Adriana

Name: Adriana

Age: 39

Location: Columbus OH

Profession: Self Employed Artist / Web Sales

Craft(s) of Choice: Wire work, crochet, nature photography, knitting

Blog: http://myspace.comadriana_weaver

I am a disabled, multimedia artist who weaves with both fiber & wire, takes nature photography & builds sculptures. I live & sell online with my brother who knits. Our studio is filled with love, creativity & CATS!

Anne Cox-Espenlaub

Name: Anne Cox-Espenlaub

Age: 63

Location: Golf Manor, OH

Profession: Library Services Assistant

Craft(s) of Choice: Crochet, Sewing, Design

I taught myself to Crochet at 26 and am now teaching people in the neighborhood where I work to crochet. I was a costume designer for many years. I see my crochet as a way of expressing myself and sharing with others.

Tonya Sloan

Name: Tonya Sloan

Age: 30

Location: Cincinnati, OH

Profession: Housewife

Craft(s) of Choice: Crochet, Cross stitch, Jewelry, Candle making, scrapbooking

I started out making floss bracelets, and beeding. Then a friend introduced me to candle making. A dear friend of mine taught me the basics of Crochet, to take her mind off the death of a relative, and I’ve been “hooked” ever since. I’ve made baby blankets, hats booties and toys, each of my family members has a handmade blanket, and have made scarves for friends. It’s a great way to deal with my anxiety.

Shelley McElhiney

Name: Shelley McElhiney

Age: 49

Location: Tacoma, WA

Profession: “store worker” & owner of 2 stores, one on Etsy & one on ArtFire, both samsstuff

Craft(s) of Choice: jewelry making, embroidery, crochet, sewing, photography…

Blog: http://samsstuf-samsstuff.blogspot.com

I have been making things ever since I can remember, taught by my grandmother, parents & some very creative teachers! I love taking vintage & found items, combining them with new ‘stuff’ to give them a new life. I have been inspired by those grade school craft classes (gotta love those collages) & stories of the past, how people ‘made do’ & re-used things instead of buying not so available new things.

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

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.

Rachel Johnson

Name: Rachel Johnson

Age: 28

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Profession: Website manager (I run Swap-bot.com) and freelance graphic designer

Craft(s) of Choice: Paper crafts, crochet, digital design

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

I think I have always been dreaming of being creative – as in creating original things that are all my own. I went to college for graphic design and painting, and then went on to get a graduate degree in Arts Management. My thesis covered internet marketing by indie crafters – it was a lot of fun to research! I studied Etsy while it was still just starting out in 2006, went to many craft shows, and interviewed dozens of crafters.

During all of my schooling, my husband and I were continuously creating websites. Some were personal, some were just for fun, and some we hoped might grow into something special. In 2005 we created Swap-bot.com, a site that helps facilitate group craft swaps. We have been slowly improving the site ever since and it has grown and grown! We currently have over 25,000 members and the site has over 500 active swaps going on at any given time. It has also become a really fun and supportive community of artists, crafters, and writers.

Professionally, I have been a publisher, a graphic designer, a museum administrator, an editor, and a struggling artist, but running Swap-bot is by far the most rewarding job I have had and I am very happy to report that I now manage Swap-bot full time. It is my largest craft project ever!

Lauren Foust

Name: Lauren Foust

Age: 29

Location: Phenix City, AL

Profession: Fulltime Mother and Army Wife, Off-and-On College Student

Craft(s) (s) of Choice: Sewing, Painting and the occasional Knitting or Crochet Jag

Blog: http://bananasforbreakfast.wordpress.com

I can’t think of any interesting stories involving crafting (maybe I haven’t found my creative sense of adventure yet?) I’ve always felt a strong need to create though, it’s my therapy. Sewing is my hobby of choice but I’m better described as a Chronic Repurposer, anything I can get my hands on is considered raw material. My grandmother and mother passed down to me a very eclectic sense of style, a hatred of being ordinary and a fear of overpaying (with some expensive taste on top of all that). My father is a contractor who can build anything (as far as I’m concerned!), so my house was a very creative and resourceful one. As a result, no project or hobby or skill has ever seemed too big to tackle. Except playing musical instruments, we’re all inept in that department.

I don’t know where the creative drive came from but I’m thankful that it’s always been encouraged, and I’ll continue to do the same with my kids. And there you have it, my crafty-ness in a nutshell

- Lauren

Erin Myrdahl

Name: Erin Myrdahl

Age: 26

Location: Sulphur Springs, TX

Craft(s) (s) of Choice: Knitting and Crochet

I taught myself to crochet (thank god for instructional videos online) about 5 years ago. I didn’t really do a whole lot with it until I inherited all my great grandmothers hooks and a ton of granny squares! Then I decided to try knitting. I watched Knitty Gritty for a whole year before I really tried to make anything. I am really not sure why knitting was so scary to me! I just can’t get enough of it. I love knitting and crocheting. I can’t wait to pass it on to my children!

Amanda Duncan

Name: Amanda Duncan

Age: 25

Location: Richmond, VA

Profession: Crafts/Material Studies Major, Senior

Craft(s) (s) of Choice: Metal/silversmithed jewelry, crochet, knitting, glass working, sewing/quilting

Blog: http://spin-me-a-yarn.blogspot.com

All I ever wanted to be was an artist, I only realize now that my idea of an ‘artist’ was a ‘crafter’. In 2006, I decided to go back and finish my degree, transferring to a school on the east coast with the intent to pursue a BFA in Fashion Design. Less than a semester in, I changed my mind. Time running out on a decision, my professor suggested perhaps Crafts was where I belonged. My response was keen surprise: “Crafts? There’s a major for Crafts?!” Who’d have thunk? Now, finally on the precipice of graduating, I’m in love, completely obsessed. I wake up in the morning with crafting on my mind and I go to sleep with new ideas brewing just waiting to take shape in my dreams. My main focus is metalsmithed jewelry, but I’ve recently acquired an unparalleled obsession (for me) for crochet and have rediscovered my adoration for fabrics and quilting. Being able to create means the world to me.