I think I can I think I can!

So I have been practicing pictures with the new camera. (It's a Fuji FinePix J12) and I have decided I am not in love with it. Not yet anyway. I always felt like I got a good clear picture no matter how or where it was shot with the Sony. A few times it was too dark or not enough extra light but that was okay. A quick trip to the GIMP made it all right. Now I will have to work at my pictures. Catch my sunny days, remember to watch what area is in focus and fiddle fiddle fiddle.
On a good note, I think I got a good picture or two the last few days, some inside and some out. Like this one:
This is an indoor picture. Its not bad (compared to other pictures that are now deleted) but its also not what I am used to in picture taking. Actually, this looks a little fuzzy on my screen because we are having font issues with the computer but in the photo editor it was a clear picture with decent lighting.

This photo is also not bad... not good but not bad:
This one was taken outdoors while shading it from the sun. I have a horrible time with the sun washing out the color from my items and I have to combat it with a solid shadow. Which you will note I didnt get in this picture. Still, its nice use of the macro and the picture came out clear on the photo editor. Sadly, they didnt look as good on the viewer. So overall, huge learning curve for me. That makes me a little sad though because I really want start stocking the Artfire shop but my available items dont have pictures taken. =(

Speaking of ArtFire.... If anyone is interested in signing up for the limited time $7 dollars per month deal click this link --> Register on ArtFire.com. Its a great little up and coming site and if you are a regular lister on Etsy $7 dollars is a steal. No other transaction fees. Plus, they are wanting to be a conscientous crafter and encouraging people to go green. That's not just a mantra, they plan to plant a tree for the first million members. So go on, browse around and sign up for this sweet deal before its to late. You know you want the extra exposure. ;D ( I wont say anything else about it this post.... See.)

New Handmade Crafting Site

Hey, I was introduced to this great little crafting site called Art Fire. Its new and in the works and looks to have a lot of potential. There were a lot of other sites that cropped up after Etsy made it "big" but this is the first one that I had a good feeling about. I have even gone the paid membership route because it was a good deal and I didn't want to miss it.
My store will be located at here.

In other more exciting news. I have gotten a new camera! I would take a picture of the new camera with the old camera but my son has somewhat co-opted it for his own picture taking purposes.

Also, I am in the process (or have completed) a trade in which I will no longer have a drum carder but in its place I will own an Ashford Country. Woo! First real (i.e.- wooden) wheel.
Currently in the way of projects: I have started a commissioned blanket knit with Heaven yarn from my LYS. Its so soft and made from nylon. This is for a baby blanket for someones 4th grandbaby! I hope it comes out well. I will upload pictures as soon as I get used to my camera. It's just a bit different taking pictures with this. I don't know all of the idiosyncrasies that come with using a camera for six years.

Now, moving forward I am going to make a strong effort to get back on track. My mom once said a cluttered house is a sign of a cluttered mind. Seriously, you don't want to know what my house looks like (even on a good day.) =D

Check out that new site, I really think it will be worth it. Yea, its in "BETA" but if they stay the course they really will have something going.

semi-productive weekends

Mix and Mingle

I always want to do more than I could possible manage in a weekend. I want to spin and dye and felt and sew and and and..... well I'm sure you get the picture. I still haven't gotten a new camera but I figure thats going to be a little while coming. I did manage to find some half used mini-CD's that I can take pictures with in the meantime.
So two weekends ago (maybe three) I spun up some natural colored roving in a thick and thin single. Then... I waited. No particular reason other than I had to pull it off the spinning wheel in sets of 100. I spun 12 ounces and I got 250 yards. However, this past weekend was nice and lazy. So I took my yarns (starting on Thursday, so not quite the weekend) and began to dye them. I'm still experimenting with color combinations. I find that what I think will be a terrible combination, or what I just don't plain like, turns out really nice.

Antique

Like this one that I call "Antique." This is a combination of brown gold and blue. It worked out very nicely and really makes me think of the old flea markets where you can get nostalgic memorabilia. Another surprise yarn was a bit of a family decision. I was pulling out colors and started with violet. When I asked for opinions, I thought turquoise would be nice. My husband agreed. My son interjects (in the way only an eight year old can) "Black!" "Mommy, did you hear me, I think black is a good color!." After assuring him that he had been heard, I decided to mix all the colors. And thats how I got "Mix and Mingle." (pictured top)

I also dyed the remaining mohair locks that I have. I chose yellow and turquoise because when they meet its a lovely shade of green. These are colors I like very much. When I get more locks, it will have to be skirted and washed. Since these weren't I have spent a lot of time and energy picking, washing and picking more little hay seeds and grass and bits from them. Much less noticeable when washed but still annoying to deal with.

playground

All things given, it was a pretty good weekend. I'm hoping to get more done this upcoming weekend as well. I 'll have to see though as I will also be celebrating a 4 year wedding anniversary sans child. (Woohooo!.... oh, was I too excited there?)

Nothing to talk about

I hate when this happens. I have nothing to talk about. I haven't written anything (to my adoring public =P) in a week's time. We have recently discovered that our digital camera is coming to an end. Not because it doesn't work, its great... wonderful pictures. But because its OBSOLETE! I hate technology sometimes. We've had the camera for about 6 years but one of the main reasons that we purchases it was because it would last "for a really long time." Unfortunately, it records to mini-CD's and you can't get more than maybe three of those at a time. Even still, they are CD-RW's and that makes them more expensive.

So, I'm on the hunt for a new digital camera. I don't ask for much just the following:
- 7 + Megapixels
- Li-Ion rechargeable batteries (i.e not alkaline battery operated)
- Macro
See? Simple. I'm open to any suggestions. So far the ones that I have liked best were the Kodak V1003 and the Sony DSC-N2. Of course these are on two different sides of the scale in both functionality and cost but a girl can dream can't she? Obviously, the Kodak is more in my price range. In fact, its still a little high. I need something that does all that for less than $100.00 bucks. Impossible right. Well maybe... but I know that my 6.0 mp camera takes excellent photos for my needs so I might be willing to bend a little. See, I'm flexible. ;P