the key to taking photos

4/28/11

One of the most common emails I get is:
Can you share tips for taking good photos?

Now while I find it totally flattering, I admit that I'm not a professional. I love photography, I love taking pictures, and I'm always trying to improve and learn more (you can read more about my photography and equipment here).

But when it comes to the real ins and outs of photography, I thought it would be best to ask a real expert. Someone just like you and me--a mom of two kids--who also happens to take amazing photos--and who's just written an e-book all about. It's Katie Evans! And her new book is called The Key To Taking Pictures like a Professional Photographer.
This book was made for you (and me!) and today we're giving away FIVE copies!
Here's why you'll like it.....

It seems that everyone and their mom has an SLR camera these days....which is great!
But simply having a nice camera doesn't mean your photos are going to be fabulous.
And vice versa.
Just because you have a point-and-shoot camera, doesn't mean you can't take cool pics as well. Understanding some basic and advanced methods of photography will easily transform your photos into beautiful images.

And that's what I love about this book: the basics mixed with nitty gritty details.

Katie walks you through Lighting, Composition, how to achieve proper exposure, Lenses, Editing, how to think and see creatively, and so much more. And she writes it in a way that's easy to follow and understand.
Sounds simple right?
With her well written explanations and info, it is. She even shows good and bad photo examples, which I love.

Here's a sample from the 64 page pdf book:
And here are Katie's credentials. My favorite images from her photo site.
She has a talent, right?!
I'm lucky to know her.
And you're lucky now to know her too! for a few reasons....

* First, we're giving away FIVE copies of the e-book today!
* Second, you can purchase the book at a $2 discount for the next two weeks (ends Friday May 13th). Just enter "MADE" at checkout.
* Third, you never need to be scared to really use your nice camera. Now you have a fabulous book right at your fingertips! You can purchase The Key to Taking Pictures Like a Professional Photographer HERE.

Okay, here you go....
[Please NOTE--This Giveaway is now CLOSED]
Giveaway Rules:
* Leave a comment here, that's it!
* Leave your EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment, which may be written as: dana (at) hotmail (dot) com, if you're worried about leaving your real address in cyberspace.
* Only One entry per person.
* If you forget something and need to leave a second comment, go back and DELETE your first comment.
* Open to anyone in the world!
* FIVE winners will be picked via random.org
* Giveaway ends Saturday 4/30/11 at 6pm (Central Time).
Winner will be announced on Sunday.

Have a great Thursday!

(all photos courtesy of Katie Evans Photography)

90 min shirt giveaway

2/28/10

NOTE: This GIVEAWAY is now Closed. But please feel free to leave a comment. We love to hear from you!
I've loved seeing your versions of the 90 Minute Shirt this month. And since I'm a little addicted to making them myself, I thought that one last BOY hurrah was in order.

Sick of Giveaways yet? I hope not! Cause here's one more for you.

It's the 90 Minute Shirt GIVEAWAY! (which actually runs for longer than 90 minutes)
And guess what?
FIVE color choices......means FIVE WINNERS!

Yep! I'm giving away all five shirts.

Shirt size is roughly a 2T but they can fit anywhere from 1 year to 3 years.
Owen, pictured here, is exactly 2 years old.
Giveaway Rules:
* Leave a comment! That's it.
* Leave you EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment.
* Only ONE entry per person.
* If you forget something and need to leave a second comment, go back and DELETE your first comment.
* Open to anyone with a normal address in the world.
* Giveaway ends MONDAY 3/1 at 10pm (Central Time).

And that's it!
When the winners are announced, it's first come, first pick as to which color you would like.
Thanks for playing!
Let's hear it for the BOY! (i know you've had that stuck in your head all month)
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check out the cool dinosaur mittens on Made by Rae.....

Fabric Notecard Sets GIVEAWAY (closed)

4/21/10

Note: This Giveaway is now closed.
Who doesn't love a cute set of notecards? Sometimes you feel like buying them, just because they're cute...and then they go in a drawer, with the rest of the stash. Well, at my first baby shower (when I was pregnant with Lucy), my sister-in-law gave me two sets of notecards as part of her gift. And it was BRILLIANT. Someone who's celebrating a birthday, a baby, a wedding, etc. is bound to have plenty of Thank You notes to write. And it was a life-saver to have the cards all ready in front of me. I just had to write the words.

So, for Mother's Day (or any occasion), give a set of Fabric Notecards, made from your fabric scraps. You can find the complete tutorial HERE:
But, are you looking for the short-cut?
YEP, I did mention the word GIVEAWAY.

If you've read my blog for the past year, you know I love to make these. And when you're making one, you should probably just make......30?

So, I'm giving away Notecard sets! In a variety of flavors.

A color scheme that's often on my mind.....
a peek of ruffles?
look familiar?
how about these scraps?
There are 30 cards to go around.
So that means........SIX winners!
Each set comes with 5 cards and 5 white envelopes,
all wrapped up to give as a gift, or to un-tie and enjoy yourself.
And though it's not a requirement for the giveaway, I'd love to know how many projects you can identify in the fabrics below! Each of these fabrics has been used in a MADE project sometime in the last year....most of them more recent than that. I spy?.....
Okay, on with the show.

Giveaway Rules:
* Leave a comment! That's it.
* Leave you EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment.
* Only ONE entry per person.
* If you forget something and need to leave a second comment, go back and DELETE your first comment.
* Open to anyone with a normal address in the world.
* There will be SIX winners!
* Giveaway ends THURSDAY 4/22 at 10pm (Central Time).

And that's it!
Winners will be announced on Friday and emailed for their mailing addresses.

Good luck!
And check out the Double Apron Tutorials on Ruffles and Stuff! Very cool.

Satin, Chiffon, and Bows: a very girly GIVEAWAY from ME to YOU! (CLOSED)

8/26/10



When was the last time I sewed something for YOU guys? Maybe Celebrate the Boy? Yikes. That was way too long ago. So, let's do a very girly back-to-school-ish giveaway!

It involves bows, chiffon, and plenty of satin. (Sorry boys)
For most of us, going back to school also means starting up the extra curricular activities again. And for the very first time this year miss Lucy is starting a dance class. She's more than excited.
We hit the store, tried on shoes, and then Lucy gasped, "Mom, look at these pretty ballet bags!" (sitting next to the dance shoes; all quilted, embroidered, and overdone). I gasped in my mind, "eek. Those are gooey". But having a bag for your ballet and tap shoes was a brilliant idea, so I decided to make my own version.
Perhaps you think mine are overdone too. But I figured they were nice middle-ground; pleasing both girls and moms.
I used the basic Hobo Sack TUTORIAL and added a few girly twists.
I shortened the bags, added a thin layer of chiffon over cotton,
placed a big satin bow on top,
and added silky satin strings. A very girly bag, to hold very girly things.
They're the perfect size for a pair of tap and ballet shoes.
But they can certainly hold hairclips, toys, nylons, tights, socks, trims, whatever you need!
Would you like one?
Excellent! I'm giving them away!
Here are the flavors....

Classic Pink:

Raspberry:

The Elle Woods:

Ballet Blues:

Grace Kelly:

My favorite is definitely the 1940s glammy-look above.
But Lucy's favorite is Raspberry, so that one will stay at our house.
And the others are for YOU!
Yes! There will be FOUR WINNERS for this giveaway. Here's all the info...

Giveaway Rules:
* Leave a comment, that's it!
* Leave your EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment.
* Only One entry per person.
* If you forget something and need to leave a second comment, go back and DELETE your first comment.
* Open to anyone in the world with a normal address.
* FOUR winners will be picked via random.org. Each winner will be emailed for their color choice and colors will be picked on a first-come,-first-serve basis.
* Giveaway ends SATURDAY 8/28/10 at 10pm (Central Time).

Happy back to School, Ballet, Soccer, Karate, and whatever else you might be doing!
Looks like someone already has her own moves down...
or at least a bag to encourage the excitement.

Day 13 stills giveaway

The stockings were all hung.

Last year I made these Christmas Stockings from Thrifted sweaters.
And though you can buy the pattern in my shop,
For any of you last minute sewers, here's a gift from me to you....

Today I'm giving away 13 of these patterns! (since today is lucky 12/13)
And while I'm at it, why not throw in a free pattern of your choice as well?
So...13 people will get:
* The Sweater Stocking Pattern
* A pattern of choice from the shop

Giveaway Rules:
* Leave a comment, that's it!
* Leave your EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment, which may be written as: dana (at) hotmail (d0t) com, if you're worried about leaving your real address in cyberspace.
* Only One entry per person.
* If you forget something and need to leave a second comment, go back and DELETE your first comment.
* Open to anyone!
* Patterns are in PDF form and will be emailed to the winners
* Giveaway ends TONIGHT 12/13/10 at 12am (Pacific Time).