The biggest thing I've been focusing on lately is trying to get my portfolio for graphic design up and running. But I've also been doing things like crocheting and getting ready to have a table at the upcoming Victoria Faire. I just got a tax ID so that I can sell things. It's all kind of scary really. But I'm forging ahead. 

PHOTO EDITING. 
I like doing photo editing, and though I still have a lot to learn. I'm actually pretty good at some things. So here's a couple of images that I was working on this week. 

The image on the left is unedited, and one of the many images available for free use from www.pexels.com. Overall, it's a really nice image, but the model has a little bit of acne on his forehead, cheeks, and chest, in addition to some extra redness and then there is that pesky tattoo on his chest as well. In the image on the right, the tattoo has been eliminated, and I worked to get rid of those blemishes both on his face, neck and chest. Then I tried to even out his skin tone, so that he didn't have such bright red spots. There were also a few blemishes like on his right arm that I blotted out as well. I tried messing with the color and highlights in his hair as well. I actually wanted to make it a more natural color, but it didn't turn out as well. So I went back to just working on the highlights instead. 

After, working on editing him, I decided to have a little bit of fun with some photo collage. It's still a work in progress, and I'm not exactly sure I like the end product but here you go. I was toying with the idea that I could offer taking people's photos and making the person into a fairy for a fee. I don't know though. Still considering it. 

So, here is what the product was...

And here are the pieces that I used to construct the image in their original format.... 

And of course I've been working on my crocheting. I came up with my own mini jellyfish pattern. 

Even though it is summer here in Texas, and on most days we have a heat index over 110, inside most places you go, it's freezing because everyone has their AC running full blast. As a result, I'm usually freezing. In order to combat this, I decided to try making a hat. I looked over a few patterns, and decided I like the slouchy hat idea. I followed a pattern I found on the Little Monkeys Crochet website called the Marion Slouch. Her website is www.littlemonkeycrochet.com. But I had a little bit of trouble following her pattern, and found that my head is bigger than the number of stitches that she called for. Lol. But here is what I came up with. ​

The last couple of things that I've been working on are patterns for a pikachu (because pokemon has gotten really popular lately) and also a Totoro. They are taking a little longer than expected though. I wanted a smaller Totoro pattern, and the one I had I though was smaller, but it wound up being quite large. So I might undo it, and try to find or make a smaller one. We'll see. I don't have any pictures of those ones yet though. :) 

Hope you are having a great week. I'll write to you soon! :) 

So, I've been working away on this crocheting thing. They've actually been selling pretty decently now that I'm figuring out the pricing a bit better. Here's some new ones that I've done for this week, that are going out in the mail. 

I have a few more patterns that I'm going to be trying out but I'm not sure if I'll be selling them. I was considering making some extras of this stuff and then putting them up on consignment to see what would sell. I like taking orders though because then I can give people exactly what they request color-wise. I dunno. Still thinking about it all really. The whole reason why I got into it is because I'm trying to save up some money to visit my family in Ohio this summer or early Fall. We will have to see. :) 

If you're interested, check out my store page by clicking the button below....

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Trying my hand at crocheting another magic jellyfish! I was able to get these tentacles to be more curly, which I'm happy about. I really like the colors on this one, but the black yarn is really hard to see through for stitches. Ha ha!

Anyways, I'm pretty pleased with this. I hope you like it as well. 

​--Ally