Tricia

Name: Tricia

Age: 45

Location: Garrettsville, Ohio

Profession: self-employed crafter

Craft(s) of Choice: Knit and Crochet

Blog: http://LazyTcrochet.Blogspot.com

Just a Mom whose kids grew up way too fast. I taught myself how to crochet and quickly moved on from the dishcloths to creating fun and unique wearables. I attend local arts and craft fairs and have had a shop on Etsy for over 3 years. I love yarn and family.

Suzanne Gutierrez

Name: Suzanne Gutierrez

Age: 32

Location: Denver, CO

Profession: Professional Crafter

Craft(s) of Choice: Jewelry making, knitting, sewing

Blog: http://siouxsiequeues.blogspot.com

You should have seen the look on my Father’s face when I told him I was giving up computer engineering to make chainmaille, for my job, in 2009. He’s come around, but I wish we’d had a camera that day.

Jen Parrish

Name: Jen Parrish

Age: 40

Location: Stoneham, MA

Profession: Jewelry Designer

Craft(s) of Choice: Jewelry & Accessories

Blog: http://parrishrelics.blogspot.com/

Have been lucky enough to have my handcrafted Anne Boleyn necklace featured on Ugly Betty for four seasons! Will miss the show, and seeing America wearing my “B” necklace.

Claudine Lindstrom Olin

Name: Claudine Lindstrom Olin

Age: 36

Location: San Diego, CA

Profession: Domestic Engineer (Homemaker)

Craft(s) of Choice: Knitting

I was addicted to Meth on and off for years and was only able to finally get clean by moving out of state. My mom taught me to knit before I moved across the country and I spent all of my time knitting garter stitch scarves because she only taught me the knit stitch. To keep my sanity, I spent all of my time knitting these scarves (I had about 50) and eventually found Vickie on my television. So, from that point on, I watched Knitty Gritty faithfully and Vickie Howell became my hero. She taught me to purl as well as many other techniques. I loved seeing how she made something so “old” come to life with a modern flare. To this day, I knit just about everyday, and knitting is definitely my anti-drug. Thank you, Vickie Howell. You are my inspiration!

Karen Payzant

Name: Karen Payzant

Age: 52

Location: Lincoln, NE

Profession: Insurance Specialist

Craft(s) of Choice: Knitting

Blog: http://thetygerlily.wordpress.com/

My mother and grandma were avid seamstresses and knitters/crocheters. I grew up with creativity all around me. Knew that I could use all that experience to begin designing my own handbags – and now (after a year off) I’m back to my design table! I love texture and the effect some stitches can create. I’m a yarn junkie. Thanks!

Suzanne Gutierrez

Name: Suzanne Gutierrez

Age: 32

Location: Castle Rock, CO

Profession: Jewelry Artist

Craft(s) of Choice: chainmaille jewelry, knitting, sewing

Blog: http://siouxsiequeues.blogspot.com/

During the course of one of the worst economic situations our country has ever known I left my 9 to 5 job to make jewelry. Thankfully I have the support and encouragement of my friends and family, I couldn’t do it without them.

Rachel Rose

Name: Rachel Rose

Age: 48

Location: Olathe, Ks.

Profession: Artist, Instructor

Craft(s) of Choice: Watercolors, Pastels, Beadweaving,Meltal workwire wrapping

I decided to be an artist when I was 7 years old. My parents took us(siblings) to see our cousin Phylis. She lived in Hollywood CA. I remember her being tall and beautiful, her boyfriend Jack was funny. My cousin is an artist. The room she put us in had a print that scared me. I kept staring at it. As I watched it I fell into it and traveled through the lines and colors of the print. I went very quickly and I fell out of it back into myself. When I woke up I was no longer afraid and I knew I could paint it. I got very excited when I realized not only could I paint,but I wanted to paint. I have always thought of painting as magical. I paint with all the materials I use and I never stop painting. For me it’s like breathing.

Dana Jonsgaard

Name: Dana

Age: 44

Location: Winona, MN

Profession: Full-time Crafter

Crafts of Choice: Knitting, crocheting, and some looming

Blog: http://www.lovesmanyclothsblog.info

Basically, I live to craft and craft to give. Five years ago I suffered from migraines that lasted several days at a time. I was suffering up to 21 days a month. Getting out of bed was very hard for me and my love for people was dying. My family was falling apart. I found my love for crafting again right after Hurricane Katrina. Crafting has eased my migraines to now only being one or two every 6 months. I am no longer taking expensive medicine to ease the pain. I tell everyone that crafting is my therapy. I find relief by concentrating on my love for charity giving and crafting to help others. I have found many new friends along the way in the Yahoo group circuit where I have my group. I now can cable knit, use dpns, and 2 circular needles at one time. I built a webpage and now a new blog to expand my creativity with my crafting to include many others as we unite for many causes to help ease the pain for others. I know pain. No one else should have to feel that pain. Crafting for me is more than yarn and a hook or needles…it is my daily dose of love. Love for myself and lots of love for others! I craft to live and live to give.

The primary goal of both the blog and the book is to nurture our wonderful community by telling your stories and elevating the perception of the value of craft, all crafts, amongst society. Being creative, as a hobby or professionally, is a gift and deserves to be celebrated.  I hope to do that here.

Want to join the Corps? Simply add your e-mail address to the Craft Corps Weekly mailing list to read a new, featured crafter’s profile every week. Dig through our archives for stories in genres from knitting to wood working. Submit your own crafty anecdote and be added to our links page. Recruit your friends by spreading the Craft Corps word.

I’m so happy to have you here!

Craft.  Rock.  Love.,
Vickie Howell

Elizabeth Lay

Name: Elizabeth Lay

Age: prime

Location: Orlean, VA

Profession: Textile Artist

Craft(s) of Choice: needlepoint

Blog: http://www.orleanfinetapestry.com

My mother taught me to needlepoint when I was about 10 years old. She had already taught me to knit but there was something about needlepoint; it was like coloring with both hands. I fell in love immediately. There is a tactile joy, a sense of comfort that I have just never gotten from painting. I still get a rush holding hanks of colored yarn in my hands; and it’s a good thing since my passion has become my business. Everything stops when a box of wool is delivered! I can’t wait to open it and sort it into bins of color families. I often stand back and admire the cubbies filled with hues and remember when I once saw a photo of a designer’s studio; it may have been Kaffee Fassett. I was completely captured by the wall units filled with baskets of wool in every imaginable color. I thought; I’ll do just about any job that allows me to have a studio like that! And now, I do.