Wool-less Wednesday: Useful Websites for Being Creative with Your Blog

Resources for setting up and customizing your blog allow you to extend your creativity beyond the content of your blog.

Here are some websites that allow you to do just that:

* Three Column Blogger is a sight that gives you detailed instructions on how to change your Minima Blogger Template from two columns to three columns. You will have to edit the HTML of the original Blogger template. Don't let this stop you from trying it, if you would really like a three column blog. You save your original blog template before editing the HTML. If you mess up, you have the original safe on your hard drive.

* HTML color codes are easily accessible in this chart. Even though Blogger allows you to easily customize your blog's colors by clicking on color blocks when in the Fonts and Colors menu in Layout, this chart expands the range of colors you can choose. Just copy the HTML color code of your choice from the chart and paste it into the "Edit Color Hex Code" box found in Fonts and Colors. Press enter and voila the color changes for whatever part of your blog you have selected!

* Web Resizer is a nifty tool that allows you to resize and enhance the quality of your blog photos whether for posts or your banner. Check out the feature that allows you add a border to your photo. You can also visit  Picresize which offers some more cool ways to modify your pictures.

I hope these websites are useful for being creative with your blog.

Happy blogging!

Sunday Summary: Dancing with Wool

I resumed my passion for belly dancing this week while knitting my way to winter with neck warmers.

Alas, this is not me....

I''ve cheated and used a stock photo. But, it represents my belly dancing spirit!

I hadn't danced for many years. It was surprising how my body remembered many of the movements that I had etched into its neurons years ago. I suppose it would be a similar experience to putting down my knitting needles for years and picking them up again.  My hands would remember the rhythm of the needles like my body seemed to remember the rhythm of the dance.

Dance is another creative outlet for me. Come on all you fiberistas, what other ways do you express your pent up creativity?

Happy creativity!

Crochet in the Great Outdoors

This time of year I love to crochet or knit outside in my backyard. My workspace is my patio table. I sit on my patio under my umbrella and work away.

I always keep my work journal close by to jot down ideas for my original designs, patterns or blog topics.

One thing I accomplished today was the crocheting of a wrist cuff bracelet complete with vintage buttons. I love working with the white organic cotton yarn.

Of course, there is the odd distraction supplied by nature like the hummingbirds, robins and woodpeckers who pop in and out of my landscape.

This woodpecker was accompanied all day by a hummingbird who used the holes the woodpecker made in the tree trunk to drink some sap. The woodpecker didn't seem to mind.

While I finished crocheting a lacy scarf in a lovely soft wool soy blend yarn, bees buzzed in my flowering bush. This bush is sure to have lots of berries for the birds thanks to this bee's pollination efforts!

It's not every day that I have the privilege to create in my backyard while sharing the habitat of these wonderful creatures. But today the weather was perfect. It was warm and sunny with a light breeze.

Sharing this glorious day with me were my two companions, Miss Amelia the cat and Mindy the dog. They are SPCA rescue animals.

They remind me on a daily basis to live for the moment which is often difficult to achieve in this fast paced world. However, on a day that was like today, I did have my "moments".

I'm looking forward to my next opportunity to create in the great outdoors. Happy creating!