Capturing Scripty Shadows

A couple days ago, I took my camera and some jewelry outside to take some photos in natural light, which I hadn’t done in a while. 

It was late in the afternoon, and the sun was so intense, the shadows were very “long.” Right away, thought to myself that this was probably not going to work well for the type of product photo I had in mind (which was nice, even light, without much shadow.) 

However, I reminded myself that my main objective for that session was to see if the COLORS were easier to capture in the natural light (since I had been having trouble indoors, with artificial lights.) So, I continued… 

I’m glad I pushed past that brief hesitation… Because I soon discovered, as I moved things around, that the shadows were really cool. And some of the shadows looked very calligraphic… Like letters written in wire, projected onto the tile background. 

Captivated by this, I was now on a whole new pursuit… To capture cool, letter-looking shadows… 

I decided to stretch out some bracelets so that the shadows were more in a line, as though they were lines of writing… This seemed very familiar as soon as I looked at it, and I realized that it reminds me of so many of the paintings I’ve done in the past, with calligraphic letter-like script in the background… 

Some straight lines of text-looking script... And some wavy lines of text-looking script... 

From this angle, they remind me of reptiles, slithering forward, towards the camera... 

 

Some are more script and slanted… Some are more bold and upright…

Each of the 2 distinct styles of bracelets made a unique style of line in the shadows... 

I continued moving things around and taking more photos until the light started to fade away for the day… 

Then I captured just a few glimpses of the warmth that was left in the leaves… 

And I decided to do this again one day, when the light is just right... 

I *love* these photos!! I hope you enjoy them, too.

- Dawn  

Inside Photos & Outside Photos

A few days ago, I took some photos of my jewelry, INSIDE, with bright lights and a photo box, the way I have done so many times before, but I had just relocated my photo station to a different room, readjusted the lights, and tried to set things up just right again. 

When I was posting the photos, I felt like the color was not right in some of them (yet it was fine in some, too.) 

Could have been something in the shooting process, and could have been in the editing process... Either way, I was thinking there must be another way... 

And then a light went off in my mind... A *sunny* light... 

I decided to go OUTSIDE for the next session, and take photos in the natural sunlight, something I hadn't done in a while!! 

So, I did that, today... With intentions of shooting the same types of photos, then comparing how the colors look in each different lighting. 

However, *new* variables entered this experiment... And so began a whole *new* story of photos... I'll write more about it soon, but in the meantime, here's a sneak peak... 

This is the *same* bracelet that is pictured right above this one... But it's no longer just a "color study" !! 

Lots of *JOYFUL* things this Fall...

I took this photo last year, but it tells a story... That the season of Fall is here again, the leaves are on it's way to these colors again, and I've been looking through some old photos again...

Although I haven't *blogged* in a while, I'm very happy to report that I've been working on a lot of very *JOYFUL* things going on here... Photos (hopefully) coming (very) soon!! :)

Working on some new jewelry, including some old favorite styles & some new favorite designs!! Production is going well on items, but there's a hold up in my photographing operation here... Which explains why there aren't many *new* photos being posted right now!!

I've set up a Facebook page... And begun adding photos from my Archives... Please visit my page... * CreatingForJoy * I'd *Love* it if you'd click that you *Like* it...

Scheduling Home Parties, Classes & Shows for this Fall... And looking forward to a very *JOYFUL* Holiday season...

Re-organizing some things in my Etsy Shop... And coordinating the introduction of some new sections of work... Please check it out http://www.creatingforjoy.etsy.com and let me know what you think...

Thanks for your interest in my work... And for sharing my joy!!

- Dawn 

*Turquoise Treasures Collection* Family Photos

A while back, I posted about some of my work in progress... 

Particularly, a collection of "Turquoise Treasures"

Here are some follow-up photos of some of the finished jewelry pieces

All of the sterling silver wire work is done by me, 

formed and hammered by hand...

which are *both* very *joyful* for me... 

The forming of the wire is kind of meditative... 

and the gentle hammering is kind of empowering!!

Hmmm... Perhaps I will post some photos of the PROCESS soon...  

That might be nice to share!!

  

Testing Photos Placement

Testing photo placement... 

I'd like this photo to be centered on the page...

And I'm hoping that when I PUBLISH the page, it will be...

Centered, that is... 

Fingers crossed... 

Yesterday, when I posted here, the photos posted too.

The whole blog post was posted twice, somehow, but the photos were there!

I was so excited because recently I've had some issues with 

photos not coming out of my camera... (which is another story on it's own)

So, yesterday, after much effort 

(and reading the camera book... that was the effort!)

I was soooooo excited that the photos I took came out...

and I posted them here, at my blog...

So... today, when I looked at the page here again, 

there were NO photos showing from yesterday!!

Just a big outline of what would have been a photo there... 

On *both* spots that I had photos posted yesterday.

hmmm...

So, I re-posted them. But they didn't center. 

I tried and I re-tried, but still they would not center. 

Flush left.

That's all...

So, I published it anyway... 

And now I'm testing it. 

Trying to center *these* photos, to see if it will work. 

The photos (above and below) are taken of some beads and

projects that are on my studio tables right now. 

I've been doing a *lot* of organizing and de-cluttering lately...

Which I plan to share more about (here) in the future.

In the meantime, here's a couple of quickly shot glimpses of my 

* Creating *Space* for Joy !! *

Happy 7-9-11 Day !!

Today, the date is 7-9-11, which is fascinating to me!!

Three consecutive *odd* numbers...

I remember just over 2 years ago, the date was 5-7-9, which I realized would probably happen only *once* in my lifetime, and it was sooooo cool to be actually on *my* birthday!!

So, in honor of today, I *knew* I wanted to blog about it... After all, *somebody* should be celebrating this unique date...

Curiously, today I decided to *google* the digits 7 9 11

...and I read about this being the "Oddest Day of the Year" and about a man in California who is *really* celebrating!! (check it out with this link)

http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/07/09/oddest-day-of-year-is-july-9-2011_n_893543.html

The article also points out that this is only one of *6* dates

this CENTURY that features six consecutive odd numbers.

Very cool. And very *odd* indeed.

(**wink!**)

P.S Here's a photo in honor of that special day just over two years ago...

Help to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)

My sister is *hiking* in the Grand Canyon to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). To help support this worthy cause & my sister’s *grand* efforts…

For the month of June, I will donate 30% of all sales of my “Creating for Joy” handmade jewelry arts & crafts. This includes any orders placed at my Etsy shop, as well as at home parties and shows.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training (TNT) Program by was born about 20 years ago, to raise money to assist people suffering from blood cancers. Since 1998, TNT has raised over $1 billion by creating teams of endurance athletes to participate in marathons, triathlons, hikes, and century bike rides.

Please help me help this team meet their financial goals.

Your support is greatly appreciated!!

Thank you,

Dawn

Photo by www.bestfreewallpapers

Catch a glimpse...

... of some of the things goin' on in my studio lately... This is a *new* collection of jewelry that I've been working on... I call it "Turquoise Treasures" because it is rich in turquoise beads that I've treasured and collected for years!! As part of my (recently declared) goal to *share* more beautiful objects than I keep tucked away in boxes, I've been *setting free* more and more of these really special beads, so that they can be worn and enjoyed by many special people!! This photo captures a glimpse of this new series of work… Beloved turquoise beauties, joined with freshwater pearls, mother of pearl, semi-precious gemstones, and more… Connected with hand-formed, shaped and hammered sterling silver components and clasps. Coordinated in harmony, with some joyful contrast. I’m very excited to share all of this… And I really appreciate your interest!!

Following up...

When I last posted here at my blog, I was trying to do so from my iPhone. Well, it didn't really work... As soon as I tried to post a photo, it wigged out, closed the app, and anything I had typed in was gone... Maybe because the operating system on my iPhone is still the "old" one, or maybe because I have so many photos stored in there, it just wigged out, or maybe for a different reason! In any case, I'm gonna go back to posting to my blog from my beloved computer :) At least for now... Perhaps in the future I will try again from my iPhone… In the meantime, here we go...

Testing again

Testing again ... To blog from my iPhone ... With a new app ... Is this working ?!

Happy Valentine's Day!! <3

Valentine's Day is a great day to celebrate <3 love <3 in all sorts of ways... There are mushy-gooshy romantic ways, sweet & memorable family/friends ways, and friendly & thoughtful ways in our professional lives... Celebrating <3 love <3 is a great opportunity to be creative... And, of course, in a joyful way...!!

January Joy

Realizing that the first month of this new year seems to be going by very quickly, I feel the desire to post about some *January Joy.* Sure, I have a list of other blog topics to add and to catch up on... But, for now, this seems nice to blog about.

I'd really love for this to become a more "interactive" blog... So please post YOUR thoughts and ideas on these topics, too!! :)

Here's a list of questions for prompting:

What are some things that have particularly brought you *Joy* so far this January?

What are some things that bring you *Joy* in general, that you'd like to experience more often, throughout the whole year?

What are some *Joyful* goals and resolutions you'd like to focus on this year? This month? This season?

What are some *Joyful* things you've accomplshed and/or experienced so far this January?

What are some ways you intentionally bring more *Joy* into your life?

*** I will post some of my responses soon... In the meantime, tell us some of yours!! Share YOUR *Joys* !! :)

NOTE: Added photo 1/19/11 ... This is a photo taken New Years Eve, perhaps accidentally... I've chosen it because it reminds me of how the first month of this new year seems to be going by very quickly...

*** HaPpY *** NeW *** YeAR ***

*** HaPpY *** NeW *** YeAR ***

* wishing YOU ALL lots of colorful light *

* and glimmery splashing reflections *

* accompanied by spirit lifting music *

* among cherished family & friends *

* sharing lots of wonder, love & joy !! *

* as we welcome & embrace a brand New Year *

* and cherish the magical moments thru every season *

* Happy New Year & Best Wishes Always *

xoxo

Words Joyfully Shared by Dawn

Photo taken at Longwood Gardens - NYEve

P.S. A Special Thank you to Anne & Douglas & Toryn for being

some of our closest "family" and for sharing

such a wonderful evening with us. We love you guys!!

xoxo

Dawn & Chris