Photography!

Trimmed image

I am not much of a photographer. There, I said it. I am one of those people that can read the 'technical' details of how to take photos, but for some reason I always forget them and unless I have the instructions right next to me, I just won't be able to execute.
I do have a great camera though, a Canon Rebel T2i. It takes lovely pictures and I know it's capable of far more than I use it for.
Since I've launched the Etsy store, I'm on the lookout for tips to take great pictures without having to remember the technical stuff. I found this article on Handmadeology and it explains, with pictures (always good) how to take better, 'studio quality' pictures of items you want to sell on Etsy or other online sites.
So, I figured I would give it a go!
Here is my pic, untrimmed. I had to improvise and use one of my 6 yr old's games as a reflector and learned my items need to be propped up a little. I used a cabochon that hasn't yet had a bail attached to it.

Cabochon - lit with 'tin' foil

I'm not sure if it looks better or not. I do love how you can really see the detail of the glass, without as much of a reflection as glass normally produces, both with a flash and in natural sunlight. But, always good to learn a new trick, yes?

New Baby!

New kiln!

Well, not literally, but kind of.
Last weekend I drove up to Denver to pick up a used kiln I found on Craigslist - a lady was selling her glass art supplies. I decided to buy it and got it for about half the price of a new one. The kiln was in excellent condition, as the lady had only purchased it to do test-firing, unlike me, who will use it to actually make stock. It's a little kiln, but for the volume I produce it'll be great! Another bonus is that it's the exact same model I currently use at the glass shop in town, so I already know how to work it!
There is always the concern when buying off Craigslist, or any kind of used kiln, that it's been overfired and won't work, but that doesn't seem to be a problem here - yay!
She also gave me a tub of kiln wash, which has worked a treat so far, and some spare glass she had, which is always nice, since glass is expensive!

Loaded up with a few things to fire!

So, I'm now in business - I no longer need to fire at the glass shop, although I need a grinder now to complete my little setup!

Kiln!

Currently I pay to fire my glass pieces at a local glass store, but one of my aims is to buy my own kiln, especially when we move to the new house which has my own little studio built in...
I've just got a lead on a used kiln that might just be perfect. It's the same kind as the one I pay to use and it's only an hour away. A trip to Denver might just be on the cards this weekend!

Also coming up this week is a Friday night Spring Carnival at a local elementary school, that my friend Laura and I are going to team up for. Let's hope it actually feels like spring, since today it's snowing and is below zero. Brr.