The Babbling Beader: Over. Done. A new chapter spun....

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Over. Done. A new chapter spun....

Onward and upward. My annual spring open house is done and behind me - with a little disappointment, and a lot of gratitude. Not many came - for many different reasons. But those that did are tried and true - and I am grateful to them for sticking with me. Besides. MORE GRUB FOR US!

I love how my 'denim' table turned out - and will attempting to repeat this with a 4 foot table at my first show this year - Celebrate Okemos on June 13th!

But before I get into show mode - I have to get into CLASSROOM mode. I LOVE to teach - but don't get an opportunity to do so very often. Bead technique teaching is just not popular in my area - especially now that there's this THING called YouTube. :)
So I'm a bit rusty. And realized that the last time I taught the particular class I hope to be teaching (don't know about attendance numbers yet) - I had a different laptop, and no longer have access to the instructions I wrote. So guess what? I'll be using GUINEA PIGS (aka bead loving friends) to test my newly written instructions at my Bead Play date next Thursday night. Great chance for a free lesson (the lesson through the school district community ed is about $30).

I also have to get into PHOTOGRAPHER mode - which is the scariest mode of all. It's time to start getting those photos ready for Battle of the Beadsmith. And I'm nervous. I have a professional all lined up. A great one. But something tells me I also need to have my own back up photos - with all the right photo parameters, lighting, backdrops, etc. Never been great at the photo part - not sure why so many put such stock in the photos when they rarely do the actual item justice - no matter how professional. I still struggle with my own; here are some examples of my jewelry photo journey:

One of my first attempts at photographing my jewelry.

I then learned about lighter and brighter.

And shadow play.

And I discovered that I kind of like using the shiny gray cover of my laptop lit from behind by the natural light through a window. I have used this method for a few current pieces as well.

And of course - you are all familiar with this one. I have an actual light box that can be lined with fabric, lit from above and the side, diffused, etc. but it's home made and a bit cumbersome at times.

I still find myself throwing a cloth on my studio work table under my Ott Light with a pretty piece of scrapbook paper underneath - with my CELL PHONE camera. Works for me, and works great with my photo edit program...