Yeasty: For the Exuberantly Creative (YOU!)

Andy Warhol and the Car

2012-02-29T07:16:00.003-08:00

I adore the car. It's much better than a work of art. ~~ Andy Warhol

What to do on a wintry day in Pittsburgh? Visit museums, of course.

On Saturday we had a chance to visit the Andy Warhol Museum where the featured exhibit focuses on the artist's love of cars. With the widespread appeal of his soup cans and shots of celebs like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor (and the VW bug!), Warhol's artwork featuring cars is not as widely- known.

But sitting smack dab in the middle of the first floor exhibit hall at the museum on the city's North Shore is one of the commisioned BMW Art Cars painted by Warhol in colors and strokes to replicate movement in the 70s. Warhol insisted on making all of the brush strokes himself so this car is genuinely one-of-a-kind.

The exhibit runs till May 13. If you live close enough, jump in your own art car and ride on down to the museum. So much creativity in one spot!

Creative Spotlight: Women's History Month

2012-02-23T12:13:00.001-08:00

March is Women's History Month. Feng Shui Expert Yvonne Phillips offers these suggestions to help all women be more relaxed, and therefore open to even more creativity in their lives.

Feng Shui for Women of this Century

What we read and have heard throughout our lives from the women who came before us seems to confirm that mid-life for the typical American female is a time of extraordinary stress. Not only are the physiological challenges at times hard to manage and understand, never mind mediate, the confluence of responsibilities for children, aging parents and career are enormous stressors assumed at a most vulnerable time in a woman’s life. How can women best create within their environments the clarity and flow that enables and amplifies optimal strength, health and adaptability to the many shifts within and without?

Feng Shui (FS) has many answers to this question and will provide for spaces and lifestyles that can more easily accommodate fluctuation, provide stability and magnify support and well-being.

When managing a household with children, particularly teens and college-aged kids, the key is defining space in a way that allows for privacy and retreat for over-worked moms. First, clear your space of all unwanted clutter and broken or damaged items. Do not allow the excess items to sit within your home, even if the piles are intended for charitable donation. Remove unwanted items immediately.

Decorate your bedroom and bath with subdued and calming colors, avoiding shades of blue in these as well as other areas of your home, as it gives the effect of “drowning” and too much “water” element within a home, including a blue exterior or roof, is considered very poor FS.

Focus on green hues and pale earth tones, and confine children’s and family photos to other areas of the home, keeping the bed and bath a sanctuary of relaxation and intimacy. Pictures with the kids can find the perfect place in the family corner of your shared living areas, as defined by the bagua map at http://www.creativecolordesigninc.com/. Set the tone even more by adding your favorite music, mementos and creating a spot within these spaces where you are surrounded by favorite scents and items of comfort and indulgence.

Your commitments may extend beyond children and spouse by middle years, so creating a true retreat atmosphere is of paramount importance. The fire element can be placed at the middle rear or back of your space; the fame and reputation area of the bagua map by implementing candles and creating a romantic spa environment within your bedroom or bath.

Finding a balance between being a nurturing support to aging parents and creating opportunities for self-nurturing is critical during middle-age.

Transitioning from work to home can be eased through proper FS and careful consideration of the energy in the entry to your house. Be sure it is tidy and free of shoes and other cast-offs. Free your porch or front steps of any items that block the energy leading to your door and remove all debris. Draw the eye to areas of beauty and cleanliness and clear all pathways to the two most important areas of the home, the kitchen and bedrooms.

FS will de-stress your spaces and enliven your sense of stability and well-being by creating positive flow and conditions which support the body, mind and spirit as they move through the many demanding arenas of our life passages.

Creative Spotlight: Charm Bracelets

2012-02-15T12:17:00.000-08:00

Women love sparkly baubles, there is no doubt. Jewelers have capitalized on this notion for years, but some really smart ones have come up with a whole new way to feed women's need for charms to circle their wrists.

The new "memory" bead braclets are everywhere these days. I hadn't really paid attention until I saw one of my friend's this past summer. It was shimmering with all kinds of color and keepsakes, something that has always appealed to me.

This photo (above) is of my old charm bracelet from high school. It includes charms for my Sweet 16 birthday, for the musicals I was involved in (publicity committee, never center stage), my guitar and high school and team memorabilia too. Because of the sheer weight of the bracelet, I didn't wear it too much, but have kept it safely in a drawer all these years.

For Valentine's Day, I received one of the new style of charm bracelets and am enamored of it. It has a long way to go till it's filled up, but with Mother's Day and a birthday coming up in the spring, guess what I bet I will be receiving? That's nice to think about even as it's nice to look closely at my old charms and remember the times in my life they represent.

Creative Spotlight: Aprons

2012-01-31T13:30:00.000-08:00

Aprons and More Aprons

For some reason, I have been thinking a lot about aprons, which I never use. My grandmother, above, wore aprons all day every day. I have a couple of hers and am attempting to put my hands on them so I can take photos and show you. No such luck so far. Imagine: Losing something in my home. (It's about the third thing lately I haven't been able to find, and I hope that's not a trend.)

My grandmother Zelinda, who we called Nonna, was a wonderful woman who loved to cook and clean. She had the cleanest house I have ever been in. It's what she did.

Her love of aprons did not quite pass through the generations, but I am wondering if that will change. I own three other aprons -- a beautiful one crafted by a friend as a Christmas present; one given to me by my in-laws which was brought back with them from Ireland and one from Disney World.

Today there is an entire magazine devoted to aprons called Apron-ology so there must be a lot of interest in these garments. Although I have seen the magazines in stores, I haven't bought one. I just might have to change that.

Stop by to see more photos of aprons and a picture of my other grandmother, for whom I was named and who also wore aprons most of the time.

Creative Spotlight

2012-01-19T07:31:00.000-08:00

A cute birdie decoration

After keeping busy making baby blankets for nieces and daughters of friends, I made this cute little crocheted bird following directions at a great new crochet site I happened upon. Attic24 contains the creative crocheting energy of Lucy who lives in Northern England.

What I really love about her patterns is the full bore use of color! Rainbow colors attract me every time. (I used to favor pastels, so much so that one visitor to this house when we first moved in thought I must be a perennial optimist because of the pastel color choices.) Now I lean more towards jewel tones, possibly a sign of maturity? Naw!

I hope you will visit Lucy's site. She has promised a new "creative mess" project soon, using buttons and bows and all sorts of things from her stash. Can't wait to see it!

In the meantime I am making a couple more birds for friends. I will post photos of them as they are done, like the cardinal above.

Yeasty Adventure: Studio Lighting

2012-01-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

No, this isn't my house OR my equipment. But it's a neat photo!

I asked Santa for some hobby lighting equipment so that I could begin to learn the best way to light objects and portraits indoors.

A class in studio lighting was available at Pittsburgh Filmmakers when I was still taking classes there but I didn't have the inclination to dive in then.

Truth be told, I prefer taking photos outside. I remember how after I had spent a couple of winter months shooting (bad) photos of my son at his indoor college track meets how amazing it was to look into the viewfinder when he finally had an outdoor meet. Wonderful!

But since I live in Pennsylvania, the chances for outdoor shots have been reduced considerably with the frigid turn in the weather. So I am hoping to learn how to beef up my skills in order to take better indoor shots.

I will keep you apprised of my progress, and if you have suggestions, please don't hesitate to send them along. I need all the help I can get!

Yeasty Photo Safari: Gingerbread Village

2011-12-19T06:25:00.000-08:00

A Sweet Display in Downtown Pittsburgh

We happened upon a holiday display of creative gingerbread houses the other day in Pittsburgh, in the Downtown PPG complex. It's amazing what chidlren and adults can do with some crackers and icing.

The houses were on display inside the buildings, which border the city park where a ice skating ring was installed a few years ago. Families and single skaters made their way 'round and 'round the decorated tree, only stopping to have hot chocolate.

Inside, with the sun streaming in the windows, we found our own source for hot chocolate and holiday music, performed by young symphony musicians.

Here are just some of the houses that were on display. I have always wanted to make one of these and for some reason haven't done it. This was quite the inspriation to get it done!

Creative Spotlight

2011-12-05T13:42:00.001-08:00

Caps for Kids program

Residents at Sherwood Oaks. a retirement community in Cranberry Township, north of Pittsburgh, have once again covered this Christmas tree with handmade hats they created throughout the year. Using different patterns and yarns, the women knit and crochet hundreds of hats to be given to the local Caps for Kids program, which then distributes them to needy children.

What a lovely way to show caring creativity to children who may otherwise be cold this winter. The crafters also make some scarves and mittens for the children.

A lovely project.

Creativity Tip No. 43

2011-11-16T13:35:00.001-08:00

Polka Dot Christmas Balls

Small Christmas ball ornaments waiting to be decorated

I was out shopping the other day and came across small containers of tiny Christmas ornaments that had polka dots all over them. I loved the idea of them and decided I would buy some and put them in some square vashes I have. Voila! An easy, inexpensive centerpiece.

I would need at least three of the containers to fill the vases, and was shocked when I turned one container over to see the price tag: $12. So for nearly $40 I could have that simple, inexpensive centerpiece. Didn't seem right somehow.

I then visited a JoAnn's craft store and found the same little ornaments sans polka dots on sale for $2.50 a container. That's when I had a dangerous idea: Why couldn't I paint dots on these ornaments to get the same effect?

So that's what I am doing. I already had white paint and decided I could use mini muffin pans filled with tissues as a drying rack for my little gems. I am using an old rounded embossing tool to make the paint dots but you could use a paint brush or anything else that will make a dot.

I can only paint dots on one half of the balls at a time for obvious reasons. I will let these dry overnight and then paint on the other side. I will then have 24 decorated balls when I am done with this first batch. I know I need more than that so I will probably paint 24 more.

As you can imagine, this is pretty time-consuming, but they have turned out to be pretty and still cost less than the original ones and I am enjoying myself. Very Yeasty!

Note: Here is the almost-finished final product! I need to add a few more ornaments to this vase and then make more to fill up its twin. Looks pretty good so far!

Creative Spotlight

2011-11-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

Creativity Two Ways: Photography vs. Painting

I took this photo in October in a small town not far from here named Volant. This barn was located at the back of the parking lot where my sisters-in-law and I left our car, choosing to walk around the town on the beautiful fall day.

We took a lot of photos that day, and then my sister-in-law Maggie decided to paint a couple of the scenes.

Therefore, we have this beautiful renditon of the same scene:

This painting has so much more life and color in it than the photograph I took.

Here's another example:

This is a very nice photo, I think, and it tells the story of fall and plenty. But when Maggie wielded her magic, this is what resulted:

Beautiful, eh?

I love taking pictures and will continue to do so, because it makes me happy. I can't paint as beautifully as this, and maybe you can't either, but creativity is expressed in different ways by different people. If you can't do one thing, you can do another. Everything has its place.

To see more of Maggie's work, visit her blog.

Yeasty Photo Safari: Marshall Island

2011-10-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

There is a tiny island in the lake at North Park, a county park near us. I had never set foot on it till last wekeend, and decided it was worth more than one visit. This is a long shot of the island (where the pines are). On the left you can see a small wooden walkway and on the right, a purple martin birdhouse.

The island's walkway; one of the many benches where you can fish.

I asked a nice fisherman if I could take a photo of his bobbin case.

Birdhouses have been placed on the island to encourage wildlife.

A sign letting you know you have arrived.

These burning bushes reach out into North Park Lake, where Marshall Island sits.

Creativity Tip No. 42

2011-10-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

Ah, Cider

I am not a huge fan of apples. I think it comes from all those lunches in high school when we tried to eat only an apple so we could lose weight. A lot of pressure to put on a fruit.

But at the grocery store today I saw gallons of apple cider and thought that it was time to make some. Since apple cider is much sweeter than plain old apples, it suits me better.Especially the cinnamon stick used for garnish.

Here is an excellent recipe for cider from Emeril. Something to warm you up on the cold nights ahead!

Creativity Tip No. 41

2011-09-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome, Fun Yellow

After many years of being a dull blue, I decided to have my laundry room painted while the painter was here doing some other work.

It didn't take me long to settle on yellow for the walls. I love yellow, and unfortunately, there is a limit to where you can use it. (I know those of us who are Fans of Yellow might disagree with that, but that's the facts.)

I had used bright yellow once before in a bathroom and really liked that a lot. So I chose the color Fun Yellow for the laundry room, which I hope is an indication of things to come.

Why settle for blah when you can have fabulous, I always say. Well, maybe I don't say that, but I could. And probably will once my room is done.

Yeasty Adventures (not)

2011-09-27T07:38:00.000-07:00

By Carmen L. Vilanova

It's sad to say how easily life's frustrations can cause creativity to vanish in the wind. I wanted to offer a really great idea here to nudge us all into fall, but found that since I am having technical difficulties right now, I couldn't get my mind around it.

For days now I haven't been able to access my own website, www.boomthis.com. It just stopped working and even consulting with my web ladies hasn't helped. I also joined a problem solving forum where people are really nice and helpful, but this is such an odd problem no one can help me fix it.

Everyone else I know can get on the site. It's just me who is being shut out. Now I know the universe has a sense of humor, but some of us aren't laughing! Argh!

Creativity Tip No. 40

2011-09-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

Halloween's a'coming!

I whipped up these Halloween potholders last year for my daughter-in-law to brighten up her kitchen. I crocheted them and had fun adding the details.

For those who crochet, basically you make two orange and two black circles, whatever size you want. Then you add little crocheted details, also simple, plus a little embroidery for the cat's whiskers and mouth. Sew the two circles together and then crochet a short strip to be used as a hanger.

These are more decorative than useful.. If you really want to use them to hold hot pots, you will have to add some type of insulation between the two main circles. I prefer to hang them on the refrigerator where they make me smile and stay clean!

Green Creativity: A Natural Fence to Open a Labyrinth

2011-09-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

My friend Cuong Doan created this natural fence from yard scraps. Fashioned of ewe and ash branches with apple tree wooden feet, the fence marks the opening to the painted labyrinth he designed outside the office of his massage therapy office in the North Hills of Pittsburgh.

Cuong's goal, after making another fence, is to continue to fill the space with bird feeders and plants to make it an inviting spot for visitors to come and rest for awhile. There is a table and chair set waiting for someone to read or sip tea, or to think about entering the labyrinth.

For more about Cuong's labyrinth, visit here.

Green Creativity: Garden Art from Recyclables

2011-08-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without

At Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, the summer flower show includes lovely summer blooms as you would expect, but also some "green" ideas for recycling used items as art in your garden.

Phipps, one of America's Greenest Public Gardens, prides itself on being a leader for a more sustainable future.

Below (and above) are some photos of how items were recycled into garden art such as using bamboo, a great renewable resource, to create fabrics, as illustrated by the sculptural flower petals in the photo above.

Also, glass bottle pieces are suspended in architecural panels; cans become decorative accents, and plastic bottles are repurposed into fabrics.

Great ideas and only the beginning of reducing the amount of trash that ends up in landfills.

Creativity Tip No. 39

2011-08-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

Bracelets Galore!

If you can't tell, this is a jewelry organizer holding all of my bracelets. I have been looking for something to display my bracelets so that I can remember what I have and wear them all. I previously had them in a cut glass dish my aunt had given me. It worked more as a decorative piece than a way to choose bracelets to wear. I would always have to dig into the bowl to find what I wanted, not really seeing all of them.

Since I have been accumulating them my entire life, there are quite a few as you can see. (Like most of you, I love bracelets. You never have to try them on, they are usually inexpensive, always colorful and perfect.)

I bought this jewelry stand at Michael's the other day, but now realize I at least need one more since the bracelets are so crammed together I still can't see them all.

Got any suggestions on how you store your jewelry? Pass them on!

Creativity Tip No. 38

2011-08-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

Haul out your summer jewelry!

The locusts are strumming, the songbirds have stopped singing and there are mums for sale at the big box stores. It can only mean one thing: Summer is drawing to a close.

I have made a conscious decision to wear as much of my summer jewelry as I can, as often as I can in the next days. If I could wear two sets of earrings at a time, I would be tempted. Too soon I will be putting this colorful stuff away and replacing it with the more conservative jewelry of fall.

Gone will be the white capris and the white sandals and the lightweight evening bags. Gone will be my pink (with blue trim) shoes and my mint green walking shoes. Back to black and brown and navy and gray, which I love, but doesn't it seem like we wear those colors more than enough?

I hope you will take this hint and start wearing all of those whimsical items you cherish and wear only in the summer. Enjoy them while you can, even if you have to make a smiley face with them!

Creativity Tip No. 37

2011-08-05T06:02:00.000-07:00

It may be dorky, well, actually it is, but I have begun to use a springy wrist coil to attach my keys to my wrist when I am out and about. The idea came to me when I found that a lot of summer slacks and capris don't have pockets, for some insane reason. And putting my keys into my purse caused them to be lost for minutes at a time.

I had to look around for a few days to locate this type of key ring, since most places were sold out I kid you not! I found one finally at Loew's of all places.

One of the best ways I have found to use this new toy is when I walk and am carrying way too much stuff in my pockets, like my phone and my camera and sometimes my ipod for music.

As cool as this can be, I have to admit that even with the keys jangling from my wrist, I still find myself often beginning to search for them in the caverns of my purse only to realize where they are. Guess one thing wrist coils can't help with is loss of memory!

Not sure this is a fashion forward step, and may not be approved of by Tim Gunn, but for now, it's helping me keep track of things, even though I may look like someone who should be managing a warehouse on the waterfront somewhere. I can live with that.

Creativity Tip No. 36

2011-08-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

Some tiny indulgences while on vacation, gathered by a friend of mine:

· a small vase of mint in the bathroom (buy mint in the produce section)

· slice up a lemon or lime and keep it in the fridge for your ice water, food

· real half and half for your coffee. Really.

· cocoa butter for your hands

· a special CD for a relaxation “trip.” This could be anything from spa “New Age” music to Ella Fitzgerald to Gregorian chant. When you are stressing out, put it on SIT DOWN and close your eyes for 15 minutes or five songs. (a sleep mask helps to keep your eyes closed)

· a sleep mask

Creative Spotlight

2011-07-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

CindyStock Concerts Raise Money for Cancer Patients

It's not easy to raise money these days, even for the best of causes. But that hasn't stopped Cindy Bandula Yates and her family and friends.

Every summer they host a musical venue designed as a fundraiser to help those who can't afford cancer screenings or support services. This year's CindyStock 8 will once again take place at Cindy and Ted's home north of Pittsburgh, off I-79. More than 200 people are expected to lounge in lawn chairs and on blankets as they enjoy the fine music of five performers and good food during the afternoon, rain or shine.

Hats off to Cindy for a creative idea that really works. Not only does she help cancer patients, she is an inspiration to all who want to help a cause close to their hearts, It's a lot of work, but worth it.

For more information, visit here.

Creativity Tip No. 35

2011-07-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are two pages I recently completed in my new Smash notebook (really an artist's sketchbook with heavy duty pages). For more info, refer to Creativity Tip No. 34).

As you can see, the items I smashed into the book are ones that I probalby wouldn't have scrapbooked, but still were items I didn't want to just throw away.

I added some scrapping supplies to the pages to jazz them up a little (the sun, FUN sign) and think this may be the most fun of all: Using up some of my stash.

Creativity Tip No. 34

2011-07-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

Go Ahead: Smash Your Memories!

There's a new product being offered to scrapbooking afficionados. It's called Smash, and it is exactly what it says. You take a notebook and then glue in all of the small memorabilia that we all generate every day, but which is often not accompanied by great photos. So instead of throwing out the goodies because they are not scrapbook-worthy, you Smash! them into a notebook and keep them all in one place.

There's a great video on Smash at this website, where you will also see the product line, althoug it is very easy to use things from your existing stash.

I couldn't find the actual Smash notebook so I bought a sketchbook at an office supply store that I can use to smash my stuff into (It has sturdy pages which is all that is required.)

I think this is a great idea for all of us who hate to throw some things away like the latest baby pictures, business cards for local restaurants, a color palette for a potential dining room paint job.

This new trend allows for all sorts of Yeasty creativity. Jot down your ideas for projects or gifts or new books or anything you are interested in. It's your book, and if it gets too big, that's exactly the point. Enjoy it.

Check back often. I will post some photos of my best Smashed pages, once I get some of them done!

Creativity Tip No. 33

2011-06-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

Photographers: Sometimes it pays to look left

I almost missed this beautiful sunset photo the other night as I was walking around our high school. I was actually trying to take a photo of a robin perched on a tall tree serenading us with song as the day drew to a close (See photo below).

So I zoomed in with my little camera to get the shot of the robin, and after loooking at the result, realized I was too far away to get a decent shot of something so small. But just to the left of the robin, the sun was setting over some pine trees. I quickly snapped the shot.

Just goes to show you that sometimes what you think you want to focus on may not be the best shot. It pays to be open and really look at what's around us, to see what else is on the horizon. It just might be a once-of-a-kind photo you will cherish.

Creative Spotlight: Yummy Hostess Gifts for Summer

2011-06-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

Guest Blogger Gloria Troyer, creator of the terrific food blog, Tempt Every Palate:

Gloria's BBQ sauce dressed up as a great
summer hostess gift. Yum!

Now that my husband and I are empty nesters, we live in an apartment building where we are not allowed to use a gas BBQ. It is considered a fire hazard if it is stored on a balcony. However that does not stop me from making my own sauce to BBQ ribs in the oven.

I usually make a small batch of barbeque sauce and will give it away as a hostess gift. I don’t always use a recipe. Sometimes I will get a basic sauce cooking and add whatever is on hand. I might use a fresh hot pepper like a jalapeno finely diced, commercial mustard, ketchup, maple syrup as a sweetener, or add beer to the recipe as part of the liquid. It is fun to experiment and see what works for you. The following recipe will make two pints and is the perfect sauce to complement all types of ribs.

1 medium onion chopped
4 cups of apple cider
½ cup of cider vinegar
½ cup of brown sugar
1 tbsp of whole mustard seed
1 tsp. celery seed
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 12 ounce bottles of chili sauce* (I use my own home-made sauce)
Hot pepper sauce to taste

Bring all of the ingredients to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat and let it simmer until it has thickened and the volume looks to be half of what you started with. Pour the hot sauce into two pint jars and seal with two sterilized lids. (I put the jars into a water- bath and process it for 10 minutes. Remove with tongs and cool.)

It is a good idea to put a label on the jar and write what is inside and also jot down the date. It looks great like this as a gift. But I like to take it a step further and decorate my jars. If I am in a fabric store I always keep an eye open for decorative fabrics with themes that fit in with what I have made. I use cotton fabric and a fruit theme for jam, Christmas patterns for the holidays, and for BBQ sauce, I have fabrics with vegetables and hot peppers on them etc.

To decorate one jar of sauce:

Using pinking shears cut one six-inch square of fabric. Center the fabric on the jar lid. Slip an elastic band over the fabric, gathering in around the rim. Take a 12 inch piece of ribbon that is ¼ inch wide and tie it around each jar lid. I also like to add a basting brush as part of the gift. Take the ribbon streamers and tie the basting brush tightly to the jar and finish it off by tying the remaining ribbon into a bow.

Gloria Troyer is an award winning freelance writer, broadcaster and author. Her writing career has branched out into many areas. She is keenly interested in the education of elementary students especially when it comes to food and diet. She also writes about health issues. She is a member of the Professional Writers Association of Canada. You can read more about her at http://www.writers.ca/ or http://tempteverypalate.blogspot.com/

Creativity Tip No. 32

2011-06-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

Creativity, Clutter or Both?

It can be hard to be creative when things around you are messy. That said, being messy is often the only way to get the creative juices running. Hmmmm. . .

I run both hot and cold on this issue. If I am scrapping a page or two, then just about everything I own in the craft department is out in plain sight so I can grab it if I need it. That works for me.

But when I couldn't free my small ruler that I keep in my crochet tool bag, I got frustrated. The ruler had become tangled up in some of the old thread and yarn that I had dumped into the bag, obviously not the right place for it.

That prompted me to clean out the ziploc bag, the contents of which included -- but were not limited to -- old buttons, a book on knitting tips, several sppols of thread, a roll of fishing line, a refrigerator magnet for my chiropractor, an old pill bottle filled with needles, several plastic row markers, two or three old printed patterns, a couple of crochet hooks, three sets of circular knitting needles (and I don't even knit much anymore), and bunches of yarn scraps.

I broke down and took out a new clear ziploc bag and only put in it the things that should go in a knitster's tool bag. I also put away the tote bag I have been using to cart yarn projects around and instead placed a basket next to my chair to hold the yarn and hook for one, and only one, project.

The neat results are pictured above. Wonder how long this will last?

Creativity Tip No. 31

2011-06-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

Jars of Summer Beauty

When you scrapbook, you end up with so much stuff you wonder what you will ever do with it -- and how you can keep yourself from buying more. Answer: Use it all up first, in creative ways of course!

I took some of my papers, trims, bits of fabric and lace and armed with some great ideas from Somerset Life magazine, used them to decorate old Mason jars which can now be used as summer vases.

Simply, you take an office tag and then glue or sew or punch items to it. Hang the tag from a strip of lace tied around the lip of the jar. (This makes both the tag and the lace removable for cleaning purposes.)

Who wouldn't want to receive a forever vase with some bright summer blooms in it? What a great hostess gift for a summer picnic. Be sure to give your recipient the jar's lid so she can use her gift for other purposes, such as storing herbs or other dry ingredients).

This technique could be used for different seasons as well, and since I might have some scrappy stuff for those holidays (!), I just may make some more.

Creativity Tip No. 30

2011-05-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

Notoce how I planted a verbena and snap dragons protectively around the purple dahlia, hopefully so that the deer won't munch on it's purple-y goodness. We'll see how that works out!

Finally. . .finally. . . I got some some of my flowers planted.They had been sitting in their small pots for a couple of weeks or more, drying up and looking at me for rescue.

I planted the main pots on the front porch, and a couple of smaller ones sitting atop a driveway retention wall. I didn't get to the pots on the back deck yet, because I ran out of flowers. I actually under-bought -- which is a new experience for me at this time of year. I will have to run out and see what I can find to plant in the back before this weekend.

I enjoy seeing the beautiful blooming plants in their new homes, and am reminded of just how pretty summer can be. Creatively speaking, I tried to use the old pots I have on hand rather than buy any new ones. It's just part of my mindset to save and renew and reuse and all that good 'green" stuff.

Yeasty Events

2011-05-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

As mentioned before on this blog, a lot of people got together via FaceBook and other sites to honor our moms by knitting andf crocheting charity items. This is a photo of some of the items that will be donated that were crafted during the first two weeks of May. They include chemo caps for children and adults, baby hats for preemies, neckwarmers for adults, scarves, and a multitude of beautiful flowers to brighten up anyone's day.

We plan to do this again next year, so if you are interested, please keep in touch.

Creativity Tip No. 29

2011-05-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

Hellebores: Hardy Plants Deer Don't Like

A friend forwarded some info to me on a perennial I had not heard of, but which is supposed to be deer-resistant. And it grows in the shade!

Hellebores have been around for awhile, but I can't remember seeing any of these multi-colored beauties at local nurseries. No matter. You can order them online, and it still may be worth a visit to some of your closer large nurseries to see if they are growing them for sale.

The flowers are colorful and interesting and look substantial. And they are hardy. According to Barry Glick of Sunshine Farms and Gardens, Renick, WVA, as quoted in Pittsburgh Magazine by Doug Oster: He has "never seen the plants eaten by deer, although some gardeners in our area have noticed some deer damage". He laughed when I asked him why he grows hellebores. “Why not? They’re not bothered by insects or disease, and grow in the densest shade or even light sun. They bloom in February, March, April and May when nothing else is blooming. They make a huge clump of evergreen foliage, and they will live over 100 years. They are almost a perfect plant.”
As soon as I can figure out how to pronounce the word hellebores I will go out and search for some to plant in my backyard where the deer have staked a claim to anything that blooms.

Creativity Tip No. 28

2011-05-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

I was out and about today enjoying looking at flowers at several locales, trying to scope out what's new and different. I'm not sure I found anything really new, but all of the stores look absolutely beautiful right now.

As per my blog yesterday where I mentioned deer resistant plants, I did notice that some of the plants on sale had tags that listed whether they would be eaten to the ground by deer or might possibly be safe from ravaging deer.

We can do them one better as we get ready to turn our creative spotlight on our gardens. On a website created by Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, there is a list of "Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance". No longer do we have to wonder if the plants we want to use in our gardens will only serve as deer nibbles (all the while keeping in mind that no plants are totally deer-proof. But we can hope!)

One thing I noticed when looking through the extensive list was that snapdragons ARE deer resistant. So I will go ahead and plant them near the porch again this year and keep my fingers crossed.

To check out your plants, visit the Rutgers website.

Creativity Tip No.27

2011-05-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

Flower Shopping!

After enjoying two and a half nice days in a row here, I'm getting itchy to go out and buy some flowers. I've decided that since a lot of my pots from past years haven't survived that I will pick up a few bigger pots and call it a garden.

Since I really can't plant any flowers in the ground here because they just serve as appetizers for the nightly deer herd, I am limited to what I can fit on the front porch and the deck.

So I have some pots ready to be filled and some that need to go out with the next garbage day and will add a couple more to the collection.

I generally buy impatiens as they seem invincible -- and I do bravely plant some snapdragons at the base of the front porch steps where the deer haven't bothered them (yet).

How about you? What do you plant on your share of the planet? Anything new this year? Anything that is deer-resistant?

I would love to hear from you about your spring plantings.

Yeasty Events: Cinco de Mayo

2011-05-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo, the Fifth of May! Today marks the day in the U.S. to celebrate the pride and unity created by Mexico's victory over France in a battle in 1862, a glorious moment for the country.

Great food is part of the celebration, and so we are having Taco Night at our house, but with an American slant for dessert -- apple pie.

That's the great thing about America -- we borrow the wonderful tastes of other cultures and make them our own. As Brad Paisley says in his song, American Saturday Night:: You know every place has somethin' they're known for, although usually it washes up on our shore. . .

That makes us very lucky indeed.

Yeasty Events

2011-05-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

Yeasty was featured on a great website staffed by eight terrific authors. They are the creators of the Jungle Red Writers website and I was honored to be included as a guest blogger.

I love the energy on the site, and you can tell by reading just how much the women care for each other and about writing and creativity.

To read my blog featuring some creativity tips that work for me -- at least sometimes!, please visit the website and scroll down to the post for April 30, 2011.

Enjoy!

Creativity Tip No. 26

2011-04-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

Screenwriting: Yes or No?

I think there is a little serendipity afoot here. I have never really thought of writing a screenplay, although I could just as easily have tried that form of writing over the years as I did so many others.

But I think the idea is vying for some attention now, and I am not quite sure why.

I saw that our local film school (where I have taken some photography courses) was offering a short class in screenwriting at a local library close to my home.

I seriously thought about doing it -- the price was right, parking was easy, not too much of a gas-guzzling trip -- but held back because

1. I had a conflict on one of the nights the class would meet, and

2. I didn't have an idea for a film that I've been working on for years.

So I forgot about the class until I had a chance to download some free ebooks from the library. Not many titles were available to be downloaded, so I picked one I would probably never have checked out otherwise : Now Write! Screenwriting by Sherry Ellis and Laurie Lamson.

I let the book sit on my mobile device for a few days and then not having a good book to read, I began reading this expert guide. Now I find myself reading all of the narratives contained in the book plus the tips offered by seasoned screenwriters and teachers. I may not get through the entire book before my subscription runs out in five days, and I realize that will make me very unhappy.

Maybe the time has come to tackle this writing form? Not sure yet, but I do wonder if the universe is trying to tell me something. Guess I will wait for a few more clues before I purchase my Vera Wang for the Oscars.

Creativity Tip No. 25

2011-04-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

Favors for the Royal Wedding

I borrowed this idea for wedding favors and made them for a group of us who are "attending" William and Kate's Royal Wedding via TV at an ungodly hour, at least in the East.

These spool favors were based on creations by Becky Shander and were featured in the Apr/May/June 2011 issue of Somerset Life. Becky talks about how she made her Altered Spool Place Cards with things she had around the house, and kept them "quiet" using only delicate colors.

In order to use what I had on hand, I replaced her beaded dangles and flag nametages with bouquets of cloth flowers and nametags attached with little note holders.

Each spool is wrapped with lace or rick rack which is secured in the back with a pearl-topped pin.

A little something to take home after all of the wedding festivities are over. Nice.

Creativity Tip No. 24

2011-04-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

Mind Mapping

You have probably heard of Mind Mapping, which is sometimes called Radiant Thinking and brainstorming. It was created by Tony Buzan and is a way to allow your creative mind to get past your inner editor, not an easy task.

The editor is that voice in your head that talks trash to you when you come up with a Big Idea and are feeling excited. The voice immediately tells you that you can't accomplish anything, that your new idea is stupid, or asks: what makes you think you can write a book? Host both of your families for a dinner party? Clean up the basement?

To begin mapping, write down the subject you want to brainstorm about in the center of a big piece of paper and circle it. Some examples could be Chapter Ideas for a new book; Baby Shower for the party you are going to host or what needs to be done to keep your Garden from resembling the Rain Forest now that the weather has finally warmed up (see my example below).

Then you draw spokes off this main circle for all of the areas that need to be dealt with. Circle these and then draw spokes off each of them to explore your subject even further. For example, my map starts with the word "Garden" in the middle, way too broad a task for me to tackle at once. So I continue drawing spokes and adding subjects to them: Porch, Herbs, Weeds, Plants, Furniture and so on. Then for each of these spokes I drew smaller ones: under Plants: annuals, Perrenials, look for 3 hanging baskets, buy soil -- all to remind me what I need to do.

After the map is finished I can make a list and figure out a schedule to get all of these tasks done one at a time.

The Mind Mapping concept is simple, although there are ways to make it a little more complicated if you like. You can add colored pens, photos, illustrations and more to your mind map, but if you don't have those things, do it anyway. All you really need is a piece of paper and a pencil or pen. (To see examples of more complicated maps, search for "mind mapping" under Google images.)

The important thing to remember with this technique is to get down on paper ALL of the thoughts you are having on a subject. Once you start writing, don't stop. Keep going and going until there isn't a smidge of paper left bare.

I used this technique when I taught writing to fifth graders a few years ago. They liked the idea of "drawing" their ideas out, but tended to pause a lot in between items. With our adult brains, there is almost never a pause when we are working on a map. We carry around so much clutter in our brains it will be such a relief to get it all down on paper, you won't believe it.

I have used this technique for a long time, and found these maps to be useful. From my Garden map, I can see what I need to do to whip my garden into tip-top shape this summer. And it only took a few minutes of my time.

Give Mind Mapping a try. I think you will be glad you did.

Creativity Tip No. 23

2011-04-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

Multi-tasking while Watching TV: Should You?

You know the feeling. You finally sit down after a long day of work and cleaning up from dinner only to remember that you didn't pay your bills, ride your exercise bicycle or finish folding the laundry.What to do? Sit and vege out in front of the tube or do your chores while watching your favorite shows?

Tough one. You can do two things at once possibly in this situation, but is it unfair to the Modern Family cast or the Glee singers to not give them your total attenion while watching? Not that they would know, of course, but still. Don't you owe yourself a little one-on-one time with the CSI crew?

To decide, you may have to figure out how much time you will otherwise have to do those chores. Being truthful, can your bills wait another day or will the sherriff be a' knockin' at your door? Can you ride off into the sunset on your stationary bike after the show is over or will that be time for bed? Can your chidlren live out of a clothes basket one more day?

None of these consequences would be earth-shattering if they aren't done, but just think how good you will feel if you do? More to cross off your To Do list, more things to write in your exercise log.

Only you can decide if multi-tasking in front of the plasma is a good thing. But I'm guessing that riding the bike will not in any way deter you from enjoying Amazing Race or Survivor, and it might even help you empathise with the cast a little more.

Creativity Tip No. 22

2011-04-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

Sweet Sheep

Stanley the Sheep

I made this little sheep (and his cousin) from a small kit I bought at a recent knit/crochet festival. The kit for this small pin was sold by MoonRise Studio and it was very easy to do.I plan to gie it to a friend tomorrow for her BD.

I have been ready to start needle felting as a new addition to my craft repertoire for a long time, and I think this little guy pushed me over the edge. Felting is easy. All you need is a few simple tools, some wool roving, some felt pieces or used sweaters.

Also, I was pleased with myself for actually taking the time to complete this kit of two sheep instead of leaving it in a drawer till who knows when. As we like to say, Use it up!

Have a wonderful spring day.

Yeasty Events: Evening with Cami Walker of 29 Gifts

2011-04-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

I had an opportunity to hear Cami Walker speak this past week on her best-selling book, 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life.

Such a simple idea but usually those are the most lasting -- give 29 gifts in 29 days and wait to see what happens. Cami, who started the 29 Gift Challenge by herself, now has 14,000 members at her site. That's 14,000 people who are giving something every day, and making a difference.

There's room for lots more growth, and if Cami gets her wish, there will be 29,000 members by 9/29/2011. If you would like to learn more, visit http://www.29gifts.org/.

To read more about my visit with Cami, visit BoomThis.com.

Daily Painting Answer to Artist's Prayer

2011-04-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

Guest blogger: Maggie Flatley

Maggie is a super talented artist who also happens to be my sister-in-law. With a full life, she has had little time to paint but found something on the web which has helped: Daily Painting.

Daily Painting, a take off on Alla Prima, which describes a painting that is done all at one time, can help artists who have a difficult time just starting -- to start. It's like the blank page for a writer. . .hard to overcome sometimes).

Maggie writes:

I started following what is known as the Daily Painter Movement last fall. I love it. The time lapse between paintings up to that point for me was months. I tended to overwork each one, but the daily painting helps me overcome that. The painters who have really helped me include Dreama Tolle Perry and Leslie Saeta, of Artists Helping Artists. They have a blog radio show every Thursday, and also offer online demos etc. to artists.

I also like Carole Marine who is a good person to know about if you are interested in this type of work. She provides terrific demos too.

These artists use 6 x 6 in. canvases and panels to do their daily work, but I use 5 x 7 and 8 x 10 in. ones, because framing them is so much more affordable. I also still do watercolors, because I love that medium too.

I have been posting some of my art to Etsy, the online craft and art boutique, which I have found easy to work with and which also has the lowest overhead cost of online sellers that I have found.

To visit Maggie's blog and to see more of her artwork, click here.

Green Creativity: Use it up, Make it do

2011-04-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

I heard about this great way to "Made it do" the other day and couldn't wait to share it. A woman, let's call her Mary,whose daughter got married a couple of years ago, gave her mother-of-the bride dress to Beth, whose daughter is getting married this summer. Mary's beautiful dress was altered to fit Beth, who will now have a gorgeous dress for her daughter's wedding. And the dress had a second life, instead of spending the rest of its days in a closet, never to be worrn again.

Here's hoping this dress has a third life too!

What a great idea this would be for prom dresses, those lovely concoctions that all girls seem to have too many of. It's such a shame that some dresses are worn only once. Finding a way to alter them for another girl to enjoy or even to donate them to a charity that provides prom dresses to girls who would go without is very yeasty!

Search "donate prom dresses" on the internet for some charity options.

Photo by grietgriet.

Yeasty Events: Honor Mom Charity Knitalong Needs You!

2011-04-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

My friends and I have launched a creative knitting charity event in honor of our moms and we hope you will join us.

The Honor Mom Charity Knitalong (search for it on FaceBook) will include knitting or crocheting items during the first two weeks of May which can then be donated by you to the charity of your choice, of which there are so many.

The event gives all participants a chance to do what they love best: Crafting special items, helping others and honoring our mothers who made all of this possible. Some of the choices for knitted/crocheted donations can include making dishcloths for soup kitchens, baby blankets for Project Linus, neck warmers to keep the homeless warm, and chemo caps for babies and adults.

There is no limit to what you can do or for whom: just please register on the Facebook event site and let us in on what you will be doing. We would love to hear from you! And please, feel free to pass this along to any of your other crafty friends.

Creativity Tip No. 21

2011-03-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

Giving Gifts to Others Brings Abundance

I just finished reading 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker. As with many successful self-help books, the message in the book is simple but profound.

Cami found out she had MS a month after she was married, a diagnosis that shook the world she and her husband were planning for themselves.

Fighting the horrible disease, Cami received a presccription from her friend and spiritual advisor: give 29 gifts away in 29 days and wait to see the abundance you will experience.

If you find yourself in a bad way right now, reading this book may help. I thought that the way Cami describes her newly embraced way of life was inspiring and made a huge difference in her life.

Cami is coming here to Pittsburgh to talk this month and I plan to hear her speak. I will write more about that later. In the meantime, I hope you will check out her website for more information.

Creativity Tip. No. 20

2011-03-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

Napkin Notes
Sitting at Border's this afternoon and leafing through some magazines, I noticed the following words written on my napkin for Seattle's Best Coffee:

NAPKIN. aka spontaneous genius sketch paper.

I thought that was pretty cool. Made me want to jot down a great idea that I needed to keep track of. Since I had no great ideas, I wrote down the directions to a technique I found in one of the magazines for canvas paper transfer.

When in doubt, copy, I guess. But when I finally do get around to using that technique I'm sure it will lead to all sorts of creativity and that makes me happy.

Yeasty Adventures

2011-03-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

We stumbled upon the neatest birding store this past weekend on our way to lunch with some family members. The Birdwatchers Store, lcoated on Rt. 108, Slippery Rock, PA has everything you need to pursue a backyard birding hobby along with some sweet gifts for all occasions.

Since last year, I have become completely enamored of the avian visitors to my backyard. After weeks of fighting with squirrels and other critters to save the food for the birds, we have arrived at a good compromise. We hung two suet holders from the upper deck on our house and so far, the only visitors to the feeders are songbirds. (This year, though, we have attracted a small flock of starlings too, but not much we can do about that.)

While at the store I picked up a third suet holder and filled it with a tropical blend that the birds are not interested in as of yet. Too much to hope a Baltimore Oriole will stop by? Maybe. The other peanuty suet concoctions have a lot more takers.

If you are in the neighborhood, hope you can find time to stop at the bird store or find one like it near you. They also have several feeders and birdhouses in their back yard that you can watch when you visit. The owner told me that I should already have my birdhouses in place since the returning flocks are checking out new housing for the summer already.

Yeasty Adventures

2011-03-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

While looking over hundreds of brochures at the San Francisco Visitor's Center recently, I came across only one that had the word "yarn" on it. Since that set it apart form all of the other ones featuring tours and sights to see, I grabbed the brochure and, map in hand, walked around the city until I found ArtFibers.

What a surprise. You take a small elevator at 266 Sutter Street and when the door opens on the third floor, you enter the cafe designed for those who love yarn.

The store offers a unique way to purchase their beautiful yarns. You can take any length of yarn they sell -- all offered by American spinners, dyers and designers -- and work up a swatch right there in the store, enjoying the natural light and cammaradie of other knitsters. For those of you who don't do yarn work, a swatch is a sample of yarn that is knitted or crocheted into a square to determine if this is the right yarn for a project.

Untimately you could sit there all day -- knitting or crocheting to your heart's content as the busy city carries on outside.

It's a creative way to sell yarn and shows a genuine interest on the owner's part to make customers happy. Allowing them to sit and work with a new yarn in hand in such a comfortable spot is definitely a way to do that.

Green Creativity: Use it Up, Make It Do

2011-03-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

I have a fairly good-sized collection of craft items in my home. I love making things and relish the challenge of finding something unusual (on the street, at a flea market, from a friend) and holding on to it until I find the perfect way to use it.

That said, it follows that crafters like me have a LOT of stuff waiting to be discovered for its moment of fame. It's not so bad around here that I will be featured on a TV show about hoarding anytime soon, but enough for the clutter to drive me a little batty sometimes.

With the Depression-era saying of "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" as my mantra, I have been loooking for ways to use what I have.

As an example, I wanted to send St. Patrick's Day cards to some family members. I took out the leprechaun stickers I bought a couple of years ago for some reason that escapes me now, and used them to create the cards I would send, instead of buying them. I saved a few bucks and the crafty clutter pile was reduced a little bit.

Let me know if you have any success in this area. It takes a little creativity but the results feel good.

Creativity Tip No. 19

2011-03-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

Creative Ways to Use Gasoline Wisely

Gas prices continue to rise, creating a financial hardship for those who need to drive, for whatever reason. When gas prices rise, there are a dozen articles written on the best ways to save gasoline: combine trips, shop via the Internet, do your errands in the most efficient way possible.

I'm sure that most of us can come up with our own creative ways to save gasoline, if we put our minds to it. It's not easily done because we are so dependant on our vehicles, but times are forcing us to change I think.

Here are some quick hints to get your ideas flowing:

Empty your car of any excess weight (and that doesn't mean your spouse!). Don't store items in your car that don't need to be there on your next trip out.
Drive slower. This is such a good idea for many reasons, but maybe the hardest of all to do. I don't see much evidence that drivers are slowing down, but it would be a great way to save fuel.
Leave windows up when you are driving at higher speeds.
Use a/c only when you need to.
Don't idle your car. Turn it off instead.

Let me know if you have other ideas and I will publish them here.

Creative Spotlight

2011-03-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with a cell phone

This truck was spotted inside a grocery store, covered with potato chips and pertzels. What a yeasty idea!

How they got it in there I don't know!

Creativity Tip. No. 18

2011-03-07T07:06:00.000-08:00

Small gifts best for keeping in touch

If you have older relatives out of town who you don't see very often. try this tip to stay connected. Make or buy small gifts that will fit in either an envelope or a small jiffy mailer. Every oncein a while, mail off a little gift to your loved one just to let him or her know you are thinking about them.

A group of my knitter friends did this last year for a friend of a friend who is housebound because of illness. Each week one of us would send a small package to the woman with a little note. She said it helped her to know that others -- who hadn't even met her -- were thinking about her.

For a start, some ideas for small gifts are bookmarks, scarves, refrigerator magnets, pens, small notebooks, handmade greeting cards meant for keeping, jewelry, magazines, handkerchiefs, candles, tea bags etc. Sending photos of you and your family will always be well-received.

Be creative! Get Yeasty and come up with even more great ideas.

Creativity Tip No. 17

2011-03-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

Choose a quote for the day

At our local family-owned market, someone writes a "thought for the day" on a dry erase board in the lobby. It provides a nice moment for those waiting in line to check out.

I thought this was a great idea so I bought a small deck of cards at a craft store, with each one illlustrating a quotation. I have been enclosing some of these little cards in birthday cards when I send them, sharing the wealth.

But I think I will hold onto them from now on. I will place one in front of my computer and focus on that quote and it's meaning for one day. I know that a lot of meditative-type books tell us to have a mantra to live with over time. But I like the idea of changing my thought of the day -- everyday.

You can easily do this too, just by printing some quotations from the Internet. Place one where you can see it and think about what it is telling you as you go about your day. Look forward to tomorrow when you will have a different phrase to live with for the day.

This is a great idea for those of us who have short attention spans, which I think is most of us anymore.

Some of the quotes from my deck include:

What if the Hokey Pokey is what it's all about?

Too much of a good thing is wonderful.

Carpe Diem (Seize the day).

Do one thing every day that scares you.

We are all capable of so much more than what we think we are. ~~ Lao Tzu

Creative Spotlight

2011-03-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with cell phone

Maybe a little too Yeasty? Hate to admit it, but maybe (sometimes!) too much of a good thing may be bad!

Creativity Tip No. 16

2011-02-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

What a difference a little bit of paint makes

Can't you just see it? A group of hippies are sitting around one weekend night and they decide to go out and buy some cheap paint to gussy up the front of the blah Victorian home they just chipped in to buy for a few thousand dollars. Color didn't matter or have to match -- the wilder the better.

Long gone are the days when "regular" folk could buy a Victorian in San Francisco. They are totally, man, closed out of the market which sells most of these homes for $2 million plus.

But the flower children left their mark. Many Victorian homes in the city now sport beautiful colors that complement each other on the exterior, windows and detailed trim. This may not have been the case if the hipsters had not come up with the creative idea to put some more color into their world.

To read more click here.

Creative Spotlight

2011-02-20T21:57:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with a cell phone

Yeast (y) celebration at Panera's.

Creativity Tip No. 15

2011-02-17T15:02:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with cell phone

Getting Flocked

As a fundraiser, the local high school rowing team will "flock" someone's front yard with a gazillion flamingoes for a donation. Gaggles of pink birds have been showing up all over the township, providing bright spots of color in an otherwise drab landscape, as you can see from the photo.

Like you, I've been involved in way too many fund raising efforts over the years. But I salute this one. It's creative, painless, fun and easy to do. Everyone looks forward to seeing a flocked yard and that probably prompts a lot of them to call up and schedule a flocking and to make a donation.

Very clever. A real yeasty idea come to life!

Creativity Tip No. 14

2011-02-14T12:03:00.000-08:00

Use Address Book to Stay Organized

Tired of trying to remember the assorted user names and passwords you need to log onto all of your favorite websites?

Here's a creative solution: Buy a small address book and then enter the names of your websites (alphabetically) on the pages divided into sections by letter (i.e. AB, CD etc.). Under the name of the website, jot down the UN and PW -- and email address -- you are using for that particular site. Keep the notebook handy to your computer so you can reach it when you need to.

Then when you want to log onto a website, you will have the information you need right at hand.

Creativity Tip. No. 13

2011-02-09T13:24:00.000-08:00

Valentine Heart Boxes: Easy to Make, Give

For the Valentine boxes shown above, I borrowed an idea from Victoria Gertenbach, as featured in Somerset Holidays & Celebrations, Vol. 1, 2007.

Depending on how many heart flowers you want to make, cut or punch 2 in. and 1 in circles out of paper. Also cut out or punch 2 in. hearts from colorful paper. (You will need one of each size of circles and five to six hearts for each flower.)

Fold each heart down the center and crease it, right sides together. Place the tips of five or six hearts on the 2 in. circle and glue each one separately. (The hearts will stand up a little because they have been creased. Glue one of the smaller circles on the front of the flower, centered, covering up the tips.

Victoria suggests gluing an old board game piece or button onto the top circle. I followed her suggestions and also used those and old pop-it bead heart that I had.

(Optional: I sprayed the entire heart flower with a glitter spray and let it dry before proceeding.)

Using bright pink acrylic paint and a foam paintbrush, paint 4 in. paper boxes ($1 each at JoAnn's). I had to paint two coats on the outside surfaces of the box to totally cover the paper, but only used one coat on the insides of the top and bottom.

When the boxes are dry, glue a small heart-shaped paper doily onto the top of the box. Put glue on the back of the 2 in. circle on the flower's wrong side and glue the flower on top of the doily, as shown in the photo. (Don't glue down the petals. They are prettier if they are standing up from the box.)

I put cotton balls inside the box (because I had them) and then placed a heart-shaped chocolate in the box.

With my leftover flowers, I glued a lollipop stick (Victoria used old straws) to the back of each flower and then put this bouquet in a glass jar.

Enjoy!

Creativity Tip No. 12

2011-02-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

Use dry cleaning bags to help pack

Our son has been doing a lot of air traveling for his job lately, and has to take enough dress shirts for a week's worth of meetings in his carry-on. To try to avoid a wrinkled mess when he unpacks at his destination, I came up with the following idea to avoid as many wrinkles as possible.

To start, lay a shirt down flat on a table or bed. Place a bunched-up used dry cleaning bag down the center of the back of the shirt. Fold the arms back toward the shirt's middle back, and then continue to fold the shirt into a rectangle, collar on the outside. When all the shirts are folded this way, lay them on top of everything else you have placed in the suitcase. Then scrunch one final bag on top of the pile of shirts before you zipper the bag closed.

I haven't tried this with grocery store bags, but I think it would work. And this could be another good way to "recycle" these bags.

Creativity Tip. No. 11

2011-02-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

Punxsutawney Phil awaits his big moment in his burrow

Nurture Your Creative Ideas

What if a friend came to you with a creative idea that sounded so outrageous you couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it?

That must have been how people reacted to Clymer Freas's idea back in the 1800s. He suggested that the folks in his town, Punxsutawney, PA, borrow the German custom of letting hedgehogs predict how long winter will last.

Since hedgehogs are scarce in the Keystone State, Clymer chose a groundhog as his prognosticator and named him Phil, after his brother. For 125 years the world has waited to see if the most famous groundhog of all sees his shadow to determine if we will have six more weeks of winter or enjoy an early spring.

Thanks to Clymer's creative idea, thousands now find their way to the charming Pennsylvania town on February 2 each year to hang out and party with Phil and his pals, the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

The moral of the story? We should all be more like Clymer. When we have a creative idea, we should let it run free for awhile, not letting negative thoughts squash it right away. We will find out soon enough if it is doable, and maybe, it just might be something that will make a lot of people happy for a long time.

Creativity Tip No. 10

2011-01-31T13:24:00.000-08:00

Use Vibrant Color on One Wall

According to Whirl Magazine, there's one way you can make a really big splash in your home without taking out a loan: paint one wall in a room a bright, vivid color. The magazine suggests using colors like chartreuse, sweet potato and fruit punch to make a statement.

If you don't like the color, you can always repaint. Which is true -- and what designers always tell us -- but maybe not as easy to do as they suggest. Instead, why not buy a large accessory piece in one of these funky colors and place that in the room as a simple test. If you hate the color after awhile, be very glad you hadn't gotten the paint brushes out. If you love the color and want to see more, you will know what to plan for your next weekend at home.

Color is wonderful but so many of us are afraid of it, often with good reason. It's quite a weapon in the world of home decorating. But taking baby steps may help make the transition much smoother.

Creativity tip No. 9

2011-01-25T07:51:00.000-08:00

Focus on something that reminds you of Spring

Today may win the contest for Most Dreary Day of the Winter Yet. It's cold and foggy and icy and Pure D ugly. The kind of day where you can go through half a bottle of windshield washer on your way to work dealing with muddy spray. A day where it's hard to picture green grass and blue sky.

What to do? I say we have to find something that reminds us of more beautiful days ahead and put that something in a place we see often. Whether it's a seed catalog for spring plants, a pair of lime green shorts or your golf clubs, put it where you will see it everyday.

You can also let your creativity take you a step further. Buy some blooming spring plants to place in your kitchen. Borrow some golf videos at the library to watch. Help yourself out here.

Spring will come. We just need to be our best creative selves till then!

Creativity Tip No. 8

2011-01-24T07:29:00.000-08:00

Art surrounds us wherever we are

I was listening to a free podcast the other day on how to use a light meter in photography. Since I have a nice light meter and never use it, I was interested in learning more.

The promised "live" feed by a photographer had been recorded this time, according to the girl who models for him, because he was down Mexico way on location.

My first thought was: Wow. I wish I was in another country taking photos. I'm sure I would come home with the most wonderful, creative shots I have ever taken. I thought, you see, that it was easy to be creative when you are in a place as lush as Mexico -- or actually, any place that wasn't home.

But then common sense prevalied. I didn't need to be away to take good photos. I just needed to grab my camera and go out and shoot something (with a camera, of course) which I have not been doing.

A photographer doesn't need to be on location to find good photos. They surround us every day.

For inspiration, check out a library book of photos taken by Andre Kertesz, the father of 35mm photography as he is known. Kertesz spent years shooting still lifes from the windows of his apartment in New York when he no longer wanted to venture out into the city. The photos are inspiring, not only because they are beautiful in their simplicity, but because this photographer found beauty in objects sitting around his home, just waiting to be recognzied as art.

Grab your camera. Time's a'wasting.

Creativity Tip No. 7

2011-01-19T13:38:00.000-08:00

Square scarves are very versatile!, a guest blog from Sarah Sudar:

One of my most favorite creative tips for dressing is accessories. No matter if you are wearing a black dress or a dress shirt and jeans, accessories can add pizzazz to any outfit.

My favorite accessory is a large square silk scarf because it can be worn so many different ways. For instance you can:

Wrap it around your neck a couple of times, just as you would a regular scarf and wear underneath a coat or jacket.
Wrap around your arms and use as a shawl when you are wearing a sleeveless dress.
Wrap loosely around your neck and create a piece of statement neckwear, as shown above. This is my favorite way to wear a square scarf.

As you can see with the square scarf, and with scarves in general, there are endless possibilities and ways to wear them. It’s up to your creativity to find ways to wear them that represent your personal style. Remember, personal style is all about creativity!

Sarah is the creator of and the fashion diva behind Looking Sharp! and Clutch, a fashion blog she writes for the Pittsbugh Post-Gazette.

Creativity Tip. No. 6

2011-01-18T09:38:00.000-08:00

Visit a new museum this winter

Saw these silver pillow-sized "clouds" at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. They are constantly moving around under the power of a couple of fans. Very cool.

We live in Pittsburgh, but had not been to the museum to see any exhibits, which I regretted as soon as I walked in the place.

Amazingly, there was a long line of people waiting to enter the museum this past Sunday, which delighted me because it wasn't a line for a sporting event, which is what this town is known for. Nope, it was a line to get into a musuem.

I hope you can find some time this winter to seek out a museum you haven't visited. It's good for the soul and a lot of fun too. I'm hoping there will be silver clouds there for you to play with.

Creativity Tip. No 5

2011-01-14T13:26:00.000-08:00

In the dead of winter, it's good to have something bright and colorful to enjoy as a reminder that spring will come again. It's fun -- and healthy -- to surround yourself with beautiful things that remind you of sunnier days. Things like lush houseplants or bright red coffee mugs.

On my coffee table I have a basket filled with stuffed birds that "sing" their appropriate song when you squeeze them. When the wintering birds avoid my birdfeeders as they try to stay warm in their roosts, I can squeeze one of the stuffed birds and hear the songs I will hear again soon.

Find some things that remind you of spring and place them where you will see them every day. Think bright! Colorful! Spring!

Creativity Tip No. 4

2011-01-13T06:26:00.000-08:00

Be creative in how you exercise

With more than 6 inches of snow outside my door in Western Pennsylvania, it's hard to force myself to go out for the walk which I have been trying to do every day.

But for us creative types, this is only a small setback as we figure out how to get exercise even in the worst of conditions.

For today, my choices might include shoveling the driveway (again!); sweeping off the front steps (again, again); walking inside my house, up and down the steps; using my bike to rack up some miles so I can pretend I am in a national forest somewhere; using the hand weights or bands I recently rediscovered in an end table or pulling out my Yoga in 28 Days book I have used since college.

That's a good start. How about you? What creative options do you have for getting some exercise in today?

Creatiivity Tip. No. 3

2011-01-10T13:26:00.000-08:00

In her book, The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp writes: Creativity is not just for artists. It's for buisinesspeople looking for a new way to close a sale; it's for engineers trying to solve a problem; it's for parents who want their children to see the world in more than one way.

That's what Yeasty is all about. Creativity is a part of everyone's life -- your life, and it's something we should celebrate, no matter how small the act.

Today, take out your journal and write down the last creative decision you made. Was it choosing an outfit for work this morning or saying the heck with it and reaching for a different mug for your cup of joe? Write it down along with a couple of thoughts about how you felt while you were making the decision. Did your choice make you happy? Were you too stressed to enjoy the actual moment?

Tomorrow, ask yourself: How can I add to that moment? What else is there in my daily routine that I can shake up a little? Have a little more fun with?

Then go for it!

Creativity Tip No. 2

2011-01-07T09:02:00.000-08:00

Leave your greens up a while longer

If you haven't already taken them down, leave your holiday wreath and greens up for a while longer outside your home. The winter landscape can be so dull and a spot of color from a berry-trimmed wreath can perk things up a bit. I have it on good authority that it really isn't weird to have greens up outside till Valentine's Day. Promise.

Creativity Tip No. 1

2011-01-06T14:15:00.000-08:00

As we begin this creative journey together, I hope you will buy a journal of your choosing and use it every day. Please don't be intimidated by this. It doesn't mean you have to bare your soul each time you open it. No, it means that you have a place to jot down the ideas and thoughts that are of interest to you or need some type of creative solution. Writing them down helps, and you don't have to be a "writer" to do it.

(I try to write in a journal every day, but it doesn't often hapen. Daily life sometimes gets in the way of the journal, but I do it when I can. No pressure.)

When you are out shopping for a journal, pick up a package of colored pens. I had been using black pens to write with, and recently decided that this was not fun enough. So I bought pink, orange, green and blue pens, which reminded me of when I was in college and used a turquoise pen to write in a journal. A long time ago, but I still remember that.

I hope you will use your new rainbow pens constantly -- to draw things, to make "to do" lists, to write down a menu or whatever else your creative mind wants to hold onto.

Let's see -- we could use pink for Valentine's Day notes, green for gardening tips, blue for. . . but wait. You can decide all by yourself what the groovy pens will be used for.

That's the fun of it!

Welcome to Yeasty!

2011-01-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the brand new Yeasty blog for the Exuberantly Creative, which means you!

Too many people say they aren't creative, but I strongly disagree with that. EVERYONE is creative. Whether it's writing a novel or painting a picture or choosing yellow peppers over green for a stir-fry, we make creative decisons every day which add joy to our lives. We just need a litle encouragement to recognize them.

I think we should celebrate -- and share -- our own creativity and that's why I created Yeasty. As a writer, I am always in search of inspiration and new ideas. Now I know where to go and find some answers.

Come along as we get creative together. It's gonna be a wild ride!

Enjoy!