Pin Obsession | WIP {Knitting}

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to win a skein of TFA Mulberry Silk and knit your own beret*

This is probably the third version of this project.And I think I am now happy with the number of stitches - and potential width, the yarn used (well the combination) and the stitch I am using. it is clearly a not complicated design, but I have in mind this pin (OMG, I am obsessed with that pin)- and I have just spend time to replicate that scarf in that colour - and it is wide, seems quite thin and it is not a simple ribbing. I think I got it, and to be honest right now I am sticking to my decision. 

All I need now is for this (future, maybe a long time away) scarf to grow. To be fair I have given myself the tools to make it grow fast - two strand of yarns and 7mm needles! 

I know the colour is not exactly right (despite Mr MiH and I spending an hour trying to work it out) - but I love it. It is a combination of Cascade 220 Superwash in Straw (870) and Drops Kid Silk in dark brown (15) (both quite good value options). I got them from the Wool Warehouse which is a fab (UK) yarn online shopping site - good value, quick to deliver and the site is easy to naviguate (and no, they don't pay me to say this). 

I seem to be going through a phase of easy knitting projects. I am sure I will go back to more intricate lace patterns soon, but with SO many amazing TV shows to catch up on (last night GBSB as baby MiH woke up 15 minutes into the program, House of Cards, Death in Paradise), this is ideal! 

What are you knitting at the moment, linking to Small Things and Tamis' Amis today. 

How to Sunday - How do you take and edit pictures {Photography}

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I have been wanting to write a post about my pictures - because there are such a big part of this blog. I don't mind writing posts but I feel that I am never able to convey the message as well as with pictures. So my posts are loaded with pictures, especially tutorial ones. I should really be making videos - or at least explore this possibility - but with Baby MiH around it is not necessarily as simple as taking pictures here and there and posting them as a full story. 

I think this post will be great, if you were all to share your experience in the comment box as well, as I am sure I have a lot to learn, and any tips would be welcomed.

All geared up.. 

This is what is behind the scenes... 

My Canon EOS 450D was a birthday present from Mr MiH when I decided to enter the digital era in earnest a few years a go. Since then I added bits and pieces to my kit.

1. 70-300mm lens; 2. The camera with the typical 18-35mm lens;
3. 50mm lens;4. mini-tripod; 5.Polarizer

Surprisingly this is not the camera I use the most for the blog as it is bulky, it takes time to set up - because if you are going to get it out you may as well make all the right adjustments to get a good picture. But I love the close-up pictures it tajes, so it is usually used for finished projects, unless Mr MiH takes the pictures.. 

Then it is the Olympus XZ-1 all the way. This is not actually mine, but my present to Mr MiH for his birthday a couple of years ago (we are very creative when it comes to buying birthday presents). Most of the pictures on this blog are taken with this little camera. And they are nearly all taken with one of the 'scene' settings, I don't even bother changing the aperture, shutter speed, white balance.. No I trust this little camera to take the best picture possible. And it does. It is light, small, and easy to use - you can take it anywhere. A brilliant investment, except for close ups - then it is not really as good as the Canon. 

Finally the Iphone. You remember I made a case for an Iphone when I did not own one - that same weekend I got myself one and entered the world of Instagram. It is AMAZING! That editing software seems to be able to convert any ok pictures into amazing pictures - and the quality is so good I don't mind using them on the blog. 

Editing

I try to make as many adjustments as I can during the photoshoots. It is not always easy because the light may not be good - especially with shorter days, or the colours did not come out like they should. Because more and more pictures will be taken in the evenings from now on, I bought an external Flash - the Canon Speedlight 430EXII flash. And it will be my life-saver, for real. I cannot actually believe the quality of the light in the pictures.

I also edit all my pictures, through PicMonkey. I add the name of the blog at a very minimum, and then tinker with the brightness, saturation and temperature settings usually. 

The right angle

Taking the right picture is easy and hard. First of all it is very subjective, and I am never happy with the pictures I take in general - maybe one but not all of them. For a tutorial, it is easier because the aim is purely to show a technique. For a 'photoshoot', for a styling post for instance, we take many many many pictures and go through all of them to find the best ones - we take that many that we do get good ones eventually. 

I also have a 'photography inspiration' Pinterest board to collect images I like because of the angle, the detail they focus on. I am yet to manage to recreate any of these pictures but at least I have some sort of inspiration to work with. Of course, reading magazines and other blogs is inspirational too. 

I love this selfie picture found on Pinterest

So here we are nothing, fancy really. Yes I have the gear, but I don't use it that often - maybe now in the evening it will become necessary and this is what is going to make a real difference. 

So how do you do it? Do you take pictures with your phone and blog on the go (maybe not that easy when you have a craft blog)? Which editing software do you use - or you don't use one? I would love to hear your experiences. 

Thrifted and Updated {Wood Bead Necklaces}

Many thanks for all your lovely comments on the book clutch, there will be a tutorial soon, so stay tune. 

You will remember the wood bead necklace I was wearing for my Kew Gardens styling post. I mentioned it was thrifted and updated. And it is probably the laziest DIY project I have ever done, but it is quite nice sometimes to have a quick solution handy. 

So here is the necklace I bought for less than £2 at my local charity shop. I have been on the hunt for a wood bead necklace since I pinned this inspiration picture (the homepage picture for one of my DIY boards). I could not believe how many beads I could get for that price, and I also loved the fact they were of different sizes. 

It stayed untouched until I found some leather string at my local John Lewis. 

I decided for the Kew Gardens styling not to paint the beads as I did not want too many colours and wanted to keep the look natural. So it was a case of getting the beads, choosing the biggest ones, and make a new necklace, et voila! Yep, I love to be lazy too. 

There may be a golden version coming soon though... I have been doing some painting today and beads were given a golden glow for a future styling...  

It is amazing what you can do with a chopstick and sellotape! 

On a side note, I am catching up with all the posts of the weekend as I was in Paris - first weekend without Baby MiH!! More on what I came back with later this week! Hope you are all having a great start to the week!

Foodie Boards

It is way too hot to bake... but not too hot to peruse Pinterest food boards - and get inspired for future recipes. Here are 5 pinners/boards that inspire me to be in my kitchen (you can find my foodie board is here). 

• A cup of mascarpone boards

Source

Oh I could eat any of the pins on her different food boards - she has categorised her inspiration so meticulously that it is a joy to go through. My first favourite boards are curated by Carol from a cup of mascarpone.

• Seasons and Suppers boards

Another great Pinterest foodie curator is Jennifer from Seasons and Suppers. She even participates in a vegan and vegetarian board - so useful, made me realise that I needed to widen my veggie repertoire!

• Chompoo's boards

For world food as well as lovely cakes - check out Chompoo's boards. There are a lot of pins there (she does mention that she pins everyday) - again very well curated.  

• Food on the wall board

I am partial to coffees - and especially to coffees that include little biscuits or chocolates, yes like in France, so the cafe hour board of Food on the wall is right up my street. 

• Local milk board

Check out the little green tea souffles

Beth from the local milk blog shares the recipe she will make soon on her'make' board. You just wanted to be invited for dinner! 


Have you found food boards you love? I would love to share them with us!

5 {FREE TUTORIALS} TO PIN

1. Zipper card pouch by craft passion; 2.crochet coaster (in German, Google Translate will help); 3. Cross stitched office supplies; 4. Hand printed fabric; 5. Sand bowls

Doily coaster around the house {crochet}

There is something about doilies - I used to hate them. My Grandma had them all around her house and would put stuff on top of them - I always found them quite useless. But now, I have a few all around the house as coasters. What happened to me? In my defence, I am really picky as far as the patterns I make are concerned - and I tend to use only neutrals in terms of colours. 

I also have a thing for free patterns .. And this pattern is fast becoming one of my most repinned pins. And it is not surprising, it is so easy to make and it looks great! 

I used some sock yarn (I seem to use sock yarn for anything except socks - still have not knitted any, but it is on my to do list), and my 2mm hook. 

And as it is Monday and some of you peeps are back at work, I thought a bit of positive thinking was in order - this is Mr MiH's mug for those slow mornings.. 

You can see a linen version on the right

Yeah! Today will be a good day! 

If you are into crochet, I have a pinterest board dedicated to crochet patterns. You will find more doily patterns, but also vintage bags... 

I love your style {Recreate}

For those of you following me on pinterest, you may have noticed my 'I love your style' board. It is full of wonderful images, but I have never actually done anything with/about any of them. So here is a new series of posts - trying to recreate a look MiH style - finding patterns (knitting, sewing) or fabrics to match a look.. 

So let's start with boho chic. I love this outfit - it is timeless, seems so comfortable, yet effortlessly chic. The green of the skirt is amazing.

Pinterest

To recreate this boho chic look (sort of):

1. For the top, my first choice of pattern would be RENFREW (by Sewaholic). There are too many to list them all, but do check those made by Jane in double knit; Jo's in spandex knit, the chevron version by Lauren, the review by Gorgeous Fabrics, and Amanda's twin needles sewing tips. For a more casual look, you could also try the BRIAR SWEATER by Megan Nielsen. Megan is hosting a sew-along at the moment, and there is a discount on the pattern. For more inspiration, check out the MN Flickr Pool.

2. Pleated skirt don't really suit my body shape, so I focused on long bohemian skirts. Two patterns are from the March 2013 BURDA style magazine (no 122 and 123). For a more formal-ish I would also consider the HOLLYBURN skirt (by Sewaholic) - in a longer version - there is a sewalong going on at the moment.