From time to time I just have to make stuff. I (honestly) think it is because of a deep down spiritual connection to my own creator that I find myself so... fulfilled in creating things.

Sometimes it is knitting (yes, I knit), sometimes it is making a bootleg version of Settlers of Catan from Monopoly houses, toothpicks and paper (Settlers of Catan is a great board game for those who are un-innitiated), sometimes it is sharpening a stick into a spear and "hunting" game. I use the quote marks because throwing a "spear" at imaginary targets (and missing virtually every time) might not be considered hunting by experts.

But this weekend was one of those times when I just HAD to create. Friday I made good use of my drawing tablet for some sketching (This involved one of the things on my "DO STUFF" Initiative list- writing/illustrating a story with my sister):



On Saturday, I fixed a Machette sheath (This was a gift from my sister for my birthday- she knows me pretty well) Sorry, no picture!

Yesterday (sunday), I made a pocket-sized camp stove out of 2 pop cans! I am FINALLY getting some use out of the dremil tool that I got a few years back. The stove runs on alcohol (I used medical stuff). Check it out!



Notice that one of the "burner holes" is putting off more flame than the others- I scored a little hard with my swiss army knife : ( Also on Sunday, I purchased an aluminum water bottle from Dollar Tree but wasn't thrilled with the shiny finish, so I sanded it down and decided to give it a paint job! I referenced an old compass rose for the image (and I wish I'd used a smaller paintbrush for all of the lines). I'm pretty happy with it, though! I had a great time doing it.




I'm SO prepared for camping.

So I'm taking this "Do Stuff" initiative pretty seriously. I've been trying on a day-to-day basis to do more of the things I always wanted to do. Since my last update, I have:

1. Spent time in the wilderness/hiking (several times!) Note Ryan and James, 2 of my housemates.


2. Experimented with some night sky photography (thanks to a new camera gadget!) -That is a 7.5 minute exposure!


3. Done a little digital illustration experimenting. (no photo, sorry!)

I'm really excited to get out and do some treasure hunting and such as well. I have been given so many opportunities (Thanks, God!), I just need to seize them!

Next?

I turned 27 a month ago, which is weird. It has me thinking more and more about what happens with age! I'm realizing (rather suddenly) that I'm a grown up now. I don't often feel that way, though.

With 30 approaching, I'm reminded about what I haven't done with my life yet! There are all of these things that I've put in the "I want to do that someday" category- that have yet to be achieved. Keep in mind, though, that I'm a lot more of a grown up than I was at 25.

So here's the plan: DO stuff! I have often said "I'm an idea guy."- I have good ideas and love starting things/making preliminary plans, but then often fall off and never make any progress toward the DOing. So that's my plan-not just doing everything that people suggest, but in following through with all of the ideas I've always wanted to go with.

This means:
Writing and illustrating a story with my sister : )
Going to Alaska on a legit adventure
Treasure hunting on weekends
Getting outside more/Spending time in the wilderness
Pursuing real adventure when the opportunity comes
Take photos (play with new ideas, experiment!)
Drawing
Hiking
Camping

So maybe this is sort of a resolution- not for the new year exactly. I just want to make sure I am doing stuff while I can!

New things

Not a lot of new things going on right now- lots of the same old thing. I had a really rough week last week, work was extremely busy and I thought I could feel a cold coming on. It was a lot of pressure and a lot of stress, I haven't had to deal with a lot of that here, so it was a rough time.

There has been a lot of stress and change in my department lately, and I fear it is about to get worse. Lots of big changes coming, and there's no knowing what will end up happening.

But in my free time... I finished the book Redwall some time ago (and I LOVED IT!), then started on a book called "The Search for WandLa", by Tony DiTerlizzi, an author/illustrator that I just discovered. I loved his illustrations and thought I'd check it out. It was a very interesting sci-fi children's book that provoked my imagination. Now I'm back to 20,000 Leagues under the sea, which I started some time ago and got sidetracked from. I have always wanted to read it and am just now getting to it...

It makes me wonder about other things- what things have I thought "I'll do that someday"?- and haven't done? It brings up all kinds of things that I haven't accomplished! My 27th Birthday is 1 week away... it is a weird realization.

STORY! ILLUSTRATION!

Hey guys! So I just told you guys about my love of illustration and storytelling, right? Well, I've been going to Salvation Army a lot lately (or "the Salv", as I've come to know it), and last night I bought 5 books for $1.75. That is ridiculous, right? I love cheap books.

But, this is just a byproduct of my desire to read and understand more "adventury" stories. I'm almost through the book titled "Redwall" and I love it! I've been devouring it at every opportunity.

I've been loving the feeling of reading these books, but it also awakens the storyteller in me! I feel like when I'm at work, all I want to do is get away and read and draw- I'd LOVE to be able to be an author/illustrator of a book. Rachel (my sister) and I have been putting a story together for over a year now (we haven't had lots of time together to work on it), and it is inspiring to me!

So here and now, I'm making a mental note: I'm going to do whatever I can to make this story a reality. I'd love to co-write and illustrate this and then have it published. Sounds simple enough, right? Ha...

Anyway, my hopes are high and I'm loving it.

Weird day!

So I'm having a weird day today. I've been in a bad mood on and off since this morning. I'm not exactly sure where it is coming from, but I feel frustrated about things that shouldn't frustrate me. I'm doing what I can to drop the attitude, but to be honest, this bad attitude has me thinking about things...

I'm back to wondering if I'm really cut out for graphic design at all. I've done it here for more than a year now and I like my job (and I know that is more than most people can say right now, and I AM so greatful), but sometimes I just don't feel like I make the cut. Things are changing in my department here, so there's some added stress and that sort of thing, but I think it'll calm down.

Just having a bad day I think. I am looking forward to the weekend!

It is snowing a little outside.

Dear friends! I am not dead. Clearly I am back from Israel now! And it was a trip like none I've ever taken. If you want to see some pictures, check me out on facebook, I have TONS of photos uploaded.

This is just an update and another hopeful step toward actually being a regular blogger. But for now it will have to be a pretty short post.

I'm doing the same job, living in the same place and still loving it. In the last 2 weeks, big changes have been made in my department. Included in these changes is this: A good buddy of mine (and co worker) has decided to go out into the rest of the world and make something of a career for himself! I wish him well, but I'll miss him dearly.

I've been doing a lot of "story writing" and such lately, and I wonder from time to time if writing/illustrating books would be a good fit for me! I did a lot of reading over the summer, including the Chronicles of Narnia (An old favorite) and others. I just got into the Redwall series as well-which is great so far! Anyway, I've taken a big liking to that genre, and I'd love to do some illustrating for that sort of thing!

I've also recently become the owner of a 1995 Jeep Cherokee which is AWESOME! But sadly it means that the Raider gets to sit for a little while : (

Anyway, the Jeep is called Babe (the Blue Ox) because she's blue, and, lets be honest, it's an ox. I'll upload a picture soon! Keep up with me, I'm going to try and be a better blogger!