She would have no cognitive memory other than pictures.
How ironic - the gift I give to parents every day - is the ONLY way my child would know me - had I not survived. Well God had another plan for me. He knew that many of you needed to hear my story and to have your story told through the lens of my camera. Every portrait I create is special - but none are more special than the ones I have created since this spiritual and creative rebirth. I understand the incredible importance of my job in a way I had never understood before the arrival of Edie Grace and the survivorship of cancer.
When I speak around the country - sharing my story I end my speech with a slide show. It is our story through pictures and it is set to one of my favorite songs by Tim Mcgraw “Live Like You Were Dying” which is my challenge to each of you. Life really takes on a whole new meaning when you do this.
Happy Birthday Edie Grace and thanks for adding the value and meaning to my life that it needed. You have inspired me to work harder and stretch my creative abilities in ways that seemed unimaginable. All that in just SEVEN years!
I Love you!
Mom
p.s. You are soooooo beautiful!!!
I have teamed up with my FAVORITE SPA Serenity Day Spa and the Statesboro Herald to expand our mother’s promotion this year. Together we - along with some other great sponsors - have put together over $1,000 of phenomenal gifts to make your makeover super special! Here are the details from the Jill at the Statesboro Herald:
“This Mom Deserves A Makeover” has to be one of the best ideas we have had yet. We have so many moms that give so much to the community and their families that we thought the month of May would be the perfect time to recognize all those deserving moms. All you have to do is log on to statesboroherald.com and click on “Mom Makeover” from the home page. Tell us in 100 words or less why the mom you enter deserves to win. Don’t forget to upload the best photo of the deserving mom. You can enter the mom of your choice. Sisters can enter another sister or maybe you would like to enter your aunt or co-worker. Our only rule is the person entered must be a mom.
Not only does the winning mom get the recognition they deserve but they also receive our biggest prize package to date. Our Grand Sponsor, Serenity Day Spa is giving the winning mom a full day spa treatment. The treatment includes; hair color, hair cut, a facial and makeup, a massage, manicure and pedicure valued at $350.00. Lori Grice Photography is donating the “after makeover shoot” of the winning mom and a $400.00 gift certificate. Bernard’s Jewelers is donating a $250.00 gift certificate. Statesboro OB/GYN is donating special perfector non-surgical facelift treatment. Alice J. Paul, Electrolysis is donating a 2 1/2 hour session valued at $150.00. Dr Sharon Wheeles is donating a free nutritional analysis and meal plan. Market Place Salon, Massage and Bronzing is donating a $75.00 gift certificate for the service of your choice. 67 Antiques is donating a $100.00 shopping spree gift certificate. Free Spirit Pottery is donating a gift certificate for Silver Clay Jewelry valued at $30.00.
The prize package continues to grow so don’t let your mom, sister, aunt, or best friend miss out. Show just how much your deserving mom means to you. Log on to statesboroherald.com and enter. The voting starts on May 17th. The community will vote online for the mom they feel deserves to win the prize so give us your best story in 100 words or less. The winner will be featured on the cover of Community Voice, will have a photo spread within our pages and will be featured on our newest and best Studio Statesboro.
Lot’s of you have entered already the contest. Check them out here.
Over and over - again and again you have told me how fast childhood goes by - but I still can not believe that on Wednesday, May 7th Edie Grace will be SEVEN. Oh my it is going WAY TO FAST! Can someone PLEASE slow this down? So our first birthday event was tonight at the farm. Edie Grace loves going to the farm. DeWayne’s parents have build a beautiful log cabin by hand. It is a great place to escape with cousins (Mackenzie and Brooke). Edie Grace is practicing her driving skills on Papa Bob’s mule. Of course there was more food than a hundred people could possibly eat. The multi layer - made from scratch - red velvet cake made by Memaw Betty is always my favorite. For some reason, I can not find it listed in the appoved foods Weight Watchers guide.
Before heading to the farm - we went to namesake grandmother Grace’s birthday event. Tomorrow we will head to Believer’s 7th birthday celebration. Yes - our church and Edie Grace share the same birthday. Then Sunday afternoon to cousin Olivia’s third birthday at Gankie Rick’s.
It is going to be a busy week! I am going to try to shoot a few sessions and maybe work in a few of my other real job things this week - in between the birthday week celebrations.
If you did not make it to First Friday last night - then you missed another great event! This Friday was a celebration of all the arts programs throughout the Bulloch County schools. It was great seeing so many of you down town. Thanks to Chris Mitchell and the guys at Pladd Dot Music for providing great live music our our front door.
Mark your calendar to join us for our next First Friday June 6th.
Congratulations to Marlee! She won Miss Statesboro High School earlier this evening. We were out-of-town on a session and drove in just in time to see her in her crown and dress. She looked so beautiful! Marlee’s Mom Karen Lambert, owns Serenity Day Spa and Salon. Many of you know that I am a confessed “spa groupie”. I LOVE all things AVEDA and spend as much time at Serenity as I possibly can!
Not only am I feeling VERY proud of Marlee but I am feeling just a little bit old. You see, I first photographed Marlee when she was only two years old. Now I am photographing her nephew who is now two. Maybe I won’t need a walker or a wheelchair when I do his Senior portraits one day.
p.s. I jumped out of the car only with my purse blog camera 
Panel frames, collages, albums and grandmother brag books are just a few of the great ways to show off your Lori Grice portraits. Often, I hear we do not have enough wall space to purchase portraits of all of our favorite images. Panel frames and collage groupings provide an excellent way to display your favorites. Many of our clients have created walls of groupings. You can see examples of some of these on our web site in the as seen in gallery.
The grandmother brag albums are available in 5×5 up to 11×14 sizes. They make great mother’s day gifts and are a beautiful addition to any portrait collection.
