Pretty Pictures

Way back in October when I was in NYC shooting the process photos for Rustic Wrappings, my editor said in passing "Oh, you need new headshots." Really? I didn't think I needed new headshots. Didn't I just have those taken? Okay, so it was three years ago. I suppose new professional shots were in order. When I got home, I marked the calendar for a date with the amazingly talented Kelli Marsh of Kelli Marsh Photography.

She did such an incredible job with the photos the first time around! I was excited to have her take my photos again, this time in my living, breathing, working, art studio... not my little ole basement. When I saw the proofs I was amazed! She captured images that were professional, pretty, bright, colorful, and I just can't tell you how much I love them!!



copyright Kelli Marsh Photography



copyright Kelli Marsh Photography



copyright Kelli Marsh Photography



copyright Kelli Marsh Photography



If you are local (or even not local, Kelli travels!) and you need photos done, for any reason (she specializes in kids and family portraits), get on Kelli's calendar. You will be so happy you did. You can see Kelli's portfolio at Kelli Marsh Photography, like her page on Facebook, or catch her updates on Twitter.

New York in a Random Flash

~* Tuesday *~
:: despite my nervous anxiety, I was able to make it from JFK airport, to the airtrain to Jamacia station, to the LIRR, to Penn station, to the F train at 34th & Herald SQ, to the 2nd Ave stop, to my hotel on E. Houston.
:: phew
:: my hotel room was a closet of a place, but clean and up on the 5th floor away from the ground level noise.
:: after dropping off my stuff, I set off for some exploring in the afternoon... Anthropologie at Rockerfeller Center, NBC News, Times Square...
:: then back to Soho for coffee with a Rochester knitting friend... HI MARY ELLEN!
:: she was taking a class at a place I've lusted over in advertisements... Purl SOHO... oh yes, I brought a few skeins home with me
:: then I met up with my editor, Erica Smith, for dinner at Frankies 17
:: I recommend the ricotta and honey crustini... amazing
:: Erica and I hit it off like we've known each other for ages
:: excitement over starting the big shoot in the morning had me tossing and turning til 4am... ugh







~* Wednesday *~
:: excuse the bags under my eyes... I told ya I couldn't sleep!
:: rather than navigating the trains, each morning I walked the 1.5miles to 48 West 21st St to the photo studio of the fantastic Jack Deutsch
:: naturally I stopped for Starbucks along the way
:: just like Totally Twisted, we started by picking the backgrounds for photos... the techniques are on a lovely light blue linen, the wire on an old plank of drift wood, and the process shots on cream
:: could not be more excited about how these shots came out... amazing
:: and Jack has a full time retoucher, Priscilla, so despite chipping my manicure while working the wire, the photos will all look lovely
:: I loved Jack's space... it reminded me of my studio... high ceilings, exposed brick, wood floors... love
:: 9, yes nine, hours later, we wrapped for the day and went out for sushi
:: apparently I was having sushi with Mondo from Project Runway, but only Erica noticed
:: back at the hotel by 7:00pm, I couldn't go to sleep...
:: so, I made my way back to midtown to the Top Of The Strand for a visit with a dear friend from high school










~* Thursday *~
:: another 10 hours of shooting... so many projects, so little time
:: you are going to love every project!
:: despite exhaustion, there was still enough energy for a site or two
:: Eataly is CRAZY! so we didn't stay
:: who in the world could resist going into a Marimekko store if give the chance?
:: oh yes, that fabric will be inspiring beads
:: I had the best cheeseburger... e.v.e.r... at the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park
:: and some how managed to get myself back to the hotel in time to catch the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy... you know how much I love Grey's, right?
:: and yes... another sleepless night.



~* Friday *~

:: on the final day of shooting we had amazing thin crust pizza
:: and managed to crank out 10 projects in about 6 hours
:: as soon as we finished packing everything up to ship back to my studio it down poured... so we sat on Jack's couch and imagined future book projects for me...
:: a lampworking book? hmmm...
:: Jack gifted me the most amazing gadget for my camera!! can't wait to show you what it can do
:: THANK YOU JACK!!
:: when the rain let up, it was time to make my way home
:: it took more than 8 hours to get from NYC to Rochester by plane... I could have drove home and been in my bed faster
:: and no mister officer at the sobriety check point on the way home, we have not been drinking, we are on our way home from the airport, ugh
:: oh how I love my home and my comfy bed and perfectly shaped for me pillows and my hubby by my side
:: I still can't believe I was gone for 4 days... it felt like a moment

On Being A Bore

I feel like a total bore at the moment. By no means am *I* bored. No ma'am. I have a million and one things to do at the moment. But, when it comes to being witty, having things to say, sharing my life... I think I'm a bore right now. I'm lacking ideas... just like one of my kids. I can't think of a thing to do, here, in this space. So, I thought I would make soup. This soup, Soule Mama's Carrot Tomato Soup. And I thought I would tell you about the time I tried to make it last year. Silly me, I accidently poured curdled cream into it and oddly enough, no one in the house would try it knowing that. And it went to waste. This year, the cream and basil and tomatoes are fresh. I'll warm this at the studio today while I spend another day tooling away on things I can't show you, and I might even have a grilled cheese sandwich along with it. Oh yes, a grilled cheese made with pepper jack cheese.

Every day this week I have tooled the day away in my studio. As a result, my studio table is covered with the 25 progects that will appear in my new book, Rustic Wrappings. I have been stepping out each project for all the process photos we will be taking when I'm in NYC next week. Have I mentioned I'm going to NYC instead of Loveland CO for this book? Do you remember when I went for the Totally Twisted Shoot? In my 33 years of living in New York State (with some years spent living in Flordia and Texas), I have never once visited the big apple. I am a nervous wreck about it. I have no idea how I am getting from JFK airport to my hotel in SOHO, with my baggage, by myself. Everyone I have talked to has said to just get a limo, HA!, wouldn't that be fun! Yet, so not going to happen. I am putting off figuring out those details until Monday. Then I'll fly down to NYC on Tuesday and shoot on Weds/Thurs/Fri.

Gosh that all sounds so mundane in my head... if I were reading this on someone else's blog, I would be excited for them! But as the writer, I am thinking... who the heck cares if you are nervous about getting from the airport to the hotel. Alas... such is life.

To continue with what feels like a bit of monotony to me, I'll tell you about knitting. While my vegetables simmered on the stove yesterday, and I waited for the kids to get home, I stitched a few rows on a pair of arm warmers I'm making. My sister requested these, but apparently, she doesn't approve of the pattern. She wants something she can lace with a ribbon. I guess I'll just have to keep them for myself. I could really use them. My studio was so cold yesterday that I needed two cups of almond tea to keep warm. These arm warmers round my wrists would have helped... and left my hands and fingers free to do their tooling. About 40 more rows and the first one will be finished. Let's all hope I don't suffer from Single Arm Warm Syndrome (an illness that would lead to me only knitting one and not the other).

Isn't it interesting how warm the photos in my kitchen are and how cool the light in the living room is.

I think I hear the bus coming. Time to shoe Lauren out the door, pack up my soup, and get into the studio. I wonder if I'll see something in today to share tomorrow...

***************************************

Remember, registration for SNAPTASTIC The eCOURSE is open!! I would love to have you join me and the other awesome SNAPTASTIC students in class!! You don't want to miss this...

The Snaptastic eCourse & eBook

Oh my stars... I am full of that nervous energy and butterflies that come with an exciting announcement and putting yourself out there in a vulnerable way. This is my 1500 post on this blog and I can't think of a better way to celebrate that than with something I am incredibly thrilled to share with you. Deep breath... strong heart... let's do this!

Snaptastic:

Clicking Your Way To Beautiful Jewelry Photos

In this fast paced digital age and highly competitive market, beautiful photos are a must if you are looking to sell your jewelry. If you have been struggling with your digital camera, and just can't seem to achieve the images you are hoping for, then this is the class for you. I am thrilled to offer my first eCourse and eBook in the form of Snaptastic: Clicking Your Way To Beautiful Jewelry Photos, a beginner's guide to setting up, styling, and editing jewelry pictures. I'll be sharing my knowledge of jewelry photography in a way that is fun and informative. We'll cover everything from how to set up an inexpensive photo booth in your home studio, to tips and tricks on taking unique shots that grab attention, to talk about props and product styling, and I'll walk you through the various settings on your camera for getting the types of images you are looking for. Plus the class will cover instruction on photo editing in both free and professional grade programs. It is time to stop taking photos on your kitchen counter! This is truly a must-take class for jewelers looking to take their digital presence to the next level.

*IMPORTANT NOTE*

This class is designed for BEGINNER to ADVANCED BEGINNER students!

I am offering Snaptastic 3 ways.

Option 1 - The eCourse! - $75

The Snaptastic eCourse is run over a 5 week time frame. Once registered, you will receive an email before the start of class inviting you to log into the private blog where class will be hosted. If you do not have one already, you will need to register for a free Google password to log in. (Please email if you need information on how to do this.) Posts will appear daily on the blog, Monday - Saturday. Your access to this private classroom will never be closed, so you can work through the content at my pace or your own. You will also receive an invitation to share photos on a private Flickr group created just for Snaptastic students.

After my recent live version of this class, I am now expanding some of the content and going even deeper into what students really want to know!! There will be more on shooting in Manual Mode, a glossary of photography terms, additional comparison photos, and so much more.

Class will begin October 17th 2011 and run through November 20th 2011. Once class ends, you will still have access to the private classroom! So keep coming back to read the posts, classmate comments, and visit the class Flickr group.

*Special Note* - I will close the eCourse comments on December 10th. Any questions that come up after that time can be sent directly to me. Remember, you will still be able to read all the comments and responses which will be loaded with information.

Option 2 - The eBook! - $25

The Snaptastic eBook is a 100 page PDF version of the content that will be shared in class. With more than 140 photos, this comprehensive guide to digital jewelry photography and photo editing is a must have for those that want to take beautiful photos of their designs.

Option 3 - The Combo Pack! - $90

Sign up for both the eCourse and eBook and save! You will have the same unlimited access to the private blog and Flickr group while also having the content PDF to use as a reference guide.

Some FAQ's -

How do you register? Visit the Snaptastic page on my website. Check out as you would in any other online shop. You will receive an order confirmation and before class begins, I will send all your class log in information. If adding the eBook to your order, you will automatically be redirected to a download page where you can save the book to your computer.

What are the benefits to choosing the eCourse instead of just the eBook? Within the daily eCourse posts you will have the opportunity to comment and ask questions. I will be replying to your comments and also creating comprehensive Q&A posts. Although I will be available to answer questions that may come up via email, these Q&A posts will not be available in the eBook. In class, we'll be digging a little deeper and expanding on some of the topics and having discussion on thing not covered in the eBook as well.

Can you still register for class even though the first 5 weeks have passed? YES! The way that this course is set up, you can join at any time. Comments may be closed, but I will always be available via email to answer your questions and you will have unlimited access to the site so you can work at your own pace.

Is this a MAC friendly eCourse? YES! I have viewed the two editing programs I use in the eCourse and eBook on a MAC and they work the same. Sweet!

I truly could not be more excited about this new offering! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to send me a message at kerry(at)kabsconcepts(dot)com. It is going to be a Snaptastic few weeks, my friends. I hope you'll join me!

PS... Help me spread the word about Snaptastic with a badge for your blog! Simply highlight the text in the box below and paste it into an HTML gadget on your blog!!

<a border="0" href="http://www.kabsconcepts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=479" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l614/kabsconcepts/snaptasticblogbadge.jpg"/></a>

More About DeFindings

Do you notice anything special about these pieces of jewelry? I mean, other than the fact they are all bright and colorful. Not a single one of them contains a commercial finding. Okay, the chain is available commercially, but that is besides the point, I don't consider chain a finding. Look close and you'll see that all the clasps are handmade, all the links are handmade, and if I had a photo of earrings anywhere in my 261 pages of photos on Flickr you would see that all the ear wires I make are handmade as well. I truly couldn't be more excited about my new class DeFindings: Detailing Your Designs at ArtBliss (coming up in September!), because I will be teaching you all about adding these kind of handmade details to your own jewelry creations.

I wanted to take a moment to tell you exactly the kind of things I'll be showing you over the course of our 3 evening hours together...

• Clasps - hooks, s clasps, and two kinds of toggles
• Ear Wires - classic fish hook, french style, and hoops
• Extras - jump rings, headpins, dolled up wrapped loops, and easy s links

We'll spend about an hour on each of the topics, so the pace will be quick, but you will be learning a ton of information and I hope to be sending you back to your hotel rooms with a collection of your own handmade samples to begin using in your own designs.

Making your own findings saves you money, gives your pieces a more unique look, and is just one way you can begin to really set yourself apart from the massive ocean of jewelry designers out there. If you can make it to Washington DC on September 25, you are gonna LOVE this class!! Be sure to check out the supply list, I think everything you need is probably already in your jewelry studio (or toolbox).

As an added incentive, Cindy and Jeanette (ArtBliss Organizers) are waving the registration fee of $40 for students that will only be taking an evening class. If you are taking multiple classes throughout the event, the registration fee still applies. So that means, just $65 and you are going to be on your way to creating beautiful jewelry findings!!

I hope to see you there!!

PS... remember too... if you want to learn how to take your jewelry photos to the next level and learn to take photos like the ones shared in this post, I am teaching Snaptastic at ArtBliss on the 25th as well!! Come spend the entire day with me and by the end of the day, not only will you have loads of new things to add to your jewelry, you'll know how to take awesome photos of it as well. 

PPS... so many awesome things are happening behind the scenes in regards to my Snaptastic class. You really aren't going to want to miss this.

It's a Snappy day...

Wow... wow, wow, wow... that's all I can say. I am up to my eyeballs in "work" today, but I still wanted to take a moment to pop in and catch up. Yes, yes, I still have plans to share with you that gem of a thing we stumbled upon this past weekend. That is on the back burner though while I am designing, organizing, writing, and editing the document that will become my new class, Snaptastic, that will debut at ArtBliss in September. I am so so excited to be doing this, truly. It has my mind buzzing, my nerves twitching, and heart soaring. It is feeding me with the best kind of anxious energy. What a challenge! I don't think I even dreamed that someday I would have the kind of knowledge about photography that others would be eager to know.

There are still spots available in class. So, if you are looking to take your jewelry photography to the next level, and want to make the best possible impression on potential buyers through images that are stylized, bold, and creative, then you need to make your way to Washington DC next month!!

Around The Block

Oh how excited I am to share these images with you. As part of our first Superhero Photo assignment, I committed to bringing my camera along with me for the entire day. Now, I have always wanted to show you the path I run in the morning, but I have used the excuse that my Nikon is too heavy to run with as a way to get out of it. No more. Our fearless leader, Andrea Scher, says you can use any camera to take meaningful images. So with my phone in hand, with the camera app on, I set out on my run.

I snapped lots of photos along the way. Some that will never see the light of day, and that is okay. But these are a few. And I know what you are thinking... we are saying to yourself  "wow, Kerry, oh my goodness... your camera takes the most amazing images ever. Are you using a special app to make them look like old polaroids? Do you have an iPhone?"" To which I reply "Nope, no special app. No iPhone either. I did it all in photoshop!!"

I have been hearing whispers of something called "actions" for photoshop for sometime now. I even looked into it once before. But that first experience left me feeling like they were something for "professional" photographers/photoshop users. And I let my knowledge of them fall to the way side. I am constantly bombarded with the awesomeness that is Instagram images from friends with iPhones and I am incredibly jealous and even considered buying an iPhone just so I could take and post cool photos like them... but, first... I decided to give actions one last try.

It was a blistering hot day on Monday. Andrew started the summer session at his new school, Lauren was at a friend's house, Jacob had a few hours of weight lifting scheduled, and I found myself kid-free yet again (gawd I hope that becomes a reoccuring thing this summer!). So instead of trying to brave the inhuman temps I knew my studio would be reaching, I sat in my lovely air conditioned living room digging deeper into what these action thingies were/are and holy crow, they are a freaking piece of cake. They make editing life so much easier!! And I can make crappy camera phone shots look like super cool 1970s-esque polaroids in seconds. Yeah, literally seconds. Best part... all the actions I found to download are FREE.

Weird, I think I sound like a door to door salesman. HA!

Hmmm... I think I may have to work applying actions to images into my Snaptastic class for ArtBliss in September. And actually, one of my summer to-do list items is writing an e-book for that Snaptastic class and I am considering making it available to everyone as a download. Lots of new territory for me. Exciting isn't it.

But, I digess... I was first saying how I always wanted to take you along for one of my morning runs. This is the path I run. It is 2.5 miles around my block. Or rather, halfway around my block. I cut down the bike trail to get back to my street. Otherwise, it would be a 5 mile run (which I have a goal of running in August). The L O V E Y O U message was on a bike trail leg of the run. I grinned so big when I saw it. It really spurred me on. I have friends that run marathons all the time, and I feel somewhat pathetic that I have to push through 2.5 miles. But, I am learning to be gentle with myself and know I will get there someday. It feels good to be out there, working on making me the best me I can be.

And one last polaroid... one of the shots from datenight last week. So wanna print this and hang it on the fridge.

Balancing Out The Bright

One of the things I love about having a Flickr Photostream is seeing, so plainly, color patterns in the images. Yesterday, everything had hints of yellow. Today, as I loaded photos, I noticed everything took a turn to the rustic and earthy. Sometimes the transition in the stream in the palettes is subtle and other times, like today, it is more obvious.








(as a side note: My hubby and I have recently become addicted to American Pickers on Netflix. He called me yesterday and said "I went pickin' on lunch". It is something we both have always done with my estate sale adventures and his garage sale ones. It is fun now to have a little lingo to go with the junk rummaging. Check out the cool antique oak apothecary cabinet he found for my studio!)

Seeing these photos today compared to yesterday is interesting to me. It really punctuates what is going on creatively for me right now. The book I am working on writing at the moment couldn't be more different visually than my first. Color wise, it will be like seeing yesterday's photos (aka Totally Twisted) side by side with today's (aka Rustic Wrappings), when you hold both books in your hands. What is wonderful is that both are still so completely me. I love old rustic rusty objects and the sentimental thought/feelings to hold. And, I am loving the process of going back to my roots, so to speak (do you remember the days when I oxidized everything I made?), and exploring the wonderful possibilities in this design style. It is making for some really magical studio time, lemme tell ya.

I can't wait to get to that studio now and finish up the project using those little resin-ed papers. You know, pages from a love story, written and printed, more than 100 years ago makes for the best little details in a design.