Fiber Huis Product Photography

I really really REALLY have to play catch up with blogging, don't I?

In an effort to get back into the habit again... Here... Is a post! Big thumbs up to me!

A few weeks ago, Brittany, my friend Brooke's sister, sent me an email proposing a trade. I do a lot of trading and rarely ever turn one down, so I was happy to accept!

Brittany operates a few different Etsy shops. What I have to show you today is from her hand knitting shop, Fiber Huis. She sells handmade looms, thoughtfully sourced yarn, instruction booklets, etc. Everything can be purchased in a kit or a la carte.

The trade? A loom kit for me AND for Olive! Which works out more than perfectly because I was going to put a loom from Fiber Huis on Olive's wishlist. So her (blue) loom is put away and ready for gift giving. Perfect, right?!

Brittany came into town last weekend and brought some kits along. I set up shop in our sunroom with Olive and June attempting to break the darn door down. Because oh my goodness June just can't survive without me. I'm just that good. :P

Product photography is always a challenge but a lot of fun when I get it figured out and finally get to editing. I thought I would share a few of my favorites with you but be sure head over to Fiber Huis and take a peek at everything she has to offer. And, as always, feel free to check out the entire gallery, too!

Olive and Some Slugs

Our grass is long. Tyler still needs to service our lawn mower but hasn't really had the opportunity. But long, lush, green grass... it photographs so well. And feels so good. I prefer it.

We only took a few photos the last time Olive wore her new Fresh Pressed Prints shirt so when she decided to wear it again I jumped on the chance to get some more photos. Every two months we get something from Fresh Pressed Prints in exchange for photos. It's tons of fun!




I discovered Olive singing songs and trying to do cartwheels and flips and such by herself in the backyard. So I was sneaky with a few photos through our sunroom windows.



She did a little dancing.



And running.



And stuff.



And this.







I can't help it. These are so fun.



She's a pro at levitation.





June was also there.



June spends a lot of time cleaning the backyard. Olive assisted.



And then.. the snails.









It's a family. Obviously. This is the baby.





Quite possibly the sweetest photo of a kid and slugs ever.



"Hey June! Come see these slugs!"





Slug kiss.





Slug-stache.

If you want to see more photos, check out the gallery here!

Mother's Day with the Tuskas

I've gotten behind on blog updates. Maybe I'll get a chance to go back in time and share what we've been up to. But for now here is a peek into what we did on Mother's Day.

It was a largely uneventful day. Olive and Tyler went to the store to get some things for our big brunch with the Tuskas. They also stopped by a hardware store in north loop to pick up a drywall lift.

June was napping so I had a bit of peaceful time at home.. but ended up sitting around waiting for June to wake up so I could finally join the fun.

By the time I arrive to Brooke and Scott's house the food was ready and everyone was eager to eat.





June was pretty excited about Peanut. For a while his only animal sound was to blow raspberries. Now he's moved on to making somewhat creepy growling sounds.. for every animal. So he kept growling at Peanut.



Then he check on Scott's progress in the kitchen. They have a new oven, too.



I'm not sure what they're doing but I think they have enough syrup.



His faces. They're so good.



Tyler wore graph paper for the occasion.







June was excited by Meadow's cup. At this point Meadow had to head upstairs for a nap. Darn kids having different nap schedules.



Olive requested orange juice in a fancy cup with whipped cream on top. The rest of us (minus the babies), had mimosas.



June spent some solo time rocking in the other room.



And then suddenly ended up in the kitchen with a jar of cookie cutters.



Brooke hung out with June and Olive for a bit while Tyler and I went upstairs with Scott to watch the video he's been working on from a wedding we did a few weeks ago.



While we were upstairs June and Brooke built a train track. June has never played with ours.. it's been put away since he started really playing with stuff. It turns out he built a lot of this track himself.. Brooke assumed we played with ours a lot at home. I was impressed so I took our bin out when we got home. He seems to like it but he and Olive can't manage to play with it at the same time very well.



Happy Mother's Day moms!

Hiking Minnehaha Creek

I've been wanting to take Olive and June to Minnehaha Falls for a few weeks now. The days that I intended to go kept ending up with bad weather or something else getting in the way. Yesterday, while I was photographing a baby, Tyler took and Olive and June to the waterfall.. but that's what I had planned for today! Oops! But my plan was more to start at the waterfall and hike the trail down the Mississippi River. So.. it still worked out. :)

We parked at the Wabun Picnic Area and made our way down to the creek. We even brought Honey along.

Olive kept insisting on walking Honey. They did a pretty good job together but it was fairly comical to witness. Honey doesn't get out much - so she was really excited. And Olive doesn't walk her much - so she was a little all over the place.

I have quite a few photos of them just looking tangled or running into each other.








Honey doesn't wear a collar at home (she is prettier without it) and she hates the gentle leader. Here she is trying to get it off, as always.







Olive and Honey did great on this boardwalk together, until Honey jumped off to smell something and Olive didn't let go. I yelled ahead for her to just drop the leash.. rather than be pulled into a puddle of mud. She "let" me lead Honey for a few minutes after that.



Olive was really proud of herself for going on the side of the creek with the actual hiking trail. Some of the rocks and roots were big for her so she had to keep her balance, grab onto things, etc.



She preferred that I have Honey for a lot of the trail since it was narrow and so close to the water.



I took this photo because she was saying "I'M DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB!"



I was wearing my hiking boots and she was wearing Toms. ha. I really need to find some shoes with great traction for her.



She found a tiny shell.







She climbed up onto this bench (it's fairly high off the ground), threw up her hand, and said "hey" in a funny voice out of the corner of her mouth.



She's pretty cool.



We got to talk about sandstone. That was pretty great.



June was getting pretty jealous at this point that he was stuck in the carrier.



She seems to love sand.



We finally made it to the river. I had planned to let June wander around down here but there was so much broken glass.





We need to tour some lock and dams in our area. I remember those well from when I was a kid. I've tried to describe them to Olive but it really helps to actually be on one.



She kept getting her shoes a little wet. Honey ran in for a drink and a little splash but I encouraged her to stay close.. since it's a river..

We walked over to where the creek meets the river and suddenly I heard a clicking sound. I realized it was my camera's shutter. I had it over my shoulder, so it was kind of under my arm.. I assume I was somehow hitting the button. I look down and realize that June had leaned himself over and was taking photos with my camera. So I have about 10 like this.



15 or so of this.



And three of these. Olive ran over to investigate what was going on and immediately requested that June take her photo. Great collaboration guys.



We used the timer and a log. Do you like the branch in my face? I'm not a professional or anything.... :P



And then June snapped a few more photos of Olive. He has impressive aim when hovering above the camera.





Of course Olive then wanted a turn to take photos, too.





We took this wider path back towards the car. It's on the other side of the creek. I'm glad we did because I was pretty worn out and it was so much faster, for obvious reasons.

I encouraged Olive to keep up a good pace by suggestion a trip to get donuts.



June preferred the Christmas lights at Mel O Glaze Bakery.



We actually didn't end up with any donuts. I got a huge cherry coffee cake, Olive got a heart cookie, June got a chocolate chip cookie, Honey got two dog cookies, and I got a coffee. For $2.75. We took it to go so Honey wouldn't have to wait long. And because it was already past June's nap time. My intent with his cookie was twofold - so he would be sad that Olive was eating a treat in the car and he wasn't, but also in hopes that a cookie would keep him occupied and awake on the drive home. The woman at the counter said that next time we can bring Honey inside. It was nice of her to offer.. But I don't think Honey is that kind of dog. Maybe someday.

If you would like to see more from our hike, check out the gallery here.