Product photography with Kimberly Gauthier: Coming Soon

Some of my blog readers had questions about improving their product photography- like how they could improve their jewelry photos, how to make photos different and bright and even about how important photos actually are to a craft business.

While I love taking pictures, I am still very much an amateur as I haven’t played around much with my camera’s features yet. And I personally know that jewelry of any kind is sometimes really hard to photograph. So, here’s where Kimberly Gauthier will rescue us from the drowning in the Sea of Bad Product Photos.  Kimberly will be guest posting about product photography real soon on Craftzy – so do check back to read her post.

Jewelry in a Tree by Kimberly Gauthier

Here’s a short note from Kimberly about her blog:

“I write the photography blog, Through the Lens of Kimberly Gauthier. It’s a blog for amateur photographers who didn’t read their manual. When I purchased my first DSLR camera in 2009, I quickly realized that I was out of my depth and it took me a year to figure out how to use my camera. In 2010, I was thrilled to discover that shooting in manual mode wasn’t as hard as I thought and that’s when the idea of my photography blog started coming to light. In 2011, I started writing in earnest and I’ve been enjoying connecting with other amateur photographers who experienced the same frustrations I had and trading tips and inspiration.”

Kimberly Gauthier, photographer / blogger

Why don’t you head over to her blog Through the Lens of Kimberly Gauthier and drool over the gorgeous photos she takes? You can also learn more about photography by following Kimberly on Twitter and Facebook. Don’t forget to read her guest post for Digital Photography School.

Newest Earrings

In case you wonder where I’ve been – I was seriously working at making more earrings and I’ve also been trying my hand at other things like bracelets and making beads too…

My count of earrings has reached 34 pairs – I am so proud of myself!

Here are some of my latest creations that have been keeping me busy:

Atimanjula- Sweetness and Sunshine bracelet
Afreen- hot pink, orange wooden beads and silver earrings
Anissa - modern yellow and funky pink wooden beads get their groove on with silver!
Anissa - modern yellow and funky pink wooden beads get their groove on with silver!
Bhuvana- earthy brown and red earrings
Bhuvana- earthy brown and red earrings
Angoori - purple chip beads with glossy yellow grape shaped beads
Angoori - purple chip beads with glossy yellow grape shaped beads
Chameli - Silver and wine red earrings - reminds me of old fashioned perfume bottles!
Chameli - Silver and wine red earrings - reminds me of old fashioned perfume bottles!
Chandana- bronzed beads with flower cabochons- reminds me of vintage movies and English novels
Chandana- bronzed beads with flower cabochons- reminds me of vintage movies and English novels
Gauri- blue, red and cool green wooden beads make these very Indian earrings- good to wear with most Fabindia kurtas!
Gauri- blue, red and cool green wooden beads make these very Indian earrings- good to wear with most Fabindia kurtas!
Hasita- Blue and red wooden beads with silver- urban chic at its best!
Hasita- Blue and red wooden beads with silver- urban chic at its best!
Induja- a very desi combination of blue, hot pink and mustard wooden beads
Induja- a very desi combination of blue, hot pink and mustard wooden beads
Kanti- oxidized silver beads with clear crystal beads
Kanti- oxidized silver beads with clear crystal beads
Keiyona- summery yellow wooden beads, gold beads with purple chip beads.
Keiyona- summery yellow wooden beads, gold beads with purple chip beads.
Samudra- gentle as the breeze over the ocean, with pretty aqua blue flowers- perfect for summers
Samudra- gentle as the breeze over the ocean, with pretty aqua blue flowers- perfect for summers.
Tara- sparkling like the stars and so feminine! Beautiful earrings
Tara- sparkling like the stars and so feminine! Beautiful earrings.

Since most of my earrings look and feel ethnic and Indian- I’ve decided to name them with Indian names 🙂 I hope you like these earrings and I hope you’ll tell me what you think about them…

New Origami Boxes- pics included

Another new month and I have stumbled on yet another hobby to keep me busy…Paper Craft!

I used to make cards and notes to my mom when I was little but gave up paper craft for fabric when I started college. In the last two weeks, I read up on the net and watched some tutorials on YouTube and Etsy Storque on making paper boxes….

In the past two weeks I made:

  • 3 paper boxes made from handmade Origami paper from Sri Aurobindo Handmade Paper, Pondicherry ( a pack of 50 squares in different colours from Landmark, Spencer’s Plaza)
  • 5 bookmarks – 4 given to friends and family, one is MINE 🙂
  • Customized a journal for my friend- with a bookmark and gift tag.
  • A pair of earrings

Some pics:

My first Box- dark red and tomato red paper box with lid.

Dark red and tomato red paper Origami box with leaf design on lid.
Dark red and tomato red paper Origami box with leaf design on lid.

Second Box for Suppie- blue and butter yellow paper box with gold design on lid.

Blue and butter yellow paper box with gold design on lid.
Blue and butter yellow paper box with gold design on lid.

Third Box for a colleague’s little daughter Srinidhi ( I had a custom request for a girly pink box). I also included a pair of lilac earrings for Srinidhi in the box.

Pink and lilac paper box with flower design on lid.
Pink and lilac paper box with flower design on lid.

Personalized Journal- book mark and gift tag

Red and white theme bookmark for journal
Red and white theme bookmark for journal
Gift tag for Journal Cover
Gift tag for Journal Cover

P.S. I am taking up orders for Christmas so let me know if you need paper boxes -I’m willing to work out deals 😀

UPDATE: I will be starting on my first Official order of 10 origami boxes for my friend K – 8 November Saturday was supposed to be Delivery Day but K’s being generous and extending the time to next week…Hope I don’t let him down…Will post more pics of the complete batch later.

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Cell Phone Charms Two

I made this cell phone charm for myself recently just cos I was bored with my phone and needed a charm that wasn’t too noisy and didn’t squash in the side of my face when I use my phone.

Handmade Blue Cell Phone Charm
Handmade Blue Cell Phone Charm

I found an awesome blue crystal bead ( half of a pair of earrings I used to have- I seem to have lost the other half). I added some small white beads and a turquoise blue tube bead- also from another orphaned earring. I took the lariat or charm holder cord from a free charm I received from Vodafone at some college event (Yes I hound stuff like that….but who doesn’t?).

My colleague saw my charm and asked for one for herself..I had a nature theme in mind and was inspired by two more orphaned earrings- one with a brown tube bead and the other a light green crystal bead. I added two tiny white beads for balance so that the brown and green combo didn’t seem too “tree-like”. I gave this charm to her today and she has already put it on her phone!!

Handmade Green Cell Phone Charm
Handmade Green Cell Phone Charm

Do you like them?