Halloween Sale on Now...

Now until Sunday at Midnite EST

Use Coupon Code "SCARY" in message to seller to receive an additional 10% off!

New Camera...Nikon D3000 DSLR

Nikon D3000 DSLR

And let me tell you how excited I am to have a decent DSLR.  I had a Nikon SLR film camera for years.  Absolutely loved the thing.  But, I had to sell it to get a digital camera as film just is not the way to go anymore.  So, hubby bought a Kodak D6490 DSLR...without my input, obviously - after all, I am a Nikon girl.  Trying to save money, I guess.  I suffered with that crappy camera for 5 years.  The worst part?  He bought it used.

So, I took it out on Monday to do some product shots and to my glee...I mean, to my dismay, when I tried to turn the camera on, I got an E45 error message.  So, I looked on line to see that the lens was stuck, probably dirt.  Not only that, but a common problem with this camera.  Repairs?  Begins at $80.  I was both upset that photos had to wait, but totally excited because now I can get rid of this hunk of junk and get a real camera!

The thing I love most about this camera?  It is an SLR, which I prefer, but there are so many compensation electronics in it, you don't have to worry about compensation for all those tweaks you need before shooting the actual shot, unless you are in the mood for the ritual of it.  It also has the typical fabulous Nikon metering system, where as the Kodak had a super crappy one.  Minimal at best.

Now, here is a shot I took this morning...this image is before even touching it up:

It looks exactly as it did in the sky.  In order to get it that good with the Kodak, I would have to adjust levels, vibrancy, white balance...the whole 9 yards.  Big difference.

The Nikon even has photo editing software built in to the camera for picture fixing before you even upload; as well as  filters, so the only filters I have to invest in is the protective UV filter, a polarizer and maybe a star burst.

The Nikon is obviously a little heavier and pricier than the Kodak, but well worth the sacrifice.  The only real complaint is that the view finder doesn't jut out far enough and I always have a nose print on the display in the back of the camera. 

I just may get back into photography again.  I haven't done any real photography since 6 months after getting that hunk of crap in 2005.  I gave it up with the Kodak as the pics were just too grainy, too high maintenance and too small.  That Kodak took the fun out of photography.  I still have to spend some time over the weekend playing with the Nikon, but this one will certainly not be returned!

Oh, and this is not a paid post, I just love this camera and wanted to share it with you :)

Yummy Holiday Treats!

Frosty Quilled Snowflake with Antique Button 
Dusted with German Glass Glitter 

Okay, okay.  I know I have jilted you on the Artbeads project.  Please have patience with me as it will be coming soon.  For the time being, my attention has been a little diverted with Christmas!

I'd love to share with you some of the holiday goodies I have created for this season.  To learn more about the piece, simply click the links :)

Vintage Button Scottish Yo Yo Garland

Antique Button Hand Tatted Snowflake Ornament

Felt Snowflake with Vintage Buttons Ornament

Frosty Quilled Snowflake with Antique Button
Dusted with German Glass Glitter

 Victorian Yo Yo Garland with Vintage Buttons

 Wool Felt Pennyrug Ornament with Vintage Buttons

There is so much more where that came from, feel free to mull around the Newly Listed and Holiday categories in my Etsy shop.  Soon, these items will become available in my Artfire Studio, also.

Now, back to the studio to finish that Artbeads piece :)

Artbeads Fall Challenge

Okay, so I'm a little late on this one.  It's fall now, isn't it?  Hmmmm....that went quick!

So the challenge was to create a piece for fall using Pantone's color forecast.  The choices were so hard to make.  I, of course, settled on Chocolate Truffle...loaded with rich plums and accented with bright apple green, lush black and dusty charcoal.

These are the components I chose for my piece:

I envisioned a modernized charm necklace loaded with these rich plum tube lampswork beads.  Looks like candy, eh?  For the accents, I chose these rich copper Swarovski crystals......

these bright olivine and midnight black fire polish glass beads and some warm copper beads and bead caps to tie the charms in with the chain.

Now...the only problem I'm hitting is time!  I am hoping to find time to work on this piece over the weekend as preparing my shop for the holiday season has been keeping me pretty busy for, I don't know, say 10 hours a day :)

If all goes as planned, you will see the completed piece by next weekend!

Antique Button Cuff Wristlets - Edwardian

New to the shop!

 

Antique Button Hand Tatted Wristlet

by Alterity

(click to view in the shop)

Love the romantic fashions of the Edwardian period (early 1900's)?  Indulge your love with a pair of hand tatted wristlet cuffs.  Tatting is done with my original design, of course, and was done in a super soft cotton appropriately called 'softball cotton'.  Not scratchy and with enough flexibility so as to drape so graciously over your hand.  Gorgeous under that white blouse or peeking out from your black dress jacket.  Closure is, of course, antique buttons...black glass buttons to be exact.  The buttons date to the late 1800's to the early 1900's.  The wristlets come in pairs of two.

 

Inside of wrist

Button detail

To view more details about these cuffs, as well as other button goodies, stop by my shop:  Alterity Button Jewelry & Gifts, the otherness of antique button jewelry!

Vintage Button Brooch Sale!

 Going on now!  

 Here's a few pieces included in the sale:

 Mustard Seed

Sale: $15.30

 Cherry Blossoms

Sale: $17

Triad Blossom

Sale:  $15.30

Click on the pictures to get to the shop, or use the widget in the left margin!

Happy Shopping :)