FLAIR and photography

I thought I'd show a photo of my FLAIR sweater. It was close to being done and I tried it on, and then I needed to pull a bit back as I needed it a bit longer. I should have done that before adding on the seed stitch ribbing on the bottom. The color is absolutely gorgeous (to me, a total green lover). It is the Lanas Puras melosa in Fern Green. At first glance, the yarn didn't seem to show any color variation, but I love how it looks knit up with just slight variations in the shade. Take a peek of the sweater laid out and then a close up. OH i must say, I LOVE this pattern!! It has been so fun to knit and the no seaming part is absolutely fantastic!!!! I can't wait to finish and I am close!





I am taking a digital photography class and really enjoying it. I have learned a lot about all the settings of my camera. I still don't understand how changing the fstop and the shutter speed, etc etc. I still have tons to learn like how to set the various options for different subjects and lighting conditions..... Next week, we have to turn in two 8 x 10 photos as a project. My first photo shoot was up flowers close up. This is one of my favorite subjects to shoot, but I really want what is called a macro lense-a close up lens. But I need a better camera for this. But I still love how this turned out. I bought a bouquet of freesia flowers to take photos of. I think this is the one I am going to turn in... I want to turn in. I don't want every flower to be in focus by the way. I want it to look slightly abstract.



Or this one...... Actually, this one might be better. I am looking for something a bit artsy...Something I might want to paint actually.



Then I played around with taking photos of my little bichon. It was NOT easy. He is really a hard subject. First, he wiggles all over and just wants to lay on my lap or have me pet his little head. Plus he is so fluffy white!! I tried to increase the ISO which is the shutter speed (I think?) because he is so fast moving and it did seem to help. I also played with other various settings....here are two I like.






Isn't he sweet? He does have a bite though :)

This weekend, I think I'll go to the zoo and/or botanical garden for some more practice. I need to get a tripod though.........

No time for blogging

I haven't had much time for blogging lately.... Surgery recovery, taxes, and life have just taken precedence.

I had friends visiting last weekend from California and we had so much fun. Monica, from Santa Monica, is a fantastic friend. She is very supportive and we have many similar interests and she has taught me a great deal about life and how to embrace it in a more positive way. She got into knitting about a year ago and had turned into an absolute fanatic! So needless to say, she enjoyed coming over and looking at all of the One Planet Yarns.

I gave her one of the Radiance Lace Headbands, a new pattern at One Planet with Yarn Botanika's Radiance yarn (merino and tencel). It just looks so fantastic on her. This is the one in the Organic Greens color.... I love the merino and tencel yarn we are getting now. It is not the same yarn or fiber contents exactly as all the other merino and tencel yarns on the market now. It is spun exclusively for One Planet Yarn and Fiber in Europe. It is a lot fluffier for one thing and a skein of this looks twice as big as the old merino tencel because of the fluffiness. The headband looks so cute on Monica and she says she wears it all the time!



Monica tried on the Radiance Lace Headband in Rum Raisin too, but we chose the Organic Greens one for her...


Wow, her husband, Bill, takes great photos! We wish they lived here and we would have them do all of our pattern photos for us.... Both of them are very into photography and they have wonderful cameras. We went to the Desert Botanical Garden another day which was very interesting as always. The desert is in bloom and they were having a butterfly exhibit. When you live in a big city away from plants and flowers, it is a real treat to go to the garden even though it is the desert. I thought I would share a few of Bill and Monica's lovely photos from the garden.

First, here is a photo of all of us at the garden! We are all smiling because it was such a lovely morning.... From left to right..me, Monica, Traci (with Audrey on her lap) and Bill standing behind. It was quite a challenge to get a good self-timed photo!


Here is a wonderful photo of one of the butterflies sitting on a flower. They were beautiful!


And this is one of my favorite close up cactus photos that either Monica or Bill took. I love how this turned out and it could be great inspiration for a painting for my painting class actually. I have one of these redish colored cacti in my back yard too. I think it is a prickly pear but some of them have this gorgeous purple/ red cast to them. This might be in an interesting inspiration for a yarn colorway as well.


Here is a photo I took at the garden because I flipped over the intense blue of this flower. I think I am going to use this photo for a watercolor painting in my new class. I cropped it quite a bit because I like kind of abstract paintings, we'll see!



I do have knitting stuff!!!!! I am ALMOST done with the Flair sweater. It turned out a bit too short for my body so I have to take out the bottom and knit about another inch and one half. It is a really fantastic knit and I would high recommend it to someone who wants to make a sweater but has fear of seaming issues like I do! I will take some photos of it later today. I am trying to decide what my next project will be... One of the Fleece Artist Kits, no doubt, but the question is which one!!