New Old Craft

When we were going through my maternal grandmother's house a couple years ago, getting it ready to sell, one thing we found were these long dowels with a kind of crochet hook on one end and a flattened part at the other end with a hole in it.
We all wished we would have asked Grandma what the heck those were.
Last week, I got two separate craft catalogs in the mail (Mary Maxim, and Annie's Attic), and to my surprise, they both featured this "NEW" craft that clearly uses the same hook thingy.
"now you can knit with a crochet hook!"
Very intriguing.
Not wanting to wait for a package in the mail, I tried locally, I stopped at Michael's and called JoAnn's, no and no. So Monday, I stopped at Hobby Lobby, and I almost missed it, because they are tiny!
I was expecting this kit to be regular book/magazine sized, because the knooks that we found at Grandma's were more the length of a regular knitting needle, these little babies are barely five inches. So the book is actually just a pamphlet.
The instructions seem pretty good, and they have some great videos on their website to help you get going. I've only had a chance to practice a little bit this week, but it's my new obsession to learn!

Hey! I just remembered Project Runway All Stars starts tonight! I can practice knooking while I'm watching. Yay.

On my desk

Thought it was time again to share what's on my desk at work.
I have a nice desk job, where I get to leave right at 5, and not worry about work until I'm back in the morning. (and lucky to be close enough to go home for lunch) I'm very thankful to have a nice desk job, even tho sure, I do sometimes complain about something or another. But hey, who else gets Arbor Day off as a holiday?
Anyway. We also get the standard two 15 minute breaks each day. So I use my time creatively. If it's a full work week, that's a whole two and a half hours of creative work I can get done.
I've mostly been making lots of little felt pieces; pins, magnets, key chains, and different kinds of hair thingies. But I was inspired to try a huge felt piece. I'm thinking to use one felt sheet as the background, the ones I get are just a few smidges bigger than an 8 x 10 sheet of paper, so I'm thinking when it's done, I can crop it to fit a regular picture frame.
So what is it?

Felted Bag: Sans Button (and Photo)

Well, I must have used up my photo mojo Saturday, when I went I went to upload the "finished" photos, I'm somehow locked out of iPhoto. It's some networking issue, and the BFF will have to figure it out later this week. Then I'll put up more photos.
The bag is very cute, and I'll just need to find or make a button in the right size for it, and it will be done.
The only thing that I didn't really like in the whole process was some tiny white-ish bits of fluff that got felted into some of the fiber. Probably from the towel I put in the wash with it, or just from the washer itself, it really wasn't much at all. But I had to get every last piece off, with scissors and duct tape. I'm not sure if putting it in a pillowcase bag, which I had decided not to do, would have stopped that, but I may try that net time.
And since then, nothing on the hook. I don't know why, I guess I'm just not sure what to do next. I'm kinda tired of dishcloths at this moment, and I read the chart pattern to learn a granny square, so I think I might be able to read another chart, and maybe I'm this close *.........* to being able to read a real pattern, so what to tackle next?
Maybe I'll frog that last dishcloth and try a different hat, those colors are too cute not to wear!

Poly Clay

Poly Clay
Originally uploaded by seeshells.

Here's a bunch of beads and things I made with polymer clay several years ago. These are examples of different techniques I tried, some from books, some my own designs, some pretty good, some not successful at all, but that's what practicing is about.
Next week, kids gone for Spring Break, I will be delving a bit into the old poly clay stuff. Funny, I worked so much at it for so long, and now haven't for so long. I have to figure out where I was, go back and pick it up, and see where to move on to.
Part of my process, I'm realizing, I becoming ok with the time lapse. There were many reasons this, my favorite art form took a back seat, some reasons I will have to work through. So I guess the poly clay is a bit of therapy for me as well.
Art Therapy 101.

Me & My OCD

I really like to make plans, to have schedules. Sure, I can be spontaneous, but I like to be spontaneous within the boundaries of a schedule. OK, yeah, I know I'm insane.
To me it's more like Einstein always wearing the same outfit, he (supposedly) had a bunch of the same pairs of pants, the same shirts, etc, so he wouldn't have to make decisions that would take time away from his other interests. If I have my menus planned out, and then the shopping list, it saves me time at the grocery store and in the kitchen. I lay out my clothes the night before, partly so I don't wake up the night-working BFF, but also so I don't have to think about it in the morning. (And yes, I am starting to limit my clothing purchases to be a bit more Einstein-like)
So where am I going with all this? Well, at one point when the kids were younger, I had specific plans for each evening, art night, chore night, writing, game night. It was easier for me to get things organized, and they got into the routines some too. It was fairly easy when they were younger, elementary school, when their day ended long enough before 9:00, that I could actually sit down and watch a 9:00 show.
Of course, they grow, and we all change, and they have a lot more say in how to spend their evenings. But I still kinda like to have a plan. Just for me.
Art night with the kids was always Wednesday, and after they went to bed, I'd continue with my own projects. Now, with no studio space, I really feel like I have to plan the time, I can't just drop into a studio (or table) whenever I want. My plan is was to reinvent Wednesday night as Art Night (and report here to keep me honest), but as I'm getting ready for bed, I realize that various errands, phone calls, and television distracted me tonight. BFF says just plan to do two hours before the end of the week, I will try that this week. And I will report here. But I really want to have a specific day where I always set aside the time.
Am I just crazy?

I Wanna Be A Hooker

and by that, of course, I mean a master of crochet
I want so badly to crochet &/or knit, I want to squee when I see squishy yarns, and make a stash of more than practice acrylic, I wanna be part of the fun!! And I want to be able to do my thing anywhere/everywhere, taking it with me, do it during commercials, waiting in lines, and I want to make things for people that need things, like hats for the homeless, and gifts for friends. I feel like I'm in jr. high or something, I really want to be part of the club!
I have family members that could teach me, but I didn't want to bother them. I bought the I-taught-myself-to-crochet book kit, the pictures make me seasick. But I know in my heart I am meant to be a hooker, sorry Mom, I mean crocheter.
Last week or so, I got to thinking more about crocheting, and I came to a couple conclusions: I know the basics of what it looks like doing it, I've done some stitches before, I know what it is supposed to look like when it's done, the part I haven't been able to grasp is the learning-it-how-I-am-supposed-to-learn-it part.
So I decided that maybe I'd just pretend I knew how to do it, and practice from that. I happened to be at work when this powerful urge came over me, and I happened to have a hook there, with my knifty knitting supplies, so on my break I took apart a ribbon bow, and started crocheting with it. A chain turned into a ring turned into a tiny little circle, and I had to tape one end of ribbon to the next to keep going. And the glitter off the ribbon got all over everywhere.
At home, I pulled out a different hook, and some purple practice acrylic and started something similar. I've worked on it at commercials, and pretended I knew what I was doing, and I almost had a coaster.
Tonight, I went to My Guy's work to watch the season premier of LOST with him, and I took my portable project with me, in a cute felt tote with a penguin that I got for my birthday. I was working along, and all-of-sudden, I did something by accident, just because it felt natural, and I had figured out a completely different stitch than the one I was doing. It was very cool, but turned my coaster into a hacky sack.
I have no idea what the things I am doing are called. I have no idea how to make what I am doing turn into what I am trying to make. But I'm doing it. The rest will come later. And maybe I'll see if Gramma will give me a few pointers.

Art Journaller : Gathering Supplies

Supplies
Originally uploaded by seeshells.

I'm working slowly on getting started on my Art Journaller project. Partly because I started this right in the heat of the holiday season, and I had to take baby steps, but partly, honestly, just because of being nervous about starting something. At this moment, I have actually done two pages. (WooHoo-right?) But I'm feeling like I'm getting the momentum going, and I'm almost to the down hill side.
Of course, I wanted new or fairly new things for this Art Scout button, special things just for this project. I had purchased this set of watercolor colored pencils a few months ago, and had only tried them out once, so they will be part of my supplies.
Side note: I love colored pencils, I have the set that I first got in college still, with lots more colors added. I love watercolor. I love using my colored pencils with watercolor. I had been working on a funky technique with colored pencils and watercolor a couple years ago. So I thought I'd love watercolor pencils. When I bought these, I wasn't too impressed. I did pick a very inexpensive set, but I think Prang is a good name. Maybe it's just because I had never tried them before. They are part of my Art Journaller supplies, and I will give them another try.
The other thing I bought new, was an artist pen. Back in college, I had a set of four rapidiograph pens, and after college I did not know what a great thing I had, and I let them move on to a new home. So at this point, I was not going to spend a bunch of money on pens. I thought I'd look for maybe a felt tip kind of pen, do they still make Flair pens? I looked at several stores, and didn't find anything like that. And then we had to go to the office store, and this one I knew had a very small section of decent art supplies, I had even seen really good colored pencils there. So when we were looking for mailing supplies, I took a look, and I was very surprised to see some good artist pens as well. I remembered that Amy at CMP has talked about Pitt pens, and there were many sets in a few different colors. I didn't want to go that far just yet, but it would be exciting later on to get a set of 7 different sizes of Pitt pens. Luckily, I found some singles, and for a very nice price.
Next time: What will I put my supplies into?

Currently

As I mentioned I was particularly inspired by a particular podcast last week. On one of he podcasts I always listen to, Craft Cast I noticed that host Alison Lee was going to interview Kathleen Dustin.
OMG! I thought, KATHLEEN DUSTIN!! Let me mention that in a previous part of my life, the label of choice I allowed myself to be pinned to was not "Crafter", and not just "Artist", but "Polymer Clay Artist". Kathleen was one of the first well-known poly clay artists, and is still doing ground-breaking work.
The interview was wonderful. Alison is so inspiring as an interviewer and artist herself, I really love all her interviews. I know I gush about creative podcasts, but really, if you want to be inspired, listen!
I don't know how, why, or when I stopped thinking of myself as a "Polymer Clay Artist", I think it was just RL (real life) getting in the way. But this podcast flipped a switch in my brain.
Kathleen was explaining the draw of poly clay to Alison, and she said (and this is a HUGE paraphrase on my part) "...polymer clay is the only medium where there is no tool between your fingers and the color, you get to touch it directly..."
Yeah.
I forgot about that part. I want to play with my clay again. So last night, I brought up the big plastic tub with all my clay supplies.
The next two years are clay.

Making the Universe Laugh...

by, you know, making plans.
So I had been thinking about how to be a better blogger (so I can has cookie), specifically, thinking about how I wanted to write more.....immediately.
Not waiting a week for the photos, not waiting for the perfect way to say whatever it is I think I want to say, not talking myself out of what I think I want to say, and re-writing over and over in my head, but just getting the thoughts out. It's part of the creative process, too, the blogging about it, right?
And I was particularly inspired by my podcast listening Friday, and thought about it over the weekend, and reminded myself that I wanted want to stay current, stay in the moment, and go ahead and write what I was thinking and feeling and creating (if only in the back of my mind for now). And the weekend was nice, relaxing and busy at the same time. I sang a solo in church Sunday morning, and went to a Christmas party Sunday afternoon complete with awesome cheesecake and blooper reel. Watched some good movies, did some necessities shopping, had some good cuddling time with My Guy. And pretty much didn't have or take time to write the post that was bubbling.
Since I had a bonus weekend day, I sat down to write that post first thing Monday morning noon before My Guy, who sleeps like a vampire, got up.
And the internets have been out from that moment until just a little bit ago. My Guy even had to take the modem thingy in and have them replace it, and we still have no (internet) phone.
So much for staying in-the-moment, huh?

And The Beginning of 2008

My Goals for 2008
Creative:

• Continue to research and create things for selling on Etsy. If it comes slowly, there's a reason. Enjoy the trip.
  
• Work on Art Scout projects!
  
• Really start the 'retro craft project'! A little at a time is fine.
  
• Keep exploring, looking for inspiration, trying new things, and write about it. Don't be afraid to make mistakes!

Bloggerific:

• Be a better blogger, so I can has cookie! IE: Blog more often, with more photos! And stop writing blog posts in my head, and forget to actually post them!!
  
• Show appreciation for the podcasts I listen to and blogs I read by leaving comments!
  
• Continue to improve my sidebar, my 'about me' pages, and other little projects that will make my blog more fun to read.

Personal:

• Work on first step of going back to vegetarianism: Reduce red meat intake.
  
• Move my body more, maybe belly dancing?
  
• Be more social!

The End of 2007

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? I usually don't, the first day of a new year is pretty arbitrary, we can start good habits (or work on squelching bad ones) on any day. And there seems sometimes to be a pressure about making a resolution at the beginning of the year, pressure to make it last, make it work, too much pressure. I really prefer goals. And I can set a goal any time.
Last year I made a short list of crafty resolutions, with the best of intentions, but my creativity took me in different directions than where I thought I was headed on January 1, 2007. Two from that list have been in my mind all year, working towards one, trying to eek out time for the other.
One, Etsy, I've mentioned before that I am working on things to get started. I am still nervous about getting a shop set up, and am looking for more how-to help on the business part, I am so bad with the business part! On the making things part, I have several things ready, and have been working on lots of ideas, trying out lots of different ways to make a few things. Trying to decide which ones will be the most fun for me to make. Etsy is definitely one of my 2008 goals!
The other, my 'retro craft project' is one of those things that I think will need lots and lots of time dedicated to it, so as much as I want to do it and share it, I've felt overwhelmed with the amount of time it will take (or that I think it will take, anyway), and I've let that overwhelmed feeling freeze in my tracks like a deer in the headlights. So another goal for 2008 is to just do a little at a time, on anything, not let myself get overwhelmed and frozen. To get started on that goal, and the 'retro craft project', here is a photo to serve as a reminder to me, a teaser for you:

Art Journaller : First Photos

Art Journal Opening Page
Originally uploaded by seeshells.

Sage words from my past self found in my new art journal. (Don't ask me what was up with the doodle, I have no idea!)
The paper is nice, a thicker than regular typing paper, about the weight of the card stock we buy to put through the printer, but the paper in the journal has a nice texture to it, as well.
Since I went with outer beauty and using stuff on hand, we'll see how well the pages hold up to different mediums. I already had decided to only do art on one side of the page, so the other side (the back of the page before) can be a place to write a little paragraph about the art. That's the idea as it stands right now.


Here's a close up of the awesome cover:

Art Scout

I was never in Girl Scouts, we did 4-H at our house. I learned a lot, and for a short time even had a boy in our club. I got to take cookies (well, OK a cake that had to be baked three different times) to the fair, not sell cookies. I was then and am even more so now glad that I was never indoctrinated into that cult. But I did envy the badges.
Now there is an artistic alternative! Art Scouts is an awesome on-line club for creative types. I am so going to join and I'm getting started on my first button, the Art Journaller button, because I've already been thinking about starting an art journal, so this is a great way to get started. I have to do nine of the sixteen items, but I just may do all of them!
Does anyone want to play along?

Game Week!

You know when you're waiting for something, like a birthday or holiday, and it seems like it's forever until it gets here, and then you blink, and it's here? That's how I'm feeling right now. Next weekend is NukeCon, the game convention that we're all going to. I'm so excited to go, and now in planning mode, making sure I do everything this week in preperation. I'm also a little disappointed because I really wanted to have my Etsy shop up and ready before the convention, in case I had any opportunities to pass out business cards. There are just a few more things I have to figure out before I can get the shop going. I have enough things made to start it, but all-of-a-sudden it's the week before, and I need to pack, and make a couple things specifically for the convention, and I will not have time to take photos and officially set up the shop. And I've decided I'm not going to beat myself up about it. What good would that do? I will still make business cards, just with the blog addresses, and when (NOT if) I get the Etsy shop going, I'll post on both, so that will cover it.
Because part of what I already have made is holiday related, I don't want to let this go too long, so my new goal, my updated goal, is to work through all my questions and ponderings on how I want to do my Etsy shop, and get it up and running sometime in October.

September Thoughts

So I've been thinking about a 'something' a day creative experiment. I've heard of folks doing a sketch a day or a self-portrait a day (drawing or photograph), or a watercolor a day for a week or a month. I'd need to coordinate it with my Thing of the day post also, but I could do a week's worth, and then post them the following week (I've really wanted to get ahead on my Things anyway).
So I glanced at the calendar, and noticed that September has four nicely rounded work weeks, I could do one topic for the whole month, or each of those nice little weeks. But! WAIT A SECOND!! This is SEPTEMBER! And my goal was to have my Etsy shop open by the last weekend of September. That means I have to get busy!
Here's where I'm at right now:
I wanted to have three different catagories of things to start with, each in various colors. I had decided that one of those three could be my holiday earrings, it is getting close to that time, and they do sell in person, so they would probably sell on Etsy. Plus I have several pairs finished, so that will reduce the stress of what I have to finish. Number two is what I've been making a bunch of, until I get sick of making them, and I am sooo almost at that sick of point! These are cute, I think people will laugh and hopefully like them, as long as I can come up with a reasonable price. The third item is just an idea and a few supplies at this point. I'm not even sure exactly how to put them together yet. And this third thing is why my goal is the end of September, because we are going to a gaming convention that weekend, and I want to have buisness cards to hand out, as I intend to be wearing/using this third thing as promotion and testing.
With the realization of only having a few weeks to meet my goal, I am getting nervous, am losing a little confidence, and am full of questions. Do I need to set up a seperate bank account to use on Etsy? How do I figure out what to price things at? And OMG, I need to figure out shipping, assuming anything actually sells.
So this month I will be on an information hunt, while I'm finishing the first things to go into the store. I've found some good info already, Cafe Mom (I'm seeshellsmrf there, come say 'hi') has an Etsy forum, which pointed me to this EtsyWiki, and a good article on pricing stuff. And looking for more. And maybe October can be a sketch a day month.

How Lame am I?

So what kind of a clod-blogger am I? No posts from one Tuesday meme 'till the next? That's not right. And boy, do I have excuses! Big project at home (switching kids' rooms), one gal gone from work for a couple weeks (so instead of doing 1/3 of the daily work, I have had to do 1/2--and not have as much 'thinking about creativity' time at work), getting ready for school (finishing summer things with the kids, and school shopping), posting a Thing every day (which I have to do before posting to this blog, because that one is a contest--and I can't let him win!), and working on multiples of the same project for the opening of my Etsy shop!
I'm even lamer because when I was trying to do some cleaning up on the site, I accidentally deleted my Zombie mask post. Duh.
So what's coming up? Well, first, fixing that post! The things I'm making to sell in my Etsy shop (no link yet, as I haven't actually opened it yet), I said I would keep making them until I was sick of them. And I've pretty much about reached that limit! Altho, as I type, another one is next to my keyboard that I'm working on as I blog. I've got a scarf started on the blue Knifty Knitter loom, and I've got a couple other KK Loom ideas, including experimenting with making a bucket hat, and trying out various non yarn materials on the looms. I'm playing with shrinkie art. I finally found the percent bars to put on the sidebar and keep me honest about how many projects I've got goign at the same time, and at what stage they are at. I put the kids in search of a tennis ball for another project from the Carol Duval newsletter, and they found me one! Thinking about a sketch-a-day weekly or monthly project. Looking for some swaps. Thinking more on the retro project, and bought supplies to make an awesome retro project hopefully this week with the kids.
Stay tuned!

I don't like Tuesdays

I have come to the realization today that Tuesdays are my least favorite day of the week. Today is sucky, and today is not the first Tuesday that is sucky, see my Haiku's of Tuesday Suckiness from a few weeks ago, on the other blog. Every other day of the week (is fine, yeah) has different specific things to look forward to, but not Tuesday. So my strategic and creative brain, like usual, as soon as it comes to this realization, jumps into how-can-we-fix-it mode.
Since it's when I get to work that I first recognize how sucky Tuesday is, my first thought is a work treat. A Tuesday Treat! I could stop for coffee on Tuesdays. Or something more decadent, like a muffin for breakfast. I could have a specific art project at work that I only get out on Tuesdays. Or a special pen to only use on Tuesdays, or a special mix of fun music. I could update my iPod on Tuesday mornings, get fresh poddy goodness. All these things could definitely help a yucky day.
I've also been thinking about setting goals about updating this blog, and I remembered that on my first old blog, I would have a weekly quote &/or a weekly link of something I found out on the interweb that I found particularly inspiring. I could revamp either of those on Tuesdays. Then I thought about memes. I haven't done a lot of memes, but I know they can be fun and thought provoking. So I decided to look for a weekly meme that posts on Tuesdays, that wouldn't necessarily be about crafting or creativity, but would be something fun to think about, and could keep my brain occupied, and help the day not be so sucky.
And I'll probably still go for coffee.

A Few Cool Tools

If you're like me, you tend to have several projects going at the same time. We creative types just can't stop creating! I tend to have a couple-three current projects that I work on every other day or so, and another several projects, partially finished, but kinda on-hold, just sitting. And sometimes when a project is on-hold for too long, it kinda gets forgotten about for a while. And if it's not a creative project, maybe it's a book we meant to finish, or a recipe we were going to try, or just a site you meant to visit more often. Here are a few things that are fun and useful to help keep track of all those projects, or things-to-do.
Joe's Goals is a nice, free web based goal tracker, developed by a guy to help himself keep track of his own goals, and he opened it up to others. This tool is useful on a weekly basis, a day-to-day basis. You list your goals each seperately, and how often you mean to do them, and when you do them each day, or each week, you can put a little check mark in a box to show you did it. If it's a negative thing that you want to NOT do, you can put a bad red X if you did it, and you can also list a number in another box if you're couning up or down to something. (weight loss, or number of pages written perhaps) I use Joe's Goals for some personal healthy goals, stretching, eating breakfast, etc. But you could easily use it to track some of your projects. My New Hampshire Auntie, who loves scrapbooking, altering books, sewing, and trying many new things, told me her project plan of keeping track: she works on a certain project type on a certain day. You could definately do that with Joe's Goals, Joe could remind you that Monday is for scrapbooking, Wednesday is for sewing, etc. These goals stay private unless you choose to share them, and there is a section to be inspired by others' goals as well. Joe keeps updating the site, and the program, so it keeps getting better. Definately something to check out.
If you're looking for a tool that is a bit more public, take a look at 43 Things. It's more of an online community, where everyone makes and shares their list of things to do. Some go grand, big wishes, and some go down to the everyday mundaine. You could list 43 projects you want to work on, or 43 steps to a project. You can list which ones you've finished, and comment on others' list. You can also send yourself reminders, which are fun, "Dear future self, I'm reminding you about your goal. How's it going? Sincerely, Your past self." Very nice.
A reminder tool you could add to your blog is a personalizable count down from the Ticker Factory. This was origionally made for tracking a pregnancy or a birthday, but you could put any specific date that you want to count down to, a craft fair that's coming up, or the deadline for making hats to donate, or just a date you pick to have something finished by. And it keeps counting down for you. Below is my next birthday!
Try some of these cool tools, and if you find any more, let me know, too!

TTOTD

So Monday, when I get home from work, my guy says he has an idea.
Let me back up a tad.
A while back, my guy had a funky blog/website called Thing Of The Day. He put a lot of work into it, and did it every single day, so he got kinda burnt out on it. I've encouraged him to restart it, because he is a very good writer, and very funny. (And gals, be honest, don't we all know that a guy that makes us laugh is extreemly sexy?) Plus, it was a good project for him. I have my beads, now I have my looming, I have clay, and my retro craft project, and photographing everything, and too many other things I want to try. I have plenty of projects, the website was a good project for him.
Ok, back to Monday. And his idea. He wants to start up the TOTD again, but with a twist: we'll BOTH do it! We'll make it a contest! We each have to post one "thing" every day, first one out looses. And we can make a bet on it! Great idea. Except, I already have all these OTHER projects! I thought. But my "thing" can be one of my projects, or a part of a bigger project. And I could do a comic or a photograph, something not as time consuming. I do really need to have some smaller projects, to suppliment the big projects, all in different stages of being done, a finished project really gives a sence of accomplishment, and with only big projects, I don't get that as often.
We're still working out the rules and what exactly constitutes a "thing", but it's mainly bringing an idea to fruition. And I'll keep you posted where and when we're starting, as soon as we get it all figured out.
So Tuesday, I get to work, and I have a few ideas going around in my head, and I rip off the Monday page of my page-a-day calendar, and notice the quote, the quote from the day he told me the idea, from Maya Angelou: "Nothing will work unless you do." I thought the quote was very fitting, and thought the page might be just the place to jot down a few ideas I could use in our little contest. And that is what turned into that little piece of artwork you see here.

February Habit

So February is over, and I did my habit every day...well, to be perfectly honest, I missed the LAST DAY!! I was so excited that I had remembered to take a photo every day (even though I haven't uploaded them all yet), even when I forgot that day until the last minute, and had to find something interesting to shoot right before bed, so excited that I forgot to take that last shot! Silly me! I've tried a couple times to put a little flickr badge of just those shots here, but either I get too much white space that I can't get rid of, or the code is off, so I'll just give you a link! So did anyone else do a February habit? How did it turn out?
I'm proud to report that I've been doing my Artist Way morning pages for over two months now. What that is doing for me, I'm not yet sure, but it's becoming a habit, that's for sure.
The photo a day habit did help me stretch my photographic 'eye' a bit. I experimented or re-experimented with a few cool things, and probably most of all, I looked through a lot of great photos on flickr to get more great ideas.