I had insomnia so I missed the fresh snow on Sunday as I woke so late so it was the first snow day where I didn’t run out of the door early!
I eventually had a short walk around my local park and took these…
I would love to find a hilly area and take a shot of London covered in snow… maybe next time?
My friend Owl Knit You (Emily Wilson) has an exhibition of her webs (now updated with wire and maps!!) at the ArtSmacked curated exhibition at the Aviary Gallery 458 Hackney Road, E2 9EG.
I went to the private view on Thursday 3rd February 2012 and took a couple of images (the lamp and gas fire images are just me messing around and not part of the exhibition!)
The Artists:
Lewis John Brooks (England) Mixed Media
Bel Lefosse (Brazil) Installation & Object
Christabel Lindner (Canada) Video, Mixed Media
Bill Millett (Scotland) Photography
Sujata Sengupta (India) Design
Emily Spence (USA) Fabric Design
Sorcha-Mai Stott-Strzala (England) Video
Nataliia Taranukha (Ukraine) Painting/Sculpture
Sarah Kate WIlson (England) Mixed Media
Masaki Yada (Japan) Painting
I managed to miss taking a few images of some of the artist but you can make an appointment to view up to the 10th February.
Visit ArtSmacked and Apiary Gallery for more information.
I recently took the Intermediate DSLR evening class at Photofusion (based in Brixton) and I rather enjoyed it!
It comprised of four evenings: one with a more contextual overview of photography and composition, a studio lighting set up which was fun (and I ran out and brought a wireless trigger kit for my flashguns 
) and the last class covered Adobe Lightroom which I knew a fair amount about but did find some more interesting shortcuts and tips to use.
Paul Ellis is the main tutor with Richard Wills who took the Adobe Lightroom class.
Richard also recommended a couple of books which is always an excuse for me to visit Amazon… I now have even more books that are lined up to read… the pile is getting larger and larger!
Heres a couple of shots from the studio class…
One key light only (round softbox/beauty dish) which background! Two images with same Fstop but different speeds - to show that with flash there is no difference
key light round softbox/beauty dish), white background (brought out by two back lights which were metered to be 1 stop over exposed. Photofusion Intmediate DSLR class - day 2 studio flash etc.
(halo effect) key light round softbox/beauty dish), black BG with one halo light behind head which were metered to be 1 stop over exposed. Photofusion Intmediate DSLR class - day 2 studio flash etc.
4 sec with two flash and showing still flash and then movement from person in non flash shutter open - Photofusion Intmediate DSLR class - day 2 studio flash etc.
cropped in version of previous image
We did go out by the Rizty in Brixton but as lining up 9 camera & tripods would have been a pain we used Photofusion’s own cameras and split into two groups.
I spent last Saturday with my Nieces and my Great Nephews in a colourful autumnal park in Henly-on-Thames.
Taking photographs of children is always challenging and I wanted to shoot most of the images in manual mode rather than my slightly chicken stance of semi-automatic (usually AV so I can change the depth of field easily and let the camera do the rest for me).
I did take a tripod and reflector which didn’t get used – there was a couple of photos that were ruined and would have benefitted from using the reflector to soften the afternoon light – it gets dark early so we had to be at the park by 2pm in order to get some shots in but a reflector is useful in entertaining children!
I took about 400 images and a few ‘good one’s’ were out of focus which is rather annoying but happens when trying to get quick candid shots of children.
Brothers alternative school photo session
I’ve just made some proto-type critters using Spoonflower… a company that prints your designs onto fabric.
I was trying to make a screen print Clara rag doll but I had some problems with exposing the screen and I don’t really have the room to try again so I though I’d give Spoonflower a try!
3 'Blipi's from one fabric set - spoonflower
one set has a set of 4 ranging from tiny to large cushions and another set has 2 giant cushions (two colours) and once I’ve tested and tweaked the design (I’m not too happy with it at the moment) then I can either sell it from Spoonflower (the printed fabric but the buyer sews it themselves) or do it myself and sell via etsy.com!
one giant 'Blipi' from Spoonflower Printed Fabric
scarf up-cycled toy with Blipi's in the background
baby cardigan! gargh…. all my street cred has just gone out of the window (ok… never had any street cred anyway but shhh… I’m in the process of kidding myself!)
I made my ‘niece to be’ a cardigan using Debbie Bliss Eco Baby yarn and the pattern was from Erica Knight’s Essential Crochet book – I don’t have any babies around to measure so I have to follow a pattern!
Despite this being a very simple pattern I ended up having to re-do the front twice which was rather annoying.
I think it’s a little plain so I might add something to it but I’m not sure what yet.
Baby Cardigan, Erica Knight pattern and Debbie Bliss Eco Baby Yarn
The parents like the colours orange and purple… the picture colours are slightly off as it was dark and I was too lazy to get out my mini lighting lamps … I would like to take photographs with the ‘niece to be’ wearing it
I’ve also started a baby blanket… I’ve had to change my idea as it wasn’t working the way I wanted 
I have loads more squares to do… I’m glad it’s a baby blanket as they are obviously a lot smaller than a regular blanket.
Debbie Bliss Eco Yarn and I’m using the flower granny square stitch from the ’101 stitches to crochet’ set.
Debbie Bliss Eco Baby Yarn and Erica Knight Pattern Motif
UPDATE: I give up!!! well… on those particular squares anyway… the flowers take too long to create the amount of squares needed so I started again … still featuring the granny square – have 30″ so far but it’s a rather plain so I might have to add something to it… not sure what yet though.
I had a go at wedding photography! ok… I’ve done it once before but that was about 10 years ago 
My twin brother’s Wedding was held in Paris (where the couple live) and a sudden heat wave took over for the duration.
and the other being my Neice which was held in Cheltenham back in March which also had spectacular weather!
oh and my Twin and his new wife are expecting their first child… I will be having a Niece called ‘Sola’ !
I made some baby booties!
When ever I’ve told someone I crochet they give me a strange look – I’m not sure if it’s because they are not sure what it is or they are surprised someone like me crochets? (I’m pretty sure I fit the cliche.. overweight… covered in cat hair?!) I usually say ‘oh, not cutey stuff like baby booties’… well I can’t say that anymore as I’ve just made several.
These are for my twin brother’s daughter to be who will arrive in May 2012.
The fabric shoe pattern was brought on Etsy.com and Precious Patterns sell lots of patterns to download.
The material was brought from John Lewis and I have to say trying to buy coloured elastic was a nightmare… ebay to the rescue as usual but these booties have cost me a huge amount of money!!!! I just hope they fit… I don’t have a baby on hand to try them out.
Fabric hand-made 'Crossover Baby Shoes' (Pattern by Precious Patterns)
Two crochet booties ‘Rosebud Slippers’ – pattern by Erica Knight featured in the book “Essential Crochet” (see link below for Amazon link to the book) – I followed a pattern as I don’t know how big baby feet are and I’ve forgotten how to shape in crochet as it’s been awhile since I last tried.. most of my creations have been ‘freeform’ ie: I make it up as a I go … and they are slightly weird so no one notices any errors in stitches.
'Rosebud Slippers' pattern by Erica Knight - Essential Crochet
'Rosebud Slippers' pattern by Erica Knight - Essential Crochet - still need to do the crochet 'ribbon' (not featured in Erica Knight's book... she uses an actual ribbon
I have several other hand-made things to make but I have a few months so hopefully it should all be completed by then!
I really need to start a project soon but in the meantime take a look at these… fantastic!!!!
Dribble Necklace by CLare Knox-Bentham
Dribble Necklace by Clare Knox-Bentham
well I’m making baby booties at the moment which is slightly annoying as I tell people I can crochet and sell but not cutey type stuff… but I can’t say that anymore… gargh… the up side is that they are for my twin brothers daughter to be
I’m not surprised people just buy baby gifts as so far these booties have cost a flippin fortune and I’m only half done!!!! why has this country have a shortage of coloured thin elastic? hmmm???? I can only buy things from the states!
I do hope to get a few things done for the new baby soon as I have a gift box plan of several hand-made items (child friendly and safe types!) but I do also want to start a major project soon as I’m going out of my head doing nothing!
I went to the Open Doors Pop up exhibition which featured Owl Knit You – Emily Spence’s web installation and prints at her first show!
Lots of other Artists were there and creators of the pop up who decided they wanted to create a platform for artists to show their work and also help people create and understand their own communites.
I took a few pics which can be seen in this slideshow below which also shows a few abstract shots of Emily’s Web!
Unfortunately, a couple of images from other artists didn’t come out very well but hopefully the other people taking photos would have got those as well!
I had several favorites… click ‘more’ to see individual images and links (if supplied) cont…
I brought the ring base (I’ll have to look up where from as I can’t remember off hand) and it’s an adjustable silver square design.
Thick felt was added… red with a cream stripe and 3 little perl beads were added. I then fluffed up the felt to give it a more wispy feel!
The choker band in the background was taken apart as I wasn’t happy with the finish… might remake it if I can find a better way. It had a cream ribbon threaded through it’s centre and was made using a thick cream felt which was fluffed up!
Floofy Ring
