Baby Photography Props

Baby pictures are sweet, wonderful, heart warming, and we all love to take them. Upon the arrival of a newborn, parents take hundreds and thousands of baby portraits in the following months. They help convey perspective, size, fragility or add a hint of color to show whether it’s a boy or girl. Since you're going to be taking baby pictures anyway, wouldn't you rather capture photographs that are truly spectacular? Ones that capture the true innocense and pure beauty of early childhood. Babies grow so fast; it's important to capture the happiness and beauty of your child as she grows from day to day. Prop’s though, when tastefully used, are truly wonderful. Just like the handmade cocoon shown. So precious.

Although I hadn't planned on making the newborn cocoons you see used for photo pops, I had a request from a current customer. I decided to give it a try using a few patterns I found on Etsy. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they work up rather quickly and turned out so dang cute. I wish I knew about these when my kids were babies. I would have definately had their pictures taken in one of these snuggly cocoons.

I added a few organic cocoons to start and will add more as time permits. The Sweet Pea Cocoon is made from an organic cotton yarn with a rolled brim that can be flipped up to cradle baby's head or rolled down to fit around the shoulders. The Swaddler Cocoon is made with bamboo yarn and is luxurious soft against baby's skin. Look for more earthy colors using organic cottons and bamboo yarns. I will be offering a few different styles from an open weave pattern that allows fingers and toes to peek out to the more snug swaddler cocoons. I will also be accepting custom orders. If you have a color combo or shape in mind, please ask. If you are a photographer, please ask about our special discount. Don't forget to add a matching hat for your Baby Photography Props.

Baby Santa Hat

Make their first Christmas a special one with a crocheted santa hat. Now that fall is upon us it's time to start thinking ahead to the holidays. Launching next week are our adorable handmade santa hats and elf hats. A combination of long and short with tassels and pompoms these crocheted hats will make the perfect photo prop for christmas cards or holiday portraits. Using organic cotton yarn the hats will be offered in a variety of holiday colors from classic red and whites, warm cranberry and pine greens to soft ivory and sugar plum. Available in newborn sizes through 2 years. They make a wonderful keepsake baby gift treasured for years to come. Beat the holiday rush and order early. As always custom orders are always welcome! See all our entire collection of handmade Holiday Hats here.

Learning How to Crochet

The art of crochet has been around for thousands of years. People in earlier times who had means would purchase hand crocheted and knitted laces and fabrics for their opulent garments and décor. Having these items showed others that you were a person of means and you led an opulent lifestyle.

Over the years, through industrialization and mass production of lace and fabrics, items made with crochet and knitting have gained popularity in the lower to middle classes and the upper classes started showing their wealth in other, more material, ways.

Today, crochet and knitting are the craft art of choice for many people all over the world. They are both handicrafts which are challenging to learn yet affordable for nearly everyone. Supplies are easy to find to create some very amazing hand crafted items with the emergence of new yarns and colorful fibers.

As a beginner to the art of crochet, there are some simple things to learn to be successful. Here are simple steps to get you started on your road to crochet success:

Step #1 – Gather Up Your Supplies – To crochet you will need a crochet hook, yarn, scissors and a large-eye needle.
Step #2 – Holding Your Crochet Hook – You will want to hold your crochet hook in your dominant hand. Create a slip-knot and place it over the end of your hook.
Step #3 – Create a Continuous Stitch – Slide the hooked yarn to the slip-knot on the hook. This will create a chain of stitches. Continue to make this chain by brining your yarn to the top of the hook and pulling it through the slip-knot.
Step #4 – Move Up The Chain – Move up the chain allowing the first chain stitch to knot on the hook. This allows the yarn to stay in place and not loosen. It is generally a good idea to make this first knot tight rather than loose.
Step #5 – Creating Two Loops – Next, insert your crochet hook into the hole of the next chain stitch and slide the passing yarn through its center.
Step #6 – Bring Your Yarn Back – Bring your yarn back on the hook from back to front and slide your knot in the center of the loops which you have already created on the crochet hook.
Step #7 – Making Rows – From your second yarn loop, create another single chain stitch and make a counter-clockwise loop. Start again and create the same loops as the previous stitches.
Step #8 – Crochet Until Done – Continue this basic crochet technique until you have a swatch of fabric.
Step #9 – Cut your Project Off – Once you have completed a swatch of fabric, it is time to remove it from your ball of yarn. Cut it with about a 6” tail left at the end.
Step #10 – Fasten Your Project so it won’t Unravel - Bring your tail of yarn back through the last stitch to fasten it.
Step #11 – Cut the Excess – At this point you are finished and can cut off the excess tail of yarn.

Using these simple ten steps you can learn to successfully complete a basic crochet fabric. Like any new skill, crochet takes time. You will want to practice a lot at first and see what techniques and hand holds are the most comfortable for you.