Designer Interview with Katie Hanken from Optimistic By Nature

Today I bring you an interview and giveaway with crochet designer Katie Hanken from Optimistic by Nature.  You can find her on her blog, on Etsy, on Ravelry and on Facebook.

She has a number of adorable crochet patterns that I just love.  I was lucky enough to be able to test the Baby Bunting pattern that she has just published!!! 

It works up quickly and has an ingenious seatbelt hole design that I think is just brilliant.

See what I mean about that seatbelt hole!  This is the granny square bunting pattern that is available now too.

And look at this adorable pattern for a baby bear suit!!  This one is still under test right now, but I can't wait till it is published.  So cute.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I live in Northern Norway on the coast with my husband Øystein and our 2 year old son Oliver.  I work as a culture administrator and freelance musician and spend a good chunk of my free time crocheting.  :-)  Optimistic by Nature is my little life philosophy - where appreciation, being positive, enjoying life and the beauty around me are kind of what I am about.  Crochet design is one of the ways that I love expressing my creativity.  

2. How did a good mid-western girl like yourself end up in a place like Norway?

I met a Norwegian flutist who inspired me when I was a student and I ended up moving to Norway to study with her at a music conservatory, the Grieg Academy in Bergen.  I ended up taking my whole degree there and then got a job, another job, met my husband etc etc...and the rest is history! :-)  Now, after 12 years, I can't imagine living anywhere else - I love it here!

3. What is on your hook right now?

Oi, I am a bit scattered.  I have many hooks going at a time.  I think I am in the middle of about 10 different projects/ideas!  It is a small miracle everytime I finish something!  :-)  

4. How did you get interested in crochet design?

 Hmmm.  Good question!  I wanted to make a balaclava hat for Oliver because I thought it would be really practical but I couldn't find a pattern.  So I just jumped in and tried to figure it out.  It was a huge success on the first try (Oliver's winter hat) and then I was hooked!  Not all of my patterns have been that successful as far as figuring them out but I have learned a ton in each new process.  So I think it is just a really fun challenge with each new idea.  :-)  I love the feeling I get when I get a new idea or figure out how to make it.  It is such a kick!

5. What kinds of patterns can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?

 I have so many ideas!  Mostly baby/toddler clothes and accessories.  I also have a couple amigurumi ideas but those are trickier to work out for me!  I have started and given up on several!  Right now Oliver is my main inspiration, so I suspect that my patterns will grow with him! :-) 

Thank you Katie!  And now for the giveaway!  Katie is offering the Baby Bunting pattern to one lucky winner.  To enter, please leave a comment below with your email address before March 28, 2012.   Good luck!!!

Focus on Photography - A Conversation (and GIVEAWAY) with Kat Goldin

One of the reasons I love Etsy so much is that I get to meet so many fabulously skilled crafters from all over the world.  I love to browse crochet patterns and am always drawn in when I see crochet photographed beautifully.  I recently came across some absolutely gorgeous photographs of some adorable crocheted hats.  I emailed the shop owner, Kat Goldin of Scotland, to ask her about her work, specifically her ability to capture her crochet designs on film. I still struggle to get good shots of my products, so I was so happy to find that Kat was incredibly generous about sharing her photography secrets.  She was also kind enough to stop by for an interview and GIVEAWAY to two lucky winners! See below on how to enter.


You can find Kat on Etsy, Facebook, and her Blog.  Let's show her some love!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am originally from Iowa, but live in Scotland with my South African husband and 3 children: Ellis, 4, Georgia, 22 months, and Theo,10 months.  I am a blogger, keen photographer as well as a crochet and knitwear maker and designer.  I have been selling on Etsy for a few years, but only just to friends up until October 2011 when I decided to take it seriously and started publishing my designs.  (They are all available on Ravelry as well as my free patterns, fyi)

What is on your hook right now?
A lot! I have about 6 hats I need to finish for mailing out tomorrow!!  I always have too many projects and too many ideas.  I struggle with inspiration overload and will often stay up most of the night working on new ideas on top of my normal workload.
 
What inspires your crochet design style?
I actually stay away from a lot of he usual sources of crochet inspiration (pinterest, etsy, ravelry) and look instead at story books, history and real life for inspiration.  For example, the Pixie hat was designed because I wanted a snug little hat with a short point for when my newest baby was in the sling.  But then, I am always up for a challenge.  The Snugasaurus hat was actually a dare on Facebook!!

How did you become interested in photography?
It developed out of my blog.  I am a perfectionist and I couldn't stand when my photos weren't absolutely the best!! I started learning and reading and working hard to get great images of my kids and my life.  What started out as a hobby has become a slight obsession where a camera MUST be with me at all times. I use photography for the blog, for my Etsy shop and I also do a fair bit of paid photography work.

Only yesterday I took delivery of my new (rather sexy) camera- a Canon 7d, but I have been mostly shooting on a Canon Rebel xsi - a really fantastic entry level DSLR. Prior to that, I had been using a Panasonic Lumix DMC - FZ18 - an excellent point and shoot option.

Do you need a DSLR to get the quality shots that you get?
Without a doubt, one can get great shots with point and shoot cameras.  However, you have to work harder to do so, or as I recently heard it described, "Your photos can still sing no matter what the camera, but the better the camera the higher the notes".  The trick lies not in the camera or kit you have, but in how well you use it. Understanding some very basic principles of photography and learning how your camera works will probably do more to improve your images than laying out a lot of money for an expensive DSLR.

That said, there are things that DSLRs can do that point and shoots just can't, or at least not as well.  DSLRs give you a lot more control over the images you are capturing as they enter the camera, even in a fully manual mode on a P&S, you still will not have the range of options like a different lens and external flashes.

It looks like a lot of your photos have an interesting depth of focus that gives the background a blurry effect. Can you tell us how you achieve that look?
 I get that look using a 50mm f1.8 lens on my camera.  The lens, also called the "Nifty Fifty" is a great investment for a  casual product and portrait photographer with even an entry level DSLR. Its not expensive for a lens (about $100) and can really give some lovely shots.  It is my go-to lens and I rarely use anything else!

Can you share with us any final tips, techniques, and suggestions can recommend to the struggling photographer like myself?

Read your camera manual (and if you don't have it, most manuals are available online)!!!  Point and shoots and even DSLRs set into "automatic" take pictures based on a series of assumptions about the scene they are photographing...the amount of light available, the colours, the distance to the image, which object you want focussed on. The thing is, they aren't always right.  The camera is often fooled by things like bright backgrounds or available light, so learning how to change the settings so you can get the image you (and not the camera) want.

Also, turn off the flash -- 9 times out of 10 a straight flash will ruin your picture.  Now, living somewhere that rains 11 months of the year and is only light for a few hours a day in Winter, I know better than most that sometimes a flash is necessary. If you have to use it, then try bouncing the flash off of a white business card.  I have successfully used a train ticket held in front of my flash to give a more even light.  Also, if you have a DSLR, a Lightscoop is a good and cheap investment.

For small products, setting up a lightbox is cheap and easy.  I use a white "blackout" blind from ikea, draped over the back of my sofa in the sunniest room of the house. Even a large box lined with white paper with the front and one of the sides open for light to get in is a great way to get professional looking photos.

Finally, editing software can help make your images even better.  There are free packages like Gimp available, so you do not have to spend a penny.  However, if you can, I do recommend Adobe Lightroom.  If you have children in school, you can usually get it at the education price and it is a great investment, because lets face it, in the world of online sales the image is the key.

Find photographers you like and investigate how they take their photos.  I have been really inspired by Ashley Ann Campbell of Under the Sycamore. She is great because she does a lot of explaining "how" she gets the images she does.

And most importantly - take a lot of photos.  Commit to improving and practice! Yes, there will be some horrible shots, but there will be good ones as well and over time the good will outweigh the bad.

And Now it's GIVEAWAY Time!!!

Kat is offering to two lucky winners one pattern each.  To enter, please go to her Etsy page and check out her crochet patterns, then comment below and tell us which one is your favorite!  Giveaway ends and winners will be chosen on February 26, 2012. Please do not forget to leave your email address so that we can get in touch with you if you win.

Thanks to Kat for the wonderful advice and fabulous giveaway!