tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65370816138006899562024-03-05T01:07:21.721-08:00Less Consuming, More CreatingBethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-36586954785628301072014-01-01T19:46:00.001-08:002014-01-01T19:46:10.558-08:00How to Finish Things You StartI don't have a clue. Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-57266044817846823582012-06-11T20:28:00.000-07:002012-06-11T21:25:05.016-07:00Creative Day 164 - Tea Party Dress!Today I started with <a href="http://oliverands.com/digital/OLV-OS001TP.html" target="blank">this pattern<br>
<img src="http://oliverands.com/images/product/OLV-OS001TP/OLV-OS001TP_Dressed.jpg"></a><br>
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to make <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58291500@N00/2452068293/" target="blank">this dress<br>
<img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2202/2452068293_fe2ae22376.jpg" width="400"></a><br>
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and knowing my twirly, girly girl, decided to change out the stiff skirt for a gathered,<br>
<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/front.jpg" width="500"><br>
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flowy,<br>
<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/back.jpg" width="500"><br>
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airy,<br>
<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/side.jpg" width="500"><br>
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lace-embellished version of my own.<br>
<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/detail-1.jpg" width="500"><br>
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She loves it with her whole toddler heart and I'm way too proud of how my elementary sewing skills managed to come up with this. You can't buy this kind of satisfaction! Creating beats consuming again!Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-41739196999206782812012-05-17T13:06:00.001-07:002012-06-11T21:25:19.228-07:00Block Printing Step-by-Step<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/2-3.jpg" width="500">
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<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/30.jpg" width="500">Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-57031450638196081462012-03-01T10:23:00.008-08:002012-03-01T13:57:23.075-08:00Life-sized Hungry Hungry HipposRemember this game?<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8HPI_HT6yjo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Here's how you can take the funnest hippos <del>God ever created</del> to the next level of fun. It's about to get REAL in here.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day60c.jpg" width="500"><br /><br />In a large, flat playing area, mark the ground with a circle divided into quadrants.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/layout1.jpg" width="400"><br /><br />For a group of about 60 kids, a 30' diameter circle is sufficient.<br />Choose four kids to be hippos. Make them wear bike helmets with taped on construction paper hippo faces.<br /><br />Here's a <a href="https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-afEi8ciEt1dlg3RE1yV0lUTkNPOWIxOThTVGF0Zw" target="blank">template for the hippo faces</a>, if using templates is your thing. No matter what you do, a pink hippo will always look like a pig, but here's an example of how the finished helmets will look.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/helmut.jpg" width="400"><br /><br />Direct each hippo to stand in a different quadrant. The lines of that quadrant are that hippo's boundaries.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/layout2.jpg" width="400"><br /><br />The rest of the kids are marbles. They can run in any part of the circle at any time. The diameter of the circle is the marbles' boundary.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/layout3.jpg" width="400"><br /><br />The hippos "chomp" marbles by tagging them. If a hippo chomps a marble, that marble stands outside the quadrant of the hippo that chomped it. A hippo can chomp a marble in another quadrant if the hippo can reach the marble to tag it without stepping outside of the hippo's boundaries. Regardless of the quadrant a marble is in at the time of being chomped, that marble will stand outside the quadrant of the hippo that chomped it.<br /><br />If, in the course of running, a marble steps outside the circle, that marble must stand outside the quadrant he or she was last in, among the other chomped marbles for that quadrant. That marble will then count as being chomped by the hippo of whose quadrant the marble is standing outside.<br /><br />The last three marbles to get chomped will be three of the hippos in the next round. The hippo who has chomped the most marbles gets to choose who the fourth hippo for the next round will be.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day60b.jpg" width="400"><br /><br />Game continues until the children begin overheating or you can't stand their shrill shrieks anymore. <br /><br />Note: this game is really awesome, so if you're planning several games, make this one last. I almost made the mistake of playing giant Connect Four after this one, and that would not have been an exciting transition. Save the awesome for last!Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-88870529259192507322012-02-23T22:28:00.013-08:002012-02-24T13:15:27.077-08:00Make Your Jeans into Jorts!The creative project yesterday was converting some ugly, too-short flared jeans into summer shorts. The creative project today is making a blog tutorial so you can do it, too!<div><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day53.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />Start with the jeans you hate (they don't have to be maternity jeans). Decide how long you want them to be and mark that length with a pin (see the tiny yellow pin in the left leg of the jeans below?<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/1-1.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Cut off the bottoms of the legs, approximately an inch-and-a-half below the pin you used to mark your desired length. I can already tell this is going to be a horrible tutorial. Now cut the bottom hems off, leaving an inch-and-a-half of fabric above the hem. Pin one hem to each leg of the shorts with right sides facing, lining up the side seams and the raw edges to match. This project is so much easier to do than explain. Look at the picture and maybe it will become clear:</div><div><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/2-2.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Sew as close to the base of the hem as you dare. Be brave. It'll make your shorts look better.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/3-1.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Trim all that "inch-and-a-half" stuff down to about a quarter-inch from the sew line. Turn your new jorts inside out and iron the hems so they'll sit flat when you wear them. I'm not sure whether it's obvious the white triangle in the bottom of this photo is an iron, but if you don't know how to iron this tutorial can't help you much anyway:<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/5-1.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Turn the thing right side out, and you have jorts! And they don't look as homemade as if you'd tried to make new hems on your own!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/6-1.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Take a picture of yourself wearing your jorts, taking care to crop out your gassy bump and the unfolded laundry surrounding you.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/7-1.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Note: I was only able to use the existing pant hems for these jorts because the legs of my pants flared out at the bottom to approximately the same size as their thighs. Such a drastic transformation wouldn't work as well with, say, skinny jeans. You can check whether your pant bottoms flare enough by trying your pants on upside-down first. I'm not kidding. Insert your feet at the leg openings and pull those upside-down pants up your leg to whatever position you want your shorts hems to sit. If the hems fit there comfortably and not too loosely, you're good to go.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, I'm not going to pretend this didn't happen:<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/4-1.jpg" width="400" /><br /></div><br />I got a little cocky and went too fast sewing across the thickest part of the hems at the side seams. Three times. Learn from me.<div><br /></div><div>So there you have it! There are <a href="http://sometinytidbits.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-hem-jeans-like-professional.html">better tutorials</a> for <a href="http://www.cardiganempire.com/2009/08/how-to-hem-jeans-in-3-easy-steps.html">hemming jeans</a>, so thanks for sticking this one out to the end!</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-14355132270316302142012-01-20T08:16:00.000-08:002012-06-11T21:24:40.457-07:00Creative DaysIt's day 20 of my 365 day goal: creating something new every day! So far, so great!<br /><br />Here are photos of the projects I've worked on over the last 19 days. If you'd like to see a tutorial for any of these projects, let me know in the comments!<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day1.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 1 - bapron!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day2.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 2 - fabric stashing! I count the creative effort to choose fabrics and the crafty effort to get them ready for sewing.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day3.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 3 - another bapron!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day4.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 4 - bapronator!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day5.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 5 - thank you card collaboration with the toddler!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day6.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 6 - surprise grilled cheese birthday party for my husband!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day7.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 7 - bapron invaders!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day8.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 8 - bapronsaurus!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day9.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 9 - painting!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day10.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 10 - new lasagna recipe, with goat cheese and turkey kielbasa!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day11.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 11 - illustration of a new skill I learned: cutting chicken!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day12.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 12 - homemade sickly gray playdough!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day13.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 13 - napkins with mitered corners!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day14.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 14 - helped a friend decorate a cake for her husband's birthday!<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/L-8qHA1PLKU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />Day 15 - video!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day16.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 16 - painting progress 1!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day17.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 17 - painting progess 2!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day18a.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 18a - painting finished!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day18b.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 18b - invented 3D memory game! Paired objects from around the house go in a grid under paper bags, and kids take turns finding the pairs.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/day19.jpg" width="500"><br />Day 19 - stamp carving! This day's project was a FAIL! The photo is flipped so it looks like my backward stamp came out correctly - haha!<br /><br />With each project standing on its own, I'd say some were successes and some were not successful at all. But since my goal is to overcome the hang ups of perfectionism that keep me from producing more, so far I count it all as a WIN!Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-27450863457135657452011-11-13T17:25:00.001-08:002012-02-24T13:16:59.069-08:00Fabulous, Creative DayWhat a fantastic team!<br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6033/6342678226_58fc478f8e_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />They offered over 1,000 seriously beautiful items for sale.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6240/6342682282_6d48cf9db5_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6107/6342679646_7eb00ee5b3_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6109/6342681172_77f9252171_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6097/6342679112_8e0a0dc4b3_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6046/6342681924_c410bbed8f_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6054/6341931085_c35fd2ee6c_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6236/6343018662_e3192540ee_z.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6092/6341934047_10422af11e_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6240/6339019543_b1a388900b_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6342997606_0f32ca4636_z.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/6339763288_fcff389d71_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />Hundreds of customers were happy to take home hundreds of those items.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6238/6341931729_4d97a44b3f_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6218/6341930539_7d70751a45_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />Musicians took the experience to another level of greatness.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6211/6341932857_c086beb876_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6108/6341931423_5214099905_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />Ladies called the event "magical". <br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6238/6341932127_8c9aef5bca_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />Gentlemen called it "legit".<br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6222/6339093907_504120a2cd_b.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />Altogether, it was a day of creativity, independent craft appreciation, good people, good food, good music, good shopping, and good times - a grand success!<br /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6034/6343014468_6c765743fa_z.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />Thanks to Noah K. for capturing the event through photos!<br /><br />This video of our daughter dancing sums up my feelings about the experience.<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G0c0-Zc9cg8?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-76465487069762649562011-11-12T07:04:00.002-08:002012-02-24T13:17:43.735-08:00Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!It's Handmade Holiday Shop day!<br /><br />We're getting everything set up, and I can guarantee that rain or shine, you're going to love this shop! Why? Because the entire shop is <i>indoors</i>! What better way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon than cozied up in our home sipping tea or coffee, perusing hundreds of handmade wonders, painting collaboratively, and listening to live acoustic music with a bunch of cool people? There is no better way!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/forecast.jpg" width="400" /><br />Forecast from our doorstep: cloudy with a chance of MAGIC!<br /><br />And now, to announce the winners of our giveaway!<br /><br />The random number generator chose a very deserving winner of the earrings, and she is........ Tessa K!<br /><br />Next, the random number generator picked a girl whose dreams would come true when she won the tiny dinosaur, and that girl is.......... Audrey W!<br /><br />Congratulations ladies, and thank you to everyone who entered and spread the word about today's event! Remember, everybody's a winner when they convince their friends and family to buy them gifts at the Handmade Holiday Shop!Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-41792534564661817562011-11-04T17:59:00.001-07:002012-02-24T13:17:56.882-08:00The Handmade Holiday ShopCheck out these pictures previewing a few of the over 800 items that will be for sale at the Handmade Holiday Shop! Then, at the bottom of this post, find out how you can win a pair of hand-crafted earrings or a tiny stuffed dino!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/wreath.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">Becky</span><br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/pens.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">Dan</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/appleninny?ref=pr_shop_more" target="blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/hairpretty.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">Wendi</span></a><br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/bikesballoons.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">Tessa</span><br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/toyvan.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">Dan</span><br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/neptune.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">me</span><br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/gloves.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">Chris</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeroDesigns?ref=pr_shop_more" target="blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/earring.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">Marlee</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MooseAndBee?ref=si_shop" target="blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/bookends.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">Dan and me</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/gioelli?ref=pr_shop_more" target="blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/necklace.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">The Other Bethany</span></a><br /><br />Pretty amazing stuff, right?<br /><br />How would you like to win some cool stuff of your own? Either...<br /><br />...this dinosaur (click the image to see a close-up... eek tiny plates down his back!)<br /><a href="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/dinobig.jpg" target="blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/dino.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />...or these earrings!<br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/earringpromo.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />There are three ways to enter!<br /><br /><div><ul><li>Post a Facebook status about the Handmade Holiday Shop, linking to this blog post (comment here to tell me you did that).</li><li>Tweet about the Handmade Holiday Shop, linking to this blog post and using hashtag #handmadeholidayshop (leave another comment here to tell me you did that).</li><li>Blog about the Handmade Holiday Shop, linking to this blog post (leave another comment here to tell me you did that, and include the link to your own blog post).</li></ul><br />Get it? Three ways to enter; do all three things and you get three entries! Make sure you leave a separate comment on this blog for each entry.<br /><br />This giveaway ends Friday, November 11 at 10 p.m. and we'll announce the winners the next morning!*<br /><br />If you come to the Handmade Holiday Shop, we'll give you your prize that day! If you can't make it, we'll send it to you!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/promotionpostcardssmall.jpg" width="400" /></div><br /><br />Part of the proceeds of the Handmade Holiday Shop go to <a href="http://www.mysafeharbor.org/" target="blank">My Safe Harbor</a>. Support a great cause while getting your holiday shopping done! We can't wait to see you there!<br /><br /><i>*My family members are ineligible to win, but if they help spread the word I might upgrade their Christmas presents.</i>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-16619373934157725122011-11-04T11:31:00.001-07:002012-02-24T13:18:17.703-08:00The HHS<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/pricetags.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/promotionpostcardssmall.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Check back this evening for preview photos and information on how you can win these earrings!<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/earringpromo.jpg" width="400" />Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-69646706428453011452011-07-20T08:30:00.000-07:002011-07-20T10:48:38.437-07:00Here's a Box, Let's Put Our Children In ItBeing a kid makes you either great or terrible at drawing. <br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/kiddraw1.jpg?t=1311177900" width="500"><br /><br />It seems like you definitely start out great.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mommy/2007/03/art-imitates-life-mostly-1.html" target="blank"><img src="http://www.yorkblog.com/mommy/img/sammysfamily-1.jpg" width="500"><br /><small>York Blog</small></a><br /><br />This striped potato wearing an eyeball hat says, "You're creative!"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/davegray/3279316467/" target="blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/3279316467_b5538126bc.jpg" width="500"><br /><small>Dave Gray's Flickr</small></a><br /><br />And for a while, it just gets better as you learn how to express on paper the most important features of people and objects around you, according to your perception. <br /><br /><a href="http://bri.me/page/3" target="blank"><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/1o9ZpYX5kjyorr9vY1Y47qvGo1_400.jpg" width="500"><br /><small>Source unknown, because the original site died</small></a><br /><br />Until, at some point in your life, you get stressed about "doing it right", because a house is a triangle on top of a square, the ground is a green stripe at the bottom of the page, and flying birds are shaped like McDonald's arches.<br /><br /><a href="http://amotherworld.com/main/blog/what-my-kids-drawing-means-oh-my/" target="blank"><img src="http://amotherworld.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Anthony-drawing.jpg" width="500"><br /><small>A Mother World</small></a><br /><br />Which is perfectly cute and delightful to your mom, but not creative the way it used to be, and leads to this stock image of an adult attempting to draw "like a child":<br /><br /><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?lang=en&search_source=search_form&version=llv1&anyorall=all&safesearch=1&searchterm=kid+drawing&search_group=&orient=&search_cat=&searchtermx=&photographer_name=&people_gender=&people_age=&people_ethnicity=&people_number=&commercial_ok=&color=&show_color_wheel=1#id=5636230" target="blank"><img src="http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/5493/5493,1190769288,1/stock-vector-child-like-drawing-with-kid-school-and-sun-5636230.jpg" width="500"><br /><small>Shutterstock</small></a><br /><br />which makes the earth do this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.divorceandkids.com/Kids%20Quotes-Drawings/drawings.htm" target="blank"><img src="http://www.divorceandkids.com/images/Drawing_2.jpg" width="500"><br /><small>DivorceandKids.com</small></a><br /><br />because it's sad for the injury to your creativity.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/dyingcreativity.jpg?t=1311181569" width="400"><br /><br />Now you're an adult who is most likely crippled by your need to impress teachers and peers by "doing it right". I know I am.<br /><br />How do we bust out da box?Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-70602288957600578652011-07-10T20:50:00.000-07:002011-07-11T07:29:36.711-07:00Manly Maturity<div>I discovered a fantastic article about consuming/creating on <a href="http://artofmanliness.com/" target="blank">The Art of Manliness</a> blog. Feel free to make this about yourself whether or not you're a man!</div><div><br />Favorite quotes:<br /><br /><ul><li><i>Consumerism offers so many choices that we fail to see that they all reside within a predetermined box. </i></li><br /><li><i>When you create instead of consume, your capacity for pleasure increases, as opposed to your </i>need <i>for it. Being a creator gives you a far more lasting and deeply satisfying happiness than consuming ever will.</i></li><br /><li><i>The problem with consumerism is that it heavily emphasizes choice, to the complete exclusion of the idea of living with that choice.</i></li><br /><li><i>[Another] problem with consumerism is that it satiates our discomfort with passing and superficial pleasures, distracting us from what that hunger is really calling out for. </i></li><br /><li><i>The act of creation shapes you as a man, refines your sensibilities, improves your strengths, hones your concentration, and builds your character. Passive consumption leaves you untouched and unchanged. </i></li></ul><br />I'm so inspired right now!</div><div><br /></div><div>Read the whole article here: <a href="http://artofmanliness.com/2010/04/06/modern-maturity-create-more-consume-less/" target="blank">Modern Maturity: Create More, Consume Less</a></div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-29154122611907390512011-07-07T07:01:00.000-07:002011-07-11T07:48:22.241-07:00If these bookends are wrong, I don't want to be rightI did a little collaborative bookend creating with my father-in-law this week. <br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/IMG_9802.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />We're opening a shop together.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/IMG_9804.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />I already ask him to make me the kind of wood stuff I'd want to buy, so our target demographic would probably be people whose style makes the Pottery Barn crowd shake their heads in pity. <br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/IMG_9800.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />Are you in that demographic, too?Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-23758218942832377782011-07-05T08:01:00.000-07:002011-07-11T07:40:08.348-07:00Street ArtThe Geffen Street Art installment has lit me up!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.moca.org/audio/blog/?p=1883#more-1883" target="blank"><img src="http://www.moca.org/audio/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Art-in-the-Streets-125.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.moca.org/audio/blog/?p=1883#more-1883" target="blank"><img src="http://www.moca.org/audio/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Art-in-the-Streets-251.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><small>Os Gemeos</small><br /><br /><a href="http://www.moca.org/audio/blog/?p=1883#more-1883" target="blank"><img src="http://www.moca.org/audio/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Art-in-the-Streets-189.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><small>Banksy</small><br /><br /><a href="http://www.moca.org/audio/blog/?p=1883#more-1883" target="blank"><img src="http://www.moca.org/audio/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Art-in-the-Streets-135.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><small>André</small><br /><br />My phone camera skills are less than wonderful, but this was another of my favorite views:<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/geffenstreet1.jpg" width="500" /><br /><small>Margaret Kilgallen</small><br /><br />If you live in the area and are looking for an inspiration/motivation hit, I recommend <a href="http://www.moca.org/museum/exhibitiondetail.php?id=443" target="blank">checking this out</a>!Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-82075074673998247892011-07-02T08:49:00.000-07:002011-07-02T10:05:37.408-07:00Creative Kitchen<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/food.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />To begin overhauling my shopping and cooking consumerism, I commit to:<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/chicken.jpg" width="100" /><span class="Apple-style-span" >think </span>about which organic battles are worth my fight;<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/beef.jpg" width="150" /><span class="Apple-style-span" >make</span><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span>more meals from scratch;<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/chocolate.jpg" width="150" /><span class="Apple-style-span" >try </span>new recipes;<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/potato.jpg" width="150" />and <span class="Apple-style-span" >give </span>my support to local food producers.<br /><br /><br />(Reporting on my progress periodically, of course.)Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-18851055693335677882011-06-30T10:40:00.000-07:002011-07-01T08:46:52.863-07:00Creative MantraAs a consumer, I<br />ignore<br />take<br />use<br />destroy.<br /><br />As a creator, I<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/mantra.jpg" width="400">Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537081613800689956.post-36150222908793027062011-06-23T09:29:00.000-07:002011-06-28T15:42:29.078-07:00Creating HomeWe love a pretty living space. <br /><br /><img src="http://assets4.designsponge.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/emilyh3.jpg" width="500"><br /><small><a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2010/02/sneak-peek-emily-hensen.html" target="blank">Emily Henson's home, on Design*Sponge</a></small><br /><br />There's something revealing and enticing about the way a person composes her trappings, when she really puts some effort into it. <br /><br /><img src="http://g-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/1599608/7-15-gwyneth-4_rect540.jpg" width="500"><br /><small><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/interior-design/gwyneth-paltrows-pastel-penthouse-curbed-121972" target="blank">Gwyneth Paltrow's home, on Apartment Therapy</a></small><br /><br />We're in the process of making each room in our house a room that we love.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/beforeafternursery.jpg" width="500"><br /><br />At this point, about 90% of our decor is made of things we bought, or things others bought for us.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/beforeafterlivingroom.jpg" width="500"><br /><br />It's been a matter of arranging the stuff we've consumed, that other people created.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/beforeafterbreakfast.jpg" width="500"><br /><br />I started thinking: what makes the most striking home decor special?<br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMHeI_jlTe0g-mwDd8GtsplKe9XdCKo6bqoEVrPx8NNa4AxT7219QV9L01nZt-LmkfYAcL16ZatdD9ffTzG5OmvYC_pBQliVJr240PhwNprmd5l_nvrC4_6OmtEpGEPUb9KPItHd1GYR-/s1600/SCAN0275.jpg" width="500"><br /><small><a href="http://www.sarahklassen.com/2010/06/hotel-delos-france.html" target="blank">Hotel Delos, on Haute Design</a></small><br /><br />Why does it grab our attention and make us long to live in its photograph?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.abrogers.com/project/rainbow-house/big/rainbowhouse-04.jpg" width="500"><br /><small><a href="http://www.abrogers.com/projects/view/rainbow-house" target="blank">The Rainbow House in London</a></small><br /><br />How does it stand out from among other lovely designs like art stands out from decoration?<br /><br /><img src="http://indierocket.com/sedaris2.jpg" width="500"><br /><small><a href="http://designismine.blogspot.com/2011/05/like-child.html" target="blank">Amy Sedaris' home, on Design is Mine</a></small><br /><br />For me, the difference is in the proportion of risk-taking to trend-following, originating to copying, creating to consuming.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.theselby.com/6_17_10_GeraldDeCock/slides/6_17_10_Gerald_Decock29368.jpg" width="500"><br /><small><a href="http://www.theselby.com/6_17_10_GeraldDeCock/" target="blank">Gerald Decock's home, on The Selby</a></small><br /><br />Our home currently exhibits about 10% risk-taking.<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/bijaydi/kitchenbrick.jpg" width="500"><br /><br />This post is my letter of intent to start tweaking some proportions around here.Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994653210211508703noreply@blogger.com3