31 Days: Day 7 (Get some fresh air)

Sometimes when inspiration eludes you fresh air is what you need.

Sometimes when inspiration is pummeling you from all direction and your head is spinning with ideas with a lack of clear direction on which one or few is best...fresh air is what you need.

Sometimes when your shoulders begin to tighten and you find yourself glued to your computer worrying about view counts and revenue and advertising....fresh air is what you need.

Even 31 Days and 31 Ways to be Creative needs to clear the decks. Nature and rest always gives me some perspective. I took in some fresh air today and maybe I will tomorrow too. Will you join me?

31 Days: Day 6 and Daily Pic

This post never made it yesterday! Hopefully the rest of 24 days makes it on time! Today's lets be creative goes back outside with the camera. There are so many great photographic opportunities this time of year. Think of it: pumpkin patches, changing leaves, migrating birds, blooming mums....and that was just off the top of my head. The sun is actually shining in my neck of the woods today. So many things to be grateful for.

p.s. My Etsy shop, Blue Leaf Boutique is having a Columbus Day sale. Stop by and use coupon code: COLUMBUS25 for 25 percent off your purchase.

31 Days: Day 5 (Beaded Hair Pins)

God blessed me with a little girl. He blessed me with a little boy too, but said boy doesn't let me put cute things in his hair. His loss!

Today's "Be Creative" is a quick lesson on making cute little accessories for yourself , daughter or friend. You will need need:

• wire cutters



• 28 gauge craft or jewelry wire



• small and medium seed beads



• 2 Bobbi pins

First cut about a 12 inch length of jewelry wire. Count out 15 seed beads. Insert wire into the center whole of the beads. (Tip: pour the beads onto a piece of fabric so they don't roll away!) Bring the pieces of wire together and twist to make a loop or "petal." Repeat this process 5 times until you have 5 petals.

Next one end of the remaining wires and insert the medium to large size seed bead. Twist the wire around the other petals to center the bead in the middle of the petals to form a "stamen." Pull with wires taunt and twist several times to secure. Lastly take the remaining wires and insert in the "U" curve of the Bobbi pins. Wrap around the base several times to tightly secure the flower to the pin. Trim any excess wire. Voila! An adorable accessory! These make a great stocking stuffer!

31 Days: Day 4

Tonight is going to be a short one. I'm bleary eyed. Just finished a five mile run. There is a little one in pink feety pajamas still running circles around me way past her bed time. I wish I had her energy.

I want to share with you my Tufted Titmouse. Such a cute little bird. Such a cute little attitude. Kind of like the little one in pink feety pajamas. This was my sketch:

This was the finished watercolor:


A few years ago I was scared to death of watercolor. I swore by oil paint only. Two kids and much less time later. Watercolor is how I role. Much less set up time. Much less drying time. No chance of little fingers wanting to touch an unfinished painting. I hope you are inspired to try something new today!

31 Days: Day 3 Pinterest

I am so slow and late to the Pinterest bandwagon, but I have arrived people!

Add one more addictive online social media outlet to my list. But this one has a really useful purpose. We are moving sometime in the next year (loud sigh), god willing, and I need somewhere to put all these thoughts of how I want to decorate. I mean a new house really is just a blank canvas waiting for me to virtually dress it up! I don't know if this counts as created with my own two hands but it definitely takes a creative vision to decorate a house that doesn't exist yet, don't you agree?

So today I am going to focus on the Master Suite of my imagined not yet mine house:

http://pinterest.com/blueleafdecor/dream-master-suite

What do you think? Love it, hate it? Suggestions?

31 Days: Day 2 Backyard Beauties

Beauty is everywhere. Right in your own backyard. Even if you don't have fancy landscaping and a killer view, it is still there. I have a big old butterfly bush in my yard that I am guessing is as old as the house. It is an all you can eat buffet to an entire neighborhood of bumble bees, butterflies, and moths.
This butterfly was being camera shy but at least it let me get a few shots of its wings.

1. Bush + 1. Camera = being creative Day 2. What ways are you being creative today? Share your links!

31 Days: 31 Ways to be creative!

I am so excited this year to participate in the 31 Days event hosted by The Nester and the Inspired Room. For my "31 Days" posts I am circling around the theme of being creative. Because really at the heart of it, that is what it is all about right?

So everyday this month I will have a post about some creative pursuit of mine. It might be some embroidery from my shop or some photos for "The Daily Pic" or anything else that catches my fancy that day. Just something created by me, with my own two hands. I hope I inspire you to join along!

Today's post is my family pillow from my Etsy shop, Blue Leaf Boutique. It is a favorite of mine, because it is all about those that we love. Those that keep us grounded. Those that give us shelter. Enjoy!