Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Bucket List

Update as of September 3rd, 2014

We learned last week that my liver is failing. I am not quitting the fight though. I continue to crochet and do markets and it helps keep me busy. 

THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST POSTS I HAVE EVER HAD TO WRITE. SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE DOCTORS HAVE NOT HAD MUCH HOPE OF ME MAKING IT A FEW MORE MONTHS WE ARE AT THAT POINT AGAIN.

AT THE AGE OF 15 I WAS BITTEN BY A TICK. MY BOYFRIEND BURNED IT OFF OF ME AND I WENT ON WITH MY LIFE. I WAS AT BOARDING SCHOOL AND DEALING WITH BEING RAPED THEN KICKED IN THE KNEE AND HEAD BY THE RING LEADER.

THERE WAS ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH WITHOUT DEALING WITH A BUG BITE. THE NURSE DID NOT THINK IT WAS A BIG DEAL SO WHY SHOULD I WAS MY THINKING AT THE TIME.

HOWEVER AT THE AGE OF 32 ONE OF MY ONLINE FRIENDS SUGGESTED THAT MY HUSBAND FILL OUT A LYME SYMPTOM CHECKLIST I HUMORED HER AND HAD HIM DO THAT AND HE CHECKED OFF 90% OF IT.

NEEDLESS TO SAY WE FOUND A LYME DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LYME AT THE AGE OF 32.

I TRIED DOXY BUT I REACTED BADLY AND THEN I TRIED SILVER AND IT DIDN'T SEEM TO DO MUCH. IT WAS HARD TO FIND A MEDICATION THAT WOULD WORK AND ALSO HAVE A LIMITED EFFECT ON MY CELIAC DISEASE.

I PUT IT ON THE BACK BURNER FOR A BIT BECAUSE WE COULDN’T FIND A DOCTOR THAT COULD TAKE MY INSURANCE AND ALSO DEAL WITH MY COMPLICATED MEDICAL HISTORY. FINALLY ON JULY 29TH, 2014 WE FOUND DR P NEAR ATLANTA WHO FINALLY PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. MY ENTIRE COMPLICATED MEDICAL HISTORY WAS DUE TO LYME DISEASE.

IT ONLY TOOK THEM 19 YEARS TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT!

EVEN THE FIRST LYME DOCTOR I HAD HADN’T TOLD US THAT! I HAVE BEEN STARTED ON ANTIBIOTICS AND SOON WILL START IV TREATMENTS. HOWEVER THE BOTTOM LINE IS WITH HAVING SO MUCH WRONG AND IT BEING SO LONG BETWEEN THE BITE AND DIAGNOSIS WE AREN'T SURE HOW MUCH MORE MY BODY CAN GO THROUGH.

WE DO A HAPPY DANCE EVERY THREE MONTHS IF MY KIDNEYS AND LIVER HAVE DECIDED THEY ARE GOING TO KEEP WORKING LIKE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO.

THERE ARE SIGNS ON MY MRI THAT I HAVE LESIONS ON THE BRAIN FROM THE LYME SO BASICALLY EVERYTHING IS AFFECTED AT THIS POINT.

I HAVE EVERY PLAN
FOR BEATING THE LYME INTO SUBMISSION!!!!

BUT IN CASE I DON’T I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I COULD THANK THOSE THAT HAVE HELPED ALONG THE WAY AND I ALSO WANTED TO TELL A FEW PEOPLE
TO GO TO HELL BEYOND THE DOCTORS THAT PUT IT DOWN TO IT IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS.

I WANT TO THANK ALL MY
ONLINE FRIENDS THAT HAVE
BEEN A GREAT SUPPORT.

TO JOHN HART
THANK FOR BEING THERE FOR ME SINCE I WAS 17. EVEN WHEN MY PARENTS WANTED ME TO TELL YOU TO GO TO HELL I WOULDN’T. YOU WERE THE FIRST ONE TO CLUE ME IN THAT MY GUT FEELING WAS RIGHT. THAT THE ABUSE I WAS GOING THROUGH AT THE HANDS OF MY PARENTS WAS NOT OKAY. 

YOU ALSO TAUGHT ME TO LOVE AGAIN AFTER A VERY ABUSIVE FIRST MARRIAGE. WE ARE ON OPPOSITES COASTS NOW AND DON’T GET TO TALK OFTEN BUT I APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP THROUGH THE YEARS

TO MICHAEL WILD
WE HAVE TALKED SO OFTEN VERY LATE AT NIGHT WHEN WE WERE BOTH IN TO MUCH PAIN TO SLEEP. YOU MAILED A STUFFED ELMO TO ABBIE AND EVEN DID THE SILLY DANCE AT BUILD A BEAR FOR HER! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!

TO MY HUSBAND
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH HELL IN THE 7 YEARS WE
HAVE BEEN MARRIED. FROM THE DEATH OF JAC, LOOSING CUSTODY OF REBEKAH & ABIGAIL, TO THE STRESS FROM YOU HAVING TO BE MY CAREGIVER FULL TIME. I LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME. WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICATION AND CUT DOWN ON THE FIGHTS BUT WE WILL GET THERE TOGETHER.

TO FRED HEARD WHO
MARRIED US IN 2007
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ADVICE AND PRAYERS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. BOTH YOU AND MARY
JO HAVE BEEN SUCH GREAT WONDERFUL PRAYER PARTNERS. WE BOTH APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH!


TO REBEKAH AND ABIGAIL
YOU ARE BOTH MY ANGELS! BEKAH YOU ARE 16 AT THIS POINT AND BLOSSOMING I AM SURE INTO A YOUNG WOMAN WHO IS STUBBORN AND INDEPENDENT BUT LOVING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

I AM SORRY I WASN’T ABLE TO GET YOU AWAY
FROM THE ABUSE. I AM HERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU ARE READY TO GET OUT OF THE ABUSE ALONG WITH ANDREW. IF I AM GONE BY THE TIME YOU WANT TO RECONNECT PLEASE TALK TO ANDREW AND GET COUNSELING FOR THE ABUSE SO YOU CAN HEAL NOW AND NOT WAIT UNTIL LATER IN YOUR LIFE.

I PRAY THAT YOU GET THAT TWO STORY LAVENDAR HOUSE WITH WHITE TRIM THAT YOU DREAMED ABOUT AS A KID. I PRAY THAT YOU GET TO BE A MOM AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE STUCK WITH
YOUR SAME CAREER GOALS BUT AS A KID YOU WANTED TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST OR A HISTORY TEACHER. MAKE SURE WHATEVER CAREER YOU CHOOSE IS YOUR CHOICE ONLY!

YOU REMIND ME SO MUCH OF MYSELF. I TRIED SO HARD TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE LISTENING AND OBEYINGSO YOU WOULDN’T MAKE MISTAKES AND GET ABUSED WORSE FROM YOUR GRANDPARENTS. HOWEVER SO MANY TIMES I WALKED AWAY FROM YOU AFTER I HAD TO PUNISH YOU AND I WOULD CRACK UP LAUGHING WHEN I WAS OUT OF EAR SHOT OF
YOU AND YOUR SISTER.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE TIME YOU SENT YOUR SISTER UP INTO THE DEER STAND BECAUSE I WOULDN’T LET YOU GO UP? IT TOOK ME 45 MINUTES TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE HECK SHE WAS UP IN A TREE. TURNS OUT YOU, REBEKAH, JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THE GEESE WERE MIGRATING.

THERE WAS ALSO THE TIME I FOUND YOU BOTH BEFORE BREAKFAST OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE POND IN THE INFLATABLE BOAT TRYING TO SEE IF
THE ICE WAS THICK ENOUGH TO ICE SKATE ON. FYI
NEITHER YOU NOR ABIGAIL SWAM AT THE TIME AND SWEETIE 1/8 INCH ICE IN SPOTS IS NOT THICK ENOUGH FOR ICE SKATING PLUS YOU DIDN’T OWN ICE SKATES!

THERE WAS ALSO THE TIMES YOU RODE THE RIDING
LAWN MOWER WITH A CONCRETE BLOCK TO HOLD DOWN THE SEAT SO IT WOULDN’T TURN OFF. YOUR SISTER PERCHED ON THE BLOCK AND YOU HAPPILY MOWED THE LAWN. YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE WHO MANAGED NOT TO DRIVE IT INTO THE POND.

WE ALSO HAD TO HAVE A COME TO JESUS TALK ABOUT
STEALING OR AS YOU CALLED IT BORROWING WITHOUT THE NEIGHBORS PERMISSION THEIR CHICKEN AND DUCKS! 

THERE WAS ALSO THE TIME YOU AND ABIGAIL DECIDED TO DISMANTLE ANDREW’S TRUCK WITHOUT PERMISSION. THANK GOODNESS I FOUND YOU BEFORE THAT ONE WENT TO FAR!

THE TWO TIMES I HAD TO CATCH COPPERHEAD SNAKES
SO THEY WOULD NOT BITE THE TWO OF YOU AND 
ME NOT KNOWING (I AM FROM CALI) WHAT TYPE THEY WERE. YES I GOT A LECTURE FROM ANDREW ON THAT ONE LATER AND PROCEEDED TO DO IT A 2ND TIME ANYWAY! HOWEVER THE BABY SNAKE YOU TWO INSISTED IT BE SAVED AND WE WERE ABLE TO. THE PISSED OFF MAMA WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SAVE.

ABIGAIL YOU WERE NOT ONE TO GO WITHOUT CAUSING TROUBLE YOURSELF. WHEN WE MOVED TO GEORGIA YOU STUFFED YOUR VENT WITH FOOD SO YOU WOULDN’T HAVE TO WALK TO THE KITCHEN FOR A SNACK IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. 

I ALSO FOUND YOU PERCHED ON TOP OF THE FREEZER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT EATING ICE CREAM WHEN YOU WERE LACTOSE INTOLERANT. 

YOU ALSO LOVED TO STUFF FROGS AND CRAWFISH IN YOUR POCKETS TO BRING THEM IN THE HOUSE. I LEARNED TO HAVE YOU TURN YOUR POCKETS INSIDE OUT BEFORE LETTING YOU IN THE HOUSE!

YOU LOVED TO WAKE ME UP AT 2 AM SO I COULD SCRAMBLE YOU EGGS. ONLY TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO YOU THAT EVEN AT 2 AM YOU WERE ALLERGIC TO THEM. 

UNLIKE REBEKAH WHO LOVED TO USE YARN FOR CROCHETING YOU LOVED TO TAKE MY MOST EXPENSIVE ALPACA YARN AND USE IT IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR BOX HOUSE! 

BOTH OF YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH HELL DUE TO THE
ABUSE FROM YOUR GRANDPARENTS. I AM SORRY I COULDN’T GET YOU OUT. I TRIED MY BEST WHEN I CALLED THE COPS AFTER ABIGAIL WAS STRANGLED TO
GET YOU BOTH OUT WHEN YOU ARE 18 OR WHEN YOU GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL 
  • FLEE THE HELL 
  • GET COUNSELING 
  • GET A JOB
  • GO TO COLLEGE
  • COME SEE ANDREW & I
  • FALL IN LOVE WHEN YOU ARE READY
  • HAVE A CAREER YOU CHOOSE AND DON’T LET ANYONE TELL YOU WHAT TO CHOOSE OR YOU WILL BE UNHAPPY
  • MOST OF ALL TAKE TIME TO HEAL FROM THE ABUSE AND TO FIND YOURSELF.


I LOVE YOU BOTH TO THE MOON AND BACK MANY MANY
TIMES. BOTH ANDREW & I HAVE MISSED YOU SO MUCH IN THE LAST 5 YEARS.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO SAY BUT THIS WOULD TURN INTO A BOOK. HOPEFULLY WE CAN SEE EACH OTHER SOON SINCE REBEKAH YOU ARE 16 AND ABIGAIL YOU WILL BE TURNING 11 THIS YEAR AND START TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AGAIN AND SHARE SO MANY MORE MEMORIES.

IN MY LIFE THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT I WOULD TELL TO GO TO HELL AND EVEN FEWER THAT I WOULD PUT IN GOD’S SUGGESTION BOX THAT HE SEND THEM TO HELL. THOSE TWO PEOPLE ARE MY PARENTS
JOHN & SUSAN HOOS. YOU HAD NO REASON TO ABUSE ME THROUGHOUT MY CHILDHOOD SEXUALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. 

AND THEN GO ON TO DO IT TO YOUR GRANDKIDS. YOU BOTH HAD BEEN THROUGH IT AS A CHILD AND THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO STOP YOU FROM DOING IT TO ME.

I AM NOT SOME HELLION SINCE 6 MONTHS OF AGE LIKE YOU REPEATEDLY TOLD ME. I AM A HUMAN BEING WHO WAS ACTING OUT BECAUSE YOU WERE ABUSING ME. NOW AT 34 I REALIZE HOW MUCH MY CHILDHOOD ISSUES WERE JUST FROM THE ABUSE.

I PRAY TO GOD EVERY DAY THAT YOU WILL ROT
IN HELL ALONG WITH BOTH OF MY SISTERS. MY SISTER JULIA IS A TEACHER IN MALIBU. MY SISTER ANNA IS ABOUT TO BECOME AN ORDAINED PRIEST IN SAN FRANCISCO. NEITHER HAS REPORTED THE ABUSE THAT OCCURRED TO ME OR TO MY KIDS.

I AT LEAST TRIED TO CALL THE COPS IN CALI AND OUT HERE IN GEORGIA. MY PARENTS KEPT TELLING ME THAT IF I KEPT DOING IT THEY WOULD GO TO COURT AND GET THE KIDS.

WELL WHEN MY MOM CHOKED ABIGAIL HARD ENOUGH TO LEAVE MARKS I CALLED THE COPS AND THIS TIME THEY COULDN’T CHOCK IT UP TO MY ACTIVE IMAGINATION LIKE THEY HAD ALL MY ADULT LIFE AND THAT MOVE COST ME MY KIDS.

I WOULD HAVE MOVED OUT WITH THE KIDS WHEN I MARRIED ANDREW BUT THEY SAID IF WE MOVED WITH THE GIRLS THEY WOULD GO AND GET CUSTODY OF THE KIDS. WE BOTH FELT SO TRAPPED AND UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. HINDSIGHT IS OF
COURSE 20/20 AND WE BOTH KNOW SO MUCH MORE NOW THAN WE DID THEN. I CAN’T GO BACK AND CHANGE GETTING THE GIRLS OUT BUT ANDREW AND I ARE THERE FOR THEM NOW WHEN THEY ARE READY TO MAKE THE MOVE TO GET TO KNOW US.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE I STILL WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE…

  • KEEP PASSING ON THE LOVE OF CROCHETING BY TEACHING THE ART OF CROCHET AND ALSO CONTINUING TO DO FARMER’S MARKETS
  • MEET WYNONNA & NAOMI JUDD
  • GET TOGETHER WITH MIKE, MICHAEL, JOHN, JENNIFER AND SUE JUST TO NAME A COUPLE OF MY ONLINE FRIENDS I WOULD LOVE TO MEET UP WITH. CAN WE SAY ROAD TRIP?!
  • BUY A TINY HOUSE WITH A HUGE FRONT PORCH AND LOTS OF SPACE FOR YARN PROBABLY THROUGH TENNESSEE TINY HOMES
  • TAKE A TOUR OF THE RED HEART YARN FACTORY
  • TAKE A CRUISE EVEN THOUGH I AM TERRIFIED OF BOATS!
  • HUG MY GIRLS AND GET TO SEE THEM GROW INTO ADULTHOOD
  • GROW OLD AND GRAY WITH ANDREW, A COUPLE OF DOGS, AND ONE CAT
  • GET CHARLEY TRAINED TO BE BOTH A SERVICE AND THERAPY DOG
SOME THINGS ARE SIMPLE I WANT TO DO AND SOME
ARE MORE COMPLEX BUT THEY WILL ALL HAPPEN IN GOD’S TIME HOPEFULLY. I AM SURE THERE IS MORE I AM LEAVING OUT BUT FOR NOW I AM GOING TO CLOSE THIS AND GO CROCHET FOR A BIT.

BE BLESSED!
SARA HOOS GOFORTH

Friday, July 11, 2014

Today's featured Etsy shop... All About Jesus Designs

My name is Adrian and my Etsy shop is All About Jesus Designs

When did you start your Etsy shop?
I started my shop December 2012.

What is the story behind your business name?
The story behind my business name is very simple. Every thing that I make is to give honor, glory, and praise to Jesus Christ who is the CEO and creator of my shop. I am just HIS servant.

I don't make anything that would be contrary to HIM. When I am making something, I feel even closer to HIS power and HIS love. For me, it really is all about Jesus.

What do you sell?
I sell Christian decor such as crosses, plaques, jewelry boxes, and also Christian jewelry such as as necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. I also have some prayer crosses. Right now I have primarily women's, teen and childrens. 

I am planning on expanding to more stuff for men and boys in the future. I even have some banners for online Christian decor for Etsy and for other social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, and Pinterest.

How did you get into your craft? 
I didn't even know that I had the gift of creating anything let alone painting. One day I wanted to create something for my husband rather than just purchasing something so I walked into the craft store and walked out with some paint, brushes, and a picture frame. Needless to say, my husband loved it. He said it was beautiful and not just because it was from me. From there I started making things for friends and family. 

I then began to develop a tremendous joy for it and wanted to continue. Now it is my small way of sharing my love for Jesus will everyone else, even outside of my little circle of friends and family.

I started creating jewelry, just because I love the beauty of a cross worn on someone that truly loves Jesus and isn't afraid to show it. Please see my About Page as well.

Anything else you would like to share?
You can find my shop on

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Today's featured Etsy shop... Vivid Dog Studios

My name is Barbara and my Etsy shop is Vivid Dog Studios.

When did you start your Etsy shop?
Opened on Feb 21, 2012

What do you sell?
Lighted Hats for dog owners, campers and outdoor enthusiasts

How did you get into your craft?
Since childhood I have had a love for textiles and photography but the two were always separate from one another.
2009 was the beginning of these two passions coming together. The TEXTILE ARTIST merged with the FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER.
Being a photographer and not liking the weight and feel of a headlamp sitting atop my head, I looked around for an alternative and discovered hats with built in headlights! The textile artist in me then started creating and stitching a few designs giving each hat a personal touch and that's how this business was born!








Click here to visit Vivid Dog Studios

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Today's featured Etsy shop... Stitch With A Smile

My name is Maryellen and my Etsy shop is Stitch With A Smile.

When did you start your Etsy shop?
Aug 3, 2013

What is the story behind your business name?
I really love to make people smile when they buy my items and my work includes stitching.

What do you sell?

I sell mostly a variety of crochet items but I do sell some cross stitch.

How did you get into your craft?
My mom taught me how to crochet when I was younger and it became a very usual hobby for me.   










Click here to visit Stitch With A Smile

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Today's featured Etsy shop... Grandma's Wallflower

My name is Haley and my Etsy shop is Grandma's Wallflower.

When did you start your Etsy shop?
I opened my shop Jan 21, 2014

What is the story behind your business name?
When I was a little girl I enjoyed sewing and crafting with my grandmother. It was a fun experience for me. I thought that I was an odd child until I realized that my creativity and desire to create is fun. I'm in college now and I wanted to bring back pieces of my childhood that I had forgotten and use the creativity I have to make new things for people.

What do you sell?
I sell bracelets.

How did you get into your craft?
I actually got into making bracelets because I was sewing a dress. There were some left over fabric scraps and I tied them to make a bracelet. I loved the style it was simple but with an air of chic. I kept making them until I had them ready for others.

Anything else you would like to share?
I love crafting. I think it's so much fun and kind of important to who I am.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Today's featured Etsy shop... Sue's Akorn Shop

My name is Sue and my Etsy shop is Sue's Akorn Shop.

When did you start your Etsy shop? May 28, 2013


What is the story behind your business name? My shop is named after my father in law who passed away on Good Friday 2013 from cancer. I started it to distract me from the grief and to do something in his honor.


What do you sell? I sell kitchen hand towel, bath towels, pillows, runners and more.











Sunday, July 6, 2014

Today's featured Etsy shop... HEART STREET

My name is Dan and my Etsy shop is HEART STREET.

When did you start your Etsy shop?
Jan 27 2014

What is the story behind your business name?
handmade fabric items and paper crafts

What do you sell?
I have been a crafting lover since I was a kid. I like drawing, paper cards making, and I'd love to see anything beautiful in my mind to become real in my hands. Then at the end of 2013, I learnt myself how to use a sewing machine, and it just opened another door for me to expand my crafting passion.

How did you get into your craft?
I'm glad to share what I've learnt from the past few weeks.. I'm not professional, but if you like my store and want to communicate with me anything about improving our stores and sales... photos, treasury... just convo me:)











Saturday, July 5, 2014

Today's featured Etsy shop... Paper Kite Creations


My name is Shalane and my Etsy shop is Paper Kite Creations.

When did you start your Etsy shop?
April 2013

What is the story behind your business name?
It was inspired by a butterfly (Paper Kite) that originates in Southeast Asia. The symbolism of the butterfly being around growth, change and freedom is similar to my process of an artist. It also doesn't hurt that I really love butterflies!

What do you sell?
I sell one of a kind jewellery and jewellery-related products. I handcraft each piece to be as individual as the person that will one day wear them. I believe it is incredibly important for each of us to accept who we are and stop trying to be something we are not - I hope that my pieces of jewellery inspire women to do just that. It is that belief that helped form my tagline of "Be True. Be You."

How did you get into your craft?
I have been making jewellery since I was about 7 or 8 and ironically chose to start off with seed beads as my preference -- the big pony beads bored me I guess! I used to actually sell my work when I was a child in school - beaded geckos were all the rage back then and I happened to know hot to make them. Since then my art has developed and changed over the years, giving me a love of painting, photography, sewing and crocheting. Paper Kite Creations has brought me around full circle to be working primarily with jewellery again.

Anything else you would like to share?
I hope you enjoy my work! I also love to do custom work, so please get in touch so we can chat about your ideas! If you want to connect with me outside of Etsy, check out:
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/PaperKiteCreations
Twitter: @paperkitecreate
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/PaperKiteCreate
Google+: Paper Kite Creations

Friday, July 4, 2014

Today's featured Etsy shop... Emma Wyatt Art

Hi, my names Emma and I'm the owner and creative person behind Emma Wyatt Art. I make and sell wire wrapped jewellery as well as taking fine art commissions although the later has been put on the back burner lately due to surgery on my hand earlier this year.

Before Etsy I worked as a graphic designer for 12 years in a large publishing studio, you name it and we did it! I’ve also spent the last few years attending craft shows with my pencil art and meeting lots of interesting people!

Growing up I have always been interested in making and drawing, so much so that I went on to study art for 5 years after leaving school. Towards the end of my time at Art College I spent 2 years studying surface pattern and working with fabric.

When I was made redundant in 2012 I started making wire jewellery as a hobby and I love weaving with it and creating patterns and structure. I started taking my work to fairs and it gained more and more attention, so much so that it started taking over from my art work.

My designs start not with the wire but with the stones I’m using. I prefer to use gemstones because they are all unique, tactile and have been on such a long journey before they come to me. Often I start a design and just see where the wire takes me; it’s the most fun part of what I do. I’ve recently been dabbling with precious metal clay and I love the idea of having a wire and metal clay fusion.

I’m still quite a new shop on Etsy but its growing and I’m excited to see where the adventure will take me.

You can visit my shop on Etsy, Facebook, and on deviantARTThanks for taking an interest!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Today's featured Etsy shop... KCKNITS143

My name is Katie and my Etsy shop is KCKNITS143.

When did you start your Etsy shop?
2013

What is the story behind your business name?
KC are my initials, 143 stands for I Love You

What do you sell?
HANDKNITTED ITEMS AND CRAFTS

How did you get into your craft?
FOR MY KIDS









Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Today's featured Etsy shop... Rose Manor Gifts and Art

My name is Betty and my Etsy shop is Rose Manor Gifts and Art

When did you start your Etsy shop?

Oct. 31, 2012

What is the story behind your business name?

I wanted to choose a name to reflect the type of items that I create and I decided, after much reflection, that I create mostly gift items and many of those are created from my original photographs and my own hand painting. Thus Rose Manor Gifts and Art was born.

What do you sell?
I sell many different types of designs as I am always thinking of new ideas that I want to try and see if I can "make happen". Art Trays, Handpainted Crystal, Women's Jewelry, Children's Jewelry, Handpainted Hats are a few. One very special design series that I have created, is called "Sentimental Journeys" This collection has over 60 original designs. Each design has been created around a 100-year-old postcard where I fuse the postcard's original art with my own painting. This enhances and enlarges the design as it spills out and over its border. Special frames are chosen to complement each design.

How did you get into your craft? 
I have been crafting about 10 years when I made the first "Sentimental Journeys" design. That is when I started to visual the concept of the collection. Everything else has evolved from there and continues to with new ideas all the time.

Anything else you would like to share?
With my crafts and my Etsy shop, I have discovered and found many things. The most important to me are the joy of creativity and the blessing of new friends found.