My other Art

Today I was suprised by an Advertisement e-mail from a Quilt Photo Compter Program.
The woman that sells the program DVD had sent an e-mail offering free videos and free companion e-books to learn how Quilt Photography works.
The really wonderful part of the e-mail was that the last picture of the sample quilts is a quilt that was done by me. It is a wedding photo quilt I had made of one of my very best friends and her husband.
I will always remember the class where I had made a portrait quilt of myself and than travelled home to Germany to give it to my mother.

It's Easy When You Have The Secrets!   I have created 5 quick video lessons that will give you "all" of my simple secrets... and these secrets are my gift to you!     Get instant access here: 5 Free Quilting Videos   Are you ready to transform photos of your children and grand children into art!When you watch the 5 FREE video lessons, you'll learn my 'Secret System'... and you'll have success everytime...I GUARANTEE IT because the system always works!  You Can Create Beautiful Quilts Like These In A Weekend!   ... I have also prepared a FREE companion e-book that you can download  Right Away!... no strings attached! After you download your FREE e-book, you will be instantly directed to the FREE online video course. Hurry, these videos will only be available to you for a short time... Click Here To Get The Secrets Now!

Market Bag

While I am busy with knitting the Lotus pattern lace scarf I thought I could tell you about my last christmas present I have made.
People around me know that christmas for me always includes sharing my talent, or gift by making things out of yarn.

 

 For the 2011 give away present I selected a Market Bag.

The Pattern for the bag is free

on the Lion Brand website,

Pattern Number 90343AD 

it is called

Al Fresco Market Tote.

I think I did crochet 5 or 6 of them and used up many of my cotton scraps. What I liked about the entire experience was that I also had to go shop for the main color after the third bag was done. That turned out to be really good because I have found a store in Old Town San Diego that I did not know existed. The Shepherdess is basically a beads and knick knack store but has the most inventive buttons, and some yarns. I had no troubles finding what I was looking for.

Since the Chevron Pattern is made out of different colors and all the bags were made out of scrap yarn, none of the bags were the same. There were orange, violet and beige main bodies with a multitude of bright and different strength yarns.

Since there was still a few days until christmas when the bags were done and I had yarn left-over (there always is yarn left over) I made a bag for myself. It's in the car right under the passenger seat now and gets pulled out und used every time I need to stop at the store on the way home from work.

I think the Farmers Market season has begun and family and friends are ready for it with the Al Fresco Market Bag.

What is a scarf

As I have not grown-up in the english speaking world I am always looking for answers. This blog is also making me look for details that were not really important before. It did not really matter what I call my current project because it was just for me, but sharing it with you makes me wonder:
Is it a scarf, a shawl, a wrap, a stole, a shawlette, a capelet, WHAT!!!
Anxiously searching, I think I found the answer I was looking for today in a newletter about crocheting:

• Scarf is a long narrow rectangular shape usually wrapped around the neck.
• Shawls are traditionally triangle in shape.
• Shawlettes are shorter and smaller than shawls but are similar in shape and design
• Wraps and stoles are generally rectangular in shape as opposed to their triangular-shaped shawl cousins.
• Most capelets are no longer than your elbow and provide extra warmth and coverage. Capelets fasten at the neck, perfect for those times when you want to make sure your accessory stays in place. Show off a piece of jewelry or handmade craft to fasten the caplet.

So, I am knitting a scarf. No more guessing.

Photograph your work

Finally the sun came out today and I tried the tip (see my blog titled: Knitting links ) about taking pictures of your work outside.
To show how dramatic the differnce is, take a look at the lace shawl picture ( see my blog Rainy Sunday )


Shadows everywhere







The Lotus pattern is clearly visible



After that beautiful experience, my work is always photographed

in the great outdoors, from now on.

I did get carried away though and made more pictures.





Hi, my name is Maxy or Maxeline or Maxylicious and I am always
watching knitting



Last week of March 2012 in review

I know that I want to use these photo tips, but San Diego sometimes has 'OVERCAST' as the normal condition. I don't have a tripod yet or a light box, so the outside tip is what I wanted to follow, just waiting for a sunny day.
In the meantime, I went to the Knitting group "In the Heights" on Tuesday evening. Try it! Knitting in a group, seeing all the other projects, yarn choices, knitting styles, and Ladies is fun, fun, fun. The second half of the Lace shawl keeps growing nicely. I can't wait to wear it. And, the piece of pie that I took home with me was delicious.
Today, since the weather is not cooperating fully, I am going on a yarn discovey trip.
Someone asked me to find the right yarn and give her an estimate of how much it would cost to make a beach wrap. It's from the Spring/Summer issue of VOGUEknitting, page 81. The lacy leaf-stitch pattern is made of Trendsetter Yarns' "Dolcino". I have been calling all the shops in and near San Diego, but no one has that exact yarn that was used for making the pattern. That's fine with me, I like the challenge of finding the perfect substitude, and I like yarn shop hopping on Saturdays.
Wish me luck in finding a great alternative!

Knitting links

Inspiration comes from anywhere. With the age of the internet came daily 'newsletters'. For my daily dose of idea generation I subscribe to knitting daily.  http://www.knittingdaily.com/

Today's topic (for example) How to take better pictures of your projects. At the end of the 8 Tips from a Pro is a link to another daily 'newsletter' that is delivered to my e-mail inbox.
Creativity knows no bounds.

8 Tips from a Pro

Take the photos with natural lighting, if at all possible. A flash causes shadows and glare. Soft northern light is best. If the light inside isn't optimum, take your subject outside; this works best if it is a slightly overcast day.

Shoot with the light behind you. Whenever possible, take your photo from a vantage point where your back is to the light. Don't shoot "into" the light; your subject will be in shadow.

Use a tripod or other method of stabilizing the camera. Otherwise, use a steady hand. This is especially important with close-ups.

Remove distractions. Take a look in your view finder and look at what's around your subject. Is there a plant behind it? Papers off to the side that you don't want in the picture? Remove any objects that aren't there to enhance the photo.

Neutral doesn't mean boring. It's usually best to photograph your artwork against a neutral background. But that doesn't have to be a white wall. Something with texture, such as textured paper or a nubby linen tablecloth can make the subject pop and give it a context.

Vary your angles. Try taking a faraway shot, a close shot, and a detail shot of each element. Shoot from above and from below.

Give it some scale. If you're shooting your artwork for selling purposes, especially, it can be a good idea to style your piece with another object that shows the scale. This could be a tulip, a button, a hand (with the object in the palm), or a house, depending on the piece.

	Easy homemade light box by Ivy Demos

Use a light box. A light box is a professional photographer's tool that reduces glare and shadows and makes it easier to trace and edit your images digitally. A light box also helps bring out the details in your artwork. Fortunately, you can easily and inexpensively make one at home. In the Summer 2010 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors: Studios, artist and photographer Ivy Demos shows you two methods of making a light box with materials you can find at your local discount or hardware store.

—From ClothPaperScissors.com

I've heard a saying that a project isn't actually finished until you take a picture of it. (So don't forget to take photos of your FOs before you gift them!) I hope these tips help you take better photos of your knitting.

Cloth Paper Scissors magazine is a wonderful resource that will enhance your creativity. I know this because I've been a subscriber for five years, and I get so much out of every issue.

As knitters we appreciate creativity, and we crave inspiration. I get this from a variety of sources, including Cloth, Paper, Scissors. Try it! I think you'll love it.

Rainy Sunday

It rained and rained and ....well you know, rained. Maxy don't seem to mind.

So my Lace shawl kept growing
and growing yesterday.
After dinner I was only
4 inches away from
starting the other half.

How did I know that?








I took a measuring tape and wrapped it around my neck just like a shawl, fairly simple. Then I measued the length of my knitting project and ta-da....I know I am 4 inches away form the center. This is IMPORTANT.

 5" X 5"



















As you can see from the original  Lotus Patern  the end of the shawl has wave look. On the picture above it is clear that the knitting will result in a straight line when cast off.
The goal here is to have this wave look on the shawl the same on both ends! That will make this project really professional und pretty.
Long story short, 4 more inches to the center and I will start another shawl, the other half. When both halves are complete I crochet them together and the finished shawl has the wave look on both ends.
Now all I need are a few more rainy days in row.