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Tiny Cactus
Mar 12th
He thinks somebody needs a hug!
Shannon suggested a Tiny Cactus in the comments back in July, so she gets a free pattern!
In the Tent with Anna Sui
Feb 18th
I stumbled into a chance to go to the Anna Sui Fall 2010 show at Bryant Park yesterday! It was fun to be in one of the tents with all the fashion industry insiders. (Myself, I was wearing jeans and a sweater with cat hair on it.)
I only had my phone camera with me, so I took home some blurry shots of glowing models. This is the best one, from the end of the show.
The show itself was really fun – I’ve never worn Anna Sui before, but almost everything on the runway had me thinking “I would totally wear that.” There was a lot of knitwear mixed in the collection, and I found a photo of my favorite piece on Style.com (where you can see photos of the full show).
I so want that pinky purple mountain sweater set!
Tips for a Great Photo
Nov 3rd
Have you entered this year’s Mochimochi Photo Contest yet? If so, you are all right by me! If not, here are some tips on how to take a great photo. (You have until November 16th to enter!)
Use natural light when possible
image by kathrynivy.com
Natural sunlight will give you a nice, bright image, which will also help make your photo as sharp as possible. The best kind of natural light is soft and indirect, like the light you get on a slightly overcast day.
If shooting with artificial light, steady your camera
If you need to shoot using artificial light, turn off your flash—flash usually makes some parts of your photo too bright, and it also creates harsh shadows. Instead, light your subject as brightly as possible, and make your camera as steady as possible by placing it on a surface like a table or a stack of books.
Focus!
image by giolou
If you’re using a regular point-and-shoot digital camera, you’re probably using automatic focus. If you’re shooting something up close and your camera doesn’t seem to be focusing the way you want it to, see if your camera has a “macro” setting that will let you focus in on something close-up. (On my camera, it’s a button with an icon that looks like a flower.)
Those are just some technical basics for how to take a good photo. But how do you take a good photo for the Mochimochi Photo Contest specifically? Here are a few ideas!
Tell a story
Some of my favorite photos of Mochimochi Land toys are the ones that show a story unfolding, either in a single photo or in a series of photos. Who is your toy and what is he or she doing in their environment? Epic battles and love stories are espcially fun.
Combine different toys for maximum cuteness
image by mariannes stuff
Unorthodox pairings make for interesting subject matter!
Multiples are adorable
image by Purple Heather
Enough said, right?
Make the design your own
It’s true—some people’s versions of Mochimochi Land toys are way more interesting than the original! Don’t hesitate to embellish a pattern with your own touches or even alter the design a bit (just not beyond recognition) to make something unexpected.
Cute animals don’t hurt!
image by teekayknits
Got a cute doggie or kitty? Or some chickens, perhaps? Everyone wants to see them alongside a funny toy.
Those are just a few tips and suggestions (and super example photos) to jump-start your own creative photo ideas. Feel free to adhere to the above, or try something completely different. Got other photo tips? Please share them in the comments to this post!
Free Summer Pattern Coming Soon
Jun 12th
A new free pattern is coming to the Mochimochi Blog later this month!
Here is a peek:
Lovely Shamrocks
Mar 31st
It’s still March for a couple more hours on the west coast, right? Just enough time to squeeze in one last shamrock-themed post for the year.
Aren’t these shamrock pins made by veeda great? Notice something interesting about them? They’re each made of three hearts! Add an I-cord and a pin at the back, and you’re all set for next March. So clever.
