May 31 2009
Quickly and inexpensively glamorize your bathroom by swapping out a plastic container with something pretty. This glass decanter is full of mouthwash.
Kindly ignore the stock countertop. I can’t do anything about it right now.
May 29 2009
Finally, a true refashion. I dropped the neckline, took in the sides and hemmed the bottom of this slinky knit dress, taking it from frumpy to acceptable. The dress could potentially look great. (I still need some work.)
To drop a slinky knit (or other very stretchy knit) neckline, cut about an inch above where you would like the neckline to fall with very sharp scissors. Place a piece of soft twill tape on top of the fabric (right side) and roll it to the inside of the neckline. Place tear away stabilizer on the opposite side of the fabric. Zig zag in place. If you look at the left side of the neckline photo you can see the twill tape a bit.
Be careful when you tear away the stabilizer.
To hem, cut with very sharp scissors or a rotary cutter in a straight line. If your tool is even a little bit dull, your hem edge will be wonky.
The before version of the dress had a high neckline and was far enough below the knee to look positively matronly. Also, it was just too big.
A little fun to poke at me… while taking these photos and learning to better use my camera , I discovered a setting for “photographing very fair skin.”
May 28 2009
As I have previously mentioned, my sewing tools end up out in my living space often. So I try to keep them neat and unobtrusive looking, slip covering Rubbermaid containers and stashing tools in fabric bags that blend into the room. This is a ten minute project, seriously.
How to Make a Case for Your Cutting Board:
And that’s it, slip your cutting board into its pillowcase where it can be camouflaged behind a door or sofa. In the photo you can see a little hump where the cutting board folds over the thick seam. But in real life it is barely noticeable. Of course, one could get fancy and make a carrying case with pockets, handle and zipper closure.
May 27 2009
I would like to share this helpful link, because I’m guessing that I’m not the only one who needs it. I cannot take credit for finding it. My SIL at Crafty Black Bird found it for me at my request. If you pop over to her blog or Etsy shop, you’ll see cool photos of glass that I haven’t learned to accomplish. For some reason my own search for photography tips dug up two varieties which I categorize as: Thanks anyway, I’m not that Stupid, and Way Over My Head Professional Photography.
Getting on with it, this has tips for those of us who can photograph people just fine, objects, not always. I was able to take the picture below using the Macro setting. (I have a Canon Digital Elph.) I would say who knew, but clearly… others knew.
Contrariwise ramblings: Selling on Etsy: photography lessons learned
With that said, let me summarize my personal tips on photography, the ones that really made a difference to my photos. (BTW, all my photos are taken with a Sony Cybershot, which is a pretty basic digital camera.)
1) Use the proper color temperature/light balance setting on your camera. If you are shooting outside or with a natural daylight bulb, make sure your camera settings are for outdoor pictures. If you are shooting inside, use the indoor settings. (Don’t use the Automatic setting. Your camera is not always right. Believe me. I’ve learned.)
