Jewerly Making Class

It has been several weeks since I took a jewelry making class at Michael.  It all started when Lee wanted to make jewelry and I didn’t know the first thing about it at the time.  I bought a Beading 101 book and had a hard time knowing what pieces and the types of tool to buy.

After I took the class, I now know what pieces to buy and what I like to work with.

I signed up for a class at Michael and took it back in February and this is what I have learned to make.  The teacher was real nice.  It was on a Saturday afternoon, and there were only two students in the class.  We learned how to work with wire bending and the basic of assembling necklace and earrings.  This is the gemstone Amethyst, and it is the birthstone for February.

Since then I have been teaching my sister, Lee and my niece how to make necklace, bracelets and earrings. The girls are looking forward to selling theirs at the temple on Lao New Year next month, and any gross proceeds of sale I will match to donate to the temple. We spend our Saturdays at my dad’s house making jewelry. They are very proud of what they have made so far, and below is my niece choosing her beads to make her next piece.

I made some for myself also.  This one is a necklace and still have a few beads and rings to connect.

I have to say that making jewelry is very relaxing and that goes for the girls as well. This set I made for myself.  It comes with a pair of earrings but I didn’t get it done in time to take this photo.

This is a bracelet that I made for myself. We all have different taste and style when it comes to jewelry.  My sister likes silver and shiny stuff, and I like antiqued rustic copper look, and earth tone gemstone.

I took my old wooden bead necklace apart and gave it a new look by adding burnt orange round gemstones to break it up.  The old wooden bead necklace was long enough that I was able to make a pair of earrings, necklace, bracelet and even have a few beads left over.

If I have enough time I will make some to sell at the temple also.

I made this one for Lee for St. Patrick’s Day. I’m glad that I took the class, and able to share what I have learned with my sister and the girls.  The 2 hours class at Michael was $25 and well worth it.

Photos were taken with CanonT2i, EF50mm f/1.4 and EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens.

Knitted Hat

I’ve been learning how to knit a hat using circular needles. I made 3 hats prior to this one but they didn’t turn out as good.  I forgot to take a picture of it while it was on the circular needles, and had switched to double pointed needles to close the top in the photos below.

I would never thought that I could knit and glad that didn’t give up at the very beginning.  I can knit a lot faster now and was surprised to see the beautiful pattern after it was knitted into a hat.

Lee couldn’t model for me this time and it fits a little snug on Bo.  I think Lee will like it.

All photos were taken with CanonT2i, EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens.

Homemade Organic Insecticides

I had so much problem with the little black bug last year that it really bugs me. I didn’t want to use a chemical insecticide since I have other herbs and vegetables nearby and I’m trying to grow organic garden.

My Thai eggplant in June 2010

When I was little living in Thailand, I read that Thai farmers have had much success using Sadao vegetable (Margosa or Neem) as organic insecticide.  I stopped by an Asian Market to buy a frozen Sadao after work.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/6.3, 1sec, ISO 200, focal length 105mm, evaluative metering, tripod mounted

I’m not sure if it’s the bitter flavor that keeps the bug away and this year I’m experimenting with a few ingredients. I was talking to my co-workers and they’ve heard that vinegar works.I’m also thinking about olive oil since oil will smother insects, but using too much can kill plants as well. I decided to use Sadao vegetable, vinegar, olive oil and water.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/8, 3.2sec, ISO 400, focal length 60mm, evaluative metering, tripod mounted

All the ingredients go in the blender.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 2.5sec, ISO 200, focal length 75mm, evaluative metering, tripod mounted

Blend for several minutes.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 2sec, ISO 200, focal length 80mm, evaluative metering, tripod mounted

I strain out the water since I’ll be pouring this into a spray bottle.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 4sec, ISO 200, focal length 93mm, evaluative metering, tripod mounted

I hope this will work, if not I might have to tweak it a little.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 200, focal length 40mm, evaluative metering

I planted the chili peppers several days back, and decided to spray my homemade Sadao insecticide just in case.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/50sec, ISO 200, focal length 92mm, evaluative metering

And the young Thai eggplants that my dad gave me, I sure hope that this will work.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 200, focal length 58mm, evaluative metering

I also bought the lemongrass from the Asian market.  I’m soaking these in water for a few days before planting, it should take roots by then.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/500sec, ISO 200, focal length 55mm, evaluative metering

Lee helped plant the string beans today. My neighbor kept telling me to be careful and not to lift anything heavy.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/320sec, ISO 200, focal length 40mm, evaluative metering

I soaked the beans in warm water overnight, then took it out and left them in a moist towel for several days. This will grow a lot faster than just dropping them in the hole.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/1000sec, ISO 200, focal length 98mm, evaluative metering

Lee planting the string beans.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/100sec, ISO 200, focal length 55mm, evaluative metering

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/8sec, ISO 200, focal length 105mm, evaluative metering

I saw several green cabbage worms today and yesterday and had to handpick them out from my cabbage.  I read that cabbage worms dislike thyme and oregano, and I have plenty of thyme.  I’m going to mix thyme, mint, and water tomorrow, something that I have plenty of in my herb garden right behind Lee.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Aperture Priority, f/5.6, 1/50sec, ISO 200, focal length 24mm, Exposure Bias -0.7step, evaluative metering

The Honeysuckles have a nice aroma. I love this time of the year.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Aperture Priority, f/5.6, 1/50sec, ISO 200, focal length 58mm, Exposure Bias -0.7step, evaluative metering

Lee’s flower that she planted from seed 2 years ago.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Aperture Priority, f/5.6, 1/50sec, ISO 200, focal length 105mm, Exposure Bias -0.7step, evaluative metering

Bo’s Ginkgo tree and also known as the Maidenhair tree. The tree is widely cultivated and introduced since an early period in human history, and has various uses as a food and traditional medicine.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/50sec, ISO 200, focal length 105mm, evaluative metering,

The Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ is in full bloom.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/160sec, ISO 200, focal length 92mm, cropped, evaluative metering

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/100sec, ISO 400, focal length 105mm, evaluative metering

Lee rewarded herself with a flower, happy gardening.

Canon T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, Aperture Priority, f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 200, focal length 47mm, Exposure Bias -0.7step, evaluative metering

A New Photography Assignment

Creative Exposure.  I think this assignment will separate the amateur from the pro, but this would not stop me from participating and would love for you to join also.  You have until Wednesday, May 26, 2010 to submit your photo, please visit Scott Thomas’s blog to learn more about the assignment.

If you were to compare my photography skill to a child, I’m like a toddler, I’m just learning how to walk and talk.  But I’m a bit impatient, so instead of walking, I take off running and never really learned to use my DSLR camera on a manual mode. A good thing that my camera has auto setting such as Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, and Night Portrait.  The assignment Creative Exposure made me think of the term aperture or ISO, this really makes my head spin. These two photos below were taken with a Close-up mode, low aperture which means more opening for the light to get into the sensor.

My mission is to go out and shoot something this weekend, hopefully it will not rain on my photo hunt.