Diana Gonzalez

Name: Diana Gonzalez

Age: 32

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Profession: Work at home Mother, baby wrangler, crafter

Craft(s) of Choice: knitting, crocheting, paper crafting, mixed media collage, altered art, embroidery

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

I started making art and working with paper and such, some time ago, around the time I met my husband. I had a hard time growing up; things don’t always work out as they seem. I started writing, because somehow I always knew I’m a writer. I just knew. And so, I began writing poetry, and keeping a journal about my life, and moods and such.

It started me on a long journey of self expression and self examination. I love writing, and love to be creative.

As years went on, I experimented with other forms of self expression, such as needlepoint, baking, and collage work. At this point, I met my husband.

When I met my husband, I knew that he was meant to be mine. I mean, I knew that I would marry him, from the first conversation I ever had with him. His eyes, his smile….he charmed me. He attended the “Fame” school, and is an amazing artist himself. So I wanted that. I have always wanted to say that I can paint amazing pictures like the ones I see in my mind. Amazing, how that would be. Years went by, and I realized I paint pictures in MY way. In my own unique manner, I do paint pictures. Through my collage work and my poetry, I paint pictures. So for this I am grateful.

I started a few years ago, a spiritual quest to find my own version of Nirvana. Through symbolism and creativity, I find myself melding my spiritual quest and my superstitions with my craft quite a bit.

Most of my projects are inspired by my belief in fairies, or my superstitious belief in cats being lucky.

So I’m crafting, selling my art, and writing about my brand of art, and about my quest for Nirvana through my creative process.

Diana Gonzalez

Name: Diana Gonzalez “The Craftaholic”

Age: 32

Location: Brooklyn, baby

Profession: Work at home mom, thing collector, food lover, art maker

Craft(s) of Choice: Knitting, crochet, paper crafting (card making, altered art, book binding)

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

I got interested in art and crafting as a child, but became more interested in it when i met my husband, who is a classically trained artist.

I discovered that art and craft was a powerful tool for healing one’s self. Through meditation and crafting, I found that I was healing myself from a lot of the darkness that lingered in my life. It wasn’t just about practicing meditative knitting, but using simple meditation techniques while I worked on my crafting. I decided to call myself the craftaholic, because it slowly became an addiction to me! I love making art, and making beautiful things out of paper and yarn.

Little by little, I saw that my battle with depression was lifted, and I found myself discovering myself more.

I keep a blog because I like to look back at my past endeavors and see how I’ve grown.

That’s what art does-it empowers you to discover yourself, and love yourself.

Alicia Hanson

Name: Alicia Hanson

Age: 35

Location: Oceanside, CA

Profession: Jewelry Designer | Silversmith

Craft(s) of Choice: Jewelry Making, I also do sewing, cooking, paper creations, and shrines

Blog (if applicable): http://hioctanejewelry.blogspot.com/

Ever since the first time I remember watching my dad weld and use a cutting torch I was mesmerized by those flying blue sparks I wasn’t suppose to be looking at.  I even remember the smell.  Kinda of like after fireworks.  From that moment on I knew I want to play with metal in some form.  I started making beaded jewelry in high school and I would take weird small little toys and make them into earrings.  I always wanted to learn to solder.  Finally that day came when I was about 30,  and then I learned casting.  Now I am always trying to find more ways to spend as much time as I can in my studio creating.  I love learning new things.  I remember just two days ago my 3 year old daughter was watching me solder and she said “Mommy what’s that?”  I explained my soldering torch.  Hopefully she’ll be hooked too.

Patricia Zapata

Name: Patricia Zapata

Age: 38

Location: Kingwood, Texas

Profession: Graphic designer

Craft(s) of Choice: Definitely paper crafts – but I also do some block printing, knitting, crocheting and embroidery.

Blog: http://alittlehut.blogspot.com

I’ve crafted all my life. Other than doodling and drawing the first thing I remember making (because my mom taught me how) was a crocheted set of tiny pillows and blanket for my Barbies. I think I was about 7 or 8 at the time.

I stopped crafting during my college years and life was going by really quickly. Once I became a mom and things slowed down a bit, the crafting itch came back – so much so that I turned it into part of what I do for a living now. Through crafting and in particular through my blog and my tutorials I’ve made many new online friends. I’ve also had the opportunity to publish an article in Craft, another one will be coming out later this year in Craftstylish and right now I’m in the middle of writing my first paper craft book (to be published next summer). I could’ve never imagined that this is where I’d be headed and that it would be so rewarding at the same time.

Someone once asked me why I craft and my answer was that I simply have to do it to stay sane. I think my life is more well balanced when I have time to craft – be it with my children or alone. It’s something that is a part of me and I can’t let it go.

Julie Anderson

Name: Julie Anderson

Age: 38

Location: Joliet, IL

Profession: Knit Handbag Designer, Retail Rubber Stamp Store Owner & Stay at Home Mom.

Craft(s) of Choice: Knitting, Sewing, Paper Crafts. . .you name it, I’ve most likely tried it!

Blog: www.boogaj.com

When I moved back to my hometown to start a family, it was lonely.  I was used to working and living in the city (Chicago) and suddenly I was in the suburbs and spending a lot of time at home with my new baby girl.  That’s when I discovered the online crafting community and started up my own blog (www.boogaj.com) – this was back in 2002.  As a result I met many great crafters and even started up a business selling patterns I designed for handknit and felted, or fulled, handbags (www.blacksheepbags.com).  It all started when I posted a picture of a bag I had made on my blog.  Lots of people wanted the pattern and the next thing I knew I had a business I was running out of my living room!  I can definitely say that the internet has changed my crafting life for the better.

Niki Meiners

Name: Niki Meiners

Age: 35 and holding

Location: Wilmington, NC

Profession: Wife, Mom, crafter and all around fun person

Craft(s) of Choice: Rubber Stamping, Paper Crafting

Blog: A0nikimeiners.wordpress.com

5 years ago I was paralyzed from the neck down, 3 months after giving birth to my son. A rare virus attacked my spine. During my hospital stay I gained the use of my hands first. I asked one of the nurses to teach me how to knit. I spent weeks trying to learn. I had to keep myself busy and needed an outlet. I gave up knitting after almost a month of trying. So instead I turned to scrapbooking and card making. These were things I could do and accomplish in a short period of time. I have now recovered about 70 % and I am walking unassisted. Being crafty helped me get through a difficult period.