Tools

We all have many specialized tools that we use in our crafting, and I think we most likely love each of them. It is wonderful to know that the right tool can make us more effective at developing our creations - and especially fun to know that tools on hand can make fabulous art! The BBEST team certainly uses their tools well to develop arts and crafts, and bring amazing skill to their creations - as anyone who browses ETSY with the BBEST tag can see.

One unexpected tool that I can't live without in my crafting is Adobe Photoshop Elements. This is a less expensive version of the Adobe Photoshop, and has been sufficient for many different aspects of digital crafting - as well as helping me manipulate pictures and do online marketing and blog work. Even this "limited capability" software package is very powerful, and despite being able to do some standard photo manipulation I really didn't know how to take advantage of the capabilities of the package. Too many papers to read, too many complex concepts.

Then I found Jessica Sprague. Jessica Sprague is an online scrapbook instructor, and she teaches digital scrapbooking leveraging Adobe's products, among others. I want to introduce you to Jessica's courses - even though they are scrapbook oriented - because they provide some amazing advantages.

First, the online classes are provided for you to take in your own time and schedule. I took about 6 courses (about 8 classes per course) before everything was over, and did about one class session each week.

Second, the classes include a video that you can pause and resume at your leisure, where Jessica shows you every single step of what she is doing with Photoshop. I had the video up and running on my computer in one window, and had Photoshop Elements up in another window. I could stop the video and follow the instructions, restarting when I was ready to go on to the next step.

Third, the classes are available in a variety of formats. For example, I learned with Photoshop Elements, but you can take the classes with Photoshop as well. Even if you take the courses leveraging one format, you can come back later and go through them in the other format, free of charge!

Fourth, the classes are available to you FOREVER. So you can come back to them years after taking them to review a particular concept or remind yourself how things work.

Finally, the classes provide lots of free downloads that give you additional digital materials to work with and even extra support capabilities with Photoshop and associated tools.

I really recommend these digital classes, even though scrapbooking may not be your cup of tea. They are a great way to learn how to get around Photoshop if you are not already super strong with the tool set, and they certainly help to improve your photo handling capabilities as well as give you creative ideas for more!

The classes that I found most informative were Up and Running with Photoshop, Now We're Rockin' with Photoshop, and Digi In Deep.

Leveraging some of the things I learned, I was able to pull together a couple different tributes to the BBEST team's Autumn offerings - and as they say, the possibilities are endless!


Autumn comes alive through the work of the BBEST team, and inspires us to find great gifts to share with all our loved ones. Happy Fall!



These two tribute displays showcase work from the following shops - Asian Expressions, Big Island Rose Designs, ZudaGay, SixSisters, Beth Peardon Productions, PFD Original Art Work, The Creator's Palette, the Knotty Sheep, Aroma Fields, Designs by Christine, and Bags 'N More by Pam.

Falling into Autumn – as Keat’s the poet wrote in ‘To Autumn’

‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core.’

Although sometimes a melancholy befalls some at this time of year when they see the passing of the summer season of brightness fade into the possibility of chill winds of winter looming on the horizon, for others they see this season as the most colourful, exciting, abundant and vivid time of the year!
Personally, I find this the most amazing time of year.  The colours take your breath away and the abundance of the harvest promises tasty dishes for the long winter months ahead.  Gone are the days when we wish it could be a little cooler.  Now is the time to go for all those long lingering walks to discover nature’s palette, pick fruit off the hedgerows and see how the colours change in the light which in itself changes by the season.
Autumn is the time of year when nature offers us all her fruitful gifts to which we give thanks.
Whilst I lived in the Middle and Far East this is what I missed so much.  The changing of the seasons, the renewed hope to look forward to the next adventure.
Talking of adventures and walks I decided to look for autumnal subjects/items for sale within the BBEST group.  The wealth of talent available along with the choices offered leaves me speechless!  Take a look at some of the examples I found:
Butterscotch Flower Earrings by ZudaGay

Bring the warmth of this colour to match your autumn wardrobe.
Autumn Leaf Original Photograph by BethPeardonProds

‘This leaf looked lonely but also reminded me that fall is here'.’
Caramel Apple Candle by Aromafields

Apples are always associated with this time of year and these would be scrumptious, if they were to be eaten!
Maple Leaf Magnet by Chris1

A pretty reminder of autumn to have on your fridge to keep those important notes handy!
Autumn Leaves Mandala – window cling sun catcher by ClingingImages

Typical colours to glow in the sunlight and spread the warmth of autumn.
Pumpkin Patch Original by Pfd Original Artworks

What a wonderful example of the abundance of the autumn harvest!
Indian Corn Matchbook Notepads by Circle in the Sand

Such a handy item to remind us of harvests.
Bunches of Sunshine by Yankee Girl

Some of my favourite flowers that follow the sun as it moves through the day.
Jumbo Perle Medium with fall colours by Sassalynne

A true reflection of the variety of warm autumnal colours.
After the Harvest by HeronKate

There is nothing quite like a freshly harvested field with the promise of an abundance of crops to take us through the next season.
Autumn Rose felted coasters by J N Originals

Autumn being a wonderful time for long walks, the temperature cools down once the sun hides behind the watery clouds and it is time to settle down indoors with a welcome warm drink.  These coasters make it all seem so much more cosy, don’t they?
Well, my BBESTer friends, what do you think?  Above is a selection of inspired items in the autumn/fall theme.  All catching the warmth of the glow of the diminishing sunshine but still giving us a wonderful sense of wonder at how clever nature really is!

A Time to Rest

Like many of my BBEST teammates, I am finding it difficult to rouse my blogging creativity in the deep, dark center of winter.  It's cold and I would prefer to snuggle in my cozy flannels while sipping tea and reading a good book. So, in keeping with the theme of rest and hibernation, I will resort to offering something I wrote a few years ago and stored away in place of something freshly written. I hope you enjoy it. Now back to my tea and jammies!

********************

Snowbirds Original Watercolor - Cardinals
by Yankeegirl's Watercolors

The air is getting chilly and the birds are winging their way south on their seasonal journeys. I have been feeling the need to retreat from the busy world, to begin my own process of hibernation just at a time when the rest of American culture is resuming its busyness, plunging headlong into hectic school and work schedules. There is something amiss in our cycle. The natural world is winding down and we humans are gearing up. Fruits and vegetables ripen and are harvested, and their vines die away, becoming part of next spring’s humus. Chipmunks and bears prepare for prolonged sleep; birds take flight. The days become cooler and shorter, and the trees stop feeding their leaves, going out in a blaze of colorful glory. Yet we have forsaken that natural rhythm and have chosen to flip the seasonal pancake in a reverse scenario: We rest when the balance of the earth is producing and growing, and toil when nature is asleep. How did we become so seasonally nocturnal?

Original Print of a Fall Reflection

by Beth Peardon Prods

It wasn’t this way for thousands of years while we were consciously dependent on the land and our fellow animals for survival. Farmers knew that they would have a limited growing season and they had better stock up for a long winter’s dormancy. Our ancestors knew that when the sunlight lessened, it was time for lessening their activity levels, giving their bodies time for rest and revival. However, when we started to rely on ourselves and our technologies more than we relied on nature, we began to see ourselves as self-sufficient and independent of changes in the seasons. We could control the cycles and make them fit into the schedules we created for ourselves. Perhaps we purposely switched the order as if to demonstrate our command over nature. It is becoming more obvious that this is a false feeling of security, and we had better examine our choices more closely in the near future. Now that we are out of step, it will become very difficult to rejoin the natural march once too much time has passed and we are far behind the rest of the pack on its migrant journey.

Note Cards, Set of Two - Pumpkins with Falling Leaves

by pfd Original Artworks

I am choosing to buck the trend by slipping into wintry slumber with the rest of my fellow earth-mates. I’ll line my nest with layers of soft, fuzzy fleece blankets and sweaters, and gird my larder with extra tea and hot chocolate and copious amounts comfort food. I will join the birds in their migration and I will fly away from the strenuous regimen of classes and holiday activities, concentrating instead on making small home improvements that will make my den suitable and comfortable for those long, snowy days inside. I will feed my hearth and celebrate the declining daylight by opening my thoughts to the inner light of my heart’s fire.

Winter at Whitehall Print (from an original watercolor)

by Colours and Textures

Needle Candy

by Big Island Rose Designs

My choice is to retreat – but not a retreat in the usual sense of giving up. Rather, this is a retreat back into step with the rest of the natural flow of life. It is a retreat that is defined as a period of retirement, of silence and solitude, a time of withdrawal to a refuge for contemplation and renewal. My hibernation will hopefully allow me to better adapt to changes in my physical and mental environment in order that I may survive the harsh times ahead. Perhaps this state of rest will preserve my mental faculties as well, as I keep my brain cells insulated from the overstimulation of the hustle and bustle of schedules and obligatory seasonal commitments.

Breathe - Original Watercolor

by Sixsisters

Most of all, by staying in step with nature and out of step with the rest of our culture’s frenetic pace, I hope to let go of my false sense of control over the cosmos and over nature, releasing that feeling of always fighting with my true self. I am, after all, like all the other animals and plants that exist in this place, tied by billions of ancient cells to the primal call of earthly rhythms. We block our ears with electronic white noise, and keep our minds and bodies constantly moving with busywork. Yet in the crisp stillness of a deep azure winter’s night, in the brilliant quiet of a crystalline snowfall, in the mysterious shadow of sparkling icicles as they drape past our windows, a small, whispering voice can be heard calling us to sleep, to sleep deeply and dream of our spring reawakening.

Blue Winters Night - Original Water Color Painting

by Mystic Silks

© 2006 Olivia Herbert. All rights reserved.

To write about???

You know how artists get that horrible dry spell? Well, believe me writers do too!

I always use a calendar to remind me when I am writing a blog post and this day is no exception. Except, this is the exception! I have writer’s, what’s it called? You know when the ideas just don’t come!

So, I have decided to delve into our team to pick out a random selection of pictures to show off the incredible talent that our BBEST team has! Well the choices have been random but leaning more to our autumnal season and, of course, halloween. Enjoy!

Native American Beaded Earrings

by

J Stinson

These pretty fan shaped hand beaded earrings were made by Joni. They are made from green glass bugle beads, green seed beads and white pearlised seed beads.

Mini Rug Hooked Jack ‘O Lantern

by

Beth Anderson

Folk Art and Rug Hooking!
This primitive mini jack-o-lantern is hand-hooked in the traditional primitive fashion of rug hooking on burlap. Hooked with 100% wool strips, both dyed and re-purposed, backed in a bright orange wool, and stuffed like a miniature pillow with polyester fiberfill – even the brown checked wool stem is stuffed!

Pastel Charmeuse Silk Scarf/Shawl

by

AltheaP

Wrap yourself in luxury with this luxurious charmeuse silk shawl. It is 14" wide by 66" long, so can be worn in a number of versatile ways to show off a simple dress or blouse. Abstract shapes in pale periwinkle and orange add interest to under layer of pale orange leaves.

Porcelain 20 oz Funky Mushroom Fairy Queen Bowl Art by Magi

To be found in Fehustoneware’s shop

How fun to eat your cereal from a funky fairy bowl!
Wheel thrown in porcelain clay
clear glaze with an iron oxide decal in the original artwork of Magi C.
There is a tiny moon impressed at the base.

Cactus Yarnius Smallicus

by

Blazing Needles

Professor Philo Philodendron has found a dainty cactus of exceptional beauty in the Mohave desert. This tiny species, yarnius smallicus, fits neatly on a desk or windowsill. Perfect for the plant-killer.

Beadwoven Autumn Orange Flower Brooch

by

Beadbug

Beadwoven Autumn Orange Flower Brooch
No, this is not a French Beaded Flower. French beaded flowers are done with wire and beads. This pin/brooch is beadwoven with needle and thread, and is a little more supple.

Sassa Lynne Serendipity Mixed Thread Selection

by

Sassa Lynne

Not one but seven top quality yarns in this selection. Again from our Serendipity range these threads have all been dyed in the same dyebath. Think Mango! Cerise, Gold and Fuchsia with a little more than a touch of Orange and Coral. They will stitch or couch beautifully on fabric or canvas.

Celedon Rust Flower Focal

by

Zuda Gay

This lovely polymer clay flower focal features sculpted petals on a sturdy base and the center is a lot of clay dots. It measures 2" (5cm) across the flower and the hole is drilled horizontally near the top for stringing. Flower Pendants look beautiful hanging on a ribbon or cord and completely amazing made up into a custom beaded necklace.

Well, by now you will have realised that our wonderful BBEST team members have a wealth of talent to show. Here I have simply chosen at random a few of my favourite items. There are so many more, I could go on all day! Why don’t you delve into Pandora’s Box? This time you won’t let out any demons just pure talent!!

It's the Great Pumpkin!

As October approaches and the weather in the north turns cooler, classic images of autumn reflect the tones of red, yellow and brown found in the natural landscape. Colorful swirls of falling leaves, bushels of crisp apples, and especially cheerful, orange pumpkins come to mind when we think about fall. The pumpkin is a member of the Cucurbitaceae or cucurbit family of plants, which also includes squashes, cucumbers, gourds, and melons. According to the University of Illinois Extension website, "The name pumpkin originated from the Greek word for 'large melon' which is 'pepon.' 'Pepon' was nasalized by the French into 'pompon.' The English changed 'pompon' to 'Pumpion.' Shakespeare referred to the 'pumpion' in his Merry Wives of Windsor. American colonists changed 'pumpion' into 'pumpkin'."

 Pumpkin ACEO Original Watercolor

by Sixsisters

Although the origin of the pumpkin is not exactly known, it is generally believed to have originated in the Americas. Seeds of pumpkin-like plants were found in Mexican archaeological sites dating between 7000 and 5500 B.C.. These early pumpkins were not the typical round, orange types we commonly see today; they were a crooked-neck variety and were grown with beans and sunflowers along river banks. After corn (maize) began to be cultivated, Native Americans learned that pumpkins and other squashes grew very well in the same plot as corn and beans in what is referred to as "The Three Sisters" tradition. "Corn serves as the natural trellis for the beans to grow on. The beans roots set nitrogen in the soil to nourish the corn. The bean vines help to stabilize the corn stalks on windy days. The squash plants shelter the shallow roots of the corn and shade the ground to discourage weeds and preserve moisture. Truly a symbiotic relationship." (All About Pumpkins, http://www.allaboutpumpkins.com/history.html).

A Basket of Autumn Original Watercolor

by Yankeegirl's Watercolors 

Two Pumpkins with Corn Window Cling/Suncatcher
by Clinging Images

Besides classic orange, pumpkins come in a surprising array of colors including varying shades of green, red, and white. There is even a "blue" type often referred to as the Australian Blue Pumpkin, which looks like a Turban squash. (Pumpkin Nook, http://www.pumpkinnook.com/facts/colors.htm) Pumpkins are grown all over the world now. It is one of the most popular crops grown in the United States, with over 1.5 billion pounds produced each year. (Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumpkin)

Felted Wool Pumpkin Bowl

by Maddy & Me Designs

Fall Pumpkins Nightlight
by Designs by Christine

Since it stored well and had many uses, the pumpkin was an important food source for early cultures in the Americas. The flesh was roasted, baked, parched, boiled and dried. The blossoms and seeds were also edible. Flour was made from dried, ground pumpkin. The dehydrated, hard shells could be used as bowls and storage containers, and strips of dried pumpkin flesh could be woven into mats. Native Americans introduced the pumpkin to the Pilgrims who created the ancestor of the pumpkin pie, sans crust: "The Pilgrims cut the top off of a pumpkin, scooped the seeds out, and filled the cavity with cream, honey, eggs and spices. They placed the top back on and carefully buried it in the hot ashes of a cooking fire. When finished cooking, they lifted this blackened item from the earth with no pastry shell whatsoever. They scooped the contents out along with the cooked flesh of the shell like a custard." (All About Pumpkins, http://www.allaboutpumpkins.com/history.html) The Pilgrims also fermented persimmons, hops, maple sugar and pumpkin to make a beer.

Pumpkins and Sunflower Limited Edition ACEO 

by Backroom Treasures

Fall Foliage Pumpkin Basket

by The Lord's Living World

Of course, what would Halloween be without the pumpkin Jack-o'-lantern? The tradition of carving vegetables for lanterns originated in Britain and Ireland, and immigrants in the Americas soon found the hollowed pumpkin made an excellent lantern. However, it wasn't until the mid 19th century that the term Jack-o-lantern came into widespread use, and the carved pumpkin became associated with Halloween. Prior to that time, the pumpkin was a symbol of harvest time and abundance. Even today, many fall festivals include pumpkin-themed events, like contests to determine the biggest locally-grown pumpkin, and pumpkin-chucking tournaments, during which creative catapult contraptions are used to see who can fling a pumpkin the farthest.

Pumpkin and Scare Crow Plate

by Glitz n Glass

Rug Hooked Jack O Lantern

by Beth Anderson

The sweet and aromatic scent of pumpkin pie stirs feelings of comfort and home-cooking, and memories of family gatherings, like Thanksgiving. The bright orange fruit makes an excellent addition to quick breads and muffins, but it can also make delightful, creamy winter soups. While the most common way to use pumpkin in cooking is to buy canned puree, you might want to try preparing your pumpkin mash from scratch. The website All About Pumpkins has instructions for cutting and cooking a fresh pumpkin, as well as recipes for enjoying this versatile winter squash. http://www.allaboutpumpkins.com/recipes.html And don't forget to save and roast your pumpkin seeds! Also known as pepitas, pumpkin seeds are tasty sources of many vitamins and trace minerals. The purported health benefits of eating pumpkin seeds range from lowering cholesterol to having anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties.

Whether you decide to eat your pumpkin or just enjoy it as part of nature's beautiful fall decor, be sure to experience the many-faceted pumpkin this season.

Pumpkin Creme Brulee Soy Candle

by AJ's Country Cottage

Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino Solid Shampoo

by In A Lather