Looking Ahead: The Future of Stanis Creative Solutions

Working on our tent display and showcasing our logo on our new hand crafted table cloth - oh, and Milo our puppy!

Reflecting

Every creative journey starts with an idea. That idea grows through effort, experimentation, passion and creativity. As we look back, it’s exciting to see how far we’ve come and how much momentum we’ve built! What started as a few passion projects has grown into a collaborative journey with real impact.

Where We Started

Kim from MilkStone Ceramics demonstrating throwing a clay vase.

Stanis Creative began with a love of storytelling and a drive to create. Our first projects were small but full of meaning: filming and drawing supplements for nursing students, maintaining small website projects, and producing promotional materials for local festivals. These projects weren’t just about the final product; they were (and continue to be) about people, stories, and community.

From the start, our mission has been simple: to blend creativity, storytelling, and connection. Whether it’s capturing the sound of a live performance, designing something that makes people smile, or sharing a story that inspires others to be creative, we’ve aimed to make art that brings people together.

What We’ve Built

Over time, our creative reach has grown. We’ve built a foundation that spans video production, digital art, animation, hand crafted lines, and marketing support for small businesses and artists. Each project reflects our belief that creativity isn’t limited to one medium.

Our family team makes that collaboration possible. Each of us brings different skills to the table. From film, design, marketing, crafting, and storytelling, we turn ideas into reality. That teamwork is what makes Stanis Creative unique and versatile for any project!

Jon and Taylor filming at an event over the summer!

Trends & Opportunities We’re Watching

We’ve also been keeping an eye on where creativity is headed. The rise of digital-first creative businesses has opened up new ways for artists and makers to share their work. More than ever, audiences are craving authenticity; real stories, local roots, and creative voices they can connect with.

We’ve also seen growing excitement around educational and DIY creative experiences. People want to make things with their own hands, learn new skills, and to feel part of something bigger. Our crochet and cross stitch kits have shown us how art can empower others to create too.

Our Next Steps

Band playing at Vashon Island Lowland Games.

Looking ahead, we’re ready to scale what we’ve started. On the media side, we’re expanding our video and event production to support more artists, musicians, and community organizations. On the crafting side, we’re growing our crochet and cross stitch patterns that celebrate handmade creativity. (see our free cross stitch Hamish pattern below!)

We’re also building partnerships with musicians, festival organizers, and small businesses who share our vision of creative collaboration. Long term, our goal is to develop Stanis Creative into a hub that supports both artistic and community initiatives. A place where stories, skills, and people come together to make something truly meaningful.

Conclusion: Creativity as Connection

Community members learning celtic dance at the ceilidh!

At the heart of everything we do is one simple truth: creativity connects us. It’s how we tell our stories, how we build community, and how we make the world a little brighter.

We’re deeply grateful for the support, collaborations, and encouragement we’ve received along the way. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to keep growing, creating, and connecting!

If you’ve been part of our journey, or want to join us, follow along, reach out, or collaborate with us! Let’s keep building something beautiful together.

• The Stanis Creative Team 

A knight of the court of Mary Queen of Scots.

The Katie Jane Band rocking the McMinnville Scottish Festival.

A tea party hosted by performers of Realms Unknown!

The Role of Creativity in Community-Building

Creativity is More Than Art, It’s Connection

Creativity isn’t limited to painting a canvas or writing a song. At its heart, creativity is about connection. It is about finding new ways to express ourselves, build relationships, and strengthen communities. When people come together around creative projects, they share more than talent; they share stories, identities, and a sense of belonging.

What Happens When Communities Nurture Creativity

Communities that invest in creativity create space for people to feel seen and heard. Festivals, workshops, and collaborative art projects become gathering points where differences fade and common ground emerges. Creativity doesn’t just entertain. It engages. It sparks dialogue, builds trust, and helps people discover their place within the whole.

Stories From Our Work

We’ve seen this firsthand:

Music

Jonathan showcasing the Glow Bow, designed and featured by Katie Jane & the Celtic Light Orchestra.

At local festivals, live performances draw strangers into a shared rhythm. The audience isn’t just watching; they’re part of something larger, something deeply human. A great example is the BYOF fiddle workshops hosted by Katie Jane at the McMinnville Scottish Festival. This activity invites children and people of all abilities to try out instruments, explore sounds, and experience the joy of making music for themselves. It is not just performance—it is participation, and it opens the door for everyone to belong in the world of music.

Crafting

A simple crafting project can become a thread of connection across generations. Ava began with a crochet project, creating Hamish the Highland Cow. From there, her inspiration grew into a line of Hamish-themed materials and kits that now includes seasonal cross-stitch scenes, mini stuffed versions, and companion characters. Each new piece tells a story and invites others to join in, no matter their skill level or background. It is refreshing to see these skills growing into younger generations!

Design

Stanis Creative’s web development team is partnering with local artists to showcase their talents and handcrafted products in ways that reach wider audiences. Our projects with The Chocolate Lantern and Apothecary and Milkstone Ceramics highlight not only the artistry of their work but also the stories behind it. Through design, we are building digital spaces where creativity and community meet, giving local makers a platform to share their identity and connect with others.

Video

Storytelling through video brings people together by celebrating experiences too big to capture in words alone. One of our favorite projects was creating a 90-minute feature film that combined all three of the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day shows performed by Katie Jane and the Celtic Light Orchestra. This action-packed feature highlighted the best moments of the tour and showcased the range of talent Katie brings to her productions, from Irish and LED dancers to stilt performers and student musicians and dancers. By blending all of these voices and performances into a single film, we created a shared experience that honors creativity across many forms and invites audiences to feel part of the journey.

At Stanis Creative, we hold firmly to the belief that creativity belongs to everyone. There is always a role for each person—whether that is leading, collaborating, or simply participating.

Creativity as Inclusion and Shared Identity

When creativity is shared, it becomes a mirror where people see themselves and a bridge where they meet others. This sense of belonging is especially powerful in diverse communities. Public art that reflects many cultures, workshops that welcome every level of ability, and performances that make space for many voices remind people that they are part of something bigger.

Inclusivity is at the center of our approach. We believe every person has creative potential, and our work is shaped by the commitment to ensure no one is left out. Creativity says: you belong here, just as you are.

Highland Pipe Bands

Jon and Taylor filming on set - in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge!

Tips for Communities to Integrate Creative Projects

• Host festivals that celebrate music, art, food, and culture from multiple traditions.

• Offer workshops where people of all abilities can learn and contribute in a supportive environment.

• Support public art like murals or sculptures that share stories from many voices.

• Encourage collaboration between artists, schools, nonprofits, and businesses so everyone has an entry point.

These efforts don’t require massive budgets. They just need intention, openness, and a commitment to making sure that creativity has room for everyone.

The Healing and Unifying Power of Creative Expression

Julie enjoying the music at the Tacoma Highland Games!

Creativity is also profoundly healing. It gives people space to process experiences, cope with challenges, and transform pain into beauty. Shared creativity can soothe divisions, restore trust, and remind us of our common humanity. When people know they have a place and a purpose in creative expression, they carry that sense of belonging into every part of community life.

Building Stronger, Kinder, More Resilient Communities

At the end of the day, creativity is about more than expression. It is about connection and belonging. When communities nurture creativity, they create space for inclusion, empathy, and resilience. Stronger connections lead to stronger communities, and creative expression is one of the most powerful tools we have to get there.

Jon filming on the beautiful Oregon Coast!

SEO Basics for Musicians, Artists, and Creators

Kim from Milkstone Ceramics working on a pottery piece.

When you're a creator, the last thing on your mind is writing for search engine optimization (SEO). You want to be doing the thing that brings you joy and fills you with energy, like performing for an audience, throwing acrylic on some canvas, or methodically crocheting your latest stuffed creation. What you don't want to be doing is keyword research, configuring HTML correctly, or optimizing images.

The truth of the matter is that when you are starting out, you need to wear many hats, and a marketer is just one of them. So put your violin down, put your notifications on do-not-disturb, and open whatever writing app gives you the least amount of anxiety. We're going to go over the basics.

1. Content

Content is the foundation of SEO. Without it, search engines have nothing to index, and your audience has nothing to discover. It can come in many flavors, form main pages of your website, such as your homepage, to blog posts (like this one), to more detailed information like an extensive about page that covers the history of your band.

1.1 Content Length

The internet is crowded with short blurbs and quick posts. While there’s nothing wrong with a two-sentence Instagram caption, Google favors content that demonstrates depth and expertise.

• Aim for at least 500–800 words for blog posts. This gives you enough space to cover a topic meaningfully.
• Long-form content (1,500+ words) often performs even better for competitive topics, but don’t add fluff just for length.
• Mix it up. A musician might publish short gig announcements (300 words) and also maintain a long-form article like “The Story Behind My Album” (1,500 words).

The key is value. Ask yourself: will someone walk away knowing something new, inspired to act, or feeling more connected to you?

2. Linking

Links are like the highways of the internet—they connect your content to the larger web. When Google first launched, they discovered that the best way to tell which pages were valuable was by tracking how many links were pointing to different pages. The more links pointing at a site or page the higher that site or page would rank on Google search for keywords used in the links or on the page.

There are three main types of links when it comes to your website, based on where they are pointing:

• Internal Links: These connect one page of your site to another. Example: on your “New Album” page, link to your “Tour Dates” page. This helps search engines understand site structure.
• External Links: These point to other websites. Link to sources of inspiration, reviews of your work, or press mentions. It builds credibility.
• Backlinks: When other sites link to you, it’s like a vote of confidence. We’ll cover this more in the advanced section.

Tip: Use descriptive text. Instead of “Click here,” write “Read more about my creative process.”

3. Formatting

SEO isn’t just about what you write—it’s about how it’s presented. Website are made up of HTML, with semantic meaning. The code tells Google, as well as screen readers, what the structure of your content is. It’s important to use formatting correctly.

3.1 Headings

Headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.) are your content’s skeleton. They make it scannable for humans and understandable for search engines.

• One H1 per page (usually your title).
• Use H2s for major sections (like “Image Optimization”).
• H3s and H4s for sub-sections (like “Alt Text”).

Think of it like a set list for your show—you wouldn’t jumble songs randomly, you’d guide the audience through an experience. Don’t just change a heading from an h3 to an h1 because you want it to be a different size. You can do that with styling while maintaining the heading structure.

3.2 HTML Structure

Even if you’re not a coder, pay attention to your platform’s editor. You can often see the content directly as code. Take a dive into the HTML. It’s actually pretty straightforward.

• Paragraphs. These should be wrapped in <p\ data-preserve-html-node="true"> tags, and are the majority of the content on a page that is not your homepage.
• Bullet points and numbered lists. These should be formatted with the appropriate HTML as well, <ol\ data-preserve-html-node="true"> ordered list, and <ul\ data-preserve-html-node="true"> unordered list respectively.
• Bold or italicize sparingly for emphasis. For the most part I would try to avoid italics as it makes it harder to read. Instead, go for bold or quotes if you want to add emphasis.

A clean structure will make your content easier to read for everyone, and help your SEO as well!

4. Image Optimization

A cartoon illustration of Liv cutting physical film.

Artists and musicians often rely on visuals, but images can slow down your site if not optimized. Slow sites lead to both a bad user experience and poor SEO, as Google reduces your authority if you don’t pass certain metrics. I can’t count the number of times I have found a 10 megabyte image on a site even after I have educated the publisher that you need to keep those images small.

4.1 Sizing

Upload images sized appropriately for the web. A 5MB photo from your DSLR might look beautiful, but it will tank your page speed. Resize to around 1200px wide for most blog uses and compress it. It should not be more than 250KB.

4.2 Format

• JPEGs for photos.
• PNGs for graphics with transparency.
• SVG for icons and logos.
• WebP for modern browsers (smaller size, high quality).

4.3 Alt Text

Alt text describes the image for people using screen readers and for search engines. When creating alt text, thing of how you would describe the image to someone who cannot see.

Example:

Representation of changing ALT text in an image.

Instead of “IMG_2451.jpg,” write: “Musician playing violin under stage lights during Portland concert.”

This boosts accessibility and SEO.

5. Video Embeds

Video is a huge part of creative work; music videos, painting tutorials, performance clips, etc. First, you will likely offload these videos to a third party platform, like YouTube or Vimeo. You can then embed these video’s on your website. Then there are a few things to make these videos more accessible and SEO friendly.

5.1 Transcripts

Include a transcript of the video. It makes your content accessible and provides searchable text for Google. There are quite a few good tools out there to help with this, including Descript, Riverside, or Evernote. Make sure to review and clean up the transcription after you generate it as even the best tools make mistake and can have difficulty with heavy accents.

5.2 Closed Captioning

Similar to transcribing tools, platforms like YouTube generate captions, but they’re often inaccurate. Editing captions ensures accessibility for your audience and improves SEO because keywords are captured correctly.

6. Meta Data

Metadata is the behind-the-scenes information that search engines read to understand your page. It is what you see when you search Google.

6.1 Page Titles

Your title tag is what shows up in Google search results.

• Keep it under 60 characters. More than this and the title can get cut off in search results.
• Make it clear and specific: “Portland Indie Musician – New Album Release 2025.”

6.2 Meta Descriptions

This is the short blurb under your title in search results.

• Keep it under 160 characters. Again, longer than this and it can get cut off in search results.
• Use action-oriented language: “Listen to my latest Celtic album, inspired by the fusion of the Pacific Northwest and Bag Pipes. Stream now!”

I have seen so many sites that skip meta descriptions and titles. Don’t skip this. It’s your first impression.

Encore: SEO Optimization (Advanced)

A cartoon illustration of Jonathan pointing at a white board.

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you can go deeper. And deeper. And deeper. SEO is the kind of thing you can constantly be tweaking, so set aside a set amount of time for it, but don’t go overboard.

1. Keyword Research

Keywords are the phrases people type into Google. Your job is to match your content with what your audience is searching for.

• Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to brainstorm.
• Think about long-tail keywords: instead of “art,” target “abstract acrylic paintings Portland.”
• Avoid stuffing keywords unnaturally. Write for humans first.

2. Pillar Page Development

Pillar pages are a strategy to create interwoven content structure around a particular topic. The pillar page is a long, comprehensive guide on a core topic, with links to smaller related posts.

Say you want to be known for a particular type of art that is becoming a new trend. A pillar page strategy would include one large page that covers the art in general, while there would be supporting pages on things like techniques, materials, and the history of the art form. These pages then link between each other and to other pages on your site to create a all encompassing pillar of content.

Examples:

Pillar Page: The Complete Guide to Celtic Music Traditions Cluster Posts:

• The History of Celtic Harp Music
• Irish Session Tunes Every Musician Should Know
• Bagpipes vs. Uilleann Pipes: What’s the Difference?
• Top Celtic Festivals in North America and Europe
• The Role of Music in Celtic Storytelling and Mythology

Pillar Page: Life in the Court of Mary, Queen of Scots Cluster Posts:

• What Did Nobles Wear in 16th Century Scotland?
• Foods of the Renaissance: Feasts, Fasts, and Everyday Meals
• The Role of Music and Dance in the Royal Court
• Famous Battles and Their Re-Enactments Today
• How Historical Re-Enactments Keep Culture Alive

Pillar Page: The Tradition of Handmade Crafts Across Cultures Cluster Posts:

• The History of Crochet and Its Modern Revival
• Weaving as Storytelling: From Celtic Tartans to Navajo Textiles
• Sustainable Crafting: Using Recycled and Natural Materials
• Craft Fairs in the Pacific Northwest: A Complete List
• Why Handmade Matters in a Mass-Produced World

These pages build authority on your site and increase engagement as your audience reads individuals pillar pages and then digs deeper into individual topics.

3. Backlink Building

Backlinks are essential for SEO growth. They tell search engines, “Other people think this site is valuable.” Again, this is how Google first developed its ability to find the best stuff on the internet.

Here are some great ways for artists to earn backlinks to their sites:

• Collaborate with other artists and exchange blog features. You link to your collaborator’s site and vice versa.
• Submit your work to online galleries or indie music blogs. These blogs can then link back to your site with backlinks.
• Guest post on relevant sites. This will increase your credibility in the field and can earn you links back to your own domain.

Avoid spammy link-buying schemes. Search engines can penalize you for it.

4. Optimization Tools

Finally, let’s talk about tools that make SEO less overwhelming. The tools help you research how much traffic keywords get, help develop content for pillars and blog posts, and can even identify backlinks to your sites and if you lose them.

4.1 SEMrush

A powerhouse platform for keyword tracking, competitor research, and site audits. Paid, but robust.

4.2 Ahrefs

Excellent for backlink analysis and keyword research. If you want to see who’s linking to your competitors, this is the tool.

4.3 SiteImprove

Great for monitoring accessibility, broken links, and overall website health. Especially useful for creatives managing their own sites.

SEO for a Standing Ovation

SEO may sound like a corporate buzzword, but for musicians, artists, and creatives, it’s simply about making your work easier to discover. You don’t have to master every tactic overnight. Start small: write meaningful content, add alt text to your images, and fill out your meta descriptions.

Over time, these habits compound. Your art deserves to be seen, and SEO is one of the most sustainable, cost-effective ways to make that happen.

So the next time you put down your paintbrush or guitar, take 30 minutes to tweak your website. The future version of you, the one playing to a packed room, selling out your prints, or shipping custom commissions worldwide, will thank you.

A cartoon illustration of Jonathan sitting at a laptop.

Supporting Local Bands and Festivals: Why it Matters

Live Music: The Heartbeat of Culture

Katie Jane and Brian Campbell of the Katie Jane Band playing violin and bodhron at the Central Highland Games.

Live music is the heartbeat of culture. It has a way of connecting us, whether it’s the sound of fiddles at a summer festival, a small band playing in a corner pub, or a community gathering around a stage at the park. These moments of shared music carry traditions forward, bring people together, and remind us that art is not just entertainment. It is culture in motion.

What Local Bands and Festivals Bring to Communities

The Katie Jane Band community before playing at the celtic festival at the Whidbey Island Community Center.

Local bands and festivals infuse life into neighborhoods and towns. They create spaces where people can gather, celebrate, and be inspired. A festival is more than a lineup of musicians. It is the food vendors, the laughter of children, the stories woven between sets, and the connections made in the crowd. Local bands often grow out of these spaces, bringing with them unique sounds shaped by heritage, friendship, and the communities they represent.

Challenges These Groups Face

Celtic Spoons Band at Tacoma Highland Games.

But keeping live music alive isn’t easy. Many bands and festivals face challenges with funding, visibility, and audience reach. Organizing a festival takes resources, from renting sound equipment to securing permits and paying performers. Bands often juggle day jobs alongside their music, struggling to find the time and means to record, promote, and share their work. In a crowded digital world, reaching an audience beyond the local community can feel daunting.

How Stanis Creative Supports Them

This is where we step in at Stanis Creative. We believe in the power of music and the importance of storytelling. By filming live performances, creating highlight reels, and capturing the spirit of a festival, we help local artists and organizers extend their reach far beyond the stage. Promotion isn’t just about visibility. It is about helping audiences experience the energy, the joy, and the cultural richness that music brings.

Examples from Summer Festivals

A video reel made of the highlights of the Prosser Highland Games.

For us, summer festivals have been a special place to do this work. From the soaring tunes of fiddles to the powerful beats of drums, Celtic gatherings celebrate tradition while welcoming new audiences. We have captured close-ups of musicians pouring their hearts into a song, sweeping shots of dancing crowds, and the vibrant atmosphere that makes these events unforgettable.

At Realms Unknown, Mary Queen of Scots’ knighting ceremonies make the magic of the realm come alive!

Festivals also highlight other art forms beyond music. The Court of Mary Queen of Scots, brought to life by the Gilded Thistle, blends history and imagination through theater, pageantry, and immersive storytelling. At the Renaissance festival Realms Unknown, jousting adds the thrill of medieval sport to the artistry of the event, while the presence of many different courts celebrates the fusion of varied interests and traditions. Together, these performances show how festivals create layered cultural experiences, where music, drama, and living history stand side by side to captivate audiences.

Visit us at the Vashon Lowland Games!

Next up, we are excited to attend the Vashon Island Lowland Games on September 27th! The Lowland Games are a community-powered celebration and fundraiser to help bring a full-scale Highland Games to Vashon Island in 2026. Attendees can enjoy a day filled with Celtic food and drink, live music and local vendors, games and booths, and family fun for all ages. A special feature of this year’s event is the chance to learn the caber toss with Jeff Thornton, Men’s Lightweight National Champion and world-record Highland Games athlete, who has twice been invited to Worlds in both Lightweight and Masters divisions. We can’t wait to see our own Jonathan try his hand at this!

These experiences show that culture is alive not only in sound, but also in performance, artistry, sport, and community.

How Readers Can Support Their Own Local Artists

Supporting local artists does not always mean grand gestures. It can be as simple as buying a ticket to a show, sharing a band’s video on social media, or telling a friend about a festival you love. Small actions add up. Each share, each clap in the audience, each donation helps sustain the artists and organizers who keep culture alive in our communities.

Support equals sustainability. By showing up, spreading the word, and valuing the artists among us, we ensure that music, our cultural heartbeat, continues to thrive.

Awsome performances at Realms Unknown by the Dragon Theater

Behind the Build: Our Stanis Creative Cornhole Set

The Joy of a Simple Game
There’s something about a backyard game that always brings people together. The laughter, the little bit of competition, and the sound of bean bags smacking the boards—it’s pure fun. I decided to take that joy one step further by building a cornhole set for Stanis Creative, one that’s fully customized and reflects both our brand and my love for making things by hand.

Why Cornhole?
Cornhole is a staple of the festival and social gathering scene, if you’ve ever been to outdoor gatherings, chances are there may be a cornhole set somewhere. Cornhole brings people together in a fun game. This project started with a simple thought: what if we had our own cornhole set, built with the same creativity we put into all of our work at Stanis Creative? We wanted it to be practical but also branded, a statement piece we could use at events to spark conversations and show off some personality. The theme was obvious—Stanis Creative colors, logo, and design woven right into the game.

The Build
Once I committed to the idea, it was time to get my hands dirty. I built the boards from solid wood, cutting, sanding, and assembling each piece with care. Every detail mattered, from the size of the holes to making sure the surface was perfectly smooth. Then came the fun part: personalization. Ava painted the boards with the signature black and white of our color scheme and Julie, Jon, and Liv cut the logo out of adhesive vinyl, sticking it to the boards. Then came a final few coats of polyurethane to seal it and keep the paint and vinyl from chipping.

Our cornhole set in the painting process, painted by Ava.

The Bean Bags
You can’t have cornhole without bean bags, and we weren't about to buy them. We at Stanis Creative wanted every part of this project to be handmade. The team of Liv, Ava, and Julie carefully crafted the custom beanbags for our set. They, cut the fabric, applied the logo, filled each bag with beans then sewed them shut. It was a lot of work, but it made a huge difference.

Documenting the Process
Like everything we do at Stanis Creative, this project wasn’t just about the end result—it was about the story. I filmed the process, from cutting the wood to painting the boards and applying our logo. The behind-the-scenes moments show the build taking shape. Sharing that journey is just as important as showing the finished product.

Lessons Learned
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The frame build went smoothly with the minor problem that the boards I got were just a little too short, more than enough to work with, but the corners of the base are a bit off. Getting the bean bags balanced just right was also a challenge. But honestly, that’s the fun of a project like this.

The Finished Product
When it was all said and done, I had a fully customized Stanis Creative cornhole set—and it looked amazing. More than just a game, it’s a piece that shows off our brand, starts conversations, and brings people together. I can’t wait to break it out at events, festivals, and team gatherings.

The cornhole set featuring the Stanis Creative brand.

Creativity in Everyday Life
Building this cornhole set reminded me how creativity can show up anywhere, even in the simplest things. A backyard game turned into a hands-on project that reflects who we are at Stanis Creative. My challenge to you is this: look around your life. What’s something ordinary you could make your own with a spark of imagination? Sometimes, it only takes a small project to turn everyday fun into something truly unique.

Building Community Through Creative Marketing

Marketing Isn’t Just Selling — It’s Connecting

‘Pandemic’, a board game based on curing virus cubes.

We live in an era of isolation. Algorithms keep us in silos from each other. It’s easier to swipe on a screen to keep yourself “entertained” than going out to an event. Going out takes time. Going out takes effort. Why not just stay in and continue to swipe up to get the next hit of dopamine?

This is what you are up against when you’re in a creative field. An infinite supply of content from the world that wants to keep you separate from those you can help. Those you can connect with. Those you can build with.

So how does an artist combat the never-ending waterfall of content at everyone’s fingertips? How do you find your audience and connect with them? I am here to say it does not mean putting out more and more content, hoping to get found. It’s not about jumping on the latest trend to get the algorithms to push you to the top. It’s about building something more sustainable, more reliable, and more concrete.

It’s about building a community.

Why Community Matters

Community is easier said than done. You have to find your people and connect with them on a deeper level than just likes and follows. The good news? You’re creative. You have ideas and perspectives that set you apart from everyone else. That spark — that little je ne sais quoi — is what helps you find your tribe.

A community jam session with Jonathan.

But here’s the hard truth: being creative isn’t enough on its own. You need to share your creativity. You need to put yourself and your work into the world so people can connect with it. And that means embracing marketing.

For many artists and small business owners, marketing feels dirty, like selling out. I used to feel the same way until I realized that marketing isn’t manipulation or propaganda, it’s simply letting people know you exist. It’s saying, “Here I am, and here’s what I have to share with you.”

If you keep your work hidden, you aren’t just depriving yourself of opportunities; you’re depriving others of the chance to connect, learn, and grow through what you have to offer.

Your band, your event, your hand-crafted goods — they have value simply because they exist. But they have greater value when they’re shared with the world. And when you approach marketing as a way to build community, it stops being about pushing products and starts being about connection.

Six ways to build community through marketing

1 - Collaborations

Collaborations are one of the purest ways to build community because they start with the seed of community: people working together. When you collaborate, you don’t just combine resources, you combine audiences, energy, and creativity.

The filming of a group performance with Katie Jane and Curt Ryan.

• A band and a dance troupe put on a show together, creating an experience that’s bigger than either could achieve alone.

• A Highland Games festival unites athletes, musicians, artisans, and vendors, weaving together different cultural threads into one shared celebration.

• A coffee shop teams up with a local painter to host a gallery night, bringing the café’s regulars into the art world and giving the artist access to a whole new customer base.

Collaborations multiply impact. They also tell your audience, we value relationships more than competition. That message resonates deeply in a world that’s hungry for connection.

2 - Shared Spaces

Shared spaces are fading in our digital-first world. Most of us connect through Zoom calls, text messages, or comment threads more than we do over a meal or a handshake. That’s why shared physical spaces are more valuable than ever.

When you create or participate in shared spaces, you’re giving people something they can’t get online: presence. The energy of being in the same room with others who care about the same thing is irreplaceable.

• Pop up shops where local makers can show their crafts.

• Open-mic nights for musicians and poets to hone their works.

• Co-working spaces for freelancers who crave human contact.

Even if you primarily operate online, consider hosting a physical gathering; a workshop, a small festival, a gallery event. Shared spaces build belonging in a way no livestream ever can.

3 - Clubs

Community thrives when people share more than just admiration for a brand or product — when they share experiences. Clubs and interest groups are a powerful way to make that happen.

Hamish the Highland Cow in the making.

A few examples:

• A running shoe company that sponsors weekly running meetups.

• A photography studio that hosts monthly photo walks for amateurs and pros alike.

• A music shop that opens its doors for instrument “petting zoos,” jam sessions, or beginner classes.

These gatherings may not always generate direct sales, but they create loyalty. People bond over shared activities, and those bonds transfer to the brand that facilitated them.

4 - Fundraising with Purpose

Fundraising doesn’t just raise money — it raises community spirit. When businesses and artists attach their efforts to a cause, they invite people to join something bigger than themselves.

Examples:

• A local band throws a benefit concert for wildfire relief.

• A small bakery donates a portion of sales to the local food pantry.

• An artist auctions a piece to support a local high-school robotics team.

These moments turn customers into allies. They don’t just buy your product or attend your show, they join your mission. That shared sense of purpose creates long-term loyalty and strengthens the community around you.

5 - Volunteering & Service

Sometimes, the best marketing isn’t about spotlighting yourself at all. It’s about showing up for others. Volunteering at events, donating time to local causes, or mentoring younger creatives is a way of saying, we care about this community because we’re part of it.

• A running group that helps the people recovering from addition build a new life.

• Adopting a highway or trail and picking up litter.

• Bringing food and helping serve to a homeless shelter.

When your brand is seen pitching in, not for recognition but for genuine service, people take notice. They remember that you were there when it mattered, and that memory shapes how they engage with you in the future.

Service builds trust. And trust is the bedrock of community.

6 - Storytelling

An audience clapping along to a performance.

Stories are the heartbeat of community. They’re how humans have always made sense of the world and connected with one another. Marketing rooted in storytelling doesn’t just tell people what you do, it makes them feel something.

Instead of posting, “We have a new album out,” tell the story of the late-night writing sessions, the arguments and breakthroughs, the way one lyric came from a conversation overheard in a coffee shop.

Instead of announcing, “Our bakery makes the best bread,” tell the story of how your grandmother’s recipe traveled across an ocean and is still baked in honor of her.

When you tell stories, people don’t just buy your product. They join your journey. And once they’re part of your story, they’ll want to stick around for the next chapter.

Case Example: Bands and Festivals

One of the clearest examples of community-first marketing is in the music and festival scene.

A band doesn’t succeed because its songs magically go viral online. They succeed because they build a community around their shows. The people who come to that first gig tell their friends, bring their families, and eventually travel hours just to be in the room again.

Festivals take it even further. They create temporary villages where different creative tribes come together; dancers, musicians, artisans, athletes, vendors, and audiences. That mix creates bonds that last far beyond the festival grounds.

Marketing for festivals isn’t just about ticket sales. It’s about weaving a story that says, this is more than an event, it’s a place where you belong. When people feel that, they don’t just attend once. They come back year after year and bring others with them.

The Ripple Effect of Community-First Marketing

When you focus on community first, something magical happens. The benefits ripple outward:

• Stronger Loyalty: People don’t just buy once; they return because they feel part of something.

• Organic Growth: Word of mouth spreads naturally when people feel genuinely connected.

• Resilience: Communities are more resilient than algorithms. Even if your online reach dips, your core group sustains you.

• Impact Beyond Sales: Your work isn’t just about profit, it becomes part of people’s lives, their stories, and their sense of belonging.

A dancer in motion at the Portland Northwest Highland Games.

Tips for Small Businesses to Build Genuine Connections

You don’t need a massive budget to build community. In fact, smaller businesses often have an advantage because they can connect on a more personal level. Here are a few tips to start:

1. Be approachable. Reply to comments, emails, and messages with warmth and authenticity.

2. Host small events. Even a 10-person workshop can spark lasting connections.

3. Highlight others. Share customer stories, celebrate community wins, and spotlight collaborators.

4. Be consistent. Community isn’t built overnight. Show up regularly and reliably.

5. Listen. Ask your audience what they want or need, and adapt accordingly.

Strong Communities = Strong Brands

At the end of the day, marketing isn’t about shouting the loudest or chasing trends. It’s about connection.

In a world where isolation is the norm and endless content competes for attention, building a genuine community is revolutionary. It requires patience, vulnerability, and creativity. But the payoff is enormous: stronger brands, deeper relationships, and a sense of purpose that goes beyond profit.

Whether you’re a band trying to fill a venue, a small business hoping to reach new customers, or an artist wanting to share your vision, the same truth applies: if you build community, success will follow.

Because strong communities don’t just support strong brands.

Strong communities are strong brands.

From Concept to Creation: How Digital Art Becomes Reality

The Spark of Imagination

Every design I make starts with an idea. Sometimes it’s just a moment of inspiration that pops into my head during class or while looking at social media. I’ll imagine a character, a creature, or even just a mood, and when I have a moment, I grab my iPad to get started. From there, the idea starts to grow and take shape. Creativity is always a journey, whether it’s digital painting, crafting, or filming!

Brainstorming and Sketching Concepts

A sketch of a humanoid rabbit wearing a scarf.

The first stage is pretty messy. I usually start with loose sketches right in Procreate on my iPad. These aren’t meant to be perfect, they’re about capturing the feeling of the idea. Often, I’ll sketch three or four different versions before settling on the one that feels right. That’s when I know I have something worth rendering and bringing to completion.

Translating Ideas into Digital Platforms

Programs like Procreate give me the freedom to experiment with brushes, layers, and textures. This is where my art starts to transform from a rough sketch into something more polished. And because it’s digital, mistakes aren’t a big deal. There’s always an undo button or a new layer to try something different (and I use a LOT of layers).

A visual of the layers I used to create the drawing from above. In total, this drawing took me 20 Layers.

Feedback and Revisions

When drawing for someone else, I go through cycles of revising, changing details, and asking for feedback. Sometimes I’ll share drafts with friends, or I’ll just take a step back and look at it with fresh eyes the next day. Each round of edits makes the art look better and more unique. Some pieces go through dozens of tweaks before I feel like they’re complete.

Shading and Exporting

When the design is nearly finished, it’s all about the details. Adjusting shading to bring depth, and highlighting little features that make the piece pop. This is where my art really comes together. Once I’m happy with it, I export the file in the formats I need for sharing online, printing, or turning into merch. Often I use .png files to make my backgrounds transparent!

The completed rabbit drawing, with extra shading and background details.

From Digital to Real World 

The digital version of the Stanis Creative stickers (A circle design with our logo in the center and website along the bottom) next to our real life stickers!

One of the coolest things about digital art is that it doesn’t just live on my screen. My pieces have become prints, stickers, and even a huge part of our Stanis Creative branding! A single design can find new life in so many places. Thanks to the internet, my work can reach people far beyond our local community.

A visual of the drawing process labeled Sketch, Color, Details and Finish.

Creativity Meeting Accessibility

From the first inspiration to the final exported file, digital art is about turning ideas into something tangible. For me, it’s a way to connect artists and audiences, and make creativity more accessible than ever. It’s proof that with a little imagination and the right tools, something that begins as a quick sketch can end up in someone’s hands, on their wall, or even on their favorite hoodie. Think about a piece of art you own that was made digitally!

Behind the Scenes: Editing Festival Performances

The Raw Footage

Taylor Stanis in a camera rig in the forest.

I find that with hours of video filled with unpredictable lighting and sound, capturing both the performers’ energy and the audience’s reactions is not an easy task. It feels almost impossible. I had to convey the atmosphere of the event, what people were doing, the activities available, and the range of performances featured. I felt like I needed to be everywhere at once, because if I wasn’t, I might miss the best part of the event.

All I could do was capture whatever I could, making sure it was the best footage possible, and trust that I could shape it into something meaningful during the editing process. Along the way, I learned, and am still learning, the importance of having a story in mind while filming. It helps guide decisions about which shots will serve the narrative best and makes it easier to determine what footage is necessary and what isn’t.

Organizing & Sorting

Once the event is over and I’m back home, the process of sorting, cataloging, and reorganizing all the footage begins. First, I offload the video from the SD cards into a dedicated folder for that specific event. Then comes the task of naming each clip clearly, so it’s easy to identify what each video contains and to highlight standout moments within the footage. For example I would name a video shooting performers on stage something like “1.1.2 - Great Violin Solo” if it had a great violin solo.

After copying and naming the files I format (or delete) all the footage on the card to ready it for my next shoot.

Crafting the Story

This is where the narrative starts to take shape. The goal of these videos is always to tell a compelling story, whether it’s about a specific person, the overall event, a particular aspect of it, or simply the vibe.

The first step is importing the footage into my editing software (Premier Pro for those interested), syncing the audio with the visuals, and correcting the color to ensure a consistent look across all clips. Then I search for music from the festival that matches the tone of the event. I edit the footage to align with the rhythm of the music, while also structuring the video in a concise, story-driven way.

Next, I send the video for review from the other members of Stanis Creative, first to Liv then to Jonathan, to get feedback on how it can be improved. I edit again, adding a clip here, removing one there, adjusting another, and send it off once more. This process repeats until we are both satisfied. With each round of feedback, the video becomes more refined and polished.

Taylor filming Katie Jane playing the violin at Mt. Tabor park in Portland

Final Cut & Delivery

Once Jonathan, Liv, and I believe the video is ready for performers or event organizers to review, we send it to them for final feedback. Based on their input, we make any final adjustments until they’re happy with the result. The video is then exported in multiple formats for various platforms like YouTube, Blue sky, and Mastodon, maximizing its reach. Throughout the process, our goal is to ensure the final product preserves the magic of the live performance.

Conclusion

Editing together a video capturing the fun and activities and entertainment and all the wonderful people is where the festival’s energy truly comes to life for future audiences. Through thoughtful editing, we can tell powerful stories and preserve moments from an event that lasts only a few days, allowing others to experience that same magic long after it’s over. This is why it’s so important for festival organizers to invest in high-quality video recording and editing, it ensures a lasting impact for years to come.

Our Family Journey Starting Stanis Creative Solutions

Humans Are Storytellers

Since the beginning of time, humans have used stories to connect, inspire, and make meaning of the world around them. Stories shape how we see ourselves and how we connect with others. At Stanis Creative Solutions, we believe design and media are modern tools for storytelling, visual languages that capture imagination and spark emotion in ways words alone cannot.

Why Visuals Speak Louder Than Words

A powerful story doesn’t always need a thousand words. Sometimes, it just needs a single image. Visuals are memorable, emotional, and universal. Whether it’s a bold logo, or a crocheted character that feels alive, visuals cut through noise and connect directly to the heart.

Our Own Story: From Kitchen Table to Creative Studio

The Stanis Creative crew wearing St. Patrick’s Day Hats.

What began as a kitchen-table idea became a family-run creative studio. Each of us brings our own skills; video, art, crochet, and design, into a shared dream that continues to grow.

We found early inspiration in projects that blended our passions:

• Branding: Crafting logos and digital identities that reflected businesses and the people and communities behind them.

• Band Projections: Capturing the energy of live Celtic music and the artistry of performers in designs that became part of the concert experience.

• Video Production: Creating stories through capturing events and blending them into a compelling audio visual presentation.

• Crochet Characters: “Hamish the Highland Cow” became more than yarn and stitches; he became a story of tradition, playfulness, and heritage that people could hold in their hands.

The Principles Behind Our Designs

Ava holding Hamish the Crochet Highland Cow.

Great storytelling in design is rarely accidental. We’ve learned to lean on a few timeless principles:

• Color: Every shade carries meaning and emotion. From vibrant festival tones to calming natural palettes, color sets the mood.

• Composition: Where the eye goes first, and how it travels across a page, can make or break the story.

• Emotion: The best designs make people feel something, whether it be Joy, nostalgia, excitement, connection.

Tips for Creators: Infusing Story Into Your Own Work

Jonathan manning the camera at a live music performance.

If you’re a creator, here are a few ways to start weaving story into your design:

1. Ask “what’s the story here?” before you start. What journey do you want your audience to go on?

2. Think about emotion first, details second. What do you want people to feel when they see your work?

3. Use personal touches. Audiences connect with authenticity.

4. Keep it simple. The clearest stories are often the most powerful.

Every Design Is a Chance to Tell a Story

At Stanis Creative Solutions, our work is fueled by the belief that every design—whether a video, a poster, or a crocheted character—is an opportunity to tell a story that connects people. Our family’s story continues to grow through the projects we create, and we’re honored to help others share theirs.

How Small Businesses Can Shine with Limited Resources

Running a small business often means wearing many hats, including marketer, salesperson, accountant, and even janitor. With so many demands and a limited budget, it’s easy to feel like you’re always playing catch-up. The good news? You don’t need a big budget to make a significant impact. What you do need is creativity, resourcefulness, and a willingness to think different.

At Stanis Creative, we’ve seen firsthand how small businesses can thrive when they focus less on what they don’t have and more on making the most of what’s right in front of them. Here’s how to shine without breaking the bank.

Small Business Budget Mindset

Before diving into tools and tactics, it’s important to shift your mindset. Limited resources don’t have to be a barrier—they can actually fuel innovation. Constraints force you to think smarter, cut the fluff, and focus on what truly matters. Instead of trying to do everything, zero in on the few things that align with your strengths and your brand.

Creative Promotion Ideas

1. Use free or freemium apps to get started

You don’t need to invest in expensive software right away. Many platforms offer free or low-cost versions that are perfect for small business needs:

• Web Hosting: WordPress.com, Wix, or Carrd can give you a professional online presence.

• Video Editing: Tools like CapCut, DaVinci Resolve, or iMovie make editing simple and budget-friendly.

• Social Media Management: Buffer and Hootsuite offer free tiers to help schedule posts.

Free courses: Platforms like Coursera, HubSpot Academy, or YouTube tutorials can help you learn new skills on your own time.

2. Use the tools you already have

You don’t need the latest gadgets. Your smartphone, laptop, and even a blank white wall can become powerful tools for content creation. Most modern phones shoot high-quality video and photos. A clean wall makes the perfect bounce for full, natural lighting. Your laptop screen can also serve as a light; just open a blank white page and turn the brightness to 11.

3. Take advantage of your environment

Your surroundings can be your biggest asset. Natural light often looks better than expensive studio setups. Public spaces, like parks, murals, or coffee shops, can give your content personality and authenticity without spending a dime. Make sure you're not bothering the other patrons, or what was a pleasant environment could become decidedly unpleasant.

4. Don’t compare yourself to others

Scrolling through social media, it’s tempting to measure yourself against businesses with bigger budgets. Remember, you’re not competing on their playing field, you’re carving out your own space. Stay focused on your journey.

5. Focus on what makes you you

Your authenticity is your secret weapon, particularly in the age of AI slop. Customers are drawn to businesses that feel genuine and human. Lean into your uniqueness, your quirks, and your values. That’s what sets you apart from competitors with deeper pockets.

DIY vs. Outsource

One of the hardest decisions for small business owners is figuring out what to do themselves and what to outsource. A good rule of thumb: if it’s core to your brand or something you enjoy, keep it in-house. If it’s time-consuming, outside your skill set, or you hate doing it, outsourcing may be worth the investment.

For example, creating quick social media videos? DIY. Designing your website or running complex ad campaigns? Outsource to experts who can save you time and deliver higher quality.

How to Get the Best ROI

Maximizing your return on investment doesn’t always mean spending less—it means spending wisely. Ask yourself:

• Will this tool or service save me time?

• Will it help me reach more of my ideal customers?

• Does it align with my long-term goals?

Start small, measure results, and reinvest in what works. Over time, even small steps will add up to big impact.

Final Thoughts

Small businesses can absolutely shine with limited resources—it just takes creativity, intention, and a willingness to play to your strengths. At Stanis Creative, we believe every brand has a unique story to tell, and you don’t need a big budget to tell it well.

Meet the Maker: Ava’s Fiber Creations

Ava’s Journey as a Self-Taught Fiber Artist

From yarn to imagination, Ava has always found joy in creating with her own hands. As a self-taught fiber artist, she’s spent countless hours learning stitches, experimenting with patterns, and exploring new techniques. Crochet is just one of her many creative outlets, alongside knitting, cross-stitch, sewing, and drawing—but it’s the one that sparked the birth of her most beloved creation: Hamish the Highland Cow.

The Inspiration Behind Hamish

Early prototype of Hamish in development.

After seeing an adorable real Highland calf at the Prosser Highland Games, we knew that Ava would be up to the challenge of bringing them to life in crochet. She was inspired by their shaggy coats, gentle eyes, and playful personalities. Ava made translating that inspiration into yarn look so easy, churning out his head in no time!

From Idea → Sketch → Yarn → Cuddly Cow

When it came time to bring Hamish to life, Ava started with a sketch. With no formal pattern to follow, she simply picked up her hook and began experimenting. Stitch by stitch, Hamish took shape. His floppy ears, fuzzy tufts of “fur,” and tiny horns bringing character and charm. Before long, a new little crocheted friend was born. Along the way, she documented her process such that others can recreate the adorable polyfilled friend for themselves.

Challenges and Breakthroughs in Pattern-Making

Designing crochet patterns is equal parts creativity and problem-solving. The biggest challenge is wondering: will it turn out the way I picture it? Trial and error becomes part of the process. Stitches pulled back, shapes reworked, details refined until the finished piece feels just right. For Hamish, that meant testing different yarn textures and horn shapes until everything clicked.

Other Handmade Creations

Purple bunny, yellow Pikmin, and Sun created and designed by Ava.

Hamish isn’t alone in Ava’s creative menagerie. She’s also crocheted small critters like bunnies, Pikmin, and axolotls. Additionally, she created a sun, embroidered beanbags, sewn pillowcases, crocheted satchels, and even made a cozy hood. Each project is a new opportunity to imagine, experiment, and create something one-of-a-kind.

Why Handmade Matters in a Digital World

In today’s world of screens and pixels, there’s something deeply grounding about holding a handmade object. Each stitch carries time, care, and love. Unlike digital creations, handmade pieces have weight, texture, and the warmth of human effort. Hamish is more than just a crocheted cow, he’s a reminder of the joy of making.

Hamish the Highland calf cross stitch pattern designed by Ava Stanis.

Conclusion: Create Your Own Hamish

Hamish has become a favorite, and now you can make your own. Whether you’re an experienced crocheter or just ready for a challenge, the Hamish crochet kit and cross-stitch pattern are designed to guide you in creating your own cuddly Highland cow. Who knows—Hamish might inspire your next handmade adventure, too! Enjoy this free Hamish cross-stitch pattern designed by Ava.

Behind the Scenes: Filming Celtic Festivals

The Magic of Live Music

Opening Ceremony to a Scottish Highland Games

There’s nothing quite like the energy of live music: the soaring notes of a fiddle, the heartbeat rhythm of a drum, the audience clapping in sync. At Stanis Creative, we’ve had the privilege of capturing that magic at Celtic festivals across the Pacific Northwest. What started with an invitation from the Katie Jane Band, led by the incredible fiddler Katie Jane, has grown into one of our favorite creative adventures.

Before filming, we had no idea how rich and abundant these festivals were. The Highland Games aren’t just about athletic feats; they’re celebrations of heritage. Everywhere you turn, pipe bands are marching, Highland dancers leaping, vendors proudly displaying their crafts, athletes throwing cabers, and clans gathering to honor tradition. Even the food is part of the story: traditional Scottish eggs, meat pies, caramelized puffy Cheetos, shortbread, kettle corn, and crispy tots. The atmosphere is immersive, joyful, and deeply rooted in culture.

Why Film Celtic Festivals?

For us, it started with connection. Our friendship with Katie Jane opened a door, and once inside, we were swept up in the sights and sounds of a world we hadn’t known existed. We quickly realized that filming these festivals wasn’t just about creating content—it was about preserving culture, capturing emotion, and sharing experiences with people who may never have the chance to attend in person.

The Challenges of Filming Live Festivals

Like any live event, Celtic festivals come with their fair share of curveballs.

Taylor Stanis using an upper body Gimbal.

Packing gear for the road was its own adventure. We found ourselves staring at stacks of cases, wondering what deserved precious cargo space. In the beginning, we always erred on the side of overpacking. Still, there were moments when a piece of equipment stayed buried in a case all weekend—valuable lessons in what truly earns its keep.

Once on site, the sun became both our friend and our foe. Cameras overheated, batteries drained faster than expected, and lighting was unpredictable. Performers were often shaded under tents or pavilions, while the background blazed with daylight. Choosing between properly exposed performers and a blown-out backdrop felt like a no-win scenario at times.

And then there was the audio. Festivals are noisy, and more than once, the sound of a booming grandstand completely drowned out an interview with a vendor. At another festival, a glitch in our setup forced us to troubleshoot on the fly. Nothing makes you sweat faster than a blinking error light with the cameras rolling.

Finally, back at the editing desk, the mountain of footage revealed another challenge altogether: keeping track of hours of video and photos from multiple cameras, plus social clips shot on phones. It was exhilarating and exhausting.

The wins that made it worthwhile

For all the challenges, the rewards were unforgettable.

We’ll never forget the moment Mary Queen of Scots and her court stepped into the crowd, dancing to the fiery fiddle of Katie Jane. The camera caught the delight of a lady-in-waiting twirling with abandon, her skirts flying as the music soared. Another highlight was a couple who performed a choreographed Scottish dance, their joy radiating as the audience clapped along.

The Mary Queen of Scots watching the Katie Jane Band performance.

Multiple cameras gave us the freedom to capture these moments from different perspectives. Our gimbals smoothed our movements as we wove through crowds, giving the footage a polished, immersive feel. And because we were embedded with the musicians, we gained behind-the-scenes access, glimpses of tuning bows, whispered pep talks, and laughter backstage, which make the final edits more personal and alive.

Lessons we Learned along the way

Every festival became a classroom.

We learned quickly that no amount of planning could guarantee perfection, but planning gave us the confidence to adapt when things inevitably went wrong. When our audio setup failed, it was frustrating, but our preparation meant we had backups ready and could salvage the moment.

Our “everything bag” also became legendary. What started as a joke—a tote stuffed with clamps, tape, scissors, rubber bands, even vinegar—proved its worth time and again. It turned out that a single rubber band or clamp could save an entire shoot.

We also discovered the value of truly knowing our gear. Running checks well before the festival began helped us catch problems early. Just as important was knowing what mattered to the performers. By talking with the musicians ahead of time, we learned which solos or interactions they cared about most. Capturing those moments made our work more meaningful, not just technically sharp but emotionally resonant.

And perhaps the hardest lesson: accepting imperfection. There were times when the light washed out a shot, when the crowd blocked our view, when a magical moment slipped away. At first, those misses felt discouraging. But over time, we realized that chasing perfection misses the point. Instead, we celebrated what we did capture—moments of joy, connection, and heritage that no camera could fully script.

Tips for Filming Live Music

If you’re looking to film live music, here are a few things our journey has taught us:

• Scout the venue ahead of time.

• Bring backups of everything (batteries, cards, mics).

• Capture multiple perspectives to tell a fuller story.

• Prioritize audio—it makes or breaks the footage.

• Stay mobile with gimbals or handheld rigs.

• Film the context (vendors, food, dancers, crowd reactions).

Why It Matters

Filming Celtic festivals isn’t just about creating a highlight reel. It’s about preserving culture, celebrating heritage, and building bridges. These festivals bring people together through music, food, and tradition, and filming them helps extend that community beyond the festival grounds.

We hope that our work not only gives festival-goers lasting memories but also introduces others to a rich cultural experience they might not have known existed. In a world where people are often divided, capturing and sharing moments of joy, heritage, and togetherness feels like a small but meaningful way to build community.

For us, filming live performances has become more than a creative challenge. It’s a way to celebrate culture, connect people, and tell stories that continue long after the music fades.

Jonathan Stanis between sets at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games.

Meet Hamish: From Highland Games to Handmade

This lovely crochet highland cow is named Hamish! He is brown, with adorable yellow eyes and a beautiful, fluffy head.

Every once in a while, inspiration shows up in the most astonishing ways. For us, it came in the form of a shaggy, wide-eyed baby Highland cow at the Prosser Highland Games in Washington. Between capturing the music, traditions, and laughter of the event, one little calf stole the spotlight and our hearts.

That moment sparked something for us! Our resident crochet aficionado and self-taught maker with a talent for bringing whimsical creatures to life, Ava, transformed our vision! With her crochet hook flying, yarn piling up… Hamish the Highland Cow was born.

Hamish isn’t just a stuffed animal; he’s a story woven in yarn. With his fluffy coat, tiny horns, and loveable expression, he’s every bit as adorable as the calf that inspired him. He’s also cuddly, huggable, and perfectly suited for intermediate to advanced crafters looking for a project with personality.

What makes Hamish even more special is that Ava developed the pattern from scratch. After a few prototypes, tweaks, and (let’s be honest) plenty of yarn tangles, she not only brought Hamish to life but also created a full crochet kit so that others can make a Highland cow of their own. It’s a way to share both the joy of crafting and the memory of that magical day in Prosser.

Hamish is next to his kit, which is currently in development! You could make a Hamish of your own!

At Stanis Creative, we believe creativity thrives when it’s shared, and Hamish is the perfect example. He started as a fleeting moment at a Highland Games, transformed into Ava’s latest creation, and is now ready to become part of your own story.

So whether you’re a seasoned crocheter looking for your next project or simply someone who loves Highland cows (who doesn’t?), Hamish is here to bring a little extra warmth and whimsy into your hands.

Road Notes with the Katie Jane Band

This summer, Stanis Creative Solutions packed our cameras (and sunscreen!) and hit the road with the Katie Jane Band. From Whidbey Island to Roseburg, we filmed, jammed, camped, and made some memories we’ll be laughing about for a long time.

Stop #1: Whidbey Island

The tour kicked off at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in May. Katie’s fiddle filled the room, the crowd cheered, and we knew right away this summer was going to be something special. We filmed the Katie Jane Band lighting up the stage alongside other Celtic acts—it was the perfect way to start. As audience members for the other festival bands, we got to enjoy the Celtic tunes ourselves (work perk!).

Stop #2: Roseburg, Oregon

Next up: the cozy Rosebud Theater. We filmed the band in their element—Katie leading with her signature smile and energy, Jodi sparkling both literally (sequins, glitter, and all!) and musically on upright bass, Curt grounding the sound with his down-to-earth style and dry humor, and Brian bringing his fun-loving percussion and quick jokes to the mix. Filming this show felt like bottling up magic—Katie’s fiddle soaring, the band’s energy buzzing, and the audience totally locked in.

Into the Highland Games

June meant Highland Games season, and the road trip vibes were strong. We set up camp in Central Oregon, trading our editing desks for tents and starry skies. Julie walked away with a sunburn that deserved its own credit line, but the performances were worth every ray.

Prosser, Washington, was unforgettable. Not only did we film fantastic sets, but we also witnessed anvil firing (yes, anvils literally launched into the air). Spoiler: the anvil did not land on our paper plate, so no prize money this time. But we did meet a baby Highland Cow, Mary Queen of Scots and her court, and Jon even joined in on the fiddle. Nila joined us for this event, adding her easygoing presence and magic chimes, reminding us how every small sound can make a performance shine brighter.

By Tacoma, things had turned into a family of Celtic musicians. We joined a jam with the Celtic Spoons group and other extraordinary musicians, and laughed our way through Brian and Curt’s endless stream of “dad jokes.” We purchased some fantasy jewels from the crew at the Chocolate Lantern, a new kilt, and a warm woolen Highland poncho for those chilly nights!

July wrapped with the Pacific Northwest Highland Games in Enumclaw. Katie’s fiery fiddle absolutely shredded for the biggest crowd of the summer! Jodi’s sequined sparkle matched her basslines, Brian’s rhythms drove the night forward, and whether on acoustic guitar or his sweet flute, Curt added a soulful layer that grounded the music and drew the audience in.

The Band’s Sparkle ✨

Katie’s smile is contagious—she and Jodi have this way of lighting up the stage so that everyone, band and audience alike, gets caught up in their energy. Jodi’s upright bass holds everything steady. Curt’s grounded musicianship allows him to jump effortlessly between guitar and flute! Nila’s gentle magic and Brian’s playful spirit keep the rhythm pulsing on bodhrán and percussion. Together, The Katie Jane Band is pure magic—and we’re lucky to help capture it. Unforgettable.

Why We Do What We Do

For us at Stanis Creative, the best part of the summer was letting the band’s sparkle shine through photos and video. From live performances to behind-the-scenes moments, our job was to bottle up the joy, laughter, and music so it can be shared far beyond the festival grounds.

THE STORY OF STANIS CREATIVE SOLUTIONS LLC

Some ideas begin in the most unexpected places. For Stanis Creative Solutions (SCS), our story started not in a boardroom or studio, but in a classroom. Years ago, while developing course materials for Julie’s nursing courses, our friend and mentor Dr. Laurel Matthews jokingly dubbed our work Stanis Creative Solutions. The name stuck, and over time it became more than a nickname — it became a vision.

For years, we carried that vision forward in conversations and sketches of ideas, always with the hope of one day bringing it to life. In 2025, we finally took the leap and built SCS into a creative agency where family, artistry, and community converge.

Our mission is simple: tell stories that connect people. Whether through video, digital design, or web solutions, we believe creativity has the power to inspire, to build community, and to leave a lasting impact.

Together, our team blends diverse talents into one creative voice:

Jonathan leads with strategy, technical expertise, and a passion for digital solutions.

Liv infuses bold artistry, animation, and design.

Ava lends fresh ideas, digital and fiber art, leading a new generation of creativity.

Julie brings the heart of storytelling and creative direction.

Taylor crafts film and video that make stories shine.

What began as a classroom idea has grown into something much bigger: a team committed to building connections through creativity. We’re proud to finally share our story — and to invite you to be a part of it.