Sunday, June 19, 2011

Welcome To Sonny Says Hello


Who is Sonny Says Hello?

I'm known as Cindy to friends & family & the owner of the multi-faceted creative project which I've named "Sonny Says Hello".  

Originally from Chicago, Illinois & spent much of my time there being creative & rebellious. In 1972, my family packed up the little red VW bus for a road trip that cut through expansive landscapes & breathtaking sunsets. We arrived in Arizona at the beginning of an amazing & thunderous monsoon season. 

I had never been on a road trip that I could then remember; Yet there I was with my 3 little sisters.  We were miserably hot that summer, but that didn't stop us from giving each other more misery.  That's when my then nickname, 'Sonny' arrived in my little teenage head.  I liked it. My sisters laughed.  "Who would Sonny be then?" they asked?  I replied, "Sonny is vibrant, happy and the sun always shines on her. She is joyful, creative and always growing." "Growing into what?" they retorted as they elbowed each other.  At the time, it was all I had. I'm a shiksa. What do you want?   There's a photograph we took at one of our tour de-restaurant ala sight seeing moments.  I'm wearing a funny pair of white shorts (I hated shorts at the time but it was ungodly hot)  ... and I'm smiling ... in the sun.  Yeah, I need to find that photo.  I hated it then.  I love it now.

I hail from a well creative family.  My Mother was an artist; She worked during the day at the newspaper.  She sketched, painted & created every other spare moment of her days.  My father was the photographer; He was also the second tenor in the Chicago Lyric Opera!.  Dad worked at the utility company during the day & often pulled 24 hours shifts in the dead of night & in the frost of winter.  During his spare hours and weekends, he sang.  He immersed himself in photography.  The darkroom was the most mysterious place in the house ... I loved it there & so the seed took root.  One day I hope to shoot with my father's most favored cameras from ages past. 

Many, many things have occurred between then and now, as does in most everyone's life.  But the truth is, Sonny was born in the 1970's and almost forgotten until a creative resurgence flooded  my life & propelled this idea forward.  Within this time I've married, had children, divorced, remarried a wonderful man; And my children have graced me with 9 amazing grandchildren.

Yes.  Life happened.   But the creative life, always present, had never really been built upon.  It needed a foundation.  That foundation came slowly by learning who I was.  My life defined me.  Now I define  my life. I'm joyous & creative. The sun always shines on me. I'm in the moment. I love to be vibrant, creative, brilliant, funny ... Sonny has become 'Sonny Says Hello' -- 40 years later.

Today I mostly shoot with Canon. 
I began Sonny Says Hello Photography in 2009.

Thanks for visiting me here!
You can also visit me at SmugMug and on Etsy!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

A Tiny Life ... A Journey Begins.

It's a blessed journey for our Granddaughter, Claire. She was born premature on April 15th at 12:04 in the afternoon, only 25 weeks old. She weighed 1 pound 7 ounces. She arrived via Cesarean section; A rude awakening to the new world awaited her. During the weeks that have followed, Claire has been on a ventilator, fed intravenously. In order to provide the best medical care possible, she has required blood transfusions. Holding her or touching her would present too much of a risk. Her mommy & daddy could only talk to her in an effort to comfort during this fragile time. During the first week of her life in the NICU, they found a 1.7mm hole in her heart. Her lungs were filling with blood and she would tire easily. She was 'riding' the ventilator as she was too tired to breath on her own. After administering medication to speed her heart to heal. She miraculously recuperated & the hole healed to .7mm. Unfortunately, this was not good enough. She began riding the ventilators a day later and her lungs were filling again. She was taken to surgery where they performed heart surgery on little Claire, grateful for every prayer, healing thought &  powerful gesture!!  We waited.

Claire came out of surgery still fighting. The doctors listed her critical & we waited. One week later, Claire has been taken off the ventilators, and is looking forward to her first feeding. Today, her mommy gets to hold her. Thankfully, Claire is thriving! Her heart is healing.



THANK YOU!!!  Thank You To every single person who kept Claire in their thoughts, prayers, daily blessings & healing circles. The action of prayer & healing is a powerful thing!  Never under estimate it's presence in your life! If we only knew it's breadth we could move mountains!
 

Now we look forward to Claire moving forward in her life, moving home to be with her family! She has a big Sister, Big Brother, her Mommy & Daddy and an loving beautiful world full of Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and a circle of friends who look forward to greeting her home!


Hurry little angel! 
Get well and speed home to all that wait for you with open arms!

"Angels are often silent, 
But they are listening to every thought that stirs our soul."




Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Welcome To Sonny Says Hello

Hello & Welcome to my newest adventure: My Blogger.

Sonny Says Hello Photography can be found on SmugMug.com and also DeviantArt.com.

On Etsy, Sonny Says Hello features unique handmade & vintage, clothing, hair & houme accessories &  baby items.  The boundaries are limitless!   I'm a custom-creative! I love making one of a kind & individual items! If you're looking for a specific color I do not have listed, please do not hesitate -- send me a request!

My Email  is: CindyLukacs@gmail.com

http://sonnysayshello.smugmug.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sonnysayshello