Besides being a photographer, I’m a maker. I love to make things and to constantly stretch my abilities. I find this is important for my personal growth and overall well being.  It keeps my brain from getting rusty when I try to figure out something new.  I come from a long line of makers, my dad, especially is an inspiration to me.  He is not a man that can often sit still and whenever I visit he has a new project that he’s working on. Even when I was talking to him on the phone last night he was staining something while talking to me. So if I’ve learned anything from my parents and grandparents is to make hay while the sun shines. I, like my dad, can always find a project to work on and usually it’s a few more than one. While the job search continues, I’ve been working on a new website, this blog, turning one of our bedrooms into a little studio/office/sewing room/art studio, a photo book for 2015, new photographs, taking yoga, and making things. One project I was working on last week was making two hats for twins that I’ll be photographing in the next couple weeks. Some days I love bright colors and others I love neutrals and muted tones. For this project I want the babies to be the star of my image so I went with neutral colors and just a little touch of color with the turquoise buttons to add a little femininity. I got the base pattern here, http://www.made-by-rae.com/2010/11/snowblossom-hat-tutorial-by-rae/, and adapted it to my own liking. Above are the hats in mid process and below are the finished hats. Now I’m trying to figure out how to make my own pattern for an aviator hat and goggles, working on the mockup today.