Who Is That?

Anyone who takes photographs seriously knows how hard it is to keep. out. of. the. picture.
I have been doing a lot of Etsy listings and Etsy Photos lately.

I hate it when things jump into the frame that don't belong there.

Exactly ! Twist and turn all you want you're in the shot. SHOOT.

Get your silly self out of the shot and suddenly the ceiling and the back yard are volleying for exposure on primetime.

I settled for the backyard and cropped it like Edward Scissor Hands.
vintage mirror

What to do with the back ground is just as tough. Most of my photos are taken on the lanai. The light is pretty good out there. I use a huge section of white vinyl for my back drop. It is easy to lighten and makes the photos clean. Etsy seems to just love white back drops.
My preference is rustic.  So I venture out and take pictures on the back yard fence.

Backyard Fence.

Mr Weelambie made me a shelf on the fence. He painted it white to please Etsy.  That is where some things get their mug shots.

Narrow Shelf on the Fence
sifter

My shabby little step ladder is another possibility.  The problem with it is what will show up in the frame behind it.

Step Ladder
vintage bottles

Today I found some old weathered boards at an abandoned gas station in town. I am loving the look they offer and the large level area to set things up.  I put them on the lanai. 

Old wooden boards Liniment Bottle

This photo better shows how large this area is, at least 4 feet.

Unedited photo on wooden backdrop

Meanwhile back inside the house. Angie was watching Animal Planet.

My Sweet Dog Angie

We are now having our evening monsoon and thunder concert so I am finishing this .  I hope I don't get in trouble for making those abandoned boards mine.  Fingers Crossed.

Anne/weelambie

Florida Back Roads Antiquing

Road trip to Arcadia, FL today. It takes about 3 seconds after heading east off I75 on State Road 72 from Sarasota County to Arcadia to find the other Florida. The real Florida. Vast expanses of cattle ranches, live oaks, streams, and endless views of an every changing sky. 
Antiquing in Arcadia! Arcadia FL info.

Arcadia, FL

We headed for the Opera House up on the right side of the street. Climbing up a huge flight of creaking oak stairs to the second floor you find yourself in the Old Opera House of Arcadia.  It is jam packed with antiques and collectibles. 

Inside the 2nd floor of Opera House

A huge expanse with lots of side rooms and hallways all crammed full of displays. While thunder rolled outside I hurried around trying to see everything. Husband did not want to get "stuck in Arcadia in the rain." 

The Opera's Stage with an old carriage on it.

It always helps in these situations to have some one thing in mind to search for. If you don't you will loose your mind focusing on everything. With rain and hubby hovering over my every move I quickly found I was looking for old glass bottles.  

Checking out

My hands were shaking and I couldn't hold the camera still to take a picture of them lined up on the little check out counter.  Such is my ridiculous excitement during the hunt for treasures. I found ten old bottles I loved and that was worth the trip.

We made it back to the car just before the heavens opened and the rains began in earnest.

Knitting in the car

I got a lot of knitting done in the car. Sock knitting is road trip knitting.  I had to set the socks down when the rain was so hard I couldn't see the road. Husband loves it when I help him drive by saying, "I can't see the road slow down".

Once home I unloaded my new glass collection.

It was a quick trip, but that is okay. I will be going back in 4 weeks.  I found out every last Saturday of every month they have an Antique Festival set up by the Depot. I was promised lots of vendors and lots of fun. Now to hook my Etsy Vintage buddies in Florida into meeting up there with me.

Anne/weelambie