By Laura McAlister Journal EditorAl Pollard considers himself a workaholic, and it's a good thing.His job requires him to work seven days a week and to be ready for just about anything 24 hours a day.Al is a stay-at-home dad of 5-year-old triplets Jackson, Addison and William. His wife works full time as a business manager for a local company.While it wasn't … [Read more...]
Wedding Works of Art: Artist Creates Keepsake Paintings On Site
By Laura McAlister Journal Editor As Dari and Rob Roden were saying their wedding vows at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Joy Varnell captured the moment for them – not with a camera, but a canvas.Joy is owner of Live Event Art of Alabama, which she founded about a year ago. With the new business venture, the artist leaves the privacy of her home studio and paints at … [Read more...]
Taking the Cake – And Making It Extra-Special
By Laura McAlister Journal EditorPorter McCollister would never have believed sugar flowers could be anywhere near as beautiful as the real thing -- that is, until his wedding day.Wife Gia, a Venezuela native, insisted on creating the couple’s wedding cake. Between the layers of the three-tier cake were bouquets of lilies, berries and roses. If Porter, an avid … [Read more...]
Portraits of an Artist
By Laura McAlisterWhen Rollina Oglesbay was a little girl, she entered a contest to receive free art lessons.She didn't win, but her sketch impressed the judges enough to pay her a personal visit to encourage her to take art classes."Someone came to the door and told my mother that I was real talented," Rollina said. "If she'd pay $50, I could get lessons.“Mom … [Read more...]
Setting the Wheels in Motion
By Laura McAlister Journal EditorJennifer Schuble always thought she would serve her country, but she's doing it in a way she never expected.This summer, Jennifer will join the U.S. Paracycling Team for the Paralympics in London. It will be her second time to compete in the Paralympics, and this time she hopes to bring home even more medals than before.The Homewood … [Read more...]