<![CDATA[Katie-did Handcrafted Giftware

<![CDATA[Katie-did Handcrafted Giftware - Blog]]>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:20:23 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Helping with Photography Lessons]]>Wed, 13 Aug 2014 22:58:06 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/helping-with-photography-lessons " If you want to know how rich you are, count all of the things in your life that can't be bought with money." ---Unknown

Fuad Azmat teaching me how to take photos of my ceramic pieces.

Image by Fuad

Fuad a consummate photographer and friend came over to our house and helped set up a mini studio for taking shots of my art work. Lots of little variables to know, but I will share with you what I learned so far. Fuad teaches photography as well as doing professional work for individuals and companies.

Pretty much the same photo of Fuad with our simple light set up....the first one is way to dark, and the second photo Fuad had me change the shutter speed. Still not perfect, but the lights were really bright for our product shooting.

Equipment used for this shoot.

2 CLAMP LIGHTS

SOFT WHITE SPIRAL LIGHT BULBS -100 WATT

WHITE PAPER OR CLOTH -big enough to cover table and part of wall behind in one continuous piece.

2-PIECES OF CARD BOARD COVERED IN WHITE

                                CAMERA

                                 TRI-POD

                                 SUBJECT MATTER

SETTING UP

   We set up a card table next to the wall, covered part of the wall and all of the table with white paper. Clamped the lights on objects on either side and right next to the table. Our problem for the location was our wall sockets, we don't have them in strategic places in our home, so we had to make due with what we have.

     Then your two covered pieces of card board will be placed in such away as to act as reflectors for the lights, their size will vary according to the size of piece you are shooting. I just used the side of a cardboard box, as I was shooting approximately nothing taller then 10" and all my pieces sat well with in the diameter of the table.

     Turn the lights on approximately five minutes before taking photos, so they are warmed up to their full brightness.

The images aren't as clear as I had hoped, but hey I am on my own today. My little Kodak camera does not have all these settings.

GETTING THE CAMERA READY

Since Sam, my husband bought a new camera, I inherited his old one. So I have only used it a couple of times and I am NOT very familiar with any of the equipment.

Set the tri-pod up, so you are in front of the "light box", you will need to have the camera on the tri-pod so the photos are clear, because the shutter speed is so slow.

Don't forget the attachment for the camera to the tri-pod. Since the equipment is my husbands I have to remember to return the piece and not keep it attached to my camera.

SETTING THE SETTINGS ON THE CAMERA

To get the color of your background and subject to be correct, photographers take an image of a white card. What they call a "WHITE BALANCE", to help the camera be able to set itself to the color recognition you need for this type of shooting.

      Looking inside your view finder while taking the "WHITE BALANCE", you need to meter manually down to zero, by turning your shutter until the bar on the meter says zero. (MANUAL should be in place on your camera first before taking the photo.)

      Fuad used a plain piece of cardboard to take the photo. In fact it was the back of one of the pieces we had covered with white paper.

      Then take a "White Photo" We used just the plain white paper that we already had set up on the photo shoot.

These are pieces taken while trying to get the "WHITE BALANCE" on the camera correct. They have a warm look to them, but distort the color of the art piece.

For my camera that I am using, which is a Nikon- I think a D-80...(.remember, I do ceramics and painting.... photography is pretty new, except when I have used my Kodak Easy Share) These are the steps we took to get our WHITE BALANCE, using the Nikon camera. These steps are good for most Nikon cameras

MENU

White Balance -Pre (press the OK button)

Pre White Balance preset >

(press the arrow on the round button going in the > direction

USE PHOTO>

(press arrow on the round button going in the > direction)

SELECT IMAGE

(The camera will bring up the photos you took, select the white one)

Then turn back to AF on the side of camera. ( it had been in M for manual )

Otherwise, you will get the first photo and not the second. The M will be in manual, and it will not come in clear. I took quiet a few photos this way before Fuad came and corrected the camera for me.

Shutter Speed-makes all the difference.

Looking inside the viewer you see numbers for both the F-stop and the Shutter speed. We changed the shutter speed to see how the light changed the photos.

We didn't move the camera or the piece, only the setting for the Shutter Speed.

Working with Glare

We choose the pitcher because it has a shiny glaze, where as the Horse Hair Firing which isn't totally glazed, nor as shiny. Fuad simply adjusted the card board pieces to diminish the "HOT SPOTS" on the pitcher. So that the glare did not distract the viewers eye from the art work.

THANKS FUAD

Oops! Wrong Shutter Speed.

Can not even see Fuad in this one. Good thing he was there to correct my camera settings.

Fuad Azmat

Image by Fuad

]]><![CDATA[Answers to Horse Questions]]>Mon, 12 May 2014 21:33:01 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/answers-to-horse-questions

Question: Do you know what percent of a horses body weight is their muscular system? 60%

When do you NOT massage your horse?

1. When they have a fever of over 100 degrees

2. When they have had a shock or trauma-it lowers their blood pressure. The massage would also lower their blood pressure.

3.When they have any type of cancer. It would speed up the spread of the cancer.

]]><![CDATA[Can you answer these questions?]]>Fri, 09 May 2014 19:29:33 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/can-you-answer-these-questionsImproving Moving Equine Massage

QUESTIONS

Do you know what percent of a horses body weight is their muscular system?

2.) When do you NOT massage your horse?

A.

B.

C.

Can you name any of the three times that you DO NOT massage your horse?

Meagen LaPoint is a certified equine massage therapist.

Check her website out.

http://www.improvingmovingequine.com/

]]><![CDATA[Barb Lassa Photography]]>Thu, 08 May 2014 23:35:57 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/barb-lassa-photography

Barb Lassa is a member of our Grand Ave Artists.

She takes wonderful photography. You should check her website out.

http://www.barblassa.com/

]]><![CDATA[May 08th, 2014]]>Thu, 08 May 2014 23:04:22 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/may-08th-2014<![CDATA[Creations by Cow Patti]]>Thu, 08 May 2014 19:33:49 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/creations-by-cow-patti"Life Is Short. Live It To The Fullest. It Has An Expiration Date"

Creations by Cow Patti

"Cow Patti" at the HORSE EXPO in Madison, Wi. She is a wonderful vendor to be next too, as well as having wonderful products.

Check her FaceBook page out-

CREATIONS BY COW PATTI

My sister is always looking for "Cowgirls" to decorate her home. This is the blanket that I got for her from Cow Patti. Three girls riding, its awesome.

]]><![CDATA[We've been at a few shows lately]]>Tue, 06 May 2014 11:58:09 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/weve-been-at-a-few-shows-lately

]]><![CDATA[Humming Birds in the back Yard. Youtube video of Humming Birds]]>Mon, 28 Apr 2014 01:31:02 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/humming-birds-in-the-back-yard-youtube-video-of-humming-birdsSome still photos taken by Sam I. Johnson

Youtube video is done by Fuad Azmat in our backyard. He took the video while Sam was taking photos. We had something like 17 hummingbirds coming to the feeders this summer. One of them was a RUFUS Humming Bird. They are not from this area, and there was one other spotted in Stevens Point around the same time last summer. He seemed to fit right in with the Ruby Throated hummers.

]]><![CDATA[Environment Friendly Solutions]]>Wed, 23 Apr 2014 11:52:25 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/environment-friendly-solutions

To promote and provide environmental education and projects that will lead to litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification in Central and North Central Nebraska.”

KLBB receives CLPP award at the KAB 2014 Conference Keep Loup Basin Beautiful was recognized at the national conference for Linda’s work in 2013 with the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. This is the first time Keep Loup Basin

Beautiful had participated in the program. Thanks to funding from Keep America Beautiful and their corporate sponsors, we were able to get several outdoor receptacles for businesses around Burwell, as well as car and pocket receptacles that were given out at fairs and events last summer.

]]><![CDATA[I WON !!!!!]]>Mon, 21 Apr 2014 22:09:53 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/i-won

MAKE MY MENU TOO

Recipe Exchange04/19/2014

2 Comments

I love browsing new recipes, and my family (of course) has our favorite recipes that stay in our meal rotation!

If you have family favorites, or just something you would like to try or share, feel free to post the recipe here!

The first two replies (Must Include Recipe) to this blog will receive a one week "evening" meal plan complete with grocery list and recipes.

Shrimp Taco's or Fish Taco's

This is one of the recipes I received for the one week :evening" meal plan.

If someone else hasn't already done the recipe exchange...you should try it. And get a weeks worth of recipes along with a shopping list of what you need to get.

]]><![CDATA[No guesses at all :(]]>Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:17:48 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/no-guesses-at-all I was disappointed that no one took a guess at what the item was. Maybe next time.]]><![CDATA[Did you guess what it is?]]>Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:09:45 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/did-you-guess-what-it-is

These are sewing thimbles..... some are just decorative because people have collected them over the years.... but my mom who was a great seamstress used hers all the time.

These are both called Thimbles. The picture I put out on the blog is called a "WIRE ROPE THIMBLE."

The booth next to me was using them for making a type of bridle, wish I would have taken a photo of that too, so you could see it.

]]><![CDATA[Can you guess what this is?]]>Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:57:18 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/can-you-guess-what-this-is

What do you think this is? I was at the Washington County Tack Swap... and the booth next to me had these on their table.

The first person to give me the right answer and their address will get a small gift in the mail.

I will post the answer in a couple of days.

]]><![CDATA[Horse Expo coming]]>Sat, 05 Apr 2014 19:33:40 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/horse-expo-coming

Visit our Booth- C44

HORSES EYE-Bookmark

Let us know you saw this on Facebook, and receive one free bookmark at our booth. While supplies last.
Photo taken by Kathy Johnson. "The soul that can speak through the eyes, can also kiss with a gaze." Gustav Adolfo Becquer

Jewelry and Horse Hair Firing

Come check our booth out.

]]><![CDATA[Ice Sculptures]]>Tue, 25 Mar 2014 01:28:00 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/ice-sculpturesTeam USA came to our area and did some Snow Sculptures. 2014

The side is done by TEAM USA. What a beautiful job.

]]><![CDATA[Youtube of Sam and Fuad ice fishing in Wisconsin. 2014]]>Sun, 23 Mar 2014 22:29:52 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/youtube-of-sam-and-fuad-ice-fishing-in-wisconsin-2014

]]><![CDATA[ check out a you tube video of Sam Ice Fishing]]>Sun, 23 Mar 2014 22:18:47 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/sam-ice-fishing

Ice fishing a sport that takes a certain kind of outdoor fisherman.

A video done by Fuad Azmat

Sam and Fuad went out ice fishing this winter (March 2014) and Fuad put the video on youtube. This is one of Sam's favorite sports to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPCLDUmuvKI

This is our son-in-law's first time ice fishing. Sam, Jeff, & Bob went over by Green Bay, Wisconsin. Jeff said he had a great time, and I believe he would come up north again when time allows them too.

]]><![CDATA[You help yourself when you help others.]]>Sun, 09 Mar 2014 01:01:33 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/you-help-yourself-when-you-help-othersMarshfield Fair Grounds- 4-H Tack Swap
Marshfield, Wisconsin
March 8th 2014

"Part of working on yourself is learning how to support another person in being the best they can be. Partners are meant to help each other access the highest parts within themselves." --Marianna Williamson

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Blazing Tails Pet Services

Horse/Dog: care, feeding, chores, exercise, etc.

Lessons offered (4-H Discount)

Experienced, Honest, Dependable, & Hard Working

References Upon Request

Call or Text with Questions: 715-207-7283

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Check their website out by clicking on their logo.

Rocky Run

Saddle, Tack & Trailer

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

click on photo to go to website.

NIGHT MARES by: Roxine Karbowski

]]><![CDATA[CARL- its along story, but good.]]>Sat, 01 Mar 2014 23:15:25 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/carl-its-along-story-but-good     Carl was a quiet man. He didn't talk much. He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake. Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one could really say they knew him very well.

     Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. The lone sight of him walking down the street often worried us.   He had a slight limp from a bullet would received in WWII. he had survivied WWII, he may not make it through our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence, gangs, and drug activity.

     When he saw the flyer at our local church asking for volunteers for caring for the gardens behind the minister's residence, he responded in his characteristically unassuming manner. Without fanfare, he just signed up.

     He was well into his 87th year when the very thing we had always feared finally happened. He was just finishing his watering for the day when three gang members approached him. Ignoring their attempt to intimidate him, he simply asked, "Would you like a drink from the hose?"

     The tallest and toughest-looking of the three said,"Yeah, sure," with a malevolent little smile. As Carl offered the hose to him, the other to grabbed Carl's arm, throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over the ground, dousing everything in its way, Carl's assailants stole his retirement watch and his wallet, and then fled.

     Carl tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad leg. He lay there trying to gather himself as the minister came running to help him. Although the minister had witnessed the attack from his window, he couldn't get there fast enough to stop it.

     "Carl, are you okay? Are you hurt?" the minister kept asking as he helped Carl to his feet.

    Carl just passed a hand over his brow and sighed, shaking his head. "Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise-up someday."

     His wet clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick up the hose. He adjusted the nozzle again and started to water.

     Confused and a little concerned, the minister asked, "Carl, what are you doing?"

     "I've got to finish my watering. It's been very dry lately," came the calm reply. Satisfying himself that Carl really was all right the minister could only marvel. Carl was a man from a different time and place.

     A few weeks later the three returned. Just as before their threat was unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink from his hose. This time they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from his hand and drenched him head to foot in the icy water. When they had finished their humiliation of him, they sauntered off down the street, throwing catcalls and curses, falling over one another laughing at the hilarity of what they had just donw.

     Carl just watched them. Then he turned toward the warmth giving sun, picked up his hose, and went on with his watering.

     The summer was quickly fading into fall Carl was doing some tilling when he was startled by the sudden approach of someone behind him. He stumbled and fell into some evergreen branches. As he struggled to regain his footing, he returned to see the tall leader of his summer tormentors reaching down for him. He braced himeslef for the expected attack.

     "Don't worry old man, I'm not gonna hurt you this time." The young man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred hand to Carl. As he helped Carl get up, the man pulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to Carl.

     "What's this?" Carl asked.

"It's your stuff," the man explained. "It's your stuff back. Even the money in your wallet."

      "I don't understand," Carl said. "Why would you help me now?"

     The man shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease. "I learned something from you," he said. "I ran with that gang and hurt people like you, we picked you because you were old and we knew we could do it . But every time we came and did something to you, instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to give us a drink. You didn't hate us for hating you. You kept showing love against our hate."

     He stopped for a moment. "I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is back."

     He paused for another awkward moment, not knowing what more there was to say. "That bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I guess." And with that, he walked off down the street.

     Carl looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly opened it. He took out his retirement watch and put it back on his wrist. Opening his wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the young bride that still smiled back at him from all those years ago.

     He died one cold day after Christmas that winter. Many people attended his funeral in spite of the weather. In particular the minister noticed a tall young man that he didn't know sitting quietly in a distant corner of the church.

     The minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life. In a voice made thick with unshed tears, he said, "Do your best and make your garden as beautiful as you can. We will never forget Carl and his garden."
     The following spring another flyer went up. It read: "Person needed to care for Carl's garden."

     The flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one day when a knock was heard at the minister's office door. Opening the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred and tattooed hands holding the flyer.

"I believe this is my job, if you'll have me," the young man said. The minister recognized him as the same young man who had returned the stolen watch and wallet to Carl.

     He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around. As the minister handed him the keys to the garden shed, he said, "Yes, go take care of Carl's garden in honor of him."

     The man went to work and , over the next several years, he tended theflowers and vegetables just as Carl had done. During that time, he went to college, got married, and became a prominent member of the community. but he never forgot his promise to Carl's memory and kept the garden as beautiful as he thought Carl would have kept it.

      One day he approached the new minister and told him that he couldn't care for the garden any longer. He explained with a shy and happy smile, "My wife just had a baby boy last night, and she's bringing him home on Saturday.

    "Well, congratulations!" said the minister, as he was handed the garden shed keys. "That's wonderful! What's the baby's name?"

     "Carl," he replied.



]]><![CDATA[Winter-need to make your own fun.]]>Tue, 25 Feb 2014 16:27:07 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/winter-need-to-make-your-own-funLawn Mower Races- Biron, Wisconsin

Photos by Sam I. Johnson

No wonder the grass doesn't get mowed in the summer, the lawnmowers are too high speed. If anyone has seen the way Sam mows they would think we had our mower souped up.

]]><![CDATA[YARNutopia]]>Sat, 15 Feb 2014 19:37:26 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/yarnutopiaYARNutopia by Nadia Fuad

www.Facebook.com/YARNutopiaByNadiaFuad www.YARNutopia.Etsy.com

]]><![CDATA[Winter Fun????]]>Sat, 15 Feb 2014 17:23:37 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/winter-funBar Stool Races, Kellner Wisconsin

Photos by Sam I. Johnson

Bar Stool Races for Tri-City Childrens Dream Foundation Held at Wild Horse Saloon, Kellner, Wi.

]]><![CDATA[A cracked Vase]]>Sat, 15 Feb 2014 16:53:28 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/a-cracked-vase You could be thinking I am talking about me.... and perhaps the reference would fit me too, but at this time I am talking about a large vase that recently cracked while I was doing my HORSE HAIR FIRING.

How disappointing it was to stand there and watch as it cracked. I was going to add an antler to this piece if you were wondering what all the little holes are around, I bead, as I attach an antler.

It was red hot when I pulled it out of the kiln, and it made groaning cracking sounds when the hair started on fire as I added it. Too late when that happens, can't go back, can't repair. :(

NEW VASES

The URN is a new piece. I had a customer as for an urn. So I now have two sizes. This one is about 5 inches high. The smaller vase is my small jardinaire vase.

This is the larger of the two new URNs.

It is app.61/2" high.

]]><![CDATA[QUILTS & QUILT PATTERNS]]>Sun, 24 Nov 2013 21:06:06 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/quilts-quilt-patternsQuilt Patterns Have Meanings

This is a quilt pattern done in glass by the artist Helen M Scovel from Minocqua, Wi.

I bought the piece to send to my pen pal in Germany...because I remember my grandmother putting this design in her quilts. So I looked the design up thinking it was one thing, and found out a different meaning then what I had always assumed.

SHOOFLY-is the name of the pattern.

I always thought it was called the windmill. I believe that is what my grandma told me along time ago.

"Shoofly- possibly identifies a friendly guide who is near by and can help."

I never thought that the quilts had underground railroad meanings. It was interesting to look at other cultures and see the meaning of their quilts. It was a form of communicating that was also useful in other areas.

Helen M Scovel

Minocqua, Wisconsin

715-356-9333

garyandhelen.scovel@frontier.com

Helen also made this for me. It is going to Germany too. She is currently working on some other special orders for me for Christmas.

And her items will be at the Cultural Center, in Wisconsin Rapids, Dec 13th- the end of Dec.

]]><![CDATA[Humor and Joy]]>Sun, 24 Nov 2013 19:23:15 GMThttp://www.katie-did.com/blog/humor-and-joy " We can reinsert humor and joy into our lives, even though factors that deplete us of cheer can't be changed. Some of the "stuff" of life is mundane and draining, while other parts of life are enormous and hard. Whatever the size of the difficulty, cheer is waiting to be discovered-sometimes unexpectedly, like a chocolate chip in the Raisin Bran." -Marilyn Meberg- God Always has a Plan B

oh that we could find joy in simple things like a snow covered slide.

These simple photos bring a smile to my face. They can be every day occurrences that we find heart warming and uplifting.

So we need to continue to find things around us that help us to keep our joy and humor, so that we can pass it on to others.

Life is stressful enough without adding to it.

]]>