WOYWW #278 and Cold Remedy Recipe

So here is my work desk, I took the project off my desk and had to do a sweeping photo so you couldn't make out the stuff I was using to create my 'secret' project. The tv is one my brother gave to me and sits right on the end of my crafting table so I can watch as I craft. 

 The buffet and hutch above

 Another buffet single layer near the computer desk

The extendable dining table and most comfy chairs

 The new furniture quickly turned into a new photographic studio lol, the old one HERE can only be used when the sun is at a certain point, so no night photos. This new area has light coming in from the garage door or the flourescent light above all hours so its ideal and a larger area.

Some of you may have seen the picture and caption below on my post yesterday, and because all the Northern Hemisphere are coming into winter so I thought I'd share it again.

I made this cold and cough drink which consists of slices of lemon, fill jar with honey to cover lemons, add about a 2inch size of ginger sliced. When you want to make a hot drink scoop out a spoonful into a cup and add hot water. Voila infused ginger, lemon and honey drink to sooth that sore throat. We are coming out of our flu season and going into spring but I drink a cup of this a day all year round to keep bugs away from me and build my immune system up for the next winter season. Store in fridge, keeps up to 3 months if there is any left hahaha. Below is what it looks like after a few weeks in the fridge. Be sure to scoop the honey from the bottom as well.

Last week I posted up a photo of our library errrm hubby's library and  had some interesting comments that I'd like to answer....you will be pleased to know the cook books have their own shelf now, eye level to me. 

Another comment was the way we displayed my painting, it is so heavy it wont survive going on a wall so we had to find an easel for it.

Joining Julia in her Stamping Ground to see more crafty areas around the world

WOYWW # 274

Taking photographs of my creations that look decent is a challenge. With all the houses we've moved to in the time I've been playing WOYWW it certainly is a challenging decision. Last week I found the perfect place. Great light, great colour, of all places-in the bathroom downstairs-my craft room bathroom that is.

So I hunted high and low to get some glossy surfaced tile and a nice background one. Found these at a tile shop around the corner. Got one slate coloured one for the lighter cards and one off-white one for the darker cards and some background ones as I don't think the mirror or the tiles behind a card would look good. These 60cm x 60cm tiles for $7 that have a reflective surface.

 This is the window that gives awesome light, you wouldn't believe it as it looks so dark, but that is the secret to great photos, to have the light behind you and the area must be decorated in light coloured tiles and walls so the light reflects off them, the window is behind the camera. I've been studying all the great photographs Crafters posted and my favourite ones are those with a reflective surface. Yes it looks precarious but it's actually quite stable as they are heavy. I glued some non stick sheets to the back of them to protect the front of the tiles from being scratched. Its amazing how rough the backs of these tiles are.

Another secret I've found is to zoom the camera in while standing as far back as you can, this removes all shadows of you holding the camera etc right in the viewing area of the subject. Check out the first photo I took with this set up HERE.

Joining Julia's Stamping Ground  to see what other craft areas other people have.

EDITED: I subscribe to Digital Photography School, its free and you get lots of great hints and tips.

Here is a link for posing people with confidence, 
it works the same for articles you are photographing.

Portrait printables

Hints and tips page

T for Tuesday

I went to my favourite Tea shop called T2 they had this tea for sampling, Of course whenever I go visit them I always taste the tea on offer and inevitably buy something that I have tasted. 

Clever marketing!!

 I also found the perfect lighting to take my photographs...in the bathroom, of all places. The window is really tiny and high up but is enough diffused lighting to make a pretty clear picture. You can see my photographic setup HERE

 I also found this mason jar/glass that is the in thing these days, I dont know if I like the straw permanently in it but for $2 one can't go wrong in experimenting. I added mint from my garden, raw honey (after I tasted it and found it needed something sweet). The sample at the store had ice in it and I thought I'd try it hot as it still abit cool here. Well I prefer the cold version so I popped some water into ice cube trays and will test out the cooler version tomorrow.

That mason jar is driving me crazy, I cant have the lid on to suck out of the straw, its needs air, so off the lid goes. not sure how long the straw will last although it is a good quality one.

This is the Rosehip tea.

Joining Bluebeard and Elizabeth for T for Tuesday Meme