Struggling with Pictures

The title says it all. I always struggle with taking really great pictures of my products. It's not like I have any problems with my camera. I love my Digital DSLR Nikon D70. It's the greatest camera out there well maybe not as good as the newest models but I LOVE this camera. I know nothing about photography but with this camera all you need to worry about is hitting the button, it does everything else for you. So what the problem is that I haven't found a really good place to take pictures in my house. I could take the pictures outside but for some reason taking a photo of an apron outside just seems a little weird. It's like it needs to be taken in the kitchen, which is a whole other problem in itself because my kitchen is usually in a constant state of dishevel. So I usually end up taking pictures of my aprons in front of the doors that lead to my sewing studio, which works but not as well as I want it too. The lighting is always good in my kitchen and I can take a picture at 10pm and the colors still come out. Another place I take pictures is in my front entry way, where I can hang products on my wall. I've tried other places in my house but I always end up with shadows or weird lighting. One of these days I'm going to take a photography class or find someone that knows what they are doing to take pictures of my products because everyone knows how important a product picture is.

Well today I was asked for my very best photos of my aprons and I couldn't really come up with anything since I've never been happy with my photos. So today we had a bit of photo shoot outside using natures scenery. Hopefully these photos are a bit better than the ones I was using.

Realization

I realized earlier today that I have had my blog since 2006. Who knew that I had it that long? It feels like such a shame that I let it go and haven't kept up with it. I'm going to have to get better and start posting on a regular basis, I can't go out like this.

I did a craft fair and a Art Festival last weekend. I had really high hopes and was a bit dissappointed that I didn't reach my goal. I got really down on Sunday when I ended up not having one sale. Kind of stupid that I got down when I did pretty good, even if I didn't meet my goal. Anyhow, I ended up in a funk all week long. I'm trying to dig myself out of it but it's not so easy. I have a bunch of custom orders to work on and I just can't get motivated to do them. Which means next week I'm really going to have to work hard and get caught up. Speaking of I better get back to ironing some apron straps, I will leave you with some pictures of my setup at the craft fair.

Hawthorne Threads Giveaway

Great Giveaway at http://www.hawthornethreads.com/giveaway You got to check out this great looking website and they even have Tiered pricing, so if your a fabricwhore like me you can get discounts for buying lots of fabric.

Cocoa Dreams - Making Mommywood Glamorous

Wow!! I've been gone forever but I'm back Making Mommywood Glamorous!! I'm sorry I have been gone so long but now I'm back and I'm working on all kinds of things and updating my Etsy and Website with brand new Glamorous items. I've even opened up another shop at 1000 Markets just to get a little added exposure. Oh and how can I forget I have a Facebook Fan Page where you can see my newest items, win contests and post reviews of my products. Please check them all out and send me some Mommywood Love!! Oh and I've attached a photo of a new apron design which is flattering to all body types and soon I will be debuting some new items for Halloween and Christmas. Wait till you see the cutest Polka Dot Personalized Christmas Stocking that I'm making. It's out of this world!!!

Quilts

I got a quilting frame and quilting machine for Christmas and I'm absolutely in love with it.  It makes quilting the tops of quilt allot more enjoyable than trying to do it on a regular sewing machine.  I wish I could afford the $10K setup with a real long arm and automated quilting but I can't and this setup works just fine.  I can always make it automated but for now I think I will pass.  I really love to make quilt tops but even with this setup, quilting the tops is still my least favorite.  I'm trying to finish some of the quilt tops that I have done and not make more till I finish one.  So far I've finished 3 quilt tops that I had done before I got my frame and 1 quilt top that I just made.  I also have one new quilt top on the frame ready to be quilted.  I plan on turning on the music and having a couple margaritas  while quilting tonight so I can add another one to my stack of finished quilts, that way I can make some quilt tops:)  The first quilt pictured is done with Sandi Henderson prints from her Ginger Blossom and Farmers Market line.  I used Hip to Be Square pattern by Busy Bee  Designs.  The second quilt was one of the first quilts I made using a baby quilt book by Alex Anderson.  I used some old Amy Butler prints to make this one.  The third quilt was made using scraps from Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom and Farmers Market print, I didn't use a pattern just did a crazy quilt.  The last one was made with Patty Young's Andalucia fabric using Miss Molly from Abbey Lane Quilts.

I am ME

I believe in God

But I don't go to church

I live by the 10 commandments

But I don't understand some of God's choices

I do believe that even though I don't go to Church I will definately go to HeAVen

I measure myself against what I want to BE

I'm not the perfect size

Or the perfect mom

I'm not as successful as I think I should be

I'm not as motivated as I should be

However,

I try to motivate myself to become closer to the perfect size

I work on being a better mom

I think about the things I can to do to be successful

I try to think of ways to be more motivated

Some days,

I can't help but think about how disgustingly fat I am

I can't help but think of all the ways I'm a bad mom

I can't help but think about all the things I should be doing to be more successful

I can't help but think about why I can't be as motivated as other moms

And some times,

I can look at myself in the mirror and appreciate that I have nice legs

I can look at how happy my kids are and pat myself on the back

I can count the successes of my life

I can look at all my accomplishments and realize that motivation played a part

But most of the time,

On bad days I can find quite a few things to smile about

And quite a few things to laugh about

I can make myself laugh and smile when I am at my last straw

I can feel a little sexy

And I can forget about everything by just hearing a giggle come from one of my boys

I will never be perfect

Or the perfect size

I will never be as successful as the one I envy

Or the perfect mom

but I am Me

More PJ Pants (Thrifty under Fifty Challenge)

Some more PJ pants I made for the Thrifty under Fifty Challenge.  These are an altered Amy Butler pattern found in her In Stitches book.   I've cut down the waist and added some cuffs on the bottom.  I have one last picture left from the Thrifty under Fifty Challenge but I will share that in the next day or so.  Don't want to bore you all in one day:)

Beauty and the Geek (part of the Thrifty under 50 challenge)

Some finished softies I made, well I say finished but really they don't have shoes yet.  I've found these take allot of time and for one that has a very short attention span they aren't something I will be making lots of in the future.   The geek is for my 2 year old for Christmas but I'm betting the dogs will get it and destroy as soon as it's out of the wrapping......

These were part of the Thrifty under Fifty challenge but I just now took pictures of them.  They cost me $13 to make, $10 for the pattern and $3 for the buttons.  The monkey pattern was free though.  The patterns are from MMMCrafts , which I love to visit because she has allot of cute ideas.