Yeasty Photo Safari: Gingerbread Village

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.