I heart macro: Treasures - From my Living Room

I've never been one to have treasures because they are worth a lot of money.  Something is a  treasure to me ...just because I like it, ...because it  brings cheer or joy to me in some way, or ...because it is meaningful to me for some reason--typically because it reminds me of someone I love.

I started photographing wooden furniture 

for this week's "theme."  

I found it much more challenging than I expected! 

The wood reflected light so much!

Items kept looking washed out, white, too red, etc.

I learned a bit about photographing wood in this session.

This piece is a "treasure" 

because it belonged to my mother-in-law,

who I loved dearly.

This is another interesting wooden piece of furniture.

I like the lines.

My late mother bought it for her parents 

when she first started working.

It was returned to her when they passed away, 

and she gave it to me when I moved to my first apartment.

So it's a "treasure."

Along the way, I decided not to limit myself to wood.

This basket has no deep sentimental value.

I just really like baskets!

My husband groans every time I bring another one home.

This is one of a pair!   These are very tall baskets.

These are inexpensive metal foldout shelves--

like a bookcase that can fold completely flat.

We use it for storing movies.

A plant

(in a basket of course)

sits on this top shelf.

I just like the lines.

Back to the wood...

This piece and the few following

are from a rocking chair

my parents bought for me

 from a friend of my grandmother's.

My dad redid the seat and sturdied the wood.

My mother helped with the refinishing.  

They were a great team.

Another sentimental treasure.

The lampshade from a cheap Tiffany-wannabe-style lamp,

but I love it.

(If you love Tiffany lamps,

you might enjoy this book as much as I did:

"Clara and  Mr. Tiffany" by Susan Vreeland.

More about that here and here.)

Finally, a "treasure chest"

which looks like a "treasure chest"...

#20:   "Treasures"

....which I bought years ago, just because.

Hope you enjoyed my tour of living room treasures!

Be sure to visit all the other troves at:

at Studio Waterstone

Jewelry Photography: Still Practicing!

You may or may not recall that when I started this blog last year, my photos were pretty darn awful.  No, not being modest.  They were embarrassingly awful.   Most of them had a pink hue. They were not much in focus, and they were dark, unless I lightened them to an unnatural looking blue-hue.  I kid you not.  I'll find one for you now.

This one isn't so much from my "Pink Period"
as it looks like someone put a layer or two
of gray varnish all over the photo!
Where is the color and sparkle?

This one was a little bit better,
but the white background looks blue.
It was certainly nothing to brag about.

And my point isn't that now I'm so great I get to brag, because I still have a long way to go.   But I've been on an interesting journey.   And because a journey can take so long, sometimes we forget how far we've traveled.   So I thought I take a moment today to show you a few of the photographic "phases" I've gone through these past months.

Following that initial dark pink and blue phase, I tried getting more light on the areas where I was taking photos in  my office/studio.  I set up two lamps, started using white cloth (rather than various colors) as backgrounds, set the light on the camera as high as it would go, and learned to use the close-up focus.  (You can tell I'm still so home-taught I don't know all the real names for things, I just know I need an "S" and a Tulip icon to show up to make it work!  Thank goodness I learned that!   Bad news was, the photos still appeared too dark, even when I tried to lighten them afterward.)

I knew I needed a lightbox, but that didn't seem very possible at the time, and I started learning how outdoor photography and natural lighting were becoming more popular anyway.  So I grabbed my camera and headed out of doors!

I had very mixed luck--as I often spoke about here on the blog.   Some photos pleased me:

And others, I just couldn't figure out how much light to use, which direction to shoot, or where I should be.  Shadows were another problem.

 

BEFORE: (Pink)                        AFTER (Outdoors--Better but with shadows):

                  

Then the weather became cold and I had to move indoors again.  I began experimenting with props in the photos.  Some of my favorites were some ivory-colored sea shells.   It seemed to work at times and at others, I would have the same old pink/blue lighting problems.  

I think this one actually turned out better than most.

But even though so many of my outdoor shots had turned out poorly, I felt that most of my best shots had been taken outside.  I had to find a way to replicate that natural light indoors.

Then it occurred to me one day that I could.   We have a nice large beautiful window in the living room that was installed last year.   Where we once had blinds, we put up sheer ivory curtains to filter, but not keep out, the light.  I gave it a try with my jewelry.   And it was SUCH an improvement!

Remember this bracelet from above?

These 2 photos are of a necklace 

I entered in an Art Bead Scene Challenge.

Not same pair of earrings as in first photo, but similar.
I like this much better!  How about you?

I also joined the Studio Waterstone "i heart macro" group and practiced close-up photography which I post on this blog each Sunday.  That has taught me a lot about camera angle, range, focus, and how much you can do with a simple digital camera. 

I rather thought the story would end here, but very recently, a bead artist and photographer took a look at some of my photos and mentioned that the silk-like fabric of the curtains I was using to lay my jewelry on was something of a distraction.   I was surprised, thinking these my very best!   But the longer I studied them, and compared to some of his, I realized how true his comments were.

While the soft folds and filtered light of the curtains were something I liked, they also could take away from the jewelry in some of the photos.  Sometimes the fabric would puff up around the piece, nearly swallowing it up.  At other times, it appeared wrinkly.  Still others, interesting seams that I thought added to the photograph, actually drew attention away from the piece of jewelry I wanted to highlight.

What to do?

I experimented again, and again, and finally came up with this "solution" which I'm currently trying.   I like it better, but can still find fault with it.   I'd like to hear  what you think...

Please, I need your advice.  You tell me, are the reflections here a problem?   (The top photo is different than the last 2.  There is a bit of foam beneath it.)

I hate to admit what I'm using to do this.  Perhaps you can guess...

It would be the flip side of this 

CorningWare pie dish.

I've had it for years and never used it.

But I'm still in the front window.

Using natural light.

In a future post, I'll show you a series of photos of the same object taken in different settings and would like to see what you think.   I'm very open to feedback about my photography.  Tips and suggestions are always welcome!  Sometimes the more negative comments (kindly worded, of course) are the most constructive too.   So please feel free to be honest.  That's how I learn!

I haven't mentioned the names of those who have given me guidance along the way.  I would be very happy to give them credit, I'm just not sure if each of them want it in this case.  Hopefully they will know how very much I've appreciated their very helpful feedback. 

Best wishes to all,

Sharyl

 P.S.  I was thinking it might be fun to hold a "photography challenge" of some sort.  I'm not sure what the limits would be, if any.  I'm thinking that maybe rather than photographing jewelry, we might photograph a pile/arrangement of beads or even a single bead.  That way, every one sort of starts out at an even place.   Then we could do a blog hop and show off our photos.  Anyone without a blog would be welcome to post their photo here.   

Would anyone be interested in this type of challenge?  (It would be yet another opportunity for drawings for prizes!)  :-)   Think about it and please let me know! 

If anyone knows of this challenge already being done, please let me know that too.  I've suggested it unaware of any other, and wouldn't want to encroach, or duplicate what anyone else is already doing.

Here's what I Didn't do Today!

It's time I should put up a new post, but I actually spent most of my day today working on jewelry--something it seems like I haven't done in quite a while--a day of jewelry-making!

With all the holiday and after-holiday and new year's and destash sales, I'm afraid I'm over budget, but finally have a nice collection of beads (including artisan-made lampwork), findings, etc., to keep me busy for quite a while!   

(I imagine I drove the artists and shop-owners nuts with my 1 or 2-of-this, 4-of-something-else orders, but they kindly obliged me.)   

I may take you on a "virtual shopping" tour soon so you can do some "window shopping" too!   There are some of my favorites and some new favorites too!

But, no time right now...instead, I thought I'd do something different.   I'll update you on what I DIDN'T do today!

1)  I didn't even look at e-mail.   Not any of the (way-too-many) email boxes I regularly check.   Nada.  (I'll pay tomorrow!)

2) FaceBook time = about 5 minutes.  Don't even ask me how I did that!

3) I didn't fix the letter "m."  I dropped a jumpring yesterday and it fell in between the keys on my laptop right before my workshift.   My "m" was stuck, so I tried to lift the key up, as I've done in the past, to get the offending matter out of the way, except this time, the letter "m" and 2 other pieces went flying in the air.  Saved the jumpring.  Not so sure if "m" can be saved.   Worked my 3 hour shift again tonight minus the letter "m."   

4) No blogging until the last hour, then catching up on reading and leaving messages, and finally, posting my own...until the computer crash just a moment ago, which has slowed me down a bit.  

5) Checked Etsy and ArtFire for messages, but didn't buy anything online today.   Whew!   Good thing.   The plumber came over this morning to look at our leaky pipes, and does he have a deal for us!   (Yikes!)

6)  I didn't do a thing with these....

 ...which I started so long ago, I don't even recall what they were meant to be for any more!   Nor did I finish any of the "sets" of earrings that currently only have one finished.   (Do you know how some people end up with a lot of unmatched socks?   I have more than my share of earrings with no match.  Love doing the first one.  The second sort of loses it's charm sometimes.)   

What I DID, I have no photos to prove yet...must wait until daylight for that!   

1) Made one pair of earrings using new beads from several different orders.  (Mix-and-match...what fun!)

2) Worked on a necklace I started months ago.   Got it from about 1/4 done to 3/4 done, but still have a bit more to go.  Not sure it's a "hit" either, so may have to give it one more go.

3) Designed and redesigned and redesigned an earring that I plan to submit to the January Art Bead Scene Challenge.  (I don't want to give too much away yet, but the earrings will feature the blue-gray pair of lampwork by SueBeads that you see in the photo at the top of the page.)  I finally have a design I'm content with and  now have one earring made.   Hmmmm...   sounds familiar....

So please share!    What didn't YOU do recently?!

Sharyl

P.S. More on this next time, but if you visit the

"Sharyl's Jewelry" Facebook page, 

would you please consider clicking "Like" at the top of the page?   I  need 25 "likes" to rename the page something more memorable than that string of numbers!    The number of "Likes" are climbing--up to 11 now--so my thanks to you who have already done so!  

i heart macro: Can it Get More RANDOM?

This week's 
"i heart macro" photos seem 
reflective of my week... a bit flighty, 
any focus attempted lost by 
bigger, random happenings that got in the way,
demanding attention, 
or smaller ones that just seemed more interesting.  


Good stuff:  I was shooting some jewelry of my own and some of my newest beads orders that have come in recently.   These new headpins made by Susan Kennedy at SueBeads were nearby, and I decided they "needed" their picture taken!"   

For me, a random-happy moment!

And the "not-so-good":

After the jewelry, I started snapping other things 

around the room.

This next one may seem happy, but it's a bad sign.

When I start taking photos of artificial flowers, 

you know it's time for a mid-winter tropical get-away!

(But wait, one clogged drain and a call to the plummer later, and ....

I think I might be getting a wall torn out and some 

new plumbing instead!  

Oh, joy.)

...And that's really just the "mediocre" bad news, 

we'll fast-forward through the rest of the bad news stuff and move on to the end of the week, where I was back photographing jewelry again:      (Whew!)

...some "Destash" beads that went on sale yesterday

#21:  It Gets Better

and rephotographing some winter jewelry 

in the  Clearance Sale for the Studio.

Ahhh... much better!

Visit 

Lori Plyer's "Studio Waterstone" blog. 

You are sure to find

more weeks chronicled

macrophotographically for:

"i heart macro!"

Sharyl / Sharyl's Jewelry

Shop/Blog Destash Hop--Starting Jan. 7!

**  Today is the day!  **  

Copper Diem is hosting the 

Shop/Blog Destash Hop!   

Makers of jewelry are cleaning out  bins, drawers, bags, and boxes (wherever we store our beads) to offer YOU great savings on beads and jewelry supplies.   Why do we do it?  To share the fun and make more room in our storage space for MORE new beads!  


You can find mine at "Sharyl's Jewelry" Artfire Studio in the "Bead Extras - Destash" section. 


(Of course, do feel free to shop the rest of the store while you are there!)   In addition to the savings on these bead packets, the shipping and handling for these items is reduced from that of other items in my shop.  So please shop to your heart's content, then visit these other fine Destashers next!...  

List of participating destashers:






GreenBead


Kit and Caboodle


Sharyls Jewelry


Beads 2 Die 4


Gem Crazie

Finally, you very well may want to hop on over to Lori Anderson's "Pretty Things" blog to register for a chance to participate in the 5th Bead Soup Blog Party!   Sign-ups are Jan 7-9, then participants will be selected by lottery from those who registered.   See "Pretty Things" for the latest details on signing up!  

Have a great Saturday all!   Happy Hopping and Shopping!  --Sharyl


Sharyl's Jewelry


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Graphics:
shopping basket:  http://www.wpclipart.com/tools/miscellaneous/household/.cache/shopping_basket.png

Jewelry Destash Sale--Jan. 7

There will be a special event Jan. 7 I'll be participating in. Any of you are welcome to be a part of it!   I'll be posting beads from my personal collection I'm moving from my storage to make room for new ones.   That means YOU get a really good deal and I get more space!  We call those items "destash" and it's like Spring Cleaning for beads and findings used in jewelry-making.      Prices and shipping are low-low because the idea is make my former bead treasures your new ones as quickly as possible!

If you make jewelry, or would like to give it a try, keep your eye on the new section!   It's called "Bead Extras -- Destash" on my “Sharyl’s Jewelry” Artfire Studio.   On Jan. 7 you will see the items "magically" appear and go on sale!     Hopefully you’ll also see them disappear in a hurry too!  Hope you enjoy! 

 --Sharyl

P.S.  There should be others joining in this Destash Blog/Shop Hop.   Hopefully I'll have a list of participants to post for you Jan. 7 so you can check out everyone participating!   

Studio Section Changes

Sometimes no sooner do we make a plan than we find we need to change it.  No worries, but it's happened to me.   Yesterday, I announced on my Studio blog that  I had just set up  "Kids" and "Teens" sections for jewelry in my studio to assist shoppers in selecting items for people in these age groups. 
  

Luckily, no one even viewed that page from the time I posted until a moment ago when I retracted that statement.   There were only a few items in those categories and those items were pulled last night and the categories removed.  No items were purchased.   

The reason for my sudden change of heart is a set of federal regulations I was unaware of, protecting children from harmful substances. And I'm all for that! (One of you kind readers brought this to my attention yesterday, and I thank you kindly for help keeping me out of trouble!)

While I make every effort to avoid lead and nickel in the beads and metals I purchase for all of my jewelry, the regulations require that "all manufacturers of children's products must have their children's products third party tested and certified as compliant with applicable children's product safety rules."   

At any rate, that is more than I'm able to take on at the moment, so I will not attempt to sell jewelry targeted to young people   As I indicated yesterday, adults may enjoy the jewelry I had placed in the "kids" and 'teens" sections too, so I will resume categorizing by types of jewelry (necklaces, pendants, bracelets, earrings.)

I'm grateful for the tip!  And my thanks to all  for understanding!   

Now there's been another change to the Studio Sections that just happened yesterday, and I'm unsure if it will be temporary or permanent.  I've put up a section for "Bead Extras--Destash."   It's there at the moment because I've signed up for an event sponsored by "Copper Diem," a "Shop/Blog Destash Hop" that will take place Jan. 7.  Jan. 4 is the last day to enter if you want to offer destash.  Jan. 7 is the day to "hop" to shop!

My items will be located in my "Sharyl's Jewelry" Artfire Studio in the "Bead Extras --Destash" section.  Please drop by!   I'll post again on Jan. 7.   

Reminder:

And as long as I'm posting reminders...that long-awaited event of the 5th Annual Bead Soup Blog Hop, hosted by Lori Anderson has registration Jan. 7-9th.  Remember to drop by her site if you want to register to get in.  Space is limited this year.  See Lori's blog for details!

--Sharyl