WPC: Treating Myself

Good morning from a cool but sunny spring day here in Hastings.

Today is Halloween.  Here in New Zealand it is not generally celebrated. We always considered it something that was uniquely American.  Something that we saw in the movies.

Today I am holding an afternoon tea as a small housewarming party and because it was Halloween I have asked for everyone to bring some spooky inspired food.  That should be interesting to see what everyone comes up with.  Me, I brought an orange cake.  Actually I went out yesterday to find something to decorate the table – not much to be honest. A few costumes and plastic pumpkins which were so overpriced.  Nothing like you see in America – I am thinking of the sitcom Home Improvement.

JEN H. from The Daily Post has asked us for our special treats:-

This week’s photo challenge theme is “Treat,” an intentionally open-ended prompt. For many, candies aren’t a favorite indulgence. Maybe you’re a savory food lover, or you’ve gone on a beautiful vacation to treat yourself. Perhaps some quiet time alone with a beloved novel is your greatest pleasure. This week, share with us a photo of something that you consider a marvelous treat.

Anyway due to a good tax return I was able to treat myself to a Nikon 3300 with two lenses.  I have really noticed a difference in the quality of my photos.  And it is a treat for me to come home and find some interesting photos after uploading.  So here are a couple I have taken in the last week.

I also treated myself to the Nik Collection as well – which I am showing in my latest series on my Monochrome of the Day images.  I especially love the vintage affect.

I chose the fern to support the All Blacks who are taking on Australia (the Wallabies) tomorrow morning in the Rugby World Cup.  That is all New Zealand is interested in at the moment.  So I shall be avoiding it tomorrow.  To be honest I will be glad when it is all over.  My predictions? – the best team on the day will win.

Thanks for visiting.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/treat/

https://marshaleith.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/wordpress-weekly-photo-challenge-treat/

https://irisgreenwald.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/weekly-photo-challenge-treat/

The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Treat

https://zainabjavid.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/weekly-photo-challenge-treat/

https://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/wpc-bright-treats-of-the-season-from-around-the-world/

https://tomwarrenphoto.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/a-study-of-leaves/

https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/weekly-photo-challenge-treat-raspberries-in-a-french-kitchen/

#FridayFoto: Forget The Tricks – Give Me The Treats Please…

What a coincidence! What a treat!

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Phoneography Challenge: Black and White Ferns

Good morning from a grey looking Hastings.

It is time for Sally’s challenge for our non–SLR devices again.

http://lensandpensbysally.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-photo-challenge-black-and-white-longwood-gardens/

It was interesting to see the new camera specs for the IPhone 6 and 6 Plus last week.  The IPhone 6Plus looks like it could be a mini SLR camera which should be good.  We don’t always have our large cameras with us, but we usually have cellphones on us.

Anyway I have gone for a New Zealand theme today.  The All Blacks won against South Africa last Saturday night in a tight rugby match.  So I thought it would be appropriate to show some ferns in black and white.  These photos were taken in the native bush at Cornwall Park earlier this year.

They have been edited with Snapseed, Perfect Affects 8 and Photoscape.

http://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-photo-challenge-black-white-60s-salon-wall/

http://completelydisappear.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/enough-light/

http://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/phoneography-black-and-white-challenge-wind-surfer/

Let’s Face It…

Thanks for visiting and check out some other great posts for this challenge.

Spring Jonquil

Good morning from a grey spring day here in Hastings.

I am feeling a bit better so I thought I would see if I could start up my blog again.  I want to thank everyone for all their nice and supportive comments.

I still have no mac computer with all my photos so am rather limited for the challenges so will just post every so often with mostly flower photos and the odd pet photo. Ex-hubby still has the computer, even though his lawyer has written to say I am to get it.  I now have a trespass order against him as once he hears that he has to pay me out he will go crazy and I had to protect myself.

But anyway we are now officially into spring but the weather has been lousy with wet days.  It is a lot warmer though and the blossoms are out.  Next week we have our blossom parade so I hope the weather improves for it.

Tonight we have the All Blacks versus Puma (Argentina) rugby test, the first time in 18 years in Napier so I would imagine it would be buzzing over there today and tonight.

I hope everyone is well and taking lots of photos for me to admire.

Celebrating the All Blacks

Good morning from a slightly grey Hastings day.

I make and sell these cute baby outfits on TradeMe, New Zealand’s equivalent to EBay.   I have just tweaked my design a bit so needed to update my image as well.  To start with the white logo on the outfits is my own design,  I used this unofficial flag as my inspiration.

 

I then transferred that to a graph and simplified New Zealand to NZ.  I knit them on a knitting machine for speed and a nicer look, and also for the intarsia technique for the design.  After a couple of years I am getting rather good at it.  Anyway I did the bands a different way as I decided to change them to make them a bit quicker to knit, as well as less wool.  I have spent the last couple of weeks making some new outfits.  The booties also have black sprigs on them to look like real rugby boots.

So what better way to celebrate the All Blacks winning the Rugby Championship in style than redesigning my photo.

I love this image of the silver fern.

 

And have used it many times.  It really just shows up the silver fern image.  This was my background which I also edited with Photoshop.

 

I use a lifelike doll to make the outfits look more interesting.  My husband can’t stand the doll as it looks far to realistic for him.  I love it.  Anyway using the layers I added them onto the silver fern image.  Just to be more patriotic I googled flags and added a New Zealand flag to it as well.

I chose this one as it was a little more realistic than just the flat image.

With Trademe the first image is free and then I have to pay for any further image so that by doing it all on one image I can show everything I want, plus say what the outfit entails – i.e. beanie, booties and jumper.

It is also on my website an my Facebook page for sale as well.

http://decocrafts.org/index.php/en/online-store#!/~/product/category=5592665&id=28529463

So check it out.

Cheers and have a nice day.

Raewyn