The Perfect Spot

Despite my interest in reading The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to our Brains by Nicholas Carr, I do run an online business. So, taking pictures and posting them online is a big part of my job.

In my old house I had what can only be called a perfect set-up: beautifully colored blank wall in a room with tons of natural light. Taking intense, saturated pictures was easy.

Though I love my new place, both workplace and home, I've struggled to find a great place to take photos. Finishing and therefore needing to photograph a quilt is not an everyday activity, so my assistant and I will go out on location shots for that purpose, but, I make fabric EVERYDAY and it's not a good use of my time to schedule a location shoot every time I have new fabrics to document and add to my store.

I honestly didn't feel like I had a solution for this problem until we converted my youngest daughter's room (she went off to college) to our new guest room/office. We bought a new bed and that has made all the difference.

It all happened by accident. I put neutral colored sheets on the bed because that's what I had and I positioned the bed alongside the window because that's where it seemed to work best.

Then one day, I glanced over to the bed and thought, " I bet I could take my fabric product shots there."

So I did.

And they turned out great.

In this shot I chose to include the edge of the windowsill by the bed.

Now I take all my photos here, group shots, individual images, as well as details of the fabric. 

I've gotten so attached to the spot that I won't let the dog on the bed for fear he'll mess it up. 

When I think about it I realize that it took a few years to find that first "perfect spot" in my previous home. I didn't even recognize it as THE place until I painted the wall. So, it's not surprising that coming upon a new place to shoot product shots might take a few tries and a bit of time...and some luck.

The "I Hate Waste" Principle

I hate waste, really hate it.  

Of course I hate it in the global, community-wide sense of wasting energy or resources, but where it really gets me is at home. 

As an example, the other day I bought some buttermilk for a specific recipe. I'm usually loathe to do that because I find that buying an ingredient, particularly one that only comes in a larger amount than is needed for a single use and is purchased for a given recipe, will lead to waste. What am I going to do with the rest of the buttermilk? But, I hate waste, so last night I searched the internet for a buttermilk-based salad dressing to accompany our salad. I'm much more of a simple vinaigrette dressing girl, but, like I said, waste and me, we're not friends.

My disdain for waste is not all bad though; it fuels positive change in my life. I have a monthly contract at my yoga studio where, whether I go once a month or 5 times a week, I'm charged the same amount. I can't stand to waste money even more than buttermilk, so I go at least 4 times a week. I know this about myself. committing , especially financially, to something will spur me to do that something.

That's why I signed up and pay monthly for Seamwork Magazine. Published by the super-creative folks at Colette Patterns, this monthly, online magazine features interesting articles and simple, quick-to-sew, but stylish clothing and accessories patterns. Anyone can read the magazine; it's on the internet. But, if you want to access the patterns, then you pay a monthly fee of $6 (Hello! Super-cheap!) and receive two credits per issue. So, every month, you can download any two patterns from their pattern catalogue. Also, if you don't use your credits in a given month, they roll over to the next month. It's a great deal! By the way, something being a great deal doesn't negate the "I hate waste" principle; I hate it whether it's a little or a lot and I know that sentiment will help me keep my resolutions to sew for my self using my hand dyed and patterned fabrics.

Confession: this is not the first Seamwork pattern I've made in my hand dyed cotton lawn, but the other one, the Akita top, was made in 2015 so doesn't really count. 

My daughter and I have differing picture-taking ideals. She wants me to take pose properly; I want to act silly. This is our compromise.

For starters, I love Colette Patterns. They're easy to follow, well written and illustrated, and feature clothes that I want to make and wear. That last point is essential to honoring my "I hate waste" principle.

The flowy nature of the York top sold me on this pattern which pairs beautifully with this cotton lawn. 

I patterned about 2 yards of base fabric in my Wasabi Peas print and dyed it a juicy coral color. Honestly, this color is a bit outside my personal palette, but, I created the fabric before I decided to sew with it and I didn't want it to go to waste. I love the top, so the "I hate waste" principle yielded two positive outcomes: crafting for myself and pushing me outside my usual color preferences. 

My favorite part about this top is its attention to detail. Both the above and previous picture show off those features, a terrific cuff detail and a sweet peek-a-boo keyhole at the back.

I currently have 5 patterns downloaded to my Seamwork library and not all will work with my handmade fabric, so some fabric purchasing will happen, but, with the help of the "I hate waste" principle my goal to sew for myself in 2016 will be met. 

What about you? What helps you to keep a resolution or start (or end) a habit?