I am really excited about the progress I am making on By Jen, my craft business. After joining Ladies Who Launch in September and completing an Incubator that month, I have finally taken steps forward. I got my business license and fictitious name permit for By Jen at the beginning of this month. I designed my logo, started this blog, completed a batch of business cards and made some updates to my website (still more work to be done)! I am constantly filled with ideas for crafts and projects as I read through magazines, books, and other blogs (thank heavens for Google Reader ). My sketch book is filling up quickly. Now I just need to sneak in the time to complete some of these projects. But not today. Today is Rebecca's 4th birthday and Halloween! Production will have to wait another day. Have a Happy Halloween!

It can be hard for me to find the time and energy to be creative, but I have continued to make more of an effort to fit some creative play time in each day. Unfortunately, most of it has been during quiet times at work lately. Its unfortunate because its so quiet at work and it means I have lots of ideas and plans in my head and sketched in my notebook, but not a lot of projects started. Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to change that and start making some of my ideas. I started working on some new bears last night after work, so I'm off to a good start.

I suppose I have always been creative. I do remember working on art projects with my mom for school and helping to decorate my bedroom. I come from a very creative family. My mom enjoys rubber stamping and making cards. She has made chairs from birch trees and made wreaths from dried grapevines. She's amazing in the garden (not necessarily one of my creative talents or interests). My dad's creative talents include woodworking, photography, stained glass, and baking. I have some beautiful oak furniture and wonderful stained glass to show for his talents. And we benefit from my dad's baking at the holidays with amazing cinnamon rolls he learned from the family (his sister-in-law's (my aunt's) mom). This aunt, Cyndy, has made a business for herself making fleece blankets and pillows. My grandpa has made windchimes from silverware and is constantly tinkering with things and coming up with creative designs and solutions. For a recent example, we helped him design and bui