Light Box

I finished my light box last night. ^.^ Yay me!

Anywho, it turned out really nicely. I picked up a piece of white & a piece of grey poster board for the backgrounds. This way I have a choice on what background I would like in my photos.  I was actually tempted to buy a random bright color like pink or orange... but I decided to keep it rather tame for this first attempt. I can tell that it is going to be really nice for our product photos for the Pins&Needles shop. The box I used was about 2'x1.5' roughly... so I'm seriously considering making a bigger one. But for the time being, this first one will be fine.  Here's an example of a photo taken in the light box:

Family Strip Hat

I think the lighting came out really good- not too bright. I will definitely be using this light box a lot. And it was very inexpensive: the box was free; the tape & hot glue were already in the house; and all I had to buy were 2 poster boards & a wooden dowel. Those small purchases cost me about $3.65. Not bad to get a professional looking photo result. Dusts off shoulders!

Crafternoon

The lovely Ms. D, came over for crafternoon & she made a bunch of cute bracelets & rings. =) She did a great job stash-busting my beads.


(close-up of her bracelets)


(close-up of her rings... she said she's going to find a small photo inside the framelike ring on the left. cool huh)

I didn't finish anything, but I started making my photo lightbox for the Pins&Needles product photos. I just have to pick up the lights & a poster board to use as the seamless white background. I found a really good tutorial here. Anywho, D was really excited to come over & make things. She said next time, she's going to bring more people (YAY!) The more the merrier!

On my hooks

Crocheting at Lamar's intramural basketball game :)

It's a striped beanie. The pattern was really easy to work up. I finished it while watching his team play their first game. Sadly, they didn't win. Better luck next time. (shakes cheerleader pom-poms)

(peek-a-boo tattoo ^.^)

Last progress pic & modifications made to the boy beanie pattern found in "Stitch-n-B*tch Crochet: The Happy Hooker."

I had my hair in a twist out today & it fit over it. That's really good, especially since its hard to fit all of my hair under a hat these days. I like the finished product & I'm going to make myself another one in more 'everyday' colors.

Favorite spaces

This is my favorite section of Books-A-Million. From here, I'll nestle down in a comfy cafe chair with a stack of crochet books & a chai latte... I haven't done this in a little bit, though. I should really have a BAM date soon. Maybe bring along a ball of yarn & do some crocheting :)
I hope your weekend is starting out nicely.

My first Tagging ^.^

I am very excited to have been tagged for this post by Lisa of LesapeaMusings. I hope you all can participate! To anyone reading this, you are welcome to participate in a comment if you like. :)

The Rules

1. Post the rules.
2. Post 11 things about you.
3. Answer the questions the tagger asked you.
4. Write 11 new questions for those you tag.


11 things about me

1. I love DIY. I do a lot of crochet work, sewing, & clothing refashioning. I also refin
   
2. My favorite TV channel is HGTV, but I hate the fact they run hours & hours of House Hunters... -__-
   
3. I enjoy shopping at thrift stores. My favorite is ThriftMart. It has some way of easing any stress.
4. I wish I was a "stiletto gansta"... meaning I wish I could wear high heels for more than an hour... *shrug* a lady can wish.
5. I like writing to do lists with check boxes. One of my friends said it was weird that I didn't cross each item out. I just think that's too messy.
6. (hmm... half way there) I use to want to be an English teacher, but then I decided I wanted to do communications... looking back, I probably should have gone with the teacher idea. *chuckle*
7. I have 2 dogs. One I adopted from the pound & another that I was keeping for a friend who never came to take her back. They keep me on my toes...
8. I love photography. In college, I majored in Communications- Photojournalism & ended up doing a lot of studio work. I firmly believe that everyone needs photos.
9. I was (am) a member of Art&Soul Poetry Club of Oakwood University. I was president for 2 years & published a book of poetry during that time. I must say that the friendships I developed & the experiences I had were amazing.
10. I collect mugs. My collection started on my 24th birthday. Two of my friends planned a surprise party for me & everyone that came had to bring a mug. Ta-da! And that's how you get cupboards overflowing with mugs! lol. ^.^
    
11. My favorite number is 12.
    

11 questions for me

1. What do you regret most in your life? Not staying active with photography after graduation.
2. What's your dream vacation? I love the beach, so I'd have to say somewhere sunny, colorful, & on the beach.
3. What's your fave color? Orange, yellow, & green.
   
4. What is your major achievement in life? Graduating college & being able to support myself afterwards.
5. Who do you love to go shopping with? I would have to say Lamar & my roommate, Cherie. Lamar because we always see some foolish shenanigans & Cherie because she always finds the cutest thrifted things.
6. What is your dream job? I'm not exactly sure on this one... certainly something artsy... something with children...
   
7. What is your all time fave movie? 10 Things I Hate About You. I love sappy 90's love stories :)
8. If you could have a dinner party, where would you have it & which famous persons would you like to invite (whether alive or deceased)? I would have a casual cookout at a park. I would invite my college poetry club & as special guests: Sunni Patterson, Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, & Jill Scott... Common, Mos Def, Shihan & Langston Hughes to tone down the estrogen overload I just created, lol.
9. If you had one wish, what would it be? I... would... wish... for all of my & my family's bills to be paid for life. I hate thinking about paying bills... it makes me want to pull out my hair.
10. What is your fave dessert? Cheesecake. The classic kind... not the kind with strawberry syrup & all manner of extras.
11. If you could exchange lives with anybody in the world for a week, whose life would you want to live? I think I'd switch with Sunni Patterson. She's a poet & I could only imagine the places she gets to visit for performances. I remember the rush of being on stage performing my pieces, & to do that as a living would be amazing.
    

11 questions for you.

1. What do you do to relax?
2. If you could have any job & know your bills would be paid regardless, what job would it be?
3. Where is your favorite place to be?
4. What is your favorite decade?
5. What is the best thing you ever ate?
6. Who do you admire the most in your life?
7. What is one place you want to visit before you die?
8. What is your favorite book?
9. What was your favorite birthday?
10. Who are you inspired by & why?
    
11. What advice would you give to children growing up behind you?
    

Tag you are it!

1. Cherie @ Sarah-Bellum
   
2. Dre @ Cuttlephish
3. Lamar @ All Grown Up
   
4. Dee @ 21
5. Nikia Phoenix @ Model Liberation
6. Lucy @ Attic24

Sorry I don't have 11 people to tag yet.

Good luck Everyone. Let the tagging begin.

When your best friend gets married...

My bestsisterfriend is getting married this May & I just want to write some things out.

Sooo... I've also been feeling rather disconnected from the whole wedding shebang... because Im the only out of state bridesmaid. AAAANNNNDDDD its not like im a few hours away, Im 14 HOURS away... so all the fittings... i miss, & the little get togethers... i miss, and the bridal shower... i'll likely miss... and Im bummed out about that. We've been friends since we were like 11 & 12. We've been through SO stinkin much together & I just want to be able to be there with her... I want to see her smiling about her gifts & laughing at the shower & I want to help her pick household things for her registry... I just want to be there. I want to be there for the times when she realizes that she's getting married for real real, like taxes... I want to be there when she sends out the save the dates & invitations & gets all misty eyed but then tries to hide it but I wont let her cuz Im trying to take a picture of it... lol... I wish I could just be there...

Sometimes growing up & moving away gets really hard. Its hard being so far away from family & the friends that are just like family. Sometimes phone calls arent enough. Sometimes you need to be in the room, not saying anything. Sometimes you just need your best friend close by.

Ugh... so now Im all weepy & have cried onto my laptop :/ I love you Ambs & I wish Alabama was at least 12 hours closer to Delaware. :-*