H E L L O T H E R E . . .
I'm Loran! I am a self taught watercolor artist and photographer currently living and working in the beautiful state of Oregon with my husband and the love of my life, Michael O'Rielly! When I started Notes from Rooster's Chapel I was living with my family on our farm in Virginia. Eventually, Michael and I will move back to be near the family farm, which is called Rooster's Chapel and provides the inspiration for my brand name.
Thank you for your interest in my work! I am so glad to have you here.
H O W I T S T A R T E D . . .
Tucked away in the mountains of southwest Virginia is a beautiful place called Rooster's Chapel. In the mornings, the mist drapes over the ridges as far as the eye can see. Sometimes golden sunlight glitters through, gilding the branches and leaves, and other times silvery frost blankets everything in icy hues.
I can hear my flock of chickens and ducks calling impatiently from over at the Flock Cottage, waiting for me to feed them-- a task they expect me to perform even if their feeders are overflowing with grain. During the warmer months the gardens are overflowing with hundreds of flowers of all shapes and sizes, most of them planted by my family in the short time we've called this place home.
The Flock Cottage and the little white farmhouse surrounded by flowers perch near the road, but the ground rises steeply behind the house and if you follow the winding, steep path through the woods you will come to our farm and the view across the valley will often take your breath away. Our Jersey cows meander through the pasture and perhaps you will get to watch the morning milking. This is where I live and work with my family (my parents and siblings), and where I capture most of the beauty you see in my images. It is a special joy for me to get to share this beauty with you.
As you might have guessed, I love flowers, chickens & ducks, photography and writing. But I also adore classical music, good espresso, the golden hour, long walks, excellent pens, and all sorts of pretty journals, notebooks and paper! It gives me great satisfaction to combine my love of sharing the beautiful images I capture with beautiful paper goods. I hope you find something to love in my little shop.
With love, Loran