Alan Luna

Name: Alan Luna

Age: 14

Location: San Diego, California

Profession: 9th grader (high school)

Craft(s) of Choice: Sewing, sketching, drawing, writing, nature crafts, knitting

I got into crafting after my aunt from San Fransisco came to visit. She introduced me to this crafting movement, and showed me sites like Makezine, Craftzine, Threadbanger, and other stuff like that. She told me that crafts were not gender-specific. So I did all these crafts and I really like to make stuff. It’s my passion, besides writing. So I really liked this website that shows other crafters around the world.

Amy Jayne

Name: Amy

Age: 21

Location: Madison, WI

Profession: College Student

Craft(s) of Choice: Crochet, Jewelry, Sewing, Drawing

I love to crochet during the school year, it’s rhythmic and soothing, such a great de-stressor. The best part is that all my friends reap the benefits of new scarves every Christmas

Courtney Keller

Name: Courtney Keller

Age: 33

Location: Austin, Texas

Profession: Designer

Craft(s) of Choice: Sewing, Screenprinting, Drawing, Design, Animation

Blog: http://peaceboutique.wordpress.com/

I studied printmaking in school, but when I got out realized I didn’t have access to a printing press. I began doing sewing and silkscreening in my home, and selling on eBay. I ended up selling clothing and bags I made to Australia, China, Europe and all over North and South America!

The need to create overcomes the lack of what you might think are the ‘necessary tools’, and in the end, fewer resources might force you to become more creative.

Curln Reed Sullivan

Name: Curln Reed Sullivan

Age:
Location: austin

Profession: artist/writer

Craft(s) of Choice: botanical character studies, illustration, cermaics, collage, embroidery

Blog: http://www.curlinreedsullivan.com/blog

one day, while photographing my new flowergal embroidery kit, my son brought a praying mantis into my studio to serve as model and spokesbug for my art. (see picture!)

Dawn Buettner Huntington

Name: Dawn Buettner Huntington

Age: 35

Location: Vista, San Diego, Southern California

Profession: 75% Mommy, 15% Crafter, 10% Archictural Drafting

Craft(s) of Choice: Silkscreen, Sewing, Sketching, Painting, Woodwork

Blog: http://www.OUToftheBOXcalifornia.blogspot.com

In grade school, perfect penmanship always invoked people to proclaim, “You should be an Architect!” So, I suppose it’s only natural I would pursue a graduate degree in Architecture, especially since my dad, who is a contractor, designed and built the house I grew up in. With a Masters of Architecture from UCLA I began working at architectural firms in San Diego where the majority of my time was spent in front of a computer screen drawing High Schools, Hospitals and Hotels. (Turns out penmanship really wasn’t that important after all!) However, I filled free time with my nose in my sketchbook. Additionally, I took up sewing, painting, drawing, screenprinting and wood-working to satisfy my creative soul. It wasn’t until I became a stay-at-home mom that I began to conceive of the idea to to sell some of my things online. During those first few months, with baby tucked into my lap, I began drawing and painting the whimsical friends that have become the characters of my imaginary world, the “Buzzing Bog”. Inspired by my Hawaiian roots, bibs, pillows and paintings illustrate botanicals …with an element of surprise; namely, the winged and whimsical critters that take flight in my silk-screened and printed fabric graphics. Making things is a form of meditation for me. Without all my projects I don’t know how I’d maintain a healthy mind and happy heart. For now, only a small portion of my life is dedicated to Architecture. But, boy, am I having a ball!

Finn Sonniksen

Name: Finn Sonniksen

Age: 9

Location: Austin, Texas

Profession: 4th Grader

Blog: http://www.finntalks.blogspot.com

Craft(s) of Choice: Drawing, painting, making comic books

I sort of like drawing because I can memorize stuff with it and I can draw out stuff that I am thinking in my head. It is also fun. Right now I like to draw maps and stuff from my video games, and just random creatures I create.

Jennifer L Nilsson

Name: Jennifer L Nilsson

Age: 38

Location: Avis, PA USA

Profession: Artist/ Illustrator

Craft(s) of Choice:: painting, drawing, crocheting

Blog: http://www.handmadecraftygoodness.blogspot.com

I am a girl who was taught early on that our gifts (skills) are given to us at birth and should never be wasted. I love so many things I can’t do just ONE, but narrowed it down to 2 – illustrating and crocheting. There is never a time when I am without a brush, pencil or hook ! But the most rewarding part of it all is the smile on another’s face when I share my gifts with them.

Krysten G

Name: Krysten G

Age: 24

Location: Colorado

Profession: College studen

Craft(s) of Choice: Knitting, Crochet, Sewing, Embroidery, Quilting, Jewlery, Drawing, Painting, Scrapbooking

Blog: http://littledevil-666.blogspot.com/

My Grandmother taught me to knit and crochet when I was 10 as another craft to try. I was always a crafty child and loved to try new things and she never said no. The first major thing that I made was at her house it was a cross made of burned matches, i think it was about 200 of them.

Laura LeMaster

Name: Laura LeMaster

Age: 52

Location: Vista, CA

Profession: Artist/Teacher

Craft(s) of Choice: Drawing, silk painting, mixed media assemblages

I clearly remember my mother asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up.ll(I was just 5) “An Artist!” I became an artist the moment I picked up my first crayon & have been drawing/creating ever since. After studying Art in college, I later traveled to Paris to learn silk painting, which I now do as Silks by Laura. I’m in Studio 6 in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village, in Sisters Gift Shop in Escondido, The World’s Fare in Vista & help coordinate Follow Me Boutique, a gathering of local artisans who promote Art/Crafts via boutiques/sales. Our next is the Vista Library 5/30…com”>

Michael Auger

Name: Michael Auger

Age: 32

Location: Washington, DC

Profession: Freelance Artist, Arty4ever.com

Craft(s) of Choice: Offbeat paintings, prints, and such

Blog: http://www.arty4ever.blogspot.com/

One of the great things about participating in arts and crafts festivals is the opportunity to meet the people who enjoy my work. My artwork is colorful and fun and so kids are my biggest fans. It’s amusing to watch the various ways they convince their parents to buy them something. I will never forget one young boy, being carried piggyback style, who puppeted his father around (just like in the movie Ratatouille). He yanked his father’s hair and giggled and his father just smiled and twirled around like a marionette, dramatically pulled out his wallet, and paid for one of my offbeat paintings. What a great dad!