Featured Crafter
Currently Featured
Kat Lantz
When our Featured Crafter and Crafters Crew member, Kat Lantz of Sassmowth Designs and SassKat Photography, was young she took pictures of everything with her $12 pink plastic camera. Although she admits to annoying everyone with her obsession, it helped to develop her discriminating photographer’s eye, a skill that serves her well in her profession as photographer and artisan! Is Kat jaded by the many photos she has taken? Absolutely not! She still gets excited at the end of the day when she uploads her photos to her laptop and sees the images appear before her, looking through them to choose the best ones for printing. More than a photographer, Kat has a recurring magazine column in Girlswork.ca appropriately named, “Kat’s Krafts” in which she shares her enthusiasm for crafting with a new generation. Also, don’t miss the chance to check out Kat’s second etsy shop, offering adorable “monster cards” that are becoming all the rage! What do we like best? Kat’s beautiful images of flowers, just right for framing and now also offered as cards, both perfect gifts for Mother’s Day and Easter!
Kat's Craft Corner
Kat's Shop at Etsy
Kat's Photography Shop at Etsy
Kat's Blog
Past Featured
Sarah Gaylor - 3/5/10
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Sarita Baby, a shop by Sarah Gaylor, is a Canadian line of
modern funky baby accessories made out of designer fabrics. What do
we like about Sarah’s items? She uses great design and fabrics, a
combination that provides practical baby items that are fun and fun
to look at too! Sarah admits to being obsessed with fabrics and her
ability to choose great materials shows in every item she sells.
Sarah started her Sarita Baby shop as a way to support her desire
to be a stay at home mom. With over a hundred sales and feedback
like, “Absolutely GORGEOUS! Even if I wanted to I couldn't fault
it!” and “Great quality and super cute - very happy with this
item!” You can tell she definitely made the right choice! Sarah's Craft Corner Sarah's Shop at Etsy Sarah's Blog |
Victoria Chang - 2/26/10
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Victoria Chang, owner of The Moss Garden, owes her start in
jewelry-making to a case of the chickenpox as a teenager and an
attempt by her mom to keep her busy with a fimo jewelry making kit.
Her skills as a jewelry craft-artisan have come a long way since
then! Having a wide range of interests in nature and currently a
Wildlife Biology major, Victoria uses her love of botany and
zoology as themes for her pieces. Although her interests are
leading her toward the field of Conservation Medicine with
endangered wildlife, as you can see by her description of this
beautiful piece of jewelry titled - Lavandula, there is no reason
she can’t success combining her interests! “Lavender (Lavandula
angustifolia) is a member of the mint family, and has a long
history in Mediterranean and other cultures. Lavender can be used
to make honey, tea, to decorate cakes, and pairs nicely with goat
cheeses and chocolate!” What is Victoria’s feedback like? “I adore
these earrings! Great workmanship… lovely color combo! Awesome
price!” It doesn’t get much better than that! Victoria's Craft Corner Victoria's Shop at Etsy Victoria's Blog |
Daniel Montoya - 2/19/10
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Inspired by the simple joys of life, moments of contemplation,
and the beautiful things? Then you’ll love the work of our Featured
Crafter, Daniel Montoya, of the Daniel Montoya Studio. A
self-represented artist and creative graphic designer, Daniel’s
love of creativity, art and art history began at an early age.
Memories of his childhood include looking at art books, challenging
himself to indentify titles of famous art pieces and observing his
father, also an artist. His interest in crafting began not through
painting, but through his interest in printmaking, stained glass
work, and then, later, creative graphic design. He has received
very rewarding positive feedback from the crafting community -
particularly for his creative use of geometric shapes, vibrant
color harmonies, and the overall quality of his images. He tries to
include information how best to optimize digital work for printing
and creates mini-tutorials that he posts on his blog – helpful to
anyone interested in arts, crafts and the handmade. Daniel's Craft Corner Daniel's ACEOs Shop at Etsy Daniel's Digital Art Shop at Etsy Daniel's Blog |
Jennifer Birge - 2/12/10
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What does a truly creative person do when they work creatively
as a graphic artist for a photography company by day? Well, if that
person is Jennifer Birge of Jennfunique you go home and create even
more, making amazing headbands! Jennifer first started making
headbands for herself and her sister because of a combined love for
headbands and no where to turn to find ones she really liked. After
repeated comments on how wonderful her headbands were, Jennifer
decided to start selling them and they’ve become quite a success!
With feedback like, “Love it! Beautiful!” “Gorgeous headband!” and
“Exactly what I needed!” Jennifer is filling the need of many
headband enthusiasts! Fun, funky, retro, contemporary – you can
find them all at Jennfunique! Jennifer's Craft Corner Jennifer's Shop at Etsy Jennifer's Blog |
Tiffany Diaz - 2/5/10
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Charmies – sounds fun, doesn’t it? Well if you think it sounds
fun, just check out Tiffany Diaz’s shop, Charmies Online, full of
wonderful custom hand-stamped jewelry! Things haven’t always been
so fun for Tiffany though. Living in New Orleans, she had been
designing and selling jewelry locally when Katrina hit. It was at
that time that she lost her job and started looking for other ways
to supplement her income with her handcrafted jewelry. Online sales
were a perfect fit! Tiffany started her own online shop and an etsy
shop, both highly successful ventures. Key chains, mommy bracelets,
earrings, and so much more; Tiffany offers all this plus custom
stamping! She prides herself on the individualized attention paid
to each and every piece! Tiffany took a difficult situation and
turned it into a flourishing endeavor. We want to congratulate her
on her success and her winning attitude! Tiffany's Craft Corner Tiffany's Shop at Etsy Tiffany's Site |
Herbolution - 1/29/10
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What makes our Featured Crafters, Veronika and Sash, of
Herbolution so unique? It’s their commitment to the invention and
production of natural, organic, earth-friendly personal care
products and gifts for the whole family. Sounds like a tall order!
However, living up to their pledge including small batch
production, an honest list of ingredients and 100% recycle paper
for their labels they provide a healthy, unique and wonderful
assortment of personal care products. But, are their products good?
Read on! "This smells heavenly and has restored sound sleep to my
life. Thank you! …Thank you!" - "Just got my mandarin aloe body
butter in the mail. The scent is absolutely great. It absorbs into
the skin and leaves you with a yummy scent. Thank you for making
something that is both eco friendly and awesome!" - "This mask
feels amazing on the skin! My face felt clean and soft when I
washed it off. The service was wonderful and the seller provided me
with a wealth of information to help me find the right product for
me!" - "So wonderful I decided to keep them all for myself, and not
give them as gifts. Couldn't help myself! :)" Take a trip to their
shop and see why people are so passionate about their products! Herbolution's Craft Corner Herbolution's Shop at Etsy Herbolution's Site |
George Hutchinson - 1/20/10
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Our Featured Crafter, George Hutchinson, is a jewelry crafter
with a twist! He creates braided rope bracelets in a variety of
colors, unique hand-dyed contemporary fiber bracelets and dramatic
wide weave designs that he sells in his online stores, The What
Knot Shop. Born on the east coast and spending summers in Rhode
Island and Maine George learned marlin spike seamanship including
the techniques for creating the famous "sailor bracelets." He
perfected the skill and currently is expanding his technique to
include his wonderful )strata( design series. These are
experimental fiber art pieces incorporating geological images,
found beads, and unusual color combinations. The style is casual
and frayed as if the piece was just washed up on a beach. George
likes the more "primitive" look of these pieces and the free form
designs possible without the strict geometries of the circular
braided Turk’s heads. In preparation for Valentine's Day look in
his shops for a variety of designs all in shades of red! Give your
valentine something unique, fun and affordable this year! George's Craft Corner George's Shop at Etsy George's Blog |
Tanya Wheadon - 1/13/10
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Bookkeeper by day, Tanya Wheadon, of TanyaW85’s Craftiness,
began crafting with some extra supplies from her creative mother.
She made some jewelry that was well received. Then on a trip to her
parent’s house, she displayed a handcrafted bracelet, and they
said, "That is really cool - you could sell it!" Within a few
months she had gathered supplies and had opened her shop! The rest,
as they say, is history. Tanya is known for her contemporary and
fun jewelry and adorable polyclay critters. Her family members
aren’t the only ones who love her work. Feedback from customers
includes “absolutely gorgeous bracelet” and “Love it! I’ve received
loads of compliments EVERY time I wear it –including from a
colleague who promptly ordered one for herself!” January 20th is
her one year Etsy-versary. To celebrate, from January 16th-23rd,
she will be having a BOGO sale - buy 1 item get the second half
price! Wow! Tanya's Craft Corner Tanya's Shop at Etsy Tanya's Blog |
Mara Nesbitt-Aldrich - 1/6/10
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Mara Nesbitt-Aldrich of Pastiche Jewelry was born into an
art-filled family; both her parents were commercial and fine
artists and she developed her sense of style and form early in her
life. She was a Fine Arts major in college and learned composition
and balance, all very evident in her beautiful jewelry design!
Pastiche means a coming-together of many different objects - a
combination of materials. Mara is inspired by the materials around
her – combining complementary items that she collects long before
the piece starts taking shape in her mind, often taking her cue
from the materials themselves. Although her jewelry making had a
difficult beginning (she was in a bad car accident breaking both
legs and that’s when she took up jewelry making), her creative
spirit blossomed creating the wonderful craft artisan she is today!
Her hope? That the jewelry she creates will be admired, worn and
passed down for generations to come. Mara's Craft Corner Mara's Shop at Etsy |
Christie - 12/16/09
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When I read about Christie of Sunny Skies Jewelry, the first
thing that jumped out at me was how education was such a strong
theme in her life. She’s an elementary school teacher who loves
working with her hands, so she began searching for crafting
knowledge online and made huge strides in her jewelry making before
advancing her skills even more at a local community college. Once
she learned how to work with silver, she was hooked! You can
recognize her talent and passion for her work in each piece of
jewelry she makes. Her trick for happily selling her jewelry? She
makes two pairs of the ones she likes best so she can keep one for
herself! What is Christie learning next? She is currently working
on perfecting her ring making skills and hopes to start offering
custom rings soon. Christie's Craft Corner Christie's Shop at Etsy |
Delores Maliepaard - 12/9/09
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Our Featured Crafter, Delores “Dee” Maliepaard has a real “bags
to riches” story! Several years ago Dee started making placemat
purses after seeing this technique featured on a television
program. After local success (her sisters are her greatest
marketing personnel), Dee opened Dee’s DeeZigns in 2006. She has
quickly become a success story on Etsy, with over 750 sales and
100% positive feedback. She attributes her success to selling
quality handmade bags at affordable prices, but when you see her
bags you’ll know she owes her accomplishments to much more than
that; her choice of color combinations and fabrics gives her bags a
fun and sophisticated flare! Add the words, sturdy, practical and
roomy from satisfied customers and you’ll see why her designs,
craftsmanship and style put her on the road to success! Delores' Craft Corner Delores' Shop at Etsy Delores' Shop at Artfire |
Brenda Vance - 12/2/09
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What does it take to live up to the slogan, “Where fiber is our
passion, and it shows!”? It takes a wonderfully passionate person
who loves every aspect of fiber; raising llamas, dying fiber,
carding, spinning, and creating hand crafted knitted, crocheted and
needle felted items. In other words, it takes the talents of Brenda
Vance, owner of Split Rock Ranch! Brenda’s love of fiber began as a
young girl when she learned to knit and crochet. Eventually Brenda
and her husband became owners of a small ranch located in the Rocky
Mountains of Colorado where they raise beautiful llamas and harvest
their incredible fiber. What came next? Dyeing and spinning the
llama fleeces and, of course, selling all of her wonderful fiber!
What does it take to see Brenda’s kind of passion realized? All you
need to do is visit her shops on etsy and artfire! Brenda's Craft Corner Brenda's Shop at Etsy Brenda's Shop at Artifre |
Judy Sharp - 11/25/09
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They say that necessity is the mother of invention, but
sometimes it is also the mother of creative crafting, just ask Judy
Sharp! Judy has been sewing since she was a very young girl, but
she became serious about sewing in her early teens. Blessed with
petite stature, Judy couldn’t find any age appropriate clothing in
her size in the retail market, so she began sewing her own
clothing. Again necessity became her motivation as she made gifts
for friends and family in the early years of her marriage.
Necessity became her muse once more when her son was born and she
wanted more than the ordinary clothing found in the stores. It is
evident in Judy’s work that through this journey she has learned so
much about design, color and attention to detail! What motives her
today? From her first glimmer of a sewing idea, through completion,
Judy’s love of sewing guides her and is evident in everything she
makes! Her adorable children’s clothing has a designer look at
great prices. Wonderful for the little ones in your life and a
perfect gift! Judy's Craft Corner Judy's Shop at Etsy |
Rhonda Cooley - 11/18/09
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Have you ever head the saying, “Kid tested, mother approved?”
Our Featured Crafter, Rhonda Cooley of Lil’ Bit Sassy, brings that
saying to life with her wonderful children’s toys and adorable,
cuddly blankies! Customers also love her card wallets, tissue
cozies, notepad holders and an array of other quality made personal
and home accessories. Rhonda has been told she doesn’t charge
enough for her items, but she likes to keep things priced low so
that everyone can afford something in her shop! (Yes, you heard
right!) Her feedback is filled with words like, “amazing,” “great,”
“loved it,” “beautiful work,” and “perfect!” “What could be better
than that you ask?” Well, this Wednesday, November 25 is “Black
Wednesday” at Lil’ Bit Sassy on Etsy with all in stock items 20%
off and all purchases over $20 having free shipping to the US and
Canada! Check your holiday gift list and check out Rhonda’s
wonderful shop. You won’t be disappointed! Rhonda's Craft Corner Rhonda's Shop at Etsy Rhonda's Blog |
Mary and Terry McCoy - 11/11/09
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What makes married couple Mary and Terry McCoy extraordinary?
It could be their 32 years of marriage or their ability to combine
their talents; Mary’s inspired crafting ideas and computer skills
and Terry’s superb woodworking expertise. Others may look at their
final product, their wonderfully made Recycled Album Art Coasters
and their success with this upcyled product and think that is what
makes them extraordinary. What do we think? All of the above and
more! This wonderful couple has built a niche among music lovers,
nostalgia enthusiasts and anyone looking for the perfect gift! Know
someone who is in to Rock, Big Band Era, Country, Punk, or Movie
Soundtracks? Can’t get enough of Jazz, Pop, Hip Hop, R and B or
Soul? You’ll find awesome Album Coasters for all of these music
genres at Inoudid’s Attic! What are their customers saying?
“Nothing short of terrific!!!! AAA+++ Craftsmanship. Much, MUCH
better than envisioned. What a truly gifted couple.” Enjoy your
trip down memory lane as you browse through Inoudid's Attic
Recycled Album Art Coasters and you’ll see how truly extraordinary
they are! Inoudid Craft Corner Inoudid Shop at Etsy Inoudid Blog |
Theresa MacNaughton - 11/4/09
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Love trinkets that are fanciful, beautiful and affordable too?
Then let me introduce you to Theresa, proprietress of Faerie Moon
Creations! Inspired by nature, fantasy, faeries, animals and an
insatiable love of creating, although new to selling her crafts,
Theresa is already on the road to crafting success. With categories
like “Butterfly Dreamers,” “Faeries,” “Alice in Wonderland” and
“Flora and Fauna,” Theresa’s shop is full of beautiful, whimsical
creations! She loves giveaways too, so check her blog often!
Appreciate her fantastic backgrounds, logos and banners as much as
we do? Her wonderful husband, a “graphic design genius” does all
her graphic work for her. Theresa is offering a great deal for MCC
members, 20% off anything in her shop. Just be sure to add "MCC20%"
in the “notes to seller” field! Theresa’s creations may be
fanciful, but her wonderful talent and growing success are
undeniably real! Theresa's Craft Corner Theresa's Shop at Etsy Theresa's Blog |
Michelle Pulis - 10/28/09
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“That’s awesome!” Is a typical first response to Michelle’s fun
and creative upcycled purses. Each purse is created individually
from the cover of actual books! How does she do it? Michelle takes
gently used books, removes the covers and makes them into these
wonderful one-of-a-kind handbags! No books are harmed in the
process; Michelle lovingly rewraps and donates them. The purses are
carefully constructed with fun handles and matching linings. It’s
exciting looking through the book-purses, finding ones that fit
both your wardrobe and your personality! Custom orders are
encouraged, so if you have a favorite book, author or genre contact
Michelle and she’ll rewrite the book’s future - from beloved
reading material to a wonderful and unique accessory! Michelle's Craft Corner Michelle’s shop at Etsy |
Beth Thompson - 10/21/09
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Our Featured Crafter, Beth Thompson, theyarnchick, defines the
phrase “Jill of all Trades” and when you visit her shops you’ll
know just what we mean! She is comfortable working in many
different media although she’s probably best known for her adorable
crocheted hats and even more adorable models. Check out her sites
and you’ll find she also excels at photography, jewelry making and
drawing. Beth has also started a campaign to donate 25% of her
proceeds from pink and/or marked items to support breast cancer
awareness. Interested in a custom order? Custom orders don’t phase
her… but it would be hard to imagine what would phase this
wonderful crafter, work-at-home, military spouse and mom! Beth's Craft Corner Beth’s shop at Etsy Beth's Site |
Kelsey Havens - 10/14/09
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Baubles, beads, candies, paperclips? - Mints, wedding
favors, stocking stuffers, memory chips? - Potpourri, jewelry,
medicine, hairclips? Everyone can use these wonderful trinket
tins made by college student and crafter, Kelsey Havens. Kelsey
uses her wide range of interests in the environment, social
activism, other cultures and anything vintage to inspire her
designs. She loves making trinket tins because they allow her to be
creative with design, while still developing an incredibly
versatile and functional product. Kelsey plans to add new lines of
handcrafted items to her shop soon. Even though we haven’t seen
them yet, you can be sure they will have the same quality
construction and wonderful attention to detail! If you have
little objects that need a spot, put them in a decorative tin;
flowers, paisley, swirls or polka-dots! Kelsey's Craft Corner Kelsey’s shop at Etsy |
Dianh Ott - 10/7/09
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Diahn, a self-taught artist, began her painting journey when
she decided to decorate her son’s nursery walls with a mural of an
almost life-size tree. Soon friends were requesting murals too, but
with small children at home, Diahn decided to work on canvas and
paper instead – wonderful for the rest of us who now have the
opportunity to enjoy her beautiful artwork in our own homes! She
enjoys the artistic process; first having the initial spark of an
idea in her head and then watching it change into a physical
creation. One customer said it best, "I love the flowers. The
colors are perfect, and the detail amazing. I could reach out and
hold one of them, or so it seems.” I was captivate by her
nature-inspired paintings almost as much as her natural talent for
art. Diahn's Craft Corner Diahn’s shop at Etsy Diahn's Blog |
Libby White 9/30/09
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What does a Microbiologist with the Center for Disease Control
do to unwind? Makes dolls of course! Libby White, already skilled
at fiber arts like felting and hand-dying rovings, has turned her
talents to doll making. She designs and creates beautiful faces for
themed dolls - all creative, beautiful and fun characters! When you
visit her shop you’ll also find stunning woven shawls, unique wall
art, one-of-a-kind purses and more. What do these things all have
in common? They’re all about fiber arts and they’re all created by
a wonderfully, gifted crafter! Libby's Craft Corner Libby’s shop at Etsy Libby's Blog |
The Crochet Sisters 9/23/09
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Professional! Amazing! Teens! You could even say, “Amazing
teens!” The Crochet Sisters, Mareenez and Lora, are teen
entrepreneurs who crochet wonderful children and adult fashions,
and home decor items. Taught to crochet by a Sunday School teacher
at ages eight and nine, and encouraged by friends and family,
they’ve turned this childhood hobby into a business any adult
crafter would admire. They are from a family of homeschoolers, have
a pension for helping others and are working to support their
future goals. With a reputation for excellent craftsmanship, these
girls are hooked on crocheting and once you’ve seen their work
you’ll be hooked on these wonderfully talented sisters! Lora's Craft Corner The Crochet Sisters' Shop (CrochetRUs) Shop at Etsy The Crochet Sisters' Flickr |
Kate Walker 9/16/09
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=^..^= Are you a kitty who likes to play or do you know one who
does? Then you should know about Kate Walker! Married for 20 years
and mom to two wonderful teens, Kate has combined her love of
animals with her yarn addiction to create Krafty Kate’s Kreations,
a shop that sells crocheted, organic catnip toys for your favorite
feline. These adorable, colorful cat toys are filled with fresh,
organic, handpicked catnip. Do people like her work? Not only does
she get fantastic feedback from customers, but two commercial pet
shops are now selling her catnip toys (there is even a video clip)!
Too cute for kitties? Kate also makes these amigurumi toys without
catnip for children! Purrfect! Kate's Craft Corner Kate's shop at Etsy Video about Kate's toys |
Jennifer Ladd 9/9/09
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What is the best way to carry your essentials? In a beautiful purse by Jennifer Ladd, of course! Former French teacher turned stay-at-home mom, Jennifer has been sewing since she can remember. When she makes her purses she leans toward clean, sleek lines, and modern design - then adds excitement with bright colors and bold, hip prints! She also supports handmade by buying materials for her purses from other crafters! Although the images of her work speak for themselves, people who buy her purses have a lot to say too: “Wonderful! The workmanship is amazing...,” “I am in LOVE with these purses! The fabric is so pretty and vibrant and the wooden handles are so beautiful...,” “Form, function and fun!” Fantastic! Jennifer's Craft Corner Jennifer's Shop at etsy Jennifer's Flickr |
Holly Lessey 9/2/09
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There are so many reasons to be impressed by
Holly Lessey, it’s hard to fit all our praises in one paragraph -
but we’ll try! When you visit Holly’s PaperAddict shop, you’ll be
awed by her wonderful cards and scrapbook embellishments, but Holly
is so much more than that. She loves oil painting, fabric art and
she’s a great photographer too! Her photography skills shine in the
photos of her craftwork and in the beautiful wedding pictures taken
by Holly and her husband. A knack for business too? Holly will be
adding a line of Christmas and winter-themed cards and tags before
the holidays. Take one look at her site and you’ll know just what
we mean!
Holly's Craft Corner Holly's shop at Etsy Holly's Flickr |
Karla Rosenbusch 8/26/09
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Karla likes to say that she found her niche in jewelry making
after she began working at a gem and jewelry trade magazine, but I
like to think her niche found her! Self-described as
“craft-challenged,” Karla comes from a family of “incredibly
talented crafters.” It wasn’t until she began her position as
Managing Editor of Colored Stone, that she tried her hand at
designing and creating her own beaded jewelry. Now, Karla has a
host of other self-descriptive terms to choose from; wonderful
craft artisan, gifted crafter, talented jewelry maker! I’m sure her
cat, Bubba (featured on her My Craft Corner page), thinks so
too!Links to Karla's craft sites:Karla's Craft CornerKarla's shop at Etsy Karla's Blog |
Audrey Hussey 8/19/09
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KaBoogie shoes? You heard right! Audrey Hussey is the designer
and hand-crafter of adorable shoes, moccasins, boots and more! An
original green-crafter, Audrey has reclaimed over 125 pieces of
suede from thrift stores in her area. Audrey gets endless joy from
making baby shoes and recycling, something she learned from her
mother. Her shoes stand up to the harshest of treatment too and
with 6 children, she would know! The shoes are double stitched at
the soles, elastic ankles keep them on, and non-skid suede on the
bottom make these great for little feet on the go!Links to Audrey's Craft Sites:Audrey's Craft CornerKaBoogie shop at Etsy KaBoogie shop at Artfire |
Donna Smith 8/12/09
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Donna Smith's interest in crafting began as a young child when
she handmade doll clothes and her creative streak continued with an
interest in sewing and needlework. Eventually knitting became her
obsession and she quickly grew to be an established craft artisan
in her community. With continous positive feedback from local
buyers, she is now venturing into online sales. Donna emphasizes
fun, memorable hats, scarves and brooches in her online
collection. Donna's Craft Corner Donknits shop at Etsy Donna's shop (Illusions) at Artfire |
© 2010 Created by Reggie
