It’s Friday evening and that means that A Favorite Thing begins! I hope everyone has had a good week. In my neck of the woods, it has been frigidly cold, then in the fifties, and now we’re back in the twenties. No wonder my head is spinning!
Some highlights from last week:
Be still my heart. If you know me at all from this blog, you know I love sheep and lambs. Two Birdies and a B. shared this photo with us in her post. They were born on Patrice’s Farm – Patrice blogs at Everyday Ruralty.
Is there anything more adorable?
Mary Walker Designs shared one of her paintings with us. She was inspired by a trip down the road with her two girls and the neighbor’s Cairn Terrier trailing behind. Isn’t she talented?
And Cottage Sweet Cottage shared her recipe for a homemade all purpose cleanser. Thank you, Lil!
My favorite thing this week? Photography. Actually, I’ve loved photography for quite a long while but since I started this blog almost 5 years ago (in just a few weeks!) I’ve developed a passion for it. I received a new camera as my Christmas present, which has given me a whole new set of tools and I am loving every minute of it. Just today, I wanted to list the earrings my sister made in our Etsy shop and I came up with the idea you see below. I used white boards and the teacup and a special lens and came up with these:
I’m not always successful. But when I am, I get so excited! Blogging and photography have opened up a whole new world for me.
Okay, now it’s your turn!
You can link up anytime from this evening through Sunday. Make sure you enter the URL of your post. If you’re unsure how to do that, just click on your post title after you’ve published it and copy the information in your browser address window. Come back here, paste the URL into your link entry and there you go! If you have any problems, drop me an email and I’ll help you out. Please link back to this blog on your post. That way, those that read your post and are interested in reading more can do so.
One of my concerns about link parties is that the very reason for them has somewhat gone by the wayside. They’ve become so big and there are so many of them that many bloggers don’t take the time to visit any of the other participants. Link parties are a way to meet new bloggers and share with each other and the only way to do that is to visit each other. So, please, take some time to visit everyone over the next few days. No rush. Stop by, introduce yourself, and leave a comment. It’s the neighborly thing to do. It’s also nice if you leave a comment here, as well.
Have fun!
Andrea at Opulent Cottage says
Little lambs!! *Sigh* Someday, I hope to have some of my own! I’ll have to visit those little sweeties! Our weather had been just crazy here too, hot one day and freezing the next. We’re hoping for some sunshine to get out in this weekend, I hope you have some too! Thanks for hosting Claudia, and have a great weekend.
xoxo, Andrea
Susan says
Your new camera helps you to take even better pics Claudia!
Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Linda @ A La Carte says
Those lambs made me so happy last week and this week!! Love how you photographed the earrings. I have seen my photography skills grow because of blogging and I love it!
hugs,
Linda
Mary @ Ms. Redo says
We’ve had the crazy up and down weather here in Virginia, too, along with strong winds for 4 days – it began to really get on my nerves, like enough already! I visited your sister’s blog, what a lovely lady with such a caring heart.
Thanks for hostessing the party,
Mary
Debra says
The earrings are lovely! :)
Teresa Kasner says
Love the lambs.. we used to raise Nubian dairy goats and at one time had 16 newborn baby goats.. you would have loved them. You’re doing well with your camera! I want a pair of Meredith’s earrings! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Poppy says
Hi Claudia,
Love all the earring ‘portraits’! Thanks so much for hosting; it’s been a while, for me!
Have a lovely weekend,
Poppy xo
Joy@avintagegreen says
Hi Claudia.
Love your teapcup/earring photos – are you going to write a post showing how you set up the shots?
On my really soon to do list is to make a lightbox. I found a tutorial for folding one weeks ago and didn’t bookmark. Now I am going through blogs and searching ‘lightbox’. I am adding the ones I find to my Pinterest LightBox board. I want one that folds flat for storage but may just give in and make the cardboard box with windows/onionskin/external light sources.
Thanks for hosting, as always I look forward to 8 pm (Eastern) Friday to link in.
Joy
Cottage Sweet Cottage says
Aw~ what a pleasant surprise to see I’ve been featured! I can’t thank you enough!
Do you have a bloggy button I can add to my sidebar on my blog? I’d love to link to you!
Cottage Sweet Cottage says
I made sure to visit other blogs and comment too~ thanks for hosting!
Jane says
Your pictures are just beautiful, Claudia. I can tell you are having a wonderful time with your new camera. When I got mine about a year ago, someone said to keep it by me at all times and practice, practice, practice. And I have!! Do you edit your photos? I am going to make a point of trying that. I am usually in a hurry to download pictures and post, but I suppose I can do it in my spare time. If you do, what site is it at?
Joining your party again this week. Love it!
XO,
Jane
Claudia says
Yes, I edit in PicMonkey. At the very least I resize all my photos, but I also watermark them in PicMonkey.
Patty says
Your photography is really beautiful. Will you tell me what you mean by white boards? I have been wondering how to make my backgrounds white. The earrings are so cool – love them! I always enjoy this party.
Claudia says
I use white foam core and tape two together to make an “L” than I sit them on a third board. You can also add another side if you want. I usually have the open side facing a light source.
Dewena Callis says
The earrings would be darling with a party dress for Valentine’s date night, but even on the teacups they are pretty. Maybe you’ve started a new way to display them.
Poppi Linn says
Hi Claudia,
Great features this week. Love the lambs!!! And, the earrings are so pretty.
-Lynn
Daphne says
Good Afternoon Claudia,
The photograph of the lambs is so lovely, they are adorable.
The earrings are very pretty, I will pop over and visit your sister’s blog this afternoon.
Thank you for hosting My Favourite Thing each week, as I have met so many new friends
thanks to you.
Enjoy your afternoon.
Best Wishes
Daphne
Regula says
The photographs are beautiful as are the earrings! Have a nice weekend. Regula
Diane says
Thanks for hosting once again! I do like how you shot the earrings– very clever! Very nice work by your sister too! Pretty!!
Geneva says
Thank you again for hosting this delightful party … and I LOVE your photographs for your etsy shop. Very Nice!
Blessings!
Geneva
Martha says
Hi, Claudia, thanks for hosting again! I really enjoy reading all the Saturday posts and getting a glimpse into what makes other women happy. The earrings are gorgeous, and I’m trying really hard to not be green with envy over your new camera! Your pictures are turning out great–you must be so excited. Have a great weekend! xxoo, Martha
Barbara F. says
Hi Claudia, our official ground hog did not see his shadow this morning so only 6 more weeks of winter! Thanks for featuring the lambs, they still make me so happy every time I see that photo! Happy weekend! xo
Lisa Lynn says
Absolutely love your photos! Hope to see them again on The Creative HomeAcre tomorrow :)
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-creative-homeacre-hop.html
Sarah ~ Magnolia Surprise says
Love the earrings — I hope they do well in your shop! Very sweet on the cup!
Paula says
Claudia – what a perfect way to display and photograph Meredith’s earrings! They are so lovely! As you suggested, I went by her blog and left her a message about a possible trade. I am so glad I did – her blog is beautiful and she is so talented. I am going to enjoy her blog so much, so thanks for the suggestion!
Those new little lambs are so sweet – I love lambs as well – take a minute to check out my post about the lambs presented to Pope Benedict – they are bedecked with flower wreaths – so sweet!
And finally, Patrice’s painting is very nice as well – the steaming cups of hot cocoa are the perfect touch.
Leanne says
I don’t have a favorite thing this week — but just wanted to let you know that I went to see Pygmalion last night and Don was brilliant! As was the whole cast, actually, it was gorgeous.
Claudia says
I’m so glad you got to see it! I passed along your comment to him. He said “Thank you!”
Maureen says
Thanks for hosting. I’m off to check out the other party goers!
Linda@Coastal Charm says
Claudia,
Thanks for hosting…happy that I had something to share.
Blessings,
Linda
Sally says
It’s such fun to watch you enjoy your new camera Claudia! Your photos are so great. I have a missing gene, my brain doesn’t seem to be able to process cameras and photography. Phooey! And your sisters earrings are so darling, love the felted hearts. I bet they’ll fly out of your shop!
Happy weekend to you and Scout! xo
Susy says
Good morning! I didn’t have time to post this week, but did some visiting. Look how many bloggers have joined the party!
Chy says
Posting my favorite thing soon! Love the earrings, especially the Strawberry Swirls. I went on the Etsy shop but it doesn’t indicate that the earrings could be shipped to Canada. Is this a possibility?
Haworth says
Those earrings are so beautiful, Claudia, and the way you’ve displayed them is so pretty and shows them off so well in such a lovely setting. So glad you’re having such a wonderful time with your camera! Hope you’re staying warm.