27 March 2013

Tulips and Buckets and Feedsacks, Oh My

Even though we have loads and loads of snow on the ground, I can feel Spring in the air. I sure got my money's worth with my $6 tulips purchase. I'm in Spring mode BIG TIME!
 
 


I've spent the last two days working on getting tax information together to send off to our accountant. Every year is the same....I finally get tired of hearing my husband ask if they're done until I just drop everything and do them.

It seems like whenever I'm working on a task that feels more like a chore, I find excuses to do something else....clean a closet, scrub the faucet with a toothbrush, haul out a bunch of stuff and take pictures. Ha!


 
 
I almost forgot that I had these feedsacks. I love them. The weathered wood planter was from an estate sale.
 
 

 
I really need to go put stuff away before my husband gets home. Of course, he'll be so happy that the taxes are ready to mail off he won't complain if there are linens piled where he likes to sit. 
 
I've made a resolution to keep better records beginning now. Next year I hope to have everything in a spreadsheet and with a keystroke I'll be all set. I'll let ya know how that goes.
 
~Diane
 
 
 
 




16 March 2013

Can We Talk (Photography)?

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
 
Hope the sun is shining where you're at, and if it isn't, hope you're warm and cozy.
 



Yesterday I stopped at our local Goodwill store and bought three bags of crocheted doilies. Some were older, some had stains, and a couple had 'issues.' They were stuffed into three gallon size storage bags and were priced at .99 cents each. How could I not buy them? Or as our daughter says, "I couldn't afford NOT to buy them."

Anyway, how many women do you know who get in the mood (at least for taking pics) after spending three bucks? Guess I'm a cheap date.




But what I really want to talk about is how you stage your photo shoots.

I have a few places in my house where the light is good at certain times of the day. The brightest room hands down is the living area. Unfortunately, it isn't a room that I can easily set up and leave as a 'studio-like' space.

So, when I take pictures there, either for this blog or for Etsy or eBay, I have to stage an area.

I'm almost embarrassed to show you this; our dumpy, little farmhouse isn't much, but it sits on a gorgeous piece of property. That's a whole nother post.

OK, what the heck....if I can't be myself and learn something from this blog, then what's the point of blogging?

So here goes.....




Welcome to the mess behind the scenes!

You can see some of the newly washed doilies drying on towels on the back of the sofa and my makeshift backdrop (a piece of vintage wallpaper) taped onto the open door. If you look real close you'll see the table leg is propped up on an old cellphone battery to level it. I picked up that shabby little octagon, wicker table at the Salvation Army for $7.99 and use it all the time.










Why am I telling you all this? Because I'm curious to know how you set up for your photos, and also to clear up any misconceptions you might have about mine, such as that somewhere in my house I have a pretty, vintage wallpapered bedroom. :-)




So tell me, do you have a studio or dedicated space or do you shoot on the fly? What kind of camera do you use? Are you shooting on manual or automatic? Do you usually use a tripod? Do you have a favorite lens? That sort of thing....




I am so hoping to learn some of the tricks of the trade. Who better to ask than my real live blogger friends?

Still thinking Spring!

~Diane

13 March 2013

Where the H-E DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS is Spring?

 
Answer: not anywhere near here. We've had another 18 inches of snow in the past couple of days.
 
{Sigh}
 
I have never been so anxious for Spring and warm weather....actually, we'll need many days of warm weather to melt all this snow.
 
I need to go from this (taken this morning).....
 
 
 

and this (taken yesterday afternoon)....



 
to this....
 
 
 


and then this....





For now, the closest thing to bouquets and gardens is this....
 




Guess I'll just have to make do until the real thing comes along.

~Diane