Monday, October 06, 2008

Christmas Spirit

I'm getting into the Christmas Spirit by stitching my Lizzie Kate Christmas Spirit Double Flips banner. I'm only doing half of it, so I started at the bottom. I finished "Candy" and "Tree" last night. I have a tiny start on "Santa." I thought I would try to get this finished before starting my other two Christmas LKs.

DSC_0008

Thank you all for your very kind comments on "Two White Houses." Many of you also commented on my picture taking. I always take pictures outside (I have a screened in porch) or by a window. I rarely use a flash. I use the macro setting on my camera. It's the setting that has the picture of the flower. It basically means close up. I also use one of the highest ISO settings. For my smaller Nikon (coolpix), 400 was the highest I could go. For my Nikon D40 I usually use 1600, although it can go higher, 1600 is high enough for the pictures I take. Now, for regular picture taking you want a smaller ISO, so remember to switch it back, or you will have grainy pictures. I have made that mistake several times and have lots of grainy kid pictures - not cute! I also use a program (picasa or picnik) to crop and sometimes sharpen, adjust the temperature or exposure. The Pioneer Woman has some great tips. She takes beautiful pictures and is a great inspiration to me!



P.S. My white background that I put all my stitching on to take pictures is just 50 cent poster board. :)

21 comments:

  1. This looks lovely - such neat stitching.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love this design! I can't wait to see how your's turns out!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love your stitching and your blog. I have a fairly decent point & shoot camera but haven't taken the time to learn how to use it. Thanks for the photography tips!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is so cute Nicole! I love the colors of this one and you are doing such lovely stitching on it! I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Looking good ! Am going to try your photo tips.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your Christmas flips are looking lovely Nicole - I must get back to mine soon!

    Thanks for the tips on pictures - I do use the macro setting but I haven't messed with the ISO - I'll have to try that and see how it goes. Your pictures are always beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I truly adore the Two White Houses! Your Christmas design is so cute too!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great start Nicole.

    Thanks for the photo tips - I will check out my camera settings.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love this design!! Can't wait to see the finish product~

    Thanks for the tips!! I found myself checking my camera while reading your instructions~~ I'll give it a try and see how it turns out.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nice start on these Nicole. I collecting them and hopefully will get to them next year.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nicole, Thanks so much for sharing all these so valuable advices about taking pictures. I really appreciate it so much! You answered all the questions that I would have liked to ask you. Now I have memorized everything and have already tried to exercise with ISOs, etc... Thanks also for sharing the "Pioneer Woman" link (so helpful!) and the program you usually use. I have just tried it and...WOW! Much easier than Adobe Photoshop and works greatly! From now on I am going to use it! Thanks again for taking the time to share all this.
    P.S. Your start is wonderful, as usual!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for the photo tips. I'll enjoy reading the web pages you linked to. I'm going out looking at camera's tomorrow and have been reading up about all this ISO/Apeture etc stuff. Very complicated.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your LK piece is cute and I love the White Houses

    ReplyDelete
  14. Very pretty, Nicole!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh, that looks lovely - I didn't realize this pattern had such vibrant colors!

    ReplyDelete
  16. lovely nicole, i am ordering these soon for myself i cant wait! i found a website i can use that accepts postal orders and stockes new lk's yay! thanks for the tips on the pics taking too!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Very cute!

    I use poster board when photographing my embroidered labels I sell online. Looks professional and I didn't spend a lot of money!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a wonderful start!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for the great tips! Pioneer Woman is awesome, isn't she. I can't read for long, though, before I get really jealous. :)

    Your LK start is so pretty! And Two White Houses is a super finish.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your LK is looking great, Nicole. Thanks too for your insight into taking better photos. I've used the macro setting too when taking pictures, though the higher ISO setting is new. Must try this sometime. YOU'RE the inspiration to us:) Thanks!

    ReplyDelete