Fran was always a creative soul, learning to crochet from her Grandmother at 5 years old. This creative spirit continued into high school when she was hired to make all the school’s choir performance outfits.  She has even pulled off the ultimate sewing coup and created several wedding dresses as well as the wedding party dresses for friends…now, why didn’t I have a friend like this when I was getting married?  Her gift of sewing and crochet, often making up her own pattern, has never left her and she continues to create wonderful keepsakes for babies of her friends and family.

Fran has also tried her hand at tatting, cross stitch, woodworking, and quilting; but fell head over heals for Polymer Clay.  She has created the most darling wedding cake toppers (again, where was she when I was getting married!) as well as Christmas ornaments.

Fran loves being surrounded by her huge family; 30 nieces and nephews as well as hundreds of cousins, since retiring from a government law enforcement agency.  While working, she even created a “crafting bunch” at work!  She started by bringing her work into lunch with her to work on during her break and soon after others followed along bringing whatever projects they were working on at the time.  Soon, the table would be covered by a variety of crafts coming together as they ate and chatted.

This talented lady’s retirement was a bittersweet event.  She shares that 18 months ago she was diagnosed with a rare form of bone marrow cancer and has been going through continued treatment with her family and 3 Long Haired Chihuahuas by her side.  This has not stopped Fran’s creative spirit by any means; instead she drags her craft supplies with her to Chemotherapy…even selling her treasures to nurses and patients!

Because of her illness, Fran is no longer able to deal with the stress and work of doing face to face selling at local craft fairs or working in her local crafter’s mall so she has joined us in online selling and the HandmadeArtists are thrilled to have her!  Fran says that her favorite part of selling her handmade creations is sharing her love with other people, and the hardest part is pricing her work!  She still is encouraging to others that want to break into the handmade marketplace themselves telling them to “take advantage of every opportunity to share links with other crafters and list your items everywhere you possibly can.” Fran admits that getting found in this vast market is not always easy, but it can be done and once a customer has a good experience with you, they will tell their friends and you are off and running.

Are you ready to see what this intensely talented lady with an amazing positive outlook on life can create given the chance?  Well, she is easy to find on the HandmadeArtists as well as on her own website.  She can also be found on Etsy and Artfire.

share some personal info. I’m a native Southern California girl, married to John (retired Atty.) who supports my passion 110%. Yet, his motto stated is (with a Cheshire grin and a wink of his eye), “Honey… I’m not always right… but I’m never wrong.” I reply, “legal mumbo jumbo, so I win!” LOL. We live in Lakewood with our brindle colored, fur faced, eighty-six pound lap dog, Max!

I learned to crochet from watching tutorials on the Internet. I loved the items I created with all the different yarns and colors available. I looked for a job change, so it was logical (to me, anyway) to want to work in a craft store. So, I thought my crochet skills would help me, and it did. I was hired as a Custom Framer (go figure).

What? They gave me the job because of my knowledge of color combinations; they taught me how to frame anything.

When they wanted to start crochet classes, the store manager asked me if I wanted to be their “crochet teacher.” I looked at her and thought “OMG, be still my beating heart” in less than a blink-of-an-eye, I accepted. I was teaching beginning crochet within two weeks. I knew I could teach anyone because I taught my husband who resisted learning for a zillion man-reasons. So, since he didn’t have any valid reason he crocheted a little square. He and I still consider it one of his great learning accomplishments.

I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my enthusiasm and love for the art of crochet. The look of accomplishment on student faces, along with their grateful words was more valuable to me than anything. They learned to crochet, read a pattern, and create their own items for life. They overcame their fear of being “less than” and looking inadequate in ability. Once they learned, practiced, and found out how easy it really was they were astonished. It’s all about “risk taking.”

So, I thought I would practice what I preached which led me to try other mediums besides yarn. I loved beautiful handmade jewelry bracelets, so I tried crocheting seed beads to artistic wire. I then braided 3 single strands together, and I had my signature jewelry design I call Braidlets®. I gave them to family and friends as gifts, and the feedback was so positive I decided to sell them at boutiques, fairs, and the Internet.

Selling on the Internet is a whole different topic in itself, but I was blessed to find a website where the owners and members freely gave me so much valuable knowledge to succeed. I provide a larger selection of Braidlets® in my Handmade Artists Shop CrochetHooked or personal Website. I also provide a free patter of how I crochet beads to artistic wire, and lot’s of information.

I am a member of the ‘Crochet Guild of America’ and recently joined a charity called ‘Crafting for a Cause’. In addition, I am a VERY PROUD member of the Handmade Artists’ Forum, dedicated to supporting handmade and handmade artists from around the world.

Website/Blog – www.crochethooked.com

Shop – http://handmadeartists.com/shop/crochethooked

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Braidlets

Twitter – http://twitter.com/crochethooked

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/crochethooked/

 Susan was always creative, though she never pursued it steadily as an income source.  Her love of creating was more of stress relief for her and the fruits of her labors were often gifted to family and friends.  Susan’s grandmother and a family friend taught her to crochet as a child…not as an art form but more of a keep the kid busy kind of project.  She happily kept the family in potholders for a long time after that.  Susan used this craft as a way of keeping herself occupied on her many business trips in various airports, planes and hotels because it is such a portable craft.  All the while, traveling and living the corporate life, Susan dreamed of the day when she could spend her days working with the creative side of herself and not be looked at as that eccentric lady down the street!

Eccentric?  Artists are eccentric?  Well, as Susan states quite clearly, the corporate world really doesn’t put much stock into creative endeavors that don’t have an economic value to the company.  Many still see crafting as failed home economics projects or macaroni necklaces.  Susan lived in this world for quite some time and it wasn’t until retirement that she was able to really live the artistic life fully.

In addition to her talent with a crochet hook, Susan loves to play with paper and card making as well as scrapbooking and jewelry.  When those aren’t holding her interest for the moment, soap, candles and decorative painting might just find their way into her day.  While crochet is really second nature to her now (after 40 years of working with it there is probably nothing that she couldn’t whip out!) she has found excitement in paper and all the ways that it can be used.

Susan was thrilled at the idea of creating full time, but there were a few concerns that her practical side had.  First of all, what do you do with all the creation you make and second, how do you pay for you crafting obsessions?  Well, the answer, Bernoulli’s Attic was born.  Early on Susan’s sales were mostly to friends, family and coworkers…nothing formal, more a here and there project.  She found it very rewarding to set her own hours and work from home as well as put a special piece into happy buyers’ hands.  The next logical step was online selling which allows interaction with customers all around the world!

Susan is nothing if not practical and offers a bit of advice for anyone thinking of ditching their day job and creating full time.  First of all, you need to look at the reality of your life.  Are you planning on supporting a full family selling handmade feather dusters?  If so, do your research and have both a marketing and a fall back plan.  Secondly, have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously!  The world is full of people, each with their own likes and dislikes and opinions.  If you are planning to please them all, think again.  While many might look at Susan and think she is wasting her time and talent creating instead of working in business, she knows that serenity and peace of mind are valuable to her and what she does makes her happy.  Sales are nice, of course, and necessary to continue your business, but that is not what drives Susan to wake up each morning with fresh ideas and a desire to create…she creates for the love of creating!  What a wonderful way to live!

 Now, are you ready to feast your eyes on what this talented lady in so many ways is able to create…prepare for cute overload!  You can find BernoullisAttic on the HandmadeArtistsShop of course as well as her own stand alone website and on Etsy.  You can follow her day to day creating on FaceBook as well as on Twitter.

Even with all this going on, Gina found her true passion in yarn.  She claims, and I believe her, that she can get lost for hours wandering the isles of a yarn shop looking for just the right color and texture for that special project.  There is something special about the softness and colors of yarn for sure, but there are nothing compared to the amazing knit products that Gina creates!

Gina was always crafty, but it wasn’t until she found her true passion for yarn that Dahlish Knits was born.  She dove right in with an Etsy shop without any research or true understanding of what it took to sell handmade on line.  It got disheartening quickly and she decided to take a break when she was pregnant with her second child. 

After a time, Gina decided to jump back in again, this time with a bit more preparation and research.  There has been a bit more success and she found her way to the HandmadeArtistsForum where she has formed lasting friendship with people that share her passion for handmade.  She is encouraging to newcomers on the forum telling people to “give it a go because you never know if you never try.”  She also advises not making the same mistakes so many of us make, and do your research before you put your heart and soul into an online market.

Gina has been working hard on her online prescence and is considering jumping into the craft show circuit; which will be yet another adventure in her already busy life.  In the mean time, there is no reason for you not to check out her wonderful line of knitted lovlies in her HandmadeArtistsShop , on facebook  and on her blog  where you can follow her progress on her latest project.

What first inspired you to become an artist?
I’ve always loved to create. When I was growing up, we didn’t have a living room, instead, we had a work room. The work room had a sewing machine, an ironing board, and a huge (handmade) table that was a magnet for projects in progress. Sharp scissors and tape were always on hand!

Even though the house was a very organized, minimalist sort of place, tucked in cupboards all around were baskets of fabric scraps and drawers of paper and other raw materials. The stuff in the garbage cans was very interesting! One thing I remember is my parents’ passion for design and efficiency. They were very good at mass producing things like the annual elaborate Christmas cards. They did things in batches using creativity mixed with functionality.

What do you do when you are not creating things?
Mostly I am a full-time mother, but I also work as a writer and editor. Sometimes I write for popular publications like Mothering magazine (a lead feature I authored can be found here ), and I also proofread and edit various publications from books to blurbs. On occasion, I consult for an environmental firm. I round out my “spare” time working in the garden, visiting with friends via hiking, volleyball, and biking, and going on road trips. Though I love it all, I feel most at home in my studio, expressing myself through objects, colors, textiles, and pictures.

Infinity necklace by TrueJune

Where do your ideas come from?
I like parameters: I often come up with new ideas when I see a practical problem that needs to be solved.

For example, the crocheted jewelry I create should not only be beautiful and express something about you, your moods, and your desires, but it also needs to fit seamlessly into your active, busy lifestyle.

To meet this challenge, my first creations focused on jewelry that was light and effortless and never needed to be taken off. I created simple, durable designs that could go from work to the pool to the garden. I change my clothes more than I change my jewelry. I even test my jewelry by running it through the dishwasher and wearing it in the hot tub (ahhhh!). I wear it everywhere, even when camping. The simple designs include a lot of thought and testing and are meant to work in a variety of situations!

Camping in NM with my son and my Bronze Flower necklace

I have since developed a variety of styles that I see as solving other “problems” including:

• finding the right look in the right length with designs that are short, long, and in between
• creating hypoallergenic jewelry that has no metal parts
• designing jewelry that moves and changes and is not static
• inventing clasp-less jewelry that has nothing to hide

If you have a “problem” that keeps you from wearing jewelry, let me know, I’d love to help you solve it!

What is your most inspired time of day?
I find that I can be productive at almost any time of the day—especially if I know I have a chunk time—but at night, in bed, when I am just falling asleep, that is when I can really put the pieces together for a design. While I am just drifting off, I invent new techniques, envision shapes and connections, and solve a lot of problems! Sleep is a fundamental part of my creativity!

Blue Moon necklace

What do you consider a successful piece?
My biggest reward is seeing people actually wear my creations. If I can make something that looks and feels natural, like it belongs—as if it has always been there—then I know it will be worn again and again. I strive to create “everyday jewelry” that helps make life both simple and beautiful.

What is so special about handmade?
For me, handmade captures natural energy. I love the idea that the “life force” in the materials and the maker are transferred into the product. Handmade items have stories behind them that are filled with creativity and love. Not that all mass produced items are dead, but they just don’t carry as much beautiful energy to me as handmade.

Handmade can also be easily personalized and one of a kind. I love making custom orders because they always push me in new directions. It’s a fruitful kind of collaboration that just can’t be bought.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to create more?
Give yourself the space and time. Make it a priority. Then let yourself go and experiment. Don’t worry if you feel like you’ve failed. There will be times when you feel like nothing is working out, but that is a part of the natural process. Try to be true to yourself and keep going. Remember the joy in creating, the nourishment you receive from it. Then put your work out there and don’t apologize!

Where can we learn more about TrueJune?
I sell my creations online in my Etsy shop at truejune.etsy.com and I have a public Facebook page that explains more about my process and has chronological photo albums of my designs. Become a fan to learn more and participate in discussions, or just browse around to get some ideas of your own.

Thanks to the wonderful people at the Handmade Artists Forum for all their help and support in promoting handmade! I learn so much from you and I’m proud to be part of such a talented team!

This is not a quick item but it is very relaxing to do

Submitted by CalcedoniaDesign.

Knitting is not my specialty-my mom can knit up a storm-I would rather crochet. Knitting patterns were a little difficult to read and no matter how hard I tried (sigh) the item always came out wider, then long enough. So it was always rip and redo. When my son was born (many moons ago) I decided to knit him a sweater. I think about it now and still I laugh my head off-you’d have to see this picture in your mind to understand. When my son was young I always had to buy him Sears ‘super super slim’  shirts and pants. The sweater I knitted him turned out to be a midriff, which could have fit a baby elephant. Now I leave the knitted items to my mom who has just turned 86.

Here are some interesting links about how knitting originated, taken from Wikipedia:

• 1 Early origins of knitting
• 2 Early European Knitting
• 3 Importance in Scottish history
• 4 Industrial revolution
• 5 1920s: the Russian Civil Wars and China
• 6 1939-1945: Knitting for Victory
• 7 1950s and 60s: Haute Couture
• 8 1980s: A Decline
• 9 Early 21st Century Revival
• 10 References
• 11 Notes
• 12 See also
• 13 External links

Visit Tamdoll on Etsy

As a Christian, it is heartwarming to see the warmth and joy coming from other Christians on the Etsy site. I have met some special people there.

Before reading the history here is my little history. My grandmother (I called her nanna) she crochet up a storm with the thin threads and small hooks. (I tried this method and can’t do it to save my life) She crocheted doilies (I framed one and is hanging in my hallway) and bedspreads and decorated handkerchiefs.  My mom crocheted and knitted as well. My mom tried to teach me I guess when i was about nine years old or so. I could not learn to save my life.  My aunt had to show me cause even though I am righty I do a lot of stuff like a lefty.  So I learned.  When I was first married I crochet gifts for all of my nieces and nephews. Then dropped it for a long time and now I just love it you can find how I got started at Calcecondia on my etsy shop by reading my profile.

Little is known of the early history of crocheting. Some ancient cords are thought to have been made by finger crocheting. During the Renaissance, both peasant women and ladies of the court executed crochet work and also knotted work using several strands of thread (macrame), often producing lacelike fabrics. Much early crochet was made with fine, thin thread, producing imitations of European lace; one example is Irish lace, a variety of “crochet lace” introduced into Ireland about 1820 but also made throughout Europe, particularly in the Balkan states. Much modern crochet is executed with soft yarns and used to make garments and bed coverings. Although crochet can be made by machine, it has traditionally been, and continues to be, a home handcraft. In addition, contemporary fiber artists employ crochet along with other techniques to create large wall hangings and fiber sculptures.

Hope you enjoyed my little story.
Dora
Calcedoniadesign

Baby Girl’s Summer Dress
I used an I hook and worsted weight yarn
I used caron simply soft
Gauge: 12 tr and 3 rows = 4in
Size: 6-9 mo

Skirt:
chain 60 join with slip st
Row 1: ch 2, sk st, ch 1, *hdc, ch 1, sk st. Repeat from * around join to top of ch 2 with slip st
Row 2-7: ch 4 tr each st around join with slip st to top of ch 4

Ruffle:
Row 1: ch 1 sc around join with slip st to top of ch1
Row 2: *hdc, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around, join
Row 3: 2 tr in each st around join and fasten off.

Top:
start in any stitch at top of skirt join with slip st.
Row 1: ch 3, *dc next 2 st tog, dc in next st, repeat from * around join. 40 st remaining
Row 2-3: ch 3 dc in each st around join.
Row 4: slip st 8 st, ch 3 dc next 3 st, *ch 2, sk next 2 st, dc next 4 st, repeat from star once more, turn
Row 5: ch 5, sk 2 st, * dc next st, 2dc in ch2-sp, dc next st, ch 2, sk 2 st, repeat from star once more, ch 2, sk 2 st, dc in last st, turn
Row 6: ch 3, 2dc in ch2-sp, dc next st, *ch 2, sk 2 st, dc, 2dc in ch2-sp, dc, repeat from star once more, turn
Row 7: same as row 5 fasten off repeat rows 4-7 omitting slp st in row four. I just put 4 st between front and back same as for top

Straps:
ch40 attaching to each corner of top

Belt:
ch 103, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc across fasten off and weave through row 1 of skirt

I had an unusual journey towards becoming an Etsy entrepreneur. Back when my son was young, I used to spend so much time at the craft store that one day they offered me a job! I worked there for several years. Later, I branched out and started to sell handmade crafts and supplies at local fairs, churches and boutiques. Whatever it took-I even worked as a concessionaire at the Fort Hamilton Army Base. Later, I became manager of a Christian book and gift store and opened an online book store on half.com.

I got involved in ETSY when my mom and I made and donated blankets, preemie hats and booties to BABIES in NEED, a non-profit organization out in Long Island. We also made scarves out of left over yarn and we donated them to an organization for children in need at Christmas time. My son asked me one day “Why don’t you sell these on Etsy?” And while I didn’t know what Etsy was at the time, I quickly learned what an amazing marketplace it is. So we’ve been working non-stop and are finally ready to launch our online store. I hope everyone likes and enjoys our pieces. For questions, or if there is something we can specially create for you, get in touch with us at calcedoniadesign@gmail.com we would love to hear from you!

Check out our Etsy shop.
Follow us on Twitter.

My name is Alisha and I started crocheting in 1997. My Mom crocheted and tried to teach me many times when I was growing up, but it never really clicked. After my Mom passed away from breast cancer I decided it was time for me to learn to crochet.

I made a lot of afghans until I made my first toy. That first toy was the beginning of my love for crocheting toys. I started designing patterns when I couldn’t find any patterns for the toys that I wanted to make. I really love the process of starting with some yarn on a hook, and with one thing in my mind I often see something else coming to life on the hook. All of my items are made using my own designs and are all One Of a Kind-and made with lots of love!

Check out my plush, crocheted toys at Fuzzy Feet Boutique.
Purchase my patterns at my Etsy Crochet Pattern shop.
Read my blog Fuzzy Feet Works.

I also love to bead and love to attend bead, gem & mineral, and craft shows. I tend to pick out the wackiest beads and stones to make the most unique articles of jewelry for myself and for sale. I tumble my own stones as well, both semi-precious and plain. My next goal is to learn how to facet stones and fuse silver. In the winter time I love to knit and crochet fuzzy, bulky, and unique scarves.

I now have a new way of offering my art to the world. I introduced GLAZZ TATTZ© my first time selling them at the Champions Kids Camp benefit. A charity I donate to and work every year. I paint these bright and sometimes soulful tattoos for your glass with the highest quality window color paint on the highest quality cling vinyl. I can also custom design GLAZZ TATTZ© to emulate crystal clear or colored bevel glass. I can make a window or entrance way look as if you have spent thousands of dollars in stained or beveled glass!

I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Information Technology and have to thank the creators of Etsy.com for the opportunity to combine my passion and my skills to present my art to the people of earth and maybe even beyond. I never seem to run out of ideas so if you do not see anything new in my shop for a few days, it just means that I cannot tear myself away from my workshop. I never know what I will come up with next and never stick to any one medium.

 Find more of my creations at my Etsy shop.