Walking 'round the room singing Stormy Weather...
Seriously, Georgia, WTF? This weather is incredible. Last week we saw 60 - 70 degree temperatures, followed by tornado watches, followed by snow flurries. It is insanity. March is usually a pretty stormy month in Georgia, but this is weirdness. I know there are some massively dangerous winter storms out there right now, so I pretty much have no right to complain, but it's just WEIRD. And I'm really, really scared of thunderstorms and tornadoes, as are both of my dogs.
I'm also just ready for spring. The cold and I, we are not friends.
Sigh. At least there have been some outrageously beautiful days in the mix.
I have been so busy with school and work! Luckily, I've had some cool projects at work lately, so I'm okay with the busy. I sort of like the busy, even. Tomorrow, I'm taking pictures for a client, and I needed a way to get some great macro shots, so I got to do something I've been wanting to try for a while - make a lightbox! I used this tutorial and was very inspired by Lolly's tutorial also. In my work, we often need very clear macro shots with backgrounds that are easy to take out, and this seemed like the way to go.
I used stuff that we had laying around the office - some foamcore, shipping tape, and a box cutter. To set it up, I grabbed one 650 watt studio light and just start shooting to see what things looked like. Of course, I used my knitting for some test shots. :)
My Minimalist Cardigan
yay! full disclosure: the color is WAY OFF in this picture. The actual yarn is a burgundy red. I'll have to play with white balance and camera settings to make things look just right. But overall, this was the effect I was going for. I'm excited about using it tomorrow for work (and continuing to test it by bringing some more of my knits in for a photo shoot. hee.)
And, as you can see, I started knitting the Minimalist Cardigan. I decided to brave the seed stitch, and I'm so glad I did - I love the texture. It does move really, really slowly, though. It's good bring-everywhere knitting, and also good TV knitting (as long as I look down occasionally to make sure I'm not knitting ribbing instead of seed stitch).
I'm also working on the socks for my raffle winner! After we emailed, I decided to knit her a pair of Mingus socks. Dude. I love this sock pattern. It took me a little while to get the hang of the pattern - and I definitely still need the chart - but it's super interesting and gratifying, because the longer it gets, the cooler the pattern looks. I hope they turn out well!
Mingus progress.
I'm about 1/4 of the way done with Jacob's second sock, but I put it on hold for the Mingus socks because I needed my size 1 Addi Turbos. I think I'll be done with these pretty quickly though - they are fun, so they go fast.
Well, I'm off to finish the laundry and play some Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii. I'm not usually good at fighting games, but I loves me some Super Smash Bros.
Comments (27)
Your cardi looks great, totally can't wait to see it finished.
Posted by Leisl | March 26, 2008 10:04 PM
Your as behind on blogging as I am. Hah hah! Spending too much time on CESOB. I have to say I was an idiot and had no idea you had *soooooo* many readers! You are a craft schmooo! I'm really glad to be getting to know you on Ravelry cuz I think you're a really cool girl.
Posted by Jen (Friender) | March 23, 2008 9:29 AM
Dude. I'm so behind on everyone's blogs, but your sock is *amazing!* Is the Mingus sock named after Charles Mingus?
(Bwaahaha! I have to type schmoo?!)
Posted by Jen H | March 22, 2008 2:03 AM
woo, lightbox! do you like it? I can't wait to see more lightboxed photos!
(& Good luck with allllll that seed stitch...)
Posted by pamela wynne | March 21, 2008 3:34 PM
Do you use L'Oreal Color Experte? What shade? I'm thinking of getting it. Please email me.
Posted by help | March 17, 2008 4:16 PM
I hope you and the schmoos are doing okay... You didn't get tornadoed, did you? If you do, make sure you grab some knitting before you duck into the tornado shelter! Take care!
Posted by jen l | March 15, 2008 4:55 PM
I love that sock yarn! It's beautiful! That cardigan is adorable too. I need to dig that issue out and look at it again!
Posted by michaela | March 14, 2008 2:13 PM
I LOVE THE MINGUS. And, I want a light box. SO COOL!
Posted by High Energy Jenny | March 13, 2008 1:06 AM
Lovely photos! The Mingus sock is gorgeous!
Posted by Courtney Q | March 12, 2008 6:37 PM
Ooh, I just got the yarn to knit the Minimalist. I'm excited about it, I'm using elann's new bamboo/wool/silk blend, so I hope it'll turn out great, if I can survive all that seed stitch! Yours looks lovely so far!
Posted by anne | March 12, 2008 4:59 PM
Heh. Now I'm imagining you hiding behind the tv when there's thunder, just like Harriet does!
Posted by Lala | March 12, 2008 11:51 AM
that's so sweet you made your own lightbox! did you save enough money for a new knitting project?
Posted by Purl | March 12, 2008 12:56 AM
Nice lightbox photo for sure! Getting the right saturation and color balance can be tricky but you're well on your way!
Btw, my wife knitts too and uses the lightbox to photograph her projects: http://sarahholst.com/photos/
Posted by jyoseph | March 12, 2008 12:46 AM
perfect title, i LOVE that song!!! :)
Posted by carolyn | March 10, 2008 1:18 PM
I love the socks in that colorway!
Posted by Chelsea | March 10, 2008 1:14 PM
All the photos for my blog are so crappy I thought about a lightbox (especially after seeing Lolly's) but I don't have anywhere to put it here. Seriously, our apartment is sooo small.
Yours seems to have turned out well though!
Posted by Stacey | March 10, 2008 12:56 PM
I'm 28 and afraid of thunderstorms, too! Especially at night!!
Posted by Heather | March 10, 2008 11:22 AM
We were up in Atlanta this weekend, and it was seriously cold (especially for Floridians!). At least it seemed to keep people from going to the aquarium! The cardigan and socks are beautiful.
Posted by Silvia | March 10, 2008 10:38 AM
I'm working on the Minimalist Cardigan too. I've found that if I can find a rhythm, it goes pretty fast. The texture is worth it!
Posted by Jenn | March 10, 2008 10:35 AM
wow, crazy weather right? i can't believe that there have actually been tornadoes all winter long in the south. i remember growing up that tornadoes were a SPRING phenomenon. *shakes head* global warming? anyway, the mingus socks are so cool. i love cookie a. :)
Posted by gleek | March 10, 2008 9:41 AM
LOL thanks for the marching band (well, flag corps) flashback with "stormy weather." ;] those socks look fantastic, and i love the colors!
Posted by amy | March 10, 2008 9:36 AM
Beautiful pic of the Minimalist Cardigan! A non-blogging friend of mine is knitting it as well, and she was petrified of double seed stitch (she had to write out the 4 rows of the pattern and mark each row). The regular seed stitch looks lovely as well :)
Posted by Veronique | March 10, 2008 9:13 AM
Oooh...I do love the Minimalist Cardigan. Way to brave the seed stitch!
Posted by jenna | March 10, 2008 9:10 AM
Oh my gosh, I love that sock pattern! Your minimalist cardigan is looking great, too. That's a pattern I've really wanted to knit lately.
Posted by Emily | March 10, 2008 7:55 AM
That cardigan is at the top of my to-knit list for a while now, can't wait to see yours! Very professional photo, too. It's great that you can bring your knits to work for testing!
Posted by molly! | March 10, 2008 12:35 AM
That cardigan has been on my list for a while, but I'm terrified of the seed stitch. I think I'd end up poking my eye out with boredom. I'll have to keep an eye on yours and see how it turns out.
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March 9, 2008 11:38 PM
your photos look great! maybe i should look into a lightbox as well...hmmm.
and wii?!?!? so jealous!!!!
Posted by mai | March 9, 2008 11:38 PM