Photography & Crochet

I was over at my in law’s place for dinner and I had my new camera with me, so I thought I would do a quick shoot.  I wanted to play with the monochrome setting; focusing on light and shadow, texture and contrast as the subject matter.

I restricted myself to object inside the lounge/dinning area of the house and took a few shots.  I think that a few of the them came out alright. 

   

   

          

                 

Another project I promised to post about is my crochet Peter Pan collars.  I think they came out quite well considering that I had to translate from USA to UK crochet instructions.

The first one I did came out quite lacy and loose and unfortunately way too small for me to wear!  For the second one I changed the size of my crochet hook from a 3.5 to a 2.5, and naturally, the result was tighter all-round.

I really like how the collars look, and I have photos of them ~ one day I shall have to wear one in an outfit shoot to show how I like to style them.   But for now, here are the collars just as they are.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have one more collar to finish off in purple ~ I am experimenting with the length of the initial chain to see if having it sit wider around the neck will look better.

After that, I am going to try it in a black 3 ply cord rather than the 2 ply that the purple is.  I would like to perfect this pattern than start creating variations to sell on Etsy.   Would you be interested in one of these collars do you think?

xox,

b.

P.S. ~ I am putting the first collar up on Etsy for a discounted price as it is rather small…. I am not sure who it would fit but maybe someone can find a use for it.  I would prefer to make these to order ~ I.e., the customer sends me the size and colour they would like and I crochet it for them.

Outfit Seven ~ Teal Tricks

I wore this skirt twice this week because I really like it.  It’s 100% wool, so it’s great for winter.  I am loving the colour too ~ the powdery, teal duck egg shade just seems so vintage to me! 

                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Amabelle decides to join in the fun!  : D    “Hey Mom, can I lick you pweeaaassse??”

  

Accessories  ~  Pearl earrings {Christmas Present}      Pearl necklace {antique shop}      Bracelet   {gift from my sister}       

Blouse  ~  Salvo’s         Skirt  ~  Thrifted      Stockings   ~  Valley Girl      Shoes  ~  Salvo’s

 

I did cut more hair into my fringe like I said I would.  I like even better than I did before now! 

Next post I am planning to put up a small study I did with the new camera ~ really playing with light and texture in the monochrome setting.  I shall also put up my finished crochet project ~ the peter pan collar.   I have actually completed two of the collars and am in the middle of a third.  Yay for finishing projects!

Speaking of projects, I started Sewing Project 102 today ~ the Dirndl skirt.  It seems that the wool skirt project keeps getting pushed back….  But I think it’s handy to have some sewing experience under my belt before launching into the $30.00 a meter project.  So I am happy to work on others until I am ready.  Hopefully winter will not be over before I finish it though!

xox,

b.

The Fringe Parade ~

So today I went to the hairdresser to get a trim {splits everywhere, but you so do not want to know about that} and when she asked if it was the usual, I took the plunge and said “Yes, but please cut me a fringe too.”   She looked startled, but I had been thinking this over for a couple of weeks now and I knew I wanted one.

After all, it is only a small piece of hair to straighten everyday if I am in a curly hair mood, {you have seen the curly hair posts yes?  Well, that’s my natural hair. Imagine a fringe with that and no straightener.  Disaster!!} and as I am most often in a straight hair mood {no waking up with a mouse nest at the back of your head is a very pleasant experience} it is actually less hair to straighten all up.  Not that straightening my hair takes that long any more.  I have had so much practise that I can do it in half an hour.  That may sound like a lot of time, but it is not as my hair is very thick as well as curly!  It used to take me an hour.

But anyway, I say fringe parade because I have noticed that all though the front~facing blunt or slightly curved fringe is nearly non~existent on the street {at least, in Australia anyway.  All the fringes are side swept at the moment or there is no fringe at all.} it is very popular in the blogsphere. 

I did want a fringe before I saw all the style bloggers out there with them; I just didn’t have the guts to try it.  Then day by day, seeing all the fringes firmed my resolve to be brave and try it myself.

My fringe inspiration came from these lovely ladies ~

                

               ~ Maria of Lulu Letty ~                    ~ Tieka of Selective Potential ~

                     

~ Hannah of Hannah & Landon Metz ~ ~ Rebecca of The Clothes Horse ~

But finally, my favourite fringespiration is here ~ 

~ Elizabeth of Delightfully Tacky ~

And the reason for Elizabeth being my favourite is easy ~ one, she has red hair like me {although hers is much brighter} and two, this being the most important, is that she has crazy thick curly hair like mine PLUS a fringe and it looks flippin’ fantastic!!

Here it is ~ my new fringe.

 

 

 

I really like it, but it’s a bit scary because now I think that I alternatively look like a}. my Mom, b}. my sisters, particularly my youngest sister or c}. a combination of all four {!!}.  Not that I mind looking like them, just that it’s a bit freaky when you catch sight of yourself in a reflection and see one of your family members looking back at you rather than you!

My one compliant is that my hairdresser did not make the fringe thick enough, so I am going to pull more hair over tomorrow and cut it to the shape she already cut.  I.e., fill out the fringe with more hair!  It should be easy as, and I think it will look better too.

So are you a fringe lover or not?

xox,

b.

P.S. ~ Yes, that is the new camera in photo two.  Isn’t it just so delicious?   X D

Art and Photography ~

What I have been busy creating recently; art and photography.  Remember the pencil sketch I posted earlier?  Well, this is what happened to it when I scanned it and decided to colour it.

~ Smudged Eyes ~

And this is what the final picture looks like ~

~ Aeiya ~

I also discovered a new photo editing site call Picnik ~ I’ve been playing a few of my photos that I like, but think that they lack something to make them pop.  This site is a lot of fun ~  I put together a few of the photographs I have edited.  They look cool yes?

      

     

 

 

I like the different effects that Picnik offer ~ I can finally get some awesome vintage goodness happening.   : D

xox,

b.

Panda Pants!

It’s so exciting ~ I finished my very first sewing project: The Panda Pants!!!!!!

It was quite easy actually.  I read the instructions and I had my Sewing Guru there to explain little tips and hints, such as how to stretch the material for ease when hemming the legs, how to press when the leg seams open once they have been sewn up, and how to sew the elastic waist band together without adding bulk {overlap and stitch along all four sides in a box shape}, etc.  She just made the process so much smoother and hassle free.  If I thought something was going wrong I could check with her and ask for advice.  Me being the worrier I am, it was a relief to have that.  Her help allowed me to relax and actually enjoy the process of creating a garment.

The pattern we used was Kwik Sew 3028.  I made the waist band wider and thus, the waist is lower than what the pattern called for.  I also added the two side pocket option and put a ribbon bow on the front so a). you could tell it was the front and b). to make it look awesome.  Bows rock.

Now for a plethora of pictures.  Excited much?    You should have seen me dancing!

Sewing the rest of the pants ~

                                

 

                        So close…

 

Hemming time.

                     

                      

 

ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNDD    Tada!

 

Left to Right  ~  Pocket view featuring Needle Mouse, the cuff hem and bow~tastic detail. 

Last but not least, the machine I sewed the pants on ~

                     

The workstation complete with cup of tea. 

I must say, I adore this machine.  The soft hum, the smoothness of stitch and the solid feel of the cool metal ~ it gives me confidence that I can actually use it.  It’s a Bernina 830 {the old school one} and I want.  When I am ready to purchase my first machine I am going to try and find one of these.   It is easy to work with, and it won’t fall apart {if it’s been well looked after that is}.   Plus, the added advantage is that my Sewing Guru owns one, so if I have any questions I can ask her about it.    : ) 

xox,

b.

Boots ~ Outfit Seven

I actually wore this outfit on Saturday to a picnic with my life~long friends.  It was a really nice day for the middle of winter ~ the sun was bright and even better, we had pie!  My amazing sister decided a while ago to take up pie making as a hobby and we all benefit from that one!

She makes the most delicious pies from scratch.   Pastry, filling and all.  AND she uses her own recipes.  O.O  Her pies are so tasty and yummy….   Her Christmas Apple Pie is delightful and I adore the Pear and Lavender one she cooks.  Lucky us; we get to sample her delectable creations.  I swear cooking is such a great hobby. 

Mmmmm…… Pie. 

      

      

Okay, I will stop getting distracted with food.

Here is the outfit I wore!

            

    

 

Accessories  ~  Hair bows {Best & Less}     Scarf  {Thrifted}    Cuff  {Diva}         Top  ~  Primark {Scotland}        

Skirt  ~  Thrifted  {$7.00, good eh?}         

Tights  ~  SES         Boots  ~  FSW {years ago ~ can’t you tell by the worn heels?}

 

I love those boots.  The biker/cowgirl style is really sweet ~ not too girly, not too western.   I do not really wear western at all, so this is about as close as it gets.  {I figure that if I want to wear clothes that look like I should be riding in them, then I will ride.   Therefore, I won’t wear western as “going out” clothes, but actual yard gear.  It gets really dirty; as anything that goes near a horse will.  : / }

Unfortunately they really need re~heeling.  They are so worn down.  The problem is that even though I have a ton of shoes {please don’t ask the count, I don’t know and probably don’t want too….  That way I can stay in denial and keep acquiring new captives for my wardrobe} I wear them all to death.  I have at least three pairs that need new heels desperately.  I shall have to visit the cobbler asap.

One last piece of news ~ my camera arrived from Cannon finally!!  *does a dance*  I am soooo excited, so expect quite a flood of photographs.  I want to play with every setting until I know exactly what it can do.  

Oh, and sorry about the terrible lighting in the above outfit pictures ~ winter sun is really bright… 

xox,

b.