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!