Rosemary Woodruff

Age: 58

Location: Florida

Profession: Crafter/Artist

Craft(s) of Choice: assemblage/collage/altered art with paper primarily

I have always had to “make it if I wanted it”…but I never considered what I did as valuable until a few years ago when a friend said…..heck yes, Rose….consider yourself an artist or no one else will. I have painted, sewn, pieced, loved, and handled, most craft and art supplies. My favorite will always be, work on canvas…something about the canvas that calls me….but I love my “little books” about as much I guess…oh and my …………

Diane Long

Name: Diane Long

Location: Pocono Mountains, PA

Profession: Freelance Crafter

Craft(s) of Choice: Rubber Stamping, papercrafting,collage, polymer clay, writing, cake decorating

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

Growing up in a large family, we didn’t always get what we wanted so we learned to get creative. We would make it, paint it, decorate it, fix it, or cover it. I always say “necessity spurs creativity” That skill has helped me find solutions to a myriad of challenges.

I’ve done many crafts but none has hit me like rubber stamping. It is truly addicting!

In this age of electronics and impresonal emailing and texting, I find it deeply rewarding to make something with my hands then put it in the hands of the one for whom I made it.

Whenever I am creating, I am most alive, and fulfilled.

Age: 40

Location: NorCAL

Profession: Mixed-Media Artist

Craft(s) of Choice: Mixed-Media, Polymer Clay, Sculpture, Dolls, Jewelry, Collage, Handmade Natural Soap, and more

Blog: http://redwoodcoastcreativearts.typepad.com/

I can never just stick to one thing, one art form, one medium, one job, one home. I am a wanderer with a wild, gypsy heart. However, I do return to certain themes in my artwork over and over again.

Art is the one and only constant in my life. Over the past 10 years I have become somewhat obsessed with polymer clay. I joined a guild and have learned so much from fellow members and artist-instructors that we have hired to teach.

I first started making polymer clay dolls and figurines 25 years ago but for more that 10 years I did not do anything else with it.

Since Joining the guild, Clayville California, I have branched out in so many directions. There were times, whole years, that I did nothing but explore new techniques. I am happy to say that I finally feel like I have enough “practice” under my belt that I can actually complete some projects that I am happy with. It’s been a long time coming.

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!)

Cheryl

Name: Cheryl

Age: 38

Location: Las Vegas

Profession: Artist & mom

Craft(s) of Choice: Art Quilts, mixed media, collage

Blog: http://urbancrafter.typepad.com

I love to be create and I love even more to share what I know with others. Teaching and creating are my passions!

Melissa Gable

Name: Melissa Gable

Age: Age: Location: austin, texas

Profession: artist/designer

Craft(s) of Choice: collage/assembled art/corsages/cards

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

Crafting has always been a big part of my life starting when i was about 5. I was always making lots of weird little things from rocks and wire and stuff i had collected. For example!: I used to love orange tic tacs and when i finished eating them, i would make the plastic box into a tiny aquarium by drawing a little picture of fish and plants and bubbles then cutting it out and taping it to the inside of the box. I had a collection of these pretend fish tanks and often think about making them again.

Wen Redmond

Name: Wen Redmond

Age: 59

Location: Strafford, NH

Profession: Contemporary Art in Fiber

Craft(s) of choice: Digital Fiber and Collage

Blog: http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com/

I am a mixed media/ fiber artist. I create the entire structure of my art pieces. My latest work contains digital printing. I digitally manipulate photographs in an artistic manner and print on prepared ink jet fabrics. These works can include painting, dying, stamping screen-printing, mono printing and other means of surface design. Other work is Multi-level Surface Design, an original image digitally printed twice for holographic 3-D effects.

Age: 65

Location: St. Paul, MN

Profession: greeting card artist

Craft(s) of Choice: cards, bookarts, collage, sewing, needlework

I believe my interest in paper all started as a toddler in Tampa, Florida. To keep me occupied, my parents would give me newspaper and magazines to tear in my playpen. Apparently, I got to be quite good at it, almost filling the playpen with shredded paper. I’m told the news print ink was a little messy, but I persisted.

I still like to play with paper. but my tastes have matured and I now prefer the Imported Japanese Yuzen Washi papers to a domestic news print.

I fold it into Origami friendship knots, fans, kimonos, inkwells and purses.
I cut it into birds, corsets, dresses, butterflies and angels.
I do pointillism drawings of animals with pen and ink.
I weave it, dye it, layer it, do paste paper patterns on it,
I write on it with colored pencils, oil pastels, gel pens, and ink to make books.

Jennifer Morris

Name: Jennifer Morris

Age: 46

Location: Toronto

Profession: Craftsperson, Designer- Maker  Day job Salesperson

Craft’s of Choice: Beading, Bead weaving, Embroidery, Wirework, Crochet, Knitting, Collage

Blog: http://embellishment.ca

How craft saved my life or a least made the process of illness and recovery better. I have a genetic disorder so I was in and out of hospitals as a kid with many operations so I leaned to entertain myself with crafts. In my 20’s a family friend took me to the One of a Kind show and told me I could do this as a living (I didn’t know you could) So I went to craft college so you could say I am a professional craftsperson I have been in some gallery shows but I have never made a living at it. Craft is a part of my life I need to make stuff it’s almost like food or air to me.  I always have a project going and usually carry something to work on.  In May of 2004 I was diagnosed with breast cancer I had a mastectomy, chemo the full deal. But because I had my work I felt that it was easier for me then others. I did my embroidery till my hands shook too much then I went to knitting and crochet during my chemo I made a sweater coat and 2 afghans. I was lucky because no matter what I always had something to do and think about other than the sickness and how I felt. Going all through this I decided that I am only going to do what makes me happy. My goal is to get to the point where I can make a living as a craftsperson.

Katie

Name: Miz Katie

Age: My mental age is about 13, and that’s where I’m bound to stay for the rest of my life.

Location: Kansas

Profession: I play with crayons and paint brushes all day.

Craft(s) of Choice: painting and collage and book art

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

My grandmother is to blame. She was always crocheting and making things with her hands. We would drive from NH to VT in her beat up, old, green station wagon just so she could buy more supplies. She made dolls, mostly. She put the “handmade is best” bug in me. The only difference is I love painting and collage.

My grandmother has been deceased for nine years, but her photo hangs on the wall in my studio. I look up and smile at her from time to time. She still gives me incredible inspiration.