Props and Partner

"Props and Partner", sounds like a cool name for a Hollywood based business. Doesn't it?!

Anyway, first let's talk about props. I am not much for using them in my own photography of my jewelry. It is not that I dislike them in general. On the contrary I really like when others use them. But for my own things I often appreciate just the piece on it's own being nicely placed on a surface. And then I try to create an interesting composition. It does happen I use props. When I happen to have something suitable, and it helps to tell something. It also happens I feel I miss a suitable prop for a piece, and then I think I should build up a bigger "library" of props for different needs.

This morning after breakfast I walked in to our living room to open the back door and let in the fresh air. Guess what I suddenly saw?! Some pretty cool props for jewelry photography! They were just standing there on a stool leaning against the wall. They were not there yesterday daytime I tell you. So, what are they? Well, of course they are laser swords! Isn't that obvious! Anyone with children into Star Wars can see that instantly. Wooden branches painted with metallic blue-turqouise kind of semi-transparant paint. Oooohhhhhhh! Pretty! So I want to borrow them, and try them out directly. What piece could I use? Oh I have this semi-finished necklace, that I started a couple of days ago, but haven't finished yet, coz I haven't decided how long I want it to be.

So ... what do you think? Nice prop? Nice necklace? How long should it be? Any opinions on the design?

Important update:

My kids just got home from school, and they told me about the props. Of course they are not laser swords at all. Anyone with kids who are into Star Wars can see that ... ;-)

"They are wooden swords perfectly made to brake other sticks or branches if you are in a wooden stick fight or war. Their names are Hogo and Bogo." Well there you go. Sorry for misleading you at first.

And now over to the partner bit. My Bead Soup Blog Partner's name is Susie Hibdon, with the blog Vintage Susie & Wings. I only checked her out very briefly so far. I need a bit more time for a more proper presentation of Susie. Her blog is about not only her jewelry. When I scanned through it I saw a lot of what I believe is called "Americana", so I suppose I will learn a lot about that too. However, my instant impression is that she has this wonderful hippiesh approach to life. Right down my own alley. Now - I don't know - possibly a lot of people don't associate hippie with something positive. It depends of course on from which angle you are looking. For me it means liberal values, an openess to differences, casual attitude to general "musts", and so on. I need to explain a lot more of what I mean of course, but this is not the right time or place for that discussion. Susie Hibdon seems like a nice lady I would easily get on with. Here's a few of her designs.

She has this quote on her blog. Wise words! That's how I try to live my life.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Mark Twain