Exceptional Moms: The Connective Creative

Maura Houston is a crafty mom, from the handmade coffee-cup earrings to the pink knitting she keeps in the purse at her feet. And Houston is just as creatively virtually as she is in real life.

The mother of two runs her own business as a graphic artist, designing everything from textile patterns to the visuals for social games. The moon-jumping cows and scarf-wearing frogs on your pajamas? They could be Houston's work. So too could be the colorful characters in the latest Facebook game. 

But her most recent project falls a little closer to home here in Pleasant Hill. In fact, it fell right out of her daughter's backpack.

Houston's newly launched website — Pleasant Hill Mom — takes the events and announcements that  sends home weekly in a manila envelope and puts them online. The goal? No more surprise teacher-in-service days, and access to information in a click.

Although Gregory Gardens already has an official website, information is fragmented and out of date, Houston says.

"I think the school really tries but I don't think they have the time to really keep everything updated," said Houston.

Part personal project, part community resource, Pleasant Hill Mom also includes Houston's recommendations for kid-friendly dining and activities in Pleasant Hill, as well as information on day care. She says she hopes to keep expanding the website with local recommendations and news for Pleasant Hill families, although the Gregory Gardens focus will change when her daughter gets older and moves to a different school.

In the mean time, Gregory Gardens is spreading the word about the website and encouraging parents to use it, Houston says. She makes sure to let people know that her version is the "unofficial" one, stamping the site with a disclaimer and her own artistic rendition of the school's mascot — a friendly crocodile who would also look good on a pair of whimsical pajamas.

Find Houston crafting online through her design company Blackbirdie.com, or join her in person at the knitting circle at  every Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Do you know an exceptional mom or dad? Nominate them for an "exceptional" profile in the comments below or email pleasanthill@patch.com.