It only took me 15 years to make [& 1 year to post :D]

When my daughter was a baby, I did not crochet.  Last year, when I started learning, she asked me to make her a blanket for her 15th birthday after seeing a free pattern at Michaels.  It took me a little over a month to complete.

(Yarn is the Michaels Store Brand Loops & Threads Country Loom in Solarium)

Unfortunately, when I started the blanket, my stitches were pretty loose, but I finished the blanket during all my television show season finales and my stitching was a lot tighter.  Not too noticable until you try to fold it. 

At first, I thought I had missed a stitch somewhere, but after counting both the first row and last row, I realized what I had done and there was no way I was going to start over.  But she loved it and that is all that mattered. 

I finished this blanket in May 2010 and it only took me a year to write about it.  But I had to write about my first blanket.

I really hate my camera (ok, I just suck at photography :p )

I was so excited to be able to watch my goddaughter go to her Senior Prom.  Of course, I brought my camera.  But this time, I did not bring my D50.  I figured it is going to be bright and sunny what could go wrong?  UGH...I suck at this!!  Ok, inside the house, I know I needed the flash on--this would have been such a perfect photo because she had just walked out of her room...I forgot to turn the flash on!  UGH

Ok, it was sunny outside, so I had my ISO at 200...I left my camera in Aperture mode f/11.  I know something is totally wrong.  I even changed the ISO to 400 and 800, but I still had problems. 

I was so mad...mad at myself.  I did get some good pictures, but I wanted all of them to be perfect!

I had to clone on some spots from dust on the camera...the sun was totally in the wrong place.  This one is a bit blurry, but not too bad. 

I had to correct the coloring on a few, but I blame that on the positioning of the sun!  ha ha ha...close up, this one is a bit blurry as well.

To say I was bummed out is an understatement.  But my goddaughter and aunt (her mom) loved them regardless how crappy some of them came out.  There were a few that were pretty good.  And I guess a "normal" person wouldn't have taken 200--only like 50 ha ha ha.

I know part of my problem (yeah only part) is the fact that I don't own a tri-pod...correction a tri-pod that will hold my camera up.  Years ago, my husband and kids bought me a Sunpak tri-pod that worked great with my D50, but this is what happened when I tried to use it on my D300...slowly, but surely, it would fall facing the floor.

So the day after the prom, I went to Best Buy (I love that place!) and picked up this Manfrotto tri-pod.  I knew Manfrotto was a good brand, but I was a little unsure about this model.  It was on clearance for $115--originally $230.  I normally wouldn't pay that much, but the blurry pictures made me realize how much I needed a tripod badly.

I was a little leary about getting the clearance item because I can't take it back.  But the brand name is great right?  And it was a ball head too...not just panning.  I came home (after already purchasing it) and googled the model.  I could only find 1 review.  I have no idea why, but it was a good review and it says it is a good tripod for beginners--which I am.  All I know is that it holds my camera upright!

My next wishlist item (besides a macro/micro lens) is a cable release.  someday...

I chickened out

Today, we took the kids to a nearby Aquarium.  I packed my D300, but at the last minute, I brought my D50 (with the 50mm lens attached), as well. 

Well when we got to the aquarium, I pulled out the D50.  I always fall to that camera because of the Auto mode.  I did start out in Aperture Mode, but it was taking too long for me to figure out what I needed everything on.  Since 1) the kids and husband don't like waiting for me and 2) I get very self-conscience around people, I didn't feel like fumbling around figuring out the settings.  So in Auto mode it went and the whole time I carried the D300 in my bag which isn't very light.

Here are some shots in Auto mode without the flash (most displays ask that you not use your flash)

Jellyfish

Kelp

Sand Dollars

A fish, not leaf

Flowers outside

A mural

And I am sure we aren't the first ones to find Nemo :)

The coloring is really really bad.  I really need to finish up these lessons and practice practice practice, so I don't feel self-conscience about changing my settings around people.

Granny Square Apron

I seen the cutest apron pattern on Ravelry (you need to be signed up to see patterns on this site).  It was by Tangled Happy who got the idea on Flickr from here. 



I need to work on my sewing the granny squares together.  I also added another round to the pattern on my granny squares.

I knew I really wanted to make the apron, but wasn't sure if I could actually sell it, but I knew the perfect person to give it to.  My Bestie collects aprons, so I knew she would get a kick out of it.

My 16 year-old daughter thought it was dumb, but per the original post--it might actually be a fashionable item to wear with jeans and t-shirts.

I made it with Cotton-Ease (a cotton/acrylic blend) from Lion Brand Yarns, so that it would totally be washable.

I am finally able to share since she received her give earlier this week.

Birthday Card

For my Goddaughter's 18th Birthday I made this card using Bazzill Basic Bling Cardstock in lipstick as the base, DCWV All Dressed Up matstack for the patterned paper,

then I added some rhinestones,  

some ribbon and a heart charm.

(btw I was like 3 when she was born hahaha...can't believe she is all grown up!) 

What I am working on

I am working on this blanket to sell.

The colors are cream, pink, & brown...think neopolitan ice cream...not the best picture with my phone.

I am also working on another secret project but I can't wait to share!!!

Tiny Giants

I had a request to make some beanies for twin preemies in the San Francisco Giants colors.  Well they do not make baby yarn in black, so I went with Red Heart Soft Yarn.  I didn't really follow a pattern but I came up with this

When I posted on my facebook page that I was currently working on some tiny Giants hats, I got a request to make a baby boy hat as well.

Well the baby boy hat (top--duh--ha ha ha) didn't fit the 3 week old I made it for--ugh (luckily it was for a family member).

So if that one didn't fit, I had a feeling the preemie hats would be too small (plus the order wasn't going to be given to the preemies until they were 2-3 weeks old and they grow fast!)

Here was round two.  Not much difference in the boy hat

But on the girl hats, I tried to use a scalloped edge to give it a more girly look.  I hope the Giants fans love it as much as I do!  (and I hope these one fit)

Hoarder

I have a problem...I am a hoarder. I also love bargains. I had found this yarn on clearance--actually I had found 2 skeins on clearance. Problem I had nothing to do with it and I really didn't care for the color.

I am really trying to use the yarn I have on hand and I really wanted to use this yarn. It hit me to use them with other yarns. I had a beige on hand as well, so I hit Michaels when Vanna's Choice was on sale (which is most weeks) and picked up a third color--brown.

I loved the color combo

I found this scarf pattern at Lion Brand Yarn. It is called "crochet 2 hours or less scarf" (you need to sign up to see the pattern). I did alter it a bit. I used a 11.5mm instead of the Q-19 and I added 100 to the chain to make up for the change and only did 5 rows instead of 6.

Walking the dog and trying to take pictures...Redo

I learned 3 things last week, which I corrected this week.

1.  Take someone with me to walk the dog

2.  Shoot early morning or late afternoon (yeah, I know it says it in every book I have read).  This time we were out about 1 hour before sunset.

3.  and take my 50mm f/1.8 lens for better focus on the foreground

We have lived in our house for nearly 10 years and this is the first time I have walked this trail.  We walked up and down the hill for over an hour (we weren't sure we would make it home in time for an appointment!)

I took my D50 (because it is much lighter and if I fell and broken it, I wouldn't be as devastated) and my AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D.  All the pictures are taken in Aperture Priority (and at f/1.8) and are SOOC except for the fact that I have converted from RAW to JPG.  I know I could brighten them up in PaintShopPro, but that is a whole other lesson I need to take. 

I am not sure what I was focusing on, but I like that you can see the yellow behind.  I will have to revisit this spot and focus correctly next time.

Behind were these yellow mustard flowers

old fence post along the trail

Some ferns along the ground

You can see our house from up here!

An old stable (yeah the coloring is off!)

A rusty tractor (with some graffitti)

I had a bunch of other pictures in portrait mode, but blogger post them sideways--oh well.  Someday when we have more time, I plan on going back.  There is also a pond in our neighborhood and an old farmhouse you can walk around that I didn't even know about. 

Not a good combo...walking a dog and trying to take pictures

The other day, I decided to take my "niece" Lucy for a walk and I thought it would be a good idea to bring my D50 along with my AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED lens.

I learned 3 things:

1.  It is not easy to take pictures when you are trying to train a dog to walk correctly.

2.  Noon gives off harsh light.

3.  My AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lens would have been better to take with me.

All photos are SOOC except for converting from RAW to JPG (& Lucy was cropped).