Macro Sunday...You'll Never Guess

It's my fave close-up shot of the week.  Wanna know what it is?

The lint from my hairdryer!  haaaaaaaaaaa

I know it's kinda gross, but when I pulled it out to clean it there was a pretty spiral pattern of pink fuzz. I couldn't resist getting a shot of it.  I have bright pink towels that have been a complete lint nightmare even two years later.


Enjoy my lint and have a fabulous week!

Pretty Yarn is Awesome for Macro Sunday

Back before Christmas, my mom gave me a great book to read:  The Beach Street Knitting and Yarn Society, by Gil McNeil.  It was a fun, quick read and featured a neat little yarn shop.  The visual of pretty textures and colors and the overall comfort of a place like that made it some great fiction.  Lo' and behold, I stumbled on a store just like it in Williamsburg!  When I walked into Knitting Sisters I immediately realized that I was going to have a serious problem with yarn...it was all beautiful and I wanted a little bit of everything.  I had a slight problem, though:  I didn't know how to knit.  I've been a crocheter, before, but was scared of the whole two-needle concept.  So, I signed up for a class and ended up teaching myself to knit.  Now I can't stop.

I adore being able to sit on the couch and make what's essentially fabric out of a single thread.  Plus, the counting and counting and counting and repetitive actions keep my brain perfectly engaged so I really don't have to think about anything else going on around me.  It's a great little bit of escapism.  

This is a scarf project that I got from the shop because the yarn was in a sale bin and I couldn't resist the colors.  It's called "Synchronicity Seafoam Scarf" but I think of it more like a surfing phoenix.  haaaaaaaaaa 

I've got about 10 more inches to finish this off, so we'll see if I can do it this week.  In the meantime, I'm happy to share these close-up shots of the gorgeous yarn.  There's more to be seen as part of "I heart Macro" so here's the button....

I Heart Macro: Rusty

While out walking near the beach at Fort Monroe last week, I got some shots of a nearby building that has been in the elements for a looooong time.  The wear of the paint and metal was just too cool!  This is a bit of window and sill.  I'm not really sure what's inside of the building.  I think it's some kind of mechanical shop but since it was a Sunday afternoon, there weren't any people around.

Here's a bit of the sun-touched rusty finish on the side of the building.  I took dozens of shots...even had Curt holding me up precariously on a pedestal so I could get the right angle of light.  He is such a good sport!

And then I practiced my photoshopping a bit with this one and I love it!  

Here's a final shot that's not so macro but still captures more of that crunchy texture:

Enjoy your extra long Sunday!

I Heart Macro: Stones

I'm on Day Two of big agenda-free weekend and ready to rock my Sunday!  I can't wait to share more about my adventures yesterday.  I spent a few hours Skyping with my new bud, Bette, working on her new blog:  Art Pages Etc.  Her paper and journals are completely awesome so I can't wait to see more!   I have lots more to say about learning new blogger "stuff" and figuring out how to make things look just like I want but that's for a whole other post.  Today is just for pretty shots...like this one of some special tourmaline that I splurged on for my birthday back in July.  (If you really believe it's just masquerading flourite and garnet, please don't burst my bubble!  haaaaaaaaaaaaa)

I've had them out on my table for months just waiting for the perfect project.  My goal today is to use them--at least a few of them--in something awesome.  Now that I laid them all out in those gradient rows I think I may actually try to stitch something!  Hmmmmm.  Ooooh, or maybe work them onto a thick brass cuff...oooh, or maybe sew them on a leather cuff!  Uh oh, I need another cup of coffee before I delve into that one.

Here's a little bit of a start on a memory wire bangle using some of them.  Since it's getting close to Christmas I end up with people asking if they can buy things who are then shocked by what I want them to pay for them.  Alas, it's the crisis of handmade artisan goods.  Instead of devaluing my work overall, I'm trying to mix the pricier pieces like artisan beads or super-pretty semi-precious stones with less expensive construction methods that are still high quality and in my own creative style--hence, the memory wire.  

Dozens of other creative souls are out there today "sharing the love - up close" thanks to Studio Waterstone's inspiration.  Click on the button below to see others.  :)