Creativity comes in many guises...

I have been doing all kinds of creative stuff these past several days but I haven't had a chance to get photos of them. So, here's a pic from our trip to the local wildlife refuge taken on Saturday, January 23, 2010.

I love the stark wintry look. It was actually a great day with soft winter sunlight, blue skies, and almost 50 degrees. Between us we took almost 400 photos. (I maybe took 20 of the photos but I like the ones I took)

My main creative outlet this past week has been teaching myself how to do drop down menus with cascading style sheets (css). I have the menus figured out. (YIPPEE!) Now, I just have to finalize the design template, then the school web site will get all updated and re-vamped! I'm so excited to get this completed.

We had a great community Lit Night at the school I work at, with about 300 people attending. Stories, poetry, theatre games, food, free books and loads of fun. I was there doing my best to document it all on the 'good' camera and helping to take care of a few computer issues too. :)

Oh and most exciting news... Nor'West Coffee Roasters Roastery Coffeehouse 8013 St Johns Rd Suite P Vancouver, Washington USA is selling my Recycled Coffee Bean Bag Totes!! $22.50 and that even includes tax. I can hardly believe it.

Finished a fun little knitted shrug and getting ready to start a new drawing...

When the creating bug strikes it just keeps on biting!

remember to do something creative today!
Stephanie

#2 of my Doodle Cups

Yup, another doodle drawing. :) This time my husband took the photo. You get to see the scale of the drawing here since my hand is in there actually drawing!

I find that drawing the doodles is easier and harder in the big size--easier in that I can get more variety in the sizes of the elements in the drawing, and harder because I can fit so much more in a drawing that I have to work at NOT over filling the design and making it so busy. I am prone to over doing and so I have have to work at not over working my images.

The finished drawing is just the way I wanted it to turn out. I'm so excited! I have a coffee shop that is going to possibly hang some of my work. I need to get them all mounted and ready to be hung.

I'll get the finished drawing posted tomorrow after I get the photo taken. :)

Thanks for looking! Remember to do something creative!
SB

creating but nothing finished

This has been a week of creating... but not having anything tangible to show for it YET.

So, first I'm teaching myself how to make drop down menus in Microsoft Expression Web using CSS. HUm...I gotta keep working on this as my boss at school wants the school web page updated and to use the drop down menus. It's hard for me to admit that it is taking me a couple days to get my brain to wrap around it. I'm so used to just looking at something and having the understanding of what to do. This is knocking my socks right now. I'm not sure if it's really me having a problem or the computer that I'm doing it on. sigh... It will get done, I know that!  I gotta stay positive.

Back at home I have 4 of my coffee bags in process of being made, but none of them are finished YET. I should have them done this weekend. They are going to be really neat when done.

Creating memories is also on the plan for this weekend, we have a family get together for my Father's birthday, Photo ops! I know if the weather decides to cooperate a day trip to the coast is on the list to do too. We shall see...

keep the creativity flowing!
stephanie

a creative couple of days

Creativity...making something...doing

I like how interactive you have to be in the process of creating.  I can't just sit and think about making something forever. I have to pull out the supplies, what ever they may be and just start doing.

I try to not have more than a couple projects in process at any time because I know that something won't get done. I know me and that is the way it goes.

I made a yummy Butter Cream Cheese Pound Cake with Apricots and Cashews last night. Oh My Goodness! Yum! Here's a photo of it.

My dear Hubby and I have eaten almost half of it all by ourselves in less than 24 hours. We had to sample it last night, then this morning it was lovely as part of our brunchy breakfast, then as dessert this evening. I think I'm going to whack a chunk off and wrap it really good and freeze it so we will have some another time.

I also finished my latest pair of socks. :) Knit on size 2 needles using Supersock 100 yarn that is cotton, wool, nylon and elastic.

I was able to knit it no problem. I have been sensitive to wool all my life so, this was a miracle. Now, I have to see if the socks will work on my feet with out causing irritation. I am hoping that I'll be able to wear this wool blend. I want to knit more socks and also be able to wear them.

The pattern is Sunrise Socks by Wendy Johnson and is available on her website for free! They were such a pleasure to knit up. I love that they are set up so you can easily do them on a single circular needle using the Magic Loop technique. I can't get my hands to control multiple double pointed needles so using the magic loop is a g*d send.

My hubby and I went out to our local wildlife refuge and spent a great 2 hours driving the 4 mile loop. We love photographing all the critters we come across. I got a couple really good photos of a young Great Blue Heron that I'll post as soon as I can get them off the other computer. :) We also got to witness a Red Tailed Hawk swoop in and catch is supper (a small gray mouse), we also saw tons of water fowl and a few other raptors. We purchased a 1 year annual pass to the refuge and we are certainly getting our money's worth out of it!

remember to get up and do something creative!
Stephanie

It's been a creative week

Wow!

I can't believe how much a person can get things done when they just want to. I haven't been in such a creative mood since last Summer.  

Usually working 40 hours a week just doesn't leave much  energy to create. I guess the  stars have aligned and it just time to get creative while the bug is still biting.

Since signing up for the Creative Everyday Challenge I have completed 2 large Zen-Doodle Drawings (12x18) and a recycled coffee bean burlap bag into a small shopping tote, then I photographed them all to get put on this post.

I have also noticed that when I'm feeling creative it's harder for me to stop and blog about what I'm doing. Weird,  since I love words and communicating others.

Have you found that happening to you too? HOw do you work around it?

Remember to do something creative today!
Stephanie

Happy New Year!

:) Year 2010 has begun and I have decided that I would sign up for the Creative Every Day challenge. I've been thinking about it and realized that I really do something creative "almost" everyday already...maybe this will help me keep it going.

I have 2 loaves of Magic Fruitcake in the oven and the house smells amazing! I'll be posting photos as soon as it is cooled enough to slice into.  This is a recipe that my Mom would make every Christmas and now I have made it almost every holiday season since I got married and had a family of my own.  It's so easy!

It really does seem like magic when you mix it up and glop it into the pan then 90 minutes later these lovely loaves of cake all golden brown and glossy come out of the oven.

Magic Fruitcake
(posted here from the hand written card in my recipe box)

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 (28 ounce) jar prepared mincemeat pie filling (homemade micemeat is wonderful too)
  
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup chopped nuts (more is good too)
  
• 2 cups chopped dried mixed fruit (we like dried apricots, dried cherries, dried cranberries, raisins and currents)  just end up with around 2 cups and you are good to go!
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) spray pans with no-stick spray
   
2. Sift the flour with the baking soda.
3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, mincemeat, condensed milk, fruit, and nuts. Fold in dry ingredients. Pour into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until center springs back and top is golden brown. Cool. Turn cakes out onto wire rack. 

Easy Peasy and so Yummy!

creativity for all the senses!