Sunday in the Garden

It was a lazy sunday, and not rainy at all. It's freezing, but that's probably just me, since my boyfriend is fine in his t-shirt (I'm wearing two jumpers, no kidding). 

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So...we've been gardening! Very exiting, I know. I'm particularly proud of the herbs, my little babies! The idea is to plant them, if they survive the pot-fase!

Rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme, mint, bay leaf 

Then, I'd like to introduce you to those immortal little fellas below, which survived cats' attacks, any possible weather, and me planting them.

..Pansies? I don't know, but they go berserker if in need!

Here the offspring of the bulbs I sowed in February. Having not followed the instructions at all, I thought they wouldn't come out! Instead, they just made a late daffodil explosion! 

I think the only rational explanation is that on this holy soil would grow even bananas. How fluffy, dark, and alive it is! Just wow. 

It's time for me to go back editing the new photo for the shop. I leave you with this amazing, weird plant. If you know what is it, let me know.

White Background Photography. My Two Cents.

Dublin, April 2015. Spring and changeable weather are making me quite moody. To add insult to injury, I'm trying to re-teach myself how to take pictures indoor, while a super-noisy fly can't find its way out my studio.

During these years, many have asked me what's the secret for taking bright photographs like the one above. Well, my secret is no secret, is a sky window!

I know, I've been kind of cheating, but it is what it is. Natural light from above is diffuse, simply amazing for photographing small objects. Diffuse, but not intense, so it projects little or no shadow.

If you look at the shadows of these necklaces, you'll see the light always comes from above. ...and no, it has not to be midday, on the contrary! So, with natural light from above, I just had to put the item on a white background, and the white background under the sky-window. Using the camera's manual set I could then take many bright pictures, whose backgrounds are basically overexposed (i.e. thanks to a wide open diaphragm, but that's your choice).

Now that I have no longer the sky window making my life easy, I must follow the rules for the indoor photographer! I'm learning that, for having the same results, one can:

a) make or buy a light box.

b) take pictures back lit (i.e. against a window)

c) use as background kitchen foil (aluminium)

d) abuse photo-editing (below)

Today I've tried back lit. Back lit is difficult! You must play well with exposure, so not to "burn" the picture. It's no easy task to soften the shadows, which will point at you, and even get rid of undesired reflections can be hard!

I'll figure it out...for now, this is my first success:

Impressive, right?...but completely useless for listing a piece on Etsy! I'm frustrated! Since hours of work went waste like this, before crying, I'm better take a pause, or maybe a walk!

Have a nice day,

Elettra

...I actually went for a walk!

Fine Jewelry How-To. Easy Easter Tutorial.

I've always considered impossible to make very thin necklaces at home, without the help of more technical equipment! Instead, I've been recently working on assembling fine chain chokers. Guess what? It is totally possible. I was so enthusiast I made a small spring collection I'm now listing on Etsy.

If you like them, and you want to Do It Yourself, you'll need:

- 50 cm thin snake chain. This is ideal for it is just 1mm

- 2 crimp beads, no less than 1.5mm each

- 2 clamshell beads, again about 1.5mm

- 1 lobster clasp, 10mm

- 2 jump rings, 4mm

- 1 bead, or carved gemstone 

The tools required are just scissors and pliers, round and flat headed - although I mostly use my hands. Supplies should be the same color, metal, or plate to give your necklace a nice finish!

HOW-TO:

Keeping the chain flat on a table, make the first findings pass through, following this order: crimp bead, clamshell bead, gemstone, clamshell bead, crimp bead. Use the pliers to flatten the crimp beads where you want the ends of your necklace to be and cut off the leftover. Now use your hands first and then the pliers to flat the clamshell onto the crimp beads, so to completely hide these latter. Curl the ends of the clamshell beads around the jump rings. Eventually, open one of the jump rings to secure the lobster clasp, and close it.

...Congrats, you did it!