New Photo Shoot

Sometimes it's fun to re-shoot pictures for things I already have in my shop.  This morning I was looking through my shop and realized that some pictures REALLY needed to be re-vamped.  So I had an impromptu photo-shoot!

Here's some of the old pictures:

This is one of the old ones I kind of like because you can see the patterning of the lace, and the pink adds a happy feel, but I really don't like how the background at the top left looks bluish-green.

This one I really liked too, except for the fact that once you look really close, it just seems a little out of focus.

Here are the new ones:

I actually love the contrast between the bright sunlight
and the slight fading around the edges here.  It seems
to set a mood.

More fading around the edges.

I like that you can see the patterning and the end  of the lace clearly

Another with a more loose and flowing look

I love the glow again from the sun!  I guess I'm
a California girl through and through!

With this new batch I was having fun with the "Vignette" setting on my photo-editing software which adds a little softness around the edges.

Which ones do you like best and why?  I'd love to know!


Terah :-)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/terahclassycreations

Inspired by People

Inspiration can come from inanimate objects like fashion, or even plants and nature, but the most fun inspiration comes from people!  A friend of mine recently asked me to make her a pair of earrings to match a dress she just bought (So I guess the inspiration did partly come from fashion).  I LOVE it when friends give me a chance to make something especially for them!  She allowed me creative Carte Blanche, which was amazing!

Here is a swatch of the fabric patterning at the bottom of the dress:

I loved the gold embroidered curving lines with the reddish pink sunburst in the center!  Very Bollywood! So I immediately thought of using a Swarovski Crystal rivoli in the center that would slightly hint at the red and blue colors.  I then used brass to create the swirls to mimic the curves of the gold in the fabric.

There were only two stipulations I had to follow when making earrings to match:  1.  Not too fancy.  2.  Not too long.

After beadweaving the Swarovsky Crystal in  silvery white beads (to mirror the small silvery sequins on the fabric) and hot pink hex beads (to pick up more of the main color), and many tiny wraps of brass, and a little hammering for strength and aesthetics, this is what I came up with:

After it was all said and done, I added a little darkening to the wire wraps to enhance the details of these earrings.  These earrings are a good example of what I aim to make more of in the future - pieces that incorporate bead-weaving and wire-work. They were so much fun to make - especially because I knew they'd have a good home in the end!  People truly are the best inspiration!

I'm thinking of making more earrings like this very soon for my shop!   So if you'd like something like this for yourself, stop by my shop.  If you don't already see something there you just have to have, drop me a line, and I can make a custom piece just for you!

P.S.  AND, you could even have a little brass tag with your initials stamped on it - for even further personalization!  Wouldn't that be unique and fun!

Sincerely,

Terah
TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com
Facebook.com/TerahsClassicCreationsStudio

Urban Chic In The Making

Last time we talked I showed you my shawl/scarf in the in-progress stages.  (http://terahsclassiccreations.blogspot.com/2014/02/minor-shop-changes-things-to-come.html)   It has taken about two months from start to finish, and used much more of the premium yarn than I would have ever expected, but I really love the way it turned out!   The colors really pop and accentuate the lines!

Here, let me show you the finishing process it went through - BLOCKING

 In blocking you need to first wrap the piece in a towel to get the excess water out and then lay it out on a flat surface.  (In this case I used the largest beach towel I have. I apologize for the clashing of the towel colors with the shawl colors.) 

  Then I used special blocking wires and rust-proof pins to open up all the delicate lacework.

 I think it made all the difference - it made it truly bloom!

Here are some shots of the final results!

I think it looks great draped around the neck like a voluminous scarf!  Of course you can drape it over your shoulders for a more traditional look.

 I love the leaves, and the edging!

This would look great with jeans!

 Once draped around the neck like this, it's surprisingly warm because it's 75% wool!

 I knitted it with machine washable wool - so you can put it on the delicate cycle in a lingerie bag, and lat flat to dry!  So much easier to care for than most hand-knit shawls!

Incidentally, it was knit from the Haruni Shawl pattern by Emily Ross (found on Ravelry.com).  

 (Here's the whole thing stretched out - also, this shows the "wrong" side.  I think it's just an equally beautiful, alternative look to the right side - don't you?)

You can get it in my shop TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com. Oh, and I have also added to my line of hand-stamped tags for personalized gifts!  And for you knitters out there, I'm going to be adding some hand-stamped stitch markers that I'm pretty excited about!  So stay tuned, and feel free to stop by anytime!

Enjoy!!!

Terah