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Episode 20 - WIP's and Weddings

Thank You's:

• Thank you ThankfulSadie for your review on iTunes!
• Boston Jen for helping me on my swag for Stitches!

Clicking Away:

• I have been working on my Daybreak shawl for Camp Loopy Project 2, but I'm definitely not going to finish in time. 

• I started a My Little Pony Sweetie Belle by the Nerdy Knitter. Super cute, I just have to figure out a way to finish her before she gets dragged through the sand again! I also ordered the yarn to make Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Apple Jack.

• I started a pair of socks on our camping trip using Premier Yarns Wool Free Sock Stripes. This pair is for my son, though I'm sticking with the same number of stitches I would use for myself!

• I started the Harry Potter Sampler cross stitch by CloudsFactory.http://cloudsfactory.net/

Events:

• Stitches Midwest is coming August 8-10! Find me with the Prairie Girls, In a Sknit Girls, Sarah from Yarn Geek Fibers, and Boston Jen from Down Cellar Studio! I have swag!

Giveaway:

• The winner of the Daybreak Dyeworks Giveaway by random number generator is post #7 - sfcmarmara! I would love to sample handspun yarn since I am not a spinner!

Fiber Adventures:

• I took a class with the lovely Joanna Johnson of Slate Falls Press where we learned about using kitchen ingredients as dyes for textiles!

Photography Stories:

• Since I last podcasted I have photographed 2 weddings, a harp session, a pregnancy announcement session, and two sessions with little boys! Life is keeping me busy and I should be able to purchase the lens I really want very soon.

Photography for Knitters:

• This week we are opening the door to the exposure triangle and comparing it to getting guage in knitting. I am gearing up to challenge myself to a month of manual mode in September!

Episode 19 - Fancy Tigers and Friends

Thank You's:

• iTunes reviews: Thank you to Crazy Knitting Fool, Mfleshman, (Michelle from ACTually KNITting), TurboKnitter, Down Cellar Studio Jen (Jen from Down Cellar Studio podcast), and marywithani for the great iTunes reviews!
• Sarah Stevens of Oh Loops! for her pattern, Two Lane Highway Ridge socks. Check out her podcast with Lydia called Fiber By Design
• Boston Jen of the Down Cellar Studio podcast for gifting me her new Tan House Brook Shawl
• Danie from Prairie Girls Knit and Spin for the gorgeous bag from One Twisted Tree

Clicking Away:

• I finished my Mermaid Song shawl by Susanna IC in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Marine Silk Lace.

• I began Camp Loopy Project 2 - Daybreak by Stephen West out of Desert Vista Dyeworks in "Aquamarine" and Cascade Heritage Sock in "Spruce."

• I finished my Vacation socks, they just need the toe grafted and ends woven in.

Shenanigans:

• We had a virtual knit night with Boston Jen, ACTually KNITting's Michelle, Prairie Girls Susie and Danie, and Sarah and Kristi from In a Sknit.
• I got to hang out with Kristi from In A Sknit at Fancy Tiger Crafts in Denver. We caught a glimpse of Stephen West and had fun running around the store exploring and pretending like we can sew. I mention the Prairie Girls label contest.

Events:

• I am headed to Stitches Midwest to hang out with the Prairie Girls, In a Sknit girls, and Sarah from Yarn Geek Fibers. I am working on some swag to give out, I need to get on that!
• Don't forget about the giveaway from Daybreak Dyeworks! To enter, visit Dawn's shop and pick your favorite colorway. Then visit the thread on Knitting Butterflies and let me know what that favorite colorway is!

Photography Stories:

• I have had a few bumps in my business lately that have caused me to sit down and reevaluate how I do my job well. I have decided to make some pretty big changes and I am very excited about them, not only for my business, but for my family life.
• I covered a baby shower and did a maternity session that I am really proud of, it was just what I needed to pick myself up and get going again. I also did a session for a family I have known for 18 years and it was an incredible experience.

• I also photographed my Mermaid Song Shawl in my new basement.

Photography Tip:

• Golden Hour - the lighting one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset creates a beautiful, soft, golden halo on subjects. I have had to learn to photograph in the middle of the day, but my favorites always come from shooting in Golden Hour.

Episode 18 - Knitting in "Public" Week

• Knitting Butterflies Ravelry Group
• Instagram: butterflyem4
• Ravelry Page: EmilyStraw

Clicking Away:

• Vacation knitting socks were started during the many hours of plane rides. Yarn is Patons Kroy self striping in Bramble Stripes colorway, 3x1 rib.

• Mermaid Song Shawl by Susanna IC from Unofficial Harry Potter Knits, knit in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Marine Silk Lace, doing this project for Camp Loopy. I added a few more repeats to make the shawl rest nicely. I also had fun wearing the shawl I had made for myself on vacation.

• For Camp Loopy's Project 2 I have decided to knit a Daybreak shawl by Stephen West out of Desert Vista Dyeworks Voir in the colorway Aquamarine, paired with some Cascade Heritage sock yarn in the Spruce colorway. 

Events:

• I will be attending Stitches Midwest in Shamburg, IL August 8-10. I'll be with Susie and Danie of the Prairie Girls podcast, Sarah and Kristi of In A Sknit, and Sarah from Yarn Geek Fibers, so if you see us please say hi!

Life Reflections:

• I have been a little reflective on how relationships and knitting have some similar concepts for success. It might seem a bit cheesy, you can skip to 26:30 if you want :)

Photography:

• I discuss some of the play photography I got to do on our trip, especially with night photography. 

Here are some settings I used on my camera to get really fun night shots:

• Put camera in manual mode
• ISO set low (100-200)
• Aperture set in the middle, about f9-f11
• Shutter speed set to 2 seconds - 16 seconds, depending on how much light was needed
• Timer set to 2 seconds after I pushed the shutter
• Camera set on a flat surface
• If we were in the photo we added a flash as well

• Photography of the tip - learn to use the camera that you have! Explore those settings you have never used before and see what you can come up with!

Episode 17 - Camp and Chimps

• Knitting Butterflies Ravelry Group
• Instagram: butterflyem4
• Ravelry Page: EmilyStraw

Clicking Away:

• I am working on my Camp Loopy project one, the Mermaid Song Shawl by Susanna IC in the Unofficial Harry Potter Knits. Yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Marine Silk Lace in the HRH Crown Princess of Purple Violetta. I mention the Knit.FM podcast.

• I finished my Hermione's Everyday Socks in a competition against Sarah (mrsshoo) from In A Sknit. She beat me fair and square :)

• I'm also working on my Mother's Day Cast On socks a la Prairie Girls in Deborah Noraville Serenity Sock, and learned an important lesson about dye lots.

Events:

• My family and I attended the Estes Park Wool Market. Vendors I wanted to make sure and mention:
• Stitchin' Den from Estes Park, Joanna Johnson was there signing and selling copies of her beautiful books
• Dawn from Daybreak Dyeworks was there, be sure to enter the giveaway for this one!

• I also met Allie and Jonathon of MJ Yarns and LOVED Jonathon's color sense! 

Photography:

• I finished the photography at the dance studio, including some really fun images of the instructor. To see some examples, head to my Facebook photography page.

• I also did a really fun engagement session with a fantastic couple, I will be photographing their wedding in August!

• For tips this week, I wanted to add a few tips about having someone else photograph you:
• Have a knitting buddy
• Don't be afraid to "chimp"
• Motion = Emotion
• Change something every time you hear the shutter click

Episode 16 - Socks and Dancers

• Knitting Butterflies Ravelry Group
• Instagram: butterflyem4
• Ravelry Page: EmilyStraw

Clicking Away:

• I'm working on my Hermione's Every Day Socks by Erica Leuder in a competition with Sarah from In A Sknit. Yarn is Camp Loopy (dyed by Lorna's Laces) in the Blue Skies Over Colorado colorway.

• I'm also working on a pair of tube socks as my Mother's Day Cast On a la Prairie Girls. Yarn is Deborah Norahville Serenity sock yarn in Teal Tease. Thinking about trying the Fish Lips Kiss heel for the afterthought heel.

• 20% Cooler Socks have had an inch added.
• Anne's Sweater by Joanna Johnson in Green Gables Knits now has both sleeves finished. I did 1/2 sleeves on either side and am starting on the ribbing.
• Stash Enchancement - I decided to do Camp Loopy this year, the first project I'm going to do is the Mermaid Song Shawl by Susanna IC in the Unofficial Harry Potter Knits. Yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Marine Silk Lace in the HRH Crown Princess of Purple Violetta colorway.

• Dream In Color Smooshy yarn also came home with me in the Take A Hike colorway.

Events:

• Estes Park Wool Market is June 5-8 in Estes Park. I will be wearing my hot pink Knitting Butterflies tshirt, so come and say hi!
• I will also be at Stitches Midwest August 8-10, hanging with the Prairie Girls and In A Sknit girls!
• Knit In Public week is coming up, I can't do an event this year but maybe next year!

Life:

• This week I talk about Geocaching. To find out more about this fun hobby, visit Geocaching.com

Photography:

• I felt very blessed to do dance portraits for a dance studio in my area. 
• For this photo shoot, I used an external flash shot backwards into a reflective umbrella.

• In this week's tip(s) I talk about how to help a friend take better pictures of you
• Always have the photographer shoot from slightly above
• Make sure to have your chin "Out and Down"

Episode 15 - Knitting and Newborns

In this episode I talk about Mother's Day knitting, taking a newborn class, and photographing items for Etsy shops.

• Knitting Butterflies Ravelry Group
• Instagram: butterflyem4
• Ravelry Page: EmilyStraw

Game: 2048
Down Cellar Studios with Jen
Prairie Girls Knit and Spin Podcast

Fiber Stories:

• Rikke Hat by Sarah Young - knit in Oh Loops! Platinum sock in Blueberry Butterflies

• 20% Cooler Socks - Rainbow Dash yarn by CuppyCake Yarnz
• Mother's Day Cast On - Vanilla socks made from some Deborah Norahville Serenity sock yarn in Teal Tease

• I picked up Knit to Flatter by Amy Herzog
• I also picked up some latch hook kits to do with my kids on Mother's Day
• I finished my Woolen Mill St. Yarns Corriedale roving in Juliet Jules
• Malibrigo Nube roving has been used to throw the gauntlet down to Sarah from In A Sknit. We are knitting Hermione's Everyday Socks and whoever finishes theirs first wins! My socks are from Blue Skies Over Colorado from The Loopy Ewe

Events:

• Estes Park Wool Market June 5-8 in Estes Park, Colorado. If you want a preview, visit Crafty's Class "Know Your Wool"
• Stitches Midwest August 8-10 in Illinois is coming up! If you happen to see me, please come up and say hi!!

I Dream of Knitting:

• While taking a class on Creative Live by Julia Kelleher on Creative Newborn Photography, I began to dream of having a whole box full of baby hats for newborn photography

Photography Stories:

• I did a 6 month session with a sweet girl I have been photographing since she was a newborn

• I also covered a baby shower for one of my oldest and dearest friends
• Coming Up - Dance Studio Portraits, and practice dance session, Mom and Dad session, Operation Sock Drawer

Photography Tip of the Week:

• This week I talk about doing photography for an Etsy shop. 
• Use natural light
• Consider using a Lightbox for smaller items
• Use tilted poster board and reflectors for larger items
• Be sure to check your exposure settings and use the exposure compensation setting to make sure your images are getting exposed enough.
• Calibrate your monitor to be true color, visit Improve Photography

Episode 14 - Mad Hustle

Knitting Butterflies Ravelry Group Instagram: butterflyem4 Ravelry Page: EmilyStraw
Clicking Away:

• 20% Cooler Socks are still in progress, Jeck pattern with Rainbow Dash yarn from Cuppycake Yarnz

• Mermaid Song Shawl is finished! Pattern is by Susanna IC, yarn is KnitPicks Shadow Tonal in Summer Blossoms. I mention the podcasts Knitmore Girls, Must Stash Podcast, and Knit Girllls.

• Anne's Sweater by Joanna Johnson in Green Gable Knits is on its way. I'm knitting it out of Brown Sheep Company Lanaloft Sport in the Sandstone colorway. Will I have enough yarn? We will see!
• Rikke Hat by Sarah Young. I saw this on The Fat Squirrel Speaks, knitting it out of yarn from Oh Loops! in the Blueberry Butterflies colorway.

I Dream of Knitting:

I mostly have been dreaming about spinning a lot more someday. I add a few fibers to my wishlist, and I'm excited the basement will be done soon so I will have the room.

Photography Adventures:

• I was blessed and privileged to photograph the March of Dimes event in Greeley, CO. What an amazing experience!

• I purchased a 55-200mm f3.5-5.6 lens for this event, it wasn't an expensive lens but it made a huge difference in the quality of my photos!

• I have been taking classes on Creative Live from Susan Stripling and Jim Garner, which really helped my photography and story telling skills.
• Tip for this week - backlighting. Try putting your light source behind your subject, whether it's the sun, a flash, or a lamp. This is a great tip for hard light!

Episode 13 - Bunny Pox

In this episode I talk knitting, favorite "new to me" podcasts, keeping toddlers busy, and posing tips in photography.

• Knitting Butterflies Ravelry Group
• Instagram: butterflyem4
• Ravelry Page: EmilyStraw

Clicking Away:

• Anne's Sweater from Green Gables Knits by Joanna Johnson, knit in Brown Sheep Company Lanaloft Sport
• Mermaid Song Shawl by Susanna IC in the Unofficial Harry Potter Knits, knit in Knitpicks Shadow Tonal in Summer Blossom
• 20% Cooler Socks, Jeck pattern by Regina Satta in Rainbow Dash Yarn from Cuppy Cake Yarnz
• Rainbow Ripples Baby Blanket in I Love This Yarn

I Dream of Knitting

• This episode I play along with the Prairie Girls Knit and Spin podcast and think about what I would do if I won the lottery.

Podcasts I have been listening to:

The Knit Wits Podcast
Must Stash Podcast
ACTually Knitting
Knit.fm


Countdown to 30?
The countdown to 30 is over, but I had a great birthday!

• I treated myself at the Loopy Ewe and purchased some Blue Skies Over Colorado sock yarn and Prism Yarns for a lace shawl.

• I used a Busy Bag to keep my kiddos happy during a trip to the DMV.

Photographing Your Knits:

I recently watched a course on Creative Live by Lindsay Adler called Posing 101. Here are a couple of takeaways I wanted to share with you:

• Objects closer to the camera are larger than objects farther from the camera. Example: hips closer to the camera are going to appear larger than hips farther from the camera.
• When appendages point toward or away from the camera, a phenomenon called foreshortening occurs. This makes your limbs look shorter and thicker, and less flattering.

In this photo, I needed to pull my shoulders forward more and put my limbs out at an angle from the camera. This photo has some critical technical errors in posing which is why it's not terribly flattering. Redoing some posing will help greatly, I hope to demonstrate this soon!